Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 4
                              Chapter 49

Date: Sun, 19 Jul 1998 13:40:26 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE4: At the gates

On Sun, 19 Jul 1998 12:41:24
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005014

>On Fri, 17 Jul 1998 13:01:46 -0400 (EDT)
>Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00005005
>
>Jadis looks around, "My tactical position is far from dubious. In
>fact," he gestures, and the Nazgul with troops come forth ready to
>attack, "I think my tactical position is quite sound."

   Roland's face shows through Vishnu's briefly, favoring Jadis with a
rueful smile. "Okay, I'll give you _that_ one. You're still going
down."
   Vishnu's visage returns, his wounded arm fully regenerated. "If
this is what you wish, Devourer without Renewal."
   Shard/Yama flies down at Vishnu, the air screaming in his wake.
"Ah, put a sock in it, you self-righteous do-gooder!"
   Were there any to tell the tale, their battle would have become the
stuff of legends. Somehow, Vishnu is able to battle the Nazgul and
their hordes while fighting Yama, who in turn is able to hold off
Vishnu's champion (Sil made Goddess) and their entourage. They both
seem to save most of their strength for each other, and something
...PRIMAL...shakes as they strike one another.

>On Sun, 19 Jul 1998 01:17:57 -0400 (EDT)
>Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00005009
>
>The fight is winding down, the majority of the troops on Jadis' side
>are gone. That's when first one, then the rest of the twenty Jadaii
>reappear. Jadis floats down to the castle gates and the rest of them
>fan out around the combatants. The starburst gem comes through the
>castle and into his hand. His voice rings out, "The wheel turns, the
>end becomes the beginning." He reaches out with his will and sends
>all of the people in the universe to their evac destinations,
>basically breaking and flowing around all of Brahma's blocks. "The
>cycle is now ended." With that, Jadis destroys the universe, only
>holding the castle outside of this. "And begun." He restarts the
>universe, and when it is done the Gods are gone, ALL of them, but he
>is now even more firmly tied to the universe. Standing on the plain
>are the CAoL, in their usual forms. There is only one Jadis.

   Vishnu and Yama are gone, leaving in their places Roland and Shard.
Both look at Jadis with shocked expressions, then Shard smiles and
Roland frowns. /Okay, folx,/ Roland sends, /Plan A is-/

>He looks at them and says, "Keep in mind that I bear you no Malice,"
>he extends a hand toward the group and the power of 6 universes flows
>toward the group only to disappear through a gateway into the
>multiverse to a destination of Jadis' choosing. He lowers his hand,
>left with only his normal power level. With his other hand he raises
>the starburst pendant and breaks it in half, releasing John, whose
>spirit goes into the castle. "I surrender myself to you," he
>declares, holding his hands out in front of him to be bound. "If you
>have any questions for me, I suggest you ask them quickly while I
>feel like talking."

   Roland blinks. Shard snarls. "Damn it, I should have KNOWN!"
   Shard vanishes.
   Roland shrugs and places (completely ordinary) handcuffs on Jadis.
"You'll have to be turned over to...well, whoever was in charge here
before you blew it all to hell, but this sudden display of wisdom will
go in your favor. As will your decision to spare the innocents and
undo the harm you've done." For the first time, there is some respect
in Roland's voice, tempered only by a suspicion that Jadis is up to
something.
   However...
   /John, that you? Are you all right?
   /And what the sprock is Jadis up to?/

>OOC: Well, this is the next to last wrap up post. I'm leaving it here
>in case there are questions you wish to ask Jadis now.

   (OOC: Assuming that's really John, and he's OK...HELL yes! <g>
Ignore the following if he isn't. But somehow, I doubt it.)
   Roland frowns. "Okay. You feel like talking. Let's start with the
obvious. What were you trying to do here? If holding John was so
important, then you wouldn't be letting him go with this sudden lack
of concern."
   Sil frowns. "There's another question, Roland. What did KnightMare
have to do with all of this, Jadis? He doesn't seem to be the type to
stick his-its-neck out on a whim."
   (OOC: There's your opening, Shadow-so, now that Jadis presumably
has what he wants, what the heck was he up to? And how is he going to
point us at KnightMare?)
===========================

Date: Sun, 19 Jul 1998 14:07:38 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE4: A Rapturist at the Gates.

On Sun, 19 Jul 1998 16:53:42 -0400 (EDT)
Shadow <pookie> Said As CAoL Message # 00005015

OOC: My thnks to Mike for including everything I had to reply to. And
that bit about the survey.. ROTFLMAO

>On Sun, 19 Jul 1998 12:53:29 -0500
>Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00005013
>
>>He looks at them and says, "Keep in mind that I bear you no Malice,"
>>he extends a hand toward the group and the power of 6 universes
>>flows toward the group only to disappear through a gateway into the
>>multiverse to a destination of Jadis' choosing. He lowers his hand,
>>left with only his normal power level. With his other hand he raises
>>the starburst pendant and breaks it in half, releasing John, whose
>>spirit goes into the castle. "I surrender myself to you," he
>>declares, holding his hands out in front of him to be bound. "If you
>>have any questions for me, I suggest you ask them quickly while I
>>feel like talking."
>
>Molly scowls.

