by Grimm and I'm Not Mister Mxypltk
The Fish Factory:
Danny Hearn, Mick Harrison, Shirley Francis, and Michael Ringo sat watching the television -- Meta Television, or Meta TV, a new pirate channel that had recently sprung up and was making a stir. Due to the technological wizardry of Grissom Montag, the small TV set in the Fish Factory was able to pick up this channel, along with many others.
Grimm walked into the room and sat down not far from Michael. The steel folding chair groaned audibly under his weight.
"Hey, man," Michael said. "Change back and grab a brew or something."
Grimm looked over at the man. "Change... back...!?" Danny could swear he saw a look of confusion pass over Grimm's skull face. I'm seeing shite, he thought to himself.
"Yeah, you know," Michael continued. "I changed back from Vengeance, Mick changed back from M'xy, but you haven't changed, and we've been back for hours."
Grimm let out a sound that from anyone else might have been considered a sigh. He then got up and walked out of the room.
"What'd I say?" Michael asked his new friends.
"You wanna tell 'im?" Danny looked at Mick.
"Tell 'im what?" Mick asked while munching on a fish stick.
"I'll tell him," Shirley said, slightly exasperated. "You see, Michael, Grimm doesn't, uh... change back. He's like that all the time."
Michael's eyes went wide. "Ohhhhh... shit. Uh, you think I should apologize or something?"
Elsewhen, a place that may not truly even be a place:
Five robed men stood around a pool of water, gazing into the rippling water. "So, he is successfully among them, then?" the first questioned his brethren.
"Yes, and the true purpose of our Sword of Vengeance is now begun. To watch over those manifesting beings that are but pawns of aeons-old supernatural forces, the Devourer among them..."
"But what of the dragon? Or the angel? And the ancient blood sword of the Timeless Champion? We did not take into account any of this! Surely this complicates matters!" another said.
"This complicates nothing. Our watchdog will continue his job. The appearance of so many preternatural beings only underscores the need for his mission."
The Fish Factory:
"...So all of that happened because of you? The zombies, Vengeance, all because of what you are?" Tayden and Grimm sat outside the factory on a makeshift patio, but then every convenience was makeshift here. Tayden asked the question, though he already knew the answer. Sensing Grimm's need to talk, the angel didn't let on.
"Yeah, inadvertently. When I killed the being who became Vengeance, I was trying to defend a friend. Granted, I didn't get to know Naecken very well, but Sam was a different story. When I thought Knell had disfigured Sam in the Castle of Crossed Destinies, my rage, my power interacted with the Castle's energies somehow, and I unleashed those things that killed that town. I was accusing Priest of just being a murderer earlier, and I'm no damn better."
"We all make mistakes, Grimm. Your actions... You did what you thought was right at the time. You were acting out of concern for your friends. I've seen much worse things done for much worse motives." Tayden's eyes began to peer off into the distance briefly. He shook himself out of his reverie. "Besides, Vengeance is gonna be one of us now. You've had a hand in creating a new hero. That's a good thing, right?"
"Yeah, maybe you're right, Tayden. Hey, there goes Phil. Is he talking to himself?"
"Who can say, Grimm?" Tayden smiled.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen... of justice:
"Maybe you could be Major Disaster?" the Luchadore asked.
"Taken," Johnny Bates replied.
"How about Captain Dingleberry?"
"Too much dignity."
"What about the Flaming Hairball?"
"It has flaming in it."
"What in the world are you two doing?" Dr. Jody Huerta said, walking into the kitchen, his over-large feet slapping the floor.
"Well," Johnny replied, "you know how everyone on the team has code names? Like you're Monkey Boy, Blackwulf is Lassie, Mikey is the Luchadore..."
"Dirk is the Bastard," Luchadore continued.
"Yeah, and Phil is the Dumbass," Johnny continued.
"Wait, wait, wait," Dr. Huerta interrupted. "Who told you that Dirk is the Bastard, and that Phil is the Dumbass?"
"Well, that's what they're always calling each other in the hallways," Johnny offered.
Right at that moment, Phil Smith walked into the kitchen. "Man, I'm starving. How are you guys liking the place?" he said.
The Luchadore looked up, smiled genuinely and waved, saying, "Hi, Dumbass!"
Phil Smith stopped in his tracks. He set his lower jaw firmly and looked over at the masked man. The Luchadore's mask suddenly shifted around, completely backward. "Hey, turn the lights back on!" The Luchadore himself then shot up out of his chair and crashed into the ceiling. He hung there, suspended by his neck.
"This really is not the time for that," Phil muttered, walking out of the room.
"Guys? Guys?!" the Luchadore asked, still hanging from the ceiling. "Was there an earthquake?"
The almost-finished MBL Consulting Complex:
Three figures suddenly appeared in the middle of the part of the complex still under construction. They were Grissom Montag, Phil Smith, and M'xy.
"Thank you, M'xy, now please take us to the tower!" Grissom said.
"Ummm, guys...?" Phil said, looking around and noticing something that didn't fit.
"What is it, mate? We don't have much time! Grimm is waiting for us at the basement of the tower!" Grissom replied.
"Where did the hurricane go?" Phil said.
Grissom looked around and noticed what Phil had noticed moments earlier. The hurricane was gone, and the weather was nice outside.
"Where are we, M'xy?!" Grissom asked.
"The island of La Perdita!" M'xy answered.
"...When are we?"
"January, 2003."
"You took us to the bloody future, M'xy!" Grissom exclaimed. "Take us back to the present NOW! We have to help against the hurricane!"
"All righty, doody-poo," M'xy said, opening a portal in front of the three men.
"Quickly, mate, get inside!" Grissom said to Phil.
"I don't think I can stomach another one of those trips, Mr. Montag," Phil said.
"Ah, you sure can. I bet you're tougher than you think. As soon as you get your memory back, you'll see I'm right. Get in," Grissom replied. As Phil started getting into the portal, Grissom added, "And, mate?"
"Yes?" Phil said, with half of his body in 2003 and the other half in 2002.
"Call me Griss."