Modern Age Online

Kaleb paced around the Ifrit corpse, trying to think of a good way to move it. He wrapped his hands as best he could around its wrist and pulled. The arm lifted but the large beast didn’t budge. The monster’s skin was a weird mix of soaking wet and uncomfortably warm to the touch. Kaleb saw Mass move over to the other arm and pull.

The Ifrit lurched jerked and shifted but stayed firmly in the water. Kaleb tried to figure out how normal Supers moved their looted bodies. As Kaleb resolved to find Officer Battlehorn and ask, the Magical trio moved beside him. D43d–I had moved over to Mass and was stopping him from yanking the beast’s arm off.

“Think it would be easier to just loot it?” Vivienne asked.

Kaleb shook his head. “I’ve gotten more parts from using a whole corpse.”

“Then what's the point of looting if we can just take the whole body?” Varlin wondered.

Kaleb thought about it. He had a small chance to gain a blueprint from things he killed but other than that he wasn’t sure. It was D43d–I who answered the question. After he had berated and consoled Mass.

*Quack*

“For one: it's more convenient. Our problem here being a prime example. Secondly: There is a chance you’ll ruin or degrade the parts. The loot system may give you less but, what it gives is in better condition. Lastly, there’s a small chance to get a useful item straight from a drop. It could a weapon, armor, magical item, etc…”

Kaleb stared at the duck curiosity written large on his face. He could see that the others were wondering how the diminutive duck knew all this. D43d–I looked unperturbed by their stares, shrugging his shoulders.

*Quack*

“AGE used the same loot system in their last game.” He explained.

Kaleb shook off his surprise and said. “There has to be a way that in-game Supers move their kills though.”

He started for Officer Battlehorn when a stocky man in jeans and a T-shirt approached their group. He looked them over and then pointed at the Ifrit.

“We decided what we’re doing with that?” He asked.

Kaleb gave a hesitant nod and answered. “Yes, we will take it back to my lab. However, getting it there is proving to be a problem.”

The stocky man nodded and held out his card. “That's where we come in. We are the DAD here in Austin.”

Jar-lock grabbed the card and studied it as Kaleb inquired. “DAD?”

Jar-lock passed him the card as the man explained. Kaleb saw the name on the card was Calburn Eerie.

“Damage Assessment Division. Anytime one of those idiot Supers with more power than brains fires plasma burst in the middle of downtown. We pick up and repair the pieces. We are a privately owned company contracted by the city. We are HLO certified and we even allow Supers to perform community service with us if they find themselves in legal trouble.” Calburn said.

“And who picks up the check?” Vivienne asked dubiously.

Calburn laughed. “That would be you guys. We get a portion taxes you guys pay to the HLO.”

“You guys realize that makes little sense right?” whispered Varlin.

Kaleb gave him a weird look before asking Calburn. “So the DAD will move my corpse to my house for me.”

Calburn gave a shrug and a sly smile. “For a small fee, my friend, I will lend you the use of one our best Teleporters. His name is Hank, good guy.”

“All legitimate?” Kaleb asked cautiously.

Calburn looked hurt. “I am offended you even have to ask. I am offering you the services of our lucrative side-business.”

“How lucrative would that be Mr. Eerie?” Asked a man in a grey suit that was suddenly standing behind the DAD representative.

Calburn jumped slightly before turning and staring daggers at the slim man standing behind him. “I don’t have the exact numbers, Mr. Folder, I’d have to check my records.”

“I’d sincerely like to see those records when you get a chance.” Said Mr. Folder adjusting his glasses and staring down at the shorter man. Kaleb thought he could the faint signs of a smirk on the taller man’s lips.

Calburn stared up at the well-dressed man before grunting and walking off. He headed off toward a small group of similarly dressed men. Some of whom looked disappointed, the rest were giving dirty looks to the recently arrived Mr. Folder.

“One must be careful of sharks when there is blood in the water.” The bespectacled man said.