Jadis cocks an eyebrow at her, "What, you expect sweetness and light?"

>>On Sun, 19 Jul 1998 02:20:01 EDT
>>Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00005010
>>
>>"Good day, sir. My name, as you know, is Scott Osborne. I saw that
>>demonstration in the town. I wasn't involved in it; but from what I
>>gather, you'd probibly know about Them. What do you think of Their
>>appearance here?"
>
>The scowl on Molly's face deepens. [Pardon me, sir, would you like to
>take a survey? Did you find the appearance of a floating frisbee
>sword in front of your face a) a minor nuisance blocking your view b)
>a little irritating, had to update my file of 'omniwhatsis's making
>threats at me' c) a major pain, I had to spend a whole couple seconds
>remaking my guns d) sword? what sword?] ]
>
>[Be nice, Aunt Molly,] Tink scolds, [He's just doing his job.]

OOC: If this wasn't broadcast ignore Jadis reaction to it.

Jadis laughs, in true enjoyment. "Them. Isn't there something more
descriptive you can call them. Keeping track of Them is hard, there
are just so many of them." He sighs, "However, this particular Them.
They should remain in the shadows where they belong. If They care to
crawl out into the light then someone might just step on them. Or They
might make an enemy they can't kill, subvert, or destroy, only annoy
or appease. I think that They, while powerful and skilled, have an
inflated opinion of Themselves. They are not invulnerable."

>>On Sun, 19 Jul 1998 02:07:55 -0500
>>Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005011
>>
>>"For a Shadow, Jadis, you have the _beginnings_ of a certain small
>>amount of style. Not much, but very good for a mere Shadow dweller.
>>Too bad you didn't believe me about seeing the future. You could
>>have been so MUCH more." She sighs, then shrugs. "Such is life, no?
>>The bet, then, and I'll be off. There is a much greater threat
>>they'll face, as I'm sure you're aware, since you're about to tell
>>us all about it."

Jadis looks at her a moment, "You continually amaze me with your
egocentric and small-minded worldview. It _will_ rise up and bite you
in the ass one day. That aside, To answer the terms of my bet,
KnightMare is behind everything and the whole charade was to distract
and slow you while he finished up his plans. I daresay I was almost
the only decent help he had."

>Molly snorts. "Sure," the choker glows, "Tell them all about it. I'm
>going to find John." She wraps a white bit of cloth around her fist,
>a politeness hankie. /I'll give him a 'Paff'. You don't call the
>people who came to rescue you 'fools'. If I didn't want to give the
>punk a fat lip so bad, I'da left him here./

Jadis rplies, "He's in the throne room, straight down the hall, second
to last grand archway."

OOC: Who is she referring to here? John? If so, I don't remember the
incident she's talking about.
===========================

Date: Sun, 19 Jul 1998 14:37:55 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE4: At the gates

On Sun, 19 Jul 1998 17:10:32 -0400 (EDT)
Shadow <pookie> Said As CAoL Message # 00005016

>On Sun, 19 Jul 1998 12:41:24
>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005014
>
>   Roland shrugs and places (completely ordinary) handcuffs on Jadis.
>"You'll have to be turned over to...well, whoever was in charge here
>before you blew it all to hell, but this sudden display of wisdom
>will go in your favor. As will your decision to spare the innocents
>and undo the harm you've done." For the first time, there is some
>respect in Roland's voice, tempered only by a suspicion that Jadis is
>up to something.
>   However...
>   /John, that you? Are you all right?
>   /And what the sprock is Jadis up to?/

/I'm here./ his mental voice sounds very weary, and he's also holding
a side coversation in private with Rhia at the same time. /I'm just
beat to hell after fighting with Brahma. Jadis... has surrendered. He
is still linked to this place, it's an enormous source of power to
him, and only he can sever that tie. If he is killed, he becomes one
with the universe and  more dangerous than ever before. What more does
he have to fight for? What more indeed.../

>   Sil frowns. "There's another question, Roland. What did KnightMare
>have to do with all of this, Jadis? He doesn't seem to be the type to
>stick his-its-neck out on a whim."
>   (OOC: There's your opening, Shadow-so, now that Jadis presumably
>has what he wants, what the heck was he up to? And how is he going to
>point us at KnightMare?)

