Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 9: Star Wars / Space Opera Chapter 3 Subject: AAE9s: Confrontations On Sat, 02 Apr 2005 22:42:10 -0800 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012480 >On Wed, 23 Mar 2005 11:54:39 -0800 (PST) >Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00012456 > >> /*The rebel cell,*/ Roland cuts in, rising on wobbly legs and >>glaring at the rapidly arming-up demons. The bar starts to empty >>out. /*Qui-Gon, think of the location.*/ >> *Here {},* Qui-Gon replies. *Anakin is calling in our transport.* > > /I take it that we're going with the classic Run, Hide, and >Think?/ Rob asks, as he takes a half-step to the left. /That would be the plan, yes,/ Roland replies quickly. Then... >On Thu, 24 Mar 2005 02:25:06 -0500 >Dr. Energy Said As CAoL Message # 00012461 > >>On Tue, 22 Mar 2005 20:41:08 -0800 >>Morgan and Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00012452 >> >> The Eternal bites back several curses, trying to force calm into >>himself as he attacks Markoth with blinding speed. The evil sorcerer >>pulls a red lightsaber of his own, but screams with high-pitched >>piteous terror as he barely parries the fearsome assault. >Inside, the transmission hits Ana just as the demon swipes at her >with a bladed tail. #Uncle!# she sends, not getting a response. >Anyone watching sees her face go from confident to fearful, which was >the only distraction the fiend needed as he knocked Ana down on the >backswing of his tail and whipped around to strike her in the chest >with both painsticks. Roland's ferocious assault on Markoth slows, his responsibilities returning to the forebrain. "I'll beat you senseless in a minute," he snarls almost absently at the necromancer, who seems torn between outrage and terror. /*Status check,*/ he sends simply, and quickly discovers that most of the group is doing well, with the very notable exceptions of Doctor Energy and his niece. >"This has been fun, but I really must go." she quips as her shield >retracts and she stretches her palm toward the demon. The cyberdemon >floats in the air, seeming to be in the grip of something around his >neck, but not choking him. Not that he would notice since a wave of >her hand sends him flying into the Royal Guardsman that Quiet Moon >was finishing up with. Sheathing her lightning sword, she blasts out >of the bar, and into the street where her uncle was. Not a trace of >him can be found, though in the chaos that is the fleeing patrons, it >was hard to be certain. #Uncle Emil? Are you there?# No response from >the matrix. /"Ana! Wait!"/ Roland calls, not really expecting an answer but compelled to try anyway. >*/Volkov! That cursed man Volkov has captured Dr. Energy and is >taking him to New Delhi./* says Ana, not bothering to hide the >frustration and rage she feels at this news. Suddenly, the doors to >the bar crash open and the Platinum Princess barrels into the room. >Drawing her electrosaber, she tears into the remaining Royal >Guardsman with gusto. He barely deflects the brute force of her >blows, thanks to the nature of his weapon, and smiles as she appears >to weaken. "Just another scum like the OOF!" he says as a thunderous >left hand body blow knocks him back into a wall, barely cracking the >plaster and landing on his feet like a cat. /Stay focused,/ Roland replies firmly. [Take your own advice,] he admonishes himself, unable to fully control the howling fury he feels at the mere sight of Markoth. Then... >On Thu, 24 Mar 2005 00:25:46 -0800 >Harlock Said As CAoL Message # 00012463 > >>On Tue, 22 Mar 2005 20:41:08 -0800 >>Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00012452 >> >> Roland's snarl becomes a roar of pure rage, ferocity enough to >>give even the techno-demons pause, as he leaps at Markoth with the >>staff spinning like a helicopter blade in his hand. > >The Bard's eyes widen in alarm at this sudden show of fury. [I hate >to do this to a friend, but...] A muttered chant and a few gestures, >and Roland's target...shifts, at least to Roland's eyes. "You think you can out-teleport _me,_ you death-loving..." Roland hisses. A moment later, his eyes narrow, ESP screaming in warning. [Illusions,] he remembers, [the son of a pig loves his illusions.] The staff's thunderous attacks flow smoothly into hyper-fast figure-eight defenses that flow all around him. Markoth grins evilly regardless. [One of the demons must have distracted him for me.] A dark spell forms in his hand. [I must remember to thank-] >As the real Markoth looks on, slightly confused, Harlock wanders >casually up to him. Backing his spellcasting up with a low level >psi-bolt intended to daze, he says "leave now. Go as far away as you >possibly can, and don't come back without a souvenir." [Even with FTL >available, that should take him a week or three...] A Royal Guardsman >trying to sneak up on the unlikely pair earns himself a spinning >backfist that knocks him into the nearest table. "Wh..." Markoth begins, just before his eyes cloud over. "You can't...do this...to me..." he spits through gritted teeth. In spite of his protests, he retreats quickly. Fortunately for Harlock, Roland does not recognize the source of the illusion; certain as he is that it was cast by an enemy, he is more interested in dispelling it than tracing its origins. A powerful burst of magic-dispersing energy later, the glamer is gone. So, Roland notes with mixed emotion, was Markoth. [Just as well,] he decides after a fraction of a second. [I don't need the distraction, and worse is on the way.] He looks around. /Morgan, love, how are you holding up?/ /Better than my opponent,/ Morgan growls as Aramegil bites deeply into the Guardsman, crashing through armor to pass halfway through the shoulder blade. The double-headed weapon falls from nerveless fingers, the Guard collapsing a second later. /Good. Time for me to do my sprocking job./ Roland scans the battle... >On Tue, 29 Mar 2005 08:09:01 +0100 >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00012471 > >>On Tue, 22 Mar 2005 20:41:08 -0800 >>Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00012452 >> >> "Except," a vile, silky voice intones as four humanoids appear >>next to the demons, "that is not all you face." >> Roland's borrowed features twist into a hateful grimace, his >>sheer antipathy shocking even (perhaps especially) to old friends. >>"Markoth," he snarls. > > Moonstone smiles coldly. /*I knew there had to be a dragon in >there somewhere.*/ She doesn't disapprove. OOC note: Earth-9's Markoth is, for lack of a better term, human. An evil sorcerer with powers similar to Morgan's (super-magic that is not of the 'Awakened' variety), but that's where any similarity ends. 'Malais' is the dragon. > "Ah," Moonstone says, "There you are. As one girl to another, I >gotta tell you, the CyberGoth look isn't really you." > "I'm not gendered, you foul, little meatbag!" the creature says, >swiping at Moonstone's midsection, her claws sliced off by the >lightsaber parry. > "Ooo, you may be 'whittler' yourself if you don't back off," >Moonstone says. > The claws retract as three small rods pop up from the backs of the >slender technodemon's hands. Foot long energy blades emerge with a >lightsaber-like noise. The demon lunges forward, slashing at >Moonstone who parries, but the blades remain intact. > "I'll slice you to pieces and eat them raw," the demon snarls. > "I'd promise to do the same, but I'm on a new diet," Moonstone >says. /If you want help, holler,/ Roland sends to those still fighting, deciding to play 'zone defense.' Enemy cybernetics start malfunctioning and Guards' Heads-Up Displays provide gibberish rather than intel. /I'll cover the exit,/ Morgan replies. /Good idea,/ Roland replies. /Those who have finished with their opponents, join Ana, we need to get Doc E back before --/ Finally... >On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 08:58:49 -0500 >David McMillan Said As CAoL Message # 00012473 > > As Grephnix attacks in a sort of raging calm, the Light and Dark >sides of the Force flow and clash and merge about him like the bass >line and harmony counterpoint of a piece of orhcestral music. >Plunging and soaring, the two Forces dance like hating lovers, trying >to grapple and dominate each other. But somehow the Grey Jedi >orchestrates this elemental conflict into a single harmonious whole >in a constantly shifting and changing balancing act that brings >together chaos and order, darkness and light, into something less >than a truce but more than an alliance of convenience. > The music reaches in Roland's direction, singing a song of >equilibrium, even as Grephnix's Crimson Guard opponent falters and >flunders as the same music keeps slipping into previously-unknown >gaps in his own one-sided Force sensitivity and threatening to merge >with and corrupt it. /Ah. Thanks,/ Roland replies. /We need to move quickly, my ESP is signalling a five-alarm fire on the way. Let's retreat before...aw, nuts./ What remains of the front door explodes inward. Stormtroopers pour in, four more Crimson Guards accompanying them, a lull in their assault allowing their leader to enter. Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith. Half the Stormtroopers collapse before they can open fire, victims of Roland's vast power, but their companions seem to almost expect this. Since the hero does not kill, they are more sanguine about the losses than usual. /"Time to go,"/ Roland comments dryly. /Morgan, I could use you up here after all./ Morgan wades into the fray, then sees the tall, black armored figure. [Nass.] ^Qui-Gon,^ she sends to the Jedi master on a tight beam. ^Remember us telling you about the Anakin in the main timeline?^ She mentally points at Vader. ^I'm betting he'll recognize Ani in a heartbeat, but unless you want your student to get a _very_ rude shock...^ ^It will be a shock either way,^ Qui-Gon replies, distant memories rekindled by Morgan's reminder. Bringing Roland into the private contact, he adds, ^We must tell him soon, I fear, but the distraction now could prove fatal. Vader must be kept occupied.^ ^On it,^ Roland sends. [And time to purge an old ghost,] he thinks, striding up to the Sith Lord. Without a word, Vader ignites his saber and swings. With equal speed and calm, Roland brings up his staff to parry. Crimson sparks fly. Meanwhile, Morgan does her part to stave off an untimely family reunion. She intercepts a pair of Crimson Guards. *Anakin, I have a spare. Ya want one?* she asks. *"Love one,"* Annie laughs, Force-leaping over two other combatants to cover her back. His skill stuns the Guardsman, but the evil Force-wielder holds his own for the moment. *Aunt Morgan, he's that Vader character, right? What's that Terran phrase...oh yeah, 'like someone stepped on my grave.' That's the Force sensation I'm getting from him.* *I'm not surprised,* Morgan sighs, driving her opponent back (now that there's only one). *It's complicated, but it'll have tae wait. In the meantime, I suggest ye stay clear a' him.