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Heh. If the guy wasn't such a bastard, Jercash might've felt bad for him. Messing with him was always fun.

But there was no time to take it further. He gave him another moment to compose himself before blinking them both back to the Yigorosks.

That didn't seem to be quite enough time for Lozaro, though, who remained uncharacteristically silent as Jercash picked the conversation with his new squid friend up again.

"So do you have a name?" he asked. "Mine's Jercash, though you probably knew that already, right?"

'Yes, of course. I am called Bill.'

Jercash's mouth opened, then closed again as he processed that. He was beginning to wonder if these squids were fucking with him. "Bill. Huh. That short for something?"

'No,' said Bill, sipping from his hissing pod again. 'Just Bill.'

Or, wait a minute. Did these guys used to be human? Hmm. Now how could he ask that question while minimizing the risk of it coming as incredibly offensive to their alien sensibilities?

Tough one. Maybe he'd just have to roll the dice and see.

Thankfully, Bill resolved things before Jercash had to make a decision. 'I have the honor of being named by the Originator himself. A fact which sometimes summons jealousy from my brethren, I think. I would advise not broaching the subject in front of them, were I you.'

"Ohhh. The Originator. Right. Hmm. Y'know, I'd like to learn more about him, if you don't mind sharing. You mentioned he would 'return' to this realm, right? So he's been here before?"

'Not just him,' said Bill. 'We were all once children of this realm, just as you are. But we were banished. Or rather, our ancestors were. Long ago.' Another sip.

"How long ago, exactly?"

'Impossible to say for sure. But the Originator found us much later and renewed our dream of the Unity. He became a magnificent pillar. The Hope of All Idkin. We are forever in his debt.'

Jercash stroked his mustache. "Does he already know about me, too?"

'Of course. And I'm sure he is looking forward to meeting you.'

"Oh, really? Wow." Whoever this guy was, he sounded pretty damn powerful. Perhaps quite the imminent threat, too, if he was going be showing up soon. "I'm happy to hear that. Though, to be quite blunt with you, I feel a bit undeserving of such recognition. I'm not sure what I've done to be honored so much."

At that, Bill paused mid-sip and seemed to turn to look at Jercash. Was that his face? There were too many eyeballs to be sure. 'Are you joking?'