Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 9: Star Wars / Space Opera Chapter 9 Subject: Re: AAE9s: Fleeing The Empire's Tyranny... On Sat, 8 Oct 2005 07:24:14 -0400 Dr. Energy Said As CAoL Message # 00012705 >On Sun, 11 Sep 2005 23:45:09 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012650 > >>On Sun, 4 Sep 2005 06:02:35 -0400 >>Dr. Energy Said As CAoL Message # 00012642 >> >>With a mighty heave, she snapped both wrists back and the tailless >>demon screamed as it went flying into the path of the other two, >>knocking the first one out and bouncing into the jet wings of the >>second, causing all of them to tumble helplessly into the jungle >>below. She stares down at the cybertail weapon. >>[I could use this. It would make things easier...] she shuddered and >>dismissed the thought as she tossed the tail away. {Thanks for the >>lift, Flash. Mind if I come in? The wind is doing nothing for my >>hair.} > > {Aw, I don't know, the windswept look kind of works for you,} >Flash quips, though the cockpit begins opening before he's halfway >through the sentence. "Whoa!" he gasps as the wind buffets him. "Some >kinda turbulence they've got in this world! {Hey _Zarkov,_ you want >to warn me next time I'm going to be dealing with different >physics?}" > {Next time, _study,_} Zarkov responds dryly. > "{Gee, thanks!}" Flash responds wryly. "Uh-oh," he adds, noticing >that there are a _lot_ of TIE fighters in the air. "That's gonna be a >problem..." > They start exploding around him. A few seconds later, an X-Wing >roars past, a blue-and-white domed R2 unit squealing wildly as they >go by. > "{Nice shooting, kid!}" Flash exults, giving Luke a thumbs-up as >he takes aim himself. > {Yeah, but we've got to get out of here! As soon as the transports >are clear and your cyborg friend is safely aboard, follow me and >Wedge! We'll get you to the extraction point.} > "{Copy that,}" Flash grins. Switching frequencies, he adds, "{Hey >Dale, with Ana along, how many princesses does that make--}" > {Don't you dare,} Dale replies coolly. [Men.] Ana laughs, which is all the more effective since she can be heard over the roaring wind. Remembering a recital on the German airship in 1936 (which was a good cover for something else at the time), she had the great misfortune of starting her performance just as the engines kicked up to make a turn. Those that were there remember "The Maiden Who Outsang The Hindenburg" though the German officers traveling to their posts would never admit that. Shaking her head to break from the reverie, she flashes a grin as she locks eyes on the aforementioned Gordon, who is now resplendently disheveled thanks to the wind. "Your right, Flash, the wind swept look is definitely you," she quips while shifting her appearance into the ever present khaki shorts, shirt and hiking boots; the only sign of her latest upgrades are the four sabers clipped to her Sam Browne belt. Her hair twitches like reeds in the wind before arranging into a functional red braid. "Much better," she says absently as she gracefully sits at the co-pilots seat. No sooner had she taken the seat when a call came out on the comm system, {Mayday, Mayday! Transport 'Firefly' taking heavy ground and air fire. Unable to unlock docking clamps. Request assistance! Repeat...} squawked the box in the center of the console. Ana pulled the external view of the Zarkov One the cambot she set in orbit around the ship. The 'bot turned towards the signal source and could see the tell-tale green bolts of withering Imperial fire on the anchored transport. Turning her head toward the rear where Hans was sitting, she shouted "Uncle Hans, did you install those upgrade modules I sent you last year for Yule?" Zarkov gleefully replied, "Yes, my dear. They were quite interesting, but I couldn't determined what they were for." Ana grinned impishly as a cable snaked out of her left bicep to attach to the port near the co-pilots chair. #Load Air Support program.# she sent to the modules she had given Zarkov. #Program Loaded. Execute?# was the reply in her internal HUD. The cursor blinked impatiently. Ana turned her head towards Flash, who had since regained his composure and regained the controls. "Friend Gordon, I must ask that you join Ms. Evans in back. You will be needed momentarily. On the way in, tell Uncle Hans to buckle up and you and Dale do the same once you get to the chairs." "The chairs," asked Flash in a slightly confused tone, "what chairs?" "You'll see," she said simply, "because I fully intend to misbehave." Flash shrugged and made his way to the back calling for Dale. Turning her attention to the problem, she tapped into the pilot control systems, routing the primary controls to her station. #Execute?# #Execute.# The hull of the ship began to ripple like a metallic wave. The effect was like dropping a stone into the hull as though it were made of quicksilver, with the center points amidships on either side. Amidst the waves, arcs of current played across the center points, until finally forming what looked like a Tesla coil mounted on the end of a swizzle stick on either side. Inside the ship, the flash was intense that both Dale and Flash had to cover their eyes. When they could see again, there were two magnificently built gunnery chairs, with cupholders and Corinthian leather seats. Flash whistled low, "That's something else. I wonder if it has fuzzy dice?" he quipped as he took his seat, though he jumped a little when the four point harness attached itself around him. Dale followed suit, and both heroes turned to the viewscreen giving them a target arc. Back in the cockpit, Ana smiled and said, {Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We will be experiencing slight turbulence and some explosions.} Using her link with the control systems on the ship, she could fly without her hands on the controls. With a flicker of thought, she activated the four point harness in her chair and turned a near-perfect Immelmann toward the transport. Immediately she was swarmed by large numbers of TIEs who had seen the ship turn and immediately set to attack. She dodged each one gracefully as they passed by, giving Dale and Flash ample aerial targets to knock out of the sky. "I am a leaf on the wind. Watch how I soar." she muttered as she opened the cockpit. The winds roared, which was only slightly louder than the TIE fire she was dodging in the process. Turning the ship upside down, she passed over the Hot Zone, the bolts from the ground Imps guns bouncing harmlessly off the shielded hull. Shifting her right arm to the projectile cannon, she fired two stun grenades into the Imperial fray who had conveniently clumped together between two empty cargo containers. There was a loud *KER-WHUMP!* as the stunners went off, sending Imps and Officers everywhere, with nothing but burst eardrums and broken limbs as they bounced off various surfaces. The Zarkov One righted herself just as she passed over the transport. {Zarkov One to Firefly, you are cleared for takeoff. Good luck and may the Force be with you.} The ship bucked a bit as incoming fire from the TIE Interceptors closing on their position. [Time to make an escape.] she thought as she turned the ship toward the quickly retreating Red One. {Zarkov One to Red-One, cargo is safe and secure. Maintaining following distance, and providing limited support for retreating air forces. Ana out.} she said before shifting her arm back to normal. > Luke nods. "Let's get everyone together, then. We've got to get >that plan worked out." > "Indeed," a smooth voice agrees, cutting off Leia's quip. Both >turn, startled, to see the man in purple walk up to them, 'light >saber' belted and wings absent. "Time is of the essence." Kratos >walks off. > "Are you..." Luke asks. > "I'm not used to it either, no," Leia agreed. After spotting the almost clearing where the X-Wing came to land, she heard the boot steps of Flash as he came forward to assume control of the ship. Setting the controls to autopilot before switching them back to the pilots' chair, she stood up and stretched just as Flash walked in. Grinning, he quipped, "Nice flying there, Ana, but next time warn somebody. Zarkov almost lost his lunch when you turned the ship upside down." She blushed at the semi-admonishment, "Sorry, Flash. You were wonderful, though." She hugged Gordon warmly, then gave him a peck on the cheek. As she walked toward the cargo bay, she did the same to both Dale and Hans, shaking Dale's hand firmly. "Good shooting, Dale. Uncle Hans, can you send this command code to BORIS-1? It's got the coordinates of my uncle's signal, should things get interesting. It's also got the coordinates of a transport pickup in Casablanca and drop off in Baghdad." Zarkov nodded grimly, "Yes, Ana. I will see that it is done." Ana nodded in return and smiled as she punched the button that opened the cargo bay doors. "Well, it's been fun but I must run. Say hello to Baren for me when you get back home, Flash." With that she leaps out the door, her grav boots glowing as she slowly descends to the jungle floor. Once she lands, she activates her skullphone and dials a number. {Mr. Nester. This is Ana Romanov of the Tsarina Transport. I am confirming Mr. Rollos' passage to Baghdad from Casablanca arriving momentarily. Inform Mr. Rollo that all needs will be met for the duration of the trip, and that he kindly refrain from assaulting the ServoBot again. Poor thing is still twitchy after the last time he flew with us.} {Sure thing, Miss Romanov,} said Nester, {though I can't guarantee he will go along with that.} {A few shots from the new Servobot's taser gun should take care of any complications.} she added in a tone slightly drier than the Sahara. {Understood,} said Nester just as the phone clicked off. Turning towards Luke and Leia just as Kratos walked off, Ana said, "I don't think I would get used to that either, my friends. Come, let us go and plan. We have many impossible things to prepare for." =========================== Subject: AAE9s: Turning Point On Mon, 17 Oct 2005 16:41:59 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012707 "What do we do now, Princess Organa?" an exhausted rebel asked. Leia forced herself not to linger over the question, or the soldier. "For now, we rest. You've done well, soldier." She patted him on the shoulder as firmly as she dared and returned to the transport that had spirited them away. It had been a narrow escape from Vader and that...that _creature_ that had taken a most unwholesome interest in her. Even for them. [I should be used to it by now,] she thought with wry humor. [Hell, compared to my time as Tarkin's 'guest,' that was almost refreshing in its honest, naked...ew. Don't think 'naked.'] Leia chuckled to herself. "Hey," Ani -- the man who became Darth Vader in their world -- said, waving to her jauntily. Suddenly, all the exhaustion and depression Leia felt came crashing down. [You know it's bad when the memory of being chained down and put in a metal bikini is a good distraction.] "Ani." For a good three seconds, Leia tried to bluff her way past the anti-Vader with a stoic face. She couldn't do it, collapsing against his chest and letting out gasping sighs. Ani's shocked, stunned expression only made it worse. [At least I'm not crying,] she thought bitterly. "I failed them," she said in choked breaths. "You--?!" Ani patted her on the shoulder desperately, looking around for support. Alas, Padme and Qui-Gon are tending to injured, and the other heroes are still disembarking from the last arriving ships. [Well,] he decides bravely, [when in doubt, bluff it out. At least that's what Obi-Wan says,] he thought with a fond grin. "Oh, come on, Princess, you're being too hard on yourself. I mean, you were up against _me._ An old, nasty, _ugly_ me, but still me." In spite of herself, Leia chuckled. "That _thing_ is not you, Ani. I can't imagine you being _less_ like him." Ani looked down at her, all attempts at humor vanished. "...Thanks." He pulled her up by the shoulders and looked her in the eyes. "And you didn't fail them. Most of them are alive, in the face of odds that would shock Yoda himself." "Who?" Leia asked blankly. "The wisest of the Jedi, according to the Council," Ani explained, "though I'd say my Master is his equal." "It doesn't matter." Leia sighed. "We