Planet of Slaves

When Phillip returned to the table with a full pitcher, Jack tried his best to relax and absorb what Phillip had promised would be a long tale. The fire crackled sending shadows dancing over the deep brown hues of the tavern.

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Jack

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Phillip sat down seeming wearier than Jack was used to seeing him. Then again, this wasn’t the Phillip he’d known, since he wasn’t on his own planet. The Stalwart took a deep breath than said, “While I poured the ale I was thinking whether you wanted to hear the whole tale or just the abridged version. Also, before we start, could you tell me what you plan to do.”

 

Jack rubbed his temples. “Honestly, I’d just assume grab Ty and leave this place to all of you. No offence, but your world hasn’t treated us well, although I suppose it is better than the last one.”

 

“If that’s the case, then the shorter version should work.”

 

“Good, but tell, me I am curious and learning more might help me to stop Vile Darken on other worlds.”

 

Phillip signed. “That’s just it, Jack, we never stopped Darken on this world.”

 

“Then what are all of you doing?”

 

Phillip lost eye contact with him and gazed down at his ale. “You aren’t going to like it.”

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“Just tell me, Brownhurst.”

 

Phillip looked up. “This easiest way to describe it, is we have become indentured servants.”

 

“What, to who?”

 

“Vile and the races of Xemmoni he’s allied himself with, which at least here, are the Caradon, Darcarre, and the Glooms. Sometimes, the Nexus and Rippers are involved.”

 

“So, what… you work for the Xemmoni? What do you do for them?”

 

“It’s not that cut and dry Jack, but about twenty percent of the products created on this world are used by his armies elsewhere. As long as we agree to this deal, he has agreed to spare this world his wrath.”

 

“At the cost of arming his warriors to take over other worlds like mine.” Jack raised his voice. “I should beat the shit out of you on principle. And what do you Stalwarts do here, train his troops?”

 

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“No,” Phillip said without much enthusiasm. “We’re allowed to continue our status, but may only attack the Xemmoni races and individuals who oppose Vile.”

 

“So, you’re his police force fighting the competition. I can’t believe this crap. How could everyone agree with all this?”

 

“Most aren’t aware. Certainly, few normal folks, but even the majority of Stalwarts have had their memories compromised. I’m one of the exceptions, which is more of a curse than a blessing most days.”

 

“And this was done how?”

 

“I’m sure you are familiar with Vile experimenting on the various worlds, he tries things, they work or not. He keeps with some of the things which work, unless his attention moves in a new direction. This spell is planet wide. Everyone is a good little worker unless there’s a conflict and then everyone from Stalwart to little old lady puts down what they are doing to crush any anomalies.”

 

“One of the Splinter Darcarre showed up in Boston. I almost felt sorry for the poor guy when a few hundred people tore him to pieces.”

 

Jack glared at the incarnation of his best friend. “It seems like you’re worse than a lost cause. If your planet was wiped clean at least you wouldn’t be helping Vile’s empire.”

 

“Actually, that might not be true. Vile uses resources from the worlds he totally controls. Everything from armies of flesh and death to the trees and soil. At least this way the people are allowed to live.”

 

“Yes, so you can all help his war machine for decades to come.” He pushed his empty glass away. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

 

Phillip’s cell began to buzz. The Stalwart looked down. “Oh shit, they found her Jack.”

 

“Are they bringing her back here?”

 

“I wish, no, she fought like a Darcarre. They are bringing her to the Darcarre nest to determine whether she’s loyal to the cause and not a Splinter. When they discover the truth, they will…”

 

“They will what?”

 

“They’ll probably kill her Jack.”

 

“Son of a bitch.”

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Incarnations

After twenty miles of jogging mixed with power walking, Jack began to wish he’s risked taking a cab. Still, with everyone tending to get ‘Invasion of the Body Snatchers,’ on him, he felt it remained better to play it safe. He just hoped the delay in time wouldn’t be causing Tynilia complications.

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Stalwart

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Poor woman all alone in world which isn’t hers. He chuckled. Hell, the same can be said for me, because this sure as shit isn’t my world. I just need to get Ty and get us out of here.

 

He knew Tynilia would usually teleport away if she ran into complications, but in this world so new and strange to her, where would she go?

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Gritting his teeth, he started to jog again. For good, ill, or neutral, he needed to return to Phillip’s tavern.

 

*         *         *

 

An hour later, found his sweat soaked body reaching Phillip’s outer door. He’d left, through no fault of his own, Tynilia in the tavern with Phillip, and the mad eyed brunette, he thought he’d heard one of them address as Loni. His incarnation had disappeared when he had, but certainly had more resources and could have beat him back to the tavern.

 

Shit, this whole dispersal when we too close could be about to happen again if I’m not careful.

 

After hesitating for just a moment, he took a deep breath, and pushed into the tavern. His eyes dashed each way while half expecting to see the other Jack and have them each get blasted halfway across Boston again.

