| Ensign Edward Solomon absently stroked his new fox tail as he looked
over the strange equations written out on the chalkboard in front of him.
He was totally out to sea in amazement. He had seen much evidence that
the local natural development of this parallel world had been seriously
compromised by the Outsiders….but even IF the Alliance had somehow given
this….Sigin Vulpine…..the secrets of advanced quantum physics…..
"I don't have a clue how he had come up with this!" Solomon mutters
to himself as he traced the equation to it's logical….but brilliant conclusion.
He understood what it said, but he was at a lose at just HOW this small….local
had come upon it.
Hell, this answered some of Solomon's more vexing questions about the
nature of subspace.….
They had said that mages here were able to manipulate the magical ether
(at least up until….some type of magical transportation system collapsed)
to look into other worlds. He hadn't figured what that exactly entailed
until…now!
"Mother of God," Solomon swears quietly to himself.
"More like Mother Tiamat…..if I was in the habit of taking a divine
beings name in vain," another young seeming voice says behind the new demifox.
"I trust, however, that you DON'T do that anywhere near where I'm standing…..I'd
rather NOT be struck by lightning!"
Solomon turns in surprise, his fox ears erect in surprise! He hadn't
even heard the other demifox enter the room!
Solomon noted that the demifox mage has a look upon his face that was
halfway serious….halfway joking. Given the strange nature of this world….where
magic existed…..perhaps Solomon SHOULD watch his language?
"I trust you've gotten used to your new body?" Sigin continues, breaking
into a smile. "I trust that that wolfbane extract was palpable enough.
Goodness knows, even neutralizing my sense of smell…..I was hard pressed
in handling that vile stuff!"
"Uh….it…did the trick, sir," Solomon demurrers, glad that the uncomfortable
process of…mutation….had been sped up to an eye blink with the thick drink
he had forced down his throat. He'd rather havr been cured, but the slow
process that he had been going through in his metamorphosis…..bleh!
"Sir, I was curious….why did you want to see me?" Solomon asks, curious.
"And….how did you….do that?"
Sigin nods, smiling.
"Actually, that has something to do with what I wanted to talk with
you about," the demifox mage says. "I was hoping that my little theorem
would intrigue you. I was hoping that….you might be interested in a position
with me….working in that line of work. I can guarantee…you'll learn that
and much MORE….with me. Interested?"
"Hey," sighs Solomon. "With the alternative is a dull and Spartan existence
in that demifox settlement up near that strange town…… Where do I sign
up?"
"Here, but I'd….." Sigin begins to say as he, with a flourish, produces
a vellum scroll and a prosaic fountain pen from the sleeves. Solomon, an
eyebrow raised in surprise up towards the mop of reddish hair he now is…..blessed
with….nods and quickly signs the dotted line.
Solomon has time enough to note with surprise how….red the ink is from
the pen he used….when he doubles over in surprise as something seems to
sweep throughout his entire being.
"Apprentice," Sigin sighs as he rolls up the compact that the naïve
ensign had signed. "First lesson you'd better learn real quickly is to
READ something before you sign it….and just WHAT the 'ink' actually is!"
Solomon begins to pant as his heart races like a racehorse. A dire need
has taken a hold of him….and it's building to painful proportions.
|
