Lets meet the four years.
Paula led the Vixens out of the door and left down the passage way, the group came to a spiral stair case which Paula took down and then walked into a very open plan general chill room. Around the room were lots of people.
The room itself was easy sixty foot long and it did look as it stretched the width of the above wing. The middle of the room was arm chairs, sofas, bean bags, large cushions and sat in this area were people that generally looked studentish, the group moved into the room. Around the edge was six doors, each door but one was open and looked in onto the common room style area.
Jackson saw them and walked with the two fifth years he was helping out to the group and said, “Welcome to the welcome chill out party.”
“It’s good to be here at last,” Nibs said.
Jackson then said, “This is Harry and Dan, they the pair who built the long range flight rig we used today.”
Harry then moved off to one side and asked Nibs quietly, “Please tell me to shut up, but are you Trans?”
“I am, so is Tina,” Nibs replied, “Why?”
“Be careful around year two, they are known as the Red Necks,” Harry said, “we don’t know how far the breeding and brain washing goes.”
“Arh, thanks for the warning, but I think we can look after ourselves and not just in the fighting sense either,” Nibs said.
“Oh, so the reports and rumours were true we do have an adept at the Academy,” Harry said, “Nicole, Jane or Richard did tell you about the work a couple of students from year four are doing on Adepts?”
“Yes, and you don’t have just one Adept you have six and here’s the second one, my partner Sandra and almost the last member of the partnership.” Nibs replied. Nibs then thought said to Sandra, “Year two go by the name the Red Necks.”
“Ok,” thought responded Sandra.
Amy then moved to the centre of the room with all of the fairies. Amy then said the last command word, “Ceeribbean.” The entire group gathered in the room suddenly look on in utter shock at the sight of twelve fairies
Nibs and Sandra then walked to the same area as Amy and the rest of the Vixens joined the three stood in the middle of the room. Then all the fairies return to their respective partners. Nibs then said, “I think some introductions are necessary, we are the Vixens Gangrel unit from Suraban, this is the start of our first year here, and I’m called Nibola Calton-Patterson, or Nibs to my friends.”
Sandra then said, “I’m Sandra Calton-Patterson Nibs legal Partner and this is Daraus the third member of the our partnership. The final two members of the partnership is Blackie and Pixie.
The entire room said, “Hi Nibs and Sandra and the Vixens.”
Then someone from the back said, “Let’s party.”
“Hell yeah, lets party,” said Hell Bright.
* * * * * *
“I have to admit they handled that incredibly well,” Paula said to Nicole.
“I know,” replied Jane, “meet Nibs a woman of many talents, one of which is the ability to read a situation and know how people will react to various stimuli.”
“Yeah,” Nicole said with a laugh in her voice, “On a few times, Nibs has read a situation and gets more from the people than any of my best interrogators.”
* * * * * *
Tammeria walked in from the outside and saw Blackie and then spotted Nibs and Sandra, chatting to Harry and Rach from year five. When Tammeria was close enough she said in Rujunivan, “Good day to you stranger, I do hope you were planning on looking me up?”
“Of course I was Tammeria,” replied Nibs in Rujunivan, and then in basic, “You can’t catch me out Tammeria.”
“I can always try,” Tammeria said and the pair embraced.
Harry looked on in shock, and stuttered, “Ho..ho…ho…how do you know Tammeria?”
“We met as young teenagers in Runjunvia for what 18 months,” Nibs said.
“Yeah, about that,” Tammeria replied, “Then Sec Com turn up looking for volunteers and I get volunteered, the next thing I remember is walking up with a scar around the back of my neck and one of the Docs leaning over me saying she’s awake now. I’ll give you awake now, you bastards, whilst I feed your precious Sec Com to the pit of Vipers that is the mass media.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” Dan said.
“Watch me Dan,” Tammeria said, “Given an ounce of the information I now know, my answer would have been shoot me now, because I’m not joining.”
“Go Tammeria,” Nibs said.
“One piece of information I have and they are going to wish I didn’t have is that I have five names of some high ups in Sec Com who have confirmed slaves working in the mansions,” Tammeria said.
Gill, from the second year, walked towards the group. She was wearing an red Echo Tech logoed t-shirt, blue jeans and a pair of trainers her hair was short and very much bloke lesibian look but with a very female cut. Her approach caused Tammeria to sigh, Nibs picked up on it and said, “What’s up?”
“Red Neck, and you being you,” Tammeria replied.
“I heard that Tammeria,” Gill said, “I am not a red neck, don’t tar the entire year with the same brush.”
“Sorry Gill,” Tammeria said, “But you know what I mean.”
“Hell yeah, I do,” Gill replied, “Welcome to the Academy.”
“Thank you,” replied Sandra.
“You lot smoke?” Gill then asked.
“Yeah we all do,” replied Nibs.
Another member of the group Gill had been with walked over and said, “Hi Nibs, Sandra. I’m Jim.”
“Hi Jim,” replied Nibs.
* * * * * *
Jum and Wong both saw Tammeria walk in from outside and when she turned away as if looking for some one specific, the pair walked towards her and Jum said in broken Rujunivian, “Good afternoon Tammeria.”
Tammeria looked back at Wong and Jum, smiled and replied in Rujunivian, “Good afternoon Jum, Wong,” then she said is Basic, “Welcome to the Academy.”
Harry passed Tammeria the joint he had been smoking and she took a draw on it, “I’ll say this being here has so relaxed me. I think I smoked a good half an ounce in my first week. That’s not including the joints, blunts, and pipes that get passed around.”
“Yeah I know, when me and Wong arrived we didn’t smoke other than cigarettes. I think last week, and we were on vacation I smoke, probably three quarters of an ounce.”
Wong then asked, “What’s it like being here?”
“What, being at the Academy,” Tammeria replied.
“Yeah,” Wong answered.
“Fun, would be the best description,” Tammeria replied, “During my time at Sec Com my year and that’s a good point.” Tammeria thought, ‘I need to let my bosses know I’m ok, and everything is going to plan.’
“What,” Jum said.
“Nothing Jum, I’ve just remembered something I must do, my year when I started had the highest rate of deaths from suicides and escape attempts since the College started. When we all departed for our first missions, we made a promise that we would be there for each other,” Tammeria said.
“Oh, right,” Wong said.
“I’ve already had a couple of sessions with the second and fourth years. I was waiting for the experts to arrive before really starting them on it,” Tammeria said.
“Good, when is your next session planned?” Jum asked.
“Ulleam morning for a couple of hours,” replied Tammeria.
“Good then I think all of year one will join you,” Sandra said.
* * * * * *
Tina and Abs along with Amy and Paul all walked outside and saw the lake that stretched out from the back of the house.
Three students were all lying on the ground, two were wearing short skirts and tight tops the third a male was in knee length cut offs and trainers. He said when he saw the group, “Hi, I’m Adam this is Karen and Liz.” Both the girls smiled at the group.
