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Chapter 11

Secret-Secret Life

It only took a matter of minutes for Zarch to alert the entire coven of the situation. Now, the Elite Gallery was gathered in Master Egad's room. Galen stood in front of the vanity, looking at the torch sconce. Galen raised his right arm up, gripping his hand around the torch sconce. To his surprise, it was cool to the touch despite it being lit!

After a few seconds of hesitation, Galen turned the sconce to the left, just as Master instructed.

Again, to Galen's surprise, the sconce turned easily, as if it was a door handle. Then, a section of the wall next to the vanity started to open, parting like a door! Once the wall had opened, everyone looked inside. Behind the wall was a hidden staircase! The staircase was then lit up by torches on the wall that sprang to life!

The Elite Gallery started to descend the stairs, Galen leading them followed closely by Amon. Once they reached the bottom of the staircase, they came upon a thick, metal door. As the group approached the door, a light lit up in the center!

Without warning, a strange beam of light shined over them, running over everyone in the gallery as if it was looking them over. Which Galen wouldn't be surprised if that was what it was actually doing...

After the last member of the Gallery was looked over in the light, the door parted open with a hiss, sliding into the corners of the walls, revealing a large and dark room. Everyone walked inside the room, as lights in the ceiling started coming to life, illuminating the darkness. The room had many shelves and tables, filled not just with arcane objects, books, and artifacts... but also a variety of technology and gadgets, including a bunch of computer terminals and screens!

Galen noticed one of the terminals had a very large screen that took up an entire wall. In front of it was not just a keyboard, but various other controls and touchscreens. Curious, Galen slowly walked up to this main terminal.

Once Galen was within arm's reach of the controls, the terminal powered on without warning, causing the lion to jump in surprise! The keyboard and controls started glowing in illumination, and a large hand scanner slid out above the keyboard.

A monotone voice then played over some speakers, speaking in a British accent: "Running Identification Verification and Disclaimer Protocol... Access to this terminal is authorized for Egad Nob, and all members of his Elite Gallery only. Please place your right hand on the scanner."

Galen, though afraid, set his right hand on the scanner, which lit up once his hand made contact. A light shined, running all up and down his hand from the tips of his fingers, to the base of his palm. Galen also felt something on the scanner poke his hand, though it didn't hurt.

"Blood Sample acquired. Scanning... Identification Confirmed as Galen Dhaelos of the Elite Gallery..." A picture of Galen popped up on the screen, along with a short rundown of information on the lion, then quickly disappeared. The voice then changed with its next sentence from a droning monotone, to a friendly, energetic, and chipper-sounding voice as various data windows popped up on the main screen, as well as a collection of nearby monitors.

"Well, it's about bloody time he let you guys down here! Though I only can guess that he's in some sort of trouble right now... Greetings, Galen! Jolly good to meet you! Let me welcome you and the other smashing members of the Elite Gallery to the Citadel Room. I am an artificial intelligence, made and programmed by Egad Nob as his virtual assistant who manages the castle's supercomputers. My name is Codec, and I am at your service."

Galen stared up at the screen in surprise, lifting his hand off the scanner. "You... You know who I am?"

Codec scoffed, as if it was playfully offended. "Well, of course I know who you, are silly! I read your DNA with the poke when the micro-needles in the scanner took a small sample of your blood, and don't worry: The micro-needles won't leave you bleeding, and are always sterilized before and after being used. Master Egad programmed me to recognize the DNA and speech octaves of everyone in the Elite Gallery, and that includes you, mister-muscle-lion-king-that's-bringing-sexy-back. Now, I assume Cailus and Egad are going at it again, and that Egad is in some sort of trouble?"

Amon walked up next to Galen. "Codec... It's too long a story for right now."

"Too long a story?! Well, Amon... Maybe I'm not in such a talkative mood myself, right now!" Codec huffed with clear sass.

"I find _that_hard to believe." Amon replied with sarcasm.

"Such a_smart guy_." Codec sassed again, dishing it right back. "So, I assume you have told Galen, Uniko, and Zhal a bit about that little bugger, Cailus and his feud with our master?" Codec finished with bringing up a data file and picture of Cailus Foxmoore, the fox Galen saw on the call earlier.

"A bit." Amon answered. "Though they don't know all the details yet."

"Very well." Codec said. "I guess I had better play back this holographic message master left for all of you in case of this scenario."

"Guys! Look!" Chaos shouted with a gasp. Everyone turned to the center of the room, where a small circle on the floor had suddenly lit up! Appearing out of thin air, was Master Egad! Though it appeared that he was not solid, more like he was made of light, as his body was clearly see-through! Master Egad was dressed in a very unusual outfit: A skin-tight, armored suit with various and strange weapons strapped to his hips and back.

"Greetings, my loyal and loving subjects." Master Egad spoke, a sad and solum expression on his features. "If you are watching this hologram recording, they you know that I have gone missing, and I miss all of you dearly. It also means that I have failed, and Cailus has no doubt started putting a plan into motion that may wipe out society as we know it and send the galaxy into an apocalypse. By now, most of you should know about my brother and his ways. Cailus is a cruel and selfish man, who years to bring only suffering and pain upon us all, by any means he can. He either will engineer some sort of weapon, that may range from a type of planetary superbomb, to a deadly biogenic plague, or even try to harness the power of a mystical deity that could bring upon a Galactic Armageddon... I have done my best over the years to thwart his plans at every turn, along with procuring certain artifacts and items that he would wish to twist into weapons of his desire. But if you are watching this recording, that means I have failed, and I have no choice but to pass this task onto you... My subjects, I have induced you into the Elite Gallery for much more than your looks, stature, stamina, or loving skills. I brought you into the gallery for much more than that: Your strengths, your determination, your kindness, your valor, your hearts... You were chosen to be much more than pleasure slaves: You were chosen to be warriors to protect the galaxy. I must now place a very heavy burden on your shoulders, my loyal subjects: You must stop my brother, and his plans, by any means necessary. I know all of you can be brave, strong, and courageous; I have always seen those qualities in each and every one of you. That is why I brought you into my service, why I have so much faith in you, and why I have, and always will, love all of you, with all my heart and with every fiber of my being. Again, forgive me...."

The hologram of Egad then faded, and the light in the floor dimmed. Everyone looked at each other, hesitant.

"Well, that's the gist of it." Codec said. "So, now you know... What are we gonna do?"

Amon looked to Galen, waiting for a response. The lion's face then pulled into a brave, determined expression.

"I'll tell you what we're gonna do: We're not going to let Cailus harm anyone! We will track him down, and we will get Master Egad back!"