Suddenly, an enormous flash of light emanated from the very darkest corridor, and from within the burst of blinding light a band of thieves, murderers and hooligans appeared. A scruffy man holding--as she gasped in terror, she realized--firearms; a burly fellow capable of breaking her in two (which was surely their plan), who was carrying the prone form of a teenage boy, who was evidently a captive; a lithe girl holding what she knew from legend to be a Devil Fork, obviously some monarch of a past kingdom, seduced to evil; and behind her, stood a proud woman that could only have been--THE DEMON QUEEN!!! The scruffy man twisted his face into an awful grin and said:
"That didn't take long at all, did it?"
"She is a master at this, you know..." the burly thief replied. The old woman could stand it no longer. Her only avenue of escape lie in direct attack.
"Well," said the scruffy man with a smile, "I guess I had to see it to---OOUF!" He was cut off as the old woman shoved with all her might and hit him in the stomach with her creaky cart. She then lashed out and beat the burly man with her cane, screaming.
"AAAAH! YOU WON'T GET ME THAT EASILY, DEMONS!!! EAOOOO!!" she screeched, turning around and running as fast as she could towards home to feed her poor darling cat, and then to local law enforcement to file a detailed report about how she was mugged by demons.
"What the hell was that?!!" Darryl Kriegstoff, apprentice to MSSA Runemaster Saxanne, groaned, rubbing his arm where the old woman had beaten him with the cane. He was, as a result, also having some trouble keeping the unconscious Byhaps balanced. He set the boy down for a moment. "Gee, that's gonna bruise. Damn."
"I think she was just startled, that's all..." Empathy, who was holding onto Byhaps' pitchfork, said.
"Thinking that we are a band of demons bent on robbing and killing her is no excuse to hit me with a grocery cart." Fitcher asserted. Saxanne seemed to be her normal collected self. Then again, she hadn't been hit by anything.
"I can honestly say I've never seen something like that before in this city..." she said with the hint of a grin. "Welcome to Muse."
******
A few hours later, they had gathered at Fitcher's house. He hadn't been there in so long, it felt extremely odd returning all of a sudden, with a group of guests, to boot. There was dust--dust everywhere. That was his first impression upon opening the door. As much as he didn't want to admit it, he wasn't the best housekeeper in the first place (and as he saw it, living alone he didn't need to be), but leaving for months didn't help the cleanliness level either. He embarrassedly gathered up some dirty clothes he had left on the floor the day he left Muse and threw them into a remote closet somewhere. Byhaps had been deposited on his bed, and Empathy was sitting in there waiting for him to wake up. Saxanne and Darryl seated themselves out in the living room.
"Sorry I don't have any drinks or anything..." he said.
"Don't bother yourself. We're just meeting here to figure out what we're going to do." Saxanne insisted.
"All right..." Fitcher said, sitting on an old chair. He had forgotten how comfortable that chair was.
"First of all," Saxanne said, taking charge, "You and that boy need your wounds treated. After that's taken care of, you must give your report to your superiors at HQ. Oh, and Nok-Nok will want to have a look at the Voicer's gun." Fitcher's eyes flickered over to the corner, where the rifle was propped up. He wished she hadn't mentioned it---for a few blissful minutes, he had conveniently misplaced the memory of being shot in the arm. He made an effort to change the topic.
"What about Empathy?" he asked. She frowned, making her look aged beyond her years for a moment.
"...Frankly, I'm not sure we can trust that girl..." she said, lowering her voice. "If she works for a verified enemy of MSSA, she could be very dangerous. Not to be offensive, but...factoring in your recent slip-up with your last companion, your judgement might not be the best at this time." Fitcher was slightly taken aback. What was wrong with his judgement?
"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked suspiciously.
"Don't get defensive...it happens." Saxanne said. "I've seen it before---agents getting seduced in the field. It's nothing to be ashamed of, Fitcher."
"S-seduced?! Empathy didn't 'seduce' anyone! And she wouldn't hurt a fly!" Fitcher protested. Darryl coughed.
"You two...do seem somewhat...taken with one another..." he said quietly. Fitcher found himself without a ready reply. He was sure that Empathy was pretty into him--but he wasn't sure how he felt about her. Sure, he liked her. And her saving his life was a big plus. But the jury was still out on exactly what it was he felt for her.
