Nigkala Tales Pt. 25: Down but Not Out

Once outside, I waited a few moments, and he appeared. Looking at his crotch briefly, I asked, "You want me? Come to my hotel, room 307." I then turned and headed there. By the time he knocked at my door, I was already naked, and opened the door to pull him in.

"Ukr!" He wasn't able to say much as he was in shock.

I dragged him to the bedroom, and said, "Take off your clothes." He fumbled a bit, but I waited for him. When he was ready, I fell back on the bed, and pulled him on top of me. I pushed a little of Inanna's power out to make him even more eager. I also applied a little of my whammie to keep him erect after he came the first time. After he came a second time, I let him rest, and instead gave him oral. It didn't take that long before he was ready, so I deepthroated him, and used my tongue to get him to come fully.

He fell asleep after that. I meditated for an hour, before I woke him up, and said, "I need a shower, and the shower head is too low. Come help me shower." I then got up, and walked to the shower, swaying my hips enticingly. He practically levitated off the bed to follow me. I set the shower temperature, got in, and handed him the soap. "Be sure and soap up every part of me." I emphasized 'every', and he got the message. After coming a few more times, we dried off, and I sent him home.

The next two days were repeats, but I was in different scenes, and afterwards, I went to different places to eat. I shared my meal with some locals, gave them autographs if they asked, and then collected someone to go back to my room afterwards. That night, I felt a mild unease. When I awoke, I wondered what it could be. I checked my magical tattoo, and found there was no apparent threat it could sense.

During the day, I would do a scan with my tattoo when I had a free moment. Even while I had sex on the lunch break, I took a look. When I went to eat, I went instead to a local bar. I had already learned it was rowdy, and bathroom sex happened often. Instead of a meal, I just got a burger and a beer and sat at the bar facing the crowd. When I finished both, I went with one of the men next to me to the restroom. There was one other there doing his business, but I just hopped up on the sink and opened my legs. The man dropped his pants, and impaled me, even as I opened my top to let him play with my breasts. We both came, and then left. I got another burger and beer, and continued to chat at the bar. My top, while covering my breasts, was clearly undone, and anyone to the side had a fair chance of seeing something. I had a few more beers, and between each, I left with someone to have sex in the bathroom.

I got to my room about one in the morning, so I just undressed, took a quick shower, and went to sleep. Again, as I slept, I felt the unease, and it seemed a little more than before. Yet as I scanned in the morning, nothing showed. I again checked several times during the day.

I was so distracted, the director called me on it. "Helen, what's up? Your acting is off."

"I don't know. I have an unsettling feeling that has been getting stronger the longer we stay here."

"Can you push it out of your mind while you're on set?"

"I've been trying. I managed to do so yesterday, but the feeling is stronger today."

"Would a break help?"

"It might, but since I don't know what is causing it, I don't know how to handle it."

"Well, we're not getting quality work today. I'm postponing shooting this scene until tomorrow. You have no more scenes today. Find out what's bugging you. Now, scoot."

"Yes, sir." I thought a bit, and then said, "I'll be at the park in a bit."

I walked back to wardrobe to remove the nanotech and put my clothes on, and then drove to the local park. Since it was the middle of the day, in the middle of the week, there were only a few people there. Before I got out of the car, I created a sand-painting set in the seat next to me. I went to the nearest empty pavilion and moved the tables around, so I could do a sand painting in the center.

I placed the jars about me, and then did a few katas to limber myself, and to begin centering my mind. Opening my mind to the thoughts about me, as well as tapping into the dragon tattoo to gain its senses, as well as my own native senses. When I felt I was sensing with everything I had, I was ready. Kneeling down, I began my sand painting. I deliberately did not define a picture to draw, but instead selected different colors by instinct. I also painted by instinct, letting all my senses decide what seemed most appropriate.

As doubtful as I was of creating art, I felt something would occur. I also felt that as my mind cleared by painting, the unease would come into focus. While I felt myself losing track of my movements, my eyes didn't close. Instead, I began to see something I didn't understand. I did my best to translate this into the picture, but I did not understand what it was, even when I finished.

