Beta's: 5/8/2015

My name is Solo and I have you Surrounded!

Chapter 13, Arx Tutela

Tears slowly trekked down the young woman's face at her boyfriend's words. "I can't do that to you Harry. We both know what will be waiting for us if we go back. Mum and Dad will move us away. Not to mention Dumbledore will just get his hands on you again and no telling what will happen then."

"True, but your happiness means more to me than my freedom…"

The brown haired girl cut him off but spoke softly. "So far the only things we have learned are some potion ideas and maybe this Wyarding. We're no better off against Voldemort's Death Eaters now than before we left. We both said that when we go back it would be after we learned something that would help us in the war, help us to survive it. To go back without that knowledge or skills... It would just mean the last two months meant nothing."

The young teen nodded his head to her points.

Roland sighed. In his hand a small video receiver rested showing the scene with the two teens in his old kitchen. A few of his questions answered by their conversation. His brother Ben sat beside him next to last night's campfire drinking his coffee and listening. "You don't look surprised."

"I figured it was something like that. Jim hinted they were in some kind of trouble." Roland said.

"Bullshit Brother. You knew who they were before you even left Heartland. For Fucks sake, I knew who he was the second I laid eyes on him. Your kids write to me too while at school and they've sent pictures."

He nodded. "Yeah, Morgan and Richard are pretty taken with them. Apparently Harry rebelled against the school staff last year causing all kinds of trouble. Even raided their Ministry a few months ago. More than enough to impress Rick. Morgan's pretty taken with Hermione for different reasons but there it is."

"The kids got balls the size of church bells; okay I'll give you that. But this is Harry Fucking Potter Roland. You can't hide him here forever. There has to be a side somewhere over there that is going to want him back. Not to mention this Voldemort has to be hunting him as well. Sooner or later they're going to find him. Even here. So. What are we going to do about this?"

Roland sighed. "I was as careful as I could when I smuggled them here. Jim's already called me and said someone showed up not long after I took off looking for them. Claimed he was tracking them so he could protect them. Jim was pretty convinced of it but followed his Dad's line and didn't tell him anything. It wouldn't take long before he learns of my dealings with Jim's people and tracks me here."

A voice from the house brought them out of their conversation. "Hey Roland, can we use your phone please? Its long distance to England but we can pay you for it." Roland turned around noticing Harry standing on his porch.

He raised his voice a bit so it would carry over to him. "Yeah, don't worry about it." After Harry walked back in the house he turned off the receiver which was still streaming video from one of his hidden security cameras in the house before putting it back in his pocket.

Lowering his voice again he spoke to his brother. "I don't know a lot but I do know some. Morgan and Richard have filled me in but it's mostly just what the rumor mill was spinning. That and what the Prophet and the Quibbler have reported. You know Missy has been taking the Prophet since they started at Hogwarts last year and the Quibbler since Morgan asked her too. When you add it all up you start to see how Harry seems to be at the center of something big. Hermione's in a situation not to different than Missy when we were kids. Minus being pregnant. There really is only one thing I can think of to do to help them. I'm gunna take them to see The Wizard."

"Fuck me. Of the entire world to take them the only place you can think of is Oz?"

"If you have a better idea, start talking. He's the only one I would trust to take them to. He's the only one who can help them."

"Jesus. I hope you know what you are doing Roland. He's just as likely to kill them as help them. I like him but squirrel shit is less nutty than he is."

"If you got a better idea Ben now's the time to put words to it. There was Umbridge who worked for the British government that got placed at Hogwarts, the slander against Harry and then this big turnaround at the end of the year. The word is War brother. I don't know what it has to do with these two completely yet but I heard from Missy yesterday. I talked to her before they woke up and she is NOT happy. It seems they are calling Harry the 'The Chosen One' now. Seems they think Harry can somehow end whatever their problems are with this Voldemort guy. He's just a kid Ben. If Hermione's anything like Missy she won't leave him to it alone. Besides, my kids go to that school Ben. Legacy's on Melissa's side and all that. What else can I do?"

Ben lowered his head thinking about his brothers words. "Alright, when do we leave?" Roland looked him in surprise. "What? You think I'm gunna let you do this alone? Melissa will kill me after she skinned your corpse. Besides, I'm a better shot than you are any day of the week. Wyarding won't help us much if this gets ugly."

Roland stood up walking toward his truck. "Us no."

Following his brother toward the old truck Ben shook his head. "You think he'll teach um?"

