ReaderPaul

@Butcher56 -- good summary. @R. Eric, this is a very good chapter. So hopefully, a chapter of Ark II next, then Cinderfella III?

I notice that the last time dkstories visited GA was in 2013. @Timothy M. or anyone else, did something happen to Dan of dkstories? It concerns me that he seems to have dropped out of sight.

A great chapter, @R. Eric. I am very glad to see this detailed update. I am hoping that next is an update on Ark II, then another story, then Ark II, then Makarovia, then Ark II, then another story or two -- Please, stay alive and keep writing for a LONG time! And Is Cosmo getting dressed as well as the four visitors for the Proposal?

It seems to me that Uncle Bob is developing some magic mechanic traits of his own, being able to replicate Ragal's surprise black octopus thing. His telekinesis abilities have grown also, with being able to deflect and redirect the water, as well. To me, this is not surprising. After all, Keerby had said, way back in an earlier Charlie Boone story, that talents tend to run in families. And did Robin father any kids in the last 800 years? Questioning minds would like to know, @Geron Kees. Hopefully, Durapar will be able to go with the group to the realm of the dead, as well. For a real powerhouse, Zerfa and Rufe might come along, as well. But that close to Christmas, probably not.

While all of the stories of Geron Kees help a person to think, in some ways this was more serious than many of his stories. I can't say as much as I would like, or I might spoil the story for others. Wonderful new characters are introduced in this story. Momphis, Chirka, Browbeat, and Jol appear, and some others. Uncle Bob and Ragal and Horace gain some new powers, and we learn more about Casper's powers, as well. This story is wonderfully packed with thrills, chills, and life pills. I want to say a lot more positive things, but I really think you should read the story for yourself. It is THAT good.

Something I don't recall seeing anything in the comments about yet: "I was thinking about Robin, too," Charlie said. "He might be invaluable in dealing with someone like Tallfield." "We can figure all that out at home," Kippy decided, waving a hand. "So when are we coming back?" "We have two jobs coming up back at the office," Charlie reminded. "We can come back here and do what we need to do, and still get them done," Ricky argued. "No time, remember?" "You're stalling," Kippy said gently. "Why?" Charlie nodded. "Yeah. I want some time to mull a few things over, is all." He shook his head. "That moment when I realized Tallfield was trying to take my mind away from me...it left me with a lot to think about." No one said anything for a moment, as they all remembered. "But we are coming back, right?" Kippy finally asked. Charlie smiled at his boyfriend. "I'm thinking we'll come back the week before Christmas." I am hoping that this means that @Geron Keeswill start the Christmas Charlie Boone story 7 or 8 days before Christmas, AND tell us briefly or in detail about the two jobs they have to do at the office. Geron, how about putting a branch of one of the banks on Engris in Charlie's home town? Then Nicholaas wouldn't have to jiggle and joggle and juggle funds from Engris to Earth for the guys. Of course, regular Earthlings would be allowed to deposit and withdraw money, as well.

I doubt that this is in any part of the story as to what will happen next, but something pinged in my mind when I read the following: Charlie shook his head. "Wait a second. Can you try to follow them back and see where they came from?" "Oh. Wait a moment." Horace closed his eyes. "Um...I can see them. Let me see if I can roll this backwards...okay. Yes. Here they are inside Engris, and now here they are arriving. at Engris...and...backtracking...and...no." He opened his eyes. "Go back a ways, and they just fade away. I can't see where they came from before that." "I didn't think you'd be able to," Jol said. "I think you only were able to follow them back that far because you were present on Engris when they first arrived. That is your common factor with them. Following them back before that would require a time element. And, as we all know, there is none here." This is a long shot, but if Ragal and Horace joined hands, and were powered by Adrian and Kippy, with magic mechanic advice from Ricky, would Horace be able to see back further, to when Ragal was in this level? There would be a gap, since he has been alive again almost 3¼ years, since October of 2019, but if some members of the collective were already there in the lower level before October 2019, they might be able to trace it back further. But Geron probably has a differing solution. Or does it have to be closely connected with Engris? Yes, it is.

