Date: Thu, 28 Oct 1999 18:38:35 CDT
From: Matt Blah <kaiser_cain@hotmail.com>
Subject: The Book - 6

	Salutations!!  Matt here, as most of you know =)  (BTW I'm not Matt
in the story)

	If you've ever read a Nifty Story before, you know the rules, and
can skip on down to the asterisks (that's the *'s for you newbies)....

	Since you're reading this, I can assume you've never read any of my
stories or any of the others at Nifty, which is odd, since this is part of
a series... Oh well, if you happen to be underage, I cannot condone your
reading of this.  If this type of material is illegal in the area you
currently _are_, I cannot condone your reading of this.  If you do not like
this type of material, why are you here?  Wacko!!  Sorry if I sound a bit
prudish by this, but it's standard procedure.  Personally, I could care
less if you're underage or it's illegal, so long as you enjoy it (and
_don't get caught!).

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

	Sorry, even if you've read my story before, you're still not exempt
from my own "personal thoughts and musing..."  LOL I see I caught your
attention with that "cliff-hanger" even though I personally (personal
thoughts and musings, remember?) don't think it was that suspenseful...  Oh
well, ya'll seemed to like it, so here's the next part!
	(P.S. as always, I'm sorry it took so long for me to post
this... my life has recently taken a turn for the more hectic, *chuckle*)
	Then again, who are you to demand that I finish by this time or
that?  Who are _you_ to set my schedule?  I'm my own person!  You can't
tell me what to do!  LOL Just kidding with ya, folks =P Just in one of my
funky moods!!  Okay, on to the story!

-------- The Book --------

Chapter 7 : Loss & Revelations

	(Just so you know...)  Last "episode..."

~~Diddlydoo!  Diddlydoo!  Diddlydoo!  Diddlydoo!~~ (always wanted to do
that... =P )

	"Well, hear this, then," Judas 2 said, becoming impatient, "When we
incarnated ourselves into these new bodies, we left the Gate unprotected,
counting on the protections we laid upon it to protect it from tampering."

	"Obviously, someone broke through our protections," Matthias (2)
said, with a rueful chuckle.  "We don't know what's happening, exactly, and
all we can do is wait."

	Judas blinked once, then stood straighter, "Wait for what happens
next?  That's all we can do about this?"

	"Afraid so.." the voice came from behind them all.

	The four whirled, and stepped back in astonishment.

~~Diddlydoo!  Diddlydoo!  Diddlydoo!  Diddlydoo!~~

	"Oblivion!  What is this?!"  Judas (2) said angrily.

	"Why, _my lord_, didn't you know?"  the figure's sneer was harsh,
and tinged with a feeling of contempt.  Oblivion, when it chose, could
appear as whatever it wished, but it's basic form, the one it most
prefered, was one of an ever-wavering black mist.  Here, Oblivion chose to
manifest itself as more of a negative zone, where no color was, and one
which pulled light into itself.

	"Just what are you planning, Oblivion?"  Matt said roughly.

	"Oh my, I do believe I'm seeing double," it chuckled in response.
"Could you please put yourselves back together?  I dislike being so
outnumbered."

	Matt and Matthis looked at each other, and to Judas (1)'s
amazement, embraced each other.  A blinding flash of light followed, and
where two stood, now stood one.

	"Now you, Judas, if you please... or should I say Judases?"
Oblivion said with a chuckle.

	"We cannot," Judas (2) replied, "Your tampering has left this one,"
he indicated Judas (1), "Without his memories.  Without them-"

	"You can't Merge." Oblivion spat with disgust.  "Very well, since
this one has no memories, there is no real need for him anyways.  He can
just watch..."

	"Enough of this," Judas (2) said, "Explain yourself!"

	"Why, _my lord_, you need only command me and it shall be done!"
the sarcasm was so thick Judas stepped back at the affrontery.

	"What's the matter with you?"  Judas (2) asked, genuinely puzzled.

	"Oh, just a little thing, merely a trifle," it began, its voice
thick with feigned happiness, "It concerns the fact that YOU TRIED TO
DESTROY ME!!!"

	"What?"  Judas (2) stepped back in surprise, Matt just looked at
Oblivion in contempt, and Judas (1) just stared blankly.

