Free Gamers' Challenge by George Ivanoff

through the Forest again.
    ‘It’s just over here.’
    ‘I thoughts we wuz gonna see the professor?’ Tark loaded his own weapon and followed.
    Just a short detour.’
    ‘Nuthin’ is eva straightforwards with ya.’
    Tee huffed. ‘It’s not even a proper dialect, you know. That gutter speak of yours. It’s really rather poorly designed. It has little consistency and no purpose other than to designate you as street trash.’
    Tark ignored him.
    They walked for another few minutes before emerging from the trees. They stepped out into a clearing, beyond which was a cliff face with a cave. A VI hovered in front of the cave opening. Tee shot it. Tark automatically followed suit with a second bolt, dispatching it completely.
    ‘In there.’ Tee pointed at the mouth of the cave.
    Tark peered into the gloom. Inside was a writhing mass of static, bigger than even the combined VIs, with a darkness in its depths that made Tark think of rats and refuse and decaying things. It roiled and writhed and changed its shape, taking on one vague form after another. Most passed by too quickly for Tark to discern, but he did see teeth and claws - he was certain of that - and a gaping emptiness that might have been a ravenous mouth.
    Tark took a step forward, mesmerised by the whirling static, hoping to get a better view, but Tee put a hand on his shoulder.
    ‘There’s a force-field on the cave, to keep that thing in there,’ said Tee. ‘The professor set it up shortly after we discovered it.’
    ‘Wot is it?’ asked Tark, unable to take his eyes from the undulating mass.
    ‘We’re not sure,’ admitted Tee. ‘It’s linked to the
    VIs. I think it controls them in some way. Or maybe it’s their source of power. We’re just not sure.’ He frowned in thought. ‘There’s usually at least three or four VIs hanging around here. Sometimes they even try to get through the force-field.’
    Tark looked around cautiously. ‘I don’t sees any more.’
    ‘Neither do I.’ Tee took a deep breath. ‘Which makes me think that now might be a good time to attack it, while most of the VIs are busy chasing Hope and Zyra. We might be able to destroy it, or damage it, or, at the very least, lure some of the VIs back here and away from Hope and Zyra.’
    ‘Rights.’ Tark lifted his crossbow and eagerly reached into his quiver for a bolt. ‘Anythin’ ta helps Zyra.’
    ‘They won’t do any good,’ said Tee. ‘It’s much too strong.’
    ‘Gotta try,’ said Tark, licking his dry lips. ‘Gotta try and helps Zyra.’
    Tee gently put a hand onto Tark’s crossbow. ‘It won’t help her if we let that thing escape.’
    ‘So how does we attacks it?’ demanded Tark.
    ‘Ah,’ said Tee raising his hand. ‘That’s why we need to talk to Professor Palimpsest.’
    ‘Okay.’ Tark lowered his crossbow but continued to stare at the static creature, a determined look on his face. ‘Then whys did ya waste time comin’ ‘ere?’
    ‘I wanted you to see it,’ explained Tee. ‘I wanted you to know what we are up against.’
    ‘Rights,’ said Tark. ‘Well, I has seen it.’
    As they left, Tark thought he heard humming coming from the cave - harsh, guttural, yet tuneful.

14: Brains!  
    Zyra and Hope were standing in a deserted city street. They looked around to see a couple of smashed shop windows and a door left swinging in the wind. Litter danced in the breeze and an eerie silence prevailed.
    As Zyra gazed about, she thought that perhaps this was what the City in her environment may have looked like before it crumbled to its current state. She had to remind herself that the City had always been destroyed - it had been designed to be so. Just like this city had most likely been designed to be deserted.
    ‘What’s that?’ Hope pointed to a dark stain on thepavement beneath their feet.
    Zyra crouched down and ran a hand over the concrete. She looked up at Hope. ‘Blood.’
    ‘Great,’ said Hope. Just where have you brought