Up next is a shorter piece which took place during the previous piece. It features Aleena and Dash.

Enjoy!

 
It hardly takes a second for Sebastian Dash to realize he isn't actually standing in a strange room and that this is just a visual representation in his own mind, but it still left him breathless. He isn't alone here, either.

A moment ago, he was on the ground, covered in snakes. A strange young woman seemed to command them. Dash's mind cried out for help and soon after the snakes released him and he claimed his sword, he found that respite in the form of a vision.

The room is a hemisphere. A soft light, emitted from a ring set onto the floor at the perimeter of the room, bathes the ruby red carpet and curved walls in gentle blue and white light tones. Six beige arches rise up from equidistant points of the room and meet at the top of the hemisphere, where a smaller half-globe depicts unfamiliar stars. In the centre of the room sits a throne set with gold and jewels. In front of the throne is a large double-sliding door, made of a shiny metal. The only audible noise comes from air vents in the floor on either side of the room - like a whispering air conditioner. The cool air is welcome relief from the heat of day.

Sitting on that throne, looking even more beautiful than ever, is Aleena herself. Despite knowing it isn't real, Dash's heart skips a beat at the sight of her. He wonders if she'd feel as real as everything here looks. She wears a gown fit for an elven Queen - completely beautiful as it accentuated her body, but bore the unmistakable air of power.

"Is everything okay?" Dash asks, hearing an echo of his own voice off the curved walls. The nature of the room (if it was a real room and really existed somewhere) would probably let her be heard throughout the room, even with dozens of people crowding it.

Aleena smiles, rising from her throne. "This is a real place, Sebastian. It is my throne room aboard my flagship. I apologize for this false environment, but it is the only place where the drug will not cloud your mind with violence."

"Drugs.. oh.. right." Dash still feels feverish. "Philler's doing. I almost forgot.. Konall and I fought.. It.." Dash's voice trails off as he looks down, cheeks blushing. "Didn't go well for me."

Aleena strides to Dash and runs a finger along his jaw before tilting his head up to make him look into her eyes. "Do not feel poorly my love, for you will survive. I have found Konall and Kadlin and we are at a nearby village. But do not approach; I fear the continued effects of the drug upon us."

"I.." Dash pauses, frowning. "You're probably right. I can still feel the presence of the drugs. Ozzie's here."

Aleena tilts her head and kisses Dash passionately while wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace. Though surprised at first, Dash quickly and passionately returns the kiss, his arms holding her tightly to his body. Their intimacy is interrupted by a sudden, sharp and loud noise. A crack forms in one of the wall panels.

"Sebastian, our time grows short. I cannot maintain my focus. Please tell me you have some clues to cure this drug?"

Dash shakes his head sadly. "No.. I saw a.. strange looking- and smelling- woman with Bad Beats, and I lost control.. snapped and attacked her. Fortunately, Ozzie Whelk and a.. I don't know how to explain this but a woman who seems to have snakes for pets.. tied me down before I could hurt her too badly. The next thing I knew, they release me. Then I find myself here. I'm sure we'll figure something out." Dash shakes, his body feeling cold without her pressed to him. "What of the others, though? Vixen, Becky, Sir Fumblies and the rest?"

"I have no means of locating them," Aleena replies. Further cracks appear in the walls of the room, like a giant pane glass breaking, the noise is almost deafening.

"Okay, I need to get back anyway. How soon can we be in touch again?" Dash asks, feeling rushed.

"Here... when I regain enough focus." And then the room, and Aleena are gone. Dash sits up to get the relentless sun out of his eyes, realizing the eyes of Ozzie and those two ladies are now on him.

The memory of the last couple minutes floods his head, and the snake charmer is asking the stinky, distrust-worthy one why Dash attacked her.

-end

It's pretty easy to see how it ties in. Next up, we'll break up the seriousness with a little silliness!