	"You left me in the world of Magick!" it snarled, angered further
by Judas' blank stare.  "I begged you to move me into the world of Science!
I begged, pleaded, tried everything to get your attention!  You left me
there!  My Powers havee been reduced to mere shadows!"

	Judas (2) looked at Oblivion, his expression a caricature of
conflicting sympathy and confusion.

	"Well, now you're going to pay," Oblivion drawled idly, its voice
dropping to a dangerous tone, "I used the last of my Powers to break your
protections on the Rift, now _I_ hold all the strings."

	The two Judases and Matt looked in horror as Oblivion reached
within itself and pulled out a small emblem of a phoenix at its rebirth.
The talisman was made of pure Mithril, and coated with ambrosia so that it
glowed a brilliant orange red, like a dying flame.  Oblivion held the
talisman high, and before any could move to stop it, it shattered the
object with a blast of pure Force.

	Oblivion smiled in triumph, "Anything that is Created can be
destroyed," it remarked philosophically.

	Oblivion laughed malevolently at the shocked looks on its audience.
"You see?!"  it cried, "Now, your Merge will occur on _my_ terms!"

	"What good will that do you?!" asked Judas (1), slowly reanimating
from his shock.

	"I have just decided that the two realities shall Merge, yes, in
that much I will let it stay the same," Oblivion began, "But I don't think
that I shall let the two alternates of each living creature combine..." all
three (Judas 1/2 and Matt) gasped

	"But that will-" began a panicked Matt.

	"Yes," hissed Oblivion, its voice soft and eager, "Lead to chaos.
Utter chaos as Science meets Magick and a war breaks out."

	"And you will reap the harvest," said Judas (1), comprehension
dawning, "In the face of such catastrophe, people will lose their faith as
the gods will be unable to intervene.  They will turn to you, Oblivion, and
worship you by not worshipping another!"

	"So, so, exactly so," chortled Oblivion, "For not having your
memories, you certainly are quick."

	"I won't let you!" cried Judas (2), "Countless lives will be lost!"

	"I'm afraid you don't have much of a choice here..." teased
Oblivion, gesturing towards their surroundings, "You have no way out of
here."

	"As long as I live I will oppose this!" Judas (2) cried.  He
Reached for Earth and Fire, and Weaved a staff from the strands.
Brandishing the staff, he lunged at Oblivion.

	Oblivion, taken aback by the attack, was struck in the chest, and
fell back a pace before it Pulled the staff into itself, absorbing it
entirely.  It laughed at the dumbfounded look on Judas' face.

	"Have you forgotten?  You have lost a great deal of your Power,
_ex_-master." Oblivion reached with a hand and grabbed Judas by the
shoulder.

	Judas recoiled in pain, and with a muttered Word sent Oblivion
flying backwards further into the mists.  He glanced at his shoulder,
finding upon it a brand of Oblivion, where his cloak had been burned away
and his flesh scorched slightly.

	Matt stood, paralyzed by what was happening, wanting to help, but
not entirely sure how.  Judas (2)'s eyes glazed over, and he toppled.  Matt
decided then and there that Judas (2) needed his help more and cradled the
unconscious one in his arms.

	Judas looked around with wild eyes to see where Oblivion had gone.
His hands glowed with Pure Magick, and with a gesture he Called a barrier
around himself and the two crouching nearby.  Without warning Oblivion
leapt from the mists and slammed against the barrier.

	Inches apart, Oblivion smiled a toothless grin at Judas through the
transparent barrier, and took down the shield after a moment of effort.  It
reached for Judas once more, but Judas, anticipating this attack, flipped
back.  While Judas was still airborn, he Called into being a myriad of
small daggers of light, and as he fell to the floor he sent them all
winging towards the still reaching Oblivion.  They impacted on its side,
and before it could absorb them, dissipated back into the air.

	Oblivion clutched its side, and Manifested a suit of armor about
itself.  It stood up straighter, and Manifested a spear which it wielded
with perfect proficiency.  The spear was part spear, part axe, with a
curved blade that could be stabbed with or swung with.

	Judas, in response, Called forth twin swords, made of glittering
Adamantium, with a Moonstone in each handle.  He swung them around once, to
test their weight, and crouching in a fighting position, gestured that
Oblivion should take the first move.