Liz said, “If it ain’t been said inside, Welcome to the Academy the best god damn place to live.”
Tina laughed at Liz comment and sat down. “I think you could be right,” replied Tina.
“Thomas contacted us after the final battle and a few of us watched the unedited version of the final battle,” Karen said, “Well lets just say you all handle yourselves with a professional edge, I’ve not seen in many young ghosts.”
“That could be because most of us come from the background of running with the Gangrels gang,” said Paul.
“That maybe the case,” Liz said, “I know what Karen is taking about, when we see young ghosts we can see which have combat experience and which don’t. The professionalism you lot carry is one which comes from knowing and understanding the environment, the ghost, street environment.”
“I think we have Nibs to thank for that,” said Abs.
“Yes very definetly,” Amy replied.
“Is what Paula says true about you lot being special to the Conspiracy?” Karen asked.
“I don’t know what you count as special,” replied Amy, “but the group do have some special skills, I’m along with Hell Bright are training to become Line Walkers, Ren has psionics.”
“And six members of the group are True Adepts,” Abs said.
Liz and Karen’s eyes opened wide and stared at Abs, Karen then said, “Six True Adepts. I hoped to get a dead one to work on, but to have six living True Adepts. My god, and I know this is not the place to do it, but what is it like?”
“What is what like,” replied Tina.
“Being an Adept?” Karen asked.
“Like living a normal life,” Tina said, “me, Abs, Nibs, Sandra, Jum and Wong, we all are Adepts.”
“Without having told you, would you have been able to guess just by looking at us?” Abs asked.
“No,” replied Liz.
“Therefore you have what is it like,” Abs said.
“Yeah I can see that,” Adam said.
“How come the interest, someone is doing work concerning adepts aren’t they,” Abs said.
“Yeah a couple of fourth years are, working on the psychological aspects, I’m looking at the physical changes that Adepts undergo. Hence the hoped to get a dead one to work on.”
“Arh, right,” Tina said.
* * * * * *
Nibs walked and found Paula rolling up a blunt and asked, “Who would I see about installing two RX26D Hard drive swap bays as I have two drives with information I want available to me and who ever?”
“Simon,” Paula replied, “generally if you need anything changing or fixing see maintenance.”
“Ok, thanks,” Nibs responded and turned to walk away.
“Nibs, may I say you handled the ice breaker incredibly well,” Paula said.
“Thank you,” responded Nibs with a smile “I guess you’ve been told about us?”
“Yes, as in the groups makeup?” Paula replied.
“Yes,” replied Nibs and re-lit the blunt she was carrying.
“Nicole and Jane both said that you are a woman of many talents, I was wondering what some were?” Paula asked.
“Other than being an Adept, I’m fluent in all levels of Jarrzarian, Rujunivan, Rudeashean, Spinnayan, Ne-U-Baian, Deebian, South Attican, I can also write in them. I understand humans and how they will generally react to various stimuli. I’m also a master of armed and unarmed street fighting.”
“Yeah, a woman of many talents,” Paula said.
“I also have an eidetic memory for conversations,” Nibs said and said as Sandra walked over, “Yes hun I wish we had brought the drums.”
“What did you just say,” Paula exclaimed.
“Sandra said she had wished we had loaded our Rudeashean drums,” Nibs said.
“How, I didn’t hear Sandra say anything.”
“The Vixens can communicate telepathically between partners, me and Sandra have a link to Wong, Jum, each other, Blackie and Pixie,” Nibs replied and smiled at Daraus who was at Sandra’s heel.
“Each pairing, can communicate on the that level,” Sandra said, “and before you ask, we have no idea how come.”
* * * * * *
Ithian and Hell Bright both walked outside and found Amy, Paul and Liz. Abs, Tina, Karen and Adam had walked to some bench seats.
Ithian and Hell Bright both sat down and smiled at Liz. Ithian then asked, “What is it like to have actually arrived Amy?”
“Exhilarating would be the best answer,” Amy replied, “How many times you been here Ithian?”
“This will be my second time here and again I am teaching Line Walkers how to be Line Walkers.”
“Yeah, but it’s fun though,” Hell Bright said.
“I never said it wasn’t,” Ithian said, as a group of five males and one female walked out and turned to were Tina, Abs, Karen and Adam were sitting.
Liz said, “The Second years.”
“Bad year?” Amy asked.
“Not exactly, just that the five guys, over there, all come from a very red neck area of South Sea Metro,” Liz replied.
* * * * * *
“Watcha Adam,” Liddenham said.
“Hi ya,” Adam said, “You guys met the new first years yet.”
“No, we ain’t,” Sytimme(Syt-immed) said.
“Yeah, meet Tina and Abs,” Karen said.
“Hi, Tina, Abs,” Sytimme said.
“Hi to you as well,” Tina said.
Nibs then walked out and headed for the table and said in her normal male voice, “Hi Tina, Abs, this seat taken?”
“No Nibs, it’s not,” said Tina and Nibs sat down.
“Hi Nibs, as in the person from earlier,” Hans asked.
“Yes,” replied Nibs and looked out over the back area.
The area was dominated by a massive lake and down the left hand side were apartment blocks and small houses. The mixed forest that surrounded the Academy stretched down to the lake side.
Hans looked at Nibs and said, “Can I ask, are you a man or a woman?”
Nibs looked at him and laughed, “To answer that, ask your self this, what do I look like, a man or a woman, now and ask your self the same at the Reception ball.”
“Ok, I would say woman, but your voice and the shadow say male.”
“To be accurate I am Trans,” Nibs said.
“As am I,” said Tina.
“No your not you’re a woman,” Hans said.
“No I was born a man and have the cock to prove it.”
“Well as you were selected to attend here must mean you are elite and therefore should be permitted the same respect as the other members are shown,” Gretta said, “and that is what we will show you Nibs, Tina. Ain’t that right boys.”
“Yes Gretta,” the five men said.
“Allow me to introduce myself, I’m Gretta and since they joined us, I’ve become their unofficial mistress,” Gretta said, “they are all highly intelligent but they prefer there own company than the company of others, I on the other hand like to socialise and dragged them out to meet the new first years.”
“Since they joined us?” Sandra asked as Nibs had also picked up on the same bit.
“Yes, last year was interesting. Most of the year arrived over the vacation week. And in the end we only had seven, as a group of four had declaimed the offer of attending, so at least four alternatives had to be found, they had a group ready, but the problem was finding then, as they had disappeared off the face of the planet, so to speak. They were all enjoying a hunting trip in the Harkdarn Forest, and didn’t arrive back in South Sea Metroplex until half way through the first week and didn’t actually meet us until the field trip to Echo Tech City the first Savraday,” Gretta said, “but other than being very closed socially, they are as a hard working group as you could find. One of then has four lower Degrees and is very close to getting his first mid level degree.”
