Once the Royal Guards realized who I was, they holstered their tasers and validated my invitation. I was surrounded by familiar sights.
The outpost had transported me back into the dome to Chancellor Shrew's secret chambers.
Of course, I had questions. More than I would ever get out.
The Royal Guards escorted me through a hallway built of zircon (Earth's diamonds). It was glorious.
At the end of the zircon hallway was a door that came to waist height, about ten micronopters (twelve inches on Earth).
Did I not mention that Chancellor Shrew was a very tiny Quibly?
Well, he is.
The Royal Guards opened the door, with a prolonged creak. In all his glory was the Chancellor.
I had to crouch down and crawl through the opening.
His robe, covered with sparns and wilts (Earth's rubies and sapphires) shown greatly.
He rubbed his hands together and smiled, "There he is! The Quibly of the hour!"
Afraid to interrupt him, I plastered a large grin on my face and waited to ask questions.
His lack of talking and continuous smiling told me that I could speak, "Pleasure to meet you sir, I've heard all the stories of your conquests."
Truth be told, I had heard nothing of the Quibly. No one had ever mentioned anything other than the dome construction as a credit to his name.
His face appeared stuck in a smiling state so I continued, "Sir, may I ask, what was the purpose of sending me outside of the dome only to be transported directly back into the dome?"
The smile disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.
Chancellor Shrew drew a deep breath of nitrogen, "Jerm, it was a test. A test that was as much physical as it was mental."
I nodded as if I agreed.
"You passed my boy! That is the exciting part. You made it and now I am convinced you are the Quibly for the job."
He clasped all sixteen of his fingers together and chuckled, "That was some quick thinking you showed there with those Zawns. Very impressive."
My body began to overheat as I realized that I had almost been eaten alive for the sake of a test.
Before anger guided my actions, the Chancellor pulled out something of particular interest to me.