The lowest level of an office building in Some City, USA.
One hospitable host, seated patiently at a small metal table, smoking a cigarette and looking over a some paperwork.
Two visitors walking through the darkness, approaching Evertrust as their path is slightly illuminated by some dim bulbs above.
Evertrust did in fact expect them and had prepared a document for their review and authorization; one copy for each of his guests who would in turn happen to be his partners for tomorrow night.
[[//intro'dump'tion]]
I, _________ hereby grant full bodily access to the one known as Evertrust [as well as any scientist(s), magician(s), and/or wizard(s) he may employ in this task] for the sake of improving my quality of life and my ability to sync with my team mates this Wednesday, October 29th: hereon referred to simply as Wednesday.
I am fully aware that full bodily access may entail minor and/or majorly intrusive procedures and I give full permission to enter, modify and/or remove any segment of my bodily vessel that is deemed necessary to suit this cause.
I also give permission to the one known as Evertrust [as well as any scientist(s), magician(s), and/or wizard(s) he may employ in this task] to utilize any means necessary to gain access to my mental faculties and to inject, modify and/or remove any portion of mental prowess that is deemed necessary to establish a fully functioning link among myself and my team mates for this Wednesday.
In no way will I hold Evertrust or any individual who assists in this process responsible for any accidental or intentional damages to myself, including my mind, body and soul. I understand that the process is of an experimental nature and as such, even while being overseen by professionals, may contain risks as with any medical procedure.
I will exercise complete confidentiality in this matter and will not reveal any details of this process to any party, for any reason, nor will I reveal any names involved with this experiment or describe to anybody any of the individuals involved if I do not know their names. The only individuals who I will discuss any details or share any information with regarding this experimental process and its effects will be those who I am teamed with this Wednesday.
Should the process be a success, I will not use my newly acquired abilities in any way that may be seen as damaging to the one known as Evertrust. I understand that after Wednesday night, any and all abilities I've been enhanced with are programmed to auto-terminate to ensure no wrongful usage after I and the one known as Evertrust have split ways.
Hysteria finishes reading the letter and hands it off to Mickey. Mickey begins reading as Hysteria takes a few steps away. He looks back and the cold, icy eyes of Evertrust seem to bore a hole through the skull of Hysteria as Evertrust remains seated at the table with his legs crossed and a cigarette dangling from between his fingers as he presses the butt to his lips and takes a long, healthy drag. Hysteria begins chuckling softly to himself.
Hmmm... you have certainly made this decision a most... intriguing one. After perusing your terms, it seems almost unreasonable for me to even consider it. I just have to accept what sort of sick experiments you use on me?
With a smirk, Evertrust slowly stands to his feet and exhales a cloud of smoke into the air before he interjects.
" Oh I can assure you there is nothing 'sick' about this, unless of course you consider how nauseating the offense of our opposition has been thus far. They are the sick, my friend. They are the disease, my partner… and we shall be the remedy. This will be a groundbreaking experiment for the dwellers of this existence, and you'll be playing a key role to be revered forever. Humans like myself who weren't sabotaged on unseen levels were always meant to be able to link up and communicate with each other mentally. This process will allow us to engage in that act—I will be your eyes and ears this Wednesday much like you will be Manson's and Manson will be mine. Any thought we want known to anyone else among the three of us will instantly be transmitted without so much as a peep from our lips. We will literally be operating as if we had one collective intelligence and one omnipotent awareness, and we'll run circles around our foes in the process. This will be… dare I say, 'fun' for us. "
On one hand, the new twist has peaked my interest to another level. On the other, I'm concerned that the chips that you plant won't be discarded once this experiment has met its conclusion.
Evertrust's smile only widens at the mention of that and Hysteria begins bursting out laughing.
Leave it in! I don't care! I like surprises! Maybe I'll say hello every week or two Mr. Trust. I'll think...
'Trust. You are getting very very sleepy. Verrrryyyyy verrrryyyyy sleeeeeeeppy!'
