Loose Ends
By Trynia Merin
Disclaimer: Excalibur and its characters are property of XMEN. This is a work of fiction, and is not meant for profit or to demean the characters. The events here take place after my first story Dreams Nailed. Please R and R. This part has no R rated stuff, but I'd put it a PG for language and some tense situations. As for adult material, they'll be marked in upcoming individual chapters.
Chapter 2
"Kurt," Amanda Sefton said as he walked slowly into the residential part of the labs, Moira's old cottage with its Old World charm. Already he sniffed the aroma of a pot of tea that Amanda had brewed, pouring them each a cup.
"Liebchen," Kurt sighed as she indicated he should sit, and turned to present him a cup of hot tea. He sipped it gratefully after sitting down sighing because he realized it was one of their mother's brews. An ancient Romany blend of herbs that was supposed to have a calming effect.
"You look like hell, lover," Amanda said, taking a cup for herself and sitting down opposite him. She put her hand on his, softly squeezing it. Meeting her sea green eyes with his gold ones, he could sense she had something she wished to say.
"Liebchen, am I wrong in thinking Piotyr should join the team?"
"I think so," she said firmly. "Put yourself in Kitty's shoes. I mean her ex just beat the crap out of her present boyfriend. You think it's smart to put them on the same team?"
"Right now I don't' know what to think. Piotyr needs us, because I sense he's too ashamed to go back to Professor X..."
"He's my friend too, Kurt," she said. "I'm not saying we should turn our back on him, but I don't think that we should just put him on the team without him having to earn our trust. I mean the man DID join the Acolytes, remember? We should give him a chance just like you gave Wisdom a chance... to prove himself..."
"That is precisely why he should be extended an opportunity to join Excalibur,' Kurt said. "Equal treatment. And if he DOES step out of line, it's my responsibility as leader to take the necessary next step. Whatever it may be..."
"What if he attacks Pete or Kitty?" she asks.
"Then we must make CERTAIN that does not happen," Kurt said firmly.
"I love you Kurt," Amanda sighed. "But I think you're making a mistake..."
"I know," Kurt nodded seriously as he kissed Amanda's hand softly. "But part of Excalibur is taking risks..."
"Even if it may hurt Kitty?"
"I..." Kurt said, before an alarm suddenly resounded throughout the complex.
"What now?" Amanda groaned.
"Liber Gott, now what?" Kurt echoed her concern. They rushed off together, hand in hand and grateful for the distraction. He nodded to Amanda, and teleported both of them into the 'war room', a place much like Professor X's where a large viewscreen was trained on a pulse overlaid on a star field. Douglock had interfaced with the computer, looked on by Brian who was fraught with worry. Meggan stood not far from her lover, all eyes trained to the screen. Moira wearily walked in with her daughter Rahne, who was still in her lupine transitional form. Kitty phased through the wall, grimly looking at her friends, having delivered a scalding sermon to Peter.
"What is it?" Kurt asked, materializing with Amanda in a puff of brimstone that everyone waved away.
"I told ye NAE teleporting in here, Wagner!" Moira snapped.
"Mum, shh," Rahne urged. "Tell them, Douggie..."
"As far as I can gather, I'm sensing a fourth dimensional pulse," said Brian. "Douglock..."
"The long range sensors are tied into the Hubble Space telescope," Douglock said as numerals flickered over his gold skinned face. Without having to press keys he spoke in a binary code to the computer, which changed its display.
"Mein gott, a fourth dimensional one... that must mean..."
"A ship or object or entity with warp capabilities," Brian Braddock said, his scientific mind taking in the details. "Professor X alerted us earlier, and his Shi'ar technology relayed it to all the X teams and us. The object appears to be able to be screening itself from present surveillance technology..."
"Are we dealing with a ship or a consciousness... Meggan?" Nightcrawler looked to her.
"It's alive... but metal," she said. "Still too far for me to feel its nature..."
