"If this thing gets loose, it's going to affect all of us. I don't think we can fight it, but we NEED to keep it from using a ‘Get Out of Jail Free' card. We need to find where the dimensional barrier has thinned and we need to find a way of fixing it." Nat drummed her fingers on the ground.

“I think I may have heard of someone who could help us with the former ....

“And I," said Lothar, appearing in a mist, “think I might be able to help with the latter." He looked over at Nat.

"You're quite perceptive. You might just be smart enough to be my apprentice!" He drooled inwardly at the idea of having the hard-bodied woman around.

Nat rolled her eyes.

"I'm close to invulnerable, I'm stronger than most anyone here, I'm hot and I make seven figures a year. What can you possibly offer me?"

Lothar was at a loss for words. He didn't make that much!

"Okay, could you two stop flirting," Tarloh interrupted, trying to keep a straight face even after getting kicked in the shin by Nat.

"What did you two have in mind?"

Nat leaned back, bracing herself with her hands.

"There are a lot of Talented humans out there. And being in the protection business, I've met several. There's one that I've heard of who has an understanding of dimensions beyond anything you or I could grasp. His name is Croc, but..."

“But what?"

"He's . . . well, he's an assassin."

Tarloh just stared at his old friend, assuming that she had misspoke.

“I'm not kidding. Don't get me wrong, he's supposed to be one of those guys who only goes after really bad people. The CIA has hired him a number of times to flush out people they can't get to. But I wanted you to know what he is."

Tarloh looked thoughtful.

"I couldn't say unless I met him. But regardless, how could he help?"

"He actually can slip out of this dimension." Nat looked at Lothar.

"Let me know if get something wrong, but I understand that the dimensions are almost like bubbles pressed up against each other.

Well, that means that there is ‘space’ between them. Croc hunts by sliding through dimensional membranes, at which point he can basically reappear anywhere he wants. And somehow he can emerge just enough into this dimension to look around but not be easily detected himself, much less hurt. It's kind of how a crocodile sticks its eyes above the surface of the water, hence the name ‘Croc’. But he can feel where the dimensional barrier is weak."

"So what do you have for us?" Tarloh said, looking at Lothar.

"And why exactly are you doing this? Field work has NEVER been your specialty?”

Lothar blushed.

"Like the woman said, if the Elder God gets loose, it's everyone's problem." He straightened his back a bit.