 

Instead he saw Phillip quietly sweeping up what appeared to be a few shattered glasses. When he saw Jack, he favored the Stalwart with a half-smile and leaned the broom against the bar. He pulled out a rolled joint and lit it, as Jack walked his way.

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Phillip Borwnhurst

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The rest of the bar proved as empty as it remained dark. The deep stained wood did little to reflect the nine brown candles burning in scattered recesses. He hadn’t noticed how it happened, but two amber glasses had appeared on a well-worn table.

 

Phillip took a long puff on the joint until the end glowed a cherry red and then sat at the table in front of one of the ales. When Jack sat opposite, Phillip made a motion to hand the joint to him, “Care for some?”

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“I’ll hold off for now.” He did take a long chug for the ale. Some might have called it a risky move, but he figured when he couldn’t trust Brownhurst’s ale, he wouldn’t have much of a reason to continue living.

 

His eyes noticed a fresh hack in the bar and a couple of broken chairs had already been stacked near the roaring fireplace. “Looks like there was a bit of a fist to cuffs here,” Jack said. “I hope it wasn’t worse than that.”

 

Phillip smiled. It was a sight he’d always enjoyed, but here, on this world, he wasn’t sure if anything could be trusted. “Well Loni, who I always thought of as your lady,” he laughed, “went after your other lady.” He cocked his head to the side, “And she’s quite the looker by the way, you old dog.”

 

“Tynilia is my only lady,” Jack corrected.

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Phillip laughed again. “Loni is, without a doubt, the toughest female Stalwart I’ve ever come across, but perhaps her skills made her a little cocky, for when ah… Tynilia kicked in her Rapidity, Loni got more than a bit schooled. Tynilia had kept things in blunt and batter mode, but when Loni slashed open her arm with a dagger, I believe she called her a bitch before teleporting somewhere.”

 

Jack rubbed his forehead. “So, you have no idea where she might be, but at least she’s breathing?”

 

“As far as I know, although Loni and now, um you are out looking for her along with other allies.” He looked Jack’s way and he face remained in the shadows of his leather hat. “I did tell Loni you didn’t attack her Jack and were in fact an incarnation of the man she loves. Hopefully it will help her be more considerate to your lady.”

 

“One could hope.” Jack leaned back and took another long pull off his ale.

 

Phillip tossed the stub of his joint into the roaring flames.

 

A short silence lingered, which Jack broke. “So, it seems like you’re well informed on this world, Phillip. For instance, you seem very aware of our incarnations and how they work. I assume you know you’re one.”

 

“The veil for me here has been lifted higher than in most.” He took a grim sip. “I am also well aware of the incarnations. Although I’ve tried to keep such things hidden from this world’s Jack and Loni.”

 

“Is this Loni one of us?”

 

“Oh yes,” he smiled. “You may yet meet her on your world.”

 

“Good to know. But now I think you need to tell me the true story of what’s taking place on this world, old friend.”

 

Phillip grew more serious. “I’m willing to do that, Jack, but let me grab us a pitcher first, for it’s a long tale.”

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Face Down

For an amount of time impossible to measure, Jack remained nothing—Spread atoms, at one with the Multiverse. He wondered if he’d ever reform, but when the bliss of creation wrapped his essence in its warm arms, he wondered if he wanted to.

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Then he slammed into the pavement so hard his body rolled until he came to a halt with his back against a bench in the middle of a sunlit avenue of shops.

 

An older woman rushed up to him. “Oh my, are you alright,” she begun, but then moved back upon seeing his strange layers of armor along with the huge war hammer strapped to his back.

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He tried to clear his head, but random colors compromised his vision and he couldn’t think clearly. Through the fog, he did realize the woman as well as the other people lingering about hadn’t gone all, ‘Invasion of the Bodysnatchers’ on him yet.

 

Using the bench, he managed to get his feet under him. Others gave him peculiar glances and he realized if an officer showed up the chances of all humanity turning on him again would be high.

 

He stumbled away. Under the glare of the sun, he felt like an out of place freak. Dozens of people shopped and made their way to their jobs, while he looked like a reject from a Renaissance fair.

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Spying a break between shops, he made for it and came out into a large parking lot. People still strolled about, but he felt less under a microscope. As his vision cleared, he spotted a sign for the Lexington Pharmacy.

 

Rubbing his forehead, he said, “Ahhhh, I’m twenty miles out into the suburbs.”

 

A small strip of woods ran along the other side of the parking lot and he made for it.

As he power walked to the comforting green, his mind went back to how he had arrived here.

 

Obviously, this isn’t my home world if for no other reason I encountered an incarnation of myself. Then his gut clenched. Tynilia. What will they be doing with her? Phillip seemed nice enough, but the other Jack’s woman looked fierce, she might not take kindly to her man being blasted into atoms and flung across Boston.

 

I need to get back there.

 

Reaching the woods, he discovered it was an urban trail. Even as he stood there, joggers and bicyclists cruised by.

