Chapter 12
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Notes: There are several.
Subtitle for this chapter: In which we learn why one shouldn't jump to conclusions and Tarkasas and Ramasha cause us to drown in sap.
Yeah, Bullfrog owns it. You can tell, really, because if *I* owned it, there would be a romance factor in the game and a lot more pretty guys and... ::trails off drooling:: Anyway, don't sue me.
Slash. Yes folks, there *is* guy-on-guy action in the world of Dungeon Keeper. Be afraid. Be very afraid. Also, there is a serious lack of description in the story. -_-; I happen to be very bad at that particular point, so don't hate me for it. I will attempt to become a Description Monkey (TM) in later chapters, so hold on tight 'til then.
If you haven't yet, read the first chapter now.
Even though the game is not mine, the story is, and I would appreciate it if you did not use it without my permission. Ask and ye shall probably be allowed to archive.
A Big Thank You to my poor sick beta reader, Vagabond! ::huggles her:: Feel better hon'!
Pronunciation Key:
Kaelay: [KAY-lay]
Seiat: [SAY-aht]
Tarkasas: [Tar-KAH-sas]
Ramasha: [Ra-MAH-sha]
Mortagui: [Mor-tah-GUY]
Evain: [Eh-VAIN]
I think that's all, so on with the fic!
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Kaelay
Evain and I hover over a small pool that rests between our respective Dungeons. The beating of our Hearts is distant, eclipsed by the soothing splash and flow of the water below us. There is no light to illuminate it, and yet we can both see the pond clearly. I suppose it comes from being born into darkness.
We have abandoned our semi-corporeal forms and choose to exist simply as floating presences.
Evain, I start, let us begin your first lesson. Mortagui is a minor Keeper, but he must not be underestimated. Though we know the size and layout of his Dungeon here, we have no way of knowing if he has conquered lands previous, whose resources he might draw on. It is unlikely; minor Keepers rarely campaign, and this is most probably the only land he's ever been in. However, we should not take chances. Assume that he has unlimited resources.
He absorbs my lecture almost before I voice it. I can see why the Darkness boasts of his skill as a tactician. With more experience, he will be better than I am. He has a thirst for knowledge, which is commendable.
As you know, the Green color represents toxins and venoms. We must beware of disease weapons and spells and have healers always ready. Mortagui is also a fine Spellsmith, so we must watch for offensive spells and plan on defensive ones. Considering the combination, our most likely problem will be the use of the Disease Spell and variants thereof. I am confident that he knows how to exploit that spell to its fullest.
Is there a known cure? he asks.
Not yet. I have my creatures researching one at the moment. It might be wise for you to do the same, in case our communication is somehow cut off and you are left without access to our antidote.
He nods thoughtfully. It is not so much a physical nod as the mental impression of a nod, but the result is the same. I will do so. How could we get cut off?
Mortagui could conceivably take over the area between our Dungeons, occupied or not. Or you could simply be approaching him from the other side and contact would be inconvenient. Either way, it would be helpful to know how to treat the disease yourself. Besides, maybe your researchers will find something that mine missed.
So what action should I take now?
Good. He is ready to fight. The Evain I remember would have dithered over action until forced into it. He is improving drastically. I must remember not to underestimate him, either.
Strangulation is always a good technique. Move in from your side toward his Dungeon and see if you can manoeuvre towards the back. Do it stealthily though; I don't want him knowing you are here until the last possible moment. The element of surprise should always be used whenever it is possible.
Again he nods his understanding. As you command Kaelay. May I ask what you will be doing?
Of course. As a rule, you should always know your ally's movements as well. When one has a truce, one never knows when they'll turn on you. I pause meaningfully. At any rate, I will be building up our defences in the front, keeping his attention as far away from you as possible. I plan to manufacture enough traps to create a minefield between us. I have done this before, and believe me: not even a Reaper could get through my trap fields. I'll also work on expanding around towards the other side, where the yellow Dungeon was previously. When we have him surrounded I will give the word and we can both move in simultaneously. He won't have enough creatures to put up adequate defences in all areas. We'll have him.
I can feel him trembling with excitement. Has he changed so much? He is continually surprising me.
Yes Kaelay. As you say.
Good. Now I must get back to begin preparations. Do you understand what you are to do?
Yes, of course. Good luck Kaelay.
You'll need it more than I will, I tell him just before I move away. If he has a reply, I don't hear it. I'm already halfway to my Heart.
There's... someone there? Damn. I should have been able to sense a creature waiting in my heart long before this. I am getting distracted. I must focus more.
It is Tarkasas, come to give the report I ordered. I take a moment to settle myself as he waits in front of the Heart.
Yes Tarkasas?
He bows. "Mistress Kaelay? I have asked Ramasha about the plans as you requested. I have some unfortunate news."
Oh damn. Triple damn. Bad news is the last thing I need right now. Yes?
"Ramasha..." he hesitates. He's protecting the Angel. Is that pathetic creature still loyal to Mortagui? If he is, he'll have to be dealt with.
"Ramasha claims that he is not able to remember any of Mortagui's plans. I do not think he is lying," Tarkasas hurries on. "Not at all. He was quite hysterical when he learned that he could not remember. I believe that the spell Mortagui hit him with before you saved us may have erased part of Ramasha's memory."
This news is not as bad as what it could have been, but still. I should have known better than to assume that the attack was just petty vengeance. It seems Mortagui is smarter than that.
Thank you Tarkasas.
He bows, murmuring, "My Lady," and exits, leaving me to my thoughts and plans.
Seiat
Before checking in with Keeper, I decide to try to find Tarkasas. I am very worried about him. I don't know what Mortagui did with the information Elseena gave him, but with any luck the Angel has been punished.
