* * * DOBAY – HOSLICK OF THE TWO DAWNS * * *

Hoslick was using a convenient boulder to rear his front end up. His front eyes were focused on his portable magnifier’s lens. The large metal covered – thing – that had just emerged from the surface of Sea-Lake Tissin just kept rising smoothly into the sky.

The damn thing was clearly sheathed in metal. It had no wings and no propellers, no visible means of propulsion. And it just kept climbing into the sky. The few specialists he had in this hellhole were of no use. The situation had seemed to call for specialists in carbon life forms, not dobayans knowledgeable in aeronautics.

His guard force was scrambling to react to this potential threat. But, weaponry useful in exploring dungeons was not of much use when it came to aerial warfare. He had ordered their flying wing scrambled. Not that it was armed for combat. But needs must.

At least the damn impossibility didn’t seem hostile. It just kept climbing into the sky. Ignoring all their radio messages. Hoslick found it intensely frustrating.

* * *

Hoslick of the Two Dawns sprawled at the head of the long low pink granite table. He studied several reports with two of his eyes while using the other three to watch what could loosely be called the leaders and specialists of this dungeon settlement.

When finally the last of those he had invited to this meeting trickled in, Hoslick placed his papers on the table and focused his full attention on those present. He tapped the papers he had been studying with one of his fringe-tentacles. “I have here reports from our air traffic control radar station, from two observatories, and from the weather bureau.

“According to air traffic control, that thing – whatever it is – rose vertically and swiftly crossed the area they normally monitor. The two observatories were able to retask their searches, that thing left our atmosphere and is now accelerating at ninety percent of one gravity. It is heading directly for the blue moon, the hell planet.

“The pilot and crew of our flying wing were unable to catch the thing. It rose far faster than the wing could. The weather bureau was able to confirm the data obtained by our other sources.

“So, unbelievable as it seems, we have witnessed an interplanetary craft that uses unknown technology or magic to – to fly and travel above the atmosphere.”

Hoslick looked around the table at his stunned subordinates.

The first to recover his senses was professor Daalanor of the Obscure Thoughts. He beamed with excitement, “Much as I find this situation promising, I honestly don’t understand why I am present at this meeting. Interplanetary craft seem to have little to do with carbon life forms, much less a dungeon, even one as bizarre as this one.”

Hoslick flicked several of his fringe-tentacles in a dismissive gesture, “You are currently the most senior dobayan present that is trained in the scientific method. And I am fairly sure that thing came from the dungeon.”

Daalanor cudgelled his brains for some kind of explanation. “Do you think someone from the blue moon, our sister planet, arrived here before we were aware of the dungeon, or that they seeded it? I must say, that from what I know of the blue moon that seems unlikely. It contains so much water. It seems unlikely that intelligence would arise.”

Hoslick signed agreement. “But it is a possibility we must take into consideration. The Security Directorate is currently recruiting specialists to study this occurrence. An air defence detachment is being rushed to this location.

“Boriintant, see to enlarging the settlement. I suspect our population will more than double, and we will need secure, defensible accommodations for everyone

Daalanor waved a set of fringe-tentacles for attention, “I recommend you get a team of linguists and translators. Or a mage specializing in translation magic, should one still exist.”

* * * EARTH – SHADOW * * *

Shadow’s tail was lashing with his displeasure; his brain felt overfull with two new languages and several new skills. It would not have been as bad if the specialized anti headache potions didn’t taste so foul.

He inspected the new top of the line laptop and tablet. He rubbed his forehead as he tried to absorb the new knowledge, only the fact that Dona had also gone through this kept him from going to find something to kill.

He inspected the Ford he had selected; chosen for the simple fact that it wasn’t the latest model, and that there were thousands of them on the roads of this country. He didn’t want anything flashy or eye catching. He much preferred to blend into the shadows.

Shadow turned to the disgruntled mechanic. The wolf boy had tried to foist a Ferrari on him, and before that a peculiar looking motorcycle. He much preferred this discreetly modified Ford. “Thanks Billy, I’ll be off now. How successful do you think the mithril body panels will be, and what’s the point of the liftwood?”

“Be cool, Cat Man. She’s nicely armoured, ’specially with the enchants. As for the liftwood, maybe youse can only lift her a lil bit, but tha’ means you won’t get stuck, and skim over nail strips an’ things. Wish you’da let me play with the Ferrari though.”

Shadow restrained his desire to hiss at the mechanic. He opened the Ford’s door and got in. The car started up smoothly and Shadow nosed it out of the garage. Switching on the satnav Shadow headed west.

