AE4The Story of Iriisii Dovahkiin

     Just before showtime, one of the stage hands knocks, then opens the door to her dressing room just offstage.

     Stage Hand: "Onstage in five minutes, Miss Iriisii."

     Iriisii: "Thank you."

     She looks into the mirror, yearning to see Rigmor and the others inside its silvery surface. And just for a fraction of a second there is a flickering deep within and then it is gone. A tear winds a lonely path down her face, threatening to begin undoing what she has done. She gently touches a fingertip to it and it flows from her face onto the fingertip. She then rises and moves to the door. Opening she sees the backstage area with everyone going about their last second jobs. Now it is up to her, as she prays she can do credit to what she learned at the 'Bard's College' in Solitude. She walks to the stool set on the stage for her, a single spotlight illuminating it. The crowd at the tables, whispering to each other about the change in the performance lineup. 

     Crowd: "Who is she that is next, there is no name?"

     Crowd: "What is it with a single spotlight?"

     Crowd: "Don't worry, the simple theatrics tell me this one is special, they want everyone's attention on her and nothing else."

     Crowd: "Where do you think they found her? Why have we not heard of her before from some other place?"

     She walks to the stool, makes herself comfortable, and begins final adjustments to the mandolin. The crowd's noise goes quiet. When she is ready she nods her head to someone offstage and a calm, not too loud voice comes over the speakers.

     Announcer: "Ladies and Gentlemen, for the first time anywhere, we would like to present for your enjoyment, (pause) Iriisii.. Starborn.. Dovahkiin."

     She lifts her head to the crowd, and plays a few riffs from 'The Dragonborn Comes' to get their attention. Then slows the pace and leads into 'The Wolven Song'. As her voice and the notes reach out softly and gently to all corners of the concert hall, they combine and resonate, forming overtones that sound like they are coming from everywhere at once. The crowds' heads turn as they try to see if there are musicians hidden around but see nothing. Then the magic that comes to her when she sings, enabled by the Siren training of her voice, reaches out and touches hearts and minds all over, letting them see visions of Geralt and Yennefer, the subjects of the song. All feel their hearts tugging at the power of their emotions when they are together, and the loneliness that envelopes the one left waking alone with the morning sun. They see as often it is Yennefer who runs first as Geralt battles himself and loses as he takes up the pursuit of her, knowing this will happen all over again when he catches her. But he cannot help himself, nor can she, for they both wonder deep inside, is this love real or is it the Jinn's magic, and will we ever know for sure?

     The final notes are played and sung, the overtones echo and fade, then silence returns. The crowd begins a scattered applause that quickly catches fire like a raging inferno, and as one stands, then another, and another, till everyone is on their feet in a standing ovation to the first song of her first appearance on stage. As Iriisii looks out over the standing crowd, she cannot believe the response.

     Tricia looks to Jean Claude, offstage, "Do you see this? How long has it been since someone received such a response to their first song?"

     Jean Claude: "More than that, did you feel the magic that worked with the song. See the story as it unfolded within your mind, feel the emotions of the song's subjects. This is what the great ones strive for and very seldom achieve. Everyone out there will remember this performance for the rest of their lives. But first, when they leave here, they will tell all their friends, neighbors, coworkers, what they saw and heard tonight. We will be swamped with people wanting to see and hear her. And the clamor is only going to grow. We have to start thinking of a bigger venue. We cannot handle the demand that is going to come from this."

     Tricia: "Time enough for that tomorrow, tonight let us just enjoy this."

     For now her morning and evening hours are spent working with the guards, sharing her training and experiences with them. Doing her best to adjust these to each individual so as not to hold anyone back. The guards respond with more and more adding themselves to her classes, until they had to arrange a larger area to accommodate them. Then at night, she goes on stage to sing the songs she knows, about the experiences she had a direct hand and many times a sword in.

     Tonight, she is going to try something different, instead of just a stool, mandolin, and a microphone, she has set up video screens. What the crowd does not know is that she has synced them to her own memories. And for the first song tonight, as she sings, they will portray her memories of what happened that goes along with the lyrics of the song. The stage call comes, and she walks to the stool sitting in the single spotlight.

     Iriisii: "I know you are wondering about the video screens. This is something special for you tonight to be the first to see. I have recorded scenes from my past that coincide with the words of the first song tonight. That song was written long before I was born, but strangely enough, it turned out to be written to describe my coming. I hope you like it."

     She sits in the spotlight, taking the mandolin in her hands, bringing out a few notes to set her voice to. Then she begins with, 'The Dragonborn Comes'. The riffs command everyone's attention, and when her voice rings out, the video screen alight with scenes from her past, starting with the first dragon she killed outside of Whiterun at the southern watchtower. It moves on through scene after scene, showing her learning the Rotmulaag, using her voice to fight both dragons and bands of outlaws. Then it shifts as she fights Odahviing, forcing him into the trap, before shifting to show her mount him as the two take to the skies on the path to Skuldafn. And then she is back at High Hrothgar, standing before Arngeir declaring the death of Alduin the Worldeater. And as the song ends the crowd hears Arngeir's admonition to Iriisii, as to how her actions will shape how the future will see her.

     As the video screens go dark once more, "The crown I gained years after he said those words to me, now rests upon my daughter's brow, and I, well I, as you can see are here before you now. I think I came out just fine on my end of things, don't you?"

     The crowd erupts into both laughter and thunderous applause.

     The next morning, Iriisii is woken by the sound of the steel plate at the back door being slammed into repeatedly. The guard who came to get her waits outside to take her there. When she appears the sound stops, and a snuffling can be heard at the bottom of the door, as if whatever is outside can smell her scent drifting from under it. Iriisii concentrates her hearing to hear only what is at the door. When she realizes what it is, the color drains from her face. Tricia watches all of this with consternation.