“You know that makes you suspicious, right?” Asked Jar-lock.

For the first time Kaleb heard the voice of Jar-lock’s Handler speaking from his wrist.

“No, man. Nathan’s on the up and up. So is Calburn, no matter how sketchy he may seem.” Said a laid back male voice.

“And you didn’t think to warn us beforehand, Curtis?” Said Jar-lock annoyed.

Curtis laughed. “Me and the other Handlers thought it a good learning experience. Plus, we all knew Nathan here would be around shortly.”

Kaleb stared at Nathan Folder and tried to remember how he had appeared. He didn’t walk up; he didn’t use Magic, at least that Kaleb could see, and there was no rush of air a speedster would create. Mr. Folder noticed Kaleb’s stare and smiled back. He waved his hand and suddenly there was a card in his hand.

“Nathan Folder, HLO representative for this incident.” He smiled handing everyone a copy of his card. Looking at the magic users he continued. “You three will be happy to know: given your low rank and relative newness. The HLO will not be taking any action for your magical indiscretion. We deemed losing the reward harsh enough.”

Jar-lock and the others looked embarrassed and chastened. Kaleb glanced back at the Ifrit corpse and sighed loudly. D43d–I was talking with Mass. Kaleb turned back to Mr. Folder and asked.

“I am still  left with a huge monster problem. Anyway, could I get help?”

Nathan smiled warmly and said. “While the DAD can provide such services. The HLO prefers that you make arrangements through us. But for now, I’ll take care of it. We’ll you be returning home?”

Kaleb nodded excitedly. “Yes, thank you very much.”

Mr. Folder nodded smiling.

Kaleb’s vision suddenly went weird. It was like he was looking through a hazy fisheye lens. The world seemed to contract and pulse. The next thing Kaleb knew he was standing in the street in front of his house. They left the Ifrit splayed out across his front lawn. Its horn rested against his car and its feet were a little past the edge of his house.

“Damn it! I wish he had told us he was sending us all.” Varlin griped from behind Kaleb.

Turning Kaleb realized that the Magical trio, D43d–I, and Mass were all sent with him. As he looked around, he realized his neighbor across the street was weeding her flower garden and trying to not stare at the large Fire Demon on his lawn. Kaleb sighed as he gave an awkward wave.

“I really need to find a Lair.” He said aloud.

Jar-lock and the others followed him to his driveway as Vivienne laughingly said. “Lair? You know that makes you sound like a Super Villain, right?”

“Or a Mad Scientist.” Jar-lock added.

Kaleb smiled and opened his garage door not answering her question. He moved into his lab and grabbed equipment. He heard Jar-lock and the others make sounds of alarm and surprise. Rushing back out he gave them a curious look. Jar-lock look surprised as Kaleb’s head stuck out of his garage.

“Dude! Don’t do that. You look creepy as hell!” Jar-lock yelled in surprise.

“Do what?! I’m just in my lab!” Kaleb asked.

“We can't see anything.” Varlin said staring into Kaleb’s open garage. “Or at least all I can see is a black pool of nothingness.”

“And you’re sticking your head out of it.” Vivienne added sounding disgusted.

Kaleb stepped out of his lab and thought about it. The only one who had been into his lab was Roy but he was an NPC. He figured that other players didn’t have access unless giving permission. As he thought about it, he saw Mass and D43d–I loitering near the Ifrit corpse. Kaleb looked around at everyone and said.

“This a large job and it’s probably gonna take a while. I was kinda hoping I could get everyone’s help. At least to take this thing down to a manageable size. My assistant will be here in a few hours and he can help me make your stuff.”

The others looked hesitant but interested. So Kaleb added. “I’ll buy us some pizzas and we can workshop some ideas about what you guys want me to make you.”

