Sorry about the delay, here it is at long last, the 9th installment of our on going series.
I hope it pleases.
Someone’s watching…
In a secret complex buried deeply underneath what was once called Maryland, a great machine entity took notice of an unfamiliar sound within its domain…
Hagan: *chuckling, presses another button causing the screen he is watching to change again*
Elfinster: Well with my magic I can create a cloud of smoke to blind my enemies. Watch this! (casts Cloud of Smoke) *30 foot area covered by smoke*
Lt. Patterson: Very nice, watch this, (pulls and throws smoke grenade) *40 foot area is covered by smoke* Mine is bigger.
Hagan: *Slaps his leg and begins laughing even harder*
Archie: What are you doing Hagan?
Hagan: *Still laughing, presses the button again and the screen shows a different image* Just reviewing the downloaded video feed from those reprogrammed Skelebots we sent back to the coalition.
Lt. Patterson: *smiles* It would indeed, observe. Front!
Pvt. Snuffy: *drops instantly in to front leaning rest, begins rapidly knocking out push-ups*
Lt. Patterson: Back!
Pvt. Snuffy: *flips over on to his back and begins to quickly do sit-ups*
Lt. Patterson: Gooooo!
Pvt. Snuffy: *leaps to his feet, beings running in place*
Archie: But why are you laughing Hagan?
Hagan: *Clutches his sides and is close to falling out of his chair* It’s…just…too…funny!
Archie:
I’ll never understand humans…
Hagan: *stops laughing but still smiling* This gives me an idea…
Meanwhile back at the source of Hagan’s amusement, having dealt with their sub-ordinates discipline issues, our odd couple is once again exchanging their views in a “civilized” manner…
Lt. Patterson: So where were we?
Elfinster: You were about to witness more of our amazing magical powers.
Lt. Patterson: Oh, right...So come on, make with the amazing stuff.
Elfinster: Very well. Prepare your self! *begins chanting*
Lt. Patterson: *muttering* Oh not another ritual…
On the sidelines, we find Pvt. Snuffy and Dangolf together again…
Dangolf: What was that?!
Pvt. Snuffy: *huff* what *huff* was *huff* what?
Dangolf: All that running and stuff. I mean I know you guys are xenophobic, genocidal maniacs but that…that was just plain
sadistic!
Pvt. Snuffy: *breath now caught* Welcome to my world friend. See why I want to get out?
Dangolf: Yah, I thought only us poor apprentices had it ruff.
Pvt. Snuffy: Hey, how long did he smoke me for?
Dangolf: Smoke? Oh! Smoke, got it, um maybe 10 minutes, why?
Pvt. Snuffy: *points towards sky* So all those clouds rolled in during those 10 minutes?
Dangolf: *looks up, then towards clearing* Oh no.
Pvt. Snuffy: What?
Dangolf: *pulls hood of cloak over his head* Put your helmet back on.
Pvt. Snuffy: *puts helmet on* Ok, you know something the weatherman doesn’t?
Dangolf: Yup, they didn’t factor in our bosses ego contest. *points at Elfinster*
Elfinster: *completes spell* There! Let’s see you mock me this time!
Lt. Patterson: You’d actually have to
do something before I could mock you.
Elfinster: Just wait. *pulls hood over his head*
Lt. Patterson: *looking up at rapidly darkening sky* Wait,
YOU did that?
Elfinster: That’s right; behold the power that is mine to command!
Lt. Patterson: What the power to ruin a perfectly nice day?
That’s your amazing power?
Elfinster: *rain begins falling hard* That’s…not…the…point!
Lt. Patterson: No I think it is, except you didn’t have to do all that hocus pocus. You manage to ruin my day just fine in other ways.
Elfinster: Argh! Don’t you see? With this “hocus pocus” as you call it, I can bring much needed water to drought stricken lands!
Lt. Patterson:
That was the point? We can do that too, we call it
irrigation. Only it can water the lawn
without spoiling perfectly good BBQ weather.
Elfinster: You just can’t admit our way is better can you? We don’t have to lay pipes, dig ditches or maintain any equipment!
Lt. Patterson: Oh yah? Do you realize how many jobs you’ve cost yourselves?
Elfinster: What? *confused look*
Lt. Patterson: First there is the pipe makers, then the construction companies that dig the trenches for those pipes, the people that run the pumping stations, the list goes on. Even if we did use magic, why would we want to hurt our economy like that?
Elfinster: *makes incoherent grumbling noises*
Lt. Patterson: So rain man, when does the shower stop?
Too be continued…