The world is my oyster

The weather cleared and we are off to Safeton. If things go well, we'll be there early.

Being an adventurer is kind of like being in the military: Hours and hours of boredom, followed by seconds of stark terror. Fortunately, we don't have to salute anyone.

For the past few days the trip has been B-O-R-I-N-G. It's times like this I miss my internet and iPod. Man, if I just had an x-box 360....

I complaining about the boredom, but in reality it's probably a good thing. There have been no bandits and no attacks from humanoids. This is largely because the elemental temple is no more. And I mean no more. The whole fricking building collapsed into the ground. I mentioned all of this to the gang and it prompted an interesting question from Anna.

"How did you know how to destroy the temple anyway? Is it because of the game thing?"

"Game?" Kantos Kan said. We had gotten into the habit of just calling my sword Kan. "What game do you speak of."

I had told them about the game thing earlier, that this world was just a game in my world. We hadn't discussed it in a while, and certainly not in Kan's presence.

So, I dove in. I explained everything about the game Dungeons and Dragons. I rattled off as many city and country names as I could think of to prove my point. I throughout some spell names, which made Marc raise an eyebrow. I even explained the rules a little.

"This is all just a game on your world," Audry said. "To be honest, I don't think I've accepted that."

"So we are play things to you?" Saul asked, a little more forcefully than I expected.

"Not really," I said as calmly as I could. "On my world we don't know about the existence of other worlds. My world has no idea that this world exists."

"But you know so much of it," Marc said. "That would suggest that, if this game is as ubiquitous as you suggest, that many others know of it as well."

"Everyone back home thinks that the Flanaess, Greyhawk, and so forth, are all fiction," I said. "Two guys named Gary Gygax and Frank Mentzer invented this game where the players could pretend to be adventurers. They created a world, this one, to play the game in. No one has any idea the world really exists."

"Little do they know," Kan said. "It seems to be more than a coincidence."

"Perhaps this Gygax and Mentzer had been here before," Marc said.

I shrugged. "Maybe. I guess if I got here than they must have as well."

"It would explain some things," Saul said. "Forgive me, but your people seem both highly intelligent and yet ignorant about a great many things."

I nodded. "Yeah, sure seems like that now that I'm here. But you know, there maybe something else at play here. Maybe Gygax and Mentzer really don't know that this world is real."

"What, lucky guess?" Anna said. "I kinda doubt it."

"What he means is that thought is real," Kan said. "So are the rules of the planes."

"Uh, ex-squeeze me?" Anna said.

"This world is but one of many in the prime material plane," Kan said. "And the prime plane is but one of many planes."

"Oh, I gotcha," Anna said. "The nine hells, the seven heavens--"

"The proper names would be Baator and Mount Celestia, respectively," Kan said. "There are also the planes of Bytopia, the Abyss, Arcadia, Ghenna, the Wastes, and more. These planes surround the Outlands."

"And Sigil is the center of the Outlands," I said.

"You know of Sigil, eh?" Kan said.

"Part of the game," I said. "You forgot the inner planes of fire, earth, air, and water."

"I did not forget," Kan said. "I was getting to that. Plus the Astral plane, the Ethereal, the energy planes...the multiverse is a big place."

"And they are ruled by thought?" Audry said.

"Indeed," Kan said. "The inner elemental planes gave birth to the prime plane and its infinite worlds. The intelligent life on that arose on those worlds gave rise to the outer planes. That is the secret of the multiverse--thought is real, matter is illusion."

"What Dreams May Come," I said. Everyone looked at me strangely. "Uh, never mind. But I get your meaning, Kan. On my world there is a theory of highly advanced mathematics called string theory, which eventually gave way to the more powerful theory called M-theory. These theories talk about how all objects are wave forms, but those wave forms are not real objects until they collapse. And wave forms collapse when they are observed."

"Sounds like you and the sages of Greyhawk would get along great," Saul said. "But what does this have to do with your world dreaming of ours and not realizing we are real?"

"There are two possibilities," Kan said. "First, in the process of believing this world exists, that belief created our world. On the outer planes, if enough people believe in something it becomes real."

