Ret

The oStyle™ digital alarm clock is a unique device because it does exactly what its name suggests. It doesn't have a built-in scheduling and calendar app, it doesn't connect to the internet to pull up weather forecasts, and it doesn't use complex algorithms to determine the best time for users to take breaks. It's really just a battery-powered black box that displays the time and beeps at a predetermined time – no more, no less. Sure, it sometimes breaks down or restarts for no apparent reason, but that's part of its true charm. On this special day, a Ret

The oStyle™ digital alarm clock undoubtedly fulfills its duty and makes a screeching sound at 7 a.m. sharp.

The device was then slapped so hard that it flew off the bedside table to the bedroom floor. This brutal act had the desired effect, silencing the damned thing and greatly relieving its owner. Then, five minutes later, the alarm clock started going off again, and the user had to roll out of bed to reach for it off instead of just pressing the "snooze" button. The man, though muttering incoherently, was sober and he had no choice but to give up his comfortable bed and face the day. As usual, he greeted the girl who was sitting motionless in the corner of the room.

"Good morning, Maggie." Joe yawned. "Hope you're having a good night, I'm having a bad night"

She looked at him, but didn't respond.

"Yes, I know, I know. I was so nervous about today that I couldn't sleep. It's weird. ”

She stared at him, but didn't respond.

"Oh, yes. Jeffs?"

This robot butler walks around the open bedroom.

"What's the matter, Young Master Mulligan?"

"Put the kettle on, okay?"

"Of course, sir. Do you want me to prepare breakfast too?"

"Please."

"Usually?"

"No, today is a special day. Take out the expensive star berry jam. ”

"Very well, sir."

The auto-administrator nodded, head like a camera, and circled through the hall and into the kitchen.

"I know it's a waste," he said back to Maggie, "but if I don't let you live even a little longer, I'll be damned." ”

She looked at him, but didn't respond.

"Oh! Stupid me. I almost forgot your most faithful servant. ”

Joe reached for the drawer on the bedside table and pulled out a small plastic box, which rattled slightly with each movement. When I opened the lid, I found that half of it was a brownish-green particle the size of a thumb nail. He grabbed three, put the box back in its place, and walked over to the glass terrarium on the windowsill. Azgodkala lifted its little head and looked up expectantly with its big eyes. Joe carefully placed one of them on his fingertips and handed it to the round python. The little snake jumped forward and snatched the meal with its tiny fangs, eating it all in the blink of an eye. The same happened with two other projectiles.

"That's right," Joe said with a laugh. "Come on, let's put you in your place."

He reached out again, reaching out his upwardly upturned palm towards the snake. Azgod 'kala

There was no hesitation, no evasion, but climbed on it as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Joe then took it to Maggie and gently placed the boa on her bare shoulder. It curls up in a ball and looks very contented as it slowly digests its food in its favorite seat.

"I've been wondering if Azgodkala should grow up." He said to Maggie again. "I'm kind of glad he didn't, though. He's so much cuter than that. Like a tough little noodle. ”

She stared at the snake for a moment, but didn't respond.

“…… Yes. ”

The man finally began to get dressed. He wasn't particularly in a hurry, so he didn't rush and occasionally made some one-sided comments about this passive observer. After getting dressed, he did a quick 20 push-ups. It wasn't enough to make him sweat, but it was enough to wake up his sleeping muscles. He stressed that Maggie's physical training was never slackened in his absence, which was also shown. It's hard to believe that he's gone from the living stick figure of the past to the muscular man he is now, completely through natural means. Except for the nutritional supplements he occasionally takes.

"Phew. It's definitely more exhausting than I thought. I was a little out of breath just now. Ah, good. I can be lazy on special occasions. Maggie?"

She blinked three times, but there was no response.

"Oh, of course. Anyway, breakfast should be ready by now, so follow me to the kitchen. ”

"Definitely."

The girl got up and followed Joe out of the room. Her steps were so steady and quiet that the snake on her shoulder didn't seem to notice it moving. At least, until she was instructed to sit at the table, at which point Azgodkala moved away and hid under her jet-black hair. As for the dinner that Gieves had just prepared, including tea, toast, jam, omelette, and grilled sausages – it was a veritable feast by the standards of the average British citizen. The man ate with relish, while the girl ate her share slowly and methodically. He continued to make occasional casual comments or comments, all he received was a blank silence.

However, as breakfast progressed, the man's stupid exterior began to crumble like wet cookies. At one point, he gave up his disguise and stared blankly at his cup of tea, which was almost empty. He missed the real Maggie. For the Queen, how he longed to see her smile and speak truthfully, not just those monotonous one-word answers. At first, hearing her voice calmed his heart, but lately it has backfired. He felt as if only this pitiful little drama could keep him from losing his mind completely. No, that's not entirely true. He also has the support of friends and family. It was the people who took care of him all his life and who are still taking care of him until now, and it is because of them that he has been able to hold on for so long.

