Spill...The Movie...Part 7

Chapter 18
Bait and Switch

“What the hell you mean by bait? I’m not playing the sucker for anyone!” Korey stormed back into the house followed by the others. He went to the den and leaned against the desk, his eyes on fire as Marvin entered, followed by the others.

“Let me explain, Korey. Maybe bait wasn’t the best term to use…”

“Damn straight it wasn’t! You’d better explain yourself old man or I’m out of here. Think I’d rather take my chances with the monsters, robots, and zombies whatever are out there.” Korey raged. Carlyle put the twin swords down on the table and walked over to Korey and grabbed him by the upper arms and shook him with a strength Korey never knew the smaller man had.

“Shut up and listen to me, ok? We got a job to do, a job only we can do. If you wanna bug out, then fine. We’ll try to manage without you,” Carlyle let go of Korey and turned his back to him, speaking in a hush. “I though if anything you’d fight to get even for what those bastards did to me.”

“Don’t lay a fucking guilt trip on me, man! I’m sick and tired of being the butt of every damn joke. I want some respect, that’s all,” Korey’s voice calmed as he continued, “All you got something special, you got some mad skills with the blades there, Leon’s got some bad ass mojo running through his veins and even Cyrus has got a gift. What have I got?”

“The power of persuasion.” Cyrus added quietly.

“Dude you could convince the sun to set at noontime if you put your mouth to it.” Leon added with a chuckle.

“That is what we need you to do, Korey,” Marvin said as he sat down. “To make the crystal work we need a central power base to feed the power Leon will send to trigger it. We need your little friend Co-Host. Your job will be to bring him to the others so that he can be plugged into the cable that will run from the crystal to him.”

“Sort of like an amplifier.” Cyrus noted.

“Precisely. From what I’ve heard, Co-Host trusts you the most. You are the logical one to grab him.”

“How? He’s probably gonna be knee deep in guards.” Korey wondered aloud.

“Leave that to me.” Carlyle said with a sinister grin.

“Alright, I’m in. If I’m gonna die might as well die with my buddies, though I’d much rather die in bed with some fine ass chick.”

“Wouldn’t we all?” Leon asked with a smile.

“We are going to need help,” Marvin continued. “We will need someone to distract the guards.”

Leon looked to Cyrus before saying,

“This looks like a job for The League of Extremely Ordinary Gentlemen!”

“Great, let’s call in The Dork Patrol.” Carlyle groused.

“Who better to distract a bunch of machines not use to human behavior?” Cyrus asked.

“Who says your behavior is human? Bunch of grown men sitting around reading comic books…”

“Don’t go there, Lord of the Geeks.” Leon warned. “Your gaming activities are, shall we say, insatiable?”

“Check and mate! We win again!” Cyrus chortled.

“Damn, we gotta get some better material.” Korey said to Carlyle who nodded in agreement.

“For now, I think it would be a good idea for you fellows to get some basics in fighting from our resident expert.” Marvin pointed to Carlyle. “Any bit of skill he can pass on to you could save you from being hurt or worse.”

This bit of news pleased Carlyle to no end. He went over to the table where he had put down his swords and picked them up, saying in a happy tone,

“Fellas, welcome to Camp Carlyle!”










Chapter 19
When Nerds Collide

It was sunset the next day when everyone met at the Spill Studio. The Valdronians had given up their watch on the studio as the time for the attack came closer.

“C’mon everyone, settle the hell down!” Edie’s voice boomed over the chatter that filled the room. Everyone looked toward her as she sat down at the table used for reviews. “Now we got a lot to go over and not much time, so I’m gonna turn things over to Marvin here.”

Marvin stood up and patted Edie on the shoulder, then spoke in a quiet, but firm voice, making sure the seriousness of the topic was not lost.

“We are facing an imamate attack from an enemy who outnumbers and outguns us. But we have a weapon they do not. We have The Legend, four brave men who will face the enemy and with their unique talents beat them back.”

“This is gonna be so cool!” Jason grinned in anticipation.

“Hey, where is the Crew? Shouldn’t they be here for this?” Beau asked as a crashing sound came from the storage room across from where they were. The door burst open and out came the guys.

“Damn Carlyle, if you point those fucking swords at me one more time…” Korey warned, crossing the room to where Marvin was.

