Invitation and Consequence

  Six days had come and gone. The escape pod was running low on power, and rations. Danny and Ross deployed its solar panels to try to recharge the massive power cells, but no matter what they did, they were unable to recharge their pod. Their bodies gained all the benefits of the light. Ross even started getting a nice tan. This meant the pod should have gotten something, but it didn't. In that time Danny had brought up the idea of checking out the tower. Ross had rejected the idea telling Danny that they didn't have enough information, that going in blind could be hazardous. Danny reluctantly let it go. A few days ago, they were not running on a low charge, but today was different.

  They both looked at one another, silently weighing their options. Ross nodded and pulled out the comm and called out to the Extrimatus. Their comms were tied to the pods' transmitter. Without that, they would not be able to reach the ship. “This is captain Ross, we need a tow.” No response came. “Danny! Did we lose power?” Ross asked. “Let me check.” Danny said with a slightly worried look. The pod had enough power. He checked the signal. “We also have a signal. Maybe the pods comms has gone faulty!?” Danny said as more of a question then a statement. Ross took out his comms, making another attempt with no success. Danny saw worry, but reassured him that they were fine. “Ross I am sure that there ok. We have a signal; therefore, the ship is still there.” Ross seamed to relax a bit after hearing that, but not completely. They were still trapped, and for no reason that made any damn sense. They began arguing among themselves when the pod died. They bickered like children for what seemed like 15 minutes when they were interrupted by an unexpected voice. “Excuse me.” the old man spoke with a seemingly frail voice. Dan and Ross turned, both looking for the source of the voice. Their argument was brought to an abrupt end as their eyes rested on an old man a few paces away. He wore a cloak with a tide off beard that was well-kept, and was very long. The most surprising thing was, was that he was human. They were speechless with their mouths opening and closing with no words coming out. They were stunned. Logic told them that someone or something existed here at some point, because that huge tower existed.

  The old man coughed again, bringing their attention back to him. The old man began to look uncomfortable. Danny was the first to recover his train of thought. This was technically first contact after all. He still had a hard time believing this despite seeing it. Yet, hear he was. Danny reached out to shake his hand. This was a once in a lifetime chance. “Hi I am Danny, and this is Ross.”. The old man stared at his hand, then took it. “Nice to meet you Danny, I am Morten Grey. What brings you to my asteroid?” Morten asked with a placating and warm smile. Danny felt a sense of ease and trust towards this man. Ross gripped Danny's shoulder. He turned to see Ross shaking his head in a, I don't trust him kind of way.

  Despite being retired, Ross still didn't trust those he had not vetted. This meant, if you weren't friend or family, you were not immediately trusted, and that went for creepy old dudes that lived in a pocket dimension in the twilight zone. Danny was about to reassure Ross when Morten spoke “I assure you I mean no harm. If I did, I would have done so already.” Ross looked alarmed at hearing that, but not Danny. He trusted Morten completely. He did not know why, but trusting him felt right. “Come on Ross? It makes sense. We've been here for almost a weak, giving him plenty of time. Besides! What if he can help us.” Danny said pleading with Ross. “We got nothing to lose at this point.” A voice was telling Danny in the back of his mind that something was wrong, then there was an overpowering sense of trust drowning out the voice that had begun to scream at Danny. “What seems to be the problem?” Morten asked with concern in his voice. Ross cut Danny off “Our pod is out of power, and we can't reach our ship.” Ross finished. He didn't trust Morten, but in a way Danny was right. They really did not have anything to lose. Their pod could not charge, had no more power, and they could not reach their crew to get a tow. So? Why not. Morten agreed to help. Ross showed him the various parts. Morten would ask questions, and Ross would answer. After receiving escape pod 101, Morten shrugged “I'M afraid there is nothing I can do to fix this. You are welcome to stay at my tower until you can get help.” “That's right Ross! They will send a tow when there done with the repairs.” Danny said with an unnatural hope. What had got into him? Danny was a pessimist. He didn't just change his world view just like that, but for now he would have to take Morten up on his offer or starve, and Ross preferred to live. In the meantime, he had to figure out what Morten's game was, and what was wrong with Danny. Whatever it was it wasn't natural.

