Chapter Four: Sic Transit Clanker
A/N "A Pushbutton War" is an original work I am currently working on. But being an original work you'll have to wait until I get published to read that one. Also several of my previous chapters have had minor updates. Thank you Fullsailnate and Raven DragonClaw! I tried to advance the plot as much as I could given I needed to flash to Clanker's perspective to set the story of Clanker coming to reside in Darrins head. Chapter Five this story should REALLY get interesting… Also note that chapter three was not finished when I posted last, (Stupid letter from Liz) and now it is, so go back, there's more there now.
Clanker was relaxing in a corner of Darrin's mind. To his perception it resembled a living room, actually it was from Darrin's aunt's house, but Darrin couldn't remember his aunt to well, so Clanker typically had the place to himself. (It was not a good place to hide however, as Darrin could recall the house at will)
Clanker had quite enjoyed (again) the fact that he could taste what Darrin was eating as long as he paid attention. It was just a little bit after dinner and as Clanker reflected a voice other than Darrin's interrupted him. It was the school's headmistress, madam Saowynn.
"This is a notice to all students regarding the recent muggle sightings on campus. It has come to our attention that some of the muggles were carrying enchanted artifacts on them, thus allowing devices such as a camera and recorder to function even in the presence of magic"
Clanker made out some panicked muttering from Terth.
"This being the case we have no choice but to limit magic use to in class only! When out on the grounds magic is prohibited until further notice. If you see any muggle NO STUDENT is any longer authorized to use magic on them to get rid of them. Instead quickly and calmly find an Instructor and we will deal with it."
"That is all." Finished the headmistress. Clanker remembering that she had changed a version of the Sonorous spell to act like a personal PA system.
"Clever lady" he thought to Darrin "I wonder what all of this means, the recent muggle sightings multiplying, and now this talk of magic enchantments on their gear"
But Darrin was already in this debate with Terth and Clarius and chose to ignore Clanker for his friends. Clanker however was not offended, this often happened and he knew why, it would seem kind of strange to break off from an interesting conversation, to be very suddenly lost in thought.
So Clanker gave up on his efforts at prying Darrin away from his friends. He retired to the study of the house in Darrin's mind.
Clanker picked a book of the shelf. The shelf was populated with all the books Darrin had ever read, whether he remembered them well or not. It also had volumes of things Darrin had written and that his brain had decided to retain for whatever reason. He picked up a copy of "A Pushbutton War" and began to read. In time Darrin's thoughts grew quieter around him, Clanker knew Darrin was falling asleep.
After a while Clanker heard a faint noise and rose to look out the study window onto the rest of Darrin's mind. Merpeople were swimming by in droves
"Uh-Oh, he's dreaming again, I better get to his Potions notes before this gets ugly"
The next morning Darrin awoke refreshed, as if he had just brewed and drank an invigoration draught.
"Invigorating draught?" he thought momentarily perplexed. "Oh, sorry Clank was I dreaming again?" he thought so Clanker should hear
"Yes you were, quite terrifying I might add, that nightmare about the four headed fire breathing hippogriff again"
"Sorry about that, been scared of that thing since my dad's campfire stories. Besides weren't you hiding in my Potions notes?"
"Well I was, until the Hippogriff attacked you in Potions class and burned them out of your hands. Mental imagery isn't a bad thing, but for once could you please have a dream that isn't quite so VIVID?"
Darrin Chuckled "Sure Clanker I'll just dream about lunch all night"
"That would be fantastic, now if you'll excuse me I must miss breakfast as I was not allowed any rest last night…."
"Have a nice nap Clank; I'll wake you before lunch"
After his morning class let out that day Darrin had some time to himself before Quidditch practice. He had decided to go and watch, and maybe if Avalus ward's inter squad was against the right Salem team he would get to talk to Liz.
Darrin walked to his usual place among the outdoor study tables, sat and looked at the sky. He heard Clanker snoring softly in the back of his brain. A kind of mental fog set in on him, as it normally did when Clanker was about to dream himself. Darrin wondered what re-run of the Poltergeists life he would be privileged to this time.
However the dream wasn't one he had seen before. Clanker was walking about a neighborhood, apparently out for a stroll (apparently still alive at the time) along a sidewalk lined with a picket fence on one side and some small tree saplings on the other. He happened upon a large fellow with a pickaxe resting on his shoulder. The man was large and fairly dirty, probably having worked in a mine for a living.
