Posted using PostyBirb",
"writing": "“Niel?” the kangaroo demanded. “What are you doing here?” The truck jerked into motion, and Grant dropped his raised arm to grab hold of a crate, to keep standing. “You need to get off.”\n“You going to help?” Niel replied, grinning.\n“I’ll happily throw you out.” Grant stepped forward to grab him, and was sent up as the truck hit a pothole. Niel caught him before he tipped over the back gate.\n“I think we should both sit down, so we’ll stay inside the truck.” He pushed him further inside. “Maybe you didn’t notice, being teleported in, but we’re in the mountains. If this is going to be anything like the path I had to walk to get up here, the drop off the side of the road is deadly.” He tried not to smile. “What’s with the glitter pompom?”\nThe kangaroo looked at what he held. “Principle of attracting attention. Being flashy. This was the truck I got in, so I had to make sure one of them picked it for their getaway.” He considered something. “Might be why you got in, too. I didn’t have the time to be selective in making it.”\n“I got in because I saw the Nazis getting in.”\n“Why are you here?” Grant pocketed the bundle. “This was to rescue you. Roland’s going to worry.”\n“He’s having sex. It’s going to be awhile before he notices I’m gone.”\n“Why are you here, Neil?” he insisted, adding an edge to his tone.\nNiel nearly dismissed the question. Coach Horgar was way more threatening. But Grant did have magic on his side. If Niel couldn’t justify his presence, the kangaroo could force him out.\n“A similar reason to you, I’m guessing.”\nGrant tilted an ear. “You need to make sure one of the most powerful staves ever created doesn’t remain in the hands of Neo-Nazi fanatics?”\n“Jarod says it can’t do that much damage.”\nThe kangaroo rolled his eyes. “Oh, sure. If you define damage by physical destruction of property, the staff of Storger is basically harmless.”\nNiel waited out the glare, and Grant sighed.\n“Storger was, according to legends, the shaman of an Alpine mountain tribe. Mostly canines. When they fell under attack, she made a deal with a spirit and was granted a staff with the power to ensure they would always win against their enemies.”\n“They don’t exist anymore,” Niel pointed out.\n“Even magic has limits. Based on the stories I found, they ruled the region undisputed because of the staff. They had enough power to get the workforce that let them make that city inside the mountain. The only other time it happened was Egypt, with the pyramids.”\n“And the Mayans,” Niel said. “Possibly Stonehenge qualifies, although it’s on a much smaller scale. The romans were known for their workforce, pretty much all voluntary, until its decline. You have the Greeks, who—what?” Grant looked at him oddly. “I’m into history. I’m just pointing out that you might be blowing what they did out of proportion. It’s impressive. I’ll give you that, but not unheard of, and I doubt you’re going to tell me all those other civilizations used magic for their masterworks.”\nGrant rubbed the top of his muzzle. “Fine. That doesn’t change the fact the staff made them unstoppable until something else, probably stronger magic, got involved.”\nNiel nodded. “So that spirit, that was your god?”\n“I don’t have a god,” he replied irritably. “But explaining about the universe and lenses would be a distraction right now. Maybe she made the staff. More likely, she found its resting place. This is about a mostly unheard of civilization dating back to the eighth or ninth century BC. Legends and folklore recorded by neighboring tribes are all I’ve had to go on.”\n“What does the staff do that made them unstoppable?”\n“That, I don’t know. They already looked pretty damned imposing, based on the statues there. The stories agree about Storger existing, and that she made it happen. Could have been a wish that did it, her need, or she just wanted it. They don’t talk about the why. Now,” he added in the following silence. “How about you tell me why you’re in this truck when your best friend basically mobilized the Society to find and rescue you?”\n“Please tell me you’re exaggerating.” Niel could see Roland doing it. Determination had always been what made him a force to be reckoned with on the football field. And he’d just run off without telling him.\n“Slightly. But you’re still dodging the question.”\nNiel sighed. He’d find a way to make it up to Roland. “The Nazis took one of us with them. No one back there seemed to care in their hurry to fuck.”\n“Cut them some slack, Niel. Anyone with a useful power volunteered and exhausted themselves in the process of rescuing you. If they’re having sex right now, it’s about making sure they have the energy for the next part of the plan, not as a celebration.”\n“Speaking of energy,” Niel said, grinning.\n“You aren’t powered the same way they are,” Grant replied flatly.\n“Yeah, but it’s been more than a day since my last time. They kept us in separate cells. I’m getting ‘hungry’, and by the time this truck gets to its destination, I could be incapacitated.”\nGrant rested his head against a crate. “Why not? That’s not the worse way to kill a few hours.”