"Isn't it true that after this former companion of yours turned on you, she was there to help? You two could have been swept up in the moment, you know." Saxanne rationalized.
"Okay, saying that we like each other is one thing, but we weren't swept into any romance novel stories, all right? She saved my life, and she's a good friend. I trust her." Darryl smirked.
"Well, ya gotta admit, being a spy does put a more romantic twist on just about everything you do. But...I believe him."
"Listen. I understand that you trust this girl. From what I've observed, she's a very good person. However, you must understand that we cannot compromise security again. There is a chance, however slim, that this girl will run right back to her 'former' employer as soon as she gets information." Saxanne explained. Fitcher was beginning to see her point. Empathy had always stuck up for Badnooz despite the fact that he was a looney megalomaniac.
"All....all right. But how am I supposed to tell her this?"
"Just offer to let her stay here, for now. We'll run this past Agent T to see what he thinks." Saxanne said. Fitcher got up, running the words over in his head as he walked, and went into his bedroom.
Empathy was sitting on the bed, leaning over Byhaps, who appeared to have just woken up. She ran her hands through his messy hair in a maternal, caring way.
"Where are we? Back in Gregminster??" Byhaps murmured.
"No, no...don't worry. This is Muse. We teleported, but you took a bit much of the blast from that Voicer's rune, I think..." she said soothingly.
"Huh...? So...where is she?" Byhaps inquired.
"Gone. Just relax now. We're in Fitcher's house, he was kind enough to let us meet here." she said. She hadn't noticed him standing in the doorway, but Byhaps did.
"Hi, Fitcher..." he said from the bed, sitting up a bit. Fitcher waved to him, smiling.
"How are ya, kiddo?" he asked. Empathy turned to Fitcher and smiled upon his entrance, which sent evil daggers of guilt sailing into his throat. He hoped it didn't show on his face.
"I'm fine, I think..." Byhaps replied.
"Saxanne wants to check you out, all right?" Fitcher said.
"Saxanne?"
"The...magician woman, from the rainstorm? Remember, she helped us get rid of Ghira Blackwell...? Well, she seems to think there's a reason to look you over, so don't worry, 'kay?" explained Fitcher. Byhaps protested this by attempting to explain that he was in perfect health, but he was cut off by a spasm of hacking and coughing.
"That sounds terrible! I think it IS better if you let her look at you, all right, Byhaps?" Empathy said, frowning. Byhaps said nothing, but sank back down into the bed, evidently not completely happy with this arrangement.
Fitcher decided to tell Empathy the 'news'. He asked her to come walk with him. She followed him outside into the bustling streets, unsure of what was going on.
"Empathy..." he said. All his rehearsed words were completely useless. How can you gracefully tell someone they aren't to be trusted?
"What is it, Fitcher? Have I done something wrong?" she asked.
"N-no, not exactly..." he said. "Well, you see, it's just that...what with you having worked for Badnooz and everything, some people have said that it might not be...er, the best thing...for you to come with us to..."
"Is this about...your mission report?" Empathy said.
"Yeah." Fitcher said miserably. She laughed, surprising him.
"Is that all?? I can't come with you to talk to your spy friends, and all that? I don't mind that, Fitcher, I understand with all that's gone on, you have to be careful." she said casually. For some reason, the notion that she would take it hard seemed ridiculous to him now.
"I'm...I'm happy you feel that way." Fitcher said. After a pause, he hastily added. "You can stay at my place in the meantime."
"Thanks. I..." Empathy said, looking at him. "I...will get to see you again, though, right?" Fitcher grinned.
"Hopefully."
"Good."
After that, they just walked on in silence for the rest of the afternoon, returning at sunset to Fitcher's house. Byhaps and Empathy were staying there at his insistence, and he offered for his MSSA comrades to stay the night as well. Darryl eagerly accepted his offer to 'crash' there for the night, but Saxanne declined, saying she had a few important errands to run for herself. She promised to return in the morning. So, they arranged themselves as comfortably as they possibly could in Fitcher's small, one-man house, and slept. Fitcher hadn't slept that well in a long time.