That seemed to do the trick. Either a free meal or crafted equipment seemed to give them the push they needed. D43d–I and Mass moved closer and the Magical trio surrounded Kaleb looking ready to discuss either toppings or armor. Kaleb went back into his lab as the others looked ready to speak.

Kaleb grabbed an empty plastic bin and the old empty trash can that had given its lid to create the first Shocky. Moving back out of his lab Kaleb saw the look of consternation on his friend's faces. He laughed saying.

“Work first, I’ll order the pizza and we’ll eat as we wait for the blood to drain.”

Kaleb moved over to where the Ifrit was bleeding onto his driveway from its neck wound. It wasn’t gushing but the orange blood dribbled out of the gaping wound. Kaleb jerked his head at Mass trying to show that the large man should lift the Ifrit’s head. But, the large man just tilted his head in confusion.

“Uh… could I get you to lift this head, big man?” Kaleb questioned.

“Huh, me? Sure, Mr. Rat-Lizard.” Mass said moving confidently toward the head and lifting.

Kaleb shook off the weird misnomer the giant mass of muscle had called him and set the large plastic tub underneath the cut in the Ifrit’s neck. Moving over to the arm that was the least visible, Kaleb set the steel trash can down and asked Mass to left the arm this time. The big man had little trouble with lifting the arm. Kaleb cut the monsters wrist and had Mass carefully set the hand over the trash can so the blood drained straight into the can.

Kaleb nodded and said. “Ok now we can order food.”

*Quack*

“And talk weapons.” D43d–I said.

Kaleb nodded at the duck as he opened his front door. He set everyone’s permissions to the kitchen and living room only and entered. The others followed him inside, Mass trying to make himself as small as possible. The big man found a comfortable spot on the living room floor and sat down. The others all looked around at the messy living room before finding a seat.

Kaleb ordered the pizzas and got everyone some water before joining them. There seemed to be an awkward silence in the room. Kaleb, trying to be a good host, asked Varlin.

“You mentioned how the DAD system made little sense?”

Varlin perked up and talked animatedly. “Well think about it, the city pays us and taxes us per mission per mob killed. That’s a lot of money to throw around, then we are supposed to believe this model is worldwide? I don’t think so.”

“What makes you think it is a world-wide model?” Kaleb asked.

“What?” Varlin said surprised.

“Why assume that they use this model worldwide. Why couldn’t this just be how Texas works or even just Austin?”

Varlin seemed to think about it but Vivienne chimed in as Jar-lock and the other two looked on. “But that's even less sustainable. The HLO works like a private company hired by Texas or Austin. They tax the employees of the HLO sure but does Texas or Austin have the money to sustain such a contract?”

Kaleb was thoughtful for a second before answering. “Wouldn’t the tax they take in make up for the expense?”

Varlin laughed. “How many players do you think are in Texas or even Austin?”

“That is your mistake.” Kaleb remarked smiling. “There’s more than just player Supers. Hell even the NPCs probably pay taxes.”

“Why make NPCs pay taxes?” Jar-lock asked.

“This is a virtual reconstruction of the world. They may tip the scales occasionally but it looks like it works pretty much hands free.” Kaleb regretted this line of discussion. It was dancing dangerously close to his NDA. He wasn’t sure if the Devs would come down on him if he explained how he knew they made the game. But, he thought it best not to test it.

Thankfully D43d–I solved the whole discussion.

*Quack*

“It's a game. Who cares how they make the cake? Lets just eat it.”

“CAKE!” Screamed Mass.

Kaleb smiled as he watched D43d–I explain to a crestfallen Mass that there was no cake. Turning to Jar-lock he changed the subject.

“Can you wear armor or am I making you some spiffy robes?”

Jar-lock gave a half nod. “Yes I can, but nothing too heavy. The segmented armor like you have should be good.”

“You want a Kevlar lining like this one.” Kaleb asked taking off his armor showing it to everyone.

Jar-lock looked interested. “Isn’t it heavy?”

“STF treated” Kaleb said.