     Tricia: "What is out there? And why does it affect you this way?"

     Iriisii: "Is there somewhere we can go to see it from a safe distance? Not from a window, but from a high vantage point."

     Tricia: "Come with me."

     Iriisii motions to two of the best guardsmen trainee's to go with them. They immediately gear up and follow. It takes going up four flights of stairs, and around a few wandering hallways when Tricia opens another metal door that leads out to a balcony overlooking the rear area.

     Tricia: "We sometimes use this as a lookout post."

     As she looks over the edge and down toward the main rear door, she sees the door itself pulled off its hinges, exposing the steel plate behind it, dented and scarred.

     Tricia: "What in the world could do that? That steel is from a flotilla battleship, armored to withstand torpedoes and floating mines, I do not know of any living creature that can do that!"

     Iriisii looks around the area carefully until she spots what she is looking for in a shadowed area. She points the area out to the two guards.

     Iriisii: "Stay and watch this, if it goes badly for me, get Tricia back inside and down into the vaults. That will be the safest place for her and anyone else you can cram in there."

     Tricia: "But what is it?"

     Iriisii: "Count your blessings you have never encountered one before now. I would tell you of it, but that knowledge once gained can never be forgotten, much as you would wish for it to be."

     Tricia looks at her strangely for a second then, "I understand. Go and do what you must, just be careful, please."

     Iriisii: "I will, I want to know who summoned it and set it on my trail. They have a great deal to answer for this travesty."

     Iriisii looks at the decorative stone rail around the balcony, judging it is secure and safe, she climbs up onto its edge. Standing she summons her 'Armor of the Ageless Ones' and pulls 'Mahfaeraak' into her hands, then steps off the stone rail and plummets down to the ground. As she lightly lands, sword at the ready, she sees something she has read about but never seen before, a Shantaak Hunter.

     As tall as she is at the shoulders, no hair or fur, but tendril like tentacles covering its over muscled form. Eight legs, each like a thick tree trunk, each pair of legs with opposing knee joints allowing it to leap forward or backward with equal dexterity. Its claws are hard as diamond and sink into the concrete alley floor like it was soft putty. Its tail, long, armor scaled, and a tip capable of impaling any foe. Its face was...horrible does not come close to describing it. What passes for a snout is flexible, able to shift its shape to accommodate swallowing near any size prey, and teeth designed to shred should the prey attempt to pull itself away.  

     Iriisii sets her stance to be neutral but guarded, Mahfaeraak glowing with power between her and the Hunter, "Who set you onto me?"

     The Shantaak Hunter utters a series of grunts and growls, "I know only being called, given your scent, told to find you, take you to gate."

     Iriisii: "You know who I am, do you not?"

     Shantaak Hunter: "Yes."

     Iriisii: "Then you know you cannot take me if I do not wish it."

     Shantaak Hunter: "No choice, must obey, such is the law." 

     Iriisii: "I can free you of that law, free you to return to where you were before you were summoned."

     Shantaak Hunter: "Can remove burden of geas?"

     Iriisii: "I can."

     Shantaak Hunter: "How you do this?"

     Iriisii: "How is not important, that I can is what matters. I freed Belastrix from her prison, I can free you as well."

     Shantaak Hunter: "Do for me, I will serve you, then no one summon me again."

     Iriisii: "If it be your will and desire, kneel before me."

     The Shantaak Hunter rises and shambles to a spot in front of her then drops its front legs such that its knees are on the concrete. Iriisii places her hands around its massive, hideous head then opens her voice for it to be heard, even unto the Dark Planes that the Shantaak Hunter calls home.

     

     Hear my voice Dark Lords of the deep planes

     This one I hold in my hands do I now claim

     I accept his service to me of his free will

     If any have aught to say to me of this

     Come and speak what you will now, or be silent.

     A deep and far away rumble can be heard, a dark almost black cloud shot with violet lightning materializes close by, and a tall figure like a small tree but with waving tentacles and three yellow eyes spaced around its crown walks out of the cloud. First it looks at the Shantaak Hunter, then at Iriisii.

     Tsathog: "You did not summon him from us?"

     Iriisii: "No, I did not."

     Tsathog: "Then who?"

     Iriisii: "I know not, he told me, he who summoned him, gave him my scent and said capture me and take me to a gate."

     Tsathog: "You bargained with him to free him from this geas?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, he offered me his service, to free him and keep all others from summoning him again."

     Tsathog: "This is fair price for life service. What do you intend for 'Blind Dreamer'?"

     Iriisii: "Imprisonment."

     Tsathog: "How could any prison of this Existence hold him?"

     Iriisii: "A Mantella made from pure neutronium, sealed with a Winterstorm Construct, suspended in Quantum particles."

     Tsathog: "Yes, such a prison would work. We have no objection to this bargain. You have acted fairly as your reputation said you would. When your Heralds go forth and proclaim the Jihad, we will stand with the 'Balance'. We know you will be fair in your judgment. Should you wish to traverse the Dark Planes, you will be welcome."

     Iriisii: "Ask of me in need, and I will answer."

     Tsathog: "As will we."

     Tsathog then turns and enters the cloud which then dissipates. Iriisii looks to the Shantaak Hunter, "I guess I need to find you a place to stay, at least until I can get my Krang here. I will want to keep you close to me, I an sure he who summoned you will send others. I would like your help in dealing with them."

     Shantaak Hunter: "Can eat them?"

     Iriisii: "Once I am done with them, yes."

     The Shantaak Hunter fades from view, "I will be near, no one else find me but you.".

     Iriisii: "Very well."

     Iriisii stays there until she is surrounded by guards and Tricia comes up full of questions.

     Iriisii: "I know you have questions, but better where there are no ears to hear but ours."

     Tricia: "I agree."

