I’m sitting at the dock, my name is Locke, this is our one shot at getting the hell out of here…

Locke hunches on a breaking stone throwing rocks into the lake. The day has gone and Locke has made their rounds around the harbor. The ship is easy enough to spot. It’s the largest ship in the dock. It’s literally got neon lights glowing at its sides and is larger by volume than two times its match. Eccentrically Lancastrian if he’d make an observation.

“It’s a nice ship.” Locke quips.

It’s at his back at the moment. He is lamenting, staring into the salt free ocean that is the Great Lakes. The waves have become more and more unmanaged as the minutes pass. While the breeze is to his back the dark clouds and rolling thunder broil toward him from the water’s horizon.

“This is confusing…” Locke admits to themself.

Darling! I’ve finally made contact again! It’s been ages I can’t stay for long. That silly bomb they left me had me all jittery for a moment… that’s why I love you people, so unpredictable. Predictably so. Anyway, I’ve ideations and a new destination. I’ve ears too and though I’ve not been on you I do know something has been found on your realm. Well, uncovered. I believe I know what it is and everyone is after it. Your world is doomed you should begin packing your bags and come with me. Flee and be with me for eternity as it should be my love. Champion. Greatest there ever was. Oh, Feralis?! Nice to see you here… I’ve got to split love… dinner has arrived.”

“Oh gosh, that’s not good news…” Locke thinks to themself. “No, I’ve got to concentrate on the now. Save later for later…”

The rolling sounds of thunder begin to run ashore as the light show now has its acoustics to accompany it. The storm draws closer. Could they even make it out of the harbor if this probs to be strong enough? The ship is huge, maybe? It’s all a gamble, maybe they should call it of…

However… since Brent isn’t here yet it’s time to ponder a different question. Since everything is set up. Locke has time to wonder about his defenses. Nora just blasted thought into his mind not too long ago and now head has reconnected. He’s obviously walking around compromised. He needs to set up some sort of mental block. How do you block a connection when you don’t know were it’s connected?

Something to meditate on maybe? Looking inward in this moment seems risky. Wouldn’t want to lose track of time but it seems vitally important to actualize sooner than later. These sentience(s) and their ideations are creeping and unwilling to adhere to boundaries. Time and time again they’ve shown no willingness to allow sanctity. To protect one’s self they’ll need to be able to rebuff the advancements. Declare what’s them from that. Know thyself as it were. Master thyself and defend it from the belligerents.

It is obvious to Locke that the enemy has figured out they cannot defeat them in martial combat they’ve need to do it subcutaneously, via the mind. Physical realm and its limits are the domain of man but the ethereal is outside and can be a weakness. Therefore Locke must master this realms' limits to add a notch into their defenses.

Maybe it’s how Tye has been beating Locke. Undermining their mastery of observable with the luck of the ethereal? That bastard doesn’t even realize what they’re doing and beating Locke nonetheless. Madness, Locke will have concrete ground to stand upon in order to work their step. Maybe that’s it.. maybe step isnt supposed to be thought of as limited to ground. Maybe it should be vector based? They live in a dimensional reality after all? Ground is but one vector?

“I can anchor my arts with science and fight back against these demons with logic.” Locke states to themself. “Magic is for fools who don’t want to follow rules. I am here for the long term.”

Locke feels triumphant, as if an epiphany has been struck. Coincidentally a roll of thunder rumbles Locke from their curmudgeons. Their eyes shoot with their head back towards the city skyline and harbor view behind them. Squatting like a caped crusader upon a rock thrashed by ever growing waves. The storm has yet to land but is very near now as rain begins to patter.

The lightning illuminating the outline of a giant meandering down a wooded parkway walking avenue down a hill towards the dock. Lumbering towards the sharks Locke has spotted sitting in cars along the lake drive. A bus full of “tourist” pulls up to the corner unloading. Two particulars looking particularly familiar. Female and male but not to Locke.

“Pardon me miss.” A young man with thick Russian accent states. “We wonder? Do you Americans ever stop blundering?”

Locke turns to find a man burly like bear wild in appearance yet well groomed. Its the eyes Locke imagines. Alive.

“Uh… hello?” Locke replies beside themself.

“You see, you Americans always imagine yourselves as the only people in this world. Well you’re not. Lucky the world.” The Ruskey winks.

“I don’t know who you are or what’s going on but please leave me be I’m just watching the breeze.” Locke replies.

“Oh yes, the coming storm. Nice effect, you Americans are all about setting a stage. Well it’s set and here we are. I suggest you come with us. We don’t want to make a scene here.” The Russian declares.

There is nobody else around them.

“Us?” Locke inquires.

The Russian winks and a whole crew of people glisten invisible to the naked eye but not for a moment and then again all around them.

“See?” He states.

Locke gulps.

—————

Head is jumping on the bed. Her ooze devouring and scouring the beings left behind, entrapping them in her web. There sits poor Feralis in a bubble it’s going to pop just now and…

It transforms into a sprite…

The sprite is immune to Head’s abilities. These things are outside of her. Beyond her it's annoying. She can see them, can interact with them but she can’t touch them or do anything to them. It’s so infuriating… gods even little g’s have their quirks and this is hers. Where did Feralis go?!!!!

Head screams.