Rangerville, Thursday, May 20th, 2021, 7:45PM
The dying screech of the Mother of Flowers echoed across Rangerville, in the throats of every one of Her thralls and the quivering vibrations of Her strange plants. An eerie silence followed.
Slowly, the strange plants subsided, shrinking back into the dry earth. The enthralled citizens woke, as if from a nightmare.
The sun set across the Great Western Desert, marking the ending of great and ancient horrors and a new beginning.
Ministry of Defense Command Center, Rangerville, Friday, May 21st, 2021, 10:30AM
"Sergeant Sigworth, the Ministry built this base, twenty years ago, specifically for Project Orchid," Colonel Gant said firmly. "Now you are telling me that, without consulting anyone, you and a group of unauthorized civilians took it on yourselves to destroy Orchid!?"
"Sir, yes, sir," Jess replied, wincing.
"Explain yourself, Sergeant," Colonel Gant snapped.
"Sir, the base, including the entire command staff, had been compromised by Orchid," Jess began. "Without my knowledge, the civilians in question had begun an independent investigation..."
"... and Dr. Prescott was able to deliver the anti-spore compound directly into what turned out to be an extremely vulnerable area of the entity, thereby destroying Orchid," Jess concluded. "I would just like to add, sir, that as the ranking NCO, and only member of the base command structure, uncompromised by Orchid, I considered these actions to be both right and necessary to preserve civilian lives. Sir."
"Sergeant Sigworth," Colonel Gant shook his head. "I honestly don't know whether to recommend you for a medal or a court-marshal."
"Sir, yes, sir," Jess smiled.
Rangerville, Saturday, May 22nd, 2021, 8:30AM
"See, what did I tell you, man?" Erwin said. "Everything worked out fine."
"Containment efforts were underway," Erwin's contact said mildly.
"Hey, the entire army base, and most of the town, were gettin' mind-controlled by alien shrubbery," Erwin said. "The containment efforts weren't workin'. You knew that. You needed fresh eyes on the problem. So, you turned to your ol' buddy Erwin."
"Choosing to act outside the command hierarchy was a difficult decision, and a considerable risk," Erwin's contact replied. "There was no way you could have known that the 'fresh eyes' you engaged would be this effective."
"Yeah," Erwin said. "I'll admit it. We got lucky."
"You managed to recruit not only an extremely talented engineer with the temperament to handle the crisis but also a psychokinetic active with first-hand experience of the hostile species," he said. "This would appear to go beyond random chance. It represents a degree of coincidence that would almost suggest predestination."
"You gotta be careful talkin' like that, man" Erwin said. "You'll end up gettin' kicked out of the Agency, like I did. Course if you do, you could always come work with me at the curio shop."
"Perhaps I shall leave such observations out of my report," Agent Hunt replied.
Rangerville, Monday, May 24th, 2021, 6:30AM
"I thought you were dead!" Molly groaned.
"I told you the potion we took had a chance to hold off Death," Lucius said.
"A chance! You were unconscious for days," Molly sighed. "I thought you might be dying. I was going to take you to the hospital, but Christie kept telling me that your damn cat told her you just needed sleep... and I took advice from an eight-year-old translating for a magic cat! How weird is my life!?"
"I would have hoped that you at least had more faith in my potions," Lucius replied smoothly.
"You mean like that potion that put me to sleep for three days," Molly ranted, "and might have turned me into... and I'm quoting here... a twisted hybrid plant creature."
"Not, I grant you, one of my better efforts," Lucius admitted.
"You know, I don't think I'm cut out for this hero thing," Molly sighed.
"Molly, I've lived a very long time," Lucius said. "Believe me when I say, you are a fine hero."
"That might be more meaningful if it wasn't coming from a guy in his boxers, Obi-Wan," Molly chuckled.
"Yes, pants do tend to lend a certain gravitas to a moment," Lucius laughed.
Rangerville, Monday, May 24th, 2021, 6:00PM
"Well, Bonnie of the Bounteous Bosom tells me they're shutting down the sensor and hazmat projects," Molly said. "I guess they don't need them anymore."
"At least the colonel decided not to court-marshal me," Jess said. "The MoD is still 'investigating the incident,' and they're going to want to talk to you all."
"That should be good," Dylan said, glancing significantly at Lucius.
"I may be unavailable," Lucius said. "They're welcome to come talk to me in Henford... if they can find their way up the mountain. Those paths can be hard to follow when a dense fog descends."
"Why do I get the feeling those fogs tend to descend when people you don't want to talk to are trying to climb that mountain," Molly grinned.
"Strange how that happens," Lucius smiled.
"I heard Biobro Brian was down in the crater," Molly added. "I think they had him looking at the Mother's... body, I guess. I hope we don't have to do this all over again."
"If they do something as unwise as trying to revive the Mother... well, you'll find the fog lifts for friends," Lucius said. "Also, you all have my phone number."
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"You're really going back to Henford," Molly asked.
"I am," Lucius nodded. "I dread to think of the state of my garden after all this time."
"I guess, after all this, you'll be glad to get back to your garden," Molly said.
"I will," Lucius said. "We prefer the quiet life, Huntress and me. What of you? Will you continue chasing FutureTech's problems from place to place?"
"You know, I'm thinking of putting in for a permanent position here," Molly said. "It might be nice to stay in once place for a little while."
"Well, Obi-Wan, it's been weird," Molly said.
"Wyrd indeed," he smiled with that too-knowing smile of his. "I am glad to have met you, Molly Prescott."
"Likewise, Lucius or Taranis or whatever your name is," Molly sighed. "I'll see you around."
"I suspect you will, at that," Lucius smiled. "Until that day, fare well my friend."
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