“I'm just the occasional dagger” the rabbit mumbled, “but what about you?” It was a tall, slim and morose looking clown at whose kneecaps the question was apparently directed but it was the owner's voice from above which replied, “This is a truly beautiful sunset. It will be dark enough soon.” Speaking from behind a drooped ear the rabbit continued, “OK... you can act that way if you like, but there's no secret as to my part. I just do what my kind is best known for and play the part of the prey.”
"Yesss", the clown said through a smile sufficient to repell hungry wolves, "That is a particularly good act you have.” A few quiet moments passed before the clown spoke again, “Yes, you are indeed the helpless bait with an afterbite while I am that which all mortals must flee". The rabbit was simply thinking out loud as he slowly remembered certain things which are best left forgotten, "It's not as though anyone escapes in the long run".
In truth this rabbit who went by the name of Ben was actually a hare if anyone insisted upon being technical and a gray one at that, but each actor plays his given role for a given time and place as best he can. Herr Hare had a key role in this pair's current venture, which is to say his part (having long been typecast) was to attract a particular following and then open certain gates or doors at prescribed times. In this he was well versed and any apparent insanity (except perhaps during Spring) was jest in keeping with another well established stereotype. While a pocket watch would be a nice touch for such a rabbit, time would not be much of a factor this time, and the less said about the clown the better.
Even if inclined to try from time to time, Ben could no more peer into the twin voids of his associate's eyes than any mortal might choose to fall upwards, although the two experiences have been rumored to be much the same. "So what time am I to die tonight?", he quietly inquired as his memory continued to improve. Contemplating a brown spot on the back of his well veined right hand the clown replied, "They showed up about three A.M., excuse me, I mean they will show up then. I tend to forget your current temporal, single phase nature."
"It wouldn't do for me to know anything beyond a guess, now would it?" once again as the mumbling rabbit, "I guess I'll have to rely on the blue cross again?", as such an image came to mind. With a slight nod that tended to make the space before him shudder the clown quietly answered, "Yesss, very blue... and very complete. You serve as the brush to a masterful artist's hand." "Easy for you to say," whispered the rabbit under his breath, “It's not your fur on the line”.
*******
"Is the demon ready?" Kahn asked his apprentice. From across the room Luke replied, "Yes, but this one seems more confused than usual, Master, even though the torments were applied exactly according to your list.” Examining the glowing apparition captured within a sphere of solidified pure influence generated precisely according to their order's secret and ancient ways Kahn answered, “It looks more like this one is particularly anxious for something, perhaps because it already knows what we seek and even whether we will find it. All signs are excellent that we will learn more of the suspected Starbreather before the sun rises". Both men noticed an increased ringing in their ears as ever more random thoughts and ideas began to make their escape from within the sphere, including a name.
"This demon's name name is Bakersfield? Is this some kind of joke?" Luke asked. Kahn explained, "Any being such as this would never willingly yield its real name, but they do tend to have a twisted sense of humor about names in particular. Confusion is their real forte albeit some very important information is always inserted within what seems to be many nonsensical ramblings. This serves as bait to string those such as us along and ultimately trick us in some way. Everything's an inside joke to them, so the answer to your question is yes, it is a joke.”
Luke was then worrying aloud, "But Master, the things, the emotions this one imprints to my mind thus far range only from veiled threats to promises of horrific tortures." In his most serious tone Kaan replied, "Those are more like promises than threats my young apprentice should the demon ever get loose upon us in this world, but however dangerous our practice is by its very nature this night represents the most important of efforts which have been on-going for many generations. Those who have already passed this life as well as those yet to come fully rely on what we can find and so we must not fail."
*******
"You say they completely fall for it?" asked the rabbit.
"Trust me," said the clown.
******
"WHAT LACKS OUR BANE NEEDS TOWARDS EXISTANCE?" ("Bakersfield")
With the issue of this clear telepathic question, Master Kahn took charge and spoke directly to the unfathomable apparition before him, "You already know your task, oh keen one, our host this night is to be that particular gray rabbit which has been determined by several of our most capable brothers to bear an active genetic memory key. We are unsure how far into the past or future such a key can take us but good evidence has been cited that this is a magical creature which also carries the scent of a Starbreather, one of the primal sources of power and knowledge according to our most ancient legends."
"HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN ALREADY THAT SUCH A PATH GOES NOWHERE THAT YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY BEEN? RELEASE US NOW AND YOUR OWN BLOOD AND DEATH MAY SUFFICE OUR WRATH!" ("Bakersfield")
******
"You also say the demon they're using is actually in on this little joke?" whispered the rabbit?
“Oh yesss,” hissed the hooded figure.
"And I am to dance tonight?" asked the rabbit, knowing this meant his death... yet again.
****
"We have read the signs from a species standpoint, but because the rabbit is gray we can't tell of which phase our suspected Starbreather might be. That adds most of the risk to our travel," as Kahn spoke to himself as much as to Luke, "And to add to our confusion the rabbit is symbolic of fertility and yet this particular one is a eunuch." Kahn paused for Luke's response. "That is difficult to read, Master, and yet we are going to do this anyway?" asked Luke. "Yes, it is that important!" replied Kahn, "This personal risk is also the reason we are alone instead having a circus wagon load of drooling high mages tagging along. They all fear that the Starbreather might actually be something akin to a black-fire sentient such as never encountered, in which case the two of us are doomed."
"THOSE FOOLS, THEY TOO WILL ULTIMATELY BE OURS NONE THE LESS!" ("Bakersfield")
"Do you think it knows something," asked Luke, "or is that just the usual demonic interjections?" "Their kind either knows or can discover just about anything of the past or future, but with their giving so many ambiguous answers under what they call their “Sybil's Rules”, it's hard to tell what the actual truth is - as always with that kind." answered Kahn, "I also sense some bad luck with the drawing of this one who chooses to call himself Bakersfield, but we can bank on it following the rabbit at this point even if it's just out of curiosity. But there's something else, something seemingly personal in the air as well...”. Luke pondered and then suggested, “Perhaps it was the prostitute we tortured to initiate the summons?” and then as if covering a mistake he added, “But if this one fails we can get another, perhaps better girl or maybe even a boy for next time.”
"YET MORE!" ("Bakersfield")
"Our host will be going to sleep soon and we must be ready to enter its mind suddenly as soon as his subconscious power manifests itself," said Kahn. "Will that startle him?" asked Luke. "No," Kahn answered, "He is infested with a parasite that inhibits fear, the same parasite that sometimes disguises itself as “faith” which is often found in the ignorant and uninitiated. It is also apparent from our observations that this rabbit's perceptions regarding entropy have been highly enhanced in some manner which is what first tipped us off about a Starbreather connection." as Kahn continued, "A tell-tale sense of extreme order is quite evident such as with his separating a jar of mixed salt and pepper by just shaking it up!" "Oh...", replied Luke, “This will be very interesting... a magic rabbit.”
Ben stretched out and rolled gently on his bed, having already forgotten any earlier dialogue with a strangely ominous, quite unfunny clown. Perhaps it was just another dream. Madmen, fools and hares are blessed to wake up in a new world each day and this one's morning was to come quite soon as Ben was quickly possessed of another strange, sweet dream. Consequently the demon Bakersfield bearing his two mystic riders had scarcely shown up before the prostrate rabbit rolled over once again and locked unconsciously into a position long forgotten to channel the exact energy pattern needed to gently open the first garden gate with barely any resistance. And so the dance began.
*******
An exhausted and fully naked youth peered upwards through glazed eyes to see that he was currently resting his bald head between a pair of huge mounds of soft white quartz sand. In the distance he could hear the cry of gulls as he sought to remember the events of the previous night. After a failed attempt to rise he glanced briefly between his feet to catch a view of the sun rising over the top of a pyramid in the distance.
"STILL DEFINATELY A EUNICH!" ("Pharmin" as the demon was known in this particular world).
*******
"Taco, go fetch Haz from the western dune," ordered Blaze (third high priestess), "We left him there after last night's ceremony and we need him again as the staff member for the noon ceremony." Taco gave a nod and plodded out as smartly as any giant of a bull mastiff might. Of course by "fetch" she might have meant literally so, but as another once-male (as with all males serving here) Taco had more than a few things in common with Haz aside from a common employment with his mistress and so he would be more gentle than as if he was fetching a stranger.