Meggan, since she'd come out of her funk after Rachel had returned Brian to their time, had taken on discovering new aspects of her powers. One of them was to tap into the awareness of Earth and even space itself, sensing the changes in minute electromagnetic fields. Something in the space between the Earth and the Moon she could sense, as she could sense the gravity of the moon tugging on the earth that caused the tides.
"Amanda?" Kurt asked. "Is it magical in nature..."
"Already on it lover," she said, inscribing a signal in the air that seemed to be a pentagram inside a dodecahedron. A small light show ensued, and Amanda's eyes flared green, her hair flying away from her face with the force of her probing spell.
"Well?"
"No," she said. "It's made of cold iron... I can't probe it... but it's coming CLOSER..."
"It's between the earth and the moon now," said Brian, looking at the changing readings.
"A meteorite?" asked Kitty.
"Negative..." Douglock said. "Nature of satellite probing shows an image... it is the cloaking device of a high level of technology... a space craft with a star drive signature..."
"What design?" Brian asked.
"Unable to ascertain... Kurt what is your suggested course of action..."
"It isn't the phalanx?" Kurt asked.
"Negative. My nodes would sense such a contact..." said Doug.
"Can you extrapolate the trajectory?" Kurt asked.
"Affirmative..." Douglock nodded. "It is on a direct intercept course with planet Earth. Specifically the island of England..."
"Whoever it is, they know where they're going," Kitty mumbled.
"Bug eyed aliens," Rahne mumbled.
"We must take the midnight runner," Kurt said to Kitty. "Can you get it ready for flight..."
"What about Pete?" she asked.
"I'll stay wi him," said Rahne.
"I'm staying here," she said to Kurt.
"I need your skills with me," Kurt said slowly.
"But..."
"Wisdom is nae goin' t' go anywhere. We can manage," Moira said to her.
"Kurt..."
"Please Katschen, if this IS a threat I need you with me," Kurt said slowly.
"All right," Kitty sighed resignedly.
"Brian, you and Meggan try to intercept it as it comes into the atmosphere," Kurt said. "Douglock and I will take the Midnight Runner while Kitty and the others remain here... if it IS friendly we will now..."
"What about me?" Amanda asked.
"Um well, you can help keep an eye on things here... if that is all right liebchen..." Kurt said, feeling a bit awkward, and hoping Amanda would understand.
"Sure," she nodded, looking to Moira and the others. "Call if you need me..."
****
Soon two figures soared up into the night, one in green and the other in red and blue, peeling off from the Midnight Runner piloted by Kurt. Tense anticipation seized all the occupants save one, the techno-organic Douglock who observed the anxiety with an impassive and curious eye. Nothing was taken for granted with him, Kitty noticed, and the blare of impending danger sent welcome adrenaline coursing through her veins. It was far better to have SOMETHING to occupy the waiting hours that dragged by as Pete hung on the knife's edge of death.
"This is Brian... we've spotted the craft entering the earth's atmosphere... well Meggan sensed it," Brian's voice crackled over the intercom. Oh for the days when Rachel could telepathically l ink them, Nightcrawler mumbled.
"Right Brian. We'll be heading to the landing sight to join you..."
"I'm not so SURE that it's headed where we think..." said Brian. "I think we have a problem... I see ANOTHER thing entering the atmosphere almost as if it's in pursuit and it's not BOTHERING to cloak it..."
"Damn," Kurt gritted. "You take that one, and Kitty, Douglock and I will take the first... then report back... don't' attempt contact till I signal."
"Roger and Wilcove," said Brian, buzzing out.
"TWO traces?" Kitty wondered. "KURT... why didn't... Douglock..."
"Error wasn't mine," Douglock looked genuinely shocked. "Only one warp signature was detected... by long range scanners!"
Still keeping the Runner in stealth mode, they tracked the landing object as it settled to land, decreasing its velocity and slipping out of view again. Kurt piloted the Runner to hover nearby, the cameras trained to the object. It was still cloaked in its technology, and he looked to Kitty who ran the signature through the sensors.