“They’re sheathed, stop whining like a baby.” Carlyle grumbled, as Cyrus and Leon brought up the rear.

“I thought you said, The Legend. All I see are the Watchmen Rejects!” Beau joked as Jason, Grant and Greg all laughed along.

“Fine Beau, keep up the jokes and you’ll be locked out of the house, permanently.” Cyrus warned.

“Sorry dudes, but don’t you think the costumes are a bit much? We’re supposed to be fighting monster machines, not competing at Comic Con.” Greg offered.

“Where I come from, one dresses for a battle and personally I think these outfits are quite splendid. I really outdid myself, if I do say so.” Marvin said with admiration for his handiwork. He had managed to conjure up outfits that he felt suited each of the Crew.

Carlyle wore an outfit of midnight blue made up of a long leather duster coat covered with fine black chain mail. His swords were hanging from a heavy black leather sash that also held the steel dragon brooch that had been on the white outfit that the Valdronians had dressed him in. The shirt, pants and boots were all black but blended with the deep blue.

Cyrus had more of a biker look with a heavy leather jacket made of what looked like green alligator skin. The jacket had numerous zippered compartments and a heavy buckled belt. There were chains hanging from his shoulders and a three foot long heavy rod strapped to his back. Like Carlyle the rest of his outfit was basic black with leather gloves.

Unlike Cyrus and Carlyle, Leon wasn’t dressed for fighting, in fact the outfit he wore was not unlike his normal clothes except the jacket and pants were black leather that was decorated much the same way Marvin’s robe was except the effect was more of an elaborate machine embroidery that was hard to see. Leon pulled at the black turtleneck nervously as he checked the black leather satchel slung over his shoulder and across his chest that held the crystal.

“You guys look really cool, like real action heroes, well, except for Korey.” Edie said.

“Yeah, you guys get the cool stuff to wear and I gotta go in just jeans and a t-shirt, big fucking deal.” Korey muttered his discontent over his lack of a costume.

“Korey, I did forget this.” Marvin noted as he pulled a pair of sunglasses from a bag on the table.

“Nice try, but I don’t need sunglasses to look cool, I already am cool and don’t need some silly ass outfit to wear.”

“Let me explain,” Marvin said as they gathered around the table. “The glasses have a power. They filter all the fear you have and infuse you with calm in the face of danger. Years ago, we used visors on the armor but this is much easier to handle. Korey, you have the most important job of all. You have to lull Co-Host into a sense of false security and then throw him in this bag,” Marvin pointed at the bag he took the glasses from. “The fabric is charged so he cannot use his powers to escape. If you were to step in there dressed like Carlyle, he would suspect something.”

“Either that or he’d die laughing.” Greg muttered under his breath.

“Carlyle has helped me draw up a plan of the theatre,” Marvin continued as he rolled a large piece of paper out for all to see. “We will divide into teams, except for Korey who will have to go in alone.”

“Story of my life.” Korey sighed.

“You’ll go in the main entrance, Korey,” Carlyle continued, pointing at the map. “The guards have a standing order to bring any of you to Co-Host. That’s the easy part.”

“What the fuck do you mean, easy? Those machines will tear me up like Cyrus at an all you can eat buffet!”

“Hey! You said you were gonna start being nicer to me.” Cyrus protested.

“Shut up or I’ll take your sorry white ass back to the orphanage.” Korey said in a manner that Cyrus knew as him trying to break the tension in the room. He let the comment pass with a grunt.

Carlyle gave both men harsh looks.

“Knock off the comedy club mentality, we don’t have much time. Ok, Korey’s in so the next thing is for us to get in, that’s where you guys come in.” Carlyle pointed to the other members of the League.

“What we need you to do is cause a distraction, something that will get the attention of the guards and distract them long enough for Carlyle and Cyrus to put them out of commission.” Marvin picked up the dialogue again.

“I’ve got an idea; let me work it out with them.” Leon offered.

“I’m good with that, as long as it’s not Korey telling us what to do.” Jason chimed in.

Korey slipped the sunglasses on and marched over to Jason.

“Little boy, watch what you say about me or you’re gonna be what we call ancient history around these parts, get it?”

“Got it.” Jason replied somberly.