"So Blaze, how did the 'Ultimate search for any good in a man ceremony go last night?" asked Carmen (second high priestess) as she walked into the lab. "All too well I'm afraid, there was not a squeemish one in the group," reported Blaze, "Taco is going to fetch Haz now so I can restore him in time for the mid-day ceremony."
*****
"If this is our dream dancer why isn't he dancing anymore?" asked Luke, "Have we already arrived at our destination or are we going to have to make him do something?" "We have full possession of his consciousness which seems to have gone into hiding right now, but for some reason we have no link to the nerves which move this body," answered Kahn, "I've already tried without any success... what say you about this demon?" "COMPLETE EXHAUSTION, PLUS THE LINGERING EFFECTS OF OPIATES MIXED WITH WASP VENOM, IF YOU WANT A PROFESSIONAL OPINION!" ("Pharmin") "Very Interesting," said Kahn, "Perhaps there is much to learn here regarding such a useful technique." "I MIGHT ADD THAT THE SCENT OF YOUR "BREATHER" IS ALSO OVERPOWERING AT THIS SITE!" ("Pharmin")
*******
The moon was still full in the morning sky as Taco trekked his three hundred pound frame through the sand around the crest of the sacred dunes. Pretty much everything was sacred anywhere near "The Terminal" as the full time staffers referred to this part of the temple grounds. Below him on the gentle slope his moment's errand appeared to be resting peacefully between what the students were taught to call "the Mother's breasts", although a well trained eye would also recognize that a powerful tranquility spell was at work there. Taco found himself fighting back a sudden urge to seriously maul something as he approached the helpless body of Haz. Even with having performed this recovery many times before he had a hard time accepting that the whole gory scene before him was simply the aftermath of a recurring reenactment for the patients (or "students" as they were referred to) here at the Temple of the Goddess BasIs. Poor Haz, he thought... the seagulls will soon be picking through the various small parts that are always left behind.
Taco peered down into the suddenly alert eyes of the otherwise limp body known as Haz with only a slight drool dripping gently onto the boy's face. "WELCOME SEEKERS OF KNOWLEDGE AND POWER," he telepathically projected, "TO THE HEALING ARENA OF BasIs!" (The phrase being a standard welcome for this particular terminal). "YOUR PARALYSIS IS LIFTED, CAN YOU WALK NOW OR NEED I CARRY YOU?" upon which he exhibited his massive jaws and teeth which were fully capable of such a chore.
"No, wait!" as Kahn quickly found control of the body he and Luke currently inhabited, "I think I can move now," quickly proving it so with a widespread quiver. Slowly they turned the body on its side and propped up on an elbow. How do you know we come seeking knowledge and power?” the lips of Haz asked, as Kaan just slowly realized he was talking to a dog.
“ALL PARTIES WHO ARRIVE BY THIS GATE ARE SUCH”, beamed in the dogs thoughts, “IT IS SO BY DESIGN. COME WITH ME NOW, MY MISTRESS COMMANDS”.
“Where did that demon go?” Luke quietly asked his own master.
About the same time Taco mentioned "DON'T BE ALARMED", "Haz" glimpsed down his naked boyish form to see what appeared to be (and was in fact) a good sized mound of candle wax drippings piled over his scorched and blood encrusted crotch. Any alarm was rapidly replaced with a wave of nausia but surprisingly there appeared to be no pain associated with what was obviously a quite horrifying condition. "MISTRESS WILL FIX... COME!"
Blaze gazed out the window of her temple office which faced the main approach knowing that various staff members were already positioned to observe and make notes on the reactions of the many patients who were out and about this morning along this prescribed route where "Haz" would soon be seen either stumbling along behind, being dragged or else carried by her huge canine servant. Taco always did his part to appear very business-like on this occasion.
