Mors Funebris Ch. 1 P. 8

Mors Funebris Chapter 1 Part 8
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“Well Colonel,” Arawn wearily called out with more than a hint of sarcasm tinging his voice. “I believe that I am overdue for a stint in the Brig!” he smiled cheekily.
Colonel Alenoth found herself all too happy to oblige his suggestion.
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‘I am in control! I can do this. Do not fixate on how long you’ve been here. Be Here, in this Moment, Now!’ Arawn mentally fortifying himself to maintain his Wa. He did so in an effort to forestall his inevitable collapse.
‘I will NOT faint! I will not, show weakness in front of General Scathach!’ he determined, while forcefully repressing another fatigue caused shudder. Even with his enhanced stamina, Annwyfn Arawn found himself nearing his upper limits of endurance. His immediate problem was that he’d been standing at full attention for the better part of two hours.
He was in that precarious position, because Fort Eequor’s Commanding Officer, General Eileen Scathach (Dullahan), had ordered him to do so. She had done it after he had reported to her, after he’d been released from the Fort’s Brig/Stockade.
‘Five days and nights of constant sexual teasing and harassment, countering every charm spell, blocking every individual seduction attempt by that squad of Succubus-guards.’ He remembered, barely repressing another shudder at the thought. A shudder born of fear or near-exhaustion, he was unable to decide.
‘Luckily that group of guards seemed rather half-hearted in their charm spell casting. (5)’ Quintus began. ‘Otherwise, we would be exhausted for vastly different reasons now.’
‘Luck has nothing to do with that! (1)’ Arawn/Primus countered, ‘They were doing so under orders to harass us. Nothing more!’ he then breathed in deeply, as he felt oxygen starved. ‘Status?! (1)’ he demanded.
‘The same as when you asked five minutes ago.’ Quintus answered testily. ‘Tertius and Quartus are both sleeping in an effort to prolong your stamina, but they are now reaching their limits. Secundus is attempting to locate a hidden source of mana nearby. But, I am afraid that he has not had any luck in that regard. (5)’
‘What of you? (1)’
‘I estimate that I will be forced to retire sometime within the next hour.’ Quintus replied shakily. ‘I would not have needed to, if Colonel Tekatees had not ordered our Brig-restraints to include a set of genital cuffs! (5)’ he remarked dryly.
‘That was a mite bit excessive, in my opinion. (2)’ Secundus agreed then.
‘Even with the Maou’s influence, Demons will always remain Demons in their hearts. (1)’ Arawn/Primus silently agreed in remembrance.
Even with his exhaustion that was caused by his ‘stay’ in the Stockade/Bring, Arawn remained implacable in his resolve to display no sign of his weakness. He was determined to force himself to continue to stand in front of the General’s desk as rigid as a steel bow.
Peering at the General, Arawn was baffled over her decision to not use her desk’s chair. Instead, she chose to stand as she pointedly ignored his presence in front of her desk. Occasionally, her frown would deepen as she continued to examine one by one, several reports that were piled upon her desk. Each of which, Arawn noted, had his name emblazoned in large red letters upon its cover folder.
‘Thankfully, the General has herself a picture window.’ Arawn smiled inwardly, as he let his attention lapse away from her. ‘It is good to see the sky once more.’ He almost smiled, as he attempted to distract himself from his discomfort, by judging the exact location of the General’s office.
During the last hour, he had managed the occasional surreptitious fidget that helped to alleviate that creeping numbness in his legs. A numbness that currently threatened, to advance up above the level of his knees.
“Yokai Basic Annwyfn Arawn.” The General spoke suddenly, startling Arawn from his reverie. Somehow, that neutral tone of hers still managed to convey a sense of profound disappointment.
‘Such an oratory skill is a constant for Commanding Officers everywhere.’ He decided.
Glancing nervously back at General Scathach, he noticed that her black eyes were now boring into his. Arawn let his military bearing slip momentarily, as he also took a quick look around the otherwise empty room. Ignoring his glance, she continued.
“Within a day of your arrival,” Scathach began, as she continued to fix Arawn a penetrating stare, her yellow irises glowing with an unholy anger, “you’ve managed to cause me an embarrassing incident.” Scathach grimaced, as she lay down one of the report folders she’d been holding in one of her hands.
 She then leaned forwards and placed both of her azure colored hands onto her desk, to loom menacingly at him.  Arawn had to fight his initial reaction to lean backwards in response.
“One that requires a public response on my part.” She began, “DESPITE!” she barked suddenly with her teeth flashing, making Arawn flinch.
“The many reassurances I’ve received from Royal Makai, informing me that you are: ‘without parallel in the art of Clandestine Activities’!” she ended with a slow expulsion of her breath through pursed lips.
She then drew herself up while crossing her arms, as if expecting to hear an explanation. Arawn allowed himself to droop as he licked his lips and opened his mouth to speak.
“Silence.” Scathach stated acerbically. Arawn’s response was to snap his mouth shut, and to resume his military bearing. Scathach continued to stare balefully at Arawn through a few of the hair strands, that had snuck out from her severe bun.