As I sat back on my knees, contemplating my art, I was struck by how much it looked like a strange weather map. I just stared at it for a few minutes, before I realized I had several people seated about me, quietly talking. So far, no one had spoken to me, so I feigned not noticing, and I listened to several conversations.

The first one talked about me as I painted.

"Did you see how graceful she was?"

"Yes, it was magical. The sand went where she wanted it, without any apparent effort. I've never seen anything like it."

"I have. There was an old movie, 'The Dark Crystal', where there was some sand art. At the beginning, the Mystics did sand painting. I know they were Muppets, but the way they moved had a similar grace."

"Now that you mention it, I remember that movie. And they did it with four arms, too."

I lost track of that conversation, as I heard another discussing the painting.

"What can it be? Some kind of map?"

"It does look like one, but not one I have ever seen. It is not a weather map, nor a road map, but it looks like a map of this area, sort of. But all those squiggly lines seem odd, especially the way they cross each other."

"Maybe the lines represent different things?"

"Maybe? I wonder..." I heard tapping, so I assumed someone was looking up something on their phone. "Hey! Those brown lines look like they might be elevation. You know, like a topographic map."

"Yeah, I can see it now. Those lines over there correspond to the Crane Hills. And these, they look like they correspond to Smithton Creek."

"So what are the red lines? They seem to get real thick just south of town? What's so important there?"

I could see the lines they referred to, so I focused my senses in that direction. With all my senses still open, I was finally able to feel a slight difference in something. I used the image in front of me to focus my mind and my senses. Soon, I came to an understanding that the unease I felt, it was not magical or spiritual, but something physical, and that the lines were very important. Slowly, I reached into my pocket and got out my phone. I then used Inanna's power to be ignored, so I could stand without disturbing the others. I slowly got to my feet, and then took a picture of the sand painting. Putting my phone away slowly, I leaned down and collected my jar carrier with all the jars in it. Lastly, I slowly moved away from the pavilion, and back to my car.

It was not until the sound of my car door closing that the people realized I had left. They nearly jumped, before looking about. Since I was sitting still in my car, they didn't notice me. Soon they dispersed, in twos and threes. Considering my options, I decided to send the image, along with my location, to one of the curators at the museum near me. I texted and asked her if she could tell me what kind of map this was, and more importantly, what the red lines meant.

After an hour, I got out of the car, and proceeded to do some katas to pass the time. I did them at quarter speed, and with my eyes closed for the most part. After a while, I noticed I had attracted a few people, who tried to duplicate what I did. Every so often, someone would come or leave. After three hours, I realized it was almost dinner time for the actors. I stopped moving for a minute, then walked fifty feet further into the park, and then went full speed for twenty minutes. When I finished, and turned back to my car, I noticed the local sheriff was leaning on his cruiser parked next to my car.

Walking back, I said, "Hello, sheriff. Waiting for me?"

"Somewhat. Someone called in to report you as potentially dangerous."

"I take it you looked me up and saw the warning flags on me?"

He replied with a long, drawled, "Yep."

"Does it concern you?"

"Not too much. You got some well-placed friends, as well as an interesting history with the law. I note in particular a certain murder charge some foreigners tried to pin you. Way I see it, if you're gonna give me trouble, I'll need significant backup, but if I ask nicely, you'll play nice and let the lawyers duke it out. I can live with that. Besides, you weren't doing anything wrong."

"Well, do you have any official business with me, then?"

"Nope. I figure letting you know of the concern was all that was needed."

"In that case, I'm headed for dinner. I'd enjoy some company of the law enforcement type."

"Hmm. Okay. Let me call it in to my deputy." He picked up his radio and said, "Hey, Darcy. I'll be Code 7 at Ralph's in five, with a guest."

Darcy replied, "She pretty?"

"Yes. Also, over seven-foot tall."

"Oh! Can you get me an autograph?"

"No, you know I -" He saw me nodding. "Looks like you're in luck. Out." He then looked at me and said, "Thanks. My daughter is a big fan of yours."

"Well, let's head for Ralph's. I'll follow you."

He got in his car, as did I, and we went there.

"So, what kind of pizza do you want?"