"Any matches?" he asked.
"Kurt, it's Shi'ar," said Kitty.
"Shi'ar?" Kurt asked. "Try hailing them..."
"I am... but there's no response."
"I suggest we check who's at home..."
They landed the craft and Kitty wasted no time in phasing through to air walk down to the landing site of the craft. Still steam wafted up from the treetops in the impending dawn, and Kurt soon followed, leaving Douglock inside the craft as a back up. Together they made their way towards the craft, unsure of whom they would find, and wondering if there was someone else on board. Douglock took the chance to alert the base back at home.
***
"Something is there, and it's hungry," Meggan whispered as they landed near where the craft steamed. It had skimmed in a blaze then touched down on the beach, slowly teaming as the heat dissipated. Now they could see the sleek surface of the object, which looked strangely familiar.
"Damn..." Brian mumbled. His insides twisted when he saw the strange signs, and Meggan sensed his familiarity.
"It can't be..."
"It can... but how?" he wondered walking up towards the craft. So long ago it had seemed since they had crossed time and seen such a ship with such markings. In the alien tongue he spelled a word.
"Sat-yr-9..."
"That witch!" Meggan cried.
"But she was on earth... why would she use a ship..." Brian mumbled.
"Since when does she need a reason to do any evil?" Meggan snorted. Slowly they approached the ship, wandering close as they dared.
"Anyone there, can you sense?"
"There are people inside love... what now?"
"We alert the base, and then we take CARE of her," he mumbled angrily as they approached the ship. Fury scalded him as he steeled himself to face her, Meggan at his side.
***
"I read you," Amanda Sefton said slowly. "Loud and Clear."
"Saturnine isn't to be underestimated," said Brian. "Has Kurt..."
"He's spotted a Shi'ar ship," said Amanda slowly. Brian's pause made her wonder what he was thinking.
"Well Meggan and I are going in. if it IS saturnine she has a LOT to answer for..."
"Shouldn't you wait for KURT?" Amanda asked as the line went dead. She cursed as she heard it click off, and then mumbled to herself.
A slow wave of nausea overcame Amanda as she felt a disruption in the magic of the world. As a sorceress of the Winding Way she could sense magic and its use in any form. It seemed like the structure of time was screaming, and she cursed herself for not noticing it before. As if a strange energy, half-magic and half-technological was flashing and curling somewhere outside.
Rahne and the others were in the medlab. Leaving them a note, Amanda shifted into her sorceress costume and took it upon herself to investigate. If it WAS magic this was her realm of knowing, and she had to somehow prove to Kurt and to the team that her powers were just as useful. Teleporting out, she traced the spells for detection, her eyes flickering with eldrich Romany powers.
So close, and coming closer. As if something was in hot pursuit. She sensed the image flying; a flickering of spells as a magical battle ensued. Slowly engaging her levitation, Amanda drifted upwards to see the source, teleporting as she moved to its source.
A hovering figure lit up against the face of the moon, followed by others. It was magical and technological, while the others were of cold iron, something her magic could not probe. The works of man chased something otherworldly, she knew the difference between the magic of other realms like Limbo, and this magic trace was not of this reality, but of one far older. Her mother had taught her the existence of worlds where magic was used in tune with science. She called it Technomagical...
"I must help whoever it is," she whispered, realizing that whoever it was may well have something or nothing to do with the spaceships. Her mind wandered as she saw it streak overhead, a cluster fountain of fire felling it. She streaked over to the trees where it had landed.
Amanda approached, wary as she spoke wards of protection. It was wounded, she could tell, and the smell of a race her Romany blood had not seen for centuries tinged her magical smells. It couldn't be the Fae... for they had long quit this existence to resolve themselves to Avalon so many years past.
"Whoever you may be, I mean no harm. If you mean no harm, then you have no quarrel with me," Amanda said as she saw the black shape slowly shaking off the blast, its wings spread.