\n* * * * *\nIt was more than a few hours. Long enough that after the sex, Niel grew bored and explored the truck’s cargo. Beyond the crates, he found boxes of clothing, canned food, beddings, and enough gym equipment to fill one of the smaller gym rooms at the college.\n“Why’d they pick the junk truck?” Niel asked, sitting down again. “You’d think there was a truck with more useful thing they could have taken.”\n“They picked the truck because I was in it,” Grant said, not opening his eyes, “and used magic to influence their decision.”\n“I hope you’re right.”\nGrant opened an eye.\n“If I bailed on my rescue, only to end up in some deserter’s truck that’s not going where Wieland’s being taken, Roland’s not the only one I’m going to have to worry about. My dad’s not going to give a fuck about how ‘uncomfortable’ our relationship is right now. He’s going ground my ass until I have my doctorate if I’m lucky.”\n“And if you aren’t?”\nNiel rested his head against his knees. “I’m going to be grounded until I have tenure.”\n* * * * *\nNiel woke to the sun in his eyes, and a sense they were traveling down, instead of up. Not long after that, they drove onto an actual road. Then they passed signs that Niel couldn’t decipher.\n“Italian,” Grant mused.\nNiel tried to remember if Italy and Switzerland touched. This was what he got for taking ancient history, instead of modern.\nAnytime the distance on a sign dropped to the single digits, the truck left the main road, drove onto small ones for a while, then got back onto a major road. He couldn’t be sure, but it felt to Neil like they were avoiding driving through cities.\nWith the sun close to zenith, they drove onto a small road without being near any city. They still avoided driving through anything with more than a dozen buildings, as far as he could tell, as they traveled for a few more hours and then entered a town.\nNiel frowned as he read the signed on the buildings. He could read them. They were in German. “Did we drive to Germany?” he whispered to Grant, who shook his head.\nThe people they saw looked normal enough, but short of historical lederhosen. How was Neil supposed to know if he was looking at German people or Italian?\nHe and Grant lowered themselves when the truck came to a stop before a building. A door protested as it opened, and then they drove into a warehouse, where they parked by more trucks.\n“Do you understand German?” Niel asked, listening as the passenger and driver hurried out. Grant shook his head. “They’re afraid of being late for something. I don’t think they said what, but they sound like they’re running out of time.”\n“It’s got to be the staff.” Grant looked over the back gate. “After the way we beat them, they’re going to want to use it to make themselves unbeatable.”\n“You think Wieland’s going to be with them?”\n“No idea.” Grant jumped out. “But if he isn’t, it’s going to be close by. Whatever this place is, I doubt its anything like a base of operation with a cell block.”\nNiel followed him around the other trucks. The glances he managed of their content left him thinking they’d carried the supplies to set up camp.\nGrant stopped him, then motioned to two canines next to a truck. They fidgeted, speaking quickly and sounding a mix of angry and disappointed. The little he got of the conversation made Niel think they’d screwed up and been put on guard duty, and they were missing the big event, whatever it was.\nGrant made a fist, lowered it, then took off for them. Niel followed, and he tackled the Dachshund while Grant took down the bloodhound. Once tied, Grant turned them on their back.\n“English?”\nThe bloodhound spat in the kangaroo’s face.\nNiel went through their pockets while Grant tried again to get them to talk. They replied with snide comments in German mocking the questions Grant asked, but they didn’t say anything of use in the process. He didn’t point that out. They might let something slip if they thought neither of them understood.\n“Yes!” Niel exclaimed, pulled a phone from the dachshund’s pocket. “Double yes!” The screen saver vanished with a swipe and no request for a password.\nHe brought up the messaging app and skimmed through the message, looking for ‘witchtig’ and ‘versammeln’. What else meant gathering?\n“Got it!” He ignored the kangaroo’s inquisitive gaze and the dachshund’s glare as he translated the message. “The meeting’s taking place in something called Herstllung Schunemann.” He looked at Grant. “Are you sure we’re in Italy? That and the signs on the buildings are all in German.” The link attacked to the message brought up a map of the town. The building was identified on it. “It looks like it’s some factory on the other side of the town.”\n“Good. Let’s go.”\n“Grant,” Niel called as the kangaroo hurried away. “There’s a problem.”\n“Which is?” he motioned for Niel to follow.\nReluctantly, he did. “You can’t get in there. I might be able to pass, if I put on a uniform, stay in the shadows and have a hat I can pull down to my neck, but there’s no way to cover that body of yours. One look at you, and we won’t have to search for where they’re holding Wieland. They’d going to lead us there themselves at gunpoint.”\nThe kangaroo smiled. “Don’t worry about that. I got what I needed from them that’ll let us walk right in. But, since you have a phone. There’s someone I need you to call.”",
