Chapter 4

Alan awoke hours later, rubbing his face as he looked around the room. “Hopix?” he said, on the outside chance she was back. Dejected, he hung his head. He was glad she was back with her family, but all of this seemed senseless without her. Huh? Had he just thought that? “I should slap myself,” Alan thought. Where in the hell were those ideas coming from? How could he have any feelings for Hopix? They were two different species from two different worlds. Shaking his head, he dismissed the thought. Yes, there was no way.

Walking to the diner this time, Alan kept his eyes open. It wouldn’t do to get caught unawares again for the third time. Sitting at his usual booth, Alan nodded to a police officer who came in and sat with his partner.

“Did they get a preliminary report back on that homeless guy from yesterday we found?” the first one said.

“Oh yeah, this was a weird one,” the second one said, pulling a sheet of paper from his vest. “According to the M.E.’s report, the stiff had been dead for a day or two. Looks like we might be dealing with some pranksters on this one. Thing is though, can’t seem to find any open graves here in the city.”

“Oh great,” the first one replied. “Body snatching grave robbers from out of town. Christ, the media’s gonna have a field day with this!”

Alan ate his meal, a little shocked. The man yesterday had seemed a little strange. Damn it, the dark council was desecrating graves now. These bastards hold nothing sacred! Alan was heading out the door when he saw another strange-looking man heading his way. Quickly exiting, Alan made his way to an abandoned alley. “Why are you following me? I thought I told all of you I wasn’t interested, especially after yesterday! Leave me ALONE!” The man stopped short as if he’d run into a brick wall.

“You won’t escape us forever! Sooner or later, you’ll make a mistake and we’ll be there to feast upon your soul,” the man laughed.

“Maybe one day, but not now. Besides, you lost one of the biggest magic user worlds yesterday. I expect to take many more before I am done!” Alan said, the force of his voice knocking the man back further.

“You can try, Mage Alan. Oh, you can try!” With that, the strange man vanished.

Walking back to his room, Alan sat in his chair, almost at a loss as to what to do. Suddenly, there was a rush of wind, then there was a shimmering of air behind him.

“You must really have the dark council worried if they are making personal appearances,” the leader of the light council said. “We have another assignment for you.”

“What, no watchdog?” Alan threw out.

“We should have someone here when you return,” the leader said. “This should be a simple one.”

“Yeah, right,” Alan said. “You said that the first time and I had help then. What makes this so different?”

“This is a simple pop-in, grab the hostage, pop-out,” the leader said, smiling.

“Uh-huh, what is it you’re not telling me?” Alan asked.

“Uh, well,” the leader hesitated, “The hostage is also the ruler and might be worse than the last you dealt with, although the one holding them is even worse.”

“You know you guys are just wonderful! You expect me to do this with no knowledge or help? What, have all of you completely lost your damn minds? I’ve been making this shit up as I went along, you have been sitting back the whole damn time safe and sound. Remember, these were your mistakes, not mine. I should be treated a fair sight better than I am!” Alan was screaming now, his whole body glowing a bright red. The leader had actually moved back and erected a shield.

“Alright, Alan!” The leader shouted, momentarily calming Alan. “We apologize for leaving you out. You have more than proven yourself in the past. After today, all information shall be shared.”

With a sigh, Alan tried to calm down, “Alright, I’ll take a look, but after this, I won’t do a thing ‘til I have all the information, not just some of it!”

Alan lay down and was immediately asleep; within moments, his dream self was standing. He guessed he was standing on a cloud. Looking around, nothing even closely resembled anything familiar to him. “Screw this, make everything look like something I can handle.” Just as suddenly, everything took on a more solid appearance. ‘Bout time, Alan thought. Moving forward, he saw a few buildings ahead. Hmm, there were also what appeared to be quite a few guards there.

Walking up to them, Alan saw that they were suddenly on alert, “Hold, strange one, this is the new ruler’s residence; we will not allow anyone past.”

Waving his hand, all the guards were suddenly asleep. Alan kept walking until he was in the doorway. Looking inside, he saw a strange-looking lizard-shaped creature lashing another tied-up lizard-type creature with its tongue. From what Alan could feel, the restricted one was in a lot of pain. Sighing, he cleared his throat.

