Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 5 DC - Chapter 1 Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 20:18:34 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE V: The Disappearance of Mary On Thu, 11 Feb 1999 19:51:05 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006377 Somewhere in the galaxy. [This is humiliating!] it thought. [This is also, however, a precarious position. I must find a more stable environment, or I will be vulnerable to any number of enemies...] >On Sun, 07 Feb 1999 16:43:29 >Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006376 > >>On Fri, 5 Feb 1999 01:57:46 -0500 >>Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00006372 >>"Arachne? The Fates.. no. Ariadne? Who is that? I could use a new >>uniform.. This one seems to have shrunk a lot..." > > Mary's face becomes somber as she concentrates; the transformation >is amazing to behold, given that she does not actually change shape. >"Ariadne helped Theseus defeat the Minotaur. In some legends, she is >the wife of Dionysus." (OOC: A _very_ clean version of the legends. >8^) Mary begins to glow faintly, as she looks at Zia with almost >sisterly concern. "My guess would be a shifting of the Seven >Energies, conforming to a stray thought given power by the Energy of >Prudence/Sloth," she begins in an educated (but not pedantic) voice. >"I think a realignment of the Energies should do the trick." (OOC: My apologies for pre-empting here, but it's been a few days and I want to get the ball rolling.) Through one of the windows, Babylon 5 gleams like a beacon in the night, lights sparkling, hull spinning, airlock exploding... ...airlock exploding? A red dot shoots out of the station, briefly tumbling in the void. Then it stops, holds place for a second, and rockets back in. Mary sighs. "That's my brother." Mary turns to face the others present, and smiles kindly. "Would you nice people excuse me for a minute? I have to go find out why my brother is making holes in people's space stations." With that, Mary Marvel uses her godlike (literally) speed, and is gone in an instant. Babylon 5. "Now listen, young man-" Cap tries again. "Young MAN? You WHELP! I am MONGUL, absolute ruler of Warworld!" The blue-and-yellow bruiser built like a humanoid tank takes another swing. "I am stronger than SUPERMAN! More powerful than GREEN LANTERN!" Captain Marvel easily dodges. "And dumber than Lobo, apparently." A dozen punches land in Mongul's face before he can blink. "Now listen. According to the docking records, you are here legally. If you calm down, I'm sure we can arrange a talk with Captain Ivanova and you can-" "LIAR!" Mongul swings again, missing badly. "You are an obvious dupe of the so-called JUSTICE LEGION! I will CRUSH you like the INSECT you AR-nnf-" Mongul is silenced by a rather dainty fist in the mouth. Mary shakes her head. "I can't take you anywhere, can I big brother?" Cap smiles broadly. "Mary! What are you doing here?" The two Marvels dodge and weave as Mongul works himself up into an amazing and pointless rage. "I came to bring you back home, you big red cheese," Mary replies playfully. "But I see you found a playmate while I was busy being nurse on the Battlestar Galactica." The two Marvels hit Mongul's head from both sides, finally managing to register through his thick skull. Mary shivered. "Ooo, I met Starbuck. He's even dreamier in person." Cap sighs. "Mary..." Mary blushes. (tm Roland) "I'm going to behave, big bro. But what _are_ you doing here?" "He is DYING, you diminutive WITCH! As are YOU if you continue to-GNN!" The Marvels finish with an amazing series of punches and kicks at hypersonic speed. Mongul groans, wobbles, and collapses heavily. "Actually," Cap explains, dusting off his hands, "I was kidnapped by an alien spider as part of an attempt to rewrite reality." "Oh," Mary replies, unfazed. "I take it the local heroes stopped him?" Cap smiles. "You could say that-MARY?!" His smile vanishes as an ebon strand wraps around Mary's leg, shoots up to her head with lightning speed, and smothers Mary's scream by enveloping her face completely. Then it vanishes. The only discernable difference is that the color is gone from Mary's irises. At first. "Ah. AH! A magnificent body! Powerful, immortal, virtually invulnerable..." Mary's suddenly deeper voice fades out as she regards the incredulous Captain anew. "Say 'farewell' to your sister, you 'big red cheese.' HA!" And with that, Mary vanishes as quickly as she appeared. "MAAAAAAAAARYYYYYYYY!" * * * A few hours later. The Place. A young teen in a nondescript red shirt, blue jeans, and white sneakers walks into the Place. Mike raises one eyebrow. "Can I help you, Mr. Batson?" Mike asks politely. (Normally, of course, Mike wouldn't pry, but a minor _did_ just walk into his bar.) Billy looks up, briefly startled; a moment before, he'd been lost in thought. "Um, yes sir, thank you. I'm looking for the Callahanian Army of Light." Mike nods. "I figured as much. Had to ask though, son. Local laws and all." Mike taps his temple, and a signal passes through the sigils and the Lens link. Nothing that would distract someone in a tight spot, just an APB. (OOC: Okay, folx, your turn! Time to muster the troops! 8^) ================================= Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 22:17:56 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: The Disappearance of Mary On Thu, 11 Feb 1999 21:17:54 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006378 >On Thu, 11 Feb 1999 19:51:05 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006377 > Mike nods. "I figured as much. Had to ask though, son. Local laws >and all." Mike taps his temple, and a signal passes through the >sigils and the Lens link. Nothing that would distract someone in a >tight spot, just an APB. > (OOC: Okay, folx, your turn! Time to muster the troops! 8^) Roland entered the cottage, returning from monitor duty on Champions Island. The tireless Obsidian held the post regularly, but even _he_ had some semblance of a life (or rather, an unlife) to maintain. Checking the clock, Roland sighed, sat, and turned on the Batman-Superman video he kept for such emergencies. A short while later, Shard came down the stairs. He smiled jauntily at his old adversary. "Hey, Harmie! How's it hangin'?" Roland just glared. It was a glare that would have frozen a Green Lantern, true, but it was 'just' a glare all the same. As opposed to taking Shard apart cell by cell, which _had_ occurred to the Freelance Immortal. Shard swallowed. "Well whadayaknow, look at the time!" he said, looking at his wrist. (He wasn't wearing a watch, but neither man cared.) "Gee, it's been swell-I mean great-I mean-see ya in the spandex set!" Shard practically teleported to the door. Then he paused, turning back. "Take good care of her, Harmon," he said, his backbone slowly returning. "You going to tell gravity to keep up the good work next, Ariax?" Roland quipped darkly. "Walk. Now." The locked stare lasted a moment more, then Shard was gone. At that precise moment, Morgan appeared behind Roland, kissing him gently on the neck. Roland sighed, smiling happily. He shifted to return the kiss properly-and stopped cold. "Morgan?!" he asked, looking at a woman who was considerably more slender and fragile-looking than his wife; at least, more fragile than she is in _this_ life. Lady Elayne Solitare, however... "Solitare" blinked, then smiled sheepishly. "Oops! Sorry," she said as her form wavered, then solidified in her normal form. "Shard wanted memories. _You_ have _me_." She punctuated the last with the proper kiss she knew her husband was looking for. Roland glowed inwardly as they kissed; after the universes were saved, the damsels rescued, and the villains thwarted, there was nothing like a return to a warm home and a loving- The Lens hummed with urgency. ^&*%#@*$#%@&*^(@#^$#& NASS!^ Roland cursed inwardly, trying to keep his love from hearing, but failing miserably. "Well, it _has_ been almost a week since we took care of Destroyer." Morgan said, trying to bolster his spirits. "Huh. _Almost_ a week, and it constitutes a vacation. At least the bounties I collected will pay the bills for a while," Roland sighed. "No rest for the wicked," Morgan said, looking him straight in the eye as she smiled...appropriately. Roland rolled his eyes. "I love you too, honey." But he smiled back as he said it. He tapped the Lens with the opposite two forefingers; unnecessary, but suiting his flair for the dramatic. /Defender here./ /Hey there, Roland,/ Mike replied. /Got a kid here I'm pretty sure you know. Want to come by and pick him up?/ /Eh. Why not?/ Roland shrugged. /Who is he?/ /Early teens, brown hair, red shirt, blue jeans, earnest face, pure soul. Ring any bells?/ Mike quipped. /Billy?/ Roland blinked in surprise. /What's _he_ doing in the Place?/ /Looking for you, actually,/ Mike replied. /He wants the help of the Army of Light, though he hasn't said why yet. Now you know I'm not the type to pry.../ Roland snorted affectionately. /...so I haven't asked, and he hasn't offered. I'm pretty sure he'll tell you folks, though./ /On our way,/ Roland sighed. "Looks like it's time to save the multiverse again, love." "'Same thing we do _every_ day, Pinky,'" Morgan quipped as she went to retrieve Aramegil. At that point the door opened, Sil's cyborg form filling the frame. "Hey, you two. I was on my way back and I thought I saw tall, dark and goopy out by-" Sil sighed as she saw Morgan return with Aramegil. "Catch you at a bad time?" "Would you watch the house for us, Sil?" Roland asked, the helm of Defender solidifying around his head. "We may be a while." Sil shrugged. "Again?" Then she chuckled. "Sure, why not? Beats getting shot at every five minutes, and I just adore that kitchen of yours. Of course, taste buds help..." she patted Roland's shoulder. "Have fun storming the castle." Both heroes laughed as they faded out. Sil smirked. [As if I couldn't find you if you got in over your head. You can be cute sometimes, you know that Roland?] "Hey, MA'AN! The parental units are on a business trip-let's play 'Risky Business' until they come home to bust us!" A disembodied, translucent face appeared. "You _are_ crazy, you do realize this." Sil nodded, her smile broadening. Ma'an solidified fully. "Just checking. Where's the CD collection?" ;^) ================================= Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 23:05:03 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: The Disappearance of Mary On Fri, 12 Feb 1999 02:01:34 EST Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00006379 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006377 > Mike nods. "I figured as much. Had to ask though, son. Local laws >and all." Mike taps his temple, and a signal passes through the >sigils and the Lens link. Nothing that would distract someone in a >tight spot, just an APB. > (OOC: Okay, folx, your turn! Time to muster the troops! 8^) In Space near B5 space curdles momentarily and a ship, that at first glance could be the twin of Dragon's Bane, appears. Closer examination however reveals that the spinal weapon's orafice is smaller, and there are MANY more weapon turrets, with a wide assortment of weapons in them. It does not communicate with anybody in the area. After a few seconds it moves to take up what is obviously a defensive position between (but to one side the line) B5 and the Stargate (or whatever B5 calls it). In the place, a beautiful woman stands and walks over to Billy. "I am Aurora. I am not an officially recognized member of the CAoL, but if you wish, I will take you to the leader of the CAoL." She says. Then with a wave of her hand, an X-Window appears, looking out on the back lawn of Roland and Morgan's house on Earth-9. She steps through and then holds out her hand, in invitation to Billy. *Roland, Morgan, you have visitors.* /There's trouble brewing./ She sends. ================================= Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 23:35:51 -0800 (PST) Subject: RE: AAE V: Prequels - And They're Off! On Fri, 12 Feb 1999 02:16:41 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00006380 >On Sun, 07 Feb 1999 16:43:29 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006376 > > Apollo and Starbuck blink at each other and shrug. > Once Zia is focused on the light, Mary begins, the glow >strengthening. > (OOC: If Zia doesn't mind being 'healed' at this point) Zia smiles, looking a bit more than slightly luded out. As Mary proceeds, the red welts left on her face by the Starro parasite fade with an almost magical quickness. > The chaos within Zia seems to...calm. Almost like an agitated cat >being scratched between the ears, it relaxes, settling down to an >almost sedate 'purring.' "There. Call on some Temperance energy when >you feel, um, 'rabbity' and you should be fine." Mary smiles gently. >"How do you feel, dear?" Zia takes a long moment trying to come to grips with her 'rabbited' form and frame an answer not completely lacking in dignity or sensibility. However, this takes a moment long too long, and Mary is abruptly gone. "No, wait! MARY!" She starts to 'leap' out of the chair, and flounders on the floor, her reactions no longer suiting themselves to rabbit legss. "Botherations and Benedict set upon them!" She swears unmistakeably, and sets to work changing back with an air of desperation. Her shapeshifting, however, is the slow, painful one compared to when she was half out of her mind. Mary is captured and vanishes before the white fur has even faded. Zia slams a heavy hand on the Battlestar's decking, barely restraining it below damaging the metal. The room's floor DOES bong like a big drum, however. "Missed AGAIN! I hate this pherinking forward chance memory - confusing Oraclean goddlegook until it's almost ALWAYS too late to do anything about remembering ahead!" The petite brunette cut herself off, and almost visibly wavered between giving up with a good cry, and shouldering her load for another go. Of course, a Lensman doesn't quit. Neither, apparently, does Zia. She finished getting back human legs, and forcing a calm that the other Lensman can tell is only a surface appearance, she nods. "You have a people in dire need, although now you have food and others of the Human Tribes to aid you, Lensman. I must go, and quickly. Please give me a paper, and some drawing or art supplies - I must attempt to render a place I have only read about. A Certain Place I need to Trump to." ================================= Date: Sat, 13 Feb 1999 08:03:44 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: The Disappearance of Mary On Sat, 13 Feb 1999 10:44:21 -0500 (EST) Xzerrion Said As CAoL Message # 00006383 On Thu, 11 Feb 1999, L.J. Wolfe wrote: > Mike nods. "I figured as much. Had to ask though, son. Local laws >and all." Mike taps his temple, and a signal passes through the >sigils and the Lens link. Nothing that would distract someone in a >tight spot, just an APB. > (OOC: Okay, folx, your turn! Time to muster the troops! 