lost the leaders of this world's resistance, our entire network's been compromised, and half the Empire is scouring this jungle looking for us." She shook her head. "I'm out of ideas, Master Ani." "Well, at least you've given me a promotion," he replied, returning to humor. Again, she chuckled. "I didn't know Jedi were allowed to have a sense of humor," Leia quipped. "Actually, that's one of the few things we _were_ allowed, even by the old ways," Ani retorted. "Good," she grinned deviously. "Now I have an excuse the next time Luke gets all grim and 'fate of the galaxy on my shoulders' on me." Ani laughed. "Oh no!" "Oh, yes," Leia agreed. "I liked him better as a farm boy with dreams of monster-slaying and princess-rescuing dancing in his head." Her smile turned wry again. "Then again, he's done both now." Ani suddenly felt very uncomfortable. "Um, Princess, speaking of you and Luke..." Leia sighed and shook her head. "Not you too. Look, I like Luke, a lot. I won't deny that there were...sparks, between us. Lately, though, he's felt more like a brother." She smiled distantly. "There _was_ that time on Mimban, but we don't talk about it much." Ani thought desperately. [I'll deal with that part later,] he decided. "Well," he said finally, "how do you expect to keep _him_ from being grim if you walk around looking like you lost your best friend?" Leia stared at him for a long moment, surprised. Ani wondered if he'd said the wrong thing (or somehow revealed too much to this Force-sensitive girl). Then she laughed and threw her arms around him again. "You're right. Besides, Vader doesn't stand a chance against you." "He doesn't?" Ani blurted. "No. You'll make him laugh himself to death." The pair laughed themselves to life. Soon thereafter. "All right. In the absence of the native leader, my responsibilities include finding a way to deal with the Emperor," Leia said firmly. Her voice was strong and even with a power she didn't really feel. "Though the situation may seem grim, we have advantages we've never had before." The princess smiled around at the many gifted heroes gathered for this war council. "My plan is, therefore, a simple one. Our higher-powered allies will mount what appears to be a suicidal assault on the Imperial dome. Obviously," she added wryly, "it's not meant to be suicidal. You will retreat the moment Vader arrives with his main forces. Hopefully, that will provide a sufficient distraction that, even knowing Palpatine will at least partly see us coming, the rest of us will be able to get in and deal with him once and for all." Leia's expression became grim. "I won't lie to you. This is an extremely dangerous plan. My one hope is that Palpatine won't expect something so straightforward. Nevertheless, we are outnumbered and outgunned, and time is on his side. The longer we wait, the more reinforcements he can bring from the entire galaxy he has at his disposal..." Leia trailed off as several people looked up, sentries scurrying about in alarm. While most scanners picked up nothing, a friendly IFF signal was approaching seemingly attached to...nothing. On the other hand, as a certain martial artist once noticed, the incoming character's invisibility was a very 'loud' sort of stealth to those with mystical or other finely-tuned senses. In moments, the scouts sent the word back to stand down, just as some underbrush went flying. A very familiar azure comet entered the clearing, quickly coming into focus and separating into a blue, gold and red superhero and Rogas' fellow gray Jedi. "So," Roland asked jauntily, "did we miss anything?" (Insert expressions of relief, and/or 'rooba-roobaing' as Spider would put it, here 8^) "So," Leia cut in as the greetings died down, "what happened with Thratchen?" "It died of a broken heart," Roland quipped. Morgan rolled her eyes. "It's also sort of..._un_dead, for the next twenty-four hours, but that's actually to our advantage, since there's about a million tons worth of Unobtanium citadel on top of it. No chance of comm, either." "I don't understand," Luke said. "How does that do us any good?" Roland grinned. "It submitted to me before it 'died.' That creates a powerful spiritual bond, whether Thratchen wants it to or not." Slowly, so as not to startle anyone, Roland began to change his shape. While not nearly as skilled at this as his wifely coach, the Eternal has some small facility in this regard, enhanced by the fluid armor and, in this case, the connection he cited. After about a minute, Roland was the spitting image of Thratchen (and for some, I imagine that 'spitting' is quite literal). Unlike his previous efforts at stealth, he is indistinguishable from Thratchen on every level save for those in actual mental contact. "I believe I can get us in quite handily." Once everyone is okay with Roland's transformation, Morgan follows suit, becoming a slightly smaller techno-demon than Roland/Thratchen. "Poor Roland," Roland explained, "just couldn't stand up to my power." His 'evil' chuckle is not quite convincing, but close enough that a bit of practice will have him ready by the time the team gets to the capital. "I killed his woman, and captured..." Roland looked around. "Well, we can work that out. I'm figuring a one prisoner to one techno-demon ratio, more or less, so a few others will have to be disguised as well." Leia grinned. "And once we're in..." Roland grinned back. The honest humor was rather disconcerting on Thratchen's face. "...we take Palpatine out." -- Evil GM-San "Aww. The bounce has gone from his bungee." -- Hutch, "Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit" =========================== Subject: AAE9s: Revenge of The Sith (Part II) On Sun, 23 Oct 2005 14:22:08 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012710 OOC note: This is wrap-up from the fight at the rebel base. >On Fri, 09 Sep 2005 15:57:53 -0700 >Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00012645 > >Dhyrclhanc, still in his massive humanoid polar-bear form, spins, >pivots, and weaves, all the while also dodging and evading his >opponent's attacks, and striking at his opponents with both of his >lightsabre weapons. He is not only successfully avoiding his >opponents' attacks, but is also successfully in making contact with >his opponents with his own strikes, which are unarguably spectacular. >However, once Thratchen *does* finally make its appearance, the Big >Guy's previously placid face instantly transforms into a malformed >rictus of outrage. > >"THRATCHEN!!!" > >"I'll have your heart!!! Or whatever effectively passes for it inside >that metal-plated chest of yours!!!" "I am shaking," Thratchen laughs, "in my implants." >So saying, he immediately reverses his grip on "Candlebright", now >holding onto it like a spear instead of a sword, and then casts it at >the Techno-Demon Lord's head. Which suddenly has Morgan's head interposed between the saber and its own. (No doubt occasioning Dhyrclhanc to redirect the saber; if not, Roland does it in spite of his rather ravaged state.) >Missing the Demon Lord's head by only 9 or 10 centimeters, the >"Candlebright" force-sword ends up embedded, up to the hilt, in the >rock wall that Thratchen was just passing in front of. > >As Thratchen makes his reply, "Candlebright", quite literally, >reverses the course it traveled, pulling itself out of the stone >wall, and flying directly back to Dhyrclhanc's hands, in as straight >a line path as possible on the battlefield. "You seem eager for a fight," Thratchen notes, snapping its fingers. On cue, a phalanx of six techno-demons, led by a menacing (even by CAoL standards) Demon Lord, appear. The Demon Lord is bizarre-looking even by Tharkoldu standards, looking more like a velociraptor's idea of a horrific demon than a human's, with a short snout filled with razor-sharp cyberteeth, skin covered in bronze scales (in some patches figuratively, in others literally), and wings like, well, a dragon's! "This," the Demon Prince explains, "is Flens al-Rret, my living scythe. Say hello to Flens, Jedi." Thratchen turns to Flens, an almost fond smile on its face. "Say goodbye to Drakon, would you, Flens?" The thing smiles like a shark... OOC: As a Demon Lord specializing in combat, Flens is *tough.* Tough enough to give Dhyrclhanc a good fight. It'll lose, of course, but not before throwing everything including the demonic kitchen sink at him. Have fun. (As an aside, I'm too busy to really run the bad guy side of this fight; indulge yourself, Big Guy. 8^) =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s Greymoran and Hudzen On Sun, 23 Oct 2005 17:09:29 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012711 >On Tue, 27 Sep 2005 00:00:06 -0600 >Greymoran Said As CAoL Message # 00012689 > >>On Mon, 26 Sep 2005 22:26:48 -0700 (PDT) >>Hudzen Said As CAoL Message # 00012688 >> >>>On Mon, 26 Sep 2005 09:39:09 -0600 >>>Greymoran Said As CAoL Message # 00012685 >>> >>>> {...yes,} Vader agreed. {They are unlikely to find anything, >>>>but the tighter the net, the more time the accursed rebellion must >>>>spend fleeing it. I will join you in fifteen minutes...mark.} >>>> {"Mark,"} the colonel confirmed. >>>> {Vader out.} >> >>[Fifteen minutes], Hudzen noted, starting a timer. >> >>>At that moment, Greymoran laughed in the questioning Stormtrooper's >>>face. "How I communciate to my bodyguard is none of your damned >>>business!" >> >>[Here we go again] "What do you--" the Stormtrooper began. >>>He yelled, then cast one of the few spells he knew wouldn't take a >>>lot out of him, the old standard magic missle, and he aimed it at >>>the Stormtroopers face. If nothing else, Greymoran thoguht, 'it'll >>>be one less guard to deal with when we bust out of this %&$*ing >>>place. "bfft-" the Stormtrooper said as he died. >>As soon as Greymoran had started the brief spell, Hudzen spun around >>to face both guards behind him, both arms raised. In one hand was >>his old-fashioned rifle and a more advanced pulse pistol had just >>appeared in the other. Out of each arm popped a pair of mounted >>guns, one for each arm. In addition to those, two more had popped >>out of his shoulders and swiveled around to point at the lone >>stormtrooper behind him. Each trooper was now staring down the >>barrel of two guns before any of them had had a chance to react. Sheer reflex had the pair start to reach for their pistols before they realized the danger. Both froze once they saw that continuing the motion would prove lethal. The third just stared in shock. >>"Don't move," Hudzen ordered threateningly. The pair of troopers in >>front of Hudzen complied, but the one behind Hudzen flinched. "I >>wouldn't do that," Hudzen told him. "Do you have fifty arms in there?" the flinching trooper asked coldly. "You start shooting, and--" "ENOUGH," the officer barked. He had simply folded his arms and looked disgusted at the whole frozen tableau. >Greymoran spun to face the Imperial officer who was fumbling for his >blaster. "Tell your helper monkeys to watch what they say around me >Imperial nitwit." "Natural selection," the officer replied with a shrug. He pressed a button on his belt, and a trooper entered the room, stopping in shock as he saw what was happening. "That man was an insubordinate fool anyway." The Stormtroopers bristled. Apparently, they liked the dead man a lot more than the officer did. "Though the corporal has a point," he continued. "If you start a firefight, Mr. 