Dimensional Reality: Oz (Chapter 17)
Five mintues later she was dressed in her new, and still slightly stiff, uniform. It was supposed to be used on missions, so needless to say, she hadn’t worn it. Dorothy walked toward the supply room, her stomach roiling. She looked up to see Joseph and Poly outside the supply room, deep in disucssion. As she came within earshot she could hear them going over the battle plan. Poly turned and smiled at Dorothy as she came nearer.
“Let’s go get suited up.”
The three of them walked into supply together. Tik-tok, the copper wind-up man, clanked over to them with a clipboard in hand.
“Sign in please.”
One by one each put their hand on the board and it lighted up green. Tik-tok nodded.
“Thank you. Please proceed.”
The three of them walked into the main supply. Cap’n Bill was talking to the Shaggy Man and Woot the Wanderer. Both were advance scouts, bringing information about the supply caravan they would be attacking. Cap’n Bill wanted to know what he might have to include in the supply. He talked to the men for a few moments more and then dismissed them. He turned and smiled at Dorothy, Poly, and Joseph. Cap’n Bill used to be the royal steward of Oz. He had taken the death of Ozma badly, so badly that it was only his fatherly love and duty for “Tiny” Trot that kept him from staying and dying at the battle of the Emerald City. Technically he should have taken command after Ozma died, but he felt that Poly handled things better than he. Being close to Princess Dorothy as well, he had been overjoyed when he learned a decendant of Dorothy had come and join them.
“What can I do to help the Hero Trio?” Bill chuckled at his own little joke. Poly smiled back at him.
“We need to get suited up for today’s ambush party.”
Bill nodded, turning business-like.
“And so you shall.”
Bill called in his five helpers and Tik-tok. The three started getting suited up and were going through their first equiptment checks when Woot came bursting through the door. He was gasping for breath, two hectic spots of color flared on his cheeks.
“General…Major…”
Joseph grabbed the water jar from a nearby shelf and handed it to Woot. He nodded thanks, taking a deep pull and then splashing water on his face. The color in his cheeks started to fade.
“Shaggy Man is doing a final check, but we’ve found where the supply caravan is going. There’s a hidden prison and supply depot in the north forest.”
Poly’s eyes widened and she grabbed Woot, shaking him slightly.
“Are you sure? are you absolutly sure Woot?”
Just then Shaggy Man burst in. He looked at Woot and nodded slowly. Woot turned his eyes back to Poly’s.
“Yes, I’m sure.”