Rise

There are certain things, sights, that you can very easily - top of your head - blurt out that you know you’re never going to see. Immense wealth in your hands, perhaps, maybe someone getting struck by lightning, you know, shit like that.

And should you ever see one of those sights, the impossible ones, it would no doubt freak you out a little bit, yeah? Feel impossible, make you even question your own perception of reality.

And plus, some things just seem damn out of place.

All of the above was how Hostage felt...

And he cussed a bluestreak...

When he looked up and happened to see Commander December Nations bringing her massive dragon partner Absolute Zero to a silent, almost delicate landing five meters from him.

“God blessed motherloving son of a gun!” Hostage grunted quietly.

Jeez, does he kiss his mother wth that mouth?

1

TWO ROSES, ONE GARDEN

Psycho Summer Camp - Home of Cohesion.

Fifty kliks north of the Xomanian border.

Hostage. God Chair.

tick-tock...

Nothing.

Hostage. God Chair. Tantrick respond.

...

Hostage. God Chair. Tantrick, this is not the effin’ time to be effin’ ignoring m-

He’s not ignoring you. A new voice. Wait, an effin’ new voice?

Speaker please identify yourself. Hostage was professional and polite.

FNA Senior God Chair Dezadariel. The voice responded.

Oh, crap. Hostage was no longer professional and polite, apparently.

Dude, relax. Dez said, What are you so nervous and frightened about?

I can’t --- Its nothing.

You guys have like one secret here, you think I don’t know about Banyon? Ya fucking think December doesn’t?

Is that why you’re here?

Yes, but relax you’re not in trouble.

But Banyon is...

Relax, I told you it was gonna be okay. You think I’m lying? ’Cause I’m feeling really racially profiled as a demon right now.

No sir! I wou -

Oh my god! I'm fucking with you! You’re wound up tighter than a dolphin ’s anus you know that? You got any beer?

Yes, but you don’t have a physical form, you can’t --

No no no, for you. You need to relax, come on lead the way, we’re gonna get you a couple beers.

I don’t drink.

Sure ya fuckin' do!

Dolphin's anus?

Do try to keep up, Hostage.

Well, this is not ideal. Wexton thought, watching Hostage wander away and December. DE-FUCKING-CEMBER! approach Midthunder.

We’d be stupid to think that she didn’t know that Banyon was here. Wexton thought. My thing is: we had ample opportunities to tell her, and we didn’t. That’s on us. I’m not worried about that. I’m worried about what Banyon might do with this kind of surprise. Bolt? Attack December before she realized what she was doing?

Wexton had to get to Banyon. She knew every centimeter of this compound, and she could navigate it with all speed and no sound.

But there was a complication.

Because of course there was.

Banyon was currently in the one place in the whole Psycho Summer Camp that was one way in, one-way out.

And currently between Wexton and that one path to her friend...December and Absolute Zero.

I can’t even get to Digarmo without them seeing me. Wexton said, then blasted into silent motion through the breezy shadows.

Wexton fucking despised this feeling in her gut - like she was lying to or betraying December.

She owed December everything...

Alright, one thing at a time, Wexton, first find Jettlyn, she’ll know just what to do.

__________

Every servo in Clockwork Girl’s arms screamed with the force in which she clamped on to both sides of the bed. Her mouth was open in a silent scream that blew visible steam from her mouth like smoke. Her chest hummed, the area between her legs thrummed a heavy bass beat.

“Oh! My word!” Clock gasped. Jettlyn knew just what to do.

Jettlyn was busy. Very very busy. Its pivotal to enjoy your work She thought, smiling up at her wife without breaking her perfected rhythm. Clock looked down at her with that look of shock and confusion she gets when Jettlyn really gets her going. God, I love you She thought, increasing speed and pressure just a bit.

“Love!” Clock gasped, “Oh! My word!”

Time to rock your fo--

Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock!

Jettlyn’s head flew up from between Clock’s legs: “GO! THE FUCK!! AWAY!

And that was it. She got back to business.

“Love..” Clock whispered, .“Maybe you should...shh...maybe....oh my word...”

“No way.” Jettlyn said, her breath hot on Clock’s sensitive, yearning folds, “You’re about to pop, no one interrupts that, they can wait a few minutes.”

“But what if....wha....WUHHH....Oh! My word! Love. Love!! I’m - Oh! I’m --I’m..!”

“I’m coming, goddammit!” Jettlyn told the door, “Hold your fucking fuck-horses!”

She threw on a black tank top that was long enough to cover most of her nakedness and handed Clock a bottle of water, which she held with two trembling hands, her body emitting a delightful post-coitus birdsong.

Jettlyn swung the door open, saw Wexton standing there, and pointed to the “DO NOT FUCKING DISTURB” sign on the door.

Aw, fuck. Wexton thought, in the confusion she had forgotten, this was one of the two days a month Clock could come here, and they could be together. These were holy days for Jettlyn.

“fuck, I’m sorry Jettlyn, I for --”

“Wexton,” Jettlyn said calmly, “I like you. A lot. But if you’ve just interrupted me....braiding my wife’s hair, for some bullshit, then you and I are about to have a conversation that you are going to dislike on a monumental level.”

“December and Absolute Zero are here.” Wexton said calmly.

Two point five seconds processing time, then, “Get in here. Where’s Banyon? And the last place you saw December?”

“What’s going on?” Clock asked.

“Treason.” Jettlyn said, nearly in tears.

They all looked at each other in silence, the weight of the word heavy in the air.

Its not treason.Dez said in all their minds.

Dez? Jettlyn asked.

Its me, hotshot. Dez said simply, And since your’e hearing my voice, you know I’m hearing everyone’s thoughts, so...just relax, put on some pants, and come meet with December and Digarmo please.

Jettlyn looked down at her naked, kind of pasty legs, Where?

Gazebo.

Double quick. She assured, then turned to Wexton, “Favor, will you stay with Clock?”

“Of course.” Wexton said, then looked back and forth between the two of them, “Is everything okay? I mean -- ”

“Yes.” Jettlyn said, “She just gets a little scrambled when she -” She paused, and looked at Wexton oddly, -- gets her hair braided. It shouldn’t last long.”

“Whatever you guys need.”

“Thank you.” Jettlyn said, then pulled on a pair of black sweatpants, and looked at Clock, “Well, this is a good way to fuck up a nice afterglow isn’t it, baby? Shit.”