( continues...) called only “the First Evil,” was defeated trying to create a corporeal form for itself, bringing an age of death and destruction to humanity. It was all very thrilling, I’m sure.”
“So what does all this mean to us?” said Oz.
“What it means, young Daniel, is that reality has become very, very brittle. Too many energies thrown around too close together. It created a sort of inter-dimensional circuit, if you will. This circuit was closed when another of the old ones—the gods, if you will—
by the name of Illyria, was risen from its slumber in the Deeper Well, only to vanish assisting Angel’s final act: the destruction of the Circle of the Black Thorn, an act which not only swayed the balance between order and chaos,” Ethan was smirking now, “but also rained fire and brimstone and the armies of the damned down on him and his colleagues.”
“So they are alive,” said Oz.
“Possibly,” said Ethan. “very possibly. But, assuming they are, extracting them could prove very difficult. If what I’m seeing is correct—and it is—then they exist within a singularity, a moment repeating itself perpetually in time. Saving them may well doom the entire universe. And not saving them almost certainly will.”
“What do you mean,” asked Justine.
“What he means,” said Amy, surprisingly subdued, “is that, if we don’t close the singularity, it’ll eventually wear down the already thin walls between dimensions.”
“Smart girl,” said Ethan. “That’s exactly what it means.”
“So if we don’t rescue Angel…” said Justine.
“Then all the gods and demons,” said Ethan, “will be free to walk the Earth.”
Oz gulped.
“No pressure.”
Wheee!!!! Victor, I am loving this fic oh so muchly!
Part Nine: Be Here Now
Ethan’s revelation pretty much took the wind out of their sailes. The three of them stood motionless for what seemed like hours, staring at Ethan’s smug, smiling face.
“Well,” he said, after what seemed an eternity. “Don’t you heroes have a world to save?”
They lingered a moment longer, unsure of what to say. Justine and Oz eyed each other nervously.
“I want sushi,” said Amy, snapping out of it. “Anyone else want sushi? Oz?”
“Yeah,” he said. “I’ll meet you at the elevator.” He then turned to Justine. “You coming?”
“Out? But…”
“You’re not a prisoner, Justine,” said Oz, kindly. “You can come and go as you please.”
Justine seemed to weigh that idea. Reluctantly—almost despite herself—she found her head nodding.
“Right,” said Amy, rolling her eyes. I’ll see you in a few.”
Amy walked away, Justine and Oz stood silently for a second. Everything that was flashing through her head was too much to take. She needed to say something, but it all clashed together in her throat.
“Your real name is Daniel?” she asked. It was the only thing that she could verbalize.
“Yeah,” said Oz. “Daniel Osbourne.”
“I knew a Daniel once.”
“Holtz.”
“That’s not fair!” snapped Justine. “You know everything about me! You know things about me even I don’t know! You know I stole…”
“Connor. Angel’s baby. And slit Wesley’s throat. Yeah, I know all that. And you framed Angel for Holtz’s death, so Connor would kill him.”
“How did…” Justine began to wobble. It was as though a fog was lifting in her head. "I did all those things. Angel was …”
“Angel used to be a bad cat,” said Oz. “No doubt about it. Saw a bit of that myself. And then he was a good guy. And none of it matters anymore. Just try to hang on. Try to focus on what’s here now.”
Justine’s head was swimming. She tried to stand up straight. Tried to focus. The memories were racing, but they seemed distant now, too. Like they happened to someone else.
“I slit his…”
“Be here now,” said Oz, shrugging, hands shoved in his pockets. She wanted to run. She wanted to cry. She stood motionless.
“Sushi,” she said, finally. “I’ve never had sushi.”
“It’s good,” said Oz. “You’ll like it. And you’ll love wasabi.”
Hmmm, when the going gets tough, the tough go out for sushi.
I like it.
Hmmm, when the going gets tough, the tough go out for sushi.
Well, it's always been my method of dealing...
I like it.
Thanks.
when the going gets tough, the tough go out for sushi.
You know, I've been trying to figure out how to structure my Election night in a way that will keep me the most sane. I know one thing I'm going to do now.
Wow, this is good. Do you have a webpage or something where this will be archived? I'm gonna want to send links to friends when it's finished.
Thanks. Usually, Plei's kind enough to archive things for me, although I'd hate to take her for granted. If she for some reason can't, I'll put it up somewhere or other.
