Triangle of Hades 3
(This is a continuation of the alternate universe I created in Degrees of Evil and that is featured in Information Exchange. I do not own any part of Charmed, I just write about it. And as always, please comment and tell me what you think.)
"Belthazor!" Paige said with a shout.
"Why didn't Cole tell us?" Piper asked. "Where is he!" she continued, whirling on Leo.
"Is there some kind of problem" the ghost asked. "Do you know this demon?"
"You could say that," Paige said darkly, "He married one of my sisters."
The ghost looked visibly startled. "My goodness, you Charmed Ones get a lot more leeway than any other witch I've known. Look, it's not necessarily his fault if he didn't tell you. My binding prevents him from telling anyone, good or evil, where the Triangle piece is. So, even if he wanted to tell you, he couldn't."
"Well, how do we get the binding off so we can ask him?" Phoebe asked.
The ghost looked uncertain, and then said in a monotone voice,
I release you from your obligation Belthazor Freedom from mine charms and commands you are. Tell whomever you desire. If it will prevent their ire.
"There, he's now free to tell whomever he wants."
"Good, let's go," Paige said. She reached out and grabbed her sisters. Michael said, "If it's alright with you, I'd like to talk to Joanna for a little bit longer, find out what she knows about the Triangle."
"Sure, go ahead." Paige said, and then she and her sisters orbed out.
***
"You were right, Daikon." One of the warlocks said. "The witches will lead us right to the third piece. All we have to do is wait." All of the warlocks were gathered around a seeing pool in Hell. They were exceptionally rare, as they were almost impossible to detect.
Daikon shook his head, and said, "We are done waiting. We cannot afford to fight the Charmed Ones to gain possession of the Triangle piece. We'll just get a jump on them. After all, we know where Belthazor is too. And he is now free to tell us."
The warlocks all nodded, and then they blinked out.
***
When the sisters arrived at Cole's apartment, they found Cole walking out of his bedroom with several potions in hand. He looked up at them in surprise and said, "What's wrong? Why did you come here?"
"Where is the last Triangle piece, Cole?" Phoebe asked.
Cole tensed, and then his face registered surprise. "How."
"Can you tell us?" Piper interrupted. "We had someone unbind you. Now, where is it?"
Cole looked around uncomfortably, and then said, "I won't tell you out loud, since I don't know what or who may be listening. But I will take you there."
"More likely you'll take US there." A new voice said. Six warlocks blinked into the room. Before Piper and Paige could even move, warlocks blinked behind them, yanked their arms back and handcuffed them. Daikon smiled, and said, "We came prepared this time. I like to see you blow us up or hit us with lightning with your hands bound. Oh yes." Daikon gestured, and a piece of duct-tape landed on Paige's mouth as she was shouting "Hand."
"Now then, shall we get started? You can't take all of us and win Cole, and the only Charmed One still active can't do much. Tell us where the Triangle piece is and we'll make your death as painless as possible. I promise."
"I may not be a demon any longer," Cole said, "But that doesn't mean I'm gullible enough to trust a warlock."
Daikon smile disappeared, and he remarked, "I think you will." He then nodded in the direction of Paige, Piper, and Phoebe. "Take them with us. If that one looks like she's going to orb, remove her sister's head." The six warlocks nodded, and Phoebe tensed up. Daikon looked at her and Cole, and said, "Unless you want me to kill those two, I suggest you allow us to 'provide for your comfort'." Phoebe's hands fell, and she allowed them to bind her. Cole hesitated for a moment, and then he did the same. A warlock grabbed the sisters and Cole, and then they all blinked out.
***
"The metal glows?" Michael asked incredulously.
The ghost nodded, "Very faintly, and only to people with magical talent. It is made from an alloy never seen in this realm, and that alloy apparently glows."
Michael nodded, and then said, "Does it actual do as much as it is supposed to?"
The ghost hesitated, and then said, "Only Hades would know that. Many people believe it doesn't do anything, and that Hades merely made it as a symbol of his reign. However, no one has ever reassembled the pieces, so no one can say for sure."
"How are they planning on reforging it if it is shattered?" Michael said.
"Well, according to rumor, and if it does have power, if all three pieces are put together in the proper alignment, it will heal itself. I guess that is the final test, isn't it?"
Leo suddenly looked up in alarm. "I can't sense the girls, or Cole."