“That has got to be pricey.”

Kaleb nodded. “Why do you think I only covered my chest and back? But, you pay for the Kevlar and I’ll build the armor. Or we can try for some light armor with just the Ifrit skin.”

*Quack*

“Just the armor for me.” D43d–I said.

Kaleb nodded before adding. “Be ready though, I have a feeling Ifrit armor will only be effective once we enchant it.”

“What makes you say that.” Varlin asked

“Remember how tough its skin was before we dunked it?” Everyone nodded. “Well, afterward its red skin dulled in color and became easier to cut. Also, why didn’t the blood burn us? That is a damn fire demon, right? But its blood is as harmful as yours or mine.”

“Those are good questions.” Varlin said sitting back on Kaleb’s and staring up at the ceiling in thought.

Kaleb‘s doorbell rang and Kaleb got up to answer it saying. “My guess is Mana. After we dunked it, we drained its Mana. So its Skin was weak and its blood inert. When it went to throw that giant fireball, it was using its regained Mana. But, its skin and blood still went without. It didn’t have enough ambient Mana to strengthen its blood and skin. That's my theory, anyway.”

*Congratulations*

You have developed a basic understanding of magical creatures. You have been awarded the Magical Creature Knowledge Skill.

*Magical Creature Skill–Beginner Level 1*

You have taken your first steps into understanding magical creatures. If you wish to hunt, tame, or command magical creatures, you must first understand them.

Magical Creature drop rate increased by 1%

Crafting using magical creatures is now slightly easier.

Kaleb smiled wide as he payed for their pizza. The delivery boy smiled wide back awkwardly as he backed away from Kaleb’s door and made a beeline for his car. Kaleb set the pizzas down on his coffee table as he said.

“And I now have confirmation.” Seeing everyone’s questioning looks he added. “I got the Magical Creature Skill.”

“That's fast.” Vivienne said surprised as she grabbed a piece of pizza from the box.

Jar-lock nodded explaining. “Mundanes learn skills faster.”

Kaleb nodded as he went to get plates for his guest.

“That hardly seems fair.” Varlin said.

“Says the man who can launch beams of energy from his eyes.” Called Kaleb from his kitchen.

*Quack*

“Aliens get nothing like that.” D43d–I said.

“And what do you get?” Kaleb asked setting his plates down and staring at the duck.

*Quack*

“I am a warrior duck race. Bonuses to damage, longer underwater breathing, and a small glide ability.”

Vivienne looked excited as she asked. “You can fly?”

*Quack*

“Glide.” D43d–I said.

Eventually the group returned to discussing crafting possibilities. Vivienne wanted a new wand and robe. Varlin was happy with the Ifrit heart Foci. Jar-lock wanted armor. Mass, fist weapons and D43d–I wanted a gun. Kaleb wrote each request and tried to work out what each would take when there was another knock at his door.

Getting up, Kaleb went to his door. It was a man dressed in a brown shirt and shorts holding a clipboard. Kaleb got excited when he realized it was his car engine. Exchanging pleasantries and signing the man’s paperwork. The delivery man didn’t bat an eye at the Ifrit corpse; Walking to his van and lifting the advanced clean engine and placing it near Kaleb’s car.

Kaleb wiped his hands on a napkin and asked Mass. “Can I get you to help me with something, Big Man?”

Mass jumped up like an excited puppy. “Sure! What can I do?”

Kaleb excused himself from the others and lead Mass out to his driveway. Kaleb heard the others move to his doorway. Curious about what he was doing. Kaleb checked the how the blood draining was doing as he walked by the Ifrit’s head. The blood was dripping out slowly, but the bin was getting full.

Kaleb directed Mass to lift his newly delivered engine and opened his car’s hood. Mass hefted the small silver streamlined engine easily. Kaleb cleared out some old pieces of the ancient engine had used creating a large cavity. He had Mass place the engine inside as carefully as possible. When he did, he got a notification.

