\n Having already spent time in the hall, it was not as impressive as walking in for the first time, but the heraldic banners and tapestries lining the walls made it look very nice. The room had three long tables, one perpendicular to the other, which was obviously the head table. All the nobles from Dul'Ihanri were fancily dressed, which was more than can be said for any of us. I still was in my dirt sreaked, carbon covered shirt, and all the dragons were topless, as usual. Devlin in a tux, god the world would move. Winslo, the magician, did a small spell, and his cloak instantly became clean, and pure silver runes ran along the length of his black cloak.

\n Those who sat at the lower tables, a good hundred people, were already seated, and we walked in a very dignified manner down the corridor between the two tables. Devlin and Draco led, behind Mykerinos, and we filed automatically into two rows behind them. Brendan took up directly behind Draco, and I, still in full kit and weaponry, behind Devlin. Javid and Doran, Thomas and Simba, Winslo and Time and Valmeero and Salbar brought up the rear. This arrangement was kind of all for symmetry where possible, wolf beside wolf, leopard beside tiger, dragon and dragon. Only mine and Valmeero's lines weren't roughly equal, but then no one's perfect.

\n We split apart as we came to the table, and circled around. The great centre chair was for Mykerinos, and we sat down either side of him. A few of us had to shrug off weapons before sitting down, most noticeably me, Javid and Salbar. Draco's great sword merely was placed beside the chair, and Winslo reverently lay down his staff. My rifle hung off the side of the chair, and my Eryx on the other side. Salbar's swords were placed on the table, crossed together.

\n Mykerinos waited until we were all seated and comfortable, which was half a minute, and then he stood up.
\n "My lords and ladies, to the honourable creatures either side of me, we dedicate this banquet for their heroic deeds in battle. If any day we shall remember with passion and devotion, may it be the day that these creatures arrived, and delivered us from the enemy."
\n Sounds like the Lord's prayer, delivering us from evil, I thought to myself, and Mykerinos raised his gold cup to both sides, and spoke again.
\n "To the lords and ladies of Central, thou name shall be hallowed in our halls."
\n And in the names of the children. I thought again, keeping a carefully straight face.

\n A hundred voices echoed the toast, and Devlin bowed his head to Mykerinos. The Dul'Ihanri leader sat back down, and there was a clatter of cutlery. Servants poured in carrying great dishes of food, and while we waited, Draco talked across to the Hell fire dragon.
\n "Hey, Devlin, this you will have to see.I'm sending you a video clip from earlier."
\n "Send it to me too." I asked."I want to see the entire thing."
\n We only watched the last two minutes, where the children were arguing about the merits of each person in the party. I only got a slight mention, but Winslo got an argument to himself, such was the magic power he had. Then came the funny bit, and Devlin was treated to a young boy running down the street shouted he was the Great Devlin, and running with his arms out in flight.

\n Then I came walking up the hill with the guard, and we saw the girl come out. Then the little kids saw me, and turned, just as Draco stepped out from the building. They looked at both of us, and ran off in either direction. The earlier section of our conversation was also recorded. Devlin smiled.
\n "I don't see him taking flight." I shrugged," and he's probably not half as good in the bedroom, but it warms the heart to see people actually pretending to be you." Devlin chuckled.
\n "I am, amazed." he said slowly," that their children find me that worth talking about."
\n "Hmm, it couldn't be because you're an eight foot tall Hell Fire dragon. It couldn't be that everyone treats you like a leader."I teased.

\n "Oh yeah, you got, what, eight words in that entire argument."
\n "Exactly. Of those we heard, all of them got more words, but only because I look like them. I wasn't surprised Winslo was talked about, magic is, while practised here, still cool."
\n "True, although one wonders how they found out when they were all supposedly in the catacombs." Devlin said.
\n "Ah, about that." Mykerinos smiled."I don't suppose you've paid much attention to the large flat rock wall behind the bridge."
\n "I predict a magical effect at this point." I replied.
\n "Very clever. The entire wall is in fact solid rock, but it has been magically altered so it can be seen through. I shall show you later."