Michael turned and said, "What does that mean? Are they dead?"
Leo shook his head, and Michael breathed and inward sigh of relief. "No, they are just.gone. Someone must have taken them down into the Underworld. It's the only place I wouldn't be able to sense them." Leo stood up and said, "I'm going down there to search for them."
"Not without me you're not." Michael interrupted. He walked over and planted a hand on Leo shoulder. "I know magic, and I'm not going to leave Pa.I mean the Charmed Ones in peril. Let's go." Leo nodded, and then orbed out.
The ghost looked around in incredulity, and then said, "Well, in my day, we would never leave a ghost out and about. These Charmed Ones really get away with everything." She then faded.
***
Phoebe winced as another punch landed in Cole's midsection. Two warlocks were having their way with him, while the rest waited. After a few minutes, Daikon held up his hand, and the warlock stopped. "Ready to tell us where it is?" Cole looked up, and Phoebe realized that one of his eyes was starting to swell shut. "Where what is?"
Daikon sighed, and then he smiled evilly. "That's alright, I just realized we don't need you anymore." He gestured, and Cole was put back next to the sisters, where he slumped down. Daikon turned to one of the warlocks, and said, "Bring me a summoner." The warlock nodded, and was gone.
"What's a summoner," Piper asked softly.
"An evil being used to summon dead spirits," Cole said quietly. "They can only summon evil spirits, but a good one can force any spirit to answer any question." A few minutes later, the warlock returned with an ancient woman who was leaning heavily on a staff. She asked softly in a singsong voice, "Someone seeks communion."
Daikon nodded, and said, "Honored one, we ask you to bring forth the souls of Belthazor the demon and the Source. Can you do so?"
The woman nodded, and then said, "Will you pay the price?"
Daikon pulled out three orbs, and handed them over to her. Cole went pale.
"What are those?" Piper asked.
"Human souls." Cole replied.
As the woman began to chant, Daikon looked over at Cole and said, "That's the problem with having half of you vanquished. You can never be sure who will summon it and what they will ask." Cole said nothing, and Daikon continued, "What, no comeback, no smile? I've beaten you Cole, and I want you here to watch."
The woman stopped chanting, and said, "I can't."
Daikon's triumphant smile faded, and he demanded, "What? Don't stiff me crone! I paid you, now bring me who I want."
The old woman should her head. "They are no longer in existence. Someone has killed them in the afterlife."
"A truly smart demon makes sure his other half can't say anything, even when vanquished," Cole chimed in.
As Daikon turned back to him, a look of fury came over his face. "YOU DID THIS!" he shouted.
Cole smiled, and hid a grimace of pain. "Did you really think I would not foresee such a possibility on your part? Unlike others, I did not become a force in the Underworld because everyone above me in rank died. I did it through guile and skill. I knew what you would do before you did, and I took care of such possibilities. Maybe if you summon the Source, he'll be more forthcoming?" Cole said sarcastically.
"I underestimated you, Cole." Daikon said quietly. "I thought the loss of your demon half would have robbed you of your cunning. Apparently, I was wrong." Daikon was quiet for a few moments, and then he said, "What do you want?"
"What, you want to bribe me?" Cole asked.
"Look, I know I can't force it out of you, and I doubt you would even blink if I tortured your companions. So, what do you want? Name your price."
Cole thought about it for a moment, and then said, "I want your oath that you and anyone who works for you will never come after me, or the Charmed Ones, or anyone of their line currently in existence or down the road. If you do that, I'll tell you where the piece is."
"NO!" Phoebe shouted, and Daikon nodded. "Agreed."
Cole looked at Phoebe, and Phoebe realized he still had a plan. "It's in the mausoleum, in my father's coffin."
Daikon smiled, and then turned to one of the warlocks. They nodded, and blinked out. Daikon then walked over and slammed his fist into Cole's stomach. As Cole bent over, Daikon said, "You really are pathetic. Did you think I would ever keep my end of the bargain? Please. I'm going to kill you and your witches, but I want you hear to witness this."
The warlocks returned, holding the final piece. Daikon smiled triumphantly, and then said, "Give it to me." When they did, Daikon walked over to a dais, where the other two pieces lay. He arranged them, with about and inch between the pieces. "Behold, the complete Triangle of Hades." Daikon shouted, and then he shoved the pieces together.