	Oblivion did so, and in earnest, thrusting its spear directly
towards Judas, who parried it with one sword and swung out with the other,
cleaving into Oblivion's side, who didn't even flinch.  Oblivion retracted
its spear with inhuman speed and swung its wicked blade sideways.  Judas
parried it again, but this time with both swords, leaving no possibilty of
a counterattack.  Oblivion then whirled about, swinging at Judas from the
opposite direction this time.  Judas brought his swords up to block it, but
with the momentum from the swing he couldn't block the entire force of the
blow-

	-The spear cleaved into Judas' side...

	Judas gasped in shock and pain and Oblivion laughed at its victory.
But Judas pulled the spear out, and Reaching for Water, had it healed in a
matter of moments.  Oblivion stared in shock, and reached for its spear,
which Judas kicked away.

	"I may have lost some of my Power, but not all." Judas said smugly.

	Oblivion stood for a moment, then tried to flee.  Judas swung with
his swords, the first cleaving into Oblivion's side, the second into its
neck.  Oblivion fell to its knees, and Judas pulled the swords out quickly,
before Oblivion could absorb them.

	Oblivion collapsed onto the misty floor.

	"Damn," it muttered, "All those attempts, all failed."

	"What attempts?" asked Judas, looming over Oblivion.

	"The man with Ardanas, the lizardman, the man out of the theater,
all were my agents, all were out to destroy you, all failed me, even as I
have failed now..." Oblivion gave a gasping breath, then fell silent.

	Judas, believing Oblivion dead or weakened, walked to where Matt
sat with his alterego.

	"What happened to him?" he asked with concern.

	"I don't know," Matt began, "He just collap- LOOK OUT!!"

	Oblivion had risen from the mists when Judas had turned his back.
Now Oblivion grabbed Judas by the arms, and Judas howled in agony and
Oblivion burned his outsides.  Matt stared, helpless to act, frozen in
terror, as Oblivion gradually absorbed Judas.

	Judas struggled to break free of Oblivion's grasp, but his grip was
unmovable.  Judas Reached for the elements, but Oblivion had his Powers
blocked.  Judas opened his mouth to utter a Word of Power, but the agony
choked the word in his throat.

	Oblivion finally had Judas all the way within itself, and gave a
laugh, "Now his Powers shall be mine," it chortled, full of satisfaction.

	"You monster!" sobbed Matt, tears streaming down his face.

	"Oh, don't be so sullen!" Oblivion said, obviously not at all
discomfited by the tears, "You have another one right there!"  it pointed
to the unconscious Judas still in Matt's arms.

	"Now, to see my whole new worl--" Oblivion began, but broke off.
There was a flash of light within itself, and suddenly the light burst free
of Oblivion's pull.  The light hovered in the air for a moment, then darted
to the prone Judas, evading Oblivion's grabs at it.  The light flickered
once above Judas, then it expanded, covering Judas entirely, then vanished
into Judas' skin.

	"Damnit!" Oblivion swore.  "His Power somehow escaped me!"

	"As long as Judas lives, even if it is not entirely him, his Powers
will belong to no one but himself!"  Matt cried defiantly.

	"I can fix that," began Oblivion menacingly.

	"Can you?"  it was Judas, who rose from Matt's arms and faced
Oblivion on his feet, "You had some trouble with half my Power, in a state
where I was weakened.  Care for a rematch?"

	Oblivion stared blankly for a moment, then laughed, "Don't mock
me!" it gasped, "You have no memories, you have no way to use that "Power"
you have!"

	Judas, in response, Called a ball of Force, that fluctuated between
the elements, and held it before himself.  He focused, and the Force became
4 shards of Earth, Fire, Wind, and Water.  "Is that so?" he asked with a
soft non-laugh.

	Oblivion muttered a curse, then backed off slowly, "I may not be a
match for you now, but in time, once the wars begin, I will be more than a
match for you, and I shall rule the worlds!" it vanished into the mists.

	"No!" cried Matt, "How are we going to get out of here?"

	Judas looked around carefully.  "We should actually be within the
Rift itself, no?" he asked.

	"I believe so.." began Matt, "But the Rift should be closing with
the Merge!"

	"That... could be a problem," Judas said with a slightly panicked
smile.

	"What can we do?" asked Matt, fearful of the answer.