"But we have many centuries of history," Audry said. "That seems so unlikely."

"Not if the original fiction included a large back drop of history," Kan said. "It wouldn't be the first time. Of course, this is only one possibility."

"I think I know what the other is," I said. "Gygax and Mentzer, along with others, wanted a fictional world in which to play their game. They 'dreamed up' this world, never realizing that it was real."

"Thought is real," Kan said. "It is possible in the process of inventing their fiction they were merely channeling information about a real place. A scholar in Sigil once speculated that there was no such thing as fiction. All creativity is merely a reflection of a real thing or a real place."

"Ah, too deep for me," Anna said. "Whatever. All that really matters is where we are and what we are doing."

That sounded like something Yoda would say.

"Indeed, young lady," Kan said. "It is what we do that matters, and what we do with what we have right now."

That pretty much ended the conversation. Oh, we bantered back and forth about various things, but we avoided the topic of Greyhawk the game. I can imagine how unsettling it would be to learn that everything you live and die for is just a game to a bunch of people on some other world. It makes my world sound indifferent. In truth, if people knew that Oerth, the Flanaess, and everyone in it were real, they would take it much more seriously. They might even want to come here.

Take my word on this one: You don't want to be here. I lucked out and fell in with the right group. I could have easily have ended up troll dinner. If I had come across some humanoids before I met Saul I would be dead. You may think you are prepared for this world, but believe me, you're not. I don't care how many gaming books you've read.

Sometimes I still think I'm not ready for this. If the problems Dame Gold has are what I think they are, I don't think I want to be there.

A sword by any other name....

As I have mentioned before, my sword can talk. I found it--or him, rather--in the elemental nodes of the elemental temple. It was lying near a skeleton (the previous owner, I assumed).

"So who was that guy," I asked it one day.

"He was a great and powerful paladin in service of Saint Cuthbert," the sword said. "I would hope you could do as well."

"Well, I'm doing okay so far. Don't you think?"

The sword said nothing, which said a lot in and of itself.

The mayor came to us yesterday and asked if we would participate in a ceremony before we left town. Basically, he wanted to give us the keys to the town.

"A true warrior does not fight for fame," my sword said. "He fights for the welfare of the people."

"I agree," I said, "but it would mean a lot to everyone in town. That's good for the welfare of the people, isn't it?"

He made a gesture in my mind that I associated with a shrug. "Very well," he sighed. "What is required?"

The Mayor went over the ceremony with us, much of which was pretty routine. He would introduce us and give us a medal in the form of a key (how quaint). The subject of names came up, and that's when we realized something.

"What is your name anyway?" Anna asked my sword.

"Hey, yeah," I said. "What do we call you?"

"It never occurred to you until now to ask me such a thing?" the sword said.

"Well," I said, "the idea of a talking sword has weirded me out a little bit. I guess it never occurred to me."

"Weirded you out?" the sword said. "I'm not quite sure how to take that."

"As a compliment, I'm sure," Audry said. "You are quite unique after all."

"I suppose," the sword said.

"So, what is your name?" Anna asked.

The sword shrugged in my mind once more. "I'm afraid I don't have one."

"You don't?" Saul said. "What kind of sword are you?"

"A good one," he said. "Not to mention sharp."

"I'm terrified," Saul said. "Seriously, you need a name."

"A name would be helpful, sir," the Mayor said. "It would be better than simply calling you 'the sword.'"

"An excellent point, Mr. Mayor," Marc said. He regarded my sword that I had laid out on the table. "Perhaps you should decide."

"Ah," the sword said. "Well, I'm not sure what kind of name I should choose."

"Yeah," I said. "Every good sword needs a name. Like Sting, or Stormbringer. Or Excalibur."

"What dreadful names," the sword said.

We went through a list of names, all of which the sword hated. At one point he wanted to give up, but when Anna suggested names like "Cutter" and "Pokey" the sword realized he would have to come up with something or be stuck with a silly nickname.