“That’s very good,” responded Nibs.
“Yeah it is,” Karen said, “Me, I have three lower degrees and one mid level, a lot of it is how much work you do on the qualifications, I know my subjects inside out, Hans ain’t it Gretta.”
“Yeah,” Gretta replied.
“Knows the surface work really but his knowledge base is massive,” Karen then said.
“That’s a good point which room is our common room,” Sandra asked.
“The one that looks empty, it was the old year five, Thomas and group,” Adam said, “I heard just after they left here they headed for Suraban to assist in the final battle of the Wacker War.”
“They did,” Nibs said, “they were working along side us during the final battle.”
“My god,” Gretta responded, “How much combat experience do you guys have then.”
“My experience ain’t much,” Nibs replied.
“No, mine is I must have close on 50 gang related operations, at least 30 are actual combat missions, close on fifty policing actions against various mostly unlisted gangs,” Sandra replied.
“So that was why you were almost never in school,” Nibs said.
“Bloody hell, most of us when we come here have 15 maybe 20 ghost operations behind us, you say Gang related operations, what do you mean?” Karen asked.
“Gangrel Street Gang, and don’t get it confused with the Gangrel Gang. I’ll explain why in a bit. The Gangrel Street Gang provide specialist services to other gangs in Suraban. Try getting group of youths to be good at all the specialisms you need to have on a field of battle. This is where we come in, The Gangrel Street gang provide those specialisms to the other gangs. We work very much like a mercenary force in that the Gangs do pay us a fee and cover our ammunition expenditure.” Sandra said, “and to explain the Gangrel Street Gang and the Gangrel Gang. They are the same, but two very distinct elements of the same force, the Gangrel Gang deals with the running of the youth feeder units and the Young Gangrels, even these are kept separate, but that’s due more to age. The Young Gangrels go from just born to 13, when a youth turns 14 he is inducted into the either the Gangrel Street Section or the Gangrel Gang itself. The Gangrel gang knows about the conspiracy as they are told very soon after passing out of basic training. The Gangrel Street don’t due to environment we operate in, more than anything else.”
“Oh,” Gretta replied.
Liddenham then said, “With that, how come you guys were involved in a major conspiracy battle.”
“The best answer to that is to say Nibs introduced us to Richard C as he was a friend of Nibs before we asked her to join the Vixens,” Sandra said, “when we got the Narizzan Inc mission, Nibs took us through the research and other related work we needed to do to make sure the mission was a success.”
“Oh,” Hans replied, “how did you come by those skills Nibs?”
“By being an independent security consultant. I broke into people’s homes and then I offered to upgrade the system using what was there and stuff you could get from any general electrical hardware stores,” Nibs replied, “Damien Cameron employed me to do that. After my upgrade was finished and tested by a couple of his ghost friends, he offered to take me on as a researcher for the current op. Richard was a part of the team and we became very good friends.”
“So how do you see yourself fitting in within the general Conspiracy?” Sytimme asked.
“As a security specialist,” Nibs replied, “but also as a partner of the activities and jobs my partner does.”
“Oh, so very much as a jack of many trades then,” Gretta said.
“Yes, but specialising in cracking security systems & breaking and entering.”
“How about you Sandra?” Sytimme asked.
“Me,” Sandra replied, “Very much as someone good at the social graces and espionage work, but also someone who supports my partner in what ever she does.”
“Oh,” responded Hans, “So how many of the Year do you know?”
“All of them, nearly all are members of the Gangrels, only Hell Bright, Ren, Jum, and Wong weren’t members until last weekend,” Sandra replied, “Hell Bright and Ren we met on Nibs 18th birthday party at Club Millana which was the last Fight Night before the Wacker War started. Jum and Wong, via Net Cam again that day, but physically about a week later when they bumped into us whilst we were helping Damien with a ghost operation.”
Richard then came out and took a deep breath of fresh air and walked to where Nibs, Sandra and the other’s were sitting. Richard said, “Hi Gretta, Hans.”
Gretta replied, “Hi Richard, so can I take it you too are going to be spending some time here teaching us?”
“Yes, teaching and supporting,” Richard said, “along with Nicole, Jane and Ithian over there.”
“Bloody hell,” said Hans, “So the rumour mill is true then, that they have quit their jobs as board members.”
“Yes, along with Paul, whom will be joining us next year, more than likely along with the Hunters,” Richard said, “you get to meet the Hunters at the Reception Ball.”
“What?” Gretta said, “The Hunters will be at the Ball and also coming here?”
“Yes,” replied Richard, “Over the last few weeks the Hunters like the Vixens have shown themselves to be a group of people worthy of being here, in more ways than one. Like the Vixens most of them have abilities that mark them out as different from the rest of the population. Sym like Hell Bright and Amy is learning how to become a Line Walker. At least four of the membership are planning on becoming Tattooed fighters and have their first tattoos in that respect, and will very likely be facing off against a vampire cell along with other elite forces from Suraban. We also massively increased our Suraban operations forces as well, thanks to Nibs and the Vixens.”
“When you get chance watch the Fight Night of the 8th Ebinar,” Nibs said, “the last fight of the main card, the seven way partner fight, both Clare and Abbey from that fight are members of the Hunters and are planning on becoming Tattooed fighters,” Sandra said.
“I saw that evening,” replied Gretta, “Your kidding, Clare and Abbey from that fight are members of the Hunters!”
“Yes,” replied Nibs.
“Hell, they were bloody good,” Goram replied, “they proved it on a couple of occasions that they were experts.”
“This is one of the traits that mark us out as different to the rest of the population, our ability to partner fight,” Nibs said.
“I think the next few years are going to be fun I think,” said Gretta.
“I think you could be right,” responded Goram.
“And I think beyond that,” said Sandra.
* * * * * *
At 05:50AN Paula came out and said, “Ladies and gents of the Academy, in ten minutes dinner is served.”
Blackie thought said to Nibs, “Most of us, want to spend a few hours exploring and so we will depart and see you later.”
Nibs thought replied back, “Have each one tell their partners and I don’t see why not.”
Nibs looked around at the fairies and saw most of the partners looked as if they were having the same or similar chat with everyone.
Everyone stood up and made there way inside and followed Paula through a door and down a long corridor which had a few doors in and also the hung on the walls were more paintings and other pictures of artwork. Paula led them up a set of spiral stairs to the ground floor and then through a door and into the large dining room.
The dining room was a good 50ft square and had 14 large round tables each had 12 place settings for at least a three course meal. The walls like the rest of the public areas had paintings and pictures on the walls. In the south wall was two double doors which led to the kitchen. In the east wall was the door everyone had entered by and in the north wall was another door. Down the west wall was three ten foot wide floor to ceiling windows that looked out over the grounds to some of the other blocks and buildings.
When everyone was in and sat down, Paula then stood and said to everyone gathered, “This day marks the start of the new year here at the Academy and this day we welcome the new year one. I think we all hope they have a fun five years here and then go on to have even more fun in the wide world combating the Evils.”
