At long last, the conclusion…
Sit tight…
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Chapter Thirteen
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Beckoning Light
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The Big Core landed in a wide-open space in Penthouse District of the Zombie Living Quarters. All members of the CSRPD on board checked their gear one last time.
"Everyone remember where we parked," said one of the Getsu Fuhmas.
"This isn't the time for jokes," said Gonzap.
The dark clouds were getting thicker, and personally, he didn't like them.
"What in Shinato's name…" he muttered. "This is…"
"Maybe that's the portal to the Void," said Deesix, looking at it.
Gonzap shook his head.
"I remember the last time a portal to the Void was opened," he replied. "The energy it radiated was best described as Chaos.
"This isn't Chaos… This is pure Evil…
"If I didn't know better, I'd swear…"
He stopped short.
"Yes?" asked Deesix.
Gonzap took a long time to answer.
"The portal to the Void may have come and gone," he said. "And it may have just been a stepping stone to a far more sinister plot…"
He spoke up.
"Everyone, listen up! If what that crook said was true, Samedi owns many powerful trap and spell cubes, so watch where you step. And also…
"At the first sight of a monster that cannot be identified, we go to a Class Fourteen maneuver."
Everyone present stared at him.
It was very uncommon for a Class Fourteen maneuver to be ordered. Simply put, there was no such thing as a Class Fifteen maneuver.
Class Fourteen was a set of guidelines you followed when you truly had no idea what your enemy could do. As one could imagine, it was used rarely, and its success rate was about even.
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EZ and Sonja were even more horrified than they were before…
The flux of negative energy had stopped, and nothing remained of Moloch but a black scorch mark on the floor.
As for Samedi, or what they assumed was him, he was kneeling on the ground, having swelled to half-again his size, and having become more muscular than any Warrior EZ had ever seen. He was even bigger than Gilford the Lightning, someone whom he had the privilege of meeting at a charity event once. His clothing had torn, and his skin had turned dark violet.
"Beloved?" said Natasha, slowly.
She ran up to him.
"Mirror…" said Samedi, in a much deeper, much more sinister voice. "I need a mirror…"
Natasha quickly pulled a hand-mirror out of her pouch as Samedi stood up…
He was like a thing from a nightmare now. He resembled more a Fiend than a Zombie, with a tusked mouth and bald, knobbed cranium. His hands and feet had grown into wicked talons, and he had grown from six-feet-tall and slim, to nearly eight-feet-tall and hulking.
Samedi chuckled as he looked at his reflection.
"Well…" he said. "I'm not as handsome as I used to be… But then again, I never was a very vain guy! I can adjust."
"So can I!" laughed Natasha in joy, hugging his arm. "Oh, those Ladies with Frost and Galbrade are going to be so jealous…"
"Jealous?" shouted EZ. "Samedi, you look like a psycho! Did you actually think that the key to financial clout was to turn yourself into something that looks like it came out of Dark World?"
Samedi took a step forward, and then stumbled. Natasha helped him up.
"Whoa…" he said. "This takes some getting used to…
"As for your concern, Sergeant, I knew all along that I might have had to give up a few… aesthetic qualities. But anyone who tries to challenge me now because I 'look like a psycho,' as you put it, is going to have to answer to more power than any vampire has ever held…
"And the two of you are no longer worth my time.
"Natasha, darling, do with them as you planned. I'm going to get my own nourishment."
He stumbled again, and headed for the door.
Sonja's eyes opened wide.
"SISTERS!" she shouted.
She realized quickly what Samedi meant by "nourishment"… Her fellow Amazons, her true sister included, were in danger.
The Swords of Revealing Light were quickly fading. Sonja raised her sword, hoping one good blow would shatter them…
As Samedi left with a small chuckle, Natasha approached them. She lifted the Axe of Despair and palmed a trap cube.
EZ quickly recognized it. A Shadow Spell.
"You're hardly a threat to me, EZ," said Natasha, "so I'm gonna deal with your girlfriend first – I'll just tie her up and make you watch…"
Sonja's blade fell against the barrier, and the Swords finally shattered.
"OVER MY DEAD BODY!" shouted EZ.