“Good! Damn I feel all powerful! These glasses are the best, thanks Marvin.” Korey smiled as he removed the glasses to look at them.

“You are most welcome, Korey. Now, let’s get our gear together and move out. Edie, you will drive the van. We’ll need to park a few blocks from the theatre.”

“If you don’t mind my asking Marvin, what are you going to be doing?” Beau inquired.

“I will follow you in and go to engage Talos in battle. He and I have a very old score to settle and in keeping him occupied it will give all of you more time to do what needs to be done.”
“I don’t like it, I should fight him.” Carlyle complained, rolling up the map. Marvin smiled as he put both of his hands on Carlyle’s slim shoulders.

“I have told you before; this is not your fight. Protect Leon at all costs, that is your mission. Now let’s see to our diversion plans.”


It was dark as the van stopped two blocks from the theatre. The streets were deserted except for the distant sound of police and fire sirens as Edie pulled the van into a dark alley.

“Talos has started his assault on Austin.” Carlyle muttered as he hopped out of the van.

“Indeed he has. His plan is to cause chaos so no one knows what is happening until it is too late.” Marvin noted darkly as he turned to Edie in the drivers seat. “If we are not back by midnight, there is an envelope on my desk at the house. Follow the instructions and hopefully you, Beau, Jason, Grant and Greg will be safe.”

“What do you mean us? We’re staying with you.” Beau’s voice boomed out.

“No. Your job is to distract and that is all. When you’ve done that, the four of you are to come back to the van and wait with Edie.” Marvin instructed.

“But we can help; you know the old saying, safety in numbers?” Grant offered. Marvin shook his head in disagreement as he slipped his blue robe over his jeans and t-shirt.

“I feel terrible asking you to help as it is. I will not risk anymore lives than I already have. If it were not for Carlyle having the information he has, I would have not involved any of you and instructed you to head for the hills, as it were. You will do your job and return here, do you understand?”

“We understand, but we’re not happy about it.” Jason replied.

Jumping out of the front seat, she threw her arms around Marvin’s neck.

“You listen to me old man, you’d better get your scrawny ass back here, and that goes for all of you misfits of Dorkdom.” She scolded with a catch in her voice as she turned away and hopped back into the van.

“We should split up here. Korey, take the road in front of us, the rest of us will go the back way. Korey, when you bag the Co-Host, run up that hallway to the back wall where there is an old stairway leading to the roof. Leon, Cyrus and I will meet you there and whatever you do, don’t open that bag once Co-Host is in it.” Carlyle explained, turning away to leave when Korey reached out and grabbed him by the upper arm.
“Hey, don’t keep me waiting on that drafty old roof too long.”

“Keep you waiting? Who’s the one who invented Korey Standard Time which is one hour behind everyone else?” Carlyle said with a sneer that turned to a frown. “Be careful and do your best to keep your mouth shut, ok? These guys don’t like chatty humans.”

“Found that out the hard way, did you?” Korey asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Yeah, I did. Get going before you fall apart and we go from being The Spill to The View.”

Without another word, Korey released his grasp of Carlyle and ran down the alley and around the corner.

“Let’s go.” Carlyle ordered as he led the group down the other end of the alley and around the back of the old theatre.

Carlyle pulled up to a quick halt and put his hand up to signal everyone to stop.
Several yards ahead were two sentries in front of the service entrance they were to use.

“These guys are yours,” he said to Beau and Jason. “Do you dork thing and Cyrus and I will come in quick and take these guys out.”

“Man, I hope this works.” Beau sighed as he and Jason walked towards the back of the theatre and started their banter.

“Well, I told you that Spectacular Spider Man bites Batman’s ass didn’t I?”
Jason asked loudly as he pulled a comic book from the back pocket of his jeans.

“What you don’t know about comics can fill the vacuum between George Lucas’ ears.” Beau replied in a thunderous voice that caught the attention of the two guards.

“Really? Well your idea of drama is a double feature of My Little Pony and The Smurfs!” Jason charged, as he and Beau stopped mere feet in front of the guards who just cocked their metallic heads to listen.

Beau and Jason continued their rant, slowly walking around so that the guard’s backs were to Carlyle and the others.

“Jason, your idea of drama is soaking in a bubble bath reading the entire saga of Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld.”