Among the staff there was always hope for a graduation, and any sign of remorse, any glimmer of compassion within the population of patients would certainly be noted and followed up with a consultation to see if it represented true progress. This was, after all, their loving and sworn duty to BasIs. To anyone observing this occasional macabre parade it would appear that the mind of Haz as well as his body had been shattered since the boy always talked to himself as he slowly slogged through the sand while leaning on the support of Taco's rump. Taco on the other hand had already sensed that he had at least two other entities in tow.
"What does it mean, Master, that the demon is no longer here with us?" asked Luke, "This has never happened before... I don't understand what's happening, it is all so strange." Kahn paused thoughtfully and replied, "Bakersfield could only escape our control if our wards at the tower loft were broken... in which case we are either already dead or may well soon be. But as you say, this is all a very strange thing to be happening in a rabbit's dream and must be related to the starbreather we seek. Perhaps all is not lost since we have already been promised some answers."
*******
An oddly mismatched trio watched this slow progress from within the morning shadow of an adjacent dune, one being the aforementioned missing demon Pharmin who was kneeling a respectful distance from the tall hooded figure around whom space-time itself appeared to shimmer. This made it very difficult for one's eyes to focus upon any specific features which once might have resembled a clown. Between the two sat a very tired gray hare who scratched his ears and mumbled upwards towards the taller one, "Well Lord AzRa, first spawn of BasIs, I'm just dead, may I be excused for a short nap?" The unfunny un-clown replied, “Just don't dance anymore for now.”
******
"Taco and Haz have turned the corner and are starting their walk up the mall way," Blaze reported to no one in particular, realizing that anyone who actually needed to hear this in fact would, "Now let's hope we can catch any of the students who might feel any pity or guilt." Their total sense of humiliation was growing ever more complete as the two once powerful wizards staggered along naked, exhausted and sexually mutilated while following all too close to a massive dog's anus before a growing crowd of girls and women on on either side of the street. The irony of the situation was reflected upon only by the senior of the two who recognized that this scene might have a strange and twisted parallel somewhere in history.
If he raised his head with some difficulty Kaan could barely focus through the yellow haze in his current eyes to make out a white temple at the end of the street. Women of all ages were watching carefully, many pointing furtively and in some cases snickering to each other. As he looked to either side along the walk he heard no catcalls towards the dog or naked boy who followed it, but more than once he imagined that he saw a familiar face.
Luke remained silent and miserable through this horrible nightmare of a ride. Aside from a rapidly growing degree of fatigue and mental anguish, there was still an absence of any physical pain. Looking at "his" own body (that of Haz) it was difficult to imagine how this could possibly be. His master had said nothing for several minutes now and there was some fear that perhaps the two of them were truly powerless in this situation. "What is this all about?" Luke asked himself, as slowly a true sense of fear and guilt started to rise in his gut.
The two men had been together in mystic practices for some years and been in some puzzling situations similar to this in the past. They each knew that everything would ultimately turn out to be as though it was all but a dream even while they both retained collective memories of the experiences and everything seemed so very real. At the same time there was always a measure of doubt since both of them knew they were witnessing some very powerful magic indeed and they had good reason to be apprehensive and even fearful. That stated, nothing fuels bravery (or foolishness) as much as ambition.
It was mid-morning by the time Taco and Haz reached the front of the temple. Looking up the steep stairs ahead, both Kahn and Luke were dreading the climb due to fatigue as well as the obvious further exposure, grief and shame associated with the nakedness and mangled condition they bore in Haz, a strange feeling indeed since while the body was not their own, it still in some way represented their personal presence in this place for an indeterminate period. Fortunately at the last opportunity to do so Taco turned away from the stairway and led them through a ground level entrance into a hallway through which they eventually came to an elevator. The mastiff easily reached his paw high enough to press the single button on the control panel, then turned and silently looked at Haz. “MISTRESS AWAITS”.
Haz closed his weary eyes for a moment as the elevator doors closed, but almost instantly a set of back doors opened to reveal what appeared to be a modern hospital operating room tastefully decorated in two-tone lavender. The room's lone occupant who was wearing a white lab coat over white scrubs turned and passed a sad smile of recognition at the sight of the bloody, naked boy following her huge dog. In what seemed a well practiced and rather formal move Taco gave a slight bow and telepathically announced, “MISTRESS BLAZE, THE SEEKERS ARE DELIVERED” before dismissing himself to curl up against a nearby wall.
