Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 4 Chapter 9 Date: Wed, 10 Dec 1997 22:03:43 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE3 : A Priestess's Temper On Wed, 10 Dec 1997 21:58:07 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002370 In alt.callahans Post # 00000583 "P. Campbell" said: On Wed, 10 Dec 1997 gamer wrote: > "Well they're already on their way so I guess we wait." Xzerrion conjures a few bright green fireballs and begins juggling while he waits. Tezrantha tries hard to maintain a stern expression. Dantris snorts and swishes his tail. > Magic IS one of the type of Metahuman powers classified by > constitutional amendment adn are rune enscripted to disrupt mana in > a small area, basically around a single figure. Priestly magic I'd > say would have a better chance of working with them on than Wizardly > would. But also as an ironic side effect the officers holding the > bands would be somewhat protected from any spells you threw at them > right now) I see. Was just curious as to whether those things would do any good if they *did* put them on these two. > A few minutes later a police car arrives and two unarmored officers > step out. They confer with teh sergant a minute and then he and the > female PSI officer walk over to the circle of SWAT members and their > objects of attention. Xzerrion bows chivalrously, stepping forward to kiss the lady's hand. Tezrantha glares at him. > "This is PSI Lemar. She will be the one playing polygraph for you > today. She is legally bound to look no place in your minds that you > have not given permission for and any information found in your mind > is inadmissable in court. She's agreed to give you a verbal pledge > if you need more." Tezrantha focuses her powers on PSI Lemar, truth-reading at high intensity. "Psi Lemar, do you swear by your gift of Sight that you will read no further than to judge the veracity of our words here today?" > (after convincing them of her good faith) > PSI Lemar touches the temples of the drow and an electricity jumps > from her fingertips causing them to jump slightly at first contact, > but then it becomes warm and soothing. > The questions are simple. Who are you. Where are you from. Why are > you here. And when they are done, she breaks contact and nods to the > sergant. then speaking softly, "They have told no lies." Xzerrion takes the opportunity to add while being scanned, for her ears alone, "And your sergeant is the most officious ass this side of Quaren. But he means well." > "Awww Shi... My kid reads those comics. Hi Kenny! Guess who I > arrested today! No I can't do that. Xzerrion and Tezrantha chuckle. "Tell you what, he can have an autograph," Xzerrion suggests, and inscribes one on a sheet of paper in authentic drow mage-runes. > Ok, here's what we can do from here. I can take you in, which will > lead to a lot of contraversy, publicity and attention which I know I > really don't want to deal with. And because of it it could take a > year to find an impartial grandy jury to even see if it's going to > trial. Or, this meeting never happened. I'll report that our > investigation proved you all are extradimentional travelers, that > throws it to INS to find and deport you. Paperwork transfer will > take a couple of days at best, and it'll probably be a week before > they come looking for you. Unless you go doing something foolish to > draw attention to yourself that is. That's the best that I can do. > Almost all of the officers still here are mine. they'll do as I > order. 'Sides, I know a couple of them read the comics too and wish > their powers were enough to be superheroes." Xzerrion sighs. "They shouldn't. Just between us, my powers aren't what they were before Quaren, but I don't miss the side effects. The price of great power is greater than most are willing to pay." =========================== Date: Thu, 11 Dec 1997 02:33:24 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Multitasking (Long) On Thu, 11 Dec 1997 05:21:14 -0500 In Message # 00002371 In alt.callahans Post # 00000584 Caprice said: At 04:04 PM 12/10/97 -0800, you wrote: >On Wed, 10 Dec 97 15:38:43 -0800 In Message # 00002367 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000580 Roland X said: > >>On Tue, 09 Dec 1997 13:07:09 -0500 In Message # 00002339 >> In alt.callahans Post # 00000552 Caprice said: >> >>Legion arches a brow. "A new ally? Well met, sir. We, are Legion. >>Save when we are one, then we are usually Caprice." > > "Haven't reconciled this world yet?" Roland asks, tracking Squee >with telepathy while watching the standoff between the Drow and the >Legislators with ESP. "Sorry to hear it. If you need any help, just >ask." "We are doing so swiftly... my dopplegangers tend to run in patterns, and this world's self is similiar to the self whose appearance I currently entertain. Adjustment will be minimal. "However I do have a living double on this world... and she is currently wanted by the law. Thankfully, they have little information on her... local authorities are unlikely to be an immediate problem." With that Legion picks up a disheartened Mischief, petting the kitten softly. =========================== Date: Thu, 11 Dec 1997 11:04:48 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: Aae: Parental problems. On Thu, 11 Dec 1997 12:16:34 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002372 In alt.callahans Post # 00000585 Driscoll said: > On Tue, 9 Dec 1997 19:05:28 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002354 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000567 The Lone One said: > > On Tue, 9 Dec 1997 gamer wrote: > >> [Oh geeze I wish I had mastered flying] Roscoe mnetally mutters as >> Squee flaps quickly out of reach. takign a quick breath Roscoe >> pauses a bit longer double checking himself as he shifts into the >> form of a hawk. Leaping off the branchs he spreads his wings and >> manages to spiral very ungracefully back to the ground. [Damnit I >> can't chase him! A 43 year old kid and I can't chase him! Help!] > > Raver's gaze tracked from the grounded Roscoe to the rapidly > disappearing Squee, and they muttered something uncomplimentary > about children under their breath. > They went down on all fours, and bounded directly into the wind > before leaping into the air. Powerful muscles stroked, and soon they > were almost on Squee, clawed hands reaching out to snatch him. > > (OOC: If Squee does get caught...) Hands gently enfolding the > bird, Raver turned, and was soon backwinging to a landing near the > rest of the CAoL. Roscoe is back with the rest of the group when she arrives and takes charge of Squee who has tunred back into a little boy. Holding him firmly by the arm, Roscoe turns to Roland [Could you do me a favor and gate us to Arcadia? Squee and I need to have a _long_ talkabout his behavior I think and I'd rather do it there. If nothing else the Guardians should be able to track and catch him for me before he can even get out of sight. Hopefully we're going to get all this straightened out and be back soon.] =========================== Date: Thu, 11 Dec 1997 12:03:18 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Multitasking (Long) On Thu, 11 Dec 1997 11:16:11 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002373 In alt.callahans Post # 00000586 "P. Campbell" said: On Thu, 11 Dec 1997, Caprice wrote: > "We are doing so swiftly... my dopplegangers tend to run in > patterns, and this world's self is similiar to the self whose > appearance I currently entertain. Adjustment will be minimal. > > "However I do have a living double on this world... and she is > currently wanted by the law. Thankfully, they have little > information on her... local authorities are unlikely to be an > immediate problem." > > With that Legion picks up a disheartened Mischief, petting the > kitten softly. Having pretty well resolved things with the sergeant and his men, Xzerrion, Tezrantha, andd Dantris take their leave of him and make use of the gate offered by Melissa and Grep to rejoin the group. Xzerrion raises an eyebrow at the sight of Nemo, and bows deeply on seeing Legion, his face carefully assuming a nonchalant expression. "Pleased that you could join us, milady. I apologize for the circumstances keeping me from greeting you earlier, but we had a ... disagreement with the local law enforcement as to the propriety of the use of magic." Dantris snuffles at the kitten sympathetically. =========================== Date: Thu, 11 Dec 1997 13:33:53 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: Aae: Parental problems. On Thu, 11 Dec 97 13:12:50 -0800 In Message # 00002374 In alt.callahans Post # 00000587 Roland X said: >On Thu, 11 Dec 1997 12:16:34 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002372 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000585 Driscoll said: > >> On Tue, 9 Dec 1997 19:05:28 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002354 >> In alt.callahans Post # 00000567 The Lone One said: >> >> Raver's gaze tracked from the grounded Roscoe to the rapidly >> disappearing Squee, and they muttered something uncomplimentary >> about children under their breath. >> They went down on all fours, and bounded directly into the >> wind before leaping into the air. Powerful muscles stroked, and >> soon they were almost on Squee, clawed hands reaching out to snatch >> him. >> >> (OOC: If Squee does get caught...) Hands gently enfolding the >> bird, Raver turned, and was soon backwinging to a landing near the >> rest of the CAoL. *Nice catch,* Roland sends. > Roscoe is back with the rest of the group when she arrives and takes >charge of Squee who has tunred back into a little boy. Holding him >firmly by the arm, Roscoe turns to Roland [Could you do me a favor >and gate us to Arcadia? Squee and I need to have a _long_ talkabout >his behavior I think and I'd rather do it there. If nothing else the >Guardians should be able to track and catch him for me before he can >even get out of sight. Hopefully we're going to get all this >straightened out and be back soon.] *Done,* Roland replies, concentrating. The air around him shimmers. *Just give the mental 'go ahead' when you're ready, and you'll be in Arcadia. And give the Dragon Guard my regards,* he adds with a chuckle. =========================== Date: Thu, 11 Dec 1997 15:33:35 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: Aae: Parental problems. On Thu, 11 Dec 1997 16:34:43 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002375 In alt.callahans Post # 00000588 Driscoll said: > On Thu, 11 Dec 97 13:12:50 -0800 In Message # 00002374 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000587 Roland X said: > > *Done,* Roland replies, concentrating. The air around him > shimmers. *Just give the mental 'go ahead' when you're ready, and > you'll be in Arcadia. And give the Dragon Guard my regards,* he adds > with a chuckle. [Will do.] Then a quick wave and the two disappear back to Arcadia. =========================== Date: Thu, 11 Dec 1997 17:18:37 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: Aae: Parental problems. On Thu, 11 Dec 1997 17:13:49 In Message # 00002376 In alt.callahans Post # 00000589 Morgan said: >On Thu, 11 Dec 1997 16:34:43 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002375 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000588 Driscoll said: > > [Will do.] > Then a quick wave and the two disappear back to Arcadia. Morgan looks around at the group. Including Roscoe, she sends, <*Well, now that we have everyone back together, it feels like time for one of my obligatory "Now what?"s. So, now what?*> =========================== Date: Thu, 11 Dec 1997 17:34:23 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: Aae: Parental problems. On Thu, 11 Dec 1997 19:29:31 -0600 In Message # 00002378 In alt.callahans Post # 00000591 Michael Jon Knight said: >On Thu, 11 Dec 1997 16:34:43 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002375 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000588 Driscoll said: > [Will do.] > Then a quick wave and the two disappear back to Arcadia. Knytt waves his hand over the crystal globe he is holding and the 3-d map vanishes. A moment later, the small ball he threw in the air lands softly in his outstretched palm. He tucks the ball away and is about to tuck the crystal globe away when he stops and looks at it. "Pretty," Melissa says. "Like a larger version of the crystal ball set in the hilt of the original Gateway Katana." "Yes," Knytt says, "that's exactly what it is." Knytt watches the glittering gems and gold set in the center of the clear sphere as he twists it in the light. The gold flashes in the sunlight, reflecting back into his eyes, being bent and tinted as it passes through first the red, then green, then blue crystals. Knytt stares at the lights as he turns the globe in his hands. Red. Green. Blue. Gold. Green. Red. Gold. Blue. "Father!" Melissa and Grep exclaim in surprise as Knytt suddenly goes limp, collapsing under his own weight, his eyes rolling to the back of his head. They catch him almost immediately, and Melissa takes the crystal ball from his hands just as he is about to drop it. A moment later, Knytt gasps suddenly, as his eyes snap back into focus. He staggers, trying to regain his balance, and shakes his head roughly, trying to clear the fog. Breathing hard, his eyes dart around as his mind starts remembering where it is. Knytt tries not to lean on the twins, but it's obvious he needs their help to stand. Slowly, Knytt's mind and body start acting like the integrated machine they were a moment before. Knytt's voice is rough and winded, "Haven't had one of those since I was a kid. Maybe only 25." "What was it?" Grep asks. "I saw a man in a green cloak, reminded me of Tolkien's description of Aragorn's. He had a broadsword. It felt familiar, as familiar as you two are in my mind. I fell backwards, onto a grassy river bank. Then I was back here." Knytt stands, the twins protesting. "I'm fine." he says. "It's just a dream. It just caught me off guard." Taking the crystal ball back and tucking it into his cloak, Knytt looks around. "Okay, everyone here? So, now we split up? Er, well there's no point. Nemo's scan says they aren't here. So, now wha-er, oh, Morgan beat me to it." =========================== Date: Thu, 11 Dec 1997 18:48:28 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: Aae: Parental problems. On Thu, 11 Dec 1997 21:22:58 EST In Message # 00002379 In alt.callahans Post # 00000592 Dane0R0A said: << Morgan said: >On Thu, 11 Dec 1997 16:34:43 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002375 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000588 Driscoll said: > > [Will do.] > Then a quick wave and the two disappear back to Arcadia. >> The Stardragon sends just to Roscoe /If my ability to look through time will help, you only need ask./ << Morgan looks around at the group. Including Roscoe, she sends, <*Well, now that we have everyone back together, it feels like time for one of my obligatory "Now what?"s. So, now what?