Prologue: The Warning to Living Mortals
Disclaimer: I was inspired partially by a certain '80s adaptation of a popular cartoon sereis, some O.C. I created and my continuing AU Charmedverse where Prue still lives.
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This is a warning to all living mortals: that whosoever opens this Chest of Demons will release thirteen of the most terrifying ghosts upon the face of the earth...
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BOOM!
"Vinny!!!!" came the shout.
"What?" Vinny asked.
"Don't 'what' me!" Kolopak said, "Come back here you lunatic!!"
In other words, it was just another typical day aboard the Morrowind. "What's Vinny invented this time?" Audrey asked as she poured herself a glass of milk.
"I'd rather not know, frankly." Godfrey replied, as he sipped at some hot tea, "Amazing how Vinny's good standing eroded rather quickly."
"How's Prue?" Audrey asked.
"She's still somewhat in mourning." Godfrey replied.
"Gawrsh, Godfrey, maybe she could buy a better watch, ahyuck because it's afternoon." Goofy replied.
"That's mourning Goofy, not morning!!!" Donald shouted.
"Bloody hell Donald, you don't have to shout so loudly, I'm standing four feet away." Godfrey replied.
"Donald, amigo, quit jumping up and down." Audrey said, "You might just..."
"OUCH!!!" Donald shouted as he stepped on a wind up porcupine on the floor.
"...step on something." Audrey replied.
"What is that thing?" D'Artagnan asked.
"It looks like another one of Vinny's inventions." Godfrey replied.
"What do you think it does?" D'Artagnan asked, as he looked it over.
"D'Artagnan, if it's one of Vinny's inventions its bound to explode, electrify, shoot fire or do something similar..." Audrey replied.
With a hiss of escaping compressed air the invention fired all the needles that were its artificial quills all over the room, right into Donald's rear end.
"YOWCH!!!!" Donald shouted as he jumped into the air and landed feet first onto the porcupine which promptly exploded, flinging him backwards into the lounge wall and knocking him unconscious.
"Yep, it's one of Vinny's inventions all right." Cookie commented.
"On that other note, how's Prue holding up?" Audrey asked.
"I don't know." Godfrey replied, "But it seems like she's making some progress every day..."
Prue walked into the room just then. She still looked tired and her eyes somewhat reddened from crying when she noticed Donald lying unconscious on the floor. "Redecorating?" Prue asked.
"Yes." Godfrey deadpanned, "We're calling it, Deconstruction a la Vinny..."
Just then a clockwork circus clown, standing about two feet tall walked into the room. "Watch out!" Godfrey shouted.
The clockwork clown stopped in the middle of the floor just then as Vinny walked into the room, "Oh, I see you've found my clockwork clown." Vinny said.
"Vinny," Prue asked warily, "Does it explode? Electrify? Shoot fireballs?"
"No." Vinny replied, "Also have you seen my wind up porcupine mine?"
"Yes." Godfrey replied, "It already exploded."
"Vinny, what drives you to create these things?" Prue asked.
"Prue, you've been onboard for almost a year and you're still asking that?" Audrey replied, "We've been living with the lunatic for years and we still don't know what drives him to create the things he does."
"What is that thing supposed to do anyway Vinny?" Godfrey asked, "Or would I be better off not knowing."
"Ye of little faith." Vinny replied, "It just so happens that I've created a clown shaped walking can opener."
"Why would we want something like that?" Prue asked, curiousity piqued.
"This isn't like you, Vinny." D'Artagnan added, "Normally your inventions have some destructive elements behind them..."
Vinny said, "And that's not all. It also features a little music box inside it."
Vinny wound up another crank and the clown started to sway back and forth like a metronome, playing an instrumental It's A Small World After All.
"OK," Prue began, "It's official, I liked it better when Vinny's inventions would explode instead of playing dumb kid songs that get stuck in your head all day."
The tune got faster and faster paced. "Vinny, can you turn that thing off, it's getting annoying."
"Uhm, I can't figure out how to turn it off, that's the problem." Vinny said.
"So you've invented a walking, can opening, music playing clown without an off switch?" Audrey asked.
"Yes." Vinny replied.
"So how long does it take the clown's motors to die down?" Prue asked.
"About seventeen hours, give or take five minutes." Vinny replied.
"I've got a better idea..." Donald said, "Thundaga!!"
"Donald," Prue began, "That might not be a good..."
