Other Places 2: Road Blocks

by P. S. Power

  "I was wondering if everyone in the Mall could have unlimited free treats from there?" Because, in case of War, break out the sugar.

  That thought nearly got him to laugh, but the voice from the other end of the phone didn't, taking it as deadly serious.

  "Agreed. That should, eventually, cover about a millionth of a percent of things, for the matter at hand. It's a start at least. Please let everyone know. Or... yes, we'll put up a sign." They didn't speak much longer, but there was no sense that the fellow was making fun of his silly request.

  When he got off the phone he explained it all to the people in the room, who were, more or less, big foot, as Barb had once mentioned. Ones that shaved, it seemed. They looked brutish and spoke funny. And if the Vampire woman was right, and he figured she was, they were all geniuses too. High level ones. They just had a slightly odd situation.

  "So, that should help a little, at least while you're here, when you go home for the night, not so much. The Mage thing might run out after this dies down, but the yoghurt deal should be permanent. It will help you get through the night I hope?"

  That got Hildegard, the large and powerfully muscular light skinned girl to pick him up into a hug, her arms wrapping him totally.

  "That it most kind of you! We will not abuse your gift, I promise."

  "What?" He thought about it for a second and shook his head. "No, both groups think they owe me vast debts, the poor Vampires think they can never repay them either. If anything it would be best to visit there regularly and eat well, so they can feel like they have a chance. Just make certain you take time to let Lenore know which things you like, so she can improve on them, and keep them in stock. It's a thing with her. She's very nice though."

  That had them making a call for real food first, since that was a thing for them as well, not just Humans, and meant he and Hiram could get to the top level.

  Luckily that was less adventurous for them, and while they also arranged for some meals for people there, they didn't have to catch another pig or anything. Zack was starting to fade, yawning every few steps he took, and felt like sitting would be a very nice idea. So, naturally, that meant someone followed them into the store, holding malice for him and contempt in her heart, no doubt. She was also incredibly beautiful and not only knew it, but was clearly flaunting it as she walked up to him directly, smiling seductively the whole time.

  Valerie, the Alede Ambassador, and more important at the moment, Succubus. They fed on human energy too, like Vampires, but did it by freeing a bit up using sex. Instead of it going into producing life, it went to them. So it wasn't any bigger of a drain than what people did in their bedrooms together nightly all over the world, but they had a bit of a negative reputation. Not this one in particular, but their leadership. At least he thought of them in a poor light.

  "Mr. Hartley! I know that you're refusing to work with the Alede ruling body, and I thank you for it, personally." She moved in a way that pushed her chest out toward him, because that's what personal probably meant to someone like her. "They presented an issue to me that's rather sensitive, however. We have a protected personage that we'd like to remove from her movie shoot in New Zealand. This has been arranged on her end, but while we have a very strong presence there, we can't go head to head with attacking Vampires. Or any other of the more physical groups. We fear, being famous, that she's a real target, if someone turns against us." She waited and then simply moved so close to him they could kiss, and did it, right in front of everyone. She did a really good job of it too and he ended up standing there with his pants getting tight, which was a bit embarrassing.

  "Hey! Back the heck off, woman." Mirror Him didn't get aggressive, not yet, but he glared hard. "Pull your crap on me and I'll make certain you never travel by a line in your life." He didn't shove her back, since it was hard to do that with someone that made you want to melt, but he did get her to move to speaking distance after a bit. "Now, tell me the rest, like a real person, or the answer will just be no."

  Then Zack was back as himself. Protected and safe from the evil temptress.

  She smiled which was a sexy thing that made him want to do whatever she wanted, but was just normal. He was a guy, she was a ten, it was pretty much a done deal that way. Unless it would get him killed. Then he decided to play it smart.

  "Later then? Anyway, Judy Swan is an actress, and high enough profile that-"

  "The Judy Swan?" This came from Jen, so at least one of them got who that might be.