8^) Xzerrion and Tezrantha are relaxing back in their home in Silverymoon. It had been a difficult battle, but they were finally free from the influence of matron Drisonel and the demonic influence of the House Rilynt'tar sigils. (see AAE3) They both thought it was time for a few centuries of relative peace. Xzerrion fingers the chain of his old sigil, remembering his last link to his old family, when a shock travels through it, causing him to snatch his hand back. "What is it, beloved?" Tezrantha asks, seeing his expression. "The sigil!" he gasps. "The CAoL needs help again." He shakes his head. No peace yet. Not unless he would sacrifice his new family, and that was impossible. They were more important to him than his old blood family. "I understand," replies Tezrantha. "You're not going alone." She whistles for Dantris. A black horse nuzzles at Xzerrion's shoulder. *You have morals. That is why I join you, while none of my kind serve with other drow.* Moments later, a shimmering pathway opens to the place. A pair of dark elves float through it, followed by a black horse. "What is it, Mike?" Xzerrion asks. ================================= Date: Sat, 13 Feb 1999 23:40:40 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: The Disappearance of Mary On Sat, 13 Feb 1999 23:21:56 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006384 >On Fri, 12 Feb 1999 02:01:34 EST >Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00006379 > >In the place, a beautiful woman stands and walks over to Billy. "I am >Aurora. I am not an officially recognized member of the CAoL, but if >you wish, I will take you to the leader of the CAoL." She says. Then >with a wave of her hand, an X-Window appears, looking out on the back >lawn of Roland and Morgan's house on Earth-9. She steps through and >then holds out her hand, in invitation to Billy. *Roland, Morgan, you >have visitors.* /There's trouble brewing./ She sends. Sil steps out the back door, sensors alerted to the x-window's formation. She smiles at Aurora and glances past her through the portal at Billy. "Let me guess: the reason they left so quickly? Your _just_ missed them. In fact, they ought to be getting there about...." The front door of Callahans opens and the Freelance Immortals walk into the Place. "Hey, Mike, what's-" Roland begins. And stops cold when he sees Billy, the X-Window, Aurora, Sil, and his own backyard. "-oh. "Hi, Billy," Roland says as calmly as possible, smiling in a friendly manner. "I'm sure you recognize us. Are you looking for us?" Billy nods. "Um, yes sir." Roland almost winces at the 'sir.' "Okay. When the rest of the CAoL gets here-or at least a reasonable majority-why don't you tell us why you're here?" Billy nods again. ^Oh, great. What's gone wrong _this_ time?^ Roland sends privately, his face still wearing the mask of confidence and assurance. ^Nothing minor, or _Captain_Marvel_ wouldn't be looking for _us,_^ Morgan replies. ^I can dream, can't I?^ Roland sighs mentally. They sit at a quantum table (one of the virtual Place's 'growing' tables that can seat as many as needed) and order drinks-vanilla milkshakes all around. ================================= Date: Sun, 14 Feb 1999 15:05:28 -0800 (PST) Subject: RE: AAE V: The Disappearance of Mary On Sun, 14 Feb 1999 17:43:31 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00006385 "There." Zia nods at the drawing, which appears to be a wooded highway-side, with a faintly numbered US sign to one side, and a rough driveway leading off into the trees in direct line with the viewer. The reverse side of the card, despite the fact that she hasn't ever turned it over to draw on that side, bears a heavily stylized snake with seven heads. If Starbuck and Apollo do some research, they'll discover it's a "Hydra". "Sorry I have to go, but I think you're really set up to make it now, Lensmen. Until we meet again, clear ether!" She smiles, and kisses Starbuck on the cheek before colding the Trump and stepping through the plane of polychromatic light that winks out behind her. * * * As the CAoL begins to gather it's membership at Callahan's, something completely out of keeping with their normal mode of operations happens. The regular front door opens, a bit slowly. The person who stands framed in it gives the room a single sweeping look, letting those who would look do so with the air of someone used to being stared at. It's somewhat difficult to realize it's a girl, of maybe 15 to 17 years, because what stands out stronger is the edge of someone who is homeless on the streets. Her clothes have seen better decades, and the last shower must have been the one she got straight from Heaven itself. Her brown hair is still wet from it. Yes, behind her in the doorway comes the smell of a hard pouring rain. Add to that picture the deep, poc-mark scars acrost her face, the stony unresponsive eyes, and it's only the color of their icy blue that even brings a ghost of reconition to even Roland and Morgan's minds. She nods, slightly, on seeing their table, and Billy himself. She shoulders her rough backpack and blanket roll back a bit more, and moves into the room with the oddly feral gliding stride of someone who holds themselves aware of an attack at all times. When she gets to the table, she nods to everyone, even the the two and the horse. She drops the pack next to the chair that appears for her, spins it backwards, and sits gently. From across her folded arms, she says, "Hello, Roland. Morgan. Billy. Dantris. I've lost the memory of the rest of the names, if you will?" To the two others with Dantris. Ziactrice, appearing without her "makeup" for once ================================= Date: Sun, 14 Feb 1999 17:04:49 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: The Disappearance of Mary On Sun, 14 Feb 1999 19:34:29 -0500 (EST) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00006386 >On Sat, 13 Feb 1999 23:21:56 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006384 John leaned back in his chair, enjoying it's soft feel which acted in concert with the melody being played by the orchestra. He was sitting in one of the box seats, watching the figures move about the stage. "Sensual Pleasures," he remarked, "This was aptly named." "Mmm'hmm." added Rhia, sitting next to him. "How do they acheive that effect? The dancing, the music, even the seats. It's all so.." "Don't question it, my dear, just enjoy it. Allow the artists their secrets." John felt a tingle, and glanced over at Rhia. She had sat up too. "Duty ever calls," he said to her. She pouted. He leaned over and whispered, "Besides, this vacation was almost over. If we respond now, I'm sure we can justify a few more months of vacation." She laughed, "Don't start. You could give the devil himself lessons in temptation." Together they rose, and exited thier box. Outside they were met by a nervous little man, "Is there a problem, Mon'seuir?" "No, no. We are called away on urgent business. It is no reflection on you or your company. Indeed, they were most excellent. Please convey my regards to them and give them this." John extended his hand and pressed a little sack into the man's palm. He opened it and his eyes widened as he looked at the *very* large ruby John had just given him. "It has qualities not evident, which I think you can use to advantage sir. If you were to shine lights into it... start with pink, and take care when experimenting." "Thank you, Mon'seuir. You overwhelm a simple playwright." John clasped his shoulder, "I have seen your visions, and would not dream of calling you a simple man. I hope to return in time for your next show. Coming, my dear?" John extended his arm, which Rhia took, and they walked off. >^Nothing minor, or _Captain_Marvel_ wouldn't be looking for _us,_^ >Morgan replies. > > ^I can dream, can't I?^ Roland sighs mentally. They sit at a >quantum table (one of the virtual Place's 'growing' tables that can >seat as many as needed) and order drinks-vanilla milkshakes all >around. John quietly steps out of the shadows. He's dressed in an elegant shades-of-grey suit, with ruffled sleeves. Everything about him tastefully says Power and Money to those who know what to look for. He approaches the table, followed by Rhiannon, who is using long black hair and alabaster skin at the moment.. She's dressed in a light grey dress, strapless and form fitting above the waist, then flowing outward with a satiny sheen. An elegant diamond necklace with a matching earrring set and elbow length lace gloves completes the look. John nods hello to all, while pulling out a chair and seeing her seated with a milkshake before taking his own seat. Rhia smiles and asks after everyones health. ================================= Date: Mon, 15 Feb 1999 02:30:37 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: The Disappearance of Mary On Sun, 14 Feb 1999 23:39:52 EST Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00006387 > Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006384 > >Sil steps out the back door, sensors alerted to the x-window's >formation. She smiles at Aurora and glances past her through the >portal at Billy. > > "Let me guess: the reason they left so quickly? Your _just_ missed >them. In fact, they ought to be getting there about...." > >The front door of Callahans opens and the Freelance Immortals walk >into the Place. "Yes. So I see. Well Oracle *did* tell me to wait at the Place. Nobody's perfect, I guess. Sorry to have disturbed you, Sil." Aurora says. > "Hey, Mike, what's-" Roland begins. And stops cold when he sees >Billy, the X-Window, Aurora, Sil, and his own backyard. "-oh. With an embarassed grin, Aurora steps back through the X-Window. ================================= Date: Mon, 15 Feb 1999 11:06:56 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: The Disappearance of Mary On Mon, 15 Feb 1999 13:58:08 -0500 Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00006388 A slender blonde woman about 6 feet tall enters the bar. She is wearing a black jumpsuit with silver piping that could be part of a future military uniform were it not more stylish than most military outfits outside of TV, and the total absence of insignia.. Though her appearance is not immediately familiar, the small grey kitten perched on her shoulder is. Legion sits down at the table where the CAoL is gathering, as Mischief hops down onto the table and starts wandering around, trying to steal drinks out of people's milkshakes. Legion gestures with her left hand, the mini-lens sitting on that wrist, "We heard and we came... We assume you will explain once people have finished arriving?" ================================= Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 04:56:15 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE:SO "Fuzzy Geas" -- Earth-9 to Elemental Earth (Long) On Mon, 15 Feb 1999 19:39:20 -0500 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00006389 D'oh! Stupid me, I forgot about the Lens-link! Dhyrclhanc and Moonstone survey the cavern finding no means or signs of egress. However, finding the cavern large enough, the Lensdragon resumes his native, near 31ft tall, form. Moments later, several semi-humanoid figures composed of what appears to be molded earth seemingly melt from the walls of the cave. They huddle in a group, gathering in a corner of the chamber. Both intent on the dragons' activities, yet, at the same time, seemingly waiting for a reaction from the two reptilians. Dhyrclhanc notices them first, somehow recognizing them. "Speak your purpose." he says, his voice taking on a hollow, echoing quality. Dhyrclhanc nods, as if he had been expecting this all along. The zipper on his dufflebag opens slightly, Tked by the draconic Lensman. Similarly, the pearl-like, yin-yang spheriod containing the copy of Fuzzy's remaining biological, mystical and psychic essence floats out, and hangs suspended in mid-air between the the two draconic beings and the small horde of Earthen Elementals. "I am a Friend the Court of Elemental Earth," explains Dhyrclhanc, still using the strange voice, while the spheriod floats between the two small groups, "This Icon will also Identify Us as the Heir to All That Was the Cat-Changling Techno-Mage Fuzzy's. Also, a Friend of All the Elemental Courts, including Earth. Fuzzy, our Mentor, is no longer with us. He died, seemingly Spending All That He Was in a Battle Between the Dark and the Light. His Sacrifice Assured the Continuance of All That Was continuing to Be All That Is. By this Icon, you will know that we possess his Physical Remains but the location and condition of his {Soul/Spirit/ Psyche}eludes us. We have traveled here to the Inner Planes of Existance to Seek He Who Is Known To Us as Lord Rampart to Petition His Aid in Our Search for Fuzzy's {Soul/Spirit/Psyche} so that We may Return him to his Previous State of Existance as Mistress Isis once Did to Lord Osiris, Minister of the Choir of The Green." The group of elementals ponder this for several moments and then, in unison, return their attention to both Dhyrclhanc and Moonstone. As they turn to move towards the nearest walls of the chamber, two events take place. An opening into a long passageway irises open as if it were an orgainic valve and Dhyrclhanc's lens flares as bright as an artic noonday sun. [Tahkis