The sisters tensed, but nothing happened. No sudden explosion of power, no dark presense. Daikon stared at the pieces in disbelief, and then he said, "No, it has to work." Daikon tried to shove the pieces together again and again, but nothing happened.
"Why do you think I told you where it was, Daikon?" Cole taunted. "I know all along it did nothing, but I wanted to watch you squirm."
Daikon turned towards Cole with hatred in his eyes, and began to advance on Cole. "YOU! I'm going to RIP YOU APART!"
"Solaris vree." Someone shouted, and the room erupted in bright light. As Daikon and the other warlocks fell back in surprise, Paige felt her handcuffs being undone. "Sorry we took so long to get here, but the Underworld's a big place." Michael said softly in her ear.
When the light faded, Daikon found himself facing the Charmed Ones, free and ready for battle. Daikon looked at his men, but saw that they were backing away in fear. "Give it up Daikon, you've lost." Cole said to him.
Daikon looked up, and nodded. "You're right, and it doesn't matter. The Triangle is useless, there is no point anymore." He then drove his athame into his own chest. As the sisters stared in shock, Daikon burst into flames and was vanquished.
Piper turned to the others, and said, "Anyone who doesn't want to die RIGHT NOW, leave." Instantly, the other warlocks blinked out.
Cole walked forward and grabbed the three pieces, and then walked back over to the sisters. "Let's go home."
***
"So, what are we going to do with them now?" Phoebe asked.
"Well, since they do nothing, there's no real point in protecting them," Leo said. "I mean, evil knows it is useless now, and so they aren't after it anymore."
"We could always donate it to a museum," Michael said.
"Actually, I was wondering if I could keep it," Cole said. "I did have to protect one of those damn pieces of junk for several decades, and I would like to keep them, as a remembrance of the witch who actually beat me."
The sisters shrugged, and said, "Sure." As Cole bent to take the pieces, Phoebe touched his arm. When he looked up quizzically, she asked him, "Just answer me one thing. Did you really know that the Triangle was useless?"
Cole looked at her for a few moments, and then said, "Do you really expect me to answer that?"
Phoebe hesitated, and then shook her head. Cole picked up the pieces, and put them in his briefcase. Paige turned to Michael, and pulled him into a kiss. Michael smiled, and asked, "What was that for?" Paige smiled, and said, "A prelude to a proper thank you I'm going to give you for coming down into the Underworld after me." She then grabbed his hand and led him upstairs.
"Ew." Piper said, and Leo laughed. She then pulled Leo into a kiss, and said, "Come on, let's head upstairs ourselves. I could do with some sleep." She was about halfway up the stairs when she said, "Eventually."
Cole and Phoebe looked uncomfortable for a few moments, and Cole said, "Well, I guess I'd better go." As he started for the door, Phoebe grabbed his arms. "No, wait." When Cole turned back to her, she said, "Please stay."
Cole's eyes took on a hopeful look, and then he said softly, "Are you sure?"
Phoebe nodded, and said, "Yes, I am." The hope in Cole's eyes burst forth, and a single tear rolled down his cheek. Phoebe looked into his eyes for a moment, and then pulled him into a kiss. One kiss became many, and Cole did not leave that evening.
***
As Cole finished writing on the floor, a blue shield came up over the Triangle. Cole smiled. It wasn't often he got a chance to practice his rune shielding, and he was glad this worked. With that shield up, no one would be able to touch it until he took it down. Cole then walked over to the mantle, and opened up a small porcelain box. Inside were two objects. Cole's fingers rested on his wedding ring to Phoebe, and he smiled. Last night had been great, and Cole hoped that it wasn't a fluke. In his heart, he knew it wasn't.
Even though Cole's fingers found the ring first, that wasn't the object he was after. Cole pulled out a necklace, one with a round circular marble in the center. It was something Cole had had for a long time, and it had no practical value. If asked, Cole had always said it was the first gift from his father, and his human half had wanted it for sentiment. With practiced ease, Cole touched a few points along it, and then twisted right. No one else knew the points, so no one else could open it.
Inside was a single small pebble, a piece of rock that seemed to have broken off of something much bigger. And if you looked closely, you could almost swear it was glowing very faintly.
THE END
(I know this didn't have much to do with Gabriel or Melinda, but the next one will, I promise).