Joe is a simple guy, and as much as he tries to stay strong and take care of Maggie's veins as he promised, it's not enough. So, as he promised when he first visited his father at the mining station, he decided to try to take control of his life. That's why he's so nervous about today. He spent so much time, energy, and money trying and preparing. He's tried twice and failed both times. The third time was different. This time, he succeeded. He had to succeed. He mustered up his courage and made up his mind, and drank the cup of tea that had been cold.

"Follow me, Maggie." He stood up suddenly. "We're leaving."

"Definitely."

Joe quickly put on his jacket, put on his sneakers, and carried the duffel bag he had prepared the night before. He left the apartment and headed straight for the elevator, the girl following him. After entering, they sat on a full three hundred and thirteen floors before getting out of the car. The man strode over to a particular apartment and rang the doorbell without hesitation. A minute or two later, the door opened, and out came a burly, balding gentleman whose squinting face indicated that he had just woken up.

"Oh my God, Joe." Barry complained. "You woke up early, didn't you?"

"It's almost eight o'clock, Daddy."

"Oh. Oh guys. Well, I'll grab my stuff and come right away. ”

It took Mulligan Sr. a few minutes to get ready. When he appeared, he was wearing a shabby tracksuit, much more comfortable than he looked. He carries a duffel bag that resembles Joe, but from the way he yawns incessantly, it is clear that he is not as energetic as his son.

"I can't believe you've overslept," the young man complained.

"I can't believe you didn't. You texted me last night until two in the morning. ”

"I think I'm just waking up easier."

"It must be your annoying alarm clock. Seriously, how can that damn beep not drive you crazy every day?"

"I'm used to it."

That's an outright lie. Ret

The oStyle™ digital alarm clock is designed to emit a screeching sound at a certain frequency, which is guaranteed to irritate anyone who hears it. Joe absolutely despised this stupid thing, so he didn't hesitate to slap it every morning. However, he did not dare to get rid of it. It was the only clock he found that didn't disturb Maggie's autopilot. All the other devices he tried either ticked non-stop or emitted a bunch of electronic signals, both of which caused the girl's unconscious container to start moving around the house. As far as the man knows, her "program" is to continue collecting data and will not hesitate to follow any random "points of light" that appear on her "radar".

At first, Joe didn't think the strange habit was a big deal, especially since she listened to him whenever he told her to stop. However, when he wakes up to find Maggie's body staggering out the window, it's clear that something has to be done. As for whether the fall would hurt her, it didn't matter. It would be irresponsible to let her move freely, and this man couldn't lock her up like an animal. So, he either turned off or threw away any wireless devices or appliances that might trigger her "curiosity kills cat" mode. This includes keeping the VR pod offline forever.

The only exception is the Gives. It was necessary for him to take good care of the large apartment, lest it accumulate dust. This, along with the magical tea he brewed, was one of the few comforts that kept Joe calm during this ordeal. Luckily, the man was able to reprogram so he could be friendly to Maggie. It's not an easy task, nor is it a legitimate one, but the robotic technicians in the building are still eager to help. That being said, Joe is well aware that he doesn't really need Gievs' help. In fact, he didn't need that big apartment at all. Maggie herself doesn't need maintenance. Vigilance, yes, but not maintenance. The personal hygiene of her body form is always impeccable, and there is no need to even take a bath or change clothes, even once. It only needs food and water to survive, and the Noot-Goop can easily provide both.

But he would never be able to let her go through this. No man wants to see the girl he loves with a feeding tube on her face. He treats the ship like a human being, making sure it has proper diet and rest, and even taking it out on a date occasionally. He did it not only for himself, but also for the Maggie. The girl will eventually return, and when she does, she will surely absorb all the memories of her ship as quickly as she can, eager to see what she missed. Joe wanted to welcome her back with years of love, warmth, and care, so he never let go of his boyfriend duties. That is, he never indulged the desires of the flesh, and he did not intend to do so. He loves Maggie, not her body, so it's offensive to do something naughty to her when she's not around.

For a while, this camouflage wasn't a problem. Of course, Joe thought, before he knew it, the girl would come back. But days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. He struggled to stay strong and determined, but as the first year after her departure passed, terrible thoughts began to creep into his mind. What if Maggie took a long time to come back, and Joe was an old and weak man? What's worse, what if he dies of old age and never sees her again? Should he lock her up in some warehouse and try to forget about her and get on with his life? Is it better to love and lose than to dwell on something that shouldn't have happened? If he had done such a cruel thing and she came back, would she forgive him? If she did, would he still be able to look her in the eye? Do eyes really exist?

That's the painful thought that Joe Mulligan has been struggling with for 5 years. Today is the sixth anniversary of his first meeting Maggie, which means he has been waiting for her for more than five years. The lad already had a little disdain for the date, and the extreme loneliness it brought him, but this time was different. This year, his chaos is finally over. He kept telling himself lest he succumb to terrible thoughts and be desperate to crush him.

