House from Hell, Trail of the Shoggoth

House from Hell, Trail of the Shoggoth

As usual, it was stormy. The rain pouring so fast and hard we could not see out the windows. Thank
goodness the mail was delivered to the door now. When I first inherited Trent House, we had to go
to town for it.
Paula was just coming in when the newly hooked up phone rang. Being closer she answered it, and
brought the cordless receiver to me.
It was Gabriel Blaze. Not many knew who he really was. Gabriel, the real Gabriel, as in the
Archangel. He'd rented a room once to join Rocky's crew over at the ruins.
"A friend of mine has invited us on a jaunt, thought you might like to join us. It's on Kelsap 9 out by
Vega." "You like mysteries, and I am tired of this rain. We can't even work."
"I'd love too, can I ask Paula?" I looked over at my renter/ companion. We'd been together several
years. My cousin was a warm and friendly person who always paid her rent on time.
"Of course, Garth is also coming." Gabe chuckled.
"That's fine as long as he does not have to contend with Fenrus, that guy just pushes Garth's
buttons." I laughed.
"No, but you'll like the G Twins, Grath and Grash." He laughed.
"What strange names do all Ankloi names start with G?" I had puzzled over all the G names for some
time.
Only Garl's family line and clones; mostly the clones. When he first started, he was alone in the void,
and needed warriors to fight Thrann. His own genes were what he had back then." Gabe answered
quietly.
Two hours later, a mini bus halted outside. We'd both packed some clothes etc, so dashed outside,
tossed them to Garth in the back and found seats. Once we were in, belted and ready, the driver,
whom I'd never met, started us on our journey.
Sharle and Azza were in the seats next to Garth, then Paula and myself, with a strange, heavyset
Ankloi to her side.
The next rows were two people I did not know and Gabe. The driver was plainly twin to the one
beside Paula.
Gabe turned to face us. "Paula's side kick is Grash, named that because he said it when he fell on his
rump as a toddler learning to walk. His brother Grath is the driver, who got his name for not being
able to say grass at the same time. My companions are Kendrick Van Dyne and his man of all trades,

Dalton."
Van Dyne, the man mentioned as maybe being related to the African American archaeology student,
Andy Van Dyne who worked with Rocky in the ruins.
We stopped over by said ruins and Rocky and Andy came into the van. We had only one seat left.
"Now to the space port." Grath spoke for the first time. He had a soft, slightly husky voice. I was to
learn that Grash sounded just like him. Only their personalities told them apart. Grash was sensible.
Grath was nice, but nuts. You never knew what he would say.
It took two hours of steady driving to reach the space port. Once there, we were led into a
restaurant called the Great Burger Joint. The burgers were okay, but never saw why they were
great.
After meal and paying the bill, Grath drove us over to the shuttle port. "Our ship is in orbit, it's a
liner, never lands." Grash informed us.
We boarded, Van Dyne handing the purser a voucher for all. "Your suite is in section 731. Here

Grash led us down several hallways, through a huge lounge, and to a large suite. Each of us had a
separate bedroom. There was a nice large lounge, a dining area with kitchenette that included
neither stove or sink/dishwasher area. Just a table and chairs and wet bar were in the small recessed
area.
Sharle pointed out a panel on the wall next to the table. "Zion Access, if hungry, say what you want
to eat or drink, wait a moment or two, open that and take it out."
She illustrated by asking for an energy tube, waiting a moment, and opening the door by pushing a
button, and taking out a tube, from which she drank a liquid. "Uh, cherry, should have named a
flavor, you try it Shannon."
I asked for take out cupped cafe mocha. Waited, then opened the door via button, and had a cup of
Starbucks Mocha.
Neat." I took a sip. Starbucks it was and good.
Several others got what they wished. I chose the middle bedroom and put my suitcase on the bed.
"The trip will take three days." Gabe informed me from the door as he passed.
"Thanks." Knowing that, I only unpacked two outfits, and left the rest in the suitcase. I saw a
laundry panel by the closet, so assumed it cleaned clothing.
Seeing a refresher unit door, I opened it. Right, bathroom. I used it to freshen up, and went out to
rejoin the rest of the group.
We went to the lounge to watch what the lady in the information booth announced as 'Leave Taking."

Earth was as lovely as all the photos, but far more impressive since we could see Earth and moon,
one on each side. Whatever was used for the view ports must have been really strong stuff. The view
ports were huge.
There was nothing dramatic except for the view. We slowly moved forward, just a slight vibration
under my feet, then picking up speed, and turning so that Earth vanished and the moon was just to
our left. Then we moved slowly away and past the moon. It passed a little faster.
We now faced empty space, and sped up to leave the moon behind. I knew we were headed for the
huge Stargate they had built just past the Mars orbit, far away from all planets. Stargates were
dangerous near solid worlds.
A speck slowly grew in the forward viewscreen. I knew from reading, that this one was just a giant
TV screen.
The speck grew to become a frame with a giant blue green whirlpool gate inside it. We aimed for the
center. Since my only other gate trips had been to a ruined world and Dragon's Inn, home of Sharle
Gabe and Garl Michael, I held my breath - the ruins gate had been a fraction this side and hurt.
A flicker like teleports gave, and we were facing a new planetary system. A yellow orange star and
five planets were before us.
I let go of the breath I'd been holding.
Gabe hugged me gently. "HellGate is off phase half the time, this one was correct."
"No Oort Cloud?" Sharle asked Grath. "We are already inside it, there is a sixth planet behind us as
well. The Kel Folk used up their asteroid belt to build space stations, an artificial moon, and The
Grand Connections Hotel, where Garl is meeting us for dinner."
We docked at the huge conglomeration of metal bubbles an hour later.
The big docking door we'd entered the ship through now connected to a large tunnel. It was about
twenty feet long. A tall woman with deep red hair, and hazel eyes checked Kendrick's vouched, then
stepped over to the next group.
"You've seen your first Kel. The sun causes the hair color, you cannot see them, but she has inner,
transparent eyelids to protect her from the sand storms. Belsap 9 is a desert planet." Garth informed
me as we walked through the open airlock at the end, and into a large lobby.
Many of the people within were not remotely human. I looked around in wonder. So did Paula. Never
having been off Earth before, we were fascinated.
A bubble floated past us from the lock with a bag like creature waving tentacles. Looked like an
octopus more then anything else. "That's a Batharian, they breathe methane." Azza drew me back a
few steps.
The creature halted the bubble and turned to face Garth. "Welmet, it has been long since we met at
Star Terminal Alshurab."
"Ah, you were in line ahead of us, yes, quite a while." Garth agreed.

