Eternity Incorporated

"But the same manipulations that caused what they wanted to happen to the Q also had a few unexpected side effects," Dr What guessed. "Something that allowed Elrondir to get eventually to Terra Prime?"

Hmmm, that sounds similar to some of the magical lessons that my love is trying to teach me....about how ultra-powerful magical manipulations can have unforeseen side effects, Li'reth thinks to herself.

Ke'lan (aka Grailing), no longer was able to cast spells but still had the knowledge....and a deep love of teaching....especially to those who he loved.

"No....not really," Rule 1 smiled, "How he ended up on Terra Prime....the details.....Well, we'll discuss that when your minds have......matured enough to be able to handle it. "

Betty 1 and 2 suppress a chuckle at the slighly ruffled look the Doctors give the Rule at that one!

"But it did allow the then still AI seeker to be blipped into Nod.....something that should have been impossible....and I mean impossible," Agent 1 says, shaking his head at the memory.

"Several other effects have been that several universes like the one that Feir-dalen came from even had to be....well....reset at a certain point in time....reversing the clock a decade or so....to avoid total universal collapse into chaos and evil," the Angel put in, "Oh indeed, the Demons shouted when the Order came out for those Resets....taking away several prize 'trophies' of theirs!"

"And of course that now leads me to the last part of this little revelation of the Demons dirty laudry," Rule 1 smiled....Seeing into another Realm the Demons in question sweating in fear, "The one rogue demon known as the Brazen Man wasn't such a rogue as the Head Demon would have wanted us to believe! The old boy had wanted the Man to indeed do much of what it had done....only to have been betrayed when the Brazen Man doublecrossed him. Well, the short of it is that the Head Demon had sanctioned the destruction of that universe that Astra and Fred 11 visited. He had thought that when the Agents of Chaos were called in to help with delivering the deceased to their Afterlife Reward....well....."

"I....remember that the one Agent I saw who'd taken care of that one elf....Kuriel....having a heated argument about how that Devil was mistaken about the Office of Chaos not being in the same court as the Office of Evil," Li'reth mutters, frowning.

"You mean to say that this Head Demon caused this destruction of that Elfquest universe because they thought that the Agents would side with them when they attempted to grab a few extra souls?!" she says, aghast, "It was a bid for something like....what....more trophies?!"

"I'm afraid that's what they wanted," the Rule sighs, holding up some documents.

"And then there is the plot to have the Enemy, after plundering the Federation universe, to trounce their Alliance enemies....then spread out and REALLY cause damage and destruction," Agent 1 says, holding up some other documents he'd stumbled across.

Casefiles and paperwork....the stuff that these Celestrial bureaus are made up of....it seems, Li'reth thinks to herself, At least.....that's what the Rules and Agents are made up of....or something like that.....

"And we prevented an even worse version of the Enemy/Alliance war with rival time travelers," Astra 12 mutters, remembering what had happened back in the Death Zone.

"I do believe.....that will do it and then some," the Angel says....then blinks as he senses the Demons in question being Destroyed by the Higher Ups.

"Indeed," Rule 1 says, "Whatever the case, I think that that will be the last of that......"

The Champions aren't sure they want to ask what that exactly means.

A bit more of discussion reveals to the Champions that despite the recent revelations the Office of Evil's challenge still stands....and there still is the Unseelie Court to face for the other Andrea's life.

After Astra 8A and Jarlath (who's still dressed in rags) are given decent clothing and the Representative of Good leaves, the Rule asks whether or not they'd like to become Champions.

Of course they do, Li'reth says to herself as she watches them accept the offer, They have no future here, now, in this world with all that's unfolded. Welcome to the D'Honaire/Thessamer/John Clan, folks!

The Agent and Rule disappear and leave their Champions to decide their next course of action.

Several things are decided. The group will break into three smaller groups. The Doctors will go off with a select group....along with Andrea and warn King Embry about the fate Andrea's lands and warn of several possible of Minestus' plots. Another group will go off to attempt to contact this world's version of the Council of Wyrms or whatever passes for the government of the Nation of Dragons (assuming that there is such here). If nothing else, they'll listen to a bunch of rogue dragons who warn of a human who dares to enscroll one of their own in slumber for his (Minestus') machinations. Jarlath, who had Envisioned some of what the Great Pretender planned, suggested this course of action.

The last group would have Li'reth in it (despite protests from some). She wouldn't stay out of the action (being a hero had grown on the former human actress). She and several others would go out to the lair of Minestus and "neutralize" him in one way or another. Both Astra 8 and Astra 8a remembered the way in.....

They also decide on a name for this strange group of adventurers. The Betties look at the Doctors, smile, and then suggest Eternity Incorporated. They all seem to enjoy the irony in the name, and so it is their groups name.

The Champions had one weapon that the Unseelie Court did not: speed. Flight by griffin and dragonback was VERY swift.

And off they go, and relatively soon (after dragon wings strain themselves to get maximum speed) they arrive at their destinations....

Which group do we follow?

1. Li'reth's goup?
2. The Doctors group?
3. The dragon council seeker's group?