"Joe, are you okay?" Barry asked suddenly. "You've been a bit of a laggard since we left the scraper zone."

The two of them are walking in the underground area of the big city of Dave-156. The air at the bottom of this ground is stuffy and cold, and it always smells of burning tires. Jo was no stranger to this, and his father had seen and experienced worse situations during his servitude, so neither of them paid much attention to the atmosphere. However, the old man couldn't help but notice that his son had a rather terrifying expression on his face.

"No," Joe admitted. "I'm not. But I will. ”

"Are you sure you want to do that?" It's kind of crazy. ”

"I've said it a hundred times, yes."

"Okay. Just make sure you're not doing something you'll regret. ”

"I know. Hey, thanks. ”

"For what?"

"Thank you for agreeing to do so."

Barry smiled softly and placed a hand on his son's shoulder, giving him a comforting squeeze.

"No need, thank you for trusting me."

The biggest regret of this man's life is that he was not able to be by Joe's side when he was growing up. Fortunately, the boy had a very peaceful childhood, but his adult life turned out to be turbulent. Barry felt fulfilled because he was finally able to fulfill his responsibilities as a father and support his son in any situation. Although he disagrees with all of Joe's choices and has many reservations about his plans, he will never refuse when Joe asks him for help.

"You...... Rehearsed, right?" The young man asked cautiously.

"That's right, I did. I could see that my face was blue. Your mom almost kicked me out. ”

"You didn't tell her, did you?"

"Of course not. In the name of the Queen, can you imagine her reaction? She'll flip the lid!"

"Huh. Yes. We're going to do something really stupid, aren't we?"

"Definitely."

Maggie's auto-reply catches Joe and Barry off guard. Considering how insignificant her presence is, it's easy to forget that she's still there. Still, it's a welcome distraction that helps ease the Mulligans' tensions. By the time they reached their destination, they had calmed down. They stand in front of a domed metal structure that sits in a relatively small space between the foundations of skyscrapers. Still, the building is huge, big enough for hundreds of people if it were a hotel. It clearly isn't. Judging by the numerous loading areas, conveyor belts, pipelines, and other visible machinery, this place is actually a factory. At least once there was one. It's been a long time since anything has been produced here, but it means a lot to Joe. Just looking at the porch, he remembered the first time Maggie learned to walk.

"Come on, then." Barry patted him on the back. "Let's go in and get ready."

"That's right. I'm sure Benny and Cullen have done most of the prep work though. ”

"Are you sure? In my opinion, those partners of yours are not responsible. ”

"Trust me, they're living for this kind of garbage."

Venture into the innermost room of the hemispherical building and discover that Joe's friends are indeed busy. All the candles were put out, everyone's place was marked, and the ornament in the middle looked good and ready. Of course, the guys themselves are there. Cullen's height is still challenged as before, but over the past five years, Joe's fitness has improved and he's been inspired to start working on his figure. As for Benny, he's still the lanky, bald bastard he used to be, having long since come to terms with his follicular dysplasia.

"Yo, Joe! They shouted in unison.

"Hey," he waved at them. "Is everything okay here?"

"You better believe it," Benny said with a smirk. "It's going to be a big extravaganza."

"What about the other members?"

"Most of the lads are out and dressed," Cullen replied. "More importantly, Joe, how do you feel?" How's your nerves?"

"You know, keep it."

"Well, at least you handled it a lot better than last time."

"To be fair, I'd be shocked myself if I had to do what you have to do," Benny winced.

"Huh. How do you think I feel?" Barry smiled.

"No, Mr. M, you've got the best job. I wish I could. ”

"Learn to pronounce it correctly first, and then we'll look at it. Anyway," the father turned to Joe, "I'm going to change my clothes and get ready for the mood." ”

"Yes. Good luck!"

"Yes!"

Barry walked away in high spirits, leaving the young trio in a deep silence.

"So, Joe," said Benny exclaimed. "About you, uh, 'special guests.'" Is she single?"

"Really, Benny? Really?"

“Wot?”

"You know her real name, right?"

"Yes, so?"

"So how do you think she handles relationships?"

"Just as I hoped."

"Uh......" Joe rolled his eyes. Yes, she is single. ”

"Voice. I'll be back in a moment. ”

Then he followed Barry almost jogging, with a smirk on his face.

"He's going to be shot down, isn't he?" Cullen shook his head.

"Possibly. But hey, you'll never know. Maggie and I are very good, so strictly speaking he has a chance. ”

"Is that your solution to the problem?" He nodded to the whiteboard behind him.

"You know what I mean."

"Yes, yes. By the way, does Maggie happen to have a sister who isn't that crazy?"

"Nope. Kelly. Why? Don't you like her?"

"Not too scary, no."

"Did she reject you or what?"