* Anakin nods, much to her relief. Elsewhere, Roland and Vader stare at each other for long moments, weapons still locked, each as implacable as the other. Then both are thrown back a few feet by simultaneous kinetic thrusts. "Impressive," Vader intones. "Nevertheless, we both know you are no match for me." He brings his lightsaber to bear again with smooth confidence. "That was over a year ago for you," Roland replies with a surprisingly even calm, given the rage from mere moments ago. "It's been more than ten for me." The Eternal fires a second kinetic blast at Vader, with ten times the force of the previous burst. "AAaaahhhrrr!" Vader roars, his own powers deflecting just enough of the attack to keep him from becoming irrelevant to the battle. *And Roland joins the short list of people who have successfully knocked Darth Vader on his arse,* Morgan quips. Roland holds off a grin, but only just. "You still want to do this, Lord Vader?" Vader's mechanical breathing becomes shallow and quick briefly, then shifts to an even deeper and more menacing sound than usual. He points his lightsaber at Roland. The Eternal doubles over and stumbles back, teeth gritted. "The Force is strong in you," Vader hisses, "but you are naked before the Dark Side." "Uncle Roland!" Anakin cries. Vader whirls around, mask pointed unmistakably at the young man. While Morgan tries desperately to come up with a way to separate the two further, turning the mixed-doubles duel so hers is between the Sith Lord and young Skywalker, Vader...chuckles. "So. _That_ is what I have been sensing..." Vader comments. "Get AWAY from him!" Roland roars, and an even more powerful blast, this one accompanied by electric power, flies at Vader. The Sith Lord is ready, blocking much of it with his saber, but the effect is still satisfying for the Eternal, throwing Vader back yet again. "Don't get cocky, Sith Lord," he adds coolly. "I can still take you, vulnerability or no." "Perhaps," Vader replies with maddening calm, "but then again, perhaps not." The battle of wills is interrupted with a sudden explosion, and a section of ceiling which is mercifully not above any heroes collapses. A hovercar slides down and in, piloted by a beautiful woman clad in white. "Sorry to interrupt," she laughs, "but your ride's here." "Padme, you lunatic!" Anakin shouts back, but he can't help the ghost of a smile that appears on his face. It vanishes as quickly as it arrives, however, at the sudden pained gasp that echoes metallically from the front door. Even Roland stares in almost sympathetic shock at the sight. Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, left hand of the Evil Emperor, one of the most legendary villains in Earth-9 cinema and ruthless killer who has gazed upon his own nobler self with no emotion in him save cunning, has trouble breathing at the sight before him. He clutches the control panel on his chest and takes one step back, eyes clearly locked on her in spite of the mask that hides his every feature. Anakin throws his opponent away with a Force blast, and Roland floats back quickly to keep the Guard engaged while the young Jedi leaps up to interpose himself between Amidala and the Sith Lord. "A-Anakin?" Padme asks, finally shaken. "Why is he..._staring_ like that?" "Maybe we fought over you," Anakin replies darkly, lightsaber held out protectively. "Aunt Morgan wanted me away from him. That could be why." "That..." Vader whispers, "...could be said..." Roland's staff blurs almost into one contiguous mass as he holds off the Guard. /"Okay, reunion's over, all aboard who's going aboard! Padme, once everyone's in, we have to rescue a friend."/ "Got it," Padme nods, and she returns fire on the Stormtroopers with small weapon systems on the modified speeder's sides. "Uh, Mr. Phoenix? I think those troopers are bringing the heavy artillery..." Following her gesture, Roland glances down at Stormtroopers bringing in anti-vehicle guns. Several of them crumple into balls before Vader joins the Guard's blocking efforts, and they hold him off together. /Nass. My powers are too weak here. "Okay, Morgan, Grephnix, Moonstone, Qui-Gon, form a wedge with me, I'm point -- we're blocking! Everyone else on board, then we're leaving this party!"/ =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Confrontations On Sun, 03 Apr 2005 04:27:34 -0700 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00012481 >On Sat, 02 Apr 2005 22:42:10 -0800 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012480 > >>On Thu, 24 Mar 2005 00:25:46 -0800 >>Harlock Said As CAoL Message # 00012463 >> >>The Bard's eyes widen in alarm at this sudden show of fury. [I hate >>to do this to a friend, but...] A muttered chant and a few gestures, >>and Roland's target...shifts, at least to Roland's eyes. > > "You think you can out-teleport _me,_ you death-loving..." Roland >hisses. A moment later, his eyes narrow, ESP screaming in warning. >[Illusions,] he remembers, [the son of a pig loves his illusions.] >The staff's thunderous attacks flow smoothly into hyper-fast >figure-eight defenses that flow all around him. > Markoth grins evilly regardless. [One of the demons must have >distracted him for me.] A dark spell forms in his hand. [I must >remember to thank-] [Well, at least he's on the defense now instead of the offense.] Harlock's expression is not notably relieved. [He's still far too angry to be healthy by this cosm's rules, though. Time to get rid of the source of that anger, hmm?] >>As the real Markoth looks on, slightly confused, Harlock wanders >>casually up to him. Backing his spellcasting up with a low level >>psi-bolt intended to daze, he says "leave now. Go as far away as you >>possibly can, and don't come back without a souvenir." [Even with >>FTL available, that should take him a week or three...] A Royal >>Guardsman trying to sneak up on the unlikely pair earns himself a >>spinning backfist that knocks him into the nearest table. > > "Wh..." Markoth begins, just before his eyes cloud over. "You >can't...do this...to me..." he spits through gritted teeth. In spite >of his protests, he retreats quickly. "I just did," remarks the Bard. "Toodles." [And here's hoping he misses at least one of the taggers I just slipped him. Be nice to have a bit of warning if he's going to show up again.] > Fortunately for Harlock, Roland does not recognize the source of >the illusion; certain as he is that it was cast by an enemy, he is >more interested in dispelling it than tracing its origins. A powerful >burst of magic-dispersing energy later, the glamer is gone. So, >Roland notes with mixed emotion, was Markoth. [Whoulf. I hope I never have to cross swords with him. That was entirely too casual for my liking.] > Roland's staff blurs almost into one contiguous mass as he holds >off the Guard. /"Okay, reunion's over, all aboard who's going aboard! >Padme, once everyone's in, we have to rescue a friend."/ > "Got it," Padme nods, and she returns fire on the Stormtroopers >with small weapon systems on the modified speeder's sides. "Uh, Mr. >Phoenix? I think those troopers are bringing the heavy artillery..." > Following her gesture, Roland glances down at Stormtroopers >bringing in anti-vehicle guns. Several of them crumple into balls >before Vader joins the Guard's blocking efforts, and they hold him >off together. /Nass. My powers are too weak here. "Okay, Morgan, >Grephnix, Moonstone, Qui-Gon, form a wedge with me, I'm point >we're blocking! Everyone else on board, then we're leaving this >party!"/ [Damnation! Man-portable weapons in this cosm rely on plasma bolts rather than lasers, so a darkness spell won't do any good. Ah, well, that's why I pulled some of my TSM gear out, right?] Figuring the Force-users are pretty much tied up blocking each other's powers, Harlock pulls a flash-bang (aka stun grenade) from under his cloak and lobs it at the E-Web team, then clambers into the hovercar. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Confrontations On Sun, 3 Apr 2005 12:59:26 +0100 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00012482 >On Sat, 02 Apr 2005 22:42:10 -0800 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012480 > >>On Tue, 29 Mar 2005 08:09:01 +0100 >>Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00012471 >> >> Moonstone smiles coldly. /*I knew there had to be a dragon in >>there somewhere.*/ She doesn't disapprove. > > OOC note: Earth-9's Markoth is, for lack of a better term, human. >An evil sorcerer with powers similar to Morgan's (super-magic that is >not of the 'Awakened' variety), but that's where any similarity ends. >'Malais' is the dragon. OOC: *cough*dragoninRoland*cough* > /If you want help, holler,/ Roland sends to those still fighting, >deciding to play 'zone defense.' Enemy cybernetics start >malfunctioning and Guards' Heads-Up Displays provide gibberish rather >than intel. > >/I'll cover the exit,/ Morgan replies. > > /Good idea,/ Roland replies. /Those who have finished with their >opponents, join Ana, we need to get Doc E back before --/ The technodemon feigns with her right set of claws and lashs out with her left. Moonstone barely has time to block and leap before the tabletop where she'd been standing is sliced through. Moonstone thinks a bit sheepishly, /Oh yeah, leaving probably would be a good idea, wouldn't it?/ "You're hardly worth the trouble, Tiny," the technodemon snarls. "Except you know better than to turn your back on me, eh, Skinny?" Moonstone says as her blue lightsaber clashs against the demon's lightblades. 'Skinny' snorts. "Yeah, that's what I thought you'd say," Moonstone replies, parrying another slash. > /Ah. Thanks,/ Roland replies. /We need to move quickly, my ESP is >signalling a five-alarm fire on the way. Let's retreat before...aw, >nuts./ > What remains of the front door explodes inward. Stormtroopers pour >in, four more Crimson Guards accompanying them, a lull in their >assault allowing their leader to enter. /"What, are doorknobs so lowtech no one knows how to use them anymore?"/ Moonstone grouses, leaping off the table as 'Skinny's' next attack turns it from stable platform for the 'Yoda-oid' into a pile of rubble. 'Skinny' whirls around to follow the leaping form of Moonstone, snatching a chair up and sending it after. Moonstone whirls as she lands atop the third table down, only to be swept off that by the chair that followed her. Not as unfortunate as it might seem, the stormtrooper's opening volley sailed straight through the place she would have been standing had the chair not caught her as she landed. > Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith. > Half the Stormtroopers collapse before they can open fire, victims >of Roland's vast power, but their companions seem to almost expect >this. Since the hero does not kill, they are more sanguine about the >losses than usual. > /"Time to go,"/ Roland comments dryly. /Morgan, I could use you up >here after all./ /"I'll say,"? Moonstone quips, throwing the chair aside. Then she's too busy, as stormtroopers and 'Skinny' both open fire with blasters. Moonstone, small target though she is, is still kept busy enough just deflecting that she doesn't have time to make an attack of her own. [Cover would be good,] Moonstone thinks, tipping the table over and hiding behind it. That gives her protection from the stormtroopers, but 'Skinny' has a different vantage point and Moonstone still has to parry the technodemon's blasts. Moonstone mutters under her breath. The chairs around the CAoL's original table suddenly all crash into 'Skinny' at a variety of heights and speeds. Moonstone grins to herself as the technodemon starts to untangle itself from the furniture. Another mutter, and the tables in the intervening space topple with their faces toward the still doggedly firing stormtroopers. Darting out of her cover, Moonstone avoids the blaster fire of a few wiser troopers who had the foresight to realize what was likely intended by overturning the tables between the technodemon and the Yoda-oid, and hides behind the new shield formerly masquerading as a bar table. The techodemon erupts from the tangle of chairs, flinging them aside angrily, and ignites the lightsaber-like blades in its wrists again. "I will fillet you alive," it snarls as Moonstone shifts her grip slightly on her lightsaber. > The battle of wills is interrupted with a sudden explosion, and a >section of ceiling which is mercifully not above any heroes >collapses. A hovercar slides down and in, piloted by a beautiful >woman clad in white. > "Sorry to interrupt," she laughs, "but your ride's here." Moonstone smiles to herself as the ceiling collapses onto Skinny. The technodemon seems almost able to rise, but then goes slack. "Your timing couldn't be better," Moonstone says. > Roland's staff blurs almost into one contiguous mass as he holds >off the Guard. /"Okay, reunion's over, all aboard who's going aboard! >Padme, once everyone's in, we have to rescue a friend."