-14-

“Oh, I See Some Fun Times Ahead For Us, Xander”

Xapper opened his eyes and found himself floating in space again. Nar-Goathgeir’s planet-size praying-mantis-face glared down at him. Xeak floated at arm’s length from Xapper. He wanted to grab the little voodoo doll and chuck it further into the unknown of space.

“Can a man have one nap without somebody hovering over him?” asked Xapper.

“Our Goddess wants to know what the next move is, Xander.”

“Kiss my ass, Xeak,” said Xapper as he flipped the doll off. “And be sure to kiss both cheeks.”

“You could have eaten the piece of Zholl'xess and finished things, Xander. Why didn’t you?”

“And what would happen to me if I did eat that little piece?” asked Xapper. He glared defiantly at Nar-Goathgeir. “Well? Are you going to let Xeak do the talking? Or are you going to finally say something?”

“What do you mean, Xander?”

“Shut it, Xeak! I ain’t talking to you! I’m talking to her!”

“But you are, Xander.”

There then came a throbbing in Xapper’s head. Suddenly, the whole cosmos was bathed in a red light. Nar-Goathgeir and the stars vanished. Xapper then found himself floating in black emptiness. Crimson lightning then appeared from all directions and struck Xeak.

Xeak’s eyes glowed a red so dark and deep that it seemed light itself could not escape them. The outline of Xeak’s doll body became a crimson shadow. Then, in a flash, Xapper found himself inside a cramped space made of muscles and veins.

The veins pulsated, a heartbeat echoed, and the muscles squirmed and jirated.

“Where in the hell . . .” muttered Xapper. He then saw Xeak embedded in the meat wall before him. “What the hell is all this, Xeak? Xeak? Talk, yarn boy! What is—”

“Xeak is but a fragment,” a voice echoed. It had no gender or cadence. It was not high pitched or low. It was like a thousand voices all talking at once until they became nothing but noise.

“A fragment? What the hell is that supposed to mean?” asked Xapper.

“Xeak is a piece of a whole, separated, and stored into the effigy you possess, so that we may watch over you,” said the voice. “Just as only a fragment of Zholl'xess could exist in your world, only one of many of us could be at your side.”

“I’m not following any of this crap,” said Xapper. “Pretend I am a dummy and you got to simplify things for me. Like, kindergarten level, maybe preschool, or maybe even—”

“Xeak is but a small speck of us, and gifted independence, so that you could bond with it,” said the voice. “We could only have a fragment of us be with you. Otherwise our very nature would have destroyed your mortal mind. We are only using a small legion of us, connecting with Xeak, to speak with you at your level.”

Xapper was not the brightest, he even admitted it to this voice. But he had a working brain and even a man with little imagination could connect the pieces of a puzzle. Xapper looked around at the meaty and veiny surroundings. He then understood where he was.

“Nar-Goathgeir?”

“Yes,” the voice responded. “You are in a single cell of our mind.”

“Like a brain cell?” asked Xapper.

“If that simplifies things for you then yes,” said Nar-Goathgeir.

“Well,” said Xapper incredulously as a bit of courage welled up from within. “You've actually gone through a lot of trouble just to chat with little-old-me. I am so honored and—”

“ENOUGH!” Thousands of voices screamed all at once. Xapper’s head felt like its was going to explode. The pain then suddenly faded as Nar-Goathgeir whispered. “That was just two cells being used to speak with you. We are showing restraint in speaking at your level.”

“I appreciate your restraint,” said Xapper as he rubbed his temples. “Now, am I allowed to ask questions or what?”

Nar-Goathgeir’s voices then whispered, “Very well, speak.”

“Right,” said Xapper. He thought for a moment just to annoy the goddess. He then asked, “How do we dispose of Zholl'xess? Is there a safe way for us to do it?”

“Zholl'xess is but a minor god and a fraction of his being could be annihilated without sacrifices,” said Nar-Goathgeir. “However, there is no such method available to you in your world or reality.”

