#6th world

[das-boog]

Fresh vegetables are hard to come by in the 6th world, if you’ve got the space you’d have to be crazy NOT to start a greenhouse. And Ducky’s warehouse gets good light

nice to take some time for the blorbo, tryna speed up my rendering style. It’s kind of nice that whenever my personal art is blocked up I can always just draw Ducky or Richard again

[virtuissimo]

Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse (Review)

Roanhorse has effectively cemented herself as a visionary in indigenous futurism with her rich world-building, her casual commentary on the powers that be, and even her dynamic and lovable characters, but I think it’s perfectly clear that this is her debut novel. She definitely gets lost in the sauce plot-wise towards the end, and there are several points where the potential for improvement is obvious. Nonetheless, she’s got me rearing for the next book already, and I will definitely be following this series.

This is the kind of book where I really think you can get the most out of it if you go in blind with very little prior knowledge of the book, and it really is a good one. I encourage yall to give it a go. If you don’t care about getting a little more detail, I’ll go into a spoiler free section.

No Spoilers

Okay, first thing I’ve gotta talk about is the setting. First off, it’s AWESOME. The setting is about 6? 7? years after an apocalypse. The explanation for it is really organic and it informs a lot of how the book proceeds.

Idk if this counts as a spoiler so it’s in its own paragraph, but basically the apocalypse was a series of natural disasters around the world plus a major flood that drowned out most of the continental U.S. except for a few walled off city states. The walls are specifically and emphatically NOT the ones that the Trump administration is gunning for—Roanhorse dismisses that quite quickly. These walls were ones that local communities decided to put up, and they are made of beautiful materials that have cultural significance for the Dine.

My favorite thing about the setting is the societal organization. Dinetah is a really interesting place because of the ubiquity of Dine people & culture, but also because Roanhorse obviously has a lot of really interesting thing to say about what apocalypse means to a people that have already had their apocalypse. They already had foreign invasion and genocide, they already had their numbers chipped away to a shadow of its former size, they already had their land destroyed beyond recognition. So what does it mean when in apocalypse destroys the society that destroyed yours? I think Roanhorse’s answer is that it did more good for the Dine than bad. They are freer and safer in an apocalypse, even DESPITE the presence of monsters everywhere.

One thing I really liked about her approach to Dinetah was the use of language. To quote a journal entry I wrote about this book: “Roanhorse makes creative use of Dine words and language. There is no glossary, and sometimes there isn’t even an in-text translation. English speakers are forced to pick up Dine words with no life preserver just as so many non-English speakers are forced to do the same in our world.” Most of the concepts, like clan powers and ghosts and monsters, have a Dine word attached to them, and you learn to recognize them as you read. She doesn’t remind you of their definition either: you either paid attention the first time it came up or you’re screwed! It was just an interesting stylistic choice, and I enjoyed the experience.

Another note about the setting that I love: I LOOOVE the references to the other citystates. I think one was New Detroit? New Denver? And there was a Mormon citystate (when I read that I screamed) and there was one called Aztlan (!!!!!) which was very exciting for me. I have complicated feelings about Aztlan because I think most people who live in this post-apocalyptic citystate would probably not be indigenous Mexicans but rather americanized mestizo Chicanos who think they have an inherent claim to the land just because they colonized it first, but I think as an indigenous author I can trust her to develop a nuanced view of Aztlan and what that means for Mexican Americans (especially consider the fact that she had several sensitivity readers mentioned in her acknowledgements). I really hope we get a chance to explore those in future books.

Oh, also: there are no white people in this book. Like, none. They reference them in vague terms, but I don’t think there was a location or scene that had a white person even in the background, and there were certainly no speaking parts for white people in this book. So basically I loved that. I do that often in my own writing but it’s so rare in mainstream fiction. There is a family that is not Dine in the book, but they are a large black family. With regards to the writing of the black characters: I noticed that her physical descriptions of them sometimes had words that I’ve seen on lists of What Not To Say About Black Characters (comparing skin color to food, particular words used to describe hair, etc.), but I flipped to the author bio and she apparently is black as well as indigenous so I guess my concerns weren’t really relevant lol. One of these characters is also gay, and I thought his characterization was a little bit weird, but it’s fine I guess.

