Archivist note: This post is from an older recovered archive.
The Neighbors…chapter 11…Mr. Footman’s enlightenment
((Posted by Queer Hermit on June 9, 2010))
As I stand at the gateway to the graveyard, wondering what to do much less take the next step in attempting a solution to the Slenderman problen. Then to my surprise who should appear but Mr. Footman.
"Hello Miss Hermit, you’re waiting for the shadowman?"
"Not really. You had better make no plans to slink away Mr. Footman; we have to talk. Shall we head back to your lab?"
Grendel Footman nods "Of course, after you."
We walk over to the lab, skirting the graveyard with its ruined tombs. Now there are two while just the other day only one existed. What forces are in play here? We head into the ground floor living area of the lab and I settle into the couch while he flops down into a chair across from me.
"So how can I help you Miss Hermit?"
I sigh, where to begin? At the beginning silly I tell myself. I settle back and try to relax and gague how much
he knows and how much more he should be told. "Several events of recent time appear to cause me to tell
you about pengi #13 in a bit more detail. You are searching for an Elder enginneer, correct?"
Grendel Footman nods "That is right yes. By the way, I still haven’t been able to repair the damage to 13, his
cognigator had been practically melted."
"You might as well replace it. That was not #13 doing the damage. In fact it was possesed by the spirit of an Elder engineer.
Grendel Footman sits up straighter and nods "The shadowman?"
"The same. He actually has a name. Ever hear of an engineer by the name of Tobias Slenderman?"
Grendel Footman shakes his head "Not that I’m aware of, was it on one of the graves?"
I shrug my shoulders, "I don’t know that. But what I do know is that he has been trying to reach you in order to assist you in perfecting your design on your device out there."
Grendel Footman eyebrow goes up, "He wants me to perfect it?"
"He said that you are close to the design but require information that only he has. Have you ever felt someone trying to reach you while sleeping?"
Grendel Footman leans back into the chair and folds his hands together, "Interesting..when I sleep? yes…but it’s no engineer I assure you!"
"So what do you experience when you rest?"
"I rarely sleep, I hadn’t needed to in years and am out of the habit, those times I have found myself alseep recently however have been…less than pleasant." He replies with a shudder that actually makes the chair creak.
"Well then, in what manner?"
Grendel Footman looks up at me in the light of his lamp, "Oh, just nightmares I assure you, the usual, falling from heights, or air kraken…yes air kraken, people have nightmares of those *nods* Anyway…the machine and my work may be a moot point soon."
I tilt my head to one side…"A moot point? How so? Are you planning to take the machine down?"
Mr. Footman replies, "I haven’t had the machine active in weeks since the Badger brought in 13’s remains. I’m probably going to pack up the machine and move it someplace where they’re a bit more peaceable to continue the research that is if I even choose to continue it, so far it’s been no more fruitful than a seance, less so even, I’m not about to sit and listen to ghost’s complaints"
I look down towards the floor…"To be truthful, I thought that by defeating him in the grave yard he would have to stay there due to the warding that Mr. Somerset placed there. But something happened, I do not what yet, and he escaped. I do know that he has tried to possess Miss Bookworm and failed. He is looking for hands to operate the device. That is why he took over #13 but he found flippers to hard to use."
Grendel Footman nods "The pengi are more adept at brute force and grunt work."
I look back up at Mr. Footman, "He wants to "bring back" his wife."
Grendel Footman shakes his head…"Everyone wants to bring back a wife or loved one, not a very creative sort is he?"
"I suppose not. The matter is that is his goal and he is quite determined to achieve it."
Grendel Footman nods, "Maybe whatever he’s been doing to the graves. In any case, after all the…issues…lately with spirits from the graveyard, and hearing of this shadow roaming Babbage, I’m currently running tests on one of Kaylee Fry’s old devices, and how it effects ectotheric energy, I may be able to reverse engineer it to project a field to disrupt anything in the graveyard and keep them in the spirit world. If the device works, it should hopefully dissipate any and all spirits in the graveyard back to the spirit world, including any class 3 possessors."
"I would like to have Mr. Somerset lift the warding. If any spirits want to remain, then they can relocate. I do know of at least one spirit that wishes to return. I do know Mrs. Barry wants to go back."
Grendel Footman nods "Alright, it’s apparently only keeping the ones that behave in anyway if the shadow’s any sign of it’s effectiveness."
I nod slowly, "Well, the ones that have learned their lesson the hard way. But the child Evie wants to stay. I should poll the others to their desire."
"They may want to relocate if the device is successful, They won’t be able to materialize or communicate with this world once I set the thing up"
"How soon will Ms. Fry’s device be ready?"
Grendel Footman stays quiet for a moment, "I have to speak with her, I know she has a large range one that should suffice with some adjustments, hopefully not much more than a week or so. I’ve also authorized pengi with my etheric lightning guns to keep watch for the shadow."
"Somerset needs to lift the ward and I need to talk to them. A week might be tight but let us move forward with that. Then I will contact both Mr. Somerset and the spirits to get things started Mr. Footman. I can only hope that Mr. Slenderman does not do anything rash and hurt someone."
Grendel Footman raises a hand in agreement. "The pengi’s patrolling the city, and the Badger has taken to using a lightning gun as well on his rounds and within the next week or so, the devices will be ready hopefully, we’ll get him."
I rise from the couch and turn to the doorway. "That sounds like good approach sir. I shall take my leave and let us hope to make this adventure as painless as possible."
Grendel Footman waves "Take care Miss, and watch your back."
"I shall Mr. Footman. I fear I shall have to start wearing my katana again. Good night Mr. Footman."