Donald sent a bolt of lightning into the machine only to have it overload and then explode apart. BOOM!
"...idea." Prue finished.
"Eh heh heh heh..." Vinny said.
"Prepare to die Vinny! Thundaga!!!" Donald shouted as he chased the Italian inventor down the hallways.
"Explosions, check." Prue began, "Donald or Kolopak beating up on Vinny, check..."
"Let's not forget Donald beating his head against the wall." Godfrey added.
"Not right now but..." Prue began.
WHAM! WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!
"Bound to occur." Godfrey replied, "Check."
"It sounds like another day on the Morrowind." Prue replied, taking the seat on the couch beside Godfrey.
WHAM! WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!
"Do you have any more of that tea?" Prue asked, "I never imagined I'd actually develop a taste for the stuff."
"There should still be some left if Donald doesn't wind up knocking over the kettle." Godfrey replied.
"I'm amazed that thing survived around here." Prue replied.
"I'm amazed my sanity has survived here." Godfrey replied.
WHAM! WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!
"He's still at it? How many whacks does the pool say this time?" Prue replied.
"Twenty-seven." Godfrey said, "I've got about twenty pounds riding on twenty-five."
"You're betting below the spread?" Prue asked.
"I was short two last time." Godfrey replied.
WHAM! WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!
"Donald..." Prue began, "Will you quit doing that? I mean banging your head against the wall in frustration doesn't help anything..."
"It's good for morale though." D'Artagnan commented as he went into the rec room to grab a book off the nearest shelf.
WHAM! WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!
"I'm amazed Donald can remember anything with all of his head banging..." Prue began.
"Come on, five more whacks..." Godfrey began.
WHAM! WHAM! WHAM! WHAM! CRASH! BONK! BASH! BONK! WHACK!
A ceiling tile, several books, and a couple bookends rom a nearby shelf all landed on top of Donald's head and he promptly collapsed to the ground.
"Merde..." D'Artagnan laughed as he walked off, "It seems that I have taken the pool."
"Wanker." Godfrey groaned as he realized his twenty pounds had been lost by one bloody point.
Prue smiled faintly at the humor of it all. The more things change...she thought. Though the change in question was a rather painful change.
Godfrey instinctively put an arm around her shoulders. Prue instinctively leaned her head against his shoulder. She had found his presence to be oddly comforting in the past few days, since Andy's wake when she'd collapsed, sobbing into his arms. They're quite strong arms, despite the fact that he's on the lean side.
She breathed in Godfrey's smell, it was a mix of that strongly spicy smelling British army issue aftershave and his natural smell. To think that smell used to bother me when we first met...
Godfrey held Prue close to him, in a comforting manner. No words were really necessary right now. He wasn't sure why, but it started to feel natural for Prue to be on his arm. No tears today? Good. On one hand she'll be her old self again. Godfrey felt himself smile. On the other she won't quite be needing my shoulder as much any longer, and I'll honestly miss that. Godfrey felt sadness wash over him. Prue wouldn't be needing his comforting arm for too much longer and that excuse to hold her in his arms would no longer be.
Prue looked up at Godfrey, and despite herself, smiled.She found Godfrey's closeness to be comforting. She closed her eyes just as she heard the sound of Kolopak clearing his throat.
Both Godfrey and Prue sat up, Prue moving her head from Godfrey's shoulder, "What's going on?" Godfrey asked.
"It seems that we have a grave threat on our hands." Kolopak began, "We're heading to Timor after we stop for fuel and ammunition in Mayapore..."
"Timor," Prue began, "Wait, the Japanese control that area, right?"
"Yes, but it's contested. Their having to contend with Australian jungle fighters in their rear echelons, causing havoc and sabotage and disappearing into the brush." Kolopak replied, "In exchange for the fuel and ammo we'll receive in Mayapore, we're resupplying the Australian 2/2nd Independent Company with ammunition, food, and medicine. The Allies want to keep that force in being as much as possible, while they shore up Port Moresby and Buna Gona."
"What are we taking onboard?" Godfrey asked.
"Small arms and ammunition, plus a substantial amount of demolition kit. The Japanese are up to something big in the area." Kolopak replied, "We arrive in Mayapore tomorrow morning."
Kolopak left the room then, and as he turned away from Prue and Godfrey, a wry smile formed on his face. Note to self, put in fifteen pounds that Prue and Godfrey will be an item in a month. I believe the pool is up to five hundred pounds now, as to when Prue and Godfrey will be together. Personally I do think their first kiss will be two weeks from now...