*Notice*

The system has detected a part for your car.

Install?

[Yes/No]

That the system was automated surprised Kaleb. But then he figured, not everyone was familiar with automotive mechanics. It probably only worked for standard car parts. Anything after market he probably had to install himself. He would test it out later. Roy pulled up just as Kaleb hit ‘yes.’

The others had left Kaleb’s house and were moving over as Roy waved from his truck's cab. The young Nova hopped out of his truck and joined the group that had formed around Kaleb’s car. It disappointed Kaleb that the system installed his engine with little fanfare. But, he couldn’t complain about how easy it was.

“Hey, Doc. Looks like you’ve had quite a morning.” Roy said as he glanced at Kaleb’s new friends and the giant Ifrit corpse.

Kaleb laughed wryly and, after introducing everyone, said. “We took this big guy down this afternoon. Everyone here was gracious enough to let me keep it. But, they have made requests. I’m gonna need your help Roy.” Roy smiled as Kaleb continued. “Which is why I hate to ask…”

Roy looked worried before understanding flashed in his eyes. “You need me to go on a shopping trip?”

“I know you just got here, but it's not a long list of stuff. Just more plastic bins and some rust remover for the new car here.” Kaleb said patting the side of his car.

Roy looked a little put out but his ever-present smile came back quickly. “Sure thing, Doc. I can handle it.”

“Great. Thank you so much, Roy.” Kaleb said. “Tell you what. When we get it fixed up, you can be the first one to take the Professor-mobile out for a spin.”

Jar-lock snorted a laugh from behind Kaleb. “Professor-mobile?”

Kaleb looked thoughtful as he turned to Jar-lock and the others. “Science-mobile? Pack-Car? Lizard lorry?”

“Rat-Racer?” Varlin added to Kaleb’s growing list of names for his car.

“NO! Absolutely not anything that has to do with rats. I have had enough of them to last a life-time. Although they are delicious.” Kaleb said.

They others gave him looks of surprise and disgust. Jar-lock walked up and put his arm around Kaleb’s shoulders saying.

“You will tell us that story today.”

Kaleb just nodded and looked to Roy. “You need me to go with you to pay?” He asked.

Roy shook his head and walked back to his truck. “Dad set up a tab for you. You can pay it from the HLO site. He said it would save time if you needed more scrap. Save that story for when I get back though, ok?”

“Sure thing, kid. Drive safe.” Kaleb saw off his assistant and went back to looking over his car.

Mass had set the engine perfectly in the car. But, now the odd wire or tube stretched from the engine block to different areas of the car. Kaleb thought he might have been lucky not having to install the thing himself. He opened the driver side door, ignoring the noises squeak of the door. He spent a few minutes looking for the switch.

*Quack*

“Dang kids. Old cars like these used keys.” D43d–I explained, pointing to the side of the steering wheel.

“Keys?” Kaleb asked as he looked where the duck had pointed. He saw a slit in the steering wheel’s column. “What did they do if they lost the key?”

*Quack*

“Freak out, usually.”

Kaleb searched the inside the car. Noting that there were no cup holders, it had manual window handles, and a radio with knobs on it. He checked the glove compartment last, finding nothing. He stared at the console trying to think where else someone would hide keys. D43d–I gave a long-suffering sigh and reached into the car.

He flipped a visor like thing down and a set of keys fell into Kaleb’s lap. Kaleb nodded thanks at the duck and studied the pair of keys. They seemed to be an exact copy of one another. Kaleb smiled and inserted one key into the slit. With a slight twist the car started, the whole car shook for a few seconds before settling.

*Quack*

“After you get this rust off, I‘ll come back and teach you about driving a manual.”

“A what?” Kaleb asked.