/ > "Got it," Padme nods, and she returns fire on the Stormtroopers >with small weapon systems on the modified speeder's sides. "Uh, Mr. >Phoenix? I think those troopers are bringing the heavy artillery..." > Following her gesture, Roland glances down at Stormtroopers >bringing in anti-vehicle guns. Several of them crumple into balls >before Vader joins the Guard's blocking efforts, and they hold him >off together. /Nass. My powers are too weak here. "Okay, Morgan, >Grephnix, Moonstone, Qui-Gon, form a wedge with me, I'm point >we're blocking! Everyone else on board, then we're leaving this >party!"/ Moonstone leaps into place almost casually, /"Right," I really shouldn't be enjoying this so much./ =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: A Wretched Hive On Mon, 4 Apr 2005 22:19:17 -0700 (PDT) Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00012485 >On Tue, 22 Mar 2005 20:41:08 -0800 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00012452 > > "And friends," he replies with a disgusting grin, gesturing at the >three crimson-clad Royal Guards at his side. "I have spent a great >deal of time contemplating exactly how to exact my revenge on you, >Defender, for all those years in prison. With what Thratchen has >planned for you, however...it will satisfy me simply to watch." His >grin spreads as the other eight warriors move warily forward, >twin-headed spears twirling in the Guards' hands and various ugly >weapons sprouting from the demons' appendages. "I'll keep myself >occupied with killing a few of your friends for now." Drilea lets herself get pushed back as the crowd of bystanders try to get away from the impending conflict. At least physically she gets pulled back, mentally she pushes forward, using the information she gleaned earlier, reaching into the inferfaces for the demons' weapondry, causing some systems there's a need to slow down the weapon growth, convincing others that the order was given to fire immediately and causing demon weapons to fire randomly into the floors, ceiling and into the guardsmen. > Roland's snarl becomes a roar of pure rage, ferocity enough to >give even the techno-demons pause, as he leaps at Markoth with the >staff spinning like a helicopter blade in his hand. > >^Roland! Don't feed the Dark Side!^ Morgan warns as she charges at >one of the Royal Guards. The blade of the belt dagger in her hand >grows to about three feet in length, sheathed in a soft greenish >glow. Drilea oofs as the breath is knocked out of her by the now frantic crowd. She scrambles up on a table before she gets crushed to death and draws out her pistol. Realizing that the blast probably wouldn't do much against a demon, she aims instead for the Royal Guards, volleying shots at them to keep them off guard for Morgan's charge. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Confrontations On Tue, 5 Apr 2005 10:00:32 -0700 (PDT) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00012486 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012480 > >>On Wed, 23 Mar 2005 11:54:39 -0800 (PST) >>Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00012456 >> >> /I take it that we're going with the classic Run, Hide, and >>Think?/ Rob asks, as he takes a half-step to the left. > > /That would be the plan, yes,/ Roland replies quickly. /Saotome Ryu Ogi, coming right up,/ Rob responds, with an odd smile on his face. > /If you want help, holler,/ Roland sends to those still fighting, >deciding to play 'zone defense.' Enemy cybernetics start >malfunctioning and Guards' Heads-Up Displays provide gibberish rather >than intel. > >/I'll cover the exit,/ Morgan replies. Rob has switched to a purely defensive style at this point, with good reason. [I don't know how I knocked that guy - er, thing - across the room, but there's no percentage in playing with abilities that I don't understand,] he thinks as he slips around a lightsaber slash. [At least evasion is easy - they're not telegraphing their moves, they're putting up full-page ads.] > What remains of the front door explodes inward. Stormtroopers pour >in, four more Crimson Guards accompanying them, a lull in their >assault allowing their leader to enter. > Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith. > Half the Stormtroopers collapse before they can open fire, victims >of Roland's vast power, but their companions seem to almost expect >this. Since the hero does not kill, they are more sanguine about the >losses than usual. > /"Time to go,"/ Roland comments dryly. /Morgan, I could use you up >here after all./ As the door goes down, Rob ducks under another swing, and grabs the techno-demon's wrist, adjusts his grip slightly, and twists. With a shriek of pain, it drops its weapon, allowing the street fighter to take hold with his other hand. One of the tricks he has picked up over the years is the use of oversized, unwilling melee weapons. It comes in handy here, as he uses the demon to bludgeon his way towards a window. > ^On it,^ Roland sends. [And time to purge an old ghost,] he >thinks, striding up to the Sith Lord. > Without a word, Vader ignites his saber and swings. With equal >speed and calm, Roland brings up his staff to parry. Crimson sparks >fly. [Damn. I don't have a hand free for a video camera.] >*And Roland joins the short list of people who have successfully >knocked Darth Vader on his arse,* Morgan quips. While most of the attention is on Roland's face-off with the Dark Lord of the Sith, somebody using an unconscious techno-demon as a battering ram to break yet another window still draws attention. Unfortunately, it's not good attention. A barrage of blaster fire nearly fries Rob, who barely shields himself in time. [I hope this demon can take a -lot- of punishment...] > The battle of wills is interrupted with a sudden explosion, and a >section of ceiling which is mercifully not above any heroes >collapses. A hovercar slides down and in, piloted by a beautiful >woman clad in white. "Sorry to interrupt," she laughs, "but your >ride's here." Outside, Rob tosses his now-tattered shield/demon at the stormtroopers, and crashes through their formation, scattering them like ninepins. By the time they recover, he's over halfway across the street, and most of their shots miss. Most, but not all. One bolt hits his right shoulder, while another draws a line across his back. He hits the ground, hurt, but not badly enough to stop him from pulling a small flashlight from his pocket. > Following her gesture, Roland glances down at Stormtroopers >bringing in anti-vehicle guns. Several of them crumple into balls >before Vader joins the Guard's blocking efforts, and they hold him >off together. /Nass. My powers are too weak here. "Okay, Morgan, >Grephnix, Moonstone, Qui-Gon, form a wedge with me, I'm point >we're blocking! Everyone else on board, then we're leaving this >party!"/ As the stormtroopers take aim, Rob switches on the "flashlight," letting it pull him out of the line of fire. [Good. Miniaturized tractor beam works here.] By the time the surprised soldiers have readjusted their aim, their target is on the roof of the building. /Roland - don't worry about me. I'll make it in on my own,/ Rob sends, as he examines the gear he picked off of the troopers. [Ration pack, spare power packs, emergency medkit...hey, wait a minute. I wonder if that game book was accurate? That would be the sturm dowel, and you do this, and this, and then you throw it, and then you RLH.] The jury-rigged power pack lands in an unoccupied Imperial landspeeder, and Rob proceeds to Run Like Heck. As he skitters down the fire escape, he counts in his head, [...four hippopotami, five hippopotami, six hippopotami...damn. I guess it--] **KABOOM** [--does work.] A few seconds later, he joins a mob of people screaming and fleeing the scene. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Confrontations On Tue, 05 Apr 2005 15:39:30 -0700 Patrick O'Shea Said As CAoL Message # 00012487 >On Sat, 02 Apr 2005 22:42:10 -0800 >Roland X Said> As CAoL Message # 00012480 > > What remains of the front door explodes inward. Stormtroopers pour >in, four more Crimson Guards accompanying them, a lull in their >assault allowing their leader to enter. > Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith. OOC: Reasons I wish I'd never joined the Galaxy Rang^H^H^H CAoL, #65 ;^) IC: Quiet Moon stops for a second, stunned by the aura coming off the Sith Lord. "The power..." he whispers. >Meanwhile, Morgan does her part to stave off an untimely family >reunion. She intercepts a pair of Crimson Guards. *Anakin, I have a >spare. Ya want one?* she asks. The other two guards start to advance, confident of an easy kill. Then one gets a staff in the face. The metallic faceplate crumples in, optics quietly shattering. Clutching his face, the red-robed guard drops, leaving one standing, lightsaber at the ready. To the guard's credit, he doesn't react when his saber is easily deflected by the metallic staff. The two fighters settle into a standard duel, lots of blocks and parries, nothing spectacular. Until... > "That..." Vader whispers, "...could be said..." > Roland's staff blurs almost into one contiguous mass as he holds >off the Guard. /"Okay, reunion's over, all aboard who's going aboard! >Padme, once everyone's in, we have to rescue a friend."/ [Huh?] The thought is quickly squelched. "Excuse me." Quiet Moon whispers, ducking a swing and burying a fist in the Guard's gut. He turns to run; as the Guard recovers, he raises his saber up to strike the Kai from behind. However, the blade is caught, the red energy blade crackling a few millimeters from Quiet Moon's palm, held in place by Moon's Nexus discipline, the skin lightly reddening and blistering. A moment after that, the Guard is sent flying, lightsaber clattering to the floor, by a ] Power Word. Quiet Moon bends down, picks up the saber, and heads for the exit. "Thanks." (And marks it down on his 'Special Items' chart.) > "Got it," Padme nods, and she returns fire on the Stormtroopers >with small weapon systems on the modified speeder's sides. "Uh, Mr. >Phoenix? I think those troopers are bringing the heavy artillery..." > Following her gesture, Roland glances down at Stormtroopers >bringing in anti-vehicle guns. Several of them crumple into balls >before Vader joins the Guard's blocking efforts, and they hold him >off together. /Nass. My powers are too weak here. "Okay, Morgan, >Grephnix, Moonstone, Qui-Gon, form a wedge with me, I'm point >we're blocking! Everyone else on board, then we're leaving this >party!"/ [I can still do something...] "Invisible Fist!" One more Stormtrooper is taken out. The the grand master ducks, just missing a blaster bolt to the face. Rather than attack, he calls up a small (controlled) sandstorm, helping to conceal the landspeeder's escape. A thought occurs to him. "How well can that...Vader person sense the Force? Could he track us with it?" =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Confrontations On Mon, 11 Apr 2005 18:49:31 -0700 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00012499 >On Sun, 03 Apr 2005 04:27:34 -0700 >Harlock Said As CAoL Message # 00012481 > >>On Sat, 02 Apr 2005 22:42:10 -0800 >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012480 >> >> Roland's staff blurs almost into one contiguous mass as he holds >>off the Guard. /"Okay, reunion's over, all aboard who's going >>aboard! Padme, once everyone's in, we have to rescue a friend."