	Judas was silent for a moment, then abruptly brightened, which in
turn brightened the frightened Matt.

	Judas held out his hand, "Nothing is ever lost," he said in a
somber tone, "What has been destroyed, shall now be Recreated." a glowing
light gathered in his outstretched hand, and as it grew brighter, a figure
slowly began to be outlined in the glow.  An emblem of a phoenix, in the
process of rebirth, made of Mithril and coated with Ambrosia, appeared in
his hands.

	Judas brandished the talisman, and a portal in the mist opened.
Judas got close, then gestured for Matt to go ahead.

	"B-beloved?" he said, faltering slightly as he did so.

	Matt smiled a little, knowing that Judas must have had his memories
restored.  "You don't have to call me that, you know..." he said as he
stepped through into the One Realm.

	"I know," said Judas impishly, "But I might as well get used to
it."

	Judas followed Matt into the Realm, scared of what they might find.



	In the Realm, they found everything was as they left it, but
instead of a world combined, the world was still entirely Science.

	"Why hasn't the Merging occured?" Matt asked, peering around.
"There should be some fighting, screaming, or looting or something!"

	In response, Judas held up the talisman.  "I believe we have
delayed Oblivion's plans," he said slowly, "By recreating this, we have
regained some control over the Merge."

	"But not all?" asked Matt, noting his careful omission, "We can
only delay it?"

	"Unfortunately yes," replied Judas ruefully, "The Merge will occur,
that nobody has control over anymore, but Oblivion has already deposed the
original plan of Merging, and in our weakened states, we cannot change it
back."

	"So what does this little delay do for us?" Matt asked, his voice
betraying his despair.

	"It gives us breathing time," Judas said, his own expression
resigned, "And a chance to deal with the Merge on our own terms... nothing
more."

	"It's enough," Matt said, placing his hand upon Judas' shoulder.

	Judas looked at Matt's hand, and blushed.

	"I... remember what we were to each other," he began, stuttering
slightly, "But I don't know..."

	"I do." Matt interrupted, with a kiss.

	Judas began to pull back, purely out of surprise, but after a
splitsecond, returned the kiss with as much passion as he dared.

	Matt broke off the kiss, reluctantly, and Judas looked at him, his
eyes containing both relief and disappointment.

	"I know," Matt sighed, "I want it too, but this is all happening so
fast, we need to take it slow."

	"But you.." began Judas, thoroughly confused.

	"I know, I didn't mean to kiss you.. but with the Merge coming
closer, the last thing we need to do is complicate things with a love
affair..."

	Judas heaved a sigh, a sigh of such reluctance that it made Matt's
heart race with excitement.  "That's true..." was all he said.

	Judas moved closer to Matt and rested his head upon the taller
boy's shoulder.  "Can we go to sleep now?" he asked, his voice a pleading
tone.

	"Yes, I believe we've both earned a little R&R..." said Matt with a
chuckle.

	The two went up to Judas' room, on the unspoken decision to sleep
in the same bed as they had not before.  Without words again, Matt and
Judas stripped to their boxers.  As they began to remove their boxers, they
looked at each other, blushed furiously, and kept them on.  Matt lay in
bed, and Judas literally crawled onto bed next to him, the day's activities
catching up with them with a vengeance.

	Judas slept with his head atop Matt's shoulder.  Matt stayed up a
little later then Judas, sleepily combing Judas' silken hair, and gazing at
the ceiling.



	The next morning Judas awoke to Matt looking down upon him.

	Judas suddenly recoiled from Matt, who got a hurt look on his face.

	"What's the matter?" Matt asked, reaching for Judas.

	"What happened last night?!" asked Judas frantically, seeing
himself and Matt in nothing but boxers.

	"What do you mean?" asked a bewildered Matt, "We just slept!  Do
you remember anything that happened yesterday?!"

	Judas got a blank look on his face for a moment, then blinked once.
As comprehension dawned, he got an apologetic look on his face.

	"Matt, I'm so sorry, I didn't remember anything..." he apologized.

	Matt rose from the bed and gave Judas a warm hug, "It doesn't
matter." he comforted, "What happened?  Did you have a bad dream?"

	"No dream," Judas retorted, a bit harshly, "I was just really
tired, deep sleep does that to me sometimes."

