TavernTales 8: The Underground

[BreakABone]

I looked at my notebook and found that I am outpacing my posting by about 6 stories right now so if anything if I ever get tired of writing this you folks who actually read would be good for another 2-3 weeks after I'm done. :p

With that said, it's about time for world's to start collapsing.
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The Underground
The Professor handed Flunkie and Aladuf watches, "Remember there is very little room for error here. Bond may be on the wrong side, but I still respect the man's mind."

Aladuf returned to a question that he and Flunkie both posed to the Professor several times, "How do you know so much about GAMES HQ?"

The Professor finally felt it was time to tame them with an answer, "You can't expect Bond to be able to checkout everyone he hires. Some just get in through the cracks." The Professor smirked as Aladuf and Flunkie looked on still confused.

"When we make it out of there safely, I will give you more answers. For now, the sun is breaking. Let's move." The Professor spoke in such a tone that even his orders seemed diplomatic.

Aladuf and Flunkie gathered their gear still unsure of what they got themselves into.
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The outer wall of the GAMES' sewage system blew away down a flood of rushing water.

"Excellent, phase one complete!" Flunkie exclaimed.

"Silent fool. What did I tell you about keeping your head clear. Bond obviously did not expect much resistance at the wall. There was no booby traps or secondary triggers. This is a simple lure."

"A lure? We just wasted about a pound of explosives!" Aladuf with a temper showing responded.

"Of course, we did, but we made it through on our first try. And as you can see," The Professor pointed around them, "nothing else has happened. Bond has surely created this easy entrance to give would be criminals a false sense of security. What lies inside, I fear will be a much more difficult task."

"Professor.. with all due respect..." Aladuf was hestitant to continue with his statement, "maybe this Bond is not as impressive as you remember. Maybe, once he left the safety of a controlled environment, he lost a step or two."

"Trust me boy," The Professor had a look of joy in his face, "Bond is very much the same student who left me over 10 years ago. A lot more dangerous now than you could imagine. The safety of the classroom only dampened his imagination!"

"We can discuss this later. Bond is not even here, but we are wasting precious minutes." Flunkie finally interjected himself into the conversation.

The Professor nodded his head. The three men made their way down the sewage system in complete silence until they came to a fork in their path.

"Now this is why you two were needed. This Bond who you claimed may have lost a step of two created three trigger points that must be hit within a small window of time for us to advance any further. Any miscalculation or we miss the world, and we may have to kiss this Earth goodbye. So once again I remind you, there is no grounds for messing up. Now everyone sync up."

Aladuf, Flunkie and The Professor all synced their watches to the precious millisecond. There were to be no chances taken on this endeavor.

"Okay everyone knows the plan so let's move out. And good luck to you both!" Those were The Professor's final words before he disappeared down the central path.
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And they are off.

[BreakABone]

Some free time as usual. I wrote a lot today when we went to the park. An entire chapter and a half and stuff is really picking up... later on. :p
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2
The Professor was short on significiant details Flunkie thought. The Professor had made it a point that Flunkie had to go down the left tunnel but would not share any more information with him. So here Flunkie was in the dark, left tunnel and he had to admit to himself he was a bit frightened. He could see very little in front of him and that is what scared him the most.

Now that Flunkie was here, he finally had time to think his decision all the way through. When The Professor first approached them with the offer, Flunkie so stunned by his house call paid little attention to what he had to say. As they went over the plan some more, Flunkie started to realize the mission he signed up for. Frightened of the Professor's reaction, Flunkie did not care to drop out. Now however, he wished he had asked more questions. Gotten more information. Something he could use to prepare himself.
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Aladuf had gone down the right tunnel just like The Professor had told him. He took a map out of his pocket and held it closely in front of him. It was a special map according to The Professor who had taken him aside to give it to him.

The Professor did not want Flunkie to overhear what he had to tell Aladuf. The Professor informed Aladuf that he knew there was something special about him. Some latent potential that would show itself when he needs it, but for now he would be given the most dangerous section of this mission because The Professor knew he could take it.

Aladuf was unsure whether The Professor meant what he said or said it to give Aladuf enough confidence to accept his part of the mission. Either way, he had accepted there was no way he wasn't going to.