  "Exactly the one. So, I'd like to broker something with you. She can't get to a Node directly, being well away from any cities. I'm not even sure they have one there. But we can pay, and if you still refuse to work with my government, which I trust is the case, I'll personally trade with you on this one. That's within your policy, isn't it? That you'll hear-"

  He interrupted, and didn't let her finish the whole speech. There just wasn't enough energy left right now.

  "I need a picture of her so that I can locate her. You can owe me for it. Make a note or something. Let's hurry though, I'm afraid I'm not going to be awake for much longer." He wanted to growl at her, to show he meant it and act surly, but actually got that she was willing to do whatever he wanted her to, in order to pay for this. Given what she was, that would be sex. Especially if she got him alone for any length of time. He might even do it, just so she wouldn't feel like she owed him too much. Cash could work too, and he was starting to realize the problem everyone was having with him in that regard.

  They all really thought what he was doing was hard for him, even when he didn't show it all the time. No one else they wanted to deal with could get it done, not without killing loads of people for it, or in the Mages case, getting a lot of people to fast, pray and chant for a week or more to raise the power for it, so that was their yard stick for the work. If they offered him a hundred per trip, he would have taken it and counted it toward rent, never the wiser. As it was, he was starting to realize that while he was thinking that sounded fair, they were thinking that it would be in the millions or more, for each trip.

  So writing a check might be out of the question. He had money now and not just his salary. Keeley had brokered some of his trips and managed to turn nearly three million in profit for him, without harming anyone while doing it. Then she took a twenty percent cut, but since he couldn't manage to do the same thing, that was probably more than fair. Actually she'd gotten him more than that, and it was sitting in several banks, waiting for him to buy things with. He just didn't know enough to do that kind of thing, so it was down to this.

  Instead he was vague and seemed like he didn't care about amassing a super fortune, which he didn't. It made everyone think he was really expensive, and only gave cool deals to his personal friends. That worked for him, because in the end it meant less work and not being approached by everyone that wanted to take a vacation somewhere exotic. Technically it probably meant that he and Valerie were buddies now, so he waited for the picture by the Node.

  A succubus movie star? That sounded like it had prima donna written all over it, didn't it? Hopefully she wouldn't be too bad, or he'd have to leave her there.

  Grrr.

  Chuckling he found her easily enough, since New Zealand was rich in rifts and Nodes, and got moving.

  Chapter four

  It was a bit of a hard situation really, Zack decided.

  The woman, who was very pretty in a girl next door way, sat on what seemed to be a large boulder, wearing a baseball cap, a t-shirt and jeans, with a light jacket over it. She also had bags with her, but there were two backpacks and a duffle. All large, and no doubt heavy. Sighing, he realized it wasn't going to be fun at all, since getting help for this from a Vampire wouldn't work, and taking Jennifer with him would be about the same as going alone really. The same was true of Hiram and honestly, the man was a bit sketchy seeming, if you were a woman sitting alone in the near dark.

  It was also twilight there, on the other side of the world, and
while the woman was alone and seemed relaxed, a strange man approaching her without warning might just be out of place. It was going to happen, but he'd have to do something to reassure her he was harmless. What that would be he didn't know at all. The idea of carrying a teddy bear was kind of a good one. That or really creepy. He couldn't decide, so didn't act on the thought at all.

  Stepping through he ended up abut fifteen feet away from the lady, which was better than being at two feet, he had to figure, and was unnoticed until he spoke.

  "Judy? I was sent by Valerie Swanson to take you back to America. My name's Zack Hartley." He tried to sound sane and normal, but she jumped anyway, then laughed about it.

  "Oh..." She grabbed her chest a bit. "You scared me! I didn't hear you drive up. You say Val sent you? That's so sweet of her. I knew that someone was supposed to be around, but I kind of thought I'd have to set up the tent and eat trail mix for a few days. Were you in the area?" She sound like one of those very earthy people that just assumed everyone was a friend almost instantly. Her voice was smooth, but just friendly, not manipulative or demanding at all, and in the dim light it was clear that she was smiling in a very sociable fashion.