His Fusion Sword Murasame Blade might have been gone, but he still had the sword that had been his hand when he had appeared out of nowhere, more than fifty years ago. He threw it like a javelin, and Natasha shrieked as it hit her hand, and the trap cube flew out of it.
"Oh, now I'm angry…" said the Vampire Lady, lifting the Axe. "Seems you two just don't know when to quit… Well let me show you…"
Most Warriors who had just thrown their weapon at an enemy would be worried if that enemy came at them with an Axe of Despair. However, EZ happened to know a strategy against such an enemy, especially one who was as light and slim as a Vampire Lady. After all, such weapons were usually found in the hands of much… bigger monsters.
Natasha leapt for him, holding the Axe above her head…
And then EZ fell to the ground, and rolled out of the way.
As he expected, Natasha's weapon buried itself into the ground, driven there by its own weight and the fact that Natasha's relatively small size made her awkward while using it.
Natasha strained to free the Axe, but EZ was not about to give her that chance. He gave her a kick to the gut that had all his strength behind it, and she toppled over.
Okay, step one was finished. He had gotten the deadly weapon away from her.
Unfortunately…
She was still stronger than he was, and his weapon was lying on the floor ten feet behind her.
This was gonna be hard.
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A Trap Master surveyed the entrance hall.
"All clear," he said. "No active traps. But there are a few burnt-out cubes in here… One Imperial Order, two Fake Traps, two Dust Tornadoes, one Covering Fire, and one…"
He paused.
"Uhm, I believe it was a Skill Drain."
"Skill Drain?" exclaimed Gonzap, as his troops started to walk in. "What in Dark World happened in here?"
The Nanobreaker's eyes flashed with light as she surveyed the surroundings. She held up a portable device.
"Sir," she said. "I'm picking up some fading auras. One appears to have been a Ryu Kokki… I believe it is dead."
She paused.
"Eight other monsters passed through here recently. Seven of them Earth Warriors, one Level Three, the rest Level Four… The eighth was an Earth Beast, also Level Four."
"A group of Earth Warriors and one Beast?" asked Gonzap. "That usually means one thing, but not in a place like this…"
"Sir…" said the Nanobreaker. "I've gotten an identification on one of the auras. It was in the CSRPD files…"
She showed it to him. Gonzap held his head.
"EZ…" he muttered. "You'd better be alive, because I want to yell at you…"
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EZ wasn't in the best situation.
Natasha had him on the ground, and was very close to achieving a pin. He knew that once she did, there'd be nothing between his neck and those fangs…
Finally, her hand secured his left hand to the ground. She grinned evilly.
Her mouth opened slightly, revealing those pointed teeth… EZ started to sweat.
Then he realized something…
He thrust his head up, hitting her forehead with the front of his helmet. She shrieked again and let go, enough for him to shove her off.
A common question that non-Warriors asked Warriors was, what was the point of a helmet? Did anyone ever strike at the head? Next time someone asked him that, he'd tell him about this.
He looked, holding his head, and saw Sonja reaching for something. He grinned slightly.
He made a beckoning gesture at Natasha. She pounced like a cat.
He was ready. He punched her full in the face.
It had stopped her, but it hadn't hurt her much. She stared at him with a look of hate.
"I've had enough, EZ…" she said, reaching into her sack, "now you're gonna…"
A trap cube rolled at her feet.
She looked at it.
"NO!" she screamed, as she realized what it was.
There was a burst of light…
After the flash subsided, Natasha was there, and chains embedded in the floor held her by the wrists, ankles, and waist. Sonja had recovered the Shadow Spell that Natasha had planned to use on her.
EZ frowned. He picked up his sword.
Natasha grinned nervously.
"You… you wouldn't strike down someone who was helpless, would you?" she asked.
"I'm not sure…" said EZ. "Doing that might be more merciful, actually…
"I could just leave you here for the cops, in which case you'd be arrested and charged as an accessory to opening a portal to the Void. I'm sure they'd find a Capsule that would fit you nicely…"
Natasha's eyes widened in fear…
EZ sighed.
"No…" he said. "It's a fate that I wouldn't wish on anyone."
He raised his sword.
"Never let it be said I wasn't merciful…"
Natasha shut her eyes tight as the sword fell…
One second later, the empty chains fell to the ground.