	"Oh..." Matt replied, pulling away from Judas slowly.

	"Aw, damn," Judas said, "I'm sorry, I'm really not a morning
person..."

	Matt wouldn't look Judas in the eyes.  Judas, in desperation,
planted a soft kiss upon Matt's lips.

	Matt flinched, then smiled broadly at Judas.  Judas smiled back,
then sobered quickly.

	"What?  What is it?" Matt queried, looking deep into Judas' eyes,
which were an uncharacteristic brown (if you can remember his normal
eye-color, kudos to you!).

	"What are we going to do about the Merge?" he asked in a very small
voice.

	"We seek outside help," Matt said firmly, "We don't have to do this
alone.  The other of the Hundred are bound to have noticed something amiss,
and if they value their existences, they will help us."

	"A good idea," Judas began dryly, "But how are we going to get in
touch with the others of the Hundred?"

	"We consult a psychic!"

	"Here in the world of Science?"  Judas said incredulously, "Good
luck finding a genuine one!"

	Matt laughed, "Of course not!  We go back to the Realm of Magick!"

	Judas just looked at Matt as if he had grown another head.  "How
will we do that?" he asked, genuinely not knowing.

	"This!" Matt said triumphantly, brandishing the phoenix emblem.
"With this, we have free travel between the planes, according to my
memories!"

	Judas blinked once, then shook his head, "I'm sorry, my memories
are still a bit jumbled up after being swallowed by Oblivion..."

	Matt just looked at Judas soberly.  "Are you sure you're alright?"

	"I'm fine, I'm fine," Judas reassured him, "Let's get going!"

	Matt held the talisman up, and spoke the three Words of Opening.
The air before them shimmered, and a portal gaped open, showing them the
now familiar sight of their quarters back at High Tower.  The two took a
deep breath as one, and jumped through the portal.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_=_

	"What do you mean, 'you're fired?'" the voice was hoarse with
disbelief.

	"I'm sorry, Rheanna, but the clients don't like being told unhappy
futures!" the fat, balding man of 60 years replied.

	"Ben, when have I been wrong?" pleaded the young woman.  She was
scarcely an adult, a young girl of merely 19 years.  She was very
traditionally attractive, having long red hair, which was eerily straight
and thick.  Her face was triangular with large luscious lips and a small
button-like nose.  She had no real known heritage, being a mix of various
ethnicities, which accounted for her unusual hair and beautiful purple
eyes.  Having run away from an abusive father, she now earned her living as
a phone psychic and a Clairvoyant at a small Boutique.

	"You haven't, Rheanna, but that's the problem!" Ben replied,
half-pleading with the young woman.  Ben had acted nearly as a surrogate
father to the young girl he had found on his doorstep, but now, with so
many complaints, he could no longer afford to employ her.

	"How is that a problem?" demanded Rheanna, becoming impatient.

	"It's unnatural!" exclaimed Ben, grasping one of the few clumps of
hair left on his scalp, "Clients hear you tell them what misfortunes await
them, and lo and behold, every thing you say comes true!  They are calling
it witchcraft!"

	"Fine." Rheanna said, after a moment of thought, her voice cold and
betraying no emotion other than deadly anger.  "But let me tell you _your_
fortune, Ben Pritt." as she spoke, she walked towards Ben, who backed away,
fear splashing across his features.

	"You will die, a miserable, broke man, and only the vermin who
dwell in your house shall mourn the loss.  Your children will be glad that
you're gone, your wife will remarry within a month of your death, and your
miserable remains will be left along by the carrions because it will be too
foul even for them to touch!" with that, Rheanna froze, her eyes suddenly
springing forth with tears.

	"Oh no... Ben... what have I done?!" she shrieked, as Ben's face
became stark with utter fear.  He gave her a _look_ that said, "Witch!" and
he retreated to his office.

	Rheanna whirled about, and ran from the studios, ignoring the
protests of bowled over people who stood in her way.  She hadn't meant to
See that.  When she first met Ben, his fate was a happy one, he would die
an old and rich man, and his wife would never remarry, and all who knew him
would mourn the loss.  As with all times, her bitterness at her unhappy
childhood twisted the vision of all she Read, and now, the only man who
treated her with any kindness was doomed to a horrible end.  Her tears
flowed faster now, as she ran down the street, lithely dodging the
pedestrians, until she reached her home, luckily only 2 blocks away.