“Who are you? Ah! I see the council has sent their latest lap dog to correct their mistakes, as they put it. Too bad you’re going to die right here!” Turning, the standing lizard shot flames. “Geez! Go figure, huh?” at Alan. Throwing up his arms, the flames just stopped short of him. “NO! You’re not even here! You’re the son of a bitch that killed my brother and his children! Take care, lap dog, I will kill you, and soon. You want this little pansy ass, here.” With that, the tied lizard was flying at Alan. “Be warned, I will not rest ‘til you are dead and my brother and brethren are avenged!”

With that, the other was gone in a flash. Alan sighed and tried to reach the other still tied up when they both were drawn to ... somewhere else. Alan looked around; though there wasn’t much to see, Alan thought he could see a few of the council members in the distance.

“Alright, I’m here!” Alan shouted, “I’ve brought the one you requested.” Alan wasn’t one to be kept waiting. The longer he had to wait, the angrier he got. Damn it, they sent him out and were making him wait!? Okay, this shit needed to stop right here, right now!

Several people began to approach the two men. “Alan, we didn’t expect you to obtain him this quickly,” the leader explained. “I apologize for you having to wait.”

“Yeah, well, at least you could have warned me that the one who was holding him was the brother of the first one I went against. You know, a little pre-knowledge beforehand could have prepared me better before I went in there. This won’t happen again or you’ll be looking for another enforcer. I hope we understand better now?” Alan said, almost ready to walk out. Now that he knew when he was being used and wasn’t about to let that happen, not again.

“What!? You actually saw him?” they asked. “He is far more dangerous than we at first thought. For now, the planet is safe and returning to normal, though unlike the first two, they aren’t protected. Could you return and shore it up?”

Sighing, Alan knew that he’d been had. Why was it that they always seemed to know when he desired to actually help?

“Alright, but no more going in blind. If you really want me as your enforcer or fixer, I’d better start getting more information,” he said as he turned and started to leave.

“Mage Alan,” he heard from behind him, “we need to give you the information.”

Sighing, he stopped and turned just as the leader of the council sent a beam his way that hit his head. Suddenly, his mind was filled with cruelty, screams of pain and anguish, the death of quite a few, then the spirit of the people there finally broken. He felt dismal. How in the hell was he going to help these people? They’d probably see him as another cruel ruler. He could still feel their mistrust of anyone not of their kind.

Alan arrived back on the planet. He could feel the despair emanating from everywhere. Damn it, this son of a bitch had really done a number on this place.

Reaching out to the nearest being, expecting resistance, he was going to explain what he was going to do. The thing is, there was no resistance. Alan tried to explain what he was going to do, but it wouldn’t listen. How in the hell do you help someone who has given up all hope? Who is afraid the least resistance could spell the death of its family and planet?

Sitting, Alan tried to think of some way to get through. He had magic, sure, but didn’t think he had enough knowledge yet to cure what was ailing these beings. Sighing, Alan cleared his mind and tried to think of an answer. All got quiet around him, then suddenly he was back on Hopix’s planet. Alan flew forward and within moments was standing before Queen Glimmer, though the guards had already tried to block him.

“Hello again, Glimmer,” Alan started.

“Alan!” she said, startled. “I didn’t expect to see you again so soon. What is wrong? Your face holds such a look of confusion and desperation.”

Alan went on to tell her everything he could, what he’d felt and seen when he’d gone back to try and release these people. The Queen nodded, thinking for a few long moments. “I think you’ll need one of my people with you. They know my people there and know of us being captured. I feel it is the only way that we can truly free them. But who to send? So many of my people are just starting to regain their power.”

Alan looked at the Queen in shock. Just started to regain their power? “Okay,” he started, “I’m still new at this. What do you mean they just started to regain their power? From what I saw when I was here, they had plenty of power.” Queen Glimmer’s face took on a serious look as she leaned closer to him. “What you were seeing was their power forced to the surface. This had destroyed millions in the past. There are times I am still surprised that we survived at all. You did more than just free us, Alan. You gave us back life that we can never repay you for.”