"Did you get to your destination okay?" Sharle asked. "Yes, though had to take two extra ships,
great nuisance." The creature turned and floated on o a large porthole.
"It opens on the methane area." Grath remarked.
I was watching some rolly poly creatures with stripes trot past. They headed into a shop, of which
there were many facing the lobby.
"There's Garl, and he brought Sharle's shadows, as well as his own." Grath pointed.
Garl Michael strode toward us. He had a greenfinch on one shoulder, a tiny miniature dragon on the
other, a Pomeranian and black cat at his heels. I recognized Ebony, the leader, or Queen of the
Dragon's Inn cats. The others were new to me.
The two winged ones flew to land on Sharle's shoulders. The Pomeranian trotted to join us ahead of
Garl.
The cat launched herself up to his shoulders and draped herself around his neck.
He joined us. "The dining room is this way, I ordered the hadrosaur haunch to make Sharle happy,
hope all like it; if not ask for something else."
It was really good, and did not taste remotely like chicken. Nor was it gamy. Gabe told me that the
people of a world called Ambledorian actually raised them in great herds on a mountain preserve
and that on Ambledore, the dinos had never died out, yet somehow, mammals had also come about.
It was an Earth colony from the days of Atlantis.
We ate, then went to bed in another large suite much lie the hotel.
Tomorrow, we would land on Belsap 9.
The next morning, we got breakfast from the access panel, then followed Garl to the docks. He led
us to a shuttle. "We want the Tego Lander."
He led us aboard, and we found seats. Once all 35 passengers were belted in, the pilot entered,
looked us over, had one woman rebelt, and then slid into the pilot's seat.
"ETA, 20 minutes."
We glided away from the hotel, and glided into the atmosphere, at which time, the ride got a bit
rough till we were low enough for him to use the braking system and landed like any airplane on a
strip outside a terminal.
Blowers hit our shuttle before the port opened. We descended a stairway, and stood on cool cement.
It's actually cooled by some type of under the cement cooler. It was hot. Two attendants rushed us
into the terminal. Belsap 9 was a HOT desert world in this area.
It was cooler inside, but not air conditioned. Kendrick took over the lead at this point, and led us to a
second section where people waited. A tall, barrel chested man came to hug him and Danton.
"Welcome, did you bring diggers, or just oversized Ankloi, and undersized females?"

Azza gave him a thump. "I'm neither! You've met my 'undersized' female, who might sizzle your
rump if you're not a bit more respectful, Shannon and Paula are normal size, you know Garth, Grath
and Grash; the redhead is a full fledged archaeologist, Rocky Crane, and his student there is Andy
Van Dyne. Ebony might give you a swipe in her larger size, and the lizard type is Tegran Ormlith; not
really wise to insult dragons in any size, the Pom is Teddy, or Phobos if you feel chilly, and the finch
is The Firebird himself, if you want to play with more fire, and this is Gabriel Blaze, if you want even
more fire."
"Lizard type?" The golden dragonet on Sharle's shoulder gazed at Azza inquiringly, a tiny puff of
smoke escaping his mouth.
The greenfinch just looked on calmly. The dog grinned. "I like your weather."
The man contemplated us. "A battle crew?" He looked at Kendrick who grinned.
The man shrugged and turned to lead us to a large hover van. "We cooled and covered the site as
you requested, though with all this fire.... I don't know why."
He looked at Kendrick in
amusement.
I was glad to find the van air conditioned. The still nameless (to me anyway) man slid into a forward
compartment, a few noises in there, and then we lifted, and started forward. "We'll reach the dig site
in two hours."
The view was surprisingly beautiful, golden white sand with many colored outcrops of rock and tall
dark flat topped mesas.
We passed several irrigation style farms. "They do have rivers, lakes and three large oceans. Belsap
is just a hot star." Garl informed us.
"Does our driver get a name?" Sharle asked dryly. "Yes, small jet of electricity, I am Hortha." The
driver's voice replied.
"Thanks, dumb spouse forgot to tell us." Sharle looked at Azza, who actually stuck his tongue out at
her.
She ignored that and turned to look out the window. "This reminds me of Arizona on Earth."
"Except for more water, I agree." Garth replied from behind me.
Except for passing a convoy of desert folk on tall slender camel type creatures that Kendrick told us
had been brought from Earth early in the colony's history, the ride was uneventful.
Not quite two hours later, we spotted a tent city ahead. An area off to the side was hidden under a
series of roof sections.
"Thunder Dig." Kendrick named it. "Why Thunder?" Rocky asked. "
"There is a cliff behind the covered section. Some goat herders took shelter there from the
thunderstorm in the wet season, which is just over. They have real monsoons here. That's when they
discovered the old buried city. Also the first we knew Belsap 9 once had a native race, or older
visitors. We don't know which yet. We hope Dr. Crane can tell us."

