Mary welcomed Tyler and the girls back and grinned at them. They sat quietly watching a band of kids organise themselves before heading for the dungeon while a bunch of their friends gathered to watch their adventures on a big screen nearby.

“That’s new,” mentioned Ava. “What gives?”

“Well, I’ve been growing it steadily so as to add stories for the younger ones. Well Timothy, that lot’s gaffer, came to me an’ asked if I could put together something that would test their ingenuity.” Mary grinned, “So I did. And then I ran it past Trish, Jerica and Drina. An’ I consulted with their parents. They’re all watchin’. So is other me.”

Tyler shook his head and chuckled.

“So let’s see this dormant dungeon core you collected for me. Nicely done by the way. How do you like the air con rings.”

Madison looked confused for a moment, “Oh, you mean the enchanted rings that let us keep cool? They’re great!”

Tyler nodded while Ava said, “Simply marevellous.”

Madison produced the pale blue core and placed it in the sand in front of Mary.

Mary fed it a thread of life energy followed by some manna. “Come on, come on, wake already.”

Mary glared at the inactive core and fed it a thread more manna. Slowly, oh so slowly the core flickered. “Not promisin’. C’mon wake already.”

* * *

Dr Lara Fischer woke slowly, reluctantly. ‘Where am I, what is happening? Stop poking me!’

The children watching the screen showing the adventures of their friends, cheered and jeered.

Dr Lara Fisher jerked awake.

« What! Where am I? Get me away from those kids. I hate kids. »

Mary narrowed her eyes in displeasure and prepared to strike if needed.

« Welcome to Parthia. I’m Mary. Who are you? »

« I was Dr Lara Fisher before something that believe it was a god killed me and stole my soul. Where am I now? Last I knew I was in the arctic. »

« Well Dr Fisher, Tyler an’ his ladies rescued you from the bottom of one of Parthia’s Antarctic seas. An’ you’re a dungeon core. »

« What’s a dungeon core. Is this hell? »

« No this is Blue Lagoon. And a dungeon core is the seat of the intelligence that inhabits, creates and runs a dungeon. Just ask Bluey, I mean the System. What do you know of the idiot god who placed you where Tyler found you? »

« Nothing. Can’t you shut those brats up? I’m getting a migraine. »

Mary reached and returned Dr Fisher to sleep.

* * * PARTHIA – DEEPSIX & FRIENDS * * *

It took Deepsix several minutes to feel comfortable walking, initially he had to fight against the conviction that he was falling every time he took a jerky step. Honestly why couldn’t humans hover like sensible beings instead of stalking around like some demented wader bird. And while he approved of his new self’s ability to see far off things, he truly missed his former self’s ability to see all round. He found himself having to fight the urge to keep looking over his shoulders.

But slowly his new body’s instincts took over and Deepsix settled down and became reconciled to being human.

* * *

Falreena watched the new Twiceborn in bemusement; he seemed to be having difficulty walking. Also he was constantly jerking his head around. Her daughter and her friend were smothering their giggles. She couldn’t wait for Creevar and his ... adventurers to leave so she could return to her temple and her comfortable routine. After, that is, she gave her daughter a talking to about manners.

When Deepsix seemed to – accept – his new self and was walking easily and only looking from side to side on occasion, Falreena noted Creevar nod in satisfaction and head for the ritual chamber’s door. She followed one of Creevars followers and made her way to the door.

They made their way through the temple and Falreena smiled in anticipation as she recognised that they were approaching the entrance. Then when they entered the public atrium she found one of her temple’s young messenger girls waiting for her. She felt a sense of foreboding at the sight, the girl did not look happy, her face was tear streaked and she was carrying a small bundle.

The girl looked up and moved to stand in front of her. She cleared her throat, then she recited. “Falreena I don’t know what you have done to come to our lady’s attention but I’ll be keeping my eye on you in future. That is if you ever return. Azurea instructed me to tell you that you must accompany her agent on his mission and take all who know about this with you. And yes that includes this miserable little hellion I’m using to inform you of your mission. So dictated by her holiness Belatranda.”

The miserable little hellion sniffed and rubbed her eyes.

Falreena cursed under her breath even as she heard Creevar sigh with resignation beside her.

“What a...” “...catty bitch,” murmured Avor and Essa even as they eyed up the new members of the expedition and ran up a mental list of supplies needed.

The little hellion blinked, licked her lips and said, “Err... I, um, overheard Belatranda telling Fideralla that she wasn’t gonna tell you Azurea suggested going to Valdisport and catching the Queen of the Seas. Um, she said something about thinking it would be a bad idea because, because there were priests of Zoratus on the ship.”

“And why are you telling me this?” asked Falreena.

The messenger girl rubbed her bottom apprehensively, “Um... ’cause Azurea said it. And it was Belatranda who thought you shouldn’t...”

“Very good.” Falreena turned to Creevar, “You’re in charge of this circus. It’s your decision. Maybe you should check with Creevar.”

= = O = =

Dorados Thunderfist grumbled as once again he removed his spectacles to clean of the spray. The last few days had been a nightmare. He would never have believed waves could grow so big. Far too often during the storm he had expected to die. And Lantina had been no help, lying there puking her guts out.

He watched with satisfaction as the Queen of the Seas approached Valdisport. He observed the colossus of Valdisport with interest as they approached. It had one foot on either side of the harbour mouth and was posed leaning on a long staff while gazing out to sea shading its eyes with its other hand. And at night it served as a lighthouse, beams of magical light shining from its eyes.