'Greymoran,' and the Empire will end it. Even if you can defeat fifty Stormtroopers, while Lord Vader will hardly notice one dead Stormtrooper, he will most likely take umbrage at losing an entire platoon to a fit of pique. In the meantime, I will place a serving droid at your disposal if you so wish. Lord Vader will be here in a little under fourteen minutes." =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9S: Training hours...when days aren't available On Sun, 23 Oct 2005 17:20:37 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012712 >On Wed, 28 Sep 2005 20:16:01 -0700 >Patrick O'Shea Said As CAoL Message # 00012692 > >OOC: After the bug-out is done with, and Our Heroes are taking a >much needed break... > >Lloyd glanced into the infirmary as one of the medics worked on >Barriss, still out cold. He had heard words like 'breakdown' and >'mental collapse' used. Which put him off. That wasn't supposed to >happen to Jedi...and it had started when that Anakin character had >gotten involved. > >Noise from behind. Looking around, the Sylvarant swordsman spots Luke >Skywalker. "You. Over here, NOW," he motions to Jedi-in-training. [I >REALLY need a distraction right now.] "Wh-huh?" Luke asks. Ani chuckles from next to Qui-Gon, who gives him a mildly disapproving look. >"You almost got yourself killed out there. Come on, let's find a big >room. Bring your lightsaber." "Hey -- wait--" Luke sighs. "Okay." Leia gives him an encouraging pat on the shoulder. >"That lightsaber," Lloyd stated as forcefully as he could, "is not a >magic wand; it isn't unbeatable. If you draw it, you're practically >waving a sign to every Sith out there saying 'come and get me, I'm >challenging you'. Attack me." "What, all two of them?" Luke asks. Still, he shrugs and attacks. Carefully; he still sees a kid rather than a well-trained Padawan, and aims to sting rather than hurt. >For a split second, Lloyd has it. Epiphany, revelation, Mythbuster >moment, call it what you will. [Good lord. I'm training this kid not >to kill himself.] So distracted, he almost lets the attack through. >Almost. > >Luke's sabre spins through the air, deactivating and clattering on >the ground. The farmboy gapes. >"Okay, let's start with some basic defenses. I'll attack, slowly, and >you move your sword to defend. Don't worry, I'm channeling the Force >through my blades; you can't cut through them." Luke shrugs and nods, sparring silently at first. As the training continues and the speed increases, Lloyd discovers three things. One: Luke learns fast. Two: he does have some experience. Three: his raw potential is downright phenomenal. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s Greymoran and Hudzen On Mon, 24 Oct 2005 00:14:40 -0600 Greymoran Said As CAoL Message # 00012715 >On Sun, 23 Oct 2005 17:09:29 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012711 > >>On Tue, 27 Sep 2005 00:00:06 -0600 >>Greymoran Said As CAoL Message # 00012689 >> >>Greymoran spun to face the Imperial officer who was fumbling for his >>blaster. "Tell your helper monkeys to watch what they say around me >>Imperial nitwit." > > "Natural selection," the officer replied with a shrug. He pressed >a button on his belt, and a trooper entered the room, stopping in >shock as he saw what was happening. "That man was an insubordinate >fool anyway." > The Stormtroopers bristled. Apparently, they liked the dead man a >lot more than the officer did. > "Though the corporal has a point," he continued. "If you start a >firefight, Mr. 'Greymoran,' and the Empire will end it. Even if you >can defeat fifty Stormtroopers, while Lord Vader will hardly notice >one dead Stormtrooper, he will most likely take umbrage at losing an >entire platoon to a fit of pique. In the meantime, I will place a >serving droid at your disposal if you so wish. Lord Vader will be >here in a little under fourteen minutes." "Fine by me. Hudzen, you can put your guns away now." Hudzen begins to do so, when the Imperial officer frowns. "Hudzen? Why do I know that name?" he mutters. "Uh-oh," Greymoran thinks, thinking that he may have just inadvertently blown his own cover. =========================== Subject: AAE9s: in hiding On Mon, 24 Oct 2005 13:23:49 -0700 Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00012718 Baraka had been searching carefully. She'd found a coverall that mostly fit. But she had a feeling the dancing silks in her pouch might be handier given some people she'd glimpsed down hallways. She'd set up in another unused storeroom for the moment. She wasn't as distracted by the images from her "other self" at the moment, but since he seemed to be heading into a fight, she thought that minimizing the distractions would be a good idea for a while, just in case. Once the fight was over "they" decided to try to swap back. Well, to do what they normally did to switch her body to his. And she found herself/himself standing on a deck/sitting in the storeroom. One of him/her mutters "That did not work properly..." and they try again. And are back where they started. "Wonderful. We can switch locations. I want to be just one of me at a time, thank you very much." =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Turning Point On Wed, 26 Oct 2005 20:15:46 -0700 (PDT) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00012721 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012707 > > Roland grinned. "It submitted to me before it 'died.' That creates >a powerful spiritual bond, whether Thratchen wants it to or not." >Slowly, so as not to startle anyone, Roland began to change his >shape. While not nearly as skilled at this as his wifely coach, the >Eternal has some small facility in this regard, enhanced by the fluid >armor and, in this case, the connection he cited. After about a >minute, Roland was the spitting image of Thratchen (and for some, I >imagine that 'spitting' is quite literal). Unlike his previous >efforts at stealth, he is indistinguishable from Thratchen on every >level save for those in actual mental contact. "I believe I can get >us in quite handily." Rob picks his jaw up from his lap. > Once everyone is okay with Roland's transformation, Morgan follows >suit, becoming a slightly smaller techno-demon than Roland/Thratchen. >"Poor Roland," Roland explained, "just couldn't stand up to my >power." His 'evil' chuckle is not quite convincing, but close enough >that a bit of practice will have him ready by the time the team gets >to the capital. "I killed his woman, and captured..." Roland looked >around. "Well, we can work that out. I'm figuring a one prisoner to >one techno-demon ratio, more or less, so a few others will have to be >disguised as well." > Leia grinned. "And once we're in..." > Roland grinned back. The honest humor was rather disconcerting on >Thratchen's face. "...we take Palpatine out." "I think I'm taking the 'prisoner' role," Rob says. "I'm a little short for a techno-demon." =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Turning Point On Thu, 27 Oct 2005 00:50:04 -0700 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00012722 >On Wed, 26 Oct 2005 20:15:46 -0700 (PDT) >Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00012721 > >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012707 >> >> Leia grinned. "And once we're in..." >> Roland grinned back. The honest humor was rather disconcerting on >>Thratchen's face. "...we take Palpatine out." > > "I think I'm taking the 'prisoner' role," Rob says. "I'm a little >short for a techno-demon." Harlock mutters a few words and gestures, then grows a foot and a half, sprouting leathery wings and cyberware as he does so. "That you are, pav monkey scum," the Bard intones in a slightly tinny, buzzing voice. The tinniness and buzz disappear abruptly as he looks up at Roland and asks "did I get the insult right? I only remember hearing it the once, after all. Wouldn't want to blow our cover over something that trivial." A winning smile pasted on techno-demon features is...rather disturbing, a fact of which Harlock does not seem to be aware. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s Greymoran and Hudzen On Thu, 27 Oct 2005 21:19:19 -0700 (PDT) Hudzen Said As CAoL Message # 00012723 >On Mon, 24 Oct 2005 00:14:40 -0600 >Greymoran Said As CAoL Message # 00012715 > >>>"Don't move," Hudzen ordered threateningly. The pair of troopers in >>>front of Hudzen complied, but the one behind Hudzen flinched. "I >>>wouldn't do that," Hudzen told him. > > "Do you have fifty arms in there?" the flinching trooper asked >coldly. [Just guns], Hudzen thought. >>Greymoran spun to face the Imperial officer who was fumbling for his >>blaster. "Tell your helper monkeys to watch what they say around me >>Imperial nitwit." > > "Natural selection," the officer replied with a shrug. He pressed >a button on his belt, and a trooper entered the room, stopping in >shock as he saw what was happening. "That man was an insubordinate >fool anyway." > The Stormtroopers bristled. Apparently, they liked the dead man a >lot more than the officer did. > "Though the corporal has a point," he continued. "If you start a >firefight, Mr. 'Greymoran,'..." Hudzen noted the officer's inflection. >"...and the Empire will end it. Even if you can defeat fifty >Stormtroopers, while Lord Vader will hardly notice one dead >Stormtrooper, he will most likely take umbrage at losing an entire >platoon to a fit of pique. In the meantime, I will place a serving >droid at your disposal if you so wish. Lord Vader will be here in a >little under fourteen minutes." [That should be an interesting experience.] >"Fine by me. Hudzen, you can put your guns away now." Hudzen began to do so, retracting the shoulder and wrist cannons back into his armor. Slowly, he lowered his two remaining weapons >when the Imperial officer frowns. "Hudzen? Why do I know that name?" >he mutters. Hudzen decided to hold off on putting them away. >"Uh-oh," Greymoran thinks, thinking that he may have just >inadvertently blown his own cover. Almost certain that they're on Earth, Hudzen takes a chance. "It's a fairly common name on this planet," he spouts, "If I am not mistaken, it is the name of a well known river near the eastern coast of the North American continent." =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9S: Training hours...when days aren't available On Mon, 31 Oct 2005 20:36:17 -0800 Patrick O'Shea Said As CAoL Message # 00012724 >On Sun, 23 Oct 2005 17:20:37 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012712 > > Luke shrugs and nods, sparring silently at first. As the training >continues and the speed increases, Lloyd discovers three things. One: >Luke learns fast. Two: he does have some experience. Three: his raw >potential is downright phenomenal. Practise continues for a few more hours. Lloyd can feel the enjoyment from Luke; what with everyhting that has happened, from that last fight against...everyone, it felt like, the return of his father, Barris...This is something he can focus on. This is something he can deal with. Lloyd gradually brings up the intensity of his attacks, and is no longer surprised to see that Luke is easily keeping up. [I wish I had that much potential...a few more years, and he might give -dad- a run for his money.] Still... Lloyd, acting faster then he hopes Luke can react, ducks, rolls back, stands, and launches a pair of Demon Fangs, tearing furrows in the floor as they shoot towards Luke. Being essentially Force-based attacks, Luke is able to sense them and deflect the two bolts, those punching holes in the wall. Lloyd grins. "Cool. It took me a few weeks to figure out how to do that. Here, let me show you something I picked up..." --Mindscape. Quiet Moon fights back his first impulse to go in and join the battle, so vivid is the scene below him. He picks out Barriss easily in her dark Jedi robes, as well as some other Jedi, all surrounded by a small army of stormtroopers. He's initially confused, then remembers what Roland and the others had said about this world and the fate of the Jedi Order. The white-armoured soldiers seem to stop, then turn on the Jedi. Quiet Moon flinches, but continues watching. An age after the carnage finishes, he sees Barriss pulling herself out of the carnage, presumed dead. The next images are blurred, indicating that the Jedi wandered alone for some time, doing little more than existing. Then it happens. Coruscant, that seems to be the name of the place Barriss is on. Captured and brought before...VADER? There is some sort of revelation, then she is taken to the place where the Jedi Temple used to stand. "Enough." Quiet Moon waves a hand; time and the Jedi's own pain have told and retold the story each time, adding some extra feature to make the illusion more addicting each cycle, Barriss' mind finally crumbling under the weight of the self generated despair. A wave of his hand casts aside the illusion, revealing Barriss, sitting at a table, staring towards nothningness. A chair appears, pulling itself out for the Kai. "Quite a tale." "He was...I thought he was a friend. I was WITH HIM and I didn't see it." "See what?" Quiet Moon asks gently. "Him. Anakin Skywalker. The 'Chosen One'. Chosen to destroy everyone. And I didn't do anything..." "I agree. A