"writing_bbcode_parsed": "“Niel?” the kangaroo demanded. “What are you doing here?” The truck jerked into motion, and Grant dropped his raised arm to grab hold of a crate, to keep standing. “You need to get off.” “You going to help?” Niel replied, grinning. “I’ll happily throw you out.” Grant stepped forward to grab him, and was sent up as the truck hit a pothole. Niel caught him before he tipped over the back gate. “I think we should both sit down, so we’ll stay inside the truck.” He pushed him further inside. “Maybe you didn’t notice, being teleported in, but we’re in the mountains. If this is going to be anything like the path I had to walk to get up here, the drop off the side of the road is deadly.” He tried not to smile. “What’s with the glitter pompom?” The kangaroo looked at what he held. “Principle of attracting attention. Being flashy. This was the truck I got in, so I had to make sure one of them picked it for their getaway.” He considered something. “Might be why you got in, too. I didn’t have the time to be selective in making it.” “I got in because I saw the Nazis getting in.” “Why are you here?” Grant pocketed the bundle. “This was to rescue you. Roland’s going to worry.” “He’s having sex. It’s going to be awhile before he notices I’m gone.” “Why are you here, Neil?” he insisted, adding an edge to his tone. Niel nearly dismissed the question. Coach Horgar was way more threatening. But Grant did have magic on his side. If Niel couldn’t justify his presence, the kangaroo could force him out. “A similar reason to you, I’m guessing.” Grant tilted an ear. “You need to make sure one of the most powerful staves ever created doesn’t remain in the hands of Neo-Nazi fanatics?” “Jarod says it can’t do that much damage.” The kangaroo rolled his eyes. “Oh, sure. If you define damage by physical destruction of property, the staff of Storger is basically harmless.” Niel waited out the glare, and Grant sighed. “Storger was, according to legends, the shaman of an Alpine mountain tribe. Mostly canines. When they fell under attack, she made a deal with a spirit and was granted a staff with the power to ensure they would always win against their enemies.” “They don’t exist anymore,” Niel pointed out. “Even magic has limits. Based on the stories I found, they ruled the region undisputed because of the staff. They had enough power to get the workforce that let them make that city inside the mountain. The only other time it happened was Egypt, with the pyramids.” “And the Mayans,” Niel said. “Possibly Stonehenge qualifies, although it’s on a much smaller scale. The romans were known for their workforce, pretty much all voluntary, until its decline. You have the Greeks, who—what?” Grant looked at him oddly. “I’m into history. I’m just pointing out that you might be blowing what they did out of proportion. It’s impressive. I’ll give you that, but not unheard of, and I doubt you’re going to tell me all those other civilizations used magic for their masterworks.” Grant rubbed the top of his muzzle. “Fine. That doesn’t change the fact the staff made them unstoppable until something else, probably stronger magic, got involved.” Niel nodded. “So that spirit, that was your god?” “I don’t have a god,” he replied irritably. “But explaining about the universe and lenses would be a distraction right now. Maybe she made the staff. More likely, she found its resting place. This is about a mostly unheard of civilization dating back to the eighth or ninth century BC. Legends and folklore recorded by neighboring tribes are all I’ve had to go on.” “What does the staff do that made them unstoppable?” “That, I don’t know. They already looked pretty damned imposing, based on the statues there. The stories agree about Storger existing, and that she made it happen. Could have been a wish that did it, her need, or she just wanted it. They don’t talk about the why. Now,” he added in the following silence. “How about you tell me why you’re in this truck when your best friend basically mobilized the Society to find and rescue you?” “Please tell me you’re exaggerating.” Niel could see Roland doing it. Determination had always been what made him a force to be reckoned with on the football field. And he’d just run off without telling him. “Slightly. But you’re still dodging the question.” Niel sighed. He’d find a way to make it up to Roland. “The Nazis took one of us with them. No one back there seemed to care in their hurry to fuck.” “Cut them some slack, Niel. Anyone with a useful power volunteered and exhausted themselves in the process of rescuing you. If they’re having sex right now, it’s about making sure they have the energy for the next part of the plan, not as a celebration.” “Speaking of energy,” Niel said, grinning. “You aren’t powered the same way they are,” Grant replied flatly. “Yeah, but it’s been more than a day since my last time. They kept us in separate cells. I’m getting ‘hungry’, and by the time this truck gets to its destination, I could be incapacitated.” Grant rested his head against a crate. “Why not? That’s not the worse way to kill a few hours.” * * * * * It was more than a few hours. Long enough that after the sex, Niel grew bored and explored the truck’s cargo. Beyond