Chapter 17: Calm of the Columbia River

The van which has Dipper Coda, and the girls Trans Am parked inside early when they meet up at mid-point the van then drives to "Waterfront Park". The Van though the grill opening discharges a small laser bolt which hits the padlock of the parking gate and the van advances. As it parks, suddenly a part of the van opens and Urawa along with Soos are escorting two people.

One the Black Knight whose armor is a little burnt and has no helmet except for a skull floating except no fire but just green glowing eyes. Another is Benial whom has his wrists locked up and on two of his wheels a special kind of electronic boots to reduces his speed to almost a mere crawl. Both have some collars with some Samarian symbols which are mystical collars to dampen magical abilities. Urawa and Soos are behind both pushing them but also the collars are attached to a rein which leads to the White Reindeer that is pulling both to escort.

Mabel along with Ami and Hotaru they come out of the van next and then they take out Neuropath who is handcuffed and she also has the collar. All enemies are looking down with some struggle, but not much as their all aware what awaits them there is no escape. Minako still in the black Victorian dress and black hair she is walking freely with Dipper and Adam. Adam though is carrying a rectangular wooden box.

Last Talon he comes out of the van, his silver face plate and blue samurai helmet gone, and he has his face, but it's bandaged up except for his hair, eyes and mouth. Has a blue and black sorcerers robe on which has Samarian symbols. Talon he then fishes into his right pocket of the robe and he takes out two dousing rods out which are golden. He holds it where there are two rods on each hand and on one end are handles that are circular.

He then slowly walks and the rods they just keep pointing forward in a direction and as he continues, he comes to the group but then goes past them and then comes to the edge of a pier of the Columbia River until on right foot contacts the water. Talon he keeps walking into the lake until he stops, the rods suddenly go into intersecting position and his is just waist deep but still on shallow water. Once that happens, Talon then pockets the rods, and he signals for all of them to come to his position.

They all come to the lake and escort them all into shallow water until they walk where the water rises to their thighs. Talon he then signals Adam who has a red brown box, Adam comes close right in front of Talon. Talon opens the box, and it has pages which are the printed page copied from his Ebon spell book. The passage is a Baptism Exorcism spell which is known to cleanse certain demonic spirts away.

Talon then comes near all three and with the vial he scoops up some of the river water. The vial contains some Samarian symbols. He then comes near all three of them and he pours some of the water o their heads, Neuropath, Black Knight, Benial all three they wince as if the water burns them, but Minako she can take it.

Talon then recites the spell in the Samarian language which translates, "From the Atlantean waters that flow, may it cleanse these souls of their tormentors and enslavers."

Talon then has both his hands up and has his palms facing him but also has the back of his hands face all four of them and they have Samarian symbols but also both have eyes painted which are made to look like the eyes of a hawk and on the back, there are three wavy lines to represent air.

He then once again recites another part of the spell in the language which translates, "Enki and the Gods from above open your eyes recognize your children and save them, bring them your energy to push away the darkness and bring your children once more to the light."

Soon all four of them they start to express some pain as there is a sound of burning from the waters but also some sort of small wind that has come and has blown past all four of them. Ami and Hotaru get concerned along with Urawa and they are thinking of pulling them back to shore as they see, their bodies are being hurt but Mabel, Dipper Adam, along with Soos they all shake their heads no to them and so they keep where they're at.

Talon he then turns his hands and has his palms face all four of them and they also have Samarian symbols but there is a different kind of eye which is that of an eagle. But behind them there is a triangle where its point is upward.

Talon then recites the final lines, "Children of Atlantis, Lemuria, Venus and descendants of all the ancient worlds open your eyes to the heavens and walk unto the earth of this realm once more."

Suddenly there are whirlpools that form where all four are standing.

Talon looks at everyone holding all four of them and says, "Let go of them right now, from this point on it's now up to all of them."

Dipper, Adam, Mabel and the rest let their friends go and all four of them they scream out in pain as the whirlpools swirls faster but then suddenly the water shoots up and envelopes all four of them and then there is bright neon blue light that glows though the water and soon makes all of the water.

