The Conspiracy of Hearts and Daggers

Chapter Eleven

"There, there, that's it.", Evelyn Powers told Consul Ari after he placed the blocked piece of wood atop the tied together segmented stick body.

Powers stood in admiration of the effigy she would use to break Randors will. The segmented wooden stick body with each ligament tied together by her strengthened seaweed knots. The wooded scarecrow itself tied to a long-wooded steak stabbed into its sand hole.

Powers could sense the three Eternos moons aligning in the sky. It was getting dark; therefore, the fire pit needed its tinder. The day had felt long despite from what she had learned from the text she had read while in Ari's study Eternian days were much shorter compared to back on Earth. Despite that, Powers had to direct Ari on preparing her effigy, prepare her magick for the evening as well as keep a sharp eye on the still caged falcon.

"Ari!", Powers yelled out," Collect more wood around the figure. We must keep this effigy ablaze during my incantation. at all costs. I will use this wretched falcons' wings as fuel if need be!

Suddenly a voice from inside Powers head beckoned her to answer him. The voice was that of Skeletor!

Powers felt her skull tighten up as she answered her master," To what do I owe the pleasure...?"

Skeletors voice became clearer upon being received by Powers, " I can sense your location to its precise point. How are you doing?"

"I am well...", Powers strained to get her thought out.

"I have not heard from you in a long while.", Skeletor insinuated.

Powers trying to get a hold of herself replied, "I have been preoccupied...with many details...I meant to contact you sooner."

Skeletor affirmed, "We need to talk tonight. I will be arriving at your location soon."

"How soon...?", a worried Powers asked as she became concerned about her plans for Randor.

As if in answer a swirling dimensional portal open itself directly in front of Powers! Where emerged the dark hooded Skeletor in his taught blue flesh wrapped by thin straps binding his chest where lay in the middle cross of bones. Not far in step behind on either side emerged alongside Skeletor were his crouched crimson furred henchman and former colleague of Powers Beastman. Opposite Beastman emerged an odd creature rather short in stature wearing a bulky harness with what looked like folded in machinery on his back. The creature wore a purple helmet over a green feline-like face as well as body.

"Tell me when you want this bonfire started.", Skeletor said as he pointed the brunt of his long ram headed staff forwards the wooden scarecrow hung from its pole in the sand.

"As I will ignite it.", Skeletor menacingly affirmed.

Powers saw Skeletors portal seal itself up behind him.

The forces of Kaliva Tay began to arrive at the Aqua Life Terrace, upon horseback as well as one maned sky sleds. Only soldiers with traditional clubs entered into the front entrance of the healing facility. If the unarmed intruder were to somehow make it past the clubbed security within, then he would face riflemen outside the main entrance.

Scopes physicality was impressive before he was transformed by Skeletors para-dimensional energies now he was an unbridled adonis! Having scaled the water fall back up to the sectioned off platform at the entrance way before the Eight Temples of Life he was in the tunnel leading towards the communication center. Scopes already saw the security guards with their club's filter into the main entrance there was no way to avoid running into them on his way back to his Saucer Sled.

Powers saw the security pouring through the Aqua Life Terrace from the vantage point of Scopes.

Skeletor asked, "Does he have a chance to make it back here?"

Powers with her eyes closed, in concentration with Scopes vision answered back with uncertainty," There are so many security guards...on foot...in the air. I truly doubt Scopes can possibly succeed."

A bony hand reached out to Powers, prodding her to take it.

"Then it is up to you to help him, isn't it?", Skeletor almost stated mockingly.

"What would you have me do?", Powers pleaded

Skeletor laughed, "Are you or aren't you a witch? I am a letch inside of a wizard's body while you have always been a witch. Take hold of my hand so that I can transfer to you my knowledge of summoning power. I already know that you know how to manifest portals in theory...you now just need a nudge in the action."

The left-hand path was always unfolding for Powers, yet she still hesitated to take hold of Skeletors hand.

Then as Powers closed her eyes, she saw that Scopes was almost out of the tunnel where the security guards were nearing single file.

"Stop! Turn back now! You have no chance straight on!", Powers shouted into Scopes mind.

As the security guards marched into the solitary tunnel, Scopes stood still.

Powers proceeded to smile; she would do it! Skeletor cackled upon seeing Powers change of attitude, "Thats right clasp my hand except your fate!"

Skeletors bony hand excepted Powers more demur hand in a formal exchange.

"Now!", Skeletor prompted.

A silhouette of the security guards formed on the tunnel wall just before the portal opened before Scopes. Powers gestured for Scopes to enter into the portal with one hand as she tightly held her benefactor Skeletors as an anchor!

As the security guards rounded the corner, Scopes had already entered threw the portal. Only a wisp of the portal's energy signature was left before it to dissipated.

Powers would not let go of Skeletors hand!

"Grab Skeletor!", Powers told Scopes, as she wanted to siphon off all that there was of the demons magick! Though as Powers lusted for more transference, Skeletor merely tightened his grip on Powers hand, squeezing tightly.

Skeletor laughed as Powers fell to her knees in pain! Scopes grabbed onto Skeletors arm which held his Havok staff aloft only to be shocked by a surge of electricity!

Scopes body was electrified which caused Beastman pause before tackling him.

Powers hand was finally released by Skeletor who then clasped onto Scopes visor covered head!

Skeletor laughed as he sent a surge of raw energy through Scopes head down to his feet! This time the energy was purely mystical as it ravaged Scopes body!

Finally, Skeletor let go of Scopes head and face as the warrior fell to his knees on the sand!

Powers screamed, "What have you done?"

"You dare trifle against my power! You made a union with me upon your transformation!", Skeletor gloated.

"I cannot take it off! You have grafted this vizor to my head!", Scopes cursed as he tried to remove the vizor by force.