“Stick it up your Batcave, dork.”

“Dweeb.”
“I think we’d better do our thing before this gets any uglier.” Cyrus whispered to Carlyle.

“Yeah, this is pathetic.”

The two guards were totally caught off guard as Cyrus took the stick from the back of his jacket and swung hard, knocking the head off one while Carlyle brought both swords to bear and tore the head off the other.

“Geeze, we were just getting started!” Beau complained as Carlyle shook his head and went for the door.

“If you’d given us more time we could have gone through the entire history of Marvel and DC comics.” Jason added.

“We’re here to fight the bad guys, not bore them to death.” Leon explained as Carlyle opened the door and motioned for them to follow.

“One more set of guards and you guys are back to the van.” Carlyle instructed, pointing down the hall to a door. “Just open the door and we’ll do the rest.”

“Let’s just take the weapons from those two outside and blast them.” Grant said.

“They will find out we are here soon enough. The element of surprise is our greatest weapon.” Marvin counseled as he gave Grant and Greg as gentle shove down the hallway. About halfway down they started their argument.

“Man, you got no soul. You wouldn’t know a good piece of music if it hit you in the face.” Greg complained.

“Me? All you do is boom boom boom…nothing hard about that.” Grant replied as he put his hand on the door and pushed it open. Two more guards looked down at the two humans in disbelief as they walked through.

“I studied; I know how to play any kind of music. You name it, blues, jazz, rock, I can play it all.” Greg crowed.

“Big deal. Boom boom boom…what a thrill!” Grant responded as Carlyle and Cyrus came in quickly for the kill.

“Wasn’t much of an argument.” Leon muttered as he came through the doorway.

“Wasn’t much of a topic.” Grant smiled.

“Ok, you guys are done so get back to the van and wait.” Carlyle ordered quietly.

“Awww, c’mom we can help more!” Beau begged but Marvin shook his head.

“We couldn’t have gotten this far without your help, but from here on in we are a small team of specialists. Now, go back and stay with Edie.”

“Yeah, she’ll protect you guys.” Cyrus grinned.

Beau and Jason bent down and picked the weapons of the decapitated guards before they left.

“Hey, everyone comes back from the war with souvenirs.” Jason said happily as he led the other three out the back door. When they were gone, Marvin turned to the remaining three.

“This is where we part company. I must find Talos and the three of you must first put the communications system out of operation then meet Korey on the roof,” Marvin looked Carlyle straight in the eye as he spoke to him. “It is your responsibility to see to it that Leon is able to activate the orb. This is your mission and I know you can do this.”

“I will, I promise.” Carlyle said, turning away.

Marvin smiled tightly and held a hand up over them and spoke a blessing.

“May the Ancient Ones watch over you. Good luck and good bye.” With that, Marvin quickly disappeared into the dark hallway.

Leon suddenly felt shaky as he took a step forward and stumbled. Cyrus reached out and grabbed him.

“You ok, Leon? You don’t look so good.”

“It just felt like, I don’t know, like I’m never gonna see him again. The way he said good bye was so…”

“Let’s go. We’ve got a lot to do and little time.” Carlyle snapped as he led them down the corridor.

“Damn Carlyle, have a heart for once in your life, will ya?” Cyrus barked. Leon gave him a pat on the back.

“It’s ok. He’s right; besides when have you ever known Carlyle to have the sentiment of a Hallmark card?”

“Good point.” Cyrus grinned as they followed him down the hallway and a flight of stairs. At the bottom of the stairs was a door to the right with no guards. Carlyle pushed the door open to find a room full of electrical equipment hooked up to a large panel with lights and switches.

“You would think they would have someone on guard here?” Leon wondered as the entered the room.

“Maybe they’re on a coffee break….oh, yeah robots, sorry.” Cyrus grinned sheepishly as he made his way over to the control panel. He sat down in the old desk chair and looked at the console.

“This is the main communications center. We need to put it out of commission so they can’t get information from each other.” Carlyle instructed, pointing to a panel that had an alien looking lock on it.

“So, this is there communications mainframe? They don’t need walkie talkies or com links.” Leon asked.

“Right. Think of it like the Borg on Star Trek Next Generation.”