******
Several months ago, Saxanne informed them at breakfast the next morning, the secret library entrance to MSSA Headquarters (accessed by pulling the book "Raising Your Own Kittens" from the bookshelf) had been discovered by a random old woman who had been thoroughly disturbed by the experience. Luckily, she didn't really see much, but the entrance had to be sealed and a new one made. That was why, on that brisk morning in Muse, Fitcher found himself walking up the path to Jowston Hill with Saxanne and Darryl, who was carrying Byhaps again. Fitcher himself had his own gun, Bill, and Ghira's gun, Filibuster, hidden in a large sack so as not to cause a stir. Halfway up to the top, where important conferences between the country's leaders were occasionally held (Fitcher had been up here before, on account of his old job, but that was a long time ago), Saxanne stopped and opened a hidden door in the side of the hill, out of sight from anyone walking by, unless they knew better. They slipped inside and quickly shut the entrance behind them, and started down a spiral staircase made of stone. Remembering how far underground that he had had to drop from the library entrance, which was at ground level, Fitcher blanched at the thought of how far down this staircase went, considering the hill was well above the city of Muse.
It seemed like time entered a 'no passing' zone while he was on that staircase, but finally they reached the bottom, where a shiny new door with the letters MSSA in gold on top stood waiting for them.
"Welcome back, Lady Saxanne." said one of the guards.
"Thank you, Kent. Darryl and Agent Fitcher here have clearance." she replied. The guard, Kent, nodded.
"Is that kid all right, there?" he asked.
"That's what I plan to find out, if you wouldn't mind opening the door." Saxanne said. Kent hastily opened the door.
"Welcome to MSSA." he said obligatorily.
"Thank you, Kent..." Saxanne said with the hint of a smirk. She led the way into the underground complex that Fitcher had only seen once or twice before. It never ceased to amaze him. As they walked through a large main chamber, where people of all kinds (most of whom Fitcher had not met before) ran back and forth carrying papers and everything else imaginable. He caught bits of their conversations as he walked by.
"...in Harmonia, she said..."
"...wanted in Highland, refugees and..."
"...this report, I told you..."
They came upon a door that Fitcher recognized--it led to the large conference room where Agent T, leader of MSSA, had given him his first mission. Saxanne stopped outside the door.
"You go in, it's your report. I'm going to run some tests on the boy--I swear he has a magical affliction..." she said. She motioned to Darryl, and they walked off to another part of the complex, carrying Byhaps. Fitcher felt kind of guilty just letting them take him off to who-knows-where, but he had business to take care of. He knocked, and entered the chamber.
Agent T was sitting in a large chair at the head of the table, already waiting for him. Or...perhaps not. Nok-Nok, MSSA weapons expert, was also already at the table, but they both seemed to be absorbed in conversation with a third party. Sitting in a chair facing both of them was an---an Elf, if Fitcher was right. The elf had brown eyes that were like deep whirlpools--they sucked you into them. He also had semi-short, silvery-purple hair that gleamed under the lights. He was clad in a loose tunic and vest, along with pants of the same color--all of it, a cheery sky blue. He wore black boots and lightweight, elven-fashioned leather armor over his clothes. He was also, as Fitcher noted suprisingly, restrained--His hands were bound together and so were his feet.
"...conduct unbecoming an agent of this facility!" T berated. Fitcher never knew that T had a temper like that, but he was laying into that guy. "You've left me with no choice but to revoke your status as of now, and put you on temporary leave." Nok-Nok nudged him.
"Uh, T, what about..." he supplied.
"Oh, that's right. Temporary supervised leave. Agent Orange will monitor you during this duration, until a full investigation is made. I'm very disappointed in you..." Agent T said. He turned to Nok-Nok. "Take him to Orange, Nok-Nok." The weapons expert nodded, and stood. The elf stood with him, not resisting. He spoke for the first time.
"What about Godfrey?" he asked simply.
"He will be in our custody during the investigation. He'll be well cared for, I assure you." T said. Nok-Nok led the elf away from the table, and noticed Fitcher standing at the door.
"Heeeeyyy! Hey, T! Flaming Ducky's flown back home!" he chuckled. He gave Fitcher an enthusiastic pat on the back, grinning widely. T stood up, acknowledging his arrival. He looked mostly the same as last time--rigid, businesslike, stiff as a board in his suit, and neatly combed brown hair. His stern demeanor seemed to lessen somewhat when he saw Fitcher, however. He seemed stressed.
"Agent Fitcher! So glad to see you back from your mission." he said, walking over and shaking Fitcher's hand cordially. As Nok-Nok and the elf left the room, he called after him.