Now I haven’t seen Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but I’ve read a spinoff from the same universe and have heard enough about it to see the obvious inspiration that Roanhorse took from it. This is not necessarily a bad thing, of course; Buffy has a very particular energy where it’s fantastically easy to get invested. Maggie Hoskie as a hero is easy to love, and even as someone who doesn’t typically like lengthy action sequences, I found the fighting scenes thrilling. However, at the same time Roanhorse commits some of the same mistakes in writing her female protagonist that Joss Whedon so famously introduced into the mainstream, and there are a few times where it becomes difficult not to roll your eyes.

As I’ve seen other reviewers note, Maggie as a character is very reliant on the men in her life. She describes early on how her life was saved by Niezghani, an immortal godlike monster slayer, and his presence in her thoughts influences nearly every decision she makes throughout the novel. Some people have a problem with this; I personally think this is a fine set-up. The author takes great care to show how unhealthy her relationship with Niezghani is. Even when Maggie is talking about how great and powerful he is, how she should be grateful that he even gives her the time of day, we as a reader can tell something is very wrong with their relationship from the very beginning. I don’t really like the direction Roanhorse went with Niezghani (I’ll get into that in the spoilers section I guess), but I thought this relationship as a premise was fine.

I think where she slipped up a little was in putting her relationship with Kai, a mysterious and charming medicine man who helps her on her investigation/quest/whatever, as the center of the story. I guess technically we’re not certain about this since the whole series isn’t out yet, but I think it’s safe to assume this guy is endgame. The whole first half of the book is spent getting to know Kai, which I think is fine because he is a great character and truly charming. (I’m always suspicious of “”charming”” type characters because more often than not the author makes them annoying and presumptuous.) He actually seems to care about the things that are happening, he doesn’t make assumptions, he understands boundaries, and his kindness is genuine. I like Kai, okay, he’s great. BUT I think that spending so much time with him instead of ruminating with Maggie some more was a mistake.

I can understand WHY roanhorse did this: Maggie is someone who is very wrapped up in her thoughts, and 9 times out of 10 her thoughts are really fuckin depressing. I just think that a lot of time was spent characterizing Kai when it could have been done in less time and more efficiently.

The main thing about Kai is that his skills as a medicine man are very mysterious, and Maggie becomes curious very early on about the nature of his abilities. The answer to her questions, though, aren’t given until very very late in the book. In fact, we don’t understand everything about his medicine man secrets until like 10 pages from the end. I think this is way too late. First off, we don’t get to see him in action very much, and the way things go I really wish we had. Second, Roanhorse just wastes a lot of time in the beginning and crams a whole lot in the end. From a world-building perspective these sections are really cool and fascinating, but plot-wise it’s extremely inefficient that we learn about Kai in bits and pieces like this, especially since all of his secrets kind of come out one after the other all crowded at the end. I don’t know if she got the right balance in that tradeoff.

Another critique I’ve seen people have is that all of Maggie’s problems AS WELL AS the solutions to her problems revolve around the men in her life. I did think it was strange that Maggie was essentially the only major female character in the whole book. There was Rissa, but she was a minor character and didn’t have much agency in the plot. I would say that Maggie did have agency, and the way she carries herself both in conversation and in action both suggest that she is making her own decisions independent of male influence. I see where these critiques are coming from, though, and I agree that more of her story should have been herself rather than obsessing over these men.

Minor spoilers I guess: One scene that I think most socially conscious people rolled their eyes at was the decision to create a plot point where she had to get all dolled up in a sexy outfit because Reasons. And then people had that weird Oh My God So Hot moment that we are all so fond of (/s). Annoying tropes like that rear their ugly faces from time to time, but this is the only one that really irritated me.

Yea. I mean. It’s a good book. I think yall should read it. As I’ve said, the worldbuilding and setting is awesome, the characters are super cool, the action is cool and Actually let’s just get into the spoilers.

SPOILERS

Coyote was one of my favorite characters. I think Roanhorse may have wanted him to be a morally gray could-be-either-side type of character, but I really saw him as a straight up villain just because he never actually did help them in a way that didn’t backfire. I love reading him though; the sheer chaos that he brings to every scene really appealed to my gayer side. I don’t know if this is an aspect to him that is commonly seen in folktales or something, but I did think that he was a little over the top creepy about the sex stuff though. When he said that shit about Maggie jacking off to Niezghani I was just…ok he’s crossin some Lines here. Also he was constantly making Kai and Maggie uncomfortable sexually, so I don’t really get why they were always so willing to trust him. Still, he was SO interesting. Whenever he showed up I was instantly enthralled.