"Maybe." Roland opened the door to the camper shell before climbing in opening his wizards cabinet. It was a nifty thing he picked up a couple of years ago in trade for an old book on enchantment he picked up in Canada. The kids he got the book from didn't know the value but didn't really care either. They were more interested in getting rid of all the crap their father had accumulated over the years after he passed on. One of the better deals he'd done. The cabinet he got from that old warlock in L.A. One of his better works he said and Roland hadn't found a fault in it yet. He flipped the switch until it came up with his safe then quickly spun the dial to open it. "That would largely depend on them. You know as well as I do he won't train people who he does not deem worthy. We can't teach them much ourselves. If half of the rumors about them are nine tenths lies and one part exaggeration and of that one part exaggeration nine parts rumor and one part truth they don't have the time to learn this on their own. They need Raze."

"I still say this is a bad idea but I see your point. If it falls through we can see if Missy knows anyone in Scotland that can help. She's got kin over there still right?"

Roland opened the safe reaching inside. "Yeah but I don't know if the MacGregor clan will do much but harbor us for a few days. They're not exactly well disposed to the British Empire after the Rob Roy incident and they have a long memory and even better patience's."

Roland almost finished opening the safe when his front door opened with Harry and Hermione making their way toward them. By the looks on the teen's faces something was up. He waited for them to reach them before voicing it.

"You look like something's eaten ya."

Harry sighed while running his hand through his hair.

Hermione answered his question. "We… well we're not sure where to go from here. Things are happening back home." She looked to Harry and Roland noticed he seemed put out by something. "The problem is we're not ready to go back but we may have to so we can deal with it. We're not sure we can get away again though so it's a bit of a problem for us."

Roland was silent letting them tell him what they would. Either way he knew what he was going to do but they needed them to direct themselves before he said anything. After a moment Harry looked at him. "Can you teach us Wyarding?"

"Yes but it'll take years to teach you anything meaningful. You're not M.U.T.E's Your magic operates differently than ours because you have far more of it. Not to mention the wand. I can take you to the man himself though if you think you can convince him to train you. It won't be easy."

Hermione's shoulders sagged as she looked to Harry. "Maybe we can pick it up as we go. Roland's explained the basics…"

Harry was looking at Roland but nodded at Hermione's statement. "Any idea how long it would take for him to teach us something meaningful?"

Roland smiled at Harry's comment. "If you can convince him to do it, not as long as you may think."

"Harry, the reading… You heard what Dad said. Professor Lupin and Mr. Weasley told him… " Hermione whispered to him but was easily picked up by the brothers standing before them.

He shook his head. "There's nothing we can do about it my love. We can't go back or Dumbledore will catch us. You said so yourself, we're not ready but we might be with this Wyarding. There's nothing like it back home. It's definitely the ace in the hole we need. This was one of the reasons we left home in the first place aside from being together. To find new magic and learn it so when we go back we have an advantage we would not normally have. With Voldemort in the open we need every edge we can get."

That was the opening Roland needed and took it. "When do you have to be back for this reading?"

"By Monday."

Ben grunted but it was Roland who spoke. "So you have five days then. What happens if you don't make it?"

Harry scowled. "Then I forfeit my inheritance from my Godfather to someone else. Most likely it'll end up going to Draco since he's the only other blood connection to my Godfathers estate. He's… well, we don't get along."

"That sucks." Ben stated.

Roland gave him a look to shut him up before turning back to Harry. "And you're willing to let it go that way?"

"We don't have a lot of choice in the matter. If we go back now I lose a lot more than money. I'll lose Hermione and that is not something I am willing to give up."

"It shouldn't take longer than four hours to get to Oz. How about we see if Raze is willing to train you before you make any decisions."

Harry thought for a moment then nodded at the idea. The next four hours saw them traveling through what Roland explained was the Ozark Mountains. All the trees showed their green finery proudly as they traveled passed. The air was uncomfortably thick with humidity and heat but that did not stop either of the teens from enjoying the drive. It was a bit crowded with three of them in the cab of the old dodge truck however neither of them complained. Instead they listened to the stories told by the brothers involving various families who settled the areas or events they knew of the local history's that they thought Harry and Hermione would find interesting. Both found themselves impressed with their knowledge of small and large events which seemed to have shaped the various communities they passed. Ben was more knowledgeable with the Muggle population while Roland's stories centered on various magical beasts or some of the Mountain wizards and witches. Bens face was bracketed by the small cab window at the rear of the truck where he sat inside the camper as he finished explaining the significance of the old wagon trails that used to honeycomb the mountains they traveled which set the standard for modern trade and traffic even today.

