Note: Sorry for the long delay in posting. Will not go into detail the reason why it took so long to get back to writing, except to say life has been treating me and my family as if we were hacky sacks.
Previously on Earth's Magic:
"Now you know my secret, your Highness, "said dragon warrior, "As I know yours."
The Sorceress stood and quickly tried to cast the spell of forgetfulness on the woman. "Spaan Hadrim!" Spoke the Dovahzii before the spell could be completed. The Sorceress looked dismayed as she fell back onto her throne.
"Now that was completely unnecessary, "growled the Dovahzii as she glared at the Sorceress, "I have absolutely no intention of telling anyone or use his secret. And I allowed him to figure out mine in all fairness! In return I would thank you NOT to meddle around with my mind." The woman sighed sadly and added tiredly as she turned to leave, "I get enough of that already.
Chapter 9: Revelations Part 1
"…Let this be the first step in a long lasting friendship between our two worlds and the beginning of an alliance of many worlds against the Horde," said Prince Adam standing behind a podium flanked by two guards and with Teela standing behind him.
The image changed to that of a reporter standing outside the New United Nations building. "There you have it, "said the reported excitedly, "Earth's first inter-planetary treaty…"
A beam of dark red light slammed into the screen, melting it slightly at first but then the screen explodes. Slamming down his still slightly glowing hand, Devon growled, "How the BLAZES did this happen. Marshall should be dead and the girl stranded. Eternia should be minding its thrice damned own business! And to top it off, He-Man has been sighted on Earth."
Still kneeling Lillian said, "Lord Devon, Horde command is waiting for your response on the allegations of disobedience."
"Delay them for now, "Devon said more calmly. Tapping the arm rest he added, "Once I get the tablets, Horde command will be taking my orders if they wish to survive. Until then, "He stands up and starts to walk away, "Kill Althea Strom. She's the only one on Earth that can possibly figure out the true worth of the tablets if she sees them. "
(Earth Military Alliance Naval Research Facility)
Marshal walked into the research facility and pass Susan's desk while he was having a rather loud discussion over his phone, "Look, I don't give a rat's ass about the local custom. I'm taking Ms. Strom and any female soldier, scientist or whatever that I feel is best qualified for the job. If they refuse to allow us access to the site in any shape or form it will be considered…"
Marshall made it to his office and slammed the door behind him as the other person tried to respond. Words like 'diplomatic firestorm' and 'political suicide' could be heard.
"I am NOT a politician or a diplomat!" said Marshall, "I am ranked officer in the Earth Alliance. Their government swore to follow the Alliance rules when it came to Earth's defense. Finding magical artifacts is now fully under the purview of the Alliance and more specifically my department. If they don't like it they can take it up with Alliance command and wish them the best of luck with dealing with General Waynehurst. SHE will rip them a new one!"
He then tossed the phone across the room. It shattered after it hit the wall and crashed down on the floor. With a sigh he picked up the land-line phone on his desk and called up Susan. The phone was still ringing when, said Susan walked into his office without knocking and handed him a new phone.
"Ya know, if you keep doing this we are going to have to ask for more funds just to cover phone replacement costs,"Susan said with a smile, "Your numbers, email, and all else has already been set up on this phone. It's even the same model so no need to learn new buttons or anything."
"Thanks, "said Steve as he took the phone, "What is the status of your project?"
"Got part of it done, "said Susan, "I found materials that can help with storage and even had the chance on testing some of them with Althea since she got back. However, location is a different matter. Every single location I thought was promising was vetoed by Althea and she gave some very good reasons for each. I think she has something is mind but hasn't told me anything. I can forward you the information on the materials but the final report is still not done."
"Don't bother. Order what is needed and start packing up the magical items that we already have but are not using, "said Marshall as he leaned back into his chair, "Also, I want a tracker placed on each one for just in case."
"Wish I could a tracker on Althea, "grumbled Susan, still slightly miffed at the disappearing act the girl and Adam did a few weeks ago.
Marshall chuckled and said, "I tried that once when she was in High School. Let's just say the fall out wasn't pretty when she found out, so no. No tracking devices on our resident mage. Hopefully the new bodyguard I requested for her should help us keep tabs on her."
"Bodyguard…for Althea," said Susan with eyes widening, "Oh please warn me when you tell her. I want to record her response. It'll go viral."
(Eternian Embassy, New York)
"Thea!, "greeted Adam from the top of a grand set of stairs.
Althea waved and then took her IDs back from the guard sitting behind a desk. "Sorry I'm late, but had to finish up a few things with Susan before heading out, "she said as she slowly made her way up the stairs, " How's the new Embassy holding up?"
"Still needs some work, "said Adam with a shrug, "But if you want I can give you the grand tour."
"Thanks, but no, "Althea replied and then asked, "How about lunch? My treat."
"Sounds like a plan, but please let it be somewhere that Cringer would be welcomed, "said Adam with a half-smile, "The last time we went out, someone called the local animal control saying there was an escaped tiger on the loose."
"In that case, I guess it's take out, "said Althea with a dramatic sigh as she took Adam's arm and let him lead the way down the hall. "Would you prefer pizza or Chinese?"
