Out Behind the Servants' Quarters, Monday Morning
For all that he'd acclimated so easily to the hectic life of being an Overdrive Ranger over the past year before he came to Milieux, Mack had gotten used to the peacefulness of his existence here just as quickly. He'd never expected to be cheerfully leaning against the wall of his dorm building, watching Delores graze, but here he was.
So it was a bit of a worrisome surprise when he got an unexpected visitor.
"Red Ranger."
Mack's head snapped up at the weak, echoing voice, and Delores bleated in alarm; not that he blamed her, since it did tend to be unnerving when the ghostly presence of an armored knight started hovering in front of you and glowing fit to light up a small cave.
Unnerving especially because, well . . . he'd been corporeal for months now. Hiding out in a dimensional pocket to safeguard the Corona Aurora, granted, but corporeal and very much out of contact.
"Sentinel Knight?" asked Mack. "Oh, this isn't good."
"You understate things," the Sentinel Knight replied. "Flurious's patience has run out, Mack, and he knows where the Crown is hidden. He is making attacks on the dimensional barrier, and --" His image flickered twice and sputtered back into view. "I will not be able to protect the Crown much longer."
Mack felt what could only be described as a twisting sensation in his stomach, regardless of how technically accurate that phrase might be. "So we're right back to trying to find the last jewel before he does, aren't we?"
The Sentinel Knight nodded once. "I am afraid that is so. We bought you as much reprieve as possible, but he is wearing my defenses down, and the confrontation is inevitable, Mack."
Mack shut his eyes, barely aware that he'd clenched his fists as well. "What do you need me to do?"
"Be ready," answered the Sentinel Knight. "Rose and the others are working to track down the last jewel, and as soon as they know where it is you will be needed. You have, perhaps, a week at most."
To say my goodbyes, Mack thought; the Sentinel Knight hadn't said so, but the implication was clear.
"All right," he said miserably. "I'll be ready."
"That is all we can ask," the Sentinel Knight said. "By that time we sh --"
The image flickered again and died, and Mack had no idea how long he spent staring at the empty space in some futile attempt to stave off the inevitable.
[OOC: NFI/NFB, OOC is all good, and yes, this is the kickoff of Mack's farewell arc. He'll be in town for the next week, but stay tuned for the week after that for the multi-part finale . . .]
So it was a bit of a worrisome surprise when he got an unexpected visitor.
"Red Ranger."
Mack's head snapped up at the weak, echoing voice, and Delores bleated in alarm; not that he blamed her, since it did tend to be unnerving when the ghostly presence of an armored knight started hovering in front of you and glowing fit to light up a small cave.
Unnerving especially because, well . . . he'd been corporeal for months now. Hiding out in a dimensional pocket to safeguard the Corona Aurora, granted, but corporeal and very much out of contact.
"Sentinel Knight?" asked Mack. "Oh, this isn't good."
"You understate things," the Sentinel Knight replied. "Flurious's patience has run out, Mack, and he knows where the Crown is hidden. He is making attacks on the dimensional barrier, and --" His image flickered twice and sputtered back into view. "I will not be able to protect the Crown much longer."
Mack felt what could only be described as a twisting sensation in his stomach, regardless of how technically accurate that phrase might be. "So we're right back to trying to find the last jewel before he does, aren't we?"
The Sentinel Knight nodded once. "I am afraid that is so. We bought you as much reprieve as possible, but he is wearing my defenses down, and the confrontation is inevitable, Mack."
Mack shut his eyes, barely aware that he'd clenched his fists as well. "What do you need me to do?"
"Be ready," answered the Sentinel Knight. "Rose and the others are working to track down the last jewel, and as soon as they know where it is you will be needed. You have, perhaps, a week at most."
To say my goodbyes, Mack thought; the Sentinel Knight hadn't said so, but the implication was clear.
"All right," he said miserably. "I'll be ready."
"That is all we can ask," the Sentinel Knight said. "By that time we sh --"
The image flickered again and died, and Mack had no idea how long he spent staring at the empty space in some futile attempt to stave off the inevitable.
[OOC: NFI/NFB, OOC is all good, and yes, this is the kickoff of Mack's farewell arc. He'll be in town for the next week, but stay tuned for the week after that for the multi-part finale . . .]