He pulled up before a large tent. I could see a large array of solar panels off to the side. We plainly
had no power problem.
A woman came to greet us. "Welcome back brother, we have several mysteries for Rocky to go nuts
over already."
Kendrick hugged her, and turned to face us. "This is my sister Maria."
I was glad when they led us into the tent. It was much cooler in there. Maria pointed to a table full of
drinks. "Make sure you drink a lot of liquids. Our bodies are not made for this heat. "Hortha's people
lost one half their numbers trying to acclimatize."
Once we had drinks, we were led over to another table. Andy carried a drink for Rocky, who was
already looking at the pile of stuff on the table.
"I would not have come if they'd told me we were here to solve history mysteries." Paula shook her
head.
"Your not, we are being attacked at night, and never see the attackers." Maria told her somberly.
"Have you anything for us?" Garl asked.
"Not much, just that slimy stuff, and a hard resin that seems to be composed of the same slime. It
kills our camels, and has destroyed some artifacts with acid, which also seems to be mostly
composed of the same DNA, but digestive juices; like it tried to eat them." Maria answered.
"Has anyone seen anything?" Kendrick asked.
"Just a blur off in the distance, it was down by the river." Maria sighed.
"This reminds me of that slime from our own dig, what's with these attacks on digs anyway?" I was
looking at a photo of a slime trail.
"Good question, then the other one drowned itself in the MoonTemple pond as I recall." Garth was
looking at another photo.
"That looks like Cthulu, even half melted." Grath added, looking at Gabe.
Gabe looked at the photo. "Or it could be his daughter Cthugha." Quietly, I looked past him at the
photo. It showed a half melted octopus with a lot of tentacles, human like eyes, a golden overlay, and
bubbles painted all over the unmelted side.
"Lovecraft?" As I remembered an old writer I'd enjoyed as a teenager.
"Yes, he was a precognitive dreamer, but had no knowledge of it, thus just wrote stories. Shoggoths
were one of the things he saw. Fairly accurately at that." Sharle sighed. "Cthulu is Gabe's son, he got
caught in an atomic tsunami. He was a marine archaeologist, and still is, but is now a sea creature.
Neither he nor Cthugha are evil at all. Lovecraft just took it for granted they were."
"Oh Anthony had his insane period, but healed over time. Cthugha was a toddler, so never knew any
other body."

"The Shoggoths were created in a lab long before Anthony was born. No one remembers who did it."
Garl added pensively.
"It only attacks at night." The voice came from the door as a shorter then Hortha Kel entered the
tent. He sounded angry, and I could see why with so many artifacts damaged.
"This is Etsy, he is our Site Director. Maria introduced him.
"Thank you Maria, the thing seems to come out of the river. It slimes everything, tries to eat our
artifacts, then goes back in the river. Etsy looked at us. "Please stop this destruction, and make it go
away."
"May we see the areas it was in?" Garth asked.
"Of course, there are sunglasses on the table over there. We run the air coolers, but the glare
remains. We've found most off worlders can't see in it, and the orange tint must be gotten used to as
well." Etsy pointed to a table. A row of sunglasses awaited us.
We all took a pair and followed the leader out the door.
It was warmer, but bearable. The sun was larger then our own, and had a more orange cast. Blowers
fanned cool, but not cold air all about.
Etsy and Maria led us a good distance. At the edge of the overhead cover, Maria handed out small
pins. A welcome coolness enveloped me as I pinned it to my collar. I was grateful; for the heat hit the
instant we left the covered area.
First, we were led to a building where the actual artifacts were kept. Etsy had to unlock it before we
entered. "It has been locked all along. The creature seems to just shape itself flat." He pointed to
dried slime on the floor. "I prevented cleanup so you could see this."
Gabe nodded. "They can change shape easily; they are just blobs of protoplasm. Keeping them out
just needs fire, they burn easily, and avoid fire, so a ring of candles will stop them from entering this
building, shall we go to the river?"
"Yes, come, I fear it will harm people if not stopped, since it seems to like fresh meat." Etsy led us
out of the tent. There had been a lot of things on that table.
Etsy had kept us from seeing many of them by standing in the way. I wondered why, and I could see
that several others did as well.
The trip to the river followed a trail of hard dry slick stuff, dried slime no doubt.
The broad, deep looking river had a small landing. It was intact and untouched. The slime trail came
out of the water. Kendrick broke of some small samples and put them in a plastic envelope. "Hope
you don't mind my sending these to my own pet lab?" He looked at Etsy.
"No, more the merrier." Etsy shrugged.
We trooped back to the covered area and found seats around a table. A man and woman were
setting it for lunch.

Gabe turned to face Etsy. "Several of us noticed you did not wish us to see more then half of your
finds, why?"
"Because they are evil, and while I am tainted, you don't need to be. I have kept most of the dig crew
away. They make us ill, then we cough, and later get over that, but get thoughts of things to do.....
Bad things." Etsy looked at his hands.

"Bad things?" Gabe looked thoughtful.

"Yes, thoughts of killing and destruction. We fight it, but they give us terrible dreams." Etsy
answered.
"Gather those who are going through this in an empty tent. I'll see if I can stop the dreams and
sendings. Shoggoths are only capable of obeying orders. They cannot cause thoughts. Someone, or
the artifacts themselves are causing that." Gabe looked like he was eating a very sour lemon.
"The artifacts did nothing till the Shoggoth creatures came." Etsy sighed, looking at the ground.
"Some one probably, in that case." Gabe looked at him thoughtfully.
We were soon in a tent off too the side. It was plainly a tool supply tent, holding shovels, trowels, lab
stuff and a bunch of chemicals on a utility shelf unit.
Eight men and women of three different species entered the tent. Two green skinned Vrids, A
beartoid (bear like centaur), two humans, a tall, slender Afrykan (native of Big Afryky), A slim
Silvaran, a burly wolfhead, and a squat creature that looked like a top with twelve tentacles.
Gabe looked at each for a moment. "You have been sorely invaded, I will try to remove this mind
influence, but something let them in. Think to why they were able to send these dreams your way.
Please find a place to sit or lay where you can relax completely."
They looked at each other, and then Etsy, who had complied quietly, then all but the beartoid settled
in the same area.
Gabe looked at him. The creature shook it's head. "NO, you shall not invade my head too!"
Garl sighed. "You have a choice, Rurth, join in, or I send you to Tartarus. You have stolen artifacts,
and torn up notes. You seem to be some sort of spy."
The idiot charged him. He only got three steps before Azza's hook had him by the leg, and jerked
him to the side.
While trying to get up, Rurth vanished, presumably to Tartarus as promised.
Gabe looked at Garl. "He was paid, knew nothing but orders to delay the dig. He didn't even know
why or who sent the credits to his bank account."
Etsy shook his head. "Why after all these years, this dig has ben going on for fifteen years."

"What is new?" Sharle asked it softly.