  Jadis smiles at Roland, then proceeds to answer everyone else's
question's first.
  Inside the castle, Molly finds John. He is inhabiting the body that
Jadis had left when everything else was evacuated and is currently
flopping around on the floor as he tries to pull himself to the gates.
The muscle tone isn't exactly the best, and he's unused to
physicality. When she enters the room he looks up at her and smiles
apologetically, "Do you think you could help me up and out?"
  Finishing with his settlement of his bet with Zia, he turns back to
Roland, "There is the answer to both your questions. Holding John
became unimportant after it was obvious that you would not do the
deed, and only served to give you reason to continue on. As to what
KnightMare is up to, well, you shall have to ask him yourself. Yon
arrogant girl over there has a trump that will lead you to the place
in which you will meet him, though he may trouble himself to affect
the time at which you meet him."
  "Anything else, now that I've put myself into your hands for justice
and am trusting to your mercy?" He smirks at the irony in that
statement, as everyone knows what the results would have been had he
won.
===========================

Date: Sun, 19 Jul 1998 15:10:24 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: AAE IV: Justice

On Sun, 19 Jul 1998 15:04:21
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005018

>On Sun, 19 Jul 1998 17:10:32 -0400 (EDT)
>Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00005016
>
>/I'm here./ his mental voice sounds very weary, and he's also holding
>a side coversation in private with Rhia at the same time. /I'm just
>beat to hell after fighting with Brahma. Jadis... has surrendered. He
>is still linked to this place, it's an enormous source of power to
>him, and only he can sever that tie. If he is killed, he becomes one
>with the universe and more dangerous than ever before. What more does
>he have to fight for? What more indeed.../

   Roland frowns. /Sprocking wonderful. Unfortunately, We really can't
spare Jadis any more time now; he's released you and surrendered, and
freed his 'subjects.' He's not the immediate threat./

>  Jadis smiles at Roland, then proceeds to answer everyone else's
>question's first.
>  Inside the castle, Molly finds John. He is inhabiting the body that
>Jadis had left when everything else was evacuated and is currently
>flopping around on the floor as he tries to pull himself to the
>gates. The muscle tone isn't exactly the best, and he's unused to
>physicality. When she enters the room he looks up at her and smiles
>apologetically, "Do you think you could help me up and out?"

   Roland offers some life energy to help the reborn John 'get to his
feet,' so to speak. <g>

>  "Anything else, now that I've put myself into your hands for
>justice and am trusting to your mercy?" He smirks at the irony in
>that statement, as everyone knows what the results would have been
>had he won.

   Roland scowls. "Justice. Mercy. Hmmph. You use those words so
freely. You haven't the slightest idea of their meanings.
   "But you will. HYDRA! NEMO!"
   (Assuming Hydra hasn't been weakened by his battle with Cerberus)
   "/If there are any beings connected to this reality that could be
considered Jadis' 'peers,' we can turn him over to them. If the gods
of this reality are beyond our reach.../"
   Roland smiles. It is a vicious smile, one rarely seen by his
comrades. "/Jadis' power comes from this universe. A universe he has
conveniently emptied of all sentient life.
   "/Destroy it, would you?/"
   (OOC: The following depends on their response; if they find the
gods, or cannot destroy a universe, ignore the following)
   "You, Jadis, will not be left here to be destroyed with your
reality." A bit of TK releases the 'cuffs, which couldn't have held
him anyway. "You have undone the things you did. That, however, does
not excuse your heinous actions. Therefore, all benefit you have
derived from them will also be undone." Roland's smile vanishes. "This
pointless little exercise is _over._ I hope you got some satisfaction
from this stupid game. Because that's ALL you're getting from it."
Roland turns to go. /Mount UP, people-we have a spider to squish./
   Just before he reaches the others, though, he turns and smiles.
   "Oh, and Jadis? Good luck against all those Primals you pissed off.
I think you're going to need it."
   (OOC: I will respond to other possibilities if/when they come up.)

(OOC: Webmistress request: Please don't start the finale until part
'C' is complete, so I don't have to deal with overlapping posts.)
===========================

Date: Sun, 19 Jul 1998 16:07:58 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Justice

On Sun, 19 Jul 1998 18:55:06 -0400 (EDT)
Shadow <pookie> Said As CAoL Message # 00005020

>On Sun, 19 Jul 1998 15:04:21
>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005018
>
>   Roland frowns. /Sprocking wonderful. Unfortunately, We really
>can't spare Jadis any more time now; he's released you and
>surrendered, and freed his 'subjects.' He's not the immediate
>threat./

/Freed? They still believe in him, wherever they may be./

>   Roland offers some life energy to help the reborn John 'get to his
>feet,' so to speak. <g>

He takes it, and it helps some. He could now probably take three steps
before falling over.

OOC: I'm going to wait for Mike's posts before going on with this.

>   Roland scowls. "Justice. Mercy. Hmmph. You use those words so
>freely. You haven't the slightest idea of their meanings.
>   "But you will. HYDRA! NEMO!"
>   (Assuming Hydra hasn't been weakened by his battle with Cerberus)
>   "/If there are any beings connected to this reality that could be
>considered Jadis' 'peers,' we can turn him over to them. If the gods
>of this reality are beyond our reach.../"

OOC: They are no more.

>   Roland smiles. It is a vicious smile, one rarely seen by his
>comrades. "/Jadis' power comes from this universe. A universe he has
>conveniently emptied of all sentient life.
>   "/Destroy it, would you?/"
>   (OOC: The following depends on their response; if they find the
>gods, or cannot destroy a universe, ignore the following)
>   "You, Jadis, will not be left here to be destroyed with your
>reality."