 

“Excuse me,” he said to one of the passing people. He’d picked a younger man and the fellow regarded him, like Jack must have been half mad.

 

He chuckled, “Yeah, dude, what’s the matter lost your directions to the costume party?”

 

“Pretty much, but can you tell me what direction this bike path goes?”

 

“Uh yeah. If you go left you’ll head down into Concord and Acton. Head right and you’ll end up in Boston eventually.”

 

“Thanks,” Jack nodded and after readjusting the hammer on his back took up a slow jog toward Boston.

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Jacks Or Worse

Jack and Tynilia kept to the alley and back streets, but every time they encountered someone, the individual or group would turn their way and give them a glassy eyed stare before walking in their direction.

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“Jack, I’m really reconsidering my choice to accompany you back to our planet,” she said, as they jogged past a group of cooks smoking behind a restaurant. Each of the men dropped their cigarettes and started to powerwalk after them.

 

“Yeah, it doesn’t seem like we’re trapped in a zombie movie, minus the gore.”

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“What’s a movie?”

 

“Never mind, but I hear what you’re saying,” he said as he grasped his lover’s hand and took them down a narrow alley to their left. “I just need some answers. If this somehow is my world, then it would be my duty to save it.”

 

He stopped and looked back at the gathering crowd of eighty people on their trail. His hands rose while he chanted a few words under his breath.

 

“And if it isn’t your world?”

 

Summoning the strength of Yig, he felt thankful, his God’s presence remained, but it did feel weaker than usual. Whatever planet he might be on, the Stalwart Gods appeared to be losing.

 

“If it isn’t my world…” a wall of earth erupted through the pavement and blocked the end of the alley. Sand a gravel rained down, but for the moment they had stopped their pursuers. He turned to her, “I like the idea of helping every decent world in their battle against Vile and I’m happy I was able to help turn the tide against that bastard on your planet, but if this isn’t my world… I think I’m inclined to leave. My own planet needs me. After I help my world, if I can, then we’ll worry about being intergalactic Stalwarts,” he grabbed her hand and they took off at a half run, “but until then, I need to get home.”

 

“I hope this isn’t your world then.”

 

“Me too.”

 

*         *         *

 

Although it remained early, Phillip’s pub, the Baccanaght, was open. Jack grabbed the handle and rushed in. A few boozehounds drank at the bar and within shaded booths. A few working men looked like they’d dropped in for a liquid lunch.

 

Everything within Baccanaght gleamed in various tones of tans and browns. Jack could feel the mystic strength which flowed through the place and as he led Tynilia between the pool tables to the bar, he noted the costumers within the establishment didn’t look at them any stranger than normal people should when confronted with a sexy Mayan sorceress and a tall man wearing armor with a four-foot hammer strapped to his back.

 

“Jack! By the wine soaked beard, what in Hades happened to you?” Phillip called at them from behind the bar. His concern blossomed into a smile. “And who’s this lovely young flower of darkness?”

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“Darkness,” Tynilia said, placing her small hands on her hips.

 

“Well you do follow Tez,” Jack said under his breath.

 

“True,” she said, while looking around. “So far this is the best place you have taken me to.”

 

“Glad to hear it,” Phillip said with a warm smile and placed a glass of wine on the bar in front of her. Jack received a pitcher of Harpoon and a clean glass.

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He released a breath he hadn’t know he’d been holding and the couple sat at the bar.

 

Phillip let a few sips make it into their tired forms before he said, “So ah, Jack, you need to fill me on what happened to you. Who’s your beautiful new friend and why are you, uh, wearing armor, my brother.”

 

Seeing his friend and being within the mystical safety of Baccanaght helped Jack relax, but he still wasn’t too sure how far he should go with his explanation. Tynilia stared at him as he began.

 

“Well you remember when we went up against Vile Darken in the commons? What did you see that night?”

 

“Vile who? What battle?” He chuckled. “Did you start drinking before you came here.”

 

His stomach clenched. Phillip seemed the same, but something remained off.

 

Jack tried to cover his tracks and allowed himself a half-laugh. “You like my act so far. Ty and I will be performing in a LARP near Quincy Market. You know, it always helps to make a few extra bucks.”

 

“Um, okay. I thought you were about the last person I knew who is hurting for money though.” Phillip gazed at him for a long moment. “Jack, I like the new look, I really do.” His eyes quinted, “but how did you get your hair so much longer?”

 

“Yig allows me to…”

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“Oh yeah, the Yig thing.”

 

At least he knows who Yig is, Jack mused and took another sip of his ale.

 

Behind him the door to Baccanaght opened.

 

Tynilia looked back before he had a chance. “Oh no Jack, JACK! Look out, run!”

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Whipping around, he had just enough time to see a couple had entered the pub. The woman was a gorgeous young brunette with a slim body and an easy stride. But with her was…him. Another Jack Primus, in his usual outfit of leather, jeans, and boots.