"Come back when you're done, Nok-Nok! I have something for you!" he shouted. Nok-Nok waved his hand as an acknowledgement as he walked away into the main chamber. Fitcher turned back to T.
"Is something the matter?" T asked.
"Yes, as a matter of fact. A serious breach of security happened, I'm afraid, during my mission." The smile vanished from his superior's face. He took a seat at the table's head again.
"Sit down...tell me, exactly what do you mean by this?" he said. Fitcher sat.
"I mean, sir, that we've been duped. All of us. We were played like a cheap instrument, and thrown away just as soon as we stopped being useful. And through this grave mistake...well, on my part, mostly...it could cost us a great deal..." Fitcher explained.
"How serious is this??" T asked uncertainly.
"I can't say for sure. I'd rather just give you all the facts and you can assess the damage..." Fitcher said. He could barely look T in the face. He felt like an idiot for letting everyone down. Sure, they had been fooled too, but him most of all.
"Go ahead, then." T said.
"Actually...it might be best if a few of the agents that helped me out along the way were, uh, present too, if that's possible..." Fitcher said. It might have been best that way, too. Fitcher didn't really care--what he really wanted them there for was to apologize to several of them.
"All right. Nok-Nok, as I recall, met with you at one time...Clinker, as well. Was there any--" T reviewed.
"Nora." Fitcher interrupted.
"That's right, Nora...just a minute, then. You wait here and I'll get them. Nora might be on assignment with her partner, but I think she came back recently." T said, getting up.
"...Partner?" Fitcher said, but T was already gone.
A few minutes passed as Fitcher picked at a loose thread on the upholstery of the old chair. Then he heard a click and looked up. The door swung open, and T came back in. He was followed by the unmistakably stout, cheerful form of Nok-Nok, who either hadn't heard any bad news or didn't seem bothered if he had. After Nok-Nok came Clinker, the young teleportation specialist--wearing his usual gaudy orange jumpsuit and trinket-adorned pointy hat. He regarded Fitcher somewhat coldly and didn't make eye contact, and Fitcher remembered that he was still under the impression that he had insulted him.
Next, a pair Fitcher didn't know---but boy, he wished he could. First came a true bombshell: a beautiful woman in knee-high boots, wearing a somewhat tight black skirt that wasn't so skimpy as to make you cry 'Pearl', but it did make you look twice. Her gray eyes sparkled magically beneath a pair of glasses. She had red, red lips and the auburn hair that framed her pretty face draped itself in loose curls around her shoulders. There was something very familiar about her, but Fitcher couldn't place it. Then he almost fell out of his chair, seeing the clipboard she carried. It was NORA! He was so used to her usual modest outfits, white lab coats and pulled back hair that he barely recognized her! She, however, gave him an even colder reception than Clinker, and took her seat on the other side of the table, away from him.
Fitcher finally noticed the man who came in with Nora. He could only be the one T said was her 'partner'. And he was a stud. He wore a snazzy tux in such a way that T looked like a slouch in his, and Nok-Nok...well, he looked like a fat slob next to this guy. He was tall, and muscular--not too beefy, but just enough that you could see his muscles through his clothing when he moved the right way. He had perfect posture, perfect everything--his brown hair was slicked back and arranged, well, perfectly. Fitcher was beginning to feel like his hair could use a trim right about then. He had baby blue eyes that mesmerized you, a strong jaw, and...Fitcher was almost caught off guard by his smile. His teeth were so dazzlingly white they almost hurt your eyes to look at. All in all, he seemed perfect in every way. The bad part was, as Fitcher would find out, he knew it. He oozed charm and charisma. Fitcher's first instinct, since he seemed SO very likeable and charming, was to get up and shake this man's hand. But then he decided that he couldn't, for some reason, allow this guy to score any points with Nora. It just bothered him for some reason.
Mr. Perfect took a seat right next to Nora, T shut the door, and the conference began.
"Introductions first. Not all of you know each other, so we'll get that out of the way and get down to business." Agent T said. He went around the table. "This is Agent Nok-Nok, Agent Clinker, Dr. Nora Kiell, D--" He got to Mr. Perfect, and was cut off.
"Evan." he said in a dramatic voice. "Dublos Evan. Agent extraordinaire." He flashed a charismatic smile filled with shiny teeth.
"Er, thank you, Dublos..." T continued. "Lastly, we have Agent Fitcher, who asked me to call you all here."