knife in the back would have settled the matter quickly." Remorselessly, Quiet Moon continues. "My order is familiar with psychic attacks. At that early stage, killing Anakin Skywalker would have been easy. An arrow would have done as well." The list goes on, Barriss' face going whiter and whiter as Quiet Moon details countless ways to kill someone when they are not looking, both physical and mystical, in ways both subtle and gross. "And yet," he concludes, "you did not." "I...I would never..." "But you stated an intent to kill him, did you not?" "No...I...I don't know..." Quiet Moon smiles. "And yet you didn't. Think about it." The scene blurs, and Quiet Moon's mind returns to his body. Slowly, he gets up, still somewhat disoriented by the experience. A few minutes later, Barriss comes to as well. "This is where you say that Vader made his own choices." The Kai nods. "I might." "And that I was being arrogant in assuming that I should have seen what the Council could not." A sigh. "I can't get over this right away. I know Jedi are...were...supposed to be controlled and stoic, but...I'll need time." "And as it happens," Quiet Moon says, smiling, "there is another young Jedi just starting hs training." There is a yell of 'BEAST!' and a crumpling of a wall. And it's not Lloyd's voice, either. "So unless you want the rebirth of the Jedi Order to be spearheaed by a pair of Lloyd Irvings..." Finally, Barriss' face lightens up. "I had better reign my Padawan in." She gets off the small table, and leaves the room. TBC =========================== On Mon, 19 Dec 2005 20:17:40 -0800 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012725 Recap: When last we left Our Heroes, Roland and Morgan had returned, triumphant over Thratchen. As the result of a bizarre mystical side-effect of their victory, Roland has gained the temporary ability to mimic Thratchen down to the smallest detail, affording the heroes a window of opportunity to infiltrate the very heart of the Emperor's power, using the form of one of his most 'trusted' allies. >On Thu, 27 Oct 2005 00:50:04 -0700 >Harlock Said As CAoL Message # 00012722 > >>On Wed, 26 Oct 2005 20:15:46 -0700 (PDT) >>Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00012721 >> >>>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012707 >>> >>>Roland looked around. "Well, we can work that out. I'm figuring a >>>one prisoner to one techno-demon ratio, more or less, so a few >>>others will have to be disguised as well." >>> Leia grinned. "And once we're in..." >>> Roland grinned back. The honest humor was rather disconcerting >>>on Thratchen's face. "...we take Palpatine out." >> >> "I think I'm taking the 'prisoner' role," Rob says. "I'm a little >>short for a techno-demon." Roland nods. "Shapeshifting could take care of that, but..let's just say this isn't the most agreeable form I've ever been in." >Harlock mutters a few words and gestures, then grows a foot and a >half, sprouting leathery wings and cyberware as he does so. "That you >are, pav monkey scum," the Bard intones in a slightly tinny, buzzing >voice. The tinniness and buzz disappear abruptly as he looks up at >Roland and asks "did I get the insult right? I only remember hearing >it the once, after all. Wouldn't want to blow our cover over >something that trivial." A winning smile pasted on techno-demon >features is...rather disturbing, a fact of which Harlock does not >seem to be aware. "Perfect," Roland replies with an all-too-accurate smile on _his_ face. It vanishes a moment later. "Techno-demons, however, don't..." He gestures vaguely in the direction of Harlock's face. "...grin." As if to prove the point, he grins himself. The effect isn't quite as...wrong...as Harlock's, but the expression punctuates his statement nicely. (OOC: The rest of the planning skipped here to get us -- after a mere two months -- to the Main Event.) Two stormtroopers look out into distant nothing, both afflicted with the Thousand Klik Stare. Around them, a city so dense it makes Manhattan look like an empty field buzzes with life around them, though they are so lost in boredom they fail to notice the silence and dispersal of ordinary proles around them. A deep voice clears its throat above them. As it does not sound like Lord Vader and the Emperor doesn't come in the front door, they do not react immediately. "Clearance, please," one says. "So tell me," Thratchen replies dryly, and the two jump half a foot each, "in your human 'dictionary,' under the entry 'too stupid to live,' are your faces pictured as examples for clarification of the definition?" "Uh...that would be the encyclopedia," one of them says. The other slaps the area of his helmet covering his forehead. "Forgive us, Lord Thratchen," the less-stupid stormtrooper says, passing a small rod over a scanner. The huge blast doors begin, slowly, to open. "That's better" Thratchen rumbles. "Though, as an aside, I feel compelled to note for Emperor Palpatine's sake that had he not personally asked me to not be as hard on you fools as Lord Vader, I would have eviscerated you both, possessed your own hands to search for the passrod, and raised you as the least form of undead to serve me until the minuscule energy worth expending on you dissipated." It pops the triple claws between its knuckles for emphasis and smiles like a shark with a bad tooth. "Get out of our way, and inform High Lord Palpatine that Thratchen and his entourage bring him...gifts." It waves to a Demon Lord, who drags Anakin Skywalker out from behind several guards. The boy's hands are cuffed in front of him, and his look is sullen and smouldering. His lightsaber hangs from Thratchen's belt. "Uh...uh...uh...YES, Lord Thratchen!" the more-stupid stormtrooper blurts, and begins babbling into a babble-box. Thratchen, satisfied that the lower pav scum have groveled suitably, strides forward with its prize. The Emperor's fortress is magnificent and terrible, befitting its master. Great bulkheads reinforce the structure in layers, like a trapezoidal onion. Nuclear bombs might scratch the surface. It would take most of Earth's arsenal to penetrate to the inner sanctum. Droids offer directions occasionally. Officers and troopers scamper in terror out of the group's way. Even so, the mighty Demon Prince waits respectfully at the entrance to the final chamber. It does not have long to wait. "Enter," Palpatine beckons/commands. Thratchen waves its hand imperiously at the door, which opens. It strides in, leading a most reluctant Anakin behind it, and bows. "Greetings, Your Imperial Majesty," the Prince intones formally, then straightens and smiles a dark and cunning smile. "I bring...gifts." Palpatine claps his hands. "Ah! Anakin. It has been too long, my boy." "Not long enough," Anakin snarls back. Palpatine 'tsks' the young Jedi. "You know," he replies conspiratorially, "if you wish to defy me, anger and fear are hardly your best allies." The Emperor turns from the (apparently) smoldering Anakin back to Thratchen. "I take it that Anakin is the crown jewel of your...catch?" He asks with hideous delight. "As you requested, I did not slay the other Skywalker, nor the one called 'Padme,' though most of the rest are dead. The survivors," it continues, gesturing grandly at the prisoners behind it, "are with me, save for a tiny handful." Palpatine nods. "Then I will summon Lord Vader. He should have made contact with your allies by now." The Emperor sweeps towards his throne. "Ah," Thratchen says with a nod. [Allies?] Roland quickly searches through 'Thratchen's' mind. [Oh nass. Just what I need -- an evil Greymoran. Maybe I can sic them on each other...] P.S.: No, I haven't forgotten about our other small group, it just looks like it. =========================== On Mon, 19 Dec 2005 23:59:05 -0700 Greymoran Said As CAoL Message # 00012726 >On Thu, 27 Oct 2005 21:19:19 -0700 (PDT) >Hudzen Said As CAoL Message # 00012723 > >>On Mon, 24 Oct 2005 00:14:40 -0600 >>Greymoran Said As CAoL Message # 00012715 >> >>"Fine by me. Hudzen, you can put your guns away now." > >Hudzen began to do so, retracting the shoulder and wrist cannons back >into his armor. Slowly, he lowered his two remaining weapons > >>when the Imperial officer frowns. "Hudzen? Why do I know that name?" >>he mutters. > >Hudzen decided to hold off on putting them away. > >>"Uh-oh," Greymoran thinks, thinking that he may have just >>inadvertently blown his own cover. > >Almost certain that they're on Earth, Hudzen takes a chance. "It's a >fairly common name on this planet," he spouts, "If I am not mistaken, >it is the name of a well known river near the eastern coast of the >North American continent." [Quick thinking Hudzen,] Greymoran thinks. [Now all we have to do is find a way out of here before Vader shows up. I'd be nervous facing him at full power, and I've only get a few spells left until I can get some sleep and recharge.] =========================== Subject: AAE9s: Sudden Arrivals On Thu, 12 Jan 2006 00:31:35 -0800 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012728 >On Mon, 19 Dec 2005 23:59:05 -0700 >Greymoran Said As CAoL Message # 00012726 > >>On Thu, 27 Oct 2005 21:19:19 -0700 (PDT) >>Hudzen Said As CAoL Message # 00012723 >> >>Hudzen began to do so, retracting the shoulder and wrist cannons >>back into his armor. Slowly, he lowered his two remaining weapons >>when the Imperial officer frowns. "Hudzen? Why do I know that name?" >>he mutters. >> >>Hudzen decided to hold off on putting them away. >> >>>"Uh-oh," Greymoran thinks, thinking that he >>> may have just inadvertently blown his own cover. >> >>Almost certain that they're on Earth, Hudzen takes a chance. "It's a >>fairly common name on this planet," he spouts, "If I am not >>mistaken, it is the name of a well known river near the eastern >>coast of the North American continent." The officer shrugs. "Who can keep track of all these mudballs, anyway?" >Quick thinking Hudzen, Greymoran thinks. Now all we have to >do is find a way out of here before Vader shows up. I'd be nervous >facing him at full power, and I've only get a few spells left until I >can get some sleep and recharge. Thus, of course... As the shuttle lands, Vader scans the area, then turns to Red Fury. "Lord Dracul." The evil Roland, lost in thought, blinks and twitches in a manner so similar to Earth-9's Roland that those who know him would be thoroughly creeped out by the mannerism. "Yes, Lord Vader?" "You possess the power of teleportation, do you not?" Vader continues to stare implacably out the viewport. Dracul nods, appearing far more confused than villainous. "Excellent. Teleport us in." Even from Darth Vader, being commanded so casually makes Fury bristle. [If you were any other man...] A handful of others -- the sum total countable on the fingers of one of Fury's hands -- come to his mind, but he dismisses further introspection. He teleports the lot of them into the chamber abruptly, annoyed with himself at being passive-aggressive with anyone (even Vader). (Note: While Dracul's features are virtually identical to Roland Phoenix's, given the blood-red outfit and the overall demeanor the man exudes, it's virtually impossible to mistake one for the other.) The colonel nearly jumps out of his uniform, leaving ten years of life behind in the process. "L-Lord Vader! This -- this is unexpected -- how may we serve --" Vader looks at the corpse in annoyance. "Why is this man dead?" Unable to speak, the officer points at Hudzen. "Ah." As if that settled everything, Vader turns to Greymoran. "If Thratchen's assessment is any indication, it is good you have arrived. I have foreseen that the turning point in this war is fast approaching. We must consult the Emperor." He tilts his helmet to one side. "Lord Dracul, if you please." "That's better," Dracul mutters sotto voce. With that, Vader, Dracul, Mara Jade, Jarek, Greymoran, Hudzen, and the entire contingent of second bananas and Imp goons vanishes, appearing in the Emperor's spacious (thank badness) throne room. 'Thratchen' flutters a bit in place, talons popping out from between knuckles. "Darth...Vader? What is the meaning of this?" "I am here to report to my Master, Prince Thratchen," Vader replies with a tinge of mind annoyance. "In the meantime, you can debrief your allies." "Of course..." Roland picks up Thratchen's memories of recruiting... [Oh, great. As if the good one wasn't enough of a handful...hey, wait a minute.] *Greymoran?