Nebthraxus hobbled through the portal Spectre provided. His cane made a dull thunking sound against the concrete as the ancient, twisted alchemist emerged from a rift in space and time onto the roof of Shokushu college’s dormitory building. High above, a vast panoply of stars shone brightly in the moonless night. Their twinkling light provided but scant illumination, but Neb didn’t mind. He was more at home in the dark anyway. Besides, he could see well enough for his current purposes. He might need better visibility later on, but he would deal with that when the time came.

All in all, it was a perfect night to observe the stars. But Neb had a different sort of heavenly body in mind.

“Are you sure she’ll be here?” Neb asked the darkness, his dry raspy voice rustling on the cool night breeze. Odd? Perhaps. But then, Neb wasn’t really alone.

“Yes. She couldn’t pass up an opportunity such as this,” Spectre’s Voice boomed, but only for Neb, no other could hear it. “And this place has the best view of the sky on the campus.”

The pair were speaking of a girl that Neb had chosen from among the many Spectre had shown him. He chose the young blonde student not because of her lusciously buxom figure or because of her fresh, innocent face. If he had been several millennia younger, such traits would have weighed heavily in her favor, but Neb was too old now to have truly lustful intentions toward the lovely young woman. On the other hand, if his new formula worked . . .

But he was getting too far ahead of himself. He still needed to procure the raw materials for the elixir. That was the reason for selecting a specimen, after all. And, ultimately, the reason he chose this particular specimen. He’d seen a sort of quite fire in her eyes - evidence of a strength of character that would make her ideal for his purposes.

Neb rapped his cane on the roof twice. The darkness enveloped him, obscuring his presence even more. Within the shadowy dome, the mummified alchemist used one bandaged hand to retrieve a folding director’s chair from one of the many pockets of his robe. As he set it on the roof before him, the wood and canvas apparatus unfolded itself and automatically adjusted to his needs. It was a perfect place to rest his weary bones while he waited for his next ‘assistant’ to make her appearance. Christina was her name . . .

Perfect! She thought to herself as she deftly rounded the corner landing of the stairwell, her feet making little to no sound from the white socks she wore. Her stark white satin pajama pants flowed gently as she bounded up the stairs, her lovely, full chest bouncing within her bra and white satin tank top that matched the rest of her outfit. If she had wings she would be the vision of an angel, but tonight, it was a different form of heavens that interested her. Tonight was perfect for stargazing and the roof of the dorms was the perfect spot. Bounding up the steps she reaches the door and swings it open to reveal the starlit sky, so perfect!

Christina brushed her hair back behind her ears, the perfectly straight blond locks moving gently with the breeze from up on top the dorms. She began walking forward out towards the center of the roof after closing he heavy metal door behind her.

Ancient eyes followed the exuberant teen as she fairly skipped out onto the roof. Safely obscured within his shadowy blind, Neb watched as his specimen marveled at the sea of stars above. Her all-white apparel almost glowed in the wan light those distant suns shed, causing her to stand out like a beacon in the night.

Yes, this was the one he had chosen; the one whose eyes shone with intelligence and curiosity. A smile graced ancient, hidden lips. It was ironic she had decided to wear an outfit that leant her such an angelic aspect. He guessed that made him a demon . . .

For several minutes, Neb simply observed the girl. He noted the way she moved; the position she chose to watch from; the sectors of the sky she seemed most interested in. The undying alchemist studied Christina intently, gathering in data from her behavior that might help him divine more of her character . . . Or, perhaps he just enjoyed watching a pretty girl. She certainly was a fine figure of a woman; if he were three - no even just two thousand years younger . . .

But the formula could change that. It was why he was here after all - why he needed this young woman’s ‘assistance.’ Well, no time like the present. Neb’s joints popped and creaked as he stood up, dispelling the shadows that had hidden him. He hobbled slowly forward, approaching from behind and up-wind of the object of his attention. Forgotten and left behind, his chair hurriedly folded itself up and leapt into Neb’s pocket. The slow-moving alchemist gave no indication of having noticed.

The careful progress of his steps was not due to an attempt at stealth so much as a consequence of his extreme age. In fact, Neb was not much for subtlety. He intended to walk right up to his intended specimen and start a conversation.

“Hello, dear,” Neb said as soon as he was close enough for his dry, raspy, whisper of a voice to be heard. “Nice of you to join me.”

Draped, as he was, in his great, hooded robe, Neb was likely as strange a figure as one could expect to find on the roof of a college dormitory: old and bent, with but one bandaged hand sticking out of a cavernous sleeve. And that only because he needed it to lean on his cane.