Everyone then said, “Welcome to the Academy Year One.”
Out of the left set of double doors came four gents and three women all pushing serving trolleys. A few minutes later everyone was the first course and a drink and were tucking into the meal.
* * * * * *
An hour later, after dinner, the Vixens had walked back to their accommodation common room as most of the rest of the Academy had headed back to the main common room.
As the Vixen’s left Nibs said to Paula, “Let us settle in and we will probably come back and chill later, the flight down and then the flight here was long and I think we need to find our feet first and sort out who’s sleeping where.”
“Good point,” Paula replied, “Your Academy PDUs are on the side beside the main door.”
“Thank you,” replied Sandra and followed Nibs and the rest of the Vixens back the same route they had come, but rather than staying in the common room they headed up the spiral staircase to the ground floor and then back to the accommodation block.
When Nibs, who came in last, had closed the door she said, “We have arrived.”
“Like hell we have arrived,” Jum said.
“Lets sort out who wants what room,” said Wong.
“We’ll take those two,” replied Sandra and pointed to the pair of doors on th left of the main area.
Paul then said, “We’ll take those two,” and indicated the two opposite the main door in.
“Right then we’ll take those two,” said Jum and he pointed to the two doors on the first floor above Sandra and Nibs’ pair.
Ren then looked at Hell Bright and said, “We’ll take those two then and pointed to the two doors on the first floor above Paul’s and Amy’s pair.
“It’s a toss up then between us lot then,” Abs said looking at Angel and Damieel.
“No it’s not, we’ll take the upstairs rooms,” said Damieel.
“Good that’s sorted then,” said Nibs and she picked up her rucksack and took it into her’s and Sandra’s pair of rooms. Nibs then took out her Tablet and laptop and found two power sockets beside the computer and plugged them both in. Nibs then walked to the wardrobes and opened the right hand one of the pair. Nibs found a good few items of clothes, nearly all of them were of the Goth scene.
Sandra then walked through the interconnecting door and said, “I’m impressed, they have thought of everything, enough clothes for a good two weeks, and most of them Gothic in style and colours.”
“I know hun,” replied Nibs. Nibs then walked towards the bed and bounced on it to check the feel and said, “Nice comfortable bed.”
“That’s good, because tonight hun, I’m going to have some fun.”
“Mm,” responded Nibs looking sheepish.
Tina looked in through the door and said, “You two want a drink? Some one left us some Cabilla in a fridge under the drink’s making table.”
“Yeah,” replied Sandra, “I hope they have a good supply of it as I know for a fact we drink a lot.”
Both Nibs and Sandra walked out and saw a screen had been dropped and a digital projector was showing Digital News, which was reporting a terrorist attack in the city of Ellibar in Darklein, the reports were of 14 killed and 23 civilians and eight local security personal injured.
“Any one claimed responsibility yet?” Nibs asked.
“No,” replied Paul, “The World President has said that the atrocities committed in the furtherment of unacceptable goals should be looked upon as crimes against the population of Darra Von.”
“Turn the sound up,” said Abs as the Commander of the Local Echo Tech Security forces walked to the microphone set up in front of the Darklein President’s Palace.
Paul picked up the remote and pointed it at the projector and the sound rose to an acceptable level,
“Local Echo Tech security personal where injured the suicide car bombing of one of the local markets today. We at Echo Tech take the injuring of our personal very seriously and we will be providing all the resources needed by the local security forces in the hunt for the terrorist cell that carried out this bombing and other cells that we suspect are operating in and around the cities.”
“When will Darklein learn they are only having problems because of the way they control the people. Massive unemployment, checkpoints. They keep all the money they make in mining the mountains and spend none of it on the people other than the corporates that own the mining companies,” Ren said, “dad said the best way of Darklein becoming one of the more powerful countries in world is to make sure the people have food and shelter.”
“I think we had better keep ourselves up to date on these matters, as they may have bearing on thing’s related to the Conspiracy,” said Sandra.
“Damn true,” said Angel and passed Sandra the blunt she had been smoking.
“Angel, Damieel,” said Nibs, “what god did you support?”
“The god Fur-Darm,” Angel replied, “a minor god in the Pathernons of Darra Von.”
“And the Devil Lord, Chit-tar again a minorish Devil Lord,” Damieel replied, “but because of the freak chance that both of us would be born to the same mum and then get put in a religious boarding school. Yeah right we want to go back to being our separate angel and demon. I love being Damieel.”
“And I love I love being Angel.” The pair smiled at Nibs.
“Another question for you two,” said Amy, “me and Hell Bright researched Fallen Angels, Risen Demons for Ithian. He suspected a pair where close by. How much of the legends and other information is true?”
“As you guessed Amy, Hell Bright a lot of it is fiction in the way it is written, but a lot of the under lying aspects of the articles are true as to our powers and abilities. We know when someone is checking auras and we can shield and change our aura to what ever we want,” Angel said, then Damieel said, “we could have the same auras as you Nibs, or you Ren. Timothy and his partner Harrki checked everyone’s auras yesterday evening. He wet his pants when he realised that he was looking at people who knew how to control and were controlling the powers, he knows we both shielded ourselves from him.”
“The wings you both have, are they real or are they just for show?” Hell Bright asked.
“They are very real, again because we both control 50% of the other, we hide them from all, and again with true sight you can see them, but no we can fly with them.”
“Why are you here with us, having fun that’s one answer and I doubt it’s the real one,” Paul asked.
“My Devil lord had been in negotiations with the Char-metal dragon and if the Char-metal is freed he will rule Darra Von for all times, he will also use the magick of Darra Von to spread his Evil and War to other dimensions. My lord had pledge his entire demon legions to the Char-metal so he could have a force to match the armies of the Evils. It was over this I disagreed and I fell from faith. We have seen the evil that is the Char-metal and it is the truest sense of Evil. Pure and utterly determined to kill the god and goddess of the planet and therefore effectively destroy Darra Von. As those of the Paygan faith would see things.”
“We are immortal, if our bodies are killed and destroyed we will seek new just dead bodies and return to the fight. That will keep happening until I return to faith. We can never leave the human realm whilst I no longer support Chit-tar or any Devil Lord,” Angel said, “That is the reason we are here now, the Devil half of me has left the faith of Chit-tar and will never return, I would have probably come down to help in the war that is coming anyway, but with the Devil half rising, I’m here for the duration.”
“We may know everything, but Amy put it perfectly when she said, ‘she loves the learning process’. So do we.”
“I think we all do Angel,” said Nibs, “that’s the reason we are here ain’t it, to learn and become what fate has destined for us to become.”
“Yes,” responded Sandra, “very true.”
* * * * * *
“Gretta,” Hans said as they sat in their common room.
“Yes Hans,” replied Gretta looking up from the novel she was reading.