“Now then,” she began again, “as I recall, your mission from the Great Maou was one in which you were supposed to conduct an undercover,” she emphasized fiercely,
“investigation into the Mystery of Cynosure’s inability to be converted into a Demon Realm!” she paused, while baring her teeth at him.
“Would you care to explain the discongruity between Makai’s attestations to your stealthiness, and the reports I’ve received from both Colonel Tekatees and Sergeant Ardra?” she then indicated the two thickest report folders that lay on front of her desk. Arawn made to speak, but hesitated. Scathach noted it.
“You may speak.” She stated succinctly. Licking his lips, Arawn began.
“Before I continue, I request permission to speak freely.” His request caused Scathach’s already severe frown, to turn into a scowl as she began to mull his request over.
“Granted.” She hissed menacingly. The unspoken threat that lay behind that one word of hers, was readily apparent to him.
‘Remember your tact. (5)’ Quintus warned.
“I threw away any pretense of stealth, when I ascertained Lieutenant Winnie’s plight.” Arawn replied carefully.
“And how is that supposed to let you off of the hook?!” she demanded, her eyes flaring.
“I quote General Order number one: ‘Take them alive!’ end quote.” Arawn finished, expecting the General to say something. After several seconds of her not replying, he pressed on.
“Unless of course, keeping your troops alive is no longer a priority where you are concerned.” He added in a sarcastic tone.
‘Well, so much for tact. (5)’ remarked dryly.
“THAT! Is out of order!” Scathach shouted, bashing one fist heavily on the desk, and pointing a finger of the other, into Arawn’s face.
“One more asinine comment like that, and I WILL have your head on a platter! The Maou’s orders be damned!” she shouted in a thundering voice, as Arawn fought to keep from smirking at the General’s inadvertent pun.
‘We would be a matched pair then, eh?’ Arawn thought.
The General and Arawn continued to glower at each other for several seconds in silence. Finally, the General spoke first.
“That attitude of yours is precisely why I objected to having you here in the first place, Arawn!” Scathach breathed. “An unattached male Majin of your magnitude and running around chock full of Spirit Energy? Then left to taunt my troops, while thumbing your nose at my authority.”
“I have not thumbed my nose,…!” Arawn began to protest, but he was soon interrupted.
“You most certainly have!” General Scathach interrupted loudly, “What would you call your ability to persuade Corporal Helvetia to betray her Duty-oath, as anything but flaunting my authority!? Or for that matter, that stunt you pulled magnetizing the Oni brigade’s meteoric-iron kanabo? Which, by the way, still haven’t demagnetized yet!”
“Is it the habit of the Maou’s Army to visit someone, like a thief in the night?” Arawn volleyed back.
“Those occasions we’re called upon to go on the offensive. Yes!” Scathach replied, her eyes burning into Arawn’s from across her desk. Arawn blinked in surprise then took a step back. Frowning, he then bowed his head at the General and spoke.
“My apologies, General. I was unaware of such.” He conceded, then he continued.
“But, if I may offer in my defense General,” he began, “my lack of knowledge of such, is but one of the reasons that I requested a Mentor in the first place.” He stated, forcing himself to relax while looking away momentarily. General Scathach’s eyes widened indignantly for a moment, then she too looked away with a thoughtful look on her face.
“Fair enough.” She replied, frowning slightly as she breathed deeply through her flaring nostrils. Keeping silent, she then turned herself away from her pile of reports, then kicked her unused chair away, as she began walking around her desk.
‘It is amazing how quiet she can be, walking around in full battle-armor like that. (5)’ Quintus observed, as she approached to within a couple of meters from him.
Arawn chose to remain still, in order to see what she would do next. As she came within arm’s reach she stopped and stared at him for a short while, contemplating him with a neutral expression, as she began scratching at her neck.
‘Well, Enchanted Armor is known for its stealthiness. (2)’ Secundus remarked dryly. Arawn chose to let that remark slide, keeping his own gaze level, trying to ignore Scathach without being impolite.
“At ease, Majin.” She spoke suddenly, waiting. Arawn immediately relaxed himself down into an at-ease stance.
‘Thank the Great Maker! (1)’ Arawn breathed silently.
“Thank you General.” Arawn spoke aloud. General Scathach, looked at him coldly.
“Don’t thank me yet, Yokai Basic.” She replied softly, still scratching. Arawn nodded once in response to that.
“You’ve left me in an untenable position, Arawn.” Scathach began speaking.
“Your Bachelor-hood alone, is proving to not only be an encumbrance, but a distraction to my troops. If it was left strictly up to me, I’d have handed you over to that squad of troops that I had guarding you in the Stockade. Their squad leader requested the authority to corrupt you en-masse.” She smiled wickedly. Arawn forced himself to not flinch at the memory of that squad’s already creative seduction attempts.
‘Is she not aware that you cannot be corrupted? (2)’ Secundus interjected then.