"Man, that girl won't refuse a tree with strange branches in shape. That's the problem. Don't get me wrong, it feels really good, but it's kind of ...... to know that she's been through 40 men in two weeks Empty. You know what?"

"I think so."

"At least Benny won't mind, crazy idiot."

"Well, your upper lip is stiff, Carl." Joe patted him on the back. "When Maggie comes back, I'll ask her if she has any lovely friends over there, okay?"

Transactions.

The two parted ways, and Joe headed for his "private room", which was really just an old storage room where only he had the key. Now that he was alone again, he couldn't help but become anxious again. This time, his concerns were more immediate, such as whether something had gone wrong at the upcoming ceremony. On the bright side, there's absolutely no way he's going to mess up. His role in it is so small that he can even do it in his sleep. The problem is everything else—things that are outside of his direct control, have a habit of making mistakes. His team's first attempt failed, as a malfunctioning fuse cut the power at the worst possible time. The second attempt didn't even begin because two participants were unable to attend after being sentenced to prison for public indecency while drunk the night before the event. Three days later, they were released, but by then it was too late. There is only one day of the year when this ceremony can be held, and that is today.

For the next few hours, Joe had been worrying about whether the universe would actually let this happen, and if it did, if it would, if it would happen as he had hoped. Admittedly, it's a crazy idea, but sanity is often a disadvantage when dealing with these kinds of things. So, in the absence of any evidence, in the absence of knowledge, in reality, he had no idea what he was really doing, and all Joe could do was belief. He chuckled softly. of faith. It's an interesting word. It's like saying "face" inarticulately. It wasn't a topic he thought too much about, and he had never heard Maggie think about it. Does she think it's illogical and ridiculous? It could also be a reason, some brainwave stuff that, if one believes hard enough, will turn the unreal into reality. Joe was counting on the second. He felt that his lover would feel the same way, if for no other reason, it was because it was much more interesting than the other option.

However, wishful thinking aside, all that's left is to wait and see.

"Hmph, she's sad, she's sad." She's sad, she's sad. "Hmph," he said, "I'm Sarah." ”

The dimly lit room echoed with low, monotonous chants. Its source is a precise forty-two figures gathered around a central altar, arranged in a very specific pattern. Each of them wore crimson robes, reminiscent of fine wine, with gold embroidery on their sleeves, shoulders and necks. Each long hood has the same logo on it - three vertical triangular eyes. It's all very evil and ominous, and people don't get blamed for thinking it's some kind of cult. In this case, they will be absolutely, unambiguously, and completely right.

"Hmph, she's sad, she's sad." She's sad, she's sad. "Hmph," he said, "I'm Sarah." ”

It was Joe's big all-or-nothing plan. If Maggie can't get back to him, maybe he can lure her out. It wasn't easy, and he managed to resume the cult of the Stargazing Star, recreating the ritual they had first summoned the Observer Marasrak to this reality. This would simply not have been possible if the entity itself had not left a large pile of notes, recordings, and comments. Admittedly, it took a lot of time for Joe to get Maggie's veins to transfer these images to digital media, but he succeeded. Because of this, he knew the exact environment needed to perform the ritual – from the annual planetary alignment to the carols, props, and equipment needed.

"Hmph, she's sad, she's sad." She's sad, she's sad. "Hmph," he said, "I'm Sarah." ”

Oddly enough, it's easy to find someone willing to join a shady cult that makes broad and vague promises of happiness. Aside from Joe's dad and friends, the rest of the room is a bunch of weirdos who he rarely talks to after recruiting them. Is it despicable and predatory that he targets and exploits the desperate, the unhinged, the easily manipulated and the dangerously stupid? Absolute. Does he feel bad about it? Sure. If it means Maggie is back with him, is it worth it? No doubt.

"Hmph, she's sad, she's sad." She's sad, she's sad. "Hmph," he said, "I'm Sarah." ”

Of course, reenacting the ritual meant that Joe had to be sacrificed again. He was naked, bound to a stone altar in the center of the room with uncomfortable chains. As before, he seemed completely unbothered by the incident, although this time his calmness did not come from ignorance, but the opposite. He knew exactly what was going on, what was about to happen, and he had no objection to that. Benny, Cullen and Barry also have it. However, as the chant continued, doubts began to surface in Joe's mind. He glanced to the side, only to see Maggie's lovely vase sitting quietly, a heavy robe obscuring her appearance and identity. He saw Azgodkala stick its little head out of her hair for a few seconds before retracting it again, which made his nerves relax a lot.

"Hmph, she's sad, she's sad." She's sad, she's sad. "Hmph," he said, "I'm Sarah." ”

As the ritual progressed, Joe felt the rocks under his bare back and ass heat up. This is a sign that the ancient runes carved on the stone altar are beginning to glow, presumably emitting a red light. This is good because it is a clear and familiar sign that the ceremony is going according to plan. Unfortunately, there is another resemblance to the first time, and he very much wishes he wasn't there. That is, the muffled sound of rapidly approaching gunfire. The man felt a pang of panic, and he glanced at the hooded man standing a few paces away. This man was his father, and Joe felt the only one who could safely entrust him with this important role of emcee.