"Of course. Of course. Anything to help those in need." Dublos Evan said condescendingly. Fitcher was not liking this guy. It wasn't as if he had asked 'Dublos' to come, anyway. What bothered him most was he didn't know why he was so bothered by him.
"What's the big deal, T?" Clinker asked.
"Fitcher has completed his mission, and--" T began. He was again interrupted by people with mixed views on the matter.
"Bravo! Brav-o!" Dublos said, applauding condescendingly. "If I can do it, so can you!"
"Whoop-de-doo. So he did a mission." was Clinker's remark. T looked more than slightly annoyed.
"If you would let me finish. Fitcher has completed his mission: to escort Pearl Lione to the Scarlet Moon Empire, and back to her people. Now, Fitcher, if you would please tell us what it is that is so gravely wrong, I would very much appreciate it."
"Did one of her boobs pop??" Nora said sourly, rolling her eyes.
"Stop that. Now." T said severely. He motioned to Fitcher. Fitcher searched for his voice, and upon finding it, launched into his tale.
"Pearl Lione used every one of us. She's actually an Imperial Commander of the Scarlet Moon Empire--a spy for Kasim Hazil and Emperor Barbarosa." he explained, "When I infiltrated the underground complex of Dr. Badnooz in Muse on my first mission, we all thought, naturally enough, that she was in danger, and that her secret plans she was carrying, which we were never smart enough to LOOK at, were also in jeopardy. Well, it turns out she was using Badnooz, too. And the plans really were his: plans to his Rune Ray machine, which from what I've seen does have destructive capabilities that could put large amounts of people in peril--that is, if it was out of his incompetent hands. That's where Pearl comes in--she's not an idiot like she'd like everyone to believe. She's shrewd, powerful and a major threat."
He paused to let it all sink in. He looked around the table and found mixed reactions: Nok-Nok shook his head in shame ("She was a real babe, too bad she had to go sour"), Clinker looked angry ("I can't believe I listened to her! ...She WAS a babe, though, you're right..."), T hid all emotions he might have had, though it was clear he was not pleased with this development, and Nora looked like a cross between "I-told-ya-so" and "Sorry-I-was-mad-at-you". Dublos was absolutely appalled, though he had never met Pearl: he was hearing a tale of what seemed to be an absolute babe-woman who somehow turned to evil, which was quite beyond his comprehension. Even worse to him was the fact that Fitcher didn't seem to have mentioned ever sleeping with her, which truly was a completely foreign subject to him.
"Along the course of this mission, Pearl Lione not only got away with those blueprints, she also obtained other information about things such as the gun I carry with me, Leknaat the Seer and her Gate Rune, and the MSSA itself. Upon reaching Gregminster City in the Empire, my companions and myself were arrested and we were to be executed..." Fitcher continued.
"Companions? What companions are these? Can they provide any more insight on this matter, Fitcher?" Agent T inquired.
"I'm afraid not. My only companions were Byhaps, a young boy who is training to be a knight, from Highland, who stumbled into our company," Fitcher explained. Clinker nodded at this.
"I hope he's all right, I liked that kid..." he remarked.
"...and an old ninja of Rokkaku named Aybabtu, who was likely captured by Imperial troops as we escaped the city. That's all." Fitcher finished. He felt another familiar Wave o' Guilt wash over him--along with everything else that had happened to him lately, he had completely forgotten about Aybabtu. He prayed that the old ninja was okay.
"Aybabtu, captured? That...that sucks. Ooh, that Pearl! If she didn't have such a deliciously large chest, I'd punch her!" Clinker raged.
"That's exactly why she got away with it, you idiot." Nora said. "She played a bimbo so all you guys would do is drool while she did what she pleased."
"Nora...sorry I doubted you." Fitcher said more loudly than he would have liked to. Her cold demeanor disappeared.
"It's...okay, Fitcher." she said, smiling slightly.
"So...this Pearl Leon, is she single? Does someone have a specific home address that I could borrow, perhaps?" Dublos asked suddenly, holding a pencil and paper hopefully. Nora elbowed him.
"Well..." T said gravely, finally speaking, "Immediate action will have to be taken. I can only hope it isn't too late. Is there anything else you need to address?" Fitcher remembered the sack at his side.