‘She would probably see it as a challenge. (5)’ Quintus advised. Arawn silently agreed.
“Unfortunately, a gang-rape would be a breaking of the Oath between you and the Great Maou.” Scathach continued, as she glowered at him. “I, sadly, am forced to keep that Oath. I at least, take my oath to the Great Maou seriously.”
“General, if it had been left to me, I would have arrived here with a mate.” Arawn replied. “Unfortunately, that option was not given to me.”
“So, you say.” Scathach replied acidly. Stung, Arawn very nearly shouted indignantly at her then.
“I will return to the matter of your bothersome bachelor-hood in a minute.” She stated as she turned away to pace around the room.
Arawn noted that her scratching at her neck was increasing in severity. He tried as best he could to follow her pacing, as best he could. But he was aware that even in an ‘At-Ease’ position, he wasn’t allowed to turn and look.
The General began to mutter under her breath, as she walked behind Arawn for the third time, while attempting to adjust the gorget around her neck.
“Damn it!” she growled suddenly. Arawn craned his neck over to look at her in concern. What she did next, surprised him. Instead of removing her gorget, the General grasped her head with both hands covering her ears.
She then lifted her head up of her shoulders. Arawn gasped in astonishment, when her head separated from her body with a barely audible ‘pop’.
“Great Maker!” Arawn breathed in surprise, agog at such a display. Scathach turned her body around, so as to make eye contact with him.
“Is something that matter, Majin Arawn? Surely you’ve encountered a Dullahan before?” Scathach smiled amusedly at him, as she then began maneuvering her head to sit in the crook of her right arm, her hair draping from her undone bun.
“I have indeed heard of Dullahan, General.” Arawn replied, surprised, yet interested in the display. “But this is the first time that I have encountered one such as you.”
“Well everyone has their first time.” She remarked dryly, as she noticed Arawn nervously shifted his gaze from her head in the crook of her arm, up to the aura that sprouted from her neck atop her shoulders, and back again. She then extended two fingers from the hand that wasn’t holding her head and pointed them at her eyes.
“My eyes are down here, Majin!” she mocked, her impish smile at odds with her cross tone. Arawn noted that her eyes were now at the level of her breastplate.
‘Or would that be her ‘breasts-plate’, instead? (2)’ Secundus asked cheekily then.
‘Hush. (1)’ Arawn/Primus warned.
“Yes, General.” Arawn replied sheepishly, forcing himself to not look at the phosphorescent glow that rose up from her shoulders in lieu of her head.
Arawn continued to gape as the General approached her desk’s front left corner. She then smartly placed her head atop a tall metal ziggurat that had been sitting at that desk’s corner. Arawn discovered that he still had to lift his chin, in order to maintain eye contact.
“Ah, much better!” The General’s head beamed, once her headless body had finished affixing her head atop the metal framework, then it stepped back.
“Now, where were we?” she asked, pursing her lips in thought.
“Oh yes!” she smiled, while her body clapped its hands once. “I have a decision that needs to be made. I have to decide whether or not I should have you court-martialed,” her head stated, while her body pointed a finger at Arawn, “or just simply have you expelled from the Maou’s Army.” The General’s head mused aloud, while her body began to amble around her office once more.
“If I may, General. I would prefer instead, to argue in favor of a third option. One that allows me to remain in the Army because of the extenuating circumstances.” Arawn suggested, trying desperately to keep his attention spread evenly between her head and her body.
“What circumstances are those, Arawn?” The General’s head demanded coldly.
“The ones involving the Magi-tech that I,….” Arawn began to reply, yet found it difficult to enunciate, as his intense curiosity with the General’s undead status kept distracting him. Scathach, glared at him and spoke.
“Spit it you Arawn!” Scathach barked, seemingly reading his mind. “It’s obvious that you’re brimming over with questions. Ask them already!” she ordered.
“How it that your head is able to speak, General? Even from here, I can feel the force of your breath coming from your mouth. Yet, both your vocal cords, and your lungs, are within your body over there!” Arawn pointed at her armor-clad body, which stood facing (?) him from two meters away. Scathach rolled her eyes, while her body raised a fist and placed it akimbo on her hip.
“Perhaps!” the General’s head replied with an exasperated sigh, “I should introduce you to Dubh-Eileen. She is one of my unattached fellow Dullahans, Arawn. If I did, you and she could examine each other’s bodies to your mutual heart’s desire!” she replied, smiling devilishly at the thought.
“Thus, I would gain an advantage of a being owed a really big favor from her, while simultaneously being rid of an unmarried thorn in my side!” she finished with a speculative look directed at Arawn. Who stopped and thought about it for a second, blinking rapidly all the while.
“I withdraw my questions.” he replied finally, grimacing. Scathach squinted coldly at him for several seconds, then she smirked momentarily in response.
“Now, about my extenuating circumstances.” He began again. “The Magi-tech artifacts alone, should assuage any damage that I have caused due to my blundering.”
“It might!” General Scathach conceded then.
