Plans within Plans– takes place after 27MAR21
17
APR/21
Herman Heals with Jinxie:
Herman and his gang crouched to assess the situation. The human finally stood. He was huge. He was some twenty to thirty feet tall. Herman had heard other familiars talk about giants, but this was the first giant he had ever seen one. The giant looked terrified as he scanned his surroundings. He was surrounded by the largest animals Herman had ever seen in the Nexus. They were all as tall as him. The human’s fear turned to panic, and he ran off as fast as he could. The animals started to corral around each other.
Herman came out of hiding. He slowly walked up to them. One of the giant birds looked familiar somehow. Herman put his hand out to show he was not going to hurt the bird. None of the animals seem to be concerned at all. Herman spoke in a calm voice, “I will not hurt you.” That is when he noticed the strange dance the bird was performing had a purpose. The bird was writing in the dirt, “Herman, I am so glad to see you. I am Asier.” Herman new the name. Asier was one of the men that worked for Sherriff. He was here but as an animal. Something had gone wrong. Something was terribly wrong.
They all headed into town. The Human problem would have to wait for another time. Herman led this rag tag group back into town and to the jail. Most of the town was now empty but a few were moving around. The only places that was alive were the taverns. They seemed like the last few people left were drinking it up. Music poured from it partially open door. Herman smiled at Jinxie and did a little dance in the street. His wounds took over control of his body. He stumbled into a terrible weak mess. Jinxie had to help him up. He was not going to move for very much longer. Jinxie, embraced him as she picked him up, “you need rest. My place is close.”
Most of the animals moved into and around the jail. The Sherriff looked up in shock, “what is going on Jinxie?” Herman could tell he was addressing her and not him. He did not know why the Sheriff was always minatory towards him. Herman found the closest seat and placed his ass into it before he collapsed. He was starting to feel heat waves from the fever that was taking over his wounds. Jinxie spoke quickly, “these animals all seem to be familiars that did not change for some reason.” She pushed Gila towards the Sherriff, “she needs to be behind bars. I will explain tomorrow.” One of the birds stepped up, “this is Asier.” She looked at Herman with concern, “I don’t have time to figure it out. So … here you are now.” She went to Herman side, helped him up and headed out of the room.
The two of them went to Jinxie’s place. Herman stumbled to the bed and sat down. He let the room seap in. Her display was smashed. All the broken bits had been cleaned up, but the screen was smashed. It was hanging on the wall, left like a sad reminder of a life long gone. The pieces missing never to be returned to her again. Herman had never been in the space of an estranged. By Tiamat fury he had never been in any other familiars’ private space before. The outline of the tunnel that used to lead to her master remained, but the tunnel was gone.
Jinxie helped him out of his clothes. He passed out before they finished. She let him sleep. Herman woke to a bright light in his eyes. Over him was Lumon. He was healing him in the name of Ra. Herman knew of this Ra, but knew it was not the same Ra. Herman’s mind could not process all these different worlds with their different gods and their similarities. Could have Ra become a god in his world. He would never know as Tiamat changed all that in his world. Herman sat up, “thank you.” Lumon did not answer but changed his brightness as a your welcome.
Herman checked his wrist display. Oni was sleeping in what looked like a tent. Herman had no idea how long he had been asleep. He looked over and Jinxie was talking to Hiccup. Herman, ears could not process any of the words yet. they were speaking very quietly. By the time he started to understand he understood that Hiccup and his friends were about to leave. They wanted to go back to their own section of the Nexus. Jinxie noticed him up and ran over to hug him, “I am so glad you are back.” Herman hugged her back, “how long has it been.” She squeezed him a little before letting him go, ”four days.” He pulled back in shock, “four days. What the fuck. I need to head back to Oni.” Her eyes welled up a little, “I know, but we want you to try something before you go.”
While Herman cleaned and dressed, Jinxie made some food. They ate a quick meal in silence. Both knew they might never see each other again. They gave each other knowing smiles as they finished the meal. After eating she cleaned up and pointed to a closet. It was as if they never wanted to say any words as the only the words that could be said would break them both. Herman opened the closet and found his new armor within. Hanging next to it was a belt with several weapons attached. He donned the armor and belted his weapons on his waist. He practiced the draw of his rapier several times, adjusting it each time until it drew smoothly.
Jinxies grabbed a second weapons belt and wore it over her skirt. She came over to him. She scanned him from head to toe. She adjusted his armor in a few places. She was behaving as a proud girlfriend dressing her man for court. Herman let her for a few minutes, then reached out around her and pulled her in. He kissed her. They were both tense for a moment and then relaxed into the kiss. This was their first kiss. They held it for a small lifetime. He started to pull away a little. She pulled him back into a hug and whispered in his ear, “come back to me.”
