From: Mike Sander <344LWKC@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU>
Date: Thursday, 12 Nov 1992 14:09:54 EST
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: Re: [DQ] Week 14 ShockWave: Riddle Me This

[ADMIN: Posted basically in Patrick's "spirit". Enjoy!

ShockWave was dragged back, kicking and screaming as only a giant could, but
with no effects. With little else to do but struggle -- unsuccessfully --,
he found his mind once again drifting to the riddles given to SunStorm,
particularly the last line of the third:

>"You'll need to Fear your Fear, and You'll be Betrayed by a Brother."
ShockWave was unsure about the fear part -- his best guess would be the evil
from inside he had felt --, but oh, yes, the betrayal was there.

ShockWave didn't even want to BOTHER thinking why -- SunStorm's half-brother
GreyRage had been more trusted in his time, had given more outward signs,
yet had still betrayed his fellow giants successfully, for unknown reasons.
It was getting difficult for ShockWave to trust anyone besides himself.

Another line gave him a bit more trouble:
>"You need one much like  you, because you'll protect each other."
Perhaps the "one much like you" was ShockWave, sicne Lancos didn't seem to
qualify. Not that Lancos had shied away from battle, or not done his part.
But allowing the DQers to be carried into captivity while he roamed free
could not be considered protective.

And finally, the last riddle:
>"Time is of the Essence, Find the Presence, Lose the Balance.
> The Dragon is There, Already in the Dark. He Need and Will Help.
> A Dark Armor wants Revenge, and Cast Into the Dark He Will.
> Himself, Forever. You, for a Trial, and Everything, If You Fail."

Of COURSE time was of the essence -- the longer they stayed here, the more
susceptible to evil they seemed to become; the closer the Dark Master came
to his goals. Find the Presence -- had they done that by encountering the
plane's entity? Lose the Balance: no help there.

The second line was obviously referring to BlackSilver -- as he was now
called. It was somewhat encouraging also; suggesting that the Dragon could
help them if he was helped first.

And the last two lines. ShockWave wondered what revenge the Dark Master might
want -- revenge against this plane, perhaps? The riddles also mentioned a
trail. That was also encouraging -- suggesting that there was at least one
more chance for them. ShockWave knew that he could make that chance count.

He was dragged into a darkened room, and thrown into an ordinary-looking
cell. But he could tell that it WASN'T ordinary, when the bars resisted even
his --well, SunStorm's -- Giant strength without any give. He even felt
himself change his body a bit, in order to produce more strength, but
quickly stopped it when he realized he was again falling into evil. That
strategy wasn't working anyways...

Then suddenly, the lights flickered on. ShockWave nearly screamed at what
he saw -- SunStorm's soul entrapped in the PCD. ShockWave could see the
memories SunStorm was reliving on a large, mirror-like object. And finally,
BlackSilver, overseeing the process, speeding up the more pleasant memories
while slowing down the more horrid parts.

ShockWave tried to issue a cry to the people in the room. But no sound
appeared to eminate from his lips. He tried again, in a normally booming
voice -- it was similarly ineffective. ShockWave screamed again -- this time
mentally --, separated from the people he felt he MUST talk to by an area
of forced silence.
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Michael Sander 344lwkc@cmuvm.csv.cmich.edu