Disclaimer: I do not own anything mentioned or contained in this chapter. Those wishing to sue can go sue someone else.

Hyde A/N: I am afraid this might be one of those 'brief interludes'. See, I'm on a tight schedule because of vacation coming up soon… Hopefully I will get this posted before I leave. Well, I guess it's time to dig in. –grabs virtual shovel—

Amon: --runs in fear--

……………………………

Amon stared at the tape he had retrieved from his mailbox. It didn't really matter anymore. Robin had swayed him from his previously planned course of action. He realized it would be much easier just to ask her to send her prophecies by mail or email. That way he didn't have to read them if he didn't want to.

But Amon (though of course he would never admit it) was curious. So, he put it in a tape player and listened. He learned about the Devoted and about Abigail. Then, he came to a certain part near the end of the tape.

"'Um, just one more question…off the record if you want.'

'Well, I don't know if I want it off the record until I know what the question is.'

'Alright, I'll ask it and you tell me. I'll shut the recorder off if you decide…'

'Yes, go ahead.'

'Why did you switch from one goddess to another?'

'Hmm…I think I'd rather have this one off the record, if you don't mind.'

'Oh, no, not at all.'" Click. The tape ended.

Amon growled ferociously. He slammed his hand on the table. He pretended it didn't hurt afterwards.

Calm down, he reasoned with himself. It doesn't matter anymore.

But she still didn't… he argued with himself.

It doesn't matter. Let it go.

But she…argh, I wanted to know that. It was crucial! he growled at his voice of reason.

You can ask her when you go in to work this evening.

I have the evening off, he protested.

Not anymore.

………………………………

Back at the STN-J, Michael and the other hunters (sans Robin, who also had the evening off for a dentist appointment) were listening to a copy of the tape Doujima had made.

They listened to it straight through first, without interruption.

"I don't hear many clues," Michael said.

"Well," retorted Doujima, "there might be some clues that aren't so obvious."

"But she never said a single thing about Amon, or anything to do with Amon," Sakaki argued.

"How do we know they don't have anything to do with Amon?" Karasuma asked. There were no replies. "Let go at this systematically. Michael, play each question and answer and after each one we'll decide if there is anything in the answer that could have to do with Amon. I'll make a list of possibilities and we'll investigate them. Got it?"

All three nodded.

"Michael, pull up a blank document for me to put the list on. Doujima, rewind the tape and get ready to stop it when necessary."

"What about me?" Sakaki asked.

"Just sit there."

Sakaki frowned and opened another bag of cheetos.

Doujima started the tape.

"First of all, was this your chosen career, or were you…chosen…by the Goddess?"

"I was chosen. All of the Devoted are chosen by the Goddess to receive a special gift. Actually, the Devoted of any god or goddess are generally given these gifts."

"Not much there," Michael said.

"I agree," Karasuma added. "Next."

"Tell me about the Devoted."

"Well, the Devoted are a group of people who devote their lives to the work of their chosen god or goddess. Each is given a gift to assist in their work. For example, I was given the gift of prophecy. I know a girl who is a Devoted of the Goddess of Felines who was given the gift of being able to call all cats in a ten mile radius to her aid."

"Somehow, I don't think Amon is a devoted," Doujima commented.

"Yeah, I just can't see it," was Sakaki's input.

"Fascinating. So, how many gods and goddesses are there?"

"There are hundreds. Generally, there is a designated god or goddess for about anything you can think of."

"Electronic equipment?"

"There is a God of Electronics."

"Wow. Can you give me some other examples?"

"Let's see, there's the Goddess of Vegetables, the God of Beverages, the Goddess of Oatmeal…"

"Somehow, I don't think this part is particularly pertinent," Michael said.

"We're never going to find anything!" Doujima moaned.

"Don't start griping yet, we aren't done." Guess who.

"Oatmeal?"

"Yes. A few years ago I was a Devoted of the Goddess of Oatmeal. She is sister to the Omnipotent Mother Goddess."