Finally I suggested the name Kantos Kan. I didn't think he'd take it, even though it seemed appropriate to me.

"Interesting," the sword said. "I like it. Kantos Kan it is. Where did you get it?"

That was an interesting discussion. After reading journal excerpts to them, everyone knew John Carter was not my real name. I explained where the name came from and who Kantos Kan was. It had been awhile since I read any Burroughs.

"An appropriate name," Marc said when I was finished. "For both of you."

"If you don't mind me asking," Audry said, "what is your real name?"

I told them.

"Eh, John Carter sounds better," Anna said.

--------------------

The ceremony went well. We wore our medals proudly. Frankly, I think this was just as much of an honor as getting knighted. Kantos Kan made me hold him high as he gave a speech. I don't remember much of it, only that my arm got tired. The crowd, however, was enthralled. It probably had more to do with the fact that it was a sword giving a speech than the speech itself.

Then we partied hard. The sword was the only one sober, even though I poured numerous drinks on him (much to his outrage). I remember dancing with this beautiful brunette and playing air guitar (again) on a table. Look, if you are an American male, you've played air guitar. Don't deny it, you've done it.

Someone helped up the stairs to my room. I think it was Audry. I awoke the next morning with a smashing headache. I gotta stop doing this.

That was a couple of days ago. Lately, we have been up at Hommlet Keep (the name of Burne's and Rufus's little castle here in town). There is still some construction that needs to be done and I've been supervising. Yes, supervising. One nice thing about an advanced education--the math. The idea of the Pythagorean theorem just baffles everyone. I remember my Algebra and that's about it, but it's far more than most people have. In short, it's made me a temporary engineer until the real one arrives from Greyhawk in the next few days.

Burne and Rufus are still missing and presumed dead. At least, they weren't at the elemental temple and we found no evidence of them there. For now, Verbobonc troops are being stationed at Hommlet Keep and so we need to get that fixed right away, even though the weather is rotten. Hopefully in the next few days we can leave for Dame Gold's home. This festival thing we're attending is said to last a week.

Marc is getting his affairs in order. He has sold his cottage, for very little money (the guys loaded, so it's not like he needs it). He has lived in Hommlet for a few years. I guess he understands now that our responsibilities are taking us elsewhere.

Audry has been spending time at the church of Saint Cuthbert, and from time to time she helps Saul in his quest to find a new merchant for the local store. The traders that were there over a year ago turned out to be, well, traitors. Hommlet is generally considered to be out in the boonies, so it's hard to get merchants in that area. As it turns out, a merchant from Greyhawk got turned around on his way to Verbobonc. He was hoping to sell his wares there. Saul is trying to find people to buy his wares here. We'll see how it works out.

Anna is gone much of the time. She wanders the wilds, keeping an eye on what's new. The Dwarves in the Flinty Hills have actually managed to push back the invaders, who have retreated to the depths of Celene. It seems that after the collapse of the elemental temple, their plans for conquest have taken a hit. Anna says she has not seen a single enemy patrol. The moathouse, on the other hand, is not so deserted. More Verbobonc troops have taken up residence there, along with some of Burne's Badgers (that would be the Hommlet militia). They still have some cleaning up to do, but eventually they can make the moathouse a permanent outpost.

Yeah, Hommlet's a nice town these days. Hopefully it'll stay that way. Later tonight we're going to meet and decide when to head out. I have a feeling it'll be soon. No matter. I'm sure we'll end up back in Hommlet sooner or later, for one reason or another.

Stories in the rain

When Marc and Anna, followed by Saul a bit later, showed up, I proceeded to read everything I've written down over the past few days. Mainly, I read about how Hedrack tortured me, and about the illusions he created. At least, I told myself they were illusions. I left out the dream sequences involving Audry and Anna, for obvious reasons, and I left out how I humilated those priestesses. They may have deserved it, but it was still a rotten thing to do and I'm a bit ashamed of it.

I didn't look up until I was done. Saul hung his head, regarding the floor and trying to hide his pained expression. Marc did a better job of hiding it. He sat quietly, his hand on his chin, trying to look thoughtful. Audry merely stared at me, aghast. She seemed on the verge of tears. Anna was in tears, her face buried in her hands.