And then then swirling stops and the water falls back into the lake but as it does, so do all four bodies they fall back into the water, but Dipper and the rest catch them before they hit all the way. Talon he then falls on his knees in the water, he is breathing hard as the spellcasting took a lot out of him.

Adam looks at him and says, "Darrien are you alright."

Talon he catches his breath and then says, "Yeah, just a little winded from all that; don't worry about me look after them."

Each of them lifts them from the water a little more so they can breathe better. Talon he comes to one of them whom was formally Neuropath, and he sees the girl who has long damp black hair in which some of her hair strands sink and float on the surface of the water. Talon then takes the girl by the bare wet shoulders and watches her.

The girl has Asian features from her facial structure to her eyes, she slowly opens them, and she sees a that is scared. She recognizes the face, and she says, "Darrien."

Darrien he then has a smile on his face, and he says, "Candy."

Ami, Mabel and Hotaru were able to catch Minako who is also opening her eyes which portray blue, but her skin is now the pale tan color it uses to be along with her hair which is now blond.

Minako smiles and Hotaru says, Welcome back Minako."

Everyone else is also opening their eyes orienting themselves from what's happened. Candy and Darrien are looking at one another for a while but then both Darrien and Candy look down and realize the situation Candy is in as she along with the rest Gabriel and Henry Leoric are bare.

Darrien says to Candy, "Um…. Just stay in this lake for a while, I go get some things for you and everyone."

Soon the ones in the lake were dried up and dressed in some clothing and after everything that's happened Dipper gives everyone a breather and they all go their separate ways throughout the city and do their own things.

Both Darrien and Candy they are alone together they are both walking a little distance in the park, both not knowing what to say, let alone the fact it's been a long time since both haven't been this close in a long time. Candy is wearing grey sweat paints and a sweater that says "Vancouver, WA" and has a graphic of the city. Darrien is wearing his blue militaristic uniform but without his black cape and mask, he has his face exposed to her with the facial scars he usually hides, it's a rare thing for him to do as it's only for her, his brother Adam, and any other's he trusts. Darrien is a little nervous as it's been a long time since he's been this physically close to her and despite constantly keeping in contact, it's not quite the same as having a up close conversation.

Darrien then says, 'I'm grateful that Mabel and the Senchi bought you safe."

Candy still hasn't said anything.

Darrien says, "I…I promise I won't take off; I won't rest until I reunite you with all your friends and no this isn't a clenched bullshit speech from a million films, I'm putting on I…"

Candy says, "Oh…. shut up."

She immediately hugs him hard, he's a little surprised by this and he hugs her back, it really felt good having her in his arms and feeling her warmth. She then rapidly with her right-hand rips off the silver face plate and throws it to one side and then she pulls his face to his and puts her mouth onto his. As she kisses rapidly, he also matches the speed of it, as their mouths rapidly explore every edge and then shape of it. Soon both break off the kiss as both were barely able to catch their breath.

Candy looks at him and says, "I missed you, I've been wanting to be this close."

"It's only technically been six months."

"Too long to be this close."

"I agree."

Darrien, he puts his hand on her shoulder and he says, "I didn't plan on getting out this way, but then again life doesn't always go the way you want it."

Candy says, "You came to save me."

Here hand is on his cheek which has a few scars. He then has his left hand on hers rubbing it with his fingers and says, "Nothing on Earth will ever stop me to."

Candy has a smile and then both look at a certain site in the park.

Meanwhile some other place, Gabriel, he has some jeans on and a white T shirt with the graphic art of the name "Vancouver, WA" and the look of the city. He comes to the Vancouver WA video arcade called "Silver Flippers" and he fishes in his pocket and takes out a golden key which has a skull on the handle, he inserts it, twists it and the door opens. He goes to the Change machine in the arcade, plugs it in, takes out a ret plastic big gulp sized cup, then takes out a ten-dollar bill from his wallet, inserts it into the machine, puts the cup near the dispenser and quarters come flying out.

Gabriel then has his cell phone and with an override program he gets the power to one section of the arcade turned on and soon all the lights and sounds of the pinball section are going. Gabriel he then switches to another feature on his phone, turns the volume up and he places it on a small tray, the phone program is on the music section and the display says song will play in one minute. He goes to the pinball game "Centaur" and there is music playing in the arcade which is the song "Baby it's Cold Outside" by Michael Bubble and Idina Menzel.

