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Act VIII: What You Should Never Know

About a week later, I returned to Athens, Greece. I had wisely used my week's stay in Romania to make sure that the O'dora family were indeed gone. I didn't want any surprises cropping up later. Sebastian and the von Hammer family helped me make sure the O'dora family were indeed gone. Afterward, the von Hammer family entertained Sebastian and I like heroes of old. During the last day of my stay in Romania, June von Hammer drew me aside and explained to me that her family weren't vampires, but they did hold some great power. The females were evidently sorcerers, while the males were akin to druids, specializing in animal spirit magic. Wizards. This didn't really surprise me, but at least now I had encountered some safely. My flight back to Athens was pretty peaceful.

When I walked into Chess headquarters, I was surprised to see so many of the other agents gathered. Mykaelic was also in attendance. Danath Gaul smiled at me and shook my hand.

"Welcome back, Black Bishop. Somehow, yet again, you return to us alive. Our contacts in Hungary and Romania told me about the annihilation of the O'dora holdings. I knew you would return soon afterward, though you are later than I expected. But now you are here and we can conduct this ceremony properly."

I was kind of in shock. A ceremony for defeating a vampire family? This seemed unusual to me. Surely not all vampires were like the O'dora family. They couldn't be. But I had not encountered any others. So far, every vampire I encountered had tried to kill me.

"It really isn't that big a deal, Danath. I did have some help. And my return was delayed because a local family of power in Romania was entertaining me for defeating the O'dora family."

Danath grinned and patted my shoulder.

"...And he's modest too. Jansen, long have you moved up through the ranks, rarely taking any time off between missions. Now that you have reached the rank of Black Bishop, it is a great pleasure to award you with your own complex. But there is more! You are one of the few agents without a nickname. All of our best agents have a nickname. I would like you to choose one now."

I blinked my eyes and blushed somewhat. Though, I was smiling too, it was finally happening: I was getting a nickname. But what nickname should I choose? It had to be cool sounding, like the others, yet dignified enough to show that I was serious. Suddenly, I knew what to say.

"I thank you, Danath, and the rest of you as well. I am surprised you all took a chance to gather like this knowing that Danath could send you on a mission at any second. My nickname is simple, yet honorific. To understand it's value, one would have to know my life before Chess. I have not forgotten vows I took before meeting with Chess. From now on, I am Jansen 'the oath taker of Xim' Tanner. This may be shortened to 'the oath taker'. Be it known from here on out, when a Tanner gives their word on something, it is chiseled in stone. I may not like what I have promised, but it will be performed to the letter of the agreement. I also thank you for the complex, though I would prefer not to have this complex here in Athens. This is not to imply that I do not want to be here; I merely have roots elsewhere and seek to continue sowing the seed that I have started in that region of the world."

Danath and the others blinked their eyes at the nickname that I had chosen. Most were looking at each other, not sure what to make of it. Then slowly, an applause began. I was pleased to see that Mark and Luke had started the applause. It's good to have friends in Chess. I was also pleased to see Luke alive. I hadn't heard from him in ages. I had feared the worst.

Danath then handed me my new jacket. I was now a Black Bishop. Danath smiled at me.

"Jansen 'the oath taker of Xim' Tanner. Chess will build your complex where ever you like. Yet, you will still have an official bunker of sorts here in the base headquarters. Where would you like your complex built?"

I grinned. The area I was going to choose was a location that Jael once told me about. It was a lycanthrope's training region. I haven't forgotten you, Xim. You deserved a better monument.

"My complex will be in northern California, in Humboldt county, just south of Eureka, which has an airport, by the way. The exact location is to be just southeast of Capetown in the Rainbow Ridge mountains. I want the place to be officially named as The Xim Complex. Publicly, it will appear to be a privately owned museum dedicated to the actual game of chess. Beneath the surface, it will be my own American facility of the Chess organization. Open to agents and others of my choosing at any time. And there will be others there almost constantly. And they will not be molested, interrogated, or threatened. Do I make myself clear?"

I was glaring at Danath what I asked that last part. He seemed to get the message. He didn't cringe, but I could tell that he understood what I was implying. I knew he and I would be speaking later about this. I then continued.

