#Agent Thoth's #Personal Log: Day 1347

Hey Everyone! 😊

Agent Thoth discusses more of the trials and tribulations associated with living with hominids. Incidentally, if you've missed Agent Thoth's earlier entries, you can find them here: Thoth's Journal

Department for the Preservation and Confirmation of Intelligent Life (DPCIL)

Agent Thoth's Personal Log

Day Thirteen-Hundred-Forty-Seven:

Once again, my carefully crafted plans were foiled by hominid obstinacy! In my ongoing campaign to induce my hominid-servant to open the door to my domicile during the hours I wish to engage in my studies outside, I devised a plan to use the canid to my advantage.

My strategy was simple but elegant: I provoked the canid into a frenzy of movement and loud vocalizations focused around the door by means of projecting the sound of movement to make it seem as if it was coming from the other side of the door. I knew that my hominid-servant's hearing would not be acute enough to discern the noise; however, I hoped the canid’s reaction would cause my hominid-servant to investigate by opening the door. And thereby provide me with my opportunity to escape.

But hominids being the insufferable creatures that they are, of course my hominid-servant did not respond to this stimulus in a reasonable manner. No. Instead, she became irritated and herded the canid into a box she uses to contain the poor beast when her behavior becomes more exuberant than my hominid-servant would prefer. The box is cushioned and spacious, but it is still disrespectful to incarcerate a being. No matter how comfortable the confinement.

I have reason to know because, somehow, my hominid-servant realized I was the instigator of the canid’s sudden upset, and she treated me in the same manner. I was unceremoniously scooped up and deposited in my own punishment box. And there I was forced to languish until the canid calmed and quieted and my hominid-servant eventually relented. 

I am now in the process of meditating to restore my psychological equilibrium. As I continue to recover from this study in indignity, I will reconsider my options. Hopefully, I will soon be able to formulate a new plan of attack. 

Foiled again! 😉 You may have noticed that Agent Thoth has a new look. I hope you like his new picture as much as I do, but I'd love to hear your thoughts, either way. Feel free to let me know what you think in the comments. 😉 Happy reading, everyone!

Shifting Circumstances...

 

Hey Everyone!! 😊

Since it's Tuesday and, if you're like me, we're all fully into the weekly grind, I thought it might be fun to share a peek at how a day in the life of an Underworld dolly, like Petri, can go. It's always good to remind ourselves that things could be worse. 😉 Enjoy!

Excerpt from Rainbow Dreams:

The foursome escaped the Janus wasp hive with much less difficulty than Petri would have predicted. There was only token resistance from the remaining JWs, and Petri wondered where the rest of them were. Hives of less than fifty cult members were unusual. It was only when Sadaka whispered in her ear that Daji had fought off more of the wasps before she and Chessie had arrived that it began to make sense.

Janus wasps weren't known for being reasonable or allowing reality to interfere with the pursuit of their goals, so the fact that the Paka had been able to run them off still disturbed her. Normally, if the wasps thought they were under attack, they killed all the victims they had in custody. If they had thought it was a hive-burning, they should have converged on her and Chessie and taken them to the altar room.

But watching the big Paka fight, she had to admit the JWs had good reason to be scared. When she added in the fact that Daji had already taken the fight to their altar room, she thought it was little wonder that the JWs had chosen discretion as the better part of valor. The cult members had probably decided they weren't ready for their high priest to be the next sacrifice, especially since it had been clear that sacrificing their remaining victims wouldn't be possible.

The Paka was like a machine, tearing through anyone who stood in his way with a cold ferocity. In some ways, he was much like a guard, except unlike the mechanicals, he obviously had the capacity to temper his response based on the situation. Petri had never met anyone quite like the alien before, and she looked forward to learning more…assuming she didn't end up having to kill him.

In spite of the strange procession they made when they exited the hive, no one bothered the four of them as they made their way to Daji's ship. Never having seen the spaceport before, Petri was a bit disappointed by the fact that it just looked like another neighborhood in Under City. Old, semi-dilapidated buildings lined crowded streets. Merchants hawked their wares from carts and storefronts, and dollies and dust pushers plied their trades on the corners. Here and there, music could be heard coming from one of the clubs that never closed. And neon signs flashed over their doors, trying to entice passersby to enter. Overall, except for the dank smell that permeated everything, and the fact that both the merchandise and the shoppers were more varied, they could have been in any central area of Southern sector.