*> >> /Uh, Iron Man is still missing, Morgan/ The Stardragon sends. =========================== Date: Fri, 12 Dec 1997 12:07:50 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE IV: Immortality (Looong) On Fri, 12 Dec 97 11:48:49 -0800 In Message # 00002382 In alt.callahans Post # 00000595 Roland X said: >On Sat, 6 Dec 1997 08:49:04 EST In Message # 00002280 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000493 Dane0R0A said: > >/Yes, I know they are children, but they showed great maturity in >their chosen method of handling the situation. > >You are correct, it is not possible for The Stardragon to die. Even >should the Guardians fail and The Adversary gain control of The >Stardragon, and destroy all that is, The Stardragon would still >exist. And we have destroyed on a scale larger that a few individuals >only when there was no other choice/ Oracle replies. (OOC: Cue Highlander music as Roland has a flashback...switch to 'Return of the Jedi' score when scene fades in...) *It's too much!* "Hold it together, Blaze!" Hal Jordan shouted, the two warriors of Will holding vast energies around them. "This is the last stand!" The Green Lantern and the Freelance Immortal stood at the head of a vast collection of energy-wielding superbeings, standing on a disc-like asteroid. A group of superscientists and related powered forces hovered around a blue-white star. Within a sphere of vastly complex wards floated a vast force of mystics. And an army of champions from the mightiest forces in a dozen realities swarmed around... ...power incarnate. "SINCE MY BIRTH TEM BILLION YEARS AGO, I HAVE NOT KNOWN DEFEAT. A THOUSAND UNIVERSES BEFORE YOURS PERISHED WITHOUT RESISTANCE. BUT YOU REFUSED TO DIE. I WAS TO ENLARGE MY ANTI-MATTER UNIVERSE, TO HAVE IT REPLACE ALL OTHER UNIVERSES... "A THOUSAND MEANINGLESS VICTORIES BECAUSE YOU RESISTED MY EFFORTS TO DESTROY YOU.@ (@ From Crisis 12-written by Marv Wolfman.) "A TOKEN FORCE OF HUMANS SUCCEEDS WHERE UNTOLD POWERS HAVE FAILED. I OFFER YOU MY CONGRATULATIONS. I ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR PERSISTENCE. YOUR WILL TO LIVE IS ASTONISHING. "BUT IT ULTIMATELY CHANGES NOTHING." "YOUR WORLD MUST DIE."@ "Yea yea yea, heard it all before," Blaze muttered, his head bursting with telepathic communication. *Hope you guys get this one over with fast...* *They're working on it,* Saturn Girl replied from the telepaths' sanctuary, *but he's so sprocking _powerful!_* "Power is not the issue," Luthor-1 said calmly, as he, Brainiac 5, Reed Richards, Batman, Dr. Destroyer, Nikola Tesla, Sylia Stingray, Dr. Doom, Warmaster Jha'dur, and Zor worked feverishly inside the Macross. "Control is. If we can weaken the Anti-Monitor's control of his energies, we can defeat him." *Unless he kills us first,* Gaunt noted dryly. "There is that," Luthor-1 agreed. "Wait-we have something! A pattern!" "Time travellers-GO!" Batman commanded. A half-dozen Flashes, a hundred time machines, and several innate masters of the time stream began to warp time itself around the Anti-Monitor. "WHAT-?! YOU CANNOT! I AM SUPREME!" "No you are NOT!" Superman-1 said, slamming into the Anti-Monitor's chin. Tendrils of power simply vanished, energies coming into being and fading out, warping around it randomly. "NO! DIE!!!" The Anti-Monitor lashes back, striking at the time controllers. *Light! They need us! We have to move!* Blaze thought desperately into the wavering mind link. "Wait for it..." Hal said. More energy surrounded the warriors, gathered from the Anti-Monitor's own attacks. The armored techno-knights, superhumans, enchanted warriors, and matter masters increased their attacks on the Anti-Monitor. *Now?* "_Wait_ for it..." The power around the energy-wielders began to exceed the capacity of their camouflage, a large black hole, to conceal...and the pain began. *NOW?!* "NOW!!!" The black hole flew into the Anti-Monitor, vanishing almost instantly. The energy blast that followed it tore into the Anti-Monitor. "NO! THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE! THERE IS NO ENERGY THAT I CANNOT CONTROL!!" the Anti-Monitor wailed. *Maybe not,* the collective energy being they had become replied, *but the same can be said of _us._ Surrender.* The nature of the blast quickly became clear; it had 'loosened' the Anti-Monitor's power and was returning it to the universes from which it had been stolen. The genius of the minds within the SDF-1 restored it to its original condition, restoring the realities-for the most part-as they had been before the Anti-Monitor had devoured them. Though even the combined powers were unable to save all whom the Anti-Monitor had murdered, hundreds of realities flickered back into existence. "NEVER! I AM THE MONITOR! I AM BEYOND EVEN THE POWERS OF YOUR GODS!" The anti-energy lashed back at the hundreds of collected champions, threatening to disperse them, but somehow, they held together. "Is that so." Above the androgynous energy-humanoid appeared pairs of primal forces. Highfather and Darkseid. A Vorlon and a Shadow. Q and Apollo. Galactus and Eon. Excalibur and Stormbringer. "Let us see," Darkseid said, "if you are beyond _this,_ invader." They attacked. The Anti-Monitor screamed as their combined powers tore at raw reality. It faded, wavered... ...and held together. "SHADOW DEMONS, RETURN TO YOUR MASTER." Earth-1... All over the world, those heroes whose powers were insufficient to fighting the Anti-Monitor directly protected an innocent world from his wrath...antimatter 'shadow' humanoids that killed whatever they touched in mindless mutual destruction. Allied with heroes from other worlds and the villains from their own, they held a desperate line against Oblivion incarnate. The creatures fled. "Is it just me," Spider-Man wheezed, dangling from the Daily Planet's famous orb side-by-side with Plastic Man, "or did we just win?" Elsewhere... "I HAVE ABSORBED THE REST OF MY UNIVERSE. ONCE AGAIN I AM OMNIPOTENT-" The Anti-Monitor glowed a brilliant green. "-WH-WHAT!?!" The wards around the sorcerers vanished. "You were TRICKED, monster!" Superman-2 said, punctuating his sentence with a punch that finally tore through the creature's armor. "The mystics enchanted your hitmen! The moment you reabsorbed them, they turned to _positive_ energy!" "NO! I AM STill more poWERFul than aNY OF you-" the Anti-Monitor roared. "But not all of us." The attack shattered the Anti-Monitor's physical form, leaving a seething ball of fiery energy. "Nor are you truly the most powerful being here any longer," Dr. Strange and Green Lantern-2 said in unison, their capes floating aside to reveal... ...the Spectre. The Anti-Monitor recoiled in true fear. "No! NO! I defeated you-" "MONITOR!" The Spectre roared. "You have defiled more than any other in ten thousand worlds! You may have escaped my wrath before, with your power to destroy galaxies, but now you shall meet JUSTICE!" And with that, the divine agent of vengeance surged forward, wrapped itself around the murderous energies of the Anti-Monitor... ...and they both vanished. The energy-knight collapsed. Blaze turned to the nearest fellow psychokinetic, who happened to be the Ray. "We did it." Everyone stopped a moment, as dozens of others made the same comment to those beside them. Then, all in unison... "WE DID IT!!!" (OOC: Highlander encore. Music fades out with scene. Return to present. I've wanted to write that scene for a _long_ time.) "Trust me, Oracle. I'm an immortal, and I can honestly say that nothing short of a soul is beyond death." >>Knytt wrote: >> Privately to the CAoL, excluding the Stardragon for obvious >> reasons, Knytt sends in a slightly bewildered and awed tone, /I >> -never- expected their program to get this subtle. The girls have >> some good role models...Despite the bouts of paranoia,/ Knytt adds >> with a mental wink. *Easy for _you_ to say!* Roland responds, exasperated. *But they _are_ amazing.* >> Knytt holds the twins as Grep turns her face to Oracle. "We are >> sorry if we gave you a false impression. We respect your goals, but >> can not enforce your methods." >> >> Melissa sniffles, obviously the more shaken of the two. "We are not >> certain we even understand them." *Sometimes,* Roland says slowly, showing Melissa bits of his flashback, *sacrifices are necessary.* =========================== Date: Fri, 12 Dec 1997 12:08:05 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: The Face of the Enemy On Fri, 12 Dec 97 12:02:28 -0800 In Message # 00002383 In alt.callahans Post # 00000596 Roland X said: >On Wed, 10 Dec 1997 08:31:22 -0600 In Message # 00002363 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000576 Michael Jon Knight said: > >>On Tue, 9 Dec 97 22:04:16 -0800 In Message # 00002355 >> In alt.callahans Post # 00000568 Roland X said: >> >> *Except for one, they are each _less_ powerful than I. Together, >>however, they are formidable. As for delaying them, I intend to do >>so by simply preventing them from knowing my plans until it is far >>too late. Which is where you come in. Simply involve them in this >>world's troubles. You may even appear to aid them, if you wish. But >>_delay_ them. They consider themselves 'heroes.' Direct them at one >>of your less sanguine enemies, if you must. The xenophobic >>Skix'tasis, perhaps. Or the woman Anna Mahloy; she is somehow >>involved with one of their number as an adversary.* > >"I do not know of this 'Mahloy' of whom you speak, though I can guess >who she is. The Skix'tasis...another interesting possibility. Perhaps >I could assist you, after all..." > >Arnaska strokes his chin for a moment. "You asked what I wanted in >return. I do not enjoy physical violence, and to delay your enemies >for any length of time will require planning and subterfuge beyond my >meager pitance from the Gods. I would be plotting in a court where >politicing is considered child's play." Arnaska smiles at that. "As >our boy King can prove easily." > >"Very well, Magical One, let us deal in 'good faith'. To accomplish >what you ask, I will have to be smarter than your most intelligent >enemy. In 'good faith', I ask you to choose your most strategicly >skilled adversary and make me 10 times his better. Then I would >simply ask 30 days to plot my trap." *The nature of the timestream makes what you ask difficult, but not impossible. The mental alterations are simple enough, of course, but my other attempts to delay them may not come to that amount of time in your reality. If such takes place...the first target in my quest is time-travel capability. I will ensure that you get your 30 days. Agreed?* =========================== Date: Fri, 12 Dec 1997 13:04:01 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE: Things change On Fri, 12 Dec 97 12:47:37 -0800 In Message # 00002384 In alt.callahans Post # 00000597 Roland X said: The Antiverse, a little while ago... KnightMare looks at its prisoners with an intense curiosity. Sil and Zenn stare back, their spirit forms still and unblinking in their crystal cylinders. *You are fascinating, you know,* KnightMare sends conversationally. *An astral construct and a creature of the Dreaming. Each of you is a wonder in and of yourself, but that you were together peacefully...astounding.* *I'm flattered,* Sil replied sarcastically. *Amazing at this may sound, you will thank me later.* *Oh great,* Zenn adds, *a _crusading_ socio- path. Just what I needed to complete my collection of 'types of villain I've been kidnapped by.' You're too kind.* *Your irony is unnecessary,* KnightMare sighs. *Only your presence-eh?* Footprints appear on the monitor, but with no image creating them. *How odd.