 

Then it hit him. Reality twisted. He knew two incarnations couldn’t occupy the same space, but had never experienced what happened when they did and he heard Tynilia cry out as his existence tore apart and was he flung out into the Multiverse.

 

 

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Home World?

The half-jog through the busy streets of Boston while covered with medieval weapons and garb, proved to be anything but easy. They avoided the police, various gangs, and drunken jocks when they could, but had a few close calls.

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While moving through the streets, something felt off to Jack. He couldn’t put his fangs on it, but he noticed small things. He hadn’t remembered as many video screens in the streets. The small screens played the news while he waited for a red light to change. Could we have somehow landed back on Earth, but in the future? Maybe there’s a difference in how time moves on the various worlds. But-

 

Tynilia drew him back to the present. “What sort of magick causes these squares full of people to talk? Are they real people shrunk in there or do people use necromancy to trap ghosts within?”

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She was getting a few strange looks, but then again they’d gotten such throughout the whole walk. He shifted his war hammer, which might have made Thor jealous, and grasped Tynilia’s hand when it became time to cross the street.

 

“I’m starting to understand things. The white glyph means continue and the orange hand indicates to continue would mean being crushed under the square death eaters.”

 

“Dead eaters?”

 

“You were the one that told me that your people fuel the metal boxes on the remains of dead animals.”

 

“Yeah, I guess that’s right.” He maintained his hold on her small hand. “Around here though, you’d be better off calling them cars.”

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They had to move off Commonwealth Avenue and head south to get to Phillip’s Tavern. He had just turned in the right direction when they rounded a corner and almost bumped into two thick set police officers.

 

“Hold on here, boyo. It isn’t Halloween yet.” He had a few inches taller than his partner and sported a thick mustache.

 

“Yeah,” the second said. “I’m going to need to scan you.”

 

For once Jack felt as confused as Tynilia for he had no idea what was being asked of him.

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“Come, laddie,” the second cop said. “Pull out your personal.”

 

Jack remained confused, “My personal?”

 

“What, you hawked it so you could dress up like some renaissance fair reject?” This caused them both to chuckle, but then their mood turned serious as the taller one ordered, “Alright, we tried to play nice, hands on the walls and spread em.”

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“Did he just suggest we have sex with them?” Tynilia demanded. “How foul. You are a horrid man.”

 

“And you are about to meet some horrid women after I lock you up. That’s it Bernie, cuff them.”

 

“By the scaly,” Jack started as the beefy cop grabbed him. He fought back against the man for a moment and then said, “Screw it,” and dropped him to the pavement with a single punch to the jaw.

 

“Don’t kill him, Ty.”

 

She nodded, drew her spirit dagger and smashed the man on the top of the head with the pummel. The second cop joined the first unconscious on the pavement.

 

Then something odd happened.

 

Every person within sight, stopped what they were doing and stared their way. A moment later they all began to power walk toward them.

 

“I don’t like this.”

 

“This is your world?” She asked. “Why were you in such a hurry to return? So far I can’t say I’m enjoying my stay.”

 

“I’m starting to wonder…” He drew closer to her. “How about you teleport us as far as you can that way.”

 

“I thought you said such displays would damage these people’s minds.”

 

Jack looked at the glazed over eyes of the dozens of people heading their way. “Somehow, I don’t think it’s going to matter.”

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Tynilia moved in and embraced Jack. A puff of inky smoke surrounded them for a moment and then they reappeared a few blocks to the south.

 

“We’re close to my friend’s place. Let’s just get some answers from him.”

 

Tynilia looked at a new group of pedestrians who stared their way briefly before power walking toward them. “Yes, we’ll either get some answers or have to kill him.”

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The Baron

My World, Strange World

Tynilia’s hand found his as she looked on in awe at the buildings which towered over the pair. Even though Jack had seen many of the larger cities in the US and had lived in Boston more than a while, after his stay of such a different, low-tech world, the sight of such a bustling throng of modern people left him with a strong case of cultural shock.

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He could only imagine how Tynilia, who grew up in a small, stone-age village must be feeling.

 

Her words restated his thoughts. “Are we safe here? I’ve never seen so many people in one place. If they turn against us, we won’t stand a chance.”

 

He chuckled. “Most of the people from my world aren’t like that.” However, looking down at his tattered clothes, which barely covered his half shredded chainmail, and certainly not his oversized battle-axe, he realized there was some cause for concern.

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Tynilia didn’t fit in to well either. Her obsidian tipped spear hovered over her tight doeskin dress and most of her was adored with black feathers, charms, and various small animal bones.

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“Now that I think of it, sometimes our law and order types aren’t too keen on weapons like ours being out in public.”

 

“We can’t discard them?” she questioned as worry mixed with fear over her petite face.