"Sister?"

"When they were human they were of the same mother."

"So all the gods and goddesses were formerly human?"

"Yes."

"There's a part that might have a clue," said Doujima as she stopped the tape. "The first part. Where she said she used to be with the Goddess of Oatmeal."

"Yes…I'll make a note that we should find out something about these Oatmealists."

"There's one thing I've noticed, Miss DeNoel. The rest of these gods and goddesses have specific, well, domains. Like oatmeal. But your goddess seems to have no specific…purpose."

"She is the Great Mother Goddess. She oversees the efforts of all the other deities and her 'dominion' is people and the world in general. That is why many of her Devoted serve as prophets. She can help people in general by warning them or advising them by way of her prophets."

"I wish we were writing a news article," Doujima said.

"Why?" Sakaki asked.

"It would be a heck of a lot easier."

"Anyone hear any clues?" Karasuma cut in.

No answer.

"Do you prophesy to one particular person or are there many different people you prophesy to in general?"

"It depends. I go to whom the Goddess calls me. Sometimes in a day I will visit only one person, sometimes three or four."

"Oh…I just had an idea," Doujima burst out.

"Really?" Sakaki asked.

Doujima whacked him with a conveniently nearby handbag.

"Hey, use your own handbag!" Karasuma protested.

"What's your idea, Doujima?" Michael asked.

"Well, we should look into this prophet thing. Maybe Amon's mixed up in that somehow. Maybe someone's prophesying to him."

"Why would he threaten a prophet with an orbo gun and then try to find out all about them? It just wouldn't make sense." Karasuma offered her convincing argument.

"Good idea anyway, Doujima," Michael consoled her.

"But this is Amon. Orbo guns are all he knows," Sakaki added.

"He has a girlfriend. Obviously he is not limited to orbo guns," Karasuma argued back scathingly. "I would imagine his experience with Touko has taught him that orbo is not the only way."

"Okay, if we're not going to write down my idea, can we move on?" Doujima interrupted.

"I don't suppose you could name any of the people to whom you have prophesied?"

"No. Often their names are not revealed to me, and even the ones I know, I think it would be better if it remained confidential."

"No clues there," said Karasuma. "Move on."

"Yes, I understand. Is there anything else you can think of that I should know?"

"That pretty much covers it." Abigail smiled.

"Um, just one more question…off the record if you want."

"Well, I don't know if I want it off the record until I know what the question is."

"Alright, I'll ask it and you tell me. I'll shut the recorder off if you decide…"

"Yes, go ahead."

"Why did you switch from one goddess to another?"

"Hmm…I think I'd rather have this one off the record, if you don't mind."

"Oh, no, not at all."

"Doujima, WHY did you have to turn that tape recorder off?"

"Hey, I didn't want her to get suspicious that this was not just a newspaper interview. I'll tell you all I can remember about her answer to the last question." She closed her eyes in contemplation.

"Well?" Sakaki was getting impatient.

"She said there was a…disagreement among the Oatmealists. Some of them wanted some change and some of them didn't. She left because she didn't want the change and she did not think her work was fulfilling enough."

"Was that it?"

"No, she said something else…I think that she was still working to prevent the change, even though she isn't an Oatmealist anymore. She thought that's why I was there."

"She didn't know it was you, did she?" Sakaki asked.

"Of course not, dodo brain. How could she?"

Sakaki sulked and shoved a handful of cheetos into his mouth with orange fingers.

"Sakaki," Michael spoke for the first time since the tape ended, "Don't get anywhere near my computer with those orange hands."

"Are there any clues in this one?" Karasuma asked, trying to stick to the point.

"I don't think so particularly," said Doujima, "But I think we really need to find out about these Oatmealists."

"Look, you guys," Sakaki said, "Face it. Amon is crazy. There is no other explanation."

"But the Oatmealists…" Karasuma protested.

"A guy would have to be crazy to get mixed up with Oatmealists and the Omnipotent Mother Goddess."