* * *

Shadow was getting tired of sitting behind the wheel by the time he arrived at Colorado Springs. He enjoyed the view of a colourful modern city that appeared to be built among trees in front of a wall of high mountains. He slowed to admire the view, and grinned in appreciation as the sun sank behind the hills.

Then he was driving amongst the buildings. He parked near a takeaway pizza restaurant and spent some money. He placed the boxes on the back seat and continued on his way.

Ten minutes later he was parking between two streetlights near a somewhat dilapidated house that was set in an overgrown garden. He pulled the hood of his hoodie over his head and collected the pizza boxes. Checking to see if anyone was around he made his way towards the house’s front door.

Balancing the pizza boxes on an overlarge mailbox, he scanned the house for spells or enchantments. He was unsurprised to find none, not even the simple kinds anyone with even the smallest amount of magical talent were capable off. Smiling slightly he checked his phone and sent the pre-arranged message to Mycroft. Then he used the simplest of lock picking spells to open the door.

Shadow wrinkled his nose in distaste at the smell that wafted from the interior of the house. With a faint sniff of distaste he stepped in, placed the pizza boxes on a cluttered side table and closed the door quietly behind him. Hearing the sound of someone typing on a keyboard he made his way there.

He found the homeowner typing away madly at the keyboard of a large and expensive looking tower unit. He was cursing at the screen that showed a large pop-up window, the message on the window read, ‘Computer Locked’.

Shadow chuckled, “Baggin2. You really shouldn’t have tried to mess with Mycroft.”

The gangly unshaven young man spun round in his chair and gaped at the shadow-shrouded shape standing by the open doorway of his computer room. “This is nothing, man, I’ll soon get rid of your ransom ware and then we’ll see.”

Shadow clicked his tongue, “What makes you think you’ll have a later, you messed with Mycroft, and have tried to slander Mother. You have aided some of those antifa louts, and they targeted a couple of Mother’s portal shops. Not clever of you.”

“Fine, you’ve delivered your warning. I understand you know where I live. Go tell Mycroft I understand.”

“You really don’t understand, Baggin2,” replied Shadow as he drew his sword and thrust.

Baggin2 stared at the sword sticking out of his chest with disbelief before slumping in his chair. Shadow withdrew the sword, cleaned it on the dead man’s sweatshirt and left. As he left the monitor unfroze, then flickered and showed one of the FBI’s secure sites.

As Shadow left the house the monitor locked again, this time with a rather official, and very threatening message.

Shadow left Colorado Springs still heading west.

By the time Shadow had arrived in Provo he had long since changed the plates on his car. He pulled in at the Hyatt Place hotel, he grinned at the sight of the courthouse next door as he made his way to reception to claim his reservation.

He enjoyed the mountain views before heading for bed. He also determined to visit the Brigham Young University Museum of Art. After all, it was not often that Mycroft volunteered that kind of a recommendation.

* * * EARTH – BLACKROCK * * *

Ever since Sarge had warned him, Fin had been anxiously awaiting developments. He wasn’t too sure if he would be able to help with this new monster, whatever it was. Then, finally, it had arrived.

Fin used his senses to examine the cage. Its iron bars had been wrapped in several layers of chicken wire. Incongruously, sitting in the middle of the cage was a brass bound chest; it looked like a fantasy treasure chest.

His dungeon senses told him that this was a very young Mimic.

« Sarge, tell the Colonel that it’s a young Mimic. They are ambush hunters capable of pretending to be any number of inanimate objects. »

Sarge flitted onto one of his preferred platforms, this one head high to a normal human. He looked at Colonel Anderson and relayed his dungeon core’s message.

“We had figured most of that out already. Glad for the confirmation, Sergeant. So, Fin says it’s young, I assume that means they can get stronger?”

Fin had been frantically searching the data store that the System provided for mid ranked dungeon cores.

« Sarge, Mimics can get bigger and stronger, doing more damage with their attacks and becoming harder to kill. They can gain a rudimentary intelligence if they live long enough. Also – err – they often offer their services to – um – dungeons. »

Sarge passed all that along too. Colonel Anderson rubbed his chin. “Well now,” he said, “what else can Fin tell me Sarge?”

« Um, not much, that is basically everything available to me in the System’s data bank. I might be able to learn more if they allow me to absorb it – but that would give us access to Mimics. »

On receiving the relayed message, the colonel shook his head. “Not yet, the white coated brigade still have many tests they want to do. Maybe after that.”

Fin watched as the Mimic in its cage was wheeled out of his domain. He felt a pang at the missed opportunity.