How To Go To Another World

The portal machine turned out to be a large block of machinery which Dusklord had stashed away in some room near the dungeon of the castle. It consisted of a single central metal pad, which was connected via a series of wires and tubes to a large computer tower, upon which there was a monitor and keyboard.

"You know, when you said portal machine, I thought it would be more dramatic." Lilly said, "This looks low tech as hell."

"I'll be sure to tell the villain I took it from that their aesthetics taste doesn't match yours," Dusklord said, "I believe it was manufactured by a teenager using whatever they had to hand."

"Really?" Redwing took another look at it, "It's not too bad then, I suppose. How did it fall into your hands?"

"The usual way, of course. I stole it." He paused, then raised a hand defensively, "Now don't give me that look, I didn't steal it from anyone who was on the right side of the law. Contrary to what you heroes think, I don't plan _all _my activities just around you."

"That's hard to believe," Redwing commented, "Because somehow, I just can't picture you _not _having some diary stashed somewhere with entries like ''7th of March, Human Dynamo's Birthday, send annoying card.'' or ''10th of October, reminder to have dramatic fight with Bullettime outside the National Museum. Memo to self: Find something there to steal to make it look legit.''

"Well, yes." Dusklord coughed. Behind them, Lilly heard Dark Angel chuckle. "Fortunately for us both, such a diary does not exist, I assure you."

"Well, boss-"

"_Fortunately for everyone in this room, _such a diary does not exist, I assure you."

"Hey, you're the boss." Angel commented. "If you say it doesn't exist, then it doesn't."

She winked to Redwing and mouthed the words ''I'll show you later, it's great.''

"Don't think I didn't notice that!" Dusklord said.

"You didn't see a thing, your back was turned!"

"Please, I wouldn't have lasted so long as a villain if I couldn't detect when people were plotting against me. Angel, I thought better of you."

Dark Angel considered this for a long moment, and then gave the obvious response.

"Why?"

"Because there is such a thing as a code, even for a villain." Dusklord said. "It's something that separates the real monsters from the people who simply live on the other side of technical legality."

"Does it say something about not lying?"

"As a matter of fact, it does not."

By now, they were standing next to the machine. It looked rather old and dusty, and the computer tower made a worrying sound as it booted up. She could see that the back of the tower had been heavily modified, with new sockets having been soldered into place. Dusklord was working with these, half bent over the tower. A dozen shadow limbs were swapping the plugs and wires around, seemingly at random. Yet, sometimes when one was placed, a sound would play, and a soft green light would backwash the socket. after several minutes, all of them were green. Only then did the screen start to light up.

" ''Awesome corp unlimited proudly presents'' ?" Lilly read the introductory text out loud.

"The kid who made it wanted to go big." Dusklord shrugged. "He was a tech user, pretty good at what he did, but had no idea what it took to be a villain. Would have got himself killed. Good tech, though."

"So what happened to him?" Lilly crossed her arms, "I can't think of any villain who used tech involving portals."

"Oh, I convinced him to seek a better life elsewhere."

"How did you ''convince'' him?" Lilly asked carefully.

"With a large amount of money of course," Dusklord gave her a look. "I may be a bad guy, but I don't think of myself as a _bad _guy. Kid was going to get killed, so I offered him a ton of money, bought his stuff, and he retired somewhere nice with a mansion of his own and - and this is important - a lifetime in which to enjoy it."

"Oh, that's okay then. For a moment, I was worried that you would have done something nasty."

"I occasionally stalk him to make sure he isn't getting into any mischief. Or at least, I have my people do it."

"That's a bit less heartwarming, but I suppose I can let it slide..."

"Sometimes, I have people give him nightmares about how horrible a life as a villain can turn out."

Redwing took a breath, but shook her head and let it out. She knew it wasn't worth it.

"Okay," Dusklord stood back, "The machine should be ready in a moment. When it is, Redwing, you and I will be going through. Angel-"

"I know, I know," the woman gave a long suffering sigh, "Stay and guard the house."

She threw her hands up in frustration.

"I know I don't have combat powers, but you could at least bring me along! I have access to one of the greatest things ever invented by mankind - a gun!"

Dusklord chuckled, but shook his head.

"Where we're going, guns will be of limited use, I am afraid. Raw strength, power and speed will be more to our advantage. Which reminds me. Redwing, while we're on official business, you can assume that your promise not to use your powers is suspended. Though, of course, it comes back into action whenever it is just the two of us."

"For that matter," Redwing asked, "Just where are we going? You said it was to see your brother? And that he was a knight...? I don't know if you noticed, Dusklord, but the feudal aristocracy has been dead for a while. We have celebrities for that now."

"Not everywhere, my dear." Dusklord said. "You're aware of the multiple universe theory?"

"Of course I am, every hero is." Redwing shook her head, "You can only go so long before you end up facing your evil opposite, or stuck in a dimension where you or someone you know went bad and enslaved the world or something. Every hero has to deal with that sooner or later."

"Right. Well, I told you before that my mother was a goddess of darkness in an alternative world. That world still exists, and is where my brother chooses to dwell. In order to reach it, some natural power is required, or the use of a machine like this one. I could reach it on my own , but sine you're coming as well, the portal machine will be our means of travel."