He is hitting the ball with the flippers trying to hit the targets as the voice is going. Gabriel he then has a mug with Root Beer on ice which is on a small stand-up living room table to his right along with a paper plate with a sugar Christmas cookie and he takes it and dips in into the root beer and takes a bit and then takes the mug and takes a chug while he has the ball held on a flipper. Minako sees him and has her arms crossed on her chest and then she says, "Ahem".

Despite the music and noise, it's never blocks out that lovely voice.

Gabriel then turns where she is and sees Minako whom is in one of her regular wear which is sort of the School Girl outfit with the long blue skirt, long white shirt with the red bow. Gabriel has a slight blush as the outfit despite an ordinary one she always looks great in it.

Gabriel not knowing what to say says, "You…you look lovely Minako."

Minako says, "Oh, you've seen me in this outfit all the time."

"Yeah, but after what I've been though it feels like I haven't seen you in the longest time, though I'll admit I really did like seeing you in that other dress."

"Thanks though if you think I'm going to put that on again for you, you can forget it."

"Well, I guy can dream."

"Yes, he can."

She then come near him, and he accidently let's go of the button and he loses his ball.

Minako sees this and says, "It seems I lost your ball."

Gabriel surprised at what he's done he then looks back at Minako and says, "Oh, never mind I still have a couple of them."

Gabriel then stops before he says more and then says, "I'm not sure that sounded right."

Minako gives a small smile and then looks around and says, "Do you want me to leave, I can if you wanted to be alone?"

"No, it's alright, I'm actually glad you can."

He then comes up and says, "I'm not sure I thanked you for saving me."

"You did earlier but still you welcome, anyway I have to ask why this place?

"You know I love Pinball."

"Yeah, but why come here most days of December?"

Gabriel then has a drink of his root beer and then comes near her and says, "This may sound silly but well this was something, every December on every Saturday night both I and my brother Michael would come to an arcade and just play the pinball machines for hours on end."

Gabriel then comes a little closer to talk.

"You see after the loss of our parents and having to live with our Godfather, I was in a very bad way like I just almost didn't want to do anything at all; as it was December and a Saturday, my brother noticed this from me and just wasn't going to have it from me anymore and so he dragged me to a video arcade and we both got a lot of quarters and then he wanted me to make a deal where he wanted me to play some pinball and try to beat him."

Gabriel takes a sip of his root beer and continues.

"I wasn't in much of a gaming mood but then again, I didn't want to feel like shit anymore, so we got to playing. After a while I just continued to play and as my scores in each machine got higher and higher, he then brought me a big, frosted root beer mug with a sugar Christmas cookie. Michael said that this was my prize for beating his score in the pinball game "Centaur" his favorite."

"Wow, you must be some pinball player."

"No, not really I wasn't all that good at the time, and I know that he was just going easy on me but all the same it was a nice gesture and ever since them both of us have always made it a holiday tradition to come here to play Pinball and buy each other Root Beer and a Christmas sweet."

Gabriel then has a little bit of a sad look.

"I really wish he was here right now; we still have some Pinball games to settle."

Minako comes toward him and strokes his brow and says, "Don't worry you'll still have plenty more December games to come once we rescue him and everyone else."

"I'd really love to get my hands on whoever has done this to us."

"So would I but now isn't that time, let's not let them take this away from you."

Her hand comes on his right shoulder and Minako says, "Even though your brother isn't here, is it ok for me to take his place for today?"

"Sure, why not."

"You, have to forgive me I'm not much of a pinball player."

"It doesn't matter if you're a wizard or not, just that you enjoy the game."

"Alright, I'll get my quarters, but you buy me a Cheery Coke and Christmas Sweet."

"No problem."

Both get their things, pick out the pinball games Gabriel still on "Centaur" and Minako playing "Xenon" and there are the sounds of flippers, rings, pinball music, the Christmas song of "Baby it's Cold Outside" but just also joy from both their faces throughout the night.