The map had a layout of general areas where Aladuf could expect a trap to be sprung. The first one would be around here somewhere he thought. He slowed down his walking pace so that he could take in more of his surrounding.

It was all he needed, he spotted a piece of the wall that seemed out of place. It stuck out a bit longer than the others and on closer inspection its color did not blend in with the rest. He had found the first trigger.

He slowly walked pass the section doing his best to avoid contact with the walls. Once he was clear, he let out a sigh. One trap down. He looked at the map, there was a whole lot left.
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The Professor started to doubt himself. This break-in was proving to be extremely easy. Maybe, Aladuf's words had some merits. Had Bond only shined because he was in a classroom setting? No, The Professor knew the potential he saw in Bond.

As The Professor continued down the central most tunnels, random objects would spring from the wall but The Professor would simply absorb it. If nothing else, he was excited that his former pupil was supplying him with the tools to destroy him.

The Professor reached his destination with very little resistance. This voyage had proved disappointing. He hoped his two associates were having better luck. Or they may begin to doubt his judgement. The Professor stood by the switch, it was almost time.
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Flunkie wondered where the hidden challenge in Bond's tunnel was. Other than the darkness, there was very little to stop him from reaching his destination. The Professor couldn't have been wrong... could he. No of course not, there was some huge challenge awaiting Flunkie up ahead. He knew it had to be!

But he reached up ahead, only to find his destination unguarded. He stood by the switch, it was almost time.
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Aladuf chuckled to himself as he reached the final 3 traps in the tunnel according to the map. He had discovered the pattern to Bond's great plan within 10 minutes and now getting through the tunnel was a breeze.

The Professor surely had some misguided faith in his former pupil, but that discussion would be saved for another time. According to Aladuf's prediction, the next trap would be triggered once again by a misplaced piece of the wall so Aladuf took his time walking across the floor.

Fuck! He felt his foot sink into the ground a bit. There had been a ground trigger as well. Maybe, there was to this challenge. His eyes darted back and forth waiting for any sign of impeding doom. There was nothing. Aladuf continued forward this time avoiding the center of the hall as much as possible.

Shit! Now his shoulder brushed against a piece of the wall that sunk in. Bond had set up both a floor and wall trigger? Aladuf did not expect this. Once again, Aladuf's eyes darted back and forth for a sign of anything.

But it was not his eyes that alerted him but his ears. Somewhere behind him, he heard a rumbling.. a roar... he was not sure, but he knew the source was behind him. Did he risk triggering another trap by rushing forward or did he deal with what was behind him first.

He could hear the sound growing louder and louder. This did not sound good he thought to himself. He cursed under his breath. The Professor was correct, Bond was more cunning than Aladuf could have planned for. Aladuf got lured into a false sense of security and now he would pay for it.

But if he was going to pay, he would get as close to his destination as possible. He closed his eyes and rushed forward.
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And there we go. This chapter got changed a bit from my book, but I guess that's why I don't type word for word.

[Fox 6]

Cant wait to see hoe this turns out.

[uber_paddler]

No! Cliffhanger much?

[Fyacin]

Very cool!

[BreakABone]

Hopefully work is not too busy today, I think gonna have to accelerate the story just a tad because as it is way ahead of it on the forums.
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3
Aladuf raced down the tunnels cursing himself as he set off more and more traps. He found himself dodging arrows, evading blades and he was still being chased by that roaring sound behind him. This Bond had laid out his traps cleverly, and Aladuf could now pay for his overconfidence with his life.

Then he saw it through the sweat on his face, the switch. Maybe, he would not disappoint The Professor afterall. He just hoped the Professor and Flunkie were already in place. This train did not have an off-switch.