     Soon enough Tricia leads Iriisii to a VIP conference room, once inside, she activates their security system. Iriisii concentrates on what the security systems covers, then adds her own privacy and security wards.

     Iriisii: "Now we cannot be overheard, either by technology or magic. Ask whatever questions you have, I will answer truthfully."

     Tricia: "What was that by the back door?"

     Iriisii: "A Shantaak Hunter, a rare subspecies of Shantaak, more intelligent than its brothers, and so far more dangerous."

     Tricia: "What exactly did you do with it to make it docile?"

     Iriisii: "Found out what it needed, made it an offer to give that to it, and so we made a bargain."

     Tricia: "What did it need?"

     Iriisii: "It wanted release from a geas laid on it by the one who summoned it to capture me and deliver me to a gate."

     Tricia: "Did it know who summoned it?"

     Iriisii: "No, and I would be surprised if it did. Anyone who knew how to summon one would not identify themselves to a Shantaak Hunter. They have very long memories and do not in the least like being forced to perform tasks for anyone, especially someone who rips them from their home."

     Tricia: "Can't say I blame it for that. What about that other thing, the one that walked out of that lightning cloud?"

     Iriisii: "That was a Lord of the Dark Planes. Do not mistake them for demons, devils, or Jinn, for they are something very different. I called to it to come to me."

     Tricia: "For Heaven's sake why?"

     Iriisii: "I made a bargain with the Shantaak Hunter, that bargain had to be approved by one of the Lords that rule the planes where the Shantaak Hunters come from. It would not be a good thing to make them angry by trying to sidestep them. I knew all it was interested in was whether or not the bargain was fair. It judged that to be the case and it was satisfied."

     Tricia: "That was not all was it?"

     Iriisii: "No, it was not. They know what is happening in the other parts of Existence. So they took this opportunity to tell me that when my Heralds go forth to declare the coming of the Jihad of Truth, and when the decisions are made as to who they will follow, they will declare for the Balance that I serve and protect. We also have a mutual defense pact between us now, if ever one of us needs the help of the other, they have but to call and they will be answered."

     Tricia: "But they are Evil are they not?"

     Iriisii: "And that matters how? The balance is made of both Light and Dark, Good and Evil. I accept any and all to fight with me, I only ask that they follow the Balance, follow me as its Champion. Good and Evil both have their parts to play in the life of Existence, as do Light and Dark. I am also adding the 'Left' and 'Right' as well."

     Tricia: "What do 'Left' and 'Right' denote in this."

     Iriisii: "The answer to that goes deep into Metaphysics and I am afraid it would only confuse you more at this point, later, with more experience, you may be able to understand, just not right now."

     Tricia: "Where did the Shantaak Hunter go?"

     Iriisii: "He is resting in a small pocket dimension tied to me so that if I need him he can drop in at an instants notice."

     Tricia: "How long will this last?"

     Iriisii: "Until he asks me to release him. While he is attached to me I can make sure no one else can summon him, and his ties to me are voluntary on his part, not forced."

     Tricia: "I still do not know how I feel about this."

     Iriisii: "Fair enough, I will stand for his behavior. He will do as I ask."

     Tricia: "That will have to do, now I wish I knew what Psy-Ops is thinking."

     Washington D.C., Pentagon Annex, Department of Psionic Operations, about one hundred feet below ground level, main conference room.

     Psy-Ops Chief of Staff Hawkins walks into the conference room and sits down across from Agent Jameson.

     Psy-Ops Chief of Staff Hawkins: "Report! Status on Project Outsider."

     Psy-Ops Operative Jameson: "The legal difficulties are still proving hard to dismiss. Their funding gives them access to the best legal minds in the country. Every move we make gets bogged down in motions, discovery, paperwork, most of which we cannot combat because it would expose us to public view."

     Hawkins: "We are Psy-Ops, not the Federal Government. I do not care how you do it, I just want it done. And if I am not making myself perfectly clear about this."

     Hawkins nods to a shadowy part of his office, Jameson suddenly grabs at his throat as he feels his windpipe closing up denying his lungs precious air. He can feel no physical impediment, no garotte around his neck, no hands squeezing his throat, yet he feels himself blacking out, knowing he will probably not live through this, then the restriction lifts and he takes hard, deep breaths to restore the depleted oxygen levels.

     Hawkins: "Agent Jameson, I trust I have made my point clear?"

     Jameson manages to choke the words out, "Yes sir, perfectly clear."

     Hawkins: "Good, get on it, I expect a more positive report next time."

     Jameson staggers to his feet and walks out the door. Moving quickly down the hall to the express elevator up to the ground level access.

     Hawkins, his eyes focused on the door Jameson has just left through, speaks to the outline of a form in the shadows, "Keep an eye on him, if he tries to run or defect, you know what to do."

     The outline silently nods and fades from view, Hawkins gathers some papers he needs for his meeting with the President and the Joint Chiefs later in the day. As Jameson steps outside the Octagon Military Complex and as he walks to his car, he activates a mental link to his team.

     Jameson: 'Jones, can you hear me?"

     Jones: 'Loud and clear, boss. I take it things did not go well?'

     Jameson: 'I tell you I was lucky to get out of there alive. Probably have a 'tail' on me as well.'

     Jones: 'Shit boss, what do you want me to do?'

     Jameson: 'For now, just keep me apprised of our current efforts. Do not do anything to draw attention to us, something stinks very bad here and I do not want to stir it up any more than I have to. We need to be prepared to go to survival mode at a moment's notice.'

     Jones: 'Understood, on it boss.'

     Jameson: Parks?'

     Parks: 'Yes, boss?'

     Jameson: 'I want you to get in touch with some of your former merc associates. Any who turned 'Were' and were cashiered from the 'services' for it. Feel them out and see if any joined up with and are working for the 'Preternaturals'.'

