| 179 then pauses, and looks down at a rather detailed report as to just
why
these people (this takes only a second to read a report who's print is
as small as individual atoms and conveys information many times the sum
total of all human knowledge). He then smiles and nods, looking more kindly
upon the strange group in front of human, demifox, and dragon. Small stuffed
fox plushies appear in the little hands of the offspring of the infants
(appropriate, considering their unusual heritage).
Now, according to the report, these were some of the few analogous demifox
mages who'd been.....gutsy enough to ingest the Crystallic....making it's
substance their own. The others were being taken care off by other.....emotionally
enhanced Rules. Rules specifically chosen, endowed with emotion and initiative
to handle strange situations that left the plain Rule in conniptions!
179 had been Endowed so as to better handled the casework of a rather
unique elfin woman who'd had the nerve to upset the delicate egos of some
rather annoying (in 179's opinion) deity Representatives (worthless rabble,
in 179's opinion...especially the Greek/Roman Pantheon!) The elf, a woman
born of a elfin father and a human mother (who'd been elfin at the time
of the elf's conception), had always been a....touch too human for her
elfin brethren....and a touch too elfin for her elfin piers. Something
of a tomboy, the elf had matured and grown to be a rather independent and
capable elfin warrior/thief by the name of Morgana. Through a series of
strange events that was just the lot of this unusual elfin woman, Morgana
had ended up in a time in a post nuclear holocaust Earth.....filled with
mutants and devoid of her elfin race. Instead of folding up and mentally
collapsing under the shock of it all, the elfin woman had instead taken....unusual
steps to reintroduce her race to this blighted world. Morgana had then
proceeded to be something of an eternal warrior.....bouncing from world
to world....universe to universe improving the lot of elves to where THEY
became the dominant force upon their world....instead of the more numerous
Humans or such! That had angered a few godlings' plans......a kangaroo
court was convened, and Morgana was put on trail. 179 had been Enhanced
to knocked the silly buggers back into line. Currently, Morgana was residing
on 179's version of Earth....along with a large contingent of her elven
children (who'd matured at a fast rate through the technology she'd practically
sold herself for use of it).....that was a long story and not important!
The humans and other mortals are just beginning to open their mouths
slowly to ask what the meaning of all this is (mortals minds and reflexes
were incredibly slow in the Realm that 179 worked) when 179 is about to
tell them he's going to add their caseload to the pile of slipgates that
need to be shut down when 179 hears a sound that chills his nonexistent
heart!
The demifox mage just hiccuped.....four times....and with the powers
he had inside him.....
One tone of hiccup causes....
A Star Fleet Admiral, along with the FOUR analogous people who all called
themselves Kathryn Janeway....are sent (along with some of the office furniture)
to a parallel world that....they had only left a few moments ago.....in
a relative measure of time....
A different timbered hiccup calls forth and.....makes perfect copies
of another set of a a fallen dark knight by the name of Frederigo D'Honaire
(Thoabath to his demonic masters), a young girl/woman who should know better
than to seek out adventure in such wild lands, and a young flame haired
woman who was currently reveling under the sway of the moon (mushroom induced
wolf curse coursing through her veins). A holy man pauses in consternation....knowing
SOMETHING just happened nearby....but wasn't sure exactly just what happened....
Due to previous strictures set down by the Rules.....these duplicates
would not be returning to the world that had spawned them. They were unaware
that they were duplicates....but they all knew that....they weren't going
home....ever.
Looks of shock....fear are slowly forming on their faces (even on the
presently lupine Astra's face).....
Another hiccup....higher pitched....
Another duplication....another set of duplicates not going "home."
Another Fred D'Honaire, along with his sister Lady Rowena, and Lem (a
dwarf), and Dokken (another dwarf), suddenly find themselves looking at
a rather surprised looking caravan of dwarves who are gathered around a
wagon who is holding the black skinned beauty known as Astra. Fred's brows
start to draw together in shock....and surmise.
By now there should be signs of necrosis on the lovely woman's
stately body.....but......
A twist of the magical ether and three incredibly tiny human infants
appear nest to the silent Astra.....and suddenly shiver! Stillborn and
dead though their counterparts are, the infants find themselves alive again....due
to the unique nature of both a synergistic reaction between the Crystallic
essence that marks up a small part of themselves.....the dragon gem that's
still in Tarrin Gazin's pocket....and a demifox mage.
One last hiccup, and that takes care of what would have been delicate
work for 179 as far as dealing with the demifox's group. Coming to 179
in such a manner was allowed by the Rules, so the demifox hadn't been risking
anything by something here by teleportation. Indeed, it was REQUIRED that
he come here....and take along the people around him (leaves less witnesses).
See, though Synizn and friends could come to 179.....they weren't allowed
to return home.....again....ever. Cruel, but that was the stricture handed
down by the Higher Ups. But instead of leaving a mysterious disappearance,
Synizn's hiccup had made one last set of duplicates. However, these duplicates
are unlike the OTHER duplicates of analogous people. They are dead and
stiff in rigor mortis. Much sorrow and grieving will happen throughout
the lands of Allaria and Aqualaria. The originals know this (well....the
grownups understand...the infants just are confused by the images that
parades through their infant minds). They start to shout in protest.
Slowly.
The look of sadness that 179 gives them in way of apology stops it cold.
The Rules silently wishes he could do something else....and also wishes
that these poor people had come across his desk in the more convenient
form of paper files. That way he'd be able to not have to look into their
faces to break the news to them about what's up.
"Sorry," the Rules says softly. "I can't change it....not even a little
bit. But, I won't leave you stranded here. I wouldn't wish that dull existence
on my worst enemy! There's another world out there....similar to yours
and where you'll find friends....for those who deserve them! I leave how
you handle the Oathbreaker knows as Fred....also known as Thoabath to you
fellows. As for Tarin and the other dwarves....when you meet Queen Astra
and her Dwarven delegation.....I suggest running....FAST!"
"I'll be along....soon enough to take care of some loose ends," the
Rules says, turning away back to work. The adventurers disappear into thin
air....and reappear in an Ethiopian desert.....
-
 179's hand's
blur as he whittles away at the massive pile of Request to shut down the
numerous analogous Terra's slipgates who's Crystallics had been destroyed.
Synizn's form is on the top of the mound of forms.....
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