“So, that makes you our Captain Picard?” Leon asked with a teasing grin.

“Yeah, but I ain’t shaving my head for no one. What’s up with the lock Cyrus?”

Cyrus turned in the chair to face them.

“I don’t know, I’ve never done this before, but I’ll give it the good old college try.”

“This from a guy who never finished college,” Carlyle sighed, “Make it fast, I’ll watch the door for any visitors.”

Carlyle crossed the room and waited by the door as Cyrus opened one of the pockets of his jacket and pulled out a long thin box that held several different sized lock picks. Taking one out, he fiddled with the lock with no luck.

“Make it fast Cyrus.” Leon tired to encourage him as he tried a couple more picks.

“We got company at twelve o’clock. Leon, get behind the console.” Carlyle muttered just loudly enough to be heard. Leon did as he was told as Cyrus worked on the lock. His back was turned to the door as the two Valdronians entered the room.

“What, a human!” One said as Carlyle wrapped both his swords it’s neck and severed its head. The other swung around and grabbed Carlyle before he could get a swing at it. As the machine tightened its grip around his neck, a blue flash came from across the room, blowing the head off the machine. It dropped to the floor, taking Carlyle down with it.

“I got it!” Cyrus cried as he pulled the panel open. He turned around to see Carlyle pinned under the heavy machine. Rushing over to him, Cyrus managed to roll the carcass off Carlyle and help him to his feet, picking up his swords. They looked over to see Leon standing behind the panel in total shock, staring at his hands.

“I saw that thing grab you, Carlyle. I just wished I could stop it and this power just jumped from my hands…”

“I appreciate the save, but you’re not to use your power until you activate the orb.” Carlyle chastised.

“You’re welcome.” Leon said curtly. Cyrus returned to the panel and took a small pair of wire snips from his jacket and carefully cut several of the glowing lines in the console, then put the panel back on.

“That should keep them nice and confused for awhile.” He smiled as he and Leon headed for the door.

“But how did you know which ones to cut?” Leon wondered as they left the room.

“Just cut the ones with the most activity, the one that were glowing the most.” Cyrus said happily as Leon and Carlyle exchanged worried looks as they filed out of the room and stood in the narrow hallway until Carlyle pointed down the hall with one of his swords.

“This way.”

“That’s a dead end. We’re supposed to head for the roof now to meet up with Korey.” Leon protested, pointing the other way as a blue spark jumped from his fingertip and ricocheted around the hall until it fizzled out. Cyrus slapped Leon’s hand.

“Will you stop doing that?!”

“I can’t help it!” Leon said in his own defense as Carlyle started down to the end of the hall.

“Where are you going?” Leon asked.

“I’ve got a doctor’s appointment I almost forgot about.” Carlyle’s tone was grim as he marched down the hall. Leon and Cyrus quickly caught up with him.

“What the hell are you talking about?” Leon wanted to know as they stopped at the set of plain double doors at the end of the hall.

Carlyle took a deep breath and pushed the door open with his shoulder and walked in. As the others followed, he put up a hand for them to stop and be quiet as he slowly crept up to the lone Valdronian working at a desk. Carlyle was mere inches away when the machine turned in its chair.

“Craynor, how many times must I go over these numbers with you?”

Carlyle tapped the machine on the shoulder with the tip of his sword. Dr. Zavius turned around, his metallic jaw dropped at the sight of his human.

Grinning, Carlyle mustered up his best Bugs Bunny and said,

“Ehhhh, what’s up Doc?”

Carlyle then brought both blades to bear; not only slicing the machine’s head off, but ripping though its body, all the while swearing and cursing the machine who’d brought so much pain to him. Finally, Leon and Cyrus dragged him away from the mangled carcass. The wild anger in Carlyle’s eyes suddenly changed to a cold realization of where he was and what had happened to him. He let the two swords fall from his hands to the floor. He trembled as he looked around at the room full of alien medical equipment and the cold table they had strapped him down to.

“Carlyle?” Leon asked reaching out and putting a hand on his shoulder. With no warning, Carlyle dropped to his knees and buried his face in his hands. Leon and Cyrus knelt down next to him.

“It’s gonna be alright. They can’t hurt you anymore.” Leon quietly assured.

“We won’t let them hurt you.” Cyrus added.

