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Act XIII: Laurel and Hardy

I sighed.

"He took the bullet meant for me. Will he be okay?"

Circe called out from the bushes.

"Dominic will be fine, as soon as I figure out how to change him back to his human self. I just wish I could take credit for reviving him."

I looked to Artemis.

"One second we were in the temple. The next, we're all here. Where are we exactly?"

Artemis sighed and studied me a little.

"You should phrase that as 'When are we exactly?', shouldn't you? We're on Circe's Island in Dominic's home time period."

After Circe restored Dominic to his human form, we boarded the Chess sea cruiser, and were soon on our way back to Chess headquarters. Chess in Dominic's time period. This felt very very strange to me, being able to get a glimpse of the future. I kept wondering what the catch was. Though forgetting everything later certainly loomed heavily in my mind.

We entered the strangely quiet Chess headquarters. It felt like a tomb to me. Where was everyone? No one could be heard anywhere. This bothered me a lot. I stole a moment to look into Danath's office. To my surprise, it was empty. This glimpse of the future was scaring me. Surely Luke Masaki survived. And Byron and Mark and Locke and the others. I was silently hurt by seeing all this. Then, we entered my unofficial complex. I saw the name on the door. Jansen Tanner: White Bishop. So this was it. Chess was going to be dealt a huge blow sometime after my next promotion. I'd give anything to prevent this part of the future. Anything.

We spent a night in my so-called complex. I used this time to return to the main computers and check to see what Danath's last recorded notes were. I found what I was seeking and played it.

"Nile Delta Mission data. Danath Gaul speaking. Whoever contacted all the agents claiming to be me and having them all gather there should be killed. It was a total massacre. We lost about 98% of the organization. Jansen Tanner and the Oath Taker somehow survived. Must be that Tanner luck thing again. As much as it pains me to do so, I am going to disband Chess so that no more humans get killed. After all this ends, I will return to Gladsheim and join my alehouse brothers there."

The message simply ended at that point. I hung my head and sighed silently. No... I couldn't let this happen. I was just starting to like Chess. Danath was beginning to see things my way. I knew I had to do something. Then, I lifted my head... I replayed the tape. Suddenly, I was grinning. I knew what to do. I returned and joined the others once again, then slept.

Come the evening in Athens, we awoke, and walked through the Portal Gateway to Dominic's Mansion in Rocky Falls, Missouri, in the United States. It was morning there. I was pleased to see that Dominic had such a wonderful place. Dominic introduced me to Reed Huxley, who arched an eye at me, yet said nothing more. It was like he recognized me. But we hadn't ever met before. Had we?

Dominic led me into a secluded part of the mansion. Gotaki Riverclaw and Circe watched onwards while Shane Wayne and Jo Tanner also awaited within the room. I glanced around at all of the others, then to Dominic again.

"What happens to me now?"

Dominic hesitantly replied.

"Now you go back. You will forget all about your journey to this place and you will do your job as I know you will be able to succeed at. Without your efforts then, I cannot exist now. Do you understand?"

I took a breath, then sighed.

"Yes, you are right. It's a shame that I can't stay, but I shouldn't be here. I belong in the past. Thank you for saving me. How soon will I forget about this journey?"

Circe now spoke.

"Athena has informed me that upon your return to your own time, all of this will be like a dream, and in time, you'll not remember many details about it."

Dominic nodded his head.

"It is for the best, Jansen. Although the possibilities of having a twin brother... It's time for you to go now."

Dominic concentrated on creating the time gate. The air in the back of the room began to shimmer. I managed a smile for Jo and Shane.

"Jo... I'm sorry I wasn't more honest about my work... Shane... thank you... take care of Dominic for me..."

I turned to Dominic.

"I wish I could team up with you again some day... By the way, may I control where in the past I'll pop out? I want to go visit my imp buddies in Saudi Arabia."

Dominic smiled a little.

"After you enter the time gate, just focus on where you want to appear and you will appear there. Until Terath, Jansen..."

I turned and walked into the time gate... and was gone from Dominic's time period...

I emerged in Yaseel's camp almost immediately, the time gate vanishing behind me. I quickly located my genie hound friend and said,

"This is it. It's time."

The genie hound nodded his head.

"Will you ever visit again after this?"

I smiled and scratched the genie hound.

