One More Thing...

So that's it.  The story I set out to tell, three and a half years ago (give or take), all done and dusted.  It didn't quite work out as I first imagined, some parts proved too difficult to do in a serialised format, especially Episode 10, but it's close enough to what I had in mind.  However, I'm not writing this to present caveats or excuses, it is what it is.

No, I'm writing this to say thank you.  If you're reading this, the chances are you read the whole thing, following it day by day as I plucked rubbish from my head and threw it at the...what?  The page?  The screen?  Whatever.  Thank you for sticking with it.

It's been a journey: both in the real world and in the Warp, but I enjoyed writing it (and sometimes it felt like a lifeline) and I learned a lot from it.

I'd love to hear what you thought of it, now that it's done.  I'm going to leave the comments open here, or you can send me your musings at gavinwhite2010@gmail.com.

I have started thinking about doing another one.  A serial, that is.  It's still in the vague thinky stages, and right now I'm about to move house, but keep your eyes peeled and I'll let you know when it's getting started.

Thanks again,

Gavin

Episode 10 - Chapter 100

 ...In a place that is no place...

...In a castle that was never built, in a land that only appears on imaginary maps and in unconventional minds, in a throne room never seen, built from the shards of forgotten dreams, on a chair so resplendent no one man could ever have built it...

...An angel sits, contemplating his victory with a hollow satisfaction. His tall, thin form folded into this most unreal chair, legs crossed, fingers laced, thumbs resting against his brow. All the players played their part, all the pieces fit together: decades of careful planning and subtle manipulation...a suggestion hear, a strange dream there, all for this moment, this so-called victory...

...One-nil to the good guys...

...Yes, he has new influence in the Warp, and yes, new allies too in this endless conflict. But a single battle does not win a war, there is conflict and turmoil just outside the door, he must never lose sight of what the war was for...

Something snaps in the depths of his mind, permanent and irreversible. He's on his feet before he knows it, fingers snapping above his head, minions summoned with a single click.

Out with the old, in with the new, isn't that what they say? Time to begin a new chapter, to scheme a new scheme...and perhaps it's time also to take a new name.

The End

(...for now...)

Episode 10 - Chapter 99

 Maria Thesos sits in the back of her taxi trying, as best she can, not to fidget. Not for the first time since her journey began, she's doubting her sanity. “Just don't think about it,” she tells herself, “I'll be there shortly, and then I'll know.”

She twists the magazine in her lap, forces herself to look out at the beautiful English countryside speeding past. What on earth is she doing, a hidden voice keeps asking, it's almost tourist season, her family needs her, the business needs her. But instead she's abandoned everything, jumped on a flight to London, a train to the middle of nowhere, and now this taxi, all without pause or rest. She worries that is she stops moving the doubts (“Reason” her father called them) will take hold.

The taxi slows as it pulls in to a picturesque little village, all quaint cottages circling a village green. The taxi cuts through the main gathering, turning off the main road just before it reaches the farthest edge, following a narrow lane to a dead end.

“There you go, luv,” the driver says as the car draws to a halt, going on to name the price. She pays him with the last notes in her purse, gathers her bags and steps out. The clean air assaults her, fresh and floral, causing her to feel dizzy and unbalanced.

“Maria, is it?” A young man's voice inquires as she struggles to get her bearings. She turns, still disorientated, to see a smiling gentleman walking towards her, arm outstretched to offer his hand. “Don't worry,” he continues as they shake, “You're in the right place.”

Behind her, the taxi pulls away, abandoning her to whatever mysteries have brought her here.

“It's a brave thing that you've done,” the man says, “Coming here because a dream told you to. You can call me Robert, by the way.” He takes her bag from her hand, gently cupping his hand in the small of her back to guide her up the path. “Come on, we'll get you introduced to the others. Then some answers to all those questions in your head, how does that sound?”

Episode 10 - Chapter 98

 Fiona wakes early, several minutes before the alarm is due to go off, as has become her habit lately. A belligerent sun claws fiercely at the blinds, outside birds sing their joy at the marvel of a new day. Beside her, her husband snores into his pillow, sleeping the sleep of the just and satisfied.

“Let him sleep,” she thinks, “He deserves it.” Robert had come in late the night before, or maybe it was early this morning, muttering something about pot-holes at the museum. He'd barely managed to undress before collapsing into a deep stupor. For a moment Fiona wishes she could remember more, but he's woken her from a conversation with the King of the Sandmen, a conversation she's been eager to return to. “Never mind,” she thinks, “I'll just ask him later.”