and Palatine! Not now!] Dhyrclhanc cringes inwardly. "Wait." he says to the Elementals, who pause in unison, and, to Moonstone, "Madam, The Army of Light is Congressing. It seems that our aid is needed once again. Would you care to accompany me back to the Place to meet with the rest of the CAoL or do wish to stay here with me for the remainder of our travails here?" You're it, Mike! You wanna fill in any of Moonstone's responses so far, including your answer to this question? Also a "TAG" to Roland and Morgan who never filled in any of their responses to DC & M's departure, including Seeker's reaction to what I said about DC's view of his "relationship" to Nyxator. ================================= Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 04:56:30 -0800 (PST) Subject: RE: AAE V: The Disappearance of Mary On Mon, 15 Feb 1999 20:39:15 -0500 (EST) Xzerrion Said As CAoL Message # 00006390 On Sun, 14 Feb 1999, Ziactrice Keenan wrote: > Add to that picture the deep, poc-mark scars acrost her face, >the stony unresponsive eyes, and it's only the color of their icy >blue that even brings a ghost of reconition to even Roland and >Morgan's minds. She nods, slightly, on seeing their table, and Billy >himself. She shoulders her rough backpack and blanket roll back a bit >more, and moves into the room with the oddly feral gliding stride of >someone who holds themselves aware of an attack at all times. When >she gets to the table, she nods to everyone, even the the two and the >horse. She drops the pack next to the chair that appears for her, >spins it backwards, and sits gently. > From across her folded arms, she says, "Hello, Roland. Morgan. >Billy. Dantris. I've lost the memory of the rest of the names, if you >will?" To the two others with Dantris. Dantris raises an eyebrow, winks, and returns to his plate of greens. Xzerrion glances over, deep in thought. "I should know you, I think, but it's been some time and we met only briefly. I am Xzerrion. My lady is Tezrantha." ================================= Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 04:56:34 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: The Disappearance of Mary On Mon, 15 Feb 1999 20:41:51 -0500 (EST) Xzerrion Said As CAoL Message # 00006391 On Mon, 15 Feb 1999, Caprice wrote: > Legion sits down at the table where the CAoL is gathering, as >Mischief hops down onto the table and starts wandering around, trying >to steal drinks out of people's milkshakes. Dantris leans forward and delicately sniffs at Mischief, then whickers softly. ================================= Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 04:56:44 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE Disappearance of Mary: SO On Mon, 15 Feb 1999 21:02:51 EST Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00006393 Driss's horse clopped silently compared to the squeels and moans of the few oil pumps still running in the abandoned oil field. Roscoe lay across Driss's lap, both warming him and getting the protection of Driss's cloak from the cold and slowly sprinkling snow. Driss reined his horse to a stop, eliciting a soft growl from Roscoe. *Don't tell me we have to start walking _now_. I was just getting nice and warm!* "Yes we have to go now Roscoe, we promised to bring back those horses. We can't ignore our duty just to keep warm." Driss wispered giving Roscoe a nudge. Roscoe hopped down into the snow. *'Ignore our duty'??? Do you really want to be cleaning up wolf puke right now? You're not thinking of duty, you're thinking of that Traci Goodger daughter of the mayor aren't you?* "She is cute. You have to admit that. Anyways this isn't the time to discuss this." Whispered Driss with good-hearted irritation in his voice. *Ah the good humans can do for the promise of a lay...* mused Roscoe. Driss didn't bother to answer, but adjusted his swordbelt slightly and stooped down to examine the snow. The tracks were getting filled in with snow but were still visible to Driss's sharp eyes. Drawing his rapier he began to follow the tracks, Roscoe a few steps behind him and his horse patiently waiting for his return. Fifty yards or so down the track, Roscoe gave him a mental tap on the shoulder. Driss didn't need it however, hsi eyes had already spotted the firgure hiding in the snow covered skeleton of a silent oil pump. Driss took a step towards the pump and figure moved out from his cover, holding up a worn Colt .45 revolver with mahogany grip. "I dinna know who thou be stranger, but thou shalst be dead if thou continues thine trek. Surely thee recognises a Gunslinger when thine eyes beholds one. Thine sword is no match for mine gun, aye?" "Wrong." was Driss's only reply. He took off towards the Gunslinger in a sprint. The Gunslinger took aim and fired a single round that impossibly Driss sidestepped. In close now Driss's rapier flashed once...twice...three times in the red light of the full Demon moon. Blood stained the white of the ground as three pieces of the Gunslinger's right arm fell to the ground. The mock gunslinger screamed in pain and Driss shot his left hand in a quick strike at the man's adam's apple. The man fell to the ground gagging and choking, his scream cut short. Driss placed his left foot on the man's chest and held the tip of his sword before the man's face. "Where did the other two take the horses? It can't be far if they felt two could herd them all the rest of the way." "Th-they'd kill me if I-I tell." He managed to croak out. "What do you think I'll do to you?" Sneered Driss, flicking his wrist to inflict a thin cut across the man's cheek. The man shrieked a bit and then began choking and gagging and shook on the ground. Driss cursed his luck and dropped down to his knees next to the suddenly still man. He looked at the eyes rolled back in the man's head and saw no movement of the chest. Placing his fingers on the man's neck he felt for a pulse and found none. moving them slightly and trying again there was still nothing. He began to do a few chest compressions before Roscoe spoke up. *It's no use. I just saw his soul depart. he's gone.* Driss looked from his friend to the man dead before him. "Damnit. I didn't mean to give him a freekin heart attack. I was hoping we could get the answers we needed out of him." Driss gave the body a quick search, finding only a bit of bread, some extra cartridges for the pistol and an old worn out picture of a young girl. "I Guess the locals would say it's Ka that we have to do this the hard way." Muttered Driss as he stood up and pulled his cloak more tightly around him in the face of hte growing wind. *Ka or Chaos. Would poison ivy by any other name itch any less? Le's go I'm freezing my paws off* Roscoe grabbed the falled pistol in his jaws and began sprinting towards where they had left the horse. Driss followed at a jog a bit behind. Inside the small shack Driss had spotted for shelter, a small fire sputtered and finally died while Driss Dozed, using Roscoe for a pillow. The inactivity of the shack was in contrast to the dimention inside Driss's cloak where the CAoL sigil desperately tried to send out its cry of summons. From behind a pile of armor came a six tentacled monkey wearing a black leather doublet. The head shifted becoming more human as Chaos regarded the Sigil. He placed newly sprouted racoon arms over his ears and grumbled. "Doesn't this thing know people are trying to sleep?" Looking around Chaos spotted a universal remote control. Setting the button to reprogram it and typing a code at random, he aimed the remote at the Sigil and hit the Mute button. Instantly the sigil went silent and Chaos smiled. "Much better." Re-setting the remote to work on a 13" Quasar TV, Chaos threw it over his shoulder and began sprouting feathers. "So many places to be, so little time." A bright red Crow flapped its way out of Driss's cloak and through a small hole in the ceiling of the shack, crying "Ka! Ka! KA!" as it flew through the pitch black blizzard. TBC probably I'm having fun writing this. ;-) ================================= Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 04:56:54 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: The Disappearance of Mary On Mon, 15 Feb 1999 18:31:20 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006394 >On Sat, 13 Feb 1999 10:44:21 -0500 (EST) >Xzerrion Said As CAoL Message # 00006383 > >Moments later, a shimmering pathway opens to the place. A pair of >dark elves float through it, followed by a black horse. > >"What is it, Mike?" Xzerrion asks. Roland smiles. "Xzerrion! Wow, this is really old home week, isn't it? Tezrantha, Dantris, you two keeping an eye on that elf?" Morgan, too, smiles broadly. "Ye missed the mother of all battles, lad." >On Sun, 14 Feb 1999 17:43:31 -0500 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00006385 > > "Sorry I have to go, but I think you're really set up to make it >now, Lensmen. Until we meet again, clear ether!" She smiles, and >kisses Starbuck on the cheek before colding the Trump and stepping >through the plane of polychromatic light that winks out behind her. "Hot jets, Zia," Starbuck replies as Apollo waves. "Are you going to get used to that?" He asks Apollo as she vanishes. "Probably not," Apollo replies with a rueful smile. > As the CAoL begins to gather it's membership at Callahan's, >something completely out of keeping with their normal mode of >operations happens. The regular front door opens, a bit slowly. The >person who stands framed in it gives the room a single sweeping look, >letting those who would look do so with the air of someone used to >being stared at. It's somewhat difficult to realize it's a girl, of >maybe 15 to 17 years, because what stands out stronger is the edge of >someone who is homeless on the streets. Her clothes have seen better >decades, and the last shower must have been the one she got straight >from Heaven itself. Her brown hair is still wet from it. Yes, behind >her in the doorway comes the smell of a hard pouring rain. Several Callahanians turn, register the new entrant, quickly deduce that whatever she's here for, it's none of their business until she says otherwise, and go back to whatever they were doing. > Add to that picture the deep, poc-mark scars acrost her face, >the stony unresponsive eyes, and it's only the color of their icy >blue that even brings a ghost of reconition to even Roland and >Morgan's minds. She nods, slightly, on seeing their table, and Billy >himself. She shoulders her rough backpack and blanket roll back a bit >more, and moves into the room with the oddly feral gliding stride of >someone who holds themselves aware of an attack at all times. When >she gets to the table, she nods to everyone, even the the two and the >horse. She drops the pack next to the chair that appears for her, >spins it backwards, and sits gently. Roland blinks, whether more in surprise or confusion is anyone's guess. "...Zia?" > From across her folded arms, she says, "Hello, Roland. Morgan. >Billy. Dantris. I've lost the memory of the rest of the names, if you >will?" To the two others with Dantris. Morgan performed the re-introductions. "Zia," there's the faintest of questioning tones on that word, "This is Xzerrion and Tezrantha. Xzerrion was one of the CAoL's earliest members." (OOC: The first to respond to Stranger's initial post, even before the baddies stormed the Place, and one of only 4 to post on the thread the first day.) >On Sun, 14 Feb 1999 19:34:29 -0500 (EST) >Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00006386 > > John quietly steps out of the shadows. He's dressed in an elegant >shades-of-grey suit, with ruffled sleeves. Everything about him >tastefully says Power and Money to those who know what to look for. >He approaches the table, followed by Rhiannon, who is using long >black hair and alabaster skin at the moment.. She's dressed in a >light grey dress, strapless and form fitting above the waist, then >flowing outward with a satiny sheen. An elegant diamond necklace with >a matching earrring set and elbow length lace gloves completes the >look. > John nods hello to all, while pulling out a chair and seeing her >seated with a milkshake before taking his own seat. Rhia smiles and >asks after everyones health. Roland smiles. "Hey, John, Rhiannon." The patrons note Xzerrion and John's groups, reacting no more to their (or Roland's and Morgan's, for that matter) physical appearances than they did to Zia's, though as Zia is 'new' to the Place, there is the usual readiness to be there should she open up. (OOC Note: Roland is in his Defender armor except for the helm; Morgan is wearing the green 'supers' outfit she wore during the Epsilon Reality War. There are pictures of each; Roland's Defender suit can be seen on the CAoL site, and Morgan's can be found on her character page off Roland's site.) >On Sun, 14 Feb 1999 23:39:52 EST >Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00006387 > >Morgan and/or Roland Said >> As CAoL Message # 00006384 > >> "Let me guess: the reason they left so quickly? Your _just_ >>missed them. In fact, they ought to be getting there about...." >> >>The front door of Callahans opens and the Freelance Immortals walk >>into the Place. > >"Yes. So I see. Well Oracle *did* tell me to wait at the Place. >Nobody's perfect, I guess. Sorry to have disturbed you, Sil." Aurora >says. "Oh, no trouble at all," Sil replies cheerfully, her alibi assured. ================================= Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 04:57:01 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE V: Da Plot! On Mon, 15 Feb 1999 20:47:30 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006395 (OOC: Assuming no one has trouble reaching the Place; this happens after everyone who's arriving arrives, and others have been 'pinged' and informed the rest that they're otherwise occupied. Dead characters, obviously, need not respond. ) The small talk and other conversation around the table dies out. Billy stands, stepping back from the table into a fairly open area. "Thank you all. I guess the easiest way to start is to show anyone who isn't...familiar with me...who and what I am. SHAZAM!" A bolt of lightning slams into the boy, though it doesn't damage the boy or Mike's roof. There is a slight dark spot on the Place's floor, but it fades quickly. Billy, on the other hand, has changed dramatically. Where a young, thin, mundanely dressed, fairly intellgent and athletic teen stood, there was now a tall, wide, muscular man in thick red cloth, bearing gold bands on his forearms and legs, a white cape flowing from a cord, a golden sash around his waist, and a shining golden thunderbolt in the center of his chest. "I am also known as Captain Marvel. An old wizard, whose name is the word I use to transform, has given me the power to become...this. "He has also given the power to two others; one of them is my sister. "And she's vanished." There's a brief pause as Captain Marvel sighs. "She came to, um, 'Babylon Five' to help me and bring me home. She seemed to be...possessed...then disappeared from right in front of me. I have to find her. "Will you help me?" (OOC: Like he's gotta ask? ) Roland shrugs. "Hey, it beats monitor duty on Champions Island," he quips. Then he stands and puts his hand on Cap's shoulder. (He has to reach up to do it, though...) "Of course we'll help, big guy. For something like this, I can only speak for Morgan and myself, but if I know this bunch of folx you'll have the whole CAoL behind you in short order. "Any idea where to go first?" Cap thinks for a moment. "Well...the only thing I can think to do is to go back to our home reality. Mary might have been able to exert some control, and if she did, she would have gone to our Metropolis." Roland nods. "Faucett City _is_ lacking its most powerful heroes at the moment, and I take it that Cap Jr. wouldn't be able to stop her for personal reasons?" Cap nods, his eyes darkening slightly. At Morgan's vague expression, Roland adds, "Faucett City is the home of the Marvels. Metropolis is the Earthly gathering place of the JLA; even Mary Marvel wouldn't be able to face them all down single-handedly. 