 

“I think not,” he said, as he moved her through the crowds by the hand. They received quite a mix of glances passing along the busy city streets. Some folks ignored their outlandish garb completely, while others stopped and open mouth stared. Children laughed and pointed, which caused him to make a face or growl their way. Their eyes grew large, while they shrieked, and hid behind their parents.

 

Tynilia proved far less jovial and asked, “Where are you taking us, somewhere safe I hope.”

“I hope so too. There’s the T, but with these weapons. Shit, I’m pretty sure my wallet was torn off in that battle with the Faceless God.”

 

“What’s a wallet?”

 

“Nevermind, let’s see we’re near Commonwealth Ave. You probably aren’t ready for a car ride yet.”

 

“What is a car?”

 

“See those big squares of metal almost smashing into each other, those are cars. Think of them like ah…advanced wagons where we use dead animals to power them instead of live ones.”

 

“How foul.”

 

“Says the woman who worships Tezcatlipoca the lord of the darkness, night, death and-”

 

“You may stop. Focus on keeping us from being killed.”

 

“I’m more worried about getting arrested. Are you up for a walk?”

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“How far and where too?”

 

“My friend Phillip has a bar. If anyone can help us, he can. Although when I last left here, we were in the middle of a battle with Vile Darken.” He looked around, “Although, from the looks of things, Vile must not have caused too much trouble.”

 

“So this is normal.”

 

“Yeah,” he said, “Come on let’s get going before some cops stop us and if they do we’re both heading to a Comic Con, okay?”

 

“Comic Con?”

 

“Yeah, and for once, you had better let me do all the talking.”

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Phillip

Multi-Verse Leap

Jack had almost repressed the gut retching terror of entering into the core of the Multi-Verse. The feeling of falling through infinity ripped at his body and soul. Round doorways of every color led to worlds racing around him by the thousands. His body twirled with no reference to up or down, left or right.

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He forced himself to focus through the distorted reality no human should ever be forced to experience and thought, not for the first time, that it remained no surprise Vile Darken had lost his mind after experiences such as this.

 

Then he remembered Tynilia. He panicked but felt she still clutched his hand in hers. In the back of his mind, he could somehow tell she screamed. It proved a struggle, but he was able to push the handle of his hammer through his belt. Moving his body in an arc, he grabbed her other hand, so they could look face to face.

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He tried to utter words of encouragement, but they were lost in the void. Instead he forced himself forward and gave her a long kiss. She rewarded him with a smile and her warrior-self took over. Her hands tightened within his and she gave him a nod.

 

Gritting his teeth, he turned his attentions to the round gateways. Somehow he had hoped that he might find some sign or be guided toward his home world, but nothing of the sort appeared to be happening. Each gateway was just a blur of color as they raced by.

 

Jack

Tens of thousands of worlds. How could I ever have a chance of picking the right one?

 

Again, came only the random hope some world might possess an ally who could help him, but with so many flashing by, what would guide his choice?

As his mind raced almost as fast as his plummeting body, he noticed the black worlds. World after world covered in darkness. It didn’t take a genius to guess these planets were those conquered by Vile.

 

More and more of these were seen. A bright blue planet caught his eye as it suddenly went dark. He cursed into the empty air as he fell.

 

A thought came to him. What if there was an end to this passage and at the end a bone crushing bottom might be there to greet them?

With new determination, Jack sought out a gateway. He saw one approaching on his left hand side. A bright, forest green world, which glowed with an emerald color of Yig. He twisted his body to the side taking Tynilia with him.

 

It seemed like he would miss his target as it rushed up towards him, but he lashed out with his foot. As soon as he made contact, he and Tynilia were sucked through in a nano.

 

They each gasped as the fell several feet and landed on something hard, which battered their knees and took their breath away.

 

The planet had shown in a brilliant green, which is why Jack felt so surprised when he looked up to see himself surrounded by grey skyscrapers. All around him, people gasped and a crowd began to form. Voices spoke and even stranger he understood their words. Climbing to his feet, it became his turn to gasp.

 

“What?” Tynilia asked, as he offered her a hand without looking her way.

 

“That’s the Prudential building. We’re in freaking Boston.”

 

 

Come back next Monday to see what choices Jack and Tynilia will make in the aftermath of Vile Darken’s Death.

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The Baron

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Phillip

The Final Climax of Jack Primus Versus Vile Darken

As the jet of black boiling death raced towards him, Jack wondered how he’d be able to have a chance of winning if he couldn’t survive the first attack. He’d felt the bite of Darken’s death spell before and almost failed to survive.

Right before it crashed into him like a wide ebony ghost, Tynilia teleported twenty feet over’s Vile and landed on his head with both feet as she plummeted to the Earth.  A blown which would have killed any normal man, was only met with curses from the Overlord, however his spell became disrupted before it reached Jack.

 

Jack let out a roar and sprinted full out toward Vile Darken. Tynilia already had her spirit dagger out, but her thrust into Vile’s ribs failed to draw any blood.