After gently kissing his shoulder she rises, showers quickly, dresses and heads downstairs to the kitchen. As usual she arrives to find Raven sat at the table, a large glass of orange juice and steaming mug of coffee before him.

“Morning Boss,” he says when she enters, pushing the cup toward her.

“Good morning,” she replies, lifting the mug to her lips for a long, satisfying slurp. “What's on our ticket today?”

“There are reports,” he says uncertainly, “Of a Popular Misconception stalking the industrial estate.”

Another mouthful of coffee. “I'm sensing a 'but'?” she asks, pulling her jacket over her shoulders.

“These reports,” he tells her, reaching for the back door, “They're mainly from the wasps.”

“Oh,” is her only response, her heart sinking in her chest. It's going to be a difficult day, she can tell.

Episode 10 - Chapter 97

 Mary closes the notebook in her lap, folds her hands and looks round at the expectant faces crammed in to her dining room. “And the rest,” she says finally, “Is, as they say, history.”

At first she'd been disappointed by the low number of people who had responded to their advert in the paper. Where they'd have put any more she didn't know, but she'd hoped to see them.

“Never worry, luv,” her husband had said, doing his best to reassure her. “Better to start small, eh? Besides, Fiona's had a new idea for recruitment, something a little more direct.”

She takes a deep breath, releasing a long sigh before standing. “Of course the Elements decided to work with the Angel, and us, to improve the Warp,” she says, focusing on the eager faces before her. There are others, more cynical in their demeanour, but she lets her eyes pass over them. “And that's how this place, this bridge, came to be opened.”

One chap in front of her yawns openly, checking his watch, while another chews idly on his pencil.

“Now you've heard our story,” she continues, forcing herself not to tut, “As fantastic and ridiculous as it sounds. The question for you all is this: Would you like to know more? If your answer is no,” now she looks directly at the sceptics, “Then I'd like to thank you for your time. Make your way out through the door at the back and you'll be back in the real world in no time at all.”

She pauses. Waits. None of them makes a move.

“For the rest of you,” she smiles as Edward pushes himself to his feet, “If you'd like to follow my husband, we'll try to give you your first look at the Weave.”

Episode 10 - Chapter 96

 Everything stopped, the whole room frozen, as if time had actually stopped. Literally, the tick-tock of the mantlepiece clock fell silent, motes of dust hung in the air, glistening and still.

Fiona stood in the centre of the living room, arms reaching out, a strange blue glow alive in her eyes. “I don't know what your master had planned,” she said, “But it wont be happening today.”

I glanced round the room to see who she was addressing, actually rather surprised to find that I could move at all. I saw my husband, rubbing his wrists, obviously feeling that same sense of shock. When he caught my look his eyebrows arched, as if to ask “What now?” When I looked away I caught sight of Robert, mouth open, watching his wife with astonishment. Beyond him were Raven and Oak, both glued to the spot, expressions fixed upon their faces.

That was when I realised our living room was also home to three other figures, tiny and wisp like. Were these the three midgets that combined to make Strauss? They were the right height, certainly, but so thin they were barely there at all, with no real distinguishing features. Locked in the moment, they were caught running toward each other, arms outstretched, holding shiny silver gizmos.

I didn't know what might happen next, but I certainly wasn't expecting the walls to darken, nor for the nub of that candle abandoned on our table to spring in to flame.

“We have reached our decision,” the voice of Fire crackled and raged, filling the room.

Episode 10 - Chapter 95

 “Where are they?” Mary asked, looking round.

It was obvious, even to me, that those words weren't being spoken by a physical mouth, of for that matter three mouths. The sound of them was too dense, too resonant, it was as if the house itself was speaking.

“I don't know,” Raven replied, “They could be anywhere.” He, too, looked around him, then began gently guiding us all towards the living room. “They could be everywhere! Right now, we should be back in there.”

“We had hoped it wouldn't come to this,” the voice filled the air once more, “But, we are afraid to say, our master was very clear in his instructions.”

Robert walked into the living room first. Mary grabbed hold of me, she must have thought I needed some support after our mishap, and we hobbled in together, followed by Raven and Oak.

There in front of us stood Fiona, eyes closed, arms outstretched. She looked so strange standing there, otherworldly even, I'd have sworn she was actually glowing.

“There can be no bridge between the Warp and the Weave,” Strauss voice boomed, even louder. “We had hoped you might understand that.”

I felt the air move around me, we all did I think, as something unseen raced past us.

Fiona's eyes shot open, wide and bright. “Stop,” she said calmly, and the world around us froze.