/ >> "Got it," Padme nods, and she returns fire on the Stormtroopers >>with small weapon systems on the modified speeder's sides. "Uh, Mr. >>Phoenix? I think those troopers are bringing the heavy artillery..." >> Following her gesture, Roland glances down at Stormtroopers >>bringing in anti-vehicle guns. Several of them crumple into balls >>before Vader joins the Guard's blocking efforts, and they hold him >>off together. /Nass. My powers are too weak here. "Okay, Morgan, >>Grephnix, Moonstone, Qui-Gon, form a wedge with me, I'm point >>we're blocking! Everyone else on board, then we're leaving this >>party!"/ > >[Damnation! Man-portable weapons in this cosm rely on plasma bolts >rather than lasers, so a darkness spell won't do any good. Ah, well, >that's why I pulled some of my TSM gear out, right?] Figuring the >Force-users are pretty much tied up blocking each other's powers, >Harlock pulls a flash-bang (aka stun grenade) from under his cloak >and lobs it at the E-Web team, then clambers into the hovercar. Then (& backing up some)... >On Sun, 3 Apr 2005 12:59:26 +0100 >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00012482 > >>On Sat, 02 Apr 2005 22:42:10 -0800 >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012480 >> >>>On Tue, 29 Mar 2005 08:09:01 +0100 >>>Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00012471 >>> >>>>On Tue, 22 Mar 2005 20:41:08 -0800 >>>>Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00012452 >>>> >>>> "Except," a vile, silky voice intones as four humanoids appear >>>>next to the demons, "that is not all you face." >>>> Roland's borrowed features twist into a hateful grimace, his >>>>sheer antipathy shocking even (perhaps especially) to old friends. >>>>"Markoth," he snarls. >>> >>> Moonstone smiles coldly. /*I knew there had to be a dragon in >>>there somewhere.*/ She doesn't disapprove. /*Comes from my mother's side,*/ Roland replies, the image of a toothy grin (with all the teeth pointy and sharp) flickering across the link. >> The battle of wills is interrupted with a sudden explosion, and a >>section of ceiling which is mercifully not above any heroes >>collapses. A hovercar slides down and in, piloted by a beautiful >>woman clad in white. >> "Sorry to interrupt," she laughs, "but your ride's here." > > Moonstone smiles to herself as the ceiling collapses onto Skinny. >The technodemon seems almost able to rise, but then goes slack. > "Your timing couldn't be better," Moonstone says. "Who says an artist is never appreciated in her own time?" Padme adds with a jaunty salute. >> "Okay, Morgan, Grephnix, Moonstone, Qui-Gon, form a wedge with >>me, I'm point -- we're blocking! Everyone else on board, then we're >>leaving this party!"/ > > Moonstone leaps into place almost casually, /"Right," I really >shouldn't be enjoying this so much./ /As long as you don't get so caught up you lose track of how the fight's going, knock yourself out,/ Roland replies. /Better yet, knock _them_ out./ And the beat(down) goes on... >On Tue, 5 Apr 2005 10:00:32 -0700 (PDT) >Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00012486 > >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012480 >> >>>On Wed, 23 Mar 2005 11:54:39 -0800 (PST) >>>Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00012456 >>> >>> /I take it that we're going with the classic Run, Hide, and >>>Think?/ Rob asks, as he takes a half-step to the left. >> >> /That would be the plan, yes,/ Roland replies quickly. > > /Saotome Ryu Ogi, coming right up,/ Rob responds, with an odd >smile on his face. /Wrong reality, I think, and not the usual order for this bunch, but it'll do for now,/ Roland replies with a grin. >> Without a word, Vader ignites his saber and swings. With equal >>speed and calm, Roland brings up his staff to parry. Crimson sparks >>fly. > > [Damn. I don't have a hand free for a video camera.] OOC: Thank you, thank you, two shows a day, three on Saturdays. OOC-M: Though we've already established that the X-Window in the Place that's always on the CAoL has been recorded, so there are archives to watch with the BOYC :-). > As the stormtroopers take aim, Rob switches on the "flashlight," >letting it pull him out of the line of fire. [Good. Miniaturized >tractor beam works here.] By the time the surprised soldiers have >readjusted their aim, their target is on the roof of the building. > /Roland - don't worry about me. I'll make it in on my own,/ Rob >sends, as he examines the gear he picked off of the troopers. /What?! Aargh!/ Roland, in case it's not obvious, sounds a bit unhappy. [What part of 'everyone' do adventurers have trouble understanding?!] /If it's not too much trouble,/ he adds more calmly (albeit rather acidly), /your CO would like to know where the bloody nass you're going./ /Cats, dear,/ Morgan notes sympathetically. /They come back eventually./ /The ones that don't get hit by a bus,/ Roland replies. /You have the rendezvous coordinates, Mr. Nishikawa. Try not to get dead before you use them, okay?/ Finally... >On Tue, 05 Apr 2005 15:39:30 -0700 >Patrick O'Shea Said As CAoL Message # 00012487 > >[I can still do something...] "Invisible Fist!" One more Stormtrooper >is taken out. The the grand master ducks, just missing a blaster bolt >to the face. Rather than attack, he calls up a small (controlled) >sandstorm, helping to conceal the landspeeder's escape. > >A thought occurs to him. "How well can that...Vader person sense the >Force? Could he track us with it?" Roland scowls. "Rather well, all things considered. Anakin's signature is...unique...and I glow in the dark. On the other hand..." He glances over at Morgan. Morgan blinks, then nods. She finishes off the Guard she's been wearing down, then lets Roland cover her while she concentrates. Her fingers move slightly on the claymore's hilt (she's holding it in a guard position -- belt and suspenders, donchaknow *g*), and those with force-sense feel the force-wielders in the speeder fade from sight. /*There's enough of you that an area effect seemed best,*/ she sends to the team. /*The rest of you will fade when you board.*/ /I love that woman,/ Roland replies. /*All right, wedge team -- evac!*/ Roland knocks his Guardsman away with a sudden extension of his fighting pike, and the Greywolf-Phoenixes clasp hands and Force-leap as one onto the speeder. Qui-Gon follows a fraction of a second later. Once Grephnix and Moonstone are aboard, Roland gestures to Amidala. "Get us out of here!" "You don't have to tell me twice!" she shouts back, gunning the engine. The tell-tale whine of a Star Wars engine fills the air, and she whirls the vehicle with expert ease, racing away. A pair of techno-demons fly up to intercept the heroes, but Padme handles the problem with the prosaic solution of slamming straight into them, giving them both a severe case of speeder rash. "Damn, woman, you can drive," 'Captain' Roland says. "We're not home yet," Padme replies. "I've got something on the scanner..." With that, a dark explosion reverberates behind the group, waves of force (and Force) emanating from a sphere of impenetrable blackness. When the dark sphere vanishes, its passing reveals a flying ship similar to Jabba's floating palace-cum-fortress chasing the heroes, Markoth standing arrogantly (albeit, admittedly, rakishly) at its bow. "Is this enough of a souvenir for you, purveyor of frozen magics? AH-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!" Markoth howls with glee. "Frozen magics?" Roland mutters. "What is he _on?_ Don't answer that," he decides, "just put the pedal to the metal, Padme!" "In STANDARD!" she shouts back. "Full throttle!" Roland snaps. "Oh, sure, I _always_ drive like a tourist when the Legions of Evil are trying to kill me!" Padme roars over her shoulder. The roar of plasma cannons fills the air, Roland deflecting the first few with his powers, but as the assault continues, the effort appears to take its toll. And the flying fortress is slowly closing... =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Confrontations On Tue, 12 Apr 2005 00:37:50 -0700 Patrick O'Shea Said As CAoL Message # 00012501 >On Mon, 11 Apr 2005 18:49:31 -0700 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00012499 > >>A thought occurs to him. "How well can that...Vader person sense the >>Force? Could he track us with it?" > > Roland scowls. "Rather well, all things considered. Anakin's >signature is...unique...and I glow in the dark. On the other hand..." >He glances over at Morgan. Quiet Moon pauses a second to trace a small glyph on the lightsaber he captured. Glancing around, he spies a speeder starting to pull out. A quick toss, and the psychic decoy is off! Shame it'll detonate when the next darksider decides to grab it. Silly Kai, modifying that stabilizing rune on the fly... >Morgan blinks, then nods. She finishes off the Guard she's been >wearing down, then lets Roland cover her while she concentrates. Her >fingers move slightly on the claymore's hilt (she's holding it in a >guard position belt and suspenders, donchaknow *g*), and those with >force-sense feel the force-wielders in the speeder fade from sight. >/*There's enough of you that an area effect seemed best,*/ she sends >to the team. /*The rest of you will fade when you board.*/ "Understood. Anyone need healing?" > With that, a dark explosion reverberates behind the group, waves >of force (and Force) emanating from a sphere of impenetrable >blackness. When the dark sphere vanishes, its passing reveals a >flying ship similar to Jabba's floating palace-cum-fortress chasing >the heroes, Markoth standing arrogantly (albeit, admittedly, >rakishly) at its bow. OOC: My kingdom for a bow and arrow... > "Is this enough of a souvenir for you, purveyor of frozen magics? >AH-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!" Markoth howls with glee. > "Frozen magics?" Roland mutters. "What is he _on?_ Don't answer >that," he decides, "just put the pedal to the metal, Padme!" > "In BASIC!" she shouts back. > "Full throttle!" Roland snaps. > "Oh, sure, I _always_ drive like a tourist when the Legions of >Evil are trying to kill me!" OOC: You know, I think I like her... :-) >Padme roars over her shoulder. The roar of plasma cannons fills the >air, Roland deflecting the first few with his powers, but as the >assault continues, the effort appears to take its toll. And the >flying fortress is slowly closing... "Well, I can take the 80 in the lower decks..." =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Confrontations On Tue, 12 Apr 2005 09:50:27 -0700 (PDT) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00012502 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00012499 >>Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00012486 >> >> As the stormtroopers take aim, Rob switches on the "flashlight," >>letting it pull him out of the line of fire. [Good. Miniaturized >>tractor beam works here.] By the time the surprised soldiers have >>readjusted their aim, their target is on the roof of the building. >> /Roland - don't worry about me. I'll make it in on my own,/ Rob >>sends, as he examines the gear he picked off of the troopers. > > /What?! Aargh!/ Roland, in case it's not obvious, sounds a bit >unhappy. [What part of 'everyone' do adventurers have trouble >understanding?!] /If it's not too much trouble,/ he adds more calmly >(albeit rather acidly), /your CO would like to know where the bloody >nass you're going./ /Rendezvous point, albeit slowly. And if you've got a complaint, take it up with whoever forgot to mention that we had a ride coming BEFORE the part where I went through the window,/ Rob sends back in an even more acid tone. >/Cats, dear,/ Morgan notes sympathetically. /They come back >eventually./ > > /The ones that don't get hit by a bus,/ Roland replies. /You have >the rendezvous coordinates, Mr. Nishikawa. Try not to get dead before >you use them, okay?