     Parks: 'You need a meeting or something like that?'

     Jameson: 'Yeah, do it very quietly, very carefully, if they are willing to meet, it must be under airtight security. If a hint of it gets out it could be all of our asses being buried.'

     Parks: 'Understood. How soon do you need a word?'

     Jameson: 'Yesterday.' 

     The first of a pair of local performances in the Coliseum is set to take place tonight. Her performances in the 'Circus' are off to exceed every statistic they have recorded since opening. Attendance, number of sold out shows, cash totals both for her performances and for the 'Circus' overall. If this pair is successful, they will start negotiating a worldwide tour. One of the guards walks up to the Guard Captain and speaks quietly, the Guard Captain's eyes grow wide as he listens. Once the guard is done, the Guard Captain asks him to go with him to speak to Tricia. Later Tricia sends a messenger to Iriisii, asking her to please come to the main conference room, saying she had just come into interesting information. Once she walks in, she closes the door and finds a chair where she can see everyone, then sits silently for Tricia to begin.

     Tricia: "I have been given a message to pass to you from the Psy-Ops agent that came here looking for you just after we got you hid down below. It seems there is a lot going on behind the scenes of the government that has finally gotten this agent so concerned he has reached out to us. He is asking for a secure meeting to discuss what he knows and I would think he may wish to ask for asylum for himself and his people. But before I do anything I would ask what you think since this most definitely concerns you."

     Iriisii: "Just how rare is an occurrence of this kind to happen?"

     Tricia: "I have never heard of it happening before, why?"

     Iriisii: "It helps me to see the seriousness of this agent. For him to come asking like this, in this particular manner, bespeaks that he has either seen, experienced, or both events that call into question his loyalty to those above him."

     Tricia: "You do not think he is simply trying to entrap you?"

     Iriisii: "That possibility is always present, but I do not think he would go to this length for that purpose when there are far simpler means to accomplish that if he so wished. No, I believe that your assumption of asylum has the greatest chance of being correct. And so I must be ready not only to accept his request but to enforce it as well."

     Tricia: "What do you mean to enforce it?"

     Iriisii: "I must be ready to defend him from those who would stop him. It is likely he is being 'tailed' and that someone has orders to 'make him disappear' should he step out of line. If we can bring him in and protect him and his, then it strengthens our position and weakens those he is working for. It will also put them in a position where they will have to try something to regain the upper hand."

     Tricia: "Any idea of what they may try?"

     Iriisii: "They will not try to penetrate here, too loud and noisy. Too many questions would be asked and they would not be able to completely silence the witnesses. No, they will come from the periphery, attack or take hostages from those allied to you, but in a better place for them to grab."

     Tricia sits and thinks for a few moments, then "Guard Captain, have our communications people contact the groups in the city and tell them to move out into their hiding holes, for now any who need a place to stay will be welcome here, this is to include human family members as well, especially them. Tell them Psy-Ops is moving to do a sweep and everyone needs to get their heads down and out of sight."

     Guard Captain: "At once Boss", while heading out the door looking for their Comm people.

     Tricia: "Thank you for that, I might not have realized it until too late. What do we do about the meeting?"

     Iriisii: "I would suggest that we go through with it as soon as possible. But do it in a way that I can watch as he is taken to the meeting. I want to see who or what is following him. This way if I can grab his 'tail' and show him, he will give us more information that we can use. It will also tell me if I need to attempt to contact my people for help."

     Tricia: "How many can you bring here?"

     Iriisii: "More than you can fit inside here."

     Tricia: "That would be a tall order."

     Iriisii: "If they could come in my 'Krang', there are two thousand of my personal guard, my 'Hand of Blood', two complete companies of my 'Dragon Legions', and two companies of my 'Sirens', about eight thousand total. There are some others I could also call on that would come at my call."

     Tricia: "You are right, we could not hold that many, at least not with the current number we have here right now. But please do not take offense, but who else could you call?"

     Iriisii smiles, "Not who, but what, I can call the Valkyries of both Meridia and Valhalla, along with a few hundred Lyrium Dragons."

     Tricia: "Real...dragons?"

     Iriisii: "Oh yes, and if I call specifically, there are more that will come to aid me. But I would use them, only as a last resort. The presence of so many dragons would probably cause far too much fear among the general population. And there is one in particular though."

     Tricia: "One in particular?"

     Iriisii: "You have seen parts of a skin drawing I have?"

     Tricia: "I would say tattoo, but from what I have seen it is far more detailed than any tattoo."

     Iriisii: "Definitely, yes. How can I explain this...it is a two dimensional physical form of a particular dragon that I can use to..."

     Tricia: "...call?"

     Iriisii: "In a fashion, yes. He actually resides within the drawing. If I were to 'call' him, the drawing would come alive from my body and would expand into his form. This way he can be with me wherever I go, no matter how close quarters the area is that I am. But to prove this, I can give him just a little opening and you can see him move on my skin."

     Tricia: "If you think it safe, go ahead."

     Iriisii stands and moves to a more open area of the room, opens the front of her shirt and gives a rolling growl, forming guttural words. As soon as they are voiced they dragon form on her skin begins to become three dimensional and while still holding its size, moves around her body, even lifting his head to look at Tricia. Tricia is speechless at this, even when Snowdevil speaks to her in Dovahzul.

     Iriisii: "He is introducing himself to you. His name is Snowdevil, and he is my 'dragon to ride' as I am his 'Dragonrider'. It is a very special relationship between us, as either of us would give our life to protect the other. I have not said anything before now because of the likely reaction it would cause for you and Jean Claude."

     Tricia: "Yeah, I could see that happening. So, what about the concert tonight?"