Chessie, on the other hand, didn't share her friend's let down. Petri watched as the taller woman tried to look everywhere at once. She seemed fascinated by all the off-world goods that were on display, and her fingers twitched as if they were itching to touch all the exotic treasures. She was still carrying Sadaka, but if Petri had had a free hand, she would have taken one of Chessie's.

Her friend was a part-time pickpocket and shoplifter, but the people in this market were all too alert for any of her games to work. The last thing they needed was for her to get caught stealing. They didn't know enough about whom it was safe to rob in Western sector, and taking chances like that just weren't worth the risk. Petri managed to catch Chessie's gaze and gave her a look, but her friend just rolled her eyes.

Fortunately, Chessie managed to control herself and they passed through the marketplace without incident. Beyond, the buildings thinned, and Petri caught a glimpse of the night sky high above. The haze and murk obscured the stars, but she could just barely make out what she thought was one of Upworld's three moons. The smell was also stronger here, and she searched for the water that was supposedly the source.

The ocean remained out of view, but a loud, rhythmic whooshing sound was audible, which Sadaka informed her came from the water hitting the land. Petri tried to picture such a thing, but her imagination wasn't quite up to the task. Spaceships of all sizes and models dotted the ground, and Petri wondered which one was their destination.

The Paka led the way to a small ship that was nestled in the shadow of two larger freight transports. The lines of the ship were elegant and flowing, almost as if it was meant to move through water and not vacuum. The metal exterior was black, and it was shaped vaguely like a teardrop.

Before they had left the hive, they had found Daji's missing possessions stacked in the room next to the altar room. He had reclaimed his tools and supplies, and now he drew a wand-like object and pointed it at the ship. A ramp lowered from the narrower end, and he gestured at them to board.

Petri led the way up the ramp, but she was forced to stop when she got to the top. A locked door blocked the way, and she had to wait until Daji joined them before she was able to enter the airlock. The Paka grimaced as he looked at the three of them, his hand poised over the lock to the interior door.

"You will all need to cleanse yourselves immediately. I fear you are infested with parasites, and I do not want them on my ship."

Petri's eyes widened at the insult, and she opened her mouth to fire back a fitting retort, but Chessie put her hand over her friend's lips and said, "Sure, sugar, I think I speak for all of us when I say we'd love a shower."

Nodding, Daji pressed his hand against the lock, which beeped. "Welcome aboard the Ruba."

The interior door retracted and warm, dry air rushed into the airlock. Petri noted that the stench of the water was absent and a burn in her sinuses she hadn't even been aware of faded.

Putting Sadaka down, Petri took the girl's hand and led her forward. As they stepped into the room beyond the airlock, a black ball of fur dropped down onto the child's head from above. She shrieked and tried to run, but Daji caught her and held her still.

"Kivuli!" he growled.

Two enormous eyes emerged from the ball of fur, which resolved itself into the shape of an animal Petri wasn't familiar with. The creature sat on Sadaka's shoulder and plunged both of its tiny hands into her hair.

"Hey!" squeaked the girl, but the animal ignored her protest.

Almost immediately, the furball plucked something from Sadaka's head, which it held up between two of its fingers. It studied its catch for a moment, and then ate its prize with an audible crunch. Petri looked at Daji in astonishment.

The Paka shrugged, "This is Kivuli, which means 'shadow' in my language. She is a tessa. They eat almost any type of prey that is smaller than they are. As I said, you all need to cleanse yourselves."

Sadaka reached up to touch the creature, who seemed to be quite comfortable on her shoulder, and she smiled. "She's soft!"

"Yes, tessa fur is known for being soft and exceptionally warm. She will not harm you, little one, you need not fear."

Kivuli leaned into the child's caresses and purred. Sadaka giggled in delight, and Petri couldn't help but smile.

"You're sure she isn't dangerous?" Petri asked their host.

"Yes," Daji assured her, "Kivuli is quite tame, and she likes people. If you were to attempt to hurt her, she would defend herself. But she will not attack."

Nodding, Petri said, "We should let someone know about the hive. You didn't kill all of them, and it won't be long before they start looking for our replacements."

"I killed none of them, though some may be permanently damaged. They are mad and dangerous and should receive appropriate medical care, so that they do not harm themselves or others."