"Hmph, she's sad, she's sad." She's sad, she's sad. "Hmph," he said, "I'm Sarah." ”

Barry sensed his son's urgency and nodded slightly in understanding. Despite their best efforts and internal connections, the paranormal expulsion agency heard the news of the small gathering and sent a commando team to stop it. Right now they're busy with some automated security measures, but that won't last long. Things got bad then, and it's going to get bad this time. The main problem is that Joe has people in the cult that he cares about, and they worry about it as much as he does. However, instead of making the responsible decision to order the disbandment, Barry decided to let things continue. He won't let his son down. Not this time.

*Clang*

A powerful force slammed into it, and the heavy bulkhead of the sealed compartment recessed inward. Barry nodded to one of the believers in the corner, prompting him to flip the switch. The strange machine at the bottom of the megalithic altar crackled again. Four robotic arms protrude from each corner of the bed-like shrine. Each robot's appendage has a brick-like laser emitter with a tiny exit on their smallest side. They point upwards and then join together so that four beams of purple energy converge somewhere above the willing captive's abdomen. These streams fuse into a slow-growing ball of light that emits tiny arcs and sparks as it gathers energy.

*Clang*

As the door bent, Barry walked over to Joe and pulled something strange out of his robes. It was an obsidian dagger, the blade of which was strangely curved, like a crescent moon, and a series of zigzag rune symbols carved into the blade. The pious father gripped the mysterious instrument tightly in one hand, put it to his lips, and whispered some forbidden words to it. As the weapon's wielder sped up as much as he could, the ring-shaped badge glowed a familiar red light. Anyway, he didn't make it in time.

The aggressor is moving too fast.

* THUNKRRANK *

Under the third and final blow, the steel bulkhead collapsed under the attack of telepathy and was thrown to the other side of the cabin. If things go as they were before, the broken metal will blow Barry's head open, and then a team of heavily armed soldiers will wipe out all the cultists in a matter of seconds. However, Joe has learned from his past mistakes. He has a contingency plan, a safety net. This insurance takes the form of a sexy blonde ogre wearing an almost obscene red sweater dress.

Kelly jumped out of the corner where she was hiding, immediately blocking the removed partition in the air, a vicious grin on her plump lips. With a flick of her deft wrist, the pile of steel was flung towards the entrance. The tortured door was then snapped in half by Level 1 Psionic Agent Sarah Johnson, causing no damage. The elf stood in front of and in the center of her, her unflinching gaze firmly fixed on the unexpected, unknown tertiary entity standing in front of her. The rest of her squad was far less proud, covering on the other side of the breached doorway.

"Okay, okay, okay. You're such a mouth-watering guy!" Kelly purred. "Do you want me to have fun with you, dear?"

Devourers are here purely for selfishness. Joe lures her in and promises to give her a virgin buffet to enjoy to her heart's content, hoping that if something similar happens, she will come forward. Sure enough, she did. It's not out of obligation or anything. Kylothelear wasn't interested in the man anymore because his first chance had been broken, but she wanted to see if his plan was really crazy enough to work. Of course, she was deeply skeptical. It was as if a group of losers in the basement could pull her siblings out of the inquisitor's cosmic pause. If they succeed, there's no way to keep the Observer here. That old stubborn could easily turn himself in right away. However, it all seemed interesting, so Kelly stayed to see what would happen. Luckily, she meets a rare treat - a woman that whets her insatiable appetite.

Unfortunately, she was looking at the wrong thing.

Without any hesitation or warning, Agent Johnson threw his fist forward. A psychic stress that was completely unexpected by Kelly suddenly broke through the blonde's defenses, knocking her straight through the concrete wall at the other end of the room. It's a shock that even Maggie can't resist, and it's a clear sign of the progress AJ has made over the past five years. She has mastered the art of using her emotions to enhance her psionic powers, a technique now officially known as the "Magnetic Blast". The freckled redhead also learned how to harness positive emotions instead of just negativity. The psionic freight train she just crashed into Kelly is an example of this.

"I'm sorry, dear," AJ said with a smirk, "but I'm married." ”

More specifically, this is what she said to her husband, junior police detective Grant Maloney (G. Maloney).

a

t Malo

ey) – a manifestation of how much you care.

"Johnson!" Major Archer shouted. "Ceremony!"

"Oh, guy."

Agent Ginger was so obsessed with posturing and joking that she almost forgot why they were here. She turned her gaze to the central altar, but it was too late. What appears to be the leading cultist, with a blood-stained arcane scythe in his hand, shouts something apocalyptic. It's not just any blood. It was Joe's blood.

"You bast-!"

“WAAAAIT ! AJ !”

As the agent prepares to burst into a rage, the "victim" suddenly sits up, waving his still-locked hands.