"I have lost my connection...you have severed my psychic link to Scopes...", Powers mourned as if a part of her died.

"My name is no longer Scopes...that part of me has died...you can call me Tri-Klops.", the super sighted warrior declared.

As the suns light diminished upon the sand so too did conversation. When a brightly colored flying object overhead seemingly disappeared onto the roof of Ari's mansion.

"What say you...Tri-Klops?", Skeletor asked in reference to the object that descended onto the house above them.

Tri-Klops was hesitant to answer Skeletor, when Beastman foaming at the mouth threatened to tear his head off if he did not respond back to his master!

"I am becoming board with this insubordination.", Skeletor said as he leaned on his Havok staff.

"I can smell the burning energy left from that flying object. It is a machine of some kind.", Beastman told Skeletor.

"The flying machine is called a Saucer Sled. It was built by Consul Aris aide Mensa who I made prisoner along with the soldier from Randors crew. It is currently back inside the tower with both prisoners. Only both prisoners have freed themselves and the soldier is planning to take off in the Saucer Sled.", Tri-Klops informed everyone.

"Then stop that machine from taking off!", Skeletor ordered.

Beastman was the first to head to the roof of the mansion as he leapt up the walls to reach the open walkway where he saw the closed door of the tower leading into docking bay. In a rage Beastman rushed at the sealed door in order to heave it open by force!

Kronis released the wings of his equipped mobile flying jet pack. Tri Klops was offered to be carried up to the walkway of the roof with one of the grabbing claws of Kronis flying apparatus. Tri Klops took up the offer without resistance to Kronis delight as he immediately jettisoned the warrior up to roof!

Powers seemed prepared to enter the building in order to get up to the roof when Skeletor told her,"I think that we should have that one-on-one talk no."

An Beastman tor the door apart where there should have been an alarm there was none since the system was re-configured by Mensa.

As Beastman stared inside the room he saw Mensa courageously standing in the back corner as the elongated pole had already placed the Saucer atop the outside of the tower.

Kronis flew fast as well as above Duncan's Saucer Sled with his helmet already concealing his face. The AI voice from back at the Aqua Life Terrace was speaking through the Saucer already getting diagnostics about Kronis so-called Kondors wings.

"Kronis is preparing a hypersonic attack as I am picking up the wavelength of his instrumentation with mine. I can easily protect us from it with a counter frequency.", the voice detailed.

A blood curdling roar was heard right before Beastman appeared atop of the tower where the Saucer's launching platform was stationed!

Duncan already loaded a dozen or so canisters onto the Saucer sed while attaching his micro-blowtorch to the nasal of one in preparation to augment its flame at Beastman when the unruly brute screamed in pain as he fell from his perch!

The voice of the AI reassured Duncan," I got that one with high frequency sonics so you could save your fuel cannisters."

Tri Klops was able to catch the falling mandrill faced minion by his furry ankle as he fell. To the shock of Tri-Klops, Mensa helped him drag Beastman back onto the walkway of the roof.

"Why did you help your enemy?", Tri Klops asked.

"I do not see you as an enemy.", Mensa informs his antagonist.

From the beach, Skeletor, Powers and the caged falcon watch as the Saucer Sled blasts off from its base! The winged menace of Kronis dives down from above at the Saucer hoping to catch it with its armed talons as its hypersonic attack has been ineffective so far! What happens instead is a large burst of flame that engulfs the winged warrior who plummets like a meteor down to the beach! Kronis who is ablaze flies in the direction of the ocean in order to put out his anguish!

After seeing Kronis crash into the ocean an annoyed Skeletor unleashes a blast of energy from his Havok staff that strikes the Saucer sled dead on! Now the Saucer careens towards the ocean below it! Until it to crashes into the ocean. However, unlike the Kondor winged Kronis the Saucer is not sunk as it remains buoyant above the waves.

A line breaches the undertow; it was shot from the Kondor wings with just enough line to attach itself to the peer. Kronis begins to reel himself towards the peer to save himself from being submerged by the bulk of his Kondor wings.

As the rest of Skeletors minions join him on the beach, they see the small off Saucer above the waves out in the distance.

Skeletor tells Powers, "Since all four of us are reunited once more let us disembark towards Moa Toa in Consul Aris personal boat. We can perform your seduction of prince Randor within the more passionate waters of Moa Toa."

After both the warriors as well as the witch agree they proceed to Aris ship with both the consul and his servant Mensa.

Along their way to consul Aris private ship, the evil warriors hoist Kronis using his line back into their fold.

Duncan who had been underneath the hull of the Saucer sled in order to seal up the damaged caused to it with his micro-blowtorch lies on his back on the floor of the saucer.

"The water has logged the saucers propulsion thrusters. We cannot achieve flight at this time.", the voice tells Duncan.

"Which won't happen under our current conditions. Unless we get on dry land.", Duncan admits.

It was fortunate that the AI link inside of Mensas medallion is airtight as it was protected just as the on-board link was due to its remaining buoyant during Duncans repairs of the hull breach.

"I have unfortunate news Duncan; Consul Aris personal boat has been compromised by the villains who attacked his estate. They are also heading in our direction not by accident I would imagine."

"Send a distress call all points.", Duncan tells the AI," Despite my first plan being fouled up due to that mandrill like maniac from inside the hanging deck ruining the alarm system set up. We can sound another alarm from here in more precarious waters. Though I hope that they just haul me in and leave you adrift."

"Who can predict these creatures' methods?", the AI asks rhetorically.

"By Eternia I wish that I knew but things are unfolding. Maybe not in my favor but they are unfolding.", Duncan cryptically shares.

Alone, defeated in the moment, yet determined to see victory in the end Duncan awaits his fate whatever it would be aboard consul Aris hijacked boat.