Chapter IV
"What kind of problem, Duck?" Gibbs asked the Scotsman as they all rode down the elevator towards Autopsy. As the doors to Autopsy opened, Michael noticed a purple dome enclosing the sailor.
"Doctor Mallard, how long has that been there?" he asked, pointing to the body. "I see you have noticed it as well. It has been there for about 15 minutes. Mr. Palmer and I walked in and it was there."
Michael turned to Gibbs and said, "The good Doctor is correct, Agent Gibbs. We do have a problem. That is a spell which means someone else from my world is here." Just then, the door at the autopsy garage opened, revealing a most extraordinary sight: a young lady dressed almost identical to Michael, except without the white sash, and her face was light blue.
"Freeze! NCIS!" came four voices as once again, four Sigs were pointed at the intruder. Suddenly, an unearthly screech came from behind the group.
"Lower. your. weapons." Michael said as he pulled everyone into Autopsy, causing the doors to close. "Okay, what was that?" Instead of answering, Michael looked to the newcomer and said, "Jessica, as soon as I open these doors, Cupcake is gonna come charging in here to make sure you are safe. Seeing me will give him pause, but not for long. Can you control him, or do I need to get them to safety?"
"I can handle Cupcake, sir. Doth not need worry about me, milord but if you take these people back through there, they shall be safe." the newcomer, Jessica said in a small voice. "Very well, Jessica. I will return."
And with that, he herded the group toward the autopsy garage. "Stay here, and I will explain everything when I return." Michael said as he closed the heavy door behind him, going back into autopsy.
As the door closed behind them, Gibbs asked the others "What in the hell is going on? I mean, this seems like something out of one your MMROPG's, McGee? What was that thing outside of autopsy?"
Abby said, in a fearful voice, "I saw it, Gibbs. It was red and black and looked like a monster. It was terrifying with wings and hooves."
Just then, the heavy doors opened and there stood Michael, blood dripping down his side from a gash to his shoulder. "Okay," he panted, breathing as though he ran a marathon, "Come in slowly with your hands out in the open. We have him controlled, but a large group might scare him, and cause him to try to attack again." As they slowly re-entered Autopsy, Ducky stepped toward Michael, saying "Dear boy, let me look at that slice on your shoulder."
As though noticing it for the first time, Michael turned toward Jessica and said, "Jess, did you do this with your fang? I really need to know." Embarrassed and almost at tears, Jessica admitted that she did, indeed accidentally get him with her weapon. Michael merely shrugged and said, "Well, that explains the shortness of breath" just before he passed out.
All at once, several things happened in rapid succession. First, the young lady known as Jessica started to panic, second, Ducky ran over toward Michael as the other agents stood there helpless, and third, the creature, started to nervously paw the ground at his mistresses discomfort. Abby bravely started to walk over toward the young lady, but a growl from the creature stopped her in her tracks.
"Cupcake, stay." Jessica said weakly as she held back a sob. "Is it safe now?" Abby asked. "I don't know." Jessica cried before the sobs finally won out and took over. "I have killed my master, and only real friend in Sosaria."
As she started to collapse, Abby bravely ran toward the girl and caught her, turning to glare at the creature Jessica had called "Cupcake". "Don't even think about it, buddy." she said as Cupcake began to advance on her threateningly. "I'm not gonna hurt her, okay?" To prove her point, she held her arms out, and suddenly realized she was wearing her spikes and her collar. "Oh, damnit!" she said as she slowly took them off and slid them toward the now confused animal who looked down at them, and then back to Abby.
"They're not weapons, see? They are decoration. Thats all." she said as she turned back to Jessica, who was sobbingly repeating, "I've killed my master!""Umm, excuse me my dear, I have someone here who wishes to speak with you." Ducky said as he approached the two ladies, he and Gibbs supporting a pale Michael.
"Jessica," he said soothingly, "You haven't killed me, I merely passed out. Dr. Mallard says it is from blood loss. You have not recharged your fang recently, have you?" As Jessica took in Michaels appearance, her mouth formed a perfect "O" as she realized that she had not recharged it.
As she started to apologize for her oversight, Michael merely held up his hand, "I am very glad that you failed in your duty, my apprentice, otherwise, I would be with the elders. However, you must serve penance, so you will assist Dr. Mallard and Mr. Palmer here while we are on this plane. Is that understood?" "I hear and obey, master. I will serve them to the best of my ability." Jessica said, some strength reentering her voice. " Good, now about Cupcake. Marcus is taking up my power, so either you will have to shrink Cupcake, or learn to control him. When was he last fed?" At those words, Jessica began to sob again,
"Oh, Master, I am so sorry again. I beg your forgiveness! We were trying to stay in stealth and in the confusion of landing in this place, I forgot to feed him." "Very well apprentice. We will add this transgression onto your penance. Meanwhile, here is a test for you: What is the spell for Creating Food for the mounts?"
As the team watched, Jessica screwed up her Elven face in thought before finally saying excitedly, "Oh, oh, it's In Mani Ylem." Michael gave nothing away as he said, "Are you sure?" Suddenly Jessica did not look very sure, "Umm, no, maybe it is In Por Ylem. That sounds right." Michael said, "Okay, try it then." As she started to chant the spell, Michael reached behind him, and grabbed his shield. Gibbs, realizing what was going to happen, motioned for Ducky to move away, him doing the same just in time for a pure white arrow to come flying at the men. Michael easily deflected it with his shield. "Now, Jessica, what does Por mean? Did you read the scrolls I assigned you?" "Yes, Master I read them. Por means movement" she finished slowly, realizing her mistake, "and Mani means food." As she finished saying this, the autopsy phone suddenly rang, startling everyone in the room. Ducky quickly moved to get it, saying as he did, "Autopsy. Yes, just a second, Director. Jethro, you asked the director to inform you when two hours were nearly up?" Gibbs nodded, saying, "the mounts" to DiNozzo as Michael and Gibbs walked hurriedly out of autopsy Michael saying over his shoulder, "Nice spell shot though, Jess. Your penance starts now." Gibbs yelled, "Hey, you coming?" to the rest of the team as they piled into the elevator and the door closed. As the autopsy doors closed, Jessica looked like she was ready to cry again. "There, there dear. One thing I have learned from Jethro, and your master seems cut from a similar cloth, he gives you a hard time because he cares." Ducky said as Jessica cast the food creation spell, and gave the slab of ribs to Cupcake, who immediately perked up, and started to calm down.
Author's Note: Jessica is another character I created and is pretty accurate to my description here. She is an elf, but is not married to Michael. I am going to skip over the feeding of the mounts for you, my readers. Also the definitions of Por and Mani are correct according to the website.