Aladuf launched forward pulling the switch down then he continued to race down the tunnel. He really really hoped that he did not just screw everyone over.
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The panel in front of Flunkie began to light up. It was the signal to go. He flipped his switch, and started the final leg of the tunnel.
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The Professor looked up from his watch, it should be time. When he looked at the panel, he was excited to see that the first two switches had been activated. He pulled on the third and final one. It would not be long now until alarms went off.
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In the GAMES building above the tunnels, alarms started sounding all over. Guards and employees scrambled to and from points. They prepared themselves for an attack. Bond remained calm in his office watching the video feed of the three men attempting to break into his headquarters. They were not prepared for what real traps he had laid.
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Aladuf crashed into Flunkie as he came flying out of his tunnel.

"Man, I do not know what is wrong with Bond but I almost got beheaded, crushed and burnt in there."

"Really? My tunnel was really just dark. Ha ha."

"What? Where's The Professor?"

"Right here." The Professor emerged from the end of the central tunnel. "Let's get a move on it. The guards should be here any sec..."

The Professor's thoughts were cut short when he heard the sound of several guns being cocked.

"Oh shit, oh shit!" Flunkie paced around the floor.

"Don't worry. Once again, I have everything under control." One by one, the guards began to fall. When they were all down, one emerged from behind the pack.

"Everything is clear for you Professor. Bond remains in his office."

The Professor turned to Aladuf and Flunkie, "I told you boys when you accumulate as much power as me, you have connections in all the right places." Now The Professor turned to his hired guard, "Thank you for the assistance. Now get out of here so no one suspects you."

The guard retreated upstairs. He would tell tales of how the three men took out his squadron and he was barely able to escape. Along the way, he would beat himself up to give the proper impression.
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They met with very little resistance as they made their way through the building. The guard's tale frightened most others from attacking them without significant numbers and even then they still remained frightened.

Finally, they reached the door outside of Bond's office.

"Listen here," The Professor went into lecture mode now, "I want to thank you for all your assistance today, but I will be the one who takes out my former pupil. Understood?"

Both Aladuf and Flunkie nodded their heads.

"Good. With that said, this does not need to be a fair fight so you both remember your part in this plan?" They nodded again.

"Then let's move!" The Professor concluded.
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Aladuf burst through Bond's office door with a greater strain than he had ever gone through before. The Professor walked through the frame of the door to greet his former pupil.

"Bond how very nice to see you again." The Professor's role was easy. He would keep Bond distracted while Flunkie snuck up on him with his invisibility.

"I wish I could say the same to you, Strangler!"

Aladuf grasped at the audacity of Bond. No one... no one ever used that nickname around The Professor.

"How dare you! You insufferable little snot. Never in all my career has anyone had the nerve to call me that."

"Bad news for you Professor. I am no longer your student. I haven't been for over 10 years. And as it stands now, I am the biggest obstacle standing in your organization way."

"You were the biggest obstacle!" The Professor felt rage like never before. As he went to continue his rant, Aladuf started pointing over to Flunkie. The Professor followed his finger something was wrong. They could see Flunkie!

Flunkie passed a mirror himself and as he walked by he saw his own reflection. No that was not right, he walked by again and he was still there. Something had gone awry with his powers. Before he had time to react, a net descend down upon him.

"An invisible stooge, really? Is that the best challenge you have to offer me!" Bond began to laugh at the Professor's poor attempt.

"GET HIM!" Aladuf rushed forward to tackle Bond but soon found himself hung up by trip wires.

"Oh man, this one seems to be tied up. So what is that two of your goons down Strangler? Looks like it is just you and I now."

"You disrespectful little brat." The Professor took a firing stance. He converted all the energy of the stuff he collected down in the tunnels. One charged blast would be more than enough to deal with Bond.

The Professor let go. The blast never came, but The Professor was blown back through the frame of the fallen door.

"Did you enjoy all those free objects down in the tunnels Professor? They were specially made to neutralize your powers! I hope I didn't hurt you too...."

Before Bond could finish there came an explosion from outside.

Figures came through the window.

"We are so sorry for crashing this impromptu PTA meeting, but I believe we had an appointment today!"
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That's the end of that. Sorry was so long, but figured would post a new story at work.

[thatmariolover]

Haha, really good timing BaB. I finished part two, refreshed, and part 3 was there waiting for me :D

[Teuthida]

That Bond's a tricky one.

[Fox 6]

Keep em' coming penguino!

[Fyacin]

Nice!