|| -------- -- -----  A E R I E   O B L I V I A N A . singular book of text wandertainment by Frank Edward Nora ------------------- ----------- OFFICE COMPLEX--CUP 43--"DASHING INDEPENDENT ADVENTURER" <-------  ||  Severe Repair  ||  Office Complex  ||  -------> (Cup SRoc043, Created v2 (6/7/99), Copyright 1999) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = "V was okay?" Treyess asked. "Yeah--" Nevrippa Den said, "--he kind of backed off--well--kind of ran at full speed away from the fray. Did see something funny though. Did see that cube of his arch up and get all prickly, and flickered up. He may have something there, but he didn't stick around to find out." "Um," Ferrajalt said, "isn't like, wasn't that guy like as powerful as a god or something, or more? How could you have just beat him up like that?" Treyess looked over at Ferrajalt. "Now come on, my Prince--you know our little Nevrippa Den is a talented little filly. Credit where credit is due." "Yeah." Ferrajalt said. "Well, he deserved it if he tried to kill you like that. I knew we couldn't trust that guy. The old 'following an agreement by its letter rather than its spirit'. A sure sign of evil." "That it is." Den said. "That it is." "Oh yeah." Treyess said. "That reminds me--whatever became of those four weird people you guys told me about? You know--the ones who were--the girl who was the guy from the future, in a future incarnation, who had time travelled back to--well, you know--what happened to them?" Den nodded. "Well let me tell you about that. From our Warhomes, we're getting them all back at that Noyage Parlour, but no one feels like going all the way down there to investigate. Let them die." "Die?" Treyess said. "Shouldn't reality just come back around them?" "Well," Den said, raising her eyebrows and nodding in mock thoughtfulness, "it seems that Injy has revised his estimates a little. He says that this shaky reflection of Timber Serious may have only survived due to the supportive-array of Aconck or something. That is, this Earth's reality system was able to hang on by a thread due to Aconck, or something. I really try to understand Injy, I do. But so much of the time his figures and calculations fly right over my head." "Like all of us." Treyess said. "Yeah." Den said. "So it turns out we have to follow the Recrudescent into the Office Complex. In the planes, y'know? But I'm sticking with the ship--I'll be attached to it after all. But don't tell the others." "No, no." Treyess said. "So look guys. I don't want to take away from whatever quality time you have together. I'm gonna go help V and Vike with their work--I think they need it. So I'll see you soon?" "Yup." the Prince said. "Yeah." Treyess said, starting to sit up on the side of the bed, but keeping her lower regions covered. "We'll see you in an hour or so." "Cool. Nevrippa Den out." And the video screen went blank. Treyess chuckled. "A lot happened while we were having our fun." "Yeah." Ferrajalt said, also moving to sit on the side of the bed, and scanning the room for his clothes. "Were you embarrassed?" Treyess said with a look. "Kind of. That Nevrippa gives me the creeps sometimes." "I know what you mean, but she's a good kid." "Yeah." "So you wanna get dressed and back up there to complete this crazy mission?" "Yeah I guess." Ferrajalt said. "I think I just have to wake up a little bit more to absorb all this crap." "I know what you mean." "Come here." Ferrajalt said, and Treyess turned to face him. She was stunning, and she approached the Prince. He embraced her and stroked her cheek, looking into her eyes. "What we did here was more than just 'fun' for me. I feel for you. I feel connected to you. And I hope you feel the same." "I do." Treyess said, looking away. "It's just... it's been so long since I've had any kind of stable relationship--the thought of it is kind of novel. It's funny. On my Earth, the kind of guys that were turned on by a dashing, independent adventurer like myself always turned out to be losers and nerds. The real men always seemed to stay away from me. But you--you're a real man--I can see that in you. The blood of heroes runs through your veins. Maybe not that many generations past." "Maybe not." Treyess looked up at Ferrajalt and they kissed. "This will be our home, this Warhome." Ferrajalt said. "I will make it happen. We will find a way to keep it, maybe the same way Den is planning." A tear came to Treyess' eye as she rested her head on Ferrajalt's strong shoulder. -------> ------------------- ----------- -------- -- -----