They headed out and rushed to the jail. Herman took in the room as he came in. The Sherriff was there, as was Gila and about six unchanged animals. The main cell that held Gila was open but had been changed into a small makeshift kitchen. Gila was cooking food in the cell. As they walked in the Sherriff looked up and grinned. He swept up a tiny object from his desk and moved towards them. Gila waved. She started to fill dishes with food and slid them just out of them cell, making sure to not step out of the cell. The animals moved over and started to eat from the bowls.
Sherriff: “I am so glad you are here.”
Herman pointing to Gila: “what is going on here?”
Gila: “Hi my buggy friend”
Sherriff: “she has agreed to help. I told her for now she cannot leave the cell.”
Herman: “the fucking cell door is open.”
Jinxie touching his shoulder: “has been for days. It is fine.”
Sherriff: “no time to explain. I am hoping you can try something for us.”
Herman eyeing Gila: “and what is that. I told Jinxie I had to go.”
Sherriff: “we know. That is where you can help”
Jinxie squeezing his arm: “you can say no, we would understand.”
Herman: “what is it.”
Sherriff holding up the tiny object: “we want you to take this with you to the other side.”
Herman grabs it: “and then what”
Sherriff: “in is sleeping poison. It will not hurt him”
Herman Shouting: “Hurt who?”
Sherriff: “calm down. It will not hurt Oni.”
Herman: “And what the fuck do you want me to do to Oni?”
Jinxies: “give him the sleep poison. We need your help.”
Sherriff: “we have all these familiars in animal form.”
The six animals: “squawks and yips.”
Sherriff: “shhhh. We want you to do two things. One we know will work and the other may not work.”
Herman: “Okay.”
Sherriff: “put Oni to sleep, then let these six animals through to your world. Three will come back. We need to see if they will convert back.”
Herman: “and the other three.”
Sherriff: “they are agents we are dropping into your world. One, Asier here, has a message for Weaslton and then plans to head to Raam. The other two are agents that will stay at The Oasis of the White Palm.”
Herman: “how will they get there?”
Sherriff: “Oni is already there. traveled there already.”
Herman: “ and how do you know that?”
Jinxie: “Herman this is all good, please help.”
Herman was angry at the whole idea. He took them back to his private place. As he arrived, he saw a massive door that had been built into place where his old door used to be. As they approached the Sherriff hurried up and handed Herman two keys, “we thought your space needed more protection.” Herman still moving fast looked at the keys, “these better be the only two keys.” Jinxie trying to calm him down, “they are, I promise.” Herman stepped up to the door, opened the lock, and swung the door open. He waved his hand to let all the others into his space.
With his eyes he asked Jinxie to stop. She stood next to him. They were alone in the street. Herman was fondling the keys in his hand. He looked into her eyes. He gave her one of the keys, “you are welcome in my space any time. I will leave the display on for you, if you like.” She took the key. With great tenderness she hugged him, and they kissed for a second time. She pulled back a little, “that would be great. I would love that.” He smiled. She cocked her head a little, “can I redecorate.” They both shared a brief laugh as they went into the space.
Herman moved over to the closet. It was time to strip. He removed all his clothes. They all new traveling through the tunnel dressed was a mistake. He saw three of the animals had tiny tubes attached to them. they were taking something for Weasleton. Herman realized there was some work or plan in play, and he was not going to be a part of it. He cared little. He mostly wanted to live his balanced life between Oni on side and Jinxie on the other. He would find his balance. He moved over to the tunnel, “you know I don’t have hands; how can I do this.” Jinxie, did some hand movements as if trying to show him how to handle the vial, “we think with your multiple arms, and antenna you can open it and pour it into his mouth.” As Herman moved through the tunnel he spoke to the animals, “once I give you the signal, come on through.”
Herman stepped out on to Oni’s arm. He did not know how long it had been, but it felt like he had seen his friend in a lifetime. Their closeness hit him like a warm wave of a dawn’s light. Oni groaned a little, “hey little buddy, I am so glad you are here. My watch is in a couple of hours, we can talk then.” Herman struggle with the tiny vial, but thought Oni was working with the plan. It took effort to move up to Oni’s mouth. He struggled, but finally opened the vial and dripped the green liquid within his lips. Oni was already sleeping so he could not know if it worked. Herman felt like he was betraying Oni.
He scurried back down his arm and went into the tunnel. Once in his space he through the vial at the Sherriff, “That’s the fucking signal.” Herman moved back out and waved the animals through. The first three came out, Asier leading the way. They were planning on staying and just moved into the tent and headed into the night. The next three stepped out, turned and headed back into the tunnel. Once on the other side they were normal again within the Nexus. Herman waved to Jinxie and headed back to the real world. Herman curled up in Oni’s neck, to wait until morning.