"Did you notice Kolopak giving us an odd look?" Godfrey asked Prue.
"Not really." Prue replied.
"I could've sworn the old Aztec had something on his mind..." Godfrey replied.
BOOM!
"Why the Australians need demolition supplies, I don't understand. Why don't we just leave Vinny with them?" Prue replied.
"Vinny serves his purposes around here." Godfrey replied.
"It's Alive! It's Alive!!! Ah ha ha ha ha!!! Ah ha ha ha...uh oh..." Vinny laughed.
"Vinny..." Kida began calmly, "PREPARE TO DIE!!!"
"OW! OW! OW! OW!" Vinny shouted as Kida beat the daylights out of him over this latest explosion.
"I'll head down there and save Vinny's life." Godfrey replied.
"I'll go with you." Prue added.
---
"Mayapore's changed a good bit." Godfrey mused as he walked down the street of the British side of the river.
"You've been away for almost a year." Prue observed.
"Yes, but I didn't expect things to change so much." Godfrey replied. A majority of the constables patrolling Mayapore's streets he didn't recognize, several of them looked to be much older or younger than the usual lot that composed the force before the war.
"Mr. Godfrey, blimey sir, you'reasight for sore eyes." Hiller said as he moved his agile bulk in a trot to catch up.
"As I live and breathe you wanker..." Godfrey smiled and noticed the rank insignia on Hiller's shoulders, "They promoted you? Congratulations mate..."
"Why yes sir." Hiller said, "I'm now head of Mayapore's Constabulary."
"Better you than Merrick." Godfrey observed.
"How is the old tyrant..." Hiller remarked.
"He's with the Mirbat Guides, but some relatives of Daphne arranged for him to be transferred to Traverse Town." Godfrey replied.
"Miss Halliwell..." Hiller remarked, with a courteous smile.
"It's Prue." Prue replied, "Miss makes me feel old."
"You're not even thirty." Godfrey remarked.
Prue remarked, "A woman's greatest secret is her age..."
"True to remember, Mr. Godfrey." Hiller smiled, "I always say my wife is in her twenties and leave it at that. Good day to you, Mr. Godfrey, Miss Halliwell..."
As the two walked by, an older Indian woman greeted them. "Lady Chatterjee." Godfrey remarked, "I received your latest letter regarding Daphne only yesterday."
Prue smiled warmly at her old hostess(1), "Lady Chatterjee..."
"Ah, Prue, you are looking well." Lady Chatterjee replied, "I only wish Daphne was around to say hello, but for her safety we sent her to Rawalpindi to be with her aunt, especially with Merrick being around. And how is Andy?"
Prue looked slightly stricken for a moment before Lady Chatterjee apologized, "I am sorry for your loss, and from your look it seems as though it was recent. Allow me to invite the pair of you over for some tea..."
The three walked back to Lady Chatterjee's estate to enjoy some wonderful finger foods and tea. Lady Chatterjee commanded a servant to put a record in, playing the song Lili Marlene.
"Underneath the lantern, by the barrack gate. Darling I remember the way you used to wait..." the song began.
Godfrey took a sideways glance at Prue, before speaking, "I remember that we used to turn into Radio Belgrade while we were into North Africa at 9:55 PM every night to hear this song. The Germans there played it as their sign off song, nightly."
"'Twas there that you whispered tenderly. That you loved me. You'd always be. My Lili of the Lamplight. My own Lili Marlene." Vera Lynn's recorded voice continued to sing.
"I remember studying that." Prue replied, "In college. I remember it was a German song originally, but British soldiers used to hear it on shortwave radios all over North Africa and on both sides men listened to Radio Belgrade..."
"I keep forgetting that a lot of what happens now is somewhat ancient history on your world." Godfrey replied, "Minus the Heartless of course."
"Time would come for roll call. Time for us to part. Darling I caress you and press you to my heart. And there 'neath that far off lantern light, I'd hold you tight, we'd kiss goodnight. My Lili of the Lamplight. My own Lili Marlene."
Godfrey couldn't help but smile. In a lot of ways the song made him think of Prue. It was on the air a lot, on both sides of the war. Especially in recent days the song would always bring Prue into his mind.