	She slammed the door shut behind her, and sank to a fetal position
against the door.  Her Gift had always ruined her life.  In school, the
other children avoided her, because anyone who got on her bad side
immediately had a bad accident, usually involving broken limbs.  At home, a
temper tantrum at her mother had caused her mother to be slammed into by an
18-wheeler.  Her father, who knew of these things, treated her harshly, and
try as she might, she couldn't bring herself to use her Power against him,
determined to never use it again...

	... Then her father began drinking...

	He physically and verbally abused her, and often she sported black
eyes or cuts.  Finally, when one day her father was very drunk, he tried
groping after her, and threatened sexual abuse...

	... She was gone within one hour...

	For weeks she wandered, looking for shelter, food, anything at all.
Finally, her wanderings brought her, weak with hunger and ill with a flu,
to the door of Ben Pritt.  Not only did Ben not turn her away, he cared for
her, and he and his wife let her stay at their home for the 2 weeks it took
her to get better.  Then Ben had offered Rheanna a job as a phone psychic,
"It's a sweet deal!" he had said, "All you have to do, is tell these people
what they _want_ to hear!"  The next day she began, and for a time she was
truly happy.  She had a good paying job, she had an apartment of her own,
and adopted family in Ben and his wife Mary.

	Then, the nightmares began.  They always involved her, and there
was always a dark force, searching for her, and she always awoke just
before the eyes turned to her directly.  For 3 weeks the dreams plagued her
every night and made her days filled with dread of the Darkness...  Then
like an angel, Gary came into her life.

	Gary was kind, Gary was handsome, Gary was charming, Gary swept
Rheanna off her feet.  Gary took away the dreams, and his touch sent chills
down Rheanna's spine.  He had confessed his love to her, she had confessed
his love for him, and the two moved in together.  Then, 3 weeks after
moving in, Rheanna came with the news that she was pregnant...  Gary had
been delighted, and being a "gentleman" he proposed to her.  She
accepted...

	The night after he proposed, Gary drugged her drink, robbed her
blind as she slept, and left town...

	Since then, she began drinking... heavily...  She had a friend at
the tele-psychic building who supplied her with it.  Ben tried consoling
her, Mary tried to convince her is wasn't her fault, but all of this meant
nothing.  She had had everything, then had it taken away... again...

	To top it off, the nightmares returned.

	Because of all this, lately, against her own wishes, whomever she
Read, the fate altered for the worse.  She'd tried to combat her depression
and bitterness, but to no avail.  Every caller, without fail, had his or
her destiny altered for the worse.  Now, she had lost her job, she had
condemned Ben to a horrendous fate, and she didn't know what to do.

	She crouched there, crying, for the better part of an hour, until a
buzzing sound from her bed reminded her that she was going to be late for
her night job at the Boutique.  The very thought of doing any Reading,
however, made her sick to her stomach.  She heaved a great sigh, and
checked her finances.  Since being robbed by Gary 3 months ago, she had
accumulated $1023.45.  She did a little mental calculations, and decided
that it would be a great time to leave this town.  She called the Boutique,
and quit her job...

/=\=/=\=/=\=/=\=/=\=/=\=/=\=/=\=/=\=/=\=/=\=/=\=/=\=/=\=/=\

	Judas rubbed eyes bleary with fatigue.  He turned to where Matt
sat, seemingly infatiguable in their search for a true psychic.

	"What are you on?" he asked, finally, with a spark of tired humor.

	Matt just smiled at him, "Call it neccessity, then." he replied
with a giggle, "We _have_ to find this psychic, and quickly."

	The two had searched all of Faerun over the course of the day,
using their own Talents to scan for full-blown psychics, or potential
psychics.  After 12 hours, Judas was ready to call it quits.  The two now
sat at the foot of High Tower, after having Scanned all the inhabitants,
and all of them turning up null.

	"How is it, that in a world of such Mysticism, that there are
absolutely _no_ psychics?" he asked in exasperation.

	"Psychic's are not of Magick.." Matt said, almost apologetic,
"Psionics are purely by chance, it's just we assumed wrongly that in a
world of Magick, psionics would be much more identifiable."