“If I knew exactly what they were! I have no idea what It was that you brought back from your escapade. But first!” her head demanded, while her body on the other side of the room raised a finger. Arawn found himself unsettled again at the sight.
“Start at the beginning. I demand an oral explanation for everything that has occurred.”
“Such as?” Arawn asked, wondering where to begin.
“Such as, what was that Tentacle-Creature that fucked Winnie to within an inch of her life?” Scathach’s head demanded.
“It turns out, that that creature was a Chthon.”
“WHAT?!” Scathach demanded, outraged. “According to Corporal Helvetia’s report, which is backed up by Makai’s historical archives I might add. You mentioned to her, that the Chthons had fled this world XXX of years ago!” Arawn had the decency to look embarrassed at that proclamation.
“It appears that both I and they, were in error concerning that judgment.” Arawn replied.
“Really?” Scathach replied in an arching lilt, while her face flared into a mock-innocent look. Leaving her mouth agape, she batted her eyelashes coquettishly. In the corner of his eye Arawn noted that Scathach’s body had raised both of her hands in a gesture of surprise.
“Why by my stars and garters, Majin Arawn! Did you just admit to being something less than perfect?!”
“Yes, General, I did.”
“A Mage actually admitting to being in error!” Scathach declared in mock shock, while rolling her eyes. “Why the Chief God’s predicted End-Times, must surely be upon us now!” She prophetically replied, unknowingly.
It took Arawn a superhuman, nay a super-Annwyfyn, effort on his part to avoid replying with an insubordinate remark at that point.
“If I may continue with my report?” he asked instead, with gravity weighting his voice. Scathach glared at him momentarily, and then nodded once.
‘Wait a second?! How is she even able to nod when she doesn’t,…oh never mind! (5)’ Quintus asked, then cut himself off in frustration.
“Aye! Please do, Arawn. Explain to me why is there still a Chthon nearby?”
“According to her, I mean him, uhhh it.” Arawn began, while Scathach a him a droll look, but didn’t interrupt. “It is acting as a Guardian.” He finished with a finality tinging his words.
“Guardian? A guardian of what precisely?”
“According to It: “The Great Artifact.” What It meant by this, I could never get It to clarify, unfortunately. I surmise that it was extremely afraid of it, and that if the Great Artifact were to be accessed, it could very well mean a catastrophe.”
“Catastrophe? Catastrophe to whom, it?”
“According to It, everyone.” Arawn replied.
“Did you see this ‘Great Artifact’?” she demanded.
“No.”
“How convenient. Any idea where it is located?”
“According to It, the artifact in question wasn’t located in the same plane of reality that she was. Which was the same spot in which Winnie, the cats, and the Automatons were.”
“Do you have any idea where it is then?”
“If I had to hazard a guess, somewhere in the hills underneath Cynosure, quite possibly under the Teleportation Platform, to be precise. I suspect that it may very well have something to do with Cynosure’s inability to be corrupted into a Demon Realm.”
“What leads you to that conclusion?”
“From what I’ve learned, the Artifact is protected from idle handling by a number of safeguards, including a protective field. To wit, said field acts like a Teleportation field. Anything that gets too close to the Artifact, is teleported to the Chthon’s plane. There to be examined, and held by the Chthon. I come to that conclusion, based upon the number of cats that were still left alive with the Chthon. It may very well have something to with the many city cats that have been disappearing around the city.”
“I am well aware of the rumors involving the disappearance of many a city cat, Yokai.” Scathach replied firmly. She then asked him another question.
“You said Teleportation?” Arawn nodded. “Hmmm.” Scathach mused, frowning.
“General, I need to ask.” Arawn began. Scathach looked to him and nodded. “Cynosure’s Teleportation Pavilion, who created it?” Scathach sighed and thought for a second. She sighed finally, and spoke.
“What I have to say next, is privileged information! Do not share it with anyone!” she warned. Arawn nodded.
“It was not created, only adapted.” She replied finally. “As far as history and lore states, the Pavilion platforms were already present, when the first intelligent beings discovered the ancient hills of Cynosure.” Arawn found his mind wandering, following countless avenues of inquiry such a revelation afforded him then.
“Ahem!” Scathach cleared her throat, recapturing his attention. She continued.
“According to the earliest accounts of the original Majin who were involved in the platform research. They were able to figure out that the platforms were able to teleport, and not destroy, anyone who wandered too near them. Eventually, over time and with much experimentation, they were able to work out a number of ways of controlling them. Thus, the ancient system of Teleportation across this world was born.”
“But, I would imagine that such teleportation came at a cost.” Arawn replied. Scathach squinted at him suspiciously.
“How so?” she demanded.
“Security vulnerability.” He began, “If you could teleport someone hither and yon, eventually someone else could as well. Someone, such as The Order.”
“You are correct. They did then, and they continue to do so all too often, now. Such is the main reason why Teleportation is maintained under a strict control! The last thing Royal Makai needs, let alone any other Demon realm, is an endless stream of Order fighters popping in unannounced at any time.” What Arawn said next surprised the General profoundly.
