Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 9: Anime
                               Chapter 4


Subject: AAE9Aa: Bionoids, Black Magician Babes, and Blast Away!

On Fri, 23 Sep 2005 12:49:05 -0700 (PDT)
Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00012677

Lina Inverse, Dragon Spooker and Bandit Router Extraordinare, was last
seen flying through the 'scrapers of Tokyo, having left while the
Hunter dealt with a foe^H^H^H minor distraction. There may have been a
time when his chosen quarry was this easy to track, but not within a
recent time frame!

The immensity of the firestorm, combined with the emanations of Black
Magics of a foreign nature but indisputable power were as clear as the
ferocity of the path of wanton destruction. It seemed to begin two
blocks past his last sighting of her. The sheer scope of the
destruction, the power unleashed to vaporize stone and concrete,
contort and melt the reinforcing rebar steel within, gave silent
testament to Lina's encountering some force capable of withstanding
even the terribly destructive spells she was tossing about so
casually. She was apparently still engaged, to judge based on the
sound and fury echoing as he closed the distance.

A blue flare of power, this time without the accompanying chill twinge
of Black Magical power roared in a sheet towards the sky, splashing in
a concave shape. Hopefully, that was Lina's shield - but even the
wasted edges of that blue blast raced outward, channeled along the
ground for a good quarter-mile, tossing slabs of road into the air
like children's jacks. Semi-trucks flew back segmented into pieces,
while lighter cars bounced back like chaff in high wind.

Incidentally, the blast clears a sight-line for him. Lina, arms
crossed with five ruby spheres burning at throat, wrists, belt and
ankles, within a strobbing, magical force field that hadn't _quite_
failed. Facing her, a strangely organic-looking something - a robot?
Her opponent stands about nine or ten foot tall, rather small for how
the Japanese seemed to style their mechanicals. It didn't look or feel
quite like metal, however. Articulated hands or gauntlets hold open
chest plates - or organic armor analogous to the chest's muscles -
within which two globes emanated light like a graser trying to power
up for another shot.

A clearly furious Lina drops her arms. The magical shield of
protection she had been sustaining winks out as she drops it in favor
of another spell requiring all her concentration. She begins to incant
something too faint to hear from where he stands. An etheric wind
seems to leap up from her feet, blowing her hair up behind her as
power begins to gather in a black globe as yet barely in the visible
range between her two white-gloved hands.

Many others with his senses might have trouble believing the sheer
quantity of power she is amassing, but Eric has rather intimate
knowledge of Zia's special abilities. Unfortunately, this younger
version doesn't seem to favor the more indirect style of the Zia he
has come to know. If that amount of power slips, it could be a danger
to this island, or perhaps an even larger area.

"... black beyond deepest pitch.." Some accident of breeze carries the
snippet of her spell incantation to his senses.

Lina Inverse
Bandits slain, dragons same.
===========================

Subject: Re: AAE9Aa: Bionoids, Black Magician Babes, and Blast Away!

On Sun, 23 Oct 2005 21:37:18 -0700
Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012714

>On Fri, 23 Sep 2005 12:49:05 -0700 (PDT)
>Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00012677
>
>The immensity of the firestorm, combined with the emanations of Black
>Magics of a foreign nature but indisputable power were as clear as
>the ferocity of the path of wanton destruction. It seemed to begin
>two blocks past his last sighting of her. The sheer scope of the
>destruction, the power unleashed to vaporize stone and concrete,
>contort and melt the reinforcing rebar steel within, gave silent
>testament to Lina's encountering some force capable of withstanding
>even the terribly destructive spells she was tossing about so
>casually. She was apparently still engaged, to judge based on the
>sound and fury echoing as he closed the distance.

   "'It's easy to find the Champions...just follow the mess,'" Eric
quoted wryly. Anime leaps carried him with alacrity towards his
quarry, though he was not so foolish to think of her as prey. Not that
such was intent regardless, certainly not given the age difference
compared to the Zia he knew...

>A blue flare of power, this time without the accompanying chill
>twinge of Black Magical power roared in a sheet towards the sky,
>splashing in a concave shape. Hopefully, that was Lina's shield - but
>even the wasted edges of that blue blast raced outward, channeled
>along the ground for a good quarter-mile, tossing slabs of road into
>the air like children's jacks. Semi-trucks flew back segmented into
>pieces, while lighter cars bounced back like chaff in high wind.

   The Hunter briefly considered smoothing out the collateral damage.
Given the powers at play and the lack of civilians in danger, he
thought better of it.

>Many others with his senses might have trouble believing the sheer
>quantity of power she is amassing, but Eric has rather intimate
>knowledge of Zia's special abilities. Unfortunately, this younger
>version doesn't seem to favor the more indirect style of the Zia he
>has come to know. If that amount of power slips, it could be a danger
>to this island, or perhaps an even larger area.
>
>"... black beyond deepest pitch.." Some accident of breeze carries
>the snippet of her spell incantation to his senses.

   "Hrm." Eric considered the situation carefully. It was volatile to
say the least, and between the power emanating from the opponents and
the dangers of miscalculation, direct intervention that surprised
either combatant overmuch was too risky. This would obviously require
a subtler approach.
   First, he wove his chi mastery into the Pattern of the battlefield
with the paranoid care for which he'd become famous. Once he was
attuned to every nuance of the powers at work, there was a genuine
chance that the Hunter might be able to mitigate any forces one or the
other lost control over. A ghost of a grin played across his lips;
such craft would have been impossible without the training and
mind-sharing he'd known with the current Zia.
   Next, he leapt lightly from structure to structure, carefully
analyzing the tactical situation while bringing his presence to the
attention of both Lina and the...android?...in a way that would not
alarm either one, or so he hoped.
   Finally, he glanced at Lina, determining if talking to her would
cause too much of a distraction. Deciding that discomfiting her
opponent somewhat wouldn't throw her too much, he siphoned off some of
its graser-sphere energy by absorbing it into the endless field of
Prime he'd attuned to seconds before. Calculating that the reduced
threat would provide him a viable opportunity, he nodded politely to
her. "Is this a private dance?" he asked prosaically.
--
Eric Lancer: the Hunter
"[Roger], being smarter than the average lead brick, approached this
concept with all the care of a professional EOD [i.e. Explosive
Ordnance Disposal] man approaching a load of old, unstable
nitroglycerin: very very carefully, but not without a certain thrill
at the challenge." -- 'SkyeFire' <g>
===========================

Subject: Re: AAE9Aa: Bionoids, Black Magician Babes, and Blast Away!

On Tue, 10 Jan 2006 04:51:36 -0800 (PST)
Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00012727

>On Sun, 23 Oct 2005 21:37:18 -0700
>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012714
>
>   Finally, he glanced at Lina, determining if talking to her would
>cause too much of a distraction. Deciding that discomfiting her
>opponent somewhat wouldn't throw her too much, he siphoned off some
>of its graser-sphere energy by absorbing it into the endless field of
>Prime he'd attuned to seconds before. Calculating that the reduced
>threat would provide him a viable opportunity, he nodded politely to
>her. "Is this a private dance?" he asked prosaically.