“Okay then what other options do we have?” asked Xapper.

“The one we offer is for you to consume Zholl'xess and then we destroy your physical form, obliterating the piece in the process.”

“Nope. And don’t you think about sacrificing Plasmee either. Little Defiant needs Plasmee to live and you are not doing them any harm.”

Nar-Goathgeir’s voices then buzzed like a swarm of insects and said, “You are a vexing one. Just like your kin, the Witch-in-Red-and-Black.”

“Kin? Witch? The heck are you on about?” asked Xapper. “I’m not related to any witch. At least, none that I know of.”

“Your kin, your offspring, has become notorious across the multiverse,” said Nar-Goathgeir. Xapper turned pale upon hearing this. “Yes, of course you are unaware. You possess a feeble mind unable to comprehend the simplest things.”

“You can call me all kinds of stupid,” said Xapper as he sneered defiantly and raised a fist. “But ain’t nobody calling my baby girl a witch and walking away without a nice punch to the brain.”

“The Witch-in-Red-and-Black is not a being we dared mock,” said Nar-Goathgeir. “Even the likes of the Great Old Ones would not challenge the might of the Sorceress of Earth.”

“Sorceress of Earth?” Xapper was a mixture of confused, frightened, and a little proud. “She has two nicknames, huh? So, my baby girl has been doing lots of magic stuff and gaining a reputation, huh?”

“The Witch-in-Red-and-Black is an impossibility,” said Nar-Goathgeir. “The cosmic power you call magic should consume and obliterate any lower sapient creature that dares wield it. But, the Sorceress of Earth, is the opposite. She consumes the magic and has grown frighteningly powerful from it.”

Xapper nodded and said, “So if anyone could solve our Zholl'xess problem, then Valiant could—”

“NO!” cried out Nar-Goathgeir.

So many voices bellowed all at once. They gave Xapper a splitting headache. And he could feel the fear in the goddess’ voices. He tried to hide his glee behind the pain.

“The heck, you bitch?” said Xapper as he clenched his head. “Don’t shout at me like that!”

“Do not deliver the piece of Zholl'xess to the Witch-in-Red-and-Black,” warned Nar-Goathgeir. “None should trust the Sorceress of Earth with such power.”

“But what if I talked to her?” asked Xapper quickly. “I’m her father. She’ll listen to me.”

“And if she does not? What if she takes the piece of Zholl'xess and gains more power?”

“More power? How powerful is she?”

Nar-Goathgeir went silent then the voices whispered, “You have made your mind up, my necrophage. You are going to take the piece of Zholl'xess to the Sorceress of Earth. And you will deliver human scripture with all manner of dark and forbidden knowledge to her as well.”

“You mean that stupid old book that causes all the bullshit?” asked Xapper. “Yeah, I planned on giving that to Valiant too. So what? Go right ahead and try to stop me. I dare you!”

Nar-Goathgeir was silent for a moment then said, “We should destroy you. But you are the only avatar we have that shares a bond with such a powerful being. Yes, we shall spare you. And do what you wish. We will not interfere.”

“Good and you won’t be bothering me in my dreams again, right?” asked Xapper.

“Very well, you may dream in peace but be forewarned, my necrophage,” said Nar-Goathgeir. “Cosmic power is not good and it is not evil. Such concepts are trivial burdens created by humans and other sapient kinds. But, since you possess such a flaw, the cosmic power can be influenced by your very will.”

“And what the heck is all that supposed to mean?” asked Xapper.

“The Witch-in-Red-and-Black is human, despite her awesome power,” said Nar-Goathgeir. “She is subject to your human concepts of good and evil. Therefore, the power she possesses can be influenced by her very flawed nature. Do you understand?”

Xapper understood. He began to grow frightened of what his daughter was up to after years of studying magic books. But the pride still lingered too. Xapper liked the idea that a planet-eating thing like Nar-Goathgeir was afraid of his all-powerful daughter.

