"Thanks for the escort, guys," I called as my small party scaled the sheer steps to the stage.
My students were still in the center. Pologne was now wrapped up in spider silk. Jinetta and Bee were up on top of the framework, trying to dislodge the barrel of water with magik and brute strength. I applied my own power, but it wouldn't budge. It wasn't meant to move! More cheating.
I grabbed the first person I saw, a young Deveel woman in a tight pink skirt and white blouse who clutched a clipboard to her chest.
"Who's in charge here?" I demanded.
She looked at me and my three companions and put her nose in the air.
"I'm sorry, sir, but this is a closed set." She spoke into her lapel, and several large Pervect males in uniforms appeared at her back.
"I want to see the boss," I said.
"You're trespassing, bub. If you don't leave under your own power right now, we'll be happy to assist you," said the Pervect with the most gold braid on his sleeves.
"Power?" I asked, a slow smile twisting my lips.
Creating a band of magik around the entire group of guards, I squeezed them all together into a tight little knot. I was so angry that I channeled more energy than I ever could before. They started gasping, their faces turning interesting shades of green.
"Hey, Tiger, take it easy!" Tananda cautioned me. "Leave them some breath so they can answer your question!"
"Sir," the captain squeaked. "Sir, what can we do for you?"
"Who is in charge of this program?" I asked, very sweetly. "I want to see him. Pronto."
"The Executive Producer," the head security guard gasped out. "His name's The Geek!"
"Take us to him," I said. "The Geek knows me."
The knot of guards shuffled ahead of us as a single unit. Tananda and Bunny each held onto one arm, gauging whether or not I was going to fly off the handle. I tried to keep myself under control. I should have realized when I heard his name that he had to be more involved than just offering an analysis of the teams. He was responsible for all this! Markie toddled ahead of us, playing the part of my adorable little niece.
"Lookie there, Uncle Aahz!" she said in her cutest voice, pointing a tiny pink finger at a Deveel in a shiny suit. "There's Mr. The Geek right now!"
I thrust my way past more crew members, heading for that familiar face.
The Geek huddled under a scenery overhang with a collection of production personnel. There was a clutch of magicians in robes and holding huge, multifaceted crystal balls— members of several species but one union, to judge by the insignia prominently displayed on their right sleeves—and young women of various species holding clipboards. He turned at the sound of his name. First he saw the tightly clustered knot of guards. Then, over their heads, he saw me. He did a double-take then started running away.
"Hold it, Geek," I ordered. Releasing my hold on the guards, I threw out a loop of power, tightened it, and dragged him up
and over the heads of his doorwardens. I landed him in front of me on his feet, nice and easy, but I kept a firm magikal grip on him.
"Aahz," he choked out. "You've—you've got your powers back. How—nice?"
"Yeah," I grunted, in my best imitation of my former mentor's voice. "And just in time to use them to right a major injustice. One YOU are causing."
"M—mmm—mm—me? A mmm—major injustice?"
"You. You remember Markie, don'tcha? And Tananda? And Bunny?"
He certainly did remember Markie. She smiled sweetly up at him. In spite of the grip I had on him, the Geek tried to climb the sky.
"Aahz," the Geek squeaked. "Old buddy! Let's make this a nice, quiet talk."
"Let's," I said. "But first you stop that contest that's going on right now."
"Nnn—nn—now?" the Geek stammered.
I took a fistful of his collar and raised him over my head. It was part levitation spell and part genuine anger, but he ended up in the air, dangling from the end of my arm.
From out of nowhere, a second contingent of the usual kind of muscle came running towards us.
"Call them off," I said softly. "Call them all off."
The Geek, whose complexion began to darken as soon as I picked him up, waved his hands. The security guards backed away.
"Now, stop that contest. I insist." I shook the Deveel at every syllable.
Tananda came over and cuddled up against my right arm.
"Aahz, don't kill him," she said, in her most honeyed tones. "That gets so messy."
I shook the Geek again, who was doing a fair amount of vibrating all by himself. "Why not?" I growled.
"Well, if you do, they'll have to find another odds-maker."
"So what?" I asked. "This one's broken. They need a new one."
"Aahz, Aahz, buddy," the Geek pleaded. "What is it you want?"
"I've been watching this contest from K—from the Bazaar, and it just looks to me like you're shifting the odds to suit yourself.
"What do you care?" the Geek countered. "It's not like you've met any of these kids before." Enlightenment dawned on his peaky face. "You must have money riding on it. Put me down and let's talk insurance bets, Aahz. I promise you won't lose a single silver piece. How about it?"
"I don't have money riding on this," I snarled. I wasn't imitating Aahz; the fury emanated straight from me. "I wouldn't bet on anything you had a hand in."
"Er, I can see you might be a little reluctant—Could you put me down? I think people are starting to notice." He pointed over my shoulder.
I glanced back. Several Sittacomedians and a few Trolls wearing SOS insignia had started to move in on us. I flung back a hand, and the security staff went flying.
"Call off ALL of your security. And stop that contest! Now."
"I'll stop it, I'll stop it!" the Geek exclaimed. "Just put me down!"
I lowered him to the floor. "Do it."
The Geek gestured to another young female Deveel in a short, tight skirt. She scurried over, brandishing a pencil and a clipboard.
"Take this one down. Dip the lights. Go to commercial," the Geek ordered.
The young woman spoke into her collar.
Immediately, several flunkies in matte black clothing ran around to do her bidding. Sergeant Pep-up's men suddenly sprang to attention and jogged off the field, leaving their opponents looking confused. Teammates picked one another up from the floor, and limped to the side where white-coated Pervish medics waited with stretchers and little black bags to have their injuries seen to. The monsters all went back to the sidelines. Some of them paused to have makeup daubed onto their faces by Pervects in white smocks carrying palettes and brushes. The spider lowered herself to the ground, where her
palps were shined by a couple of Deveels with buffing brushes. Tolk hovered around his fellow teammates, dispensing dogtor magik and sympathetic whines.
Schlein's resonant voice echoed over the darkened arena.
"And now, folks, a word from our sponsor, Caca Doodle Doo, the leading manufacturer on Perv of Realistic Doggie Doodle with Lifelike Odor that Sticks to Your Hands, a product of Edvik Enterprises..."
I didn't have time to remark upon the coincidence. I had more important things on my mind.
"Are you in charge of this entire enterprise?" I asked.
"Not so loud!" the Geek pleaded. "Come into my office." He urged me towards his bubble. I raised an eyebrow at the ladies. Tananda and Markie melted away into the crowd. Bunny attached herself to my elbow and accompanied me in.
I waited until the side sealed up, leaving us alone in the soundproofed sphere.
"Now," the Geek said, sitting down at his desk with his hands folded together on top. "What is troubling you, my friend?"
"It's very simple," I said. "I want you to halt this contest right now. It's off-balance, and people are going to get hurt!"
"I can't do that, old friend," the Geek said, regret written large on his ruddy face. "Danger is the name of the game. It spikes those ratings right through the roof. The sponsors love it."