   All this preparation had required a few seconds of time, however,
during which she had completed the incantation for the Dragon Slave.
Though he was correct that his inquiry did not distract her, it was
far more helpful that he had forged such attunement. The spell she
tossed balled between both hands shot forward, expanding rapidly to
full force. In that instant before the full explosive capability was
again reached, the tall, mechanical-looking creature flipped something
like a heavy, triangular frisbee from its back toward Lina. It flew,
then corrected as she attempted even with so little time to react to
dodge, and sank into her face, trickles of blood proving the
metal-sheen barbs he had perceived in the instant it struck were real.
Such was the force of the impact, Lina flew backward. Instinctively
trying to wrestle the thing off her face, her back hit ground with no
counter-slap to dull the impact. The beginnings of a thoroughly
blood-chilling scream (despite the muffling effect of that thing over
her face), was suddenly overtaken by the indraw-silence and wave of
pressure as the spell exploded dead-center on the creature, with a
blast of energy as forceful as an atomic, but so long in duration to
be like the cascading set charges used in more formal demolition.

   Burnout conditions filled the area around him to completely obscure
his , the energies so violent even his new-found mastery revealed new
tricks, delays, and drainage pathways to his understanding.

--
Ziactrice
Postcards Woulda Been Easier

For no apparent reason, at this very moment all the currently-extant
Rogers suffer severe facefaults. After peeling his selfs off the
floor/ground/deck/whatever, all of him look a bit shaky. When asked
what happened: "I haven't got a clue. But there was this huge
disturbance in the Farce..."

"I haven't walked about with this much money in my pocket since Roger
had that accident with the drilling rig in the Baltic." - Ziactrice
===========================

Subject: AAE9A: Haggar the Horrible

On Sun, 02 Apr 2006 23:38:56 -0700
Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012758

>On Tue, 10 Jan 2006 04:51:36 -0800 (PST)
>Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00012727
>
>The spell she tossed balled between both hands shot forward,
>expanding rapidly to full force. In that instant before the full
>explosive capability was again reached, the tall, mechanical-looking
>creature flipped something like a heavy, triangular frisbee from its
>back toward Lina.

   "Damn." Eric leaped out to intercept the device, but it moved
faster than he had expected, and literally got away from him.

>It flew, then corrected as she attempted even with so little time to
>react to dodge, and sank into her face, trickles of blood proving the
>metal-sheen barbs he had perceived in the instant it struck were
>real. Such was the force of the impact, Lina flew backward.
>Instinctively trying to wrestle the thing off her face, her back hit
>ground with no counter-slap to dull the impact.

   "Zia!" he blurted, then cursed himself; temporal paradox was the
last thing they wanted now. Shoving the various fears aside, Eric
landed next to Lina-Z to examine her situation. It didn't look good;
whatever the thing was doing to her, it certainly wasn't healthy.

>The beginnings of a thoroughly blood-chilling scream (despite the
>muffling effect of that thing over her face), was suddenly overtaken
>by the indraw-silence and wave of pressure as the spell exploded
>dead-center on the creature, with a blast of energy as forceful as an
>atomic, but so long in duration to be like the cascading set charges
>used in more formal demolition.
>
>   Burnout conditions filled the area around him to completely
>obscure his , the energies so violent even his new-found mastery
>revealed new tricks, delays, and drainage pathways to his
>understanding.

   Which is fortunate, as Eric quickly realizes that he would have
been atomized had he not been innately attuned (through his connection
to Zia?) to the power used. He unwove much of the blast directed at
them with his Mastery of Prime, though what remained was enough to
hammer him mercilessly. In spite of his best efforts, Eric knew that
he wasn't going to win this battle. Concentrating, he prepared a
desperate realignment of his Prime control.
   An instant later, the Hunter was thrown several blocks away, only
surviving the punishing blast through his staggering physical skills,
rolling with the blast and vaulting from rooftop to damaged rooftop.
When Lina's senses recover, however, she will find no trace of the
device that had clamped itself onto her face, as it was reduced to
pure Quintessence...

   Finally managing to come to a stop, nursing what he was sure was a
cracked left forearm, Eric examined his surroundings. They were as
devastated and Spectra-infested as ever. A teenage girl in a "sailor"
school uniform was fleeing the sound of clanking boots, with a younger
girl with HUGE eyes and really long ponytails in tow. Even after
everything he's been through, Eric does a double-take at the sight,
especially when the clanking boots turn out to belong to robotic
soldiers with black plastic "skin," armor, and pointed ears rather
than green uniforms with saber-toothed tiger masks.
   "You've got to be kidding me," Eric drawled, the dry tone restored.
   "Please, protect Sasami!" the teenager pleaded, gesturing for the
child to run to Eric, then turned and faced the robots, throwing her
arms out to block their path.
   The robots...laughed? "Foolish girl, do you think you can stop us?
We are the robot warriors of Doom!" the foremost unit sneered.
   "Huh," Eric replied with a mocking smile. "I thought Victor had
more style." The teenager turned and stared in surprise. Eric noticed
the pendant around her neck, its jewel glowing with a rosy light. If
he literally saw Quintessence, it would have blinded him, he quickly
realized.
   "Wh- that -- does not compute--" the machines looked at each other
in confusion, then turned their guns on him. "Surrender!"
   "Find cover, you two," Eric said calmly. The older girl and Sasami
quickly ran into an alley. Eric flexed his right arm, and the
kusari-gama slid out. "Any time you're ready for the junk pile, boys."
   The robots screamed and charged.
   Seventeen seconds later, Eric picked his way out of the wreckage
towards the young ladies he'd rescued. "Are you two all right?"
   Sasami nodded. "Yes, thank you, mister." She bowed a bit formally.
"I'm Jurai Sasami, which I guess you knew, and this is Kanzaki Hitomi.
She rescued me from the robots." The child patted Hitomi on the waist.
"She can see things."
   Eric nodded. "I can imagine...Hitomi?" He looked at her carefully,
but she hardly saw him, staring into the sky instead, clutching her
pendant with both hands and crying with sheer joy, her smile almost
crushing her cheeks.
   "He's here," she said, near to ecstasy. "He came."
   "Who came?" Eric asked.
   Hitomi let go with her right hand and pointed up. Eric looked...and
stared, amazed even with all that had happened.
   A gleaming machine dragon with a young man riding it appeared
overhead, gouts of power emanating from its mouth to knock Spectran
fighters from the sky. In one talon, it held a sword which cut through
enemy ships like a lightsaber through tissue paper. As the dragon --
Escaflowne, he suddenly realizes through the lens-link -- flies
forward, squadrons of fighters even _he_ recognizes follow the mighty
Guymelef.
   "Who ordered up the Robotech Defense Force?" Eric quipped, but he
almost sagged with relief all the same. When he realized Escaflowne
was making a beeline towards them, he nodded to Hitomi and Sasami. "If
you'll excuse me."
   Sasami smiled and nodded, then squealed "Ryo-Ohki!" in delight as
Eric leaped away.
   [Escaflowne and Ryo-Ohki. I think they'll be fine.] Eric was more
educated about the Tenchi-verse through various CAoL allies with
Tenchi Syndrome than he ever wanted. At any rate, he quickly headed
back towards Lina, while remaining wary of more Dragu Slave blasts.