* KnightMare recalibrates for full EM spectrum, psychic imprint, magickal essence. Only sound is transmitted. >"Hello, I believe I could be of some assistance." *How annoying,* KnightMare thinks with a growl. It turns its attention to the very surprised Roland... Nemo said... >>>I said... >>> "Can you now," Roland says dryly. "Nice entrance, by the way. >>> So, if you don't mind my asking, who the hell are you, what are >>>you doing here, and how did you find us?" Roland's staying calm >>>about it, but anyone who can tell (safe bet that includes the >>>visitor ) can sense him putting up all his shields. And he's got >>>a few of them. 8^) > >"You may call me Nemo. "eep!" Actually, the above sound is a cross between a choking sound and a Shadow scream, only not quite so loud. >I am here to offer my assistannce and for personal reasons as well. I >was observing this ficton and became aware of the altercation you >were involved in earlier. Following was elementary." *MORIARTY!* KnightMare appears in Moriarty's chamber again. *Here!* It provides the crime lord with the mental procesing power equivalent to what he would have received after three days of delaying the CAoL in this reality. *The situation has altered drastically. Delay them. I care not how, nor what resources you must draw on, but DELAY them! Keep them away from my plans!* KnightMare drops a small box on Moriarty's desk, then vanishes. (OOC: The box is a large supply of nanites, configured to match 30th century DC reality specs. They can create superbeings or enhance those already in existence.) *THORNE!!!* Adrian Thorne appears in KnightMare's Antiversal chamber, dressed in ritual robes and wielding an evil-looking scalpel. "Y-yes, master?" *We cannot wait for the calibrations on the X-Window to reach exact precision.* Thorne's eyes bulge. "But-but KnightMare! You said we could not risk even the slightest devia-" *I know what I said. The situation has changed. COME!* One pincer/tentacle grabs Thorne and they both vanish. The DC Universe. Zero Hour is coming. "This is bad." Kyle Rayner watched at the entropy field closed in on Earth. /I don't think this was in the user's manual,/ he thought nervously, looking at the ring on his finger. A portal opened beside him. "Who-?" he began to ask. A scream filled his mind. "YAAA-" The Shadow Brand pierced his chest. *Quickly,* KnightMare sent to Thorne, *steal his essence and give me the ring!* "You're lucky that Blaze doesn't like you," Thorne said as he pulled the Brand from Rayner's limp body. "Otherwise I'd take out a great many frustrations on you." He sliced off the finger with the last GL ring still on it. KnightMare snatched it out of the sky and slipped one tentacle into it, 'reading' the essence from the Shadow Brand and overlaying it onto the ring. *Now, do my bidding,* it said. *Find the Cosmic Treadmill!* A giant green map appeared. 'You are here' was shining over New York. 'CT' appeared over the Mid-west, in Keystone City. Another portal appeared and they vanished. Kyle shuddered, rolled over, and rose- -and stared, wide-eyed, at the entropy coming at him...then vanished in an emerald flare. *Ah. The Treadmill. Thorne, your belt.* "Um, yes, my lord." Thorne tapped his belt, a mirror of Roland's, and the Reverse-Flash stood in the Flash museum with KnightMare. He leapt onto the Treadmill. "Shall we go?" *Not yet. There is one more stop we must make. This reality will soon have never existed. We must take advantage of the fact that paradox is meaningless here. Run.* The Treadmill vanished. The Antiverse... *It's no use. I can't budge it. Sil?* Silver Phoenix shook her head. *Sorry, Zenn. I'm not having any more luck than you.* She slumped back in her cylinder. *What is that bastard Shadow _up_ to, anyway?* KnightMare, Thorne, and the Treadmill appeared in the floating miasma that was its base. *Ah, success. Your race is right, Thorne-nothing ventured, nothing gained.* Sil stared in shock. *By the Primal Phoenix! KnightMare, what have you DONE?* KnightMare smiled, admiring the Power Ring, the Cosmic Treadmill, and the golden helmet of Nabu, Lord of Order, master of Fate. *Taken my first step to victory.* =========================== Date: Sat, 13 Dec 1997 13:03:44 -0800 (PST) Subject: Aae:Damsels in Distress On Sat, 13 Dec 1997 14:12:54 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002386 In alt.callahans Post # 00000599 Driscoll said: (OK I'm going to take up a kinda offer from before the posts that went boom and have Iron Man spot Rhiannon if Shadow doesn't have ay troubles with that, otherwise cut her out of this post in your minds. ;-) ) Iron Man, just moments too late to see Xzerrion and Co leave, watches the quickly thinning group of police below trying to decide whether or not to go inside looking for the group. Then he manages to spot a familiar face down below. Kicking in the boot jets, he leaps off the rooftop and lands on the sidewalk nearby. Several police officers turn and begin to aim weapons, but the sergant waves them down and they go back to leaving. #Well found... umm... uh oh what was her name anyways Jim? She's new I'm not sure.# #And you think *I* had more formal introductions than you did?# #Ok point taken.# "Hi there. Remember me? Iron Man? Ummm The rest of the Army of Light kind of vanished into thin air leaving me in the lurch. I came here looking for them, Saw Driss just as he vanished away and then spotted you while I was figuring out what to do next." While they're standing there, a civilian car pulls up and two women step out. The older one walks around to the driver's hand window, says something and hands something to the driver, then he pulls the car away and drives off. They both then look around nervously, finally locking on Iron Man and Rhiannon and make a bee-line for the two. "Oh thank the goddess the map was right! I remember seeing you on TV. You're part of the Army of Light aren't you? I was hoping to find you. I'm Isla deLume and this is my apprentice. We need your help." #ISLA???? She must have woken up when my old body was destroyed. But how on Earth did she get _here_???# #Hold it. You're thinking I know people I don't again. Who's Isla?# #She is... was...the Controller from the other reality had a plan to go back in time and get Driss's ladylove to blackmail him with... and he did... but he got the wrong one and it failed... I think... but I succeeded aswell.. Ummmm gawd this has never happened before, it's like I have two different sets of memories about a single event shuffled together. But she was the one who killed Driss's finace'. I think.# #Justin, I hold you in high regard being a part of you and all but that made no sense whatsoever. I can't compute it.# #I'm not sure I can either to tell teh truth. btu the question still is there what is she doing here form Quaren and what should we do abotu it?# #Well maybe if you quit talking to me and listen to her it'd help.# Isla, oblivious of Iron Man's internal plight explains her dilemma. "I am a sorceress, Priestess of the great mother goddess Ligi, and one granted much favor by her. I come from a place called Quaren. I know there are some others in your group I recognised from there. That's why I came. My apprentice was cursed. She grasped the evil sword of Darath the Black many years ago, and lost her soul to it. The bastard Darath's soul now possesses her. But with an incantation and a sliver of metal from the damned sword I have been able to keep his soul under control. Anyways I developed a plan concerning her and the sword and so we went to a very old and powerful wizard to seek out his power for my cause. But instead he cast us vicously through a portal to this acursed world with no way back. I never even knew such a hell as this existed. Obviously if you were in my world as well as this, at least one of your number knows hte secret of walking between world. I want to go home again but I must have this secret first or else Gregorian may cast me out again, exiling me to an even worse place. Oh PLEASE say you will give sanctuary to us? I will be more than happy to make my magics available to you and yours until I have what I need to return home. PLease don't desert us here!" She is nearly in tears adn with a brave sniffle looks up into Rhiannon's face. (OOC note, anyone listening in over hte link with truth sense, there's not a lie in that. Am I a bastich or what?) =========================== Date: Sat, 13 Dec 1997 18:48:48 -0800 (PST) Subject: OOC note On Sat, 13 Dec 1997 20:01:52 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002387 In alt.callahans Post # 00000600 Driscoll said: Going through some posts I had saved for one reason or another and trying to figure out why I saved them, I ran across one from Martin a while back comparing Roland's Pan and Chaos. The thing that I just wanted to comment on is he sent the message IC telepathicly over the link "excluding Driscoll". Just wanted to remind people Driscoll isn't ON any of hte links. He may have gotten a lens in 2 I don't rememebr, but that Driscoll is another 800 years down the road and dead. When he responded to (I can never remeber how to spell this) Dhrchlanc's question of what he should lok like in this fiction, dragon human or inbetween, he got answered telepathicly because Driss is Chaos right now and Chaos really doesn't need to be in the link to listen in anyways. ;-) (I think back in the wedding when Driss fixed Morgan and Roland's private link he mentioned only one person he could think of who could break it now and he didn't know how to keep Him out anyways, well the Psi-link isn't as secured as theirs is. ;-) ) Just a note from we the linkless. ;-) Oh and I think Martin also mentioned getting a comic to see what the lensdragon looked like in it. so here you go I forgot to post it and deleted the message I had to respond to anyways. Doh The comic depiction of the loveable lensdragon is anything but. The artist seems to have been on a bad acid trip when first drawign him. The red color is right, but past that... He's depicted looking very ferocious with long sharp teeth dripping some kidn of either vemon or blood. Long claws wrap themselves around the hilt of a jaggededged glowing Claymore. Strange high tech things are strapped to his arms and legs. A row of spikes make their way along his spine, and smaller ones can be seen on individual scales in some of hte more detailed drawings. Huge black bat-like wings and a tail ending in what looks like a mace finishes out the picture. There's also an ad for a line of action figures made by Playmates in one of the newer issues as well as a teaser for an upcoming CAoL movie starring Pierce Brosnan (I really need to learn how to spell) as Roland and Lucy Lawless as Morgan. =========================== Date: Sat, 13 Dec 1997 23:32:14 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: OOC: Re: Aae:Damsels in Distress On Sat, 13 Dec 1997 23:25:37 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002392 In alt.callahans Post # 00000605 fuzzy said: > On Sat, 13 Dec 1997 20:51:04 In Message # 00002391 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000604 Morgan said: > >>On Sat, 13 Dec 1997 14:12:54 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002386 >> In alt.callahans Post # 00000599 Driscoll said: > >> (OOC note, anyone listening in over hte link with truth sense, >>there's not a lie in that. Am I a bastich or what?) > > OOC: Um, unless I'm mistaken, neither Iron Man nor Rhiannon is on > any of the links, and I don't think anyone's monitoring them. So > that kinda cuts down the chances of anyone using truthsense. The Iron Man Split is in the astral of Iron Man's immediate area, and observing primarily to know when to retrieve him, it has noticed Rhiannon's proximity for pick-up in case of emergency Nemisis would have replayed the data to the link and provided relay from the Split as soon as Quaren was mentioned. > Or, to put it another way, if you want any of us to respond to any > of this, you need to make sure we're _aware_ of it :-). > > And, BTW, we're not inclined to take the "or what" option ;-). Well we might take the 'Or What' option if we could think of something properly vile. ;) =========================== Date: Sun, 14 Dec 1997 04:19:33 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE: Remodelling On Sun, 14 Dec 1997 00:48:14 PST In Message # 00002396 In alt.callahans Post # 00000609 Nemo said: After the prodigals return, but before "Iron Man" shows up, Nemo speaks to the assembled group. "It is my understanding that you wish to keep this location as a refuge in time of need. And that some of you are not pleased with the thought of having such a refuge upon this world, given the current and likely future social conditions." "If you will permit me, I can resolve this dilemma. The valley *will* be a refuge for you and any others worthy of such refuge, and will not be known, much less accessible to others." Nemo doesn't move, but somehow you *know* he is examining the valley and its surroundings. How far his idea of "surroundings" extends, you can't guess. Then there's an odd sensation of "doubling" and at the same time an indescribable "quiver" in the fabric of the universe that is over as soon as it's begun. Almost as if the universe had been *struck* and and the vibrations from the impact stilled as soon as they began. Everything looks the same, yet at the same time different (except for Stardragon, who doesn't see anything change). Sort of a "double image" or "out of focus" effect that you can't put your finger on. Nemo speaks. His voice has an odd, compelling tone. Almost like a Command. "You are still *exactly* where you were." \You are still *exactly* where you were.