“Yes, and now you’re my only way out.”
“Stay in this room, I’ll leave and when I’m gone you can go.”
“What do I do about the Johns?”
“Setup one more meeting with them, one after the ship docks. Tell them you’re going to give them the HaLO as payment. They should know how much this thing is worth, since they were setting up a buyer for you.”
“They will know something is up, I have been very adamant about not giving it to them.”
“They’re going to lose the tournament today.”
“What? How do you know that?”
“Maldone asked one of my team to participate, and she won’t lose in a one-on-one fight against those three. Big John is the only one with any real talent, and the other two are like batteries for him.”
“You fought them yesterday, didn’t you? That’s why they were so mad.”
“Yea, and we would have had them if we weren’t on Aspiration.”
“He will try to murder everything that is close to you,” Charles looks at Vargas with horror in his eyes. “You know that right?”
Vargas shrugs, “Hard to do behind bars, and I don’t have much to go after in the first place.”
“What if it falls apart, then what?”
“Just call me or send me another message, we will work it all out. The Johns need to be taken down, and if I have to be the one who does it, then I will. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He then backs out of the room, and takes a steady pace down the hallway.
Swiping his HaLO across the reader, he opens his door, and locks it behind him. Amber was not in the room, which meant she was already at the tournament. He sets the Pilot HaLO on his nightstand, and sits down on the couch. He accesses the HVN for the ship, and has a link to the video feed for the tournament pull up.
Following the link, he sees Maldone introducing the finalists to the champion. Which was Vernon. This was a surprise, and he was glad he didn’t wind up going down to the Dive Bar. Amber was in one of the finalist positions, next to the Johns. They somehow each were there, which only meant that Charles probably set it up that way somehow.
Vernon choses Little John, and proceeds to wipe him out quickly. The ability he used on Vargas must not work on rune users like Vernon. A smile curls up the corners of his mouth as he watches each of the Johns fail miserably.
Big John actually got an explosion off on Vernon, which caused him to use it first. Vernon had used his trump card, one that Vargas knows well, the light. Vargas hadn’t expected him to use his ace, or that it would even be possible since it was a virtual tournament. This just made it all the more interesting to watch as his friend takes revenge for him. Maldone must have known how good Vernon was, which would be the only reason he was chosen as champion of the tournament.
Everything he had done was to try to keep Vernon out of this mess with Maldone, and let him have an uninterrupted honeymoon. Yet there he was, cleaning up Vargas’ mess without even knowing about it. This was just something that he always did at the academy. He hated it, and respected him for always offering to help, even when he didn’t know he was helping.
He looks at Amber, who is closely watching each fight, learning how he moved, but she doesn’t know about that power of his. Pulling up a blank message, he tells her to not get touched by it, and to make him use it more. He remembers the more it was used, he would just pass-out. Maldone wanted them to throw the last match, but it might be more entertaining to watch Amber go all out against Vernon.
Vargas, Amber and Yeti are in Yeti’s suite. Amber had lost the match to Vernon, which was because he won, not because she threw it. Maldone had contacted them, thanking them for making everything look realistic. He didn’t need to know that Vernon and Amber were going all out.
They sat in silence, looking at each other, and down at the Pilot HaLO. Vargas had just finished telling them everything about the conversation that he and Charles had, along with the promise he made. Yeti alternated from scratching his chin, to the back of his head. Every so often he would make an audible noise as if he was about to talk, and just continued to rub and scratch at himself.
Amber was still tired from the tournament, and seemed to be relaxing in the chair she was in. Even if things were virtual, it still took a toll on your mind. Effort and will had to be expended, and mental exhaustion was as bad as physical sometimes.
“What if I tell him?” Yeti says, breaking the silence.
“I guess, since I didn’t tell him, I wouldn’t be breaking my word. Where does that leave the Johns though. We need to grab them too, and I don’t know when he’s going to set up that meeting. I pretty sure it won’t be any time soon, because the Johns are probably pissed right now.”
“You’re right, they got set up to where they had a three out of four chance to win, and assumed the champion was already out of the equation.”
“So we don’t really want to be going around the ship right now. If they see us, they might just start something, and we can’t get innocents involved.”
“Well Cap, what do we do with this?” Picking up the Pilot HaLO.
“I’m holding onto it.”
Yeti tosses it to him. “Be my guest. I don’t want Maldone to even think I was anywhere near that thing.”
Amber says, “Why Johns not grab now?”
“If they resist, which I’m guessing they will, we are in the middle of the Granantic Ocean. They might just decide to take us all down with them.”
“Oh.”
“Yea.”
“Cap, what are we going to do about Charles. We can’t just let him run.”
“We can, this division doesn’t operate like the normal Paladin divisions. Tyler told me to do what I see fit, just don’t let it get back to him, or he will deny it all.”
“So we’re the black ops then?”
“That’s one way of putting it.”
“Still doesn’t sit right with me.”