/ /I'm still holding to the plan of dying in bed with somebody's wife,/ Rob counters. /Preferably mine./ >Finally... >Morgan blinks, then nods. She finishes off the Guard she's been >wearing down, then lets Roland cover her while she concentrates. Her >fingers move slightly on the claymore's hilt (she's holding it in a >guard position -- belt and suspenders, donchaknow *g*), and those >with force-sense feel the force-wielders in the speeder fade from >sight. /*There's enough of you that an area effect seemed best,*/ she >sends to the team. /*The rest of you will fade when you board.*/ [Good - they've got cover,] Rob notes. [Now all I need to do is--] He breaks off as he rounds a corner and runs into trouble. Not that he recognizes the type of trouble by name, as much as general type. Tough, greasy, dressed in riding gear - in some worlds, this would be a biker. Here, he's called a swoopie. "You're one of those tough guys. Looks like you lost your friends, though," Trouble says.. "Impies," Rob parries. "They're sweeping the streets. Smart players are dropping out of sight." "I've got time to take the sabacc pot," the swoopie replies, as he pulls a knife. Thirty-four seconds later, Rob rides away, remarking, "Looks like you bombed out, mister." [Now to see if I can catch up with Roland.] =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Confrontations Part Uno On Thu, 14 Apr 2005 03:35:50 -0400 Saint Dharma / Dr. Energy Said As CAoL Message # 00012506 >On Mon, 11 Apr 2005 18:49:31 -0700 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00012499 > >>>On Sat, 02 Apr 2005 22:42:10 -0800 >>>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012480 >>> >>> Following her gesture, Roland glances down at Stormtroopers >>>bringing in anti-vehicle guns. Several of them crumple into balls >>>before Vader joins the Guard's blocking efforts, and they hold him >>>off together. >>>/Nass. My powers are too weak here. "Okay, Morgan, Grephnix, >>>Moonstone, Qui-Gon, form a wedge with me, I'm point -- we're >>>blocking! Everyone else on board, then we're leaving this party!"/ Ana nods. /"That is a suitable course of action, sir."/ The front leg panel opens and she switches off the glowing electro sabre before placing it in the leg compartment. She barely has time to look up before a technodemon plows into her. The Platinum Princess holds her ground well, though the tables and chairs didn't fare so well. The fiend shoves a wicked spear closer to her face.... >And the beat(down) goes on... > /What?! Aargh!/ Roland, in case it's not obvious, sounds a bit >unhappy. [What part of 'everyone' do adventurers have trouble >understanding?!] /If it's not too much trouble,/ he adds more calmly >(albeit rather acidly), /your CO would like to know where the bloody >nass you're going./ > >/Cats, dear,/ Morgan notes sympathetically. /They come back >eventually./ > > /The ones that don't get hit by a bus,/ Roland replies. /You have >the rendezvous coordinates, Mr. Nishikawa. Try not to get dead before >you use them, okay?/ Ana's eyes begin to glow furiously as her body reverts to metallic form...a true Platinum Princess. The technodemon is startled by this momentarily, which gives Ana enough leverage to wrench off the offending cyberarm with a sound of tearing metal and flesh. The fiend screams in a mixture of pleasure and agony just as Ana winds up and swats the demon, sending it crashing into the bar and landing on its' back with a thud. A short hop later, and the demon looks more the worse for wear. Looking down at the arm that she beat it with, Ana makes for the transport, and heads to the cargo bay. "Looks I might need this for later." as opens an empty storage crate and places the cyberweapon arm inside. #"Roland, I have a weak signal of Doc Energy. It's heading towards New Dehli."# >Finally... > "Full throttle!" Roland snaps. > "Oh, sure, I _always_ drive like a tourist when the Legions of >Evil are trying to kill me!" Padme roars over her shoulder. The roar >of plasma cannons fills the air, Roland deflecting the first few with >his powers, but as the assault continues, the effort appears to take >its toll. And the flying fortress is slowly closing... Earlier on the Flying Fortress of Doom.. "Curse that magician. I had Defender *in* *my* *grasp*." says Markoth through clenched teeth. A lowly assistant approaches him. "My lord, a strange technodemon wishes an audience with you." Markoth whirled in fury at the offending page. "Fool! How dare you interrupt me while I am planning. Can't you see..." "Yes. I can see. I can see that you are still outmatched again by Defender." said a voice like gravel being scraped on the bottom of a stone well. Markoth points a weapon at the unknown voice. "Who dares disturb me?" "I do." and out of the shadows steps Volkov. Markoth sneers in contempt. "What kind of Tharkoldu are you to act so bold?" The demonic Iceman goes down to one knee and bows his horn-covered head low. "Forgive me, my liege, but I represent certain parties in Earth 9 who would like very much to see the Defender fall. I come bearing two gifts. One, my service to The Empire and two, Doctor Energy. Frozen in carbonite." He gestures with his right hand, and from behind the curtain floats a curious statue covered in the metallic black of carbonite. It's eyes emit a faint glow. Inside the statue, Romanov struggled. [Curse my weakness to cold materials. Fortunately, I have just enough reserve power for short range comms and visuals.] Outside, Markoth grins wolfishly. Pressing a button on the desk, he says, "Bring a tech in here. I want to see for myself what this thing is." Switching off the comm before a reply is given, he turns to the impudent, if suddenly curious and useful, technodemon before him. "Stand, weakling, so that I may asses how useful you are to me." Volkov stands up, and faces forward. [Reminds me of the first time at University when I pledged to the fraternity.] Markoth inspects the NWO-turned-psuedo-technodemon with a slightly disapproving eye. "You're weapons are weak. See the pain master about getting upgrades to your gear. And do not fail me." "Yes, my lord Markoth." said Volkov, backing out of the room slowly before turning away. As he turns, a technodemon stops him. "Follow me." it says. Volkov followed the demon to a small room. Inside was a chair. The room smelled of oil, blood and dust. A bent old demon was bent even more over a table full of cyberware. Turning to the entering Volkov, the demon smiled. "Ah, a new recruit. Lord Markoth instructed me to take care of you. Seems your little gift to him was quite useful, and he is sending it away with a small unit to Thratchen in New Delhi. Have a seat." Volkov took a seat, and the strange technodemon smiled over him. "Now this is going to hurt a lot. But you'll get over it." Then the pain hit him full force, and he blacked out... He awoke much later, still in pain but reduced to a dull throb like a toothache. He looked down and realized that his arms and legs had been replaced with cyberware. He could feel a new strength that he didn't have before. With elation he jumped into the air, higher than normal, and landed with a thump on the cargo bay floor. He felt a strange weight on his shoulders and realized that his wings had also been replaced and the tail had been fitted with a spikeblade. A familiar voice sounded in his head. /Good work, my pet. These new devices fit you quite well, and give me ideas for some of my other minions. I trust the gift was accepted?/ /Yes, my lord. The fools actually believe that I am helping them./ [Just like you believe that I am helping you, motherless son.] said Volkov A chuckle came from the Nephandi master. /Excellent. Behold! The ultimate instrument in my plan./ Suddenly there was a bright red glow inside his quarters, and a dark, heart shaped orb appeared on the table. /Place this inside your new power cell. They didn't just replace your limbs. They also replaced many of your organs. Press the center of your chest./ Volkov did as he was told, and the chest panel opened up. There was a wince of pain, which was the Nephandi twisting the flesh part of him to accept the new part. /This is a fragment of a sliver of the Heart of The Wyrm. The great Wyrm bade me to give this to you as a gift. Use it in our name, and strike these interlopers from within. Then our plan will begin to unfold..../ /What plan, master?/ asked Volkov as he reached for the Heart. /Never mind, my pawn. Your part in this is about to come to fruition. Place the heart inside of you and marvel in its' dark beauty./ He placed the corrupted gem piece inside of him, feeling a deep stabbing pain that was almost unbearable. [This keeps up, I won't feel anything at all.] thought Volkov in the back of his still human mind. Then the pain ceased, and a new power flowed over him like a wash of dark rain. He slowly raised his arms up, and a glittering sphere of ice appeared in his right hand and a dark red sphere of fire appeared in his left. Then he did what any villian would do. He laughed... Meanwhile back on the transport, Romanov began to sweat....or would if he still had a meat body. The carbonite bonded on a molecular level, which made reversion impossible. Watching the power level meter inside the suit drop to minimum levels, he slowly began to fade out. #"This is final transmission. If there is anyone within range, please acknowledge and track carrier signal, Romanov...."# he said before blacking out, sending the piggybacked ping to the nearest receptor on his wavelength.. Back in the transport things were heating up when Ana got a 'ping' sound on her PDA. She flipped open the forearm panel and activated the display. A new set of coordinates and vector came in. "Great Mother." she said, while activating the comm. {Roland, I have a new telemetry fix on my uncle's location, including range and speed. I also have data suggesting that one of my uncle's old friends is aboard. Volkov is with Markoth and the crew.} TBC =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Confrontations Part Deux On Thu, 14 Apr 2005 03:38:02 -0400 Saint Dharma / Dr. Energy Said As CAoL Message # 00012507 >On Mon, 11 Apr 2005 18:49:31 -0700 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00012499 > > "Full throttle!" Roland snaps. > "Oh, sure, I _always_ drive like a tourist when the Legions of >Evil are trying to kill me!" Padme roars over her shoulder. The roar >of plasma cannons fills the air, Roland deflecting the first few with >his powers, but as the assault continues, the effort appears to take >its toll. And the flying fortress is slowly closing... Ana looked up from the video package her uncle sent before losing active ping, and saw data on the screen. Her processors fired up all at the same time, and sent another ping....this time to the ship. On the ship, Volkov felt a very familiar feeling wash over him. He was being scanned. Realizing who it was doing the scanning, he smiled, donned his gear and headed out with the boarding party. Ana stole a glance over her shoulder while she hurried to the rear. Seeing the strain that the deflection was taking on Roland, she sent /*"Friend Roland, I will deal with the guns."