Chương 27: The Friend

"With Frank?!" WARHOL repeated, not quite believing.

"No, Lance, I can't do that..."

"Why not?" his son asked.

"He was, maybe still is, your close friend. If not him, who else could you trust with this hack?"

"That's exactly it, Lance. I entrusted you with it because I knew you, as my son, could be trusted, that we could fight the cosmic horror together, as equals, and as people who understand the gravity of the situation without throwing salt over their shoulder every time I growl! Frank doesn't trust me. If he doesn't trust me, then how can we work together in battle?" His son shrugged and looked for more things to east, eventually finding a bag filled with apples.

"That's a good concern to have, dad. Answer me this, though: how is he supposed to ever trust you, if you don't give him reason to trust you? Wouldn't letting him in on the hack give him a reason to trust you? Plus, you know Frank isn't going to use his powers for evil. He is a Deity Champion, after all." He groaned. Not a lot, but some.

"You make a good point. It's just a lot of responsibility to have. For any one person to have." Lance tore through a couple of apples and still eat.

"Which is why," they said between bites.

"You should share it with more people than just me. Do you really think even us, as strong as we will be, will be enough to face the horror? Do you think this underground complex will be able to resist in only a year's worth of repair? Honestly, dad, I don't think it will be. We need more people on our side, fighting alongside us, shoulder-to-shoulder." As he eat his own share of the apples, Warhol considered his son's words. He couldn't deny what Lance said.

The coming threat would test not only them, as individuals, but the world itself, and for all his excitement about the complex and its possible usage as a 'horror from beyond containment device,' he did not know that was its actual use. It was a guess, at best.

"Maybe you're right. I will think on this." Nearing the end of the bag of apples, Lance said one final thing with a smirk: "Think? I thought you said we didn't have time to think?" Warhol playfully shoved his son to the side by his shoulder.

"Okay, okay! I get it. I'm going to take a leap here. I'm going to offer Frank the hack."

"Heck yeah! That's what I'm talking about," Lance stood up and belched.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, father, I need some sleep. I can't remember the last time I slept!" A smile crested his face.

"Sounds good, son. Let me help you out. There," he said, holding out his hand.

"I just incanted [Invisible] on you to protect you from prying bandit eyes. You can rest in peace, without being worried about a knife in your throat." Lance looked at his body, observing his hands and legs.

"Neat! Thanks, dad!"

"No problem, son." Warhol [Teleported] away soon after and returned to the Planetary Defense Council's Headquarters in the nation of Morrow. Typically, when he teleported inside the headquarters building, it was empty. This time, it was filled with people in pretty suits. He instantly cast [Invisibility] on himself. He did not like rubbing elbows. He didn't think anyone saw him, so he should be fine. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

A quick [Flight] incant later, and he was above the heads of the diplomats and generals and fine men and ladies of the upper echelons. he sought out his mark. He recognized many people. Warriors, merchants, scholars, even. Clearly, Frank had arranged a heck of a party to advance the discovery and support behind the Oldest Complex.

"Oh, why am I doing this?" he groaned to himself. He incanted [Locate: Frank] and saw a light glow into existence down several flights. He [Teleported] himself again, this time entering the chamber Frank was inside of, one of the secondary living spaces to the sides of the main hallway. With Frank speaking was an aristocrat by the name of Geld.

"Frank," the rich man said.

"Do you truly believe in this hogwash?"

"Sire, I do. And it is not hogwash. The tunnels of the complex are extensive. We believe, backed up by maps, partial though they be, that these complex branches extend throughout the entirety of the planet." Frank looked into the aristocrat's eyes.

"I think you should take a more serious tone, my lord. Our world is under imminent threat by a horror from beyond. If we don't search every possible avenue on how to defeat it, we will all suffer inglorious death." Geld broke eye contact.

"Gods, Frank. You're always so serious. But what do I get if I cooperate with this? You have to give that it's a ridiculous plan. Making peace with our rivals, big civil engineering projects? Idealistic in the extreme. Some would even say subversive..." Frank sighed.

"Sire, I am not going to entertain ridiculous conspiracy theories. If gutter trash wants to posit about shadow cabals manipulating governments to suit their nefarious and ill-defined agenda, let them. Obviously, this endeavor is nothing of the sort. As for what you will get, why, riches, riches beyond your wildest imaginings. Artifacts, priceless in value, are down there, just waiting to be discovered. Warhol thinks it is the Sea Folk who built the complex. I think it is the Draconic Folk.

Whoever built the complex, however, it is here for us to take! But we can't take it and we can't defend our world without breathtaking investment. So, what do you say?" The merchant-king took a sip from his drink.

"Very well. On a provisional basis only, though. If the results don't pan out, I will pull my funding."

"That is fine, sire." Frank remarked, extending his hand.

"Shake on it?"

"Yes, yes..." Geld and Frank shook hands, sealing the deal.

"Now, please excuse me. It's the shindig of the century out there and I want to take full advantage." Geld the Merchant King left the chamber, closing the door behind him. That was when Warhol undid his invisibility spell and plopped to the carpeted floor.

"Sealing deals, I see." Frank looked at him undisturbed. Had Frank known the entire time that he had invisibly teleported into the room? If so, the man had an incredible poker face.

"That is what I do. Good thing I planned this party the first time you spoke to me about this complex. I took a risk those days ago, inviting so many and from so many nations, but I think it was worthwhile."

"I would agree, Frank. You did well. Goes to show you how deeply the people of the world respect the men and women of the Planetary Defense council. After what happened, how couldn't they?" Warhol said solemnly.

"Well, you didn't leave us much choice, did you?" Frank was bitter, angry.

"No, I didn't, and as I have said a million times, I am sorry, Frank. It was obviously never my intent to become infected with a Mind Slop creature. I could have been more careful, yes, and for that, I've already apologized a thousand times and will continue to apologize." Frank opened his mouth to speak, or perhaps yell, but closed it. Though it was a party and everyone was drinking, Frank looked as sober as monk. Which was a shame since he looked like he could use a drink. It was now or never.

"Frank. I have a proposition for you."

"Another proposition, Warhol? Haven't we all had enough?"

"Even so, hear me out. I have been training my son. To help me fight the horror from beyond, I mean." he began slowly.

"But I haven't just been giving him advice and guiding him. I've let him in on the secret of my power. Frank, I would like to give you access to this secret, too."