A Matter of Succession

"Just what the frell is going on here?" Betty said, although she feared she already knew the answer.

"I'm afraid you're not on the Earth you knew." the janitor grinned evilly. "You're still in the Extend-a-Story game world, and in the power of my Master."

"Who is this Master you speak of?" Astra asked.

"Lord Lothar Gates, second-in-line for the succession to the Throne of Nerds. No one knows about Bill Gates' brother and for good reason. He has kept himself well out of sight, waiting for the day he could take the throne that is rightfully his. And your proposed wedding to Bill is too much of a threat for him to ignore. Bill Gates must die without siring an heir, or all of my Master's work will be for naught."

"Oh." Betty laughed. "Well now you're being ridiculous. I never meant to marry Bill Gates. His evil clone kidnapped me, and meant to make me his bride, but fortunately that situation was fixed."

"That doesn't matter." the evil janitor hissed. "You're much too dangerous to be kept alive."

The janitor reached for a gun well concealed in his pants. Betty gasped as the barrel of the weapon swiveled toward her, and suddenly Astra lunged. It all happened too quickly. One second the gun was pointing at Betty - and the next the janitor was laying on the ground screaming in pain, his arm broken. Astra examined the gun "What sort of weapon is this?" she asked.

"Damn you." the janitor said. "You won't escape, not after all you've heard. Lothar Gates will hunt you down to the ends of the Multiverse."

"Shut up!" Astra said, giving him a kick to the ribs and pointing the gun at him - but the wrong end of it. Betty took it from her gently and pointed it the right way.

"Much as I dislike violence," Betty said "I'm afraid I must now ask you a few questions."

"Go to hell." the janitor snarled and bit something in his teeth. Almost instantly he was frothing at the mouth, and then he lay dead.

"Well that's just great." Betty said. She thought of her safe, comfortable house, and wondered if she would ever see it again.

1. Betty and Astra debate their next move.
2. Meanwhile Fred and Velus...
3. Meanwhile Bill Gates and Attackur...
4. "Come toward the light." a voice was telling Ryu. "I can't!" he cried. "Come toward the light." the voice repeated insistently.

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