"Who goes there?" it asked in a tongue that she had not heard except in her mother's training of magic. It was the Fae speech; old high elvish transmuted into a common tongue.
"Jimane, daughter of Margali, of the Winding way..." Amanda said, using her magic name of power. Eldrich light coursed around her as she saw the figure stumble. "I mean aid, if your intentions on this realm be benevolent..."
"I am known in other worlds as Khaos," he said slowly, folding his wings, and Amanda saw they were part of his clever armor. Moonstone eyes stared at her impassively, his twin swords drawn, the source of his power a small idol at his hip.
"Welcome to the Earth, Khaos. I sense you are not from this realm of existence..."
"A sorceress here?" he wondered, looking at Amanda. "I require your aid. If you value freedom, you WIL help me..."
"You're hurt," Amanda said, rushing toward him. He lowered his swords, clutching his side.
"I..." he murmured. "Am under attack... must find Excalibur... Cerise..."
"I'll help... I'm with Excalibur..."
"You... I didn't see a sorceress..." he said as he passed into unconsciousness, almost hitting Amanda with his falling body. She lowered him to the soil and glanced up, seeing the figures skirt the trees with their jet packs.
Speaking words of concealment, Amanda drew close to Khaos and spun her spell. It seemed the rocks covered them, and two standing stones stood near a tree in the old forest. Two figures landed, confused as moonlight shone off their armor. One looked to the other, cursing in a language Amanda was unfamiliar with. After exchanging a few more choice words, punctuated by ugly syllables they turned on their jetpacks and flew back in the opposite direction. She waited till they vanished beyond the trees before she dared drop her shield.
Summoning her teleport spell, Amanda held Khaos' limp hand as she sent them both back to Muir Island. Whoever he was, if he was seeking Excalibur, he must be one of the friends Kurt had spoken of. She hoped Moira wasn't averse to her cooking up some potions to help an ailing elf. He was a dark Elf, judging by his language and skin pigmentation, but he spoke the speech of the light elves. What was a Drau doing with Seelie tongue?
By Trynia Merin
Disclaimer: Excalibur and its characters are property of XMEN. This is a work of fiction, and is not meant for profit or to demean the characters. The events here take place after my first story Dreams Nailed. Please R and R. This part has no R rated stuff, but I'd put it a PG for language and some tense situations. As for adult material, they'll be marked in upcoming individual chapters.
Chapter 2
"Kurt," Amanda Sefton said as he walked slowly into the residential part of the labs, Moira's old cottage with its Old World charm. Already he sniffed the aroma of a pot of tea that Amanda had brewed, pouring them each a cup.
"Liebchen," Kurt sighed as she indicated he should sit, and turned to present him a cup of hot tea. He sipped it gratefully after sitting down sighing because he realized it was one of their mother's brews. An ancient Romany blend of herbs that was supposed to have a calming effect.
"You look like hell, lover," Amanda said, taking a cup for herself and sitting down opposite him. She put her hand on his, softly squeezing it. Meeting her sea green eyes with his gold ones, he could sense she had something she wished to say.
"Liebchen, am I wrong in thinking Piotyr should join the team?"
"I think so," she said firmly. "Put yourself in Kitty's shoes. I mean her ex just beat the crap out of her present boyfriend. You think it's smart to put them on the same team?"
"Right now I don't' know what to think. Piotyr needs us, because I sense he's too ashamed to go back to Professor X..."
"He's my friend too, Kurt," she said. "I'm not saying we should turn our back on him, but I don't think that we should just put him on the team without him having to earn our trust. I mean the man DID join the Acolytes, remember? We should give him a chance just like you gave Wisdom a chance... to prove himself..."
"That is precisely why he should be extended an opportunity to join Excalibur,' Kurt said. "Equal treatment. And if he DOES step out of line, it's my responsibility as leader to take the necessary next step. Whatever it may be..."
"What if he attacks Pete or Kitty?" she asks.
"Then we must make CERTAIN that does not happen," Kurt said firmly.