"A mosaic down at the other end of the dig, but it's pretty mundane, just the river and a bunch of
animals around a pagoda sort of thing." Maria was the one who answered.
"We will see that next, after Gabe helps these folks." Garl smiled at her.
It did not take long, and Gabe looked rather irritated afterwards.
"What did you see?" Garl asked him. "A ring of faces, it's a group. They seem to all be human but
one. He wore a mask, a blank mask. Gabe opened his eyes, turning to face north. "Not on this planet,
far away. I think I can follow it, some of us should not go, like the Kels. One was thinking they had
the right mindset to follow the Horned Leader; whoever that is."
Etsy, looking much more relaxed after his 'treatment', led us to the other side of the dig.
The mosaic was lovely, but I thought I knew what it was showing. "So different from today, it's NOT
desert at all. Has this planet been moved closer to its star, or the star grown hotter?"
The river was very broad, and the plant life was lush, tropical and full of forest creatures.
Sharle added. "I think it used to have a world spirit, but don't sense one now."
Garl looked sad. "Something killed it, felt that right away, but just thought the heat did it; that can
happen."
He turned to Garth. "What do you get?"
I looked at Sharle questioningly. She smiled slightly. "Garth is our botanist."
Garth stood silent, eyes closed for a while. "Not much, this world is totally wrecked ecologically.
Something came from elsewhere. Most of that lush life in the mosaic died." He looked angry. "Not
naturally either."
Etsy looked up at him. "It was this way when we arrived."
Garl turned to look us over. "You have shown me a totally new talent Shannon, you may stay, but
Paula should go home. I don't think this trip will be good for you."
"Kendrick, you and Danton can make your own decision. I will call the G twins if needed.
The G's nodded and vanished. Kendrick and Danton elected to stay with the dig. Rocky demanded to
go with us.
"With me guarding your neck from your own impulsive stupidity, as usual." Garl looked at him. Andy
stayed with the dig.
Cut back to eleven, we followed Gabe out to board the van that brought us to the dig. This time
Garth took the wheel.
"Spaceport?" He looked at Gabe who nodded.

Once there, we went into a cafe we pulled two tables together and took seats.
Garl just ordered something called the crowd platter. It had some type of unknown meat,
some vegetables, pods and a square starchy thing. They tasted all right, if a bit spicy.
Afterwards, we went to the lounge to await the shuttle.
We then headed for the ship boarding area.
As we entered the large docking lounge, a great golden globe ship appeared in the distance.
Apparently, we were taking this trip in a Zion Globe ship. I remembered they had ankloi pilots who
were actually merged with their ships.
Once it had connected to the dock, Garl led us aboard. "Welcome aboard the Chainstar Shannon, his
name is Gariel."
"Hi." I looked for some indication of bridge or control room.
Sharle laughed. "Down the hall, and we don't control it, Gariel does, so no controls.'
It was full of ship recliners, all bolt upright as we entered the lounge. I took a seat, and a seat
belt slid over me to snap into locks. One strap went across my waist, then a y shape fastened at each
shoulder. I looked at Garl in surprise as another went across my thighs.
"Chainstar is a warship, the flagship of the Zionite Navy. I don't know what's ahead. He explained. I
noticed that Sharle and Rocky got the harnesses as well. None of the ankloi did.
"We're ready Gariel, Gabe will be your astrogator, and he's following a mental trail." Garl told the
ship. He settled into the biggest recliner. "Go."
"North, do two jumps and let me listen." Gabe murmured.
We went to the edge of the star system before making the two jumps.
Then Gariel halted Chainstar to wait.
Gabe leaned back, eyes closed; listening to what only he could 'hear.
Finally - "Three light years north please, it's a long ways off; these guys are potent telepaths, or
using amplifiers." Gabe looked at Garl.
"Dirty, dark, want something bad." I felt it coming from elsewhere.
"Old, that one in the mask is very old." Sharle shuddered.
Gabe nodded. "Agreed."
Gariel did the distance in five jumps, and then halted.
"Yes, go east a bit, we're close." Gabe muttered.

The emanations were now so strong that I felt a wall come up in my head, and curled up mentally,
trying to not feel it. I imagined another wall, which made it much weaker.
Sharle had a shuttered look, as did the greenfinch, and Gabe himself. They looked like they'd thrown
up shield walls too.
A small white terrier with a black spot on his hip, and one black ear suddenly popped into the
cushion holding Teddy. Both looked like they were spoiling for a fight.
Sharle must have noticed me staring. "They get much bigger, your looking at the Dogs of War,"
Suddenly, a great flaming red gold lion took the Pom's place, and a great lean white wolf covered in
a layer of ice was where the terrier had been.
"Meet Phobos and Diemos." Sharle laughed. They stood waiting quietly, eyes on the forward
viewscreen.
Azza now was covered in the famous golden Raemy Armor. His hook was now open on his wrist.
I found that I could shove that protective wall out beyond the ship, where it melded with Chainstar's
own force field. Sharle murmured, "Shield Amulet, full." and the walls of force now held an amber
glow.
"They are coming." Sharle warned.
A couple of moments later, a rakish black cylinder came from ahead, a great blue whirlpool gate
opening and closing behind it.
"That's my gate!" I growled, and from somewhere deep in me, I threw lightning!
Sharle's own thunderbolt hit beside it. Force field screens flared to stop them.
Garl, Gabe, Azza, A great golden dragon, and the Dogs of War, flashed out to form an arc ahead of
us, Gabe and Garl on the ends, The dragon way in front, and the dogs to the center, yet far enough
apart to let us shoot our lightning in the center.
Garth took Garl's seat, and a blue ray shot out behind our lightning flashes.
Garl now held a great flaming sword, Adamante herself, which made Garl 'that Michael' Gabe was
now a golden plasmoid dragon shooting off flares.
The huge dragon that had to be Teggy, or Tegran Ormlith, as Sharle had introduced him, shot
great gout's of flame.
The dogs suddenly called out, "Fire!" from Teddy, and "Ice" from Diemos; then in unison -- "Fire and
Ice!"
And the black ship was enclosed in a shell of flame, covered in forward pointing, icicles that pierced
the hull just where our lightning had hit. So we tossed another, and the ship peeled back from that
spot like a flower folding open, then exploded. Our mingled shields barely noticed the debris that hit
it.

"That was just a diversion, straight ahead." Gabe spoke quietly.