OOC: Ignore what I write if Hydra summarily destroys the universe upon
request.

Jadis smiles, "Your kindness overwhelms me as much as your retribution
saddens me."

>A bit of TK releases the 'cuffs, which couldn't have held him anyway.
>"You have undone the things you did. That, however, does not excuse
>your heinous actions. Therefore, all benefit you have derived from
>them will also be undone."

Jadis bows, "I am chastised."

>   "Oh, and Jadis? Good luck against all those Primals you pissed
>off. I think you're going to need it."

Jadis just smiles and nods at him, "Have a.." The castle doors behind
him slam open, imbedding themselves in the walls. John, supported by
Molly, staggers out. "Roland Phoenix, you have done some
extroardinarily foolish things, but this one would take the cake."

He painfully makes his way over to Jadis, "He and this universe are
one. We just got him to give up a large portion of the powers he had
and you want to give them back by destroying the universe? Nice bit of
justice there." Jadis just looks resigned, but still not unhappy, he
closes his eyes.

  John holds his hands on Jadis' forehead and chin, and intones, "For
my pain and for my wrong, I do claim the right." John's aura flares,
and there is no trace of the pain magic use had on him previously. "By
my will and my power, do I bar this place from us." The aura flares
again. "With your name, Jahen," Jadis eyes snap open, "Mire," Jadis'
eyes widen, "Sulheim," Jadis grits his teeth as his body begins to
shake, "Na.." The rest is psychic shout accompanied by a flood of
concepts and images, "DO I BIND YOUR AGREEMENT TO MY WILL." Then John
snaps Jadis' neck.
  The body falls from his hands and John steps back, ready to fall
down. The body begins to spark, and black lightnings run over it. A
dark cloud expands outward from it while seeming to rush into the body
from the rest of the universe. The cloud has almost, but not quite,
taken shape when it speaks, <My thanks to you for restoring me to
myself. I must purify myself.> The cloud seems to wring itself and a
greenish glow flows over the dark gas to collect into a ball. <This
purely human evil I do not need. I cast it forth from me, let it do as
it wills.> With that the ball shoots away as if shot from a particle
accelerator, smearing as it goes until a long green streak is all that
can be seen. The cloud disappears. John begins to collapse.

>   (OOC: I will respond to other possibilities if/when they come up.)

OOC: What could possibly happen. <grin> This is it, except for minor
stuff like the scene between Molly and John and the possibility of
Dane actually going ahead and destroying the universe.
===========================

Date: Sun, 19 Jul 1998 21:11:27 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: RE: AAE IV: Justice

On Sun, 19 Jul 1998 22:26:53 -0500
Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005022

Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00005013
[snippage to the Goddess of Random Acts of Kindness]
"I suppose I should have made some flowery speech voicing my
intentions, but I felt it simply would have made my task harder, since
I was trying to thwart both sides' plans. That of Jadis wanting the
Universe destroyed and Brahma wanting an object lesson for Jadis. Ah
well. Fighting two sides at once is always difficult."

One of Brahma's faces, unobserved by this little gathering playing
cards and chatting, shows momentarily an expression reflecting
despair, pain, and then some sort of determination in a rapid
flickering. The Indian god makes no effort to approach the group in
the midst of the fight, or speak to them.

>[Jadis] reaches out with his will and sends all of the people in the
>universe to their evac destinations, basically breaking and flowing
>around all of Brahma's blocks.

The Avatar stands. "There, that is the moment I was waiting for. I am
sorry this could not be resolved differently, Lords and Ladies. But
the experience was Enlightening." She fades away, leaving Jadis'
universe.

After she is gone, and beyond noticing, one of Brahma's heads intones,
"The scrolls reveal
Freedom of the curst,
Is when out of evil,
Good is burst."

<snip: Zia comments to Jadis about her bet.>
>Molly just rolls her eyes disgustedly.

Zia frowns, as Jadis answers with two skimpy sentences, and goes on to
comment on the Trump he gave her while addressing Roland. "You know,"
she mutters in annoyance, "it might be a compliment, in a way, to have
someone like Jadis say one has too much ego... but I already KNEW all
that. Sounds like this bet was a purely painful waste of time, since
that is all he'll say. What a welcher."

As Roland calls in Nemo and Hydra, Zia quietly picks her way over to
Tink. She sorts out the Trump Jadis gave her, and lays it near the
girl. "Tell Molly thanks so much for the judgment and disgusted
expressions. Durn near makes me feel at home. And personally, I'd like
to thank you for throwing a marvelous wrench into my plans.
Fortunately, I didn't hurt anyone."Her tone is somewhere between hurt
and trying not to show it, and who the hell cares what you think,
anyway.

She stands up, and dusts off her hands. "Well. This has been little to 
no fun at all. I think..." she looks around... "I could REALLY use a
drink."