The common room was 60ft across and was in the shape of an octagon in the middle was the seating most of year 2 preferred large bean bags, they ranged in size from the big, a good five foot diameter ones to the more normal sitting sized bags the walls were covered in loads of diagrams and a few posters from the cities and Metros they had been to on operation. Also along the walls were Year 2’s Computers and tablet recharge bays.
“The Year One’s what is your first impressions of them?” Hans asked.
“That is a difficult question to answer as we have only just met them,” Gretta replied.
“Yeah, and the amount of combat experience is impressive, even if it is against other gangs,” Goram replied, “and if they were on the front lines during the final battle I bet good odds they were also involved in other operations during the war.”
Ali walked in from the main common area and walked to her tablet and took it out of the recharge bay and then smiled at Gretta, who smiled back and went back to reading.
Ali then walked out side and was stopped by Adam who said, “Tomorrow we find out who the primary is for the next operation, this should be interesting though especially with the new year ones.”
“In lots of ways,” Ali replied.
“You read the latest updates on them?”
“No the last update I read was a just after the final mission in the Wacker War. Why?”
“The latest is that three pairings are married and it looks like a fourth are heading towards getting married.”
“Married!” Adam exclaimed.
“Yeah they are,” said Jane, “me, Nicole, and Richard were all at the wedding at Gangrel command.”
“Bloody hell,” Adam said, “I would never had said they were married, partners or lovers yes, but not married.”
Oliver walked over and asked, “I heard you exclaim about people being married Adam, who’s married.”
“Six of the year ones,” replied Ali.
“They ain’t old enough to be married,” Oliver said.
“They are,” Jane replied.
“Then who’s married to whom?” Adam asked.
“Nibs to Sandra, Paul to Amy, and Abs to Tina,” replied Jane.
“What about the rest of them then?” asked Adam.
“Jum and Wong are I think planning their marriage to be a traditional Jarrzarian ceremony presided over by Nibs. Hell Bright and Ren are brother and sister, and I have never found a closer brother and sister team, and lastly Angel and Damieel,” Jane replied.
* * * * * *
“Ok, Nicole,” Tammeria said whilst the pair were sat outside, “I’m planning on making provisional email contact this week at some point, so how are you wanting to run this double cross, as I want in on the raids against any Sec Com personal.”
“How much do they know about the operation?” Nicole said.
“Before the wedding on Sumdar, I already had forged and handed in the necessary documents to say that the mission I was about to start was a deep cover operation. It also said that my designated controller was Thomas, a friend from the same year as me.”
“Good, as the transmitter for you is at this moment in North Suraban running with Gavin and the Pen, so if we leave you there for a little while and then bring to Echo Tech City. So that it looks as if you are slowly intergrating yourself within the organisation.” Nicole said.
“Excellent,” replied Tammeria, “but how long before I can take this out.”
“We can book a Scan at the main Conspiracy medical facility next weekend and then give the surgeons a couple of weeks to plan and prepare for the operation and then it’s a simple matter of being sedated and locally anneshisied and then removing it,” Nicole said, “and as you and Gavin were in the same year and the surgeons that did his will be doing yours. Simple job for them. You should be able to attend the start of the Academy Reception Ball have the operation on Savraday during the day and be back at the Ball by the evening.”
“That will be good, the next job finding some thing that will hide the skin,” Tammeria said, “The one problem of the Skin Weave, the grey colour it leaves your skin.”
“I’ve been looking at your problem and I think with Amy and Hell Bright’s help I may be able to do something about that,” a gent standing 5’10” tall and dressed in flowing dark green and red robes.
“Arh Ithian,” said Nicole and the said after looking Ithian up and down, “very smart.”
“Thank you Nicole,” replied Ithian, “I prefer this to the trousers and tops we wear normally. These look a little weird walking down the street.”
“True they would,” Tammeria said.
“Tammeria meet Ithian our resident expert in all things magickal and occult.”
“Oh you’re the gent I saw with Hell Bright and Amy just before dinner?” said Tammeria.
“Yes I was,” Ithian replied, “I’m also teaching both of them to control the forces needed to do things like this,” and Ithian created a small fire ball in the palm of his hand.
Tammeria stared in shock at it, “Is it real?” Tammeria asked questionally.
“Yes, very much so,” Ithian replied, “Put your hand near it, the magic used to create this also protects me from the heat being produced.”
“What is that spell?” Nicole asked.
“This one, Chain of Fire Balls,” Ithian replied, “I can create a ten foot long line of the same size fire balls and as long as I have one held in my hand I can make it do what every I want it to.”
Tammeria then moved her hand near to the ball of fire and when her hand was about three foot away, she said, “That is very hot, I can feel the heat being produced here.”
“I invented this one about 30 years ago when I needed similar to contain an ice demon on the world I was visiting. I was forced to kill it, I would have preferred to have contained it and then sent it home, it had scared a few of the locals and they had asked that the group of friends I was with at the time hunt it down and kill it.”
“The more I see of the forces arrayed here and within the Conspiracy itself, Sec Com could field five times the forces and they wouldn’t stand a chance, but against the evils I do wonder what we hope to achieve.”
“What we hope to achieve is containment more than anything else. People and agents close to the Evils and also to Sec Com, you said you wanted in when we hit Sec Com sites,” Nicole said, “be certain that those site’s aren’t sites owned by a conspiracy agent. Paula told me that you were looking into Sec Com especially those close to the commander, Commander Sinc.”
“Yes I am,” replied Tammeria, “I’m going to feed his precious Sec Com to the Mass Media, piece by piece.” Tammeria then took a sip from the mug she was holding and turned to look down the length of the lake.
“One of those five high up’s you have is a deep cover agent working for us,” Nicole said, “I personally signed the orders sending him in, and all those he buys as slaves from the various slave markets we know of, are immediately freed and most work for him, but some do depart and most that do re-join the ranks of the slaves but as observation agents for us.”
“Oh,” Tammeria said, “Why haven’t you moved against them before now.”
“The reason is Commander Sinc knows the locations of four of the twelve Magickal seals that seal the Char-metal Dragon’s prison and we will when we know he is moving to break them, but until then again we contain Sec Com’s power and operations.”
“Arh, so I shouldn’t be to hasty to jump to conclusions. You seen to know a lot about the Char-metal Dragon,”
“Yes,” Nicole replied, “How much do you know of the Conspiracy’s history specifically surrounding the prophecy?”
“Nothing, this is the first time I’ve heard about it.”