I shivered. "How do they use the HellGate?"
Garl answered as they all reappeared inside the ship. "They use it from the Hell end." His voice was
grim.
Chainstar moved forward once more, his shielding remaining in place.
Gabe, can you tell if a signal is real, or just a beacon?" I asked.
"People there, but not many." Sharle added after my question.
"If I look, and they are just a decoy; either of you know where to go?" Gabe looked at me, then
Sharle.
"Hell, big plain, tower, masked man group." Sharle answered. I just shook my head.
"No wonder they used the HellGate." Rocky exclaimed.
"Yes, let's go Gariel." Garl looked at Gabe. "What do you get now?"
"Shielding, and damper, now past; huh, they are all minor demons, ah the guy in the mask is Trench,
ruled Corydon from 726 - 788. Power mad dictator who hates Garth for some reason."
"I de throned him. Also sent him to Hell in a laser battle, but he was in the ring of the mass
murderers, not Tartarus." Garth answered.
"And thus, with those dates, only half his sentence is up, so Lucifer is our first goal. He needs to put
the power mad maniac back where he belongs." Garl added.
"He has a rather large army of course, pile of unsatisfied minor demons led by Alwaz." Gabe sighed.
To my surprise, we flipped to Dragon's Inn. Off to the side was a grey area. It was also slightly
behind the inn.
Gariel took Chainstar straight into it; to face my HellGate. "The other end of your gate." Sharle told
me.
Gariel didn't even pause, but shot us directly into the gate. I saw two huge Seraphs to each side.
Neither bothered us, plainly expecting and recognizing Chainstar.
"Black ship came out of HellWell, and shot through. We tried to reach you, but they had some kind of
block." One spoke.
"We got them already, be ready for more, Trenach has an army on Tartarus Plain." Garl warned, as
we dove through the gate.
We landed next to a frozen plain of contorted giants, right beside a platform holding trio. The one in
the middle was shouting orders into a monitor. "Get that wall fixed right now!" "Plovius, close that
gate!"

He turned as Garl plunked us down behind him. "They had one of Nyg's screens, built a Gate, then
somehow got that ship, and shot it out; then that army attacked the Gate to Fifth Circle; at which
time Asmodeus crisped a third of them, now they are fighting Nuniel and Trione at the Lounge
Entry.
Some one in that damn tower is throwing paralysis spells. Fortunately, I can block most of them - go
shut down that tower!"
"On it." Garl barely said the words when.............
Flip -- no warning..............
We were in a hallway.I presumed we were inside the tower.
Gabe, and Azza took the lead, an eight foot Tegran Ormlith just behind them, then Sharle, Rocky and
I, with Garth to the rear. The dogs ran alongside Sharle, and then as we ran through a doorway, ran
in front of her.
Ebony was now a giant black panther, who led the way to the table full of men, and leaped on the
leader. Guards were using spears, bows, and swords. I later learned that modern weapons do not
work on the Plain of Tartarus. So how did that ship?
"Trenach used that damn Nyg Screen to block off the controls from this tower. I suspect he didn't
tell anyone or they'd have attacked him." Gabe told us, plainly, someone else had wondered to him.
We used the same fighting technique as we had with the ship. This time, Ebony added another
protective screen to the rest. She was now wearing an Egyptian collar, and called out - "Cat Pectoral
on full." as she ripped off Trenach's mask. "I thought so, the mental screen controls are here, get em
Gabe!"
Sharle and I shot down the minor demons with lightning spells. Azza was taking out the huge trolls
that came at us with his hook. Garth was using a sword that looked like a giant thorn entangled
atlatl, Rocky's whip usually grabbed necks, then he jerked, which I suspect damaged necks a lot. The
two dogs were fighting like wolves, except for one blasting fire, and the other giant icicles at foes.
The tiny greenfinch kept repeating shield and healing spells over and over. The dragon finally
swiped the giant who'd attacked him so hard that he crashed against the wall out cold.
As things slowed down, I saw that Gabe had never left the doorway. He had thrown his fire spells
from there, effectively keeping all within the room.
Garl moved over to a viewscreen on the wall and flipped some switches. "All clear Luce, do you need
us anywhere else?"
"The gate, several are trying to - have now gone through, go get them at the other end." Lucifer
answered.
Garl flipped up another switch, and we saw several demons in uru chains being brought back out of
the lounge.
Flip, I faced my own HellWell. Andy and several students were holding the outer door shut. Garl

laughed. "Good show, and in we go!"

Flip - we faced a bunch of demons, and two trolls. I slapped my shield across the door. No way they
were escaping.
Sharle's was still surrounding us. The fight was short and sweet. Garl used Adamante's ( His flaming
sword), hilt to knock out the last demon, and they all vanished.
I dropped my door shield, and we went out to check on the rather brave dig crew, who were all
humans.
"A guy without a face that blew sulfur smelling cold wind at us got out before we knew we were
under attack. He had a bunch of white globs, and demons with him." Andy warned us.
"They stole the mini bus Fenrus left here last year." Martha Wells added.
"Nyarlathotep, and the Shoggoths, with demons; what a bunch. Thank you all. I'm shutting down this
gate for now." Garl looked irritated. "Gabe, tell Lucifer, then get me in contact with Thrann; I'd bet
he doesn't want that maniac running loose, he attacks everyone."
We headed into the house. Paula was staring at our 46 inch TV in shock as we entered the front
room.
A tall, brown haired man with light blue eyes filled the screen. "Lucifer informs me my loose cannon
is running amok." A soft, unbelievably mild Irish brogue spoke. He was handsome in a chiseled,
rugged way.
Garl looked at Paula and I. "May I introduce you to Con Thrann Satan." Then turned to the screen.
"Yes, whatever he is up to involves Shoggoths and demons."
"Baal is on his way, tis not quite as crazy as his brother, n enjoyed tormenting me about creating the
nut." Thrann shrugged.
"Turn one loon loose on the other, lovely - Gabe, get The Dreamer; maybe she can keep her father
less crazy." Garl rammed his hands in his kilt belt.
Suddenly, an overweight twin to Sharle joined us. Then on her heels, a tall, lean dark auburn haired,
and fiery blue eyed man was beside her.
She simply hugged him, and then turned to Garl. "He's after some golden idol; all I got, sorry."
"Could you see it?" The new male asked. "No, he blocked me." she answered.
Garl looked at the screen. "Any ideas?"
"Afraid not, except that he took The Great Ankh with him. Thrann was looking to the side. "And a
bunch of paperwork on Sograny's Temple."
"Sograny? Garl shook his head. Wasn't he one of your military trainers?"
"He was the worst of the two. I guess I join you."