I had no idea it would hit them like this. "I'm sorry," I said.

"We didn't mean to pry," Saul said. He looked directly at me. "You didn't have to--"

"I know that," I said. I threw my journal on to the bed next to me. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have told you guys. You probably didn't want to know."

"That's not true, John," Marc said. "To be honest, we were worried."

"Yes," Saul said. "To say the least. You weren't yourself for some time." He shrugged. "I didn't want you say anything unless you were ready. And if you were never ready...."

We sat quietly for a moment. Audry eventually broke the silence. "John, do you believe what Hedrack told you?"

"No," I said quickly. "Of course not."

I didn't tell them about the dreams I've had, about how I was standing trial for the murder of Doctor...I never seem to remember his name, but it sounds similar to Hedrack. During the hole time, I'm thanking the judge for making me a Knight of Veluna. Of course, I didn't want them to realize this so I told them everything was cool.

Apparently, they didn't believe me.

"What you are feeling is normal," Audry said. "When someone has been through what you have been, there are side effects that healing magic cannot cure. Only time."

"What if he was right?" I said. I looked at my room. It looked like the one I stayed in last time I was in Hommlet. "What if I'm locked up and I'm hallucinating this? What if what Hedrack showed me was the truth?"

"His wizard created the illusion," Marc said. He sounded certain. "I could do the same if I knew what to work with."

"But he knew things," I said. "He knew my real name. He knew about cars and night sticks and tiled walls--he knew a lot."

"You may have said these things to him," Saul said. "The state of mind you were in, you wouldn't know what you told him."

"But it was so real," I said. "Hell, I remember the smell of the place. Like urine and feces. I remember the way the hospital gown felt."

"Interesting," Marc said. "Let me ask you something. When you dream--I mean, your dreams before this...incident--did you smell or feel anything?"

I thought for a moment. "I don't think so." I shrugged. "I usually forget my dreams, but the ones I remember I recall seeing and hearing. Why?"

"You recall smell and touch," Marc said. "When wizards use illusions they are careful to include smell and touch, and taste for that matter. The fact you recall them so clearly leads me to believe you were tricked by illusion."

Anna leaned forward and grabbed my hand. She smiled at me, but her eyes were wet with tears. She squeezed my hand. "Feel that?" Her hand was warm. "That's real. What Hedrack told you was a lie."

"You are among friends," Audry said. Her voice cracked as she spoke. "You must never forget that."

I was among friends. The problem was I didn't know if they were real or not. We spoke for a while longer before we retired for the evening. They looked just as worried as when they arrived.

I didn't sleep much. I stayed up half the night staring at the ceiling. I tried to imagine it as a tiled ceiling. I felt the floor and tried to feel tile. No matter how hard I tried, it remained the wooden structure of the inn. I then drifted off to sleep and dreamed I was running through Cherry Creek park. Police officers chased me with dogs. I hid in the lake so the dogs wouldn't find me. As they got closer, I could see the police officers' faces. They were orcs.

The next morning, awoke in my room. Everything seemed real. I got up and felt hungry and wondered if the hunger was real. I then wondered how long I'd wonder what was real and what wasn't.

I then remembered something Elric said: Dream or reality, the experience amounts to the same. A convenient way to lie to oneself, I suppose. But it made me wonder where I would rather be. Assuming both worlds are real, which is the better one, or at least better for me?

I had been through more in the past year and a half then my entire life on Earth. And I was doing good. I had been through hell, but I felt better. I felt like I belonged.

I decided it was time to stop whining. I had responsibilities now. I belonged to this world now. My old world was a distant memory.

As I walked downstairs, I thought I heard the squawk of a radio. I told myself it was the squeaky stairs. Ostler's gotta get that fixed....

My World of Hell, part eight

By the time I got back to the natural cavern the wizard was dead. He must have bled internally and finally passed out, and his guts finally spilled on to the floor. I stopped by Hedrack's body and took something important before I continued on.