"Never liked denouements, anyhow." The short brunette comments to
herself, walking away over a small rise.
===========================

Date: Sun, 19 Jul 1998 21:11:34 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE4: A Rapturist at the Gates.

On Sun, 19 Jul 1998 22:30:02 -0500
Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00005023

>On Sun, 19 Jul 1998 16:53:42 -0400 (EDT)
>Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00005015
>
>>On Sun, 19 Jul 1998 12:53:29 -0500
>>Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00005013
>>
>>Molly scowls.
>
>Jadis cocks an eyebrow at her, "What, you expect sweetness and
>light?"

No answer is forthcoming.

>>The scowl on Molly's face deepens. [Pardon me, sir, would you like
>>to take a survey? Did you find the appearance of a floating frisbee
>>sword in front of your face a) a minor nuisance blocking your view
>>b) a little irritating, had to update my file of 'omniwhatsis's
>>making threats at me' c) a major pain, I had to spend a whole couple
>>seconds remaking my guns d) sword? what sword?] ]
>>
>>[Be nice, Aunt Molly,] Tink scolds, [He's just doing his job.]
>
>OOC: If this wasn't broadcast ignore Jadis reaction to it.

<OOC: Not broadcast. Private thoughts in the gestault mind.>

>>Molly snorts. "Sure," the choker glows, "Tell them all about it. I'm
>>going to find John." She wraps a white bit of cloth around her fist,
>>a politeness hankie. /I'll give him a 'Paff'. You don't call the
>>people who came to rescue you 'fools'. If I didn't want to give the
>>punk a fat lip so bad, I'da left him here./
>
>Jadis rplies, "He's in the throne room, straight down the hall,
>second to last grand archway."

Molly enters the castle to find...

>On Sun, 19 Jul 1998 17:10:32 -0400 (EDT)
>Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00005016
>
>  Inside the castle, Molly finds John. He is inhabiting the body that
>Jadis had left when everything else was evacuated and is currently
>flopping around on the floor as he tries to pull himself to the
>gates. The muscle tone isn't exactly the best, and he's unused to
>physicality. When she enters the room he looks up at her and smiles
>apologetically, "Do you think you could help me up and out?"

/Certainly,/ Molly sends, all sweetness and light (to borrow a phrase)
walking slowly over to him.

Reaching down, she grabs John's ankle and hoists him in the air,
upside down in front of her.

/You probably don't recall saying this; though considering you were
tapping it in morse code, you _certainly_ should have thought it a bad
idea at the time; but when you address the people who have come to
rescue you as 'fools', it tends to set a low sense of morale and there
is little desire to come save such a person. Most people would drop-/

Here, she drops John, with just enough of a push outward to have him
land on his back instead of straight down on his head.

/-such a person immediately./ Molly leans down to look him, upside
down, in the eyes. /But these are good people. Which makes the affront
doubly insulting. You deserve a fat lip for what you said. You deserve
to still be in the clutches of that thing outside. But life isn't
fair./

Molly grabs John roughly and hoists him over her shoulders in a
fireman's carry. She then heads out of the castle.

>Jadis just smiles and nods at him, "Have a.." The castle doors behind
>him slam open, imbedding themselves in the walls. John,

...carried by Molly, emerges from the castle and returns to the group.

>"Roland Phoenix, you have done some extroardinarily foolish things,
>but this one would take the cake."

...at which point John is dumped on his ass, with a /You don't learn,
do you?/...

>  John holds his hands on Jadis' forehead and chin, and intones, "For
>my pain and for my wrong, I do claim the right." John's aura flares,
>and there is no trace of the pain magic use had on him previously.
>"By my will and my power, do I bar this place from us." The aura
>flares again. "With your name, Jahen," Jadis eyes snap open, "Mire,"
>Jadis' eyes widen, "Sulheim," Jadis grits his teeth as his body
>begins to shake, "Na.." The rest is psychic shout accompanied by a
>flood of concepts and images, "DO I BIND YOUR AGREEMENT TO MY WILL."
>Then John snaps Jadis' neck.
>  The body falls from his hands and John steps back, ready to fall
>down. The body begins to spark, and black lightnings run over it. A
>dark cloud expands outward from it while seeming to rush into the
>body from the rest of the universe. The cloud has almost, but not
>quite, taken shape when it speaks, <My thanks to you for restoring me
>to myself. I must purify myself.> The cloud seems to wring itself and
>a greenish glow flows over the dark gas to collect into a ball. <This
>purely human evil I do not need. I cast it forth from me, let it do
>as it wills.> With that the ball shoots away as if shot from a
>particle accelerator, smearing as it goes until a long green streak
>is all that can be seen. The cloud disappears. John begins to
>collapse.

...to which Molly does absolutely nothing beyond watch.

<OOC: Done here, Morgan. <EG>>
===========================

Date: Sun, 19 Jul 1998 21:39:14 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Justice

On Sun, 19 Jul 1998 20:57:48 PST
Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005025

In mail you write:
>    Roland frowns. /Sprocking wonderful. Unfortunately, We really
> can't spare Jadis any more time now; he's released you and
> surrendered, and freed his 'subjects.' He's not the immediate
> threat./

One of the Nemo's walks over to Roland and taps him on the shoulder.

