ZachariasQuicksilver

Zacharias Quicksilver and the Loss of his Life

A long time ago, five years since I chose to stay in Reel, King Leonus introduced me to a girl. A beautiful Parvian girl. Her name was Lillian. Her parents needed her to marry. A curse of some sort meant that she would die if she did not marry before her 19th birthday. Well, we got to know each other, and pretty soon we were inseparable. I wouldn't have called it love in those days. But soon it was. Lillian's 19th birthday loomed nearer and, naturally not being able to bear the thought of her death, I married her. The words that bound us together did so in more ways than one, we were linked in ways I could not hope to understand. You must understand that this was a long time ago, and that Reel customs are different to those of Earth. We were happy. Then, came Anarchy MacLaughlan.

He rode out of the sky like something from a nightmare. He swooped down on the back of his monstrous beetle, followed by his horde of nightmarish, evil insects. He first appeared in the Outer Islands, wreaking havoc and destruction, and disappearing before Malachai had a chance to muster the army. Everyone dreaded MacLaughlan's attack on the Palace, because he surely must be trying to kill our King. Then one day, it happened. MacLaughlan and his followers streaked down from the heavens like some horrible storm. Telling Lillian to stay indoors, I seized my crossbow and ran outside. I was soon joined by Malachai and several Parvians, and the battle ensued. As I fired at several Spideresques, a gigantic Beetledae grabbed me and flew off, taking me to its home, to Anarchy, to the Wasteland.

My situation was hopeless. I was tortured by several arcane and inhuman devices. I've still got scars, look. Anarchy himself watched as I screamed. The nights were worse. Cold, scared and alone, I spent many a sleepless night there. It was an experience I am unwilling to repeat. Then, one night, my wedding ring began to heat up. At first, it was pleasant respite from the freezing stone of the cell, but it go steadily hotter and hotter until it finally melted. The pain was unbearable. But what was worse was the knowledge of what the ring's destruction meant. Only two things could cause the ring to melt. One was that Lillian had broken her wedding vows, which I knew was impossible, another was that Lillian, my wife and lover, was dead.

This gave me what I needed to escape Anarchy's prison. I have no idea how I managed it and, frankly, that isn't important. Within 24 hours I was riding a tiny islet bound for the Palace. I landed and rushed to the Palace. Lillian was nowhere to be found. In my rage and grief, all reason left me. I was reduced to a sobbing wreck, clutching one of Lillian's dresses and rocking back and forth. It was in this state that Malachai found me. He took me in gentle hands and informed me of my beloved's death. She had been found in her room, poisoned with Arsenic. Her funeral had been short and to the point, and her body had been cast off Reel to float in Infinity forevermore.

You see, this is the great and terrible power of Anarchy MacLaughlan. He can take a happy couple, feed off their happiness and joy, and leave one dead woman, one crying man, and a terrible, burning, roaring anger.

An anger that has never truly left me.

Zacharias Quicksilver

Doctor Hooves

Episode One: The Goat and the Girl

Doctor Dillamond sighed happily. It was good to be out of Oz for a little while. He and Elphaba, his chromatically challenged companion, had been assigned by Alliance Command to help with a genetic experimentation project in Universe 3. The Goat's TARDIS hummed around him as he flipped switches specially designed with cloven hoofs in mind. He smiled as Elphaba walked into the room, swathed, as always, in her student's cape and pointy black hat. Her green features jutted out strongly from under the hat's brim, and she carried her beloved umbrella under her arm. The Doctor looked at her.

“You never know when there could be water about,” she said defiantly.

“Indeed,” chuckled Doctor Dillamond, “Shall we be off?”

Elphaba laughed and nodded emphatically.

“Righto, then,” said the doctor, and pulled the dematerialisation lever, sending their TARDIS off to Universe Three.

“Woo hoooo!” They both yelled, as the wheezing, groaning noise filled the control room, and they disappeared.

The TARDIS materialised in a corridor. The corridor was one of many in a huge scientific research station orbiting a sun in Universe Three. The station was home to over a thousand scientists, personnel, maintenance crews, caterers and overseers. At least, it should have been. Dillamond stepped out of the Wardrobe that was his TARDIS. He looked around, confused.

“Where is everyone, doctor?”

“I don't know,” Dillamond held up his sonic cane, “No life signs detected at all, and all the escape pods have been jettisoned. No what do you think that means,” he asked, turning towards Elphaba.

Who wasn't there. No trace. Just her black umbrella lying on the floor of the corridor. He picked it up and, calmly, walked back into the TARDIS. He had to find Elphaba, and to do so, he had to make a few calls.

End of Episode One.