   Meanwhile...
   "This is a disaster!" Haggar wailed.
   "Calm yourself, Haggar," Zoltar replied silkily, sipping from a
goblet of wine.
   "Calm myself? _Calm_ myself?!" Haggar blurted. "Zarkon is in pieces
-- if Lotor's Dark Blade left even that much of him -- and my
beautiful Dark Voltron is working with that walking pile of wrought
iron! I reiterate: this - is - a - disaster!!"
   "Lotor has a handle the size of Spectra, my friend," Zoltar
soothed. "We have the princess. Since he has chosen her over the
crown, the boy will be easy enough to manipulate."
   "You don't know Lotor," Haggar hissed. "I don't care what he's
done, the Prince won't have turned into some idiotic do-gooder just
because of some agreement with that Negotiator."
   Zoltar glared at the witch. "Then use your magic," the High Lord
snapped. "Bring him here and deal with him. As for your Voltron
duplicate, you _do_ have a contingency spell, yes?"
   "Of course," Haggar replied, hurt.
   "Then _use_ it." With that, Zoltar stalked out.
   "No respect...it isn't fair..." Haggar sighed and limped to her
cauldron, her cat purring and rubbing against her good leg. "Yes, I
know, you still love me, Coba," Haggar said indulgently, leaning over
and skritching the blue demon-cat between his ears. "Now...I call upon
the spirit of magic and evil..."

   Tokyo Bay.
   Lotor snarled and cursed, peeling more paint with his fury as he
rewired sections of the cockpit. "I killed you too quickly, Father,"
he spat, saving some angry thoughts for Big O as well, but not many;
of the two, he knows which one he'd rather have destroyed. In spite of
the strange repair job that had washed over his Voltron replica,
systems were suddenly not behaving. "Computer! Report!"
   "Sys-s-s-tem malfunc-function," Allura's voice reported obediently.
Then static filled the screens and speakers, only to be replaced by a
much less attractive counterpart. "Do not adjust your giant robot,"
Haggar mocked. "I control the horizontal. _I_ control the vertical."
   "Haggar!" Lotor blurted.
   "As sharp-witted and observant as ever, I see," Haggar laughed.
"Now why don't you come home? I'll make you a nice ghoulash."
   Lotor blinked at the screen. "You're insane."
   Haggar's good humor vanished. "You think so, do you? You forget
whose magic powers your toy!" Dark Voltron spasmed, turning towards
Big O. "You can come back, or you can die at the hands of your
newfound allies!"
   "I...don't...think...so..." Lotor grunted, straining at the
controls. The giant robot swayed, almost paralyzed by the struggle.
   "Then how about this?" Haggar snarled. One screen changed, showing
Allura, strapped to what looked like a metallic stretcher, struggling
in terror with her own Blue Lion poised to crush her with one giant
paw! Lotor gasped. "You won't be rescuing any princesses from in
there! AH-hahahahaha!"
   "You see...Smith...open...channels...aren't...always...bad..."
Lotor chuckled darkly. Then he closed his eyes and vanished, yanked
away by Haggar's magic.
   Mercifully, the Dark Blazing Sword finally gave up the ghost at
that point, but there was nevertheless a pilotless Dark Voltron now
rampaging through Tokyo Bay.
   (OOC: Sorry about that, David, but I've got to get things moving
toward endgame, here. DV's all yours if you want it, BTW.)
   Several Bird Missiles hit it from behind.
   "Remind me to thank Defender's friend," Mark said as the Phoenix
roared overhead.
   "Yeah, nothing like getting a full recharge after Fiery Phoenix
mode to get me in the mood to blow up Spectra's toys," Jason replied.
   "A good spaceburger gets you in the mood to blow up Spectrans,"
Tiny quipped.
   "Fwoop -- bad one, too," Keyop laughed.
   "Hey, I'll bet your girlfriend's back in the action too," Tiny
added.
   "One more word," Jason said darkly, "and you're next." The G-Force
gunner punctuated the sentence with a missile blast that turned a
Spectran fighter into a huge fireball.
   Tiny gulped. "Dunno what you're talkin' about."
   Jason grinned like a shark. "That's better."

   Beneath Mount Fuji.
   Lotor groaned and staggered from a magic circle as Haggar threw
gruesome things into her cauldron. "That's a good boy. You lie down
while I deal with those fools." She cackled and chanted, stirring her
evil brew with her staff. "That was naughty of you, warning them like
that, but I suppose that's what we -- uhnn," Haggar blurted, falling
over. As she lost consciousness, she transformed into a
heartbreakingly beautiful woman.
   Lotor stared for a moment, then checked her pulse. "So even the
evil witch was a disguise. Then again, if I looked as you do and lived
on Doom, I would make myself ugly as well." Coba hissed at him. "Oh
calm down, feline," the prince shot back. "I have no love for Haggar,
but she was the closest thing I had to a mother after Zarkon
killed..." he shook his head and stood, then ran from the room.

   Tokyo.

>Meanwhile, Rio's borrowed motorcycle has wound it's way through the
>collateral damage to where she can get a good look at the bay. She
>picks up Roger on the lenslink as the Megadeus rises into view.
>
>"*Humph,*" she says with a playful mock pout that fights to turn into
>a grin, "*You went and had a Big O without me? You're a louse, Roger
>Smith.*"

   (OOC: Insert Roger's response here.)
   "So what do we do now?" Jeanne asked, using her 'borrowed' blaster
to cut down Spectran bioroids and Doomian robots as the goons
retreated from five recharged, furious Sailor Scouts.
   "What else?" Kanto laughed, firing bolts from his sword. "We cut
down anything they send against us."
   Jeanne turned around in the sidecar to look at the assassin from
Apokolips. "Perhaps you have forgotten, but when we were transported
here, we _were_ in the middle of something else. Theah? You may recall
it?"
   "Italy, Japan, what difference does it make to you? We oppose these
High Lords, and there is battle here." A foolish Spectran came too
close behind them, and Kanto casually lopped off its head with his
sword.
   "The defenders here are managing quite well," Jeanne pointed out.
"My homeland has fallen, and Caligari rules all he surveys. That seems
to be a rather significant difference to me."
   "Hm." Kanto pondered this distractedly as he blasted more robots.
"Rio? Do you or your brother have any ideas?"

"/Not sure. Eric?/" Rio asked/sent.