\n "What kinds of spell does that?"
\n "We have twenty warlocks cast the spell, and then another eight to cast a permanent spell on it.On five seperate levels, everyone was watching."
\n "Then why did no one noticed I was the one causing havoc?" I complained.
\n "They did.It's just Draco, Devlin and Valmeero jumped off the bridge beside us, and we saw Winslo and Javid firing spells and those gun things.They were closer, and so the children looked at them."
\n "So those looking through at the bottom of the wall saw the three of us incinerating the turf."
\n "Yes, and all the children were down there, so they could see the orcs attacking, and learn what we have to do, and why we have to do it."

\n "So when the orcs attack, they head into the impregnable catacombs."
\n "Exactly. We could never hold the city for long, but in there nothing could flush us out."
\n "Intelligent." I replied."I supposed I ruined that lesson, by hurling myself upon the enemy with rocket launcher and sword."
\n "Well, it looked heroic, but we informed the children you were insane..."
\n I burst out laughing at this point. Draco had his head just above the table, he had to double up as a result of his raucous laughter. Devlin merely chuckled.
\n "That's why we love him. So far round the twist you could use him to open wine bottles, but a great guy to be around."

\n "A few chips short of a Happy meal..." I smiled, remembering a certain television program on Earth. The talk was fast and furious across the table, and I was interrupted by Silverine in my head set.
\n "Alduin, Simba explained what you had done."
\n "Ah, Silverine, how are you? I'm quite dead, and still going strong. I've been hailed as a maniac, been told so to my face, and we're all abusing one another while enjoying a sumptous three course meal."
\n "I see." Silverine was trying to hide his laughter." Now I've got good news for you, and bad news."
\n "Give me the bad news first."

\n "The bad news is that Grant has gone into shock with a result of the blood loss, we don't know how much longer he'll last."
\n I sunk in my seat."Is there any good news?"
\n "He's still alive, and although it looks bad, he might pull through."
\n "That's really comforting, Silverine." I said hollowly.I disengaged my mike, not wishing to hear any more. Draco saw my face.
\n "How bad is it?"
\n "He's gone into shock, and teetering on the edge." I said, giving the meat of the message. Everyone around me stopped, looking slightly guilty of themselves. It was the fact they were enjoying themselves while Grant was fighting for his life.

\n The party were resultingly subdued after this, and we ate in silence. The meal went on for about half an hour, and after the desserts, I spoke to Devlin.
\n "I am going for a drive around the catacombs."
\n "Do you want a guide, they can get very confusing." Mykerinos asked.
\n "Mykerinos, if I get lost, I will either make my own passage, or I will teleport." I replied, changing surreptitiously into my Reventon form.

\n I started up my engine, and very quietly purred to one side of the hall, going down that side, and stuck to the wall to the main door. It was shut, but I placed the bonnet and radiator against, and gently touched the accelerator.The damn thing didn't move.So I pushed a little harder. The resultant increase in noise made a few people turn, but the door slowly swung backwards, and I made it wide enough for me, and then drove out, bumping over the steps and cobbles, before getting to the bridge to the catacombs.Ah, I forgot, I destroyed it. So I had to take a fifteen minute detour down the main street, never doing more the prodding the accelerator, I was trying to be as quiet and unnoticeable as possible.

\n The Reventon got to the main gate, and then had to contend with the mud. Fortunately the Lambo was four wheel drive, but in scale it was much harder to get going over the occasional mud patch. I eventually bunny hopped around a large crater, spluttered through a mud puddle, and came to the great ramp to the catacombs. I drove up it, flooring it a few times to get rid of all the mud. I rolled up through the still open door, and into the tunnel. It was very dark, all the torches had been removed, and I lit my head lights, and the powerful lamps illuminated the passages very nicely. There were still a few people about, and as I hummed past, they turned to look at the dim shape. All I had to do was turn off my lights, and only Doran would find me, unless someone tripped over the Reventon.

\n After five minutes of driving along several bends, I finally found what I was looking for. A huge sunlit section, with the vistas of landscape spreading out beyond. I was on the top, just above was the remains of the bridge I had vaporised.The rock floor I was parked on was completely opaque, thick dark coloured rock, but as I gently drove forward, I butted the invisible rock with the radiator.Now I looked hard, there was a faint inconsistency, it wasn't quite perfectly clear, but there was more than enough to see. As I looked towards the gate, I saw that the party were coming, likewise interested to see this spectacle. I quickly drove back out before they got to the ramp, and opened the door to the wrecked bridge, standing on two feet of solid rock. I heard the others pass through, and then spoke on a closed line to Draco.