  It made her very easy to like, he realized.

  "No. Um... I can use the Nodes to travel? I'm not a Demon though, so Valerie asked if I'd come get you. It looks like we might have to walk a bit, since the place I came in at is gone." He tried to seem relaxed about it and sounded like he was a nervous boy trying to ask her on a date. That was wonderful, since nothing ensured trust like your voice nearly cracking halfway through a sentence.

  "You're the Human Line Walker? Oh. My. God. That is... I've been wanting to meet you for weeks!" She stood up and then laughed a bit, but in a good natured way. "Now I know what all those fans of mine must feel like. I don't even know what to say to you. Do you give autographs? Can I wash your car?"

  "I don't have a car. But I could sign something if you want... I never saw the reason for that really. I guess to help people remember you? That or prove they met someone. Anyway, we should get moving, if you feel up to it? I don't know how long this will take, but we might have to walk for a while." He waited for her to demand he carry all her gear, but she slipped one pack on immediately and hoisted the duffle over her other shoulder. Then she looked at the last bag. It was a sad thing, but she firmed her face up almost instantly and stood a bit straighter.

  "I can leave it, I suppose. It would be a bit too much to ask for you to carry it."

  He had to work to get it on, but it settled the weight really nicely once it was in place. The blue and black thing let him carry a lot more than he would have if it were in his hands. A whole lot.

  "Wow, I need to get one of these. This is nice. I've been having to bring Vampires with me to carry everything for the last bit. I had a broken arm. I would have gotten one to come with us now, but I didn't know if you'd be comfortable with it, since the current situation is so messed up. It isn't Vampires overall, just a few of them." He wasn't totally sure that made sense, but the woman nodded.

  "Thanks. I try not to be prejudiced, but I've been confused a few times for food, and this isn't the space I'd want to meet one of them in, if I can help it. Which way?"

  Zack oriented on where the closest shortcut was, and pointed. It wasn't that far, since the area was rich with them, but he didn't know them well, so it might mean doubling back. They walked in silence for a bit, the light going away before they got into place. Judy didn't complain or anything, in fact she was really quiet. Even her breathing was. His was louder, gasping a bit from the unfamiliar exertion.

  The rift was decently stable seeming, and glancing through it looked to take them about fifteen miles away. He could feel that, as well as the other rifts at that place, which were more frequent. It was a good enough place to start. The question would be how to manage it all.

  If the rift was one way, and he went through, then he'd lose Judy. There was also no way he could carry her and all the baggage at the same time. Considering it he shrugged.

  "If I take the duffle, can you hop into the air about six inches with your pack on?" He didn't explain and it had to seem really weird, but she put her bag down and jumped three times that into the air, which was darned impressive. Zack wasn't really certain he could have done it without the extra pack. It was probably the difference between a person that worked out and one that really didn't.

  "Great. Now, let me explain this. Your feet have to be in the air when I go through, or it won't work. This isn't a Node, so if we miss, we'll just stay here. If it was, I'd need to be extra careful, because ... Well, it won't be a problem." Telling her she might be cut to bits wasn't a good way to make her feel at ease, was it?

  It took them three tries, but the woman got it right eventually, and they were able to keep going, traveling with only a soft clanking sound from the gear. He couldn't actually see anything at this point, except stars and a few trees. There was grass underfoot, but he'd just have to hope there were no snakes.

  He actually kept them just walking, stopping to look through the various holes in space to see where they led. The third one was a lucky find really, since it would get them to civilization, and, if he had it right, the Nexus in Australia. He'd been planning on using the one in New Zealand, but it didn't matter all that much, did it?