"*You* may not be able to spare the time. I can."

>    "/If there are any beings connected to this reality that could be
> considered Jadis' 'peers,' we can turn him over to them. If the gods
> of this reality are beyond our reach.../"

<OOC: you may want to modify the above, given that ione or more Nemos
can hang around essentially forever>

>    "/Destroy it, would you?/"
>    (OOC: The following depends on their response; if they find the
> gods, or cannot destroy a universe, ignore the following)

"There is *life* here, and while it may not currently be sentient, it
could develop into such. I don't destroy such universe without very
good reasons. Care to explain yours?"
===========================

Date: Sun, 19 Jul 1998 22:38:48 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Justice

On Sun, 19 Jul 1998 22:18:34
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005026

<OOC: I wasn't going to send this because Roland thought I was being
to harsh. Then we read the last few posts :-). So here it is anyway
;-).>

>On Sun, 19 Jul 1998 18:55:06 -0400 (EDT)
>Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00005020
>
>Jadis just smiles and nods at him, "Have a.." The castle doors behind
>him slam open, imbedding themselves in the walls. John, supported by
>Molly, staggers out. "Roland Phoenix, you have done some
>extroardinarily foolish things, but this one would take the cake."

Morgan, who has been monitoring developments through the link, hears
this and frowns. [Of all the ungrateful....]

   /You're welcome,/ is all Roland says, though he _does_ have a faint
smile on his face.

>He painfully makes his way over to Jadis, "He and this universe are
>one. We just got him to give up a large portion of the powers he had
>and you want to give them back by destroying the universe? Nice bit
>of justice there." Jadis just looks resigned, but still not unhappy,
>he closes his eyes.

/So, would you rather they'd killed him and let him become One with
the Universe?/ Morgan's voice is heard through the link. /You
apparently haven't taken into account the fact the after Hydra and
Nemo _ate_ the energy of this Universe as they destroyed it, there
wouldn't have been much left for Jadis to benefit from./

   /Morgan-/ Roland sends.

But the Highlander is on a roll. /Or maybe you'd rather they'd taken
Jadis' advice and just left without you. Seems like no matter _what_
they did you'd be calling them fools, if you were in a position to
_do_ any calling, that is./ She is clearly not pleased with John's
attitude.

   /MORGAN!/ Roland replies, shocked. /We don't abandon our own,/ he
sends with finality.

>  The body falls from his hands and John steps back, ready to fall
>down. The body begins to spark, and black lightnings run over it. A
>dark cloud expands outward from it while seeming to rush into the
>body from the rest of the universe. The cloud has almost, but not
>quite, taken shape when it speaks, <My thanks to you for restoring me
>to myself. I must purify myself.> The cloud seems to wring itself and
>a greenish glow flows over the dark gas to collect into a ball. <This
>purely human evil I do not need. I cast it forth from me, let it do
>as it wills.> With that the ball shoots away as if shot from a
>particle accelerator, smearing as it goes until a long green streak
>is all that can be seen. The cloud disappears. John begins to
>collapse.

Morgan's rant loses some steam, but she's still not in the best of
moods. /Good, one less waste of skin in the Multiverse,/ she comments
cooly. ^Let's the evil go forth to 'do as it wills' and he calls _you_
foolish?^ she comments privately to Roland. Then she sighs.

   ^Eh. I cultivate an aura of 'typical superhero brawler' so my
enemies underestimate me. It's worked so far,^ Roland replies.

^Yes, but you'd think your "friends" would give you more credit.^ She
sighs. ^I'm sorry I ran off like that, but after all the hoops you
guys jumped through for him, well...^ she smiles faintly. ^It just
steamed me no end.^

She collects herself and sends to the rest of the CAoL, /When you
folks are done there, how about coming through here on your way to
wherever we're going next. I'll see if I can whip up some exa-size
cans of RAID,/ she sends through the psi-web with a wink.

OOC: exa- is like a mega-mega-, 10^18 as opposed to mega which is
10^6. It was the biggest metric prefix I could find ;-).
===========================

Date: Sun, 19 Jul 1998 22:39:01 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Justice

On Sun, 19 Jul 1998 22:29:37
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005028

>On Sun, 19 Jul 1998 20:57:48 PST
>Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005025
>
>One of the Nemo's walks over to Roland and taps him on the shoulder.
>
>"*You* may not be able to spare the time. I can."

   Roland smiles. /Cool. Go get him, big guy./

>>    "/If there are any beings connected to this reality that could
>> be considered Jadis' 'peers,' we can turn him over to them. If the
>> gods of this reality are beyond our reach.../"
>
><OOC: you may want to modify the above, given that ione or more Nemos
> can hang around essentially forever>

   (OOC: Shadow posted that those gods are dead. Forever won't do us
any good.)