   /Magic comes to mind,/ Eric replied. /If it works, I'll follow --
if I can -- after I check on Lina,/ he added, leaping over three laser
blasts, two shuriken, and a hadouken fireball.

"/Let's see.../" Rio reached out with her abilities, music playing at
her hip. "/...ah, I think this thing has a recall mode. Hang on, I'm
going to reverse the switch.../"

   Jeanne's eyes went wide as she, Kanto, Rio and the bike all
vanished.

   Fuji.
   "Mmph?!" Allura blurted helplessly as Lotor ran forward, sword in
hand. Her eyes widened and she whimpered, pleading desperately.
   Lotor stops just short, looking at the defenseless princess with a
storm of contradictory emotions raging across his features. "Whatever
you think of me, Allura, you can't believe I would use this _against_
you, can you?" he asked, his voice astonishingly quiet. Then he
slashed out with the blade, and straps fell away. Allura struggled to
sit up, pulling the gag out of her mouth as Lotor sheathed his blade.
He then helped her to her feet.
   "That wasn't what I was afraid of. Lotor, what are you..." she
looked into his eyes with utter confusion, then felt him press
something into her hand. She looked down.
   It was the key to her lion.
   "Do not mistake this for some great transformation, or conversion,
or redemption," Lotor said harshly. "I am as I was, and only honor
brings me to this moment." He smiled wickedly at her. "Were the
situation different, your fears might have been justified. Though I
think you felt more than just fear."
   Allura slapped him. Lotor laughed.
   The princess forced her hand to her side. "I don't believe you."
Lotor stopped laughing. "I was your prisoner more than once. You could
have forced...the issue...if you had truly wanted to. Why are you
doing this?"
   "Because this is the end, Allura," he said, grabbing her by the
waist and leaping to the Blue Lion's back. The stunned Allura just had
time to gasp before he opened the hatch, literally dropped her in,
then closed it, sealing it with a blast from his pistol.
   "Stop!" Zoltar demanded, rushing in. Hundreds of Spectran soldiers
followed the leader in.
   "Run," Lotor commanded. The Blue Lion backpedaled, but did not
leave. "Your friends cannot form Voltron without you. RUN!"
   "Don't you die on me, Lotor," Allura said insistently, a sniffle
escaping her. "Not now." The lion turned and blasted its way out of
the landing bay.
   "I fear it is too late for that," Lotor whispered.
   "Nonsense," Zoltar said, arms folded. "If you are so lonely,
Spectra can provide you with...suitable companionship."
   Lotor sneered. "Someone who can compare to Allura? You must be
joking."
   Zoltar considered the Galran prince briefly, then removed -- HER
mask? Lotor gaped at the long blond hair and exquisite features that
gazed at him. "You are remarkable, Lotor," she said in a silky, but
simultaneously husky voice. "While I admit that what I am suggesting
is an alliance of convenience, it can easily become something more.
Join me."
   Lotor's sword wavered, lowering briefly. Then he laughed. At
Zoltar's raised eyebrow, Lotor raised his sword again, the blaster at
the ready in his off hand. "Father was wrong. It wasn't her looks
alone after all."
   "I thank you for the implied compliment. Don't make me kill you."
Zoltar put the mask back on.
   Lotor moved into a stance even Kanto would have respected. "You had
better pray you _can,_ High Lord."
   Zoltar sighed and walked away. "I will miss you, Prince of Doom."
She stopped at the door, glancing behind her as it opened. "Kill him."
   The soldiers screamed and charged. Lotor laughed wildly and charged
back, tearing through them. Zoltar shook her head as the door closed
behind her.
--
Lots of other people, but mostly Lotor, Prince of Doom
"My love is stronger than your power."
===========================

Subject: Re: AAE9A: Haggar the Horrible

On Sat, 8 Apr 2006 10:49:18 -0700 (PDT)
Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00012760

>On Sun, 02 Apr 2006 23:38:56 -0700
>Roland X SaidAs CAoL Message # 00012758
>
>   An instant later, the Hunter was thrown several blocks away, only
>surviving the punishing blast through his staggering physical skills,
>rolling with the blast and vaulting from rooftop to damaged rooftop.
>When Lina's senses recover, however, she will find no trace of the
>device that had clamped itself onto her face, as it was reduced to
>pure Quintessence...

The petite girl - now sporting brown instead of fiery red hair - sits
up abruptly, performing a motion similar to almost anyone who has ever
walked through a spider's web unexpectedly when leading with one's
face. After mopping her face for a moment, reassuring herself that
that mechanical ... thing that tried to eat into her brain is no
longer attached, she gives her surrounding a look of perfect wrath
that no doubt would have reduced them to rubble. Well, if that hadn't
been their condition already, at least.

A heavy, grinding noise interrupts her before she can start speaking,
however. Her eyes widen as a huge slab tips, falls over - and the blue
robot, with its strange, somewhat organic style appears, working its
way loose of the debris. An eyebrow rises sharply, debate clear on her
face, then her head shakes despite an air of decided reluctance.

"Guess uncle was right. Tech might have its uses. In shadow." She
frowns hard. "And this doesn't. Noble or not, there's not much point
in this even if I win. And that's beginning to seem unlikely." She
suddenly smirks. "For the moment."

"Ray wing." Lina-Z says, lifting only a couple feet in the air, then
flying away. She stays low enough to have cover from the debris.

>   "Wh- that -- does not compute--" the machines looked at each other
>in confusion, then turned their guns on him. "Surrender!"
>   "Find cover, you two," Eric said calmly. The older girl and Sasami
>quickly ran into an alley. Eric flexed his right arm, and the
>kusari-gama slid out. "Any time you're ready for the junk pile,
>boys."

Lina-Z, having caught up at this point, lands quietly on a somewhat
tipped roof about five stories up to watch the ensuing fight. One hand
on ber blade, the other readies for spell casting gestures, but
neither, as it happens, is required.

>   "Who ordered up the Robotech Defense Force?" Eric quipped, but he
>almost sagged with relief all the same. When he realized Escaflowne
>was making a beeline towards them, he nodded to Hitomi and Sasami.
>"If you'll excuse me."
>   Sasami smiled and nodded, then squealed "Ryo-Ohki!" in delight as
>Eric leaped away.
>   [Escaflowne and Ryo-Ohki. I think they'll be fine.] Eric was more
>educated about the Tenchi-verse through various CAoL allies with
>Tenchi Syndrome than he ever wanted. At any rate, he quickly headed
>back towards Lina, while remaining wary of more Dragu Slave blasts.

   Somewhere about halfway back, a sparkling ball of magic - nothing
more than a light used as an attention-getter - slides past him at a
respectfulremove.
   "Would it be strange - in this circus of chaos - to ask just why
you seem bent on assisting me?" Zia, still costumed as Lina, hasn't
bothered to replace the blazing red hair, sporting only her own brown
and shorter cut. She floats with utter disregard of gravity, flying
with only minor motions to join him at conversational distance after
another leap. "Or should I just offer my own to repay the favor in
kind." She muses. "So, what - are you lost? You look about as Japanese
as I do."

