*
SUNDAY
Well, yesterday was a hell of a day.
We started off with a little jaunt to Egypt, of all places, where I got to play guard-dog while the girls went and did a Lara. Still think it should have been me who went in, especially as time wasn't on our side, and I didn't really appreciate having Shal get so snippy with me for saying so, even though she apologised later.
And we ended the day narrowly avoiding going up in the biggest bang I've seen in a long time. But we still don't know whether it was all worth it...
Oh sure, we stopped Ashlocke using Avaris and her powers to save himself, to make himself all-conquering. But Adam's plan failed, as we kind of knew it had to. Asking that man to trust him was like a red rag to a bull, and the bull didn't need a second invitation.
It was pretty lucky I got there when I did, because Ashlocke was winding up for the big one. No time for finesse – just straight through the wall, then straight through Adam to get in front of him. Phased to massed in one step – that's not a move I enjoy too much; gives me a monster headache afterwards if I'm not careful, not to mention feeling like I've physically overstretched everything. But there wasn't a whole lot else I could do in the circumstances. Ashlocke's power didn't seem in the least bit weakened by his condition, particularly with Avaris to use as a shield, and even with all four of us taking turns to run interference I think we were lucky to get Adam out of there in one piece and hold them at bay long enough for him to do his stuff.
It was a pretty wild scene; Avaris almost floating up there, glowing and shooting sparks out of her fingertips, while Adam yelled incomprehensible words at her that really seemed to piss her off, and the rest of us tried to keep out of Ashlocke's line of fire as he tried to stop the inevitable. And we only just got out of there in time.
So, the big question now is, did Ashlocke?
Things are pretty quiet again today; I think we're all finding our own ways of absorbing what happened. Adam's shut himself in his office, probably trying to justify to himself the risk we all took doing things his way. I have to wonder, if it turns out that Ashlocke did survive and we have to go through this all over again, whether he'll react the same way. I hope not.
Emma's meditating by the pool, re-centring her emotional equilibrium or something like that. I envy her that ability. There've been times recently when mine has seemed pulled so way out of shape I hardly know where to start getting it back, and today is one of them. I was too tired to think much about anything when we got back last night, but now all I want is to put everything into perspective and move on. But it's never as simple as all that.
Brennan's off out somewhere – probably playing pool. Or scouring the classic car showrooms for the elusive perfect ride. I think he hoped Shalimar might want to go too, so he could help her get over things, but if so he was disappointed.
And Shalimar...? Shal seems to have calmed down, accepted that Adam was doing what he thought was best for all concerned, however she feels about it. But I can understand now why she's been so wound up, so angry these past weeks. If I'd had Ashlocke inside my head, talking to me, taunting me, I'd have got pretty obsessed with finding a way to get him out, too. And with her feral instincts, killing him would have to be top of her list of permanent solutions. I just hope, for her sake, he's gone for good.
I still haven't told her about the pictures. And I don't think I ever will now...
****
SUNDAY
Well, yesterday was a hell of a day.
We started off with a little jaunt to Egypt, of all places, where I got to play guard-dog while the girls went and did a Lara. Still think it should have been me who went in, especially as time wasn't on our side, and I didn't really appreciate having Shal get so snippy with me for saying so, even though she apologised later.
And we ended the day narrowly avoiding going up in the biggest bang I've seen in a long time. But we still don't know whether it was all worth it...
Oh sure, we stopped Ashlocke using Avaris and her powers to save himself, to make himself all-conquering. But Adam's plan failed, as we kind of knew it had to. Asking that man to trust him was like a red rag to a bull, and the bull didn't need a second invitation.
It was pretty lucky I got there when I did, because Ashlocke was winding up for the big one. No time for finesse – just straight through the wall, then straight through Adam to get in front of him. Phased to massed in one step – that's not a move I enjoy too much; gives me a monster headache afterwards if I'm not careful, not to mention feeling like I've physically overstretched everything. But there wasn't a whole lot else I could do in the circumstances. Ashlocke's power didn't seem in the least bit weakened by his condition, particularly with Avaris to use as a shield, and even with all four of us taking turns to run interference I think we were lucky to get Adam out of there in one piece and hold them at bay long enough for him to do his stuff.
It was a pretty wild scene; Avaris almost floating up there, glowing and shooting sparks out of her fingertips, while Adam yelled incomprehensible words at her that really seemed to piss her off, and the rest of us tried to keep out of Ashlocke's line of fire as he tried to stop the inevitable. And we only just got out of there in time.
So, the big question now is, did Ashlocke?
Things are pretty quiet again today; I think we're all finding our own ways of absorbing what happened. Adam's shut himself in his office, probably trying to justify to himself the risk we all took doing things his way. I have to wonder, if it turns out that Ashlocke did survive and we have to go through this all over again, whether he'll react the same way. I hope not.
Emma's meditating by the pool, re-centring her emotional equilibrium or something like that. I envy her that ability. There've been times recently when mine has seemed pulled so way out of shape I hardly know where to start getting it back, and today is one of them. I was too tired to think much about anything when we got back last night, but now all I want is to put everything into perspective and move on. But it's never as simple as all that.
Brennan's off out somewhere – probably playing pool. Or scouring the classic car showrooms for the elusive perfect ride. I think he hoped Shalimar might want to go too, so he could help her get over things, but if so he was disappointed.
And Shalimar...? Shal seems to have calmed down, accepted that Adam was doing what he thought was best for all concerned, however she feels about it. But I can understand now why she's been so wound up, so angry these past weeks. If I'd had Ashlocke inside my head, talking to me, taunting me, I'd have got pretty obsessed with finding a way to get him out, too. And with her feral instincts, killing him would have to be top of her list of permanent solutions. I just hope, for her sake, he's gone for good.
I still haven't told her about the pictures. And I don't think I ever will now...
****