Looking upwards through the eyes of the slightly built boy, both Kahn and Luke were immediately struck as if paralyzed by the vision of Blaze who, medical garb aside, seemed the archetype of a Celtic nature goddess even down to a slightly perceivable shimmering glow. Still a sad smile lingered on her lips as she leaned down and gently kissed them on the forehead after which she whispered into Haz' ear, “You I will fix up in no time”. Blaze then gently cupped the boy's face between her hands and blew lightly into it. “REST NOW” as the two felt their heads swimming for just a moment before they passed into unconsciousness.
Kahn awoke into darkness and immediately felt the loss of any mental contact with his apprentice Luke. This would usually mean that their mystical journey was over but he still felt very strange as he flexed his muscles to test his freedom of movement. “Luke, can you hear me?” he asked aloud through a strange, raspy voice. Shaking his head he could feel that he had a bag over it which explained the darkness, but the only sound he could hear was the cooing and ruffling of a nearby dove. Kahn also had a sudden realization that except for the fact that his feet were somehow automatically gripping onto a perch he would have lost his balance and fallen into the unknown darkness. He reflexively flapped his wings.
“Ah, I see that both of you are awake. Welcome to BasIs,” said Blaze as she tugged the covers off of both Kahn the raven and Luke the dove before adding, “Is anyone hungry?” After a bit of blinking, looking around and shuffling along their respective sides of a shared perch, the two birds stared first at each other while sizing up their current situation and then looked to Blaze as she smiled and offered each of them a cracker. They appeared to now be within a walled garden which was open to the sky and it passed through the minds of both birds that they might probably choose to fly away in fear except for the current charming nature of their hostess. In any event, it would be foolish for Luke to make such a move without his master's lead. Neither was quite ready for a cracker.
Setting down the crackers, Blaze continued, “I know you have many questions, but before you complain about your current form you should be aware that no external male genitalia are permitted here, so this seems the least distressing way for you to go about during your visit, at least in our own experience.” Her glow seemed a little lighter than when the two men first saw her this morning dressed in white, but she remained one of, if not the most strikingly attractive woman either could recall. Now that she was dressed more comfortably they could appreciate how much the sun kissed freckles which adorned her otherwise alabaster skin seemed as entrancing and somehow just as significant as any field of stars in the evening sky.
While Blaze could correctly be called a redhead, such would miss the mark when in fact her highlights and even hair color seemed to shift from time to time to accentuate her current expression or mood. One's experience of Blaze could thus be compared to gazing at length into a wood burning fireplace or even a perceptively changing sunrise or sunset. Fortunately this aspect of her hair also served as a visual warning of impending danger or even doom from the aptly named Mistress Blaze but there was historically little talk from anyone about such things and for some reason absolutely no one could ever remember anything bad actually happening. Whether perceived as some kind of goddess, an angel, a priestess or even a she-demon it mattered not in what role Blaze served, only that she did so very well.
"Any cats around here?" Kahn the raven asked while looking around somewhat nervously. "No, at least not right now,” snickered Carmen as she glided into view from behind from behind the two birds, “ It seems the cat always dies, but we do have some Hawking going on nearby you might watch out for,". "That's a terrible pun!" laughed Blaze, as she turned to greet the second woman, "How are we to teach our visitors anything at all if you insist on making such jokes?"
As Carmen passed into their view, Kahn and Luke both took notice of her yard long silky black hair which flowed down over the back of a black satin floor length hobble dress. Even before she faced them they could somehow sense that Carmen was a spitting image of the Morticia Addams seen in the 1960's Addams Family television show. "What indeed shall we teach them?" she whispered to no one in particular.
"I suggest we begin with having them ask questions," answered Blaze, "since I detect a certain nervousness in these birds and that might relax them a bit." Carmen considered the closest bird and asked, "Caw, you went through a lot of trouble to get here, so what do you expect to learn out of this?" "Stop that!" whispered Blaze, “they're already confused enough”. Carmen gave Blaze the trace of a smile and answered, "Well, it seems a more fitting name, all things considered...".