'Cap Jr.' is Captain Marvel Jr., a scaled down model of Cap here, and probably the only defender of Fawcett City in residence at the moment." ================================= Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 04:57:05 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: The Disappearance of Mary On Mon, 15 Feb 1999 18:28:41 -0600 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00006396 >On Thu, 11 Feb 1999 19:51:05 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006377 > > Mike nods. "I figured as much. Had to ask though, son. Local laws >and all." Mike taps his temple, and a signal passes through the >sigils and the Lens link. Nothing that would distract someone in a >tight spot, just an APB. > (OOC: Okay, folx, your turn! Time to muster the troops! 8^) The _Love's_Labor_ flew on through the perpetual night of space toward Earth. Mike put his heels up on the corner of the command console, staring into the damaged Spikard on his finger. [Ugh, this core is a mess. At least the ring's power taps are still intact. Hmm, if I can just get the tracking protocols up, I'll be happy. At least I can get a continual fix on Flarn.] Mike frowned as the CAoL sigil hanging around his neck sent a brief tingle through him. He sighed, looking between his course for Earth, which then went off to get the woman he'd lost and found only recently, and his sigil. Getting up from the captain's chair, Mike headed down to his quarters and got a piece of paper and a pencil stub. Dear gang, The CAoL sigil tells me the Army of Light needs help. I am very close to finding Flarn, if I go now, I might lose her again. I...can't bear that, I must continue. But they're family and I can't let them down either. Could someone go see what the emergency is? My Spikard's system has crashed, but Pyewackett can find me just about anywhere. If they need me, come fetch me. I refuse to lose anyone else because I wasn't there for them. May I see you all soon, with Flarn with me. And take my sigil, it may prove useful. Mike Mike looked at the note and sighed, "Now, the spell...hope I remeber it like Molly taught me." He folded up the note around the sigil, then took a bag of sand and scattered it on the floor. Sweeping it out into a smooth layer, Mike drew a complex figure into it, pausing occasionally to check it against his memory. [There's the figure, the sigil is the power source, so set it in the middle of the figure, in the small circle, and say the incantation with the place you have in mind. Then destroy the figure once it's done.] Mike did that, the paper wrapped sigil vanishing in a small flash of light, then swept the sand back into its bag. As he left his quarters, he frowned. "Please let it be something simple." But, knowing the luck the CAoL usually had, he doubted it. * * * * * * * The small paper-wrapped sigil appeared on the kitchen table of Gary Seven's house. Pyewackett and Isis, having excused themselves from Nemisis's company to check on the house, as well as see if anyone else could decipher the strange reading they had gotten about Fuzzy, hopped onto the table. *So, the CAoL needs help,* Pyewackett thought, *And Mike's close to finding Flarn. I think we can see what the emergency is while Mike continues the search.* Isis nodded, *We'll want to take Jack with us.* *Hmmm, figured the rest of the family would be back by now.* *Roberta's addicted to shopping.* *Well, we'll keep them in reserve as reinforcements.* Isis nodded in agreement. *And leave the note here. You put on the sigil.* *Chicken,* Pyewackett replied eith a snort. A quick spell and the sigil and cord were adjusted respectively to form a cat's collar which Pyewackett wore. *Let's go track down Jack.* *She's probably at Callahan's.* Isis said, *She was with Dhyrclanc.* *Well, then, following her trail will get us to where we want to go anyway.* The two black cats disappeared into the shadows behind a curtain into that dark yet brilliant realm between worlds, They emerged a while later from a far different shadow to find Jack just in sight. ================================= Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 14:26:48 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE:SO "Fuzzy Geas" -- Earth-9 to Elemental Earth (Long) On Tue, 16 Feb 1999 16:20:31 -0600 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00006398 >On Mon, 15 Feb 1999 19:39:20 -0500 >Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00006389 > >Dhyrclhanc and Moonstone survey the cavern finding no means or signs >of egress. However, finding the cavern large enough, the Lensdragon >resumes his native, near 31ft tall, form. Moonstone also returns to her draconic form, stretching slightly. Jack slips into the form of a white cat and perches on Moonstone's shoulders >As they turn to move towards the nearest walls of the chamber, two >events take place. An opening into a long passageway irises open as >if it were an orgainic valve and Dhyrclhanc's lens flares as bright >as an artic noonday sun. Pyewackett and Isis appear beneath the hind leg of Moonstone in the sudden intense shadow. >"Wait." he says to the Elementals, who pause in unison, and, to >Moonstone, "Madam, The Army of Light is Congressing. It seems that >our aid is needed once again. Would you care to accompany me back to >the Place to meet with the rest of the CAoL or do wish to stay here >with me for the remainder of our travails here?" Pyewackett rubs against Moonstone's leg, purring to Dhyrclhanc, *I see you got the call as well, Dhyrclhanc. We were just coming to get Jack and head to the Place.* Moonstone pauses for a moment, sorting out the semantics of what Dhyrclhanc asked her, then says, "Given the opportunity to see firsthand somewhere I only heard about in stories, I'll go to the Place. Shall we meet your other self there or all go together?" ================================= Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 14:27:01 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: Da Plot! On Tue, 16 Feb 1999 16:20:25 -0600 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00006399 >On Mon, 15 Feb 1999 20:47:30 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006395 > > "Will you help me?" > (OOC: Like he's gotta ask? ) > Roland shrugs. "Hey, it beats monitor duty on Champions Island," >he quips. Then he stands and puts his hand on Cap's shoulder. (He has >to reach up to do it, though...) "Of course we'll help, big guy. For >something like this, I can only speak for Morgan and myself, but if I >know this bunch of folx you'll have the whole CAoL behind you in >short order. > "Any idea where to go first?" > Cap thinks for a moment. "Well...the only thing I can think to do >is to go back to our home reality. Mary might have been able to exert >some control, and if she did, she would have gone to our Metropolis." > Roland nods. "Faucett City _is_ lacking its most powerful heroes >at the moment, and I take it that Cap Jr. wouldn't be able to stop >her for personal reasons?" Cap nods, his eyes darkening slightly. At >Morgan's vague expression, Roland adds, "Faucett City is the home of >the Marvels. Metropolis is the Earthly gathering place of the JLA; >even Mary Marvel wouldn't be able to face them all down single- >handedly. 'Cap Jr.' is Captain Marvel Jr., a scaled down model of Cap >here, and probably the only defender of Fawcett City in residence at >the moment." Moonstone, once she arrives, will resume human form and find a seat, then immediately have three large cats in her lap; Pyewackett, Isis, and Jack. the four will split a largish milkshake and listen to Billy/Cap's story. The three cats consider the information, conversing privately. Jack looks a bit agitated at a few points, but she seems to relent whatever concerns she had near the end. Pyewackett sends after a few moments, *We'll go get Mike. We also may be a while, so when you are ready to pounce, don't wait for us to get back. If we could impose, would you take Moonstone with you all? She will make my tracking you all down much easier, as other than Mike, her scent is the one I know best. She shouldn't slow you down, we've seen her handle herself when she would sneak out for those karate lessons while she thought we were asleep.* "Hey! Why you-? How-?" Moonstone says, surprized nearly speechless. *We're cats,* Isis said, *We know all the tricks.* Moonstone sighed, rubbing her temples. "Annnnyway, if anyone's uncomfortable about that, I can always wait here. I assume those X-window-things can find you all easily enough." The cats give her a surprized look of their own. "What, you thought I wasn't paying attention to all your stories?" *Touche,* Isis sends. "Anyway, I'm just a college student, no military training or anything." *Capable of operating Starfleet general-issue phasers and tricorders,* Isis adds. *And her magical knowledge is excellent, though not on a par with Morgan or Tezrantha.* Pyewackett continues. *One on one, she can fight off a man twice her size.* Jack adds. "When did I do that?" Moonstone asks. *Finals week your sophomore year in that club. Then again when you graduated.* Moonstone sinks into her seat, blushing brightly. "They're almost as bad as my parents." The three cats look smug in reply. *Okay, we'll be on our way,* Pyewackett sends, *We'll worry about catching up with you all when we come to it.* There's a brief private conversation between the three cats and Moonstone. At one point, she rolls her eyes, looking exasperated, then nods. The cats take off into a dark corner and vanish. Moonstone sighs and sips a bit of the milkshake. "I was wrong. They're worse than my parents." ================================= Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 17:06:12 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: The Disappearance of Mary On Tue, 16 Feb 1999 19:37:27 EST Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00006400 >Xzerrion Said As CAoL Message # 00006391 > > On Mon, 15 Feb 1999, Caprice wrote: >> Legion sits down at the table where the CAoL is gathering, as >>Mischief hops down onto the table and starts wandering around, >>trying to steal drinks out of people's milkshakes. > >Dantris leans forward and delicately sniffs at Mischief, then >whickers softly. Aurora watches this exchange, smiles, and then points one finger at a spot on the table in front of Mischief. With a tiny sparkle a small dish of tuna and olives (OOC:I think it was olives that Mischief was devouring on Quaren), and a small dish containing milkshake (OOC: whatever Mischief's fav. flavor is) appear. "Forgive my presumption, please, Legion, but such a hungry small one deserves a repast." She says to Legion. ================================= Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 20:07:17 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: The Disappearance of Mary On Tue, 16 Feb 1999 22:49:53 -0500 Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00006402 >On Tue, 16 Feb 1999 19:37:27 EST >Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00006400 > >Aurora watches this exchange, smiles, and then points one finger at a >spot on the table in front of Mischief. With a tiny sparkle a small >dish of tuna and olives (OOC:I think it was olives that Mischief was >devouring on Quaren), (OOC: It was radishes, feel free to rewrite this so Aurora got it correct. After all, our poor characters shouldn't have to suffer because of their players! ;) ) >and a small dish containing milkshake (OOC: whatever Mischief's fav. >flavor is) appear. "Forgive my presumption, please, Legion, but such >a hungry small one deserves a repast." She says to Legion. Legion smiles, "No presumption, though if she had her way, she'd probably eat until she was nothing but a small, furry ball with eyes and feet." Mischief looks at Legion, saying quite clearly "meh!" and then turns to eat her meal with exaggerated daintiness. ================================= Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 22:18:51 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: Da Plot! On Tue, 16 Feb 1999 23:36:16 -0500 (EST) Xzerrion Said As CAoL Message # 00006403 >On Tue, 16 Feb 1999, L.J. Wolfe wrote: > Where a young, thin, mundanely dressed, fairly intellgent and >athletic teen stood, there was now a tall, wide, muscular man in >thick red cloth, bearing gold bands on his forearms and legs, a white >cape flowing from a cord, a golden sash around his waist, and a >shining golden thunderbolt in the center of his chest. "I am also >known as Captain Marvel. An old wizard, whose name is the word I use >to transform, has given me the power to become...this. Xzerrion shakes his head at the cheap theatrics and sighs. > "He has also given the power to two others; one of them is my >sister. > "And she's vanished." At this, Xzerrion blinks and focuses his whole attention on Billy/Captain Marvel, remembering the sister he had once, so many years ago. > There's a brief pause as Captain Marvel sighs. "She came to, um, >'Babylon Five' to help me and bring me home. She seemed to be... >possessed...then disappeared from right in front of me. I have to >find her. > "Will you help me?" Xzerrion speaks for his small grouping. "Our methods are unorthodox, and some would call my work less than moral at times, but if there is any way we may be of assistance, we will." Tezrantha touches Xzerrion's hand, knowing the memories that trigger this offer. (OOC : I'll finish that background story sometime, dammit :) > Roland nods. "Faucett City _is_ lacking its most powerful heroes >at the moment, and I take it that Cap Jr. wouldn't be able to stop >her for personal reasons?" Cap nods, his eyes darkening slightly. At >Morgan's vague expression, Roland adds, "Faucett City is the home of >the Marvels. Metropolis is the Earthly gathering place of the JLA; >even Mary Marvel wouldn't be able to face them all down single- >handedly. 