Another Course in Another Place

Four hours had passed since Elsteba Alastair had Presumably Been Annihilated...Principal Schellhous had delivered the News Two hours ago and in that Time everything had gone Crazy. The Universal Board of Education had Come Personally To Inspect the Workings of the School, and Besides a whole Plethora of Legal Issues that had suddenly Appeared the Largest one was an investigation on the The Educational Systems Method of Transporting Students. Nothing would Have Worried Mr. Slavinois Except the board had Stumbled Upon the Records of the "Unofficial Testing"...upon further inspection, these records could be the one thing that Could Point a Finger of Blame at him.

a Knock Came to his Door, "enter" he Called. The School Officer Entered the Room, "i am Sorry To inform you that this School is Going to have to Be Shut down until we can Sort out what happened here, however it seems there has Been An Arrest." Mr. Slavonois Looked questionably at him, "Principal Schellhous has been the one Named Responsible for this Disaster." "

what? Why??" the officer Smiled, "his name was the one on the Forms authorizeing the tests on the system." Mr. Slavonois Smiled Back, "well, that's sad to hear."


the Two Men Laughed For a Long Moment, "there is still a day, by then we'll have got him Off all Nice and Clean." Mr. Slavonis Nodded Sitting Back in his Chair, almost Talking to himself he said, "The Course is Set then...He will be Pleased to hear that..."

Snag in the Plans

"Why are we here, again?"

"Alsifar told us to wait here with the ship while he met with the others."

"Oh, yeah...I'm hungry."

"Well, we brought an entire ship full of food, didn't we?"

"Oh yeah...I'll be right back."

A minute later, Jethro returned to his post, his arms laden with various food stuffs.

Logan sighed and resumed his scanning of the surrounding forest, his keen eyes alert for any sign of danger.  He was particularly careful to watch for the enemy Alsifar had told them about before he left; judging by the descriptions he had been told, he had good reason to keep his senses about him.

Beside him, his brother was hungrily wolfing down food with a ravenous fury.  Where he put it all, Logan had no idea, but somehow, Jethro so far has single-handedly eaten half his allotted share of food in the past several hours, and has shown no signs of stopping.

Jethro looked up from his half-eaten loaf of bread and asked, "What are we supposed to be guarding all this stuff from, again?"

Logan looked Jethro in the eye, amazed at his show of utter stupidity.  "From the being Alsifar told us about, remember?  The Umbering."

Jethro looked blankly at Logan for a moment, then shrugged his shoulders.  "What's a Lumberding?  Some kind of wood-eating monster?  Why would one of those eat the food in a metal ship?"

"It's the Umbering, you idiot.  A being of immeasurable size, comprised of pure darkness, and seeks only destruction for the sake of destruction."

"Brother, you are hurting my head.  I can't eat right with a headache."

Jethro's whining  was beginning to get on Logan's nerves.  "How can you be eating right now?  We are on duty, protecting this ship and its cargo for those who would use it to defeat the single greatest threat to existence and order in this and every universe, and your only concern is what you can stuff in your mouth?"

"You talk funny, brother," Jethro said through a mouth that was full to the brim with nuts and salted meat.

Logan let it drop.  It wasn't the first time he had chided Jethro for his obvious lack of caring for anything other than food, and it definitely wouldn't be the last time, either.  He wondered how they could be related in any way when they were practically polar opposites.  I guess that's how twins work, Logan thought to himself, They're not normal unless they drive each other crazy.

He leaned back, allowing himself a brief respite to stretch his legs.  Even though this world was inhabited by the Umbering, he still couldn't help but notice how beautiful it was, even at night.  The trees weren't overly ancient, but they were old enough to be tall and noble things of beauty.  He looked up into the sky at the moon, in the height of its arc.  It was full tonight, and cast its light on the world below it.  He marveled how the light would land on those same trees, casting  long shadows toward them and -

Logan jumped up, his hands raised in preparation for battle.  The moon wouldn't be casting long shadows at its point in the sky.  Those shadows were also pointing toward them, due south, which was an impossible direction for the shadows to be pointing, since the moon, being directly above them, would cast shadows pointing either west or east, depending on the time of night.

"Heads up, Jethro.  I don't think we are alone."

For the first time Logan could remember in their entire time together, Jethro didn't respond with an unintelligent remark; he didn't respond at all.

"...Jethro?" Logan asked hesitantly, casting a sideways glance at where his brother was sitting.  What he saw was an empty stool, absent of even the many articles of food which Jethro was gorging on earlier.

In an instant, the darkness overwhelmed him.  Logan thrust his palm and sent a ball of light hurtling toward the mass of shadow, but this was soon quenched, and once again Logan found himself alone in a world where he could not see a foot in front of him.  He could not even see the very solid blade positioning itself behind him, at the base of his skull.  It was only when it thrust forward was he aware of his presence, and by then it was too late.

The Journey Onward

As the First Rays Of Sunlight began to peak over the horizon, the Huddled Silhouettes of the Sleeping group Began to move. Amorak watched them with an expression of Pure Boredom. Jacob Was the First to Get up and Stretch.





Slowly the others Began to Drag themselves Up off the Ground to Begin a New day, which From Amoraks Perspective Might well be the same as the day Before, though he had Learned new things met knew people and remembered Various Facts About himself he would rather have left everything the way it was.