"Holy $#&, Sakaki's actually right!" Doujima cried.

Sakaki scowled and threw cheetos at her.

"Ahh! Sakaki! Don't get cheetos on my new outfit!"

"How about your hair?" he asked with an evil grin as he dropped and handful on her head. She squealed and danced in circles, trying to get them out.

"Augh! Stay away from my computer! Cheeto…dust…near…my…computer…"

"WHAT'S GOING ON IN HERE?" Uh oh. The Chief.

They all began talking at once. "Sakaki…on my new outfit…" "She called me…" "It was Sakaki…" "…near my computer!"

"QUIET!" Immediate silence reigned. "I don't care what happened. I just want all of you back to work, NOW! Where's Amon?"

"He has the night off," Sakaki said timidly.

"Urggg…night off…waste of money…waste of time…" Kosaka muttered, and walked out.

…………………………………

Hmm, maybe not so brief an interlude, with all the replays of Doujima and Abigail.

Star Trek the Original Series was on all morning today on SciFi. YAY! It was on in the afternoon too but I didn't get a chance to watch it. –dances in joyous circles—

Bum bum ba bum bum ba BUMMMMM! Boop bee dee dee beep deedley doomp daddely dooooom! Ba da bee ba doom bamp ba da DUUUUM! Review responses!

St Earns: So, does your niece like WHR? I mean, it would be very difficult not to but I spose there are people who don't. Hard to imagine. Am I getting off subject?

I believe Robin was concerned that she had the proper shade of black. As she wears black all the time, she is very black-conscientious. You see, the trained black-wearing eye can perceive infinite shades of black, and the Bad Black Coat happened to be a strange shade which Robin had never really worn before.

You said something about you could almost believe it was a serious interview; well, I had to be careful I didn't let it get too serious, if you can imagine. As I was writing it I was thinking, man, this is too serious, I should change it, but then I figured there wasn't much else I could do with it and considering the subject matter it should sound ridiculous enough to be funny. Apparently, it worked out okay. This chapter was a little more goofy/lighthearted with more obvious humor, which is okay too. Akh, look at how long this is! I won't have room for anyone else's response at this rate.

May a hammock never come along and randomly fart in your front yard,

Hyde

Saikoubi Sama: Am I being showered with butter pecan ice cream? lol!

What a coincidence, I too am quite devoted to that personage. I love cats. And dogs. But cats a little more. There are a pair of really sweet dogs next door. They are both girls, and very friendly. Only problem is our cats hate them with a passion.Thus you can only play with the dogs if the cats aren't around.

May the Goddess of Felines smile upon you,

Hyde

Carri: How's this for 'as soon as I can'? I wrote this chapter all the same day I posted the last one. But I wanted to get another one in before I'm gone for a week on vacation. I'll miss you all! –sniffle—

I, too, have not much of a life. At least not during the summer. During the summer, my life is fanfics and marching band camp. Then, during school, my life is fanfics, school, and band. Pretty pathetic, but its okay.

May snorkels comfort you in times of sorrow,

Hyde

CrazyTomboy: I might try the same, except I think Southern Indiana people are too conservative for the Goddess of Anime. lol!

Thank you. You know, sometimes it surprises me how much people love me and Ais's stuff. I guess it's kinda individual. I sure haven't found anything else like it in my experience.

May giant orcs never invade your living room,

Hyde

Robin Michael's Pyro Angel: Yes, I know glassful is a word and if I'd been thinking right at the time I would have known so. See, I have this one track mind… Anyway, I had a few other people tell me that too. I'm glad you like the story. That is why I post, cuz people like it.

May you never find bananas in your bathroom,

Hyde

Sorry if I missed anyone but I had to get this posted today cuz we are probably leaving on vacation tomorrow.

Okie dokie, there it is. And just to inform people, I shall be gone on vacation from July 22 to July 29, so the next chapter might be a little while. But I shall try to post as soon as I can after I get back.

May spackle fly in your dreams,

Hyde