Zia Inversed
===========================

Subject: Re: AAE9A: Haggar the Horrible

On Mon, 10 Apr 2006 14:33:33 -0700
Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012767

>On Sat, 8 Apr 2006 10:49:18 -0700 (PDT)
>Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00012760
>
>   "Would it be strange - in this circus of chaos - to ask just why
>you seem bent on assisting me?" Zia, still costumed as Lina, hasn't
>bothered to replace the blazing red hair, sporting only her own brown
>and shorter cut. She floats with utter disregard of gravity, flying
>with only minor motions to join him at conversational distance after
>another leap. "Or should I just offer my own to repay the favor in
>kind." She muses. "So, what - are you lost? You look about as
>Japanese as I do."

   As he comes to a stop on the nearest intact rooftop, Eric does
something he'd never done before -- he wishes he had Rio's skills.
Though he has some affinity for Time magick, the truth is Eric knows
he's still going to have to rush to a decision here, and he knows just
enough about temporal paradox to want to avoid it like the plague.
Which tears at him, because the Zia he knows has gone through so much
pain...
   No. Zia would not want him tampering with her past. Come to think
of it, with Julie reincarnated and happy, he's not sure he would want
Zia doing anything similar.
   Which leaves him back at square one.
   He bows respectfully. "I suppose you could say I am lost -- I was
transported here rather unexpectedly -- but while I'm certainly not
from around here, I am familiar with Tokyo." Eric looks around with
rueful amusement. "Well, at least in its more intact state." He rubs
the back of his neck, examining the battle with a critical eye. The
tide seems to be turning in the heroes' favor. "As for why...suffice
to say that I am repaying my own debt. Further explanation would
be...problematic."
   He glances toward Mount Fuji, visible thanks to clearing air in
that direction and the giant robot rising from its crater. Eric sighs.
[I'd ask if these people ever give up, but I should know better.] "We
seem to have done considerable damage to the invaders, but the battle
isn't over yet. At least, it isn't for me. This may not be my native
land, but it is my world." His eyes narrow and a fist clenches at the
sight of Fuji violated as it has been. G-5 -- the Phoenix -- wheels
over Tokyo Bay, turning towards the great mountain. "If you'll excuse
me for the moment...or do you wish to continue the battle?"
   (OOC: Or rather, conclude; this is the marines dropping into the
final act of the James Bond movie. Just so everyone knows, I'm trying
to move into endgame.)
===========================

Subject: Re: AAE9A: Haggar the Horrible

On Wed, 12 Apr 2006 05:08:28 -0700 (PDT)
Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00012768

>On Mon, 10 Apr 2006 14:33:33 -0700
>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012767

<znip>

>   He bows respectfully. "I suppose you could say I am lost --"

   Lina-Zia just raises one eyebrow since she just did indeed ask
that, but then she realizes this must be a polite but rather circular
way to agree. Her sarcasm fades back to mild interest.

>"I was transported here rather unexpectedly -- but while I'm
>certainly not from around here, I am familiar with Tokyo." Eric looks
>around with rueful amusement. "Well, at least in its more intact
>state." He rubs the back of his neck, examining the battle with a
>critical eye. The tide seems to be turning in the heroes' favor. "As
>for why...suffice to say that I am repaying my own debt. Further
>explanation would be...problematic."
>   He glances toward Mount Fuji, visible thanks to clearing air in
>that direction and the giant robot rising from its crater. Eric
>sighs.

   For her part, the petite Amberite looks quietly, but deeply
offended. "Someone is going to pay for messing with Fuji-san. There
are some things one just doesn't do."

>[I'd ask if these people ever give up, but I should know better.] "We
>seem to have done considerable damage to the invaders, but the battle
>isn't over yet. At least, it isn't for me. This may not be my native
>land, but it is my world." His eyes narrow and a fist clenches at the
>sight of Fuji violated as it has been. G-5 -- the Phoenix -- wheels
>over Tokyo Bay, turning towards the great mountain. "If you'll excuse
>me for the moment...or do you wish to continue the battle?"
>   (OOC: Or rather, conclude; this is the marines dropping into the
>final act of the James Bond movie. Just so everyone knows, I'm trying
>to move into endgame.)

   (OOC: And I was just trying to help that along, thus you may take
this door to the exit if you wish.)

   "How about both? I may not be the most brilliant tactician I know,
but I can tell this battle has turned. By your own words, you have
allies elsewhere fighting you've been separated from." Her tone
changes abruptly, and magical power - notably, NOT of this world in
origin - flares.
   "Let all things be well/All manner of things be well/In the order
of Order/Set in proper place and line/As shadows and reflections upon
the waters." A doorway - far less polychomatic than he is accustomed
to, but showing faint glimmerings upon its, well, shadowy frame -
stands now near the two of them upon the roof.
   "There. That should take you wherever you should properly be. There
is no sign of that... mechanical thing that attacked me, and due to
your assistance, I should be in fine fettle to take care of any loose
ends around here." She grins. "I'll just have to get your story
later."

   (OOC: If Eric passes through the door - assuming he doesn't shield
himself from her magic, and I don't think he will - it will also cure
that sprain or fracture-line break in his arm, as well as re-align
anything else slightly out of whack. Apparently Amberites would make
great osteopaths, if they ever had to fall back on it - your option as
to whether it works on your character, thouh, as always.)

>Eric Lancer: the Hunter
>...who would rather _not_ be handling old cases of nitroglycerin,
>thank you... ;-)

--
Zia-Lina Inverse
... given some of the things he has handled where Zia is concerned,
are you sure?!? ;-)
===========================

Subject: AAE9A: The Phoenix-Lion Endgame (1 of 2)

On Mon, 29 May 2006 21:33:37 -0700
Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012785

>On Wed, 12 Apr 2006 05:08:28 -0700 (PDT)
>Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00012768
>
>   "There. That should take you wherever you should properly be.
>There is no sign of that... mechanical thing that attacked me, and
>due to your assistance, I should be in fine fettle to take care of
>any loose ends around here." She grins. "I'll just have to get your
>story later."

   Eric dares to stretch out his hand; if Zina Inverse takes it, he
kisses the back of her hand in the proper manner. "Far too much later,
I fear, but eventually, no doubt." With that, and without a second's
hesitation, he strides through the gate.