"My long overdue vacation is to begin immediately. I will lay out plans before my departure on how the complex should look on the surface. It will be built to my specifications. I fully expect the roof to be able to conduct a giant-sized chess game at any time. The rest of the complex, connecting via elevator, will be underground, and parts within the range itself. An escape tunnel, of sorts, needs to be constructed, as well. This tunnel is to be left open at all times. If I find blockage later on, I will personally rip the blockage out. Thank you all for gathering here today. It means much to me."

I started off towards the offices, literally dragging Danath with me. It was the first time I had been so rough with him. I was in a mind to state some changes in Chess. And I wanted to make sure Danath was forced to listen to them before my vacation started.

Many hours, of discussion and ranting, later...

I put the finishing touches on the blueprints of the Xim Complex. I smiled, as I heard Danath just behind me exhale a sigh of evident surprise. I could tell that he liked the design. It was interesting, yet official. The tournament hall was probably the best added touch. I signed and dated each level of the complex blueprints, then turned to Danath and smiled.

"When will this be ready?"

Danath was still in awe over the blueprints.

"...We can get it started immediately. Any preferences on a contractor?"

I almost growled.

"Anyone except Cassander Vulcan! I don't want that bastard anywhere near that place! If I find out that he's been there, I'll hunt him down and kill him myself!"

Danath snapped out of his awe when I said that.

"You suspect him of something?"

I was barely able to keep from growling.

"He was up to something fishy in Kenya. That were lion tried to warn me about something and I just know that Mr. Vulcan is somehow involved in that warning. But what?"

Danath collected the blueprints in their numerical order. Then, he started out of the office.

"Jansen. I know you're supposed to be taking a vacation, officially, but I won't say anything if you happen to be in places you've already visited."

Danath walked out of the office. I lifted my head and turned around, watching him walk away. Well, he was giving me a kind of permission to pursue some things that I wanted answers to. This was certainly not the time to turn down a given permission. I headed to my room to make preparations for my return trip to Kenya.

I was surprised when Mark "the wonderland rabbit" Jolson offered to come with me. He didn't have to come, but he was volunteering. I really didn't want someone with me, but I did like Mark. So, the two of us finished making preparations, and headed to the airport. Once we were on the private jet, I told him that this was not an official mission. This was a Tanner thing. He just chuckled and patted my shoulder. He said that he knew that. Tanner things were somewhat fun, from what he had heard.

Then, he broke the news to me. My parents had died a few months ago while I was on a mission. Mark told me that he attended the funeral and photographed the services. I was pretty choked up and cried upon learning this. I guess I missed my parents more than I knew. Mark showed me the collection of photographs in order, allowing me a last glimpse of my family. It pained me to see my sisters wearing black. Jocelyn hated black, but she was wearing it anyway. Her expression in the pictures were like I had been towards Vulcan earlier.

Our jet made a stop in Cairo, Egypt, Africa. Mark and I took a much needed walk to allow me to regather my thoughts. I had been delivered a shock, after all. The beautiful black-haired fair-skinned woman that was selling the Egyptian mythology jewelry was very attractive. She seemed to catch my eye immediately. I approached her and purchased an amulet of Ra, a necklace of Isis, and some bracers of Anubis. I also purchased a few Anubian statuettes. Then, I offered to buy her dinner, and she accepted, though her male dark-haired black slender friend would have to come along. I didn't mind, as I explained that Mark would also have to come along.

I discovered that her name was Felbas Al-Kitar, and her handsome male friend was called Nubis Al-Jakal. Nubis was my age, and very interested in being my friend. Felbas was more Mark's age. We had a pleasant meal, then afterward, the four of use toured some places around Cairo. When the evening ended our day, I gave Felbas and Nubis some of my business cards. The cards gave my name and my personal phone number in Athens. A toll-free number. Danath never explained how we could afford international toll-free phone numbers. I explained that my answering machine would likely take any messages phoned in. They both hugged Mark and I, then they departed back into Cairo. Mark and I boarded our private jet once again and resumed our flight to Kenya.

