Act XXIX
#31 of The Chess Master
This is the Chess Master novel, a work in progress. I've been working on this since March 16th, 2003. Unlike all of my other stories, I only added my name on the prologue. I even worked up a cover for the novel back then.
Warning: The Jansen Tanner parts of the novel are written in "first-person."
Act XXIX: The Savage Tanner Way
My comrades followed me through the streets of Cairo. Let me explain something. This isn't something I've always dreamed of. I like working alone. But Danath wasn't giving me a choice. And he was right. Skam was dangerous.
And somewhere in this ancient city, my cousin, Josh Savage, Jr., was up to his neck with trouble. And more likely, he didn't have a clue he was in trouble.
Josh was a Savage, after all.
Just like I was a Tanner.
Jayne turned to me.
"Where are we heading, exactly?"
I calmly responded.
"We're going to check in with the Egyptian god known as Anubis. I have his favor, in this region."
Danath arched an eye.
"You didn't tell me you had befriended the Heliopolans. When did that occur?"
I grinned.
"This occurred back when I was in Cairo and vanished for a whole year, just before I returned for the mission to rescue my imp buddies."
Danath growled.
"So THAT'S where you were? Everyone was sure you had died!"
I grinned.
"Aren't you the one who kept stressing that I needed to take some time off?"
Danath started to object but he kept his mouth shut. Damned Tanner has won again. I kept grinning as we continued walking.
"I thought as much, Danath. At any rate, I have Anubis' favor."
Moments later, our hunting party entered the Anubian Guardians hall of worship. The priest I had originally encountered was once again on hand, yet Nubis Al-Jakal was not present. The priest lifted his head at our entry and I immediately saw why he had not acknowledged our arrival. The priest was nursing horrible bruises that covered his face.
This was pissing me off. I don't need to tell you what happens when a Tanner is pissed off.
She and Joe both agreed, exclaiming at the same time...
"A pissy Tanner causes Hell and Damnation!"
I approached the altar and broke out the first aid gear. Krystal was right there helping me. I held the priest's hand as I spoke to him.
"Who did this?"
The Anubian priest looked to me, his eyes recognizing my face, as well as my clasp I wore.
"Thank Anubis! He said you'd come. I think you know what happened, Jansen Tanner. They entered the temple, accusing me of harboring monsters. I think I insulted them when I said that the only monsters I saw were them."
I growled, wolf style.
"Where is Anubis himself? He better not be injured..."
The priest replied with a slight wince.
"He and Seth are working together. Anubis told me that if you arrived... to send you to the Nile Delta. There is an estate there. Within is what you've been looking for... The Skammers."
I turned to Danath.
"The Nile Delta!"
Danath knew fully well what that meant. Evidently I had misinterpreted the information in the future. The mass loss of agents in the Nile Delta referred to the Skammers, not the Chess team. Danath was evidently contacting the local Chess bunker via video-phone.
Krystal finished up her medical work on the priest. One thing I can say about Krystal and that is that she has the best patch up work I've ever seen in the field. I sure hope she's single.
I turned to the priest once more and pulled out a picture of Josh Savage Jr.
"Tell me something... have you seen this man in the past few months?"
The priest looked at the picture, nodding his head.
"Yes, he was here a few months ago. He was looking for you. He seemed to be convinced that you were here in Cairo. I thought he was looking for the Skammers, so I directed him to the Nile Delta... I wish I hadn't, now... The Skammers came here and almost killed me."
I put the picture away.
"We'll make them pay, my friend. Stay here and rest. My friends and I will be back. No one attacks my allies and gets away with it."
Our hunting party departed the temple and made our way toward the Nile Delta. Now, we had a definitive goal. An estate on or near the Nile Delta. And somewhere there... Josh was up to his armpits in trouble and didn't know it. That was just like a Savage, of course.
As we were nearing a clear view of the estate's walls, a hooded, cloaked figure stepped out from behind a tall clump of delta reeds. I could tell this person was powerful from his stature. Fortunately, he didn't attack us. Instead, he lowered his hood for a moment. He had a lion's head and mane.
"I'm on your side, my friends. I am Katahnuk Kennison. I do not need to know your names, for his scent..."
He pointed at me.
"...I know all too well, when he and that party he was with traveled through my territory some time ago to stop Infinity Vale."
I blinked my eyes!
"That sneaky Dominic. Now I see why he blindfolded and muffled my ears..."
Katahnuk grinned.
"He is something, isn't he? More than you know. But that's not important right now. I am a were-lion god and I am choosing to help your team against the Skammers."
Danath grinned.
"Welcome aboard. Let's continue. We're to meet Anubis and Seth somewhere inside."
Katahnuk nodded his head and fell in with our hunting party.