I look forward to seeing how this works out. An interesting set of pocket worlds/universes/pods has been created on the level of the dead. Max once said in a different story, that -- "It's different with elves." That might explain why they have not yet run across any elves in this level. Something about this reminds me of Philip Jose Farmer's "World of Tiers" series. Geron, did you read any of those in your younger years?

@drpaladin, @Ivor Slipper, @weinerdog, and @Geron Kees -- "Puns are often a sign of higher than average intelligence." ~ David Lee

Sounds like a potentially hairy situation to me!

I am not worried about Ricky. He has very fast reflexes. From -- "Light My Roamin' Candle, Charlie Boone!" -- in the Charlie Boone stories: First one, and then another, and then another, three swirls of black air appeared in the crowd of onlookers, small dark tornadoes ten feet in height, that spun furiously, and violently pushed away those standing around them. More of the swirls appeared, ten and more, and now the crowd was retreating from them on its own. People ran, those on four legs quickly outpacing those on two. Charlie and the others had simply frozen, staring at this incredible change in events. One moment the plaza was calm save for the excitement of bidding; the next it was quickly emptying, as thousands of people of every sort ran for their lives. Max was suddenly beside Charlie, Adrian and Ricky in tow. The elf took him by the arm, and pulled him away from the barrier. "Time to go. Come on, Kip! Time to go! Everybody grab hold of me! Now!" Kippy turned and looked at Max, anguish in his eyes. "We can't leave him!" He pointed at Bobby, who had turned towards the black maelstroms, his back to the other side of the barrier now, with nowhere to run. The nearest dervish was only a dozen paces from him, with no way around it. Charlie turned to look at Kontus. The big Trichani was frozen in place, staring at the black vortexes, one hand on his sidearm - but seemed unable to move. "We can't leave Kontus, either!" Charlie had no idea what was happening, but the look of near-panic in Max's eyes frightened him to the very core. The elf grimaced, but waved a hand at Bobby. The boy jerked up off the ground, and was suddenly over the barrier, on their side. Kippy grabbed him by an arm and pulled him towards Max. Charlie turned and grabbed Kontus by an arm and pulled, but the big man barely moved at all. "Help me!" he yelled at Max. The nearest black vortex suddenly wound down, and a large...thing...appeared. It was tall and monstrous, all black in color, had tripod legs, a round head with what looked like eyes all the way around it, and a multitude of octopus like arms that waved furiously at shoulder height. The other vortexes also spun down, and more of the things appeared. The one closest to them bolted with amazing speed at the barrier, and reached across the top of it with several of the long arms...straight at Adrian! Charlie had no time to even yell a warning. The horror of what was happening had him rooted in place. Ricky's right arm suddenly moved with lightening speed, and then his dagger was in his hand. It hummed furiously as he stepped in front of Adrian and whipped the blade across in front of them; and in an instant, four of the octopus arms were writhing on the ground. The vibratory blade had severed them cleanly, and the creature from which they had been shorn rebounded away from them with incredible speed, emitting a horrifying mewling sound. It gave Max the moment he needed. He whirled a hand in the air, and an invisible force seemed to circle the entire group, pushing everyone together. Charlie felt the strange feeling of dislocation that accompanied elf dimensional travel, and then they were standing inside the control room of their ship. Charlie looked about, saw all of his friends present...and Bobby and Kontus, too. So I predict that Ricky will be faster than this person.

I had to look up the term "tor" at dictionary dot com. I was glad to learn the term. I look forward to seeing what abilities Uncle Bob gains from this, and what else the others learn/gain/leverage as well.

Great ideas and leaders rarely pass their abilities and concepts along well past the second or third generation downline from the originators. Even is you start with perfect temperament people, discontent has a way of arising in humans. I wish it was not so, but that is my observation of life and history. Joel is wise to prepare in advance. There is some small thought that teleportation is possible. Humans are still trying to verify whether or not it can be done. I plan to wait and see.