>"There is *life* here, and while it may not currently be sentient, it
> could develop into such. I don't destroy such universe without very
> good reasons. Care to explain yours?"

   Roland looks _extremely_ annoyed, but that's due more to the
fraying of his patience than Nemo's response. /Gee, I don't know,
maybe having Jadis running around powerful enough to kill gods and
twist dimensions a whim? If you can come up with a better solution,
hey, go for it-/

<snip of John killing Jadis>

   /-oooor, I suppose that works. Sort of. Hey, Zia-/ Roland turns
around. Only the scion of Amber is long gone. (See Zia's post.) "/Zia?
*sigh* Great. Just great. Anyone get a good look at that card?/"
   (OOC: Unless someone else has something to add, my next post will
lead in to my run-and lead the _characters_ to the appropriate
universe, after a short stop to pick up Morgan.)

(OOC-M: ...And catch our breaths, regroup, rest if needed. I know KM
has been stalling, but IMHO we should go into this at full strength.
And hopefully with a few of our less-active-recently members ready for
some action, adventure and excitement ;-). Gee, what a concept!)
===========================

Date: Sun, 19 Jul 1998 23:08:22 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE4: A Rapturist at the Gates.

On Mon, 20 Jul 1998 01:52:10 EDT
Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00005029

Shadow <pookie> Said
> Michael Knight wrote:
>>Under the boughs of a large willow tree, Molly and Tink are sitting
>>cross-legged in front of each other, their packs beside them on one
>>side, bottles of water on the other. A zip-lock bag of raisins,
>>peanuts and buttons of candy coated chocolate sits between them next
>>to a deck of cards.
>>
>>"You have any thwees?" Tink asks. Molly's choker glows faintly as it
>>emits "Go fish."

As the two forces clash, Hydra and Cerberus stride towards each other.
Each performing a kind of kata. Those with senses in N-Space (4-D and
up) sense energies already in conflict. Any that can "see" the astral
and ethereal planes can see that both exist in all these planes. On
the astral plane, both stride forward, ignoring the webs, and
creatures. Those things that touch either of them, cease to exist,
burned away by forces "hotter" that those in the core of a monoblock.
Then they "reach" each other, and their blades become whirling flashes
of light, and darkness (as the case may be). From the begining it is
clear, that Cerberus is MUCH "stronger", but Hydra is as much more
skillful, as Cerberus is more powerful. Both are clearly merging the
martial arts of billions of races. After a few minutes, it is clear,
that Hydra is leading Cerberus away from the CAoL. As they move
through Jadis' forces, where their feet fall, nothing remains. At one
point, Cerberus obviously has an advantage, and as Hydra falls back,
he steps on a Nazgul. Nazgul or not, enhanced or not, the Nazgul is
not capable of surviving the forces resident in a monoblock. When
Hydra lifts his foot, the Nazgul, and a small number of the forces
around him, is gone. As the fight moves around to the back side of
Jadis' fortress (the side away from the CAoL forces). Hydra "misses" a
block, and Cerberus' Glaive passes through him from left to right.
Hydra is clearly BADLY wounded, but as the glaive leaves his body, his
hand flashes (faster than light) to his waist, to grasp "something"
which he slaps to Cerberus' chest, while Cerberus' weapon is out of
position. Hydra then grabs Cerberus similar to a boxers clinch, and
holds on for dear life, the life of the beings around them. Then the
"thing" detonates. MOST of the force is contained between the two
titanic combatants. MOST of what is not contained is released in a
plane perpendicular to a line drawn between them, the fortress, and
the CAoL. The rest is distributed in a sphere around the two (about .2
kilotons of TNT worth). The two (and any of Jadis' forces on that side
of the fortress) are wrapped in cosmic fire. When the light dims,
Cerberus is gone, and Hydra is down. It is clear, that he has been
critically wounded, possibly mortally wounded (that kind of thing is
to be expected, when one muffles an N-Space explosion (of literally
Infinite energy) with ones body. Hydra is consious enough to swat at
(and therby destroy) any of Jadis' troups that are foolish enough to
approach him, but other than that he does not move.
===========================

Date: Sun, 19 Jul 1998 23:08:30 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: AAE 4: Pause...

On Mon, 20 Jul 1998 01:53:14 EDT
Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00005030

Osborne looks at the castle, then at Jadis' remains, then at Roland,
and the rest of the CAoL.

"May I suggest we end this meeting, and restart it at The Place? I
suppose I should explain myself; and besides, we're going to need a
gathering place anyway."

A shadow of a thought is sent out...