I went through the secret door and back into the temple complex. I encountered a few guards here and there, but I made quick work of them. Nearly everyone had gone. Not that I was complaining or anything, but it was damn peculiar.

I reached the fourth level quickly. I followed the massive hall to the end. Torches lined much of the hall, but there were some light sources that seemed ambiguous. Likely they were magical lights, like the continual light spell Marc is fond of casting. The room at the end of the hall was lit purely by magic light, and I wished it were pitch black.

The black ceiling was littered with twinkling lights. The might have been jewels. It resembled a night sky. The walls were a combination of marble and onyx. Statues lined the room, and on each statue stood a large, winged humanoid creature. Yeah, we saw these things before. No doubt these things were not just statues. Eight passages lead away in different directions. Against the back of the room was an alter. Scenes of debauchery covered it, just like every other unholy relic around this joint. Behind the alter a set of curtains hung, covered with the same scenes. When I say debauchery, I don't mean your standard internet stuff. I mean things that would make a child molester puke.

On either side of the alter were two pillars that looked like they were made of solid gold. To either side of those (and further back) were two large statues. one showed an elderly man in a robe and horns coming out of his head. The other showed a fat, mushroom like creature with large elephant legs. I discovered much later that the second statue was Zuggtmoy. That meant the first was Iuz.

In front of the alter were four figures. They wore black cloaks with the Temple emblem on the back. Man, they had tons of these things and wore them like concert t-shirts or something. They bowed ceremoniously at the alter, mumbling something I couldn't understand.. I made no attempt to move quietly, but they didn't notice at any rate. I still held my trophy I retrieved from Hedrack. I flung it toward them. It landed at the base of the alter. All four of them jumped back. There robes opened up as they jumped away from the "trophy." I could see they were human, two men and two women, and that the robes they wore were the only clothing on them.

They stared in horror at my trophy. Why, I don't know. It was nothing compared to the scenes painted on the alter and curtain. They looked at me as I strode forward. My sword was still in hand, and probably still covered in blood. They tried to step back, not concerned at all about their obvious nudity under their robes. They stopped when they ran into the alter.

"What's wrong?" I said. I walked up the steps to the alter. They had vestments on it the likes of which I had never seen. "Sorry to see your dear leader so disheveled?"

They looked down again at my trophy. The Hedrack's head had landed upright, facing the alter. How appropriate.

"You will pay," one of the men hissed. He started to speak to one of the statues. I ran him through with my sword before he could give a command to attack. With my foot, I pushed him off my sword and down the steps. The second man raised his hand to start a spell. I slit his throat before he got out two words. He fell over, his life-blood spilling on the alter and the steps.

The two women made no attempt to attack me. They were likely high priests, which meant they had considerable power. Together they might have been able to take me. They would have had better than a slim chance if they hadn't waited until I was less than five feet from them. They watched me with a combined look of horror and hate. It didn't bother me. I realized they were both lookers. I hadn't seen a beautiful body in a long time, and these two would have made a killing as models on Earth.

I smiled. "Ladies."

"What do you wish of us?" one of them asked.

I stared at their bodies for a moment longer. It irritated them, but I didn't care. They were priests of an unholy temple. I saw no reason to give them and measure of respect. A distant part of me suggested I take them here and now. They might have been able to stop me. But then, I saw no reason to stoop to their level either. I could kill them, but they were unarmed as well as unclothed...well, except for the robe. I couldn't hurt unarmed women, no matter how evil they were.

"I want you to leave," I said. I pointed down the hall.

The other priestess gestured at her open robes. "At least allow us to--"

I held my sword under her chin. "No, I don't think so." I gestured toward her robes. "Remove it."

She hesitated, but a quick nudge with my sword changed her mind. She disrobed. "You too," I said to the other. She did as she was told.

I took a step back. Two of the most beautiful women I had seen in a long while stood before me, utterly nude. I had been a prisoner for a long time. I had been tortured for weeks. Now, I was living the dream of any heterosexual gamer. I just killed a bunch of evil people and now I was staring at two beautiful, naked women. I deserved this.