Meanwhile both Dipper and Adam are in the gaming shop "Role or Die" both Dipper and Adam are playing an RPG game called "Demon Knight Basketbrawl". There is a gameboard setting which is set up like a professional basketball court only this court has three floor doors. Both Dipper and Adam are playing opposing teams, for Dipper it's the team the Silver Slashers which consists of Knights in silver armor but each of them is green demons. Another is the Blue Monkeys who are in Chinese Blue Teal light armor but consist of giant humanoid Mantises that are blue along with humanoid blue scaled skinned reptilians.

Adam then makes a roll with two red dice, which makes on blue reptilian advance on the court with the tiny ball puck.

Adam says in a teasing tone, "I stollen the ball and I'm going to make a basket."

Dipper then rolls one of his dice which is a big black one and it rolls a number two.

Dipper says, "Not on my side of the court buddy."

Dipper then puts down a giant gold dragon on the second-floor door and then he rolls with a big red dice, and it goes down and has three fire balls. Dipper then knocks down the player advancing and two more of Adam's opposing players down that were on his side of the court.

Dipper says, "Unleashed my dragon for defense and blown away three of your players from the court the ball is mine."

Adam says, "Damn."

Adam takes a few of the downed players down and both Dipper and Adam continue playing.

Just as Adam rolls and makes his moves. Adam says, "You still don't trust Darrien don't you."

Dipper says, "Knowing him I just know he's got something bigger up his sleeve."

"Well, that's just it, you don't really know him."

"C'mon Adam don't' you remember some of what he did in the past and almost did."

"Yeah, I haven't forgotten my memory isn't short, and let's not get into another Ethics debate."

"Your right that's boring."

Both stop playing for a moment and then Dipper says, "How is it both you and even Candy can forgive him bot his actions."

Adam says, "Because I can actually see things from his perspective and he's not totally wrong even if certain methods in correction aren't agreeable by all."

Adam looks at a few of the game cards he has. Dipper almost things of making a retort but remembers what he said about ethical debate and omits it.

Dipper says, "It's just what if he is using us or even you and Candy just so he'll get away; that's what Gideon does."

Adam then slams the board and stands up.

"Let's make one thing clear, my brother is nothing, nothing like that bag of pus who regards everyone as nothing but objects, my brother never used or manipulated us once and I can smell manipulation a mile away."

Dipper feels a little bad for what he says, "Your… your right I'm sorry."

Adam sits down and both they don't resume playing.

Dipper says, "Ah, man what just happened here."

Adam says, "Maybe this game's making us too intense, want to play something else."

Dipper says, "What about Dungeons and more Dungeons."

Adam says, "That's always your top pick, how about "Arcane Cyber Run."

"I'm not always into sci-fi RPGs."

"Well, I am."

"Hold it, I know how we can solve this."

Dipper then takes a couple of dice and puts them in his cup.

Dipper says, "If one of us gets the highest number then it's our game."

Adam says, "You're on."

Suddenly they see both Mabel and Soos they come to the RPG party, but both have black aprons on and some plates.

Soos says, "I hope all that playing has given you an appetite."

He has on a big tray a bowl of fries with chili and cheese on them.

Mabel has a couple of drinks which are frosted glasses filled with both their favorite sodas, Adam's Bolt Cola and Dipper's Chernobyl Red. And for Soos its Purple Monsoon and Mabel Blue Tornado.

Both put them down and both Adam and Dipper dig in.

Dipper says, "Thanks both of you, I think we both needed this."

Soos says, "We couldn't help but here there was a slam on the table and some intensity in the conversation going on, anything the matter?"

Dipper and Adam look at each other and, in their eyes, both decide not to disclose what occurred before.

Dipper says, "Oh, it was nothing, except that may 'be you two can help us decide what game should we play."

Mabel says with a little distain, "Please don't let it be another RPG Dip, if I have to read and write another status sheet, I get sleepy."

Adam then has a small smile and a little laugh and says, "No, Mabel you don't have to play just do you both have any further suggestions for a game, before both of us make our decision?"

Soos immediately says, "I have it, "Rapid Dinosaur Island".

Adam says, "Ah, now that my kind of game."

Dipper says, "I still think we could play "Dungeons and more Dungeons".

Mabel immediately retorts, "Rapid Dinosaur Island" is the game, it is the game period."