Chessie made a noise in the back of her throat, and Petri shot her a look. "Well, that won't happen, but we should still report them."

He nodded, "I will contact someone I know here while the three of you wash."

They nodded in agreement, and Daji showed them to his refresher unit. While they bathed, Sadaka told the two women how the JWs had been getting ready to chain her to the table in that room of horrors when the Paka had appeared and saved her. He told her he had heard her scream and had followed them into the hive to rescue her.

The girl's face was solemn when she informed them that the wasps had tried to capture him and had stolen his equipment. But he had fought them off and they had run away. Petri smiled at Chessie. It was clear their young charge had a crush on the handsome alien.

Once the child ran down, and they had all dressed in the shipboard coveralls that Daji had provided, Petri said, "You never did tell me how old you are, sweetie."

Looking away, Sadaka shrugged. "He said I was almost ten," she mumbled.

The two women exchanged a confused look, and Chessie knelt down in front of the girl and put her hands on her shoulders. "Who said, honey?"

Another shrug.

Petri studied the child now that she was clean. Her white-blonde hair gleamed in the well-lit lavatory, and her big, blue eyes were almost as striking as Daji's. She was just a skinny, little thing, as skinny as Petri, but there was already a hint of the figure she would have when she got older.

Everything about the kid screamed future high-priced dolly. She was exactly the kind of girl the houses turned into sweetie dollies, or even sold as permanent companions to the ultra-rich in Upworld. Such arrangements weren't common because of the extreme expense involved, but sometimes, family members wanted slaves they wouldn't have to share. Sadaka was exactly the kind of child who might end up in such a situation.

Petri's felt nauseous at the thought. In some ways, the life of a permanent companion was easier than that of a house-dolly. They usually had better food and accommodations than most dollies, were only passed around if their owner wanted to share them, and they weren't expected to hustle to attract clients. But there was no escape for them either.

On occasion, a house-dolly might save up enough to buy their freedom once they were no longer of use to the house. Or failing that, if they proved themselves to be smart and hard-working, they might be offered the opportunity to manage the other dollies once they were no longer able to make money as a dolly themselves.

But permanent companions didn't have those options, and the working-life of people in the sex trade was usually short. The kind of Upworld citizen who would purchase a permanent companion didn't need the money that would come from their sale or allowing them to buy their own freedom. And people who operated at that level in Upworld always had secrets. They would never allow someone who had spent years in a position where they might learn intimate details about their owner the chance to tell anyone what they knew.

House-dollies who the houses had no other use for were often sold to the grinders, and permanent companions who were past their prime generally shared that fate. Petri had a sneaking suspicion about how Sadaka had ended up on the street alone. Under City was a harsh place, and any adult with a child as attractive as this one promised to be would face enormous pressure to sell her.

Pulling herself away from her thoughts, Petri forced herself to concentrate on the here and now. Sadaka stood with her arms wrapped around herself; her bottom lip was trembling. For all the girl's strength and the tough front she presented to the world, she was still a child.

Kneeling down next to Chessie, Petri opened her arms. Sadaka flung herself into Petri's hug and buried her face in the woman's neck. Petri felt hot tears spill over her shoulder and down her back.

"Shh now, baby, it's okay. You're safe now."

"He was goin' t'sell me," whispered the girl. "I heard 'em talkin', he was goin' t'sell me."

"I believe you, sweet heart. Did you run away?"

The small face nodded against Petri's shoulder.

"Okay, well, it's over now. You're going to be okay. All right?"

Sadaka leaned back and studied Petri's face frankly. "Are ya really Mgeni?"

"Ugh." Petri rolled her eyes. "I'm only telling that story once. How about we go find our host?"

Biting her lip, Sadaka nodded.

Petri and Chessie removed all the food they had stashed in their clothing and put all their dirty clothes in the refresher unit on the wash cycle. Once they had returned the lavatory to its previous tidy state, they set off in search of the captain of the ship.



Want to find out more about Petri's story? Grab your copy at the link below. Happy Reading! 😊

Rainbow Dreams

Yummy Sweet Lemon Rice Salad #Recipe!

