Into The Aether

Chapter Eleven: Professional Opinion

Richtofen called a meeting outside the mainframe teleporter the next day. We sat on the steps whilst he paced back and forth lecturing us on what we were going to do.

"Ve must connect zhe teleporters to zhis mainframe. I have poured over mein research und I have calculated how ve can achieve zhis in order to reach our next destination", he explained hastily.

The three men beside me looked to each other - remembering my prediction.

"Yeah, that's cool and all, doc. But where the fuck are we going to next?" Dempsey casually asked trying not to arouse Richtofen's suspicion.

"Zhat is none of jour business, shtupid American", Richtofen snapped.

"Jou shall see vhen ve get zhere, ja?" He sang as he continued.

Looks like I was going to have to wait to be vindicated.

"Zhe brat shall be sending mein delicious minions any day now. Ve must be prepared, she vill not like our plan!" Richtofen stated.

"But why have we not seen any hellpigs for days now? Where did they go? I miss popping their heads", Nikolai grumbled.

"Oh, zhere zhere Nikolai", Richtofen cooed.

"I miss zheir screams of agony, it is like music to mein ears", he added - savouring his words.

"But! I shtill suspect it has somezhing to do vith zhe arrival of zhe voman", he said as he glared over at me like I ruined his fun.

I returned the look before reminding him that I had a name.

"Vhatever", he replied as he waved a gloved hand dismissively.

The rest of the day was spent preparing for the return of the undead. Tank cleaned his M16 and Nikolai counted his bullets as Takeo boarded the leftover windows. I felt completely out of place. I felt useless so I kept out of everyone's way and let them get on with it.

Instead, I went to investigate the mystery box. I looked up at the sky in search of the light. Once I pin-pointed its location, I made my way to the box down the stairs from the Jugg machine. I passed the bouncing betties again but did not bother trying to collect them because I knew I did not have any points. As I turned the corner, I could see the familiar glow of the mystery box as it beckoned me closer.

But then, I realised I did not have any points for that either. I was correct as the box refused to spin - sighing dejectedly.

"Jou should know how zhis 'game' vorks", Richtofen scoffed.

I jumped and quickly turned around to face him. He was the last person I wanted to see right now.

"Oh great, funny how you crawl out the woodwork at the perfect time", I rolled my eyes.

Richtofen ignored me and continued walking past me towards the box. It began to spin as we stood listening to the melody before the box stopped on the wunderwaffe. I watched him cheer with joyful glee as he took it knowing fine well it was going to be the reason the teleporter would be overloaded. I did not intervene as things were playing out just like the game.

I was shaken from my thoughts as I heard the melody play again. Richtofen had spun the mystery box for a second time and I looked on. It stopped on the cymbal monkey which, to my utter shock, was handed to me. He extended a gloved hand which was gripping the little monkey. I looked up at him after eyeing it suspiciously; his face was stern and his brow furrowed.