Would you like that Mr. Trust? Maybe I can stop by and pick up a pastry with you. Would you like that? You could bring Crimson Face with you as well. We can sit around the campfire and tell ghost stories. Something tells me you'd be great at that. Sorry I talk a lot whenever I get a little nervous! Just wait. We'll get to that tag match on Wednesday, and I'll shut right the fuck up! I'm not even sweating those three punk asses.
Mickey 'The Martyr' walks up and points at something on the page. Hysteria looks down at it and begins laughing wildly.
Oh, I'm sorry Evertrust! I didn't read where it said the abilities would auto-terminate. With that in mind, I am a little saddened. Here I was looking forward to having morning conversations from across the world with the omnipresent Evertrust. Oh well. Perhaps I can buy these abilities off of you for my own congregation. Nothing a little communication can't help, right? Oh and Trust. I don't have a Social Security Number. Can I just use yours?
You seem to exercise extreme caution... how rough is this surgery going to be?
" Not rough at all. Remember; we're going to be opening up access to parts of the mind and abilities within that were always intended by nature to be present since birth. The only challenge is establishing the precise pathway to that sector inside of each person. The solution in your mind could very well differ on extraordinary levels from the solution we are required to use on your partner. We could be finished with you in no more than a minute whereas Mickey Manson—oh how I love that name by the way—could conceivably take as long as an hour. "
Manson folds his arms. Evertrust looks him in the eye and raises his brow as he awaits Manson's comments on the matter.
"What he said," he says rather bluntly, having motioned toward Hysteria.
Hysteria then waves his arm to Manson, almost as if giving him permission to speak, which he does.
"This is a interesting concept Evertrust, but I'm concerned about the consequences. Who knows what you'll use it for after we've finished? You could control us, torture us with your thoughts. That is a big danger and is one of the factors causing me to hesitate in agreeing to this. However, there a more things that I would like you to address."
He clears his throat.
"Full bodily access."
Evertrust looks off to the distance with his hands folded behind his back, whistling to himself until Mickey raises his voice just enough to call his attention back.
"You underline full. I don't see how this experiment requires my full body. Secondly, the risks that you say are involved and how you are not to blame. Why do you not want yourself to be blamed for our injuries when it is your fault if this happens? Also, you say that you might remove segments of my body and I really don't like the sound of that. This experiment should involve no removing of anything. I don't want any lasting damage against me for volunteering to this."
" I can assure you, there's very little chance of you needing to lose any significant bodily component. You will still function after this is all said and done. "
Manson gives out a long sigh and looks at the ground while tapping his foot, wondering whether to accept the offer.
"I'm wondering if this is what the Higher Power will want."
" If the Higher Power is an entity of sovereign intelligence with desires to shift the very building blocks of this world, then yes, it will want this for you. In fact, should your Higher Power desire to make use of this enhanced mindset after we have parted ways, I am even willing to consider removing the auto-destruct command. In fact, let's make this easier on us all right now, shall we? "
Evertrust scrunches his brow and puts his hand to his chin, scanning the floor in thought for a few moments. His eyes dart around at a frightening pace as Hysteria and Mickey glance at each other, then back at Evertrust who now shoots his gaze back up in their direction and grins. With a quick double snap of his finger high in the air, Evertrust calls out to… someone.
" I believe we've given them the wrong contract, Raspatifenmillionous! Bring me the smaller one, please, if you would be so kind! "
Hysteria and Manson look at each other again in silence before glancing over in the direction Evertrust had called out into. This poorly lit, echo filled basement reveals very few details of their surroundings as thus far only the path from the entrance leading to the small metal table has been clearly visible. From a distance of about thirty feet, a new light flickers to life over an open doorway as a pair of foot steps can be heard coming closer.
"What'swrong," inquires an echoing voice from the other side of that doorway. "Aretheyuncomfortablewiththosedetails?Noproblematall;I'vegotamuchmoreagreeablecontractrighthereinmyhand!"
