Imoen sat on the moderately soft cot in her room at the Asylum for the Magically Deviant, silently scribbling some spells in her new spellbook. To her, the walls of her room didn't seem so cold and clammy as they first seemed that fateful day she first arrived. She had lost all track of time since she was brought here, but she knew for sure than at least a month had passed since they brought her... and him to this place.

Luckily, the administrator of this facility did not consider her a threat as much as Irenicus, and she was allowed to make ample use of the asylum's rich library, and to continue her studies of magic, which was about the only think that would keep her keen mind busy these days.

"Imoen?" sounded from the open door of her room. In the doorway stood a young man, dressed in the ceremonial garb of the Cowled Wizards.

"Oh, hi, Fabian," Imoen greeted and put down her quill. She sat up straight on her cot.

"What are you still doing in here? The yard is open, and it's a lovely day outside," Fabian suggested.

"No, thanks," Imoen muttered. "Besides if I have to listen to Tiax chatter about his divine kingdom again, I'll stuff Valorum's imaginary ducks up his nose... which wouldn't do anything, really, since Valorum's ducks are imaginary... Hmmm, let me think of something else..."

Fabian snorted. Imoen regarded him as one of the few friends she had made during this nasty ordeal. Him, the old elf Dradeel and the young girl Dili... Most of the others were too far gone to even chat with her. But Fabian was about her age and had even convinced Naljier Skal, the administrator, to grant her some more freedoms and privilages.

"Besides," Imoen added. "I'd rather go help out Dradeel in the kitchen today..."

"Suit yourself," Fabian replied. "Besides, I've seen that Irenicus was in the yard today anyway. Perhaps you should confront him soon. He no longer had power over you, and we have him on a tight leash..."

"Have you ever tried leashing a dragon?" Imoen snorted. "Same thing. You might think you have control, but that dragon will end up dragging you across Faerun just before trampling you with all fours and flame you for good measure..."

"Yeah," Fabian replied. "You didn't hear this from me, but most of my brethren believe that with the capture of Irenicus, we've bitten off more than we can chew. But, they keep him under strict isolation... And with all the magic suppression fields in the isolation ward... No one is allowed in there, expect Naljier... It think it's safe, but I don't sleep easy at night..."

"And here you wanted me to confront him?" Imoen smiled sardonically.

"Well, it might be actually good for you, I think," Fabian replied.

"Relax," Laska chuckled, "I'll ask Laska to spare your life when she burns this place to the ground..."

"You still think your sister will come for you?" Fabian asked.

"Oh, definitely!" Imoen replied. "We've gone through a lot together..."

"Well, in any case," Fabian chuckled. "I came to tell you that I am leaving tomorrow?"

"What?" Imoen exclaimed. "Leaving?"

"I'm being transferred back to Athkatla, luckily. My training period here is over. I will miss you and the others, but I'm happy to finally leave here," Fabian replied. "And, well, after all the stories you've told me about Laska, I'm rather... glad I won't get to meet her."

"Heh," Imoen snorted. "Say? Do... you think they'll ever let me out of here?"

"To be honest... I don't know," Fabian replied solemnly. "But you are the stablest person in this whole Asylum, and that includes the guardians..."

"Say, Fabe, would... would you consider... delivering a letter to Laska I've written when you get to Athkatla?" Imoen asked hopefully.

"Imoen..." Fabian replied. "You know that's against all the rules..."

"Oh, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please with sugar, sprinkled, chocolate, caramel and marzipan on top?" she directed at the wizard apprentice with puppy-dog eyes.

"Oh, alright!" Fabian chuckled. "I'll stop by your room tomorrow to pick up the note... But no promises!" he said while walking towards the door. "There's no guarantee I'll find her when I get off this dad-blasted island..."

"Island?" Imoen muttered fearfully as Fabian stepped out the door. "We're on an ISLAND? Oh, man, this isn't good... Oh, no..." Her memory flew back to events long past...

"NO!" Laska shouted as she stood in front of the long Bridge leading to the great city of Baldur's Gate. "Okay, you guys just enter the city and hunt down the Iron Throne. And, errr, I'll just stay here and wait for you here.

"Oh, this is just ridiculous," Viconia muttered. "The water in that river is as clear as the sky..."

"I had thought thy resolve was stronger," Dynaheir announced. "Surely a little water doth not scare thee?"

"I am NOT taking a single step on that bridge!" Laska said.

"But," Xan said, trying to entice his friend to step on the bridge, "I am certain there are plenty of pubs over there, filled with plenty of giant cups of ale!"

Laska seemed to give it some thought, but then she apparently reconsidered as she pressed her lips together. "Even so!" she shouted. "I'm not stepping on that bridge."

"Don't be such a wimp, Laska!" Imoen chuckled and gently pushed her towards the bridge. "Come on, one step at a time!"

"Just think of the stomping of enemies while you put your boots down," Minsc shouted.

Laska tentatively put her foot on the ramp of the bridge, but froze like a statue. "No," she replied sharply. "It's too deep a river..."