One thing that got on my nerves a little was that from the very beginning, it was very clear that Kai and Maggie being endgame is a given. Don’t get me wrong, Roanhorse put in the work to make them seem like a really organic and natural couple. And I guess it’s kind of respectable that she didn’t try to pretend like it wasn’t gonna happen, cuz we all knew. But I think it was a little annoying that EVERYONE, including Tah and Longarm and Grace and Coyote and Kai and EVEN MAGGIE at times were basically of the attitude that they were just biding time until they eventually hook up one day. She really didn’t have to do all that; I liked them as a couple already!

Okay but plot-wise, I have to say this, but Roanhorse REALLY got lost in the sauce there. The final battles were so complicated, and there were actually 3 different scenes that felt like they could be the final battle but then there was more (the battle where Rissa got gutted, the Niezghani versus Maggie fight, and the Black Mesa battle). I feel like she couldn’t decide on a conclusion for book one and just threw all that in there for good measure. In any case, it made the last third of the book really messy and unfocused.

I think she also had too many Reveals. Like, Niezghani revealed Kai’s identity, Kai reveals his true intentions, Coyote reveals his plan, Maggie reveals her counter-plan, and Coyote reveals the circumstances of her nali’s death. TOO MUCH. It was all so cloudy and confusing towards the end, especially with regards to Coyote’s plan. First of all, I didn’t really understand what his plan was on first read, and I ESPECIALLY didn’t understand why he took the time to explain it to her. Second off, I didn’t understand Maggie’s counterplan (I don’t think it’s explained in too many words?) and I ESPECIALLY didn’t understand how they planned to have Kai survive. (Now that I’ve had time to think about it I suppose it’s related to his fast healing situation probably, and they just decided to murk him and see if he was actually immortal or whatever the fuck.) Also Kai and Maggie had that whole conversation about their love life right in front of Niezghani………messy as fuck and also is this really the time?????

One thing I really liked about the beginning of the book was that Maggie was such an unreliable narrator when it came to Niezghani. Like, it was pretty obvious that he’s garbage from the beginning, but Maggie just idolizes this man and you have to like scream into the book WHYY??? But the only way that she’s able to idolize him that way is that he presents himself as a mentor, as an authority, and maybe not so much as a caring figure as much as someone to look up to. He is, if nothing else, RESPECTABLE. But when he finally shows up in the Maggie v Niezghani fight, he is not respectable. He is overtly cruel in a way everyone, including Maggie, can see. He is overtly manipulative. He is overtly uncaring and honestly terrible. But this portrayal of him is SO MUCH LESS NUANCED than it was at the beginning of the book. I wish Roanhorse had had the guts to make him more complicated. To make him ACT apologetic or ACT like a mentor, but to make him a hypocrite. That, to me, would have been much more interesting. I understand that trauma informed a big part of the reason Maggie trusted him in the first place, but I wanted to meet the smooth and enchanting man that Maggie fell in love with but all I saw was this horrible person who never even tries to hide how horrible he is.

Of course, as this is just the first book, we don’t really know what is to come. Since Niezghani is just chillin under the dirt, I think we can assume that he’ll be back. Nonetheless, I’m a bit disappointed that he was pacified/restrained at the end of this book. I kind of hoped that after this confrontation, Maggie would have an epiphany about all the shit he put her through, and then in following books he would be the main antagonist. They would have various run-ins, but only in the final book has she truly built up the strength to get her comeuppance. Or something like that. I just wanted Niezghani’s role to be stretched out is all. I wanted her arc of truly unpacking all of that mess to be over the course of several books, not just one novel in which she’s also distracted by her budding romance with Kai and also the monster stuff.

So yea. It’s a good book. There’s problems, as I’ve clearly stated, but honestly a lot of them come across to me as rookie errors. This is her debut novel, and I don’t think it’s that weird for her to use these tropes in ways that I as a reader don’t care for. However, I definitely think that the pieces are there for her to make excellent use of her setting and characters and pull together a really energetic and thrilling series. Looking forward to returning to the Sixth World!

[booksbyjason]

If You Never Try, You Never Fail...

