The Conciege
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(TPOR) Chapter 147: Eight—No Seven Hours
🕑 Added 2023-12-17 23:00:06 +0000 UTCDaniel was standing in front of a holographic projection of a map when Zed walked in, throwing the door wide open without a knock. Once he was in, the sound of the roughly opened door done with its crescendo, he closed it gently behind him.
The planning room had been a hassle to find. Zed had gone through too many turns and curves, paths and doors. It had taken him longer than it was supposed to to get here and he knew it. He did learn of a few rooms in his lack of direction so that was a plus.
“Why’s this ship so big?” he asked as he walked up to the hologram. “Don’t get me wrong, it’s big on the outside too. I’m complaining because it has too much, definitely more than sixteen people can handle.”
Daniel raised his head. “Sixteen?”
“That’s how many of you I counted the second time I was here.” Zed answered dismissively. “It’s not big deal, I’m just a counter. Always have been.”
Daniel’s brows furrowed, a frown line drew across his forehead. “Second time?”
Zed paused. He looked back at the closed door then at Daniel. He hooked a thumb over his shoulder, indicated the door.
“You’re not going to complain about how loud my entry was?” he asked.
Daniel’s expression didn’t change, no words left his lips.
“That’s odd,” Zed said, a bit let down. “The whole point of making an entrance is for the entrance to be acknowledged. I figured if it’s loud enough you’d say something.”
Daniel let out a slow breath. “You ended it poorly by closing it quietly.”
“Well, I thought if I closed it with the same gusto I used to open it, then that would just be me being obnoxious.” Zed paused, rubbed his chin in thought. “Give me one moment.”
He turned and made his way back to the door.
“Zed,” Daniel said, trying to draw his attention.
Zed kept on walking.
“Ned?” Daniel tried.
There was a slight pause from Zed, but that was all. He was at the door now.
“Samuel?”
That got Zed’s attention. Hand on the door handle, he looked back. “What day is it?”
“Tuesday. Why?”
“No reason. Just wanted to know.” He shrugged and was about to open the door when a notification popped up in front of him.
New Quest: The Great Houdini
Danger lies around every corner, seeking preys where none may be found. Often times, prey wander onto their path, most times they seek prey out. Rest has taken its toll, wrapped itself about you. Do not fall into a false sense of security. Danger is on its way. You are surrounded.
· Objective: Escape the woods in time: 0/1
· Reward: [Riot shield] (Rune-carved).
· Time remaining: [08:02:13]
Zed frowned at himself. In the time it had taken him to find Daniel he had all but forgotten the urgency of the task. He couldn’t believe he’d just been about to do something stupid for the fun and giggles.
I should have an attribute for being unable to focus long term, he thought to himself. Buuuut… eight hours is a lot of time.
He was stuck in an unimportant dilemma. Something that shouldn’t even be a debatable thought. He stared down at the door handle with his hand still wrapped around it.
“To be or not to be,” he muttered.
Behind him Daniel said, “Shakespeare.”
Zed nodded to himself, to Daniel, he said, “No. Hamlet.”
Then he opened the door and left the room. The door closed gently behind him. Alone in the hallway, he took a deep breath. You just couldn’t help it, could you, he chided himself.
“In my defense, it was hard not to. Anyway, at least we know one thing.”
“What do we know?”
Zed raised his head to find Ronda coming out of a hallway in the corner. He watched the curious expression on her face and smiled widely.
“We know that with you,” he said, “he’ll never see it coming.”
………………….
The door opened and was flung wide and full. It smacked loudly into the wall and Daniel fought back a sigh. To say he hadn’t seen this coming would be a lie.
“Alright, Zed. This one was very dramatic. I would say—” he raised his head and his words died with a frown. “That’s no way open a door, Ronda,” he said, voice stern.
Ronda stood at the door way, looking as confused as a freshly neutered cat.
“I swear it wasn’t me, Boss. I just—”
“TO BE OR NOT TO BE!” Zed appeared out of nowhere. He strolled past Ronda who now had her head in her hand and stepped into the room. “That,” he added in a normal tone, “is the question. Shakespeare.”
Daniel shook his head. “I thought you said it was Hamlet.”
