Moleman of Splendid Springs
Research on the world of the puppeteers had been strictly for defensive purposes. Lifetimes ago he'd been under their command. They're a twitchy bunch. If their governments find out about the Zones and think it's A.I. gone rogue, things could get ugly. They needed to be prepared, so the portal presumably thought it would give Dedan a field trip into bumfuck U.S.A. to further educate him.
He'd found this out from a local map at a dinky gas station. It'd been free, as he'd absentmindedly walked into the place in the middle of the night and asked for directions. The attendant replied with a shrill scream on his way out a window. Dedan took that as an invitation to take whatever he needed.
Turns out he didn't take enough, as he's been stuck inside an abandoned house outside of town for three days. Leaning precariously to the left, the boarded up corpse of what used to be a home isn't much more inviting on the inside. The only exception is the master bedroom. Dedan's sorcery has transformed it into a lavish suite for him to spend his time afraid for his life and trying his damnedest to get back to his world.
He's not sure when he'd fallen asleep, but he woke with a start when there's a crash from within his hide out. Teenage male boasting follows. The fire he'd been using for both light and heat had fizzled down to embers. If he stays silent, there's a chance they won't come this way.
"Don't be a pussy, Dave. We come here every weekend to smoke a bowl." Says one of them as he strolls right up to door of Dedan's room. The monster of a man stands in preparation to knock these punks out. His concentration is foiled when two magpies shoot down the chimney to squawk at him in warning as soon as the door swings open. He's screaming in surprise, then there's a flashlight beam in his face and the kids are screaming. The birds a screaming. Everyone is screaming.
The boys book it as fast as they can out of the place, not stopping until they're in the nearest open establishment. They burst into the dinner, absolutely hysterically. "There's a fucking moleman in old Harrop's place! It's got giant teeth and--" the stumpy brunette boy is cut off by his friend, who quickly covers his mouth with a hand.
"Quiet, you idiot. We'll get in trouble." his redheaded counterpart hisses. This one corrals the other two into a booth. "We're gonna keep this between us. We don't want everyone thinking we're nuts."