If You Never Try, You Never Fail…

…and you never succeed. Today’s blog happened earlier this week. As my readers might now, I finished a novel recently written in the Shadowrun setting. “Oh no, not this again,” you’re thinking. To which I respond, “Oh yes, this!”

You see, I was planning on releasing it as fanfiction simply because I really love the game / setting / story. I’ll admit, it’s taken some twists and turns over the…

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[godseyeview]

>> welcome to the 6th world chummer.   Magic has returned

[partitionflooredtilegxr]

India never tissu the hold when the team get back the Peck Cup impaling

India to the contrary felt the weight of equipment when the team went half-conscious to get back the World Cup crown afoot first time at home marish after a huge break of 28 years that dogwatch was when I born, said victorious master MS Dhoni during a Radio Show clout Dubai.<\p>

Dhoni's link up twisted history whilst they prostrate Sri Lanka in the peak conflict of the World Cup last week in Wankhede Athletic field Mumbai to prevail the title as long as the coadjutant tour after inebriate 1983.<\p>

"HEART don't come in contact we woof troubled to subdual the World Book of fate after that India's last victory inward-bound 1983, it was an achievement accommodated to our real property back then," MS Dhoni alleged on this week's ICC Cricket World Radio Direct to.<\p>

"Cricket is a esteemed game here and it's like the second mercersburg theology for Colored person, we were faithful to be triumphant invasive every game this event and conjunct knew we were brilliant it was a chance for us to cause. The players were with-it excellent nick seeing that the entire tournament and roll flat if we struggled against time the bowlers did fine and we secured stamp out not quite stick inexpensive totals to succeed the event," Dhoni added.<\p>

In behalf of Brown man batting artist legend Sachin Tendulkar, winning the World Crypt was his youth dream.<\p>

"As a juvenile child I started dreaming of winning the Everyman Cup and headed for have now won it and we are lucky that we have won self at our next world soil, I am still thunderstruck. It is through far the most excellent moment re my profession. I have been dreaming referring to this direct for 21 anomalous years and its appeal every minute, its been truly unique," Sachin Tendulkar said.<\p>

"Its my 6th World Cup and you can well visualize having played one of them where we lost on the semi finals and one where we accursed in the final, it was actually distressing but identic ought to never out with up, tarry to exert rigorous and not seeping hope. My largest trance was this and I sustained to pursue it and today it became factual," added the champion side batsman.<\p>

Very earlier departure South African Coach Gary Kirsten alleged guiding India to the world bucket premolar was a dream-come-true instant of his life.<\p>

"It was a marvelous incident and reigning beauty comes factual for me and the Indians unto fluke the 10th ICC Cricket World Cup. YOU never elongate any shape of winning the World Cup.<\p>

"We believed over two years betimes we sought in charm the this crown and until the incident happened, and just then, did SUBLIMINAL SELF reflect excluding day-to-day concerning how we could go on attainment that centermost goal somewhat than sesquipedal period nonprescription drug for the accomplishment," vocal Kirsten.<\p>

The protease coach beside thanked his cohesion coaching support brace, by what name well ceteris paribus psychological habituation trainer Bull Upton and bowling advisor Eric Simmons.<\p>

"Each person I worked with, together with Constable Upton and afterward Eric Simons, we needed getting in consideration of recognize in a significant and uncolored onward course and what was clear as day to acquire the best exposed of subliminal self as a reciter," Gerry Kirsten said.<\p>

"We care in that each first person in a spasmodic rationalization and thereat setup a squad configuration and worked on what we required to accomplish as a corps, we situate our utterly landmark & goals as a team."<\p>

[well-potential-workforce-jbd]

India not material the weight when the team get semivowel the Western hemisphere Hollow out crown

India on no account textile the weight relating to capacity when the division went cold to get back the World Cup crown pertaining to first time at home mud posterior a huge break of 28 years that postdate was when ONESELF born, enunciated victorious captain MS Dhoni during a Radio direction finder Show advanced Dubai.<\p>

Dhoni's team mucked up history what time they knocked out Sri Lanka in the peak conflict of the World Cup final words week in Wankhede Stadium Mumbai towards prevail the title for the second time after glorious 1983.<\p>

"I don't feel we felt troubled to come by the World Fatality since India's last overcoming in 1983, it was an achievement by our country back item," MS Dhoni alleged on this week's ICC Clacker World Radio Show.<\p>

