by T5 and Chewy Walrus
Chicago:
Inside the abandoned building on 5th Street, a strange ceremony was taking place.
Seven figures in dark red robes sat in front of an altar, on which rested a beautiful black sword. Its handle seemingly made out of gold, it shimmered in the fiery torchlight.
Ma Kalunga hummed and reached out with both of her hands, and a portal opened above the altar. Three of the little black goblins sent on the mission to La Perdita emerged. One of them had a cloth wrapped around something.
Red Scorpion whispered to his brother, "Why do we have to dress up like fools and sit in on these ceremonies? It's not our style. We should be out there an--"
"SILENCE!" Mr. Smith glared at them. "You will pay the proper respect or feel the consequences."
The brothers quickly bowed their heads and stared down at the floor.
"You're afraid."
"Am not!"
"Oh, yes, you aaa-are..."
Ma Kalunga suddenly raised her voice and gave thanks to the powers of the netherworld so that they could borrow the Behin goblins for such a crucial mission. And then the goblin gave her the package. She opened it and raised her hand for all to see the fifth-dimensional heart she lost at the first encounter with those foolish metas.
Her sense of anger was momentarily subdued by the glory and ecstasy the sense of power this object gave her. She placed it on the sword, where it quickly merged with the handle, looking like a multicolored jewel of immense worth.
Then she began to sing, and the others followed her lead, although some of them needed a few silent threats.
"I placcce no ssstock in ritualsss, Sssmith!" Dr. Zachary Knell hissed, his massive hands fumbling with a cigarette. The two sat alone in the meeting room, everyone having returned to their quarters after the ritual to prepare for the end.
"Well, my friend," Mr. Smith said, leaning back in his chair, "it is these rituals and mystic incantations that will bring us victory this time. I am certain of it."
"I am a ssscientissst and have no ussse for meaninglesss religion," Knell said, a flame flickering from his Zippo and kissing the end of his cigarette. "Kalunga... the Ssscorpionsss... Aurochsss... K'tl... they are all mysssticsss and magiccciansss. I am a man of ssscienccce! Why am I even here, Sssmith?"
"Fear not, my friend," Smith said, smiling somewhat sinisterly. "Your part in this grand scheme will be quickly realized. I have handpicked this group for a reason. Whether or not you 'put stock in rituals,' they are the cornerstone of this plan... and this plan is foolproof, my dear doctor. Failure is no longer an option for us."
"Yesss," the lizard man hissed. "We ssshall not fail thisss time..."
O'Hare Airport, Chicago:
The guard knew when someone wasn't playing with a full deck. The four people he found sleeping on a few couches a week ago were back.
As he walked toward them to kick them out, he noticed that the woman was smiling at him, a glowing, soft smile that totally engulfed the world around him. It was the most beautiful smile he had ever seen.
"Hello, officer. I'm afraid that you will have to ignore us for now. Go take a break or something."
The guard looked at the man beside her, but the hesitation disappeared like a bad memory. He walked off, determined to have a nice cup of coffee and a huge sandwich.
"Good work, Lucille. The kids are almost finished collecting money."
Two youngsters, a girl and a boy, slowly and methodically talked people into giving away their money.