 

Hey Everyone!!😊

Here's the sweet version of the rice salad I promised you. Enjoy! ;-)

Ingredients:
2 cups rice (your favorite variety)
4 cups water (adjust amount according to directions for variety of rice)
1 cup cooked orzo pasta (optional)
4 lemons zested and juiced
2 cups milk
2 tbsps honey
2 apples chopped
1 cup strawberries diced
1 cup carrot shreds (optional)
1 cup fresh basil leaves or mint leaves chopped or torn
1 orange peeled and chopped
1/2 cup fresh fennel fronds chopped
2 tbsps cornstarch
1/2 tsp salt

Add the lemon zest to the water and prepare your favorite variety of rice according to the directions for that type of rice. Cool completely, preferably overnight. Mix the rice with the pasta (optional) and fruit and herbs until the ingredients are evenly distributed.

Pour the milk into a separate, microwave-safe bowl and heat in the microwave on high for 30 seconds. Remove from the microwave and add the honey, salt, and cornstarch and whisk together. Allow mixture to cool and add the lemon juice, whisking to combine. Pour the milk mixture over the rice and vegetables and stir to evenly distribute. Serve chilled.

This is a nice, refreshing salad that is delicious on a hot summer evening. Obviously, you can replace any of the fruit with others that you prefer. Also, adding some chopped, toasted pine nuts or pecans gives the salad a nice crunch.

Bon Appetit!😊

Going On A Road Trip... 😉

 

Hey Everyone!! 😊

Happy Friday!! Since we've all made it through another week, and weekends are when people tend to take road trips, I thought it might be fun to take a peek at what a road trip with the Fae might look like. Enjoy... 😉

Excerpt from Taken by the Huntsman:

Toiseach turned to Cassie and said, “I give you my word, I’ll get you to the Erlking unharmed.”

She looked at him and sighed. She answered, “I believe you, and I thank you for your help. But, I’d feel a lot better about going to the Erlking if I knew why he wanted me.”

Toiseach didn’t know how to respond to that, so he turned the conversation to matters regarding their journey. “I will accompany you personally, along with a guard of my warriors. Eli will also come with us to monitor your injury and your overall health. I have assigned Ellyn, one of our artists, to be a personal attendant to you. If you have need of anything, all you need to do is tell her, and she will see that you receive it.”

“Thank you, Toiseach. You've been awfully kind and I appreciate it.”

“It’s my pleasure, my lady. If you will follow me, I will introduce you to Ellyn.”

“Sure.”

Cassie followed the Goblin king but wondered at his change in manner. He had always been polite and courteous towards her, but now he was deferential. She knew that the Erlking had told him something important and she wanted to know what. Unfortunately, she suspected she would have to wait until they completed their journey to find out.

“How long will it take to get where we’re going?” she asked.

“It is a journey of several days, my lady. We will ride eachan.”

“What are eachan?”

“They are animals we Goblins keep as beasts of burden. They are similar to horses in the human world. Hopefully, with the eachan, we will reach the Erlking’s castle within seven days.”

“Oh. It’s that far away?”

“Yes, my lady.” 

“What are Harpies?”

“The Erlking has many followers, my lady. The Harpies are some of the fiercest.”

“What do they look like?”

“They have the body and legs of a giant bird of prey, but their torsos, arms, and heads are those of a beautiful human woman, with eyes as dark as the blackest night…until they begin to hunt. When they hunt, their fingers grow talons to match the ones on their feet, and their faces grow fanged beaks. Their eyes glow with a flickering light, and they can call lightening to their command.”

“Can they fly?”

“Yes, my lady, they have wings and they can fly with unparalleled skill.”

“Are there a lot of Harpies?”

“No, my lady, only four: Calaeno, their leader, Thuella, Aello, and Podarge. They are fearsome warriors and much respected throughout Fairie. They answer to no master other than the Erlking.” Toiseach answered these questions because he knew Cassie would undoubtedly be meeting the Harpies during their journey and he wanted her prepared ahead of time. Having her panic, and possibly offend the Harpies, would not be a good situation.

Cassie pondered Toiseach's words as he led her through his tunnels. She wanted to know more about the Erlking, but she knew the Goblin wouldn’t answer her questions. It was frustrating.

Toiseach led Cassie to a large cavern in which many Goblins of all shapes and sizes scurried about preparing a caravan for their journey. Ellyn approached them and Toiseach introduced her to Cassie, then he led Cassie over to an eachan. She was startled by its appearance at first, the animal was about as far from a horse as she could imagine, but she soon made friends with it.