EZ wiped his brow.
He quickly looked through the sack.
Three Violet Crystals and two Swords of Dark Destruction. Both were worthless to the two of them.
"Come on," said EZ to Sonja. "Let's catch up to the big guy before he turns your sisters into lunch."
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"Hold up…" said Gonzap.
He looked into the room where the line was drawn across the floor.
"I know this set-up," he said. "This was in one of Ha Des's old places before he abandoned it. That wall is rigged with Dark Cores…
"Somebody hand me an Imperial Order…"
Deesix handed him the powerful trap cube.
"Someone make a note," said Gonzap, as he activated the powerful trap. "If we take Samedi alive, the cost of these cubes is coming out of him."
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"Uh, EZ, one question…" asked Sonja.
"Yeah?" he replied.
"Once we catch up to Samedi," she asked, "exactly what are we gonna do?"
EZ's brow furrowed. He honestly didn't know.
He had two cubes remaining – a Rush Recklessly and… Elfour's gift. He doubted that Rush Recklessly would be enough, and he knew that the gift was only slightly better, assuming he used it right.
"Uh, do you have any cubes left?" he asked.
Sonja didn't answer at once.
"Maybe…" she replied.
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"All clear," said the Trap Master.
Gonzap peeked into the dark lounge where the fight between EZ's forces and Samedi's first took place.
He was met by an angry growl, and was shocked to see a large tiger guarding a large cage that was holding five Amazons prisoner.
"Down, Sweetums," said Amanda. "Uh, hi… Do any of you happen to have a Mystical Space Typhoon cube or a Giant Trunade handy?"
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Samedi paused in the center of the vast cavern where EZ had fought Morphenian.
Each Vampire Lord had a close connection to his brides, and becoming the Vampire Genesis had not altered his.
Now he felt it… His bride had been killed.
"Rest easy, my love…" he said. "I will avenge you…"
He turned, and waited.
After about a minute, EZ and Sonja ran into the cavern.
Samedi raised his hand, and the whole place started to rumble. The ceiling started to crack.
EZ grabbed Sonja and shoved her out of the way as four stalactites fell where they had been standing.
"Do you know what you are to me now, Sergeant?" asked Samedi, crossing his arms. "Nothing, that's what. I may have once been a member of your species a long time ago, but I know now that the part of me that was once like you is dead. Even the body of a Red Moon Baby was a better one."
"Do tell…" muttered EZ. "Why do you guys always make speeches, anyway?"
"You remember when we met in that restaurant, right?" asked Samedi, ignoring the wisecrack. "I didn't want to kill you at that point. But if I wanted to, I would have. Even though I knew that there were two off-duty police sergeants, one of Zaborg's magistrates, and an aide that worked for Forseti himself dining there at the time. Do you know why? Because even as a Vampire Lord, I had more power than you could ever dream of.
"And now… My power is so great, the other Lords will be forced to accept me as their master. I've grown stronger than you could dream of growing."
He started to glow with a red aura. EZ switched on the Rush Recklessly cube…
"And when an insignificant pest proves to be an annoyance," he said in a voice that sounded more evil than ever, "it's time to show it just what true power can do!
"Crimson shroud!"
Samedi burst into a cloud of blood-red mist, and charged at EZ. The Obnoxious Celtic Guardian screamed as he was propelled against the wall.
EZ slowly started to lose consciousness. He knew that if it were not for the powers of his species, he'd be dead at this point…
Even so… In a few minutes, he probably would be anyway…
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EZ opened his eyes and looked around.
He gasped in fright. He was on a landscape burning with fire.
As he took it in, however, he noticed that he felt no heat. The fire wasn't burning him.
In front of him was a lava pool.
Then he noticed something strange… A woman was relaxing in it as if it were a hot tub!
The woman got up and stepped out. She turned to face him.
EZ was dumbfounded…
"Elfour?" he said in a whisper.
"The one and only, hot-shot," she said.
"Where are we?" he asked, looking around. "Is this where Fire monsters go when they die?"
"It's too hard to explain," said Elfour. "Suffice to say, I'm happy here."
"Am I dead?" he asked.