“I know, it’s just…damn, I gotta get a grip.” Carlyle muttered as Cyrus got up and looked around the room.

“Hey, I found something.” He said holding out Carlyle’s ball cap and glasses. Getting up, Carlyle went over and took the hat and put it on his head and the glasses. He removed the old pair he was wearing and slipped them inside his coat and put on the thin framed rectangle ones. “Now you look like the old Carlyle.”

“Feeling more like it. Sorry for the breakdown, it’s just…” he began but Leon waved him off.

“No problem, hotshot. This stays between us, right Cyrus?”

“Oh yeah, Korey will never find out. I swear on a stack of Spectacular Spider Mans.” Cyrus vowed.

“Then let’s get out of here and head for the roof. I don’t know if word has gotten out that we’re here or not, so it’s best we don’t wait around and find out.” Carlyle gruffed, as he bent down to pick up his swords.




“Man, get your damn cold metallic hands off me or I’m gonna open up a can of whoop ass on your sorry soup can selves!” Korey grumbled as two guards opened the door to the office and threw him inside.

“Fuck yeah, Christmas has come early this year!” Co-Host said with utter delight as Korey picked himself up from the dusty floor.

“We found this one prowling around the lobby area. There were no others with him.” One of the guards reported.

“Cowardly bastards that they are; you can go.” Co-Host dismissed the guards who were wary about leaving him alone with a human.

“But Lord Co-Host, this human…”

“Ain’t gonna hurt me, shit I can take care of him. Search the building in case any others are around.”

“I came alone. I thought we could talk this over.” Korey said in a calm manner as he adjusted the sunglasses on his face.

“Look around anyways.” Co-Host ordered and the two machines left, closing the door behind them.

“Korey! Damn I knew you would come to your senses and join the winning side!” The little robot said with genuine joy in his voice.

“I just thought that we could talk, you know, like we used to.” Korey said quietly pulling up a chair and sitting down.

“What’s with the sunglasses? They do make you look cool, but it’s not your style, but then again you never did have any style!” Co-Host joked and Korey smiled but was keeping a running tab of the insults he would have to bear for the sake of the world.

“I have an infection in my eyes and need to keep them from bright light for a few days, nothing big. So, what’s new besides joining up with these Terminator rejects and trying for world domination?”

“Hey, don’t insult my friends. All we’re trying to do is make the world a better place for you humans, that’s all.” Co-Host said in a matter of fact manner as he rolled to the edge of the desk.

“What are you gonna do after you take over the world? Nothing personal but you are just a ball of metal.” Korey argued in a calm manner more befitting a high school debate than his true feelings.

“Man, I got plans, big plans! First these guys are gonna build a body for me that is fully functional, if you get my drift. Then I’m gonna have my own playboy mansion and fill it up with hot chicks, women who don’t mind a little mechanical assistance in the area of pleasure.”

Korey was grateful for the sunglasses to hide him rolling his eyes upwards in disbelief.

“Well, that’s all fine and good, but what about the rest of us? What are we gonna do in this robotic world?”

“Awww, I leave that shit to Talos. He’s got this theory that humans can’t govern themselves so he’s gonna set up a world government where people will do the jobs he tells them to. It will be good, really! No more poverty, everyone will be equal.”

“But not free. See, that’s the whole problem here. People, well we like to do what we want, be who we wanna be. Making mistakes is part of who we are. Being around me long enough, I thought you would understand that.”

“You’re a prime example of why humans can’t rule themselves! Damn Korey, you spend half your time bumbling through one misadventure after another and what do you have to show for it?” Co-Host asked with genuine earnest in what he was saying. “We’re not gonna take away your creativity, we like that. It’s in the nature of the pure machine that makes us want to make your life orderly. Utopia baby, that’s what we are after.”

“Utopia is a fool’s paradise, little man,” Korey calmly said, rising from his chair and sitting on the edge of the desk next to Co-Host who looked up at him. “I came here to try to talk you out of this before things go too far.

“Geeze Korey, don’t let Talos hear you say that, he’ll tear you to shreds. I mean, I admire the brother, but he’s got a real short fuse when it comes to human dissention.”