“I may have a solution to that.” He replied with a slight smile.
“How so?!” she demanded.
“As part of our agreement to release me from that Chthon’s other-worldly realm, the Chthon agreed to allow me to bring back a piece of its technology.”
“A piece of its technology? Where is it? What have you done with it?” Scathach demanded fiercely, raising her fist.
“That unusual item that makes everyone’s eyes cross, when they look at it? For lack of a better term, it is an: Operator’s Manual.”
“What!?” Scathach yelled fiercely. “What is it supposed to do?!” she demanded. Arawn noted that somehow, both her head and her body jumped slightly up in reaction, simultaneously.
“Amongst other things, it will also allow for an enhanced security of teleportation platforms across the realms. Thus, no more ‘unannounced’ visits from the Order.” Arawn noted that the General hungrily took in every one of his words. He began to feel better about his situation then.
“Additionally, even if they do manage to once more access a teleportation system, the Maou’s Army could decide where they will end up going to. In fact, the Army could decide ahead of time how much of their clothing or weaponry, they arrive with.” Arawn finished, with a smile. General Scathach caught herself smiling warmly in response at the thought.
Then with a sudden scowl crossing her face, the General’s body stepped lightly to the desk and plucked her head up off of the scaffolding. With a careful settling, the General’s head was soon reattached to her shoulders.
“If what you say be true, Majin, then why didn’t the Chthon simply teleport you out here, herself?”
“Because of a flaw in the protective system. Anything that is teleported into its realm, remains there. In order for the Chthon to ‘clean house’ so to speak, it needed an agent on this side to access the controls.” Scathach sighed as she leaned back and sat on the edge of her desk.
“You seem to know quite a lot about this Chthon, and its motivations.”
“Well, I was in communication with it for almost the entirety of my stay.”
“So, if you were in communication with it, tell me why did it nearly fuck Lieutenant Winnie nearly to death?” Arawn sighed heavily and looked away.
“Because, a Chthons’ primary method of communication is through sexual activity.” Arawn began, clenching his eyes in preparation for the inevitable irate response.
When none came, he opened them to see that the General was now pressing a gauntleted hand to her face. Arawn could see her black eyes in between her fingers, peering back at him.
“This!” she stated then, closing her eyes in frustration, “is why I detest having any sort of conversation with a Majin!” she said wearily. “I can never tell if what they’re telling me is the truth! Or if they’re not, in fact, just attempting to pull my leg.” She finished with a hearty sigh.
“Actually General, sexual activity does seem to be a universal method of communication amongst all sentient beings. Take Humans and Mamono, for instance.” Arawn attempted to point out.
“So what you’re telling me is,” she began, dropping her hand from her face, “that Winnie’s near fatal fuck-fest with that tentacle creature was just the two of them having an extended convers,…!?” General Scathach’s next word stuck in her throat.
“Wait! Never mind!” she stopped, then waved her hand in dismissal.
 “I’ve decided that I do not wish to pursue this line of reasoning anymore! As I most certainly do NOT want to know how you managed to converse with it! So, I will instead, let this go for now!” Scathach replied, pinching her eyes together. She was silent for several long minutes with a long-suffering expression on her face. Finally, she began again.
“I take it Majin Arawn, that this ‘Operator’s Manual’ you brought back?” she asked, Arawn nodded. “We will need YOU to translate it?”
“Ummm, yes General.”
“Ooh! Well, isn’t that amazing how that works out!?” she grinned cheekily, with just a hint of mania tinging her voice. Arawn wisely chose to not answer.
“Are there any other aspects of the Teleportation-platform’s Operations Manual, that you feel I should be aware of?” she demanded.
“Yes General, apparently it also gives instructions on how to produce any number of raw materials, converting them from one form of matter into another. Thus, the platforms can create foodstuffs, building materials, and other supplies. All of which could prove useful to the Army, when it comes to providing aid to Order attacked realms.” Arawn finished, with an encouraging smile. That same smile vanished, when he noticed Scathach’s skeptical frown.
“That, is quite a tall list of possibilities you’ve given me, Majin Arawn!” She glowered, “If what you say is true, then you will have more than proven your worth to the Maou’s Army.” She smiled widely. Arawn didn’t feel reassured with it.
“HOWEVER!” she barked suddenly, unsmiling. “You will still need to prove that you’re capable of providing. Do you truly still wish to remain in the Maou’s Army, Arawn?” Arawn nodded quietly.
“Very well then! Your first assignment will begin as soon as you step out of my door! I will make arrangements to insure, that you are assigned to assist the Fort’s Magical Research Division. There, you will assist in the translation of the ‘Operations Manual’ that you so thoughtfully provided.”
“Additionally, you will assist in the cataloging, and reclamation, of the Automaton Units that you brought back from the Chthon’s realm. According to the report submitted by Lieutenant Jinks, she tells me that you seem to have a fair bit of knowledge concerning them.”
“I do, General.” Arawn replied neutrally, remembering the conversations she and he had had in the Stockade.