* Roland sends. If that's not the Greymoran he met, he won't receive anything, any more than an AM radio will pick up an FM station. If it is, however, he 'hears' the transmission in the 'good' Roland's voice... /*Team, this is about to get ten kinds of ugly. Get ready...*/ Roland sends to the heroes. Meanwhile, before the throne, Vader kneels and Palpatine regards him with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. "What is thy bidding, my Master?" Vader asks formally. "Why have you brought this motley band here, Lord Vader?" the Emperor asks, well, imperiously. "I have sensed a disturbance in the Force, Master," Vader explains. "The rebels will attack soon, with the bulk of their remaining power." Palpatine scoffs. "Let them come. I have a surprise of my own for them..." he adds almost lovingly, slowly glancing towards a large blast door on the far side of the room. /That can't be good,/ Morgan sends, though outwardly her techno-demon form remains impassive. /You ain't kidding. We're going to have to move soon.../ =========================== Subject: RE: AAE9s: Sudden Arrivals On Thu, 12 Jan 2006 15:38:52 -0700 Greymoran Said As CAoL Message # 00012729 >On Thu, 12 Jan 2006 00:31:35 -0800 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012728 > > "I am here to report to my Master, Prince Thratchen," Vader >replies with a tinge of mind annoyance. "In the meantime, you can >debrief your allies." > "Of course..." Roland picks up Thratchen's memories of >recruiting... [Oh, great. As if the good one wasn't enough of a >handful...hey, wait a minute.] *Greymoran?* Roland sends. If that's >not the Greymoran he met, he won't receive anything, any more than an >AM radio will pick up an FM station. If it is, however, he 'hears' >the transmission in the 'good' Roland's voice... "Let me guess, they think you're an evil you too?" Greymoran thinks to Roland as he relates the conversation to Hudzen via Chinese Sign language. "Cause I doubt even you and your 'merry men' would throw in with this lot." > "Why have you brought this motley band here, Lord Vader?" the >Emperor asks, well, imperiously. > "I have sensed a disturbance in the Force, Master," Vader >explains. "The rebels will attack soon, with the bulk of their >remaining power." > Palpatine scoffs. "Let them come. I have a surprise of my own for >them..." he adds almost lovingly, slowly glancing towards a large >blast door on the far side of the room. "He always does," Greymoran thinks to himself. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Sudden Arrivals On Thu, 12 Jan 2006 19:43:36 -0800 Patrick O'Shea Said As CAoL Message # 00012730 "The wire's in the wrong terminal." Barriss observed, leaning over the Kai's shoulder. Quiet Moon glanced up at the Jedi, who had just come out of the room where Luke and Lloyd were still practising, albeit at a slightly less intense level. "I beg pardon?" "That wire there," she said, using the Force to free a wire from a terminal. "That would feed back into the power supply and make the back of the saber explode in your hand. It should be the other terminal, over there-" she indicated a second, less obvious point on the small square power converter. "Ah, I see. My thanks." "Why are you working on that...Ah, I see. May I?" Barriss, curiosity getting the better of her, leans down. Quiet Moon nods and moves back, allowing the expert to look over his work. "I see. The crystal has been damaged." "Yes," the Kai replies. "I think I have something that can replace it." He nods to his Power Baton, partially disassembled on the table. Beside the now-inert device is a small gray gem. "It is a Dessi Stone from my home world." "I can sense the power inside it. It should work, though I cannot say what the result will be." "Well, then there's only one way to find out." With that, Quiet Moon places the gem inside the saber, seals the cylinder shut and presses the button. A ghostly grey blade springs out. "You did not blow off your hand. You pass," Barriss intoned, smiling. "Now, shall we see if you are really able to use that jury-rigged abomination you call a lightsaber?" [Somewhere,] she thought, [the Troll is smiling.] -Later, outside the Imperial Base Thratchen was bad. The Captain that had ben sent out to reprimand them was even worse. "Let me get this straight. You detained LORD THRATCHEN." "H...he didn't identify himself..." "SILENCE! Stand at attention!" Pause. "We have an army or rebels ready to descend on this place," the gasp of one of the guards is ignored, "and you decide to alienate one of the Emperor's most powerful allies. And you are still alive WHY?" Snarling, the officer's hand darts forward and rips the assault blaster out of one of the guard's hands. Quickly, the clip is removed and a smaller, more limited clip is shoved in. THe process is repeated for the second officer. "But those clips only give five shots! How are we supposed to hold off any attackers?" one of the guards whines. "Aim carefully. I'm not so sure I should trust you with a fully loaded weapon." Dismissing the two, the officer marched into the base. Inside, Quiet Moon let out a sigh of relief as he discarded the clips he had confiscated from the two guards. As for the captain who's uniform he had 'borrowed', that Imperial officer was now: -disarmed, -stripped to his boxers, -tied to a chair inside the rebel base thanks to some quick transporting, and -being stared at by several dozen miffed Rebels. With guns. [Now I just have to find my way around. Well, between Anakin, Roland, and the Emperor, there should be enough psychic disturbance to...] >On Thu, 12 Jan 2006 00:31:35 -0800 >Roland X SaidAs CAoL Message # 00012728 > >"Excellent. Teleport us in." [Naar's teeth,] the Kai mentally sighed, and made his way through the hallways, getting into position. As he moved, a faint ripple, lost in the psychic background noise, seeped out, informing the Rebels preparing to attack of the latest developments. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Sudden Arrivals On Fri, 13 Jan 2006 00:56:53 -0800 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00012731 >On Thu, 12 Jan 2006 00:31:35 -0800 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012728 > > "That's better," Dracul mutters sotto voce. With that, Vader, >Dracul, Mara Jade, Jarek, Greymoran, Hudzen, and the entire >contingent of second bananas and Imp goons vanishes, appearing in the >Emperor's spacious (thank badness) throne room. > 'Thratchen' flutters a bit in place, talons popping out from >between knuckles. "Darth...Vader? What is the meaning of this?" While Harlock is too well-trained an actor to do more than twitch at the Sith Lord's arrival, the more empathic members of the group pick up a spike of consternation, swiftly suppressed. [Jarek? As our fearless leader would say, 'Aw, nass...'] > "I am here to report to my Master, Prince Thratchen," Vader >replies with a tinge of mind annoyance. "In the meantime, you can >debrief your allies." > "Of course..." Roland picks up Thratchen's memories of >recruiting... [Oh, great. As if the good one wasn't enough of a >handful...hey, wait a minute.] *Greymoran?* Roland sends. If that's >not the Greymoran he met, he won't receive anything, any more than an >AM radio will pick up an FM station. If it is, however, he 'hears' >the transmission in the 'good' Roland's voice... > /*Team, this is about to get ten kinds of ugly. Get ready...*/ >Roland sends to the heroes. *You ain't kidding, boss-man. Unless I miss my guess, Jarek has the ability to see us as we are underneath the shape-shifting. Well, maybe not _you._ The spirit-meld does...muddle things a bit. But it wouldn't surprise me if he makes the right deductions.* > "I have sensed a disturbance in the Force, Master," Vader >explains. "The rebels will attack soon, with the bulk of their >remaining power." > Palpatine scoffs. "Let them come. I have a surprise of my own for >them..." he adds almost lovingly, slowly glancing towards a large >blast door on the far side of the room. > >/That can't be good,/ Morgan sends, though outwardly her techno-demon >form remains impassive. > > /You ain't kidding. We're going to have to move soon.../ Jarek abases himself before the throne. "Milord, your servant Vader but speaks the truth. And the rebel power is concentrated...there," he says as he levels a claw-like finger accusingly at...Dracul?! The Bard's jaw stays in place by sheer force of will. [What the Hells is he playing at now?] =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Sudden Arrivals From: Roland X On Sun, 19 Feb 2006 23:26:10 -0800 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012734 >On Fri, 13 Jan 2006 00:56:53 -0800 >Harlock Said As CAoL Message # 00012731 > >>On Thu, 12 Jan 2006 00:31:35 -0800 >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012728 > >While Harlock is too well-trained an actor to do more than twitch at >the Sith Lord's arrival, the more empathic members of the group pick >up a spike of consternation, swiftly suppressed. *Harlock? Problem?* Roland sends far more calmly than he feels. >*You ain't kidding, boss-man. Unless I miss my guess, Jarek has the >ability to see us as we are underneath the shape-shifting. Well, >maybe not _you._ The spirit-meld does...muddle things a bit. But it >wouldn't surprise me if he makes the right deductions.* /*That would be bad,*/ Roland replies mildly, though astute members of the link pick up an image of someone in a jumpsuit with "Spengler" on a nametag. >Jarek abases himself before the throne. "Milord, your servant Vader >but speaks the truth. And the rebel power is concentrated...there," >he says as he levels a claw-like finger accusingly at...Dracul?! > >The Bard's jaw stays in place by sheer force of will. [What the Hells >is he playing at now?] Dracul, not needing to conceal anything, does allow his jaw to drop. "Are you insane?" he asks, genuinely incredulous. "Thratchen" also ends up gaping a bit, hir aide (aka Morgan) looking a touch astonished as well. "Your Imperial Majesty..." Thratchen begins, but finds nothing else to say. Lord Vader simply rises and Force Pulls his lightsaber to his hand, but does not ignite it. The Emperor watches the entire confused tableau with considerable amusement. "Lord Dracul, if you are truly what you claim to be, it should be simple enough to prove it." Dracul's face hardens, his mouth becoming a slash of annoyance. "I take it you are permitting me to prove my...credentials...in the manner you are implying?" The Emperor simply nods. Before the nod is complete, Dracul whirls on Jarek, his eyes burning with the First Fire, and extends one crimson hand, fingers splayed out. It is quite similar to Phoenix's style, but more curt, more vicious. Red Fury does not unleash all his power; not only is he somewhat overconfident, he doesn't want to seriously damage the Emperor's chambers. Nevertheless, the bolt he unleashes would crush an AT-ST. Its effects on the body of an ordinary human would be...dramatic. (OOC: Evil GM-San is fully expecting Jarek to survive the attack, either by blocking it or getting the gorram hell out of the way. ;^) Meanwhile, Thratchen has gestured with one hand, directing hir forces to spread out. "Stay clear of the battle," sie orders. Meanwhile, Roland sends, /*This is a perfect opportunity to take up tactical positions. Morgan, take 'possession' of Anakin. Be ready to cut him loose on the Imperial Guards. Harlock, you know Jarek best, keep an eye on him. Maybe we'll get lucky and Dracul will decorate the walls with him, but I doubt it. I'll handle Dracul. If someone's planning on taking Vader, now would be a good time to let me in on it. If not, Morgan, he's yours.*/ As Thratchen's forces pull back, Dracul moves to hunt down Jarek (if he's still breathing and/or present). "I don't take kindly to being stabbed in the back, demigod," he snarls. "Just ask Behemoth -- when you meet him in _Malfeas!_" The Emperor cackles in amused delight... =========================== Subject: RE: AAE9s: Sudden Arrivals On Sun, 19 Feb 2006 23:46:38 -0800 Morgan Said As CAoL Message # 00012735 >On Thu, 12 Jan 2006 15:38:52 -0700 >Greymoran Said As CAoL Message # 00012729 > >>On Thu, 12 Jan 2006 00:31:35 -0800 >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012728 >> >> "Of course..." Roland picks up Thratchen's memories of >>recruiting... [Oh, great. As if the good one wasn't enough of a >>handful...hey, wait a minute.] *Greymoran?