31st May
18:32 GMT
"What did you actually…
Ugh."
I try making out what Mister Kipling is working on. The image is a
little clearer now, but I'm a way off getting fine details. "Problem?"
"No, no,
done. I don't know how you plan to wire your
sword in, but the robot and the speaker are thoroughly bodged together."
"Right." I reach back with my right hand, take hold of my daiklave and spin it before jamming it point first into the stone floor.
"Hey! Less fancy swordplay when you can't see what you're doing!"
"Not an option. I'm the Apokoliptian God of Conquest. When I perform spiritual acts I must do so in a thematically appropriate mode, leaving my mark on the stone." I bend down, feeling along the blade.
Open.
"What did you do to Derek? I didn't think anything could hurt him any more."
"See the little sword in my scabbard?" Ah, Apokoliptian technology. The wires exist purely to convey the idea of connection. I detach one from the Transferral Node and then gently feel around for a suitable connection point on the object Mister Kipling has put together.
"Y
es. Wasn't that what you used to decapitate Klarion?"
I nod. "It was made to slay the First of the Fallen. Sabbac Two used it to cut off Captain Marvel's arms. I have yet to encounter a creature it can't harm."
"I thought he was invulnerable."
"I don't believe in invulnerability. I was a bit surprised by how much punishment he took-."
"Oh, the Eye knitted him back together after every
hit. I was wondering how you finished him off. Stab to the brain as you did with Sabbac? Or was separating his head from the gem enough to prevent further regeneration?"
"No idea. I was blind at the time, so I just used your amulet." I find a suitable attachment point and stand, both hands going around my daiklave's hilt. "Okay, I'm probably going to need your help making this work. Watch what I'm doing and nudge it along if you see an-."
"My
amulet?"
"Yes. Is there something wrong with that?"
"Puts us on a bit of a clock, yes. That thing is only designed to keep someone contained for a few minutes. The only reason why he isn't already free is because we're on our own demiplane."
"So did he get wiped or will he reappear the moment we break out?"
"The latter. Give it here, I'll see if I can-."
I shake my head. "I don't trust you that much."
"He'll know I've helped you. He won't consider saving myself to be an adequate excuse!"
"So are you.. going to ask me for sanctuary, or are you just planning on hiding and hoping it blows over?"
"As long as he doesn't see us together I'm sure that I can come up with something. He wasn't expecting me to actually
fight you."
"I'll think about it. Now, let's focus on the job at hand." I tighten my grip around the hilt. This is the first time I've tried anything this
complicated…
He was right. I can feel the daiklave, the robot parts and -dimly- the castle itself. Ugh, the minuscule nature of this false universe makes me feel unwell as I try to make sense of it. No, no. I'm not the God of Intellect. Think like a conqueror.
I stop feeling out the pattern and pull. I have taken this castle! Slain or subjugated its defenders! By Right of Conquest this is my domain!
The speaker crackles slightly
as I feel the castle trying to resist. Doesn't feel directed at me in any sort of complex way, just the resistance of any system already in motion.
"Allow me, Mister Grayven. Just a…
Little… Alteration…"
And everything snaps into focus. I still don't know what the parts of the system do and I'm not about to try fiddling with them. I might hit whatever it is that is keeping my ring inactive and I might hit whatever it is maintaining this demiplane and dump us into the Dreaming. Or worse, the Bleed. Instead, I try feeling outwards, letting my Conqueror's Ambition run wild. I will take all that is out there! Summon My Vassals!
"…ast as me, but he is far stronger than I am."
My eyes snap open as I hear Miss Amane's voice. Come on, keep talking.
"Iname, the man you are fighting is almost certainly the British superhero Tri-Man."
Glad that Doctor Robbins is keeping things organised.
"A superhero? No, tell me what he can do!"
"Enhanced speed, strength and augmented vision. Don't bother trying to hide."
"Understood."
"And avoid lethal force if at all possible! The last thing we need is a fight with Superman as well."
"Yes Ma'am."
I raise my eyebrows at Mister Kipling. "Anything you feel like sharing at this juncture?"
"Compartmentalisation is the name of the game, I'm afraid. I didn't even know other offensive operations were being planned."
"Mister Tawny, report."
"Tawny?"
"My Tiger." Actually, what exactly does she expect him to say?
"Forgive my taciturnity, Doctor." What? That's.. his voice, but without my ring I shouldn't get a translation. Since when can he speak English out loud? "Fighting giant invisible robots is
not as easy as I make it look."
"You have a talking Tiger?"
"Apparently." And how is he working a radio with paws?
"Is Miss Selton safe?"
"Giant robot, so,
no. She's not injured, and-. Ah, one moment. Bally blighter's trying to get
clever."
I turn my head towards Mister Kipling. "Giant robot?"
"The
Brain has a monstrous chassis. I've no idea why they thought it was a good idea to deploy it in Superman's home city."
He's not that hard to distract. Had one or two plans to arrange for that to happen myself. "Giant
invisible robot?"
"Presumably they want plausible deniability. Oh, you mean 'how is it invisible'?"
"
Yes."
"Technology derived from Crandell's gauntlet. Not really my department."
This sounds like a fight I should be involved in. I mean, I suppose the point of having competent subordinates is that they can fight without me watching over them the whole time… "Do you know where Vera Black is?"
"As far as I know she's still in the house you were trying to get to. With Chester around we were limited to using robotic drones for observation and couldn't risk a strike team being anywhere near the place."
"Would anyone else using a hush tube to get there end up
here?"
"Not now, no. Why, did someone come through before you?"
"No."
Find My Heir. "How about someone leaving it?"
"Wouldn't affect them."
"
Attack a fooking school fulla fooking kids, will yeh?!"
Ah, good. Sounds like Chester's in fine form. And looking after Lynne. Must remember to thank him. "Any idea why your people are going after the Centre for Paranormal Research?"
"None."
"Alright, sounds like my people are managing. Any ideas on getting us out of here yet?"
**
Daddy?**