     Iriisii: "For now I would go ahead with it, Psy-Ops is not going to try anything with so many people as witnesses. It would be right before or right after, outside of view, that they would try anything. And if I know they are or even could be anywhere around, well, there is no way they could grab me unless I wish to allow it."

     Tricia: "What would you need to try and contact your people?"

     Iriisii: "I could try it from right here, now if you like."

     Tricia: "I think it better to be as fully prepared as you can be and not need all you can bring to bear than otherwise."

     Iriisii: "Agreed."

     Iriisii stands and walks to the wall at the end of the room, taking her hand she marks off a large virtual screen space, the edges glowing as her hand moves and frames the screen. She then stands a few steps back and extends both hands toward the glowing virtual screen. She pictures Rigmor in her mind, adding every detail she can until she cannot tell any difference between the Rigmor in her mind's eye and the one aboard the Krang, desperately worried about Iriisii and wondering where she is.

     Iriisii then sends the mental picture as a hunter, simply commanding it to 'seek'. It flashes from her hands and hits the surface of the virtual screen, which lights up. The images of where the hunter passes by flash onto the screen. Tricia is stunned by the sights she sees until it approaches the Krang.

     Tricia: "...ttthhat is the Krang?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, a gift from the last Prophet of the Tar-Aiym. I have worked to increase its capabilities as I have come into the knowledge, and the ability to create the materials needed. I see they have brought the new power source online. It should now be able to travel to anywhere that can be imagined."

     Tricia: "What are those golden towers floating in? What is that surrounding them?"

     Iriisii: "The original power source, a brown dwarf star."

     Tricia: "A...star?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, the corona has been pulled back, if it was let out, it would completely obscure the towers of the Krang. A near-perfect camouflage."

     Tricia: "Then what is powering it now?"

     Iriisii: "Do you see that wavering, like heat waves rising from hot pavement?"

     Tricia: "Yes, there toward the bottom of the screen?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, there is a 'naked singularity' there."

     Tricia: "A what?"

     Iriisii: "A 'black hole', one that does not rotate and so we can shield it as we control it. It does not feed on the trace material that exists in the vastness of space, thus it has no 'halo' of energy released as it consumes matter. In this way it stays unseen unless we desire that it be seen. Creating a rotational spin with it, causes it to open a Quantum Wormhole. We can then manipulate it, increasing its size to the point where we can send the Krang through to whatever destination we have selected."

     Tricia: "How can you know where it will open?"

     Iriisii: "Because it is a Quantum Wormhole, it obeys the laws of Quantum Space. It will react to the act of observing it, by concentrating our desire for a specific destination, the laws of Quantum Space direct the wormhole where we wish it to go."

     Tricia: "Amazing."

     Iriisii: "Indeed it is. And there are many more secrets hidden within its structure. But we approach and will be inside in just a few moments."

     The images slow and they see them pass inside, the seeker continuing to move until it finds Rigmor, who senses the seeker and knows who sent it. She stands and creates her own virtual screen as the seeker joins it and connects the two screens together.

     Rigmor: "My Love! It is you! You are alive! Thank all the powers above, you are alive! Eliza told us you still lived, but I almost could not hope enough! And I see you have Snowdevil with you, I feel much better for that. Knowing he is there to protect you."

     Iriisii: "Yes, I escaped, and I will tell you that tale when we are together again."

     Rigmor: "Forgive me, where are you? What do you need?"

     Iriisii: "Farther away than I have ever before been from you. But I need to give you my location coordinates, that way you can bring the Krang to me, with all of you aboard. I was pulled through the wormhole at the center of that monster out there that you have harnessed and brought here, well done. There is something here that I need to deal with, something very important, but that stays hidden, out of sight.

     You will need to make your approach stealthily, no one in this world must know you are there until I am ready to show you to them. Tell Reaper to cloak you as you come out of the wormhole, have my 'Hand of Blood' ready for action, the Dragons, and my Sirens as well. I have not seen a world so screwed up since Telios, and we may need to do as I did with Tuo before this is done."

     Rigmor: "Understood. I will have everything and everybody ready for your call. Who is that with you?"

     Iriisii: "This is Tricia, she found me and brought me to safety before the local government could reach me."

     Rigmor: "Tricia, I owe you a great debt, for Iriisii is the love of my very soul and I could not go on without her."

     Tricia: "She has already done so much for me and our people, for that I release any debt owed."

     Iriisii: "You will find that the two of you are very much alike and given a little time, I believe will become fast friends. She too has a vampire as a mate."

     Rigmor: "Really?! Is she?"

     Iriisii: "No, their path to power is a different one from ours, but one worth nurturing. Reaper has the coordinates, so with the new power source in place, power will not be a problem. Try and maintain a connection to the Fortress, we will see if it will hold across this distance. If so, it will allow me to change certain plans and make things easier for us all."

     Rigmor: "Not a problem, how long do you want me to wait for you to call?"

     Iriisii: "Go ahead and come across when you are ready. Things here are beginning to heat up, but I will need to keep them from boiling over until we are ready for it."

     Rigmor: "I understand. See you soon, my love, don't get hurt or lost before I get you into my arms again."

     Iriisii: "I promise."

     The virtual screen fades as the connection is severed.

     Tricia: "She really loves you."

     Iriisii: "As I love her. We met, fell in love, and married as mortals. Then when we became Goddesses, we did it all over again. And I would have it no other way."

     Tricia: "Then Gods and Goddesses can know love?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, they can. It starts with us, the Ascended Ones. Ones who were once mortal and then became Gods. As we know love, we can teach that to those who were never mortal to begin with. It is not easy, or quick, but it can be done."

     Tricia: "Then there is hope for Jean Claude and me?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, just remember this, hope and belief are the two greatest yet misunderstood powers that exist in all of the Creations. As long as you hold both in your heart and soul, there is nothing that is impossible for you."