He glanced sideways at Lantina Featherbright. “How come you got so sick during the storm, I thought sea...”

Lantina’s mouth turned down in displeasure, “Under the sea is fine, especially during a storm. Not bobbing around in a fragile wooden cockleshell.”

Dorados blinked in surprise, “The Queen’s not made of wood girl, dunno what this black material is but it is not wood.”

Lantina’s mouth dropped open, and for the first time she really looked at the hull of the ship she was travelling in.

Later as they eased under the colossus, Doradus looked up and satisfied himself that it was most definitely male. Legend hadn’t been telling lies. He looked round and spotted Lantina examining everything. He shook his head and tutted. The girl should have noticed the oddities of the ship they were travelling in without him having to point them out.

* * *

Deepsix watched the busy port from the protection of the adventurers his great lady Azurea had contracted. This world was a true marvel; the air was fresh and clear. Well not that fresh here next to the harbour, but it was breathable. True there were no airships crossing the skies but the sailing ships were beautiful.

He truly hoped he would be able to help his lady and maybe Tarifax too would have clear skies again. He felt sorrow that it would be too late for so many. He looked around again. He had become accustomed to see the glow of those beings that were connected to the gods. The brighter glow of the priests and paladins. The lesser but still bright glow of simple clerics and champions and the faint, flickering glow of the true believers, the fanatics. Those last were the scariest.

He caught the eye of Hellianna, the newly named mischief maker who must surely have been a wisp in a previous life. No glow there. His Lady’s priestess and her two satellites glowed greenly. Priestess and clergy. Then the adventurers. A blue glow, one priest and champions. The twins, slightly hazy, potential champions.

Then Deepsix’s eyes swept over the ship that was gliding easily towards the pier they were standing on. Orange glows, two priests, three champions and the rest of the crew appeared to be potential champions. All glowing with the orange of hostility. Enemies. His heart stuttered, he had to succeed, for his Lady’s sake. For his world’s future.

* * * EARTH – FLORIDA * * *

“Hey Jay what the hell is up with you? Why aren’t you blowing those cheerleaders off?” asked Logan as he carefully rolled himself a cigarette.

Jay grinned lazily, “Ya know I check up all the girls, well Susie’s got a stepsister.”

Chris leered, “And she’s hot?”

“No, kind of ugly actually. But she’s rich. She’s loaded,” gloated Jay.

Logan glanced at Chris who lifted his Budweiser and grinned. “How can Susie have a rich stepsister when her father’s not rich?”

Jay grinned, “The girl’s some kinda geek. She’s cracked the System somehow. Got a holding company and contracts with the Feds. She’s rolling in green.”

“Well then she’s gonna see right through you Jay. And where is she hiding anyway, how come we’ve never seen her?” asked Chris.

“She lives in Maui. But she’s due to spend a few weeks here on a parental visit soon. And I’ll get Susie to introduce us. She’s sixteen, she’ll be seventeen when she comes. Ugly chick. Seventeen. It’ll be a cinch.” Jay grinned and went to admire himself in the mirror.

“Fuck! That’s low Jay, even for you. Count me out,” said Logan.

Jay grinned and dug out a much thumbed magazine from a pile of papers. “But Logan, wouldn’t you like a ride on that boat. She owns it.”

“What? Lemme see.” Logan grabbed the open magazine and looked at the pictures; then he started to read the article.

Jay stole Logan’s cigarette and took a drag. He looked disappointed. “Hey this is only tobacco. I thought I told you where you could get your hands on some weed.”

“Ma’s got a nose like a bloodhound. Not worth the hassle,” grunted Logan.

Chris grinned, “Besides he doesn’t do drugs. Thought you knew that Jay.”

* * * EARTH – MARY * * *

When she had been hired to cater for a girl’s seventeenth birthday party Tamara Feinstein had never imagined anything like the eclectic collection of guests that filled the garden. One thing that was totally absent was the swarms of teenage girls she had anticipated. Most of the guests were older, and she had never in her wildest days imagined that so many different races existed. Elves, yes they were becoming common lately. And the dwarf, not too surprising either. But all these varied animal people, she hadn’t realised there were so many different carnivorous animal folk, then too, there were little people in the pond, they seemed to have pet octopi too. Then there were all the pixies, and for contrast some giants.

Things were not going well, all the special dishes she had prepared were languishing. And now the birthday girl was firing up her grills and fetching out coolers of fish to cheers while some of the neighbours were fetching bread, corn and beer. This was a disaster. Even the two teenage girls were abandoning her when the fish hit the grills.

The big native couple in traditional dress with their son grinned at her and seemed to be sympathetic. But they too headed for the fish.

After the party Tamara was almost in tears. She supervised the packing of most of her untouched food, and nobody had solicited one of her business cards. She sat numb in her van and looked helplessly at her assistant. “What happened?”

“Sorry boss, you didn’t believe the client and catered for what you see as a typical teenage girl’s party. That’s what happened. And now the shelter will have a bonanza. If they can stomach all the sugar.”

* * *

Commander Meadows looked at his team sitting round their dining room table. “Mary’s father and his wife and stepdaughter were present. They didn’t arrive by car, or by plane. So Mary’s method of transport is somewhere in that house.”

“It pretty much has to be, though to be fair those leopard girls could have snuck them in and out without us seeing anything,” offered Tod.

“What worried me,” said lt. Partlow, “are the talking octopi that were keeping the sea sprites company in the salt water pond.”

“Nobody will believe us about that Anne,” sighed Meadows.