And with this, The Libel of Blood is now longer than The Light of Civilization! Over the past few days I made lots of progress. Yesterday I sat down and did a Tarot reading on why my writing had been so slow, and it was very enlightening. I put into place the advice the cards gave me, and have since written 22 pages. I have almost reached the point at which the book began, with the teaser at the beginning of the first chapter. Chapter 38 – what I just finished – was a rather confusing and hectic chapter to write, but I was proud with the result. Not only does it feature a death, Jak’s piloting skills, an awesome sword, a hijacked shuttle, and a philosophical discussion on the implications of advanced computers, but it also contains the one and only (re)appearance of Psy in the whole book – for all of twoish pages.

I also have planned out the rest of the book, which should go up to 42 Chapters and an Epilogue (which will be rather long, I think). Which means that all I have left to write are Chapters 39, 40, 41, 42, and the Epilogue! Then the editing process (and work on short stories) begins. Oh joy.

For now, though, I’m going to try to power through the rest of it. And for your enjoyment or torture, here’s Psy’s return:

*-*-*

I had seen that look before…

“No,” I said softly, looking at Derekk. He began to stand up straighter, and a small smile crossed his face. “Not now… I defeated you! You’re gone!”

“Inside your own head you will never again find us. But what makes others off-limits, Jakken Servidos?”

My head was ready to explode. “I can’t handle you all at once!” I shouted. Everyone quieted instantly. I pointed to Derekk. “Get him!”

“What?” Thyrak asked. “Are you okay – shit! Get him!” Thyrak immediately lunged at Derekk, tackling him to the ground.

“What the hell?” Triple-G said as Jarken joined the other Shortel.

“Psy… what’s he doing back? Why now?” Jarken said.

“We’re going to crash!” Danielle shouted and she curled into a fetal position.

Time began to slow. I was trapped on a damaged shuttle about to crash into a heavily armed and armoured ship piloted by the most evil being alive, while my lover had apparently been possessed by a psychotic evil psychic giant flying slug, and everyone in the tiny room we were in was panicking over one or the other. How could things get any worse?

A small smile crept over my face, and my fingers twitched. If I piloted the ship.

I ran up and threw Danielle out of the chair.

[…Omitted Content…]

The ship running relatively straight, I closed mye eyes and calmed myself. Like Kalkkis said – free your thoughts.

My mind cleared, and immediately I could feel the mental presences of those around me – Mikhail, Triple-G, Danielle, Jarken, Thyrak, Derekk… and Psy. His image appeared in my mind’s eye; the gigantic, floating, translucent blue slug who had haunted me ever since I had left Earth.

“Psy! Leave him and never come back!”

Jak – you assault us on my own territory. We are wounded.

“You have five seconds to leave his body.”

And why should I?

I hesitated, then swallowed. “Because then I will join you… after I am dead.”

I felt a wave of shock and surprise emanating from the slug-thing. You would do that for this pathetic worm-thing?

“Yes,” I said calmly. “He is not yours.”

There was a pause, during which I sensed much thought. If that is truly your choice, Jak – then you are not who I thought you were. You and this one shall never see me or my influences again while you live – but once you have both left this Space, he shall be ours.