'Cap Jr.' is Captain Marvel Jr., a scaled down model of Cap >here, and probably the only defender of Fawcett City in residence at >the moment." Xzerrion and Tezrantha trade slightly glazed expressions. "Um, Roland?" Tezrantha interjects, "Some of us aren't familiar with that reality. If we are to be of any help, background information is necessary." ================================= Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 22:19:37 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: The Disappearance of Mary On Tue, 16 Feb 1999 23:41:19 -0500 (EST) Xzerrion Said As CAoL Message # 00006404 On Tue, 16 Feb 1999, L.J. Wolfe wrote: > Roland smiles. "Xzerrion! Wow, this is really old home week, isn't >it? Tezrantha, Dantris, you two keeping an eye on that elf?" Tezrantha winks. "We manage, but he still gets into his share of trouble, and is volunteering for more or he wouldn't be here." >Morgan, too, smiles broadly. "Ye missed the mother of all battles, >lad." Xzerrion shakes his head. "I've seen more than my share. Glad to see you all, but it would be nice if once in a while we got together without a crisis brewing, you know?" ================================= Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 22:20:06 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE:SO "Fuzzy Geas" -- A Gathering of Minds (Long) On Wed, 17 Feb 1999 00:02:37 -0500 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00006406 > On Tue, 16 Feb '99 Mike Knight Said > Pyewackett rubs against Moonstone's leg, purring to Dhyrclhanc, >*I see you got the call as well, Dhyrclhanc. We were just coming to >get Jack and head to the Place.* > Moonstone pauses for a moment, sorting out the semantics of what >Dhyrclhanc asked her, then says, "Given the opportunity to see >firsthand somewhere I only heard about in stories, I'll go to the >Place. Shall we meet your other self there or all go together?" Dhyrclhanc fingers the silvery metal, stylized rose motife, ring on the ring finger on his off hand. "My 'otherself', as you say, was never at the Place," he says, and another Dhyrclhanc appears in the chamber, identical to the one that previously appeared in front of Nemisis on Quaren II. "Hello Dhyrclhanc!" says the new, slightly larger, Dhyrclhanc. "Hello Dhyrclhanc!" says the Dhyrclhanc standing by Moonstone. "We've just got to stop meeting like this." says the first. "I'm beside myself just thinking about it." the other agrees, smiling. The newcomer turns to Moonstone and says, "Shall we be going?" as he gestures to the location where the Stargate still stood. The other motions for Moonstone and the Cats to go by him, "I'll stay here and continue my search for Fuzzy's {Spirit/Intelect/ Consciousness} as well as petition those contacts we have with the Elemental Courts for help with the search." He then turns his attention back to the Elementals, who (with a nod from Dhyrclhanc) continue down the passageway with the Lensdragon following closely behind. The Stargate once again begins it's start-up proceedure and when the wormhole is established Dhyrclhanc, (and assumedly) Moonstone, and the Cats stride through. Before the two of them dissapear into the Stargate's event horizon, the Immortal hatchling Ruby Fire Dragon says, "I have to take another slight detour but you shouldn't notice my absence." ================================= Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 22:20:24 -0800 (PST) Subject: RE: AAE V: The Disappearance of Mary On Wed, 17 Feb 1999 00:12:25 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00006407 >On Mon, 15 Feb 1999 18:31:20 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006394 > Roland blinks, whether more in surprise or confusion is anyone's >guess. "...Zia?" > >> From across her folded arms, she says, "Hello, Roland. Morgan. >>Billy. Dantris. I've lost the memory of the rest of the names, if >>you will?" To the two others with Dantris. > >Morgan performed the re-introductions. "Zia," there's the faintest of >questioning tones on that word, "This is Xzerrion and Tezrantha. >Xzerrion was one of the CAoL's earliest members." She nods welcome to the two, "We saw you, but you didn't see me in this way before. I'm Ziactrice, or more commonly, Zia." She gives Roland and Morgan a slightly crooked-mouth expression, ironic and slightly black in humor. "Yes, it's still Zia. The one, the always." She adds, with modest bow of head and shoulders. "This place just doesn't seem to support my particular, ahm, power's proclivities. It's a probability nexus of large degree." Seeing that this isn't getting her point across, she shrugs, "This is my most probable appearance, without additions from the Family's Puzzle. The most real one, I guess you could perhaps say." "I'm in. That is why I came here, after all." She shrugs, and gives the new (to her and in general) folx a respectful nod, as she stands, puts the chair back in the right way, and shoulders the blanket roll and scruffy backpack again. Dame Ziactrice Keenan shizukasa ni stillness - hotaru tobunari fireflies are glowing over - fuchi no ue deep water ================================= Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 22:20:39 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: Da Plot! (VLong)(sorry) On Wed, 17 Feb 1999 00:59:10 -0500 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00006408 > On Tue, 16 Feb '99 Mike Knight Said > >>Morgan and/or Roland Said >> Roland nods. "Faucett City _is_ lacking its most powerful heroes >>at the moment, and I take it that Cap Jr. wouldn't be able to stop >>her for personal reasons?" Cap nods, his eyes darkening slightly. At >>Morgan's vague expression, Roland adds, "Faucett City is the home of >>the Marvels. Metropolis is the Earthly gathering place of the JLA; >>even Mary Marvel wouldn't be able to face them all down single- >>handedly. 'Cap Jr.' is Captain Marvel Jr., a scaled down model of >>Cap here, and probably the only defender of Fawcett City in >>residence at the moment." Just before the fireworks begins, a Regular is standing by the French Doors. He turns his head as if he's heard something strange from outside and the rest of the populace of the Place in the close vicinity are treated to the display of his jaw dropping at the same time as his drink is dropped. Somehow spectacularly ignoring the fact that his beer mug almost mashed his foot flat, he grabs another Regular, and pulls him over to also stare open-mouthed out the doorway. His curiosity now piqued, Fast Eddie wanders over and looks out, then shrugging and looking more or less non-plussed he turns his attention back into the Place. "Hey Jake, what was da name o' dat movie that came out a coupla years ago by wassz their name, the same guys who 'ere responsible for "Independance Day" and that fiasco of a "Gozilla" remake. The one that starred Kurt Russel and that kid from da first Maniquin movie?" "Was that 'Stargate', Ed?" "Dats it. Well we got one a doze in da middle o' da parking lot." "Well it won't be the first extraterrestrial invasion we've stemmed" quiped Long Drink. "Never mind." answered back Fast Eddie, looking out the doorway, again."Its just Dhyrclhanc." The three of them move back away from the French Doors, as the Exaulted Fire Dragon hatchling came in, followed by Moonstone, Pyewackett, Isis, Jack, Sythea, Nimrod, Sikorsky, (assumedly) a Nemisis split and something floating in the air between Nemisis and Sikorsky that looks like a cross between a surfboard and a cruise missle that has eyes at it's forward tip. "Hi, Dhyrclhanc." says Mike, not even looking up from drying glasses. "Hey Mike, you mind if my friend hangs out up here?" "I got no problem with that." replied the Mick of Time. The Surfboard/Cruise Missle props itself against the bar, inbetween the counter and one of the chairs. > *Okay, we'll be on our way,* Pyewackett sends, *We'll worry >about catching up with you all when we come to it.* > There's a brief private conversation between the three cats and >Moonstone. At one point, she rolls her eyes, looking exasperated, >then nods. The cats take off into a dark corner and vanish. > Moonstone sighs and sips a bit of the milkshake. "I was wrong. >They're worse than my parents." Dhyrclhanc shrinks down to 7 feet tall and finds a seat while Synthea does the same. Nimrod continues to stand, just outside the area where everyone else is sitting and Sikorsky takes up a position, mid-air, diagonaly from Nimrod. Zia gets the strange feeling that he just winked at her but, with the compound eyes, she can't be sure. When Billy ends his tale, Dhyrclhanc speaks up, "Sorry that I'm fashionably late, again. I believe that some introductions are in order. Moonstone you've just met. Everyone remembers Nimrod and Synthea. Sikorsky," he motions to the "dragonfly", "is my new feild medic and the 'crow' up by the bar is Dasher." ================================= Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 05:37:17 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: Da Plot! On Wed, 17 Feb 1999 04:56:32 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00006410 >On Mon, 15 Feb 1999 20:47:30 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006395 > Roland nods. "Faucett City _is_ lacking its most powerful heroes >at the moment, and I take it that Cap Jr. wouldn't be able to stop >her for personal reasons?" Cap nods, his eyes darkening slightly. At >Morgan's vague expression, Roland adds, "Faucett City is the home of >the Marvels. Metropolis is the Earthly gathering place of the JLA; >even Mary Marvel wouldn't be able to face them all down single- >handedly. 'Cap Jr.' is Captain Marvel Jr., a scaled down model of >Cap here, and probably the only defender of Fawcett City in >residence at the moment." Nemo walks up to Captain Marvel, looking a bit uncomfortable. "I am sorry, but I cannot actively participate in this quest. All the forseeable consequences of my doing so are worse than those resulting from my not doing so." If Cap thinks to use the Wisdom of Solomon, he'll sense the truth of this. "I can still perform such actions as many lesser mortals could. So, if I may, I'll act as relay and contact point for any latecomers." ================================= Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 10:17:03 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE:SO: Driss and Roscoe through the snow. On Wed, 17 Feb 1999 11:54:18 EST Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00006411 Morning sunlight finally shone in through the cracks in the ceiling of the shack and into Driss's eyes, rousing him with much grumbling. Looking about he could see snow littered here and there where it had blown in through the walls and another section of ceiling that had collapsed under the weight of the snow. His horse was dead, frozen to death in its sleep. Luckilly Driss's cloak had kept he and Roscoe warm through the night. An attempt to push open the door proved futile. Probably blocked by snow. He throught of using somethign to blast it open but feared what might occur if the snow was piled too heavily on the other side. "Alright Roscoe, looks like you get to learn how to climb." He muttered regarding the sagging ceiling. *You're nuts you know that right? Wolves were not ment to go climbing through roofs. I'll meet you on the other side.* With that Roscoe walked over to a wall and as he reached it, appeared to vanish. "I gotta get him to show me how he does that sometime." Muttered Driss. Walking over to the section of roof that collpased, Driss cut it away some more, with his rapier, up to the sturdiest looking cross support. Climbing onto the fallen snow and wood debris, he jumped and pulled himself onto the roof. Walking carefully along where the support should be, he dropped down the 5' to join Roscoe in the snow. *My, they certainly have some strong storms here don't they? Are they always this bad here?* "And how exactly should _I_ be knowing this? I've been here exactly the same amount of time as you have!" Snapped Driss with a smile showing in the corner of his lip, "Come on, let's get going." Roscoe sniffed around, finding no familiar scents and only seeing white snow lain all over everything, unbroken ecept for the huge oil pumps. *And exactly which way ARE we supposed to go with no tracks to follow?* Driss thought for a moment, then reached into his cloak and pulled out a small stick. Dropping it straight down at the snow he looked as it landed and pointed in the direction it angled to. "That way." *Oh, OK. As long as it's from logical deduction and not just some guesswork...