Kahn, who seemed to be engrossed in comparing his own jet black feathers against Carmen's satin finally realized the question had been addressed to him and spoke in his new, bird voice, "The red haired one welcomed us to "BasIs" earlier. Is that the name of this place, who are you and where exactly are we? Carmen gave Blaze a nod, deferring the answers to her, "You're on, bright-eyes, good luck with this one," and then added, "but I was kind of hoping for at least one "nevermore" out of him."
“Among other things,” Blaze continued, “you might think of BasIs in an intangible sense as being a hub of time, while it would be more correct to refer to this as a hub of local gravitational forces, a blind spot in the universe so to speak. Viewed from the standpoint of physics, that which your scientists refer to as time is purely a function of local mass, however, as it happens, BasIs exists as a null point in this respect.” Blaze went on to explain, “Most people think of time as being like a path with the past being behind us and the future lying ahead. From this some can imagine, such as for a science fiction time travel scenario, that different time lines might branch out into an infinite number various possible futures, but as with most ideas the more complicated one makes anything the further from the truth it becomes. Much of this kind of notion is derived from the illusion that freewill actually exists, but I digress.”
Even though he now apparently inhabited the brain of a raven, Kahn was beginning to understand some of what Blaze was saying, although how much he might actually believe or even remember in the long run remained to be seen. “I understand much of the type of science you speak of,” said Kahn, “but we came here through a mystical means, this is much like a dream, but so real. How much of what we see is science, and how much is the magic that we seek? How is of this is real? We are also led to believe that BasIs is some kind of a god or something.”
"You misunderstand" replied Blaze, as Carmen stood by with a slight smile. "Answers to such questions always involve a certain degree of ambiguity," supplied Blaze, "To some of us the question of "magic" is a moot one. That particular word implies ignorance as to the true nature of all things." "If I may interject," said Carmen, "You may have heard it said that "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic," referred to as Clarke's third law, which is a general fallback position as stated by that particular writer of science fiction. Magic is what people call things which are not understood. BasIs is as you have suspected, a starbreather, a prime source of all knowledge and therefore there is no such thing as magic here since we know all there is to know, past, present, and future.”
"No magic?" asked Kahn, noticing that his apprentice snapped his head around and shuffled over on his perch so as to better listen to what his master might say next. "But the demon... and everything else that got us here...". "So it would seem," answered Blaze, "but perhaps you will pick up better on these things as we go along." "And besides," piped in Carmen with a chuckle, "doesn't following a rabbit, even a gray one, into a hole to find a strange new world seem to you just a little over-done, at least in hindsight?"
Kahn's mind was now racing and it was in fact beginning to seem just a little silly about them following a rabbit into this "wonderland" as it were, but all the mystical signs had been thoroughly studied and so many brother adepts were in agreement about the significance of what had to be done. "Alice in Wonderland?" he asked, "Is this but some dream fantasy?"
"No, but it might help things to back up a bit," suggested Blaze, "The "Alice in Wonderland" story which provides the idea of a rabbit hole gateway was written by the mathmatician and author Charles Dodgson, writing under the pen name of Lewis Carroll. He also gave us "Through the Looking Glass" as you are probably aware, but what you may not know is that both stories were later recognized as being sympathatic with some of the leading edge theories in mathematics and physics of the day. Subtle brilliance and ultimate utility such as this is delivered to the human world at a high price to the receiver's mind, and we therefore feel "Carroll" is quite deserving of continued honor where and as applicable. Besides, the rabbit is now a calming standard for such novel introductions of new knowledge where innocent children might otherwise be frightened."
"More to the point of understanding where you currently are," said Carmen, "Have you also heard of a leading physicist of the same historical period by the name of William Thomson, perhaps better recognized by the name of Lord Kelvin?" Both birds were quite intent in their listening, on the edge of their perches so to speak. "You mean the one who came up with the Kelvin scale for temperature measurement?" asked Kahn. Luke the dove could not speak but did bob his head up and down in the normal dove fashion.