Christina shrieked in surprise as the ancient thing spoke to her. She stumbled backwards after whipping around to see the frail form of the alchemist and scampered backwards as fast as she could. She managed in a panick to regain her footing and stand noticing the man not moving as she did so. She knew full well of the denizens of this island but this one appeared different. He was patient and didn't hold an aire of aggression about him. Her lovely face turned from one of fright to one of seriousness as her gaze met with his, her sapphire eyes blazing intently.

"H..Hello" she spoke, softly, cautiously, but not affraid. "What brings you up here?" Looking to see if this one would conversate, having escaped the clutches of several malevolent beings before, she felt confident she wouldn't have any problems escaping if things went downhill.

Neb had to suppress a chuckle at the girl’s initial reaction. Causing such a fright without even trying was humorous in some way that he couldn’t quite put a finger on. But he didn’t want to seem derisive. First impressions and all that. Luckily the deep shadows of his hood hid his inability to keep a straight face; only the merest hint of his colorless eyes peered out from the darkened recess.

But, when he saw the fear disappear from her face, he did emit a short, dry laugh. The sound was as warm as his raspy voice could produce; for, in that moment, he once again saw the quiet fire that had been the deciding factor that lead to his choice and ultimately to this meeting.

“I’m sorry, dear,” Neb rasped, “I didn’t mean to startle you. Please, let me introduce myself.”

As he spoke, the alchemist moved slowly, circling surreptitiously in order to remain up-wind of the fearless student. The musty odor of his mummified flesh drifted on the breeze; an unfortunate side effect of the subtle positioning.

“My name is Nebthraxus,” he bowed his head slightly. “And, quite simply, you are what brings me here.”

Merely follows him with her eyes, those deep, piercing sepia orbs that held a cautious glare at the hunched old man. She kept up her guard, the luscious beauty aware of the possible dangers, but not terrified by them. something was wrong on this island and she was determined to find out what.

"Me?" Her voice mused as she kept her gaze to him, not turning her body. "What could you possibly have an interest in me for?"

Another dry chuckle escaped the alchemist’s parchment-like lips. Christina’s determination and curiosity shown in her eyes, belying the simplicity of her question. But Neb was not much for verbal fencing; so, to the point:

“I have need of an . . . assistant,” he began, continuing his furtive motions, adjusting his course slightly to take into account her posture. “Someone with an open mind uncluttered by certain preconceptions.”

Neb was nearly in position now, a step away from the perfect place that would cause the powder he had prepared to waft toward the young woman, but at an angle that would make it drift into the path she would have to take if she were to run toward the door to safety. Still, he had no intention of striking just yet, content to converse with this delightful student.

"Assistant?" the young student mused at him. "What kind of assistant do you need that you would seek me out here?"

Her stance became ever more guarded now as she trailed his position, her mind racing with hundreds of different ideas but never stopping on one.

“I sought you here because I was told you would be here,” Neb said, mildly. “Here where we can admire the glory of this perfect evening and talk privately.”

The alchemist finally stopped at the position he had chosen, the point where the light breeze would carry his sleeping powder into Christina’s most likely path of retreat should she choose to run. The small packet was held out of sight up a sleeve by one of his ambulatory wrappings. The cloth tendril was prepared to flick out and scatter the magical drug to the wind, but, still, Neb delayed.

“I need someone to help me gather some samples for an experiment I wish to conduct, you see,” the ancient one continued, addressing the other part of her question. Would her curiosity hold sway? Or would she bolt? Neb guessed the former, it the look in her eyes was any indication. Despite his general distaste for these kinds of indirect proceedings, he found the exchange quite engaging. He had been too long with only Spectre to talk to.

Christina began to slowly move for the door, circling the old man as to not betray her movements. Her graceful, practically sensual movements due to the shape of her body glimmering and glowing in the moon light as if she were an angel.

"So what kind of substance are you looking for?" she mused out loud to him. "I am not the most scientifically adept student at this school you know. Why would you choose me of all people?" Her voice was casual as if the student were talking to an acquaintance or a teacher.

The young woman’s artifice might have succeeded if Nebthraxus hadn’t been watching for just such a movement. He was encouraged that she hadn’t simply run for the door, yet, still he knew the civil chat was at an end. Her cautious progress meant she would remain in the area his powder would affect for a while yet, but with each step, the probability of a simple capture fell.