(This is a continuation of the alternate universe I created in Degrees of Evil and that is featured in Information Exchange. I do not own any part of Charmed, I just write about it. And as always, please comment and tell me what you think.)
"Belthazor!" Paige said with a shout.
"Why didn't Cole tell us?" Piper asked. "Where is he!" she continued, whirling on Leo.
"Is there some kind of problem" the ghost asked. "Do you know this demon?"
"You could say that," Paige said darkly, "He married one of my sisters."
The ghost looked visibly startled. "My goodness, you Charmed Ones get a lot more leeway than any other witch I've known. Look, it's not necessarily his fault if he didn't tell you. My binding prevents him from telling anyone, good or evil, where the Triangle piece is. So, even if he wanted to tell you, he couldn't."
"Well, how do we get the binding off so we can ask him?" Phoebe asked.
The ghost looked uncertain, and then said in a monotone voice,
I release you from your obligation Belthazor Freedom from mine charms and commands you are. Tell whomever you desire. If it will prevent their ire.
"There, he's now free to tell whomever he wants."
"Good, let's go," Paige said. She reached out and grabbed her sisters. Michael said, "If it's alright with you, I'd like to talk to Joanna for a little bit longer, find out what she knows about the Triangle."
"Sure, go ahead." Paige said, and then she and her sisters orbed out.
***
"You were right, Daikon." One of the warlocks said. "The witches will lead us right to the third piece. All we have to do is wait." All of the warlocks were gathered around a seeing pool in Hell. They were exceptionally rare, as they were almost impossible to detect.
Daikon shook his head, and said, "We are done waiting. We cannot afford to fight the Charmed Ones to gain possession of the Triangle piece. We'll just get a jump on them. After all, we know where Belthazor is too. And he is now free to tell us."
The warlocks all nodded, and then they blinked out.
***
When the sisters arrived at Cole's apartment, they found Cole walking out of his bedroom with several potions in hand. He looked up at them in surprise and said, "What's wrong? Why did you come here?"
"Where is the last Triangle piece, Cole?" Phoebe asked.
Cole tensed, and then his face registered surprise. "How."
"Can you tell us?" Piper interrupted. "We had someone unbind you. Now, where is it?"
Cole looked around uncomfortably, and then said, "I won't tell you out loud, since I don't know what or who may be listening. But I will take you there."
"More likely you'll take US there." A new voice said. Six warlocks blinked into the room. Before Piper and Paige could even move, warlocks blinked behind them, yanked their arms back and handcuffed them. Daikon smiled, and said, "We came prepared this time. I like to see you blow us up or hit us with lightning with your hands bound. Oh yes." Daikon gestured, and a piece of duct-tape landed on Paige's mouth as she was shouting "Hand."
"Now then, shall we get started? You can't take all of us and win Cole, and the only Charmed One still active can't do much. Tell us where the Triangle piece is and we'll make your death as painless as possible. I promise."
"I may not be a demon any longer," Cole said, "But that doesn't mean I'm gullible enough to trust a warlock."
Daikon smile disappeared, and he remarked, "I think you will." He then nodded in the direction of Paige, Piper, and Phoebe. "Take them with us. If that one looks like she's going to orb, remove her sister's head." The six warlocks nodded, and Phoebe tensed up. Daikon looked at her and Cole, and said, "Unless you want me to kill those two, I suggest you allow us to 'provide for your comfort'." Phoebe's hands fell, and she allowed them to bind her. Cole hesitated for a moment, and then he did the same. A warlock grabbed the sisters and Cole, and then they all blinked out.
***
"The metal glows?" Michael asked incredulously.
The ghost nodded, "Very faintly, and only to people with magical talent. It is made from an alloy never seen in this realm, and that alloy apparently glows."
Michael nodded, and then said, "Does it actual do as much as it is supposed to?"
The ghost hesitated, and then said, "Only Hades would know that. Many people believe it doesn't do anything, and that Hades merely made it as a symbol of his reign. However, no one has ever reassembled the pieces, so no one can say for sure."
"How are they planning on reforging it if it is shattered?" Michael said.
"Well, according to rumor, and if it does have power, if all three pieces are put together in the proper alignment, it will heal itself. I guess that is the final test, isn't it?"
Leo suddenly looked up in alarm. "I can't sense the girls, or Cole."
