Doctor Lalna- A Favor for a Friend

Lalna took a deep sigh as he reappeared now looking around. He was still fighting the tears that were welling up from the last world as he saw the familiar sights of his castle. He slowly moved from chest to chest running his hand over them as though to see if they were really there.

“Hello old friend I’m sorry I’m not yours but it’s great to see you again” he said talking to the castle. He looked up now hoping Rythian had made it back home and he wouldn’t be to angry with him when he got back after this errand.

Rythian woke up from the corner, hearing someone wandering the room.  He had told Xephos he would want to stay in the castle until the others got back.  He blinked, eyes widening when he saw the familiar looking scientist.  "Lalna?"  He jumped to his feet.  "You're home!"  He pulled out a tablet quickly contacting Xephos.

Lalna quickly turned jumping at the sudden sound “Oh crap didn’t realize it’d be you and not…Whoa wait a moment Rythian I’m not who you think I am!” he rubbed his head “Oh Notch I should of brought my Rythian along to explain this easier” he said trying to think quickly. He knew the tablet would bring more complications and sorrow.

There was a pop and Xephos appeared falling to the floor with a thump.  He groaned, picking himself off the floor.  "Bloody Admin watch.  Never works right."

Rythian blinked, confused.  "What are you talking about?  'Not who I think you are?'  Did you hit your head?  Wait..."  He looked around.  "Where are Kim and Ridgedog?"

Lalna groaned  burying his face in his hand hearing Xephos appear. “Ok slow down Rythian and please read this it’ll explain everything and I’m sorry I am so so sorry” he said handing him the note Slider Lalna had given him. His headache had started to return slowly but was not at the danger level.

Rythian took the note, reading it quickly.  His eyes widened and handed it to Xephos, who was rubbing his arm where he landed on it.  The spaceman read the note, his smile fell, looking to the man referenced in the note.  "You...you saw Lalna and the others, friend?  Why aren't they here?"

Rythian stepped away, running a hand through his hair.  He stood close enough to hear, but stood with furrowed eyes, watching Xephos and Doctor Lalna.

The tears that Doctor Lalna had been fighting finally came spilling over “Yeah Rythian and I did. We got to know them pretty well while we tried to fix our devices. But when they asked for me to take them home…” Lalna paused trying to compose himself more “My travel is based off magic combined with a screen to help me navigate. Kim’s flux taint interfered with the magic of the books. If I had brought them back Kim could have ended up injured, dead, or in another world alone with my device. I’m so sorry Xephos I really wanted to help them out more than of any of my counterparts”

Xephos swallowed taking in the information.  He sighed before looking up at Doctor Lalna.  "They were okay, though?  They weren't hurt, were they?"

Rythian looked at Lalna with wide eyes, the tears surprised him.  He sighed.  "I told Lalna it was dangerous to mess the amount of flux he had..."

Lalna nodded wiping the tears away trying to recompose himself as his headache got steadily worse. “Yeah they were perfectly fine when I saw them. Kim mentioned a few worlds where they had a few close calls but when I saw them they were fine. In fact I think they helped Rythian and I more than we helped them…”he paused thinking to his Rythian before looking to the other one, “Rythian we know when it comes to Nano or Kim we messed up with the flux thing. In my world you cured her of it to show her good will and not drag her into our petty bickering.” He said remembering Rythian’s smiling face as they traveled.

“Ugh speaking of him I’m going to get such a lecture for not taking him here…” He looked at Xephos again before taking his last potion out downing it quickly.

Xephos glanced at Rythian, who was now looking at his boots.  He turned back to Lalna, stepping closer.  "Is everything alright?  You look really uncomfortable, and not because of the situation we're in..."

Lalna took a deep breath “Livid’s threatening to break out and I don’t know what he has planned. But the sheer fact that he’s threatening to come out while I have the ability to travel through worlds does not bode well. Xephos I know I’m not your Lalna but when yours gets back…” he looked down “Keep an eye on him. I may call on him to help me one day.” Lalna glanced to Rythian.