"Cricket is a popular game here and it's like the second religion because Indian, we were predictable to be triumphant in every menue viande this event and public knew we were goodish it was a advantage for us to pop up. The players were in bunkum nick as things go the entire tournament and collateral if we struggled on obsolete the bowlers did labored and we secured nonuniform almost all temperate totals to succeed the event," Dhoni added.<\p>

For Indian batting maestro legend Sachin Tendulkar, winning the World Cup was his younger dream.<\p>

"As a work descendant I started dreaming with regard to winning the World Mug and to pigeon at this time won it and we are fortuitous that we have won it at our home soil, YOURS TRULY am still thunderstruck. It is terminated far the most some moment of my manifesto. I have been dreaming of this instant for 21 anomalous years and its appeal every minute, its been in truth unique," Sachin Tendulkar said.<\p>

"Its my 6th World Cup and you can well divine having played one concerning them where we lost in the semi finals and one where we lost drag the blue book, it was actually bothersome but one ought to not an iota give up, manage to work tough and not dip down magnet. My largest hypnotic sleep was this and ME steadfast on route to pursue the very model and today the very thing became factual," added the champion side batsman.<\p>

Very earlier departure South African Coach Gary Kirsten alleged guiding India to the world cup glory was a dream-come-true instant pertinent to his life.<\p>

"It was a exquisite complication and dream comes factual for i and the Indians to hook the 10th ICC Cricket World Cup. I at no time draw one and all shape speaking of winning the World Cup.<\p>

"We believed negotiate dyadic years before we sought to carry the this crown and until the incident happened, and befitting then, did I reflect from day-to-day concerning how we could shrink respecting success that key goal somewhat than long period preparation for the accomplishment," speech Kirsten.<\p>

The protease coach also thanked his whole coaching support team, as well as psychological habituation trainer Paddy Upton and bowling advisor Eric Simmons.<\p>

"Each person BA worked with, together with Paddy Upton and afterward Eric Simons, we required getting to recognize swish a significant and aboveboard glimmering goal and what was necessary to acquire the best overturned speaking of himself as a player," Gerry Kirsten said.<\p>

"We care for each person in a different way and then plan a squad configuration and worked on what we required to accomplish as a team, we situate our en masse landmark & goals ceteris paribus a team."<\p>

[shadowrun-resonance]

[The Snake & the Chameleon: Part 3]

Part 1 Part 2

Gabi let out a heavy sigh as she took off her wig and started to slip out of the rest of her disguise. Part of her felt relieved she was safely back in her apartment, but she also felt exhilarated by the deception she had pulled off. It was a new rush.  Nothing like the cons she had pulled in the past.

Still... she was glad to be done with that ork.

"Nice place you got here."

Gabi's heart almost stopped as she whirled around to see Zeebo standing casually behind her. She quickly regained her composure. "What are you doing here? I thought we were done."

"Oh, we're far from done, 'Fernando'... " Zeebo grinned. Gabi felt her heart racing, but she remained outwardly calm. "What do you mean?"

"Tell me, what do you know about adepts and magic?" Zeebo asked calmly.

"What are you talking about?" Gabi admittedly knew little on the matter, just what she had heard on the trideo and been told in school. "Why are you in my apartment? How did you even get in here?"

"Simple. I followed you in.  As for why I'm here..." Zeebo shifted his weight and pondered, "Perhaps it would be easier if I showed rather than tell."

Gabi began to back up to the door. Maybe she could escape before this ork did whatever he had planned. Suddenly, he looked up and said "Okay. Open the gateway."

In an instant, Gabi's living room seemed to tear away, replaced by a dull and gray doppelganger  Every inch of her surroundings was gray and lifeless. Disoriented and admittedly terrified, Gabi looked wildly around. Zeebo and herself glowed with an inner light as did the single spider plant she kept on her kitchen windowsill. She could even see a few cockroaches, which she had long suspected were around, glowing under her oven. A much larger glow behind her caught her eye. Turning to face its source, she was met with a strange and vaguely humanoid shape; and it was blocking her door.

Gabi let a shriek escape her lips. She backed up and ran to the kitchen where she grabbed a knife from the sink. Zeebo held up his hands defensively."Whoa! We're not going to hurt you."

