Caleb! Caleb! the little irritating voice implored. Caleb turned over in his bed to find him staring Blunk in the face.
What is it? Caleb asked groggily. Blunk could have information, but he could just as soon have an interesting bit of sharp rusted metal he found at the dump.
News from big blue thing, Blunk answered.
0.0.0
Hay Lin was asleep in her bed when it happened.
Hay Lin, Hay Lin, Caleb implored. He gave a slight shake.
she screamed as she gathered up the covers trying to protect herself. Caleb! I thought I told you never to come in here unless it's an emergency!You could call it an emergency, Caleb replied. I need to use the phone.For what? Hay Lin asked.
0.0.0
Joint awoke to the sight he had been dreading. His eye hadn't focused, but he could tell who the six figures were standing around him. His eye adjusted enough to see the five girls in Guardian form and Caleb holding a baseball bat.
Lucy, you've got some splaining to do, Irma said in her best Desi Aranez impression.
I knew this was going to happen, Joint stated. I thought to myself last night, Get your rest. There's a devil to pay tomorrow'.Who are you really? Will asked pointedly. Right now I'm having a hard time believing any of my relatives could betray me to the enemy!I told you that yesterday, Joint replied slightly worried.
Taranee wondered
I am or would've been Will's son, Joint answered.
Will's son? Caleb asked. What you were doing at Phobos' castle?Doing what I thought I came here to do, Joint replied. As I opened the Ruby Casket I breathed in this mist. That was the spirit of The Merger. I am now a container of his essence. The old legends are false. He wasn't ancient Metamoor's worst Tyrant. In fact he may have been it's greatest ruler.Aren't you worried about him taking you over? Hay Lin asked.
No, his essence isn't strong enough to subvert my own will. What I'm worried about is saving Elyon Brown, Joint answered. If the book is to be believed Phobos still finds a way to tear down the veil and combine Earth and Metamoor. Things are still not good enough for me to go home.How did you escape? Caleb asked.
Joint simply responded. He shifted his attention to Will You asked why I had it. Now you know. Phobos wasn't getting The Merger's power. I had to plan an escape. I figure there were fewer guards upwards.
0.0.0
It was dark in the throne room. Not as dark as it was before but still dark. Phobos fumed as Cedric held the large swath of Nylon fabric. Cords of the same material held it to a harness.
And you say the human used this to escape from the castle? Phobos stared at the parachute incredulously. He had been used to retrieve that blasted casket now a mere human mocked him with an oversized bolt of cloth.
He essscaped through a portal in an alleyway, Cedric explained. The Portal isss still open.Send the Joory! Phobos sternly ordered.
0.0.0
So let me get this straight? Will questioned. The Merger is inside you? Patrons around the diner either didn't notice or didn't care about the six sitting in the far booth.
One might say that, a strange voice spoke through Joint's mouth. It spoke with an English accent.
What the? A spooked Irma asked.
Sorry to frighten, the voice continued. It's been such a long time since I've had anyone to talk to. I'm Micelus Filney. You may know me by a different name though.Please tell me your playing a joke on us, Taranee begged.
Please don't be alarmed I'm here to help, Micelus assured.
What happened to Patch? Cornelia asked.
Don't worry, the voice of Joint returned. He's only in charge when I let him.You are The Merger? Caleb asked. He had heard of people being possessed before. He never heard of it working like this.
Were you expecting something else? Micelus asked. Something more along the lines of say a orange pro wrestler covered in insectoid eyes and ten feet tall?
To be fair that was what I was expecting, Will admitted.
I thought he'd be blue, Taranee added.
So what about you working for Phobos? Cornelia probed bringing the conversation back to the point.
You mean in the future Joint came from? Micelus responded. The waitress came by to take their order. I'll have the Lumberman's breakfast, and is it too early to get your heart attack special?A double cheese burger with bacon and blue cheese and onion rings and battered mushrooms gotcha, the waitress replied jotting down the order. She took down the other's orders before Micelus returned to answering Cornelia's question.
If I had to explain that I would probably say that Phobos probably took over my powers, Micelus stated. I'm not exactly in the best shape ever. If Joint wanted to he could use my powers. Of course how powerful he is proportional with what he could do.Phobos took over your powers? Hay Lin wondered aloud.
He would've had access to them, Micelus replied. Sadly Joint doesn't have the power to even keep me alive. I'll pass soon and I'll take Joint with me.
That's kinda depressing, Taranee stated.
Well If I see Sunday morning and Elyon is still alive, then I can die happy, Joint replied reasserting himself.
0.0.0
There was no one at the fair grounds so no one saw the open portal. No one saw the two creatures come out. One looked like a helium tank with long thin arms and legs. The other could've been mistaken for a dragon at first. It's wings though soon unfolded carrying into the sky. They were more dragonfly then dragon. It's head was also more like a fly than a dragon.
The two creatures went their own ways but each was certain in its mission.