After we had arrived in Wajir, the contacts at the Chess bunker were very surprised to see me back in their region. Mark and I got ourselves a jeep and some supplies and headed out to the Woyamdero Plain. I was going to find out what the heck was up with that area. Why would Vulcan choose a place in the middle of nowhere? It couldn't have been by accident. There was something here. He had previously told Byron and me that there was oil here. From what little geographical survey records I had researched later, I knew that Vulcan had told a bald faced lie. So, if it wasn't oil, what had he really been after?

When Mark and I arrived at the site, we discovered that there was now a small native village built around the site itself. I had recalled that some natives lived in this region, but their village wasn't anywhere near here. My internal red alarms were going off. Mark and I spoke with the village chieftain about the Vulcan site. The chieftain scowled at the Vulcan name. That made me relax quite a bit. I was glad that I wasn't the only one who disliked him. Mark played translator between us as we spoke. The chieftain was likewise pleased that I didn't like that Vulcan bastard either. I then confided my suspicions to the chieftain about the previous events when Chess was here last. About the were lion, his apparent warning and the like.

That night, Mark and I had set up our tents along the same trail where I had my encounter with the were lion before. Mark entered his tent and I entered mine. I had made sure that our tents were at the precise same spots they had been before. I wanted everything to be exactly as it was before. I had a hunch and wanted to see if I was going to be right or it was all a trick of my mind. I checked my watch; it was a little after midnight. Perhaps I had been wrong. I exited my tent wearing only my shorts and took a slow walk down the path toward the watering hole.

The moon was full as I rounded the bend in the path. I walked up to the edge of the waterhole and knelt down to get a drink of the cool water. I had barely tasted the water, when a large paw settled down on my shoulder. I froze instantly.

"Are you a were lion like the last one?"

There was a moment of silence before the reply came. A rich baritone yet sensual voice in accented English.

"He was my friend. I know you were not the one who killed him. Why did you come back?"

I remained where I was.

"I wanted to know the truth. I wanted to know what that bastard Vulcan was doing here. Your friend tried to warn me but I didn't understand him. So he attacked me instead. Perhaps it wasn't an attack. There could have been someone watching that night, so he had to make it look like he was attacking me. Too many what ifs. I just want the truth. If I could bring your friend back to life, I would."

The rich baritone sensual voice continued. His paw was still on my shoulder. I could feel his breath on my bare back.

"You would? Perhaps you deserve to know the truth after all."

He removed the paw from my shoulder, then padded up beside me and drank from the water. He was in full lion form.

"I am called Lorian Ngiro. Lori for short. I live to the south of here with my pride of were lions. The one your white guardian killed was called Merti Wodero. He was this area's protector. He couldn't speak English, like I can, so when he tried to warn you that night, you couldn't possibly understand him. What he was trying to tell you was that this site was an animal burial site."

I almost cussed. Okay, I did cuss. And it was pretty vulgar too.

"Ivory. That bastard was after the ivory. He better hope he never crosses my path again."

Lorian nuzzled me and gave me a lick.

"You're not like the rest, Jansen Tanner. You'll always be welcome in our area. I will make sure my pride king knows about you. I am sure he will like you as I do now. You have your truth. But know you this: Vulcan never completed his construction here. He turned in a claim to his insurance company for millions. The claim was industrial sabotage."

Lorian suddenly nudged me so hard that I fell into the watering hole. When I surfaced, Lorian was gone and so were my shorts. That sneaky were lion! I climbed out of the water, soaked to the bone and cold. I shivered as I headed back to my tent. Hey! At least I had my bath for the week.

When morning came, Mark and I packed up and headed back to Wajir. Mark could see that I was smiling. That meant that I had some fun during the night. Mark also noted how clean I was. I merely told him that I took a midnight bath in the nearby watering hole. Okay, it wasn't the truth, but Mark didn't need to know about the other were lions.

I wasn't like the rest. I was a Tanner.

Back on the private jet once again, I told Mark that someone stole my shorts while I had bathed at the waterhole. For the most part, it was true. I was wearing my shorts at the waterhole, but not after I emerged from the water. I could only guess that Lorian had taken them off of me as we talked, then pushed me into the water so I didn't see him leaving with my shorts. I could only guess that the were lion wanted to retain my scent for his pride's king's knowledge. That sorta bothered me, but I had many more shorts to wear. Maybe Lorian needed a pair of shorts.