Zed smiled impishly. “I know, I know. I was wrong and you were right. I’m still getting a hang of these memory thing. Hamlet was the character, Shakespeare was the author. Ergo, Shakespeare.” He looked back at Ronda. “That’s kinda your cue to come in.”
Ronda entered the room with hesitant steps, confused.
“It’s alright, soldier,” Daniel assured her. “This shouldn’t take long.”
Zed looked between both of them. He paused as if in thought, walked back to the door, paused again, shrugged, then slammed it loudly.
Ronda winced. Daniel’s expression remained flat.
Zed looked at the door in contemplation, then shook his head. “I really have to work on my entrance. That seemed largely over the top.”
“It was,” Ronda said.
Daniel shrugged. “I wouldn’t say over the top, but it does need a tweak here and there.”
Zed shook his head and walked up to them. “I swear, a man as large as you shouldn’t be using the word tweak. It just comes out wrong.”
Daniel nodded, like a patronizing father. “Why are you here, Ze—Sa…” he frowned.
“You can call me Jedidiah,” Zed said, drawing a confused frown from Ronda. “But just for the sake of this conversation.”
To their surprise, Daniel smiled. It was a small thing, present in the mild upturning of one corner of his lip. It looked more like a grin than a smile.
“Anyhoo,” Zed went on. “Ronda was just on her way out but I wanted to let you all know that we’ve got to get out of here in eight—No, seven hours.”
“Why?” Daniel asked, unbothered.
Zed shrugged. “No idea. I just know something bad’s going to happen in eight—No, seven hours. And I’m of the opinion that we best be gone by then.”
Daniel nodded slowly. “I understand,” he said. “But this ship will not be moving until we’ve gotten an express command from HQ.”
“And how long will that take?”
“I’m not sure. But I’m planning our departure route while I wait on their next communication.”
“Which is scheduled for?”
“Two—No, three more hours.”
Zed squinted at him, amuzed. “I see what you did there.” Then he nodded understandingly. “Well,” he said, turning around. “That was a bust. I’ll be making arrangements on my departure in the next two—No, three hours. If HQ and I are not on the same wavelength when they communicate, I’ll be taking my leave.” In a very low voice as if to himself, he added: “Can’t be getting caught, that’ll just be an insult to the great Houdini.”
When he left this time, he opened the door like any normal person would and closed it behind him the same way.
Ronda and Daniel where left alone in the room. The light of the holographic map in front of Daniel, casting them in the glow of a soft blue.
“What just happened?” Ronda asked.
“The mage came to give us a warning,” Daniel said, attention returning back to the map on the table. “It seems something dangerous is about to happen.”
“What does that have to do with Houdini?”
Daniel shrugged, non-chalant. “I’d assume we’re supposed to get away from here, the way Houdini liked to escape from tight spots. I’d say whatever dangerous thing is about to happen, it’ll put us in a tight spot.”
Ronda’s jaw dropped. “And you got all that out of all that?”
Daniel nodded.
“My gosh!” Ronda chuckled. “You speak Zed.”
Daniel raised his head. “What’s that?”
“Here we thought Oliver was the only one that understood the guy, but here you are. You speak Zed, captain.”
Daniel shook his head and looked back at the map. With a single gesture of his hand, the hologram zoomed in on a spot of the map.
“No wonder he hasn’t bothered you since,” Ronda went on. “That explains why he did all that and you didn’t bat an eye. That explains why you’re in total control of your emotions all the time. My God! That explains everything.” She was laughing now. “Wait till the others get a load of this. Tall, large and broody speaks Zed.”
“Is there a reason you came to see me, Soldier?” Daniel interrupted her. He was looking at her now, eyes firm.
Ronda moved to attention. “No, captain. In fact, I wasn’t even coming here at all. Zed saw me and pulled me in. I was merely dragged into his shenanigans.”
“Then you may be on your way, soldier.”
Ronda turned to leave. Just as Zed had once done, she paused at the door and looked back. “You know,” she said with a knowing smile. “Now that I know you speak Zed, the whole dark eyes aren’t as intimidating. Wait till the others get a load of this.”
Daniel sighed in resignation. “Please go about your day, Ronda.”
The smile never left her lips, even as she shot off a salute. “Yes, captain.”
She was gone a moment later.