* Roland sends. If that's >>not the Greymoran he met, he won't receive anything, any more than >>an AM radio will pick up an FM station. If it is, however, he >>'hears' the transmission in the 'good' Roland's voice... > >"Let me guess, they think you're an evil you too?" Greymoran thinks >to Roland as he relates the conversation to Hudzen via Chinese Sign >language. "Cause I doubt even you and your 'merry men' would throw in >with this lot." *Actually,* Morgan sends to both Roland and their new apparent-ally, *they think he's an evil-someone-else, since the evil-him is over there.* She "points" in Dracul's direction. *It's almost as bad as trying to figure out correct tense when discussing time-travel matters,* she quips. (OOC: We shouldn't spend too much time on this, though, since all Hades is about to break loose. *g*) =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Sudden Arrivals On Sun, 19 Feb 2006 23:48:06 -0800 Patrick O'Shea Said As CAoL Message # 00012736 >On Sun, 19 Feb 2006 23:26:10 -0800 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012734 > > Meanwhile, Thratchen has gestured with one hand, directing hir >forces to spread out. "Stay clear of the battle," sie orders. >Meanwhile, Roland sends, /*This is a perfect opportunity to take up >tactical positions. Morgan, take 'possession' of Anakin. Be ready to >cut him loose on the Imperial Guards. Harlock, you know Jarek best, >keep an eye on him. Maybe we'll get lucky and Dracul will decorate >the walls with him, but I doubt it. I'll handle Dracul. If someone's >planning on taking Vader, now would be a good time to let me in on >it. If not, Morgan, he's yours.*/ > As Thratchen's forces pull back, Dracul moves to hunt down Jarek >(if he's still breathing and/or present). "I don't take kindly to >being stabbed in the back, demigod," he snarls. "Just ask Behemoth -- >when you meet him in _Malfeas!_" The Emperor cackles in amused >delight... /I am ready,/ Quiet Moon sends back, tight-beaming a message to the assembled masses of Rebels. /As it stands, the Rebels attack, draw off the base guards, leaving the heavy guns for us. It sounded fair,/ the Kai finishes dryly. Outside the chamber, Quiet Moon glides towards the few guards standing at all-too nervous attention. Even with no psychic talent or training, they can still feel the raw power coming out of that room. One of them snaps to attention as the Kai, still in the Imperial Officer's uniform, approaches. "Sir. Is there something I can do?" "Yes. You can sleep," the Kai replies, fist snapping out and striking a nerve point, then doing likewise to the second guardsman. In an eyeblink, the two guards are out, never even having the time to even -think- 'Oh dear. This could be a problem.' The Kai, psionically speaking, is not there, Psi-Shield masking his presence. /Ready./ *Lloyd, on my mark. 3....2...* -- Patrick O'Shea -No, I'm *not* Fuzzy on the whole good 'bad' thing. I'm not qualified to speak for him. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Sudden Arrivals On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 01:05:37 -0800 (PST) Hudzen Said As CAoL Message # 00012737 >On Sun, 19 Feb 2006 23:46:38 -0800 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00012735 > >>On Thu, 12 Jan 2006 15:38:52 -0700 >>Greymoran Said As CAoL Message # 00012729 >> >>"Let me guess, they think you're an evil you too?" Greymoran thinks >>to Roland as he relates the conversation to Hudzen via Chinese Sign >>language. "Cause I doubt even you and your 'merry men' would throw >>in with this lot." > >*Actually,* Morgan sends to both Roland and their new apparent-ally, >*they think he's an evil-someone-else, since the evil-him is over >there.* She "points" in Dracul's direction. *It's almost as bad as >trying to figure out correct tense when discussing time-travel >matters,* she quips. Greymoran continues to relay this conversation to Hudzen. Hudzen looks from Thratchen to Dracul. [This is him. Their leader], he thinks. Greymoran had had a few choice words to describe him, the few times the topic had come up. But Hudzen had always detected an underlying respect, if only the most trace amount. > Meanwhile, Thratchen has gestured with one hand, directing hir >forces to spread out. "Stay clear of the battle," sie orders. Hudzen and Greymoran move with Thratchen's group, getting clear of the "display", a display that has ever so slightly disconcerted Hudzen. The android signs to Greymoran. ^Captain, I believe we may again find ourselves in a troubling situation. Any orders, sir?^ =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Sudden Arrivals On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 01:43:39 -0800 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00012738 >On Sun, 19 Feb 2006 23:26:10 -0800 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012734 > >>*You ain't kidding, boss-man. Unless I miss my guess, Jarek has the >>ability to see us as we are underneath the shape-shifting. Well, >>maybe not _you._ The spirit-meld does...muddle things a bit. But it >>wouldn't surprise me if he makes the right deductions.* > > /*That would be bad,*/ Roland replies mildly, though astute >members of the link pick up an image of someone in a jumpsuit with >"Spengler" on a nametag. Harlock's mental snort is accompanied by an image of a thought balloon reading: statement massive Even under these conditions, the Bard apparently can't help playing with the language. > Dracul's face hardens, his mouth becoming a slash of annoyance. "I >take it you are permitting me to prove my...credentials...in the >manner you are implying?" The Emperor simply nods. Before the nod is >complete, Dracul whirls on Jarek, his eyes burning with the First >Fire, and extends one crimson hand, fingers splayed out. It is quite >similar to Phoenix's style, but more curt, more vicious. > Red Fury does not unleash all his power; not only is he somewhat >overconfident, he doesn't want to seriously damage the Emperor's >chambers. Nevertheless, the bolt he unleashes would crush an AT-ST. >Its effects on the body of an ordinary human would be...dramatic. Jarek, being neither an ordinary human nor stupid, had his defense prepared in advance: as Red Fury unleashes his attack, Jarek melts into the shadows rather more literally than he had previously, fading into the floor between one thought and the next. >(OOC: Evil GM-San is fully expecting Jarek to survive the attack, >either by blocking it or getting the gorram hell out of the way. ;^) (OOC: Now for the big question...did Evil GM-San remember where Jerek _was_ before he pulled his fade-out? Because by my reckoning, an AT-ST crushing bolt is now headed straight for the Emperor.) > Meanwhile, Thratchen has gestured with one hand, directing hir >forces to spread out. "Stay clear of the battle," sie orders. >Meanwhile, Roland sends, /*This is a perfect opportunity to take up >tactical positions. Morgan, take 'possession' of Anakin. Be ready to >cut him loose on the Imperial Guards. Harlock, you know Jarek best, >keep an eye on him. Maybe we'll get lucky and Dracul will decorate >the walls with him, but I doubt it. I'll handle Dracul. If someone's >planning on taking Vader, now would be a good time to let me in on >it. If not, Morgan, he's yours.*/ *Um. I'll keep that in mind if I spot him again, but I have no idea where he is, at present. My best guess at the moment is that he combined about three different techniques in ways I didn't think possible.* > As Thratchen's forces pull back, Dracul moves to hunt down Jarek >(if he's still breathing and/or present). "I don't take kindly to >being stabbed in the back, demigod," he snarls. "Just ask Behemoth -- >when you meet him in _Malfeas!_" The Emperor cackles in amused >delight... A skirl of phantom wind brings slightly mocking words to Dracul's ears alone. "Nothing personal, but the Emperor rules well over a hundred planets. Maybe thousands...I'm not sure about the details. You haven't even been able to bring your own to heel yet. What do you suppose Preserver's been doing in your absence, hmmm?" =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Sudden Arrivals On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 08:36:53 -0700 Greymoran Said As CAoL Message # 00012739 >On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 01:05:37 -0800 (PST) >Hudzen Said As CAoL Message # 00012737 > >>On Sun, 19 Feb 2006 23:46:38 -0800 >>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00012735 > >Hudzen and Greymoran move with Thratchen's group, getting clear of >the "display", a display that >has ever so slightly disconcerted >Hudzen. The android signs to Greymoran. ^Captain, I believe we may >again find ourselves in a troubling situation. Any orders, sir?^ Yeah, Greymoran thinks, don't get killed. What he signs to Hudzen however is, "This kind of thing is Roland's territory, we'll follow his lead for the time being." >> As Thratchen's forces pull back, Dracul moves to hunt down Jarek >>(if he's still breathing and/or present). "I don't take kindly to >>being stabbed in the back, demigod," he snarls. "Just ask Behemoth >>- when you meet him in _Malfeas!_" The Emperor cackles in amused >>delight... I hate it when he laughs like that, Greymoran thinks and signs. Hudzen signs back a colorful agreement that almost makes Greymoran chuckle. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Sudden Arrivals On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 17:55:44 -0800 Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00012740 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012734 > > Meanwhile, Thratchen has gestured with one hand, directing hir >forces to spread out. "Stay clear of the battle," sie orders. >Meanwhile, Roland sends, /*This is a perfect opportunity to take up >tactical positions. Morgan, take 'possession' of Anakin. Be ready to >cut him loose on the Imperial Guards. Harlock, you know Jarek best, >keep an eye on him. Maybe we'll get lucky and Dracul will decorate >the walls with him, but I doubt it. I'll handle Dracul. If someone's >planning on taking Vader, now would be a good time to let me in on >it. If not, Morgan, he's yours.*/ /*Morgan, I have attuned a pool of energy to your ring. You may draw upon it at need to strengthen, heal, and protect. It's use as offensive energy is highly limited though. At least by my standards.*/ Aurora sends. /*Do not fear to deplete it. I will ensure it is replenished as it is used. Also do not fear to deplete ME. I am tapped into the power plant of Dragons Bane, just in case.*/ =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Sudden Arrivals On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 19:23:38 -0800 (PST) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00012742 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012734 > > Meanwhile, Thratchen has gestured with one hand, directing hir >forces to spread out. "Stay clear of the battle," sie orders. >Meanwhile, Roland sends, /*This is a perfect opportunity to take up >tactical positions. Morgan, take 'possession' of Anakin. Be ready to >cut him loose on the Imperial Guards. Harlock, you know Jarek best, >keep an eye on him. Maybe we'll get lucky and Dracul will decorate >the walls with him, but I doubt it. I'll handle Dracul. If someone's >planning on taking Vader, now would be a good time to let me in on >it. If not, Morgan, he's yours.