“We assign a new role to you, my necrophage,” said Nar-Goathgeir. “If the Sorceress of Earth is to be influenced by flawed human concepts, may it be ones that protect the cosmos and everything in it. Understand?”

“I do and I will do my part,” said Xapper. “Now get out of my damn dreams!”

Suddenly, the meat and veins vanished. Xapper found himself in a black void. Xeak then floated in front of Xapper’s face. He looked at the doll with a new perspective.

“Don’t get cocky, Xander. And, it’s been a while since I had to say this . . . you need to eat!”

🍴🧠

Xapper sat up and stumbled off the futon. He then marched down the stone steps and out of the watchtower. All around the watchtower were zombified wild animals and a small number of stray human zombies.

“You damn dirty bastards want your master, right?!” asked Xapper as he cracked his knuckles. “Well, you gotta get through me first. So come on, bring it!”

A zombie raccoon went for his ankles. He grabbed it just as it jumped onto his leg. He then bit off its head and chewed the flesh and bone and brains. He ignored things like texture and flavor.

Xapper had to eat and all around him was a buffet.

He heard Broadway above him and she shouted ridicule at him. “Sergeant Dumbass, what did I say about doing crap on your own?” She fired off a few rifle shots to disable some of the zombies.

Xapper ignored her and went on eating what his hands could grab.

Little Defiant and Plasmee soon joined him in the frey. The zombies were plentiful and so very easy to kill. They were a quick and welcoming breakfast. Xapper found himself consuming an insane amount of the dead.

And he felt nothing but satisfaction from the fighting and feasting.

Eating the undead was as natural as breathing for Xapper. He felt stronger and faster and his body was so tough that not even a charging zombie moose or zombie bear could bring him down. And his teeth had awesome power behind them and cut through bone like the jaws-of-life.

Xapper had become a true necrophage. Ripping and tearing through wave after wave of undead became an art form. He chuckled in delight as he decimated the hordes and consumed their remains.

Xapper liked being a necrophage.

During some down time between waves of zombies, Plasmee crawled onto Xapper’s back. And after sinking her claws into his shoulder, she spoke to Xapper with telepathy. Xapper was still getting used to it.

“You spoke with the goddess then, Xapper?” asked Plasmee.

“Yeah and she wants one of us to eat that piece of Zholl'xess and then let her destroy us to destroy the piece,” said Xapper. “I told her that wasn’t happening.”

“Yes and I too denied the goddess,” said Plasmee. “I had to decline since I share a symbiotic relationship with Jamie. If I die then so would Jamie.”

“It felt really good telling that bug goddess to piss off,” said Xapper. “And she said some things about my daughter that I’ll tell you later.”

“Yes, the goddess did mention your daughter was someone of notoriety,” said Plasmee. “I look forward to meeting her. Oh, which reminds me. I did ask the goddess how we could safely travel with the piece of Zholl'xess.”

“Smart. And what did the bug goddess have to say?” asked Xapper.

“Cold temperature is the only way to keep the piece of Zholl'xess from controlling more undead,” said Plasmee. “We need to make the piece cold enough to put it to sleep.”

“Makes sense,” said Xapper. “And how cold do we need to make it?”

“As cold as we can,” said Plasmee. “Broadway knows where to find a substance called liquid nitrogen, which is capable of making things very cold.”

“Yeah, it’s seriously nasty shit,” said Xapper. “Well, let's go find ourselves some liquid nitrogen and keep Zholl'xess on ice until we get to Arkham.”

The screams of the undead echoed in the distance. More of the undead charged towards Xapper and company. Plasmee returned to Little Defiant and they went into their monster-rifle-combat stance. Xapper rolled his neck and smiled eagerly.

He felt invincible that day. And the amount he was eating was not weighing him down. He was unstoppable and he heard Xeak’s laughter faintly over the cries of zombies.

