June 3, 1692 A.D.

The angry peasants filed out to the town square in an almost catatonic state. They seemed to be de-sensitized by what was happening around them. This murderous ritual had been carried out several times before and they were familiar with the procedure. Another witch had been convicted, one of hundreds that seemed to infest their town. Now it was time to mete out justice, Salem style.

The young girl was perhaps no more than eighteen years of age. Dirty blond hair, light eyes, quite pretty by all accounts. She had been accused by her own uncle and tried and convicted in the same day. She had been sentenced to burn at the stake, the penalty for a “witch” like her. The young woman was being dragged from the court house, all she wore was a filthy one piece garment that barely reached below her waist, and a pair of moccasins.

The procession was being led by a certain Friar King. He had garnered quite a reputation in Salem since he arrived. No one was quite sure where he had hailed from or his experience as a clergy, but one thing was for sure…he knew how to deal with witches. He had successfully healed several afflicted persons, who suffered madness at the hands of witches. He claimed he was directed by God. The Friar was already famous in the surrounding countryside and people were seeking his council for almost anything.

The burn party reached it’s destination at the end of the town square, where a large stake lay waiting. Around it were several hay piles strewn about. King stood arrogant and cold as he signaled the procession to halt. He calmly walked in front of the condemned girl and smiled.

“I will now offer the witch one last opportunity to confess! Please everyone bow your heads in prayer, whilst I converge with the girl!” shouted King.

The mob all bowed their heads and began to pray. King moved closer to the young woman and lifted her head. He crept closer and whispered into her ear.

“Have you thought about my offer…this is your last chance, I can save you.” King said as he slipped his hand under her garment and began to fondle her.

The girl angrily recoiled and spit in his face. King staggered back and wiped his visage. He slapped her with such force that her nose began to bleed.

“Accursed witch, she is to loyal to Satan! Burn her!” shouted King.

The crowd raised their hands in approval as they violently grabbed the frightened girl. Slowly they began to pull her towards her fiery end. King grinned when he momentarily looked up. He saw the space above the crowds heads’ start to distort and ripple. King’s eyes began to widen and he indeed recognized what was happening.

“Oh shit…” he murmured to himself.

The time dilation portal ripped open and out sprang two forms. Agent Raige and Agent Darrells spewed forth and landed on the stake mob. Toppling the front procession, the girl was no longer restrained. She tried to take off running but was seized by King. He squeezed her wrists almost to the point of breaking them. She winced in pain and in order to stop the pain, she ceased resisting.

“Your not going anywhere whore.” said King as he held her fast.

Meanwhile The commotion caused by Darrells and Raige, sent everyone into an uproar. Women began to scream and people started to scatter. Immediately the male towns people subdued the two S.S.A.C.R.O.N. Agents and held them up.

“What in the hell is goin on!” shouted Darrells.

“Where’s the rest of the crew?” asked Raige.

They looked up and noticed that the portal hand closed and the other members of the battalion were no where to be seen. King stepped forward, still holding the girl.

“There you have seen your proof! More witches come to save this harlot of Lucifer! Hold them fast!” shouted King.

The mob re gathered angrily holding Raige and Darrells. If anyone was skeptical about the whole witch business, they were more than convinced now. After watching that spectacle, what else could these intruders be.

Darrells instantly recognized King “Payton King, I presume. Nice little outfit you have running here.”

“Silence, spawn of Lucifer! Look a warlock is this inferior in league with that one. This witch has the same hair color as the harlot, they must be from the same coven! Shackle them and take them back to the court house!” shouted King.

The mob bound the Agents hands together and began to lead them away, back to the court house.

“Ok this is bad, right.” said Raige.

“Yea you could say that…” said Darrells.

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At the same time another portal ripped open behind a farm house, only a few yards from the scene, but hidden none the less. Out popped the rest of the battalion as they crashed hard into the dirt gravel.

Acule stood up, brushed himself off and cracked his back “I’ll never get used to that shit!”

Gabe looked around and obviously saw that two of them were missing “Where are the other two! Raige….Darrells!”

“They couldn’t have gotten left behind…” said Acule.

“I don’t know but…” started to say Gabe.

The loud roar of the mob broke his speech and the three went over around the house to investigate. They stopped dead in their tracks when they saw the mob approaching. They swiftly took cover.

“Did you see that, it was Raige and Darrells.” said Acule.

“I saw it Acule, but how…Preston?” said Gabe.

“It must be further degradation of the Shift Lock. It’s at a point now that it’s so unstable, it’s causing objects to become separated within the grid matrix. In this case us.” said Preston.

Gabe sighed heavily, “This is just great…”