\n "Here, Draco, I'm completely lost.Could you pass your rolling video, so I can see where you are?" he did so, and I could see him walking behind Devlin and Mykerinos. I changed into my Lightning form, and hovered high above the rock wall, so you had to be standing directly at the illusion, and looking up to see me. Finally they came to the same sight I had seen, and Winslo immediately started speaking with the Dul'Ihanri leader, while everyone else spoke of the advantages it had. I set myself to a gentle descent, still keeping eyes on what Draco was seeing. He was looking out of the window from the back of the group, and as I descended past the ruins of the bridge, I saw myself arrive on Draco's viewer.

\n I stopped, and hovered gently, turning til I was facing the dragon. He smiled.
\n "You do know we can't hear you."
\n "That's what I was intending to find out."I replied."Did they hear the explosions and cries, or was it all a silent movie?"
\n "What is Alduin doing hovering, observing the wall?"
\n "I'm looking through the wall, Time."I replied through her head set, and everyone else's. Mykerinos turned and saw me.
\n "Here, how does he know where we are?"
\n "He's cheating.He's connected to my camera, and sees everything I am seeing." Draco replied.

\n "That's very worrying, seeing something like that there."
\n "Tell you what, you go down to the bottom floor, and I'll drop a couple of bombs, so we can see what it looks like."
\n "Alduin's had a genius moment." Simba smiled.
\n "That's a first."I beat everyone to the line, and Mykerinos took them down to the bottom floor. As they looked out, Draco spoke.
\n "O.K., when are you doing it?"
\n As soon as he started speaking, I dropped one of my bombs. What they saw was a black object falling very fast, and exploding. The explosion happened right against the wall, and many of my friends impulsively backed away. The fire surged against the invisible rock, and deflected away.
\n "I guess it's like Winslo's shield." I commented.
\n "Yeah, along the same lines, except Shield only lasts for a few minutes, and I can't attack back."
\n "It looked cool." Brendan replied."Middle of the fireball, and completely unharmed.What if the rock was struck?"
\n "Well, it was have to be a dispel magic spell, or an immensely strong physical attack, and I'm not prepared to let Alduin attack it, in case he damages the spell."
\n "Fair enough." I replied, hovering down to their level.I changed, and walked over to the wall, tapping the rock gently with a knuckle.

\n "Excellent, he can't get in, let's have a go at him." Draco laughed.
\n Valmeero laughed too." Alduin, that's a solid rock wall, there's no way that you'll get in."
\n I looked thoughtful.
\n "Yes there is."
\n "Oh, how, you're going to batter it down with your shoulder?" Brendan chuckled.
\n "No,but there's a perfectly serviceable door a hundred metres up." Doran replied.
\n "You were thinking exactly what I was."I smiled, and nodded directly at the wolf. I changed into my Lightning form, and hovered upwards. As I got to the ledge, I changed back into the Reventon form, and purred down the corridors with my lights off. I cut the engine as the car went down hill, rolling with gravity's natural help.

\n Finally I heard the party approach, and stopped to one side, beside a black boulder.I waited as Mykerinos walked past, Devlin and Draco following. One by one they filed past, Doran was the last, and as he walked past he turned and winked at me.I changed into my Lightning form, and switched on the high beams just as I ignited my engine. Doran had closed his eyes, but everyone else turned in shock, and were blinded by the high watt arc lights. The roar was deafening, and two streaks of dragon flame washed over my steel panelling as both Dev and Draco reacted instantly,very accurately sending flames at me.

\n I laughed as the heat surged around me, and the hideous cackling bounced off a hundred walls to add to the cacophany. Everyone's clothing was being whipped back by the power of my exhaust as I was hovering at about one and a half metres height. Everyone had their hands over their eyes, or looking through them at my sight. They also all looked scared witless.Because of the lights and the darkness of my panelling, I was invisible, it just looked like two lights suspended in mid air. I changed into my Reventon form, and rolled further down the corridor while the team got used to the sudden quiet and lack of blinding lights, as I switched them off when I changed.