What Frustrated Amorak the Most was the Lack Of action, they had Been Presented with a Problem but no one Moved to Try and Fix it. Amorak Seriously Doubted Anyone knew how. He was also Frustrated with this Alsifar Person, something About him still Struck him as uncomforting. Alsifar's Dramatic Arrival Hadn't helped the Situation either, it only made things more confusing, and Promising to make things more clear in a Future that would never arrive.





Amoraks' Train of brooding thought was Disrupted by Jacob who tapped him once on the Shoulder and asked "do you know where Alsifar Went?"


Scanning the Camp He Noticed that Alsifar had indeed disappeared, That Irritated Amorak a little. It was Unsettling how Easily Alsifar could slip away without Being seen, and return in Like manner.


"No" Amorak Said Responding More in a Glare than in words. Jacob Backed away, a little disturbed by the Red tint that flashed in his eyes.


"You could try a Little Optimism now and again. it would Make things a lot easier in the Future for all of us." he said Walking Off toward the water.





Amorak Studied Jacob For a moment, That was An Authoritative Statement he had Just made. it also Hinted that he Had come To accept the Situation.


"ah yes, that is how the Survivalist Mind works doesn't it. Judging every aspect of everything, Determining Threats to personal Well being and Status, Determining Opportunities for Personal Interest and Continuance. all to Make sure i Survive. so that i can go on." Amorak Found himself Agreeing with the voice that had Just Spoken. Amorak admitted it out loud, and that he had to think that way to survive here...



then realizing what had happened he scowled. He had Just been Tricked into Speaking his Mind, which was something he was unaccustomed to and something he Didn't want to do. Amorak didn't even need to turn to see who it was, he knew exactly who it was.



Alsifar smiled, "i understand amorak, but there is one thing you need to understand. You are apart of a Team now, you Need to not only think for yourself but for the others. if is a matter of Trust. Be Assured No one here would Betray you, they have no reason to. They all are trying to find it in them to think for a great many other people besides themselves and Like you everyone is trying to Square with what has been Forced on them."



Amorak glanced at Alsifar, "by you" alsifar nodded, " if it makes you feel better to blame all that has happened and all that will happen on me then do, For what it’s worth I will admit it is all my fault and that there is no possible apology that I could give to anyone here for what I have done. My actions have pulled Four People from their lives to put together a shadow of a hope of Destroying a very Pervasive evil. But it wasn’t me who Took you from your life was it? i may have placed you here as you are, but i was not the one who started this for you. Deep inside however you knew that this time would come. that i would return for you. Amorak a Duty calls it is still to be seen who will answer.”


With that Alsifar stood to his Full height which was indeed very Tall, he faced Elsteba and Justor who were Sitting Silently by the Fire Justor had roused from the Ashes. Jacob Was Returning from the water side. “A Call has Been made!” Alsifars Voice Boomed across the Space between them, causing Jacob and Elsteba to Jump in Surprise, Justor turned his head slightly. Amorak rolled his eyes, talk about a flare for the dramatic,

“A Call has been made to those who Have the Courage, the Fortitude, and the sense of Right and Wrong to do what is needed! A Call to all those who Have the Potential to Change the tread of all time! A Call to those who have the Power to Rekindle the Light that Fought against the dark and to right what has been Greatly Wronged! It is You who Are before me today that meet the Standards needed! A Duty Calls Who will answer? Who will Face their Destiny! I Ask You four around me What is Your Choice? To Fight with me against the Umbering? Or to return whence you came and Leave? What Say you!” Alsifar Pointed at Justor, he stood and Faced Alsifar, “I Say, I will walk with you.” Amorak sighed and Stood as well, “ as do I” Alsifar was right, Amorak knew this had been coming and knew what he had to do.

Alsifar Pointed at Jacob, “what do you say?” Jacob Looked at the Ground, and then at his watch, he stared at it for a long moment. His Father had Done Many things To both Anger and Gladden Him, Forceing him on an Adventure was one of the things that Angered him slightly, but Jacob Knew he had to Help in some way. he Couldn't stand to Know something was wrong and not try helping fix it. “I will walk with you.” he said Meeting Alsifars Eyes.

Alsifars Gaze settled Upon Elsteba, “and what do you say Elsteba” his Voice was Calm and quiet yet it carried all the way to her. She Frowned, she had not been expecting this. Caught between wanting to help and Feeling inadequate, she remained quiet for a long time.
Her thoughts raced, how could she do any of this? what would the others think if she decided to go back? she wasn’t even supposed to be here and yet Alsifar was asking her to join them, did he really belive she could do what he asked?

“i…” she said glancing briefly at the expectant faces, alsifars slight smile sent a Shock of certainty through her mind. “I will go with you…though I don’t know how much help I will be…” Alsifar only smiled wider, “don’t think down on yourself now, that would be the last thing we need. Now as all of you agreed you would walk with me, I Propose we start now. we have a lot of ground to cover before night falls and at this point we don’t want that to happen.”

“alsifar we haven’t even had Breakfast and you want us to go somewhere?” Jacob asked Alsifar sighed, “Can’t anyone not question me just once! I brought us Food for the way but we must leave immediately!”

“why? and where ever would we go?” Justor said gesturing inland, “we are in the middle of nowhere Practically.”

“the Longer we stay here the More likely Servants of the umbering will show up and as to where we would go we need to get something from my ship so that we can leave this world. Now can we get going?!?”

“one More question” Jacob asked, “where did the food come from?”

“I don’t have time to explain everything, but Some Friends Gave it to me, you will meet them when we get to my ship.”

Their Curiosity satisfied for the moment they began the Journey, Alsifar Passed out several Packs filled with water and food. Then they were off through the impact flattened Jungle.