"You're all mistaken!" I'm fine, see? It's just a small wound on the palm! Not a big deal, right? So everybody's calming down, okay?"

The commandos stood still, apparently stunned by what they saw. When they entered, all they knew was that a cult had reappeared and was performing an extremely dangerous ritual. Of course, they all know who the Marasrak of The Observer is. Most of them have even seen it in person and spoken to it under the name of Maggie, or under her official alias "Mags Oh". However, they also received three levels of "insurance" when it first left. According to internal information, the entities concerned will not be able to return to this reality for the time being, and they are committed to informing them and continuing to cooperate as soon as possible. The CIA wanted this very much, so it allowed Joe to continue using all the resources and assets they gave Maggie, as the girl demanded.

However, they didn't know that this person was involved in the matter. It's a loophole in their information. Even if they realized, they would still intervene, for they could not know exactly what would crawl out of the dimensional rift they were about to open. Certainly not McGrach of The Observer. After all, it hasn't shown that it has the ability or willingness to come back. As a result, it is likely that some other, far from friendly entity, will hijack the summons and seep through the cracks. The appearance and identity of the horny blonde from earlier was another matter entirely, as they didn't yet know that Kellothurly existed.

So, to make a long story short, the commandos have a lot of questions, and only one person can give them answers.

"This whole thing was your idea?!" AJ asked, refusing to lower her weapon.

"Yes! He admitted.

"Then why don't you say anything?!"

"Because you're going to stop me!"

"Of course, you goddamn fool!" The woman screamed, visibly uneasy. "Do you really want to pay with your life for this?!"

"But no one will die!" All the ritual needs is blood on the stone! That's it!"

“…… That's all?"

"Yes! That's it! He insisted. "Just a little bit of my blood. On the stones. Like this, see?"

He pointed to a red dot on the pearly white altar, right next to his left buttocks. AJ raised his eyebrows curiously, and it took a moment for him to realize. If the blood on the stone is enough, then isn't the ritual complete? She frantically looked up at the energy center above the altar. Sure enough, there was a small, terrifyingly familiar, golf ball-sized object of pure darkness hovering in place. This time, the empty ball didn't explode into a cloud of shadows, and there were no creepy screams. What happened next was not so flashy, but it was many times scary.

A white dot appears in the center of the sphere, like the iris of the eye.

"Nonsense."

AJ's foul language is the only word anyone can think of before the excrement hits the cooling unit. In an instant, everyone and everything in the room froze. No one can move their muscles, or even breathe. On the bright side, the lack of oxygen does not seem to be life-threatening at the moment. On the downside, they couldn't do anything but watch as a maddening cloud of magical power spread out of their black eyeballs. Like a cloud of sentient ink, it crawls across the ceiling and walls, forming thick curly tails that wrap everyone in a dark blanket. Since they are paralyzed, they can only scream inwardly as their minds become tense under the invasion of external sensations and thoughts. Even AJ couldn't resist as she felt a giant sandworm burrow in her brainspace.

In the next moment, the creeping darkness found what it was looking for. The tendrils suddenly retracted, freeing their captives. They did not retreat from where they came from, nor did they gather in a seemingly random place. Instead, they flow smoothly and accurately to the hooded girl sitting idly in the corner. Then, as if someone had pressed the universal pause button for the second time, the room resumed movement. The unfortunate believers fall on the spot, their thoughts retreating to themselves as a defensive reflex. The soldiers did the same. Even AJ couldn't stay awake. The only person standing—even barely standing—is the one who has a very close connection to this oppressive being.

“M-Maggie ?” Joe asked warily. "Yes...... Is it really you?"

The possessed ship stood up, took off its hood, and revealed a head of jet-black curls, swirling eyes, and a gentle smile, there was no doubt about it. Joe lunged at her, like a man who had just found an oasis in the desert. In fact, it's like that. The girl mimics his posture and gives way to the reunited lovers as they embrace. They rotate. They kissed. They cried. They tried to communicate coherent words, but without success. They kissed again. They cried again. Joe fainted from the excitement, but only briefly. When he woke up a few minutes later, she had placed him on the altar and rested his head on her lap. He also mysteriously wears pants now, although he has more important things on his mind.

"I ...... I can't believe it......" the man muttered.

"I miss you very much, Joe Mulligan," the girl whispered.

"No, I don't miss you as much as I miss you!"

"This ...... I deeply doubt it. ”

"Wait, don't mind, are you alright? Did that bastard regulator do anything weird to you?"

"Nope. The elders did what I had to do and corrected my deviant behavior. ”

It's not an exciting thing. As Joe remembers, he was the source of her "deviance." "So, if this is 'corrected', does it mean that she doesn't love him anymore?" No, it can't be like this. If that were the case, she wouldn't have hugged him so affectionately.

"So...... I'm confused. ”

"I'm really glad to see your confused look again," she chuckled. "I also saw that you did your best to entertain my ship while I was away."