And we had the devil himself with us!

Lucifer had fit the Biblical description, but so did Thrann. Beyond that, Lucifer and Satan were day
and night.
I looked at Gabe, wondering why there were two.
A thought touched mine. ((Satan was the one called the Adversity.)). Gabe smiled at me. ((He and
Garl are not such foes any more, Thrann just does not obey at this stage - they were total foes at war
at one time.)).
Thrann was getting a rundown of our adventures so far from Garth. "Sounds like t' maniac made a
real mess in Hell." He observed.
"Yes." Garl agreed.
Azza turned from my TV, which still was behaving like a viewscreen. "Sograny's Temple is in Egypt?
Is there any information on a Golden Idol there?"
The sailor like man, even a uniform, yet he was at a desk, answered. "No, but I did get a line from
Egypt on a statuette of gold sent from Sograny's Temple only a week ago."
A statuette of a Pharaoh complete with pshant and, ankh, crook and flail appeared.
"Huh, as Sograny a Pharaoh?" Azza looked at Thrann.
"I don't know, I lost track of them both over the years." Thrann shrugged.
"Egypt it is, can you send us an instagram of that statuette?' Garl asked.
"Yes, done - Azza's smartphone." and the screen went blank. A click told me it had turned off.
Azza checked his photos on his phone. "Got it." Then looked over to Garl.
Garl looked around. "Good grief, enough eyes; Rocky, I suppose your going with us?"
"Of course, Shub's not just after a statuette."
Thrann laughed. "True, bet he does not waste much time at that temple., so --"
Flick, we stood before an Egyptian museum.
Azza, Teggy and Ebony hissed at him. He just laughed. "Ha, Garl does no warn ye either."
Garl just led us into the museum. Sharon and Sharle looked like they were entering a candy store as
five year olds.
Sharon led the way to a portly, self important man near an exhibit mummy in a glass box. "Dr.
Hawass."

He turned and caught sight of both Thrann and Baal. "Huh, you look like the statues of Ptah?!"
"I wore that name a very long time ago." Baal's deep voice reminded me of Aaron Wintersette!
He winked at me. ((I will be in the future, Aaron A' Dale Baal D' Azul of Wintersette is my full name,
you can see why I shorten it.))
"Or Jonathon Aaron Weeming Wintersette Stokes the 6th in Ireland of E.641(a) Earth." Sharon
teased.
"Yeech, I never used that entire name." Baal gave her a very gentle shake.
"We wish to see the statuette you were mailed from Sograny's Temple if we may." Garl requested.
"Of course, this way please." The man led us to another level and down a hall, just in time to face the
faceless man, three Shoggoths and four huge demons.
Battle on of course, but did not last long - Rocky's whip took out two of the demons at once; Sharon,
Sharle and I took out the Shoggoths with lightning (they burn easy), and all the Ankloi, plus Gabe
and Baal. Thrann somehow instantly teleported the other demon to Hell without even touching him.
And it was over.
Tweety, the greenfinch kept our shields up strong, and Teggy tossed lightning with us from his
smallest size.
The dogs of war rocked then all with their ice and fire combos.
Short fight.
Finally, Baal faced Shub Niggarath. Thrann and Garl had him in a paralyzing grip he kept trying to
break.
"Okay Shub, what do you think you are up to here." Baal's voice was mild.
"Getting away from all of you!" The other snarled.
"Forget it." Thrann snorted. "Tis too crazy ye are."
"Why steal our statue?" Hawass was puzzled.
"To call my father to deal with them all!" The maniac tried to bite Garl, who simply tightened his
grip. "Go ahead, poison yourself, you can't handle what I'm made of - it's called Light."
A force ball formed around Shub, as Baal spoke.
"As for our father, no one even knows who he was, and he sure was not Sograny."
Sub Niggarath broke into insane laughter, shouting out the word. "Exit!" This of course did not work
when he was in a force ball.
Baal looked at Garl. "He's not going to give us any more information."

"Not that he gave us any anyway." Gabe snorted. "All he knows is some witch in Hell told him that
statuette would call great power; she did not mention names."
"Lilith's father was our father!" Shub Niggarath suddenly shouted.
"Huh, we had the same father in a couple of life times, it's possible." Baal looked thoughtful, and
suddenly, we had a third Wintersette.
"Did you ever find out who sired us Jon?" Baal asked him.
"Oh yeah, a Sorcerer of Oom called Conrus, seems he was very potent." A shrug, and the newcomer
stuck out his tongue at Thrann and vanished.
Thrann just shrugged. "Almost as insane as Shub, now what does those statuettes do?"
"Try it and see." Shub giggled.

Once Shub Niggarath had been sent back to his place in Hell, (I later learned he lived in a cave.);
Garl, Thrann and Aaron conferred so fast mentally that none of the rest of us (except Gabe), could
follow.
Then without any warning, we stood before a cave on a mountainside.
Baal went inside, to return a few moments later with chalk, with which he drew a pentagram. He sat
the statuette inside it, and stood back. "No idea what invoking this will do."
Garl shrugged. "Only one way to find out." Thrann just nodded. He suddenly held a very wicked
black sword. It was about three feet long, straight bladed till a few inches from the tip, which was a
nasty looking hook. Seeing me looking at it, he smiled grimly. "Meet Ebony Thrust."
"Don't get near it; there is a very bloodthirsty demon in that thing." Garth warned quietly.
The sword whined shrilly. Thrann just ignored it, except for tightening his grip.
Baal motioned us to move back farther. I was willing, moving farther from that whining sword as
well.
Baal began chanting in a guttural, throaty language.
The statuette glowed for a moment, then a pot bellied, sandy haired man in a black robe stood
before us. "Huh, whadaya want?!"
"It calls Sograny himself?! I love it." Thrann laughed till the tears came. "Ye have no great power,
too funny."
"Power? The man looked bewildered.
"Some witch in Hell told Shub Niggarath your statuette would call great power." Sharle laughd.