Roland half listening turned the old pickup around the hill they currently were on before moving off the paved road onto the narrow dirt road to their right. Hermione sitting in the middle of the old truck noticed the road was in pretty bad repair which led her to think the road was not used much. Roland muscled the steering wheel of the old truck through fifteen minutes of zig-zags avoiding holes, fallen tree branches, and other such obstacles before they reached what appeared to be a dead end.

"Alright, we're on foot from here. Thankfully it's not much further."

All four exited the truck stretching bound muscles and moving about to get the blood flowing enough for the short trek. Roland knowing the way started leading them through the light brush with the others filing behind him. Towering above them like ancient guardians stood massive trees. The path they traveled, if you could call it a path as it was more of a rabbit trail, moved up the hill. It was at the top of the hill both teens inhaled sharply.

"Yeah, Raze is about as subtle as a brick thrown through a glass window." Ben chuckled.

The scene before them was one of the most blatant eye catching evidence of magic they had ever seen. Where most people tried to hide their dwellings through camouflage or by blending in the area it became quickly apparent that Raze held to no such standards. Before them rested a great bowl like depression that seemed almost unnatural in its perfect shape. The interior was lightly forested by what Roland called cedar trees. Each rising well over one hundred feet and boosting great vibrant green skirts. These two items, though seemingly not quite right, were not what drew the teens attentions first. No that would have been the massive wall of fog that encircled a stone tower. The tower rested perfectly in the middle of the bowl rising what must have been eight stories into the air. Around it a smattering of smaller buildings also made from stone could be seen through the trees with a multitude of smoke trails calling attention to several that could not be seen. Stretching from within a hundred yards around the tower to almost where they were stood a great amethyst fog.

The fog swirled as if moved by some unknown wind but never did it lose its shape nor forfeit the impression that it was some sort of wall. Various other shades of purple mixed within along with what appeared to be reds, blacks and golden flecks. "Humrp. It's gotten bigger. Come on, there's a tunnel through the mist we can take just a bit down this way. Hopefully they extended it with the increase."

"Is that mist as sinister as it looks?" asked Hermione.

While Roland showed them the path he nodded. "Very. It's pretty much harmless for Ben and me as well as most M.U.T.E.s but pure Mundanes or the gifted find that mist very bad for their health. For the Mundanes it causes hallucinations, paranoia or if they are unlucky enough to get lost within and stay too long, madness. The gifted find that mist worse in other ways. That mist is undiluted raw magic that Raze calls 'Wild Magic.' Spells cast within it don't work right or not at all. I've talked to a few of his apprentices and they have told me a few tales of what their spells have done because of it. More often than not the results are stupid, silly or sometimes harmful to the caster. Part of what makes Raze's methods so unpalatable to most wizarding folk is that he injects a small amount of that into each of his spells. His older students claim that with proficiency in controlling the amounts it can cause their spells to last far longer or be more powerful than they have any right to be. True Wyarding is the combination of absolute science and chaotic wild magic. I never had the power to advance this far and I am pretty sure it requires some kind of foci to initiate."

As Roland finished his explanation he found the tunnel he was looking for. It looked as if someone had cut the tunnel through the mist which caused no small amount of havoc with their senses as the mist continued to move lazily about except for within this cave like tunnel before them. "This way. Follow me as there are offshoots that run like glacier cracks all through this thing. Ignore anything you see in the mist. It will try to draw you into it by playing with your subconscious creating illusions of things that would interest you. Once in the mist you will be at its mercy. We're pretty safe here in the tunnel but in the mist anything can happen."

Harry and Hermione stayed pretty close together after the warning and followed Roland as he led them through. He kept his own eyes forward as he led them in silence. Both teens followed his example to avoid seeing anything in the mist that might tempt them.

It took almost half an hour before they exited the wall of mist into the clearing around the tower and all four of them were shaking from nerves. Breaking the silence Roland commented, "Welcome to Oz."

The area before them consisted of dirt packed roads leading to different cottages, houses, or what looked like various workshops. As they followed the main road they could see everything from glass blowers going about their wears to smith's complete with actual forges, to tanners working various unidentifiable hides. The large village, for that is what it looked like to them could have been snatched through time and dropped here had it not been for the style of dress the people wore in addition to a few other oddities. The people wore a mix of modern muggle and wizard clothes. Harry and Hermione took note of several of the craftsmen waved jovially or called to Roland in greeting which he returned just as happily.