"The same," Carmen continued, "but his list of other accomplishments was also quite long, in fact extraordinary even for the age of discoveries in which he lived. To say that much of his scientific revelations were "salted" by beings such as you now see before you is true but any historical discounting of his own personal brilliance should be deemed unfair considering the amount of misleading and false information he was also supplied with out of a necessity to bring a degree of ridicule to him and thus curtail any serious thought in a direction which we felt was dangerous."
"So, Blaze followed, "Somewhere within an ocean of various scientific pronouncements, many of which were quite accurate and some of which were simply considered overbearing and far reaching lies a quote by Kelvin, the leading scientist of his day, which actually states, "Vortices of pure energy can exist and, if my theories are right, can compose the bodily form of an intelligent species." That much speculation is currently not acceptable, being too close to a truth which could upset our plans.”
Kahn and Luke looked at each other, a Full Mage of the First Order and his apprentice (which is no slight thing in itself) and then looked about, reevaluating their hosts as well as their current situation. "So much for knowledge," whispered Carmen, “BasIs has the franchise”.
Almost apologetically and clearly operating from an unaccustomed disadvantage Kahn almost stammered, at least as much as a Raven's beak allows, "But we, Luke and I have powers, magical powers of our own, that's how we came here, and we came as humans, but now we are birds... so how can you claim magic doesn't exist when we are clearly under your spell? My own power seems unreachable right now for some reason, but be warned! "
Blaze was smiling as if to a child but she held no tone of condescension as she spoke, "Ah, we know all too well about the magic you've worked so hard to gain, but I never said that what you deem as being magic doesn't exist, I only said that you misunderstand the true nature of what you actually have." Once again Carmen managed to capture the full attention of the two birds with her black eyes as she added, "Under my spell... yes, I like that, it has a naughty sound to it." A silver bowl appeared in her hands as she quietly asked, "Blaze dear, have you checked on the cat lately? "
Blaze obediently turned and left to check on the status of their cat as Carmen continued to transfix a certain raven with increasingly deep and malevolent eyes. "BEWARE? YOU TELL US TO BEWARE? ACCORDED THE KINDEST OF HOSPITALITY BY TWO OF THE MOST GENTLE OF WOMEN TO BE FOUND WITHIN OUR DOMAIN AND YOU CHOOSE TO THREATEN US?" There was no doubt this bold and clear telepathic message was Carmen's to Kahn alone as he suddenly felt a hand grip tightly around his throat. "LESSON ONE ENDS WITH YOUR REALIZING THAT BAD MANNERS SHALL NOT BE PERMITTED!"
A quiet, yet palpable sense of terror ensued as Carmen slowly squeezed while turning her focus towards the dove saying, "Watch the birdie!" while making Kahn's eyes bulge fully out before he flapped once, quivered and died. "Now what was it your master did wrong?" Luke was terrified and might have tried to fly away but quickly realized he had never learned to fly, at least not as a bird, so he just staggered on the perch watching as Carmen unceremoniously dumped the dead raven into the silver bowl and set it on the floor. "YOU WERE HIS APPRENTICE, WERE YOU NOT?" Carmen directed towards Luke,, ""SO NOW YOU ARE MINE, AND I AM WAITING FOR AN ANSWER."
As if on cue to allow Luke a little more time to formulate an answer, Blaze returned carrying a large black cat, "Oh, I'm a little late. Sorry, Adolph was dead again but I fixed him up. You'd think the odds would be in his favor by now..." She set the cat down and looked up towards the sole remaining bird on the perch. Luke couldn't bear to watch what was now happening to his ex-master but also couldn't ignore the crunching noises being amplified by the silver bowl below. "I'M STILL WAITING" (Carmen) "Teaching the guests some manners?" inquired Blaze. "Spoiler!" giggled Carmen, "You're always giving away the answers."
Kahn was slowly realizing the strange sensation of chewing on feathers when he looked up at the dark clad woman facing a very nervous looking bird on a perch. Think... lick the paws... also he felt he was not alone. "Was it good for you?" asked the red haired woman behind him, "And pay no attenton to Adolf, he's still a bit depressed about the gas chamber thing."