A man's shiny black dress shoes are first to hit the light as he emerges from that dark doorway and the moment his feet pass the threshold of that doorway, more lighting flashes to life and reveals his every detail. His entire suit is darkest absence of light—pitch black like the bottom of an abyss is this finely tailored piece he wears; absolutely no wrinkles or folds visible under the bright lights. It's a very unnatural effect this suit has, almost as if it swallows light whole rather than the material being highlighted by it or revealing any creases and curves. It's almost as though someone drew the outline of his suite and colored every inch the same flat shade. Evertrust turns to his two guests and speaks up as the new man in black approaches.
" Oh dear, how rude of me. Please, allow me to acquaint you with Mr. Raschajifimillionoux Eden The Twelfth. He is my lead s… "
He cuts himself off dead before he finishes that word. Evertrust's eyes dart from left to right for a split second of hesitation before he continues.
" …My lawyer. He is my lawyer. "
The grin overtakes Evertrust's face once again as he adds, " but you may call him 'Mr. Eden' or even 'The Edenist' if either of those prove easier for you to remember. "
Once Mr. Eden finishes his slow walk up to the trio that will no doubt find victory tomorrow night, he smiles devilishly and hands Hysteria and Mickey copies of the better contract. The lighting in the area diminishes slightly as Mr. Eden stands close by, with the dimmest area being the immediate area he stands in. It is as though the blackness of his suit knows no depth and is never ending, ingesting light from every direction like a black hole as he speaks.
Mr. Eden's eyes remain focused as Hysteria and Mickey take their copies of the contract to look over.
I, ____________ have nothing to worry about. No harm of a physical, metaphysical, mental or any other nature will come to me. Everything will be fine, and I agree to keep the details of this process to myself as I exercise full confidentiality with the only exception being those I am teamed with for the Wednesday Warfare of October 29th, 2014. The writing of my name in the previous blank space counts as my binding signature and that is the only confirmation or information that is required of me in this simplified contract.
Hysteria peruses the document as he raises his finger in objection at one point and then continues reading as though he forgot his question. He finishes the document and picks up the pen. Hysteria seems transfixed on the pen and the ink at the top of it for a minute. He snaps out of his trance and looks down at the paper before looking at Mr. Eden. With that facial hair, you look like a highly dignified man. Surely you must have gone to a very prestigious college, no? Where did you finish Law School at?
The Edenist's response, fulminant and contagious as it may be, is not one of actual words but instead…
I see, I see. Well surely you wouldn't mind showing The Martyr and myself the certificate? I mean you are diving into our minds with nothing but a piece of paper and your word claiming nothing horrific will happen. After all, how will I continue Prophesying The Higher Power's intentions if I'm drooling on the floor?
The Edenist searches his pockets and finally pulls a folded up piece of white paper out of his rear pants pocket. He unfolds it and hands it to Hysteria. It's completely blank.
Evertrust is glancing over into a dark corner where it looks like a long, red nose is poking out from the shadows. Evertrust nods and the nose bobs once as random letters begin to dance over the sheet of paper Mr. Eden had handed to Hysteria who shakes his head briefly and looks again at the paper, satisfied. He hands it back to Mr. Eden who is smiling wickedly.
Well thank you for letting me see this... intriguing... certificate. WELL I'm good to go? Mickey you ready?
Hysteria picks up the contract and the pen and begins to write when suddenly Mickey interrupts him by grabbing his wrist, switching his stare between the men in the room. He retracts his hand quickly.
"Though I do not like this, or the extreme simplicity of this 'contract'... it is our only chance of turning this match we've already surely won into a true spectacle of complete domination. Remember that, Prophet, our noble cause's only intentions is to preach the word of the higher power whilst expanding our influence by winning matches. That is what the Higher Power wants, remember that."
Evertrust nods and smiles.
" I will remember your words clearly, partner. "
"Do not take this as a threat Evertrust, I'm only being cautious. The word of the Higher Power is our only leader, our father and our guiding light. It is only right we should pay him the respect he deserves. To a fruitful and prosperous alliance to take down the sinning cretins and bigots on Wednesday."
" Of course, of course. "
And with that, Manson puts pen to paper, writing his name on the piece of paper before handing it back to Mr. Eden, with a hint of hesitation. Evertrust brings his palms together in satisfaction as he watches The Edenist walk away to file the paperwork.
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