\ *You are still *exactly* where you were.* #You are still *exactly* where you were.# All are simultaneous. And you suspect that the statement was made on other levels you can't perceive. As he speaks the doubling/blurring vanishes. "This area of spacetime now has a dual valued co-ordinate system. It is exactly where it was. But so is the same area as it would be if we had never been here." "For the right people either area may be chosen as their location. For all others only the *other* area exists. My statement of your position collapsed our wave function into the correct place." "Have no fears of the security of this place. I will watch it while it exists." If anyone tries, they can perceive the "other" place. And if they do, they see Nemo, dressed as he was originally, hiking out of the valley. But when they shift their perceptions to the refuge, he's still there. =========================== Date: Sun, 14 Dec 1997 14:34:06 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: Aae:Damsels in Distress On Sun, 14 Dec 1997 14:04:56 In Message # 00002405 In alt.callahans Post # 00000618 Morgan said: >On Sat, 13 Dec 1997 14:12:54 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002386 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000599 Driscoll said: > > While they're standing there, a civilian car pulls up and two women >step out. The older one walks around to the driver's hand window, >says something and hands something to the driver, then he pulls the >car away and drives off. > They both then look around nervously, finally locking on Iron Man >and Rhiannon and make a bee-line for the two. "Oh thank the goddess >the map was right! I remember seeing you on TV. You're part of the >Army of Light aren't you? I was hoping to find you. I'm Isla deLume >and this is my apprentice. We need your help." Morgan, who was only marginally monitoring the two in LA, starts at the name and pays more attention. *Morgan?* Roland asks. > Isla, oblivious of Iron Man's internal plight explains her dilemma. >"I am a sorceress, Priestess of the great mother goddess Ligi, and >one granted much favor by her. I come from a place called Quaren. I >know there are some others in your group I recognised from there. >That's why I came. My apprentice was cursed. She grasped the evil >sword of Darath the Black many years ago, and lost her soul to it. >The bastard Darath's soul now possesses her. But with an incantation >and a sliver of metal from the damned sword I have been able to keep >his soul under control. Anyways I developed a plan concerning her and >the sword and so we went to a very old and powerful wizard to seek >out his power for my cause. But instead he cast us vicously through a >portal to this acursed world with no way back. I never even knew such >a hell as this existed. Obviously if you were in my world as well as >this, at least one of your number knows hte secret of walking between >world. I want to go home again but I must have this secret first or >else Gregorian may cast me out again, exiling me to an even worse >place. Oh PLEASE say you will give sanctuary to us? I will be more >than happy to make my magics available to you and yours until I have >what I need to return home. PLease don't desert us here!" > She is nearly in tears adn with a brave sniffle looks up into >Rhiannon's face. Morgan sends, <*_Now_ I know why that face was familiar. I remember her from stories Dris told me. She killed his girlfriend out of jealousy, then he killed her. _Before_ he became a god. We tread _very_ carefully with this one, folx.*> *Oh grife. Another fine mess. Well, either way, we can't leave her here with that sword to a) run amok trying to get home, or b) get into deeper trouble, on the off chance she's being sincere. What are the odds of her being exiled, acausally, to the same dimension the Controller sent us to? Especially since we now know he was lying...this whole thing reeks. *Not that we have much choice. It's our mess, and I guess we have to clean it up.* Roland sighs. Morgan looks questioningly at her beloved. <*Aroo? _Our_ mess? How's she _our_ mess?*> *She was almost certainly sent here to be put in our path. It's not our 'fault,' but it _is_ our responsibility. This world has enough problems.* Morgan shrugs in assent as Roland checks the belt rolled up in one pocket. <*So, dear, what do you propose we _do_ about this?*> *She wants help?* Roland's eyes narrow. *There's an old saying: 'Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.' If she's on the level, we can help them get back home. If not...* Roland does a quick assessment of the CAoL's present power level. *I think we can handle them. *OTOH,* Roland adds, noting Morgan's comment about Isla's supposed status, *the Isla that killed Driscoll's girlfriend is supposed to be dead. Now, having been dead a few times myself, I know that death is not necessarily permanent. But I'm sure that Driss would have checked just _how_ dead this Isla was.* Roland sighs. *Maybe I'm just a sucker for a damsel in distress...* Morgan sends a quick montage of images of Roland's responses to: her dead in Arcadia, imprisoned in Gaunt's mansion, tied to the Controller's lab table, falling under the influence of the sigil demon.... <*Maybe?!*> she sends with a grin. Roland blushes (tm). =========================== Date: Sun, 14 Dec 1997 19:33:52 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: Aae:Damsels in Distress On Sun, 14 Dec 1997 22:26:55 -0500 (EST) In Message # 00002408 In alt.callahans Post # 00000621 Shadow said: > On Sat, 13 Dec 1997 14:12:54 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002386 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000599 Driscoll said: > > "Hi there. Remember me? Iron Man? Ummm The rest of the Army of > Light kind of vanished into thin air leaving me in the lurch. I came > here looking for them, Saw Driss just as he vanished away and then > spotted you while I was figuring out what to do next." "Yeah, they've been doing that a lot lately. I know where they're at, though." > She is nearly in tears adn with a brave sniffle looks up into > Rhiannon's face. > > (OOC note, anyone listening in over hte link with truth sense, > there's not a lie in that. Am I a bastich or what?) OOC: While Rhiannon is on the link, she's withdrew herself from it a while ago to fume at the Stardragon. And while she could handle this herself she doesn't know if she's trustworthy. Rhiannon blinks at her for a moment, then says, "Sure. Let me just get in touch with the others and I'll see what we can do." =========================== Date: Sun, 14 Dec 1997 19:49:52 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE3 : A Priestess's Temper On Sun, 14 Dec 1997 22:35:56 -0500 (EST) In Message # 00002409 In alt.callahans Post # 00000622 Shadow said: On Wed, 10 Dec 1997 gamer wrote: > "Awww Shi... My kid reads those comics. Hi Kenny! Guess who I > arrested today! No I can't do that. Ok, here's what we can do from > here. I can take you in, which will lead to a lot of contraversy, > publicity and attention which I know I really don't want to deal > with. And because of it it could take a year to find an impartial > grandy jury to even see if it's going to trial. Or, this meeting > never happened. I'll report that our investigation proved you all > are extradimentional travelers, that throws it to INS to find and > deport you. Paperwork transfer will take a couple of days at best, > and it'll probably be a week before they come looking for you. > Unless you go doing something foolish to draw attention to yourself > that is. That's the best that I can do. Almost all of the officers > still here are mine. they'll do as I order. 'Sides, I know a couple > of them read the comics too and wish their powers were enough to be > superheroes." Rhiannon listens to this carefully, "While I don't have the authority to negotiate for this group, that would most likely be the best course of action. Though if they stay im this dimension they will most likely draw attention to themselves." She gives a wry smile that the officer likely to commiserate with as she says, "Now I have some paperwork to submit on this latest incident, so I must be off." She pulls out her D-hopper and transports herself nearby to make sure Xzerrion and co leave safely. =========================== Date: Sun, 14 Dec 1997 19:50:14 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: The Face of the Enemy On Sun, 14 Dec 1997 22:46:46 -0500 (EST) In Message # 00002411 In alt.callahans Post # 00000624 Shadow said: > On Tue, 9 Dec 97 22:04:24 -0800 In Message # 00002356 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000569 Roland X said: > > *Oh, one more thing. You have mages in your service, do you not?* > KnightMare asks casually. *It would...interest me to learn what some > of them are capable of. You will, of course, be compensated for this > service, should you agree.* > Thorne looks outraged. "Master-" > *You shall be my right hand, as always,* KnightMare added. *So > long as you do not question me.* > Thorne bows his head, chagrined. "Forgive me, master." > *Underlings,* KnightMare shrugged. Jadis smiles, "There are underlings, then there are underlings. Jyhadaen!," he calls, and an albino reptilian humanoid enters the room, "These are my own special creations, utterly loyal if somewhat fanatical. I have many mages in my employ, however, and no disrespect to you, I would prefer that you not be constantly taking, examining, or distracting them while they go about my business. I could loan you one who doesn't have heavy duties, unless you have something or someone specific in mind? =========================== Date: Sun, 14 Dec 1997 20:34:06 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: The Face of the Enemy On Sun, 14 Dec 1997 20:26:21 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002413 In alt.callahans Post # 00000626 "P. Campbell" said: On Sun, 14 Dec 1997, Shadow wrote: > Jadis smiles, "There are underlings, then there are underlings. > Jyhadaen!," he calls, and an albino reptilian humanoid enters the > room, "These are my own special creations, utterly loyal if somewhat > fanatical. I have many mages in my employ, however, and no > disrespect to you, I would prefer that you not be constantly taking, > examining, or distracting them while they go about my business. I > could loan you one who doesn't have heavy duties, unless you have > something or someone specific in mind? About then, an elven figure in a black cloak, black tunic with gold trim, and black hose makes an apearance among the villains. "I have been observing for some time, and believe your interests and mine coincide for the moment," he comments. "My name is ... M'Lausa Eilservs." =========================== Date: Sun, 14 Dec 1997 20:48:46 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAEIV : While things are a bit quiet ... On Sun, 14 Dec 1997 20:32:23 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002414 In alt.callahans Post # 00000627 "P. Campbell" said: Xzerrion takes a moment to speak to Mandy/Raver. "To some extent, I understand what you're going through. In most of my career, I've held a precarious balance in accepting power from an Abyssal power without being controlled by it. Recently, in the battle in Quaren, that link was shattered. If there's anything I can do to make things easier for you, let me know. We try to help each other out here, whenever we can." =========================== Date: Sun, 14 Dec 1997 22:03:51 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: Aae:Damsels in Distress On Mon, 15 Dec 1997 00:41:26 EST In Message # 00002415 In alt.callahans Post # 00000628 Dane0R0A said: << Morgan (and Roland?) wrote: *She wants help?* Roland's eyes narrow. *There's an old saying: 'Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.' If she's on the level, we can help them get back home. If not...* Roland does a quick assessment of the CAoL's present power level. *I think we can handle them. *OTOH,* Roland adds, noting Morgan's comment about Isla's supposed status, *the Isla that killed Driscoll's girlfriend is supposed to be dead. Now, having been dead a few times myself, I know that death is not necessarily permanent. But I'm sure that Driss would have checked just _how_ dead this Isla was.* Roland sighs. *Maybe I'm just a sucker for a damsel in distress...