“My lady, this is Ar Dan. He will be your mount during our journey. He has an even gait and is mild tempered. I think he will serve you well.”

Cassie regarded the beast. It was about as tall as a horse, but that’s where the resemblance ended. It looked like a giant monitor lizard but was a dull red in color, like old blood. It was about ten feet long, from nose to tail, and had teeth like those of a crocodile. She would have been frightened of the creature, if it hadn’t snuffled at Toiseach’s chest and then head-butted him. Watching them, Cassie would have sworn the damn thing grinned.

Cassie held her hand out to the eachan and he snuffled her too. She reached out to experimentally scratch the animal’s nose, and he half closed his eyes. She thought he’d be purring if he could. She laughed and said, “I think we’ll get along okay.”

Toiseach nodded and asked her to promise to remain next to the eachan. She agreed and he excused himself to speak with his people, taking Ellyn with him.

Toiseach addressed his people in the Goblin dialect and told them that they would be taking the human woman to the Erlking. He did not reveal the Erlking’s confidence, but he impressed upon them that Cassie’s safety and comfort were of extreme importance. He also instructed them that they were not to initiate her into the mysteries of Fairie, but that the Erlking was reserving that privilege for himself. Unless they were encountered during this journey, no one was to mention or explain any of the numerous denizens of Fairie to the human. For any creatures the human was exposed to on the journey, she was to be warned of any dangers and no more, if possible.

He instructed Ellyn to stay close to Cassie and serve as her personal attendant. Ellyn was not a warrior, but as a Goblin she was much harder to injure than a human. Toiseach made it clear to her that in an emergency she was to protect Cassie with her life.

Ellyn did not want responsibility for a human, but she did not dare argue with her king.

Toiseach, sensing her reluctance, reminded her it was she who had brought the human into their lives, and so she would be responsible for tending to her. He reminded her that the human belonged to the Erlking, who would be most displeased if his human was not well cared for.

With that admonition in mind, Ellyn returned to Cassie’s side and asked if there was anything she needed. Cassie assured her she was fine. Ellyn reiterated that she would be happy to supply anything that Cassie needed. Cassie thanked her and studied her a bit.

“Toiseach said you were an artist, what medium do you work with?”

“I work with glass, my lady. It is my honor to have provided glasses and bowls to many of the royal households throughout Fairie. I believe even the Erlking’s household uses some of my work,” Ellyn proclaimed, proudly.

“Then you must be exceptionally talented.”

Ellyn beamed at the praise. The Goblins were a war-like race and tended to value martial skills above artistic ones. It wasn’t often that Ellyn received admiration for her talents, even if the fruits of her labors did enrich the Goblin kingdom’s coffers.

“Thank you, my lady, you are most kind.”

“I was wondering about something, Ellyn. All of the people here look very different, is everyone a Goblin?”

“Yes, my lady, we are all Goblins and we all serve Toiseach as king. Goblins are a variable people, even for the Fae. But we all carry the same blood.”

“So other Fae are more similar in appearance to each other?”

“My lady, my apologies, I spoke out of turn. The Erlking is much better equipped to satisfy your curiosity. It would be best to ask your questions of him.”

Cassie would have persisted, but the look of terror that crossed Ellyn’s face stilled her tongue. She didn’t know how much trouble Ellyn would get into for answering her, but it was clear that this society was more openly violent than the one she was used to. She didn’t want to get the Goblin hurt, so she would wait. “Hmmm,” was all she said.

While Ellyn helped Cassie mount Ar Dan and get settle, Toiseach conferred with Eli about what food could safely be consumed by a human. The Goblins, being a race of predators, ate precious little but raw meat. He did not think that would be appropriate fare for a human.

Eli confirmed his suspicions, but reassured him that she had already packed sufficient food fit for a human. She had gathered some of the fungus that grew in some of their tunnels. Some of the other Fae traded for this fungus and the humans who lived among the other Fae had safely consumed it for centuries.

She also had some travel biscuits made by the Brownies, which contained fruit and nuts. She had found them in a pouch, which had been taken from a defeated opponent sometime in the past. The pouch had been in the kingdom’s treasury, along with all other spoils of war, and had been enchanted to keep its contents eternally fresh. She thought the biscuits along with the fungus would do fine for the human.