Michael turned and said, "What does that mean? Are they dead?"
Leo shook his head, and Michael breathed and inward sigh of relief. "No, they are just.gone. Someone must have taken them down into the Underworld. It's the only place I wouldn't be able to sense them." Leo stood up and said, "I'm going down there to search for them."
"Not without me you're not." Michael interrupted. He walked over and planted a hand on Leo shoulder. "I know magic, and I'm not going to leave Pa.I mean the Charmed Ones in peril. Let's go." Leo nodded, and then orbed out.
The ghost looked around in incredulity, and then said, "Well, in my day, we would never leave a ghost out and about. These Charmed Ones really get away with everything." She then faded.
***
Phoebe winced as another punch landed in Cole's midsection. Two warlocks were having their way with him, while the rest waited. After a few minutes, Daikon held up his hand, and the warlock stopped. "Ready to tell us where it is?" Cole looked up, and Phoebe realized that one of his eyes was starting to swell shut. "Where what is?"
Daikon sighed, and then he smiled evilly. "That's alright, I just realized we don't need you anymore." He gestured, and Cole was put back next to the sisters, where he slumped down. Daikon turned to one of the warlocks, and said, "Bring me a summoner." The warlock nodded, and was gone.
"What's a summoner," Piper asked softly.
"An evil being used to summon dead spirits," Cole said quietly. "They can only summon evil spirits, but a good one can force any spirit to answer any question." A few minutes later, the warlock returned with an ancient woman who was leaning heavily on a staff. She asked softly in a singsong voice, "Someone seeks communion."
Daikon nodded, and said, "Honored one, we ask you to bring forth the souls of Belthazor the demon and the Source. Can you do so?"
The woman nodded, and then said, "Will you pay the price?"
Daikon pulled out three orbs, and handed them over to her. Cole went pale.
"What are those?" Piper asked.
"Human souls." Cole replied.
As the woman began to chant, Daikon looked over at Cole and said, "That's the problem with having half of you vanquished. You can never be sure who will summon it and what they will ask." Cole said nothing, and Daikon continued, "What, no comeback, no smile? I've beaten you Cole, and I want you here to watch."
The woman stopped chanting, and said, "I can't."
Daikon's triumphant smile faded, and he demanded, "What? Don't stiff me crone! I paid you, now bring me who I want."
The old woman should her head. "They are no longer in existence. Someone has killed them in the afterlife."
"A truly smart demon makes sure his other half can't say anything, even when vanquished," Cole chimed in.
As Daikon turned back to him, a look of fury came over his face. "YOU DID THIS!" he shouted.
Cole smiled, and hid a grimace of pain. "Did you really think I would not foresee such a possibility on your part? Unlike others, I did not become a force in the Underworld because everyone above me in rank died. I did it through guile and skill. I knew what you would do before you did, and I took care of such possibilities. Maybe if you summon the Source, he'll be more forthcoming?" Cole said sarcastically.
"I underestimated you, Cole." Daikon said quietly. "I thought the loss of your demon half would have robbed you of your cunning. Apparently, I was wrong." Daikon was quiet for a few moments, and then he said, "What do you want?"
"What, you want to bribe me?" Cole asked.
"Look, I know I can't force it out of you, and I doubt you would even blink if I tortured your companions. So, what do you want? Name your price."
Cole thought about it for a moment, and then said, "I want your oath that you and anyone who works for you will never come after me, or the Charmed Ones, or anyone of their line currently in existence or down the road. If you do that, I'll tell you where the piece is."
"NO!" Phoebe shouted, and Daikon nodded. "Agreed."
Cole looked at Phoebe, and Phoebe realized he still had a plan. "It's in the mausoleum, in my father's coffin."
Daikon smiled, and then turned to one of the warlocks. They nodded, and blinked out. Daikon then walked over and slammed his fist into Cole's stomach. As Cole bent over, Daikon said, "You really are pathetic. Did you think I would ever keep my end of the bargain? Please. I'm going to kill you and your witches, but I want you hear to witness this."
The warlocks returned, holding the final piece. Daikon smiled triumphantly, and then said, "Give it to me." When they did, Daikon walked over to a dais, where the other two pieces lay. He arranged them, with about and inch between the pieces. "Behold, the complete Triangle of Hades." Daikon shouted, and then he shoved the pieces together.