Korey just laughed as he pulled the bag hanging from his shoulder into his hands.
“You’re forgetting one important thing, Co-Host. Man came before machine. Somewhere back where these monsters came from, someone created them. Machines just don’t create themselves, someone has to create them.”

“What the fuck? You wanna start talking philosophy? You’ve been hanging out with Carlyle too much; oh sorry about that. I forgot he’s dead. Too bad, I liked having my own human but hey, you can take his place! I promise I won’t let Dr. Zavius run his stupid experiments on you like he did to Carlyle. He really put the little geek through the ringer.”

Korey turned away for a moment, cursing under his breath for what happened to Carlyle. He turned back to Co-Host with a big smile.

“Sorry, but I’m not interested. Fact is I came here to ask you to come on a little trip with me. You’re always complaining I never take you anywhere, so I’m just gonna put you in this little bag and take you for a walk.” Korey whipped out the bag and made a swoop, catching the little robot off guard.

“What the fuck is going on? Let me outta here you son of a….”

As quick as his trembling hands would let him, Korey secured the flap on the outside of the bag so only a faint muffle of Co-Host’s voice could be heard. Swinging the bag over his shoulder and across his chest, he went out the door, banging the bag against the door jam. A muffled cry came from the bag as Korey reached down and slapped the bag with his hand.

“Fully functional my ass, what a jerk.” He muttered to himself as he headed down the hall and up the stairway that led to the roof.



“Well, apparently word got out that we’re here!” Leon hollered over the gunfire aimed at the trio as they were trying to make their way to the top floor, only to end up in the balcony firing back with weapons they picked up from Valdronians they had destroyed on their way.

“Nice to be popular, isn’t it?” Cyrus grinned mischievously, letting loose a volley from the rifle he held and taking out two more of the soldiers.

“We gotta get back downstairs.” Carlyle grumbled, firing his rifle.

“Isn’t there a way to the roof from here?” Leon asked, taking a shot.

“No, the only access to the roof is on the other side of the theatre from us. We need to get back downstairs and up to the office area which is in back of the stage area.” Carlyle complained as he emptied the rifle and tossed it aside.
“Why can’t we just go to the other side of the balcony and down?” Cyrus asked.

“It will take too long,” Carlyle explained as he pulled the swords from their sheaths. “We gotta move and move fast, so Leon, you stay behind me and Cyrus brings up the rear. Let’s give them a taste of Austin they won’t like.”

With a simple nod, the three men threw themselves out into the landing and let loose with all the firepower they had. Carlyle slashed his way through six of the soldiers while Leon and Cyrus finished off the remaining five with fire power. Picking their way through the tangle of smoking metal they got back down to the auditorium level. Carlyle led them to an outer hallway that ran alongside the theatre that had been used as a service hall in the theatre’s heyday. When they came to the end, they were surprised to find no resistance, not a soldier in sight. Cautiously, Carlyle opened the door and found they were backstage. Several soldiers were crowded around the edge of the stage that was brightly lit. Marvin’s voice drifted above them as it carried in the acoustically sound stage area.

“Talos, once more you have interfered in human affairs. I cannot stand idly by and watch you destroy yet another world.”

“You have aged greatly from the last time we faced each other, wizard. You are too weak to stop me and I will finally have the last of the Seven Swords…Eventide.”

“Never will you hold her. She is the greatest and last of her kind.”

“Then let us test your metal, old man.”

A loud clang of blades rang out. Carlyle turned to motion the others to follow him, but Leon started to go towards the stage. Cyrus silently slapped a hand over his mouth and dragged him into the shadows where they could not be seen.

“Dammit Leon, we gotta move!” Carlyle hissed as he found the door that led to the offices.

“We could have helped him. That Talos is a monster!” Leon protested as Cyrus gave him a gentle, but firm shove through the door and closed it quietly behind him.

“He’s fighting Talos to keep him off our backs!” Carlyle snapped, but then softened his tone as he continued. “Look, I know he’s your friend and I care about him too but I’m not about to let him risk his life so you can do something heroically stupid.”

“Yeah, leave that to Korey.” Cyrus added.

“Damn it all, why do you have to be right?” Leon grumbled as they made their way down the hall to the stairway that led to the roof. Carlyle was half way up the stairs when he turned and smiled at Leon.
“It’s good to be Carlyle, that’s why.”