She leaned down and kissed him again, this time much softer.

"After all this time, I can't put into words what it means to me," she whispered, tears of joy welling up in her eyes.

When relief and defense took over his heart, his beating heart calmed. He basked in the moment, letting the stress and worry that had accumulated over five years melt into Maggie's icy and warm embrace. Although he felt the weight on his shoulders be lifted, he couldn't ignore her cryptic words of "re-adapting".

"Seriously, what's wrong with you?"

"It's a long story. For a long time. Longer than humans have existed. You know, although it is only a few years for you, from my point of view, thousands of years have passed. While the elders have cleared my feelings for you time and time again, they always come up in the memories we have created together. Neither they nor anyone can do anything about it, because no one has the right to take these things except myself. After the ninety-ninth relapse, they are forced to accept that you were, are, and will always be a part of my body. ”

Joe didn't say anything. What else could he say? He knew he was loved, but he never imagined that Maggie would love him to such an incredible extent. Surely no one really deserves such unwavering love, he thought. But, through one miracle after another, he won it, and he knew that it was best not to question it.

"It's a happy thing, but it's too late," the girl's expression was sad. "You've passed the exam, just like I feared."

"I ...... Me?"

She nodded.

"So...... Wait a minute...... ...... you?"

"Indeed," a triumphant smile spread across her face. "Although it took a lot of effort and countless hours, I had reached a stage where I could allow myself to travel through the past. However, this is not a simple matter. ”

If it were, she would go back to the moment after she was forced to leave her lover. However, time is like an ocean in a storm, always in motion and always changing. For a long time, Maggie had been gazing at the tide of time, desperately searching for that insignificant little land piece called Joe Mulligan. However, it was so far away in the past that the task before her was almost impossible, even for the observer's future self. Thankfully, there is a small glow in the turbulent flow of time - a ritual specifically designed to elicit the entity in question.

"It's only because you called me that I found my way back so that I could hold you in my arms again."

When he understood this, there was a stunned silence.

"Oh my God," Joe muttered.

"Oh my god," AJ agreed.

"Ahh Agent Johnson," Maggie looked up. "I see you have more psionic potential than you did when we last met. Also, congratulations on your promotion. and marriage. ”

Although she didn't have enough strength to resist the girl's intrusive probing, the fact that she recovered so quickly speaks volumes about her progress. She was still pale, shivering like a newborn deer and panting like an asthmatic turtle, but still conscious.

"Seriously," the woman barely spoke. "You're in class four now?"

Maggie's lips curled into her irritating arrogant smirk as her left hand raised a triumphant "V" gesture.

"Yes," she said, just to make it clear to everyone.

"It's-U

That's good. I'm going to throw up now. ”

And then she did.

"That's it! Enraged, Kelly rushed into the room. "What woman wants to rearrange her face into - wait, what the hell"

"Hello, Kelogh 'the

YL," Maggie greeted her brother with a smile. A clear compulsion, but still a smile. "I don't think you have learned to pay attention to your surroundings."

The Devourer did not answer. She just stood there, her eyes wide open, her chin drooping at the incredible thing in front of her.

"But...... But......" she stammered. "You can't be here. The big hole also keeps you in his little box. I only talked to you two weeks ago, and you haven't finished yet!"

"Ah, yes. I remember that interaction. Maggie frowned slightly. However, I don't think it's talk. It's basically you gloating about my situation. However, on subsequent visits, you appear much more humble. I think I finally know why now. ”

Kelly blinked quickly, as she couldn't believe what she was hearing. No matter how "deviant" the Observer is, Mahrasrak is unable to tell a blatant lie. But it mentions "future visits". Add to that the strong and familiar feeling that this entity gives me, and I can't deny it. It's her siblings, but also... Not her siblings. It's impossible, but it is. Kylie is inextricably linked to this paradox, and she can't just say lightly, "Oh, it's just Maggie of the future." Her alien soul is locked in a strange logical loop, as it is unable to parse the turn of events.

"Do you need to sit down?" The pale beauty asked.

Joe could really see steam coming out of Kelly's ears as she fell to the ground before returning to her scarred master's natural form.

"I'll just take your consent." Maggie said with a smirk.

"By the way, there's nothing between us," the man quickly added. "She's just here—"

"I know," the girl said comfortingly. "I appreciate the way you handled her."

"Uh," Agent Johnson finally stood up. "I think you know that scumbag, right?"

"Definitely. What you just saw was Kellotherly the Devourer. My brothers and sisters, I couldn't find a better word. ”

"Oh. Oh, yes. It's fantastic. ”

The woman couldn't help but grimac. She knew exactly she had to arrest and try to restrain that thing. She also realizes that the responsibility for overseeing it is likely to fall on her, and she has despised the idea. So, seeing that everyone else had fainted, and judging by the situation, every electronic device in the room was completely burned out, she chose to try something else.

