Parole
Ding.
The twin doors of the elevator slid open to admit Alpha Prime Black Diad Choza, balancing a stack of Sentient datachips that amounted to more paperwork for her than she'd had to handle during the entire war. Granted, in the war there had been fewer people to pass missives along – either you acted or you didn't – but still …
Grimly anticipating the day behind her desk that was before her, the female sidled inside, joining a bored-looking insect-Vandal, two lesser Blue Diads with missive-stones in hand, and a Zurk. After the war had ended, the Council of Five had re-evaluated the Battlezone-Battlekey system and – encouraged by Council Leader Vert Wheeler – built an elevator for those that did not wish to drive through stormshock portals. Choza's Mistress Metaturra, the High Keymaster and caretaker of the Battlezones, hadn't minded the addition: it let her pay more attention to things other than the status of this Key or that Key.
After all, a great danger was coming. Choza didn't know all the details, but Metaturra did, and the Diad was sure her Mistress would tell her soon of what to expect.
"Could someone hit the Hub Zone button, please?" she asked, trying to shift the stack into a balanced pile in one hand and failing.
The Vandal obliged and Choza backed into one of the corners, trying to regain a semblance of order on how her datachips were stacked. A few Zones later, the lift stopped for another passenger, and the doors opened to admit … Spinner Cortez.
Everyone else in the elevator shifted uneasily, eyes riveted on the Human as he walked in, a devil-may-care look on his face as he hit the button for the Obelisk Zone. The Technical/Tactical Support Officer have become infamous all over the Multiverse for his pranks, though a stern talking-to by his younger twin and Vert had made him mellow out for a while. Of course, everyone knew that this quiet phase was not going to last forever. Behind the stack, Choza watched him suspiciously.
For his part, Spinner seemed completely ignorant that the atmosphere had become tense when he had walked in. An earbud was in his left ear, he had street clothes on, and there were no suspicious bulges in his pockets that might indicate he had materials for a joke. A few Zones passed with no pranks, and as they approached the Obelisk Battlezone, everyone relaxed a bit. Maybe nothing would happen after all.
At just that moment, Spinner removed the earbud, put it in his pocket, and abruptly seemed to notice he was not alone in the elevator. The older Cortez brother looked around, swinging his arms, and sighed. As the doors opened for his Zone, he announced the words the other occupants had not expected, yet dreaded to hear.
"First day of parole."
The Black Diad stared after Spinner as the doors closed again, then looked at the other passengers. The Zurk was – naturally – nonplussed, but the Vandal and the other two Diads all had nervous looks on their faces. Something about them told Choza that those three were not going to be taking the elevator for the rest of the day.
Now, Choza usually didn't like pranks, especially when they were played by the Prankster King himself, and Spinner's declaration could not be anything other than a harbinger for things to come. That being said, there were dark times on the horizon again, and for all she knew, they might all be dead next week. Why not have a little fun?
Mischievous thoughts – thoughts most people thought would never cross the mind of a Diad, much less an Alpha Prime – came to the forefront of her brain, and as she arrived at her Zone and made an exit, she decided to take a vacation day or three from those she had stored up, find out where Spinner was, and jump in. After all, if you didn't want to be pranked, the best way to avoid them was to join forces with the King.
XxX
Spinner managed to keep a straight face until he reached the base camp he and Zoom had set up over the past week, where he finally collapsed on the sofa, snorting with laughter. "Did you see their faces?" he managed to get out.
On another chair, the Muay Tai warrior grinned over the top of Spinner's laptop, which he'd wired to show what the elevator camera was recording. "Yep. Personally, I think the looks they had when you walked in were best, but those Diads definitely looked like they were ready to bolt when you said it."
Regaining control of his mirth, the older Cortez brother leaned over and let Zoom pass the computer over to him. "Come on, it's your turn. Get going!"
The Asian teen raced towards the elevator, and while Spinner waited for his accomplice to show up on the camera, he checked his email. One was already there, sent from one of his victims: Choza, that Black Diad.
Spinner – mind if I get in on the action?
Another accomplice? Yes please.
XxX