I go first to the Lair. Tarkasas is often here, so maybe I'll be lucky and find him. I survey the room, my eyes going naturally to his bed. He's not there, but there seems to be a new lair next to his. That's odd. I thought all our current portals were exhausted.
I scurry forward to get a closer look. It seems to be made of bone. Only Dark Angels do that. I wonder who...
Dark Gods below. It's him.
I feel like maybe I should run, and yet I don't. I approach the bed, watching for any signs of movement. He appears to be deeply asleep, and I have no desire to wake him.
What is he doing here? His signature is obviously Red now. Did he switch allegiance? That sounds like him. Disloyal. Only scum are disloyal to their Keepers.
But why is Keeper letting him stay here? She would know if he were that bad. Does she need the extra creatures? Are we going into battle?
I must see her for answers.
I race towards the Heart as quickly as my small legs can take me. It's times like this that I wish I were level ten. Then I could just teleport myself. That would be so much easier.
I reach it quickly and skitter to a halt. Keeper is annoyed and preoccupied, I can feel it.
I duck my head, waiting to receive some sort of reprimand. I should not have presumed to come upon Keeper like this.
Yes Imp? What is it? She sounds as though she's barely tolerating my presence.
"K-k-k-keeper? I-I'm sorry. I shouldn't have c-come." I can't keep my voice from shaking, I'm so scared. She's going to destroy me.
Just tell me what you want Imp. She says impatiently.
"Well," I say hurriedly, trying to get as much out as possible before she changes her mind and slaps me, "I went to the green d-dungeon, and I found the Angel that was causing trouble and I told the green keeper about him and he got all mad and, and then I came back here and the I went to the Lair and the Angel is here and I'm so confused."
There is a moment of tense silence in which I can feel Keeper's full attention diverting to me.
YOU? YOU'RE the cause of all this mess?
Mess? Oh no. Did I do something? "W-what mess?"
Suddenly her attention is gone again. It's a palpable loss.
Be glad that I have neither the time nor the energy to spend killing you Seiat. I do not like having my hand forced before I am ready. Now get out of my sight.
I am stunned for a moment, unable to believe what I am hearing. Kill me? What did I do? I caused a mess? Did... did Mortagui banish the Angel here? Is that why they're both so upset? But Keeper could just kill him. Or send him back to the Shadow Realm or something. Why would she...
Because of Tarkasas. She would not harm the Angel because Tarkasas is in love with him, and Keeper likes Tarkasas. Oh, Keeper is so kind and generous! To take on a traitorous worm like Ramasha in order to see that one of her creatures does not suffer, it's... God-like. She is a Dark Goddess, our Keeper. Still, that Dark Angel will have to be dealt with.
There is much work to do. Already I sense the Pull nearby, and in great demand. She is thoroughly reworking the Dungeon. We must be at war.
Tarkasas
I find my way back to the Lair only to find my bed empty. I panic for a moment, but quickly notice the new structure next to my own lair. Ramasha's created a bed for himself, very practically located right next to mine.
I sit down on my own cot and am still close enough to lean over and softly brush my fingers across his cheek. He is deeply asleep, and that is good. The spell seems to have done more than just erase his memory. He has a lot of physical damage on top of that.
I lean back in my own bed, contemplating. What does this all mean, his decision? Is it acceptance of me or merely rejection of his Keeper? I wouldn't blame him if it were only the latter. But I'm hoping...
Is it wrong of me to wish for him to be here because of me? To wish that he'll stay here because of me?
To wish that he'll stay forever?
I shake my head to clear these thoughts. I cannot let something like emotion get in my way. I have to be able to kill when the time comes. Love makes you weak. That is part of the Knight's Code. One may love, but one must never let love control them. Still...
I glance over to the unconscious form of the Angel, letting my eyes wander freely and drinking in the sight of him. He is very beautiful, as most Angels are.
I sigh and move to cover my face with my hand. It is only then that I realize that I am still wearing my helm. I hastily remove it and run a hand through my hair. It's damp with sweat, which only stands to reason. I place the helm on the ground next to my bed and pull up the blanket.
I should rest. If there is going to be war, then I will need my energy.
As I drift off, I have a last fleeting thought: I hope I dream of Ramasha.
Ramasha
I wake up fully and instantly, as I usually do, instead of gradually. For a moment I am disoriented, forgetting why my surroundings are so unfamiliar. Then I look to my right and see Tarkasas asleep next to me, and the memories come rushing back.
Most of them, anyway.
I sit up and am surprised to find that I feel rather well. Certainly I'm not as tired as I was after the blast. Maybe I'm not up to full strength yet, but I am well enough to do my duties.
I step out of bed carefully, still not quite trusting my feet to take my weight. When I find that my balance has not been affected I stand fully, then sit again abruptly as my head starts to spin. Maybe I'm not as recovered as I thought.
I need to get to the Temple. The Gods must know that I have not forsaken them. There's so much to do. I need to let the other Angels in the Temple know who I am of course, and then I need to pray, and then I should...
One things at a time. First I have to stand up. I rise carefully, preparing to sit again quickly if the dizziness threatens. It doesn't this time however, so I stand fully and prepare to leave.
I am about to walk out when my glance happens to fall on Tarkasas. His brow is slightly furrowed, as though he's having a bad dream. His short raven-black hair is drenched with sweat, although whether that is from the dream or something else I cannot tell. I take a tentative step towards him.
I do not have energy to spare for a soothing trance, but maybe... I place my hand gently on his forehead and smooth back a lock of hair. Almost immediately his face smooths and assumes a peaceful expression. I allow my gaze to linger for a moment before snapping my thoughts to attention.
I head off towards the Temple. It is time that I got to know my new Dungeon.
Oh God, that was hideous. Take me back.
or
Oh God, that was hideous. Let me complain to the author.