“Right,” said Nicole, “Let me fill in the blanks. Roughly 300 years ago, 12 people, which include me, Jane, Richard, Paul Delimetry, and Kev Marks had a waking dream. It showed us the coming of a force powerful enough to send the evils packing but also when you looked closer you saw the twelve seals holding the prison of the Char-metal shut. This planet’s ultimate Evil, from the history stored here and in the other Conspiracy Library sites, we learnt about the Tiranna faith. Richard, who had spent ten years at a remote temple dedicate to the Tiranna, filled in the blanks concerning the Char-metal. When Richard left the Temple and became a missionary he had flawlessly copied the entire Tiranna faith texts onto proper parchment. He then gave the scrolls to the Jarrzar national Museum with the instructions that when anyone showing a Conspiracy Identification wants to view and research them they can. They are still owned by Richard’s estate.”
“Right,” Tammeria responded.
“But back to the dream. Three of the seals are broken. We think broken by it’s essences since it was sealed inside. We know Sinc has been in contact with something otherwise he would not have been able to gather the Black Elf forces he had ready when we launched the last battle of the Wacker War,” Nicole said, “the dream didn’t show what the force would look like or what race it was, or generally anything other than it would lay waste to the Evils.”
“Shit.”
“Yeah,” replied Nicole, “The dream also gave us certain abilities, one is none of the twelve age at all. We have the ability to what we call ghost and go to other dimensions, we are totally unable to touch or interact with the dimension but it is great when on a fact finding mission. The third major ability is to physically travel to a dimension we have visited as Ghosts. The one draw back, it is physically very draining on us and requires a long period of preparation before hand and when we have arrived we can just about do the basic simple things for a similar time period.”
“Oh,” Tammeria replied, “that’s not so good.”
“No, but, it has provided us with a massive wealth of resources, the Powered Armour used in the final battle of the Wacker War, were reversed engineered from samples we brought back from those explorations. The technology we use in the Black Light, is tech we’ve brought back from missions. We have a fully working Scimitar class Space frigate capable of travelling between star systems because we were able to ask the designers for help in fixing one that had crash landed in the jungles on South Aticca. We are also hoping to send students from here to one of the Consortium of Civilized Worlds universities for an exchange trip. Our ballistic technology is loved on a few planets and also in a couple of dimensions. Especially the MA series.”
“Mm. Ok,” Tammeria said.
“They are more than capable of taking supernatural creatures down and also threaten the more advanced military and similar vehicles. Some of the reports coming from Suraban is that there was a running street fight between fast moving vehicles and most of the ones being chased were packing MA280s and similar weapons.”
“Your kidding,” Tammeria said, “Do they know who was responsible for that, they’re must have been some collateral damage, injured and dead civilians?”
“Two minor injuries due to flying fragments after one crashed and it exploded. We know exactly who was responsible for the destruction of the vehicles, the Gangrel Hunters. They stirred up a hornets nest in local gangs the Darabar just gone,” Nicole said, “four academy FAVs each one is armed with a MA280 on the main gunners mount and a MA260 ISW on the passenger’s seat, and each has 2000rounds of ammo. They are also fully equipped with the latest in smart gun software and full stabilization , once it has locked a target it will only fire when the weapon is over the target. Hunter Alpha’s FAV has a MA290 instead of the 280 and I think Sniper’s has a particle cannon.”
“Weaouch,” Tammeria said.
“We take our responsibility to the native population very seriously indeed Tammeria. To give you example, Sandra and Paul’s mum and dad, Ben and Leigh Patterson, both known to Jane as they all ran with the Gangrels, specifically the same unit, the original Bitch Vixens. They were killed when a tunnel Conspiracy forces were having a running fire fight in, I think they were fighting a group of Kittani and Blind Warrior woman who were operating a slaver site, collapsed. Other Conspiracy groups kicked in and sorted out making sure both Sandra and Paul were placed at a good school and that the house was in their names.”
“I made sure that they were both ok, but I think they both have forgotten the meeting, I am a Pa-Da to both of them,” said Jane and offered Tammeria the pipe she had just loaded.
“As I’m I,” said Nicole.
“I think a lot of people if they knew about the work you people do, would say, why?”
“Because we can Tammeria, because we can,” Nicole said.
* * * * * *
Adam asked Liz who was laying on the bench press, in their common room, about to bench press 100lbs. Adam was standing over her helping with the weight bar, “So what do you think of the new Year ones?”
“Very down to earth I would say, I don’t think much phases Nibs or Sandra.”
“But their love, it’s total.”
“I know,” Liz replied, “I’ve not seen love to that level before, mind you I think a lot of year one have that love for their partners.”
Ge-lee walked over and said, “I chatted with Jum and Wong when they arrived, and they are close. What about the other pairings through?”
“Nibs and Sandra are one,” Adam said, “Tina and Abs are another, Amy and Paul, Jum and Wong, Hell Bright and Ren and Angel and Damieel are the last pair.”
* * * * * *
Jackson was stood beside the drinks making facilities, preparing himself a coffee when Boris walked over and asked, “You brought the new first years here, what’s your opinion of them?”
“Mine, not got one,” replied Jackson, “I was in the driver’s seat the whole journey. Which don’t help when making judgements on people. They seem a very down to earth group.”
“Ok, only time will tell then.”
“Yeah, pretty much so,” Jackson said, “Boris who was working on reverse engineering the Starfire?”
“Jonny I think,” replied Boris, “Harry would know.”
“Ok, thanks.” Jackson after picking up his coffee turned and looked across the room and saw stood beside the door to the staff common room Fran Two Stars. Jackson walked across the room and said, “Hi, surprised you weren’t here for the arrival of the new year one’s.”
“I know, but Hotel Alpha found an injured Ebba Deer on the main road and brought it back, I’ve spent most of the after noon sorting out it’s injury and also checking the animal for other injuries.”
“How is the animal?” Jackson asked.
“Fine, I’ve splinted the leg and it won’t be running around for a while, but it’s in the compound and safe, so it will be able to get well and then return to the forest.”
* * * * * *
Around 9 in the evening the windows on the first level of the accommodation block were showing the dipping sun. Stood on the first floor was Nibs and Sandra, Nibs was leaning up against the wall where the floor to ceiling window was, she was holding Sandra around the waist. The pair were looking out down the right hand side of the lake and over the forest as the rolling hills took it into the distance, just visible were some of the snow capped peaks of the Low Back Mountains.
As the pair were looking out Daraus padded over and sat at the pair’s heels and like them he too looked out.
Nibs spotted a fast moving object hurtling towards the surface of the lake then the object took to the air carrying a fish in it’s talons. “You see the Lake Hawk take the fish love?”
“I did, the scenery here is beautiful, I doubt scenery like this will be here in a few years.”
“I doubt it very much as well,” said Daraus, “I have a feeling that the battle for Darra Von will be very nasty with a lot of casualties and a lot of damage down to the environment.”
“I hope not,” responded Nibs.
Then a knock came from the door. Amy who was closest opened it and saw Tammeria standing outside. Tammeria asked, “I hope I’m not disturbing?”
“No,” replied Amy and Nibs from the first floor.
“Hi Nibs,” responded Tammeria and walked in. Tammeria closed the door and walked around the common room and was about to climb the spiral stairs to the first floor.