   Fuji.
   Two epic armies do battle. The one, true Voltron tears through a
half-dozen giant foes from as many worlds. An entire squadron of
Veritech fighters pours slugs into Big Fau; though the Big is
protected from the worst of the attack by its Impact Barrier,
Rosewater isn't laughing. (Quincy, OTOH, is -- he's sipping mai-tais
with Felix Faust. ;^) Escaflowne itself plunges its blade through a
giant Boomer bloated on fusion union with a fighter jet. Sailor Moon
and Pikachu make a hyper-cute combo, more devastating for their
apparent harmlessness than their admittedly considerable power;
together, they send entire legions of Yomi and Green Goons flying.
Chun-Li leads a deadly femme fatale force, at the apex of a unit
including the Dirty Pair, the Knight Sabers, Big O's Angel, A-Ko,
Ryoko and Ayeka. Nothing stands in their path for long. Likewise,
Tenchi Masaki and Guile make a highly unlikely pair as they back up
Chun-Li's strike force, backed by several strange creatures summoned
by the wealthy Kaiba and a boy who needs rubber tips on his impossibly
spiky hair, wearing the ultimate in bling (the Millennium Puzzle, a
golden pyramid that hangs from a chain around his neck). Above it all,
Chojin Locke and the eponymous Akira use their psychic abilities to
coordinate the forces and devastate a number of Spectran super-weapons
that emerge from hidden tunnels riddled through Fuji. Somehow
dominating this epic battle is a two-on-two robot brawl, with tiny
Astro fighting a green and black horned robot some four times his
size, while the red and blue Atlas fights an almost entirely golden
robot named...Atlas? Silver Phoenix, in her Avenger-designed
synthezoid body, flies around them providing cover with a blaster
rifle even the Dirty Pair could envy.
   "Accursed traitor child!" the golden Atlas roars, swinging a long
two-pronged blade around at his counterpart. It crackles with massive
amounts of electricity. "Begone!"
   The crimson Atlas catches the flat of the blade between his palms,
its deadly lightning surging into his several Tesla-inspired
protrusions. "Nah," he quips.
   "Pluto!" Astro cries, avoiding a burst that obliterates an entire
battalion of Yomi. "Why are you doing this? Zoltar won't do anything
for robots!"
   "I am truly sorry, Astro," Pluto replies somberly, "but defeating
you remains the most deep-seated directive in my programming -- and
Zoltar has overriden my personality's self-control with that
directive. Therefore..." he leaps! "...I must DESTROY YOU!"
   "I don't think so," Sil says coolly. "Hey, Astro! Tag out!"
   "Huh?" Astro asks, but flies to Sil's position and provides her
with cover fire with his digibeams (finger lasers).
   Sil flies at Pluto. "You cannot stop me," Pluto rumbles, charging
back. "I am the most powerful robot in the world, this or any other!"
   Sil flies *through* Pluto, who freezes in place and twitches.
"Power isn't everything, horn-head," she comments dryly, turning and
plunging her hand back into his body. "Now you let mama Sil take care
of everything...good...good...*there* we go!"
   When she withdraws her hand, Pluto bellows at the sky.
"ZOOOOLTAAAAAR!"
   "Oh, *someone's* in trouble," Sil laughs.

   Above even Locke and Akira, the mighty Phoenix flies, shooting down
Zentraedi Battle-Pods, Teknoman-hunting Venomoids, and of course the
ubiquitous Spectran Devil Stars and rocket-fighters everywhere. "Hey
Commander, this is fun, but when are we going after that smirking
creep Zoltar?" Jason asks, firing a volley that brings down another
ten enemy fighters.
   "Whoa, you know it's heavy when Jason's getting tired of blowing up
Spectrans," Tiny says.
   "Fwoop-fwoop -- got a point," Keyop adds. "What *beep* now?"
   Mark stares intently at the canopy. The tide has turned, that much
is clear. Nevertheless, Fuji remains impregnable. Even the Fiery
Phoenix could not penetrate all the way to the heart of the great
mountain...which of their allies could...
   "Princess, patch me through to Voltron," he says suddenly,
inspiration striking.
   Princess blinks, but merely nods and turns to her console. "Phoenix
to Voltron, come in Voltron," she calls, continuing to jam Spectan
communications and missile locks as she does so.
   A screen quickly pops up, Voltron's leader Keith appearing.
"Voltron Force here. How can we help you, Commander?"
   "I hate to ask this, but there's no other recourse -- we *must*
penetrate into Zoltar's fortress in Mount Fuji." Mark glances down,
then stares intently at Keith. "I know of one weapon in our alliance
that can do it quickly and cleanly."
   Keith pales slightly. "Mark, you'll still have to penetrate dozens
of meters of rock," he warns.
   Mark nods. "You just open the door. We'll do the rest."
   "Understood, Commander. Good luck." Keith salutes, and Mark returns
it with the G-Force salute.

   "Okay, team, you heard the man -- let's give this Zoltar a taste of
good old Voltron humble pie!" Keith barks.
   "Hot and fresh, served daily on Arus," Lance quips.
   "It'd be nice if they got take-out once in a while," Hunk puts in.
   "Gentlemen, do you mind?" Allura interrupted.
   Keith nods gravely. "Let's go, Voltron Force!"
   The mighty Lion-Force robot plunges through its foes, pummelling
the head of another Spectran insect-mecha as it leaps to the base of
the great mountain. "They're really down there deep, Keith!" Pidge
blurts. "How are we going to do this?"
   "Trust Voltron, Pidge," Keith replies with more confidence than he
feels. "FORM BLAZING SWORD!"
   Mighty Voltron claps its lion-headed hands together, and the great
Sword of Arus forms in a burst of glorious light as it spreads its
arms. Carefully poising it over one of the larger tunnels created by
the Spectrans themselves, the titanic robot plunges the blade into the
mountain -- then releases it! The sword-arm's hand "roars," and the
weapon vanishes into the mountain, a violent cascade of rock and stone
exploding around it like a fountain of earth.
   "How terrible," Allura says softly. "This beautiful place..."
   "I know, Allura," Keith replies, "but Zoltar and Zarkon are the
ones who violated this mountain. All we can do is bring them to
justice and use whatever powers Voltron has that will help repair the
damage." He places his hand on a glowing panel. "Okay, G-Force, the
door is open. We're getting out of the way so you can go in!"
   "Thanks, Keith," Mark replies, his grim visage appearing on a small
screen in Keith's cockpit. "We'll take it from here." The image
vanishes.
   "And may whatever gods you believe in be with you," Keith adds
quietly, a panel in front of him indicating that the Sword of Arus has
dissipated back into the energy it formed from. He watches in
amazement as the Fiery Phoenix cries out in triumph and plunges into
the great mountain...

TBC(oncluded)
===========================

Subject: AAE9A: The Phoenix-Lion Endgame (2 of 2)

On Mon, 29 May 2006 21:32:50 -0700
Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012786

(continued from part 1)
   "Thanks, Keith," Mark replies, his grim visage appearing on a small
screen in Keith's cockpit. "We'll take it from here." The image
vanishes.
   "And may whatever gods you believe in be with you," Keith adds
quietly, a panel in front of him indicating that the Sword of Arus has
dissipated back into the energy it formed from. He watches in
amazement as the Fiery Phoenix cries out in triumph and plunges into
the great mountain...