“Pathetic tramp. The last of your people, why do you even try?” He emphasized his words by giving Tynilia a casual slap across the face, which sent her reeling back into the ruins of her village.

 

Vile looked down on her for a moment. “Perhaps I’ll-”

 

Jack’s enchanted hammer took him full in the chest. Vile let out a yell as his body lifted two feet into the air and then it became his turn to go crashing into the remnants of the village.

“For once I won’t have to listen to some boost involving raping the…”

 

He swung the hammer in a mighty two handed over head blow. And his teeth rattled when Vile blocked the blow with only one hand on his cutlass. Jack took a step back feeling stunned. How could he have blocked my most mighty blow, one armed, while on his back?

 

“You can’t beat me. Not here, not on this world with all the power I’ve accumulated.” Vile’s free hand pointed at Jack and a bolt of black lightning crashed into his chest.

Instead of flinching, Jack took a step forward and grit his teeth as he tried to suck up the pain and damage. “Grrraaaahhh.”

 

Vile had gained his footing and looked on with a half grin enjoying Jack’s pain until the hammer whipped around and took Vile in the neck. The Overlord took a step back and Tynilia’s dagger flew into his face and then returned to her hand. She threw again.

This time Vile blocked her blade and Jack used the opened to pummel Vile’s chest with his hammer.

 

Vile stayed on his feet this time and lashed out at Jack with his horrid cutlass, but the Stalwart danced back a pace. Vile came in swinging. Jack parried the blows, but then Vile took a wild stab at Tynilia, but she countered by taking to the air and continuously throwing her dagger at his face. The weapon appeared unable to do much damage to Vile’s layer of mystical protection, but she did block his view and keep him more confused and Jack tore into Darken’s back with his hammer when Vile focused on Tynilia.

Vile cursed at the woman and turned to face Jack. He came at Jack with the Cutlass of Entropy. Jack Backpedaled and struggled to block the attacks. Yet the cutlass was light and the hammer bulky.

 

Tynilia teleported just off to the side, between Jack and Vile. “With pricks like this, sometimes the old ways work best.” The Overlord sneered her way until she flung a fistful of blacken ash into his eyes. “Choke on my village you insane Bastard!” She screamed and then threw her dagger point first into his face.

This time it drew a drop of blood.

 

“His Bestows are weakening!” Jack shouted and swung in under Vile’s guard and took him in the knee.

Vile stumbled back a step, touched a device on his belt, and a glimmered tube of tan electricity surrounded him.

 

“I’ve seen these before. Keep throwing your dagger. Hand held weapons are useless. If I hit that wall I’ll electrocute myself. Keep attacking. I have an idea.”

Jack sprinted to Thrashing Storm’s still body. The dragon might have been alive or dead, but it was the barrel of weapons, Jack had affixed to the saddle, that he was after. Tynilia had used twenty weapons to create her, Circle of Pain, and Jack had gathered them all. Mostly daggers and throwing axes had been used and while Tynilia fought on from her flight twenty feet off the ground, Jack drew a hand axe out of the barrel and ran back toward Vile.

 

The hand axe went twirling at Vile as he ran.  It smashed against the electric field, but instead of reflecting, like a normal weapon, it exploded into a burst of inky smoke, which passed through the tan wall. At first Jack thought the wall was stronger than he thought, but then he saw the looks of dismay cross Vile’s continence and heard him choking on the vapors.

 

Jack threw another axe while he ran toward the battle and it had the similar result.

 

Tynilia threw her Spirit Dagger at the wall with all her strength and Jack saw the field visibly weaken.

 

“Enough of this foolishness,” Vile cried and then blasted Tynilia with one of his Stygian bolts of lightning.

She emitted a short lived scream and then Jack looked on in horror as his lover fell almost thirty feet before hitting the earth.

 

“You’ll die this day,” Jack hissed and then threw dagger after dagger at the wall.

 

“Use all your weapons against my Nexus wall. The wall might outlast your weapons, or your weapons might outlast the wall, either way, I will be chopping you into smaller and smaller pieces. How much should I chop off before you watch me rape your mate, that’s if she still lives?” Black smoke leaked from his eyes and he favored Jack with a smile of pure insanity. “Actually even if she is dead, I’ll have my way with her and…”

Vile started to cough again as more and more clouds of inky smoke blinded him.

“What’s the matter, you evil freak, use up all your Bestows taking down the village and the dragons? I think you’re out of those spells or you’d be using them on my right now.”

 

Dagger, dagger, axe, dagger and then it was done, the wall had gone down before he ran out of weapons.

 

With a growl, Vile advanced. Jack threw two more weapons, but then hurried to snatch up his hammer.

Vile swung a blow and Jack blocked it with the head of the hammer. The Stalwart leaned in and clocked Vile on the chin with the handle of his weapon.

 

“Enough!” Vile shouted and spun in a circle.