* quipped Roscoe as he began trudging in the direction Driss pointed. Driss thought of replying and decided not to bother. Scopping up the stick and returning it to his cloak he followed off after Roscoe. A half day's journey took them far from the oil field, through some scraggly woods and into the flat worn out farmlands. Conversation was little, each concentrating more on keeping from stepping into any dangers hidden by the snow. Suddenly Roscoe froze in place. He swung his head around to look at Driss as he inspected a barbed-wire fence he wished to cross. *Driss! Sniper!* Driss heard Roscoe's call at the same moment as he heard the crack of the pistol. He attempts to dodge to the side, but a fast moving, heavy slug rips into his hip, tearing muscle and shattering bone. Driss reaches into his cloak and produces a large automatic pistol bearing a thermographic scope. Turning towards the scraggly woods Roscoe mentally pointed out, he easily saw the image of a man desperately trying to re-load a bolt action pistol while in a tree. Driss took careful aim on the man who seemed to finally realize his time was up. The heat sillouette froze a moment and turned to look at Driss as he pulled the trigger on his pistol. Three rounds flew into the trees opening up the man's chest as Driss's hip finished healing itself. Replacing the pistol and getting to his feet Driss made his way over the barbed wire and to the trees. He found the body on the ground, blood coloring the white snow a bright red. Nearby was a .30 carbine cartridge and a new looking Thompson Contender. Driss picked up the pistol and regarded it questioningly as Roscoe came up behind him. "What looks wrong about this to you Roscoe?" He asked softly. *That you're getting yourself caught by surprise a lot lately?* snapped Roscoe. "All right, all right, I get distracted. It's not like thay can kill me anyways. I _am_ immortal rememeber? No, what I'm talking about is this pistol. It's far too new for this world. Everything here is disheveled, forgotten and unmaintained. This pistol looks like it came out of the factory yesterday." Driss said, showing the gun to Roscoe while he looks about for anything else out of place. Driss's sharp eyes spotted a glimmer in the distance. A barn made out of corrugated metal. _Shiny_ corrugated metal. In a land of rust and ruin. Driss started off towards the barn at a run, the thrill of the chase hot in his blood. Roscoe looked again at the pistol Driss had now dropped and then followed after him. As Driss got closer he could see a young woman with bright red hair sliding a door on the barn shut. She didn't seem to notice him, being too busy trying to close the door and keep her cloak out of the way at the same time. Driss pulled out a small net launcher to capture her with, but then she whirled about with a black automatic pistol in her hand. It chattered out its greeting at Driss, who dove to the side and rolled away. The gunfire stopped and he aimed his launcher at the girl, who was now sliding the door back open. Driss fired just as she dashed through into the barn. Bother girl and net disappeared inside. Picking himself up, Driss drew his rapier and moved to where he could look in the door easilly as Roscoe caught up with him. Inside the barn was a shimmering silvery...something. Neither liquid, nor solid, nor air. Yet it seemed a mass, but without depth. Driss and Roscoe looked at it in silence, then looked at each other. "what do you think it is?" Driss asked softly. *What the locals call a Thinny. I think. But some have spoken of almost an animal intelligence about them and I feel nothing in this. Nor is there the painful sounds from it that are usually reported.* thought Roscoe as he tried to explore the phenomenon with his mind, but found nothing. Driss meanwhile had begun approaching the barn slowly, rapier in hand. As he got within a couple feet of the door, Roscoe felt a beastial mind suddenly appear inside. *Driss!!! Something's in there!!* Roscoe mentally yelled as he ran to Driss's side. Driss flipped himself backwards at Roscoe's warning, and landed again just before a section of hte steel wall was torn apart. An 8' tall muscular humanoid form, covered head to toe in long black hair and long sharp fangs evident in a snarling mouth, came out and began to look around. "Ok, new question, what the hell is this thing? I _know_ _THIS_ should not be here." yelled Driss over the beast's roaring. The monster charged at Driss, who ducked and dodged but still caught enough of a blow to knock the wind out of him. The beast loomed over Driss and raised a massive fist to smash Driss's head to pulp, but the hand then moved to the beast's head as it cried out in pain. *D-Driss... get up. I'm attacking what mind it has but I don't seem to be stopping it,* called Roscoe, obviously strainging to try to shut down the beast's mind. Driss pulled himself to his feet and looked around for his rapier. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed the creature, still in pain, begin advancing on Roscoe. Abandoning the search for his rapier, Driss pulled out an energy rifle with a forked barrel from his cloak. Aiming it at the beast, he pulled the trigger and sent a wave of sonic energy at the creature's head. It let out another scream and fell to its knees, blood flowing from its ears and mouth, and still holding its head in pain. Driss let loose with another blast from the sonic rifle, draining its charge and dropping the beast onto its hands. Then, stowing away the rifle, Driss looked around for his rapier again. This time he spotted it, scooped it up and rushed to the monster, chopping it's head off. Yellow goo flowed freely from the severed neck and mixed with the red blood it had been bleeding before. Driss looked at the fallen monster, then to Roscoe, and then to the barn with the new hole in its wall. "It just appeared in there? There must be a gateway there then. the question topping my head right now is why would someone with transdimentional magic or technology go for horse rustling??" *We're still not sure this _is_ the trail of the horse rustlers.* Roscoe reminded Driss. "This is all too coincidental for my life. They must be tied. And I think the only way we're gonna get any answers, is to go through that gateway." stated Driss slowly and carefully. *And if we can't come back? We fell into this dimention by accident and don't have a dimentional transporter of our own. And we don't know that I can find a pathway to Arcadia where ever we are going.* Said Roscoe, concern evident in his mind. "Hey, if we're going to be dimentional wanderers, lets wander." Said Driss adamantly, walking towards the barn. *Oblivion, here we come yet again....* mentally sighed Roscoe as he followed Driss into the Barn and the Thinny within. TBC ================================= Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 14:38:10 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: The Disappearance of Mary On Wed, 17 Feb 1999 17:12:53 -0500 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00006413 > On Weds, Feb17th '99 Nemisis Said > > "Of Course. Please give me a few moments for testing the latest > attempt to create a Processor that can Run Lord Fuzzy's Memories" > > " If this Trial does not work, > I will be down to sequential trial and error, > Of the Least likely possibilities, > I could leave that to the Split and Hospital, > As it should not require a major portion of my capacity. > If You think that might be advisable." "'Grandmother', My inclination is that the Recreation of Lord Fuzzy, even if it is only as a 'Ghostcomp' unit, is of sufficient importance that the Split should be the one to accompany me to Callahan's where the CAoL is gathering and that 'you' should remain here working on our project. A temporal fission, Co-located, version of myself is currently still quering the Elemental Courts as to their knowlege of the location of Lord Fuzzy's {Soul/Spirit/Psyche}and to petition their help in the search." "Given my understanding of the Omnicosm as a series of {6^6^6} interconnected 'kingdoms' I calculate the chances of our ability to find Lord Fuzzy's {Soul/Spirit/Psyche}to be minimal at best. However, at very least, I feel better attempting some kind of a Search than simply aquiessing defeat." ================================= Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 21:08:02 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: Da Plot! On Wed, 17 Feb 1999 20:38:42 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006414 >On Tue, 16 Feb 1999 23:36:16 -0500 (EST) >Xzerrion Said As CAoL Message # 00006403 > >>On Tue, 16 Feb 1999, L.J. Wolfe wrote: > >Xzerrion speaks for his small grouping. "Our methods are unorthodox, >and some would call my work less than moral at times, but if there is >any way we may be of assistance, we will." > >Tezrantha touches Xzerrion's hand, knowing the memories that trigger >this offer. > >(OOC : I'll finish that background story sometime, dammit :) Cap looks grateful, but dubious. Roland just nods at him, though, and Cap relaxes. (OOC: BT, DT. It only took me two years to get to FI...) >> Roland nods. "Faucett City _is_ lacking its most powerful heroes >>at the moment, and I take it that Cap Jr. wouldn't be able to stop >>her for personal reasons?" Cap nods, his eyes darkening slightly. At >>Morgan's vague expression, Roland adds, "Faucett City is the home of >>the Marvels. Metropolis is the Earthly gathering place of the JLA; >>even Mary Marvel wouldn't be able to face them all down single- >>handedly. 'Cap Jr.' is Captain Marvel Jr., a scaled down model of >>Cap here, and probably the only defender of Fawcett City in >>residence at the moment." > >Xzerrion and Tezrantha trade slightly glazed expressions. "Um, >Roland?" Tezrantha interjects, "Some of us aren't familiar with that >reality. If we are to be of any help, background information is >necessary." Roland sighs. "Oy. The history of the modern DCU, in a nutshell...a really _small_ nutshell...okay. Are you familiar with _this_ universe? The one where Callahan's sits a side road away from I-25?" (OOC: Assuming the affirmative) "All right. That world is similar to this one...with a few extra cities, and _vastly_ more public psi and magic. Most of the empowered beings there run around in outfits like mine or Cap's here, calling themselves 'superheroes' or 'supervillains.' The JLA, or Justice League of America, is the largest and most powerful benevolent grouping of such beings. If Mary could swing throwing her captor into a trap, that'd be the place to do it. Their main base in on the moon, but Metropolis is their Earthly home. I think I explained the rest." (OOC: Yipe! Sometimes I forget how immersed in supers lore I am...this was going to be primarily a supersversal jaunt, but I don't want to scare away any non-supers-compatible players...anyone not familiar with Barsoom? P.S. This is a good website for info on the modern Justice League: http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Set/4398/jla.html] Dhyrclhanc provided me with this URL for VERY basic info on the JLA; there's stats from the DC RPG, which was great for me, but they won't do folx much good unless they're conversant with the system. And ignore the Hal write-up; they eviscerate his traditionally high willpower.) ================================= Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 21:08:08 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: Da Plot! On Wed, 17 Feb 1999 20:53:22 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006415 >On Wed, 17 Feb 1999 00:12:25 -0500 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00006407 > >On Mon, 15 Feb 1999 18:31:20 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006394 >>Morgan performed the re-introductions. "Zia," there's the faintest >>of questioning tones on that word, "This is Xzerrion and Tezrantha. >>Xzerrion was one of the CAoL's earliest members." > > She nods welcome to the two, "We saw you, but you didn't see me >in this way before. I'm Ziactrice, or more commonly, Zia." She gives >Roland and Morgan a slightly crooked-mouth expression, ironic and >slightly black in humor. "Yes, it's still Zia. The one, the always." >She adds, with modest bow of head and shoulders. "This place just >doesn't seem to support my particular, ahm, power's proclivities. >It's a probability nexus of large degree." Seeing that this isn't >getting her point across, she shrugs, "This is my most probable >appearance, without additions from the Family's Puzzle. The most real >one, I guess you could perhaps say." Roland nods, most of his confusion fading. "Probability nexus? Figures that would interact with your abilities in...interesting ways. My own powers fluctuated in interesting ways for a while there." (OOC: Thanks, Zia! You just gave me an opening to plug the biggest hole in Roland's continuity. 8^) > > > "I'm in. That is why I came here, after all." She shrugs, and >gives the new (to her and in general) folx a respectful nod, as she >stands, puts the chair back in the right way, and shoulders the >blanket roll and scruffy backpack again. "Thanks, ma'am," Cap says respectfully. Roland just smiles faintly... >On Wed, 17 Feb 1999 00:59:10 -0500 >Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00006408 >When Billy ends his tale, Dhyrclhanc speaks up, "Sorry that I'm >fashionably late, again. I believe that some introductions are in >order. Moonstone you've just met. Everyone remembers Nimrod and >Synthea. Sikorsky," he motions to the "dragonfly", "is my new feild >medic and the 'crow' up by the bar is Dasher." Roland nods. "Sikorsky. Dasher." He glances sidelong at everyone's favorite adolescent Ruby Lensdragon. /Keep _this_ up, sib, and you're going to have an army of your _own,_/ he sends with a mental grin. /So, you in?