The duck just sighed again, shaking his head. Kaleb turned his car off and put the keys in his pants pocket. Jar lock and Vivienne had moved over to the Ifrit’s arm where the steel trashcan was catching blood from the wrist. Moving closer with the others Kaleb could see they were both red-faced and a blackened ring had appeared on the can and the surrounding grass.

“What happened here?” Kaleb asked.

“We… um just proved your hypothesis.” Vivienne said looking embarrassed.

Varlin laughed. “You used Mana, didn’t you?”

Jar-lock nodded. “But just a little. The reaction was… exciting.”

*Quack*

“And quiet. We didn’t hear a thing.”

“Well, that steel monstrosity was roaring too.” Vivienne said.

Kaleb looked around the small scorched area of his lawn. If I can mimic the catalyst of Mana. Kaleb thought. I could have some nice fire bombs.

“Professor, I haven’t known you long but even I know to worry when you smile like that.” Jar-lock said looking at Kaleb’s face.

Kaleb straightened his face and gave a cough. “Just thinking of the possibilities. Was the reaction caused by you channeling magic through it or did it react to nearby magic?”

Vivienne and Jar-lock exchanged a look both shrugging. Kaleb sighed and waved for them to follow him. He walked into his lab real quick grabbing a microscope and four empty beakers. Walking back out he filled the four beakers with the Ifrit’s blood. He joined the others standing on the empty left-hand side of his driveway.

He prepared a slide and studied the inert blood under his microscope. Not for the first time Kaleb wished for better equipment. Kaleb turned the microscope to its highest setting and looked again. The Ifrit’s orange blood seemed inert in every sense of the word. Even in a saline solution its spiky circular blood cells were eerily stationary.

Handing the other beakers to the Magic users Kaleb said. “Jar-lock you channel your Mana into the blood, Vivienne you use a powerful spell next to the blood, and Varlin you to enchant the blood.”

Kaleb waited excitedly as the others just stared at him. They didn’t appear eager to do as he asked. Kaleb figured they were afraid of exploding, which was fair. He had exploded in this game already and it wasn’t fun.

Exhaling Jar-lock moved down the driveway and set the beaker of the ground. Stepping back a few feet. Jar-lock stared at the beaker, concentrating. Faster than Kaleb could see the beaker exploded violently. Shards of glass scattered across the driveway but luckily no one had gotten hurt. It left Kaleb with a large circular scorch mark on his driveway.

Straightening her posture, Vivienne went next. Trading places with Jar-lock she placed her beaker down and walked away. Getting into place, she removed her wand from her sleeve and flicked it toward the beaker.

“Pila Nix.” she said.

A small snowball landed near the beaker, but nothing happened. Kaleb moved forward and asked.

“Can you maintain a spell near it?”

Vivienne seemed to think about it for a while before nodding. “I’ve never tried, but there is a light spell that can do that.”

she waved her wand again saying. “Orbis luminis.”

The light shot out of the end of her wand and hovered near the beaker. Still the beaker didn’t explode. Moving closer Kaleb asked another question.

“Can you move the light over here?” Kaleb held up the microscope.

Vivienne moved the small ball of light close to Kaleb’s microscope as the others seemed to take a few steps away from him. Kaleb looked into the microscope again. The blood cells were behaving oddly again. They seemed to be attracted to the magical orb, drifting toward the source of magic.

Kaleb smiled at Vivienne saying. “Thanks.”

He turned to Varlin who was holding his vial out to Kaleb. Kaleb raised an eyebrow at the Sorcerer, thinking he had opted not to help. But, Varlin said.

“It's enchanted already. It was surprisingly simple. This is now a vial of enchanted Ifrit blood. According to the Enchantment menu you can use this while crafting to add the fire attribute to weapons or toughen armor. Unfortunately, my level in Enchanting is too low to figure out what happens when we add it to pieces of an Ifrit.”

Kaleb smiled at Varlin as he prepared another slide with the enchanted blood. For the first time the blood on the slide acted like a normal person's blood cells. Except for some reason the cells were glowing. Kaleb just chalked that up to the magic from the enchantment.