* >> The Stardragon sends /It would be simple to send them to the new Quaren, but the sword must be destroyed. I insist. I can try to reach back in time to the point where the child grabbed the sword and pull her spirit forward to now, strengthen it and assist it in pushing Darath the Black's spirit out. Then and only then the sword must be destroyed, completely. I would be interested in finding how the sword managed to survive, and how Isla happened to be able to get a sliver of it, without being cursed herself. Hmmmm/. The Stardragon gestures, and a silvery circle appears in mid air. Another gesture and the scene just before Darath the Black ran Fuzzy through appears in the circle. A third gesture and the screen seems to fast forward. Fuzzy gets stabbed there is a flash of light and then it blurs so fast that only the pieces of the sword, with sand flowing onto them can be seen. Then suddenly they disappear. The Stardragon gestures and the scene backs up to the point where the peices disappear from view. Isla is there and the little girl holding the sword. Back a little further and Isla is seen performing the ritual that recreated the sword, and forcing the girl to grasp the sword. It sends /This woman dies./ The words carry a cold anger that promises a slow painful end for the source of that anger. =========================== Date: Mon, 15 Dec 1997 00:49:00 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: Aae:Damsels in Distress On Mon, 15 Dec 1997 00:41:19 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002418 In alt.callahans Post # 00000631 fuzzy said: > On Mon, 15 Dec 1997 00:41:26 EST In Message # 00002415 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000628 Dane0R0A said: > > Stardragon gestures and the scene backs up to the point where the > peices disappear from view. Isla is there and the little girl > holding the sword. Back a little further and Isla is seen performing > the ritual that recreated the sword, and forcing the girl to grasp > the sword. It sends /This woman dies./ The words carry a cold anger > that promises a slow painful end for the source of that anger. \Simplest is best, Besides, Pain is only useful if the target survives to learn something from it... :| You deal you the Girl-child, that is beyond my ability... I will see to it that The Corrupt One and that Damned Sword are made aware of the Gravity of their transgresions...\ An image of a neutron star flickers in Fuzzy's mind. =========================== Date: Mon, 15 Dec 1997 14:33:58 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAEIV : While things are a bit quiet ... On Mon, 15 Dec 1997 15:32:02 -0600 In Message # 00002422 In alt.callahans Post # 00000635 The Lone One said: > On Sun, 14 Dec 1997 20:32:23 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002414 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000627 "P. Campbell" said: > > Xzerrion takes a moment to speak to Mandy/Raver. "To some extent, I > understand what you're going through. In most of my career, I've > held a precarious balance in accepting power from an Abyssal power > without being controlled by it. Recently, in the battle in Quaren, > that link was shattered. If there's anything I can do to make things > easier for you, let me know. We try to help each other out here, > whenever we can." OOC: The server here at home crashed, taking with it all the messages before Friday 14:17...grr...so I might've lost something. Did I? IC: Raver paused, and listened to Xzerrion's offer of help. -This is an unusual drow.- -Nevertheless, he offered. Has to be that Callahan influence.- -Indeed.- A quick smile flashed over their face. "We thank you for your offer. For now, it is enough to know that you understand and are willing to help." =========================== Date: Mon, 15 Dec 1997 16:04:06 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE(D) IV: A Deal is Made. On Mon, 15 Dec 1997 18:13:12 -0600 (CST) In Message # 00002423 In alt.callahans Post # 00000636 "Pyewackett c/o M. J. Knight" said: >On Fri, 12 Dec 97 12:02:28 -0800 In Message # 00002383 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000596 Roland X said: > > *The nature of the timestream makes what you ask difficult, but >not impossible. The mental alterations are simple enough, of course, >but my other attempts to delay them may not come to that amount of >time in your reality. If such takes place...the first target in my >quest is time-travel capability. I will ensure that you get your 30 >days. Agreed?* "Agreed." =========================== Date: Mon, 15 Dec 1997 16:04:18 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE(D) IV: Going Back Into The Light. On Mon, 15 Dec 1997 18:31:22 -0600 (CST) In Message # 00002424 In alt.callahans Post # 00000637 "Pyewackett c/o M. J. Knight" said: >On Fri, 12 Dec 97 11:48:49 -0800 In Message # 00002382 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000595 Roland X said: >>>Knytt wrote: >>> Melissa sniffles, obviously the more shaken of the two. "We are >>> not certain we even understand them." > > *Sometimes,* Roland says slowly, showing Melissa bits of his > flashback, *sacrifices are necessary.* Melissa and Grep watch, nodding, but not finding any real comforting answers in the images. Then... >On Mon, 15 Dec 1997 00:41:26 EST In Message # 00002415 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000628 Dane0R0A said: > ><< Morgan (and Roland?) wrote: > *She was almost certainly sent here to be put in our path. It's > not our 'fault,' but it _is_ our responsibility. This world has > enough problems.* Morgan shrugs in assent as Roland checks the belt > rolled up in one pocket. Knytt looks at Roland. /But, just because.../ Knytt sighs. /Ah well, not like I had anything better going on./ > Roland sighs. *Maybe I'm just a sucker for a damsel in > distress...* > > Morgan sends a quick montage of images of Roland's responses to: her > dead in Arcadia, imprisoned in Gaunt's mansion, tied to the > Controller's lab table, falling under the influence of the sigil > demon.... <*Maybe?!*> she sends with a grin. /Now we're getting to the truth./ Knytt grins. >The Stardragon sends /It would be simple to send them to the new >Quaren, but the sword must be destroyed. I insist. I can try to reach >back in time to the point where the child grabbed the sword and pull >her spirit forward to now, strengthen it and assist it in pushing >Darath the Black's spirit out. Then and only then the sword must be >destroyed, completely. /Sounds good,/.Knytt says. >Then suddenly they disappear. The Stardragon gestures and the scene >backs up to the point where the peices disappear from view. Isla is >there and the little girl holding the sword. Back a little further >and Isla is seen performing the ritual that recreated the sword, and >forcing the girl to grasp the sword. It sends /This woman dies./ The >words carry a cold anger that promises a slow painful end for the >source of that anger. Melissa turns away from the image. Grep watches with a grim expression. Knytt just frowns. "Melissa, Grep, let's scout the valley and see what interesting bits of geology we can find. That gold mine is likely tapped out, but we might be able to find some other interesting things." Knytt says cheerfully. "We'll get off the link so we can concentrate." "You're trying to protect us, father?" The twins say in unison. Knytt looks surprised and seems almost ready to deny it, then sighs. "Yes." "Okay," they say almost eagerly. The twins' mind leaves the link. They rise into the air and sail off down the valley toward the geothermal power plant. Knytt smiles, sending over the link, /As I thought, they've had enough reality for the moment./ /I'm all for returning the girl, though I would return her to her parents just after her possessed body left, for her own safety. I'm all for destroying the sword. But, I think I would rather return Isla to Quaren without the sword and let them deal with her. Maybe I am just getting nervous about how much bad kharma I've been building up, but killing her just seems like a bad idea./ Flipping his cloak out of the way and holding his arms out like wings, Knytt levitates off the ground. /We may have no choice, depending on how things shake out, but other than in self-defense, Melissa and Grep couldn't do it, and I'll admit I'd have a hard time anymore. Must be getting old,/ he adds with a mental smirk. /Just thought I should mention that so hopefully it could be planned around. I'd better catch up with the twins. I'll still be on the link if you need me./ Knytt does a quick somersault in mid-air. "I love flying." Then, lowering his arms, he shoots off across the valley after the twins. =========================== Date: Mon, 15 Dec 1997 19:49:21 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: Aae:Damsels in Distress On Mon, 15 Dec 1997 21:43:19 EST In Message # 00002429 In alt.callahans Post # 00000642 Dane0R0A said: << fuzzy said: > On Mon, 15 Dec 1997 00:41:26 EST In Message # 00002415 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000628 Dane0R0A said: > /This woman dies./ The words carry a cold anger that promises a > slow painful end for the source of that anger. \Simplest is best, Besides, Pain is only useful if the target survives to learn something from it... :| You deal you the Girl-child, that is beyond my ability... I will see to it that The Corrupt One and that Damned Sword are made aware of the Gravity of their transgresions...\ An image of a neutron star flickers in Fuzzy's mind. >> /Fuzzy, the sword must be examined before being destroyed. It is possible that the child's spirit is trapped in the sword. In that case the spirit must be removed before the sword is destroyed. Rhianon, please bring the woman and the child here, so they can be dealt with without endangering the people of this world./ The Stardragon says. (OOC: actions to be continued depending on Rhianon's response, but in any event these Damsels don't even have a clue what distress is YET. BUT they're about to get a crash course.) =========================== Date: Mon, 15 Dec 1997 23:22:22 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: Aae:Damsels in Distress On Mon, 15 Dec 1997 23:00:45 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002431 In alt.callahans Post # 00000644 fuzzy said: > On Mon, 15 Dec 1997 21:43:19 EST In Message # 00002429 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000642 Dane0R0A said: > > /Fuzzy, the sword must be examined before being destroyed. It is > possible that the child's spirit is trapped in the sword. In that > case the spirit must be removed before the sword is destroyed. > Rhianon, please bring the woman and the child here, so they can be > dealt with without endangering the people of this world./ The > Stardragon says. \I Agree, For a moment there I had forgotten that ther may be other souls trapped in that Foul Thing as well.\ =========================== Date: Tue, 16 Dec 1997 02:04:10 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: Aae:Damsels in Distress On Tue, 16 Dec 1997 04:57:48 -0600 In Message # 00002432 In alt.callahans Post # 00000645 Michael Jon Knight said: >On Mon, 15 Dec 1997 23:00:45 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002431 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000644 fuzzy said: > >\I Agree, For a moment there I had forgotten that ther may be other >souls trapped in that Foul Thing as well.\ Knytt sends over the link, /Take this with a grain of salt, you two, but it looked like to bring Darath the Black back, that little girl's soul was needed. If you go taking her soul away before the transfer, you create a temporal paradox and the Multiverse goes boom. In fact, if you do that with any souls that thing has stolen, the Multiverse goes boom. As I see it, you are going to have to remove the souls from the sword, not prevent their capture. Preferably in the present so they don't just gather more. /The question then becomes, what to do with them? Most of their bodies would likely be dying or dead at the time. You'd simply be returning them to die again. The best you could do is free them to go about their original business, whatever a dead soul's business is. Guess it depends on who you ask. /I suppose you could try and heal them, but then it would be very suspicious that these dead bodies were suddenly jumping up all healed. Maybe you could take the healed people forward in time until after our 'damsels' left. Then you have destroyed these people's lives and families. You don't want to risk the girls coming back too soon to discover someone they killed is alive and well. So you would have to wait until this woman and girl arrived here to be sure they wouldn't find out. Admittedly, the victims are still living victims. /And, does contact with the sword change the souls? Can they hope to regain a normal life? Does the sword taint their souls, so you would be releasing a horde of monsters upon an unsuspecting world? /Anyone else see any holes in this plan that need to be plugged?/ =========================== Date: Tue, 16 Dec 1997 04:49:04 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: Aae:Damsels in Distress On Tue, 16 Dec 1997 07:41:57 EST In Message # 00002434 In alt.callahans Post # 00000647 Dane0R0A said: << Michael Jon Knight said: /Anyone else see any holes in this plan that need to be plugged?/ >> /AHHH. I see, you miss understand me. The sword and the level of power it has achieved is a part of the past, and contributed to the present. I WILL NOT cause paradox. If the girl's spirit, or the spirit of those slain by the sword were absorbed by it, then they will have to be released from the sword, and the best I could do is get a cell of their bodies and clone new ones for them. If the sword changes them, there is nothing I can do about that./ The Stardragon sends =========================== Date: Tue, 16 Dec 1997 21:04:18 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: Exit Stage Left On Tue, 16 Dec 1997 23:42:47 EST In Message # 00002438 In alt.callahans Post # 00000651 Dane0R0A said: As the assembled CAoL are discussing the actions to be taken regarding Isla's and her apprentice, Oracle (who had disappeared after the oath taking), reappears. /Child/ he sends /I need you on a matter of utmost importance./ To the CAoL he says "I must take The Stardragon with me, or an incarnation of The Adversary will cause a galaxy full of peacefull beings will die. I am sorry. If you need its power I am sure that it will come to your aid. But we must go NOW." With that he vanishes. /Uh, gotta go. Call if you need me. I'll come./ The Stardragon sends. Then it too vanishes. =========================== Date: Thu, 18 Dec 1997 08:04:45 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE 4: Resume progam? ;-) On Thu, 18 Dec 1997 07:57:55 In Message # 00002439 In alt.callahans Post # 00000652 Morgan said: >On Tue, 16 Dec 1997 23:42:47 EST In Message # 00002438 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000651 Dane0R0A said: > >/Uh, gotta go. Call if you need me. I'll come./ The Stardragon sends. >Then it too vanishes. <*Of course you will,*> Morgan sends with a smile. <*Light be with you.