 

Jack gasped in agony as the slash cut through three of his ribs. The cutlass drove a burning shard of supernatural pain through him that far surpassed his violent wound. Jack could barely see and he couldn’t draw air into his lungs.

 

Vile dashed the hammer form his hands

 

“See you never had a chance against me.”

 

Vile raised his cutlass and Thrashing Storm’s titanic mouth clapped down on his arm.

 

They both roared. Thrashing Storm came away with Vile’s sword arm below the elbow, but also had the Cutlasss of Entropy piercing through the roof of his mouth.

 

The Dragon roared in pain and took to the air. It only made it a few hundred yards before it crashed into the towering trees, but he’d moved the weapon far enough away from Vile.

The Overlord looked down at his arm and screamed until Jack gave him the meanest right hook of his life. His left took the villain in the gut and an elbow smashed Vile in the Jaw. The left fist took him in the ear and Jack screamed in fury as he put everything he had into a right fist to the jaw that sent Vile tumbling off his feet into a pile over burn logs.

The Overlord wiped his lip. “Fool, think I’m spent. I’m never stent.” Jack rushed toward him, but Vile raised his left hand and a noose of shimmering darkness encased his throat. Jack struggled for breath as a nerve shattering pain owned his body and mind. Like death itself, the undulating foulness strangled him.

 

He fought and his legs kicked. He drew a dagger off his belt and tossed it, but it missed and Vile just laughed.

Despite his severed and weeping arm, Vile sat up and a wicked smile creased his blood spattered lips. “Oh yes. You gave it your all, but the efforts of you and your ilk are the multiverse’s last dying gasp. Soon we will finish you and roll over these worlds. Everything, everything that is or will ever be, belongs to me and my fellow incarnations.”

 

Jack looked on at his most hated foe, while his vision blurred. He had tried everything… He remembered to heal himself, but the damage continued and he knew he had only bought himself another thirty seconds of life.

 

A black jet of speed moved behind Vile. Before Jack fully understood what he saw, Tynilia’s bruised and bloody form appeared. She pulled back Vile Darken’s head by his oily hair, while her right hand drew her soul dagger across his throat in a wild angry slash. “This is for trying to destroy my world and killing everyone I’ve even known”.

 

She laughed as her dagger cut again and again.

 

Vile fought back, but he proved too spent.

 

Jack crashed to the ground when the noose of death disappeared. He tried to just breathe, but when Tynilia shouted, he had to look up. Shivers raced down his spine and he open mouthed stared at Tynilia as she raised the severed head of her world’s incarnation of Vile Darken.

.

.

 

Come back next Monday to see what choices Jack and Tynilia will make in the aftermath of Vile Darken’s Death.

 

Get more Jack Primus Action Here!

Saving Their World

The wind whipped Jack hair around his head like a hundred flailing snakes. He grit teeth from his place on the back of the mighty dragon, Thrashing Storm. He had a thousand worries ripping into his mind including the final battle for the control of this wild world he found himself on.

Were the last of the tribes still holding out against the forces of Vile Darken? Even with the aid of the Lava Dragons, could they hope to stop an army as vast as Vile’s?

 

But despite the future of a whole planet resting on their backs, his thoughts still lingered on Tynilia. Why had they fought right before the most deadly day of their lives? Why had she insisted to fly on her own dragon, a female named Flame Dancer?

Shaking his head, he had to clear away such negative thoughts, but as he looked over at Tynilia, constantly trying to push her dragon ahead of the pack, he worried over her safety. The smallest mistakes would mean their end. Also as he watched her long black cape moving behind her like a flag of darkness, he realized that he needed her and had to admit, no woman had ever captured his heart as she had.

 

“We approach human. It begins.” Trashing Storm voice brought him back to the present and Jack once again saw the black scar that marred the earth and also marked the location of The Darken army. Two hundred thousand men cursed, clustered, and road hundreds of dinosaurs of different sizes and shapes.

He saw at once that the last village, Tynilia’s former home, the village of Tezcatlipoca, had long fallen. Nothing opposed The Darken army…except them.

 

Tynilia spun off to the east diving down toward the village, while the rest of the flight headed straight toward the army.

Not wanting her to be on her own, Jack cursed and tried to force Trashing Storm to follow Flame Dancer.

 

The mighty dragon grunted. “You humans are quite devoted to your mates.”

 

Jack gave a growl through his teeth. “I suppose we are.”

 

Behind him he heard the dragons roar a warning. Looking back, Jack saw dozens of flying dinosaurs with wide leathery wings. On top of each road a tattooed warrior with a lance. Several were burnt from the sky with massive plumbs of fire, but those that reached the dragons thundered into their ranks with jets of pure darkness, which erupted from the long lances.

Jack had felt the bite of sure attacks before and looked on in dismay as two dragons already plummeted toward their doom.

 

While some fought on against the flying adversaries, other laid in on the forces below. Huge expanding explosions of lava poured from the throats of the dragons and killed everything it touched. Men and monsters died by the thousand. Most didn’t have the time to scream before their bodies burned so quickly that not even ash remained.

