New Beginning 23: One for the Record Books

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Unworthy?" Knight asks confused. "I assure you, I'm here for a most worthy cause." He says, continuing to walk forward. "What must I do to make my way past? A riddle, perhaps?"

It is at this point Vault floats into the room, takes one look at the guardian, and floats right back out.

[Philote]

The guardian stalks forward, intent on keeping Knight from moving more than a quarter into the room.

Miss Shield floats by outside. "Want to bet on how long it takes him to trigger the Guardian into combat?" she asks jokingly to Vault.

The guardian stares Knight down. "Traveler of this outside place. What do you present to claim the right to intrude on the affairs of this dimension?"

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"I've been tasked by the Black Manor to still a life of pain and and allow the person bound to it to rest." Knight says, not stopping. "I wish no harm upon your dimension nor violence toward you, but I am bound by obligation to complete the task before me"

[Celadon's Penultimate]

A note of hope crosses the Penultimate's expression, "Let's find out, shall we?"

With that, he calls the first book to hand. A quick glance to the title page, though, and what small note of hope existed, quickly fades. He sends the book floating around the table, for all to see.

"Itrisa Meriness." he says, "Any of you know an Itrisa Meriness? Not even in Celadon, have I come across a name like that. It's not particularly weird, but certainly nothing I've seen or heard before."

[The Narrator]

"I can't say I have. Although it looks extremely vaguely familiar...."


--
Derek A. Haynes
Lead Tutor
Destined for Greatness: Academic Services

[Zaleramancer]

Miss Blue had a reputation for being somewhat absented minded. Came as part of the package with the ease of astral projection and clairvoyance, after all only part of her had to stay in any one place at once.

So when she was checking in on one of the more unstable artifacts the third or fourth hundred time since she'd left, the words that the wolfy one had spoken finally reached her mind.

One jerked back into her body so fast every mirror within a hundred feet exploded.

WHAT?!

[Celadon's Penultimate]

The sound of shattering glass outside the room gave the Penultimate a bit of a start, but he was quick to regain his composure.

"The books, Miss One." came his reply, "They're dangerous, and so is their author, so we're thinking now to track down whoever wrote them, and stop whatever tricks they're up to. Have you got any idea who Itrisa Meriness is?"

That name had never crossed his own ears in his life, the Penultimate was sure. If anyone was more well-traveled than the Penultimate, though, it was the Zaleramancer. Perhaps even a single part of his mental collective, such as Miss One.

[Philote]

The Guardian raises his sword so that it is pointed in the direction of Knight's throat if he doesn't stop walking. "Traveler. How do you account for your own survival. To pass this way is to make yourself subject to all that lies beyond."

A thought tickles at the back of Knight's mind as Miss Shield tries to contact him. "If you win him over, don't forget to demand his assistance. He's the key we need to pick the other half of that lock you want to open."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

Knight stops with the blade pointed directly at his throat. He reaches into the pockets of his robes before taking out the small black coffin he showed the time police. He opens it up, a soft light emanating from with in, and shows the contents to the Guardian.

"As you can see sir, I am already quite well versed in what lies beyond."

[Philote]

The blade retreats back into the form of a rocky hand. "This way, and your fate are open to you."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

It is only when the big scary meteor man puts away his giant sword that Vault quietly floats his way into the room after Knight, who bows graciously to the giant before putting away the coffin.

"My companion informed me that we may have need of your skills later. Would it be all right for you to accompany us?" He requests of the guardian.

[Philote]

The Guardian looks like his is about to answer, but then his gaze turns to the door as he stares down Vault. "First, shall you prove your worth as well?"

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

The Magnamite looks up at the stone guardian with a deer in the headlights sort of look, before shifting back into the form of Gentleman Vaultboy. "Uhhhh..." he says sheepishly, before shrugging. "You want to arm wrestle?"

[Philote]

"If it is a test of might, come forward and face me" the Guardian says.

Miss Shield lays a reassuring hand on Vault's shoulder. "No need to go through the same process unless you wish it. Knight was the only one who absolutely needed to gain its approval and I can just take you the back way instead."

[Zaleramancer]

"I.. don't know who that is. I have never heard that name before." She said in quiet voice, "I have no idea who that is- do you know how rare that is for me? This person must be either a nobody or cloaking themselves somehow."

"I'm calling in reinforcements." Miss Blue said as she whipped out a battered looking Nokia cellphone, and began dialing rapidly.

[The Mediocre Gatsby]

Suddenly, in the midst of everything going on. A figure crashed in from seemingly nowhere! The figure looked like a teenage boy. It laid unconsciously on the ground. He groaned slightly.

[The Narrator]

Narrator races to the mysterious unconscious being....

--
Derek A. Haynes
Lead Tutor
Destined for Greatness: Academic Services

[The Mediocre Gatsby]

"Ulgh..." it groaned. Slowly moving to rub it's head.

[The Mediocre Gatsby]

"W-Where am I? What's going on... wait. WHO am I? Oh my word, what's going on?!"

Suddenly, the boy's right arm began to form some sort of energy weapon from the base of the arm, and sharpening to a tip. His left leg began to morph into a missile launcher of sorts, as a lens formed in front of his eye to act as an aiming mechanic.

 "AHHHHHHHGHHHHH!!!!!" He screamed.

[Zaleramancer]

There was a young man lounging in one of the chairs. He had always been there, had also arrived less than a second ago, and in a couple of minutes will have never have been there at all.

He had eyes like rust and a large set of headphones that thundered with what might have been music, if you could make music from a demolition derby. He looked at the teenager then at Miss Blue, and said, "Wasn't me. Four will be here now."

A woman walked in through a wall, which whisped away from her like smoke fleeing a fire. She had eyes like dirty snow and her left arm glinted like metal. She looked at the highly armed teen and calmly pulled a gun from her trench coat.

"Look, I'm having a really shitty day, so either calm down or I will happily shot the ever loving fuck out of you."