the crates, he found boxes of clothing, canned food, beddings, and enough gym equipment to fill one of the smaller gym rooms at the college. “Why’d they pick the junk truck?” Niel asked, sitting down again. “You’d think there was a truck with more useful thing they could have taken.” “They picked the truck because I was in it,” Grant said, not opening his eyes, “and used magic to influence their decision.” “I hope you’re right.” Grant opened an eye. “If I bailed on my rescue, only to end up in some deserter’s truck that’s not going where Wieland’s being taken, Roland’s not the only one I’m going to have to worry about. My dad’s not going to give a fuck about how ‘uncomfortable’ our relationship is right now. He’s going ground my ass until I have my doctorate if I’m lucky.” “And if you aren’t?” Niel rested his head against his knees. “I’m going to be grounded until I have tenure.” * * * * * Niel woke to the sun in his eyes, and a sense they were traveling down, instead of up. Not long after that, they drove onto an actual road. Then they passed signs that Niel couldn’t decipher. “Italian,” Grant mused. Niel tried to remember if Italy and Switzerland touched. This was what he got for taking ancient history, instead of modern. Anytime the distance on a sign dropped to the single digits, the truck left the main road, drove onto small ones for a while, then got back onto a major road. He couldn’t be sure, but it felt to Neil like they were avoiding driving through cities. With the sun close to zenith, they drove onto a small road without being near any city. They still avoided driving through anything with more than a dozen buildings, as far as he could tell, as they traveled for a few more hours and then entered a town. Niel frowned as he read the signed on the buildings. He could read them. They were in German. “Did we drive to Germany?” he whispered to Grant, who shook his head. The people they saw looked normal enough, but short of historical lederhosen. How was Neil supposed to know if he was looking at German people or Italian? He and Grant lowered themselves when the truck came to a stop before a building. A door protested as it opened, and then they drove into a warehouse, where they parked by more trucks. “Do you understand German?” Niel asked, listening as the passenger and driver hurried out. Grant shook his head. “They’re afraid of being late for something. I don’t think they said what, but they sound like they’re running out of time.” “It’s got to be the staff.” Grant looked over the back gate. “After the way we beat them, they’re going to want to use it to make themselves unbeatable.” “You think Wieland’s going to be with them?” “No idea.” Grant jumped out. “But if he isn’t, it’s going to be close by. Whatever this place is, I doubt its anything like a base of operation with a cell block.” Niel followed him around the other trucks. The glances he managed of their content left him thinking they’d carried the supplies to set up camp. Grant stopped him, then motioned to two canines next to a truck. They fidgeted, speaking quickly and sounding a mix of angry and disappointed. The little he got of the conversation made Niel think they’d screwed up and been put on guard duty, and they were missing the big event, whatever it was. Grant made a fist, lowered it, then took off for them. Niel followed, and he tackled the Dachshund while Grant took down the bloodhound. Once tied, Grant turned them on their back. “English?” The bloodhound spat in the kangaroo’s face. Niel went through their pockets while Grant tried again to get them to talk. They replied with snide comments in German mocking the questions Grant asked, but they didn’t say anything of use in the process. He didn’t point that out. They might let something slip if they thought neither of them understood. “Yes!” Niel exclaimed, pulled a phone from the dachshund’s pocket. “Double yes!” The screen saver vanished with a swipe and no request for a password. He brought up the messaging app and skimmed through the message, looking for ‘witchtig’ and ‘versammeln’. What else meant gathering? “Got it!” He ignored the kangaroo’s inquisitive gaze and the dachshund’s glare as he translated the message. “The meeting’s taking place in something called Herstllung Schunemann.” He looked at Grant. “Are you sure we’re in Italy? That and the signs on the buildings are all in German.” The link attacked to the message brought up a map of the town. The building was identified on it. “It looks like it’s some factory on the other side of the town.” “Good. Let’s go.” “Grant,” Niel called as the kangaroo hurried away. “There’s a problem.” “Which is?” he motioned for Niel to follow. Reluctantly, he did. “You can’t get in there. I might be able to pass, if I put on a uniform, stay in the shadows and have a hat I can pull down to my neck, but there’s no way to cover that body of yours. One look at you, and we won’t have to search for where they’re holding Wieland. They’d going to lead us there themselves at gunpoint.” The kangaroo smiled. “Don’t worry about that. I got what I needed from them that’ll let us walk right in. But, since you have a phone. There’s someone I need you to call.”",
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