"Everyone seems to know you here." Harry commented.

Roland nodded. "Yup. I do a lot of business with most of them since they don't leave much."

Now that they were closer to see the detail on the homes and other buildings they could see that though the rock walls looked right the roofing was entirely modern. Clay tile, tar shingle, or even sheet metal roofing made what rested on top of all of the buildings they saw. Some of the windows showed older styles mixed with more modern as well. One theme though seemed to permeate most homes and that was that most of the houses held several stained glass windows depicting scenes of nature or animals in their natural environment. They walked past a few homes with their front doors open showing them a curious mix of magical and muggle furnishings including the sounds of radio and Television programs wafting toward them on the light breeze. Harry and Hermione were also surprised to see most of the people here owned autos which clashed horribly with the outdated style of the homes. Most of the homes they passed boosted nice gardens of normal and magical plants with small crops behind showing strong individuality to each home while still some sameness as well. Children ran running through the streets chasing each other laughing while the adults just seemed to be going about a normal day.

Her curiosity piqued Hermione asked Roland, "What is this place? I don't see any power lines but there appears to be a strong mix of magical and muggle technology around. Do you know how he did it?"

"No I don't. It's one of Raze's people's trade secrets. Hell for all I know they could have buried the things and just let the mystery hang out there for the curious. Either way they're not saying nor have I ever notice any kind of power plant around. Not even windmills, water mills, or solar panels. As far as the mix goes yeah, it's pretty varied. The towns called Arx Tutela, its Latin, I think, meaning the Protected Keep. The tower is called The Retreat. Raze and his people live at The Retreat. That's where we are going. Oz was kind of a nickname given to the place back when it was first settled.

"The townsfolk are outcasts mostly. M.U.T.E.'s or the minorly gifted mixed with a few Mundanes. Started off with some of us he trained coming back with friends and family. I don't know what it's like over in England but here unless you can use a wand you are not allowed to be a part of the magical world. They got a taste for it when they were training and couldn't turn away from it. Raze told em they could settle around his Keep if they wanted to. Most of them were skilled at one thing or another. Mechanics, teachers, electricians, stuff like that so they started trading their skills with each other for things they needed. Eventually Raze started taking an interest and helped with a few things and I'm always keeping an eye out for anything they might need."

Roland pointed out what looked like a rustic school house. "See there? That's the school a couple of teachers run. Community's pretty small but the teachers are all accredited as well as the school. And there, that's the vehicle repair shop. He gets a lot of business but he's always running out of stock. Over there's the market. Everyone here grows what they like best and trade over there is pretty brisk. Home grown foodstuffs, home crafts, you can get just about anything there from corn on the cob to cabinetry. Eye of Newt, cauldrons, glassware, you name it. Better than Wal-Mart. More variety and better made too."

"What's with the style of buildings here Roland?"

"Jason, one of Raze's apprentices, is pretty good with earth magics and transfiguration. He's not a bad enchanter either. He's been selling his services to the community for years. Most of these people just pulled trailers or mobile homes down here to start with. After a while though they called on Jason to come down to do some remodeling for them. That's the result. Mobile homes transfigured into stone, steel, and wooden homes. There's a warder here as well that helps with a bunch of different wards. Everything from home security to protection."

Hermione asked, "Home security?"

Roland chuckled. "These people are still people Hermione. This is by no means a utopian society. Anti-theft alarms, burglar deterrents. Things like that and more can be done. Nothing lethal mind you but some of the more expensive wards can put you in a hurt locker for a while. They even got a hospital on the other side of the holler."

"Are there some kind of Aurors here or bobbies?" Harry inquired.

"What? You mean cops?" After Harry's nod Roland answered his question. "Well, yeah. There's a town Sherriff and a couple of Deputies. That's the town jail there." Roland pointed out a square block looking building that was one of few that did not boost a lot of windows and those that were on the building had bars over them. Curiously it was across the street from an old tavern looking building which they all noticed from the music and noise coming from it. A sign over the front doors proclaimed it to be the 'Adventurers Tavern and Inn.'

"A curious place to put a pub, right across from the local jail." Hermione noted.

Harry smirked. "Bet it makes the Bobbies jobs a lot easier though. Less distance to travel to get to the trouble makers."

Roland laughed. "Yeah, Matty built the place there for that reason. Sheriff Carson thought it was the funniest thing he ever seen."