*> She turns to the rest of the group. <*OK, it looks like we're agreed we deal with Isla before leaving this fiction to find John and Sil. It _appears_ she's being straight with us, but I don't think anyone completely trusts her. We've agreed that the sword has to go, but only after making sure no one's still trapped in it. And we should check in with Rhiannon and Iron Man before taking off anywhere.*> <*So, I say again, compadres, now what?*> =========================== Date: Thu, 18 Dec 1997 20:20:11 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 4: Resume progam? ;-) On Thu, 18 Dec 1997 22:11:12 -0600 In Message # 00002445 In alt.callahans Post # 00000658 Michael Jon Knight said: >On Thu, 18 Dec 1997 07:57:55 In Message # 00002439 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000652 Morgan said: > >>On Tue, 16 Dec 1997 23:42:47 EST In Message # 00002438 >> In alt.callahans Post # 00000651 Dane0R0A said: >> >>/Uh, gotta go. Call if you need me. I'll come./ The Stardragon >>sends. Then it too vanishes. > ><*Of course you will,*> Morgan sends with a smile. <*Light be with >you.*> Knytt sends, /Good Luck, friend. Girls, Stardragon's leaving./ The twins pop on the link then say in unison, /Bye Stardragon. Remember, 'lemonade'./ They vanish from the link again. >She turns to the rest of the group. <*OK, it looks like we're agreed >we deal with Isla before leaving this fiction to find John and Sil. >It _appears_ she's being straight with us, but I don't think anyone >completely trusts her. We've agreed that the sword has to go, but >only after making sure no one's still trapped in it. And we should >check in with Rhiannon and Iron Man before taking off anywhere.*> > ><*So, I say again, compadres, now what?*> /Well, besides collecting Rhiannon and Iron Man,/ Knytt says as the twins scan some of the rock outcroppings around the jacuzzi, /I think all we have left to do is let the fox into the henhouse. Once that is done, I guess we just have to wait for the Controller to drop us another clue./ =========================== Date: Fri, 19 Dec 1997 18:04:38 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: The Face of the Enemy On Fri, 19 Dec 1997 20:54:41 -0500 (EST) In Message # 00002449 In alt.callahans Post # 00000662 Shadow said: > On Sun, 14 Dec 1997 20:26:21 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002413 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000626 "P. Campbell" said: > > About then, an elven figure in a black cloak, black tunic with gold > trim, and black hose makes an apearance among the villains. "I have > been observing for some time, and believe your interests and mine > coincide for the moment," he comments. "My name is ... M'Lausa > Eilservs." Jadis is not surprised in the least by the appearance of the elf. While watching Knightmare for a reaction he says, "I'm glad you decided to introduce yourself, it saves me the trouble of disposing of you after this meeting. Seems this is my day to have visitors." Jadis waves his hand and a screen appears in front of him. "Joseph.. Assign someone to kill all the security along this route," a closed psionic communication passes between them, "Anyone you deem worthy will be given one more chance, the rest will serve as examples." Turning his attention back to M'Lausa, "So. Our interests coincide. I would assume you have an interest in the one called Xzerrion, though I freely admit that is but a wild guess. What may we do for you?" He includes Knightmare in that last we, and waits for a reply. =========================== Date: Fri, 19 Dec 1997 18:19:39 -0800 (PST) Subject: Aae:fast forward On Fri, 19 Dec 1997 19:27:07 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002450 In alt.callahans Post # 00000663 Driscoll said: OK, well I have news. so I don't know if I will have access to a computer durign that time. Therefore I'm going to rsh things ahead a bit to TRY to get through my GMing stint before then, and if I can't and I won't have access to a computer, I'll basically tell Roland everything I had left to do and let him take over. Meanwhile, HERE WE GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Edmund Moriarty took a moment to savor his new mind. Thoughts once uncomprehendable even to his super-genius mind were now child's play. Even the strange black stuff in the box was understandable and how to best use it even more so. Pressing the intercomm on his desk with his non-casted hand. "What is the status of the Wrecker project?" "The remains have been gathered up but he's pretty much finished. we don't have the slightest clue how to fix it." "I have the solution to that right here. Fly the parts in here ASAP." "Yes Sir." In Hollywood, Iron Man, Rhiannon, Isla, and Ms. Darath are still on the street when X-windows open up around them. Controller drones pour out of the dimentional doorways. "DOWN!!!" Iron Man yells, firing his boot jets and launching into the air, lashing out wiht his repulsors while dodging laser blasts from the robots. Isla throws up a field of light around her Darath adn Rhiannon. The lasers strike it and dissiapte. "These foolish constructs actually dare to use light based attacks against one blessed by the goddess fo the sun??" "They won't exist long enough to learn from their mistake." growls her apprentice as she swings Soulstealer at the metal forms. "You know this feels _real_ good after what that golem did to me!" "Just don't get any other ideas of who to use that sword on or you _will_ regret it bastard." Isla warned with a cold tone as lightning lept from her fingers leapfrogging from drone to drone to drone. Another x-window higher up opens and closes again quickly as a huge flying wing comes out of it. Flying up silently behind Iron Man, it fires off a beam of light at him. Suddenly he stops firing and begins falling. #What's happening Jim?? What happened to the powerpack?# #....uggg....um.....ow.....uh....zzzzzzzzzzzz.....uh......ug.....ow# #Jim! JIM! Fight it! Activate program two! Do it or we're going to be getting a lot shorter _fast_!!# #Ug...I...I...I'm...Trying...intitated.# In midair, Iron Man changes slightly. the red and silver form becomes silver and black. Weapon pods sroud out of his back. Guns appear on his fore-arms, and most importantly, his bootjets fire again sending him soring back up seconds from a crashing defeat. Spotting the Attack wing, one of hte battle pods on his back flips up to his shoulder and reveals a micro-missle launcher. A barrage of missiles impact the attack wing and it cracks then explodes in midair. #And you wondered why I designed a second suit with a different circuit pattern.# #Great can you do the same with me now? that Ion cannon still has some of me screwed up. I'm operateing at about 50% efficiency right now so go easy on that ammunition.# =========================== Date: Fri, 19 Dec 1997 19:34:29 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: Aae:fast forward On Fri, 19 Dec 1997 22:25:22 -0500 (EST) In Message # 00002451 In alt.callahans Post # 00000664 Shadow said: > On Fri, 19 Dec 1997 19:27:07 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002450 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000663 Driscoll said: > > In Hollywood, Iron Man, Rhiannon, Isla, and Ms. Darath are still on > the street when X-windows open up around them. Controller drones > pour out of the dimentional doorways. > "DOWN!!!" Iron Man yells, firing his boot jets and launching into > the air, lashing out wiht his repulsors while dodging laser blasts > from the robots. > Isla throws up a field of light around her Darath adn Rhiannon. The > lasers strike it and dissiapte. "These foolish constructs actually > dare to use light based attacks against one blessed by the goddess > fo the sun??" > "They won't exist long enough to learn from their mistake." growls > her apprentice as she swings Soulstealer at the metal forms. "You > know this feels _real_ good after what that golem did to me!" > "Just don't get any other ideas of who to use that sword on or you > _will_ regret it bastard." Isla warned with a cold tone as lightning > lept from her fingers leapfrogging from drone to drone to drone. Rhiannon whips out her sword and with grim eyes and a vengeful smile begins to mince drones. Lasers play off her own protective feild only to be quickly silenced by a quick twist of her wrists. > In midair, Iron Man changes slightly. the red and silver form > becomes silver and black. Weapon pods sroud out of his back. Guns > appear on his fore-arms, and most importantly, his bootjets fire > again sending him soring back up seconds from a crashing defeat. > Spotting the Attack wing, one of hte battle pods on his back flips > up to his shoulder and reveals a micro-missle launcher. A barrage of > missiles impact the attack wing and it cracks then explodes in > midair. > #And you wondered why I designed a second suit with a different > circut pattern.# > #Great can you do the same with me now? that Ion cannon still has > some of me screwed up. I'm operateing at about 50% efficiency right > now so go easy on that ammunition.# OOC: Earlier today a thought occurred to me, and lo and behold the situation has risen it's head. Soulstealer and Despair, a sword that steals souls and a sword imbued with a powerful soul. Should their blades meet who knows what mighty forces would be unleashed.... =========================== Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 03:34:35 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: Aae:fast forward On Sat, 20 Dec 1997 06:21:19 EST In Message # 00002453 In alt.callahans Post # 00000666 Dane0R0A said: << Driscoll said: In midair, Iron Man changes slightly. the red and silver form becomes silver and black. Weapon pods sroud out of his back. Guns appear on his fore-arms, and most importantly, his bootjets fire again sending him soring back up seconds from a crashing defeat. Spotting the Attack wing, one of hte battle pods on his back flips up to his shoulder and reveals a micro-missle launcher. A barrage of missiles impact the attack wing and it cracks then explodes in midair. >> On their way to the ground, the peices of destroyed flying wing, stop, and seem to collapse in upon themselves. They collapse into a ball that shrinks still further. Glowing white hot the ball of ultra-dense metal floats down to the street below. Above the glowing ball of metal a small BLACK (reflects NO light) disk shaped object appears. A voice "appears" in the minds of the defending quartet /Forgive me if I have offended. But I don't think that the humans, around you, would have survived the crashing of that construct./ /You seem to be out numbered. Is this a game, that you are playing (rough game!), or are you under attack by these machines?/ =========================== Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 09:04:44 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: Aae:fast forward On Sat, 20 Dec 1997 02:40:48 -0600 In Message # 00002456 In alt.callahans Post # 00000669 Michael Jon Knight said: After looking around the geothermal power plants, it didn't take the twins long to become curious about why an obvious power supply was left untapped, only used as a jacuzzi. Knytt simply replied, "Try it." Melissa waded straight in, her dress shifting to a bathing suit in mid-stride. Grep got curious about how Nemesis' building repair was proceeding. "Ok, but be careful, stay out of sight, and open back up to the link when you get there in case Nemesis or one of the others needs you." Knytt said. Grep nodded, opening an oval gate to Hollywood in front of her. She stepped through just in time to see... >> In Hollywood, Iron Man, Rhiannon, Isla, and Ms. Darath are still >> on the street when X-windows open up around them. Controller drones >> pour out of the dimentional doorways. >> "DOWN!!!" Iron Man yells, firing his boot jets and launching into >> the air, lashing out wiht his repulsors while dodging laser blasts >> from the robots. Grep ducked behind a tree, sending through everyone's link, /Fire fight outside the Legion of Heroes.../ >> Isla throws up a field of light around her Darath adn Rhiannon. >> The lasers strike it and dissiapte. "These foolish constructs >> actually dare to use light based attacks against one blessed by the >> goddess fo the sun??" >> "They won't exist long enough to learn from their mistake." growls >> her apprentice as she swings Soulstealer at the metal forms. "You >> know this feels _real_ good after what that golem did to me!" >> "Just don't get any other ideas of who to use that sword on or you >> _will_ regret it bastard." Isla warned with a cold tone as >> lightning lept from her fingers leapfrogging from drone to drone to >> drone. > >Rhiannon whips out her sword and with grim eyes and a vengeful smile >begins to mince drones. Lasers play off her own protective feild only >to be quickly silenced by a quick twist of her wrists. Grep adds, /This may not take long.../ >> Another x-window higher up opens and closes again quickly as a >> huge flying wing comes out of it. Flying up silently behind Iron >> Man, it fires off a beam of light at him. Suddenly he stops firing >> and begins falling. >> #What's happening Jim?? What happened to the powerpack?