| "Hah, very funny," Dr. Vincent says, shaking his head. "I think initially
my counterpart had been on a quest for just such a thing, and through means
I'm not sure of, somehow was able to use his powers to return from death
in an attempt to finish what he had started. That's what I think allowed
his transformation into a ghost in the first place……"
"And now?" Inquirer asks softly, waiting for the other shoe to fall. "Now he sees the Phage as the only thing keeping your Alliance….and the Lizards from exploiting Terra," Dr. Vincent says, giving the startled AI/golem a long stare. "From what I've learned…..I'm halfway towards agreeing with him, but…..I want to hear the Alliance side before I decide to help with this cure or not." "Okaaaay," the golem says in an even voice. "So we'll talk, and I'll state our just cause and we can all be friends. You think you can help us even IF I convince you?" The female AI/Golem stares right back at the eccentric mage, as if challenging him. "I DO happen to know a thing or two about science and magic…..and
the combination of the two," the doctor cum mage says, with a small smile.
"But we should do this elsewhere because……"
"Right," Inquirer nods, suddenly seeing where the good doctor was heading.
"The longer we stick around…..the longer whoever…..has time to return!"
"Well, it'll take the ghost of me another good hour to recover from that stupid stunt he tried to pull but……I'm not certain," Dr. Vincent murmurs worriedly. "He has…..resources I never dreamed possible-- he pulled me from my world to this one somehow--and I think that he's not…..going to be as trusting of me, now. It wasn't MY fault what happened by…..he'll probably not see it that way!" "Can't we just hunt him down and….no, that's a bad idea," Inquirer mutters to herself. "The glimpse into your analogs mind gave me an impression that this place is filled with traps and tricks that would make looking for him well nigh suicidal! I have doubt we'll be able to track him down magically, for the same reasons…..he's paranoid and probably has magic spoofers or something….." "Exactly," Dr. Vincent says as he and the golem gather up the five Crystallics. "But where can we go?" the eccentric mage asks Inquirer, suddenly nervous about leaving what still appears to be his comforting Tower. "I haven't left my Tower for over thirty years! We have these Crystallics and can go anywhere, but……where's the best place?" "The only place I know where we can go, Doc." Inquirer says, still somewhat boggled at the new colors and radiating auras surrounding what she sees. One thing in particular draws her attention, for she remembers what her files had said about this dragoness. There was something very much like a….collar as thick and as strong
looking as a battleship's anchor chain encircling Malachi Dronocis' neck.
It's invisable to the mundane, naked eye, but it glows a dark blue color
in the AI/golem's new sight.
|