“That’s what I meant about preconceptions,” Neb said, matching Christina’s conversational tone as well as he was able with his dry, raspy voice. “A scientifically minded person has certain beliefs that make her unsuitable.”

The ancient alchemist turned slowly to continue facing the curvaceous beauty. With each step she took, he recalculated the trajectory required for maximum exposure. Very soon, his window of opportunity would close.

“But you need not worry about your qualifications,” he began just before launching his attack. Moving much faster than the old man ever could, indeed almost faster than the eye could see, a bone-white cloth tendril flicked out of his sleeve, flinging a fine, white powder on the wind. It filled the area around Christina with a light mist and a scent reminiscent of wild flowers; an intoxicating mystic aroma that would quickly steal away the consciousness of all who smelled it. Even as it spread, the mist began to drift toward the door, propelled by the light breeze.

“Your body already knows everything it needs to be of use to me . . . “

In the blink of an eye the scene changed, her trained, but not quite practiced reflexes saw the dust and new it couldn't be something good, so the beauty immediately held her breath and covered her mouth as the dust surrounded her. Christina, in a panicked rush turned to make for the door, only to see the dust drifting towards it as well. There would be little time as she sprinted for the door, still holding her breath praying she didn't inhale any of it.

As the lithe young woman made it towards the door her senses began to spin ever so slightly at first and then began to grow as she got closer to her hope of escape. Damnit! She thought, she must have inhaled a very tiny ammount. A sedative of some kind, that could be the only possibly solution. As she made it to the door, she let go of her mouth but kept her sinuses and mouth shut tight as she fumbled to get the door open.

Neb was a bit impressed by how quickly his soon-to-be assistant/specimen reacted. Once again he saw evidence of the intelligence and determination that had drawn him to Christina. It was almost a shame that it was already too late for her to get away . . .

The magical dust that he had used would stick to her hair and clothes - even her skin - and would remain potent for several minutes. Eventually she would have to breathe, and the wild flower scent would be there to invade her nostrils and mouth.

The alchemist stood patiently, watching as Christina reached the door, stumbling slightly. It seemed likely she had already inhaled some of the powder. The fine mist swirled and rushed after her, pulled along by the speed of her passage. It was only a matter of time . . .

Yet, as the desperate girl began to fumble with the latch, Neb realized he might have to do something. He wasn’t so much concerned that she would get away, as that was virtually impossible. What actually worried him is that she would get the door open then collapse on the stairs. Such a fall could cause some rather severe injuries. That didn’t suit his purposes at all.

One of his wrapping-tentacles was already rifling through Neb’s many pockets, searching for something suitable. Less than a second later, it flicked back out, flinging a small yellow-green glob toward the corner of the door above the latch. If it reached its target before the door was opened, it would explode into a mass of sticky fluid that would harden almost instantly, effectively sealing the door with alchemical super-glue. If not . . . well, he would just have to wait and see.

The loud, clang of metal on metal as the door slammed shut caused the beautiful young woman to gasp as the strange gooey substance forced the door closed. The intake of breath caused her head to whirl and the lovely lady found herself backed against the door sliding down to a sitting position. Her world blurred, then went dark as she felt herself slip into the deep sleep of a drug induced sedation.

One might expect evil laughter from an individual such as Nebthraxus the Mad. However, the ancient alchemist was silent and motionless as he watched the angelically-clad woman slide to the ground. He might as well have been a statue as he patiently waited for the dust he had spread to dissipate. It probably wouldn’t affect him, but it would be very silly if he ended up unconscious on the roof next to the girl he had meant to capture.

Eventually the air cleared and Neb hobbled toward the sleeping student . . .

*****

Several minutes later, Christina had been stripped nude and bound into something akin to a dentist’s chair. The primary difference - aside from all the many straps and buckles - lay in the leg rest, which was split into two fully-articulated limb restraints. They held the captive student’s shapely stems slightly elevated and spread wide, exposing her feminine treasure. Her arms were bound to the chair’s arm rests, and a strap looped around her neck secured her against the smooth, spongy material of the cushions.

The myriad stars twinkled down mischievously on Christina’s recumbent form as though laughing at her plight. Nearby, Neb sat perched on his director’s chair, watching and waiting patiently for his powder to wear off. The shadows of his hood made it impossible to tell whither his gaze traveled, but there was no ‘heat’ in his stare as he regarded the beautiful young woman he had bound so erotically. Despite having her completely at his mercy, there was no lust in his aged mind. He was far too old to appreciate her naked glory except as a piece of art; an exquisite sculpture of flesh that was pleasing to the eye, but nothing more.