"As often as you let me. Besides, you can always grant me more wishes. I am not greedy. This is simply an emergency. I wish for an exact identical twin of me to appear unconscious on the ground unharmed with any memory loss magic you can detect on me to be placed fully upon him."

The genie hound concentrated hard and my twin appeared as requested.

"You were right. There was some sort of forget magic on you. It is now on your twin."

I grinned and snuggled and hugged the genie hound fondly and kissed his muzzle. I promised him again that I would return. Then, with my imp friends' help, I and my twin were teleported back to Chess headquarters in Athens. I placed my twin in the infirmary then explained to Danath Gaul why I had him created.

"Danath? Meet Dominic Bastian Vanlyone. The reason we couldn't find any data on him is because I hadn't had him created yet. Now listen closely. When he awakens, I want you to call him Jansen for a short period of time. Then later, suggest that he think about becoming Dominic Vanlyone. Also suggest that he change his nickname. I will still be around, but you're to never call me Jansen when he is around. Plus, I need a new nickname. My oath has been fulfilled. So I cannot be the 'oath taker' any more."

Danath smiled.

"So what will you be?"

I grinned.

"I will now be 'the harvest stallion'. Think that sounds good enough?"

Danath rolled it over his mind a few times.

"It's easier to remember and is certainly a Tanner sounding name. So, where will you be at if you're not here?"

I patted Danath's shoulder.

"Gladsheim in some alehouse?"

Danath gave me a hard stare.

"I don't want to know how you learned about that, but it's in your best interest to keep it between us."

I grinned.

"We all have our secrets, Danath. Besides... I like you. Now, I plan on being in my Xim Complex in California. I have some business there, but will still be on call to do missions for you. But don't expect me to walk in while -he- is here. We'll stay in touch by the Via Satellite phone service. I really liked using that. Also, I'd like to request for the demons to move to the Xim Complex. They're being here is sort of my responsibility. One last thing... Make it mandatory for all agents to re-contact both you and me before accepting -any- weird missions to the Nile Delta. Trust me on this. Any agents who go there will be killed. I am not kidding, Danath."

Danath listened to my requests and statements, then recorded it entirely into the Chess mission database. I was then dismissed. My next order of business was to get Mykaelic and his people to California. There was really only one way to move that many demons. A cargo ship. So, I commissioned a Chess cargo ship and loaded all of the demons and their belongings aboard. Mykaelic joined me on the bridge as I raised the anchor and set the engines in motion on course across the Mediterranean, through the Red Sea, into the Indian Ocean, and eastwards to cross the Pacific Ocean. It was while we were in Pacific that we were radioed by a Navy Cruiser.

>> Navy: Ahoy Chess Champion!

>> Chess Champion: Ahoy Navy Cruiser!

>> Navy: Where you headed?

>> Chess Champion: Capetown, California, just south of Eureka. Where you headed?

>> Navy: Boring old maneuvers. What's your handle? Mine is Stuart Watterson.

>> Chess Champion: I am Jansen Tanner, Black Bishop of Chess.

>> Navy: The Jansen Tanner?

>> Chess Champion: Do you know any others? I'm the only Jansen Tanner I know about.

>> Navy: Awesome! Me and some of my buddies have been wanting to meet you.

>> Navy: Do you need an escort?

>> Chess Champion: What about your maneuvers?

>> Navy: Screw those!

>> Chess Champion: Ha ha ha! Okay, you can escort me.

Now, I had Navy escort across the Pacific Ocean. I chatted with Stuart over the radio from time to time. The journey itself was pretty quiet. Eventually, both ships pulled into the Xim Complex's private sea docks. Those on the Navy Cruiser were pretty impressed by the the subterranean sea docks under the complex itself. I lowered the anchor and began unloading the demons. The Navy boys watched from their own dock. Most were pretty shocked, but they knew to keep their mouths shut. This was Chess business.

After all the demons were housed in their new homes, I returned to the docks and was greeted by six slender navy boys. I announced to the other Naval people that they could get some R&R while here. Then, I walked with Stuart and his five friends to a secluded indoor swimming pool. I sat down on a lounge chair and chatted with Stuart and his friends. Then, they showed me their secret. They were were-sea otters. I grinned and played with them in the swimming pool.

After the afternoon's romp, I took a shower, then dried myself, and got dressed. I then rode the elevator to the top Chess floor, and sat down in the mission briefing chambers, and flipped on the main screen. Danath was sitting there in his office chair.

"Hiya Danath! We just arrived in Capetown. How's it going?"