Sograny looked at Thrann. "Oh, I can call great power -- Hi Ishmethis!"

He vanished, to be replaced with a towering slimy serpentine head that shot flaming liquid at
Thrann!"
He caught it with Ebony Thrust, who swallowed it, and shot it back at the serpent head and necked
creature head, which was all that appeared in the pentagram.
The creature rose high above us, an enormous long taloned foot attacking the Pentagram.
A horrendous screech of pain announced the results of that - pain to it.
Garl brought up Adamante. "You like atomic fire?" He asked casually.
It just tried a stupid gout of flaming acid.
"Tis brainless." Thrann surmised.
"Yes, power yeah, brains to use it, no -- be gone and banished!" Baal told it, at which it was gone.
Baal made no move to erase the pentagram. "Another type of invocation is to smash the statuette.
Hate to destroy history, but I suspect it's of no great value. A flick and the one called Jon stood with
him again.
"This is getting old, Baal, what?" He didn't look friendly. I wondered if he should be in that
pentagram.
"Has that stupid thing any historical value, and was Sograny ever a Pharaoh?" Baal ignored the
grousing.
"Sograny ruled on the throne of Big Afryky Egypt for forty years, till his wife had him assassinated
by a younger contender. I suppose it has some value on Big Afryky." His cloned brother answered.
Baal looked at Garl and Thrann. "Your hair chalking call."
Jon looked at the statuette thoughtfully. "What's with the slime?"
"Invoking it called Sograny, and he called a super serpent to attack us. Lots of power like the witch
told Shub, but absolutely brainless. The other way to invoke it is smashing it."
Jon nodded. "I'll stay and watch." He backed up to stand by Rocky.
Baal picked up a chunk of rock, and threw it at the statuette, which began to glow again as it broke
apart.
A tall darker version of Baal and Jon stood facing us. But this one looked totally insane. Shub
Niggarath had looked saner this one.
"Good grief! The Azul Lord?!!!" Thrann gasped.
"Great power indeed." Jon laughed.

"Yessssssssss...............what do youuuuuu whantttt....?" The more batlike Wintersette clan member

actually hissed the words.
He made no move to attack though.
Baal sighed and told him the tale. Got laughter. "Should have let him do it. I have all the power he
could want." The apparition dropped the hissing.
"Yeah, but I don't think he'd get what he wanted; out of Hell, from you." Baal smiled.
The insane look had vanished as Baal told our story. "No, he's too crazy even to suit me."
He looked at Thrann. "Glad to see you healing, but not to see you still trying to control Ebnacht."
Thrann's sword let out a high thin scream at those words. Thrann just sheathed it. "Someone has to,
Raemy created him for a purpose sometime in t' future, not just that wormlord."
The Azul Lord nodded. "That dwarf has always been prescient."
He clapped twice, and was gone without even being dismissed. Power, I guess. He had no problem
breaking loose from a pentagram.
Garl sighed as Baal erased the pentagram. "Guess that's over, but how'd Shub get out of his cave,
and get that screen from Nyg, let alone take over that tower, or get that ship?"
Gabe made a face. "Guess we talk to Nyg next."

Without further ado, or warning (as usual), we found ourselves before the Ankloi desk in front of
Nyg's cell. Gabe stopped the stomach aches and head aches, and then hit Garl. "Warn people!"
Garl looked at him. "Sorry, I didn't think of it." and faced the desk monitor. "We need to talk to Nyg."
The man closed his eyes. He's in a funny mood, almost happy for once."
"I'm sure he is." Garl said dryly, sounding amused himself. They opened the same window like
viewscreen as I'd seen him through during our last adventure.
Nyg was curled in a corner, but was a pale grey instead of black. We could even see blue eyes. He
looked at us. "Yes? Did you find my toys?"
"Oh yes, but no one got to stay out of Hell. Shub was very disappointed. Was that the idea? You two
are hardly bosom pals." Garl looked amused.
"Partly, and you needed livening up. You just have it too easy up there in your pretty inn."
"Oh, okay, and Shannon has done what to you?" Garl inquired.
"Nothing, kind of like the pretty little thing." He winked at me.

"How kind of you to send me a Shoggoth for a gift." I replied, trying to keep it neutral.
"Your welcome sweetheart, see Sharle, that's how you talk to people, not all orders and anger." Nyg
directed his gaze that way, beginning to darken.
"I'll have to remember that, old coal dust dragon." She smiled at him.
"Coal dust dragon? Not bad, except coal does not make a very hot fire." Nyg stretched like a cat. He
seemed to be in snake form, except for the wings. Then, without warning, a gout of black flames shot
our way. It hit the door and did no one any harm of course. We ignored it. (At least on the outside in
my case).
"Neither do you." Gabe's tone was bored. A blast of flame hit the wall in front of Nyg's nose. "Next?"
Gabe asked mildly. "I'm the real thing, not a one third plasmoid. I can actually give you a few burns
if you like."
"No, I think I'll pass on that one Gramps." Nyg's voice was just as smooth as silk.
"Good, now what's with interrupting that dig?" Garl asked.
"What dig? I have hardly been allowed out to dig anything." Nyg faked innocence.
Baal sighed. "Dumb as ever, since your under my jurisdiction down below, I can take over the
questioning if you like, and you can ask your daddy about my methods."
"Oh yes, you drove him insane... hee hee, I'm already nuts, or so they say." Nyg laughed. "And Garly
Poo won't let you use torture here anyway."
Baal's eyebrow lifted. "Who needs torture, that was long ago, and at that time, I'm told I was a lot
crazier then you."
"What do you have in mind, old bat brain?" Nyg stood up on all fours.
"This." Quietly spoken, and Asmodeus joined Nyg in the cell.
"Okay kid, I've been listening to your scintillating conversation. I deem it rather boring. What is the
dig Shoggoth and idol attack about, and don't tell me you didn't do it. I examined them, and your
stink is all over them."
"Who me? I'm stuck here dad." Nyg snorted.
Asmo looked at him steadily. "Ha! You leave whenever you want. Next answer, and the truth is all
that will get rid of us."
Father and son stared at each other. Gabe teleported inside. "Want to play catch?" He asked Asmo.
"Sure, we have a nice target here." Asmo was suddenly holding a sphere of red hot flame. He tossed
it over to Gabe.
The return throw nearly hit the black plasmoid. "Hey, that's hot!" Nyg backed into a corner.