     Tricia: "Thank you, that I will remember."

     They decided to use an off-premise location for the meet, an isolated location that would allow unauthorized visitors to be quickly noticed and intercepted. Iriisii waits on a platform on the upper superstructure with a clear view of the entire property while her position is not easily seen from the ground. She told Tricia that she would be at the meeting when she was sure there would be no unexpected guests and to tell the Psy-Ops agent that they were aware he had been 'tailed' for the last few days at least.

     She sees the agent arrive alone as requested, following the driving instructions to the letter. His car would be out of sight of the outer perimeter once he stopped, would be met at the entrance door, and escorted to where the meeting would take place. She waits passively scanning the entire area, letting her inner battle senses take notice of anything happening. The least disturbance registers on her senses, but she knows from the last few days spent out here what is normal and what is not.

     She is almost ready to go down to the meeting when the barest hint of trouble makes its presence known. As she slowly sweeps the area, she knows something is there, she feels it, can almost smell it, but it stubbornly remains out of sight. Whoever or whatever this is, it is very good, almost as good at moving unseen as she is. Almost, however is not good enough. She feels for a nearby shadow to ride down to the ground when a scent she remembers wafts across her senses. She freezes motionless to see what may be about to transpire.

     There, coming toward where she feels the unexpected visitor to be, another of those putrid assassins. This one seems to not be as far along as the last one was, he moves smoother, taking a more measured gait. He runs across the 'tails' trail. How is he tracking the 'tail', scent, hearing, perhaps something a bit more psychic? Better to wait and see what happens, then decide what to do. 

     The assassin is hit! He takes a foot to the midsection, folding over and backing away. Yet he immediately straightens as though not feeling any effect. She wonders what the 'tail' is making of this. The assassin's head sweeps from left to right and back, even as he keeps sweeping, moving a little this way then changing direction, from her vantage point she can see his pattern. He knows where the 'tail' is, but he cannot approach directly and get through its defenses. So he is taking an oblique path, maybe he gets lucky, maybe not.

     Iriisii thinks the 'tail' sees exactly what the assassin is doing and is preparing its next action in response. But she also knows something the 'tail' does not, it has a devastating acidic ranged attack that is likely as toxic as it is corrosive. What to do, let it play out, intercede, several choices to choose from.

     She calms and stills herself, letting her time sense slow relative time around her. Her thought processes speed up, and she plays out several scenarios. None really suit her purposes, but what if...yes that comes closest. It is still not certain it will go as she wants, but when do things ever go as she wants. Ok, take the chance, roll the dice, either way, the assassin must be destroyed, and the 'tail' will likely not know what to do about that. And maybe she can find out who is behind the 'tail', and what plans are in motion. She grabs the shadow and travels its track down to the ground, along the edge of the building to the closest point to these two combatants. She continues to watch the fight until she sees the moment she is waiting for her approach.

     The assassin drives straight at the 'tail', brushing aside the 'tails' arms, the assassin takes the 'tail' to the ground. Preparing to spit something at the 'tail', she senses something different about what is forming in the assassin's mouth. Then she knows, it wants to convert the 'tail', and pass its essence and task on to it. Iriisii steps from the shadows and casting Greater Telekinesis, grabs the assassin and rockets him high into the air. The jet of whatever he was going to spit into the 'tails' open mouth misses. Iriisii keeps her eyes on the tail even as she hears the body of the assassin become slush as it impacts the asphalt covering surrounding the place. Iriisii squats close to the 'tail' looking 'her' over very closely. She sees that the 'tail' was once human, but a great many changes have been wrought. Some bionic, some genetic mutations, some cybernetic implants, how much of what she once was is hard to determine. 

     Iriisii: "You will not be successful if you think you can either defeat me in a fight or escape me. What almost happened to you was something I could not allow in any good conscience. That is why I intervened, if it had not attempted what it was going to do, I would have waited to see who came out alive."

     Tail: "What was it going to do?"

     Iriisii: "Transfer its controlling essence to you, suborn your body, then go on to try and complete its task."

     Tail: "Which was?"

     Iriisii: "To kill me if it could not do to me what it was going to do to you."

     Tail: "And you know this how?'

     Iriisii: "Not the first one I have dealt with.

     Tail: "Why are you telling me this?"

     Iriisii: "Why not.'

     Tail: "You are not going to kill me?"

     Iriisii: "Unless you give me either reason to or leave me no choice, I intend to let you live."

     Tail: "You are either a complete fool.."

     Iriisii: "Or the bravest person you have ever met."

     Tail: "Did you read my mind?"

     Iriisii: "Not the first time I have been told that."

     Tail: "That I can believe."

     Iriisii: "Come on, we have a meeting to go to."

     Tail: "We?"

     Iriisii: "Well I certainly do not mean that putrid mess over there, speaking of which."

     Iriisii makes a hand gesture toward the assassin's body, which is already eating a hole into the asphalt, and it bursts into flames.

     Iriisii: "Come on, remember if you run across another, fire is the only way to destroy it completely. If you don't destroy it...well better if you do."

     Tail: "Why?"

     Iriisii: "What it was going to spit into your mouth, was what was animating it. I do not know what exactly it was, but I suspect a form of life that follows very different physical laws than those we are familiar with. If it could escape, it would find something or someone else to infect and take up where it left off."

     Tail: "What else do you know of it?"

     Iriisii: "Not much really, other than it considers me its greatest threat to its resurgence."

     Tail: "And you know this how?"

     Iriisii: "The first one I killed told me before I boiled it in Dragonfire."

     Tail: "Dragonfire?'

     Iriisii sighs: "Just because dragons do not live on this world does not mean they do not live on others or in other universes and I know because of personal experience. And if you live long enough you might find out just what sort of experiences I have had with them, first hand."

