/ Duel Universe

/ Author: The Cowboy of Oklahoma

/ Ch 40: Informal Debrief

/ word count: 2090

Spirit Castle

We crested the last row of hills in the Hercules class transport, leading back to the human encampment, and Monster World castle. Looking at the vast valley before us and the castle gleaming in the sunrise at the far end of the meadow. Lt. Cmdr Shelly Carson was piloting, bringing myself Cpt. Ka'an Freeman, Maiden of Moonlight, and Bruthus of the Gorilla clan back to this world's seat of power. Our first order of business was to report to command and speak with the Monarch Dark Magician Girl, so we first headed for the castle.

"Castle 1, this is Oscar 5 Charlie Harbinger, on approach, requesting permission to land on pad 3," Shelly called out over the radio.

"Oscar 5 Charlie, this is Castle 1, approach approved, lane is clear, permission granted to land, pad 3 available. Welcome back Harbinger. How was the vacation?" The operator asked, surprising Shelly with the familiarity.

"Uh, eventful Castle 1," Shelly was unsure how to respond, "Roger. Clear on approach, eta 6 minutes to touch down," she reported.

"What was that all about?" I asked.

"Not sure, only a handful of individuals even knew I had left to go find you. The Fleet Commander, Dark Magician Girl, Akiza, and maybe a few close subordinates, besides us currently here," She explained.

"They must have made up a reason for your leaving, that way fewer people would go asking questions," I surmised.

"Maybe," she said skeptically.

I looked over at her and she was making a face, "what's that look for?" I asked.

"Nothing," she tried to hide it.

Suddenly Moonlight piped in, "do you think it has anything to do with how you reacted to the news that…that I…I…," Moonlight trailed off.

Shelly's face went full flush and she concentrated hard on the task at hand instead of responding.

I looked confused, "news? What news?" I asked them both.

"I think it…" Bruthus began but was cut off by Shelly.

"NO!" She said a bit too forcibly.

"Now wait a minute. What's going on here that I don't know about?" I asked.

"She…," again Bruthus was cut off by Shelly.

"One more word from you mister and I'm going to drop you off from right here!!" Shelly threatened.

Bruthus looked out a side viewport and saw how far down the ground was, "me no like be up this far," so he went quiet.

I looked to Bruthus, Moon, then Shelly, "oh we are definitely going to be talking about this later," I said sternly then looked back out the front viewport at the approaching castle.

The last few minutes went by in silence as we made our final approach and landed on the pad. When we disembarked, Gen. Marcellus was waiting for us as well as Dark Magician Girl.

The Lieutenant and I initiated a salute to our commanding officer.

"Capt. Freeman, welcome back. How was your vacation?" The General asked, returning the salute.

"Productive sir, though a bit painful for some of it," I responded.

"Wonderful Captain, and you Lieutenant?" He turned to Shelly.

"I was successful in my endeavors sir. I hit a few snags along the way but I was able to find him," she said motioning to me.

"I see that Lieutenant. I look forward to your report," he stated.

"Yes sir," she affirmed.

Dark Magician Girl walked up to the group after the small talk was complete, and looked to her own subjects for their responses. Bruthus especially showed a little apprehension to be standing in front of his monarch.

"And what is your name my subject?" She asked him.

"B…Bruthus the Strong your majesty," he answered.

"Bruthus, a good name. May I ask why it is you have come here this day?" She asked him.

"I want make sure my friends safe…and to meet her majesty," he explained.

Dark Magician Girl gently placed her hand on his and caught his gaze. His big green eyes revealed how much strength he held, but they also revealed his great empathy for all living creatures, "I believe you Bruthus. I thank you for protecting my friends," she tells him.

"Thank you, your Majesty," he said with a bow of his head.

She gave him a warm smile then stepped to Moonlight, "Maiden of Moonlight, were you also successful in your endeavor for this trip?" She asked discreetly.

Moonlight averted her eyes and a shade of red formed on her cheeks, but she was hesitant to respond, "my…master is safe, your majesty," she said quietly.

Dark Magician Girl raised her head knowing what she meant in this, "very well. Now enough with the greetings, let's all move to a more comfortable setting to continue this reunion, shall we?" she motioned for all to follow her inside.

Once inside, we settled into seats around a table set up in the throne room. Akiza was brought to join us from the encampment. Apparently, she was very willing to once she heard that her sister had returned.

Shelly looked around at the spread of food, meats, and drinks laid out, "why's all this stuff here? Were y'all planning a meeting or somethin'?" She asked.

"A meeting is planned for a little later, but Dark Magician Girl thought you all could use some refreshments before and an informal debrief of your actions in the wilderness," Gen. Marcellus explained.

"What would you like to know, sir?" I asked.

"First off," Dark Magician Girl began, "what exactly happened during the incident at the Oceanica? Before you could be properly questioned on it and Miss Shelly was out of sorts, we only know that the one whom you call Steve Benson was to blame for the near loss of all life on board that vessel and the human encampment," she stated.