I don't know if I was ready for something like this. We had gods offering their aid to our team against the Skammers. Gods. I don't know how Danath can... Who am I kidding? Danath is a god, too. Now I was starting to feel outclassed. But these Skammers harmed my allies. I could never forgive them for that.
Back to action...
Our group was soon entering the estate's compound via a wall, thanks to Katahnuk's great strength, and Marla's psionic powers. It was strange that we were hearing fighting, gunfire, and screams, though muffled, within the compound. Evidently, Anubis and Set weren't wasting any time. I naturally assumed that the Skammers were the ones using the guns.
How wrong I'd be, come later.
Locke showed off his talents at the first security door we came across, as the electronic door slid open revealing the Skammer's closed circuit security chamber. But our victory wasn't celebrated right away, as the four Skammer's within drew their high powered weapons and opened fire on our location at the door.
Suddenly, without warning, my Japanese samurai friend Chou Lun, along with his warhorse, and Rosa Saturnyne with her cat, Talbot, exploded into the center of the security chamber, using their abilities, magic and guile. The four Skammers were disarmed and changed into geckos.
Chou smiled toward me.
"/It would seem the young wu-jen and I arrived just in time, Jansen Tanner./"
Rosa was busy with the geckos, as Talbot winked an eye at us.
"What would you do without Neko cat luck?"
I grinned and hugged Talbot fondly.
"Your timing was beautiful! Where did you come across Chou Lun?"
Talbot grinned back, purring with the rubbings.
"Rosa and I went to visit you at your Xim Fortress with a delivery of were-boar hoof-clippings. Chou greeted us and together, we got word that you were attacking Skam at their main base. Chou was itching for some action, so... we all came."
Danath chuckled, as he and Marla accessed the compound's security cameras. Danath stopped chuckling when one monitor caught his attention.
"Jansen? You better come have a look at this..."
I came over and looked at the monitor. Right there with Anubis, Seth, Saul du Morvan, Astraea Tirzal, and Lord Oh-Kuni-Raiden Amakami was Josh Savage Jr. And Josh was using his gun against the Skammers, fighting right alongside some of the greatest people I knew. I couldn't help but to smile.
"Looks like Josh is with the other assault team."
Krystal came over and looked, as well. She giggled.
"Your friend seems to be holding his own quite well. What agency did you say he was with?"
I grinned.
"He's a Savage. Like I'm a Tanner. Josh is a private investigator, though most of our relations are bounty hunters. I'm pleased that Josh is currently with people I can trust."
Krystal smiled.
"He's certainly dashing... but I like you better, Jansen."
Marla then released an exclamation.
"Ah ha! I just located Campbell Forbes Hodgson. He seems to be packing his things in a rush... at the East end of the compound, nearest to the river. Take a good look at the guy, because this is a face we must never forget, my friends."
And we all looked. Damn right, we did!
Joe laughed!
"I'll bet someone never makes it out of the compound!"
I grinned up at the readers. Aren't you getting a little ahead of yourself?
She poked Joe with her finger.
"Jansen knows that we're reading this, love. Now, where were we?"
Our team, with Chou and Rosa now, began charging through the compound. I say charging because I definitely would not want to be in front of Chou's warhorse right now. And he was using his daikyu with expert precision. His arrows found their way into the barrels of every gun he launched his ammo at. Rosa was using her magic to shield us from missile weapons. Someday, I'll have to learn that spell. Seems like the handiest one I've seen in use.
And the explosions from the jammed guns! They were very impressive! But we didn't have time to watch. We had to catch Hodgson before he made good his escape.
Soon, our team converged with Josh's team and our power suddenly doubled. The Skammers, at that point, began surrendering. Evidently, they all knew my face on sight and no one wanted to be on the receiving end of... the Tanner way.
Josh grinned at me.
"We meet again, Jansen! Remember our pact? I'm holding you to it, this time... AFTER we get the scum that leads this bunch!"
I laughed!
"I take it that you had an encounter with these rogues in the field?"
Josh nodded his head.
"You might say that! Lead the way, Jansen!"
Josh was wanting me to lead... now THAT is a scary thought. I wonder what the Skammers did to Josh in the field. Whatever it was, it couldn't have been good. I was sort of pleased that Josh found this place before I did. Josh really knows his stuff. I guess we all know who the better investigator is, don't we?
As the Skammers were being rounded up, the remainder of our team made our way toward the East side of the compound. The river side. I somehow knew we weren't going to get there in time.
As we arrived on the docks, we saw Campbell Forbes Hodgson far out in the river in his mini-yacht, speeding out toward the open waters of the Mediterranean. Danath began to curse, but I stopped him.
"He's not free yet, Danath. He just made a grave error. Now, everyone wave bye to Mr. Hodgson and smile knowingly."
Everyone did as I asked.
Campbell noticed our actions and stopped the boat to stare at our group.
That was the break I needed as I gave the shout that Sebastian had taught me...