	Matt heaved a sigh, but nodded his head in agreement.  There was a
silence, as the two pondered what to do.

	"Well, we haven't explored _all_ of this world yet," Matt said
finally, "Faerun is just one continent, we still have a whole world to find
a psychic that suits our purposes."

	Judas groaned, "A _whole_ world....."

	Suddenly, Matt clutched his chest.

	"What?!  What is it?!" Judas asked, panicked.

	"The emblem!" Matt reached into his shirt, and pulled out the
phoenix, which was glowing even brighter than before.

	Dangling it from the string, Matt watched as it twisted and turned
and writhed like a living thing.  Suddenly, it pointed eastward, straight
eastward, the string became as if it were of lead, and utterly unmoving.
Matt experimentally turned the talisman, only to have it redirect itself
sternly towards the east.

	"I believe we're supposed to go that way..." Matt said with a
rueful chuckle.

	Judas simply sighed in response, and whistled for Draecon.





	"Argh." was all Judas said.  Matt sighed in sympathy, and reached
over and massage Judas' shoulders.

	Judas sighed in content, and leaned back.  It had been a hard day.
They had flown nearly 3 hours following the emblem, and it had finally led
them to a small village of Dwarves, a rare one that was built above ground.
The citizens there did not know what High Tower was, not being citizens of
Faerun, and had resisted any questions Judas had asked.

	Three hours of negotiations on his feet, for the Dwarves would not
let them sit, had left Judas stiff, aching, and with a very unhappy
expression, but also with permission to explore the quaint village.

	The two walked carefully to each hut, and Judas Scanned the
occupants, as they watched him do so with curiousity and no little
hostility.  When all turned up with nil in the way of potential and Power,
Judas turned to Matt with an aggravated expression.

	"Why did the damn thing point to this place?" he demanded,
forgetting that Matt really had no more idea than Judas did.

	"I don't know, maybe it wasn't directing us to a psychic!" Matt
replied, pulling out the emblem again.  The emblem still glowed, but now it
pointed straight downwards.  Matt pulled it up to his fact to look at it,
and studied it for a moment.

	"Your memory must really be bad," Matt chuckled at Judas, "You
didn't remember this inscription here."

	Judas, a little putoff by that remark, looked over Matt's shoulder
and peered at the phoenix.  Across the phoenix's tailfeathers there were
some ingraved words.

	"Sensor to Merge." Judas read aloud.  "Does that mean..."

	"A herald to the Merge is coming!" Matt finished, his light
expression sobering immediately.

	"Everyone!" boomed Judas in Power-amplified tones, "You are in
danger, leave this village immediately, please!"

	Everyone shuffled out of their huts and looked at Judas with
curiousity.

	"Did you hear me?!" he cried, "Get going!"

	They just stared blankly.

	There was a moment of disorientation for all, as vision blurred for
a moment, and suddenly everything blacked out for a nanosecond...

	...As vision cleared for all, there was a collective gasp.

	Where a small straw and mud village once stood, there was now a
stretch of a strange gray substance, surrounded by beautiful green
pastures.

	"A-a r-road?" stammered Judas in disbelief.

	In the middle of the road was a strange metal object, roughly
rectangular in shape, color red with strange circular objects on the front
and back.

	"A car!" exclaimed Matt.

	A young woman, of around 20 years, stepped out.  She had beautiful
long red hair, and strikingly violet eyes.

	"What the hell is going on here?!" she demanded, a wild look in her
eyes.

"~"~"~"~"~"~"~"~"~"~"~"~"~"~"~"~"~"~"~"~"~"~"~"~"~"~"~"

	Thus ends Part 6, Chapter 7, folks!  Aw, forget fixing it, I'm too
lazy!  Sorry folks, you'll just have to cope!
	Questions?  Comments?  Oh, that sounds so impersonal...

	If you...
		Loved my story, feel free (but not obligated) to write me
and tell me what you think!
		Hated my story, you are obligated to write to me and let me
know what I did wrong so I don't do it again!
		Have any ??'s on my story, you are obligated to write to me
and give me a chance to clear things up for you!
		Are sorta indifferent..... you are obligated to write to me
and tell me how to change you so that you love my story!

	e-mail (mine) = kaiser_cain@hotmail.com
		Please do not use my addy inappropriately =)

	Later!
	  Matt