*/. With a leap and a roar of jets from her boots, the Platinum Princess reverts to metallic form, and heads straight for the fortress. A shimmer of light and air appears around her, and the laser bolts bounce harmlessly off her as she makes a beeline for the first set of heavy guns. Landing on the side of the deck, she activates the Gravatonic Agitators in her boots and clings to the side like a spider. Taking one of the guns in her dainty platinum hands, she grips the barrel. The barrel slightly crumples and shorts out as the crushing grip twists, then wrenches the blaster right out of its' mount. Volkov hears the sound of alarm as several stormtroopers converge on a single area. He growls a challenge and most of the troopers clear out. One remains and says, "We've tried everything, but we can't seem to stop her." pointing to the Platinum ruby-haired Princess. "Not everything." said Volkov ominously. He raised both his hands and twin spheres of ice and dark fire appear, then merge into one blue and blood red ball. He rears back for the windup and the pitch... OOC: If anyone has a clear shot or wants to play with Volkov, feel free to do so. Otherwise....mwah ha ha ha ha.> =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Confrontations On Thu, 14 Apr 2005 15:45:02 -0700 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00012508 >On Mon, 11 Apr 2005 18:49:31 -0700 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00012499 > > With that, a dark explosion reverberates behind the group, waves >of force (and Force) emanating from a sphere of impenetrable >blackness. When the dark sphere vanishes, its passing reveals a >flying ship similar to Jabba's floating palace-cum-fortress chasing >the heroes, Markoth standing arrogantly (albeit, admittedly, >rakishly) at its bow. > "Is this enough of a souvenir for you, purveyor of frozen magics? >AH-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!" Markoth howls with glee. "Boy, when I make an ass out of you and me," mutters the Bard, "I don't mess around, do I?" Raising his voice slightly, he calls, "sorry about that, Roland, I thought the geas I slapped on him would keep him occupied longer. Give me a minute or three and I think I can at least slow him down." With that, he rumages through his pockets, grins, and vanishes, only to reappear next to Markoth...sort of. He keeps popping in and out within a 5 meter radius saying "over here! No, over here! No..." Occasionally he even shows up in two places at once. > "Frozen magics?" Roland mutters. "What is he _on?_ Don't answer >that," > "Full throttle!" Roland snaps. > "Oh, sure, I _always_ drive like a tourist when the Legions of >Evil are trying to kill me!" Padme roars over her shoulder. The roar >of plasma cannons fills the air, Roland deflecting the first few with >his powers, but as the assault continues, the effort appears to take >its toll. And the flying fortress is slowly closing... --Harlock, Bard Extraordinaire-- mka Rick Bagnall =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Confrontations On Sat, 16 Apr 2005 18:54:55 -0700 Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00012510 >Saint Dharma / Dr. Energy Said As CAoL Message # 00012504 > >Back in the transport things were heating up when Ana got a 'ping' >sound on her PDA. She flipped open the forearm panel and activated >the display. A new set of coordinates and vector came in. "Great >Mother." she said, while activating the comm. {Roland, I have a new >telemetry fix on my uncle's location, including range and speed. I >also have data suggesting that one of my uncle's old friends is >aboard. Volkov is with Markoth and the crew.} /*#"Roland, Anna, I sense that Dr. Energy is in serious trouble. Do you want me to augment his resources?"#*/ Aurora asks. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Confrontations On Sun, 17 Apr 2005 02:37:23 -0400 Dr. Energy Said As CAoL Message # 00012511 >On Sat, 16 Apr 2005 18:54:55 -0700 >Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00012510 > >/*#"Roland, Anna, I sense that Dr. Energy is in serious trouble. Do >you want me to augment his resources?"#*/ Aurora asks. #"Da, I believe that would be most welcome given the circumstances of my uncle's position. Any power you can spare to him will be..ARRRGH!"#, said Anna as a ball of blue and red energy struck her full force. Fortunately, her Gravitonic Agitators held her in place on the hull of the fortress, but after checking the HUD behind her eyes, she realized that the blast had reduced the effectiveness of the rear shields to 25%. [I think it is time for a change in tactics.] Not bothering to see who threw the energy ball, she hurled the laser cannon onto the deck knocking over a cadre of stormtroopers who were peppering her sides with blaster bolts. #"Amplify front deflectors."#, she said to the macro AI controlling her shield generator. #"Affirmative."# said the AI controller. With a grace unseen since Fred Astaire first danced his way onto the silver screen, she disengaged the agitators and rocketed up into the air, sailing over the heads of several stormtroopers sent to dispatch the Platinum Princess while performing a triple somersault. She landed like a cat on the metal deck of the fortress, and saw a horrific sight. Looming over her in the darkness was a technodemon she had never seen before. Its' arms and wings glistened like oiled metal, and its' smile was just as lethal as the cyberweapons that her initial scans picked up. Her scans also detected something else odd. "Well, you are definitely not a meat sack off the rack, to be sure," said the Platinum Princess. "Why don't you make it easy on yourself, and surrender?" "Funny," said the demon in a voice that was familiar yet alien, "I was just about to say the same to you. Your uncle shall suffer greatly, but not as greatly as you are about to." Anna realized with horror that the initial scans on the fortress were incorrect. "No..It cannot be," she said quietly, "YOU!" she spat at the thing that was currently her and her uncles' greatest foe. He grinned a shark-tooth smile, complete with rows of shark-like teeth and said, "In the flesh, as it were. With enhancements," he said as he whipped around to slash her with the tail spur. She moved to dodge, but not fast enough, as the wicked blade slashed her upper arm. A tear in the metal revealed circuitry underneath, rendering her deflectors useless. The cyberdemon Volkov followed through with a tackle to her mid-section that would flatten a Mack truck. Both demon and princess bowled a team of troopers making their way onto the deck, scattering them like nine pins. Using the point of her elbow, Anna drove it into the soft flesh between the wings of Volkov. He grunted and relaxed his grip on her, which allowed Anna to bring her knee up and smash him in the face, breaking some of his teeth. The effect made him look even more menacing as his grin became a frozen grimace of rage. He staggered back while spitting out a few of his teeth, then with a quick turn of a wrist revealed a glowing red whip in his right hand. She assumed a defensive stance, and waited for the strike. She watched in slow motion as the whip snaked over Volkovs' head. It was a mistake, because in his left hand an ice blue chain suddenly appeared and whipped around the Platinum Princess' neck like a cold steel python. Volkov smiled and thought, ["Now I have her and her beloved uncle."] as he turned his left hand palm out and the glowing blue chain reeled her in like an ice angler reeling in a fish. The whip in his right hand turned into a glowing red spike, and he moved to impale the Platinum Princess. OOC: Now is the time for all good men, women and otherwise to come to the aid of their comrades in arms. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Confrontations On Sun, 17 Apr 2005 12:02:24 -0700 Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00012512 >Dr. Energy Said As CAoL Message # 00012511 > >>Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00012510 >> >>/*#"Roland, Anna, I sense that Dr. Energy is in serious trouble. Do >>you want me to augment his resources?"#*/ Aurora asks. > >#"Da, I believe that would be most welcome given the circumstances of >my uncle's position. Any power you can spare to him will >be..ARRRGH!"#, said Anna as a ball of blue and red energy struck her >full force. As Anna is attacked, Aurora contacts her uncle. /*"Doctor Energy, this is Aurora, I am going to help you, as much as I can. I would free you, but that would set in motion a chain of events that would be... bad. The most I can do without making matters worse, is to augment your energy reserves. Do not concern yourself for the amount of energy it takes. You could not POSSIBLY need enough to cause me discomfort. I will continue to support you until you are freed. Then we shall see if I can do more for you."*/ She tells him as she renews his energy reserves. /*"If you need to communicate, I will be listening. You are NOT alone."*/ =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Confrontations On Thu, 21 Apr 2005 04:20:58 -0400 Dr. Energy Said As CAoL Message # 00012519 >On Sun, 17 Apr 2005 12:02:24 -0700 >Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00012512 > >As Anna is attacked, Aurora contacts her uncle. /*"Doctor Energy, >this is Aurora, I am going to help you, as much as I can. I would >free you, but that would set in motion a chain of events that would >be... bad. The most I can do without making matters worse, is to >augment your energy reserves. Do not concern yourself for the amount >of energy it takes. You could not POSSIBLY need enough to cause me >discomfort. I will continue to support you until you are freed. Then >we shall see if I can do more for you."*/ She tells him as she renews >his energy reserves. /*"If you need to communicate, I will be >listening. You are NOT alone."*/ Romanov did not know where he was. All around him was an inky blackness, impermeable and incalculable. His last memory before he ended up in this place of eternal night was his imprisonment in the tomb of carbonite and the laughter of Evil Forces. Far off in the distance, he could hear a faint voice, light and airy as if spoken by the angels themselves. Though he never held much of their beliefs, he always had the deepest respect for what the Celestial Chorus did for the common people of his beloved homeland, albeit under the watchful eyes of the Russian Orthodoxy. His disembodied thoughts gained cohesion as his eyes say a pinpoint of light far in the distance. The unseen voice became louder, as if the sound itself strengthened him. With his newfound strength, he willed himself to go towards the light. As he got closer to the point of light (which was glittering as if powered by the light of 10,000 suns) he felt a new surge of energy. Inside the frozen suit of armor, a lowly Imperial tech took readings constantly, under orders from the Emperor himself. "Storm Knights are all scum if you ask me," he said to statue. "Were it not for my orders to see that you are transported to the Imperial Palace unharmed, I would prefer you be launched into the nearest star rather than trouble us again." With a sigh of resignation, the tech continued to monitor the energy readings from within the statue. What he saw sent him into a fit of apoplectic surprise. His data pad showed a steady reading, a low but powerful carrier wave of some previously unknown energy source. Suddenly, and without warning, the wave grew exponentially to unheard of proportions. Acting quickly, he activated his commlink. "This is GK-481 to Control, over." "Control here, what's the call sign?" "Call sign is Alpha Beta Gamma Niner. Repeat, Alpha Beta Gamma Niner. There is a Situation requiring senior techs and possibly the Officer on Duty for further instructions. The statue is emitting strange readings." "Call sign is Confirmed, GK-481. We are sending Senior Technician Sullis and Lieutenant Commander Farant to assist. Control out." Switching off the comm in disgust, the tech (whose name was Samarqand, a hold over from the days before his transformation) swore under his breath. "A legitimate emergency, and now they send that toady Sullis to 'assist'. Sullis wouldn't know his arse from a black hole, but because he's a Pure Imperial and a bootlicker besides, he has the cushy job." Meanwhile, the point of light was growing brighter and increasing in size. Romanov could hear the voice of Aurora, playing on the data loop that the suit recorded. Suddenly, there was a bright flash from the point of light, which had grown to the size of a small china plate. Romanov rubbed his eyes, and realized that for the first time since his capture, he had a body. He was still hiding inside the storage unit built into his suit, but now he could see readouts of the suit in front of him. While he was not at full strength, he uttered a prayer of thanks to the gods that had delivered him from the darkness. A quick check of the communications systems revealed that he would be unable to send any messages to Ana or the others. Sensing that could communicate with the being known as Aurora, he said, /*"I thank you, friend Aurora. I am sensing that the Imperials are taking constant readings of my energy signature to figure out what kind of energy it is and how best to use it. My reserves are at 75% and rising, which will be sufficient to maintain all systems and my own consciousness, which may prove useful to our mutual friends. Please inform friend Roland that if the Imperials are taking me to the Emperor's Palace, I will activate a passive scan using a subspace frequency on any security measures in place and any weaknesses that I find there. In addition, tell Ana that I am safe, although shaken up and to be wary of Volkov. He has."