"I love you Kurt," Amanda sighed. "But I think you're making a mistake..."
"I know," Kurt nodded seriously as he kissed Amanda's hand softly. "But part of Excalibur is taking risks..."
"Even if it may hurt Kitty?"
"I..." Kurt said, before an alarm suddenly resounded throughout the complex.
"What now?" Amanda groaned.
"Liber Gott, now what?" Kurt echoed her concern. They rushed off together, hand in hand and grateful for the distraction. He nodded to Amanda, and teleported both of them into the 'war room', a place much like Professor X's where a large viewscreen was trained on a pulse overlaid on a star field. Douglock had interfaced with the computer, looked on by Brian who was fraught with worry. Meggan stood not far from her lover, all eyes trained to the screen. Moira wearily walked in with her daughter Rahne, who was still in her lupine transitional form. Kitty phased through the wall, grimly looking at her friends, having delivered a scalding sermon to Peter.
"What is it?" Kurt asked, materializing with Amanda in a puff of brimstone that everyone waved away.
"I told ye NAE teleporting in here, Wagner!" Moira snapped.
"Mum, shh," Rahne urged. "Tell them, Douggie..."
"As far as I can gather, I'm sensing a fourth dimensional pulse," said Brian. "Douglock..."
"The long range sensors are tied into the Hubble Space telescope," Douglock said as numerals flickered over his gold skinned face. Without having to press keys he spoke in a binary code to the computer, which changed its display.
"Mein gott, a fourth dimensional one... that must mean..."
"A ship or object or entity with warp capabilities," Brian Braddock said, his scientific mind taking in the details. "Professor X alerted us earlier, and his Shi'ar technology relayed it to all the X teams and us. The object appears to be able to be screening itself from present surveillance technology..."
"Are we dealing with a ship or a consciousness... Meggan?" Nightcrawler looked to her.
"It's alive... but metal," she said. "Still too far for me to feel its nature..."
Meggan, since she'd come out of her funk after Rachel had returned Brian to their time, had taken on discovering new aspects of her powers. One of them was to tap into the awareness of Earth and even space itself, sensing the changes in minute electromagnetic fields. Something in the space between the Earth and the Moon she could sense, as she could sense the gravity of the moon tugging on the earth that caused the tides.
"Amanda?" Kurt asked. "Is it magical in nature..."
"Already on it lover," she said, inscribing a signal in the air that seemed to be a pentagram inside a dodecahedron. A small light show ensued, and Amanda's eyes flared green, her hair flying away from her face with the force of her probing spell.
"Well?"
"No," she said. "It's made of cold iron... I can't probe it... but it's coming CLOSER..."
"It's between the earth and the moon now," said Brian, looking at the changing readings.
"A meteorite?" asked Kitty.
"Negative..." Douglock said. "Nature of satellite probing shows an image... it is the cloaking device of a high level of technology... a space craft with a star drive signature..."
"What design?" Brian asked.
"Unable to ascertain... Kurt what is your suggested course of action..."
"It isn't the phalanx?" Kurt asked.
"Negative. My nodes would sense such a contact..." said Doug.
"Can you extrapolate the trajectory?" Kurt asked.
"Affirmative..." Douglock nodded. "It is on a direct intercept course with planet Earth. Specifically the island of England..."
"Whoever it is, they know where they're going," Kitty mumbled.
"Bug eyed aliens," Rahne mumbled.
"We must take the midnight runner," Kurt said to Kitty. "Can you get it ready for flight..."
"What about Pete?" she asked.
"I'll stay wi him," said Rahne.
"I'm staying here," she said to Kurt.
"I need your skills with me," Kurt said slowly.
"But..."
"Wisdom is nae goin' t' go anywhere. We can manage," Moira said to her.
"Kurt..."
"Please Katschen, if this IS a threat I need you with me," Kurt said slowly.
"All right," Kitty sighed resignedly.
