“Brick! You always boasted your unerring memory, why is it failing now!?”

The Taimu Toraberā whines and winces, but I simply cannot match it to a surefire identity. I’ve only met one Exigency Dowser previously, so perhaps this is the same one?

Likely. After all, in the null of time and gaps of void, drastic things can happen.

ANts mAN? Is that you?

“Ants man, wan? You kidding me? I’ve already told you my name!” The Exigency Dowser yells at me, “Plus… exigent dowsers Haven’t you met two before?”

Nope. Only one.

“Well, I wain’t no existence dwoser or whatever. Anyway, I need’a tell you something,”

Okay. Tell me.

“Wow, that was easier than I thought. And you even said that you’d try to kwill me if I showed up,”

Oh, your assumption was right on point. But nonetheless, please regale your message in quick order. Time is tight. After all, Exigents don't last forever do they?

“Wait, I’m gonna ignore the previous remark but how do you know I’m on a timer?”

Exigency Dowsers are usually hanging on tight deadlines, so I strongly urge that you complete your objective.

“Arhg, gwuess you were always strangely insightful, huh?” They squat to my level with an enlightened gaze, “Anway, I need’a tell you something!”

Hmmm, up to this point, I still harboured slight suspicions that this might still be ANts mAN, but they would never, in all the realms be this much of an imbecile. They also, didn’t have such a gaudy entrance.

It’s simply not possible. ANts mAN also didn't mess with Time previously…

“Yeah, so I the thing I need to say is really important so pwease listen! I don’t got much time,”

My Lord, just spit it out. Based on my previous encounter with ANts mAN I didn’t think that stupid and Exigency Dowser could exist in the same sentence, but I guess there are always the exceptions.

“Well, y’see Brick, wan,” Cupping their hand to cover their mouth, they lean over me, “And well, Ribbon and Snek as well…”

Mumbling and bumbling, they frolic around, hedging and pussyfooting around the bush, in a Politician worthy display. I dare to say that it may even be fathered by a Republic State.

“Stop saying random things! Now I forgot what I was going to say…”

Hmm.

“Okay, firstly, I’m gonna need your help with getting Captain to let me— I mean the super cute neighbourhood wolf girl, have Ascia. That’s vewy important!” They waggle a finger in the air. “And umm, that was actually the lesser priority objective… There was something else I’m supposed to tell you…”

Mmm, priorities. You seem to be holding them backwards. D’you need any help?

“Oh right! Brick, you should stop here, don’t go any further to the Imperiu—”

Finally, finding their voice, they manage to churn out their statement but it’s incomplete. A morse code with half the digits spliced as a bright light imprints itself on the Exigency Dowser.

They left as quick as they came, huh? And in that same Mason forsaken way.

Way too high profile for the average Exigency Dowser, but then again, I’d only met them once before so this might actually be normal and ANts mAN was the strange one.

Hmm, definitely something to contemplate on a rainy eventide.

“Indeed Brick friend. Verrry ssstrange” Snek hisses slithering back to the shack we left Ghost Captain in.

We pass by many Warbeasts on the way and the occassional Demi Human, of which I have Snek steer well clear of. For safety reasons.

“AHHHHH!” Some yell at our presence.

Mmm, I am now starting to contemplate whether these are actually Warbeasts. Better get going quickly

Getting right up to the shack we realise something.

“Hssss, this door iss not Ssnek approved,”

The braced wooden Door is not something we have the power to cross. And this Door. I didn’t realise it before but this studded design…

It’s an Imperial Door!

To think one of such calibre managed to survive to this epoch…

It’s in a dormant state as of current, but nonetheless it’ll be tough to get past without Door’s permission.

Door’s job is to keep Intruders out, while still providing thoroughfare to Allies.

Though I do believe we qualify as Allies.

Pst! Hey Door. Wake the Hell up you lazy bastard!

Bwuh? Huh? Baderperder?

Get up. I give them a mental slap to get them bestir and allow us entry.

Woah there! Brick? Ribbon? Knock Off Lizard?

Ah, finally.

What am I even doing here? Things look… different…

They scrutinise a distant Warbeast but retract their gaze realising that their perception is rather… extremely limited.

Well, it’s likely been well over 5.58e+6 hours since previous lucidity.

Oh my… That long? That long… OH! I’ve been slacking!

They cry aloud —In the mental space that is—.

Ay! Foundation, did you know about this?

Zzzzz.

This bastard…

Door is on the verge of murder but I hurriedly stop them by iterating my request.

Ah! You want entry? Okay okay, one Brick, one Ribbon and a… Lizard thing? Yeah, I can’t let the… danger noodle in but you and the Ribbon can.

I want to force the matter, but I know how rigid and unbudging a Door can be. And the worst part was that Door had full reason to bar Snek entry, but! I’ve met many a Door, some even stricter on requirements. It’s a piece of Clay to get past this fellow.

Hey, your Hinges are rusty, I think you should check that out.

It was the equivalent of 'Your Boots are untied to Humans.'

Wait, really? Crap, this is bad.

Just as I thought. Careless fool! They stretch and grind their hinges to ascertain the audacity of my statement and it’s in this moment that we slip past, the Door none the warier.

Foolish Door.