When Nibs said, “stay there Tammeria, I want a drink anyway.”
“Ok,” replied Tammeria and moved to the sofa’s in the middle.
Wong came out of the bathroom and said, “Hi again Tammeria.”
“Hi Wong.”
Nibs, Sandra and Daraus came down to the ground floor. Sandra walked to the sofas and sat beside Tammeria whilst Nibs made some drinks.
Amy asked Tammeria, “When did you get here as we saw you on the Moroth after the wedding and then you disappeared?”
“On Ulleam,” Tammeria replied, “I was smuggled out of Suraban on Torbar, just in case Sec Com had people watching the two entrances.”
“How much you seen of the place?” Nibs asked as she was waiting for the kettle to boil.
“Not much really, Paula suggested rather than doing the tour twice I join you lot when you have yours tomorrow. As I’m here as support staff and as it is a college I think I may spend some time getting a few long overdue qualifications.”
“Yeah,” Paul said as he walked out of his and Amy’s rooms, “In what?”
“Bio-Chemistry for one, and also a couple of other qualifications I’ve wanted, like becoming a diving instructor and also a parachute instructor, along with a few other qualifications.”
“What’s your opinion of the other years?” Sandra asked.
“Most of the students were on Vacation and didn’t get back until yesterday. Some of the second and fourth years were around and they don’t seem to bad. It looks like the Red Necks like you though which is good.”
“From what I was able to gather,” said Tina as she walked out of her’s and Abs’ rooms wearing a bath robe and a towel around her head, “I think they came from a Red Neck area, but grew up on this side of the streets rather than the religious indoctonation side.”
“What have you been doing Nibs? We parted company a good three and a half years ago,” Tammeria asked.
“A lot of travelling,” Nibs replied, I spent a good two years travelling around four different countries, spent about half a year in each of them. Then three quarters of a year in Ne-U-Bar and then came to Suraban. How about you?”
“About three days after you and your parents left, Sec Com came asking for volunteers and I got volunteered, didn’t I,” Tammeria replied and took the cup Nibs handed her as Nibs moved around the sofa and sat beside Sandra. “I wasn’t suppose to look into how I became a member, but my curiosity got the better of me. It looks like one of the teachers at the school suggested that they take a look at me and I end up a Sec Com Agent. I don’t think the teacher had any idea that the guy she was talking to about me was an agent. I think that’s how they work, as teachers and other people in responsibility and see who they suggest and then give them no choice about joining.”
“What is Sec Com like?” Amy asked, “I’ve heard stories about them, but other than the final battle in the Wacker War. You’re the first person from Sec Com I think any of us have met.”
Amy’s comment got a few nods of agreement, only Jum, and Wong didn’t.
“Sec Com is divided up into four separate groups, Combat, Security, Intelligence, and Tech. Each year the group that’s selected is trained in all aspects of Sec Com’s work for the first six months. Then you get selected to join a specific department and only then do they start to modify the bodies with cybernetics and bionics with group dependent equipment. Up until then they’ve already laced your bones with a Tibirra composite, given your muscles an improvement by coating each in a memory metal, and also installed cybernetic eyes and a small computer.”
“Bloody hell,” said Wong, “I did wonder what they did to the people.”
“That’s nothing, that’s the base everyone gets, then at six months of the year long course you go for the phase two implants, the group specific ones. Combat group, which I was selected to join. Oh yeah, you get no choices in the matter of what group you join, if the commander likes you, then you join his group, I don’t know what happens if two or more people like you. These are the implants I got, reconstruction of both arms, limited reconstruction of my legs, sub-dermal armour plating three six inch claws which extend from both hands. I also have an adaptation that allows me to fix to either or both arms a weapons rig. My back is also fitted with plugs for a man-mount rig for the heavy weapons.”
“You said yes to that lot?” Tina asked.
“No,” Tammeria replied, “the training they give you is suppose to make you model agents, yes sir, no sir people, well that and the tech we get to play with. The one problem they didn’t see in me was my independent streak, I rebelled against the brainwashing and made sure that I questioned things in my own head. You don’t get a choice in Sec Com, you get told to do something, you go and do it. They expect you to follow the book in most matters. That’s why the guy’s you killed didn’t back down Jum, Wong, the book says, ‘No Sec Com Agent every leaves his or her post, and as those two were making sure their charge wasn’t arrested and deported.”
“They came at us,” Wong said.
“Most normal people with the upgrading we have would have thought we have just been kicked and forced back, these guys are powerful, lets not go head to head with them,” Tammeria said, “That’s what Combat, Tech or Intelligence would have done, left the charge and dealt with him else where, but as they both were from Security, brains are optional, they decided to fight you.”
“And got killed in the process,” Jum replied.
“A question for you Tammeria,” said Hell Bright from the first floor. Hell Bright then walked down the spiral staircase and asked, “The White skinned ones we faced in the last battle, who are they?”
“Them,” Tammeria replied, “they were either members of the elite, Alpha force or they were members of the command council. Twelve including Commander Sinc of the best, two members from each group and the head of each group. Commander Sinc commands the intelligence group and his two underlings Drack and Goldie are masters of subterfuge and espionage work. Commander Sinc is an expert when it comes to analysing intelligence.”
Tammeria then took a gulp from her mug and said, “Back to you Nibs. What the hell have you been doing?”
“Yeah,” replied Wong, “Other than the adventures with Tammeria and Cubbadar, what other things did you do, any other friends who may pop up?”
“Ok, Wong, Tammeria,” Nibs replied, “This could take a while.”
“Ok,” responded Sandra, “Who else did you make friends with?”
“Ok guys,” Nibs said, then took a gulp of Chai and placed it down on the table. Nibs then started, “Other than Tammeria, and even you should remember Osukilm.”
“Yeah, don’t I half,” responded Tammeria, “He was a character if ever I saw one.”
“I bet he still works out of that corner shop he had,” Nibs said, “As my main friend is here now, I’ll leave Rujuniva. Where did I go next?” Nibs asked herself, “Deebina Metro, East Bay Borough, very nice neighbourhood for those corporate types that want a quiet life,” said Nibs using a local accent. “No, me and Freddic there you have one hell of a partnership, who’s older brother actually introduced me to the ghost world. He was in his last year at high school and had already been offered a place on two individual teams of ghosts. It was when me, Losnum and Freddic went to a local youth hang out, I met the Black fairy, she was a poster on the wall advertising a local comic aimed at youths around our age. The comic described the adventures of a young girl who through a genetic experiment gained a pair of black wings. The other thing was her motto, ‘Fun loving, but evil’.”
“Your motto,” said Angel who was stood on the first floor sat on the chairs they brought from their rooms.
“Bingo Angel, my motto,” responded Nibs and then took another gulp of chai and got her tin out and rolled a blunt when she had lit it she continued, “After that we moved to Spinnaya, this is where I learnt my survival skills and had my first brush with death.”