"GREAT POSEIDON, HEAR MY PLEA! STRIKE OUR FOE WHO SLAYS YOUR SCIONS WITH GLEE!!!"
Okay, it was a sucky rhyme. But the results were anything but sucky, as a gigantic glowing trident suddenly ruptured up through Mr. Hodgson's boat, causing explosions, sending the hapless man flying upwards, on fire, then downwards... right into the open jaws of a great whale! Then, the whale vanished from view, as Poseidon himself arose from the waters, like a titan of old. He grabbed his trident, then walked over to the dock we stood upon.
It was at that point that Mr. Hodgson was dropped into our midst, his body beaten and bruised. He was too stunned to speak.
Poseidon grimly spoke, gazing directly at our gathered party.
"Make sure he doesn't slip through your grasp, my friends! For if he escapes and comes near any source of water again, I'll make sure he is changed from an air-breather... into a water-breather... right where he stands... and I will watch him suffocate on the air itself!"
Poseidon then winked at me, as he turned and strode back into the Mediterranean Sea, vanishing beneath the waves.
Soon afterwards, the Skammers were disarmed and expedited to a Siberian prison that I was surprised that Danath had access to, while Mr. Hodgson was introduced to Circe and the Greek council of the gods. This was justice, after all. Circe and Artemis had often said, when you mess around with the supernatural world, you are subject to the supernatural laws. And Mr. Hodgson was in deep. Though I think he was relieved that a Tanner wasn't going to have any say so in what happened to him. And that suited me just fine.
Soon... our teams were once again at Chess' main headquarters in Athens Greece. And Josh was sticking to me like glue. It was kind of funny, in a Tanner sort of way.
Josh had his arms folded.
"You promised, Jansen! The mission is finished and now, you are coming with me BACK to Rocky Falls! Let me say that it has NOT been fun tracking you down, what with that teleporting power you have and all of the other sneaky tricks and allies you seem to have lurking all over the place! Say your goodbyes to your friends, because you're coming with me and that's final!"
I was still laughing. I couldn't help it.
"You're starting to sound like your dad, Josh."
Josh almost hit me when I said that. Almost. I dodged, just in time.
"I'm sorry, Josh. But you're right. I did promise that the next time we crossed paths, I'd surrender to you. And you did catch me fair and square. What's first on our travel plan?"
Josh grinned a little.
"First order of business is to contact Leia and have her meet with us at the Vanlyone Mansion. Thanks to Dominic's aforethought, he set up one of his special gates right here at Chess Central. It's inside his room. I used it the other day to quickly hit Rocky Falls before returning and heading down to Cairo. So, don't even think about giving me the slip."
I smiled, as I handed Josh my via satellite phone.
"Call her up, Josh. I am not going to try to get away from you, this time. A Tanner keeps his word, after all. All I do ask is that you and Leia keep it private that I've returned. I have my reasons for requesting this."
Josh used my phone and soon, was arranging the meeting in front of the Vanlyone Estate with Leia. While he did this, I put on a White Bishop's jacket. It would be good to see Leia again. I'm just glad it wasn't another meeting with Jo. That punch she used on me the last time about dislocated my jaw.
Josh turned off the phone, handing it back to me.
"Leia will meet us both out front of the mansion. Just us; not all of your fantastic allies and stuff. Now, let's get going. Now."
I waved goodbye to Danath and the others, as Josh and I headed into Dominic's White Bishop's compound. This would be the first time I would ever use the special gateway that Dominic had set up for getting all over the world. Josh and I walked through the gateway and were instantly in the Vanlyone Mansion in Rocky Falls. I had to admit... I was impressed with these things.
Josh and I exited the mansion through Dominic's office, on to the back patio deck and we both headed around to the front driveway. We had just barely arrived, when Leia pulled up in her sporty car. Leia stepped out of the car and looked directly at me. I couldn't tell if she was upset or not. That worried me. Jo had gotten the drop on me once before and I wasn't looking forward toward getting it again.
Leia stepped forward slowly... and... She belted me hard, right in the jaw! I winced in pain, from the impact. I was fortunate that Leia couldn't hit as hard as Jo could. Then, Leia hugged me, holding me close... patting the back of my jacket.
"Am I ever glad Josh brought you home."
Joe released a slow breath. He hadn't realized he had been holding his breath.
"Good lord... I never would have thought all this stuff was going on in the world."
She smiled, sipping her cola.
"That's for sure... but... this can't be the end of the history. If Jansen was back, then we'd all have seen him, by now. There must be more to this. But yes, honey, Jansen deals with this stuff every day in his work as a Chess agent."
Joe grinned.
"Therefore, Jansen and Josh snuck into town, did some stuff, then Jansen left again."
She and Joe gave each other a thumbs up sign, then resumed reading from where they had stopped reading, ready for the next part of Jansen's agent history.