"Not yet," she replied. "Hopefully not for a long time. I just thought you needed a little pep talk. I wanted to clear the air once and for all… About what you had to do…"
"Elfour…" said EZ, with tears forming in his eyes.
"Quiet, hon," she said, putting her finger on his lips. "I never got a chance to tell you this, so I'll tell you now. I'm glad you made the decision you made. You see, when I was trying to kill you, inside I was trying my hardest to resist, without success. And I was praying as much as I could that you would beat me.
"You see… I knew that if you didn't, I'd just keep going until I was killed. And I didn't want to take you with me.
"In a way, you did me a favor."
EZ looked at her.
"I never thought of it that way…" he said.
"Now, you gotta go back there and take out tall, dark, and gruesome," she said. "If you don't stop him, this will be only the beginning of his evil. The Vampire Lords will become more tyrannical and less subtle under his leadership. The business world of the CSR will turn grim and darker than ever. Who knows? They may even try to stop relying on Pumpking and admit that they rule their part of town.
"And they won't stop there… They'll use every dirty trick to get every other Counsel member in their pocket, and eventually, they'll grow strong enough to topple Exodia himself.
"Samedi is a tumor, and you have to remove it before it grows too strong to stop."
"But how?" asked EZ. "Samedi is in the same class as a Blue-Eyes now! Maybe stronger…"
"Don't underestimate your current partner," she replied. "I know she has something that might help. And you can too.
"And one more thing…
"My biggest regret was that I never got to make a proper goodbye. So let's do that now…"
She held his face in his hands and kissed him on the lips, deeply and hot energy flowed into him.
"Now go back there, and make me proud…"
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EZ slowly stirred. Sonja was holding him.
He didn't know if that had really been Elfour or if it had just been a hallucination that the shock had caused. But whatever the case, he had made up his mind. He would fight on until the end. There had to be some way…
Although he didn't know how he was going to do it. He was sure at least two of his ribs had been cracked by that last blow, and his entire right arm was numb. His right arm was the one he used his sword with…
"Still alive?" asked Samedi. "Well, I guess I can't smash you… I'm just going to have to eat you!"
"EZ…" said Sonja, reaching into her pouch. "We have one last chance. Oh, every Amazon who has had custody of this has prayed she would never have to use it, but it's the only way… I have no idea just how strong he is now… I know nothing about the Vampire Genesis, but…"
She took her final Spell Cube out of her pouch.
"SONJA!" gasped EZ. "That's a Gift of the Martyr cube! Where in all of creation…"
"No time to explain," replied Sonja. "When I activate it, my strength will be added to yours for five minutes. Hopefully, it will be enough to take out that abomination."
"But then you'll die when those five minutes are up!" protested EZ. "We can't…"
"He'd kill us both anyway," said Sonja. "No choice… It has to be done."
"Sonja, no!" shouted EZ.
He paused.
"If anything, let me use on you, and then you can…"
Sonja hit the button on the cube, and she slumped to the ground. EZ felt his wounds healing, and his muscles bulge…
"You don't have a choice now…" said Sonja, weakly. "Go get him… And EZ… I was happy to be a friend… For a little while…"
She passed out.
EZ looked at Samedi.
He reached into his pouch and took out his own final cube. Elfour's gift.
Now's the time, he thought.
He hit the button on it, and then placed it on Sonja's chest.
"All right, Samedi…" he said. "Time to show you how 'insignificant' I can be!"
He looked at the glowing Gift of the Martyr cube.
I just hope it's enough… he thought. That was a pretty powerful threat, so I hope I can back it up.
He leapt up, holding his sword out, leaping at the Vampire Genesis…
He slashed across Samedi's chest, and the Vampire actually screamed and stumbled backwards.
"How dare you!" he shouted. "Let's see if you survive it this time…
"Crimson shroud!"
Samedi burst into the destructive cloud again, and charged towards EZ, but this time, the Warrior swatted it aside with his blade, and it flew towards the opposite end of the cavern. Samedi reformed, just in time to crash into the wall. Rubble fell from the ceiling, raining on the creature.
Samedi slowly got up.
"I won't let you defeat me…" he cursed. "I've been working towards this for too long… My power is my life…"
He raised his hand, and boulders tore out of the ground.