*/, he paused for a moment as he accessed his data logs on Volkov's new abilities, /*".formidable abilities at his disposal. Also, warn Roland to be wary of him as well. He is tainted with the blood of the Nephandi, and as such is corrupted entirely."/* Outside the statue, two techs and an officer were checking the new data pouring in from the statue analysis. "As you can see, sir," said Samarqand, "there was a spike in the energy matrix output within the statue. Here, "he said pointing to a spike in the graph "is where the energy surged. What this means, I cannot tell without a more thorough examination in a real lab." Senior Tech Sullis nodded in agreement. The officer spoke after a moment of thought, "You have done well to bring this to our attention. I will notify The Emperor at once. Prepare the subject for transport to the cargo bay. Your services will no longer be required here, as I have submitted your name for a promotion and the Admiralty has approved it. You are to report to the Re-Education center run by our demonic friends where you will be trained in a new field," said the officer just before he and Sullis turned on their heels and marched out the door. Once outside the door, Sullis and Farant smiled knowing smiles. The lowly tech was about to receive a promotion, true enough, but the likelihood of his survival was the same as a snowball surviving being dropped into a fusion reactor.. Samarqand grimaced as he packed his gear up. The grimace turned to a grin of remembrance as he pulled out his data pad. ["It was a good thing I got good readings off this specimen. It is a shame that it will be lost in the explosion, but better to die than to be promoted to a technodemon grunt."] Even though he was a transformed Imperial, he was still a Muslim and the thought of the transformation into a demon sickened him to the Core. Acting quickly before the lowly workers arrived to take the statue into the cargo hold, he placed a small device inside the hoverpad that the statue rested on, then strapped another device around his mid-section. Using the data pad, he keyed in a series of commands. Had anyone been looking over his shoulder at that moment, they would have locked him away to face execution. The pad was a deadman switch. Romanov felt a strange sensation outside of himself. Activating his passive sensors, he linked into the datapad that the tech had been using. ["Amazing,"] thought Doc Energy as his self-awareness stretched to the data pad, [how they have such advanced technology, yet are so easy to bypass given the right amount of pressure."] Suddenly his awareness fell on the deadman switch that the tech activated. ["That's interesting. It probably would have worked if I were just a statue with a strange energy source. It's too bad for him that's not the case."] Flexing his 'muscles', Doc switched the polarizing charges on the explosives tied to the deadman switch, rendering both inert. Samarqand began to perspire as he was marched from his quarters where he had removed his tech uniform and put on a grey jumpsuit marking his promotion. Whether it was from the two technodemon guards flanking him or the fact that he had a bomb strapped to his waist, he couldn't say. But he clutched the data pad as if his very life depended on it. The two foot soldiers marched him down the hall into the bridge of the cargo ship. As he entered, he saw the familiar sight of the Imperial Palace in New Delhi on the viewscreen. A slight clearing of the throat turned his attention to the smug face of the Senior Tech. Steeling his nerves, he pressed a button to activate the deadman switch and handed Sullis the pad. Realizing that his plan had failed (since he was still alive and not in Heaven), he began to perspire in larger quantities. Sullis scowled as he looked the pad over. "What is this, tech? Some kind of joke??? Where is the data that you promised??" he growled at the increasingly fidgety techie. The techie stammered out an answer, "I t-thought you might want an update so I s-scanned the statue for further data, and somehow the existing data got wiped out." Farant smiled, realizing that the traitor made a critical error. "It is of no consequence. You are going to get your promotion, but I doubt you will live long to enjoy it. Guards, take him to the brig where he is to remain until the Pain Master calls for him." Samarqand screamed in pain as the two guards zapped him with painsticks before hauling his unconscious body away. "Sir," said a radio-tech, "Imperial Palace requests status of transport and cargo. Clearance has been given to land in docking bay twenty-three." "Acknowledged, Imperial Palace. Cargo is secured, and we are starting the docking procedures at this moment. Helmsman, take us home." "Aye-aye, sir." said the helmsman as he began the final approach to the palace. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Confrontations On Thu, 21 Apr 2005 18:20:09 -0700 Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00012520 >Dr. Energy Said As CAoL Message # 00012519 >Sensing that could communicate with the being known as Aurora, he >said, /*"I thank you, friend Aurora. I am sensing that the Imperials >are taking constant readings of my energy signature to figure out >what kind of energy it is and how best to use it. My reserves are at >75% and rising, which will be sufficient to maintain all systems and >my own consciousness, which may prove useful to our mutual friends. >Please inform friend Roland that if the Imperials are taking me to >the Emperor's Palace, I will activate a passive scan using a subspace >frequency on any security measures in place and any weaknesses that I >find there. In addition, tell Ana that I am safe, although shaken up >and to be wary of Volkov. He has."*/, he paused for a moment as he >accessed his data logs on Volkov's new abilities, /*".formidable >abilities at his disposal. Also, warn Roland to be wary of him as >well. He is tainted with the blood of the Nephandi, and as such is >corrupted entirely."/* /*"Roland, I have a message for you from Dr. Energy. {}"*/ Aurora informs the leader of the CAoL. As she 'plays back' Dr. Energy's missive, she contacts Anna. /*"Anna, your uncle wishes you to know he is safe. I will 'play back' his message for you. {}"*/ /*"I will continue to monitor him for any further messages."*/ She tells both. =========================== Subject: AAE9s: The Empire Strikes Out On Thu, 21 Apr 2005 20:28:23 -0700 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00012521 >On Thu, 14 Apr 2005 03:35:50 -0400 >Dr. Energy Said As CAoL Message # 00012506 > >Volkov stands up, and faces forward. [Reminds me of the first time at >University when I pledged to the fraternity.] Markoth inspects the >NWO-turned-psuedo-technodemon with a slightly disapproving eye. >"You're weapons are weak. See the pain master about getting upgrades >to your gear. And do not fail me." [Such pliant creatures,] Markoth thinks with glee. [Aside from the great Princes, of course, but such is the way of all demon-kind. Still, their hierarchy of dominance and submission is exquisite. I wonder how many of them even realize that my only loyalty is to myself...] >Meanwhile back on the transport, Romanov began to sweat....or would >if he still had a meat body. The carbonite bonded on a molecular >level, which made reversion impossible. Watching the power level >meter inside the suit drop to minimum levels, he slowly began to fade >out. #"This is final transmission. If there is anyone within range, >please acknowledge and track carrier signal, Romanov...."# he said >before blacking out, sending the piggybacked ping to the nearest >receptor on his wavelength.. > >Back in the transport things were heating up when Ana got a 'ping' >sound on her PDA. She flipped open the forearm panel and activated >the display. A new set of coordinates and vector came in. "Great >Mother." she said, while activating the comm. {Roland, I have a new >telemetry fix on my uncle's location, including range and speed. I >also have data suggesting that one of my uncle's old friends is >aboard. Volkov is with Markoth and the crew.} With uncharacteristic cleverness, the barge crew conceals the launch of the skiff by turning the body of the larger vessel to conceal the departure of the smaller. To Roland's psychic senses, however, the ploy is all but useless. *"Wonderful,"* he mutters. *"Okay, I think I've got the bare bones of a plan forming...but for now, we keep running."* >On Thu, 14 Apr 2005 15:45:02 -0700 >Harlock Said As CAoL Message # 00012508 > >>On Mon, 11 Apr 2005 18:49:31 -0700 >>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00012499 >> >> With that, a dark explosion reverberates behind the group, waves >>of force (and Force) emanating from a sphere of impenetrable >>blackness. When the dark sphere vanishes, its passing reveals a >>flying ship similar to Jabba's floating palace-cum-fortress chasing >>the heroes, Markoth standing arrogantly (albeit, admittedly, >>rakishly) at its bow. >> "Is this enough of a souvenir for you, purveyor of frozen magics? >>AH-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!" Markoth howls with glee. > >"Boy, when I make an ass out of you and me," mutters the Bard, "I >don't mess around, do I?" Raising his voice slightly, he calls, >"sorry about that, Roland, I thought the geas I slapped on him would >keep him occupied longer. Give me a minute or three and I think I can >at least slow him down." "Don't feel bad," Roland replies, grimacing at the giant air-barge, eyes crackling. (Most of the CAoL knows what that means... ;^) "Markoth is smarter than he looks. Not hard, I know, but he really can be quite clever when he gets past the towering ego and sadism." >With that, he rumages through his pockets, grins, and vanishes, only >to reappear next to Markoth...sort of. He keeps popping in and out >within a 5 meter radius saying "over here! No, over here! No..." >Occasionally he even shows up in two places at once. Markoth blasts the first one reflexively, then frowns as he misses. In amazingly rapid succession he: a) throws up a protective field around himself (vs. force, mind and curses), b) dispels all magickal illusions, c) disrupts all electronic activity within the aforementioned radius, d) polarizes the light in the same area, which instantly 'disintegrates' any holograms, and finally e) if that really _is_ Harlock, he better make one heck of a saving throw, because otherwise he starts growing ugly wart-like protrusions, which (if left unchecked for more than a few minutes) will become ugly _tentacles_ which will proceed to attempt to strangle him. If _that_ doesn't work, Markoth starts getting NASTY. >> "Frozen magics?" Roland mutters. "What is he _on?