Dipper sighs and says, "Well I'm out voted, and besides that a game we'll all be able to play together."

Adam says, "Before we do let's all take a fry and drink up for luck."

All of them dig into the fries and drink up. After that Dipper and Soos they set up the game on another table and then both Mabel and Adam are alone together and talking.

Mabel says, "By the way, I know both of you playing in a gaming store in December is a tradition, but you never told me why."

Adam says, "What do you mean."

"I mean why is this special to you both and on this month."

Adam he then takes a sip of his soda and then sits down and says, "One day sometime during Sophomore year, there was these group of bullies that were targeting me, basically calling me all kinds of bile things, spreading a bunch of rumors, threats, all the usual shit they do to waste their lives. But this group they spread this one rumor which just about destroyed me, I almost lost my position at the paper."

Mabel says, "I remember that."

Adam says, "And you and everyone else helped me out but of course that's another story."

Adam then takes another sip and continues.

"Anyway, I was feeling really down, and Dipper just decided to one day take me to one of his usual hangs out called "Arkham Adventures", I at the time wasn't totally into the tabletop counterculture at the time though fascinated with it. As I came in, he got me to play his usual game "Dungeons and more Dungeons" he let me be the Samurai and we played a campaign."

Mabel then takes a sip and says, "And?"

"Well, it didn't go so great the first time, but he got me to play again. From that game I got the hang of things and I suppringly found we've been playing the game for more than an hour. Being able to beat the next monster that comes along and getting that far on a quest just made me feel good that I can accomplish anything but best of all things were going to be alright; it's the same feeling Dipper has every time he plays the games."

Adam takes another sip of his drink.

"So that's why both of us made it a tradition officially, every week in December we come here one or two days a week to play."

Adam then just pauses a moment and then looks at Mabel.

"I know not the greatest Christmas story."

"Now actually that was strangely sweet and what's I like best about it is it's real."

Adam has a small smile and says, "Alright I've told my, it's your turn to tell yours."

"Maybe latter right now it looks like the board is already set."

"Alright but you better tell it, it's more than fair."

Mabel she then kisses Adam on the noise and says, "Of course Shadow Boy."

Both come to the board and then they start to play the game.

As both Minako and Gabriel are deeply immersed in their games suddenly they smell something which smells sweet almost like roses. Minako as she is feeling everything is blurring and is beginning to faint, she then looks to Gabriel and says, "Gabriel."

And then suddenly she starts to collapse forward, Gabriel can catch her as she goes down but barely as he's has trouble keeping his balance and is also feeling rather woozy.

Gabriel says, "Minako we've got to get out of here." Gabriel is trying to drag Minako as he is walking as he is unable to access his strength in carrying her as the sweet substance has somehow sapped it.

He tries to move toward a back door but unfortunately, he then collapses by the next step he takes and Minako falls on him on his chest. Gabriel in a final act is looking around trying to see who's done this to both of them and then he sees the back door both were trying to escape it's opened by someone who is in what look like a black leather body suit and is in some sort of old gas mask with the two black tinted lenses and an ant eater nozzle, Gabriel then soon black out.

The same thing happens in the RPG store with Adam, Mabel, Dipper and Soos who are struggling with the sent. Soos he then acts quickly as he sees the chili fries bowl. He then dips a couple of his fingers into the chili boil and then with both forefingers he then spreads some chili on the bottom near his nostrils. The chili mustache he makes nullifies the scent but only buy him a little time as the gas still is affecting him. Soos sees all three of his friends are a bit wobbly and he quickly runs, grabs all three by their shirt collars, with his strength escorts them to the back door and quickly throws all of them out of the store.

Soos says, "Get out of here guys I'll hold them off."

Dipper still a little woozy snap out of it a little from the fresh air and he then yell out, "No, Soos don't…"

But then the door slams shut and locked, both Dipper and Mabel they try and open in but then Adam taps both on the shoulder and says, "We have to go right now!"

Mabel looks at him and says, "I'm not going to leave Soos!"

Dipper steps back a moment and comes back to his senses looks at Mabel and says, "We're not going to be able to help him if we're captured too."

Mabel looks at both Adam and Dipper realizing he's right.