# >> #....uggg....um.....ow.....uh....zzzzzzzzzzzz.....uh......ug >> .....ow# >> #Jim! JIM! Fight it! Activate program two! Do it or we're going to >> be getting a lot shorter _fast_!!# >> #Ug...I...I...I'm...Trying...intitated.# >> In midair, Iron Man changes slightly. the red and silver form >> becomes silver and black. Weapon pods sroud out of his back. Guns >> appear on his fore-arms, and most importantly, his bootjets fire >> again sending him soring back up seconds from a crashing defeat. >> Spotting the Attack wing, one of hte battle pods on his back flips >> up to his shoulder and reveals a micro-missle launcher. A barrage >> of missiles impact the attack wing and it cracks then explodes in >> midair. >> #And you wondered why I designed a second suit with a different >> circut pattern.# >> #Great can you do the same with me now? that Ion cannon still has >> some of me screwed up. I'm operateing at about 50% efficiency right >> now so go easy on that ammunition.# /On the other hand.../ Grep says, breaking cover, a sword similar in design to a Roman or Viking blade forming in her hand. Melissa appears behind her, the swimsuit replaced with her normal dress, an intricately-crafted saber in her hands. Seeming to form out of the ether, as if the air molecules just decided to arrange themselves in such a fashion, Knytt appeared. Tucking his dull grey metallic amulet into his cloak, he withdrew what looked like a small soup can with the label peeled off. With a hiss, the Minbari fighting pike extended. The three immediately dove into the fray. Grep and Melissa cut through two apiece of the Controller drones with little effort. But, the drones were quick to react, lasers sizzled the air. The twins blocked or dodged most of the shots, blocking with their swords which absorbed the energy. Occasionally, when there was an opening, they would point the sword at a drone, releasing the stored energy as a large laser blast. Two more drones fell to the energy blasts. Knytt dove in, pike swinging, each contact of the tip discharging a large electrical current into one of the drones. As lasers scorthed the air around him, a quich wave of the hand created a small shield around him, absorbing the energy as it hit. Knytt had just knocked one of the drones off its feet and slammed a nasty point on the tip of the pike through its chest when a shout made him turn in surprise. "MERLIN! BEHIND YOU!" Knytt turned just in time to see a flash of green, the glint of a sword, and a headless drone, arm extended to take a shot while Knytt's back was turned, topple to the ground. Behind the drone, adorned in a green cloak, stood a man in leather armor, wielding a simple shield and a broadsword Knytt immediately recognized. "Who?" Knytt asked, but ducked as the mysterious man dove forward, reaching over Knytt to impale the sword in one of the drones. As he withdrew it, Knytt noticed the unmistakeable circuitry etchings into the blade. It may have been in the shape of a broadsword, but this was definitely the Gateway Katana. The technomage sword Knytt modified into wristbands, which with the nanoalloy from the hovercycle Nemesis created, helped forge the twins. "Father!" the twins shouted, "Talk later, fight now!" "Bless my soul!" the man said, "Two Ladies of the Lake?" "Later...Arthur..." Knytt said, venturing a guess. During the confusion, the drones had managed to outflank Knytt, Arthur and the twins. The foursome stood back to back to back to back, fending off the drones as best they could. /Uhm, a little help?/ Knytt sent over the link. > =========================== Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 09:04:56 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: The Face of the Enemy On Sat, 20 Dec 1997 08:55:03 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002457 In alt.callahans Post # 00000670 "P. Campbell" said: On Fri, 19 Dec 1997, Shadow wrote: > Jadis is not surprised in the least by the appearance of the elf. > While watching Knightmare for a reaction he says, "I'm glad you > decided to introduce yourself, it saves me the trouble of disposing > of you after this meeting. Seems this is my day to have visitors." > Jadis waves his hand and a screen appears in front of him. "Joseph.. > Assign someone to kill all the security along this route," a closed > psionic communication passes between them, "Anyone you deem worthy > will be given one more chance, the rest will serve as examples." M'Lausa smiles. "Don't blame your guards. I know it is much easier to fool them with a collection of magic tricks than to fool a Greater Mage such as yourself. I simply had no wish to waste my time getting through bureaucracy or fighting off guards before reaching you." > Turning his attention back to M'Lausa, "So. Our interests coincide. > I would assume you have an interest in the one called Xzerrion, > though I freely admit that is but a wild guess. What may we do for > you?" He includes Knightmare in that last we, and waits for a reply. "I have some interest in that one, though my plans for him are far more interesting than mere death, for I could do that on my own. I want him left as alone as he left me when he caused my house's fall. I will use my not inconsiderable talents to assist in the destruction of the `Army of Light,' one member at a time, preferably starting with Tezrantha. Then he can be left to contemplate his despair for the next millenium. In return for your assistance, I will offer the knowledge of the stealth magics I have researched over the past few hundred years." =========================== Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 14:05:07 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE IV: The Face of the Enemy On Sat, 20 Dec 1997 13:54:48 In Message # 00002464 In alt.callahans Post # 00000677 Morgan said: >On Sat, 20 Dec 1997 08:55:03 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002457 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000670 "P. Campbell" said: > >M'Lausa smiles. "Don't blame your guards. I know it is much easier to >fool them with a collection of magic tricks than to fool a Greater >Mage such as yourself. I simply had no wish to waste my time getting >through bureaucracy or fighting off guards before reaching you." *Guards are supposed to be trained for this sort of thing,* KnightMare sends, glaring darkly at Thorne. "He's good," Thorne shrugs, "but had he touched you, master, he would have turned to millennia-old dust." *And had he shot me?* KnightMare replied calmly. "The bullet would have turned to thousand-year- old powder." KnightMare blinks. *Laser?* "It would have taken three days to reach you." KnightMare pauses for a moment. *Perhaps you were a better choice of ally than I thought.* >"I have some interest in that one, though my plans for him are far >more interesting than mere death, for I could do that on my own. I >want him left as alone as he left me when he caused my house's fall. >I will use my not inconsiderable talents to assist in the destruction >of the `Army of Light,' one member at a time, preferably starting >with Tezrantha. Then he can be left to contemplate his despair for >the next millenium. In return for your assistance, I will offer the >knowledge of the stealth magics I have researched over the past few >hundred years." "Roland dies as soon as I can kill him," Thorne snarls. *Which will be quite some time, by the looks of things,* KnightMare sighs. *Contain yourself, Thorne. Your hatred is acceptable, but your obsession is becoming tiresome.* (OOC Note: all 'Face of the Enemy' posts take place at the beginning of AAE IV; thus, the Stardragon is still an issue for the villains.) *M'Lausa Eilservs, my desire is distraction. I require that this...Army of Light be involved with other difficulties while I pursue my own needs. Your attempts to kill their members will suit this desire rather nicely. However, they are skilled, tightly-knit, and possess the power of the Stardragon. I have no need to ask of you what you want, since you have already declared such. However, I do not require their deaths. Indeed, attempts to slay them are likely to fail, as many are immortal, and will anger them further. How will your efforts be more of a benefit than a hindrance, since you know of my involvement in this?* KnightMare's 'voice' is calm and even, but he's weighing M'Lausa's usefulness against the potential threat he represents. (OOC: I have no intention of killing your bad guy, Xzerrion, but anyone being stared at by a calm KnightMare-short of cosmic-level beings like Jadis and Nemo-should feel like their continued existence is being pondered.) Thorne, however, smiles. "Stealth such as that, master, could prove most useful. Most interesting magicks, Lord Eilservs. Perhaps we could come to some sort of..._arrangement_ on the deaths of the heroes?" =========================== Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 14:05:19 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE: Controller Cometh On Sat, 20 Dec 1997 12:24:43 In Message # 00002465 In alt.callahans Post # 00000678 Morgan said: Sorry this took so long to reply to. RL and all. >On Wed, 10 Dec 1997 05:48:20 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002362 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000575 Driscoll said: > >> On Tue, 9 Dec 97 22:04:33 -0800 In Message # 00002357 >> In alt.callahans Post # 00000570 Roland X said: >> >> "Agreed, of course," Thorne replies. "I can cause >> events to turn against this...man of iron, in any >> manner you desire. Killing is difficult, but simple >> misfortune is quite easy to manufacture." Thorne >> studied the picture closely. "I will, however, need >> to know this 'true nature' of which you speak to >> perform a proper casting. Something of the victim's >> will also be of use." Thorne's smile grows even >> more cruel, if such is possible. "The pure and noble >> Roland Phoenix, murdering a fellow hero...what a >> delicious idea..." >> > The controller pushes a flashing button on the control console and >replies in a very off-handed sort of tone, "He was me." Thorne's jaw drops for a moment... "That's one hell of a paradox flaw," he whispers. > A moment later a protocal droid comes in carrying a young girl about >11 or 12 years old. > "This will be the first part of my plan. The creation of an oracle >that will bring the Army of Light closer to realizing the origins of >Iron Man while at the same time tormenting him by making him unable >to stop her. She is after all but a child. What justification can a >'hero' have to slay her outright and keep her from delivering her >message. To do so would revleal more than she could ever tell." "Roland has a weakness for children. This will be easier than I thought." Thorne toys with the Shadow Brand, studying the venom it begins to exude-as if it were salivating at the thought of killing the Freelance Immortal... > He studies her face for a moment, wiping away some of hte dirt >around her face. "The Protocal droid has already performed a partial >mind wipe on her, erasing her memories but not things such as motor >and language skills. Even a psion searching her mind will not be able >to tell where she came from. Thorne sighs in obvious relief. > "I _was_ going to use a cybernetic implant to control her actions >and prgram her messages, but that can be detected and even traced. I >wish you to use your abilities to program her. I will also need them >to help mask the x-windows that will cause her appearances and >disappearances. Just to be sure though I will route them through >several stop points and make it harder to trace back to this >dimention. Once these are done we can begin the preparations for >attackign Iron Man directly." Thorne frowns. "Roland is easily my superior in mental prowess, sad to say. I cannot-" Thorne stops. A smile begin, slowly, to replace the frown. "You say we only need reveal the _truth_ to them?" Thorne begins to chant in reverse. It is an ugly sound, to match an ugly butchering of Time. The knowledge of Iron Man's origin slowly filters into the child's mind. "I will cause probability to work against them when they try to trace her. But with your permission, I will cause the child to believe that she is _genuinely_ trying to warn this 'Army of Light' of the threat your duplicate poses. That should work nicely." Thorne starts to offer his hand to seal the agreement with a shake, then pulls back as he remembers what the Controller's hand is made of. "Are we agreed?" =========================== Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 14:05:29 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: Aae:fast forward On Sat, 20 Dec 1997 13:56:55 In Message # 00002466 In alt.callahans Post # 00000679 Morgan said: >On Sat, 20 Dec 1997 02:40:48 -0600 In Message # 00002456 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000669 Michael Jon Knight said: > >>> On Fri, 19 Dec 1997 19:27:07 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002450 >>> In alt.callahans Post # 00000663 Driscoll said: > >After looking around the geothermal power plants, it didn't take the >twins long to become curious about why an obvious power supply was >left untapped, only used as a jacuzzi. Knytt simply replied, "Try >it." > >Melissa waded straight in, her dress shifting to a bathing suit in >mid-stride. Grep got curious about how Nemesis' building repair was >proceeding. *Don't you ever relax?