"Yes, actually...well, during the course of my mission, I accidentally acquired this gun here," He held up the pistol, "And it was magically bound to my soul, so I have to keep it. Most of you already know this. However, an agent of the Howling Voice Guild named Ghira Blackwell repeatedly attacked me in an effort to recover this pistol. She...well, frankly, I think she wasn't entirely sane. Right before returning to Gregminster, she actually used a Blue Gate Rune in an effort to kill us all. I'm not sure, but she may have perished...in any case, she's gone. And, we have her gun." Fitcher explained. Nok-Nok lit up like a forest fire.
"Didyousaygun??" he asked, grinning from ear to ear. "ArealVoicer'sGUN?Hehehehe..." Fitcher smiled, and nodded. He handed Nok-Nok the rifle.
"You can do what you want with it--study it, break it in half, whatever. But there is one thing I'd like to ask of you." Fitch said.
"Yeah?" Nok-Nok said, only half paying attention as he stroked the rifle.
"Can you see if there's any information about a 'Ghira Blackwell' in any records we have on the Howling Voice Guild? She seemed to be acting alone rather than for them near the end. Oh, and..." Fitcher added, remembering something, "Check and see if you can find anything on anyone called 'Brogan', too." Nok-Nok nodded.
"Will do. Thanks, ol' Flaming Duck...I can't wait to look at this piece!" He said ecstatically.
"That's one bit of good news." T said, "But the issue of Pearl Lione remains. We must act quickly, before Barbarosa finds out too much. And this Aybabtu, if he's still alive, needs to be found. Badnooz's machine will only spell disaster for us in their hands."
"Oh, I just, uh, remembered..." Fitcher blurted. "There's a girl I brought with me. She, well, worked loyally under Badnooz when we met near South Window, but I think she's changed her ways since then. You see, she, er, followed me to Gregminster. She saved my life..."
"You just have that affect on women, eh Ducky?" Nok-Nok said slyly.
"...Girl?" was Nora's only reply.
"You wouldn't happen to have her home address, would you?" Dublos asked.
"What are you saying, Fitcher?" T asked. "Do you need MSSA to keep an eye on this girl for you?"
"No! No...uh, heh. Not at all. I'm saying I think she can be trusted. And...she might have valuable information about Badnooz."
"...I see what you mean, but I'm afraid I can't risk it at this point, Fitcher..." T said, his brow furrowing, "This girl will just have to remain wherever she is staying for the time being. Badnooz is not our prime concern right now...you understand, right?"
"Yeah..." Fitcher said.
Why won't anyone just trust Empathy?? I trust her...
"I don't think it would be a good idea to send you back into that situation, so someone else may have to question Lione about the whereabouts of this ninja. We'll just---" Agent T reasoned. He was interrupted as the door flung open, and a woman ran in.
She had a fire-colored robe and yellow boots, and gold earrings dangling from each ear. Her eyes were brown, and she had blazing red hair. There was a very deadly sword hanging at her belt. She was pretty, but at the moment she seemed excessively distraught.
"Agent T!" she cried.
"What is it, Agent Orange?" T asked, standing up.
"Emergency! The Muse Library is on fire, and it's definitely not an accident! I...I think it's that boy, sir! But I can't find Saxanne or Darryl anywhere!" she explained.
"What?? Arson?!" T exclaimed. He seemed ready to launch into a list of orders to be followed, but stopped short. "Did you say--the boy?? The one Saxanne was--"
"Byhaps?!" Fitcher shouted, jumping out of his chair so fast it slammed into the wall behind him. "I don't believe it!" He ran towards the door.
"...and I've...lost Shrapnel, sir!" the woman called Orange added. T was livid.
"Damn that elf! Leave it to him to pick the best opportunity to slip away!!" He began shouting commands. "Fitcher, Clinker, Nora! Library, NOW! Nok-Nok and Orange, FIND Shrapnel! Dublos, find Saxanne right away! GO!!" Fitcher didn't even wait for T to finish. He was already out the door, before realizing he didn't know the way out anymore. He slowed down enough for Nora and Clinker to catch up.
"Wait, wait, you idiot, it'll take forever that way!" Clinker said as he caught up. "I've got a Blinking Rune, remember?"
Oh.
"To the Muse Public Library--" Clinker began.
"Not IN it, if you please. Nearby will do." Nora put in.
"Right. GOTCHA!"
Just as they vanished, Fitcher was sure he saw Dublos Evan asking Orange for a date. Sure, HE got to ask, while Fitcher had to worry about stupid burning libraries. Damn him.