Soon Jack turned his attentions back on Tynilia and he saw she had almost reached the ruminants of her village. Nothing remained but tatters of cloth, splintered trees, mud, and the bodies of the dead. Both the tribes of Yig and Tezcatlipoca had made their final stand here, for all the good it did them.

 

Tynilia appeared to be landing regardless of the lack of life and that was when a violent blast of black lightning struck Flame Dancer in the chest, the dragon reeled for a moment, tried to recover, but when a second bolt hit her, she rolled to her side and smashed through the trees to the east of the former village.

 

“Vile!” Jack said the name like a curse. “Vile’s down there.”

 

Then he saw him. Vile’s incarnation had adopted much of the ways of this world. Dark tattoos flowed over him constantly—moving and leaking an inky smoke. Bones and obsidian hung from his ears and pierced through random parts of his flesh. He wore only a black jaguar loincloth and a cloak made from the hides of massive snakes, an insult to both the tribes, Jack supposed. The one thing he always had, however, was the Cutlass of the abyss. The most powerful weapon, Jack had ever known. It burned through all it touched, even the molecules passing through the air, melted and dripped into a burning death as he passed.

“This battle is not for you my brother,” Jack said to the dragon as he flew straight at Darken.

 

“I choose my own battles,” Trashing Storm roared and launched a blast of fire onto the foul evil of Vile Darken.

 

Vile raised a hand and created an orb of protection around himself. Lave piled onto the orb and as he watched Jack could tell even Vile’s magicks were hard pressed to keep such destruction at bay.

So instead Vile teleported to the other side of the massive clearing. Thrashing Storm tried to twist to the north, but it became his turn to be attacked. A jagged ray of pure darkness crashed into the dragon’s belly and it screamed.

 

Turning, it tried to breathe on Vile once again, but the villain proved faster and a second blast had Thrashing Storm plummeting into the center of the destroyed village.

At the last moment Jack leapt from his ally’s falling body and rolled through the ruins.

 

Disregarding the damage, Jack snatched up his enchanted hammer and rushed to his feet. She saw Vile Darken walking toward him, like the assuredness of death.

 

“I was hoping I’d get to enjoy your death myself, Primus. It isn’t often that one of my incarnations gets to kill two of yours on a single planet.”

 

Jack lifted his hammer. “Come and get some. Only one of us walks away this day.”

Vile closed the distance and then stopped fifty feet shy of him. “Since the last three times we fought, you fled from me, that seems a hollow boast.”

 

“I’m not running today.”

 

“Correct, today you do nothing but die!”

 

Jack looked on is dismay realizing that Vile had no intention of fighting far and as a ray of dark death raced toward him, he prepared for the worst.

 

 

Come back next Monday to see if Jack and Tynilia can somehow survive.

 

Get more Jack Primus Action Here!

Circle of Pain

Jack found Tynilia garbed for war. A dark cloak rode over some form fitting chainmail, with grieves, which had obviously been designed for a woman. She had over a dozen weapons littering the floor about her, like she sat in the center of a violent symbol. Throwing axes, edged hammers, and knives formed a circle, with two triangles attached to it. The triangles pointed inwards and she sat between them.

Yes, Tynilia looked ready for war, in every way, say her spirit. Her shoulders slumped under a face looking half a degree away from letting tears flow.

 

He stepped closer, but she stopped him. “Don’t enter the circle of pain.”

 

“What in Yig’s name does that mean?”

 

She looked up at him for the first time. “I’m casting a spell of dark vengeance. Vile will pay for killing my mate.”

Jack played with his fingers. Despite her words it remained impossible for him to forget that he was the one mating with her more often than not over the past three months.

 

Without warning, she stood. Marching forward, her boots kicked the weapons aside with a load clatter. I’m done. Let’s go.” She walked past him toward the exit as she spoke.

 

“Go where.”

She turned with her eyes full of brown fire. “To war. To finish this. Someone will drown in their own blood before the day is through.”

 

Setting his jaw, he took a step forward and grasped her by the arm. “Are you sure you’re level. We have to play this smart. I don’t need any hotshoting out there. This is going to be hard enough without you taking insane risks.”

 

Yanking her arm away, she glared at him before saying, “This is my world, my lands, my people, I will fight for them however I choose, outsider.”

Jack drew back. “Ty, please, we can’t go into the battle with any bad blood between us. I only care about you and want to see you still standing when it is over.”

 

“Too late. We will each fight our own battles this day, man of the snake.”

 

Then she disappeared into the corridor leaving him alone. “Fucking great,” he grumbled and then set himself to picking up all her collected launching weapons. They would go well with the spears he’d already gathered.

 

It was only after he’d drawn closer to the weapons did he see the dark symbol of evil had been burned into the stone.

 

 

Come back next Monday to see if Jack and Tynilia can somehow survive.

 

The Darken

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