  Danny's head was swimming with thoughts not his own. He was a prisoner in his own body, feeling a pressure suppressing him. The sensation was identical to when Danny was looking at the tower. This was domination. He screamed in his mental prison as he witnessed himself going along with Morten, feeling Morten pull the strings that controlled him. It was clear he had ill intent. “Means no harm my balls.” Danny screamed aloud in his own head. Why was this happening to them? Why did he have to be so weak? He pounded his fist against his mental cage in frustration. He was literally trapped in his own mind by some unseen force. Danny felt that if he could break through it somehow, he might be able to take back control of his body. After that? He had no idea. He began pounding on the invisible force. It was then that he watched himself convince Ross that accepting Morten's invitation was a good idea. Danny felt sick. If his inner self had a stomach, he would be retching. He heard a familiar voice echo throughout his prison. It was Morten voice. “Stop resisting. Your mine.” Morten said almost gloating. “THAT WAS YOU!? YOU'RE WHY WE COULDN'T USE OUR COMMS!” Danny shouted into no particular direction. “You catch on quick for a primitive insect.” Morten said with disdain. Danny began frantically pounding his cage desperately trying to escape. Morten just laughed amused at his struggling, then the laughing stopped, and he was left to his own devices.

  It was clear to him that Morten saw them as lower beings not worth the life they were given. He was the proverbial child torching ants with a plasma lighter with no regard to their feelings or well-being. Danny tried using magic in a last

  ditch effort with no success, and slumped to the ground of his mental prison in defeat, watching in disgust as Morten used him for his own ends. Danny observed as all three of them walked through the towers' doors into its main lobby. It was opulent with pillars made of diamonds, a marble floor and the finest furniture he had ever seen all in a fusion of mid evil fantasy and Victorian style wizard tower. Morten had nice tastes. Too bad, he was an evil S.O.B. They were led to a room where Morten had offered them room and board. To Danny's horror, he saw his and Ross's crew unconscious on the floor. Some of them looked older, then they did a week ago. No wonder they couldn't get a hold of the crew. The comms was not broken; there was no one aboard the ship to respond. Ross turned around, striking out at Morten. His fist bounced off a reddish energy that faintly rippled. Morten Laughed a cruel laugh as Morten raised his hand, eyes glowing with power, lifting Ross off the ground with some invisible force, and throwing him across the room. Danny just walked in like it was the most natural thing in the world. He heard Morten speak into his mind again. “You and your friend are special. I'M saving you for last. Maybe I'll turn you into pets.” Morten said the last part like he was testing to see how it sounded, and whether he liked it or not. He slammed the door shut, and Danny was released from the domination that held him so tightly. He was left dazed and free of the domination with a pounding headache to gather his wits. Danny rushed over to Ross, checking his vitals. “Oh! Thank goodness” he said exhaling in relief. Ross was only unconscious. He began checking the crew. It looked like the ex-salesman was among them. Danny began checking their vitals.

  Besides their premature aging, they seemed fine. He had no explanation for this. It would have been one thing if they had been born with Progeria, also known as a rapid aging disease, but they didn't have that. Something was causing this, Danny just had to figure it out, then perhaps he could do something about it. Was time in here different? No! That couldn't be it. The fact that they were still alive, and taking into account the rate of aging the age disparity between them proved that wrong. Perhaps it was an unknown disease, microbe, or something else. Something was stealing their youth. To test this this theory, he pulled out the basic med scanner he had used on Ross, and strapped it on the ex-car salesman's arm. No contaminants or diseases known or unknown were found in his body. Seeing as how there was nothing that could be done for them, he began to investigate the room. Aside from his friend and crew, the room was quite bare save for a wooden bucket which Danny assumed was for relieving one’s self. He examined the door noticing a glowing rune. It was something, and maybe it would shed clues on their predicament. He studied the rune, tracing the lines with his finger, and feeling the energy flowing through it. Something clicked, and suddenly he understood. This was a basic reinforcement enchantment that when charged would increase how hard and how resistant an object was. A notification blinked angrily in his vision. Danny opened it.

  Congratulation! You're Knowledge skill has increased to level 2 Novice, EXP +400. You're Perception skill has increased to level 1 Novice, EXP +200. Intelligence and wisdom +2. EXP 600/3500 until lvl 3