\n "What the hell was that?" Draco demanded in his headphones.
\n "Magical spell?" Winslo asked,"I think it's deafened me."
\n "Well, you heard his question, so you can't be deaf." Thomas replied.
\n "Thomas, anyone would have heard Draco's question, hard of hearing or not." Valmeero replied. "It looked like two floating lights, and a nasty laugh. Are any of us being followed by a hag?"
\n I changed, and walked up, my footsteps the only sound apart from the talking, and I shouted as I came up.
\n "Guys, did you hear something up here? I heard something very loud from down there."
\n Doran was trying not to laugh, but the light was so dim no one saw his shivering frame.

\n "Alduin, did you see anything? Did something go past you?"
\n "Nothing went past me. What was it?"
\n "It could have been anything." Time said. Devlin nodded.
\n "We didn't see anything of it, because it was behind the glare."
\n I stopped, and looked at Doran."How interesting.What do you think it was, Doran?"
\n "I think it was a model F-35B Lightning, with it's high beams switched on." he replied,straight faced.
\n "Yeah, I think that's what it was too."

\n There was a very long pause.Javid was the first to get it.
\n "You utterly evil, little man!"
\n "I'm six foot two, thank you. If Doran had said, you would have all noticed my sitting there in the darkness, in my Lambo form. Thomas surprised me on that bear planet, I scared the lot of you here."
\n Salbar smiled." And did a very good job of it."
\n "The equivalent of a flash bang." Thomas replied. Then everyone else got it.
\n Draco burst forward."Right, that's it. No one does that and gets away with it."
\n I changed into my Lamborghini form, and started driving away."And how many people have ever done that before?"

\n He changed into his Ferrari."None, and you're not going to start a trend." But the four wheel drive Reventon was faster down the corridors, I lost him, and, with blacked out lights, drove slowly back up the hill after they had gone. A few of them had very graciously left their mikes on, so I could hear them discussing my evil joke. Most found it funny now, especially Thomas, he had been waiting to see how I would get him back for spilling my coffee. Time was merely acidic, but appreciative. Draco was the only one who was annoyed, and as I purred to the hall, I could see them discussing at the door. I was still in the darkness, and as they walked out, I followed on in silence.

\n Finally Doran stopped, and I rolled up to him as he bent to tie up his shoelaces on the top of the ramp.
\n "Cheers for not telling everyone."
\n "Oh I like a good joke as much as the next person. I hope you recorded that."
\n "Did you think I wouldn't?The reaction was brilliant.I'll send it to you now."
\n Devlin came back up.
\n "What was that about recording?"
\n "I got a shot of you firing flame at me, and it washing over me.Good blind shot.I'm sending it to your glasses now."

\n There was a pause as both accessed the video of the entire thing.
\n "Black on black, wasn't exactly easy to spot." Doran commented.
\n "I can't believe it, you knew it was coming, and you didn't say." Devlin sighed at the wolf, who merely smiled. Draco came back up, and I pointed at the edge of the ramp.
\n "That's one back."I said, before he could get a word in,"Another hundred to go."
\n "For scaring the life out of me that bad, it has to be at least ten. When I jump you, it's normally not that awful."
\n "Oh really? You're a dragon, one and a bit feet taller than me, I'd say it counts for one. Besides, you flamed at me."
\n "And can you blame me?"

\n "Of course not. It was hilarious."
\n "It is,"Doran replied,"I'm sending the video to you now, Draco."
\n I drove past them, and down the ramp to the others. Simba bent down.
\n "That was a gem of a scare you gave Draco."
\n "Gave all of you." I replied, changing into my Lightning form. Simba spotted the mud I had picked up from my last journey across the plain.
\n "God you're filthy, when's the last time you washed?"
\n "Well, I drove through a mud puddle, is it that surprising?" I replied.

\n Winslo smiled."I can fix that."He cast a spell, enclosing me in thick ice.I sighed.
\n "That isn't helping."
\n "Yes it is, wait til it melts, and then all the ice will wash away the mud."
\n "Ah, this is revenge for me terrifying you.Very well."
\n I ignited my engine, and vaporised the ice behind me.I rotated the engine down, and melted most of the ice beneath me. I fired my machine guns, which split most of the ice in front, and then changed into my human form, leaving a small pile of ice underneath, and an amused audience.