"How can a strong female, who has faced a slathering Nebassu from the Abyss without fear, freeze at the sight of a stream?!" Viconia wondered.

"Laska never liked the water," Imoen replied, "unless she can see the bottom..."

"Ah, Laska!" Minsc said. "Brave Laska should keep her mind of the kicking of butts, I'm sure that will keep her distracted from the thoughts of vast oceans, lakes, streams and rivers pouring into gigantic reservoirs..."

"Ack!" Laska muttered and turned tail, knocking over Minsc and not stopping until she had reached a copse of trees. "I am NOT stepping on that bridge," she shouted as she ran.

At that moment, Dynaheir, Viconia and Imoen pinned Minsc to the ground with their angry stares.

"Errr, Minsc is sorry," he replied sheepishly.

"I've got an idea," Imoen said and ran over the bridge, headed for the city-gates, leaving Dynaheir, Xan and Viconia to deal with the frightened elf.

"Laska! Get thine ass down from that tree at this instance!" Dynaheir shouted, her patience long spent.

"No!" Laska shouted from the top of the tree. "I like this tree. It doesn't have any water near!"

"Oh, our leader will not join our effort," Xan wailed. "Surely we are done for now! The Iron Throne will slice us to ribbons, turn our organs into spell-components and feast on our disintegrating brains!"

"Thou... truly believest they shall do that, dost thou not?" Dynaheir gave the elf a strange look.

"Hey, Laska, look!" Viconia said, while she pointed to the other end of the bridge. Laska noticed it too. Imoen was standing on there holding a mug of ale. Admittedly, Laska was feeling a mite thirsty at the moment. Licking her lips, she slid down the trunk of the tree and stepped towards the bridge.

"We have to cross this bridge, Laska," Viconia said. "And you have to come with us. We rely on you..."

Laska nodded and once again tried to cross the bridge. Letting out a demonic scream, she sped on the bridge and raced over it as fast as her legs could carry her, her sharp eyes locked on Imoen and the cup of ale in her hands.

"Excuse me citizen, I..." an officer of the Flaming Fist with a huge scar over his eye and left cheek spoke up, but the running elf did not even notice him. She brushed past him with such speed that the surprised guard was pushed backwards, tumbled off the railing and landing in the water with a resounding 'SPLASH'.

Still, locking her eyes on Imoen, and still howling like a demon, the frightened elf stormed off the bridge. Imoen shrieked as the elf bumped into her with full speed, leaving both sisters sprawled on the cobblestone road. The cup of ale flew into the air, and Laska deftly caught it without spilling a drop.

Immediately, she emptied the concoction with a single draught... and ended up coughing it up through her nose. She directed an angry gaze upon Imoen when she next spoke. "ORANGE JUICE?!" she shouted.

"Errr, sorry," Imoen chuckled. "I didn't have enough coins on me to buy an ale."

"Underhanded trick," Laska muttered and tossed the tankard on the ground.

Imoen smiled in spite of herself, thinking back to the second time they had to enter Baldur's Gate, where they had to knock out Laska with a Stinking Cloud and carry her across the bridge. But she had overcome her fears once, didn't she? She can do so again... She just has to come for me, she HAS to. She WILL come to save me.

Sighing, the pink-haired mageling stepped out of the room, and headed to the yard. Perhaps some fresh air would do her some good, but then, her breath caught in her throat. As she made her way through the corridor, Naljier Skal was leading... Him back to his cell in the isolation ward.

"Enter, prisoner!" Naljier Skal snarled as Irenicus locked a single, emotion-less gaze upon Imoen. The pink-haired mageling felt her resolve crumble under his gaze, and for a moment, it seemed as if the leather-faced mage was about fifty feet tall. Then, he was led through the door, which was promptly locked with a large bar.

Imoen pressed herself against wall and repeated to herself : "He's under control. He's their captive and he cannot hurt me... They have him under control..."

Not surprisingly, it did not even came close to consoling her.

"Follow, prisoner!"

"Do no bury yourself in the part, fool!" Irenicus replied as he gave the charmed and collared Naljier Skal an icy stare. "Now recede to your cell, before I punish you..."

"Yes, master," Naljier replied fearfully and withdrew. Irenicus made his way through the damp crypt that was the isolation ward of the Asylum. In only a few steps he made his way to a large door which led to a very large chamber in the middle of the ward. It was there that Irenicus had relocated his lab to.

The lab contained a table with many instruments, as well as about a dozen of glass containers filled with experiments. On the other side of the room, a group of gnomes were hard at work building, and at some places, updating the design of a gigantic machine. Tools and parts were strewn all over the room while at least seven gnomes (all former inmates of this asylum, and all charmed and collared) were hammering away.

"Lonk, what is the status on the machine?" Irenicus asked the leader of the gnomes.

"Ah, master," Lonk muttered nervously. "Well, errrm, the last-minute alterations to the machine will take a bit longer to implement. Also, the latest shipment of tools and parts from Athkatla has not yet arrived. We can make do for now, but it might take some more time, sir..."

"How much time?" Irenicus spat. "I will brook no more unnecessary delays!"