"Orders came for sailing, somewhere over there. All confined to barracks 'twas more than I could bear. I knew you were waiting in the street. I heard your feet, but could not meet. My Lili of the Lamplight. My own Lili Marlene."
Lady Chatterjee couldn't help but notice, and it made her smile. It was obvious Godfrey had more than friendly feelings toward Prue. And Prue, she could tell, at least had some sort of feelings growing regarding Godfrey.
Prue shifted her position on the couch, her left arm brushing against Godfrey's right. She felt him gently clasp her hand and then gently withdraw the gesture.
Are you blind? Lady Chatterjee thought, You can see he cares for you.
Prue blinked, having felt the gentle but firm squeeze. Could it really be? Does he really feel that way? Prue ran through her thoughts. The signs were there. Hugs that lasted a fraction of a second longer, touches that lingered just a tad bit too long. I'm not ready yet...I just lost Andy...but he's been there as a friend...I don't want to ruin that...you can't go back...But it just felt so good to just be with him...
Godfrey sensed Prue's confusion and felt a stab of pain and a twinge of jealousy. Why can't I be good enough for you? I've been there for you all this time...Godfrey felt ashamed. Wanker. You can see she's suffering. Let her mourn for a while and she may come around soon.
"Resting in a billet, just behind the line. Even though we're parted, your lips are closed to mine. You wait where that lantern softly gleams, your sweet face seems to haunt my dreams, My Lili of the Lamplight. My own Lili Marlene."
Prue could feel her own conflicting emotions. I don't want to push him away. Yet if I do I could be letting something potentially great go. It's obvious he cares...
Prue got up to use to the restroom leaving Godfrey and Lady Chatterjee in the room. "How do you feel about her, Mr. Godfrey?"
"We've become quite close friends in the time we've known each other." Godfrey replied. Good bloody question...
"I can see you think of her as more than a friend." Lady Chatterjee replied.
Damn, still can read me like a book. Godfrey replied, "That may be. But she's in no state for anything like that. And soon she won't need me to comfort her anymore."
"But she may need you for something else." Lady Chatterjee said, with a mischievious wink.
"Just what do you mean?" Godfrey demanded.
"You know what I mean." Lady Chatterjee said, winking again just as Prue walked into the room.
No use beating round the bush. I'm in love with Prue. Godfrey thought.
---
Kolopak was currently talking to Captain Flanders, Mirbat Guides, trying to arrange for the transport of much needed supplies for the Australian Independent Company in exchange for fuel. The two men were sitting in the local club.
"Yes old boy, I understand you're in need of some repairs and supplies, but what are you willing to offer?" Flanders began.
Kolopak inwardly missed the days when he had to deal with Major Waverly directly. At least the old Brit didn't start jerking him around. His aide, however, was a different matter.
"I understand that the Aussies in Timor are in need of supplies. Quite a lot of supplies, I'm told got bottled up in India." Kolopak replied.
"This is true." Flanders replied, "But the last two transport planes we've sent to Timor have been shot down."
"My airship should be able to slip past the Japanese air patrols." Kolopak replied.
"And what are your needs?" Flanders asked, in a bored tone.
Kolopak slid him a list. "I shall have to talk to my superiors about all this." Flanders said as he calmly left the club.
Kolopak ordered a shot of brandy as he waited for the results.
---
Five Australian soldiers lay hidden in the thick jungle brush. 1st Lieutenant Anthony Charles Brumby looked right, and then looked left before switching the safety catch on his Owen Mark I sub machinegun. The Japanese patrol of ten soldiers had just returned from the frontlines, and were not on their guard.
Brumby took aim at the nearest Japanese soldier before opening fire with his Owen. The Bren gun in the section opened up, sending .303 caliber rounds into the Japanese soldiers. Tracers lit up the night, smacking into torsos, heads and limbs. The Australian soldiers of the 2nd Independent Company, a raiding unit operating behind Japanese lines, opened up on the enemy patrol, shredding them with automatic fire and grenades.
---
Lieutenant Bummun Saito watched angrily as Australian bullets tore into a troop of his men. "Not now Lieutenant..." the mysterious hooded figure began.
"Those damned Australians have just destroyed my men..." Saito began angrily, "For months now they've been melting from the jungles, refusing to stand and fight and you're telling me to hold my ground!"
"Their deaths will be avenged in time...wait until the opportune moment to send the demons of the chest upon their pursuers."