“Here they come, Xander. Now, what do you say?”

“I am the purge!” Xapper did not know why he said it. He just did it. And he ran into the charging horde like a hungry beast from hell.

🍴🧠

It took a full day for Xapper and company to find the liquid nitrogen. Xapper did not ask Broadway any questions as he and Little Defiant covered her and brought the nitrogen back to the watchtower. Broadway first set the pot with Zholl'xess into a large cooler and then filled it with water. The water mixed with the liquid nitrogen and ice covered the pot.

It was enough to put the piece to sleep.

No more zombies appeared after that.

Xapper and Plasmee had a moment of peace to relax and let their kills digest. Little Defiant kept watch while Broadway continued to cool off Zholl'xess. Dawn came and Xapper made the call.

“We move out today,” said Xapper. “We are getting the heck out of Redmoose.”

“About time,” said Broadway. “I think we have enough liquid nitrogen to keep that thing from making anymore zombies. At least for a while, I hope.”

“It’s only a day trip to Arkham and if we move now, we’ll make it before nightfall,” said Xapper. “I’m going to check on my convoy truck. It has enough in it to keep an army going for days.”

Little Defiant wanted some MREs and went with Xapper. When they exited the town, the truck was gone. Xapper wanted to be upset but he was not surprised.

“Must have been some survivors left after all,” said Xapper. “And they hijacked the truck with everything useful in it. Shit.” He sighed and took his hat off. “Damn it. I knew I should have driven that truck into town and kept an eye on it. Stupid.”

“So what do we do now?” asked Little Defiant.

Xapper then sighed again and put his hat back on. “Well, we need to find a ride that can get us to Arkham. Maybe something like a van so we can keep Zholl'xess comfy and take plenty of stuff with us.”

Xapper and Little Defiant returned to the watchtower and he told Broadway what happened to the convoy truck.

“I’m not surprised,” she said. “It is the end of the world, after all.”

“Yeah, people being opportunists and shitty, I know,” said Xapper. “So, do you think you can get a working ride for us? Preferably something with storage space.”

“I can do that, I’m decent at mechanical things and I got most of the working batteries in town,” said Broadway. “But it will take me most of the day to find and get a decent ride to work. I know you want to leave today—”

“It’s okay, I’d rather you take your time and get it right,” said Xapper. “We get the hell out of Redmoose tomorrow morning then. You think we can do that?”

“We can,” said Broadway with a thumbs up. “I’ll find us a ride right away.”

“I’ll come with you, watch your back,” said Xapper.

“I can stay here with Plasmee and we can make sure the boss monster doesn’t wake up,” said Little Defiant as she sat next to the cooler.

“Just watch the thermometer I installed on the cooler,” said Broadway. “If that temperature goes up, come find me.”

🍴🧠

Xapper went with Broadway and they searched around town for a van. They found a van belonging to an electrician. And the electrician was inside and was also a nice and juicy corpse. Xapper disposed of it without problem since it was dead-dead.

“Thank god, the keys are still in the ignition,” said Broadway. “And maybe we can get this bitch rolling before sundown.”

Xapper was relieved. Things were coming together. But a sinking feeling filled Xapper along with pieces of electrician.

“This is too good to be true,” said Xapper. “Is our plan actually working? I’m kind of scared.”

“Yeah, I’m a little on edge too,” admitted Broadway. “Our luck is turning around. I’m shaking, I’m actually so freaking excited to get on the road that—”

She then turned the ignition key and the van stalled. Broadway tried it again and again and the van refused to start. Xapper and Broadway had a twinge of disappointment before they relaxed and sighed in relief.

“If a broken van is the worst we gotta deal with until we get to Arkham, I’m okay with that,” said Xapper.

“Oh, I see some fun times ahead for us, Xander,” said Xeak. “So many tasty things await in Arkham.”

To Be Continued . . .