“Same here, I just said I would let him get off the ship though. I’m going to tell Maldone tomorrow about it all. Say that I have everything setup to have the thief avoid the passengers getting off, leaving them out of harm’s way, and then we can do as we wish.”
29
Vernon and Marie leave the Dive Bar, headed to the middle of the ship to walk through the main promenade. Not having really walked through all the shops that were available on the ship, they wanted to see them – even if they had passed them by what felt like a few hundred times. When they arrived they saw booths lined up in between the stores. Each was a different sign up, and sales pitch for one of the different stops they had been on. They were looking for more people to move to The Island and Aspiration. There were precious few adventurers left in the world, and they wanted to get everyone they could.
The appeal was there for sure, in the back of Vernon's mind. Low to no rent based on your skill set and magical abilities, lower taxes, and the ability to truly make a name for yourself on Viviania. He thought about his parents, and what that could mean for them, getting away from Astrum. He knew they were in pretty deep, but still didn't know how bad it was. Vernon and Marie looked at the forms and pitches, but each time the salesman would start to get his hopes up, Vernon would just smile and say he already has signed up with the Paladins. This changed the attitude of every salesman from smiles to frowns, immediately switching to the next passenger to walk by.
Marie got a good chuckle out of this every time it happened as they walked through the shops, looking through the knickknacks–making sure that nothing was missed. As they finally make it to the dining hall, there is a sign outside of the dual set of double doors, which read, Come get your set of physical pictures below of the cruise and the excursions you've been on.
Marie and Vernon look at each other inquisitively, and with a unified nod they agree they should go down to look at it after they eat. With another satisfying meal complete, and far too much food consumed, they waddle into the photo lab a few flights of stairs dow
n–hoping to walk off some of the meal they just finished. The large spiral stair case opens to a room filled with large pillars throughout. Under the staircase there was a reception desk with a lone crew member tending to the desk. Each pillar was a display for all the available pictures that had been taken throughout the cruise. Sample photos were rotating around each pillar showing some passengers swimming, playing games in the casino, and even some on the shore at each cruise stop. A blurry picture catches his eye, and he walks over to the pillar to get a closer look. The man in it looks like Vargas, and the woman next to him was definitely Amber, but he knows Vargas didn’t come on this trip. He just shrugs and swipes his HaLO across the reader. The pillar fills up with their photos allowing them to flip though what they have available. There are some horrible photos caught mid-yawn or in the middle of blinking from the first day, and a lot from the wedding.
Marie is overjoyed and starts to concentrate on those first. “Hey babe, have you seen this one. It’s a really good one of you and your father.”
“Let me see it.”
The picture loads into Vernon’s overlay, and he is standing next to his father. He has a smirk on his face, and his father has a big smile across his. Vernon takes a hard look at the photo, and knows this is a good memory to have. He won’t ever know how many more of these he will get to make with his father.
“Let’s get this one in digital.”
“Alright, I already have a few more for you to look at.”
They pick through the wedding photos, and find a lot they want to keep. Having already hired a photographer, there were some photos they didn’t need, but it was still going to be awhile before those photos were going to be ready. The next they look at is the day they went on the dive. It has a few pictures of them flying through the air and walking through the forest, and fortunately there was none of the dragon. Marie could tell Vernon was nervous about it, as he quickly flipped through the surrounding photos to try to find one.
Then there is the set of pictures of them strolling around The Island. A few of them hand in hand, with the lighting just right. She brought out her big green puppy dog eyes, with the cute smirk she gets when she wants something, batting her eyes at Vernon. He takes in a breath, releasing it in a sigh.
“Go ahead, it’s not like we didn’t just get a windfall a few hours ago. Just get all the photos you want.”
With a victorious kiss on his cheek, and a little skip in her turn back to the pillar, she adds the pictures to the purchase cart.
“Thank you honey.”
The last set was in Aspiration, but there weren’t many shots available. Only of them during the main walk to the city, and the tour through the operations building. They don't really find anything they want to take from those shots, passing them up.
Walking to the counter the lady behind it looks up at them, and says flatly, “Are you two going to be participating in our final photo shoot for the trip?”
Marie’s interest peek at that reference, “I didn’t know there was going to be a photo shoot. When is it going to happen?”
“It will be right before the formal dining tonight, allowing our guests to get a formal attire photo in for the family. If you would like you can elect now to have the photos, and the option to browse them in your room will appear later tonight, so you can see how they turned out before you purchase them. Any purchase will be delivered to your room the morning before departure.”
Vernon can feel Marie’s gaze again before he even turns to meet it. Her eyes are wide, and sparkling, and he lets out yet another sigh. She could get him to agree to just about anything with that look. With his head tipped slowly shaking back, and forth.
“Alright, alright, just turn down the cute puppy dog look. We can do the formal pictures.”
The lady then asks, "Did you two know about the ice show performance later this afternoon?"
"Ice show?" Marie questions.
“Yes, they have a show this afternoon and this evening. It is going to be right here." Gesturing to the back of the room toward the left side of the photo lab. Where there is a set of closed wooden double doors.