  Name: Danny Anderson Race: Human Level: 2

  Mana: 80/80 Regen from Stamina

  Stamina: 90/90 Re gen +1.5

  Skills--

  Spells--

  Danny performed a quick test. He pulled out his plasma lighter, and began torching the door. Normally wood would ignite almost instantly. He held the ignited plasma against the wood for a full minute before giving up. It wouldn't burn, but could it be scratched? Danny looked around a bit before finding a sharp stone on the floor. Danny began scratching at the wooden door not leaving a single mark. The enhancement rune thwarted Danny's attempts to damage the door. It became clear that they were not escaping, and that they were going to be here for as long as Morten wished it. He walked back over to Ross, carefully stepping over the slowly dying crew members, and sat next to his unconscious friend. Danny looked up and sighed in frustration. “There has to be a way.” That's when he saw it. It was another rune, but this one was on the ceiling and more elaborate. The outer edges looked like vines snaking around a boarder covered in strange writing while the center contained a rune which his knowledge skill had identified as a novice life link enchantment. His investigation was cut short by his friend awaking. “I feel like a ship fell on me.” Ross complained. “Yeah! You hit pretty hard.” Danny heard one of the crew stir. They looked a little older now than they had 1 hour ago. He felt pity for them as well as for himself and Ross. He felt a hand grasp his shoulder. “We're going to make it.” Ross held his gaze. “And, how do you suppose that happens?” Danny said doubtfully. With a serious look on his face, looking Danny square in the eyes Ross said “water!” Danny laughed. He couldn't help it. Ross's answer was so random, that it caught him off guard. Ross also laughed.

  Danny spent the next 15 minutes explaining their situation and everything that he discovered after summoning a ball of water which they both drank from. Ross wore guilt as he saw his crew strewn all over the floor, aging slowly before his eyes, and Danny could see it as clear as day. Their situation was clear with an unspoken promise made by the universe that people were going to die, and there was nothing they could do about it. “Don't Ross. You didn't know, and we were powerless to stop this.” “Maybe your right Danny.” Ross said looking at his fist with a frown. “If we get out of here?” Ross let it hang to emphasize his point. “If we survive.” Danny reminded, searching for his resolve. He was no warrior like his friend, but not even he could tolerate this.

  They woke up. Neither Ross nor Danny could remember falling asleep. They looked around finding themselves levitating and paralyzed in a strange white room. There were enchantments covering the walls with several stone altars all arranged in a circular pattern with his and Ross's crew mates now looking as if they were near 85 years old, laying atop each one placed around an unremarkable looking mossy stone that radiated warmth. It felt powerful, and yet it was familiar, giving Danny an odd feeling like it was watching him. He stared at it and he felt it staring back. It was mesmerizing. Danny snapped back to reality, and noticed Ross staring at the stone as well. He wanted to say something to Ross as an idea came to him, but he couldn't, because of that backstabbing psychotic wizard. A person walked into the room. He was young and looked to be around 25. Danny locked eyes pleading with him to let them out. No such luck. The stranger mouth twisted into a smile holding out a hand, while a staff flew into it. A spark arched from the tip zapping Ross. Ross snapped out of his trance. With a blank stare and a red face. “Now! Temper temper.” the young man said. Danny looked at the man confused. He reminded him of Morten, but that couldn't be right. Morten was old. The young man watched in amusement as Danny pieced the puzzle together. Ross just floated there confused and angry. “It is amusing to watch you piece it all together, but allow me fill in the gaps. I am Morten Grey.” Danny could see Ross turn purple with rage, and Danny felt sick as they realized why their crew was so old. Morten had stolen their youth. He waved a hand, and Danny felt a pressure partially release him. Ross yelled out in furry “FUCK YOU! I'M GOING TO KILL...” Ross fell silent as Morten waved his hand yet again. Danny was more level headed. He tested his magical restraints, and found that his head was free. “Why are you doing this to us?” Morten's displeasure at Ross's outburst was replaced with one of interest at the prospect of conversation. “Finally! some civility. I'm trying to discover what makes you two speciel, get home, and take whats rightfully mine which includes my youth.” Danny had not noticed before, because of his worry for the others in light of their constant struggle, but he looked down and saw his hands and looked at Ross, seeing that they had not aged, but in fact had gotten younger. Ross looked to be as young as Morten, and if his hands were any indication, then he too looked as young. Danny felt sick. Morten saw the realization hit Danny through his reactions. “Yes! You and your friend somehow taped into my enchantment. You are not like them.” Morten motioned to the alters with his staff. “You and your impolite friend are better than those things.” Danny saw Ross's muscles ripple. He was fighting his restraints, and giving up for a brief reprieve and trying again in vain. “I suppose you have a point. So, what makes us so special?” He was curious, but more importantly this stall tactic was working. Morten seemed pleased to explain the difference. Or in this case what made them special. “You and your friend have been changed. Yes, you have a physiology similar to these ants, but you can manipulate the universe and harness its power. This makes you a higher being.” Morten finished. He studied Danny observing his reactions. Danny kept his face passive despite his inner desire to save this group of people he had grown so fond of, but they had to escape. Learning about his and Ross's power would have to wait. Lives were on the line. “Say we join you, what are you going to do to them? What do you hope to achieve?” Danny finished hoping to stall Morten long enough to think of a way out of this, but came up empty handed. However, if his friend could fight, then so could he. The only things he could do was a mana barrier, and summon water. Danny thought about the restraints and wondered what would happen if he could disrupt the magic field that held them. He theorized that mana had a unique frequency, and that if the right frequency was used, then he might be able to disrupt it enough to slip out. Morten brought Danny out of his train of thought. “Besides the obvious? This!” Morten faced the alters, and slammed the butt of his staff into the floor. Danny felt magic build up around him. It caused his restraints to loosen, and he noticed the shift in mana as the mana in the air was getting thicker, and that it felt similar to his mana barrier when it formed. He was still stuck but he now knew what would get him and Ross free. What happens next? Well, he would cross that bridge when got to it.