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‘Hello again Arawn!’ Waved Lieutenant Jinks from outside his cell, gaining his attention. He had been most welcome for any relief from the Stockade guards incessant sexual teasing and tormenting.
 ‘Now what is this part called again?’ she had demanded, pointing to an oblong part she had held up in her hands.
‘A miniaturized flux-capacitor’. Arawn had answered.
‘I thought so!’ she had replied. ‘Excellent! Can you tell me this script says?’ she had asked next, holding up an Automaton Memory-core. Arawn peered carefully at it.
‘It says, Automaton Designator: λ/Ε-Ν²-Y. Translated properly, it would be pronounced: “Jenny”.’ Arawn had replied.
‘Why thank you Arawn! You’re quite the big help!’ Jinks replied, as she turned to go.
‘Oh by the way! You STILL owe me drinks and a dinner!’ she had reminded him cheerfully a shoulder.
‘I fully intend to collect!’ she had replied with her ever present grin widening at the thought. She then hurriedly forced her way past the amused, and voluptuous, semi-clad Stockade’s guards.
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“That’s good to hear, Majin. Eventually, the Automatons will be teleported to Royal Makai for further investigation. You are aware, that you could accompany them?”
“General?” Arawn asked, puzzled.
“It seems to me that your talents are being wasted here, when instead you could return to Royal Makai.” Scathach smiled hopefully, as her voice dropped an octave.
“Your work in the Magical Research Division that is located with the Maou’s castle alone, would guarantee you much in the way of accolades and recognition.”
“Not to mention that you might even garner the attention of one of the Great Maou’s daughters. The Lilim do have some rather exacting matrimonial standards, after all.” Arawn shuddered involuntarily at the thought. Swallowing, he began to reply.
‘Going there would leave us in close proximity to Belphegor! (5)’ Quintus reminded Arawn/Primus, in a mental whisper.
“If it is all the same to you General,” he began verbally. Her smile vanished, as she crossed her arms.
 “If you do decide to stay here at Fort Eequor, Majin Arawn.” General Scathach interrupted tersely, then.  Frowning, she continued.
“There will be no guarantees that your lot here will be an easy one.” She threatened with a hiss, as she uncrossed her arms.
She then stepped over to a wooden table that sat at the far end of her office.  Atop that table was an ivory chest that she reached out a hand towards, she then grasped its lid.
 Lifting that lid, she reached in and pulled something out. She then walked her way back to the desk and turned around. Arawn’s eyes widened momentarily, as he finally saw what it was she held. It was one of the chocolate dildos that the Platforms had produced several days earlier.
“I see that you recognize this, yes? Good. Hold it.” She commanded him. Arawn did so and discovered that it seemed to be rather hefty, easily weighing two kilos.
‘It does smell nice. I wonder how it would taste? (2)’ Secundus wondered. Arawn ignored him.
“That.” Scathach began, smiling. “Is one of those ‘foodstuffs’ that the platforms created as a result of your little escapade. Therefore, it does give credence to your assertion about the teleportation platforms’ untapped abilities.” Scathach grudgingly admitted.
“But that subject, isn’t what I’m referring to right now.” She finished, as she stopped talking and fixed Arawn with a prolonged stare.
“Your unmarried status is anathema to me!” she stated flatly. “I will tolerate your bachelor-hood for only a short time. If you wish to remain under my command, here at Fort Eequor, you WILL,” she emphasized enough to make her head shake, “find yourself a mate!” Arawn opened his mouth to reply, but he was interrupted once more.
“I am quite well aware of your assumption, Arawn. That you are somehow ‘toxic’ to Mamono. That you somehow unconsciously and inadvertently ‘injured’ your chosen Shoggoth mate, Takana was it?” She asked, Arawn nodded somberly.
“Be that as it may, it could very well be that you and Shoggoths are simply incompatible.” She surmised.
“Your own intrinsic nature as a creature of Law, versus her inherent nature as a creature of Chaos, would inevitably result in one or the other of you, receiving some form of damage!”
“BUT!” she half-shouted then, “there are many, many, other Mamono here under my command, whose sole purpose in coming to this Fort is to find themselves a husband. All of whom, are far less chaotic in nature than a Shoggoth! Do you understand where I’m headed with this?” she demanded of him.
“Yes, General I believe I do. I must choose myself a,…”
“No!” Scathach replied simply, while holding up a hand. “You!” She point at him. “Will not get to choose! Instead, the only choice you will have, is to either say yes, or no.”
“I do not understand, General.” Arawn replied, puzzled. Scathach smiled, gesturing to the chocolate dildo in his hand.
“That, will be a token.” She began to explain. Arawn raised an eyebrow in response.
“To back up a bit. The Fort now has several-hundred of these ‘Chocolate’ dildos available. According to my Dark Mages who have examined them, they are in fact edible, and quite possibly safe enough to insert into our mouths, if not any of our other body orifices.” She smiled, seemingly amused at the thought.