     Iriisii, the 'tail' with her, walks up to the door, opens it and says, "after you."

     The 'tail' walks on through with Iriisii following, letting her senses trail behind her, just to make sure there is not another sneaking about behind her. They walk down several sets of stairs, neither one making any noise as their feet tread on the steel steps. Iriisii keeps guiding the 'tail' until they reach a metal door with a sliding viewport. She knocks on the door, and the viewport is slid to the side. A pair of eyes sees Iriisii and then the eyes grow big as they light on the one next to her.

     Iriisii: "I have things under control, open up please, we need to be about our reason for being here."

     As the door is opened, Iriisii hears a set of footsteps heading hurriedly down the hallway to the room selected for the meeting. She walks sedately with the 'tail' ahead of her until they reach the meeting room. She knocks on the door and opens it, letting everyone see she is safe and in command, as she then leads the 'tail' in by one arm. The room goes silent as a grave, Iriisii directs the 'tail' to a chair, and motions for her to sit. Then she motions for a couple of the 'Circus' guards to stand behind the chair with the 'tail' sitting in it. 

     Iriisii: "Behave and nothing will happen to you, my word on this. Cross me and I will not hesitate to split you from crown to groin."

     Iriisii then moves to a chair and pulls it next to the 'tail', across from Jameson, whose face is white as a linen sheet.

     Iriisii: "I apologize for the delay, as you can see I was right that you had a 'tail'. Also, there was a second visitor who had nothing to do with this one. It is now a scorched patch on the asphalt. I would recommend no one go near it, and it should be dug up and completely burned in an incinerator."

     Tricia looks to one of the guards, "See to it."

     The guard nods his head, pulls his radio, and speaks into it, while he heads out the door to the outside to see this patch of scorched asphalt.

     Tricia: "Now Jameson, just why did you want to call this little meeting for?"

     It takes some time for Jameson to recount what it is that he has seen, heard, and done that led him to this action. All the while looking at the 'tail'.

     Iriisii: "You have nothing to fear at this moment in time, as to what happens afterward, that is entirely up to you."

     Jameson shifts his gaze to Iriisii, "How is that, may I ask? Word will get back to Hawkins and he will spare no expense to have me and mine dealt with."

     Iriisii: "Not if you claim asylum."

     Jameson: "With Tricia in the 'Circus of the Damned', Hawkins can get to me there, I have no doubt of it whatsoever."

     Iriisii: "With me."

     Jameson starts to speak once more when Tricia interrupts.

     Tricia: "Listen to her Jameson, she has the resources to keep you safe where Hawkins absolutely cannot touch you, trust me, I have seen it with my own eyes, and I could hardly believe what I saw."

     Jameson closes his mouth and nods his head, partly for what Tricia said, and partly because of the shock and awe on the 'tails' face as she realizes there just might be safety for her as well.

     Iriisii: "I will accept an asylum claim from both of you if that is what you want. And Tricia has indeed seen I have the power to back up what I say. But I need to know exactly what both of you know as to what is going on. I will not go into the middle of this mess without knowing what is going on, who the players are, and where they stand, and you both know the drill. I prefer not to take the easy way and turn the surface of this world into slag. I want to do this as a surgeon would, remove the tumor and dead rotting flesh to let the rest of the body heal."

     Tail: "You could do this? Turn this world into slag?"

     Tricia: "As difficult to believe as it is, what she showed me...yes, I believe every word. She could do that and far more."

     Jameson: "What are you?"

     Iriisii: "I do not know what you believe possible and what you believe to be in the realm of fantasy. The closest word I can come to describe my position in the Celestial World that is in your language is Goddess, and that is a far cry from the truth. In the languages of my Realms, what you call universes, I am a Progenitor. 

     We have different stages of Gods or Goddesses, a nascent level God/Goddess is just that, then we have Greater Gods/Goddesses, next are the Elder Gods/Goddesses, then there is but one above them, the 'Mother of the Cosmos'. I have gone a step above 'her'. No other has done so before now in the Creation Matrix that holds the Creation I was born in. I cannot tell you what is above me or how far it goes, because I simply do not know. And we have no records of it ever being done before. As mindbending as this is, what frightens me more, is why. Why now, and why do they who stand above me see the need to elevate me to their status?

     Do not think that I do not take this seriously, for the mantra I live by is that of a servant. With great power comes great responsibility, and I take my responsibilities seriously. We who serve as Gods and Goddesses, have chains of responsibility on us commensurate with the power we hold. For rash, abusive, uncontrolled use of that power, there is a price to be paid, and it is very steep indeed. Should it be needed that I use that power to 'turn this world to slag' in order to deal with the problem I have been brought here to deal with? I will do so, but only if there is no other way, and even then, I will bend every rule I can to save and protect every innocent soul that I can. And if possible, restore this world to what it was before its destruction and return the innocent to it to life once more. I know how it must sound to you, but I have done this before and may well be called upon to do it again."

     The silence in the room is deafening. Everyone is considering, and evaluating her words. Tricia especially is thinking, for she realizes from what Iriisii has told her that although she and Jean Claude follow a different path from her, they are still walking the 'Path of the Gods'. To hold that kind of power is ultimately sobering and frightening. But they have an example of one who has earned the right to do this, and they can do their best to emulate her.

     The tail begins by telling what she knows beginning from what was done to her, why it was done, and the role she had to play because of the chains tied to her very existence. She moves on to what information she has been privy to gathering in the tasks assigned to her. Summing up with what she feels all this is leading to, even as she has no solid evidence. Then Jameson gives what he and his team have managed to acquire and things take an even darker note at the things he has witnessed going on in the bowels of certain government installations. Once he is done, all eyes turn back to Iriisii.