We again stopped in Cairo. Mark told me that he needed to check in at the bunker. So we parted company. I was alone again, which suited me fine. I then went off to find Felbas and Nubis. When I reached the place where Felbas' stand had been, I was disappointed to see that it wasn't here. I then asked around about the jewelry stand, but turned up few leads. I sighed and leaned up against a wall. Suddenly, a young boy tugged on my shirt and said he could show me where Nubis was... for a fee. I smiled and petted the young boy. I pulled out a hundred dollar bill and told the boy that the money was his if he led me to Nubis Al-Jakal.

The boy led me through the streets and into some dark alleys, and finally, into an older stone temple like place. The boy whispered to me that Nubis Al-Jakal was attending the priest at the altar. I glanced that way and saw it to be true. I gave the money to the boy and he smiled and departed. I then slowly approached the priest's altar. The priest, dressed in the garb of Anubis, noticed my slow approach and nodded his head to me.

"Welcome to the Anubian Guardians, noble traveler. Are you here for a blessing or to make a donation?"

I smiled almost pointedly towards Nubis.

"I can make a donation to the cause, noble priest. But in truth, I came to see Nubis Al-Jakal."

The priest glanced to Nubis, then to me.

"He is currently attending to my services. If you wish to wait, his room is through those curtains and down the left hall. Fourth curtained doorway on the right."

I smiled again, and made a sizable donation on the altar. Then I bowed and headed off to await Nubis in his room. As I entered Nubis' room, I saw the near humanoid hounds lounging all over the chamber. They merely nodded to me and smiled, then resumed their lounging. I walked across the chamber and sat on some pillows near one of the hounds. I noticed that they were almost perfectly defined and seemed to take handsomeness to an all time high. The hound nearest to me reached over and began massaging me, soon having me all sprawled out on the pillows getting a full body rub.

It wasn't until the late evening that Nubis arrived in the chambers. All of the hounds gazed his way and bowed like those who were owned by their master who had just returned home.

"I see you've met my servants. They seem to like you, Jansen. What brings you to me this time?"

I smiled and scratched the servant hound in return.

"I am on vacation. Plus, you were so nice the last time, I decided that I wanted to see you again. If I came at a bad time, I apologize and can leave, if you wish."

Nubis smiled.

"No, you may stay. I didn't think I made that much of an impression on you. My friend Felbas was sure she had you eating out of her hand, yet you seek me out."

I grinned.

"As nice as Felbas was, she is more Mark's age. You are more my age. Plus, you did say you wanted to be my friend. Where did you get these wonderful hounds at?"

Nubis' eyes seemed to flash for a moment as he grinned.

"I created them."

I stopped scratching almost instantly. I was now looking directly at Nubis.

"You what?"

Nubis' eyes were still glowing. I was starting to feel a tingling sensation all over my body.

"I said, I created them. I am Anubis, after all... and you're in my lair. Not many get to see my hounds, without a price..."

I gulped as I felt myself changing in appearance and size. I felt a pain in my tail base, and in my legs, in my groin, and within my neck and head. I quickly started getting out of my clothing.

"You don't have to change me into a hound. What other price do you want?"

Nubis smiled to me, as I continued to change, more rapidly now.

"I want you to stay with me as a hound for the length of your vacation. When your vacation ends, you will be restored to normal and I will repay you for any indignities you had suffered in this time. At any rate, I will have you instead of Felbas. She is actually Bast."

I lost consciousness as the pain and contortions continued. Whatever I did as a hound is not known to me. No memory of these events would ever surface. I would only remember later that it was extremely enjoyable and that my brother hounds took extremely good care of me.

My next conscious memory was almost a year later to the day and hour of my change. I awoke naked and human in a shared kennel pen with another of Nubis' hound servants. The servant hound licked me, then signaled his master with a soft howl. Nubis arrived with a bath robe and helped me out of the pen. He escorted me to a bath tub and helped me get cleaned up. I smiled as it felt like I had been totally rejuvenated. I felt limber, rested, and extremely energized.