Dark Angel had left the room by now, giving a final nod to Dusklord and to Redwing before she turned and started to move back towards the surface area of the mansion. Redwing watched her go for a moment before turning back to the villain.

"Does this mean our game is over?"

Dusklord paused, and then turned to look at her. Lilly felt his eyes on her, as if he was trying to read her. Even though she was naked, he didn't let his gaze dip, focusing it fully on her face. She met it, the two were locked together for a moment.

"Serious things are happening," Dusklord said slowly, "I am not sure if we will be able to keep playing like this forever. I was going to call it off, but if you really want to keep going, then there could be a way. The world my brothers lives in is much more... medieval than here. There are certain aspects of it that I do not approve of. It's one of the reasons I left in the first place. But if you are willing to demean yourself to that role, then maybe there is a way for us to use it."

"I like demeaning myself," Man, that was weird to say. She never in a million years thought those words would come out of her mouth, but somehow they had. "I enjoy it. What do you have in mind?"

"My brother is a traitor. That is to say, he was once a member of an order of knights whom he turned on and slew when they strayed from their codes and oaths. But he is not a hero, do not think that he is! I take after our father, but he is on our mother's side, which means that he can be difficult to read, and prone to acts that don't always make logical sense. The two of us joined forces against father, but after that, it became clear we could not both remain in the same plain. If we did, it would end with one of us killing the other sooner or later."

"So you coming back home..."

"Will probably not be welcomed by him, no. That is why I sent Angel away. His world is...not kind... She would be seen as an easy target. But you are strong, almost as strong as I am."

She quirked an eyebrow.

"Almost? What's our record at right now? I think I'm in the lead."

"Only by technicalities."

"You mean the technicality that I keep beating you?"

"Yes, it's very annoying and frustrating." He shook his head, "But seriously. If you are willing, I can present you as my captured ****, a former foe who I defeated and enslaved. Most people of that world would not regard this as strange. My brother would see me as a potential threat, but he will almost certainly not recognise you, and if things go wrong, then you might well be the thing that salvages the whole situation."

"But I'd need to be a ****." Lilly felt her heart beating faster. She tried to control the reactions of her body, reminding herself that what Dusklord was suggesting was something more **** than they had tried yet. Before, it had been a game, but now, it was possible that their lives might depend on it. she couldn't afford to just leap into this.

"By **** you mean..."

"Sex ****, yes." Dusklord sighed, "I do apologise. If you don't want to do it, we can still arrive as comrades and equals, though you will probably need to wear more clothes. It's um, possible that you might be required to perform."

Lilly tried not to feel the heat racing to her face, the blush that was threatening to overcome her features.

"But it would make things safer?"

Dusklord gave her a piercing look, as if trying to decide what to say. At last, he nodded.

"It would."

"Then we'll do it." Lilly said. "I'll be your **** while we're there. And if I have to do anything, then it's not like anyone there will even know who I am, right? And I will have my powers, of if things get bad, I can break out and go on the run."

"Very well." Dusklord nodded in acceptance. "I won't try to convince you otherwise, and I may not always be able to help you. But I will do what I can, and if my brother decides that now is the time to remove me as a potential threat, then it will probably be down to you to save my life."

"What, no boasting about your own powers?" Lilly grinned. "That's got to be a first."

"My brother's powers are considerable. When we clash, the winner is often not certain. But if he decides to remove me, he will almost certainly do so via an ambush or trap. Meaning that I am likely to be injured and not fighting at my best. If i had not seen how good you were at saving innocents, I might actually be worried."

"Dusklord, even with your code, I think you probably don't fit the term ''innocent'' in the slightest."

"Maybe so," he grinned, "But you'll save me anyway, won't you?"

"Well, I _am _a hero." She put her hands on her hips. "What do you think?"

Lilly felt lightheaded, her heart was beating fast, and she plunged forwards quickly before she could regret what she was about to say.

"I-it's Lilly, by the way."

"What?" Dusklord looked to her, not understanding.

"M-my name. My real name. It's Lilly. I don't think you would **** it now I've seen how you work. And...um, it's kind of weird that you've seen me naked, and I've sucked your cock, but you don't even know my name. Just a bit? Plus, you probably can't go around calling a **** Redwing.."

"You want me to use your real name?"

"It's not my last name, so it doesn't matter so much, and besides, I think at this point, we should be on a first name basis, don't you?"

The portal was ready now. It generated in a flash of light, hovering above the metal panel. It was a flat oval which hung in the air, coloured a fuzzy sort of blue that made your eyes itch if you looked at it for too long.

"Now we just walk into the portal. I was going to get you clothes, but it seems those will not be needed now."

He started to walk, and Lilly hurried behind him, As the light of the portal enveloped them, she tapped him on the back and smiled.

"Dusklord?"

"Yes Re-I mean, Lilly."

"If you don't tell me your name, I am going to kick your ass."

He hesitated for a moment, but then saw the look in her eye.

"I, uh, don't use it much anymore. But Alexi is my name."

The light enveloped them both.

AN: This chapter was mostly set up, so thanks for bearing with me. I promise we'll get back to the sex stuff in the next one, I just couldn't really figure out a way to fit it naturally into this chapter.