“However, that is not necessarily the purpose that I have in mind for them. Instead, they will be handed out at a rate of one per day to any Mamono, willing to accept the challenge that will come with it.”
“Challenge?” Arawn asked nervously.
“Yes, Arawn. The challenge. You will be that challenge, to be precise.” Scathach grinned widely, as she crossed her arms again, facing him.
“Any Mamono who accepts that dildo for that day, will also accept the challenge of attempting to acquire you. As such, that lone Mamono will be given the sole right for that one day, in an attempt to make you, HERS!” Scathach all but growled then. Arawn’s face paled, as he began to realize the implications.
“Yes, I see that you comprehend your situation. Good!” Scathach replied cheerfully.
“Am I to simply bow down to this?”
“No.” Scathach replied, shaking her head good naturedly.
“The rules of engagement for this, allows you to attempt to ‘persuade’ your supplicant to see things your way. Namely, you still have your right of refusal. However,” she glowered, “you are not allowed to draw blood, nor to cause that supplicant any undue harm. You are however, allowed to defend yourself if she becomes abusive. But! You are not allowed to escalate the situation beyond the level that your supplicant has already set.”
“In short, any property damage caused by your ‘negotiations’ above and beyond a certain point, will be paid for out of YOUR pocket. Do I make myself clear?” Scathach stated. Arawn nodded.
“Do you have any questions, Majin?” she demanded.
“Why? Why this method? Why am I not allowed to make a choice in this regard?”
“Actually, you do have a choice, you are free to choose from amongst the many inevitable supplicants that will be coming to seek your ‘hand’ in marriage. If anything else, you’ve demonstrated that you cannot be trusted with too much time on your hands! But then, you are a Majin after all.”
“Any ‘free’ time that you may end up having, you’ll have to devote to finding non-lethal methods of dissuading any potential mate! Naturally, you can regain your free-time by marrying another Mamono of her choosing.” Scathach’s already wide grin, got even wider when she noticed Arawn’s reddening face.
“Yes, I see that you’re upset with this stricture. Good!” she said quietly, and then sighed.
“MY TASK, as a General in the Maou’s Army, Annwyfyn Arawn. Is to insure, that the many hundreds of different Mamono under my command, work together for our mutual desired benefit. Which is simply for most of them, a husband.”
“It is only a handful of those Mamono, who are interested in continuing to serve the Great Maou after they’ve acquired one!”
“You! On the other hand, have the potential to be an asset both to the Maou, and to me, as a husband of one of those industry-minded Mamono. Now under those circumstances, I would be honored to have you under my command!” Scathach said happily. Then she lowered her voice.
“But I will be further damned, if I continue to let you run around unmarried. If I did such, you would continue to serve as a distraction to every one of those Mamono who came to serve in this Army. I need my Army to maintain at least some level of discipline! Do you understand where I am coming from on this Arawn?”
“Yes.” Arawn replied quietly, chastened.
“I can’t hear you Majin!” Scathach shouted then.
“YES I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU ARE COMING FROM GENERAL!” Arawn shouted by way of reply. Quietly, he continued.
“What of my punishment?” he asked quietly then.
“I feel that this chocolate dildo-stricture will serve as sufficient punishment. I deem that you deserve this alone, for your Teleportation escapade! Do you have any objections with my judgment in this matter?”
“No General, I do not.” Arawn replied, forcing himself to not say anything that would result in an even worse humiliation for him.
“Good! I look forward to seeing how well you perform Majin! All things considered, I think that you will indeed be an asset to the Great Maou. Oh! And one other thing before I let you go.” She turned and smiled at Arawn then. “I’d recommend that you choose a wife, soonest.”
“Why is that General?” Arawn asked, inadvertently falling into her verbal trap.
“I am due to receive a number of new troops within the next couple of months. They are coming in from Lescatie. Are you familiar with the force known as the Makai Knights?” Arawn only reply was to gasp, and swallow nervously. Scathach reveled at the sight and sound.
“I see that you have, good. These elite troops count amongst their number the Dark Knights, the Dark Strategists, the Dark Musketeers, and a few more of the elite- ‘Darks’. They have all already been informed of your unmarried status, Arawn.” Arawn found it difficult to reply. Grinning widely at his discomfiture, she plodded on.
“Your reputation proceeds you. It seems that each and every one of them has expressed a desire to obtain a ‘Dildo-of-the-Day’. Apparently they all look forward to exercising, and honing their unique magical seduction abilities upon you.” Scathach then turned around fully and looked Arawn fully in the face. What she saw then amused her greatly. He was shivering fearfully, while sweating profusely.
“Do you still feel that Royal Makai isn’t to your taste Arawn?” she grinned evilly at him. Arawn glared back at her and forced himself to reply in a genial manner.
“No, I STILL do not wish to go back to Royal Makai.” Arawn stated as evenly as he could manage.
‘Belphegor.’ Was the one single thought that crossed his mind then. ‘I will do whatever it takes, to NOT allow myself to be within the grasp of that abominable demon!’ he decided firmly.
“Very well then, Yokai Basic Arawn!” she replied, reminding him of his status.
