Zack growled as he pushed his energy outward, watching the tattoos react. He pushed more willpower into it to assist. "Don't give up, Justine, we are here!"
For a moment everything holds, breathless, in a Balance. On the bed, Justine went rigid and then limp as the black smoke faded.
Taking this in with alarm, Zack cut his connection to her energy, the lights on his hands fading. "Deebs, stop! Stop everything!"
"Zack...scan her again. I am not bringing the rift-shield down until--" Deebs turned to see Zack working. "Ah, well then..." and with a motion, the Ward was Dismissed.
Quickly opening the scanner, Zack checked her vitals to see if her heart was still beating and that she was still breathing.
A serene smile came over Deebs' face.
Justin opened her eyes, gasping for breath. Looking between the two mages she asked, "Are we ok? Is it...is it ok?"
"I would say it's ok--now." Deebs replied. "For the moment now."
Justine looked at the scanner in Zack's hand, then up to him. "We're ok?" She turned to deebs with a shaky smile, reaching a hand towards the aura surrounding her.
Taking Justine's hand tenderly, Deebs said. "We're OK," then she looked across the table at Zack."As Healer-designate, I think a report to the Duke and Duchess is in order."
"Swirrrrrly," Justine said, dizzily, reaching out to the aura still surrounding Deebs.
Zack sighed with relief. "That was dangerous but...yes...necessary...good job...Deebs..."
Chuckling, Deebs dismissed their personal Ward too, leaving Justine looking crestfallen, "Awwwwww. Swirly gone!"
"You can have swirly later, dear," Deebs said, patting her hand.
Zack"s tone became thoughtful. "Ok, so...if you are marked, Justine, the connection to whoever did it is temporarily stopped but...the seal that Deebs and I put on you won’t hold."
Deebs agreed. "No. That's why Their Graces need in on this."
"It won't? It isn't? Okay..." Justine pushed herself to a sitting position, a look of concern on her face, wrapping her arms tightly around herself, still shaking.
"To see what happened, we will need to see who or what put this on you and...if it's a mark...well...we will need to remove it. I know the ritual for it and...it is...not something very pleasant to experience," Zack said.
Deebs added, "Well, it's definitely extra-planar."
Zack finished, "And...of arcanic nature most likely."
"I will want to check with the Library about WHAT Marked you," Deebs said.
"Deebs," Zack asked, "Tell me if I am wrong. Technomagic is of arcanic nature, isn't it?"
"What IS Magic," Deebs asked ruefully. "We live in an...environment. Indra's Web, as a Vedic scholar might say. There is power, energy, in and of that Web."
Zack put his hands on his knees, apparently suddenly exhausted. "Well, I learned the old school of arcana, so I don't know a lot about technomagic."
Deebs continued, "There are also many intelligences besides us, who wield agency. We wield agency, if we know where and how to learn. But that's all IN the web."
"Indeed," Zack agreed.
"Outside the Web, there are other realms." Deebs stopped the discourse for the nonce, looking down at Justine.
Zack followed her gaze to the exam table. "Anyway...Justine...how do you feel?"
Justine nodded, swallowing heavily. "I'm ok. No problem. Headache. But...I don't think I'm gonna hurl anymore. Little unclear on what all this means?"
Deebs answered. "Something's put a magical leash on you. I am nine parts sure it comes from outside this plane."
"Basically yes. That is...the option I was hoping not, but...yes..." said Zack.
"It tried to pull you into its own plane just a bit ago," Deebs continued, putting a comforting hand on Justine's shoulder. "We stopped it, for now. I would suggest further Work take place in a sanctum specially Warded for extra-planar Workings."
Zack nodded. "I will start to work on the ritual to cut this leash permanently...I will study its components but it is something I can do."
"Ok." Justine paused, "Ok. Just tell me what to do and I'll do it."
"I would also suggest the Duke, or the Duchess, be notified immediately to place you under maximum protection," Deebs added, "which will be measurably easier, now that we know this is extra-planar."
"They already keep track of my motions wherever I go. I think their abilities would be trans-dimensional. So...even if I were...pulled elsewhere...they would know. I think."
"I think it likely. Let's try NOT to find out."
Zack thought of something. "Have ALL of the dimensional rifts in Gearhaven and around been taken care of?"
"No," Deebs said, pointing to Justine, "She's wearing one."
Zack sighed. "Not very reassuring..."
"I didn't mean it to be. Accuracy was the desired goal."
"True...better to be blunt and objective than to hide everything and wait for an accident." Zack turned to Justine. "I also propose, Countess, that you take it easy tonight. Maybe a bath would help. I can escort you to it if you want."
"Thank you, Zack. I'll go back to my quarters here on the station."
Zack nodded, taking her hand with a smile. "You will be fine, Meimei, I promise."
Justine accepted Zack's help getting off the table, giving his hand a squeeze. Then held her arms out to Deebs. "Love you, Deebs."
“Love you too, Justine.” Deebs replied.
"I'll do everything in my power to get rid of this. Even if it would empty me of my vital energy," pledged Zack.
"We will see to this."
Justine picked her clothes up off the floor. Turning to them, she smiled brightly and said, "It'll be fine! Of course it'll be fine," and headed to the lifts.
(Continued in part CXIV.)
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