ATWinPC-4

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==Chapter 4 - A Toreel Wizard in Prince Davion's Court==
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===Keeping Eyes Out for Trouble===
Jumpship Hank Morgan
Deep Periphery
April, 3025?
"Grav deck secured. All other stations reporting ready for jump."
"Very well," Doug said. "We have eyes on our passengers?"
Dave, the security chief occupying a station on the other side of the bridge, nodded. "Boobs, Tiny, and the old man are in their quarters. Their cat is napping in the galley. No sign they're up to anything."
"All right," Doug said. After eight days of recharging without incident, he'd finally decided to concede he had no reason to suspect them of foul play. Still, little precautions like making sure they weren't summoning monsters or something didn't hurt. "Let's keep those nicknames out of the log, Dave."
"Aye sir," the security chief acknowledged. 
Doug took a deep breath. This was... well... the moment. 
"Sound the tones, initiate sequence."
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===The Hidden Nemesis===
Unbeknownst to either the ship's crew or their passengers, a rat moved through their corridors, keeping to the shadows, avoiding prying eyes with more intelligence than any of the others this ancient, well worn vessels played host to. 
His worshipers and minions on Toreel had long watched the kingdom of Vaslen and the Archmage that had thwarted them so many times. So many times they'd attempted to end her meddling only for her to escape their traps or defeat their agents.
The great game he had played with her had left him with so many frustrations, so many moments with victory nearly in his grasp only for it to be snatched away from him by luck or pluck or her pitiful "friends". 
But then word had come to him in his black fortress of pain in the Nine Hells that the Archmage was leaving Toreel behind. That she would be traveling beyond the horizon and possibly never returning.
It had been a time to rejoice! With the meddlesome Archmage gone, none would stand in the way of his nefarious plans. His barons and advisors relished the news!
But he saw through it all. He saw the Archmage's action for what it was, a most terrible insult. So many battles for the fate of an entire world, and now she was simply leaving. She was simply abandoning their hatred for each other!
This would not stand, so he led his host of fiends forth from the pit of hate into the astral after them. The movement of so many foul denizens of the nine hells rousing a chorus of angels to descend from the heavens themselves to block their way. Many of his fiendish minions fell in the battle that followed, but it mattered not as the survivors rushed onwards, towards the convergence in the astral plane and the ship that threatened to carry away his greatest adversary. 
The ship was gone when he arrived, and most of his surviving minions would fall to a strange being that seemed to be protecting the convergence, but he did not stop. With seven of his most powerful devils behind him, he plunged into the convergence.
Passing through, he felt himself begin to unravel, as though his form, any form, could not exist in the swirling chaos beyond. His last minions were gone in either an instant or an eternity, it was only through his own tremendous will that he could hold any semblance of mind or form long enough to utter one last begging plea, one last wish to the Archduke of Hell himself. Take me to her, do not let her escape me, do not let my rage die in vain!
When his senses returned he found himself in this state. The form of a tiny, insignificant creature. But he still lived. His mind remained. His powers... were locked away by his form. But his fiendish nature remained. And he had seen them, his old adversary and her companions traveling these very corridors. The Archduke had granted his wish. For now he could observe, plot, and scheme, until the time was right.
Beware, Archmage Chimkin of the House of McNuggNugg, your greatest enemy the Devil Lord Ez'etim'ibe, will have his revenge.
But what was that infernal ringing.... Oh shi...!
Discontinuity
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