     Iriisii: "My people in their past have had those who pushed forward unrestrained, uncaring about the results of what they did. I saw and witnessed the result of their actions in the future of my homeworld, when thousands of years later, it became nothing but rubble where once a world turned. The survivors were forced to migrate to one of its moons to begin again. This even after the Dwemer destroyed themselves, and the Direnni fled to far Realms to escape those who pursued them.

     I have seen abominations that subvert even the 'Laws of the Dead' bringing back souls from their afterlife and forging them into armored corpses animated by those souls. I have seen the visages of things that still work to give me nightmares. But what I see when I listen to your words, goes beyond anything I have experienced. Now I know why I was brought here and why it had to be me and no one else. If you stay with me, you will see wonders to bring tears to the eyes, and terrors that are the stuff of nightmares, but you will have the protection of my wings, of my blades, and every power I can command. What say you, will you accept a place in my service?"

     The tail looks at Jameson, then makes up her mind by nodding her head, Jameson asks, "what of my people?"

     Iriisii: "They will have the same choice as you, I will force no one to take service with me. It must be of their own free will."

     Jameson: "I say yes."

     Iriisii stands.

     Iriisii: "Each of you take a hand."

     As they do so, Iriisii begins to intone a vow in Dovahzul, as she speaks, the words explode as bursts of light from her mouth, and the air moves in the room of its own causing her hair to float around her head.

     Zu'u bel fah daar pogaan ziin         I call for these two

     wa meyz dii kirre                            to become my children  

     fah zu'u wa staad ko dii sil             for me to place in my soul

     ziistmaas nust meyz dii dovahhe    may they become my dragons

     ahrk zu'u meyz nun monah             and I become their mother.

     Her words echo, reverberate, and are heard by all who claim to be hers. From everywhere the members of her 'Hand of Blood' are at this moment, they stop, listen, kneel, and pray, 'Shai-Hulu'ud', and Iriisii answers their prayer, "May his passing cleanse the world."

     They are at the Coliseum, the sun setting in the west, shadows beginning to make their way across the seats already beginning to fill with people. As Iriisii gazes out over the filling stadium, Tricia walks up.

     Tricia: "When Jean Claude and I started the 'Circus of the Damned', I never thought anything like this would ever be in our future. Are you sure you still want to do this?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, the people need this, even as they do not know it yet, or even understand what it is that they need. I see it, and I can fill it, if only for a little while."

     Tricia: "The giant video screens are fired up and ready. What do you intend to do with them?"

     Iriisii: "Display the memories that go with the songs as I heard and experienced them."

     Tricia: "They will be understood by everyone?"

     Iriisii smiles, "The memories of a goddess can be very powerful. It will be as if each was there as it was actually happening."

     Tricia: "Your special guests have arrived and are anxious to get started."

     Iriisii: "Go ahead and let their people set up their instruments, we will get started when it is time."

     A runner comes up to Iriisii where she is talking to her special guests, "Showtime, Miss Iriisii."

     Iriisii: "Thank you, enjoy the show. Gentleman, again, thank you for coming."

     Guests: "We thank you for inviting us, it is good to know it actually happened and we were not crazy. Besides we can all claim that a Goddess likes our music, it will do wonders for our sales."

     Iriisii smiles and laughs as she turns toward the stage manager to get the microphone before stepping out on stage. She moves to him and takes the microphone, she then walks to the curtain edge and stops for a second to collect herself. The stage manager steps up and says, "Don't worry, you will have them eating out of your hand. You are a natural at this."

     Iriisii nods her thanks, and steps out onto the stage, a spotlight focuses on her and follows her.

     Iriisii: "Helllloooo Saint Lou!!!"

     The crowd's noise level comes back even stronger.

     Iriisii: "ARE YOU READY TONIGHT?!!"

     The crowd is ready and righteous for what is coming, or so they think.

     Iriisii: "I HAVE A SURPRISE FOR YOU TONIGHT!!"

     The crowd looks around and the noise hushes.

     Iriisii: "I HAVE SOME SPECIAL GUESTS WHO WILL BE JOINING US LATER!! BUT FOR NOW, YOU WILL NOTICE THE GIANT SCREENS ABOVE YOU IN THE CENTER. WATCH THEM DURING THE SHOW AND ENJOY!!

     As she walks to the stool with a spotlight on it, a medieval lute sits on a table by the stool. She takes the lute in hand and makes a few adjustments to it. Then she looks up a speaks into the mic on its stand in front of her.

     Iriisii: "I want you all to know, the people you will see in the video that plays with this song, are real people, I know them personally and consider them good friends."

     Then she starts playing 'The Wolven Song', on the screen, it is Priscilla sitting on the stool playing the lute and singing as Iriisii is singing. The simple melody of the song enhances the lyrics without overpowering them. Everyone feels the song tug at heartstrings, the magic that flows from Iriisii's voice finding deep places in the hearts of the crowd to fill. As the last words echo and fade, the crowd is on their feet showing how much they felt the song as she did. She waits until they settle down once more to see what else she has in store for them. Then she speaks once again this time about the song she has for them now. 

     Iriisii: "This one is very dear to my heart, I hope you like it as much as I do."

     Then she starts into 'The Dragonborn Comes', on the screen she walks out onto the porch of Dragon's Reach, walking to the front edge where she 'calls' 'Odahviing'. They watch as he flies by and she uses 'Dragonrend' to bring him down. She fights him, forcing him back, and further back until the trap is sprung. It then shifts and he has turned around waiting for her. The crowd cheers as she climbs on his back and he lifts up into the skies. They follow as he lifts up high into the air, then dives down through the clouds, turning on his massive wingspan to right and left, then they disappear as they enter the light of the western sunset. And the final words of the song make their way across for all to hear. Silence reigns and then the cheering, the foot-stomping, the attempts to shout like a dragon come rolling back to her, filling her heart like it has not been filled in some time.