“Your kidding?” Tammeria said, “No, I’m not Tammeria. Let me explain, again here I made friends with Greetza from the same year, I think I was in the 2nd year High. The guy who taught me and Greetza how to survive in the wastes and forests was the guy who worked the security checkpoint for the private estate were mum and dad lived, being travelling trouble shooters has it’s perks, good pay, nice housing. The brush with death was when the three of us were spending a long weekend up north, Nimbo had spent five hours driving us to the area, then the plan was to spend the weekend living off the land, using only the natural environment, we hunted with bows. Me and Greetza were out stalking an Elk, when a Spinnayan Ridgehead bit me in the leg. I screamed, the Elk bolted, but both Greetza and Nimbo both found me quickly. Thankfully Greetza saw the snake before it made it’s escape and Nimbo had one vial of anti-venom. It was not good, I could feel my left leg going numb and I also slipped into and out of conscious a few times, from what Greetza said after.”
“Shit me!” Tammeria exclaimed, “A Spinnayan Ridgehead, you are one lucky person. Not many people walk away from a bite from one of those. They are a water snake, but all along the high north and the north polar ice caps you find various types of Ridgeheads.”
“I do wonder if my adept abilities helped as well, as it bit me on the Savraday around lunchtime, I was back on my feet and out of bed by Sumdar dinner time.”
“More than likely,” Tina said, “Abs is also listening, but she’s soaking in a hot bath.”
Sandra called, “Hi Abs.”
“She say’s hi back,” Tina replied, “That’s a good point where are the fairies?”
“Out basking in the local mana energy the House is built right on a ley line and a think thirty metres in front of the main door is the top few feet of the Pyramid that controls the Super Nexus,” Hell Bright replied, Vitanna said they are also looking for the local fairy community. I know Amy has felt the amount of power we can draw has gone up massively.”
“Yeah I know,” Amy replied.
“Anyway,” Nibs said, “Can I get back to telling you about the people I’ve met.”
“Yeah, sorry Nibs,” Hell Bright said.
“Where was I.”
“You had been bitten by a Spinnayan Ridgehead.”
“Oh yes. Yes, by the time we had arrived back at home it was as if nothing had happened, my doctor lived only a couple of houses away and did catch me, a few days later and asked how I was. He told me Nimbo had told him about the snake bite. I told him I was feeling quite alright. A few weeks later we were out in a local forest this time we had food with us, a tree snake dropped on me and hissed right in my ear and I freaked totally, hyperventilating, sweat was pouring from me Nimbo who was second in line said he had never seen anything like my reaction. Ever since I don’t like snakes.”
“How did you cope then in science and at Misty’s?” Paul asked.
“By using a breathing and meditative technique I learnt when I was studying Mauya. Which was also the time Cubbadar taught me how to play Rudeashean Drums, he also taught me Mauya. I can be quite close to a captive snake, as long as the containment is secure. The second one escapes or I see a wild one, I freak.”
“Have you tried to combat it?” Ren asked as he came down the spiral staircase.
“Yes, using every method under the sun from the introducing slowly to hypnosis, nothing works. The one at Misty’s did freak me a bit, but it was in it’s home, and with the breathing exercises I was able to control it. As I said Cubbadar was next friend I met and made, the man is amazing, nothing phases him at all. I swear on a couple of occasions he knew what I was planning and the joke ended up on me.”
“I grew out the practical jokes just after I left Rudeash,” Nibs said and emptied her mug and placed in on the table.
Paul and Tammeria got up and headed for the drinks making facility’s.
Nibs continued, “From Rudeash I we travelled to South Attica and mum was based in the Southern Cape City, but dad had to roam around all the cities. South Attica was where I got my second experience of the Ghost world, Matt someone I knew from the local electronics store I used introduced me to a another couple of regulars, two guys straight from the annuals of the Ghost world. Two very stocky broad shoulder guys, but with a gentle caring side. They both contacted ahead of me when I told them I was going to Ne-U-Bar, a ghost lady, it would be the best description of her, met me by dropping a letter into my pocket as we passed, she bump me to tell me she had done something. The letter was an introduction letter telling me that the two ghosts I had known had contacted her. Those were some of the most interesting 18 months I’ve had, she taught me the nuneaise of the Ghost combat forms or Lappellr. It was through her I became one of the off line backup sites for the ghost and black net forums and news pages. From Ne-U-Bar I come to Suraban.”
“That is one hell of a world tour,” Tammeria said, “I can now see why you are so good with languages.”
“Thank you Tammeria,” responded Nibs, “remember though, I learn about everything, not just the language but the culture, the people and the religions native to the place. The second I hear a language I know my brain clicks into that country’s mode and it’s natural.”
“Who out of everyone whom you have met, would you want to see again?” Wong asked.
“This may surprise some people, but the one person I would want to see again is the Language 101 teacher from Rudeash, she looked down at everyone in the class. Well she did until the last day I was in her class,” Nibs smiled a happy smile as she remembered the obsenities that she had made the teacher translate.
“What did you do to her?” Jum asked, “because I know that smile Nibs.”
“Oh I made her look very small. The last five minutes I stood and told her to shut the fuck up in Rudeashian, she stared at me as if to say, what did you just say, I said it again and also told her to translate what I said next, I them spent three minutes rolling obsentities off my tongue and I end it by saying those who look down upon something should watch out for fist coming the other way. Then the bell went and I disappeared. A friend grabbed my bag as he left the class and as the class left I said something in Rudeashian and right on cue they class laughed at it.”
“You evil little bint,” Sandra said.
“All the class knew about the laugh at my departing words, it was a genuine joke, and a lot of the locals got the joke and joined in. No one had any idea about the last five minutes though, that was all me getting my own back.”
Amy then yarned and looked at the clock hanging from the first floor. “Hell it’s early and I’m tired already.”
“I know,” said Jum, “I’m thinking about getting some sleep as well.”
“Well then as we had all better be awake for the tour tomorrow, I think we all could do with some sleep,” Sandra suggested.
Most of the friends nodded agreements to the suggestion and tidied away the dirty cups and other items and generally made sure it looked tidy.
As Nibs was about to walked through the door to hers and Sandra’s room she turned and said to Tammeria, “See you tomorrow.”
“Yeah,” responded Tammeria, “Welcome to the Academy Nibs.” Tammeria them walked through the door and closed it behind her.
Nibs then got dragged into the bedroom by Sandra who had a few ideas for fun.
* * * * * *
Just as the three friends lay in bed, Sandra and Nibs smoking the last blunt of the evening Sandra said, “I think Year One has gained a thirteenth member.”
“I think you could be right, love,” responded Nibs, “I love you Sandra.” Nibs then put the blunt down and then turned so she could gave Sandra a kiss on the lip and then the pair with Daraus laying at their feet snuggled down to sleep.
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