\n "Can't you ever lose?"
\n "Not when I don't want to.I'd even settle for a draw."
\n Devlin came down the ramp."What if I challenged you to a fight, right now?"
\n "Well, do I really have to resort to my guns?I am in an annoyed mood today, unless anyone's noticed."
\n "What about him trying to fuck you?" Valmeero suggested.
\n "Seeing as he enjoys that, that's not losing." Brendan replied.

\n "Oh dear, I feel an orgy coming on." I shot back at the dragon.
\n "Sounds good to me, who's in?"
\n Everyone raised their hands, me included. Draco hadn't caught this last bit, and spoke.
\n "So even Alduin's voting Alduin off the team? Dear god, things must be bad."
\n "Well, if you don't want to join in the sex, that's fine by you." I retaliated. Draco smiled.
\n "Ah, hence the casting vote."
\n "Since when did you have the casting vote?" Doran replied.
\n "Well, I'm quite prepared to fuck you until you agree I have the casting vote."

\n "That would mean going through all of us, and I would take too long to coerce." Devlin replied.
\n "Although I wouldn't mind Devlin having the biggest vote." I smiled,"He's got the biggest one here."
\n There was a loud laugh at this. We went back to Mykerinos, and told we were leaving.
\n "Farewell, my lords and lady, you will always be welcome here."
\n "Good bye, Mykerinos." I said, and we vanished.

\n "Now," said the glower,"who's going to...."
\n Bang, bang bang. A Porsche and a Reventon were standing where me and Simba had been, several more bangs, and Devlin, Draco and Valmeero were standing where everyone had been seconds before.The glower sighed, and completed the sentence.
\n "...tell us what happened.They really don't like it, do they?"
\n "Well,I'm exempt,"I replied,"because no one trusts a word I say."
\n "And no one likes sitting in a room full of glowers, because they terrify me." Simba replied.
\n "That's a bit harsh." Keen replied, sounding pained."We do appear to be intimidating, but we're gentle.We haven't got angry for months."

\n I have never seen a glower angry, and judging by the look on Draco's face, I don't want to. The two dragons looked at one another, and Valmeero looked at Draco. Draco sighed.
\n "Keen, it looks like I've drawn the short straw again, but I swear this time it's all true."
\n "Well, seeing as you brought back Grant mortally injured..."
\n "How is he?" I jumped on the line.
\n "Arachno's still fighting.I would urge no one to go there."
\n Thus rebuked, we headed to the food store, the four of us remaining. Draco headed off with the glower, and we entered the food store looking down.

\n Everyone looked up as we entered.
\n "We won." I said," but at what cost, we know not."
\n The entire room was silent. We sat down, and while I didn't drink, this was one time where a stiff drink would come in handy. I had nothing, only Lift Plus, so I drunk the last one those, and fell back into my chair.
\n We told them what had happened after I got back, and people cheered up at my spastic act. The prank I pulled on them was also well recieved, because Centralites enjoyed a joke, and mine was a gem. But all this was dampened by Grant's absence. Finally I teleported back to Earth, due to the stifling atmosphere in the food store. The orgy we were suggesting about didn't happen, and I went for a walk down the street. As I did, life continued about on it's way, and I sat there, Sunday afternoon, nothing to do, nothing to say.

\n Eventually I went to the internet cafe, in a vain attempt to take my mind off things, and watched videos on Youtube. None of the games I dared play, for all of them involved war, and I couldn't play when I had just experienced the real thing. I just sat there, listening to Forever Autumn across my headphones.

\n "The summer sun is fading as the year grows old
\n The darker days are drawing near
\n The winter winds will be much colder
\n Now you're not here."

\n "Through Autumn's Golden gown we used to kick our way
\n You always loved this time of year
\n Those fallen leaves lie undisturbed now
\n 'cause you're not here."

\n "A gentle rain falls softly on my weary eyes.
\n As if to hide a lonely tear.
\n My life will be forever Autumn now
\n 'Cause you're not here.
\n 'cause you're not here."