* Roland asks Grep. He feels warm breath on the back of his neck. <*And when was the last time _you_ relaxed?*> Roland gasped, and his thought patterns break down slightly as her lips reach his skin. *Um, I'm kind of trying to...um...I mean, I'm kind of...uh, stuck running this travelling firefight...* <*Nobody's fighting,*> Morgan replies, kissing more steadily, working up toward his ear. *Back in five,* Roland sends quickly, and begins scanning the hideaway for a nice, private room. <*FIVE?*> Morgan sends indignantly. *Figuratively speaking,* Roland replies, sweeping her up in his arms. *Make that 50.* Unfortunately... >Grep ducked behind a tree, sending through everyone's link, /Fire >fight outside the Legion of Heroes.../ Morgan sighs resignedly. *Read you,* Roland replies with a long-suffering sigh. He carefully puts Morgan back down. *Saddle up, people! Time to rock and roll.* >Grep adds, /This may not take long.../ *Let's hope not,* Roland sends, and he and Morgan appear at the Legion building. *We've strained our relations with the local authorities enough as it is. And as much as I'd like to strain them _further,_ that would probably be unwise. *Anyone who wants a 'port, BTW, let me know through the link and I can 'lend' a one-shot beam-in. Same applies for evac. Nemesis, please broadcast my option to any members not on the link.* (OOC: That ought to prevent anyone from being left behind again. I've forgotten if we still have any non-linked members; remove the last line if we don't.) With that, Roland begins targeting drones with EK, redirecting their power so that they lose energy, short-circuit, or ram into one another. He then catches them with TK to keep them from falling on any civilians. A secondary use of TK creates a 'bullhorn' effect. "WOULD ALL NON-COMBATANTS PLEASE LEAVE THE AREA. LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS WILL BE ON SITE SOON." /I hope./ "THIS AREA IS UNDER ATTACK BY INDISCRIMINATE HOSTILES. PLEASE LEAVE QUICKLY AND CALMLY." Unfortunately, all this mental activity prevents his forcefields from being optimized, and a blast scorches one arm. "OW!" Roland turns the offending drone into a paperweight, then backs away for a moment. <*Roland, maybe _we_ should contact...*> Morgan begins, as she carves her way through the nearest cluster of drones. *Already on it, love,* Roland replies, concentrating on protecting the civilians and pulling out his Omnicom, tapping into it mentally. #Blaze to Legion and Legislators. Legion Headquarters is under attack. This is not a request for backup, merely a courtesy. However, you may wish to prevent non-coms from entering the LZ.# >>> Another x-window higher up opens and closes again quickly as a >>> huge flying wing comes out of it. Flying up silently behind Iron >>> Man, it fires off a beam of light at him. Suddenly he stops firing >>> and begins falling. *STARK!* Roland casts out with a TK 'net' to catch the falling Avenger. >/On the other hand.../ Grep says, breaking cover, a sword similar in >design to a Roman or Viking blade forming in her hand. Melissa >appears behind her, the swimsuit replaced with her normal dress, an >intricately-crafted saber in her hands. *You two have good taste in swords,* Roland sends with a smile. *And my knowledge from Gaunt makes me an authority. That a gladius, Grep?* >Seeming to form out of the ether, as if the air molecules just >decided to arrange themselves in such a fashion, Knytt appeared. >Tucking his dull grey metallic amulet into his cloak, he withdrew >what looked like a small soup can with the label peeled off. With a >hiss, the Minbari fighting pike extended. *Ooo! I want one of _those!_ You think the Rangers are enlisting?* Roland sent with a mental smile. >During the confusion, the drones had managed to outflank Knytt, >Arthur and the twins. The foursome stood back to back to back to >back, fending off the drones as best they could. > >/Uhm, a little help?/ Knytt sent over the link. There's an explosion, and an entire flank of drones is metal slag. A familiar TK field prevents the warriors or non-coms from being harmed. And striding through the flames come two familiar figures, the fire seeming to part for them obediently. <*Knytt, if that is who you seem to think, I would be most honored to lend my blade in his defense.*> Morgan sends with a note of reverence. *Yea, and maybe _he_ can take over leading this bunch when this mess is over.* Blaze glances at the fire, and it backs away still further. Yes, Blaze. The blue-and-gold of Roland's superhero form shines in the firelight. His eyes glow brightly behind the familiar mask. The belt is once again around his waist. The belt... Those with the ability to sense such things can tell that something is _wrong_ with the belt. It's not exactly definable, or truly quantifiable, but there's a...wrongness to it. <*Be careful, love,*> Morgan sends. *Always, m'eudail,* Roland replies with a quick mental 'kiss.' (Assuming someone else comments) *I know,* Roland replies, *but we need me at full power. I can deal with it for now.* (Belt subplot TBC...) =========================== Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 14:34:48 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: Aae:fast forward On Sat, 20 Dec 1997 15:54:37 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002468 In alt.callahans Post # 00000681 Driscoll said: > On Sat, 20 Dec 1997 06:21:19 EST In Message # 00002453 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000666 Dane0R0A said: > > On their way to the ground, the peices of destroyed flying wing, > stop, and seem to collapse in upon themselves. They collapse into a > ball that shrinks still further. Glowing white hot the ball of > ultra-dense metal floats down to the street below. Above the glowing > ball of metal a small BLACK (reflects NO light) disk shaped object > appears. A voice "appears" in the minds of the defending quartet > /Forgive me if I have offended. But I don't think that the humans, > around you, would have survived the crashing of that construct./ > > /You seem to be out numbered. Is this a game, that you are playing > (rough game!), or are you under attack by these machines?/ OOC: Is this projected over the link somehow, only to those with some sort of innate telepathic abilities or to everyone present? assuming the latters, read on. if not forget it. ;-) #Huh? what's that? Did we just become a Trio?# #I don't think so Justin unless you've been picking up strange nantie cultures and not telling me.# #Huh Uhh well maybe htis channel isn't as secure as I thought it would be. Ummm Hi who are you? If I seem distracted please don't mine me. Someone's just trying to kill me right now.# =========================== Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 15:04:38 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE:from the mouths of babes. On Sat, 20 Dec 1997 16:20:15 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002469 In alt.callahans Post # 00000682 Driscoll said: OOC: When I said I was fast forwardign it ment it. hehehe Anyone who didn't get a post in for the fight please feel free to do so anyways. I don't want to ignore you, just take care of a few things. ;-) The X-windows have closed and eventually the ranks of drones thin out enough to notice it. less than a minute later, there is once again peace on the street, and a lot of scrap metal to be recycled. War Machine lands and shifts back into the red and silver form of Iron Man. "You know, somehow I really don't feel that comfortable standing around here anymore. Glad to see you guys came back. These ladies were looking for you. That one's named Isla deLume, but I never caught the name of the other." As he's pointing them out a young girl steps around the corner of the building behind Iron Man. She speaks in a soft even tone but it seems to carry to everyone non-the-less. She looks at the assembed group, "Hello Roland, Morgan, Knytt, Xzerrion, Fuzzy, Iron Man" (OOC: Delete any of hte previous who do not come.) "You stand amongst the scrap and flame. The more things change they stay the same. A wolf lies with you amongst the sheep. His true nature hidden way down deep. An old enemy stands with the face of a freind. Lest you bring his existance to an end." She then turns and walks back around the corner vanishing. =========================== Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 15:34:51 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: Aae:fast forward On Sat, 20 Dec 1997 13:52:40 PST In Message # 00002470 In alt.callahans Post # 00000683 Nemo said: > On Sat, 20 Dec 1997 02:40:48 -0600 In Message # 00002456 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000669 Michael Jon Knight said: > > During the confusion, the drones had managed to outflank Knytt, > Arthur and the twins. The foursome stood back to back to back to > back, fending off the drones as best they could. > > /Uhm, a little help?/ Knytt sent over the link. In the "refuge version of the valley, Nemo continues what he's doing. In the "empty" version, Nemo is gone only to reappear at the fight. He calmly walks thru the fight. Laser beams strike him and vanish. Material projectiles strike and fall to the ground rather than bounce. "You requested assistance?" He reaches out and touches a drone, instantly subverting its programming and absorbing all data it contains. The drone proceeds to start attacking the other drones. It's wearing a rather distinctive gold and scarlet paint scheme (unless that's what they were painted before, in which case I'll use some other scheme). "That's the trouble with machines. They follow orders." He then proceeds to another drone, all the while working closer to the nearest X-Window, which is starting to ripple as if it is having some difficulty. He points the palm of his open hand at a drone that's about to "get the drop on" one of the twins. A beam of energy flickers out, taking out the motive power and severing weapons connections. The drone crashes to the ground to await Nemo's attentions. Upon reaching the X-window (it won't close without a lot of effort :-) Nemo examines it for a moment, touches it, and it goes black and shrinks to coin size. He places it in a pocket, and turns toward the next X-Window. If any walls get in his way, he just walks through them, much like a man walking through brush. His clothes aren't mussed, but the walls tend to be somewhat the worse for wear. Nemo calls out: "Please try to avoid damaging the mechanisms more than necessary. I wish to study them." =========================== Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 15:35:02 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: Aae:fast forward On Sat, 20 Dec 1997 17:26:57 -0600 In Message # 00002471 In alt.callahans Post # 00000684 Michael Jon Knight said: >On Sat, 20 Dec 1997 13:56:55 In Message # 00002466 > In alt.callahans Post # 00000679 Morgan said: > >>On Sat, 20 Dec 1997 02:40:48 -0600 In Message # 00002456 >> In alt.callahans Post # 00000669 Michael Jon Knight said: > *You two have good taste in swords,* Roland sends with a smile. >*And my knowledge from Gaunt makes me an authority. That a gladius, >Grep?* /Yes, with a few modifications.../ >>Seeming to form out of the ether, as if the air molecules just >>decided to arrange themselves in such a fashion, Knytt appeared. >>Tucking his dull grey metallic amulet into his cloak, he withdrew >>what looked like a small soup can with the label peeled off. With a >>hiss, the Minbari fighting pike extended. > > *Ooo! I want one of _those!_ You think the Rangers are enlisting?* >Roland sent with a mental smile. Knytt can't help chuckling. /Like a kid in a candy store, eh, Morgan?/ >>During the confusion, the drones had managed to outflank Knytt, >>Arthur and the twins. The foursome stood back to back to back to >>back, fending off the drones as best they could. >> >>/Uhm, a little help?/ Knytt sent over the link. > > There's an explosion, and an entire flank of drones is metal slag. >A familiar TK field prevents the warriors or non-coms from being >harmed. And striding through the flames come two familiar figures, >the fire seeming to part for them obediently. > ><*Knytt, if that is who you seem to think, I would be most honored to >lend my blade in his defense.*> Morgan sends with a note of >reverence. Arthur, bearing a striking resemblance to Jason Carter, Marcus on _Babylon 5_, looks at the pair in awe. "This world is indeed full of wonders." > *Yea, and maybe _he_ can take over leading this bunch when this >mess is over.* Blaze glances at the fire, and it backs away still >further. /Sorry,/ Melissa sends, /He has problems of his own back home. That is what brought him here./ /Why don't I know any of this?/ Knytt sends. /You told us not to tell you./ Grep replies. /When?/ Knytt asks. As one the twins reply, /Soon./ ===========================