"Yes, well I wasn't in the best frame of mind at the time to be questioned nor would have I been able to give many answers, still couldn't," I explained, "all I truly know is that I felt a disturbance coming from this direction from where I had gone to and made my way back to it. It felt like a presence was tugging me in a certain direction. When I got to the encampment, there was nobody moving in it. Peeking into a few tents, all I saw were bodies slumped over as if sick from something," I went on.

"That's not too far from what was happening," Shelly interjected, "only a few of the stronger duelists were even awake, let alone moving about. I was barely conscious and it wasn't until I received the Winged Dragon of Ra that both myself and Akiza could function normally," She explained.

"Winged Dragon of what now?" I asked.

"Details on that matter can wait for another time," Dark Magician Girl interjected, "for now, continue with your report on what happened."

"Okay, well the tugging sensation continued and eventually led me to the door of the Oceanica. Once inside, I made my way up to the top and found Steve about to deliver a finishing blow to Shelly. I made my presence known and called out to him, and he seemed to almost forget about her. I'll have to admit, seeing her in that state nearly sent me over the edge again. Without much thought, I challenged him to finish what he had started and subsequently beat him in the duel. He was screaming something at Shelly at the end but I honestly wasn't paying him any attention. He was done and I was leaving…ow!" I jumped as a fist hit me in the shoulder, "what was that for?"

"For leaving her there and not rendering her any assistance you big dummy!" Akiza stated coldly.

Shelly just smirked from the other side of her adopted sis and said nothing.

"Jeez, anyways I left. I went back out to where I was trying to find myself and then shortly thereafter, was caught up in some sort of power struggle not much different than what the fiends had done to Shelly and Akiza, though they truly didn't know what they had walked up into. I pushed back the first two waves of their numbers until I was just too physically weakened to continue. I was knocked back and was almost unconscious as I heard fighting break out. Then I woke to a weeping angel on my chest trying to suffocate me and a bunch of gorillas tending to my wounds."

Then Shelly spoke up, "it was just before this that Moonlight and myself had followed a trail from his campsite back to a cave system that is the home of the Gorilla clan. Once we knew that he was safe, I radioed back that all was well and that we'd be returning shortly. A course that still took a few weeks for mister hero here to get back to fighting shape. But it was shortly after we had found him that the beasts that had initially attacked him, returned to finish the job. There were four of them, and even though I held back three of them, the fourth revealed it had a power not too dissimilar from what Steve had shown off, I was utterly unable to stand against it. If Bruthus hadn't gone and retrieved more of his clansmen, I'm certain they would have done to me what they planned for Ka'an," she finished, "thank you Bruthus for being there for us."

"Humans not enemy. Gorilla clan help where we can," he said.

"Yes, my subject and your clan will be rewarded for your acts of bravery on behalf of these humans," Dark Magician Girl stated.

"So besides these events, all you did was wait until the Captain was well enough to travel and just now came back?" Gen. Marcellus asked.

"Yes, sir," Shelly answered, "we learned a little about the Gorilla clan, how they came into being, how they learned to live the way they do, how they were taught some useful traits from others," she explained.

"Very well, do you have anything else you want to ask of them, your eminence?" Gen. Marcellus looked to Dark Magician Girl.

"No General, I believe we have heard enough for this preliminary, they can give us more details later in a written report," she stated, "please, everyone enjoy the food. Let us enjoy each other's company for now," she raised a glass of wine, "to what came before and for what lies in the future. May we forever find peace between our worlds," she toasted.

A collective, "here, here," sounded from all present.

Nearly an hour later, the group left the hall, bellies full and spirits elevated. Akiza stayed close to her sister's side, elated at her safe return, plus she may have had a glass or two too much wine.

"Y're incorrigible little sis. Where'd ya' learn to drink wine?" Shelly asked.

"Da…dad…had a lot's of gathereens, and…and I occa'nally allowed to join them," she slurred her response.

"Well I think ya' shouldn't be drinkin' so much while so young," Shelly states.

"Non…nonsense, I once drunk a bowl bottle myself. Sum…sum friends and me made…made bear wit us," Akiza explained, "bear…beer…deer…, ya' know what I ment!"

"Ha, ha, ha, I do sis. Now let's get ya' back to our shelter 'fore you make a bigger fool of yer'self," Shelly said, "We're headed outta here Ka'an," she hesitated when she mentioned his name, "will…ya' be here later?"

I didn't immediately answer, but it was Akiza that broke the silence, "hey!" She blurted out, "so which girl did you choose?" Her question was blunt and to the point.

"Okay! We are leaving now!" Shelly didn't wait for a response even as Akiza protested weakly for a response.

I just stood there not understanding the question that hung in the air, "what?"

Gen. Marcellus walked up and slapped a hand across my back, pulling me back to reality, "welcome back Captain. Did you miss the crazy atmosphere we have here?" He asked jokingly.

"I'm not sure sir. I get the feeling something isn't being told to me and that has been hanging in the air ever since I awoke in that cave," I explained.

"Hmm," was all he said on the subject.

"Gee, thanks sir, really appreciate the candor," I stated flatly.

"You're welcome son," he said jovially.

We walked back out to the transports, as I headed back down to the encampment, while he made arrangements to go up to his designated command vehicle until the time of the meeting later.