  "This is a good one. It will take us into the back room of the Vampire embassy in... You know, I don't know what city it's near. Australia though. No one's in there right now, but it should be safe enough." He waited for a protest, but the woman didn't speak, just rearranging the gear like she had before.

  The instant they were in the room, they were rushed, by two men and a woman. It was too fast for him to do anything about, but they all froze in place and stared from about six feet away, rather than attacking.

  "Hello?" This came from the woman, who nodded after a second. "Oh, thank goodness, we thought it was an invasion." She waved to the others happily enough, seeming actually relieved. "This is the Line Walker. If he comes, we're to do anything he asks. That comes from the whole Council too, so don't do a half job. What can we do for you today, sir?" She smoothed the front of her orangey-red skirt. She had a little matching jacket and a mustard yellow blouse on under it, with pearls. She looked like a fifties T.V. mom this time, but still had her fangs out and ready to go.

  "Just passing through, thanks. I really appreciate you letting us use this place. Not that I called first, but... I normally can't, you know?"

  "Our pleasure. You just let us know if you need anything, sir, and we'll be on it before you can finish the sentence." Since that was true, he decided to be careful about what he said to the woman. Tamara. They'd met before, though she was warmer this time. Helpful the last too, but apparently she understood he wasn't there to kidnap her or anything now. That, or something else had changed. Like orders coming in that basically said that if he wanted to take her, she was just supposed to go?

  The men stood back, but they both fought to smile, with their mouths closed, a few seconds later. It was fake looking, which meant they were probably pretty youthful for their kind. He smiled back anyway and got Judy to reset and hop at the right time, landing them in the back of Candles and More, stopping a few feet away from the card table where everyone was still answering phones.

  "Hi all. This is Judy. I'm going to walk her down to Pretty Plus." Turning he frowned a bit. "Unless you need something else first? Food, or something to drink?"

  The woman shook her head, her sporty looking blonde ponytail bobbing a bit. "I'm good. Nice to meet you all. I don't know if I'm going to be around for long, but if I am, I hope we can all get together and chat?" This got a smile from Hiram, and a nervous expression from Jen, but Lisa moved in and put out a hand to shake, since Zack was still holding the duffle bag.

  "So nice to meet you. I'm sure we'd all enjoy that." She said the words, but Zack noticed, no plans were made. Everyone already looked really tired, so it was probably just
that.

  After a bit they were able to get free, and he took her to the right place, which was brightly lit at the moment, with no activity at all in the front of the place. They were probably all in the back, doing the phone thing, he realized.

  Except that the door was locked. He pounded for a bit and then shrugged.

  "Crud. Maybe they got called away? Well, no big. We'll just get you a hotel room. Unless you want to sleep in my bed?" He got that it might sound wrong when he heard the words, but she nodded, happily.

  "Thanks. Alede are many things, but one of those isn't particularly hard working. Not as a group. They probably realized that this really won't affect them, and all went home for the night."

  The straps were starting to hurt a bit, where his boney shoulders pushed against them, even though they were padded. His feet were sore from walking, and so was his lower back. It was less than perfectly fun.

  Zack nodded.

  "Oh, I should warn you, my place is probably just a bit better than your tent. I don't want you to be shocked when you get in."

  She laughed and shook her head.

  "I normally live in a small cabin in Colorado. I'll deal."

  They had to stop by the candle shop, since he didn't know if he was supposed to open in the morning, but Bob assured him that it would be fine to come in a bit later than that. The Mall was going into a lockdown for the day, so no one would be there to shop, or even lodge complaints or get permits for anything.

  Zack thought it through and nodded.

  "I'll try to get in to take over the phones then, as soon as I can. I'm about to crash right now. Even if I stayed here, it would mean sleeping."

  Mirror Him, who had been being very, very good for a while, laughed.

  'They'd probably draw pictures of dicks on your face in Sharpy if you did, too. At least Hiram would. That's a guy with a sense of humor, I can smell it.'