   Zoltar paces furiously in a cavern entirely covered by various
silvery panels and nearly endless computer banks. "Geee-Force,
*always* Geee-Force!" The circular screen at the end of the cavern
remains blissfully blank, but the High Lord knows that it is only a
matter of time before the Great Spirit appears. When that happens, it
will be...displeased. "Where is that incompetent witch Haggar? What is
that madman Tenma doing? When is Beryl getting here? WHO IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DISASTER?!"
   "Your Great Spirit, obviously," Tenma replies calmly, smiling as he
walks into the chamber. Doctor Tenma strides past the stunned Zoltar,
walking straight up to the Luminous One's data screen. "This was,
after all, its plan from the beginning."
   "YOU!" Zoltar rages. "Why aren't you doing something?! Those
G-Force brats will be here any moment!"
   "You fool, Zoltar," Tenma says coolly, turning a withering glare on
the Spectran leader. "My whole purpose is to prepare the robots of my
world to take their rightful place as its masters. What possible
reason could I have to ally with you?"
   Zoltar glares. "I was going to help you *win* your idiotic planet
for your precious robots," the Spectran purrs dangerously. "Now,
however, there will be no Earth for them to inherit."
   "Because your precious Lumious One will invade my reality next?"
Tenma laughs as Zoltar seethes. "In five minutes, there will *be* no
Luminous One, nor will there be a Spectran Empire. Astro has reached
the absolute pinnacle of his power. He is ready, at last."
   Zoltar's eyes become dangerously hard and cold, even for the
infamous High Lord. "You betrayed me."
   Tenma grins maliciously. "You are a despot and a monster, presiding
over a rotting corpse of a world, in service to an entity constructed
by, of and for pure nihilism." He reaches into a pocket. "I fail to
see why I should feel the least amount of shame at thwarting you."
   A pulse blast strikes Tenma full in the chest, throwing him into a
wall, He crumples to the floor, a shocked look frozen on his face.
Zoltar whirls to find Haggar pointing her smoking staff at Tenma, a
blank-eyed Zarkon leaning on her shoulders. "It's about time," Zoltar
grumbles.
   "Hey, resurrection takes a while, even for me," Haggar objects.
   Zoltar eyes Zarkon's empty expression dubiously. "It doesn't look
like you quite finished the job."
   "I can wrap things up on Planet Doom," Haggar explains. She grins
deviously. "Besides, he's easier to handle this way."
   "We're not done here," Zoltar objects.
   Haggar stares at him in shock. "What are you, stupid? We're
FINISHED! It's over! Any minute now, Voltron Force or G-Force or some
other idiotic force of heroes with more luck than brains is going to
come charging in here and beat us up!" She leans Zarkon against a wall
and begins laying runes around the Luminous One's projector. "Our only
choice is to get out of here now!"
   A huge explosion echoed nearby. The entire mountain shuddered.
   "The Fiery Phoenix!" Zoltar blurts. In that moment, Zarkon bolts
upright. Then he runs over to Zoltar and starts yanking at the
Spectran's mask. "Off! Get OFF of me, you oaf!" Zoltar throws the king
of Doom off, the mask tearing away. Blonde hair cascades around
Zoltar, her alien yet clearly feminine features glowing eerily in the
panel lights.
   Haggar regards Zoltar with a strange understanding. "That explains
a few things." She snarls, however, at the idiotic, hungry smile that
forms on Zarkon's face as he does a bad Frankenstein's Monster
impersonation. Zarkon staggers toward the High Priestess, but Zoltar
merely draws a blaster and shoots him through the skull. Zarkon
grunts, stares down at the hole, then falls over. "All the devils!"
Haggar shouts. "Do you know how much work it's going to be bringing
him back *again?*"
   Tenma punches her jaw, sending Haggar sprawling. "I would not
worry," he says dangerously, standing. His shirt is gone, revealing
gleaming black armor. "You won't have to worry about it much longer."
   "Always aim for the head," Zoltar grumbles, taking her own advice.
   Tenma laughs as the bolt ricochets away. "A contingency I planned
for, of that you may rest assured." He turns a dial on his belt and
fades away. "Farewell, Mala Solitar. We will not meet again."
   "Show-off," Zoltar -- Mala -- snarls. [How in the name of the Great
Spirit did he *know?*]
   The Luminous One appears on the screen. Mala whimpered. "Zoltar.
Where is G-Force?" it intones heartlessly.
   "They..." Mala begins to sweat. "...they will most likely be here
any moment..."
   "Perfect, perfect," the Great Spirit replies with a terrible glee.
"Everything is going according to plan."
   Mala's jaw drops. [It IS?!]