"How about that, fire is hot. Did you know that Pops?" Asmo asked Gabe, tone amused.
Garl closed his eyes, but didn't stop them.
A few more of those close passes, two run to another corner trips, and Nyg broke. "Okay!"
Gabe held the fireball. "Okay what?"
"Shub said he could get me out, he lied of course." Nyg was totally black, except for blazing dark
blue eyes.
Azza laughed. "We know you would not believe HIM, Cuz. What else, or shall I join the game with my
hook. I'm sure you remember who put you in that lovely cell in the first place."
"*#*%#*!" Nyg snarled at him.
"You too, tripled, answer the rest of the question. Why were you playing footsy with Shub Niggarath
whom you hate?!" Azza demanded, now in the cell as well.
"I hate you jerks a lot more!" Nyg growled.
"So..... And... ?" Gabe cocked his head.
All their mental shields were adding to my headache, but I kept quiet.
Sharle had moved closer to Garl. Nyg must have noticed. "Your little wife is cuddling again, Azza.
What ya going to do about that?"
"What? Silly, she loves her grandfather. I'm supposed to do what?" Azza actually laughed.
Asmo now had a second fireball. "Three way catch, should be interesting in these tight quarters."
"I wanted to call on Azathoth, bet he's fiery enough for you." Nyg growled.
All three were instantly out of the cell.
"And that's how he gets out. Lucifer, we need a third layer of uru, and a Faraday cage. (Electric wire
box fully charged.) Plus more guards." Garl turned to the desk, looking into the monitor's screen.
"Asmo looked at Nyg."And Azathoth would have just fried you, little brat. He is not only atomic fire,
he's blind, deaf, mute, and far more insane then any of us."
Garl sighed. "I'm teleporting us out."
Flick.....
He had. We now stood in the lounge of Dragon's Inn.
"Was that the truth?" Garth asked Gabe.
"Yes, I don't know if Azathoth was even among those artifacts?" Gabe looked at Garl who burst out

laughing. "Nor do I, but I'm hungry, and the mortals are worn out. Lets eat, sleep, and go see in the
morning."
We shared an enormous roast, a veggie finger tray, baked potatoes in jackets, a large urn of coffee,
rolls, and a dessert fruit tray.
It was good to collapse in a bed for the night.
It took me a moment to orient myself when I awakened the next morning.
Recalling that I was at Dragon's Inn, I did my morning routine, and then headed downstairs, to find
Thrann, Garth and Asmo missing.
"Garth said he was no longer needed, Asmo already went and looked, but didn't bother to tell us
what he saw and Thrann said Baal could tell him." Sharle shrugged.
Garl came out of his office to join us. Let's have breakfast, then the dig." He slid in beside Gabe. I
poured myself coffee from the urn and looked at my menu.
Seesee, the head waitress came over. "Ready?" We were. I asked for a Belgian waffle, egg and one
sausage patty.
Meal done, we headed out the door. Garl waited till we were out, then asked. "Ready?" We all
nodded, and found ourselves before that shack holding the dig artifacts.
Gabe said. "I asked permission to go in and look. Etsy's fine with it now that Nyg's not toying with
him."
We went over to the table. Now that we could see them all, there were twelve of the little idols, if
that was what they were.
I recognized the half melted Cthulu, Shub Niggarath's own statuette, and figured that the sun
symbol of a many pointed ball had to be Azathoth.
It was not hard to figure that the Cthulu like statuette like one with breasts was his hair chalking
daughter Cthugha, The great worm with all the legs had to be Shud M'Ell, the Great Wormlord, or
the one that looked like a half formed worm with waves of different shapes had to be Yog Sothis.
A magnificent Stag Man let me at a loss till Sharle told me he was Garylan Confelon, The Forest
Lord of High Artha's QuambbaForest in Dream World.
Nyg himself was there. Plus two winged serpents Sharle said were Quetzalcoatl and Cukulkan,
better known as Gabe and Asmo.
The last two were melted past recognition.
"Well Azathoth is here. Wonder why he didn't try for Yog Sothis, he's not crazy, and might have set
him free - he hates me enough." Garl murmured.
Baal shrugged. "No idea, he hates me too. I'm off to tell Thrann. See you all later." and was gone.

We went outside. Rocky looked at me. "Ready to go home, I need to get back to my own dig."
Azza and Sharle came to us. "We'll meet again." She gave me a hug, and they were gone.
Sharon had gone with Baal. Ebony, Teggy and Tweety had gone with Sharle.
Teddy sat by Gabe's feet. ComSa by him. Gabe smiled seeing my glance. "Teddy is actually my son
Thadeal, He just likes dogging around. The Pomeranian just laughed.
The tiny white dog with the black ear and hip spot just sat relaxed.
Garl hugged me gently. "Hopefully you can have some peace at home for a while. I'm off for home."
and was gone.
Gabe gathered us together, and I was home in my own front yard.
Rocky gave me a hug as we walked over to the dig. Him to play in the dirt, me to check on the
HellGate.
When we separated, Gabe and the dogs followed me. The dig crew had put the door back in place.
Going inside, we stood before the shallow pit between the two posts. It looked just an innocent
looking two foot deep circle of dirt in a swirly pattern ten feet across.
Gabe went over to a small clay panel and slid it to the side. A small viewscreen appeared. Garl sat at
a desk. "Ready, turn it on.'
Gabe pressed down a switch, and the blue whirlpool once again swirled between the posts.
Garl nodded. "Good, it's blue. See you later." and the screen was blank. Gabe replaced the cover and
looked at the whirlpool. "Speaking of killing machines, we'd destroy this monster if we could, but it
would just pop up elsewhere."
"Who made it?" I wondered.
"Hmmm, no one, it's a distortion between spacetimes, and just popped up in the wrong place at the
other end." Gabe led the way outside.
I headed for the house to report all the rest of the tale to Paula.

The End