They flew towards EZ, and he leapt up. He leapt on one, and then leapt to another, and then to another, using them as stepping stones to get to his foe. He leapt at Samedi and slashed across his chest again.
Samedi screamed again. Now there was an X-shaped scar on his chest bleeding black blood.
"You wanted power, Samedi?" asked EZ. "Well let me tell you something… In this crazy world, power is indeed what makes someone important. Some people were born into power. They were the lucky ones. Some people earned their power, using wealth, hard work, or both. They were the efficient ones.
"But you? You stole your power. You used trickery, deceit, and betrayal to become what you thought would give you power.
"And in the end, that's not something to be respected. That's something to be despised.
"Silver blade slash!"
The sword of the Obnoxious Celtic Guardian cut deep into the flesh of the Vampire Genesis, and Baron Samedi's final scream echoed throughout the whole complex…
As EZ stumbled backwards the Vampire Genesis exploded into minute triangles.
EZ paused to catch his breath.
"Burn in Dark World, Samedi…" he muttered.
His sword fell on the ground with a clatter.
"You know…" he muttered. "For a nothing, that was really something…"
The strength was slowly leaving him. He walked up to Sonja, who was lying on the ground.
He watched as she breathed her last…
…or did she?
The trap cube glowed, and a spectral, golden rope appeared, encircling Sonja's body. Her eyes opened a little, and then they opened wide as a golden glow covered her.
"Th…" she muttered. "This is a Rope of Life… EZ… Where did you get this?"
EZ sighed.
"Elfour gave it to me…" he replied. "I was saving it for a special occasion. I guess you might say I decided that the special occasion finally came…"
Sonja sat up and took the trap cube as it slowly burnt out, its magic spent. EZ held her close.
They looked at the scorched remains of where their foe had been.
"Freeze!" shouted a voice.
EZ sighed, as a mob of police rushed in, led by Gonzap, holding their weapons high.
"Where's Samedi?" demanded Gonzap.
"Dead…" muttered EZ. "You folks came late for the party…"
Gonzap lowered his weapon. He looked at the large scorchmark.
"He turned himself into the Vampire Genesis, didn't he?" he asked.
"Yeah…" said EZ nodding. "The first. Hopefully the last, because I sure as Slifer don't ever want to do that again..."
Gonzap looked at EZ.
"EZ, I don't know whether to arrest you for vigilantism or give you a medal," he muttered. "Sometimes I wish I was still a lowly Level Four so I could do things this crazy…"
EZ put his arm around Sonja.
"I'm a private eye, old friend…" he replied. "I was just doing what this client had hired me to do. I guess it turned out to be a bigger job than I at first thought…"
Gonzap sighed.
"Listen, EZ," he said. "You may well have destroyed one of the most potentially dangerous creatures that we had hoped would never have to be dealt with…
"For the longest time, I've been practically begging you to accept your old job back. I'm not going to do that this time… Ask you to accept your old job back…"
EZ looked at him.
"I'm certain that once Dupin finds out what you did," continued Gonzap, "he'll approve of me letting you back on the force… With a promotion to Detective.
"That is, if you aren't so damn stubborn enough to turn even that down."
EZ got up.
"Well…" he said, "give me a week for my bruises to heal, and I'll be there at first shift.
"I suppose it is finally time…"
"Just keep one thing in mind…" said the Mystic Swordsman, sternly. "Until you make Inspector, which I can practically guarantee will happen someday, I still outrank you, and you'll do what I say from now on!"
"Of course… boss…" replied EZ.
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Epilogue
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The Shadow Council listened closely as Pumpking cleared its throat.
"Ahem…" said the King of Ghosts, as the Machine King and the Rude Kaiser looked on. "I have considered both of your claims very carefully, taking into account all variables…
"And it is my decision that the territory in question is rightful property of the Green Phantom King and his subjects."
The Rude Kaiser growled and clenched his fist, as the Machine King crossed its arms.
Exodia the Forbidden One spoke up.
"The Counsel would like to thank the Zombie Representative for its help in resolving this matter…" he said.
He turned to the Machine, Rock, and Plant Representative and the Insect, Dinosaur, and Reptile Monitor.
"As for the two of you…" he said, "I hope now this squabbling can end. The very last thing we need is for Plants and Insects to start fighting. Do I make myself clear?"
