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> Adventures in Parodyverse - Special Election, Part 8 (Epilogue)
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> Yuki entered Hatman’s office, which was still soaked and in complete disarray.  She closed the door behind her.  Hatman was the only other person there, worrying himself about how he’s going to clean up the mess.  And about how, as Leader of the Lair Legion, he was going to deal with Marv.
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> And also, about Yuki.
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> She was thinking the same thing he was.  She opened with, “I thought I should help you resolve one of your problems, at least.”
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> Yuki approached the desk and stood directly across it from Jay.  The fingers on her right hand traced the edge of the desk as she thought about what she wanted to say.
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> “There are some things that don’t go back the way they were.”  she whispered as she watched her own fingers.  “We have to conquer them and move on.”  She then looked up at Jay.
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> “I know.”  he replied quietly.  He nearly sat down, but realized his desk chair was still soaked.
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> “Look...we’re friends, right?”  she asked.  “We can deal with this.”
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> “I know we can.”  Jay finally became more animated as he said that.  “It’s just a little awkward.  Not between you and me, I guess, but with the others.  I feel like I owe them an explanation--”
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> He continued, “The only problem is...I don’t have one.  I don’t really remember clearly.  I don’t know if...it was real, or if it was one of those shared dreams Marv put us in.”
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> “Let’s hope it was real.”  Yuki replied with a smirk.  “At least that way it would be worth all the worry it put us through.”
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> Jay tried his best to remain serious, but failed as he began to smile slightly.
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> “And if it’s your conscience that bothers you.”  Yuki added softer, more slowly, “There are more options.  Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to become closer...you know, longer term than one night.”
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> “You know, Yuki...just the offer makes me feel better already.”  he admitted.  “Shows you care about my feelings.  I really appreciate that.”
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> “No problem, Jay.”  she said with a confident smile.  “Need some help cleaning up?”
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> “Oh, definitely.”  he replied.
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> The two of them quietly began reassembling Hatman’s office, thinking quietly to themselves as they worked.
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> ---
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> “I’ll be sad to see you go.”  Liu Xi Xian whispered with a shrug as she watched Vinnie De Soth pack the meager things he accumulated while staying at her apartment.  In a small backpack.
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> “Really?”  Vinnie asked.  “I thought you’d be relieved.  I’ve been in your way the whole time I’ve been staying here.”
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> “No.  And Yes.  It’s complicated.”  She shrugged again.
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> Vinnie shook his head.  “I’ll never understand women,”  he whispered as he put one last sweater in the backpack and zipped it up.
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> Liu Xi took his arm gently and whispered in his ear, “That part is not so complicated.  I want the same things you want, I just go about it...differently.”
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> “Speaking of which, Liu Xi...did you really curse Marvellous Marv?”
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> The Chinese girl smirked and looked down.  “Maybe.  It’s kind of a stupid curse though, and I don’t know if it works.”
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> Vinnie brightened.  He was a little amused at the possibility of Marv being cursed.  “Oh?  What does it do?”
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> “If he treads the spot where the petals fell,”  she explained, “and if he visits again, he has to because it’s the front door...he won’t be able to stop sneezing until he leaves.”
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> “That’s horrible.”  Vinnie commented, though he couldn’t help but laugh.  “Where do you learn these things?  I’ve been studying from books at the Occult shop for a long time--”
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> As he spoke, Liu Xi walked quickly to a small bookshelf just behind the television.  She produced two large old-looking books, one with a yellow cover, and the other with a red one.  She handed them both to Vinnie.
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> “I haven’t seen these two before.”  Vinnie told her.  He opened one and began leafing through.  All the pages were blank.
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> “Xander gave them to me before he left.”  she explained.  “I am the only one allowed to read them.”
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> “Oh.”  Vinnie read the two covers.  The yellow one said ‘Practical Spells’, and the red one said ‘Impractical Spells’.  That was classic Xander, all right.  He handed them back to Liu Xi.
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> Finally he asked, “Why is it that Xander gave you all the spells and I’m stuck being the Sorcerer Supreme with no help at all?”
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> Liu Xi brushed her hair aside as she opened the back cover of the yellow book and stared at what was inside.  She turned it around so Vinnie could see.  “I suppose that’s what this means.”
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> There was a handwritten inscription inside the book.
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> Vinnie is going to need your help.
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> Vinnie read that and nodded.  Once again, classic Xander.
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> “I was convinced he knew another Vinnie who needed help.”  she laughed.  “I didn’t think it would be you.”  Her smile disappeared when she added, “Xander told me once that the Sorcerer Supreme must keep some of his power separate and hidden.”
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> “So that’s you.”  Vinnie put together.  “You’re separate and hidden.”
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> Liu Xi nodded.  “Perhaps.  So if someone tries to lock you away or harm you--”  She smiled.  “They won’t know the trouble they are getting into.”
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> He took a deep, saddened breath.  “I...don’t really want you to always rescue--”
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> “Don’t say it!”  Liu Xi warned him.  “Don’t say you don’t want a girl to rescue you!  And don’t say you don’t want me to get hurt, or you have to protect me.  You know what I can do.”
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> “No, I was going to say...I want to learn some of it myself, too.”  he answered quietly.  “I like learning things.”
