#anywhere

Gerd blinks as a nearby broom develops thorns all over, catches fire, and then turns into choking ash.

She reads the signs "Somewhere, a Witch is pissed"

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Jessica guides her motorcycle down the dusty path out near Cerra Colorado.

Not out for a thrill-ride today, just a leisurely spin near the crater. Both to clear her head, and to think.

November, but still warm here. Recent rains from close-by hurricanes have brought some green to the land, but not this close to the Cerra; a crater from before time.

She pulls up to a stop and takes her helmet off; her braided hair falls free along her jacket as she scans the countryside.

A light wind stirs...

She closes her eyes to appreciate it, lifting her face to it.

Feels good. It's easy to let your cares go in such a breeze

She shrugs, though. Just for now, she's willing to accept the sun, and breeze, and restorative solitude.

For a blissful period, she gets it.

"About time" a voice says

Jessica opens her eyes, on guard, and looks for the source.

It's a familiar voice. One she didn't expect.

Tig waves. "Long time no see, or so it feels"

"Tig!?!?!" her jaw drops "What are you doing here??"

"I got told to come here..." he says "Been in the area for a day and a half. "

"You... who told you? Did mom and dad send you?"

"Nope, one guess left" he says

"I don't... who? Siv?"

"Wow, how spooked does family have you?" A smile "no, Sir Vali. He said he 'had a vision' honest to god, in 12 more hours I was going to chalk it up to a prank"

"Well, he's Beaumayn; it's possible he -did- have a vision. And he sent you here? What's going on?"

"I don't know. He told me that he had a vision, this seemed to be the place, and you might need help. Why he didn't tell your folks I don't know. How have you been?"

"I'm good. How'd you get up here? He didn't tell you what the vision was about?"

"I stole Dame Dagmar's horse star and rode her here" A beat "I"m kidding. She'd murder me if I tried. Kid is getting scary"

"She impressive, yes. How -did- you get here?"

"Got advice on some trods to take... and a few spells of my own"

"Ok, well.... I guess we're walking back, for a bit anyway. C'mon." She pushes her bike. "Vali didn't say what the vision was?"

"No.. only that if what he saw happened, we could NOT miss it" He says

"Okay....." dubious.

It's a bit tricky to walk a bike down this much hill, but Jessica is strong.

That's when the falling star lands behind them with a earth shattering (And chimerical) KA-BOOOMM!

Jessica is blown forward, dropping the bike and tumbling downhill a ways.

And Tig, a bit quicker to notice, still ends up sliding on his butt "oof"

Jess shakes her head, and looks up, her face now decorated with light scratches and some bleeding. She pulls herself to her feet.

"Tig, you ok?"

"Pondering that Vali's sense of humor fails to elude me" He grunts and gets up "You?"

"Yeah, I think." She looks up past him to where the BOOM landed.

In the crater, obvs.

"Let's check it out." She starts to climb back up.

And up they go, Tig pulls his switchblade which becomes a claymore

"Nice." Jess observes as he does.

"Thanks. Bought it at Pennons. Your dad loves his truck" As if those are connected

"What?" She looks over at him.

And that's when they see the aliens!

Pale... bulby headed chimera with ray guns...

and hostile eyes.

They are roughly 3 foot tall...

"Are you -kidding- me??"