Clanker moved aside to let the larger man pass by unhindered. However a lurch in the man's step made it apparent that he intended to run right into Clanker anyway. Clanker could not move fast enough to avoid the impact and fell down on his butt.
"Hey" the large man said as he turned to face Clanker. "Aren't you gonna apologize for walking into me like that?"
"Well I wasn't planning on it seeing as you walked into me" said Clanker picking himself up and dusting himself off.
The large man didn't appear to be a wizard, just a typical person. Then Darrin saw a third person, a woman almost hidden in shadow just a few feet away and behind a large garden hedge. He couldn't tell if she was there by chance or not.
"Haven't you got some nerve?" Questioned the large man, his eyes starting to burn with rage. "The whole town knows it was you, poisoning the Johnsons' daughter…"
"I did that now too? I seem to be building quite a resume for myself, odd I don't seem to know any of these people" Darrin assumed that there had been many other accusations before this one.
The woman who had concealed herself before now chose this moment to speak.
"Oh, you didn't know her did you? Could've sworn I heard you two arguing a dozen times…"
"Mordra, your grudge against me notwithstanding, I hope this good man is not fool enough to believe your lies." Clanker said sounding more than a little annoyed with this new speaker. It seemed even her good looks could not hide her malice for Clanker.
"I was fool enough to believe your lies once, Clarence" The large man said shifting his pickaxe. Darrin realized that Clarence must have been Clanker's real name. He thought it odd that Clanker had never told him that in 3 years of residence…
"That's one mistake you won't make again now is it Derrick?" Said Mordra beaming up at him.
"No, I won't, matter of fact, I think I'll make sure of that" Derrick took his pickaxe in both hands and pulled it back menacingly. Clanker, or Clarence as he was here, took a step backwards towards Mordra. Something stopped him from backing far enough away though. As Derrick took a swing Clarence's eyes widened. Darrin couldn't believe what he was seeing Clanker never spoke of his death and now Darrin knew why.
He was distracted from this thought as he saw what stopped Clarence from removing himself from danger, Mordra's wand firmly planted in the small of his back.
Clarence gave a shout, and in a flash of light the conflict was over. His body lay in a crumpled heap. Mordra stood in the same spot she had been before, unharmed, but evidently she was also missing her wand. Derrick pulled his pickaxe from the heap and placed it back on his shoulder with a snort. As they walked away from the body Darrin realized where this violent scene had unfolded: outside the ancient Cretis elementary school, along the front sidewalk, where there were now two smoking fence pickets and a body.
As the scene around him swirled and changed Darrin's mind raced. He had heard the rumors while he was in school that someone had been murdered on the front walk of the school one summer, why had he never thought to connect it with Clanker? He had no more time to ponder this however as the scene of Clanker's dream once more became clear. This time it was much more recent- the trees along the walk of the school had grown massive.
Darrin recognized the shouts of children; one of the voices was his own. He understood why as he saw himself bolting down the walk, pursued by the school bully and his cronies. It was autumn in this memory of Clanker's as evidenced by the large crabapples that were being hurled at Darrin's youthful counterpart. Darrin watched in awe, he knew what was coming, after all he had lived it, but Clanker's memory seemed to have anticipation about what was to come instead of anxiety. As he expected, he watched himself take three more strides before collapsing in pain holding his ankle. He remembered for himself the pain of wrenching it, (@#$% tree root!) but that what not what Clanker seemed to feel here. Moreover a sense of urgency seemed to overwhelm him.
For a second time the scene had both a crumpled human and a smoking fence picket within its boundaries.
Darrin remembered what happened next most of all, a sudden voice, saying:
"You're fine now; all you have to do is get up and RUN!"
Which Darrin did, as Clanker's dream spun out of existence, and he found himself sitting and staring at the sky once again.
Reviewers: (yes both of you)
Fullsailnate: Whadaya think? Was the explanation worth the long wait?
Raven DragonClaw: Yeah that power out was nasty, hit here too. I can't help but be amused at the fact my story was onscreen when you lost power, only two people read my story, and when you read it, it decides to sabotage the power grid… spooky. ;-)