"Brian, you and Meggan try to intercept it as it comes into the atmosphere," Kurt said. "Douglock and I will take the Midnight Runner while Kitty and the others remain here... if it IS friendly we will now..."
"What about me?" Amanda asked.
"Um well, you can help keep an eye on things here... if that is all right liebchen..." Kurt said, feeling a bit awkward, and hoping Amanda would understand.
"Sure," she nodded, looking to Moira and the others. "Call if you need me..."
****
Soon two figures soared up into the night, one in green and the other in red and blue, peeling off from the Midnight Runner piloted by Kurt. Tense anticipation seized all the occupants save one, the techno-organic Douglock who observed the anxiety with an impassive and curious eye. Nothing was taken for granted with him, Kitty noticed, and the blare of impending danger sent welcome adrenaline coursing through her veins. It was far better to have SOMETHING to occupy the waiting hours that dragged by as Pete hung on the knife's edge of death.
"This is Brian... we've spotted the craft entering the earth's atmosphere... well Meggan sensed it," Brian's voice crackled over the intercom. Oh for the days when Rachel could telepathically l ink them, Nightcrawler mumbled.
"Right Brian. We'll be heading to the landing sight to join you..."
"I'm not so SURE that it's headed where we think..." said Brian. "I think we have a problem... I see ANOTHER thing entering the atmosphere almost as if it's in pursuit and it's not BOTHERING to cloak it..."
"Damn," Kurt gritted. "You take that one, and Kitty, Douglock and I will take the first... then report back... don't' attempt contact till I signal."
"Roger and Wilcove," said Brian, buzzing out.
"TWO traces?" Kitty wondered. "KURT... why didn't... Douglock..."
"Error wasn't mine," Douglock looked genuinely shocked. "Only one warp signature was detected... by long range scanners!"
Still keeping the Runner in stealth mode, they tracked the landing object as it settled to land, decreasing its velocity and slipping out of view again. Kurt piloted the Runner to hover nearby, the cameras trained to the object. It was still cloaked in its technology, and he looked to Kitty who ran the signature through the sensors.
"Any matches?" he asked.
"Kurt, it's Shi'ar," said Kitty.
"Shi'ar?" Kurt asked. "Try hailing them..."
"I am... but there's no response."
"I suggest we check who's at home..."
They landed the craft and Kitty wasted no time in phasing through to air walk down to the landing site of the craft. Still steam wafted up from the treetops in the impending dawn, and Kurt soon followed, leaving Douglock inside the craft as a back up. Together they made their way towards the craft, unsure of whom they would find, and wondering if there was someone else on board. Douglock took the chance to alert the base back at home.
***
"Something is there, and it's hungry," Meggan whispered as they landed near where the craft steamed. It had skimmed in a blaze then touched down on the beach, slowly teaming as the heat dissipated. Now they could see the sleek surface of the object, which looked strangely familiar.
"Damn..." Brian mumbled. His insides twisted when he saw the strange signs, and Meggan sensed his familiarity.
"It can't be..."
"It can... but how?" he wondered walking up towards the craft. So long ago it had seemed since they had crossed time and seen such a ship with such markings. In the alien tongue he spelled a word.
"Sat-yr-9..."
"That witch!" Meggan cried.
"But she was on earth... why would she use a ship..." Brian mumbled.
"Since when does she need a reason to do any evil?" Meggan snorted. Slowly they approached the ship, wandering close as they dared.
"Anyone there, can you sense?"
"There are people inside love... what now?"
"We alert the base, and then we take CARE of her," he mumbled angrily as they approached the ship. Fury scalded him as he steeled himself to face her, Meggan at his side.
***
"I read you," Amanda Sefton said slowly. "Loud and Clear."
"Saturnine isn't to be underestimated," said Brian. "Has Kurt..."
"He's spotted a Shi'ar ship," said Amanda slowly. Brian's pause made her wonder what he was thinking.
"Well Meggan and I are going in. if it IS saturnine she has a LOT to answer for..."