/ >On Wed, 17 Feb 1999 04:56:32 PST >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00006410 > >Nemo walks up to Captain Marvel, looking a bit uncomfortable. > >"I am sorry, but I cannot actively participate in this quest. All the >forseeable consequences of my doing so are worse than those resulting >from my not doing so." > >If Cap thinks to use the Wisdom of Solomon, he'll sense the truth of >this. He does, and he does. Cap nods. "While I don't understand it intellectually, I...feel...your meaning. It's all right." >"I can still perform such actions as many lesser mortals could. So, >if I may, I'll act as relay and contact point for any latecomers." Roland nods. "Makes things easy from one end, at least." ================================= Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 10:07:28 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE: (Huge file!) A Little(!?!) Backstory (Part 1) On Thu, 18 Feb 1999 11:50:03 -0600 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00006416 > The cabin was an electrician's nightmare. Jumbles of wires went in every direction attached to metal frames and conduits that all would normally be covered by paneling and carpet, if the ship the cabin was a normal vessel and not part of a garbage scow. The ship had been ready to be decommissioned, so it had been stripped down to the bare essentials needed for the one way journey, divided up into large cargo sections and filled with some planet or planets' refuse. Even the ship's engines were fueled by toxic waste. Into this junkyard a human-shaped chunk of air shimmered and solidified into the form of one Michael Seven, recently of the Callahanian Army of Light, but currently on leave, searching the cosmos for Flarn the half-human/half-Minbari woman he loved. After a quick look around, Mike realized that: a) he was weightless and in the dark except for the glow of a few cheap LED displays, b) the air was stale and cold though starting to warm near the walls, c) Flarn wasn't there, d) she was somewhere in this universe, e) he couldn't tell where she was except for a general feeling for a certain direction off to his left and far, far away, f) he was unable to teleport out, g) the spikard ring's operating system had crashed, h) the room he landed in was moving. Violently, he amended as he nearly flew into a nearby wall, no, ceiling. The ceiling felt warm against his back and he had more than a sneaking suspision where he might roughly be. "I'm on the Mir space station!" A large, billy-club-sized flashlight whapped him in the head, either having come loose during the violent movements of the ship or to defend the honor of the original designers of the Soviet space station. Mike said, "Ow!" and took the light which had flickered on on impact. Shining it around, Mike pushed off for a coverless keyboard and grabbed one of the frames, using a leg to hold himself into place. A monitor flickered briefly. Mike smacked it and the screen came on: Intergalactic_Trash_Disposal:~# _ "An Earth garbage scow? Well, duh, Mike, it's a QWERTY keyboard. Thank God someone didn't log out of root before launch..." Mike tapped the up arrow. Intergalactic_Trash_Disposal:~# launchprep_ And that was all there was...nothing else was in the buffer. Mike typed 'less launchprep' and was rewarded with the discovery this was a Linux system and a listing of what launchprep did, basicly turn access of the system to a remote computer, probably back at the launch pad. Mike frowned as he checked the system, no hard-drive, the system running from a CD-rom drive. Ugh. Wondering why the system was running at all, Mike glanced at a nearby CD-rom drive and noticed some scoring around the tray. Mike pushed the button and heard a grinding, but the tray didn't pop out. No wonder they left the CD behind, the tray was stuck. "Lucky for me," Mike said to himself. Searching the file directory, Mike found what appeared to be not only a full accounting of Intergalactic Trash's operating policies, employee benefits, ship operating data and schematics, average cargo manifest and current manifest, but a flight plan and his current position. The room began to really warm up now and the shaking was constant. Mike franticly typed at the keyboard, and then scrambled over to hook in an RCA jack to an open port that had come loose. The monitor finally showed what he wanted to see and Mike's blood ran cold. The garbage scow was headed for a system dubbed The Dump. The tracking systems said they were right on course for final landing. And the external cameras showed that final landing meant Mike was going to crash. "When in danger, fear or doubt, run in circles, scream and shout." Mike said, giggling, as he pondered losing his normally already tenuous grip on sanity, then scratching that idea off the options list as counterproductive. Mike scrabbled for the keyboard and tried accessing attitude controls. He managed to get one rear thruster to respond and two opposing nose thrusters to work fitfully. Somehow, between the three, he got the ship to fall more in a nice arc, rather than a simple straight-down plummet. Unfortunately, the scow flew like the hulking rusty brick with wings that it was and Mike wasn't saved for long. But it did buy some more time, something the Ex-Time Lord desperately needed. "Okay, what else can I get working around here?" Pulling out a small pocket knife, Mike worked at some of the control panels, trying to get manual controls back online. He managed to get the aeilerons and the tail rudder working and got the nose edged upward. The landing was not pretty by anyone's standards. The ship groaned under the stress and the back half had broken off and exploded several miles from where Mike's half had landed. But with some crude forcefields from the raw powertaps in the spikard ring, Mike managed to hobble away with only two cracked ribs, a broken leg and a concussion. A storm was brewing over the area of The Dump where Mike had crashed, and Mike used the prospect of rain to spur him on. His mind was foggy and confused, but he was still thinking in survival terms and something in the back of his head said passing out was a bad idea, so he fought to ward off unconsciousness. Mike found an old oil drum in halfway decent shape, or at least the half he wanted. Using another of the power taps, he blasted off the damaged portion and burnt the residual oil out. As the rain began to fall, hard. Mike tasted it and realized it was faintly acidic. He sighed and let it fill up what was to be a makeshift bath tub while he did the unpleasant deed of resetting his broken leg and otherwise tending his ribs. The rainstorm was monsoon hard but brief, just enough to fill the half-drum. Mike stuck his ring hand into the water and activated a power tap to a fount of mystical healing which, in an alternate reality India, was the source for the Gangese river. The acid was purified and charged with intense healing properties. Mike undressed and sat in the half drum and submerged his leg. He watched in amazement as the damage to his leg was healed, as well as a few scars from when he was a kid. Once that was feeling like new, he sunk down to his neck. His ribs healed and he noticed he felt as if he had just had a pleasant meal, satisfied, though not stuffed. Finally, he pinched his nose and held his breath, sinking his head underwater. The change here was most striking from his point of view, as his mind cleared and he felt like he had just awoken from a good night's sleep. Climbing out and getting dressed back into T-shirt and jeans, Mike pondered the barrel. He wasn't sure when he might get another rain, he realized looking around the barren landscape littered with junk parts from what looked like more than just his wreck, so he propped the half tank steady and let the water sit, giving it another quick purification from his bath. Turning over what turned out to be an old bench seat from a pickup truck, Mike sat down, and tried to think which of the several emergencies he was in to tackle next. * * * * * * * [Ed. note: When he originally posted to the spin-off list, Mike included this OOC comment: Voice Credits, as I envision them: Leah'Cim = Michael Dorn N'nairda = Kathleen Turner Moonstone = Rebecca O'Conner (Conner?) Pyewackett = David Ogden Steirs (Another name I am not sure how to spell.) Pronunciation Guide: Leah'Cim = LAY-kim N'nairda = nuh-NAIR-duh Pyewackett = PIE-whack-it ] Surf crashed against the rocks and, inside the lagoon the rocks protected, waves lapped gently up the sandy beach. Where the beach ended, sparse patches of grass stuck out from cracks of the jagged cliff faces. The blue ocean nearly met clear blue sky at the horizon, barred from touching by a thin line of dark gray storm clouds. The lagoon's waters were nearly crystal clear, small schools of tiny fish flitted about in the calm. Small crabs occasionally surfaced, pinching a tidbit that got too close. A shadow moved from one of the sparse clusters of rocks on the beach and two yellow-green eyes blinked in the light, pupils adjusting to slits in the light. All was quiet. Pyewackett rubbed against the rock who's shadow he had been in. Padding across the sandy beach, he headed straight for a path cut between the cliffs. Following the path, Pyewackett turned a bend and stopped, tail twitching. He stared face to face with a human skull. Bleached white with age and the sun, it was part of various skeletons lying haphazardly along the path. Among them were bits of armor and broken shields and weapons and, oddly, a briefcase. Pyewackett blinked and put his paws against the latches of the case, adding his weight behind it to pop them open. The case fell open and papers spilled out. Pyewackett peered at the letterhead. Fuller Brush Company. Looking at the side of the cliff, Pyewackett noticed a series of claw marks gouged into the rocks. Too regular to be accidental, Pyewackett sat for a moment, looking at them. Dragon script, the black feline realized. He almost had the message puzzled out, when a small black and gold sign under it did the work for him. No Solicitors. The ebon cat chuckled and continued along the path. *This, my child, is a magic talisman.* Moonstone looked at her mother. *What does it do?* N'nairda smiled. *Read the inscription.* Moonstone lowered her head to look at the small gold disc in her claws. *'From humankind, I will hide, as born of them, to all eyes spied.'* N'nairda watched the medallion work its magic. The spell itself was nothing flashy. One moment the white dragon mother saw her beautiful daughter, the next, alabaster skin with the faintest hint of pink that became only slightly more pronounced at her lips and other places replaced scintillating white scales with hints of a pale blue that had inspired her name of 'Moonstone', being so similar in appearance to the real stone. Fine white hair took the place of the slender spikes that crowned her head and ran down her snakelike neck and body down to the tip of her tail. Tail and wings disappeared completely, with Moonstone's slender, almost serpentine 26 foot long form becoming the tiny, lithe 5 foot tall body of a human woman. Only the eyes stayed the same, crystal-clear cobalt blue. N'nairda, her pearly white foreleg reaching out to clutch a full length mirror as if it were a compact, showed Moonstone her reflection in the mirror. The child gasped. *This is a ... a human?* Moonstone asked, agape at the reflection in the mirror. N'nairda nodded. *Yes.* *They look so ... fragile. Why would we hide from creatures like these? They are nothing like father described.* N'nairda nods. *But they are clever. As clever as dragons. What they lack in fang and claw and armor, they learn to make to clothe themselves with. Wait there, I have a few examples that should help explain.* While N'nairda turned her 200 foot draconic body toward the interior of their cave, walking through the hoards of treasure collected over the centuries, Moonstone shivered. She hadn't seen her mother from quite this angle since she hatched. It was no wonder humans were afraid of dragons. Moonstone shivered again. She was cold. This fact surprised her, she usually didn't get cold. *Mother,* she called into the suddenly, to her eyes, dark cave, *I'm cold!* *I won't be long, dear,* came the reply. *Wrap yourself in something. That's what humans do. I want to teach you a few things for when you decide to leave the island. Passing for human is the first one.* Moonstone padded across the cold stone floor, not seeing anything promising to keep the cold out, then up onto the pile of gold coins and other jewels her mother had been laying on. Sitting down, she found that her mother's place was indeed still warm. A scrap of cloth caught the child's eye and she pulled it out of the pile. It was a lavender, hooded cloak, lined with some sort of white fur that had stripes of black running through it. She wrapped herself in it, sitting down on the mound of wealth and began to feel warm again. Moonstone picked up a few bits of treasure that had been under the cloak and looked at them. They had been inside a small chest, as if kept separate for some reason. Rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, a gown and a few books written in Dragon script were just the start of the items in this chest. Giggling, Moonstone decided to play dress-up. Leah'Cim made one last lazy arc around the island, dark green body gleaming, showing signs of brilliant blue in the late afternoon sun. Wings outstretched, spines laying against his back to reduce wind resistance, the male dragon slowly spiraled his 250 foot body down to the valley where he and his mate lived with their five hatchlings. Powerful wing beats slowed his descent as his muscular form set down near the four hatchlings playing at the mouth of the cave. Light green in color, the four 5 foot long boys were wrestling with each other, mentally giggling as they chased each other. One tripped as he chased his brother and a small flame shot out, hitting his sibling in the hindquarters. The latter yelped and ran for their father, who breathed a gentle blast of frost on the area. It hadn't done any damage, but the hatchling's scales hadn't grown in yet, so the sudden heat still stung with a bit more than just surprise. *All part of growing up,* Leah'Cim's mental voice soothed, wondering what color the hatchlings would be once their scales had formed. Moonstone had nearly been the spitting image of her mother, except N'nairda had hints of pink in her white and purple eyes, while Moonstone had hints of blue and those cobalt eyes that had melted his heart when she had hatched. Leah'Cim stopped, nose twitching. He looked sharply toward the cave. "A human," he growled, running toward the cave. Moonstone admired the reflection in the mirror. She had donned the white medieval gown and a pair of brown leather boots. Discovering a sword belt with a few pouches hanging from it, she wrapped it around her waist and put a gold inlaid short broadsword in the attached scabbard. Jeweled pendants hung from around her neck and she had at least one ring on every finger. She had donned a circlet to keep the hair out of her eyes ans was examining a small roman shield she had discovered next to the mirror when she felt as well as heard the first footfalls of her father entering the cave. Moonstone turned, about to send a greeting when Leah'Cim rounded the turn in the passage and shot a huge gout of flame toward her. She instinctive raised the shield, which deflected the blast. N'nairda heard the blast and ran back toward her daughter. "DIE, HUMAN!" the male dragon shouted. *Father!