   The Phoenix bursts through the tunnel into a large docking bay,
flakes of armor falling off as it shudders to a landing. Wearily,
G-Force flies out from the top of the Phoenix and lands in a
battle-ready phalanx. The only problem is, no one is there to fight
them. Green Goons are everywhere...but all of them are sprawled out on
the deck, unmoving. Violet blood cools around them.
   "I...I don't believe it..." Jason says, shaking his head.
   "What happened to them?" Tiny asks, swallowing queasily.
   "I think I can answer that," Mark replies sadly. He points at the
door into the complex, where a bleeding Lotor leans heavily against
it. Several blocks of explosive are stacked around him. "Lotor..."
   "Kill them," Lotor demands, his voice imperious even whisper-thin
as it is. "I am Sincline of Galra, known as Lotor, Prince of Doom. You
will kill them. I demand it."
   "Whatever you say, Lotor," Mark agrees, nodding. "Just let us patch
you up--"
   Lotor hefts a bar with a handle squeezed against it. "Deadman
switch," he laughs, coughing badly. "If I were you, I would get behind
your ship. Now."
   Mark grabs Keyop and Princess and dives behind the front landing
wheels. Jason does the same with Tiny. The explosion shakes the entire
chamber. "Of all the...what did he have to do that for?" Mark cries.
   Jason looks away. "Peace," he says simply. "Let's go. My fists have
a date with Zoltar's face, and he's been standing them up for years."
   Silently, G-Force races down the corridor. In moments, they reach
the inner chamber, to find Zoltar/Mala leaning against the far wall,
arms crossed, waiting for them with a menacing smile. They stare in
shock at the face they thought belonged to Zoltar's 'sister.'
"Greetings, G-Force. We've been waiting for you."
   Mark looks down at the unconscious Haggar and the re-dead Zarkon,
then back up at Zoltar. "You need help, Mala."
   Zoltar laughs. "You are the ones who need help, G-Force. Alas," she
continues casually, the Great Spirit's avatar appearing on the screen,
"none will ever find you." She laughs maniacally as all five teens
scream in agony, clutching their helmets and falling to their knees.
"You see, this entire invasion was the greatest diversionary tactic in
history," she explains, pacing like a smug teacher amongst disobedient
pupils as her hated foes writhe in unspeakable pain. "The all-knowing
Great Spirit drained vast resources from this world, Possibilities and
natural elements alike. After all, what do these primitives know of
Vitalumen?"
   "You...have...no...right..." Mark hisses through the pain.
   "We need not conquer *this* world. We have yours, after all, and
the Gaunt Man will leave a devastated shell worse than mere death. Yet
the Luminous One, in its infinite wisdom, saw the value of using that
creature's endless greed for our own purposes. We have enough energy
to overwhelm your pitiful Federation, any rivals in nearby dimensions
have been defeated by the very alliance you forged, and
G-Force...accursed G-Force..." Mala kicks Mark viciously. Repeatedly.
"You never believed the Luminous One was real, did you? Only now, at
the end, do you understand. The Great Spirit will hollow out your
minds and souls, leaving only obedience, discipline, and loyalty to
Spectra!" Mala kicks again.
   Mark catches her foot. Slowly, as if in a dream, he looks up at a
stunned Mala. "Like...I said...you...need help...Mala," he gasps,
yanking suddenly and pulling her off-balance. "Princess," he rasps.
Somehow, the battle yo-yo lashes out, wrapping around Mala and pulling
her down. Mark rises, impossibly, and glares at the Great Spirit, a
faint glow like faerie fire flickering around the Commander. "You.
That's what you did to *her,* isn't it?" He points at Mala. Still
being tortured beyond belief in an assault on his mind, he manages to
take a step forward.
   "She had too much potential for me to allow morality to waste," the
Luminous One intones. "You, however, shall become my NEW High Lord.
With such strength as yours, I shall rule a million galaxies in a
thousand universes!"
   "You have to beat me first," Mark snarls.
   The Luminous One laughs. It is a sound as much psychic as physical,
and one that could give Batman or the Hunter nightmares. "Fool. How
many times have you used the Fiery Phoenix in a single day? Did you
think its power was merely physical?" Mark's eyes flicker with doubt,
a doubt that the Spirit is quick to assault. "Anderson never told you
what the real source of your powers is. He never explained why he
allowed his adopted son to take the most dangerous assignment in the
universe."
   Mark grits his teeth and takes another step forward. It's like
running a marathon. "How?"
   "Dolt! I know all." The swirling energy behind the Great Spirit
redoubles. "Did you never think to wonder at the meaning of the term
'cerebonics?' You are no mere cyborgs. The implants in your minds tap
the limitless potential of thought itself!" It laughs again. "Yet for
all his genius, Anderson never understood what he was playing with.
Which at long last, leaves you vulnerable...to ME." With that, the
Great Spirit turns its vast and terrible will almost entirely on the
Commander of G-Force. "Your comrades are beaten, your allies are too
distant. You are alone...all alone at the end of the world."
   Again, Mark howls in unending pain and falls to his knees. It's too
much. No one man could withstand what he's going through, not even
G-1...
   ...but he's *not* alone. Jason's hand reaches his shoulder, and
instead of hate directed at the Spectran Darkness Device, he locks
eyes with his rival...his commander...his best friend...his brother.
"Bull. We're...five. Always five."
   Princess' hand appears next, slim and delicate yet powerful, and at
once Mark feels as if he can endure anything. "We're with you, Mark."
   Mark smiles, nods, and together, they stand. Behind them, Keyop and
Tiny rise shakily to their feet and place their hands on the
Commander's cloak. "We've got...your back, boss man," Tiny says, his
tone the incarnation of implacability.
   "No! I will destroy you! I will destroy you all!" With power born
of desperation, the Luminous One lashes out, waves of psychic
demolition crashing into the heroes. No longer interested in
conversion, it only seeks to obliterate them.
   "Leave them ALONE!" a child's voice cries out, and Astro rockets
in, throwing himself between G-Force and the Great Spirit. The assault
blunts, but it doesn't take long for the Luminous One to include even
an android in his attack. Astro's cannon forms, and he fires on the
screen.
   "Idiot machine!" the Spirit cries. "I am invulnerable!"
   "This beam isn't just a laser," Astro fires back, eyes focused with
absolute precision even as his body trembles. "It's the expression of
my kokoro, my spirit!"
   "HNN!" The imagine of the Luminous One wavers. "Then that spirit
will BREAK!"
   "No," the mountain echoes.
   For the first time, the Great Spirit's face changes. The unmoving
eyes move, glancing around in fear. "What...?!"
   "I am Chojin Locke. For centuries, I have been facing tyrants much
like you. It is enough." Minds flow into the heroes...Akira and Locke,
Kaneda and Kei, Sil and Yuri and another Kei, Van and Hitomi and Rick
and Lisa...the Knight Sabers, Sailor Scouts, countless more...minds
all united, that not one of them will fall to this abomination.
   "You! Will! NOT!" The Great Spirit strikes back. The astral plane
shudders for hundreds of miles around. "I am the Great Spirit
Galactor! I am the left hand of the Abyss! I will not be denied!"
   "Shut...up," Mala spits, joining the union. The Luminous One has
just enough time to register shock before the High Lord's intimate
knowledge of its mind gives the heroes the final, upper hand. Its
physical expression, the Darkness Device itself, is beyond anything
short of the Stardragon's power to destroy. Its mind, while vast and
almost unimaginably powerful, is far less.
   The Luminous One winks out like an extinguished candle. Possibility
Energy rushes out from it, shattering stelae all across the Far East
and restoring the damaged land, Fuji and Tokyo in particular. The
heroes within the mountain collapse, while those without stagger. The
villains wink out of existence, returning to their native realities,
save for Mala herself.
   "Whuh..." Jason exhales heavily. "Did we just win?"
   Princess throws her arms around Mark and kisses him with a passion
to outshine the sun.
   Jason laughs as Tiny and Keyop whoop in triumph. "I'll take that as
a yes."
   "Um..." Mala blinks, rubs her eyes, and looks up. "Where am I?" She
looks around. "Why is my voice so deep?" She looks down at herself,
her eyes going wide. "Spirits! I'm huge!"
   Astro walks over to her as Mark and Princess come up for air. "I
think your mind was hurt. Don't worry, we'll take care of you."
   "Thanks," Mala replies shyly, pulling the cape around her in clear
embarrassment.
   "Huh." Jason shrugs, holstering his blaster. "Another mouth to
feed."
   "I think we can manage, Jason," Mark says, staring into Princess'
eyes as if he never wants to leave them.
   "Yeah, Jase -- come on, we just won the big one!" Tiny replies,
thrusting a fist into the air. Then he looks around uncertainly. "Uh,
I just got one question."
   "What's that, Tiny?" Jason asks.
   "How are we gettin' *outta* here?" Tiny gestures at where the
corridor had continued from where they came in; while the way back to
the Phoenix is still there, the tunnel ahead is sealed up, "healed" by
the wave of Possibility Energy.
   Jason and Mark look at each other and begin to laugh. Mark looks at
Princess, and she joins in. Tiny and Keyop share a glance and start
laughing as well. Pretty soon, even Astro and Mala have joined in.
They were still laughing uproariously when the gateway appeared in the
hangar and a disgruntled Atlas, following Keith and Lance in, barked,
"Where IS everybody?!"
===========================