The sisters tensed, but nothing happened. No sudden explosion of power, no dark presense. Daikon stared at the pieces in disbelief, and then he said, "No, it has to work." Daikon tried to shove the pieces together again and again, but nothing happened.
"Why do you think I told you where it was, Daikon?" Cole taunted. "I know all along it did nothing, but I wanted to watch you squirm."
Daikon turned towards Cole with hatred in his eyes, and began to advance on Cole. "YOU! I'm going to RIP YOU APART!"
"Solaris vree." Someone shouted, and the room erupted in bright light. As Daikon and the other warlocks fell back in surprise, Paige felt her handcuffs being undone. "Sorry we took so long to get here, but the Underworld's a big place." Michael said softly in her ear.
When the light faded, Daikon found himself facing the Charmed Ones, free and ready for battle. Daikon looked at his men, but saw that they were backing away in fear. "Give it up Daikon, you've lost." Cole said to him.
Daikon looked up, and nodded. "You're right, and it doesn't matter. The Triangle is useless, there is no point anymore." He then drove his athame into his own chest. As the sisters stared in shock, Daikon burst into flames and was vanquished.
Piper turned to the others, and said, "Anyone who doesn't want to die RIGHT NOW, leave." Instantly, the other warlocks blinked out.
Cole walked forward and grabbed the three pieces, and then walked back over to the sisters. "Let's go home."
***
"So, what are we going to do with them now?" Phoebe asked.
"Well, since they do nothing, there's no real point in protecting them," Leo said. "I mean, evil knows it is useless now, and so they aren't after it anymore."
"We could always donate it to a museum," Michael said.
"Actually, I was wondering if I could keep it," Cole said. "I did have to protect one of those damn pieces of junk for several decades, and I would like to keep them, as a remembrance of the witch who actually beat me."
The sisters shrugged, and said, "Sure." As Cole bent to take the pieces, Phoebe touched his arm. When he looked up quizzically, she asked him, "Just answer me one thing. Did you really know that the Triangle was useless?"
Cole looked at her for a few moments, and then said, "Do you really expect me to answer that?"
Phoebe hesitated, and then shook her head. Cole picked up the pieces, and put them in his briefcase. Paige turned to Michael, and pulled him into a kiss. Michael smiled, and asked, "What was that for?" Paige smiled, and said, "A prelude to a proper thank you I'm going to give you for coming down into the Underworld after me." She then grabbed his hand and led him upstairs.
"Ew." Piper said, and Leo laughed. She then pulled Leo into a kiss, and said, "Come on, let's head upstairs ourselves. I could do with some sleep." She was about halfway up the stairs when she said, "Eventually."
Cole and Phoebe looked uncomfortable for a few moments, and Cole said, "Well, I guess I'd better go." As he started for the door, Phoebe grabbed his arms. "No, wait." When Cole turned back to her, she said, "Please stay."
Cole's eyes took on a hopeful look, and then he said softly, "Are you sure?"
Phoebe nodded, and said, "Yes, I am." The hope in Cole's eyes burst forth, and a single tear rolled down his cheek. Phoebe looked into his eyes for a moment, and then pulled him into a kiss. One kiss became many, and Cole did not leave that evening.
***
As Cole finished writing on the floor, a blue shield came up over the Triangle. Cole smiled. It wasn't often he got a chance to practice his rune shielding, and he was glad this worked. With that shield up, no one would be able to touch it until he took it down. Cole then walked over to the mantle, and opened up a small porcelain box. Inside were two objects. Cole's fingers rested on his wedding ring to Phoebe, and he smiled. Last night had been great, and Cole hoped that it wasn't a fluke. In his heart, he knew it wasn't.
Even though Cole's fingers found the ring first, that wasn't the object he was after. Cole pulled out a necklace, one with a round circular marble in the center. It was something Cole had had for a long time, and it had no practical value. If asked, Cole had always said it was the first gift from his father, and his human half had wanted it for sentiment. With practiced ease, Cole touched a few points along it, and then twisted right. No one else knew the points, so no one else could open it.
Inside was a single small pebble, a piece of rock that seemed to have broken off of something much bigger. And if you looked closely, you could almost swear it was glowing very faintly.
THE END
(I know this didn't have much to do with Gabriel or Melinda, but the next one will, I promise).