"Shouldn't you wait for KURT?" Amanda asked as the line went dead. She cursed as she heard it click off, and then mumbled to herself.
A slow wave of nausea overcame Amanda as she felt a disruption in the magic of the world. As a sorceress of the Winding Way she could sense magic and its use in any form. It seemed like the structure of time was screaming, and she cursed herself for not noticing it before. As if a strange energy, half-magic and half-technological was flashing and curling somewhere outside.
Rahne and the others were in the medlab. Leaving them a note, Amanda shifted into her sorceress costume and took it upon herself to investigate. If it WAS magic this was her realm of knowing, and she had to somehow prove to Kurt and to the team that her powers were just as useful. Teleporting out, she traced the spells for detection, her eyes flickering with eldrich Romany powers.
So close, and coming closer. As if something was in hot pursuit. She sensed the image flying; a flickering of spells as a magical battle ensued. Slowly engaging her levitation, Amanda drifted upwards to see the source, teleporting as she moved to its source.
A hovering figure lit up against the face of the moon, followed by others. It was magical and technological, while the others were of cold iron, something her magic could not probe. The works of man chased something otherworldly, she knew the difference between the magic of other realms like Limbo, and this magic trace was not of this reality, but of one far older. Her mother had taught her the existence of worlds where magic was used in tune with science. She called it Technomagical...
"I must help whoever it is," she whispered, realizing that whoever it was may well have something or nothing to do with the spaceships. Her mind wandered as she saw it streak overhead, a cluster fountain of fire felling it. She streaked over to the trees where it had landed.
Amanda approached, wary as she spoke wards of protection. It was wounded, she could tell, and the smell of a race her Romany blood had not seen for centuries tinged her magical smells. It couldn't be the Fae... for they had long quit this existence to resolve themselves to Avalon so many years past.
"Whoever you may be, I mean no harm. If you mean no harm, then you have no quarrel with me," Amanda said as she saw the black shape slowly shaking off the blast, its wings spread.
"Who goes there?" it asked in a tongue that she had not heard except in her mother's training of magic. It was the Fae speech; old high elvish transmuted into a common tongue.
"Jimane, daughter of Margali, of the Winding way..." Amanda said, using her magic name of power. Eldrich light coursed around her as she saw the figure stumble. "I mean aid, if your intentions on this realm be benevolent..."
"I am known in other worlds as Khaos," he said slowly, folding his wings, and Amanda saw they were part of his clever armor. Moonstone eyes stared at her impassively, his twin swords drawn, the source of his power a small idol at his hip.
"Welcome to the Earth, Khaos. I sense you are not from this realm of existence..."
"A sorceress here?" he wondered, looking at Amanda. "I require your aid. If you value freedom, you WIL help me..."
"You're hurt," Amanda said, rushing toward him. He lowered his swords, clutching his side.
"I..." he murmured. "Am under attack... must find Excalibur... Cerise..."
"I'll help... I'm with Excalibur..."
"You... I didn't see a sorceress..." he said as he passed into unconsciousness, almost hitting Amanda with his falling body. She lowered him to the soil and glanced up, seeing the figures skirt the trees with their jet packs.
Speaking words of concealment, Amanda drew close to Khaos and spun her spell. It seemed the rocks covered them, and two standing stones stood near a tree in the old forest. Two figures landed, confused as moonlight shone off their armor. One looked to the other, cursing in a language Amanda was unfamiliar with. After exchanging a few more choice words, punctuated by ugly syllables they turned on their jetpacks and flew back in the opposite direction. She waited till they vanished beyond the trees before she dared drop her shield.
Summoning her teleport spell, Amanda held Khaos' limp hand as she sent them both back to Muir Island. Whoever he was, if he was seeking Excalibur, he must be one of the friends Kurt had spoken of. She hoped Moira wasn't averse to her cooking up some potions to help an ailing elf. He was a dark Elf, judging by his language and skin pigmentation, but he spoke the speech of the light elves. What was a Drau doing with Seelie tongue?