A long pause was the only answer he needed.
"Very well…" he said. "We will now move on… Who else has new issues to address?"
The lights on eleven podiums lit up.
The Forbidden One groaned and held his head as it started to throb.
It looked like they were going to be here for a while…
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The sign at The Red Cent now read as followed:
NO LOITERING
NO FIGHTING
The rule forbidding Pikerus was now lifted. Orville had been sorry to see Sally go, but he was glad she had found a better job.
He had found a new waitress quickly. He sent word out that he wanted someone who was Level Three or less, and thus able to use Gravity Bind cubes and similar tools like the kind Sally had used to deter fighting. Someone who was that low-level would have to be crazy not to apply for such a good job.
The patrons had to admit that it was a little different seeing a Cyber Tutu wait on the tables rather than the familiar face of the Ebon Magician Curran, but the new waitress was already starting to endear herself to everyone.
Right now, three Warriors were sitting at a table over greasy plates. One was EZ, another was Sonja, and the third was an Empress Judge who had yet to choose a name, but likely would soon.
"So…" said EZ, "what next? Got anything lined up?"
"I'm considering a few things," said the Empress Judge. "Folks are coming to me now. It's all I ever dreamed of."
"Well, good luck…" said EZ. "You're in the big leagues now… You don't have to paint and hope people buy them anymore."
The Warrior who had once been two got up and threw a ten-spot on the table.
"I'm just glad you're back on the force, EZ," she said. "It was a long time coming. Good luck… Detective."
As she left, Sonja spoke up.
"You didn't have to use that trap cube on me…" she sighed.
"Well, an old friend kind of made me decide to," he replied. "Besides, I was going to have to use it sooner or later.
"That reminds me… Where in all of creation did you get a Gift of the Martyr cube? The police keep those under the tightest lock and key…"
Sonja slowly stirred her coffee.
"Do you know the Cosmo Queen?" she asked.
EZ nodded.
"When she comes into town, she always hires a retinue of Amazons as bodyguards. Mostly, we're for show. Anything that could threaten her would have no problem getting past us.
"Anyway, when she leaves, she doesn't pay us in money. I don't think money matters much in the… place where she comes from. She gives us an incredibly powerful spell cube instead.
"Over the years we've worked for her many times, and gotten many of these cubes. The Amazons rotate custody of them. Most of the time, there's one for each of us.
"It was my turn to take custody of that Gift of the Martyr. Good thing too…"
She reached into her pouch and took out a small slip of paper.
"By the way," she said with a smile, "Alamere paid Cora and me a big advance, and the rest of the tribe wanted to help, so now I can give you this…"
EZ took the slip of paper, which was a check…
"This… this is a lot of money!" he exclaimed. "What's it for?"
"Your fee, of course," replied Sonja. "Two-hundred a day, plus expenses. I insist."
EZ sighed. He had almost forgotten.
"So…" said Sonja. "I guess they'll be getting you a new partner?"
"Dunno…" said EZ. "But I can deal with one. Elfour will always be in my heart, but I've finally managed to make peace with what happened."
Sonja nodded and got up.
"I'd better go…" she said. "Alamere is really strict about her employees being on time.
"But if you ever need me, you know where the Amazon Complex is."
The Obnoxious Celtic Guardian leaned back in his chair and watched as the Amazoness Paladin walked out of the restaurant.
"Waitress…" he said, as the Cyber Tutu walked by. "Check please…"
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In the crazy, mixed up world of the Central Shadow Realm, literally anything can happen. Betrayals happen where alliances once were, as the case of Baron Samedi, the Lord who would be king, shows plainly. A former cop working as a PI never expected to rejoin the force, remembering how a tragedy made him question his ability. But his hardest case allowed him to make peace with the past, and return to the force with greater standing and a brighter future. And friendships form from unlikely beginnings. Few of Sonja's kind would ever consider a male Warrior a friend, but a shaky alliance grew into a bond that could not be severed. And even if EZ and Sonja never meet again, the bond will still be there. It will persist, possibly until both have gone to the Graveyard and beyond. It's a crazy, mixed-up world… It's the Central Shadow Realm.
FINIS