Chapter 3: The Nightmare on Wall Street - AIG Nationalized and Lehman Bought By Barclays

In the latest installment of a Nightmare on Wall Street, two of the mightiest heroes in the land go up against Darth Short. Although they fight valiantly and seek allies, Darth Short is too powerful and threatens to overwhelm the land.

Fearing a slaughter at the hands of his forces, Lehman had thrown the white flag, praying for mercy and hoping its body parts wouldn't be hacked to bits and scattered across the land. And a white knight, or at least a brownish knight appeared on the scene in an attempt to rescue Lehman from non-existence. Lord Barclay, a gallant English bloke came in and offered Lehman a chance of survival, of course as an indentured servant. There was one other drawback - Lehman would have to leave its left arm, its right eyeball, and its balls behind. Reluctantly it agreed, and trudged out of Darth Short's prison looking very different from the confident warrior it had been just days before.

To save AIG, King La Redef needed to invoke the ancient magic of Touliab. But there is a price for using such powerful magic. AIG was forced to surrender all treasure and serve as a vassal and slave to the keeper of the magic, La Redef. Someday, if he worked hard and proved himself he might win his freedom back as a shell of his former self.

And the people of Acirema felt relieved. Several brave knights were defeated but the army of Darth Short had not spread. Relief reigned, at least for a little while...

For the evil that fed Darth Short was not defeated. It twisted and turned in the bowels of Em-Irp-Bus, waiting for its opportunity to attack again.

TO BE CONTINUED...