Saito waited for a few heartbeats before opening the chest and an unholy wind blew through the jungle as thirteen of the most terrifying ghosts were again released onto the face of the earth.
---
"Cease fire! Cease fire!" Brumby shouted, as the Australians hurriedly departed the scene, leaving nothing of the Japanese patrol but a band of dead or dying men.
Since their arrival on Timor eight months ago, 2/2nd Independent Company had been diverting substantial Japanese and Heartless assets in hunting them down. Aided by native guides, who loathed the Japanese, the Australians had attacked Japanese troops in supposed 'safe' areas, destroyed supplies, blew up bridges and spread havoc and malice to the rear.
Brumby ran, heading for the rendezvous point, the rest of the squad either in front of or behind him. He deliberately made sure the men were making as circuitous a route back to base as possible in order to confuse Japanese trackers.
A sudden gust of wind followed by a scream echoed through the jungle.
"What the hell?" Corporal 'Bonk' Lazenby said.
Brumby already turned around, cursing. Had the Japanese decided it was worth a squad to track down his five men?
Bonk ran behind him, cursing loudly, breaking through the foliage, silently hoping for the three men behind them to hold out just a bit longer.
Brumby reached the area first, being faster. Butchering his three troops was a being in black robes, with glowing yellow eyes, yellowish white wild hair and cattle-like horns. Not knowing what it was, but knowing it was hostile, Brumby raised his weapon and fired off a single magazine into the creature. Howard lay face down, the back of his skull split open by some sort of club or cudgel, Baselton lay on his back, torn from sternum to crotch by a rusted old blade, and Dobbs was still feebly dragging himself away from his pursuers when a Japanese soldier ran up to him and spitted him on a bayonet. Brumby donated him a hand grenade which exploded at his feet.
Bonk joined, firing rounds from his rifle. The demon reacted to the bullets as if they were little more than spitwads and simply pointed at the two men, sending them flying towards a roaring river.
---
Several hours later, Captain Joseph Atwood, the leader of the one hundred and twenty-seven Australian commandoes, watched as Lieutenant Brumby and Corporal Lazenby staggered back into camp.
"Where are Howard, Baselton and Dobbs?" Atwood said.
"They're all dead sir." Brumby said, half out of breath, "The Japanese had something, somewhere, lying in wait for us."
"Some form of Heartless, sir." Brumby replied, "And whatever it was, it was invulnerable to bullets. It took out the Bren gunners without so much as a breath."
"There's no way that it could be invulnerable to bullets..." Atwood said.
"I'm afraid, good sir, that what you're dealing with isn't some new form of Heartless." a monocle wearing, mustachioed Englishman walked into the clearing.
"Who the devil are you?" Atwood asked. A dozen weapons from the Australian encampment were suddenly pointed at Nigel.
"Let's say I am a friend and leave it at that, shall we?" Nigel replied, "But I'm here to warn you that you all are in terrible danger. It seems that an over ambitious gentleman on the Japanese side has been given control of a rather awesome power...The one that nearly killed off all of Mr. Brumby's patrol, if I'm not mistaken..."
"How big of a threat are they?" Atwood asked.
"Why, Mr. Atwood, they are not just a threat to your 2nd Independent Company or just to Australia, or even the British Empire you ultimately serve. They threaten all life on this world..." Nigel replied, "But, I think I may have a solution to your problem, for even now, an independent airship, the Morrowind, is enroute."
"Morrowind...wait a minute, commanded by that Kolopak chap, right?" Brumby asked, "The ones who recently took out Imhotep?"
"The one and only." Nigel replied.
"So is this new threat a response to Imhotep's demise?" Atwood asked.
"You could say that. Imhotep's demise set the Heartless and their Axis lackeys back rather nastily, and the Chest of Demons provided to them by an unknown source is what they used." Nigel replied.
"Chest of Demons?" Brumby asked.
"Long ago the world's strongest sorcerers imprisoned thirteen of the most terrifying ghosts of the Earth in a mysterious chest. Whosoever opens this chest will release them to plague whatever world they happen upon. Heartless merely act on instinct, these demons act out of sheer malevolence." Nigel replied.
"What do you need from us?" Atwood asked.
"One of your number to assist the Morrowind when it arrives." Nigel replied.
"Sir..." Brumby replied.
"Brumby, you're going with them." Atwood replied, "You too Lazenby."
"Expect the Morrowind to land in the jungle clearing north of your position." Nigel replied, before disappearing back into the jungle.