"T... two months at least, sir... Maybe one and a half if we work continuously and get all the shipments of parts..."

"Then get back to your appointed tasks!" Irenicus replied and waved his hands. All seven gnomes fell to the floor writhing in pain. "I shall increase your sessions of blinding pain to once every hour if you fall behind schedule!"

That said, the mage strolled to the other side of the laboratory and activated a magical shield to keep out the noise make by the working gnomes. "Imp!" Irenicus shouted, and immediately, a small winged reptilian creature, which formerly belonged to Naljier Skal, flew from her perch to assist the master. "Imp, I have fallen behind on my research log. Please keep the log as I speak..."

The imp nodded and a magical book and quill appeared in her hands. Immediately, Irenicus stepped over to one of the glass containers, currently filled with a single occupant.

"Subject 12-A : Shadow Thief, female, human, non-vampiric," Irenicus directed. "Recipient of a complete divine soul of one of the three minor Bhaalspawns my men captured last year, and was transferred from my old lab in Athkatla. Subject had the divine soul grafted onto her own by using the first version of the Machine, and results were disappointing. The taint of Bhaal was stronger than both souls combined and somehow sensed its host was not the place where it belonged. The taint fled the new host, causing agonizing death beyond resurrection... Subject must be disposed of. Experiment must be considered failed." That said, Irenicus stepped over to the second container, the imp in trail.

"Subject 12-B : Shadow Thief, male, half-elf, non-vampiric. Recipient of a complete divine soul. Subjects own soul was quenched before the experiment. The taint in the divine soul did not accept the host, and it fled the subject in favor of its former host, leaving the subject a soul-less husk. Subject must be disposed off, the experiment is a failure..."

Then, Irenicus stepped over to the third container, which held a snarling female. "Subject 12-C : Shadow Thief, female, half-elf, vampiric. Recipient of a complete divine soul in Experiment 12-C. The soul-less nature of the vampire allowed for the soul to settle in the body, but it fled in favor of its own host almost immediately. Judging from past three experiments, I can draw the following conclusion : The taint, as well as the actual soul are two halves of one whole, and one cannot survive without the other, unless properly anchored. In response, I conducted experiment 12-C-A, where I used a modified version of the Machine to extract only the soul from Bhaalspawn 2, leaving only the taint behind, and grafting the actual soul to the vampiric taint of subject 12-C. Subject has become somewhat stronger, and is showing progress. Bhaalspawn 2, human, male, grew weaker, went mad and eventually died... An interesting development. Subject 12-C is to be released into Bodhi's service..."

Then, Irenicus stepped to the table and sat down to watch the building of the machine. "Take note," he ordered, "Bodhi's reward can thus be delivered. Bhaalspawn 3 has too weak a soul to survive the transfer, so that task will fall to Subject : Imoen. She has shown significant promise. Her taint is buried, but fierce. To escape the curse laid upon us, we need to claim the strong, equal sides of the most powerful of Bhaalspawn, and Imoen's soul is almost ready to be grafted to Bodhi's taint... That leaves only my own curse to deal with. Bodhi no longer possesses her spirit, so she can accept the soul of any Bhaalspawn. My tastes must be more particular, it seems. I cannot graft a human soul to the remnants of my elven spirit. To do so, would surely be my death... I would need an elven spirit to escape the curse, and as luck would have it, one will be provided for me. A complete spirit would never find a home in my decaying husk, but taint of an elven Bhaalspawn is only partly connected to the spirit, making the spirit not only incomplete, but also relatively easy to separate. The gaps in the incomplete spirit can be filled, and thus anchored, by the remnants of my own. A side-effect is that, in order to survive, not only does the Machine need massive redesign, but the elven Bhaalspawn in question would need to have an extremely powerful taint to be able to survive the complete extraction-process. Fortunately, fate has provided me with one. Subject : Laska, one of the most powerful Bhaalspawn in existence. I HAD her in my grasp, if not for those damnable Shadow Thieves! I have underestimated them..."

"Say, boss?" the imp dared to say in a girlish voice. "Is this going to take much longer? My arms are getting tired from writing..."

"Would your prefer holding a pen in your hands?" Irenicus snarled. "Or rather your severed wings?"

"I didn't say nuthin'!" the Imp cringed and continued writing.

"In any case, Laska now roams free, and my servant Yoshimo's first attempt to capture her has failed..." Irenicus sighed. "But she will not leave her sister behind. It is in her nature to find and rescue her, and when she does, I must be ready to confront her. No doubt she will have grown in power, and will come in force with equally powerful companions. I must make arrangements to make sure she won't pose a significant threat. In the meantime, I must instruct Bodhi to intensify her attacks on the Shadow Thieves, and make sure the needed parts are smuggled across the sea. The Machine MUST be ready when Laska arrives. Laska is a mere child by elven standards, but her power is immense for an elf of any age. Pity, I wish I had more opportunity to study her... End Log note..."

With that, the imp sighed, put the book on the table and returned to her perch for a rest, while Irenicus sat in a comfortable chair to watch the gnomes build. "Yes, Ellesime," he chuckled to himself. "I am coming for you..."