Age of Retribution Part V: The "Special" Force

[Tyler294]

The two men stopped arguing, looked down at Naeleen, and blinked several times.

"Duh... I dunno. Do we wanna fight, boss?" the tall one asked.

The fat one facepalmed.

"Should I go get her?" Summer asked.

Al shrugged.

[DeadJim]

"That would be great." Gort whispered to Summer, making sure the commander couldn't hear.

"Please! Please, please, please!" Naeleen pleaded with the two men.

[Tyler294]

Summer ran over to Naeleen.

"Naeleen, we need to get going now." she urged.

[DeadJim]

"Yippee!" Naeleen screeched as she jumped out of the tub and grabbed Summer's hand, "I know where we're going! I know where we're going! Yippee!"

[Tyler294]

The two movers looked at each-other in confusion, then resumed arguing.

Summer led Naeleen back to the group.

"So where are we going next?" Al asked Gort.

[DeadJim]

Gort was about to reply when the commander started to speak.

"We shall go north to Evenfeed! I love that village! That's where I grew up..."

"Morry, that might not be a good idea," Gort cautioned, "remember the last time..."

"Oh rubbish! We shall go to Evenfeed!"

The commander then started walking off in a random direction.

[Tyler294]

Soon, The Special Force™ was on the road toward Evenfeed, with the green wyvern-cat following at a distance. The area remained a mix of open fields with occasional woodland, just like the last town. Evenfeed was less than a day's journey by foot, and by nightfall the group had arrived in the town.

Evenfeed was a small town that originally had been a family homestead. Eventually the hired hands had become numerous enough that it classified as a small town. Still, it was smaller than the last town and had little of interest. The inn, tavern, blacksmith and general goods were all in one long building, surrounded by smaller shacks and some houses. It wasn't very impressive.

"So why did we come here again?" Summer inquired, stopping in the middle of the street to survey the town in a quick visual sweep.

[DeadJim]

"Why do we ever!" Ooqi sighed.

"Because I need to consult with my chief adviser." The commander said as he confidently walked through the town.

[Tyler294]

"I wonder who that could be." Al mused, rubbing his chin.

Summer leaned over and whispered into his ear.

"It's his mama." she giggled.

[Shawnex]

"You didn't tell us that you had a chief adviser." Cranky said.

"Uh...is he a bird like us?" Doodles asked.

"Oh Doodles." Cranky moaned glaring at him.

[DeadJim]

Gort glared at the birds, but the commander apparently hadn't noticed they said anything. Instead, he continued to walk out of the town, to a nearby grove of trees. He stopped in front of one particular tree, a rather sad looking scraggly one, and began to speak.

"Oh wise one! I come to you for help, for I am troubled by the lack of interest in my most noble endeavor!"

Ooqi rolled his eyes while Gort facepalmed.

"I await your most wise, wonderful, and willing response!" the commander finished, with his arms outstretched to the sky.

[Shawnex]

"Uh commander," interrupted Doodles, "I hate to interrupt, but don't you think that your over acting like a crazy wizard?"

[Tyler294]

Suddenly a small door slid open from within the tree. An old woman's face was revealed on the other side.

"Eh? Who is it?" she asked in a shrill voice, "Oh wait... I know you. You're one of my kids."

[DeadJim]

"Mommy!" the commander shrieked with his arms still outstretched, "I have come to ask for your most wonderful advice!"

[Tyler294]

"Eh, I already advised you yesterday. I told you to marry that girl and have kids down in Halfton." the woman replied, then paused, "No wait, that was a different boy on a different day about a different girl in a different town... Well then, do come in, please!"

She opened the door, revealing a stairway leading into an underground burrow.

"That is soooo cool." Summer gawked.

[DeadJim]

Naeleen ran past everyone, down the stairs, and into a wall.

[Shawnex]

"Naeleen, would you watch where you're going!" Cranky snapped.

[Tyler294]

"Please, everyone have a seat and I'll cook you all a pot of my infamous coalfish and sweet potato stew!" the woman declared, before going over and grabbing a broom, which she used to sweep the dirt floor.

"I'm starting to wonder about all this..." Al mused softly.

[DeadJim]

"That's okay Mrs. Morrison, we ate at our last stop." Ooqi said as he sat down.

"I didn't!" Naeleen said as she peeled herself off the wall.

[Tyler294]

"Oh no! I insist!" Mrs. Morrison replied, taking the dirt she'd swept off the dirt floor and poring it into her laundry basket.

[Shawnex]

Doodles had a puzzled look on his face looking at Mrs. Morrison.

"Don't look now guys." he whispered to the others, "But that woman is giving me the creeps."

[DeadJim]

Ooqi and Gort's eyes widened as they looked to see if Mrs. Morrison had heard.

[Tyler294]

"The creeps? Oh, you mean the neighbors? Yeah, they live in pond on the other side of the road. They're very strange, so if you want them, please take them. Though, they're not mine to give. They belong to Yog, the overlord of the underworld. Or was it the underlord of the overworld? I never could get that right." Mrs. Morrison babbled on.

Al began edging back toward the stairs to leave.

[DeadJim]

"Mommy! Remember, I needed help!" the commander whined.

[Tyler294]

"Oh, oh yes! What can I do for you, son?" Mrs. Morrison asked as she put the broom away... under the sheets of her bed.