So there's our little Austrian cat," chimed Carmen, "He woke up hungry I see, and still batting a thousand for our quantum physics experiment too. Schrodinger would be proud even if a little surprised, but poor Adolph does have a lot of negative karma working against him with the gas chamber thing." At the sound of his name, the cat reflexively stuck out his right paw at her as if in salute and let out a muted "meaow".
"MANNERS! IT'S MANNERS, MASTER KAHN HAD BAD MANNERS! (Luke) "What a bright little birdie your are," said Carmen with a smile, "Only it's no longer Master anything regarding him, in fact instead of Kahn we'll be calling him Kant, and since you're so bright, we'll even start calling you Light." "Oh Mistress Carmen,that's just too cute," laughed Blaze, "but I'm starting to think you've been working at this job a little too long." "THE MASTER, I MEAN KAHN, ERR, KANT IS ALIVE?" (Luke), in his best newly found telepathy. "Yes, Light,dear, I'm afraid actual death would be considered quite the luxury in these parts. Are you ready for a cracker now?" Blaze answered. Kahn/Kant was helpless to stop Adolf from finishing off the remains of their dinner, but then Kant was helpless to do much of anything except to wonder what was happening. He did however begin to think more clearly as his former bird self was steadily devoured.
"WHAT HAPPENED TO MY POWER?" (Kant formerly Kahn) thinking to himself.
"YOU THINK YOU LOST POWER, WHAT ABOUT ME?" (Adolf) "I ONCE HAD IT ALL!"
"And now both of you together add up to one fat pussycat, and a declawed one at that, but quit your whining, it's time for another lesson, said Carmen as she gently stroked the back of the very still and quiet dove's head, "Unless you're ready for a cat nap instead?" Having heard that many times before, Adolf reflexively shivered at the last question.
"So how about we learn a little bit about "power"?" suggested Blaze, "is anyone familiar with the term phase?" Luke's recently heightened eyesight noticed something faintly written on the far wall which read E/M = C2. This seemed strangely familiar but the current stroking of his head was very distracting... faze? A flashback of Kahn's neck being broken prompted the possessed dove's attention back to the apparent Mistress of Darkness who was looking directly into him with a charming smile not two feet away. "ONE?" the thought came straight out of Luke's mind. "Oh, what a bright little birdie", cooed Carmen with delight," indeed Light is a good name for you! Being in phase means you are one, but what that actually means is something for a later lesson.”
The praise he received was somewhat comforting until Luke happened to notice the baleful glare he was now receiving from the cat who was being quite still except for the twitching of his tail. Something was familiar about that look, a look of madness he'd seen before in any number of old film clips, but no, it couldn't be... or could it? Luke was suddenly very uncomfortable once again.
Don't be jealous, Adolf," said Blaze, "I'm sure you will get something right sooner or later." As if in response the cat suddenly raised his paws full of claws that were no longer and let out a short growl. "Ok, into your box!" said Carmen, "We'll have no acting up in front of company". "Just when we were starting to learn some important things," added Blaze, "What a shame."
"MISTRESS, THE STUDENTS ARE GATHERING FOR THE NIGHT'S CEREMONY" (Taco) as the large dog seemed to appear out of nowhere.
"Well then, Mr "Kant Do" here still has time for a quick trip to the box along with Adolf if you ask me," snapped Carmen, "It couldn't hurt much at this point." "YES MISTRESS" (Taco) as he suddenly gobbled up the cat and trotted off with it. "Maybe a little nap will settle them down?" smiled Blaze, who was ever the more thoughtful of the pair, "And we're still betting that the cat will die as opposed to not?" "Of course they will," replied Carmen, "Kahn doesn't do much to balance the books for old Adolf there, now does he?" Luke cocked his little dove's head still wondering if the dog actually ate the cat which contained his former master.
That evening Kahn awoke lying motionless in the sand on his naked back with his mind still quivering, still being haunted by the intense taste and accompanying agony of having been slowly choked to death by poisonous acid gas. In the dim distance he could see a succession of hooded figures approaching by the glint of candle light reflecting off of numerous shiney metal objects. It was going to be a long night...