Brumby wandered alone, after all was said and done. He checked his weapon, making sure the action was clean and that he had a magazine inserted. It wasn't uncommon for the occasional Japanese scout or Search Ghost Heartless to get too close to the camp. Anyway, Atwood was preparing to move the camp in the next couple of days, keeping his operation as mobile as possible to confuse Japanese intelligence.
Brumby wandered, alone, through the camp, nodding acknowledgments to the occasional soldier who he passed. It was solitude he sought. What is it they said back in garrison, the other bloody wankers that are my fellow officers? Anthony Brumby, he who wears his heart on his sleeve, or at least inside his map case. He reached inside the map case and silently extracted an old, worn notebook. He had been scratching thoughts and words in it for years, since leaving the university at nineteen to live the free life of the rover. He wandered the countryside, from place to place, alone, thinking in his own self-educated way.
Small journal entries and poems filled the books, small poems of freedom, beauty, truth, and love. He smiled at his own works from before the war, from before the training camp. He read his latest ones, which were darker and more despairing. They displayed his own fears.
Always at night.
Sudden ambush. Firefight.
Artillery barrage. Fright.
Screaming men, wounded men.
No mercy from enemy, again.
Killing their killers, revenge sated.
Like wheat before millers, are we slated...
- Anthony C. Brumby
Brumby harbored no illusions about this campaign. Anyone unfortunate enough to be captured by the Japanese would at best be scheduled for a quick execution by the sword. He knew few things. One he was no coward and two the last bullet was for himself...Will I have courage to pull the trigger on myself? Brumby thought as he leafed to another poem.
I feel her at night.
Amidst fire and fright.
Amazed I can feel.
Odd that she is not real.
Lovely, caring, she I imagine to hold...
Amidst war, to dream love is to be so bold...
For I may die soon.
Under scorching sun or full moon.
War's scourge so deep, I always feel it.
Is she whom I dream some spirit?
- Anthony C. Brumby
Brumby closed the notebook hurriedly. Best not to dwell too deeply on the tender aspects in the middle of a savage jungle war. But it was a sobering thought that he might never return to enjoy the things he so greatly treasured and to miss the one thing he wanted, that he might never meet the sort of woman that he could love and would love him in return. But he had a war to fight, and a country to defend. He feared, however, he wouldn't live long enough to see it again.
---
Daphne Blake sipped at a cup of coffee as she sat down to breakfast. Fred had woken earlier to cook that morning. She gave her husband a quick kiss as she walked over to the stove. Fred returned the kiss and smiled at his wife.
Lauren Shannon Callahan, Daphne's niece walked into the kitchen just then. Described by her peers as, 'the most adorable redhead on campus' with her slender and willowy physique and enchanting green eyes that indicated her Irish descent. Her friendly face helped with that impression as well.
"Hey, how's the future Patch Adams?" Fred asked as he finished cooking another couple pancakes.
"Fine, Uncle Fred." Lauren replied, stifling a yawn, "The time difference between Chicago and Denver is a bit of getting used to, but it's nice to visit you guys and see Mom and Dad before medical school."
"I didn't know medical students had to read poetry?" Daphne remarked, indicating a volume of poetry that Lauren had left on the kitchen counter after catching the redeye flight last night.
"Actually, Aunt Daphne, that's for my own reading." Lauren replied.
"World War I trench poets?" Daphne replied, "Kind of grim..."
"They are. And it's really kind of sad that a lot of those guys were so educated, so full of hopes and dreams and that war just took them all away." Lauren replied, "And these little poems are all we have left of them."
"Kind of a bad topic for breakfast, don't you think?" Fred asked.
"I know." Lauren replied.
"Dada..." Abi, Daphne and Fred's eleven month old daughter gurgled from her baby seat.
"Aww...how's my favorite little niece." Lauren said, picking her up.
The baby gurgled at Lauren, rasing her arms, "Up up..."
"She's getting heavy..." Fred warned.
"She's still adorable." Lauren replied, as she lifted the little girl who cooed and gurgled after a squeak of delight.
Just then a mustachioed man walked into the room, wearing a sorcerer's robes and carrying a staff. "Aunt Daphne? Who's that?" Lauren asked.
"That's Vincent Van Ghoul." Daphne replied, "Remember those adventures we had back in the '80s that I mentioned?"
"Yeah." Lauren said.