After I was dried by the servants, they helped me get dressed in some pretty cool clothes, topped with my Black Bishop jacket, with von Hammer clasp, and another clasp... this one of the Nubian Cult. It was an ebony clasp depicting a near-humanoid hound with it's paws around a small pyramid. I sort of liked that one. Then again, I liked pretty items. I kissed both hounds who were helping me, then I was escorted to the main chamber where Nubis and the priest were at. Nubis and the priest bid me a fond farewell, as I left the temple, returning to the Chess bunker.

When I arrived there, the contacts were surprised to see me. It was as if I had fallen off the edge of the planet, then resurfaced as mysteriously as I had vanished. I checked in, and finding no apparent missions, I then caught the private jet to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. I got a jeep and supplies at the bunker there, then drove southwards to Al Ahdar. Then, I turned to the west and parked my jeep at the camp of my friend, Yaseel. I was surprised to find only he and the genie hound at the tent. Yaseel told me that the others joined a caravan a few weeks after my visit, and he had not seen them since. But Yaseel was happy to see me again now. The genie hound was sure I was there to ask for my wish, but in private, I assured him that it wasn't time just yet. I shared my supplies with Yaseel and the hound and we had some enjoyable fun.

While I was visiting this location, I stripped down to my shorts and went to visit the imps in their cavern. When I got to the main cavern where I had met them before, I was disappointed to find them all gone. I lowered myself into their cavern and searched around for any clue as to where they had gone. I finally found a scroll lying on a rock. The script on the outside clearly had the words "To Jansen Tanner." I opened the scroll immediately.

"Jansen. Wizard in wilds just west of Skipton, England, and near the Yorkshire Dales National Park is summoning all of us imps. Don't know why. We need your help. We pay you anything. Help!"

I growled as I read this. My vacation was obviously over. Some damned wizard had my friends. And you don't get on a Tanner's bad side and get away with it. I took the scroll and departed the caverns, returning to the camp. I got dressed and apologized to Yaseel for having to cut the visit short. I promised him that he would indeed see me again soon. I got into the jeep and headed back to the bunker and caught the private jet. I had to make a stop in Athens to let Danath know where I was going. This mission took a greater precedence over all others. If Danath Gaul didn't like that, then he could go screw himself. This was definitely a Tanner thing.

In Athens, Danath read over the scroll as I packed up for the trip to England. He surprisingly seemed pleased that I was going to help those I had befriended before. And Danath was acting a lot differently. I didn't question it; I was in a hurry. Finally, Danath handed the scroll back to me.

"Jansen, I know this isn't a Chess mission, but I've been watching you. The one thing I have learned is that you'll never be a normal Chess agent. You likely have a higher calling. This is all just practice, I am guessing. I think you've reached the position where you can make your own missions. You are a Tanner, after all. Therefore, all I ask is that you let me know what your missions are so I can give you info about those places in the world. Now, there is no airport in Skipton, England, so instead, you'll be flying to Leeds. Report to the bunker there and request 'Emergency Pack B'. It will contain all the items you'll need for combating a mage. It's happened before. That's why we're prepared against wizards now. Instead of a jeep, you'll be getting a sports car. Jeeps are not stylish in England. From Leeds, you'll head northwest to Skipton, then west as far as any road will allow you to go. Once you finish your mission with the imps, take some time to explore England a little. You need all the rest you can get between missions. Good luck, Jansen."

I was surprised that Danath was -helping- me for a change. Little did I know what that was to mean in the months to come. I headed to the private jet and began my mission to England.

---

She about jumped out of her clothes as the phone rang again.

"Hello?"

There was a pause as the other person spoke.

"I know, Brittany. Raechel already told me. Of course I'll bring the decorations this Saturday."

There was another pause.

"Yes, I'll make sure ding-dong brings the wine too. Okay, Brittany. Bye."

She hung up the phone, her heart was literally in her throat.

"Damned! Brittany didn't have to check up on me. At least she isn't getting changed into a hound or fighting a wizard or getting her lingerie stolen by a sexy were lion. Who am I kidding? Brittany would probably love it."

She resumed reading Jansen's agent history.

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