Dipper says, "If we get back to the van quickly there may 'be a chance we'll be able to save him and the rest."

All three then run and they get to Dipper's Coda they all rode in.

Soos is in the shop by himself, and he suddenly sees three black leather gas masked officers two of them with clubs and one whom has a club and a leather belt wrapped around his knuckles. Soos sees one of them charge at him with the club. The first gas mask officer takes a swing at him, but he blocks it and is still in motion as he executes an epon throw from his right shoulder. The Officer rolls off and then crashes onto on of the RPG tables and he goes down.

Soos unfortunately gets his on the back by one of the other officers, but he moves himself forward and looks and sees the other officer is about to come in to swing at him again. Soos, he takes one of the other small tables by the stand and then uses it as a shield for the club. The Table blocks the overhead strike and then Soos thrusts the table at the officer's face, it impacts the head, and he goes down.

Soos then sees the third officer coming in and Soos throws the table which disarms him of the club, but the officer still comes in and starts swinging with the left-hand leather belt wrap. Soos blocks it on the first strike but then he feels some blows to his left floating ribs a few times. Soos he back away in pain and then the leather belt officer then charges to pound him some more but then Soos he leans down, immediately gets under his legs and then just throws him off his backside, the officer then flies and crashes into one of the shelves full of merchandise, the officer is then unconscious from the impact.

Soos he then has a small smile of triumph but then the gas finally takes full effect, and he falls on his knees and then lays down on the ground and suddenly blacks out.

Meanwhile in another place there is Candy who is running but also sees Sailor Mercury coming her way and then both stop and catch their breath from the park pathway they are running on.

Sailor Mercury says, "What's happening and where's Talon?"

Candy says, "He covered me and got me to run as far away from him and the gas, what about Urawa?"

Sailor Mercury says, "Wanted me to run far away too and get help as these assailants just pop out of nowhere, who are they?"

Candy says, "I don't know but I bet my top dollar their from the same person running this game."

Suddenly they hear some presences and sees there are several of the gas masked officers that have all split off and have every officer covering almost every avenue for escape for both.

Candy looks at Sailor Mercury and says, "You get to the van."

Sailor Mercury says, "No what about you!?"

Candy and says, "I'm just going to slow them, you have the magic abilities that are useful, if anyone else in the group made it out then you have to be there to help."

"No, I'll stay and fight with you."

"There are too many we can't win not this time, looks it's all settled go right now or I'll give you a pounding."

Sailor Mercury reluctantly agrees and then she is then running to the edge of part of a shore to the river while Candy she then sees five of the gassed masked soldiers surround her and she goes into a stance before every bad faceless gas masked soldier gets within her range. One of the soldiers they take out a club and then run toward her, he swings but Candy immediately catches the swing and then gets it into an armbar and presses on a muscle of the guy's elbow with a left knife hand, the guy in immense pain then drops the club.

One other gas masked man charge toward Candy but she executes a right-side kick that connects with his stomach, and he just drops like a log. But then one other gas mask officer comes though, and he comes from behind and puts a hold on her and making her let go of the guy she armbar, but he goes down on the ground like a lump holding his arm in agonizing pain. The gas masked officer and then gets her to breath into an oxygen mask with the sweet gas. Candy responds with a left back elbow strike to the guy's floating ribs, and he reels back but unfortunately Candy inadvertently breathed a bit of the gas and she suddenly feels faint and she then sees the world has just gone to one side and then suddenly just blacks out.

Meanwhile Sailor Mercury is running trying to make enough distance until she runs toward the side of the land near the river, while several of the gas masked solders are chasing her down. She then unleashes her bubble spray which disorients a few solders but not enough as within the masks of most they immediately activated their thermo vison where they are able to see Sailor Mercury's heat pattern. Sailor Mercury sees several are gaining on her and she keeps running and then she sees the Columbia River on the edge of the land. One of the gas masked solders take out a twelve gauge but loaded with rubber bullets and is taking aim to take her down but as Sailor Mercury gets close to the edge the officer fires but is a split second too late as she immediately jumps before he takes a shot. She flies in midair from the jump and then lands into the flowing water of the Columbia river and the river just carries her downstream.