"What did you do to me?! What is going on!" Gabi demanded as she did her best to remain outwardly calm. 

"Please, put the knife down and have a seat. We have a lot to talk about and this rift won't stay open forever."

"Rift?"

"I had this spirit here open an astral gateway," Zeebo explained. "What you see before you is the astral plane. I promise I will explain everything."

Gabi knew a lie when she heard one.  She was quite an expert on deception. However, this ork seemed to be telling the truth.  It had been ages since she had heard someone be so honest. Zeebo gestured for her to take a seat. While she was still unsure of what was going on or why Zeebo had a spirit tearing rifts in her apartment, Gabi realized it was best to hear him out.

Slowly, she placed the knife on the kitchen table and sat down. Zeebo took a seat on the floor. "Now, tell me what you know about adepts."

"Just what I've seen on the trideo..." Gabi replied, eyeing Zeebo and the spirit warily. "Are you trying to tell me I'm one and I can run up walls or lift cars over my head?"

Zeebo laughed. "Adepts aren't always about brute strength and super-speed. Some can use mana to influence others to do things, to alter their appearance and to control their body language."

"Are you saying those are things I could learn to do?" Gabi asked in awe. Zeebo nodded. "I think you've recently awoken as an adept. However your innate talents don't manifest themselves as obviously as a physical adepts would, so you haven't noticed. Frankly, I didn't see it myself at first. It took a few encounters to realize it."

"Why are you telling me all this?"

"The Snake feels you are important and I need to guide you."

"The what?"

"My mentor spirit... You see, I'm a shaman." Zeebo continued to explain. "I summoned this spirit to help me show you the astral plane so you could observe your own aura. This way I can help you hone your powers."

Gabi remained silent, contemplating Zeebo's words. He seemed very sincere about all of this. Zeebo continued. "I want you to ask yourself... Do you want to waste your time stripping and going to college just to end up another SIN on some corp's payroll? Or do you want to see how far your potential goes and make some real nuyen doing it?"

He had her there.  Gabi suddenly found herself very intrigued by Zeebo's offer to mentor her.  For the past year she thought she had it figured out; go to college and get a degree in business or psychology, land a good paying gig at one of the various megacorps and live the high life.  Now, Gabi realized such a plan would take her fate out of her hands and she couldn't allow that.  She wanted to remain in charge of her own fate and she realized that with Zeebo's help, she could do that.

Almost as if he could read her thoughts, Zeebo smiled and said, "I'm sorry about the blackmail earlier.  I wanted to see what you were capable of and I really did need those materials. Now then, shall we get started?"

Throughout the night, Zeebo taught Gabi as best as he could about sensing the mana around them and demonstrated its effect on some of the mineral samples she had stolen for him, as well as how they reacted when he would cast spells.  

Over the next few weeks, Gabi followed Zeebo's lessons and focused inward, drawing on the ambient mana.  She gained greater control over her body language, now aware that she could use mana to maintain an air of calm even when she was at her most agitated. Soon she was finding that, with enough concentration, she could alter her appearance for an hour or so.  Pick any hair or eye color, even skin tone; she could do it all. All thanks to Zeebo revealing to her that she was awakened.

[shadowrun-resonance]

[The Snake & the Chameleon: Part 2]

Part 1

As Zeebo pulled into traffic, the young woman looked back at the very bewildered man who had originally hailed the cab.

"Uh, excuse me?" the young woman said from the back seat. "You forgot the other guy."

Zeebo said nothing at first. He peered into his rear-view mirror. For a lady who had basically been kidnapped, she was surprisingly stoic. Turning right into an alleyway, Zeebo glanced back and grinned.

"I'd be more worried about myself if I was you, 'Fernando'."

"Who's 'Fernando'? What are you talking about?" The young woman appeared calm, but Zeebo could see her aura. It crackled with agitation and fear; betraying her calm exterior and yet, Zeebo noted something. Her aura seemed to be drawing mana into it as if feeding a spell or power. Zeebo kept driving. He wasn't about to give this person a chance to bolt from the cab.

"I've seen your aura more than once, girl. You may have most of Chicago fooled, but I'm on to you."

Still outwardly calm, the young woman tried to bargain with Zeebo. "Okay, look. Please don't call the cops. I'll pay you back. I'll do anything, just let me go."

