Cannot spare the time you deserve, but....

Exotica

Synizn 2 answers her. I wouldn't have minded taking up the task, but right now I'm rather busy. Got to keep an eye out for pursuit, you know! Cannot help but listen in with half an ear, but cannot spare the time to do more than that.

"Well, the thing here is that you all are Key component carriers," he begins, correcting a misunderstanding that had come up in our conversation. "See, if only some of you had been carriers, then only some of you we could have changed into blocks with this."

And it would have taken a LOT longer to rescue all of you Dancers, I think to myself. Probably too long. The guards would have swamped us. Glad that the Rules and Agents had told us that all of the Dancers were Key Carriers, else we'd have had to try a different track for rescue.

Anyway, back to my husband!

He holds up the dector-wand, a magical device that is useful not only for detection of carriers, but the transformation of carriers. Thing is, you cannot use it on anyone (or anything) else than a carrier. To try that would be just waving around an ordinary stick, as far as you're concerned. Not only a useless gesture, it'd be a stupid one!

Still, I must admit we'd been rather hurried in our explanations. Can see where the misunderstanding came up.

"So," Synizn 2 continues, "to answer the questions you have in order asked. Will you all live forever? The short answer to that is, yes. But depending on whether or not we can get you all away from Stryke and his hunters will help determine the quality of life you'll enjoy, shall we say."

That one brings a few murmurs from the Dancers. If their treatment up until recently wasn't an indicator of what was in store for them IF their caught again, then nothing would clue them in on it! Then again, Stryke was only a "baby sitter". God only knows what kind of dismal (Hellish) life they'd lead if we lost this Quest. Don't think the Demons would be able to use them as intended, but . . . those fiends were ever so inventive in their tortures....

...

"Those carriers who are going to be used as 'Key Components'?" my husband continues. "What does that exactly mean? Well, the short of it is that in each of you is part of a puzzle, when put together would create a mystical key, capable of unlocking great power to those with evil designs. The designers, of course, being Stryke's boss . . . the forces of Hell."

Yeah, well that'd been true enough up until recently. The Key components that these carriers have within can't be used to unlock the Dark Tower (that thing that would be used to unlock "great power" for the Demons). Still, they were dangerous enough to warrant being swept up and neautralized. The Demons (or their minions) would still be able to use the components for something evil. Of that, I have no doubt what so ever! So, my love's being truthful, but being that we're kind of in a rush we just aren't able to take the time to explain in great detail (even though these Dancers are kind of deserving to know that).

Sorry, but that's how it works sometime.

Synizn 2

"Really wish I could explain more exactly what that means but we really do NOT have the time," I sigh. "Sure you understand why,"

I gesture with my head the way we'd come, hinting back the way we came: Stryke's place. Transformed or not, these Freds and one Astra (with new names or not) can take a hint.

"Oi," one of them mutters. "Do we ever!"

Good.

"Finally," I say, looking up at the quicksilver . . . woman? (just until recently this quicksilver unicorn centauress had been the splitting image of Manfox Fred, a male fox manimal). "As for your form. I cannot say whether or not you'll change on the hour into yet something new, without control. I'd be able to better answer if I was to study your condition, but again. . . ."

"We're being chased so such isn't practical," the quicksilver lass sighs. "Well, do you at least what I'm susposed to be? What manner of creature I am?"

Uh, not really. Oh, she sort of reminds me of that one villian from Terminator 2 (which my brother, Manbear Synizn, slew in another Quest, earlier today . . .by my clock).

She's NOT . . . quiet like that, but similar. Still . . . let's try to keep her away from extreme heat and cold, shall we?

....

"Fear I do not, lass." I sigh. "Not really."

"Lovely," she sighs, chest heaving a little bit (like a regular, flesh and blood being would have). Can see she's bothered by that news. Might even begin to feel she's some kind of one of a kind freak?

"BUUUURRRPPPP!" a small figure belches from the side, adding to this conversation.

Hm, seems that our little one just got finished with her breast feeding. Nice to see that Joan knows to burp a baby after they're fed. Infants can get rather fussy if their stomachs build up too much gas. Painful, really.

Learned that from visits to various Freds and Astras whilst they'd been raising their children, you know.

Joan finishes up by changing the little ones diapers (she'd soiled herself, no longer having the bladder control she'd enjoyed as an adult).

Not wishing to leave anything behind to use against us (to magically track us by), I cast a spell causing the soiled diapers to disintegrate.

"Wish we could say more but it's time," I say, waving the wand. "Sorry."

The dancers are back into their block forms, quickly being gathered up by my companions. Well, at least we did the Dancers the courtesy of introducing ourselves and explaining just why things are happening to them, even IF it was sort of . . . abrupt.

Best we can do. We've got a LONG way to go tonight before we can dare rest for the night (and hope that we're not tracked down too soon). Soon enough, we'll need to rest.

At least we also got that stupid ring and clothing off the bear. Lord in Heaven, I've got to wonder how HE will live, after this is done. Don't how many of these Dancers will opt to join the Champions, but somehow I've got a feeling he might opt to go with another Court. If he'd become a Champion, he'd be stuck with a form without the benefit of arms or voice. Eventually we mages might be able to teach him how to telekinetically move things with his mind . . . but that's only if that bear form has the genes for it (iffy at best, most likely not). If he doesn't, then he'll be stuck with trying to use just paws (hardly useful for fine tool handling, eh).

Oh, but those Demons had done a terrible thing there...

Well, one thing at a time, mage! Handle the things you can and trust in the Lord for the rest. Sometimes that is all one can do, you know.

1. Do hope that our hunters have the good taste in not stumbling over our hidden camp whilst we try to recuperate from our flight, though.

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