"I remember now." Fred replied, holding Abi in his arms, "The time you, Shaggy, Scrappy, and Scooby disappeared for a year, and picked up that kid, Flim Flam?"
"What's going on?" Daphne asked, already dreading the answer.
"The Chest of Demons was stolen, by a mysterious party." Van Ghoul replied.
"Where is it?" Daphne asked.
A shower of orbs appeared just then, "I'm afraid not on your world any longer." Nigel began.
"Who? What?" Lauren asked.
"Sorry, I am Nigel, a Whitelighter..." Nigel began.
"Wait a tiff!" Fred began, holding his baby daughter against him, "You're not expecting us to just uproot ourselves from our lives and go after this chest."
"Well, yes, I am." Nigel replied, "And, old boy, there may not be much of a world left if you don't find this chest."
"Wait, Vincent." Daphne began, "Not all of us can just get up and chase ghosts. We're not teenagers anymore. We have lives, families..."
"That's why only a few of you will go. Shaggy, Scooby, Flim Flam, and Scrappy are already coming along."
"No, I'm not letting you take my wife from me!" Freddy replied defensively, "Take me instead..."
"Fred..." Daphne said, "Are you implying I can't handle it myself."
"No, honey," Fred said, "I'm just worried..."
"And you wouldn't think I'd worry if you volunteered for the same mission?" Daphne asked.
"Someone has to stay home." Fred countered.
"And both of us are equally qualified." Daphne replied.
"I'll go." Lauren replied.
"Absolutely not!" Fred replied, "I'm not letting you risk your life on some suicide mission."
"Freddie, if we don't stop the 13 Ghosts, all life is in danger." Daphne said.
"I can't lose you..." Fred replied.
"You'll lose everything, Mr. Jones, if the Spirits run free..." Nigel replied.
"Honey..." Daphne said, "I'll go..."
"I..." Fred replied.
"You're our best hope. If anything goes wrong..." Daphne said.
"It won't...you'll succeed Daphne, I know you, I have faith." Fred replied as he threw his arms around his wife.
Daphne sadly kissed Fred and her baby girl and she and Lauren were teleported to another world in a shower of orbs and soft holy essences.
---
"Mystery Group, this is Anthony Brumby, Australian Special Forces..." Nigel began, indicating a wiry Australian soldier with a machine pistol on a sling tucked under one arm wearing olive green jungle fatigues, "He's here to lend you a hand with your mission to track down the 13 Ghosts."
Brumby looked over the group. An older red haired woman who acted like she was the group's leader, a Chinese teenager, a couple Great Danes, a wiry brown haired bugger, and a younger redhead. The last he gave a second look to. Certainly was a lovely young lass, what the hell was she doing mixed up in all this?
Lauren noticed the Australian soldier's sideways glance. Not really my type. Lauren thought. Definitely on the good looking side though...Lauren thought.
"Do you know what you're dealing with, Mr. Brumby?" Daphne asked.
"Look, Sheila, the buggers wiped out three of my troopers two nights ago, so of course I know what I'm dealing with. And I want revenge." Brumby replied, coldly.
"The name's not Sheila, it's Daphne."
"Sheila's what we call girls in Australia." Brumby replied.
"Listen you..." Daphne began, "If I hear one more sexist..."
"I think the enemy's out there, not me." Brumby replied.
"He's right, aunt Daphne." Lauren began.
"You're making yourself sound like an enemy...you insult Daphne one more time..." Scrappy began.
"You'll what, mate, tear up me trouser leg..." Brumby growled back.
"You got a lot of nerve." Scrappy began, putting up his little fists.
"Try it puppy dog, I'll kick you a few leagues in the other direction." Brumby replied.
"Boys, boys." Lauren began, "It looks like you two got started on the wrong foot."
"What's the matter? Is that why three of your men were killed, because you couldn't fight..." Scrappy began.
"Rappy!" Scooby Doo began.
That did it. Brumby's foot went flying, connecting solidly with Scrappy's midsection. Stunned, the pup staggered back a few paces before grabbing in with paws and teeth to Brumby's trouser leg, tearing at the tough leather of his boot.
"Rrr..." Scrappy growled as he tore at Brumby's leg.
"Off!" Brumby shouted, raising his other foot before Lauren managed to pry Scrappy away.
"Both of you quit fighting!" Daphne shouted, "We're all going to have to work with each other, even if Mr. Brumby is a little rude."
