Chapter 23: Heaven Is A Gated Community

[Lucio De Saldanha]

To the Red Jester

After Lucio's fate was determined by the crowd, two Manalist guards grabbed Lucio and escorted him back to the Temple of Terror. Lucio followed along, saying nothing, and feeling a little light headed from wounds inflicted upon him by the feminist fighter and Salome. He didn't even pay attention to where they were bringing him or how long it took. He was in his own world, lost in his own strange thoughts.

Finally, after an unknown amount of time, Lucio was dropped off in a part of the Temple of Terror that looked like a carnival. His eyes lit up and he looked around gleefully. He wondered if he imagined this, but that he was not aware of his own imaginations.

The guards told the Red Jester that he was to keep an eye on Lucio until the morning, when he would be put on the float in the parade. They left Lucio alone with the Jester.

"I made the pie fit for a king and now I get to meet his Jester."

[Horacio Hatfield]

Horacio settles into his life outside of Allwhere and after a long hiatus, returns to work at the Allmart warehouse. He works the night shift, and, one night, while working, he learns that some factory workers have been sick. He is told to make sure he washes his hands so that the disease doesn't spread around the warehouse. He is mindful of it and doesn't think too much of the outbreak. Colds happen.

He works all night then returns home where he eats a cold can of smeet before going to bed. He is excited for the upcoming anarchist meeting. He lays in bed thinking about what they could call the anarchist group and if anyone will show up. Finally, he closes his eyes and drifts to sleep.

[Tristan Tuzanic]

Tristan watched the final fight and was surprised that there was no rebel activity. He was almost certain that something would happen. With the fights over, people start to leave the arena. Tristan follows after some guards, when another runs up to the group. He says that the guards that were carrying Salome's body were killed.

Tristan figures he had better investigate, even though he is not enthused about it. He and a couple other guards start looking around for any sign of a rebel.

[Archer Aylmer]

"I guess maybe nothing is completely free. Perhaps nothing, reasonably speaking, can be. But we should still strive for the most freedom possible, I think. There are things that have more freedom than other things. Things which, at least right now, have no rules. Dark matter, for instance. Or entropy-- chaos. Things in the universe. Anyway... I am more free than you are. It is what it is."

I say this a little jauntily. I am very snobby when it comes to this subject. I feel superior when discussing it with people since I genuinely do believe I am more free, and thus know more about freedom, than almost anyone. Maybe not more than anyone in the world, but in the top percentile to be sure.

"Oh no..."

I sigh and start to feel nervous when the visitor arrives. It's been my experience that visitors are never good and this man seems like trouble.

[Calithin Crest]

"This is so lame! I don't want him fed to pigs... That's gross, and also, I like that guy. Um... The limited and ignorable extent to which anyone can like a Socialist. How ridiculous!"

I am aghast for a moment, but, I do get over it. I can be a little dramatic but it never lasts too too long.

"Oh well... Hmm... But yeah. You should call. And then after the parade tomorrow I'll go with you to Allwhere and we can investigate! I am like the Sherlock Holmes of the business world. If anyone can find out why your workers are missing work, to be sure it's me! That way, if it comes up that they're just lazy... You can fire them. But if it's something else, we'll tackle that problem. You're so lucky to know me, guy! I am a godsend."

When Scrag dismisses everyone I make my way out of the colloseum. I am a little bit down from not getting my way about Lucio, as happens, but then I see a cotton candy vender and I get myself a bag of pink cotton candy. This makes everything right again.

[††Venice "Cephrien" Ashgrove††]

Ceph listens to Sasha speak about a doctor they could visit. But suddenly, he feels his body jerk forward as a small projectile enters his back and shoots out his chest. A splash of blood flies out and paints the floors infront of him. He bounds forward a little and puts his hand over his chest.. It isn't a very alarming wound since the single projectile wasn't all that big.. Though the bullet did scrape his heart.. He would have trouble if he decided to fight here. Luckily, Ceph had gotten what he came for and no longer needed to stick around.