“I think this proves it. To get the most out of any equipment built from a magical beast, get it enchanted.” Kaleb explained.

“What about my test?” Vivienne asked.

Kaleb shrugged. “It seemed like something attracted the blood to the magic. Maybe the Ifrit can feel magic on a biological level. Or maybe it was just because the cells were Mana starved.”

Jar-lock spoke up. “I’d vote on the latter. We hid from the thing when we first summoned it.”

The mention of the summoning seemed to Kaleb smile wide. He looked between Vivienne and Jar-lock stepping closer. As he did, they both took a step back. Kaleb gave them a curious look.

“Dude, you got that creepy smile on your face again.” Jar-lock said as Vivienne nodded.

Kaleb calmed himself and tried to fix his facial expression. “You two have live samples we can study.”

Vivienne recoiled in shock. “Never! You can’t go poking and prodding at Theodore.”

Jar-lock and Varlin stared at Vivienne. “Theodore?” Varlin asked.

“What?! It's a good name!” Vivienne argued vehemently.

Varlin backed up putting his hands palm up and back away from the angry Wizard. Jar-lock seemed to decide to not say anything. Kaleb glanced at Jar-lock figuring that Vivienne was a lost cause. But the stocky Warlock seemed to hesitate before shaking his head.

“Oh, come on, Jar-lock. Think of what we can figure out from a live specimen. I don’t need everything just some skin cells. Maybe some blood. A tooth would be good. Oh, and a claw.” Kaleb had moved over to Jar-lock and grabbed him by the shoulders.

Jar-lock looked amused, and a little freaked out. “You mean everything you have right there?” he pointed at the Greater Ifrit. “Besides how we treat our summons governs how well they listen to us and obey orders. I don’t think making one a lab rat will do much for our affinity rating.”

“But… but… um.” Kaleb struggled for an argument as he looked between Vivienne and Jar-lock.

He felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning he saw D43d–I patting his shoulder consolingly and shaking his head. Sighing loudly Kaleb waved the idea off and walked back to the Ifrit. The left arm seemed to have finished draining. He took out his sword and hacked into the wrist again.

“There’s no reason to take it out on the thing's arm, man.” Varlin said.

Kaleb looked back curiously before laughing. “No. I’m gonna take this hand off and set it in my lab. I can then either set it to automated disassemble, assisted disassemble, or manual. It will be easier to get parts that way.”

Varlin nodded as Jar-lock and D43d–I moved closer. The Duck alien pulled a small knife from his boot, Kaleb was wondering what he would try with that tiny knife when it elongated and turned into a machete. Jar-lock prepared to move the Steel trash can as D43d–I saw Kaleb‘s staring.

*Quack*

“K-tech’s Collapsible Machete. It's proven useful.” D43d–I said.

Kaleb nodded as he went back to severing the hand. They took a few minutes and some magic to break the bones, but they removed it. Roy returned as Kaleb had Mass place the hand next to the open garage door. Kaleb waved Roy over to help as they dragged the hand into the lab. As they were almost through D43d–I said.

*Quack*

“We could help more if we could get into your lab.”

Kaleb nodded, but didn’t respond. In truth he was hesitant to show anyone his lab. A small part was the embarrassment, but really if someone knew the capabilities of his lab they could learn what he was capable of. Sure it was paranoid, but he’d rather not take chances.

The magic trio seemed to understand. Kaleb figured having their own sanctums, made them understand wanting to keep it secret. Jar-lock moved over to D43d–I and said.

“Let’s use that machete of yours to help drain this thing while the Professor and his assistant deal with the hand for now.”

D43d–I looked between Kaleb and Jar-lock before nodding and walking over to the Ifrit. Vivienne and Varlin had grabbed two large green tubs from the back of Roy’s truck. Kaleb nodded at Jar-lock as he moved disappeared into the Pit.