"I'll think I go for an extra-large pepperoni and mushroom, with a side of bread sticks. How about you?"

"Is that for both of us?"

"No, but I'm willing to trade slices if you want variety."

"Oh! I'll just go for a small sausage and extra cheese, then."

We placed our orders, and before he could say anything, I handed over my card to pay for everything. He started to say he could pay for himself, but I just said, "How many times have you paid for food and had to leave in the middle of eating? Please, let me pay." He subsided, and allowed me to pay.

We spoke about many things, starting with my combat ability, but wandering all over, and even touching on sand painting. "So, I saw your sand painting. What is it?"

"I don't really know. I let instinct and intuition decide the art, rather than trying to paint something I know. What you saw is still a mystery to me."

"I wonder what it means."

"Me, too. I sent a picture off to a friend, and I'm hoping she can identify it and what it means."

"Why did you make it?"

"Something's been bugging me these last few days. I'd hoped to use the exercise to clarify my thoughts. Now I can tell that whatever it is, it is south of town."

"Hmm, I'll check out that way later."

"Be careful."

By the time he was ready to leave, I walked out to my car and gave him an autographed picture of me, and I added, "To my fan, Darcy."

"She's gonna love this, thanks."

"I like fans, as long as they don't try to stalk me at home, or in whatever place I sleep."

I went back in to finish my pizza, and took my breadsticks to munch on tonight. As I was watching the local news, I got a ding on my phone. The message read, "We have identified it as a geological map of the area. The isometric lines are at an odd interval, but look right for the topography. The shaded coloration seemed to match the known subsurface rock, and the red lines seem to be indicating a fault line that some suspect is in the area. If it is a fault, the lines may indicate the stress the rock is under, but it is unlikely, as no one knows how to map that kind of thing. Visit us later, so we can talk about it."

There is a possible fault line under stress. Why would that bother me? I could not think of anything, so I just relaxed and went to bed early. When I woke, I could feel it even stronger. However, with my better understanding, I was able to put it aside and get my work done without issue. We finished filming the large scenes at the mansion just before lunch, so we relocated to town, for one of the bar scenes.

We reserved a local tavern from lunch through dinner. Locals could come in, but they had to sign a waiver indicating they knew we were filming some open sex scenes there, and they were all of legal age. Additionally, they were told not to stare at the camera, and to not interact with any of the film crew while on set. The director would use a bullhorn to tell them where to stand and sit, and they should stay there until he told them otherwise.

My first sex scene was with a large man who pushed me into a wall. I wrapped my legs about him, even as my outfit opened to allow him access. He pounded me into the wall a lot, and I shouted his name, and gave a lot of encouragement. The camera clearly caught me having several orgasms, and I noted a few locals with some minor accidents between their legs.

My next sex scene was in the center of the room. My clothes slid off of me and fell onto the floor, while I lay down on a table, face up. I tilted my head back over the edge, and one guy stuck his dick in my mouth for me to deepthroat. A second guy pushed my legs apart and impaled my vagina with his twelve-incher. On either side of me, a pair of ladies lifted their skirts, revealing a lack of underwear. I reached out and began to finger them, moving faster and faster, as time passed. We built up to a thunderous cacophony of groans, name-calling, and imperative directions for others.

Suddenly, we all came in a loud scream, all five of us. A few seconds after I recovered, I felt another release. A release of the stress south of town, and I knew the rock was beginning to move, and we were in danger. Even as I released the ladies and pushed the guy away from my head, I was building up An's authority and taking a deep breath. As loud as I could, I yelled, with all I could put of An's authority, "EVERYONE, GET OUTSIDE. BOMB ABOUT TO EXPLODE! RUN! RUN!"

Everyone was in shock. I leaped off the table and ran outside, adding, "FOLLOW ME NOW, DAMN IT!" This got people moving. Some were wondering what was going on, and others were asking if they should just wait for the cops, but at least everyone was moving. About half had exited when it hit. An earthquake happened just south of town, right where the map lines converged. I later learned it was seven point eight on the Richter scale. With the ground shaking, everyone stopped questioning, and ran out of the building. Some asked me about the bomb, and I said it was all I could think of to get them moving fast.