*/ Rob doesn't move visibly, but an expert fighter would know that something was up just by looking at him. Some subconscious cue would indicate that he had gone from "prisoner" to "potential threat." /I'll take whatever Guardsmen are left after Anakin picks out his few dozen,/ he sends, adding a grin to the message as an afterthought. =========================== Subject: AAE9s: No Need for Mayhem On Sun, 12 Mar 2006 23:16:14 -0800 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012749 Yeah, yeah, I just got through watching the first two Tenchi Muyo! OVAs (yay!). What's yer point? ;-) >On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 01:43:39 -0800 >Harlock Said As CAoL Message # 00012738 > >>On Sun, 19 Feb 2006 23:26:10 -0800 >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012734 >> >> Red Fury does not unleash all his power; not only is he somewhat >>overconfident, he doesn't want to seriously damage the Emperor's >>chambers. Nevertheless, the bolt he unleashes would crush an AT-ST. >>Its effects on the body of an ordinary human would be...dramatic. > >Jarek, being neither an ordinary human nor stupid, had his defense >prepared in advance: as Red Fury unleashes his attack, Jarek melts >into the shadows rather more literally than he had previously, fading >into the floor between one thought and the next. While Dracul's skill is not _quite_ equal to Phoenix's, that's like saying Edison isn't as brilliant as Tesla; probably true, but not relevant to 99.999% of the population if you're the one facing said genius. The blast follows Jarek into the ground, scoring and slightly denting the metal floor. >> Meanwhile, Thratchen has gestured with one hand, directing hir >>forces to spread out. "Stay clear of the battle," sie orders. >>Meanwhile, Roland sends, /*This is a perfect opportunity to take up >>tactical positions. Morgan, take 'possession' of Anakin. Be ready to >>cut him loose on the Imperial Guards. Harlock, you know Jarek best, >>keep an eye on him. Maybe we'll get lucky and Dracul will decorate >>the walls with him, but I doubt it. I'll handle Dracul. If someone's >>planning on taking Vader, now would be a good time to let me in on >>it. If not, Morgan, he's yours.*/ > >*Um. I'll keep that in mind if I spot him again, but I have no idea >where he is, at present. My best guess at the moment is that he >combined about three different techniques in ways I didn't think >possible.* /*Joy,*/ Roland replies dryly. >> As Thratchen's forces pull back, Dracul moves to hunt down Jarek >>(if he's still breathing and/or present). "I don't take kindly to >>being stabbed in the back, demigod," he snarls. "Just ask Behemoth >>-- when you meet him in _Malfeas!_" The Emperor cackles in amused >>delight... > >A skirl of phantom wind brings slightly mocking words to Dracul's >ears alone. "Nothing personal, but the Emperor rules well over a >hundred planets. Maybe thousands...I'm not sure about the details. >You haven't even been able to bring your own to heel yet. What do you >suppose Preserver's been doing in your absence, hmmm?" Dracul stops in the middle of a combination of psychic blast and teleport-space-rip intended to tear wherever Jarek is into a million shards of reality. He laughs. "Tens of thousands, actually. As for me, I have more than enough turf, thank you. Honestly, who wants to _rule_ the world? It's too much work. Besides, how can you enjoy feeling the bones of your enemies crushed under heel if you leave no ground for the next generation of them to grow?" Roland swallows as he drifts to the Emperor's side. /*Geez, and I thought I _knew_ how sick he was. Everyone get ready -- Jarek distracted the Emperor for us, and I doubt we'll ever have a better shot at him.*/ 'Thratchen' curled one wing around, 'shielding' the Emperor from Dracul. Palpatine cackled. "Such concern for my welfare, Demon Prince. I'm touched." "Enlightened self-interest only, Palpatine," Thratchen said curtly, as demon-Morgan used the cover of the wing to maneuver behind him. "I want you alive to keep your end of the bargain." "Of course, of cour-AKKH!" Twin blades thrust through Palpatine's body, Roland's disruptive lightning saber from the front, the light-sheathed Aramegil from behind. /*Go! GO! _GO!_*/ Roland ordered, focusing all his power on taking Palpatine down. The Sith Master flailed wildly, gurgling in fury and terror, and for a moment, it looks like the twin surprise attack is going to work. (Hopefully, there are enough CAoLers to keep Vader, Dracul and the guardsmen off their backs long enough for this assault.) In fact... >On Sun, 19 Feb 2006 23:48:06 -0800 >Patrick O'Shea Said As CAoL Message # 00012736 > >Outside the chamber, Quiet Moon glides towards the few guards >standing at all-too nervous attention. Even with no psychic talent or >training, they can still feel the raw power coming out of that room. >One of them snaps to attention as the Kai, still in the Imperial >Officer's uniform, approaches. "Sir. Is there something I can do?" > >"Yes. You can sleep," the Kai replies, fist snapping out and striking >a nerve point, then doing likewise to the second guardsman. In an >eyeblink, the two guards are out, never even having the time to even >-think- 'Oh dear. This could be a problem.' The Kai, psionically >speaking, is not there, Psi-Shield masking his presence. > >/Ready./ *Lloyd, on my mark. 3....2...* (OOC: Insert "1" here. ;-) Unfortunately, Darth Sidious did not conquer the galaxy by being foolish or unprepared. While overwhelmed by this dual surprise attack, he manages to throw the pair off, if just barely, with the Dark-powered burning of his Force Lightning. He also threw something else into it, something disruptive... ...and Thratchen turns back into Defender! "Ah...hkk..." Palpatine grips his amulet, and the wound seals over, though the ugly scar where Aramegil pierced him is clearly visible through the hole in his robes. "...Defender...I admire...your ruthlessness...but now...you must die!" He throws another lightning bolt at the door he'd gazed at before. Roland tries to lock the door shut with his powers, but overwhelming Force pushes his efforts aside, and it opens. Darth Tyrannus strides confidently forward, followed by half a dozen Darth Mauls, all twirling double-ended lightsabers like buzzsaws! "You have done well, to come this far," Tyrannus intones, "though it is a shame you are so close, only to fail now." He smiles cruelly. Markoth slinks forward behind the wall of Maulettes. (OOC: Okay, all hell's broken loose. Go for it! ;-) Morgan immediately changes back into her natural form, the better to slay them with. She and Tyrannus lock eyes, each of them being struck by powerful deja vu (albeit much stronger in Morgan's case)... ...and then immediately shake their heads and look for other foes, both of them with "been there, done that" looks on their faces. Roland, meanwhile, charges back towards Sidious, only to find himself caught in a swirl of disorienting evil magick! "Ha ha ha ha ha! Did you forget me so soon, little Champion?" Markoth cackles, hands gesturing wildly. "I think you'll find this little trick of mine especially unpleasant!" Dracul gapes at the mayhem while Defender fights off the vile, soupy mist, and the spikes of pure Taint forming in it. "Oh, _nass_ no! I came here to have some fun, not to get caught up in the final act of Episode VI! _See_ ya, wouldn't wanna _be_ ya!" He vanishes. "You never should have returned, you pathetic fool. Or had you forgotten you're no match for my--WHAT?!" Markoth blurts as Defender, practically on top of him, explodes the evil mist away from him. "That's...that's not..." "I didn't forget anything, you sick pile of feldercarb," Defender snarls. "This time, I'm _ready_ for you!" Markoth backpedals, babbling incoherently in what might be an attempt to grovel (or maybe he's just unable to form coherent words) while the Champion advances, clean power blazing around him. "That's what ye get for missin' staff meetin's," Morgan quips while she sizes up Maul-alikes. Seeing their curved 'sword-wall,' Tyrannus advancing between and just behind the two center Mauls, she leaps at an end Maul. The hyper-fast duelist parries her first blow. "I remember you," he whispers, as their first exchange of blows moves faster than the mundane eye can follow. "I was given this memory from another world." He presses his attack confidently. "I remember I won." "That was then," Morgan replies, considering and discarding a pun. They go through another lightning-fast exchange. "This is now." Their duel goes back and forth for several more seconds, each of them appraising the other. To Maul's credit, he doesn't try to end this duel the way he did the last. Instead, he deactivates one end of his saber, then tries to reactivate it after a slash-parry-feint right through her forehead. Morgan ducks and cuts him neatly in half. "Not...again..." he gasps hoarsely as he falls apart, dying of deja vu. (OOC: That leaves five. Have fun! ) -- (/) Roland Morgan /|\ That's just Maul all over... =========================== Subject: RE: AAE9s: No Need for Mayhem On Mon, 13 Mar 2006 01:05:21 -0700 Greymoran Said As CAoL Message # 00012750 >On Sun, 12 Mar 2006 23:16:14 -0800 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012749 > > (OOC: Okay, all hell's broken loose. Go for it! ;-) "Oh crap," Gryemoran mutters. "Hudzen, time to blow our cover!" As he yells this, he sucker punches the nearest bad guy (OOC: Sorry, not sure who that is, I got lost somewhere along the line :-( ) in the nose (OOC: assuming he/she/it has a nose). Hudzen quickly deploys his aresnal, but seesm unsure who to aim it at. He kicks in his "Threat Assesment" program and waits for a result to show up on his visual readouts, while Greymoran begins casting a Mirror Image spell, the most powerful spell left in his weakened cache. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: No Need for Mayhem On Mon, 13 Mar 2006 11:19:37 -0800 Patrick O'Shea Said As CAoL Message # 00012751 >On Sun, 12 Mar 2006 23:16:14 -0800 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012749 > > (OOC: Okay, all hell's broken loose. Go for it! ;-) "*GO!*" Quiet Moon yells and sends, blasting the door off of its tracks with a single spell. Flying forward, he performs a lightning slash with his lightsaber. Literally. Only mildly startled by the additional effect of the Kai's modified lightsaber, Vader's own blood-red blade ignites, catching the second attack. The Force, almost visible thanks to the energy flying around, flows around the Kai's body, seeking a stranglehold. And is immediately dissipated, pushed away by the monk's own psychic disciplines. "I've learned a bit." -Outside "This blows. I should have taken that Tattooine posting," one of the guards sighs. "I could have been a cop, but nooo, I had to go for the prestige job." "Shut up. The rebels might attack any moment." The second guard tries, and fails, to hide his own nervousness. "True. How's now?" Lloyd asked, sword at the guard's throat. He, along with every rebel in a several mile radius, were now right outside the Imperial base, already disabling guards. "Umm...fine by us?" -And, back on the Darth side of the Moon... Sabers flash as the two combatants throw everything they have into the fight. Incredibly, the younger Kai is keeping pace with the Dark Lord, though he has yet to land a blow. There are a few char marks on the long green cape and the well-worn tunic, but those cosmetic injuries are the only marks the Kai has allowed. Around them, Mauls get...well, mauled. Vader, veteran of countless battles and campaigns, knows that. The Force flows out of him, straight into the floor, warping support struts and pillars. The ground around Quiet Moon suddenly collapses several feet, knocking the warrior to the ground. Behind his mask, Vader grins. He liked the high ground. The saber comes up, The Sith having the Kai completely covered. Then he stops, Force screaming a warning. Turning around, his saber now low and ready to swing up, the Sith's eyes widen as he sees the very large, and very unhappy image of Mace Windu. Incorporeal. Unable to affect the physical world directly. And still able to project an aura that says 'you think that makes me LESS dangerous?' Force Spirit and Sith, betrayer and betrayed, look at each other for an eternal second. Mace arches an eyebrow, looking up. Quiet Moon lets loose with a wild battlecry, saber crackling with blue energy over the grey beam. And swings... TBC =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: No Need for Mayhem On Tue, 14 Mar 2006 21:09:56 -0800 (PST) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00012753 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012749 > > "Of course, of cour-AKKH!" Twin blades thrust through Palpatine's >body, Roland's disruptive lightning saber from the front, the >light-sheathed Aramegil from behind. > /*Go! GO! _GO!