"Theoretically," AJ said cautiously, "since you're already a fourth-year student and have mastered space and time, can you ...... You know...... Take that thing off the planet and erase its existence from all of our memories?"

Maggie pondered the request and its meaning for a moment, then smiled brightly.

"Missed observing your frustration with Kylother's figurative hands?"

"Ah, yes, I know." The psyker winced. "What about the two of you?"

"I'm sure my boyfriend and I have a lot to do, so I want some private space."

AJ was neither willing nor able to answer, and then the disgustingly sweet couple snapped and disappeared from sight. They reappear in high orbit on Bart Pound 4, in Maggie's old and new Space Shuttle, Silver Storm. More precisely, in the cabin, sitting side by side on the bed.

"Wait, what just happened?!" The man was surprised.

"I teleported us," she explained briefly.

"Oh. You can do that now, can you?"

"Definitely. You could say I have some extra tricks. ”

"But isn't this shuttle supposed to be in a government hangar?" They confiscated it and everything. ”

"I've teleported too."

"Ahh Why, though?"

"Before we parted, this humble container contained my most vivid and warm memories of you."

Then she moved a little closer.

"And, it's the quietest place I know."

"Oh," Joe's cheeks flushed. "I think so. Yo. Is it my problem, or, uh, I'm suddenly having trouble breathing?"

"You're mistaken," she said with a giggle. "We'll have a lot of chances to have sex in the future. For now, though, I just want to talk about it, without any distractions. ”

"Of course. What?"

"Anything goes."

"Oh. Well, well, about that expensive brand of star berry jam. You know, the one you drank this morning?"

"Really?"

"Is it really good?" I don't see any difference between this and the cheap one. ”

"According to the analysis of my container, it contains real starberry and not an artificial substitute. The taste and chemistry are practically the same, but I prefer the original. ”

"Because it's not a fake starberry?"

"Exactly."

"Then why do you like imitation crab cakes instead of real ones?"

"That's different."

"Isn't it?"

"The label says imitation. They confessed to their deception, so it doesn't count. ”

The two chatted leisurely and talked about everything, and both were happy to be together again. Joe imagined their reunion countless times, but his fantasies never surpassed those exciting firsts. Spending half an hour discussing something as inconsequential as processed seafood was certainly not his first guess. Of course, he wasn't complaining. Now, all the excitement is gone, and all that's left is a sense of calm satisfaction that he hasn't experienced in years. Azgardekara apparently felt it too, and he slipped out of Maggie's curly hair and slid off her shoulder until it came to a peaceful stop beside the bed.

"By the way, this little guy hasn't grown up at all, has he?" Joe said.

"It's true," she confirmed.

"But shouldn't he be at least a little older?" When you get it, it's just a freshly hatched cub. ”

It's true. However, I take the liberty of granting Azgodkalar eternal youth. ”

"Oh. Well. Actually, this can explain a lot of things. ”

He wasn't even bothered by the revelation. He may have shown a stronger reaction before, but after learning that his lover is now a time traveler, his madness threshold has risen to vertigo heights. That said, he does have a problem.

"But why did you never give me this opportunity?"

Philosophical puzzles about immortality aside, boyfriends are definitely more important than pets, right?

"Because you didn't ask."

"Really, Maggie? Really?"

"In addition, my current approach to stopping human biological aging has negative side effects," she added.

"Ah...... Like what?"

"Infertility, one of them."

It took some time for Joe to fully understand the meaning of the sentence.

"You...... Want to have children?"

Maggie nodded, her face flushed, and the man's simple mind was filled with all sorts of questions he had never considered before. Like, does she have what it takes to get pregnant? No, of course she is. After all, the girl's physical form is almost entirely human. But even so, what will their children be? Is it just like him? A mysterious being like her? Some kind of hybrid? Or is it something completely different? Will Maggie use it for experiments? Will the government? In fact, Is Joe ready to have a baby? True, he did succeed in forming a cult and learned a lot of interpersonal skills in the process, but do these skills really apply to parenting?

All of these are very legitimate concerns, both funny and scary, but Maggie's next words contain the only really important questions.

"What about you?" Would you like to have a baby with me?"

“…… I've never wanted anything more in my life. ”

Six years ago, a clumsy clown agreed to lie on a sacrificial altar. He didn't do it out of some kind of twisted loyalty, mad obsession, or suicidal intent. He was deceived by the promise that he would be able to grant a wish. Not money, fame, power, or anything like that. Joe Mulligan is a simple, honest, peaceful man whose only true desire is as simple as he is – to start a family with a girl he loves. Of course, such a thing will not be too difficult to accomplish. However, this was not possible until a huge, unfathomable entity entered his life from an extraterrestrial dimension. This circumstance speaks volumes about how hopelessly undated this man was in the past.

But Joe himself didn't think so.

In his opinion, he is the stupidest bastard in the world.

He had no problem with that.

At last.