#rivervale_lodge

(Speaking of that, End Scene)

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Sometime Later.............

Frank finds Olgar in the kitchen, food prep items and food laid out, as he gets himself a sandwich. "Got a minute?"

"Sure. This about the game?"

"Yep." He pitches in on making a sandwich. "Brekke said you're in."

"Yup. Now, am I right in understanding you don't want to travel by trod to Iowa?" Surprised

Frank exhales. "Not sure. I'd thought to take the rig that far, at least. Brekke can handle the drive back if she needs to. Cuts costs, if you do it smart." Thinking. "But if we take a trod, it's faster. That might make more sense."

He slaps the sandwich together and chews. "You should talk to Siv. Debrief her, find out what the fight was like."

"Fights."

"Already did, it sounds a bit nuts. Mutant Canibal zombies, video game style. "

He nods. "Sorry to ask, but you got it for tactics and strategies, not just a 'no shit there I was,' right? You're going to be guarding our back. And front. Last time I got some defensive measures in the cab, but....I don't want to rely on that. Wrestling the rig was hard enough."

"Are we planning on putting a quarter in this thing? Because I was told an enchanted coin was needed. " He says then, "oh, right. People trapped in there. You don't just want to fix this thing, you want to save them. "

He nods, chewing.

"that might require going in. One of the reasons I'm going to be useful. Sounds like a pocket of the Dreaming. Not easy to get out of normally, but I am a master of bending the Dreaming. I might be able to pen a rath and free folks. Heck, we could slip in a quarter and try it now, except for a few problems"

"Agreed on all counts. What problems do you see?"

"One, we could die or end up trapped in that box ourselves. Two? we could die. Three, and this is the big one for you... we don't know if after all this time those former players have their flesh and bone bodies waiting. They could come out Chimera"

Frank nods. "Most Quests have at least the first two as possible results. Part of the price. The third one... well. I did some digging."

"Figure it this way; we get the players out and they're ok.... we're good. We get them out and they aren't... well, they aren't mortal then either. Chimera, possibly dangerous, and .... we handle that."

Frank gets two beers from the fridge, puts one on the counter, and opens the other to take a drink.

"got contingency plans?"

"For? Or just in general?"

"Any of that you mentioned." he says

Olgar takes the beer on the counter and opens it.

Frank sighs. "Well. Look, not too far from the farm is a Dougal hold where the guy that built it might be. Or, maybe his records and notes? Dougal aren't focused on Dreamers and mortals but... surely the Escheat will buy some latitude to see them and learn more?"

"Right. I figured that much. So you think he'd be a good source of info. Mmm sure. I take it we are not telling the DeBukes we are heading to the very Baron that might otherwise claim their freehold?"

Frank scratches his chin with a frown. "Might not be the best idea." He agrees. "I don't feel great about, you know, not being honest but....."

".... but the DeBukes have some old wounds and legit biases. Heck, Clem's dragged them out into the light but there's only so much you can ask them to change so fast." He nods, "Okay. I've looked at the machine. Going by trod? CHancy but fast. It might erupt, or suck us in without a quarter. Going by truck, safer, longer, but then what if this Baron claims the game as his because he helped with it?"

"Who says he knows about it being with us?"

"Huh, okay. Fair. Wow, you really are embracing the sneaky"

Frank shoots him a relatively mild glance. "You know my background."

"Oh yes, east bounding down" He says "Okay Frank. You're taking lead Long trip with greater chance of word getting out eventualy or trouble on the road, or SHORT trip, with a chance of it setting off the machine."

Another chin scratch. "Yeah. Ok. Leave the thing here, work the attempt from a place of our strength and keep it away from ... well, others. Meantime, we take the Trods to Iowa."

"Oh shoot, why didn't you say so?"

"Just did." Puzzled.

"It was a joke, Frank . Yeah, DeBuke terrain then will work fine. You want to head out now?"

Frank takes a breath. "Tomorrow. Dinner with the family, pack a bag, that kind of thing."

"Okay. Should be quick. We arrange for an uber about six miles out of the farm to pick us up and take us in the town proper. DeBuke trod will get us there. Maybe we should bring the DeBukes a giftbasket or something and say hi out of manners? Or do you want to try to use it, say hi and go fast?"

Frank shakes his head. "No. Seems rude. Probably get there and be gracious on arrival, bring a gift and all, show manners. Go to the Dougal place, get the info we can, and head home." A pause. "Just in case, you ok on airplanes?"

"Yeah, I make little fists with my toes on the carpet."

Frank blinks.

"Ok, more worried about you taking your shoes off on the plane but....."

He chews a bite, swigs some beer. "We catch attention, or heat, from the nobles, we head for the most-local airport and take a plane back."

a shake of his head at something, but a nod, "I'll have some folding money handy, and the other things I need. Fortunately chimercial weapons don't set off metal detectors. I haven't been on a plane flight in years."

Olgar scratches his chin, and grunts, "Hope Sylvi doesn't try to get clever while dad's away. "

"Wanna bet?" Glum.

"No.I love my daughter, but she's got more than a bit of schemer in her" A chuckle, "Serve her well when she's older, driving me nuts now. I.. oh, yeah, you're worried about Siv?"

Frank nods, swigs.

"Look, we can both take comfort in the fact our wives, while busy, are still on duty. No, doesn't help me much either' He says "Colton? Great kid. Fine young man. I want to growl at him every time he comes within ten feet of my daughter. I think the dogs are starting to emulate me."

Frank chuckles. "Wouldn't be surprised."

"Heh" A nod , "But Kerri gave me this whole 'It's her body her life' and I'm thinking "Don't we have a lease contract until she hits 18 or a patent or something?" No dice" A sigh "So yoou're not alone. "

Frank grunts. "I was.... -we- were smarter Wilders, weren't we?"