"The pizza I had last week was good, but I haven't tried any Chinese food yet, "answered Adam as he opened the door to what appear to be some sort of sitting room. In it, Cringer was napping in front of an unlit fireplace. As the door closed, Adam continued, "By the way, thanks on creating the portal in the basement. It makes things on much easier for He-Man being able to quickly travel between Earth and Eternia."
"Couldn't have done it without the Sorceress's help, "said Althea as she sat down, leaning her cane against the chair, "Now if she only stopped trying to mess with everyone's mind…"
"You know why she does it."
Althea raised her hand and said, "I know she is only doing her job but you would think someone as smart or wise as she is supposed to be wouldn't jump at erasing someone's mind as the primary solution. There has got to be a better way at keeping your secret. But let's not fight over this...I'm hungry for some broccoli beef." Althea pulled out her phone to make a call.
Adam just shook his head as knelt down to pet the sleeping tiger's head. He figured once Althea's own secret was at risk, she would most likely change her feelings about using magic to have someone conveniently forget her secret or not notice a critical clue in regards to her dual life.
About two hours later, empty Chinese take-out containers littered a coffee table. Cringer quietly cleaned off General Chow sauce from his whiskers as Althea and Adam looked over a large globe. Adam pointed to a location off the coast of Florida, "Are you certain it there?"
"Between what Zii has shown me and what I can get from the oldest text I was able to verify as genuine, it should be there, "answered Althea, "Add in all the weird stuff that has been reported in that area over the years I would bet on it. However, it is still a large area to search alone and without being able to 'see' it from a distance no one else will be able to find the place."
"Maybe the Sorceress or Granamyr might know of some way to help,"said Adam thoughtfully, "I'll ask them next time I head over to Eternia."
"Thanks. I was hoping you would say that."
A knock at the door stopped the conversation and Adam said, "Come on in."
The door opened and the guard standing there said, "Captain Marshall is here to pick up Ms. Strom. He is waiting downstairs."
"Thanks, "said Adam as the guard nodded and then closed the door.
Althea looked at her watch and muttered, "What the hell is he doing here? I'm not expected to return for another two hours and he knows I have a ride."
Adam shrugged and said, "Maybe something came up? "
Downstairs, Captain Marshall sat down in one of the lobby chairs as a female soldier stood at ease a few steps away.
"Hey, Steve, "said Althea as she walked down the stairs, "Something up?"
Marshall stood up to shake Adam's hand and then turned to face his niece, "Something has been dug up and we need you to take a look at it. However, the locals are not too keen on it so we'll have to get in and out quickly to avoid problems. I got your travel and field bags in the car."
A concerned Adam asked, "You expecting trouble?"
"Nothing major, just some political saber rattling, "sighed Marshall, "However the faster we can determine if the site is…uh…hot or not the better."
"Who's your friend, "asked Althea noticing the soldier.
Steve raised his hand and said, "Here me out before you start screaming. This is Corporal Smites and she is to be one of your bodyguards. No debate. You are now too big of a target for you to go off alone without protection."
"I'm a mage…I have magic….I can take care of myself, "Althea said heatedly and then raised her cane to point towards the soldier, "I don't need a baby sitter."
"You can either have a bodyguard or you can be restricted to HQ, "said Steve, "Your choice."
Althea closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose as she muttered, "You have got to be kidding me, " she then said louder, "Look, Steve, I'm not going to fight with you in the Eternia Embassy and not when I have to be on site to 'look' around. But I promise you, we will talk about this….later." Althea then turned and bowed her head slightly towards the prince, "Nice seeing you again, Adam. "
With a sympathetic look, Adam gave a small wave and said, "Call me when you get the chance. See ya'."
(Hour later in an aircar)
Marshall held back a sigh as he stopped trying to read the reports on his tablet. He looked over to see his niece still staring out of the air car's window. Her bodyguard was silently driving the aircar in the seat in front of him. Marshall looked at his watch and frowned, they should have reached the airbase by now.
"Corporal why is it taking so long to reach the airbase?"
"Had to take an less direct approach, Captain, "replied Smite, "Something about an airshow."
Gripping the ornate cane leaning next to her leg, Althea turned to look at the bodyguard with a suspicious look as Marshall said, "There are no airshows in the area, due to security concerns."
The woman chuckled in a different voice and then morphed into Lillian as she turned to fire an energy gun towards Althea. The beam was stopped inches from the woman by Althea's mystical shield. Marshall pulled out his own gun to fire on the imposter, but all he got was a few clicks. Lilian sneered as she pressed a pair of buttons on the vehicle's control panel. The roof blasted off and the rear seats ejected from the aircraft. Once the pair was gone, she pressed a button on her wrist. A small horde aircraft flew down from the clouds and dropped ladder. As it passed over the aircar, Lillian grabbed hold of the bottom rung and was carried off. As she slowly made her way up the ladder, the aircar explodes.
Still strapped to his seat, Marshall started to say some choice words when the emergency seat's parachute case went off but no parachute was released. All he could do as his chair continued to fall was watch his niece's chair do the same. She must be panicking, since she was fighting to remove the harness holding her to the seat. Somehow she succeeded and pushed herself away from the useless chair. As she spread out as if to slow her descent for some reason, he saw light reflecting off what he thought was her overly ornate cane. But then the light got brighter and took on a winged shape. The shaped grew into that of a dragon made of light that rose briefly and then landed onto her form. A blinding flash and where his niece once was falling, flew Dovahzii .
To be continued…