Chương 12: By Job I think He’s Got It!

Goblin Realm — Day of Prophesied Birth Mordak strolled into Elios' lab, eager to see the results for himself. It was only a matter of time now before the stupid baby was in his hands and then he could proceed with his plan. His eyes scanned the room for Elios. He found him, sitting behind a workstation cluttered with debris. He quickened his steps, a slight grin on his face.

"Well, good morning, Elios," Mordak said, patting him on the back.

"I hear you have some outstanding news for me."

"Yes, Mr. Blackwood, I do, I do, I do!" Elios replied, excitedly bouncing from one foot to the other.

"I see the medication Dr. Wentworth gave you is working rather well," Mordak commented, pleased with the results, despite Elios's newfound enthusiasm.

"Oh, yes, Mr. Breakwater!" he said, bouncing around like an excited puppy.

"I mean Blackwood," he corrected, catching himself.

"That was bad, Elios. Bad, bad, bad. Breakwater past… Blackwood future," he muttered, voice barely above a whisper as he struck his forehead with the heel of his hand.

"The only thing I care about is pleasing you, sir. Nothing else matters."

"Good to hear, good to hear!" Mordak said, smiling brightly.

"So, from all accounts, that agent went through the portal thingy just fine and has been on the other side infiltrating the enemy. Any new developments I should be made aware of?"

"No, sir. Nothing new to report. Nothing to tell you. Nothing to say." Elios proclaimed excitedly, his arms flailing in the air.

"She seems fine. Everything we have sent to the other side has been fine. No equipment malfunctions, seemingly no side effects after returning. I did just like you said. I sent her through, brought her back, sent her through, brought her back. It is like walking through a door, I think." He pinched his chin as if he needed to concentrate too hard, words beginning to slur.

"What have we learned thus far, Elios?" Mordak asked thoughtfully, tapping his pointer finger to his temple.

"Well sir, we have learned that this magical doorway opens up into a place, another dimension of sorts, and it is, get this…" He paused, shifting from one foot to the next.

"It is run by fairies! Well, that's what they call themselves. I know everyone thinks fairies are little…" he paused, pinching his pointer finger and thumb together repeatedly.

"But these, sir, they are not tiny little creatures, they are big. Not as big as you of course, but bigger than Dr. Wentworth," he said, his voice three octaves too high, before giggling like a schoolgirl.

"You don't say!" Mordak exclaimed with exaggerated enthusiasm while nodding his head vigorously up and down.

"I wasn't referring to what we learned about the other side, I was asking what you have learned, Elios."

"Oh, come on now, sir," he replied before blushing and casting his eyes downward like a dog who had been beaten one too many times.

"I was wrong. I know that now. I never should have questioned your greatness or your intellect. No matter what, you always know what's best, even when it sounds insane at the time. You know all, you see all, you are the be‑all!" he exclaimed, twirling in circles with his arms outstretched.

"I think you need to visit Dr. Wentworth and have your dosage adjusted, Elios," he said, getting dizzy watching him spin in circles. He reached out his arm, and Elios stopped abruptly.

"Why would I want the good doctor to adjust my meds? I feel great, better than I ever have. What can I do for you, sir?" Elios asked.

"How can I be of service to you? Do you want me to wash your car? Build you a car? Take you for a ride in your car?" He blinked rapidly, trying to get his eyes to focus on his boss. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

"No, Elios, just go visit the doctor and have him adjust your meds. You are…" He paused, shaking his head.

"Well, you just are," he said, throwing up his arms, unsure what to call it.

"Yes, sir, I love feeling like this. I am just sooooo happy and so eager to please. I don't need sleep, or to eat, or to do anything but serve you and your mission," Elios said, his voice so high Mordak had to cover his ears.

"Well, I don't want you to crash, Elios, because I need you to continue my… I mean your great work," Mordak said, taking Elios' arm and leading him to the door.

"Anything for you, sir," Elios said, gushingly.

"You are my leader and I will follow you anywhere. I will do anything you ask. You want me to cut off my hand and give it to you, just say the word," he said, holding up his hand and wiggling his fingers.

"Because I will. Just give me a sec to find a knife," Elios said, trying to pull away.

"No, Elios, that won't be necessary," Mordak said, pulling him back toward the door. He stopped abruptly as the thought hit him.

"How is the agent getting back? When will they be back?" he asked, sighing as Elios tried to drift back toward the lab. Mordak grabbed the back of Elios' shirt and yanked him backward, jerking him like an overzealous puppy on a lead.

"What?" Elios asked, baffled by why his body was suddenly going the opposite direction from where he intended. Mordak turned Elios around to face him.

"The agent, how are they getting back? Do you need to be at a control panel or something? I need to know these things, especially if you're…" He paused, watching Elios' pupils dilate uncontrollably.

"Let's just say incapacitated. I mean I can't leave one of my top agents in hostile territory. It is not smart to lose assets, Elios, not smart at all, and we both know how smart I really am."

"All she has to do is press a button and poof, she will be right over there," Elios said, pointing to the teleport pad with sloppy enthusiasm.

"What do you mean she?"

"Regina, sir. You sent her over there," Elios replied, trying to focus on the Mordak in the middle.

"She's over there alone? She doesn't have a man with her? Guiding her? Directing her? She's just there all by herself, tasked with this important mission, she's gonna mess it up." He sighed heavily before adding, "She has to mess it up. Women ALWAYS mess it up."

"It's a simple reconnaissance mission, sir. I think she will be fine," Elios said, looking down at his fingers, which had suddenly become extraordinarily fascinating. Mordak snapped his fingers in front of Elios's face.

"Pay attention, you schmuck!"

"I am, sir, but have you ever watched your fingers move? I mean…"

"Elios!" Mordak interrupted.

"I do not care if your fingers walk off your hand and down the hall. This is important. Rachel is on the other side by herself."

"Regina," Elios mumbled, still looking at his fingers. Mordak paused, glaring at him.

"Anyway, without supervision, you know, alone," he said through gritted teeth.

"If she gets captured, she will talk. They always talk." He paused, shaking his head.

"In my experience, they never actually shut up." He shook his head again as realization dawned.

"If she talks, and I know she will, then they will know my plan. They will know that I want the baby." His eyes grew large.

"They will take my baby away from me. There will be no execution, no spectacle for the masses to rally behind. They will stop loving me." Elios looked blankly at him and blinked slowly, mechanically.

"That's okay, boss, because I will always love you." Mordak stared back, silently.

"Sir, did you know that when the pink fox eats the gray rabbit, he shits purple?" Elios declared.

"Yeah, that's great, Elios. You go visit Dr. Wentworth, I will figure out what to do about Rachel."

"Regina," Elios muttered.

"If she can get back unaided then I will just have to wait." He sighed loudly, causing Elios to look over at him.

"Wait for her, wait for you, wait for the damn baby! I hate to wait, Elios. I despise it. It's not my thing. I am just not wired that way."

"I want things done now, immediately, not later, but NOW," he said, without so much as taking a breath.

"Where am I going?" Elios asked while Mordak violently spun him around to face him.

"Mr. Blackwood, what are you doing here?" he asked, sounded genuinely surprised.

"I am so glad I found you. The teleport is working A‑okay, it is just a…"

"That is great news, Elios, but I have super important stuff to do." He paused, eyeing Elios up and down.

"You know, like go watch the surveillance equipment surveilling while Rachel…"

"Regina," Elios mumbled. Mordak ignored him and continued.

"Is putting the remainder of the bugs in place so we will know everything and snatch that baby when it is located," he muttered.

"First, let's get you to Dr. Wentworth and get you sorted."