"What about a post office or courts of law?" Hermione asked Roland.

"Got both around here somewhere. The town holds elections for most management positions in town every couple of years or so. Mostly never used much unless there's a big dispute over something. Most people though are pretty fair with each other and their dealings but it happens now and then. But yeah, she's a full town with all the amenities except for mass produced items common to most other places. Everything here is homemade or imported if they can't do it themselves. This is why the parts house is always running out of stuff though I heard he was looking into putting in a warehouse of some kind to stock up. Don't know if he's done it yet or not."

Harry noticed by this time they were about halfway to the Tower when he asked Roland another question. "I didn't think this place was this big from on top of the ridge."

Roland smirked. "Raze has some pretty good wards around this place. One of them distorts distance when you are up on the ridge. Another he has running is the camouflage canopy above us. We can't see it but over this entire area from treetop to tree top is that ward. Makes anything looking directly down see a net of cedar treetops and no ground. Cedar trees don't shed their needles during the winter so it's the perfect cover no one would question. Even satellites can't see through the illusion. Most of the repelling wards make sure the curious who have no business here go away but the canopy ward keeps them from being accidently discovered by aerial or space sweeps."

They walked the rest of the way through the town in silence just taking in the sights. It didn't take much longer before they arrived at The Retreat. Without knocking or preamble Roland opened the front door letting them all in. Inside the place was decorated in coats of arms, swords, shields, axes and various other medieval art works. Hermione reasoned there must have been expansion charms at work inside the walls because it was a lot bigger than she expected. Great Tapestries hung from the stone walls around them while sunlight filtered through stained glass illuminating the area in a riot of blues, yellows, greens and reds. The only thing that stole the image of this building being from the Dark Ages was the very modern elevator Roland led them toward.

Several doors led away from the main hall they were in as well as two grand staircases that appeared to be chiseled from marble leading to the next floor. They noticed the air was cool as one would have expected from an office building and thankfully dry. All of them had taken a bit of a beating from the humidity during their walk. With a soft ding their wait was over they all stepped into elevator while Roland punched the eighth floor. The top floor showed them more of the same decor complete with someone in a deep crimson robe standing in the room waiting for them. Both teens noticed Roland stand stiffly as he approached the figure.

"Welcome back to the Retreat, Roland Basil." The man's deep voice greeted them as they filed into the room.

"Greetings Gate Keeper. I bring two here seeking admittance to speak with Sorcerer Raze. They wish to learn the Art." Roland replied formally.

"Very well. Do they stand ready?"

Roland allowed his eyes to dart to Harry and Hermione to check their resolve. Both held themselves strait and nodded toward Roland. "Yes."

The cowled figure slowly pointed one arm toward what looked like a great cabinet or wardrobe. "Then they may enter through there where their luck and skills will be tested."

Roland nodded to the two teens. "Good luck. Keep your wands ready and be careful." He advised solemnly.

One quick look at each other and the couple made their way to the cabinet. All three figures watched their passage and stared at the cabinet door close before Ben started laughing which caused the other two in the room to start laughing as well.

"I can't believe he's still trying to scare applicants away with this whole Gate Keeper nonsense. Raze still has you on bitch duty huh?" Ben asked the robed figure.

The figure doffed the cowl of his robe revealing a young man not much older than Ben. He turned his grey eyes to the younger brother with a scowl on his clean shaven face. "Fuck yes. You play one fucking joke on him to get even for all the jokes he pulls on you and this happens."

Still smiling Roland asked. "That's what you get when you transfigure his whole wardrobe into frilly sheer pink nightgowns that everyone can see but him. How long has it been now? One, two years?"

"Feels that way but no, it's only been a couple of months. He assigned Jordan to an even worse task. He has to clean up the Tavern without magic every night for free. To be honest I'd rather be here than cleaning puke and passed out loggers. Not to mention what those assholes do to the toilets."

All three laughed for a moment at Jordan's misfortune before Ben dragged a table over to the middle of the room. Roland grabbed a couple of chairs and all sat down after a few moments. Ben pulled out a deck of cards while the other two pulled out their wallets.

"Texas Holdem boys." Ben said while he dealt the cards.

"So Roland, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger. Has to be a story there." The robed man asked.

Roland shrugged his shoulders while throwing a one onto the table. "Call. Not as much of one as you might think. Just giving um a lift. How'd you know who they were?"

The figure shrugged not answering. "Did you know they have prices on their heads?"

