>>5307107“So,” Sybil mutters in a shakier voice than usual, “We’re um… we’ll be teleported to the <span class="mu-g">ZAKHMET FREQUENCY RELAY</span> from here, then?”
“Oh <span class="mu-i">wow</span>, such a <span class="mu-i">smart</span> preemative!” The witch remarks in a tone <span class="mu-i">slathered</span> in mock pride, “Keep sayeenk those beeg words I just taught you and I’ll just <span class="mu-i">have</span> to give you a treat… let’s see here… how about a cookie? Or maybe some genetic manipulation? It’d do wonders for those less-than-ideal features…”
“J-just answer the question, please…” Sybil mutters, dejectedly staring at the lily pad.
“Spoilsport.” Izzie sighs in a disappointed voice. “A <span class="mu-i">WRONG</span> spoilsport, too–unlike you, stupid, <span class="mu-r">THE COLLECTOR OF SECRETS</span> is craftier than he looks and has subverted the majority of the teleporters and seestems around the device.”
Before you can ask, a digital blueprint of the lab flickers into existence on one of the walls. “Thees ees where you are,” explains the witch as a blue dot blinks in the pyramid’s outer perimeter. “Go ahead–wave hello!”
You and Talbot exchange looks for a moment before giving the dot a wave.
“HAH! You actually deed eet! Oh, preemitives… when weel you learn…”
Laughing off your gesture, the witch takes a moment to catch her breath before another dot appears–this one located near the center of the pyramid’s base. “You’ll be teleported here. I know what you’re theenkink: <span class="mu-i">notheenk</span>. You’re theenkink <span class="mu-i">notheenk</span>. But perhaps through some miracle of evolution one of your preemitive neurons finally decided to work properly and now you’re wondereenk: why, <span class="mu-g">HIGH SCHOLAR?</span> Why, een all your near-divine grace and intelligence are you sendink us so far away?”
“Well… yea-”
“Don’t eenterrupt, oaf.” The witch snaps, earning a glare from Talbot. “Eef I know demons well, and I most certainly <span class="mu-i">do</span>, <span class="mu-r">THE COLLECTOR OF SECRETS</span> has focused its attention on the more… <span class="mu-i">educational</span> lab seestems and sectors… leavink our mothballed labs relateevly unattended to.”
That doesn’t explain why she’s sending you all the way to the friggin’ <span class="mu-i">bottom</span>, though!
“Eet does–you’re just too stupid to comprehend eet.” The witch retorts. “Allow me to explain: our labs hef emergency deesposal seestems in case of emergencies that lead eento a waste deesposal plant at the bottom. However, eef some exceptionally stupid and suicidal preemitives climbed <span class="mu-i">up</span> through those labs instead of down… again, that’s <span class="mu-s">UP,</span> not <span class="mu-s">DOWN,</span> then they could theoretically reach the center relatively easily… do you require more veesual aids?”
Nah, you’re good…
>CONTD. 