The small Goblin also told Toiseach that she believed humans could consume meat so long as it was cooked. Cooking some of their meat in the campfires at night should make it safe for the human. She did caution him that, from her understanding, most humans were rather picky about the source of their meat. So, they might only want to try that option if the other food ran low. Toiseach thanked her for her efforts and went to check on the warriors he was bringing along for the journey.

The badlands were known for being dangerous and unpredictable. Even with the aid of the Harpies, who might arrive at any point along the journey. Toiseach wanted to make sure there was enough strength in their party to defend and protect a helpless human. He had assigned twenty of his red caps to accompany them. They ranged in size from larger than him, to only slightly larger than Ellyn. They were all different, strange combinations of insects and earth, but they were all battle-tested and experienced warriors.

They knew their business well and had already arranged the company to maximize security. The human was in the center of the party, along with the supplies, the extra mounts, so that the eachan bearing loads could be rested while their burdens were transferred to other mounts, and the blue-haired Sidhe. That worthy was still bound and gagged and had been tied to a saddle. His eyes flashed with fury, but it seemed as though he was also coming to realize his situation. The Erlking was not known for his mercy. The Sidhe would soon become desperate and Toiseach assigned one of his warriors to guard him.

Finally, the group was ready and they departed. Toiseach hoped fervently they would arrive quickly and without incident. And that he could deliver his charge safely. He hoped it, but he knew Fairie too well to think it likely.

Want to find out if Cassie makes it back to the Erlking safely or encounters more adventures along the way? Grab your copy at the link below. Happy reading! 😊 

Taken by the Huntsman

#APC #Spotlight: Aurora By Elizabeth Horton-Newton!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I've got Elizabeth Horton-Newton in my APC spotlight, today! Elizabeth is an active and supportive member of the  Authors-Professional Co-op Facebook group and her mystery, crime, noir, suspense, thriller novel, Aurora, looks great! Here's the description:

A new Crime Noir Thriller from the Seductress of Suspense.

"I remember the first time I laid eyes on her. You might think that’s a romantic, womanly thing to say. Maybe I am a romantic. Something about the way the spotlight shone down on her platinum hair, her full, red lips just inches from the microphone that carried her sultry voice across the room, reached deep down inside of me. Once she had hold, I knew she would never let go. I didn’t want her to."

From the first moment Mike laid eyes on Aurora Diamond he wanted her. He was willing to take any risk to have her; even if it meant risking his life. When club owner and crime boss Max DiSalvo hired Mike to be Aurora's driver and keep an eye on her extra-curricular activities, he didn't know he left the wolf to guard the henhouse. Aurora is no angel, and she set her sights on Mike early in the game. Was he the man who would rescue her from Max's clutches, or was Mike just the latest victim to Aurora's obvious charms? Is there more to this triangle than meets the eye? And where is Mike's brother Danny? Who will be left standing at the end of this thrilling crime noir by award-winning author, Elizabeth Horton-Newton?

Crime Noir author Adam C. Mitchell designed the cover and upon reading an advance copy of the book said, "WOW! What a read!"

If you think this sounds like something you might enjoy, go ahead and grab your copy here:

Thank you all so much for stopping by! Happy reading! :-)

#Agent Thoth's #Personal Log: Day 1345

Hey Everyone! 😊

Agent Thoth discusses more of the trials and tribulations associated with living with hominids. Incidentally, if you've missed Agent Thoth's earlier entries, you can find them here: Thoth's Journal

Department for the Preservation and Confirmation of Intelligent Life (DPCIL)

Agent Thoth's Personal Log

Day Thirteen-Hundred-Forty-Five:

As promised, I have taken the time to compose myself, and I now feel capable of detailing just how infuriating my hominid-servant’s response was to my efforts to convince her to open the door to my domicile. Previously, I explained that it is not her habit to open the door to my domicile during the hours that the light from the local star is not easily visible to hominids at these coordinates. Also, as I have explained before, my hominid-servant cannot be readily swayed from her routine. Please keep these complicating factors in mind when you read this report.

My plan was elegant in its simplicity: I intended to convince my hominid-servant that there was someone or something on the other side of the door, and so induce her to open it to investigate. Once it was open, I planned to dash through the opening and make good my escape. My relative agility in comparison with that of my hominid-servant is such that I am almost always able to evade any rushed attempts on her part to lay hands on me. 