He stood up straight and turned his head to look at Darian out of the corner of his eye. A thin, mocking smirk appeared on his lips. The demon snap his fingers together and a black portal appeared infront of He, Sasha, and Salome's unconcious form. Almost immediately all three of them were taken into portal and completely disappeared from sight.. and before anything could be done. The portal closed.

He, Sasha and Salome reappeared in an alleyway in Rome, outside of the Colloseum. This is where Ceph had left his normal clothes as well as his sword.

[Dinari Dollar]

"The Manalists might allow you to buy his freedom, if it matters that much." Dinari says to Calithin concerning Lucio. Maybe he likes Lucio a little as well. At least he was entertaining.

"Sure, we can investigate the outbreak. That would be great!" Dinari replies to Calithin. People are leaving the arena, but Dinari stays behind, because he doesn't want to be trampled by the crowd. He appreciates the help, though he doubts he needs it.

[Kaschei Bessmertny]

After the fights end, Kaschei wanders through the crowd since earlier he spotted Machiavelli. Mac must now know that he works for the Manalists, so Kaschei will have some explaining to do. He doesn't care what the dragon thinks and expects his loyalty all the same. However, he will have to explain his decision so that the dragon understands that he has not truly converted to that religion. Once Scrag has left, Kaschei wanders over to the back of the arena and spots Machiavelli. He steps up to his dragon friend without expression.

"I see you are here. I suppose you are aware that I am the head of the Temple of Terror now." Kaschei states evenly. He doesn't want to make much of his sudden career move.

[Kizu Sensou & Hex]

Kizu and Hex leave well wishes for Hilja and take there leave. She feels very weird not knowing anyone so she ended up going back to genetech and working.

She unstrapped Hex and put her labcoat on bending down to look into a microscope.

"Maybe we arent meant to go be around others Hex..."

[Cillian Machiavelli]

'Yes I saw that master."

Mac looks away from his masters face afraid his excitement about seeing him might show through.

"I didnt think you would have been one to be in a position where you would report to others...or is there more to this story that I am simply not aware of?"

[Rust aka "Chaos"]

"So sorry to bother you all tonight. My name is Ulliel and I was notified to check things out this side of town. I heard there were some disturbances this way and wondered if you might allow me to come in for a bit..."

He looked over at Amelia and grinned. She would not tell what he really was...he would not let her.

[Kaschei Bessmertny]

"I decided to make a career move when the Temple here opened because it would put me in position for more power in society. I believe it will help me towards my ultimate goal." Kaschei replies. His ultimate goal is to become a god himself, which is a goal that some closest to him know. "I can take orders from Master as I bide my time. Perhaps in this position, I will be the next Master." Kaschei adds. He doesn't know that he would even want to be the Master. Carrying out ceremonies and looking after priests would be a bore, but, the power would be useful.

"Since I won't be in Russia as much, I leave things there under your control...."

[Bonifaz Artz-Lehrer]

"Everything is fine here." Bonifaz says without further explanation. The whole in the wall speaks for itself, but Bonifaz isn't going to draw attention to it. He looks the man over and hopes that he will soon leave. He assumes it is someone from Genetech, but he wonders why they bothered sending someone into Germany. It makes him uneasy, but there is little that he can do now.
"You can return to Ireland to Genetech. The company might be in some trouble anyway ..from what I saw on TV with the monster line up at the Colosseum."

[The Red Jester]

Pine Eyes jump onto Jester's shoulder as the guards brought in Lucio. They explain to him that he need to kept an eye on the prisoner until morning. As soon as the guards left, Jester and his puppet when Lucio says something random.

"I guess we can't torture him..." Jester mumbler before walking up to Lucio. "Look, we have no king in here. It just me and Pine Eyes."

"You better be careful..." Pine Eyes add.

[Cillian Machiavelli]

"I see."

Mac can not hide his dissappointment at the idea of being left behind by his one true master. The man who is respondsable for his existance. He lowers his head before responding.

"I would be honored to look after things while you are away."