“Immediately after your departure from my office, you will report to Corporal Helvetia. You will then inform her of not only your additional duties, but you will also tell her of the Dildo-of-the-Day punishment. I fully expect her to see to your adherence to its rules and strictures. Do you understand what I am telling you?” she asked sweetly. Arawn nodded.
“Good. DISMISSED!” she ordered with a snarl. Arawn went to full attention by way of response, and then saluted with the Army’s normal salute with his right fist placed upon his left breast momentarily. He then marched stiffly out of the General’s office, closing the door behind him.
“That, was rather harsh.” Came a voice that carried out from behind a secret door. That same door that swung open out of one of the General’s bookshelves. General Scathach turned her head to look at the source, and then her mien changed from one of anger to one of pleasure. The reason being, that the person who stepped out of the hidden room, was her husband Dread Sergeant-Major Mac Roich.
“Are you challenging my judgment, husband?” she asked rhetorically, her smile at odds with the tone of her voice. “You know what will happen if you did.”
“Yes, I do know my wife, and no, I am not challenging your authority. I am merely making an observation. Majin Arawn has performed above and beyond what many of the Army’s skeptics had expected of him. He has singlehandedly advanced the ‘Cynosure-Mystery’ more, in a few days, than some of the best minds of the Maou’s Magical research division have accomplished in over a century of investigation.”
“That remains to be seen, husband. But, if what he asserts turns out to be true, then I will make it up to him. Until then, all we have to go on is speculation.”
“True! True!” Mac Roich agreed, nodding his head. “But I still feel that you’re not giving him the benefit of the doubt.” In response, Scathach’s face clouded over with anger.
“The Great Maou herself has stated that Arawn is a danger.” She hissed. “A useful danger, but a danger none the less! I will not let my eagerness for success, cloud my better judgment, husband! I will give Majin Arawn all the rope he wants or needs. Such will make it easier for him to hang himself.”
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Deep under the Teleportation Platforms, Father Heilar strode once more to the ‘Sword Chamber’. This time, he did so both cautiously, and yet with an eagerness that hastened his steps.
 He was cautious in that he knew that that Eldritch Sword had an air of menace that he simply never cared for. It, was something that gave off an almost unholy like aura that tended to frighten him every time he looked at it.
But he was also eager to see if his Tormentor had indeed fallen victim to his madness, and in so doing, had fallen into the sword’s protective field, freeing Heilar at long last!
Father Heilar’s progress was purposely slow as he carefully stepped into the Sword Chamber. Carefully, he meandered his way around the various remaining stalagmites, in order to gain a good view of whatever it was he ‘knew’ that awaited him. Finally, once he was at a goodly distance away he stopped in wonder.
What he saw then, was impossible! Throwing caution to the wind, Heilar rapidly advanced to within an arm’s reach of the Artifact. He then stopped. For a while he remained speechless, utterly aghast at what he saw on display before him.
Where before, the spot where the Sword Artifact that had been hanging in mid-air, was now empty. In its place stood Father Heilar’s Mentor and Tormenter, Father Hakon. Yet it was not him.
Stepping around the expected field, so as to get a better look at Heilar. Hakon carefully viewed him in the queer off-light that was ever present in the chamber, Heilar found himself somewhat joyful, yet also disappointed at what he beheld before him.
It, which had previously been Father Heilar, was now transformed into a statue of a sorts. A Statue clutching in one hand, that mystical sword. Where before the sword’s surface had held an ever-shifting display of arcane runic symbols, had now frozen into place and were mostly cleared of the vast majority of those same runes.
Instead, three runes remained solidly fixed into position upon the swords’ crossbar. These were repeated in endless groups upon the body of what had once been Father Heilar. Hakon leaned forward and felt a chill run up his spine when he saw the look upon his Mentor’s face. It was a mixture of triumph and horror.
‘Triumph, because you managed to grasp the sword.’ Hakon decided, ‘Horror, because you realized what happened after touching it.’
Hakon stood up and smiled then, as he walked back and retrieved a chair in which to sit upon and contemplate the tableau before him.
“Now,” Father Hakon began to muse aloud, “Father Heilar. What should I do about this? I suppose I could try and find a Mage in an effort to try and free you.”
“BUT!” Hakon argued with himself, raising a finger. “Mages cost money. Money we don’t have, and probably never will. Unless of course, I bring this plight to the attention of someone higher up the chain of command in the Order.” Hakon sat back and thought about it some more.
“I find that I simply do not know what to do right now, Father Heilar.” Hakon smiled, then frowned. “But, what I do know, is that I recognize that I am truly undeserving of the ‘blessings’ that the Chief God has bestowed upon you!” Hakon smirked.
“The one question I have in my mind right now is this: How can I turn this to my advantage?” It took Hakon many hours to figure something out. But eventually, he did.
Uncharacteristically for Father Heilar, he remained completely silent for the entire while. Much to Hakon’s evident relief. But, even that relief would end someday, replaced with a guilty horror.
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