Roland looked up frowning at the hand he lost. A full house will beat a three of a kind every time. "Not surprised from what they've told me. How much?"

"Albus Dumbledore has offered two hundred and fifty gold coins for information that leads to his whereabouts with a thousand for his 'return'. Heard of that one through our contacts at the Government House at Krenilich. The talk is he was love potioned by Granger and took off with him. There's another one though. An underground contract for his capture that's five thousand. Half that if he's dead. We heard of that one from a two man mercenary team heading east a month ago."

"Huh. That's a lot of money." Roland mentioned as he took the pot. "Can't say as I am surprised though. I figured something like that when I picked them up."

"How long do you think it will take before they get sick of Raze or he chucks them out? Raise." Ben asked.

Roland shrugged while he tossed a five on the table to call. "I got twenty that says they make it. What do you think Bob?"

The red robed man called Bob frowned at Roland but answered. "Don't know. I know the last three were ejected within ten minutes. Not many meet his standards anymore. They're either too lazy to relearn or just can't master it. Whatever it is he's still looking for someone to take to it like he did."

Roland nodded while Ben took the fifty dollar pot with three kings. "The boundary's getting worse. What's he doing to curb that Bob? If it keeps growing the way it is there won't be any way Arx Tutela will remain hidden."

"Robert, my name is Robert you Portuguese prick. As to the boundary, he's still following that stupid prophecy. Call." Robert tossed a ten into the pot before continuing. "He won't shut down the cabinet until it's done. As it is we've laid down a Dead Zone around the barrier in a dome and re-laid the enchantments and wards around that. It's halted the field's progress. To make sure it won't contaminate the town we put in a similar Dead Zone inside as well."

"Bet that's helped with the Fey that has been sneaking through." Roland stated while showing his cards. Robert smiled as he took the pot for himself.

"Very much so. We haven't had an incident with the Fey since. They stay inside the wild magic zone refusing to enter into the Dead Zones. A couple of our craftsmen though still trade with the trusted ones."

"Dead Zones. I can't believe it came to that. You know there's no way to remove them once their done."

"I know, but a completely dead magical zone was all we could think of since he won't shut that damn cabinet down."

Roland nodded at that. It was their land so it was really none of his business. He was just curious. Ben looked at Roland while folding. "I never understood that part. How does the cabinet make the Wild Magic Zone?"

Robert folded letting Roland take the small pot. "I assume Roland's told you some of the basics about how Raze came across the thing in the first place?"

Ben nodded. "Yeah, he figured out C.S. Lewis was a M.U.T.E. but his granddad wasn't. He was some kind of inventor or something. Lewis's writings were largely based on some of the things his Granddad was a part of."

"Something like that. Anyhow, Lewis never had any kids of his own but he adopted his wife's kids as his. Raze tracked down their kids or something which eventually led him to who had the wardrobe. After he got it he moved the thing here and began experimenting with it. The land inside isn't anywhere as large as Lewis makes it out to be, more of an island than huge continents but what Raze was really interested in was how it bent the laws of time. A day for us out here is a year inside. Once Raze figured it out he modified it further compressing time so that a day passes inside for every minute out here. He also figured out how to connect it to other cabinets he himself made which expanded the terrain inside. The problem though is the matrix in which the whole thing is powered is massive. It's the power plant itself that causes the field outside."

"Think of the wild magic field as vented waste from the reactor. I remember when Raze first noticed the problem. He didn't seem too fussed by it. He liked the idea and used it to create a wall around Arx Tutela." Roland said.

Robert agreed. "Yeah. I can attest to its effectiveness having had to wade my way through it myself when I first joined him. The restraints we put on it a couple of years ago got eroded last month which sparked the current set up. Raze's seems pretty confident it will hold and I can't find fault with it."

Roland checked his old Timex. "It's been over half an hour. I guess he's agreed to teach them."

Ben smiled at Roland. "Think they're going to get pissed at the prank we just pulled on them?"

Roland laughed but shook his head. "Maybe, but getting them all worked up over nothing was the funniest thing I've seen all week! Besides, they'll have months in there to get over it."

"Hey, are you going to deal or what? I still got six hours of my shift to kill here." Robert groused.

Authors Notes:

Okay, Chapter Thirteen revision is done. For those of you interested in the story instead of my drivel, by all means leave a review telling me what you think of this chapter, and then hit that 'Next' button. Enjoy the read. As always thank you to all reviews and readers. You are noticed and appreciated.

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