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> “Oh.”  Liu Xi looked a little embarrassed at her outburst.  “I’ll...teach you what I can.  Some of it just works with me naturally though.  I think Xander selected them just for me.”
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> “Do what you can.”  Vinnie said with a smile.  “I’ll be grateful for it.”  He picked up his backpack and headed for the door.
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> “Hey Vinnie.”  Liu Xi called after him.  
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> He stopped and turned around.
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> “You get along with me very well for someone who claims not to understand girls.”  she said.  She was smiling, but her eyes hid a little sadness.
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> Vinnie smiled too, and then he hefted the backpack and left.  He hoped his first lesson would be soon.
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> ---
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> Hallie appeared in Lara Night’s quarters at the Lair Mansion suddenly and without warning.  Since Lara liked to relax in near darkness, that caused a sudden rush of green light all through the room.  Of course, her eyes seeked out the source of it immediately.
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> “What’s up, Hallie?”  she asked.  She was stuffing a few items in a small duffel bag.
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> “Dream told me you were going home.”  Hallie accused.
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> “He did?”  Lara shrugged.  “Well, he’s right.”  the blonde replied quietly.
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> “Is it because of this Marv thing?  He won’t let you be a super-hero so you’re taking off?”
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> Lara smirked and turned to give Hallie her full attention.  “Chill, Hallie, I’m only going for a few days.”
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> “Oh.”  If the hologram could look any more embarrassed, Hallie was the picture of it.
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> “It’s a new thing I’m trying.”  she continued.  “A few days here, a few days at home.  It’ll keep me from neglecting things back home.  Also it’ll keep the Lair Legion out of trouble, because then Marv can’t prove I’m more than a guest here.”
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> “That’s...clever, I guess.”  Hallie agreed reluctantly.
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> The blonde’s smile disappeared.  “What’s the matter?”
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> “I...I don’t know.”  Hallie replied.  “You’ve been helping us out for so long, I guess I...we...forgot what it’s like when you’re not here.”
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> “Yeah, I know.”  Lara responded softly, her head lowered sadly.  “But there are people at home who love me, but are starting to forget what it’s like when I’m there.”
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> “I understand.”  the hologram said.  “At least say goodbye before you go...would you?”
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> The blonde nodded and smiled a little.  “I promise.”  She then asked, “Are you...solid right now?”
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> Hallie nodded.  “Why?”
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> Lara quickly took a couple of steps toward Hallie and hugged her quickly.  “Thank you for caring about me,”  she said.
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> The hologram looked embarrassed again.
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> “You really are the Lair Legion’s glue.”  Lara pointed out.  “Jay may be the leader, but you keep everyone here and...sane.”
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> Hallie laughed at that.  “Oh, I forgot.  Anna says she’ll miss you too.”
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> “She’s right outside, isn’t she?”  the blonde asked she opened the door to the hallway.
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> Just then, a head with dark blue hair peered through the open door warily.
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> “Yes.”  Hallie obviously agreed as she encouraged Anna to come into the room.  “And she can hear you.”
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> “I’m...not good...with goodbyes.”  Anna stammered.
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> “It’s okay.”  Lara hugged her briefly too, noting that the android wasn’t used to hugs either.  She seemed surprised by it.  “I’m not good with goodbyes either.  Fortunately I’m not leaving right now...or permanently.”
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> The blonde then looked around the room quickly, and realized, “I think I left a book in the lounge.  I’ll see you two again before I go.”
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> With that, Lara vanished, leaving Hallie and Anna behind.
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> “If I couldn’t do that myself, I’d be a little freaked out.”  Hallie commented.
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> Once in the lounge, Lara picked up her book.  As she did, she noticed the television was on with the volume turned down, but nobody was there.  She moved close to the screen, noticing it was a press conference with Mayor Marv.
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> She carefully placed both hands atop the thin flat panel television and looked down at the image with angry, cold eyes.
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> “He’s going to kill one of us someday.”  she whispered with a mixture of anger and sadness.  “I wish I could get him first.”
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> “He’s smart enough to prepare slowly, as not to attract attention.”  an accented voice agreed.  “To skirt the bounds, preventing him from losing his freedom.”
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> The Psychic Samurai was sitting perfectly still, unnoticed, in one of the chairs.  She slowly rose to her feet, straightened her clothing, and then picked up the sword in the chair beside her.
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> “You wish.”  Chiaki repeated.  “And you have the strength.  It’s honor, and respect for the Lair Legion which keeps you idle.”
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> “Yeah.”  Lara agreed sadly.
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> Chiaki’s expression hardened, and she looked down at the television.  With a softer voice, she said, “Honor only reaches so far, Lara.”
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> “I know, Chiaki.”  Lara said as she watched the television.  Marv smiled and she scowled in response.  “I know.”
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> Hallie was watching the conversation invisibly via a small HED.  It zipped out of the room seemingly unnoticed by the two.  ‘Hmm.’  she contemplated to herself.
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> The next morning, Mayor Marv was found dead.
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> -- Story written and copyrighted (C) 2009 by Jason Froikin, and may not be 
> --    reprinted without permission.  
> -- Yuki Shiro designed by Jason Froikin, based on designs by Masamune Shirow
> --  Liu Xi Xian and the Psychic Samurai are original design by Jason Froikin
> --  Lara Night is an original creation by Jason Froikin
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