* Moonstone shouted telepathically. Leah'Cim paused, looking confusedly at the human, flame still crackling from within his gaping maw, though not ready to become a second blast of dragon's fire. *Moonstone?* N'nairda rounded a bend and saw the standoff. *Leah'Cim! Don't!* Leah'Cim turned to his mate, *N'nairda! What...?* From atop a small chest that spilled gold coins onto the cave floor, Pyewackett purred, *Am I interrupting anything?* Leah'Cim rounded on the small feline. "YES!" he boomed, then blinked, recognizing Pyewackett, who sat primly, unruffled, on the small treasure chest. "No," the green drake ammended, adding, "Though, this was probably not the best time to visit." Pyewackett purred, *Anything I can do to assist you?* N'nairda shook her head. "I do not think so, friend Pyewackett, we are in a quandry. Moonstone is at the age where she is ready to explore the world..." Leah'Cim turned to his mate. "She is but a child!" N'nairda replied, "She is twenty winters from her hatching. It is time. I have taught her some magic, but what she needs is experience." Leah'Cim looked at Moonstone. "Surely not..." Moonstone nodded. Leah'Cim looked at N'nairda. "But...but, yes, it is custom for an /unrelated/ dragon to apprentice her. You would be too easy on her. Then after a three month apprenticeship, she is to join a party of similar-aged /dragons/. There are no dragons anywhere. They left centuries ago. She is not ready to go out on her own." "I have taught her for the last three months. We were just discussing advanced forms of talismans when you interrrupted the lesson." Monstole asked, "May I say something?" "Not not, dear." Leah'Cim replied, "Why did you not tell me, N'nairda?" "You would have objected, just as you are now. I know you too well, Leah'Cim. And if you are not convinced she is ready, test her." "I would be too easy on her. She is our only daughter and I would not wish to hurt her." "You just don't want to see I am right, husband." "She is too young for the training. She could never advance far enough at such a young age." "But I am ready, I-" "Not now, my child. Husband, I was learning magic at her age." "Yes and I-" "A minute, Moonstone. Wife, you were not twenty when you left." "I think-" "Mother is talking, now, dear. I was indeed twenty. I had been on the road for three years when I met you." "I-" Leah'Cim said, "Moonstone, don't interrupt. But the world is different now, For in..." "..." N'nairda replied. Both parents were talking, but no sound was coming out. Pyewackett strolled over to Moonstone, who held a thick leather bound book open. "Moonstone will indeed interrupt. I know magic, and am ready to go out on my own. Tradition be damned! There are no dragons on this piddly planet and I am bigger than any human. I will be fine." *I think you still have a bit to learn, dear girl.* Pyewackett purred. *Firstly, magic can be undone. Like so.* Leah'Cim nodded vigorously, saying "...to him, Moonstone, he has been there." N'nairda nodded, "True, men are not as weak as you would think." Pyewackett purred, *They are quite adaptable to new situations, and they work well in groups, something that can give even the largest dragon trouble. However, I have a suggestion. If I could arrange for a few travelling companians for Moonstone, from whom she could learn about humans and in fact many other races, as well as learn about their technology...* "Oh, I know all about their technology." Leah'Cim nods. "True...she does. We have run a small antiquities business for some time through the uhm... enter..." "Internet," N'nairda finished. Leah'Cim actually looked a bit sheepish for a moment, "It is N'nairda's specialty, not mine. But Moonstone knows it as well as her mother." "Better." N'nairda corrected. Moonstone blushed under the sudden praise. Leah'Cim hmmmmed then sighed, "Perhaps she is ready. She knows more about humans than when I left." Pyewackett purred. *Well, there is much more to learn besides what technology this world offers. As I recall, the purpose of this travel is to find other dragons. Maybe find a mate, naybe not, but definitely to discover what other dragons are like. I believe I can arrange that, but Moonstone will have to be a quick learner. She must learn to fight, physically, as well as with magic, and with technology. Because her best option for finding others of your kind will be to travel to other worlds. There is no method for my variety, but the others I am thinking of might be able to teach her their ways of passing into different realms. At any rate, if you are interested, I will take her as my charge to ask these others. If they agree to apprentice her in the various arts she will need, which is just about everything but possibly magic from what I have seen here, I will bring them here for the traditional parental approval. While we travel, I will ensure her magic is up to the task, then she will be on her own for her interview. I will simply provide an introduction to her potential teachers.* Leah'cim nodded. "You ensure she is ready for apprenticeship. If they approve of her and we approve of them, she will be allowed to travel with them." Moonstone looked somewhere between elated and peeved. She was getting to go, but the conditions were not what she wanted. Pyewackett purred, *I suggest you pack, my dear. We leave now. In return, I wish a sword. Nothing fancy, just a small charm of indestructibility on a katana. It is for Michael-er, Knightshift. Knightshift recently returned to using his birth name. It is a very long story for another time that he should probably tell himself.* N'nairda nods, "Done. Though it will take three months to reach here and have the charm laid." *Quite alright, it will take that much time to track them down. More than enough time to ensure Moonstone is ready to learn from them...Why aren't you packing, child?* Moonstone looked around the cave. "I have nothing to pack." N'nairda said, "Take what you are wearing, the Roman shield, as well as the Roman sword, your four magic texts, the Dragon ones, not the ones I taught you English with. Inside the cloak are four pockets that work like bags of holding. You recall that spell? And all the charms in the pockets as well as the clothes are magic, they will disappear in your dragon form and reappear in your human one. You can study the spells, they are challenging, but Pyewackett will help. Ohhh, I wish you weren't having to leave so suddenly!" Pyewackett stepped outside of the cave, as Leah'Cim called to the newborn dragons to come inside and say goodbye. After perhaps an hour, Moonstone emerged in her serpentine white dragon form. A gold medalian held a lavender band of cloth around her neck. *Sorry, this was just so sudden, they wanted to tell me everything of any importance.* *What did they tell you?* *I don't remember, must not have been that important.* Pyewackett purred, *Alright then, follow me.* The valley outside the cave was very dark and Pyewackett trotted into a shadow. With one glance back, Moonstone shifted to her human form and followed on her first world walking... * * * * * * * "Are you certain you do not wish to go?" Grep asked. "I am, Sis," Melissa replied firmly. "You go, you need bonding time with Tink and Molly and Grandma and Grandpa Seven." "But-" "It will do you good, Grep, you need time alone. C'mon, this is just first solo jitters. You'll do fine." Melissa finally managed to get her twin sister out the door, and she closed it firmly behind her. She glanced around the room, decorated in greens with lots of plants and a canopy bed of dark wood with carved celtic knotwork. With a quick flash from her spikard ring, Melissa disappeared from her bedroom. "One moment, Melissa, what if-?" Grep opened the door to an empty room. "Oh." Tinkerbell ran up the stairs to the second floor landing and grabbed her mother's hand. "Come on, Mom. Mommy said to take you on a gwand day out shopping, and Gwumpa said that the Howsehoe Nebuwa has the best fwea mawket this side of the Miwky Way. Aunt Mowwy, Greatgwammy Wobewta and Gweatgwampy Gawy awe waiting!" Tink smiled, revealing her three front baby teeth missing. Grep turned and picked the android cum real live girl up and started down the stairs. "I can cawwy mysewf," Tink protested, then relented quickly as she remembered something. "Oh yeah, Mommy said you might be cwingy today." "Did she?" Grep paused, curious. Tink nodded. "She said you wewe having a hawd time adjusting to the siwence without Mommy tawking to you constantwy in the back of youw head. You needed pwopew sociawizing." Grep frowned slightly and changed the subject, "Did you get anything from the Tooth Fairy?" "Gweatgwampy Gawy? Yeah, he gave me ten cwedits." "You do not believe in the Tooth Fairy." "No, I didn't bewieve in faiwies so I waited up to see what came to take the teeth." "Ah, and you saw Grandfather Gary." Tink nods, "But don't say anything, he wikes the iwwusion." Continuing down the stairs, Grep stopped in front of the guest bedroom door as Molly called from within, "What is everyone wearing?" Grep blinked. "Clothing." Tink giggled and added, "Mom is weawing a pwain white t-shiwt and bwue jeans, I am weawing my happy face t-shiwt and bwue jeans. Gweatgwampy Gawy is weawing swacks and a sweater, and Gweatgwammy Wobewta is weawing a skiwt, t-shiwt and vest." "Thanks, Tink." Molly called from behind the closed door. As Grep and Tink headed down the hall for the kitchen, Grep asked, "Why does Molly require knowing what we are wearing?" "She doesn't want to dwaw too much attention to hewsewf by dwessing too diffewent fwom the west of us." "Why?" Tink considered this. "I dunno," she said as the pair entered the kitchen. Roberta and Gary were seated at the long kitchen table, sipping coffee. Gary looked up, "Well, you two look ready to go." Grep said, "I am not sure-" "That Molly is weady," Tink interrupted, "She was stiww getting dwessed." "That is not what I was going to say, Tinkerbell." "Mommy said don't wet you back out and be a wecwuse." Roberta glanced at Gary. "Tink," Gary said, "Why don't you help me warm up the shuttle?" "You just don't want me to heaw," Tink said, with a pout. Gary nodded, "Very astute, dear." Roberta took Tinkerbell and set her on the floor. "Your mother and I should talk, sweetheart." Tink grumbled as she went stomping out into the garage, "Mommy lets me listen." Gary watched, then stood, taking his coffee with him. "Just like her grumpa." He went out, closing the door behind him. Grep stood quietly as Roberta put her mug in the sink. "Grep, dear, this may come as a surprise to you, but what you are going through is normal. No one is always sure how to act." "Melissa does," Grep replied. "No, she doesn't." "She carried the original programming for 'socializing'. I would defer to her judgement as I have no such programming of my own. Now she is not here for me to defer to." "Well, if you are unsure of how to act, ask one of us. But, Grep, you do know how to socialize. You are doing it with me right now. You tend to be the quiet type, true, but it's okay to be that way." "Melissa isn't." "No," Roberta replied, "She isn't. Her way is to talk. She downright interviews people, sometimes. Your way is to observe people and draw your own conclusions. Both ways are perfectly valid. If you want to change, that is fine, but don't feel you have to. In fact, right now, I wouldn't change. Right now, I would just try to learn about who I was, and not immediately start making changes. You might find people like you as you are." Molly wandered in, in a black sweatshirt that read 'Duct Tape Pro' and skirt. "I like you the way you are," she said, reaching into the fridge and withdrawing three bottles of juice. "We ready to go?" the technowizard asked, passing her 'adopted' sister one of the bottles. Roberta nodded, slipping her purse over one shoulder and around her neck. "I believe so. You both have your money?" The pair nodded and all three headed for the garage. The shuttle was literally a converted Winnebago, made airtight, given a hover conversion, a simple dimension-jumper and a small FTL engine with inertial dampers. But aside from the added controls in the driver's seat, it was still a Winnebago. Inside, Gary took the driver's seat, with Roberta beside him. Molly took a chair behind the passenger's seat, while Tink and Grep took the couch opposite. "Grandfather," Grep said, "We could add a few weapons systems to this craft." Molly nodded, "Yeah, maybe soem racing stripes, soup up the engines a bit. Make Warp 4 easy." Gary chuckled, rolling the craft out of the garage and engaging the engines, "This is a pleasure craft, girls, not a hot rod. I like it the way it is." "Oh, I don't know," Roberta replied, "Warp 4 would be nice. Maybe a new paintjob, some flames..." As the Winnie disappeared into another dimension, Gary sighed, "Now you've got your grandmother started." To Be Continued... =================================