Danath grinned.

"Well, well... if it isn't the little lost bishop. Any problems, Harvest Stallion?"

I laughed at Danath's greeting.

"We got a Navy escort by some were-sea otters. Navy Seals. Funny, huh?"

Danath smiled.

"Yes it is. We hadn't heard from you in two months. So, how is the Xim Complex? Is it to your specifications?"

I winked and threw Danath a kiss.

"I love it! It's super nice here. I'm surprised you haven't set up a vacation room in here yourself. At any rate, the demons are all settled in and I thought I'd check in to ask if you had any outstanding missions for me. If not, there are two tasks that I need to do while in California."

Danath hummed.

"Believe it or not, there is something you can look into in Las Vegas, Nevada. Well, it's not exactly -in- Las Vegas, but you'll do your best to locate it. There is some kind of lycanthropy sanctuary in that area. While they haven't done anything wrong, I'd like you to go there and offer Chess' services to them. And maybe befriend a few of them, while you're at it. You can do this after your California tasks. Good luck, Harvest Stallion."

Danath actually turned off his screen first this time. That must have meant that Dominic was getting ready to enter Danath's office. I was glad Danath and I had prearranged this deal. I got up and headed to the cafeteria to search for food.

I got in a good night's sleep, and awoke the next morning. I had breakfast, then hopped into a Chess sports car. God, I loved these cars! I then set off down the coast for my first destination. A tiny little town called Shelter Cove. When I got there, I asked around for the natural herbal cures shop. I was given directions and I drove to the place. The cute little sign over the door read, "Huxley's Natural Cures." I parked my car and walked up and inside the shop's door. The bell rang as I entered.

A smooth male Australian accented voice called out from somewhere.

"Be right with ya, mate."

I wandered around the small store looking at the odd assortment of natural remedies and more unusually named products. "Bat Blink Drops", "Mule Molasses", "Cheetah Extract", and "Badger Berry Jam". I was amazed at the selections of products. Then, I turned and was almost immediately face to face with the store's owner.

The Australian male appeared to be in his mid thirties, standing about six foot five inches tall, and looked to weigh about 215 pounds. He had short black hair and brown eyes. He was wearing designer elastic waistband shorts, a short-sleeved solid green shirt, and a pair of open thick rubber sandals. His body was of an athlete who worked out from day to day.

"'ello mate. 'ow kin Ah 'elp yas today?"

I smiled to him and pulled out my card, handing it to him.

Reed Huxley looked over the card, then sighed.

"So... you're with Chess. Ah suppose yas came to take me in?"

I stepped back.

"No. I came to offer you our services and maybe a friendship, to boot. I am Jansen Tanner. I know what you are, but I am not here to take you any place. I just wanted you to know that I am living up near Capetown and can be called on, occasionally, to help you do things."

Reed smiled at that.

"Blimey, mate. Ya gave me a good scare. You're really not 'ere to arrest me?"

I shook my head.

"I have way too many were-friends to turn on a handsome were-roo now. I honestly came by to offer my services, whenever you needed them. And as you know, Chess can keep it's mouth shut."

Reed grinned and hugged me tightly. Then, he sniffed me.

"Were-sea otters played with ya recently, didn't they?"

I grinned and hugged Reed back. Then, I sniffed him.

"You smell like a wild stallion."

Reed laughed!

"Been creating a new cure. It uses breeding stallion sweat. Though, Ah don't need your services currently, maybe Ah kin 'elp ya with something."

I hummed.

"Can you tell me anything about the Lycanthropy Sanctuary in the Las Vegas area?"

Reed hummed.

"Yas will want ta talk ta Sterling 'awk. The owner of the Manhole. It's an all-male strip club. But there is an undercurrent to the place, mate. All the strippers there are weres."

I blinked my eyes at this information.

"Thank you, Reed. Maybe on my return trip, I can stop by and just be friendly."

Reed smiled and licked my face.

"Ah'd like that a lot, mate."

I let Reed keep my card and I headed out to my car and drove away. My next stop would be San Francisco, California. I had to deliver Jael the news about Hogan Slade.

---

She said, ah ha!

"Jansen created Dominic with a wish... then Jansen came to the United States? That runt! Wait until his sisters find out about this. And now, Jansen is on a lycanthropes mission. The Manhole? Ding-dong has been there."

She grinned and continued to read Jansen's agent history.

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