"If you could control your little whelp, I'd appreciate it." Brumby replied.
"Whelp? Whelp!? I'll show you whelp! Let me at him! Let me at him!" Scrappy shouted.
"Just in time, some more help for you." Nigel replied, as if the fight hadn't even transpired.
Coming from the other side of the clearing, from some kind of airship was another group of people, they included a Native American man wearing brown trousers, a white shirt, brown vest and a fedora, a dark haired woman, and an officer in the uniform of the British army. In the background a group of Australian soldiers were unloading supplies from the Morrowind.
Nigel said, "Ah, you're just in time Kolopak."
"Kolopak?" Daphne asked.
"He's the captain of the Morrowind, it's an independent airship that travels throughout the war torn worlds." Nigel replied.
"Worlds?" Daphne asked.
"Like what have we stumbled into this time? It's like we're in a timewarp..." Shaggy began.
"You could say that." Nigel replied, "In this world, World War II is still raging, against the Axis Powers of Germany, Italy and Japan, also aligned with the Heartless."
"Lieutenant Anthony Brumby, 2nd Independent Company." Brumby began, extending a hand, which the other British officer took.
"Lieutenant Alan Godfrey, His Majesty's Royal Indian Engineers." Godfrey replied, "So you'll be helping us out in this theater then?"
"Yes." Brumby said, "I've been fighting the Japanese and their Heartless allies since 1941."
"I've had some experience fighting them at EPCOT and at Mayapore." Godfrey replied as the group off loaded badly needed supplies from the Morrowind to the Australian soldiers fighting on the ground.
As Godfrey and the other crew boarded the airship, Brumby couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt, of leaving his mates behind to fight a savage and unknown foe.
---
As the Morrowind took off, Brumby went off to the small bunk that was his. As much as he tried he couldn't get the adorable, willowy redhead he'd seen earlier. She appeared to him like a figment out of one of his poems. Lauren seemed like a nice sort of girl, a bit out of place in the middle of a mass crusade against the Heartless...
Sleep seemed like it wasn't likely to come, so he headed out, simply wandering about the corridors before settling into the recreation room. He was looking through the shelves when he saw her out of the corner of one eye.
"I see someone else is burning the midnight oil." Brumby began, with a smirk.
"Oh." Lauren said, "You surprised me."
"Listen," Brumby said, "I think we may have gotten off on the wrong foot. At least as far as your friend Scrappy was concerned."
"Shouldn't you apologize to him." Lauren said.
"I didn't want to wake him up." Brumby said, "But I'll do so as soon as I can."
"I'll hold you to it." Lauren replied, "What was your name again?"
"Anthony Brumby."
"Lauren Callahan."
"I'm pleased to meet you." Brumby replied, with a smile.
"So do you go by Tony or Anthony?" Lauren asked.
"Anthony. Tony makes me sound like a bloody Guinea2..." Brumby replied.
"That's racist." Lauren remarked.
"Well, we are at war with the Axis. The Germans, Italians, and Japanese chose to side with the Heartless." Brumby replied.
"Heartless?" Lauren asked.
"Mysterious blokes that seek to capture hearts of both people and worlds." Brumby said, "Says so in the all the manuals for Allied soldiers."
"So, how long has this war been going on?" Lauren asked.
"Since 1939, almost five years." Brumby replied.
"1943?" Lauren said, "I keep forgetting. On my world it's 2007."
"So strange I could well be old enough to be your grandfather." Brumby replied.
"Kind of young though." Lauren asked.
"You know what I mean." Brumby replied.
"Where are you from?" Lauren asked.
"Botany Bay, Australia." Brumby replied, "But really from all over. I wandered all over the place after I left university. Since we're swapping stories, where are you from?"
"Denver, Colorado." Lauren replied, "I'm studying to be a doctor."
"Women are doctors on your world?" Brumby asked.
"Yes." Lauren replied, aware Brumby was from another timeline.
Lauren yawned, "Listen, Brumby, sorry to cut things short, but I'm off to get some sleep."
"Right." Brumby replied as he watched her go, "I'll see you tomorrow then."
---
TBC (Next, the Morrowind crew and it's newest additions pursue the first of the Thirteen Ghosts)
1.Lady Chatterjee was the woman who housed Prue when she first visited Mayapore in Journey of a Halliwell...
2Guinea - British Commonwealth slang for an Italian