Xephos nodded, crossing his arms in concentration.  "I'll keep an eye out, friend.  Thanks for telling me."  He looked down at his Admin Watch with a sigh.  "Honeydew needs me.  Thank you for telling us about Lalna, friend."  He types a quick command into the watch and disappeared with a pop.

Rythian sighed.  "What?  Are you surprised I was the one waiting for them?"

Lalna looked to him sighing slightly “Honestly a little bit. When we first met and I saw his reaction to the man who I was traveling with I quickly figured out the time line your world is in. We’re pretty soon after the nuke but just far enough after that Kim is tainted with flux so the magic has shifted” he said crossing his arms slightly.

Rythian chuckled.  "Fair enough.  Yeah, I'm surprised too, to be honest.  Xephos wanted volunteers for watching and Zoey volunteered me."  He paused, blinking in confusion.  "He was surprised?  Who are you travelling with?"

“To put it plainly, you.” Doctor Lalna said giving a slight laugh at the thought of Zoey volunteering him. “He’ll claim I tricked him into his first world but then he asked to come along. I only needed help with the first one. You should have seen Lalna’s eyes when he saw Rythian too. Mentioned you wouldn’t even think of traveling with him” Lalna shifted uncomfortably.

Rythian shook his head, laughing.  "That sounds like our Lalna.  I didn't ask to go with him for obvious reasons.  But since I started castle sitting, I can understand his view on some things...and if it wasn't for me, they'd be home..."

“What do you mean?” he asked frowning slightly. His mind went back to his Rythian who was angrily waiting for him to return home.

Rythian held out the wireless device he had found.  "They were actually here...I was sleeping, like when you came in.  I'm pretty sure Lalna was looking for it to make sure this was home...but I was holding it.  And..."  He closed his eyes.  "I woke up as the vortex closed..."

Lalna’s eyes grew wide recognizing the frequency “The remote to the nuke…my, all the Lalna’s, one true regret. I’ve seen Lalnas invent time machines to prevent that from happening.” He paused trying to process it all. “Rythian I know you’re blaming yourself now they aren’t home so am I but they’re still enjoying themselves out there. Once he gets home he’s going to fix the machine so they can travel like me and then probably leave. We can’t sit still” Lalna paused wondering why he was telling this man this.

He went up and touched the man’s shoulder gently. “My Rythian told Kim to seek your doubles out to cure her taint. I made a promise that if we ran into each other again and she was flux free I would take them home without a second thought. You should put the remote back that way we do our part to get them home ok?”

Rythian blinked, looking back at the device.  He nodded, moving to the chest where he had originally found it.  "Lalna - Doctor or whatever you call yourself."  He looked back to Doctor Lalna.  "I..."  He sighed.  "Thanks for tell us they're okay.  Xephos has been acting in Ridge's place once they didn't come back originally...we didn't know what happened to them."

“Yeah I’m doing a favor for a new set of friends. I’ll keep my eyes open for them. Also I’m telling you this in confidence Rythian.” Lalna paused slightly looking at the floor. Inside his head he was debating with himself if he should tell this Rythian when he was so scared to tell his own.

“Something’s shifting in my world and I don’t know what it is. I didn’t cause it but someday in the future I’ll send out my Rythian and Kim to the worlds I’ve already visited with the task of bringing the Lalnas back to mine. If Lalna’s not back would you be willing to come in his place? You can tell me no or go to hell Lalna. I just need to know where to gather allies” Lalna said very serious toned.

Rythian crossed his arms, and stayed silent for a moment, thinking.  His expression softened into a smile. And stuck his hand out.  "You ask, I'll be there."

Lalna smiled taking it “Good to hear hopefully this doesn’t happen for a long time but I can use any allies I can get.” He let go messing with his device now. “Alright it’s time for me to go home. I’m in for a big lecture from your double about tricking him. Anyways keep your head up Rythian they’ll be home” he said before pushing the buttons.

Rythian nodded.  "I'll talk to Xephos and see if any of them will be able to help when the time comes.  I'll keep castle sitting."  He chuckled.  "If he's anything like me, he won't be going easy on you." Lalna chuckled back as he disappeared from view.