Since this is only chapter 3, I suspect they will be free without much time passing. But this seems to be an interesting reality, thus far. I think there is more to the situation at hand than we yet know.

Not yet. But I have a very active imagination, or is that an imaginative active different brain?

I think, @raven1, that Chirka's tech would work somewhat like the spirit dome tech, and Sefton's skwish has picked up on that. Therefore, Sefton would be in great pain all the time that Chirka's tech to go to the lower layer was in operation. However, there might also be some persons in the layer of the dead which Sefton wishes to avoid, as well. Also, I think @Geron Kees is setting us up for the possibility of a Door/Doorways crossover, whether or not we ever see such an exciting happening. I think @drpaladin could be right on both levels. Further, who knows what additional skwish abilities Bob Travers has acquired since last Christmas? At that time he could teleport himself and other objects. Ricky is becoming even more of a magic mechanic. Is Adrian now able to send lightning in more than one direction at once? Or safely absorb electricity? Is Kip able to use his skwish to create barriers, as well as fly and move objects? Can Bob and Charlie contact Auggie, if needed? Since Auggie's origin was very different than most life forms, would he more resistant or more vulnerable that most in the realm of the dead? Does Ragal have an ability to come back from the layer of the dead himself, having done it once via the ring that Kippy has? Have I asked enough questions for now? I can come up with more, folks.

This antagah reminds me of a more aggressive Borg Collective from Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Voyager. The Borg absorbed people against their will, and not all were as fortunate as Captain Picard and /or Seven of Nine. This will be a fascinating adventure. Too bad Pacha and company is not there. One of these adventures, @Geron Kees, you implied we would meet more of the Kifta. Oh, well, maybe the next adventure....

Oh, man! This is going to be a major adventure! I'm glad Horace and Bob are going with them and Ragal and Casper as well. What about Durapar? The idea of Engris lighting up? Wow. Just -- wow.

I had whooping cough as a kid. It is certainly NOT fun! I hope no one else on here ever had that.

How about both, @Geron Kees? When Charlie, Ricky, and company met Horace in "Every Boy Should Face His Demons, Charlie Boone!" it was established that Charlie's second presence can go to other universes, and Ricky can tag along somewhat. So Charlie and Ricky could end up in the Doors universe, and the rest tag along. If Keerby and/or Nicholaas goes with them, they could get back. (Perhaps Max has learned enough by now to get them back, as well.) I still think it would be neat if only Cally can see them in the Door's universe, because he has some skwish. Unless, of course, they can become physically present in the Doors universe. However, another one to twenty-nine stories in the Doors universe would be great, as well. If the series never connect, I will still keep reading. Ricky's little brother (Roger? Trebor? Ronyx? Traveler? Tracer?) has a talent for translating himself and others to alternate universes, something like teleportation, and it will start to show up. And, it could be something only Ricky, Keerby, Nicholaas, and Max (and possibly Robin and Amy) understand at first? That could be a Doors story -- Derry, Cally, and Mike Hamlyn having a young boy of 11 or 12 show up on one of their adventures, and it be Ricky's younger brother, and Uncle Bob's nephew! You could do "side Door" adventures like the side Charlie Boone stories! Thanks for sparking the idea, @G90814!

Fascinating chapter, @R. Eric. I mourn the loss of Chuck. I'm hoping Stan has an undamaged mind. I am also hoping that you write more chapters on Ark II soon, then Makrovia, then Ark II again, then Bluebloods, then Ark II -- (hint, hint). I am enjoying all of them.

I agree with @drsawzall and his analysis of the situation. I also think Joel and others on the leadership team will still have to watch for selfish and bull-headed tendencies among the persons of the Ark II. However, this may have defused it a bit. Humans will still have some human failings, even transplanted to other planets. Good chapter, R. Eric. I hope we see more chapters of this soon.

Good chapter, R. Eric.

I am not surprised egos and selfishness are appearing. Very human traits.

well done, R. Eric.