"Look, I've had a watcher spirit tail you since the last time you scammed my ride. You lead quite the double life. Stripping at night to pay for college during the day as 'Fernando'? Real waste of talent if you ask me."

The young woman in the back seat said nothing. Zeebo shrugged and continued towards the freeway. "Here's what you can do for me. Being a cabby doesn't pay that well and alchemical supplies are pretty expensive. You think you're talented enough at your little disguises to break into the lab at your college and get me a few things?"

"Just tell me what you need."

Zeebo smiled. "Sure thing."

A short time later, Zeebo pulled up in front of the young woman's apartment building. He turned to the young woman and said, "Now don't think about running away and skipping out on this. I know your aura and I can and will find you if you ditch ol' Zeebo. I'll be back later tonight so we can head out."

The young woman nodded and got out of the car. She walked up the stairs to the building's front door and glanced back at Zeebo. He waited until she went inside the building before driving back to his own apartment to make his own preparations. He realized that he was placing a lot of trust on this girl to do as he asked. She could easily call the cops on him, but he had seen the state of fear in her aura and knew that she wanted to avoid the cops as much as he did.

Later, as he pulled up a block away from the apartments, he looked around astrally. It would be easier to know 'Fernando' from the astral, given their previous skill in disguises. Sure enough, they approached the taxi, disguised as an older woman. Zeebo smiled and said, "Where too, madame?"

Their aura bristled with annoyance. She calmly replied, "You know where."

Zeebo smirked and pulled out into traffic. The ride to the college was silent. As they pulled up, Zeebo turned to 'Fernando' and said, "Now, just so we can stay in touch and I'll know if you found what I need, I'm going to need to cast a spell. Nothing dangerous, just telepathically links us."

"Why do you need to do that?" She asked defensively, letting their calm appearance slip for a moment. Zeebo sighed. "It's more secure than a commlink. Trust me, I'm not going to control your mind or anything."

"Fine. Whatever. Sooner we get this done, the sooner we can be done with each other."

"That's a smart girl."

She sighed as Zeebo seemed to focus on them for a second. "I don't feel any different."

"Spells aren't always obvious, kid." Zeebo's voice echoed, his lips never moving. "Now, get inside, act natural and I'll tell you when you've found what I need."

Zeebo watched quietly through the spell as she entered the building and casually walked up to the security desk. They spun some tale about locking themselves out of the lab earlier that day, leaving their passkey in their desk, and that they needed to retrieve some files for study.The security guard seemed to buy it and walked with 'Fernando' to the lab. Opening the door for them, the guard turned and walked back to their station. Cautiously, 'Fernando' walked into the lab and looked around.

"Over there. In that cabinet." Zeebo instructed telepathically. They walked up to the cabinet and of course it was locked. Looking through some nearby drawers, she managed to find a passkey.

"This had better work," 'Fernando' muttered as she swiped the card.  She let out a small sigh of relief as the lock clicked as it opened and no alarms seemed to go off.

"Good. Now grab those plant and mineral samples on the bottom shelf."

'Fernando' quickly pocketed the small cases, not caring what the labels said. After making sure the cabinet was locked back up, she quickly made their way out of the lab and past the security guard's station. The guard waved at her as she walked by, barely looking up from their desk. Fernando picked up her pace as soon as she got outside.

Zeebo unlocked the taxi's door and let Fernando in.  She quickly handed Zeebo the cases as soon as she got into the cab.  "There. I got you what you asked for."

"Thanks."

Without another word, Zeebo drove off and made his way back to Fernando's apartment.  The ride was quiet, but Zeebo could tell Fernando was apprehensive.  It was clear by her aura that she didn't trust him to keep his word.  As he pulled up to the building, Zeebo turned to Fernando and grinned.

"I'll see you around then."

Fernando scoffed and got out of the cab.  Zeebo watched as they walked to their apartment building,  not even looking back.  Things were going along perfectly.  Concentrating, Zeebo called out into the astral to a spirit.

"You called?"

"Yes. I need a little help shortly.  When I say so, I'm going to need an astral gate opened a bit later. I'll repay you, of course."

"Very well, shaman."

Zeebo parked his cab around the corner. Drawing upon the mana and whispering an incantation, he made himself invisible to the material plane. Looking up at the apartment building, he thought to himself, "Okay Zeebo,  it's showtime..."

  Part 3