Also, I believed I could use the darkness during this portion of the day, coupled with the difficulties hominids have with seeing in low light levels, as cover for my escape. Which would have given me, at the minimum, several hours before my hominid-servant would be able to make any real effort to recapture me. Alas, I was never able to test this hypothesis.

I began my campaign by staring fixedly at the door and maintaining this posture for more than an hour. I thought, surely, this would be sufficient to pique my hominid-servant’s curiosity and cause her to open said door to investigate the object of my fascination. But, no. Naturally, my hominid-servant was incapable of reacting to my cue like a rational, intelligent creature.

Instead, my hominid-servant completely ignored what I was doing. To be honest, I’m still uncertain as to whether this was deliberate on her part, or if she truly did not notice my apparent fixation. To gain her attention, I then howled at the door as if I expected to engage it in conversation. This, my hominid-servant was unable to ignore, and she approached me to investigate.

This seemed promising to me, and I redoubled my efforts, howling and staring fixedly at the door while pacing in front of it. My hominid-servant did nothing but look at me as if I were the one who was simple. She then placed her hand upon the door, which made me believe that she would open it. But, instead, she shattered my hopes by swooping down and picking me up.

She carried me over to the furniture she prefers to rest herself upon, and cradled me in her arms. And she continued to do this despite my vigorous vocal and physical protestations. I was so disgusted with her response that I nearly deployed the C.L.A.W.S., and only stopped myself from doing so due to the realization that if she retreated to treat the wounds I would inflict, she would never open the door.

My hominid-servant continued to restrain me until I no longer had the strength or energy to resist her, and then she held me closer and began to vocalize nonsense at me in what I believe she considered to be a soothing tone of voice. The fact that I was beyond soothing by any means seemed to completely escape her.

Eventually, I succumbed to the warm, comfortable feeling of lying on her lap, but I consider this more a surrender to the inevitable than a failure to persevere on my part. Obviously, I will have to reflect on this obstacle further and devise an alternate plan for manipulating my hominid-servant’s behavior in the desired fashion.

Drat those hominids! 😉 You may have noticed that Agent Thoth has a new look. I hope you like his new picture as much as I do, but I'd love to hear your thoughts, either way. Feel free to let me know what you think in the comments. 😉 Happy reading, everyone!

The Nuclear Option...

Hey Everyone!! :-)

Here's a little bit more of the third installment in the Petri Dish Chronicles! As always, the disclaimer is that this is a draft and, as such, it's unedited and likely full of errors and is subject to revision, revamping, and being completely scrapped and rewritten. But, with that in mind, I'm reasonably satisfied with the basics of it, at least at the moment, or I wouldn't have bothered posting it. Enjoy! :-)

Excerpt from Shifting Paradigms:
Sputtering, Petri gave up trying to convince them she wasn’t doing what Vlad was insisting she was doing. If she was honest, she couldn’t even be certain herself that he wasn’t correct. She couldn’t feel any connection with the rainbow the way she would with another mind but, since she had no idea what a connection to a digital network would feel like, she couldn’t swear she hadn’t made one.

Petri closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened her eyes again, she looked at Vlad and said, “Fine. How?”

“From what the Arcanum have told me regarding your time with them, the last time you had difficulty making progress in controlling your psychic abilities, the only way they found to induce you to abandon the artificial limits you subconsciously placed on yourself was to threaten the life of one of your friends.”

Feeling all the blood drain from her face, Petri reached out and clutched Chessie’s hand. The older woman gave her a reassuring squeeze in return. “No!”

The enigmatic entity stared at her for several heartbeats before shifting his gaze to her friends. Looking back at Petri, he shrugged. “They also mentioned that the result was rather less controlled than they would have preferred.”

Taking a shaky breath, Petri swallowed against the sudden lump in her throat. “I’m trying."

“I believe you are, Per Dish; however, there is a time limit. At some point, if you fail to make progress, we will need to explore the possibility of more extreme options.”

Petri closed her eyes and shook her head. “If you hurt them, I will never do what you want me to do. I'll make you kill me first.”

Vlad gave her one of his cold smiles. “If I kill them, I have no doubt of that. But if I hurt them? No. I believe in that eventuality you will do everything in your power to save them.” Petri returned the hard look to the strange being who was threatening the people she loved. And in a tone cold enough to rival the vacuum of space, she said, “The last people who tried something like that almost ended up dead themselves.”