_ Don't answer >>that," > > OOC: Well, Markoth's magic is freeform. Like a lot of similar wizards and sorcerers (though definitely not all -- c.f. Morgan) on Earth-9 with such powers, he has something of a superiority complex about it. Folx who cast prepared spells or one-purpose rituals, like most D&D style wizards, are 'beneath' them. Of course, those selfsame freeform magics are less predictable -- comes with the territory... >On Sat, 16 Apr 2005 18:54:55 -0700 >Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00012510 > >/*#"Roland, Anna, I sense that Dr. Energy is in serious trouble. Do >you want me to augment his resources?"#*/ Aurora asks. /Unless he's conscious AND objects, nass yes,/ Roland replies emphatically. Finally... >On Sun, 17 Apr 2005 02:37:23 -0400 >Saint Dharma As CAoL Message # 00012511 > >The cyberdemon Volkov followed through with a tackle to her >mid-section that would flatten a Mack truck. Both demon and princess >bowled a team of troopers making their way onto the deck, scattering >them like nine pins. Using the point of her elbow, Anna drove it into >the soft flesh between the wings of Volkov. He grunted and relaxed >his grip on her, which allowed Anna to bring her knee up and smash >him in the face, breaking some of his teeth. The effect made him look >even more menacing as his grin became a frozen grimace of rage. He >staggered back while spitting out a few of his teeth, then with a >quick turn of a wrist revealed a glowing red whip in his right hand. >She assumed a defensive stance, and waited for the strike. She >watched in slow motion as the whip snaked over Volkovs' head. It was >a mistake, because in his left hand an ice blue chain suddenly >appeared and whipped around the Platinum Princess' neck like a cold >steel python. "Great Scott," Roland blurts, rather amazingly like a hero of his. >Volkov smiled and thought, ["Now I have her and her beloved uncle."] >as he turned his left hand palm out and the glowing blue chain reeled >her in like an ice angler reeling in a fish. The whip in his right >hand turned into a glowing red spike, and he moved to impale the >Platinum Princess. ^Morgan, you know what to do,^ Roland sends, then leaps a tall mast in a single bound, landing next to Volkov and sending a surge of power through the pseudo-techno-demon's massive amount of cybernetics. This was not nearly as successful as his usual attempts, nor as he would have liked, but given the electronic _and_ magical defenses in Tharkoldu Spellware, the spasms and distraction are about what he expected. "So," Volkov hisses delightedly, to Roland's annoyance. "You are the legendary Defender. I have always wanted to test my skill against yours." "It's not like you can miss our island," the 'captain' notes dryly. "Your power was too great," Volkov admits freely. "Here and now, however..." With that, the Icedemon throws out its brutal metallic hand. A wave of numbing cold blasts forth, followed by a sheet of ice interwoven with some sort of filaments glowing..._wrong_ly. Markoth, meanwhile, smiles more coldly than the Icedemon's attack. "Defender Defender _Defender._ You know better than that." He gestures and brutalizes some defenseless language. An instant later, he screams in pain and fury as his flesh begins to bubble and flow like slowly melting gelatin. "No no no no NO!" He gestures again, as best he can, and snarls in _several_ langauges, and while Roland's battle with Volkov progresses Markoth manages to rather literally pull himself together, bursts of burning light popping the most recalcitrant boils. He glares at Morgan hatefully. "A Mirror Force sphere. I _hate_ it when you do that." Morgan returns the gaze coldly. "Then don't attack my teammates." Markoth considers this briefly. "Fair enough." They blast at one another simultaneously... Back towards the center of the barge, Roland and Volkov are ignoring a barrage of blaster fire as lightsaber clashes with Minbari pike and a pyrokinetic wave challenges the wall of icy death threatening to overwhelm the hero. "HA ha ha ha ha! Is this the best 'The World's Mightiest Hero' can do?" Volkov's glee dies a swift and merciless death at the sight of Roland smiling back at him. "Volkov, why am I here?" He asks. "To face me," the Icedemon replies, only the slightest touch of uncertainty leaking into his voice. "EEHHHTT! _Wrong_ answer!" the Eternal replies wickedly, blasting lightning into the cyborg's enhanced eyes and ears. As Volkov screams in pain, sensory deprivation and frustration, Roland scoops up Ana in a telekinetic wave and explodes back towards the heroes' speeder. Half a second later the barge's engines tear themselves out of their moorings. Roland chuckles as the barge rapidly falls back, with Markoth forced to channel what little concentration he can afford into keeping the barge from crashing into the ground (which would not threaten any civilians, as they have long since left behind civilization). "Don't forget to write!" Roland laughs with a wave. "@#%$&@* you, Defender! You haven't seen the last of ME!" Markoth roars as the barge slowly sinks. "More's the pity," Morgan mutters disdainfully. Roland, uncharacteristically, laughs. "I'll worry more about Markoth when he gets better writers." He turns to Padme, moving carefully around the protective Anakin. "How are we doing?" "37 minutes to rendezvous," Padme replies. "Excellent. Take five, everybody," Roland sighs. *"Except if someone can get a fix on our strays, I'd appreciate it."* =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: The Empire Strikes Out On Fri, 22 Apr 2005 01:03:21 -0700 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00012522 >On Thu, 21 Apr 2005 20:28:23 -0700 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00012521 > >>With that, [Harlock] rumages through his pockets, grins, and >>vanishes, only to reappear next to Markoth...sort of. He keeps >>popping in and out within a 5 meter radius saying "over here! No, >>over here! No..." Occasionally he even shows up in two places at >>once. > > Markoth blasts the first one reflexively, then frowns as he >misses. In amazingly rapid succession he: > a) throws up a protective field around himself (vs. force, mind >and curses), > b) dispels all magickal illusions, > c) disrupts all electronic activity within the aforementioned >radius, > d) polarizes the light in the same area, which instantly >'disintegrates' any holograms, and finally > e) if that really _is_ Harlock, he better make one heck of a >saving throw, because otherwise he starts growing ugly wart-like >protrusions, which (if left unchecked for more than a few minutes) >will become ugly _tentacles_ which will proceed to attempt to >strangle him. If _that_ doesn't work, Markoth starts getting NASTY. Since the images in question were, in fact, holograms, part 'd' is the winner. The real Bard took advantage of Markoth's oh-so-momentary distraction to slip invisibly below decks. Realizing his tendency to broadcast when "teep"ing, he simply lets a message sit in his surface thoughts for his comrades in arms to read if they wish. [Don't worry, that wasn't me. I'll be back in a few minutes, I'm sure.] > Roland chuckles as the barge rapidly falls back, with Markoth >forced to channel what little concentration he can afford into >keeping the barge from crashing into the ground (which would not >threaten any civilians, as they have long since left behind >civilization). > "Don't forget to write!" Roland laughs with a wave. > "@#%$&@* you, Defender! You haven't seen the last of ME!" Markoth >roars as the barge slowly sinks. At that point Harlock pops into view on the deck of the sail-barge again...sort of. This time, he's obviously transparent. "You know, Mark," he says as Markoth vaporizes the image and another one pops up behind him. "Can I call you Mark? I just thought I should warn you that I planted a plasma mine down in engineering ." Markoth feels the pressure of magic against his mind as the Bard continues. "You ought to abandon ship ." >"More's the pity," Morgan mutters disdainfully. > > Roland, uncharacteristically, laughs. "I'll worry more about >Markoth when he gets better writers." He turns to Padme, moving >carefully around the protective Anakin. "How are we doing?" > "37 minutes to rendezvous," Padme replies. > "Excellent. Take five, everybody," Roland sighs. *"Except if >someone can get a fix on our strays, I'd appreciate it."* Harlock's voice sounds out of thin air. "That would be Rob and Doctor Energy, yes?" He fades into view, grinning and staring intently at his chrono. A split second after he nods sharply, the party hears a loud *WHOOMPH* behind them. "Gee," he says with mock innocence, "I hope Markoth didn't ignore my advice just because I put a little magic into it." =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: The Empire Strikes Out On Fri, 22 Apr 2005 09:46:57 -0700 (PDT) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00012523 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00012521 > > Roland, uncharacteristically, laughs. "I'll worry more about >Markoth when he gets better writers." He turns to Padme, moving >carefully around the protective Anakin. "How are we doing?" > "37 minutes to rendezvous," Padme replies. > "Excellent. Take five, everybody," Roland sighs. *"Except if >someone can get a fix on our strays, I'd appreciate it."* In the streets below, a swoop skids around a turn, wobbles a bit, takes out the canopy on a fruit stand, and continues in a straight line down the wrong side of the street. [It's like driving a unicycle with a racing engine,] Rob decides as he boosts power to the repulsors to jump over a landspeeder. [And jump jets.] He tries to change lanes to be on the correct side of the street, and ends up over-correcting. The resulting chaos includes two overturned trash cans, a sand-covered Jawa, and a landspeeder that crashes into a building trying to dodge. Checking his mental map, he concludes that he only needs to make two more turns to get to the safe house. [On the other hand, I'm leaving a really obvious trail...] Then the engine from Markoth's ship lands in the street in front of him. [Okay, not that obvious,] he concludes. After that, it's a little busy; Evel Knievel would have taken this in stride, but he isn't driving. A fair amount of hang time, two dented roofs, and a garbage hauler later, Rob gets out, brushes off a fruit rind, and continues on foot. /Roland, I think I'll be there in about ninety minutes. And I'm going to need a shower./ =========================== Subject: AAE9s: At the Rebel Hideaway On Fri, 22 Apr 2005 11:00:07 -0700 (PDT) Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00012524 "Well, I see your two liters of Darcovian whiskey, and raise you three Landrovian orbs." Her inhuman, blanket-veiled opponent breaks out in irate squeals and beeps through the translation device, to which her only answer is a sad shaking of her head. "Look, if you haven't got the goods, don't try playing with the heavy hitters, Y-shemolth." The other stands, bellowing something incoherent, but even as the other four aliens begin to rise, there is the bark of a blaster bolt, as a singed hole appears in the table. A large Wookie roars back, and the other four decide to take their wounded companion out. Captain Zia Solo calmly pulls in her winnings. "Another hand? I've got time." She offers, to those remaining at the small table, even as the hole smokes. ===========================