I looked for a moment, and then said, "All right, now beat it, before I change my mind."

They stepped over the bodies of the two priests. They didn't give them a second glance. As with thieves, there's no honor among evil priests (or priestesses). They walked down the hall.

I moved quickly to the bottom of the steps. I banged my sword on the marble floor for effect. The sound echoed throughout the room. "Now!"

They took off into a dead run even as my voice echoed down the hall. If there was anyone left, they would know I was here. I watched quietly as two naked women ran down the well lit hall and toward the steps heading topside. To their credit, they didn't cry out. Of course, they didn't try to use any magic either. Perhaps they didn't see the point with their leader dead.

I took another look at the stone gargoyles. They stared into the center of the room stoically, but they did not attack.

"See you fellas," I said, and I walked down one of the halls that Kella had described. If she was right, it would lead to a node. If wrong...well, I'd end up in an elemental plane.

I walked for sixty feet or so. In a split second I stood on the plateau in the center of the air node. The wind was freezing.

--------------------

And that's that. If you want to know the rest, skip back several pages.

Right now, we're in Hommlet. It was snowing in Mitrik, but here in Hommlet it is raining. We're waiting for some of the weather to clear out before we head out to see Dame Gold. We still have some time until this festival thing begins. Besides, we wanted to see some of the people around here.

Audry just arrived to my room here at the Inn of the Welcome Wench. Marc and Anna should be here any moment. They have all been patient with me, and I think I owe them something. When Marc and Anna get here, I'll do some reading out loud for them. They deserve to know.

My World of Hell, part seven

"Not real," I whispered. The police came inside. The radios at their side blared something incomprehensible. "Not real."

"It is quite real." I turned. Hedrack stood next to an open security door. Behind him were several orderlies with night sticks. These were probably the stun sticks that would incapacitate me before I could say magic missile.

"Hedrack," I said.

"Doctor, if you please," he said. It was his voice, but the tone was different. He had that calm tone that therapists use. His posture and tone were non-threatening in every way. "I'm afraid you will have to return with me."

"No, I don't think so."

He called me by my real name, something he had no business knowing. "You've hurt a number of orderlies. Fortunately, not seriously. And now you've kidnapped two patients."

"Kidnapped?" I laughed. "I am freeing them."

"Are you?" he asked. "Look at them."

I did. They stared at me like a couple of draft animals. They were completely oblivious to what was going on around them.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"You are lucid," he said. "For the moment, at least." He gestured at the orderlies and they lowered their night sticks. "This is two such moments in a week. This is very encouraging."

"They are leaving," I said, gesturing to Kella and Teela. "You aren't going to hurt them. This is between us."

"I'm afraid not," Hedrack said. "They are patients here and they must remain here. Just as you must."

"Go to hell," I said. "Any layer, I don't care."

He called me by my real name. "Don't retreat like this, I beg you." I could tell that he was begging. He stepped forward. His hands were in front of him where I could see they were empty. "You have made progress. I ask you to consider what you see. Consider that this is real."

I shook my head. "When Kella and Teela are safe we can--"

"That is not their names," Hedrack said. It was him, I could see it, but he had a modern hair cut and he wore a suit and tie under his white coat.

He gestured toward Teela. "This is Tara. She is seventeen. She was raped by her own father. She has since retreated into her own world of make believe. Now, thanks to you, she has retreated into your make believe world. I hope the damage you have caused her can be undone."

Teela looked up at the doctor. "What is going on?"

"I didn't--" I started, but Hedrack continued.

"This is Karen," he said, gesturing to Kella. "Her home burned down, taking the lives of her husband and child. She has been catatonic ever since. How you managed to rouse her I do not know, though this is not exactly the method I would have chosen."

Kella looked around. "Where are we?"

"They are patients here," Hedrack said. "Patients, just like you."

A radio squawked behind me. The cops stood there quietly, waiting to see what would happen.

"I don't need help," I said.