  Magic energies began to form into red tendrils of smoke that snaked out toward his crew mates, branching off into three that invaded their mouths and noses. Their eyes opened wide in terror, and begun to flail helplessly as they were lifted into the air around the stone. Danny saw Morten concentrating and began to gather his own mana as he heard their screams of agony. He saw their bodies twist and contort in unnatural ways, while Morten continued his unholy work, turning them into three small purple gems that began to merge into a larger gem. His hope of saving his crew dashed, Danny had the mana needed, and popped his mana barrier falling out of his magic prison, and repeating the process for Ross with the other half of the gathered mana. Ross rushed the evil mage, grabbing him by the throat and mercilessly punching him in the face caving in his nose. Blood pored out of the mages face, as blood-lust filled Ross. Danny glanced at his friend, and then at the stone, then at the mage who was receiving Ross's furry as years of military service was put into action. When he turned back to the stone, he heard a voice. It was the same voice that kept calling him, telling him to come home. “Come home Danny.” he heard, and at that point realized then the stone was their only way out. What did they have to lose? There was no going back to the ship. The crew was dead, and Ross beating the hell out of Morten was a declaration of war. A war that he soon realized was not winnable.

  Morten Popped his mage armor as blood poured down his face. He cursed these two for their ignorance, their arrogance, and himself for underestimating them. Ross launched another barrage of strikes that sent ripples around his mage armor with each impact leaving a resounding thud. He felt the other man's hand release its steel grip from his throat as it was forced outside Morten's protective shell. The other man called Danny seemed to be in a state of confusion. No! He was figuring things out. Morten gathering his mana and saw Danny's eyes light up like a child that figured out how to use its mana for the first time, and knew he had to end this farce and quick. He was going to kill them at first to boost his power, but when he couldn't sap their youth, he was going to show them what was possible and use them. “They will serve my plans whether they want to or not. They will not escape me.” Morten mumbled with confidence. The incensed man continued pummeling Morten's mage armor sending more hued rippled across it while Danny made a decision and rushed towards Ross, grabbing him by the collar of his strange garments trying to pull him to the stone. Morten let lose his first spell sending a flash of white energy at Ross turning him into a cat with a pop. Morten gave a silent cheer, but this did not seem to slow them down as much as he had hoped. The other man scooped him up and kept going covering the distance. Morten launched his second spell which busted through his opponents’ feeble defenses and hit.

  Danny heard a pop and felt his grip on Ross become non-existent. He stopped and turned to see a smug Morten, and down to see what looked to be an adult gray and white striped house cat with Ross's color of eyes but glowing. Danny knew the same would happen to him if he did not move. Throwing up a mana barrier, he scooped what he assumed was Ross into his arms and leapt for the stone. Danny would not leave Ross behind. It was too late for the others, but not for them. His intuition told him that stone was their ticket out of there, and at this point it was all or nothing. His hand found purchase around the stone. He had hoped that this would be enough, but was soon proven wrong. Reality has a funny way of punishing people even when everything goes right. A realization that hit Danny as he felt something warm hit him in the back of his head followed by a quick and searing pain rack his body. He could feel an intense itch spread all over his body as fur sprouted everywhere while he got smaller and the world got bigger with a resounding pop.

  Reality seemed to warp around them. It faded only to reappear just as fast. Surrounded by a new scenery, the two lost consciousness. Danny was the first to awaken. He yawned and tried to stand up only to fall over. This caused him to look around in alarm. They were surrounded by plants and trees. All of it bigger than him. There were flowers blooming before his eyes with pixies flying out of the central pods. Some of them drifted over to the water to get something to drink not seeming to notice or care about them. Danny turned to see the the other cat which was presumably Ross. It was his size now. He rushed over to the water’s edge gaining some interested glances from the pixies. Was this his trespass and consequence?