_*/ Roland ordered, focusing all his power on >taking Palpatine down. The Sith Master flailed wildly, gurgling in >fury and terror, and for a moment, it looks like the twin surprise >attack is going to work. (Hopefully, there are enough CAoLers to keep >Vader, Dracul and the guardsmen off their backs long enough for this >assault.) As two of the guardsmen rush forward to deal with the "traitors," Rob rolls in front of them, bring his hands under his legs in the process. The guardsmen smile, and raise their weapons. "You're pretty brave for somebody wearing manacles," the one on Rob's left says. Then the manacles drop off. The *clang* as they hit the floor distracts one long enough for Rob to use a Force-enhanced kick that sends the guard flying. Then, Rob grabs the manacles, and proceeds to demonstrate something he learned from a police officer in Japan, fifteen or so universes ago. Specifically, how to tie up a person who is actively trying to kill you, with nothing but a pair of handcuffs. > (OOC: Okay, all hell's broken loose. Go for it! ;-) As Rob finishes clearing his area of guardsmen, he tosses his improvised weapon - a manacled, and currently concussed guard - aside, and looks at the Million Maul March. [Okay, it's not a million of them, but one of those Cetagandan ghem-lords was bad news. Six - er, five - of them, with Force training?] Then one of the Sith marauders glances in the street fighter's direction. Their gazes lock, as Rob tries to measure his opponent's skills, and comes up with an unpleasant answer. A moment later, Rob is dodging madly, somehow avoiding every one of the clone's swings, if only by a fraction of an inch in some cases. Scraps of charred denim land on the floor as Darth Maul manages to shred clothing - but never makes contact with flesh. Desperate for a breather, and well aware that everybody else is busy already, Rob pulls out all the stops: blackout bombs, flash-bangs, cyanoacrylate capsules, and even a mini-grenade. None of it does more than slow the Sith warrior down. [If I couldn't read his energy, sense where he was going to swing, I'd be subdivided by now. As it is--] He backflips, evading the slash that would have removed his leg, but losing two pieces of shoelace and a quarter-inch off the heel of one shoe. [--it's too close sometimes. No blaster handy, and he's good enough to parry my shot even if I pulled off a five-saber reflection. Got to stall for time.] The duel turns into a chase scene for a few moments, as Rob bounces off walls mid-jump, leaps over other duels, slides under tables, and even pulls off a high-jump with a course-change when his feet hit the ceiling. But luck plays a factor in everything, and as he finishes a backflip, his foot lands on a piece of cloth, and he slips, checking his fall with one hand. The clone turns his leap into a downward slash of his saber, and Rob reflexively blocks with his right arm, with the particular mental 'push' that he uses so often. The saber stops. For a second, neither combatant moves. Darth Maul is pushing harder, too caught up in the finishing strike to realize why his saber won't move. Rob, for his part, is busy being astonished. Then, shaking off his surprise, he forces Maul's saber back, inch by inch, as he makes his way to his feet. Maul reverses his swing, but Rob blocks with his left hand, dodges the following lunge, and punches Maul in the face. It isn't Force-enhanced, but it's all the more disturbing for it, like seeing Inigo Montoya outfenced by a ten-year old with a stick. With a snarl of rage, the Sith goes back on the attack, only to see his saber parried or dodged at every turn. Somewhere in all this, he notices that Rob is smiling, which infuriates him even more. For his part, Rob doesn't even know he's smiling. [He's turned it up a bit,] he notes, as he slips around the blow. He tries a punch, only to have it blocked by the saber. [Faster, stronger, and possibly tougher, from the feel of him.] The fight continues, but now Maul is the one being pushed back. He tries a variation, expecting Rob to parry in the wrong place, but Rob jumps instead, hooking an arm around the Sith's neck, and bringing him down head-first. Maul's saber goes flying, the blades switching off as it does. As Maul reaches through the Force to pull his weapon back, Rob sets the palm of his left hand on top of his right fist, concentrates, and then lunges forward. "PSYCHO LIGHTNING!" he roars, letting the Force take the form of a lightning bolt that lances out... ...and destroys Maul's lightsaber. Rob smiles, as the now-useless piece of high technology slides into Maul's hand. "Are you willing to quit now?" =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: No Need for Mayhem On Mon, 20 Mar 2006 17:34:57 -0800 (PST) Hudzen Said As CAoL Message # 00012755 >On Mon, 13 Mar 2006 01:05:21 -0700 >Greymoran Said As CAoL Message # 00012750 > >"Oh crap," Gryemoran mutters. "Hudzen, time to blow our cover!" As he >yells this, he sucker punches the nearest bad guy (OOC: Sorry, not >sure who that is, I got lost somewhere along the line :-( ) in the >nose (OOC: assuming he/she/it has a nose). Hudzen quickly deploys his >aresnal, but seesm unsure who to aim it at. He kicks in his "Threat >Assesment" program and waits for a result to show up on his visual >readouts, while Greymoran begins casting a Mirror Image spell, the >most powerful spell left in his weakened cache. Upon seeing the group of Darth Maul clones, Hudzen activates a pair of small, bright orange/red, transparent energy shields, each one covering one of his outer forearms. Into one hand flies his ancient automatic rifle while his Echani sword appears in the other. One of the Maul clones comes at him, leaping through the air while spinning his double-bladed lightsaber. Hudzen takes a defensive stance as Maul approaches, firing his rifle at the Sith Lord in spite of the futility of the shots. Hudzen dodges just as Maul lands, evading a cut meant to slice his gun in half before blocking an attack meant for his head. Immediately, Hudzen is on the defensive, desperately blocking each of Maul's attacks. Though he has little opportunity to retaliate with his sword, it soon becomes clear that Maul is having trouble getting through Hudzen's defense. Maul changes his technique and for an instant, Hudzen sees an opening. He takes it, slicing toward Maul's lower body. Maul deflects it, however, and pushes his hand toward Hudzen's chest. Before making contact, Hudzen feels an invisible force lift and throw him through the air. [How could I have not seen that?], he thought, angry at himself, [It was obvious.] Hudzen slams into the far wall, scraping it as he falls to the ground, and dropping his rifle. He calculates the odds of defeating Darth Maul, even a clone of Maul, in single combat. They're not optimistic. He glances up to see Maul upon him again, swinging for a kill shot. Hudzen thrusts his sword up, parrying the blow and giving Hudzen the opportunity to take a swing at Maul. Metal meets flesh and the hit sends Maul stumbling to the ground. Though he's quick to his feet, any arrogance present on Maul's face before is gone, replaced by rage. "Had enough yet, Meatsack?" Hudzen mocks, his voice suddenly sounding identical to that of Bender Bending Rodriguez. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: No Need for Mayhem On Sat, 25 Mar 2006 14:18:09 -0700 Greymoran Said As CAoL Message # 00012756 >On Mon, 20 Mar 2006 17:34:57 -0800 (PST) >Hudzen Said As CAoL Message # 00012755 > >"Had enough yet, Meatsack?" Hudzen mocks, his voice suddenly sounding >identical to that of Bender Bending Rodriguez. The Maul clone snarls at Hudzen and begins to run towards him, but before his first step is finished, he jerks and stumbles. He starts to turn and then jerks again. The second time Hudzen heard the sound of a Star Wars universe blaster going off and sees smoke coming out of a hole in the Maul clone's chest. Greymoran shot the dying Maulette one more time just to be safe. "Like a Xerox of a Xerox," he says, mocking the corpse. "You all right Hudzen?" =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: No Need for Mayhem On Sun, 26 Mar 2006 21:38:39 -0800 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00012757 >On Sun, 12 Mar 2006 23:16:14 -0800 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012749 > >>*Um. I'll keep that in mind if I spot him again, but I have no idea >>where he is, at present. My best guess at the moment is that he >>combined about three different techniques in ways I didn't think >>possible.* > > > /*Joy,*/ Roland replies dryly. *Unless he makes a move, or our cover gets blown, I don't dare scan for him, either. Frustrating, that.* > Dracul stops in the middle of a combination of psychic blast and >teleport-space-rip intended to tear wherever Jarek is into a million >shards of reality. He laughs. "Tens of thousands, actually. As for >me, I have more than enough turf, thank you. Honestly, who wants to >_rule_ the world? It's too much work. Besides, how can you enjoy >feeling the bones of your enemies crushed under heel if you leave no >ground for the next generation of them to grow?" "Pfeh. Here and I thought you actually had some ambition. Well, as I said, no hard feelings. Consider this my resignation, if you will." From somewhere behind Red Fury, a pinprick of blue light whispers out of the shadows, resolving itself into a thrown dagger that glows with much the same light that Marivale's rapier did at Minas London. Fortunately for Dracul, the dagger is _not_ placed properly for a heart shot...or even a kidney shot. Unfortunately for him, it is not so badly aimed that it will miss entirely, and it _does_ glow with the blue flame mentioned previously. At the same time, a pinprick of utter blackness flings itself toward the disguised Bard. Fortunately for hir, Harlock is an accomplished juggler who happens to be facing in the proper direction. Hir left arm snaps out to catch the incoming dagger by the hilt. Sie squints at the runes carved into the hilt, sneers slightly, and tucks it into a compartment on hir utility belt. Sie looks at Roland and Morgan drifting toward the Emperor and decides not to ask permission to scan for hir assailant. [The stage is set, the players are on their marks. 'Twould seem the curtain is about to rise.] > Roland tries to lock the door shut with his powers, but >overwhelming Force pushes his efforts aside, and it opens. Darth >Tyrannus strides confidently forward, followed by half a dozen Darth >Mauls, all twirling double-ended lightsabers like buzzsaws! "You have >done well, to come this far," Tyrannus intones, "though it is a shame >you are so close, only to fail now." He smiles cruelly. Markoth >slinks forward behind the wall of Maulettes. Harlock looks confused by Tyrannus and the Maulettes, then hir eyes narrow in disgust as sie sees Markoth. [Him again? All right, no more pussy-footing around.] Sie pulls a short cylinder out of hir utility belt and tosses it to Roland. *Roland, an ye get the chance, mark him with this.* The cylinder appears to be a seal of some sort. >"That's what ye get for missin' staff meetin's," Morgan quips while >she sizes up Maul-alikes. Seeing their curved 'sword-wall,' Tyrannus >advancing between and just behind the two center Mauls, she leaps at >an end Maul. The hyper-fast duelist parries her first blow. "I >remember you," he whispers, as their first exchange of blows moves >faster than the mundane eye can follow. "I was given this memory from >another world." He presses his attack confidently. "I remember I >won." Confident that Roland has Markoth well in hand, the Bard pulls a lightsaber from hir belt and...futzes around with it a bit, unable to figure out the controls. Sie looks up at the advancing Maul line and shakes hir head, then re-hangs the lightsaber and pulls out a vibrosword just in time to duck a slash from the _other_ end Maul. [Hmm...parry, parry, block, dodge, parry, dodge...do these folk not have man-portable force-shields? Heh. This could be fun.] A brief look down to tap the controls on hir belt costs Harlock a vibrosword, but the look of disbelief on Maul6's face is priceless as his lightsaber sparks and stops dead half an inch from Harlock's neck. The Bard immediately drops the remains of hir sword and catches Maul6's neck in an iron claw, grunting slightly as sie proceeds to hoist the Zabrak into the air by that punishing grip. "Surprise, pav monkey scum." ===========================