"Yes, you do," Hedrack said. "You are not in your right mind. If you give yourself up now then no charges will be pressed. If you continue this delusion and try to escape, these officers will certainly stop you."

There was nowhere to go. Every way was blocked. I looked at my hands. My armor was gone. I wore the same hospital outfit that Teela and Kella wore. My sword had become a nightstick.

"Please," Hedrack said. "Give me that and let's return to your room."

I looked at Kella and Teela. They looked at me, baffled. They were not afraid of the people around us or of Hedrack. Did that mean...?

For a split second, I believed him. Part of me knew that I was in Fort Logan Mental Health Institute, as Hedrack told me before. Something happened to me when I went camping so long ago. I had become violent, dangerous. I saw myself handcuffed in the back of a police car. I had a brief vision of a court appearance. The judge and and the bailiff looked like the two traders at the trading post in Hommlet. I saw myself running through an open field at night while wearing a bright, orange outfit. I saw myself wandering in a school full of children. I kept thinking I had to rescue them. They, and their teachers, were terrified.

Hedrack stood before me, his hand outstretched. I lifted my own hand and started to give him my nightstick. I did a double take. The nightstick grew longer in my hand. It changed color. It was no longer made of a dark, hard plastic. It was made of steel, and it was very sharp.

Hedracks face was no longer serene. He turned and looked at the security guard in front of the desk. The guard wore long flowing robes. He looked at me, concentrating. A swirl of colors enveloped his head.

"You fool!" Hedrack said. "It's not working."

Everything changed in a flash. We were in the natural cavern. The police were gone. In their place were several human guards. The orderlies had become orcs, and Hedrack had lost his suit and tie. His black cloak of elemental evil was draped about his shoulders. And my sword was pointing at him.

I took two quick steps forward. Hedrack didn't have time. My sword burried itself in his chest, finding a neat little space between his armor. He looked more surprised than anything. I put my foot on his chest and pulled. My sword came out, along with a good deal of blood. Hedrack fell to his knees. As he tipped forward, I swung in an arc. His head rolled across the floor.

"Get back!" I shouted. I pushed Kella and Teela toward a corner. The security guard, who was now a wizard, started some sort of incantation. I charged him and sliced open his belly. His spell ruined, all he could do was stand there and keep his guts from spilling on to the floor.

The orcs froze while the humans charged. They were decently trained, but not well enough. They left themselves wide open time and again. I took advantage each time. One lost an arm. He laid down and started screaming as he bled out. One tried to get away, but I didn't want him warning anyone. I cut his Achilles tendon and he went down, grasping his calf as it bunched up inside his leg.

Kella murmured some strange words. Strange, green vines came out of the floor and wrapped themselves around the remaining two humans. One of them was so startled he dropped his sword. I killed the one on the floor before I killed the other two. I didn't have time for heroics or fair fighting. I left the screamer alone. He leaked blood everywhere. He'd die before long.

The orcs charged with clubs. They were even easier than the humans. In seconds they were dead.

The mage, an elf by the looks of it, stood there, holding his guts in. He couldn't cast spells if he couldn't move his hands, so I left him. He'd be dead in a few minutes anyway.

Teela vomitted on the floor. I took her by the arm and guided her down the passage. Kella followed close behind.

-------------

I went with them to the end of the passage. I hadn't seen the open air in I don't know how long.

"I know this area," Kella said. "I can get us to Nulb."

Teela still looked a little pale. "Gods, that was...that was so terrible."

I nodded. "It's over now. Teela, I don't know if I can take you home."

"I live close by," she said. "I will be fine." She looked as if she wanted to hug me and then stopped. An hour ago I was a stone cold killer. She still saw that in me.

"I will guide her home," Kella said. She took my hand. "Thank you, John Carter."

"Any time," I said. I hesitated. I was afraid of the answer she would give. But I had to know. "Kella, do you remember what happened? Did you see anything...strange?"

"Yes," she said. "Everyone was dressed strangely. There was a wall of glass...it didn't make any sense."

"No," I said. I didn't realize I had been holding my breath until then. "No, it didn't."