"It is going to be a spectacular show, and it's free to attend. There is, however, limited seating. With the two shows everyone onboard who wants to see it should be able to watch it. I would still suggest to get the tickets as early as possible."
Vernon says, without looking at Marie, “Where do I get the tickets?”
They were directed to the go to the concierges booth, which is next to the front desk. Walking with Marie, arm in arm, they go up one flight of steps which leads next to the front desk. A small line, and short talk with one more receptionist left them with the ice show tickets in hand. The tickets were oversized and on thick paper stock, as the receptionist put it, to commemorate the first voyage of The Navigator and first performance for the ice show. The event wasn't going to begin for a couple hours, so they choose to head back to the room to spend more time alone with one another. Once the door shuts, Marie starts clawing at Vernon’s clothes, nearly ripping them off.
After an hour or so of passion, they lay in bed curled up with one another, still in nothing but bed sheets. Marie runs her finger up and down Vernon’s chest.
“So what’s the first thing you want to do when we get to our apartment?”
“This would be a good first start.”
“Come on,” her words come out sultry yet sweet, “I’m being serious here.”
“And so am I, this would be a really good first action. You know, break the place in a bit.”
Marie rolls her eyes, letting out a seductive little sigh, and rolls her body over to face him. Her bare breasts rubbing against his arm and chest, causing him to inhale sharply.
“What would be the second thing we do then?”
“I guess we keep looking for those cats we want to get.”
“Yay.”
Marie pulls up the site, and shares it with Vernon’s space. They take turns flipping through the available kittens. The conversation turns from which type they want to get, to color instead.
Vernon looks at the time, and there is only thirty minutes before the ice show. “So, do you want to go to the ice show, or just stay in this horribly uncomfortable bed, doing unspeakable things that naked people do to each other.”
Marie mulls it over for a moment. She then presses herself against Vernon, putting her lips to his, feeling the silky heat as they press together. Their bodies, have a different plan in mind, and beginning their protest with aches across each spot the metal rods touch.
Vernon lets out a painful moan, and takes Marie off him, laying her gently down beside him, albeit reluctantly.
“I can’t stay in this bed any longer. I guess we should go to the show.”
“Ok, but we’re finishing this later.” Marie says, pouting her lips.
“Oh yes, we will.”
A crowd had already gathered outside of the doors to the ice show as they arrive, even though they are about fifteen minutes early. The doors are still within sight, and as they wait, the line expands at a rapid pace – wrapping around the elevators. The once quiet hall fills with life as conversations begin to take place from the people waiting in line. Vernon looks around as he notices some people dressed in their finest, which makes him feel better about being dressed in a suit, and some people in just pajamas. There is a set of parents disciplining their child for playing with a fire spell while waiting in the crowd. Vernon smiles, remembering when he first got to use a fire rune, and the small house fire that caused. He still has to apologize for that accident to his mother at least once a year. Five minutes before showtime the large double doors open revealing the dark insides of a theater. A few paces inside the dark corridor, Vernon can feel the chill in the air, and light from under the frozen ice rink illuminates the room. He can barely see stadium seating lined up around the outside of the ice in a U shape, while wading through the crowd hurrying to their seats. Above him was an overly i
ntricate set of lighting apparatus that was dimly lit, allowing him to see the floor.
With the seating being limited and not reserved or numbered, Marie rushes off to find the best seats. Vernon follows behind her, not in a rush, but is impressed at how quickly she moves in heels. He wants to take it slow to look around and get a sense of his surroundings. This was something his training had pushed on him like an OCD habit, better to be prepared than caught off guard. A sound booth with physical controls installed in-lieu-of digital was enclosed within a three-walled glass booth, close to the entrance of the theater. Within the ice rink there are props all along the backend close to a large set of curtains, from which he believes even more props will come out of. Marie waves at him to come over to her, finding what she believes are the best seats.
As he reaches her, he leans over the back of the chair and asks, “Do you want anything to drink or snack on?”
“No, I’m good.”
He sits down beside her, holds her hand interlacing his fingers in hers. It takes a few minutes for the crowd to settle down and get situated. The show begins on time, and the crowd goes quiet. A parade of skaters shoot around the ice to start the show. There was magic assisted acrobatics, dancing, and displays of illusion. Different types of interpretive dance were performed to showcase different styles of magic with dance intertwined. Toward the end of the show, they invited everyone to turn off their HaLO overlays. There was an old fashioned illusionist who did not want any questions of altered reality tricks to pop up.
Obliging, Vernon and Marie do so, and the pair of old fashioned illusionists begin to perform. They came out dancing across the ice, swapping clothes within the blink of an eye. Marie's face lit up with excitement at the view, and Vernon was entranced by the ever changing and seemingly boundless supply of clothes they had. He thought one could feasibly wear enough layers to do part of the show, but the lady preforming was already down to fabric so tight it was basically painted on.
Cypher Theorem Series Box Set: Books 1-3, The Zero Class, Shadow Moon, Dragon Fire: A Science Fiction Fantasy Page 37