Some folks wanted to start rescuing people once the first building collapsed. I quickly said, "Don't go in yet. It's not over. It may collapse shortly." They saw the wisdom of my words, and waited with everyone else. The quake lasted nearly five minutes before it ended.

While we waited, a number of buildings had a wall fail, or part of the roof cave in. Our hotel completely collapsed. When we were sure the quake was over, then we rushed to the buildings to see what we could do. I figured the locals would handle the easy places, so I went to the collapsed hotel. I stopped before it, and opened my senses. My rock senses to see where the building was, my life and spirit senses to see where the trapped people were. I then went to the nearest one, and started grabbing chunks of fallen building and tossed them behind me. Before choosing any chunk, I checked if it had any load on it, and as I moved it, I monitored the rest of the pile to see it didn't shift. When I tossed it, I looked to see no one was in the way.

While I soon had others helping, I was leading the way, as I could sense where people were. We finally had everyone out that we could easily get to. The hardest part now presented itself. Those buried deeper. We would have to clear more and often heavier bits to get to them. By now, the whole town was helping. I asked if there was any heavy equipment to get the rubble off the remaining trapped people. That's when I learned that everything the town had was already here or not available for hours. Just then, I saw the sheriff nearby, so I called to him.

"Sheriff, over here. I need your help!"

He came over, and said, "You're naked."

"I was in the middle of a sex scene when it happened. I've not had time to dress, nor do we have any now."

"Why'd you call me?"

"Because, I've been keeping secrets. We need heavy equipment to clear that." I pointed to the pile of rubble that used to be the hotel. "Especially the air conditioning units. However, we don't have any, and can't get any for some time. One of my secrets is that I can temporarily exert great strength, more than enough to move that stuff. There are two problems. First, where do I move it to, and second, everyone will learn about my secret. I need your help for both. I think the back of the hotel is clear, and I can send the heavy stuff crashing there. But I need someone down here explaining I am revealing my secret to save lives, and I would like them to keep it a secret from everyone outside this town."

"You think you can use those heavy AC units? Right. Pull the other one."

"Watch me. Will you do as I asked if I succeed?"

"Yeah. You pull that off, and it will be more than worth it."

"Thanks." I turned around, and ran to the rubble pile. Using the rock power, I made myself lighter, stronger, harder, and with more endurance. When I reached the pile, I jumped as high as I could. I landed almost fifteen feet up the pile, and with a second jump immediately, I reached the top. I then maneuvered around the first unit, and scanned the path below to the back to ensure no one was there. Grabbing the unit, I concentrated the rock power to lighten the unit. It went from being a nearly ten-thousand-pound hunk of metal to about one thousand, and my enhanced strength could handle it. I then gave a chi shout, and jerked it up, and pushed it away from me as fast as I could.

As soon as it left my touch, its weight returned, but it was already heading up and out, so continued. Its first bounce was nearly twenty feet away, and its momentum caused it to bounce further down, again and again, until it finally rolled away on level ground. I then walked over to the other and did the same. When it was on the ground, I turned and looked at the sheriff. His jaw was wide open, so I shouted, "Tell them to keep my secret!" that stirred him to action.

I then went back to clearing off debris. Nothing else was nearly as heavy, so I was able to throw almost everything else clear without bouncing. I cleared my way down to the first trapped person, who I carried out of the pile, and handed off to another lower down. I then cleared off the next area over a trapped person and did the same. After doing three more times, I could sense no more living people trapped in the pile. I could tell there were a few dead people. So I headed down, and the sheriff met me on the ground.

"That was impossible, yet you did as you said. How?"

"I am also a priestess, and that power was channeled divine power, not my own. Are there any others still trapped?"

"No, unless they are under this pile."

"No one living is under that. Take me to wherever you have the wounded. I can help there with some divine healing."

"You're full of surprises."

"And secrets, sheriff, and secrets. Let's go." He led me to the bar we had been shooting in. It had suffered little, and had plenty of tablecloths from the associated restaurant to use for bandage material. Its water heater was still working, and the restroom soap supplies provided cleanliness.