People were screaming and pointing, panicking like frightened rabbits in the streets near the library. Muse's library was actually very near City Hall, so it was a bigger deal than some might have thought. Then again, the blaze was not very large, and still containable, which made it not as big a deal as some might have thought, also. As soon as Fitcher, Nora and Clinker appeared in the midst of the chaos, the latter vanished, teleporting around to find more water as a means of stifling the blaze. Nora ran over to the closest person, a man who appeared to be in his thirties somewhere.
"Excuse me, what happened here??" she asked urgently.
"The G'damn library's on fire, lady, whaddya think?!" he snapped, going on his way. A nearby woman was more helpful.
"That boy...he walked over to the library, and suddenly it just exploded--the door, that is, not the whole building--and he just stood there, even though he was nearly in the flames too! We tried to grab him, but he...he climbed on the roof! He looked like such a nice boy, too...never can tell with kids these days..." She shook her head sadly, lamenting at the doom that was "youth these days".
"Was anyone hurt? Is there anyone trapped inside?!" Nora asked.
"I...I'm not sure. The librarian got out, I think. Oh! There WAS this woman who followed the kid here. She might still be inside." the woman recalled.
"Thanks!" Nora said. She looked up at the roof, partially obscured by the fire, and pointed. "There's the 'boy'!" Fitcher didn't want to look. He didn't want it to be true and yet he somehow knew it was.
It was Byhaps. He wasn't gloating like Pearl. He wasn't maniacally cackling like Badnooz. But Fitcher knew the teen was responsible, and somehow the fact that he was just standing there on the roof made him feel all the more worse. Nora nudged him.
"I think I can get him, up there. What about you? Will you get the woman inside?" she said. He nodded hollowly. He suddenly came to life with renewed energy, and dashed in between the dancing flames in the doorway into the library. He heard a cry for help from behind a flaming bookshelf. It was like a dream in there, with smoke shrouding his vision and flames licking at his heels. He could barely breathe. The scream came again.
"Help!"
Fitcher had a strong feeling he knew the owner of the voice. Who else would have followed Byhaps here, upon seeing him approach?
"Where are you?!" he called into the smoke, coughing.
"I'm.....over here! ....Fitcher, is that you? Help me!" the voice returned.
He was right. Empathy was trapped back there. Boy, his intuition was just striking GOLD today, wasn't it? Dammit, he didn't want good intuition if all it was gonna do was tell him that one companion of his just set a large fire and the other one is trapped IN it. Screw intuition. Why couldn't he have shiny teeth or something?
He kicked over a broken bookcase (hurting his foot) and groped in the haze for Empathy's hand. She grabbed him, and they both made their way out, coughing and hacking. Fitcher jumped out through the door only to find himself very wet in the face, as several people fighting the fire had just thrown water in his general direction. Professional fire-fighting type folk ran through the threshold armed with magic and buckets, and Fitcher let them go. He staggered down the front steps, and practically collapsed at the bottom. On the last step, he sat down, his head in his hands. How could this happen? How could Byhaps be capable of this? Empathy immediately sought out what he was feeling, like she always did. She sat down next to him.
"It's...not your fault, Fitcher. I was watching him, right before he...well, there's something wr---" she began, but she was interrupted by Nora nearly landing on her face, carrying Byhaps. The young knight-in-training had lost consciousness again. Fitcher couldn't tell if he was pale or not, because of the light of the fire and the smoke, but he suspected that he probably was. This time, the emblem that he had seen on the teen's forehead before seemed increasingly apparent....almost pulsating.
"H-he'll be all right." puffed Nora. "How about---oh." She seemed to notice with a hint of disappointment that Empathy had her arm around Fitcher.
"I'm fine, thank you so much. I really appreciate this..." Empathy said cheerfully to Nora. "And now we're even..." she whispered to Fitcher. It wasn't comforting at all. Nothing was comforting. Things at this point seemed scarcely better than they had when he was Pearl's prisoner-of-the-day. He would normally be thinking up explanations and excuses at that time, when Agent T and the State Army dashed up the steps of library, the library where the blaze that was now under control had been set by a good friend of his. But he didn't think of any excuses. He was baffled. Stunned. He couldn't explain it no matter how hard he wanted to.
Between this, getting beaten up by an old lady and everything else that had happened, this was turning out to be not quite the homecoming he had envisioned...