~Why? They're just a group of supers. Why would They be interersted?~
===========================

Date: Mon, 20 Jul 1998 00:07:03 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: AAE IV: Entity down

On Sun, 19 Jul 1998 23:48:28
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005032

>On Mon, 20 Jul 1998 01:52:10 EDT
>Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00005029
>
>As the two forces clash, Hydra and Cerberus stride towards each
>other. Each performing a kind of kata. Those with senses in N-Space
>(4-D and up) sense energies already in conflict. Any that can "see"
>the astral and ethereal planes can see that both exist in all these
>planes. On the astral plane, both stride forward, ignoring the webs,
>and creatures. Those things that touch either of them, cease to
>exist, burned away by forces "hotter" that those in the core of a
>monoblock. Then they "reach" each other, and their blades become
>whirling flashes of light, and darkness (as the case may be). From
>the begining it is clear, that Cerberus is MUCH "stronger", but Hydra
>is as much more skillful, as Cerberus is more powerful. Both are
>clearly merging the martial arts of billions of races. After a few
>minutes, it is clear, that Hydra is leading Cerberus away from the
>CAoL.

   /Well done, Hydra!/ Roland sends with a salute.
   (OOC: Imagine that, one of the Big Guns winning a fight through
subtlety! <G>)

>Hydra then grabs Cerberus similar to a boxers clinch, and holds
>on for dear life, the life of the beings around them. Then the
>"thing" detonates. MOST of the force is contained between the two
>titanic combatants. MOST of what is not contained is released in a
>plane perpendicular to a line drawn between them, the fortress, and
>the CAoL. The rest is distributed in a sphere around the two (about
>.2 kilotons of TNT worth). The two (and any of Jadis' forces on that
>side of the fortress) are wrapped in cosmic fire. When the light
>dims, Cerberus is gone, and Hydra is down. It is clear, that he has
>been critically wounded, possibly mortally wounded (that kind of
>thing is to be expected, when one muffles an N-Space explosion (of
>literally Infinite energy) with ones body. Hydra is consious enough
>to swat at (and therby destroy) any of Jadis' troups that are foolish
>enough to approach him, but other than that he does not move.

   (OOC: Ignore my previous request to Hydra; assume it was directed
solely at Nemo. This comes _after_ Jadis is toast.)
   "/HOLY SPROCKING GRIFE! ENTITY DOWN!/" Though the effort probably
resembles a spider trying to mend a shotgun blast, Roland tries to
help Hydra by sealing the 'wound.' /Anyone who can help get over here,
stat! Fuzzy, see if you can contact the Stardragon! Morgan, if you can
do _anything,_ the barriers are down-get in here! Light, I've _never_
seen a mess like this-and I was in the Anti-Monitor war!/

/On it!/ Morgan responds. She mentally runs through her supplies,
realizes that nothing physical she has will be of any signifiant help,
and 'ports to her husband's side. /"Grife" is right. I don't know how
much help I can be, but I'll do my best./

   Roland nods, and the two combine their power to provide an energy
feed to aid Hydra...
===========================

Date: Mon, 20 Jul 1998 02:07:10 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: RE: AAE IV: Justice

On Mon, 20 Jul 1998 03:37:50 -0500
Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00005033

>On Sun, 19 Jul 1998 22:26:53 -0500
>Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005022
>
>As Roland calls in Nemo and Hydra, Zia quietly picks her way over to
>Tink. She sorts out the Trump Jadis gave her, and lays it near the
>girl. "Tell Molly thanks so much for the judgment and disgusted
>expressions. Durn near makes me feel at home. And personally, I'd
>like to thank you for throwing a marvelous wrench into my plans.
>Fortunately, I didn't hurt anyone."Her tone is somewhere between hurt
>and trying not to show it, and who the hell cares what you think,
>anyway.

<OOC: Do you want to return the Trump Molly gave Zia also? Doesn't
matter to me, either way. Zia sounds like she is leaving here, but who
knows? :)>

>>Tink picks up the card and tucks it away. "I can not help you are
>>suggestible. As for Aunt Molly, you seem to expect someone less
>>judgemental of your actions. She expected someone with better
>>judgement of how to act. Interesting, you both find yourselves
>>disappointed in the other for not living up to the standerds you
>>expected of them." This, of course, in the tone of someone who is
>>truely impassive.

"Good day to you, Dame Ziatrice Keenan, I believe I had better look
for Roscoe as I have not seen him in some time."

>>Tink trots off toward the castle.
>>
>>"Woscoe! Hey Woscoe!"
>
>She stands up, and dusts off her hands. "Well. This has been little
>to  no fun at all. I think..." she looks around... "I could REALLY
>use a drink."

<OOC: <snicker> Molly's thoughts exactly.>
===========================

Date: Mon, 20 Jul 1998 03:36:54 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: AAE IV: Entity down

On Mon, 20 Jul 1998 03:23:56 -0700 (PDT)
Fuzzy Said As CAoL Message # 00005034

> On Sun, 19 Jul 1998 23:48:28
> Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005032
>
>    Roland nods, and the two combine their power to provide an energy
>feed to aid Hydra...

"Hold it you two,
  even a slight back feed from what it has left,
   would be a very bad thing for you two,
    I think this one is mine..."

There is an impression of an Aura of energy around Fuzzy intense
enough to
 sear the boundries of the planes as he taps the Energies availible
  to him as a Dragon Guard...
Using that and the implicite ability to handle such energies,
 He starts working to stabilize the Patterns of Energy that are Hydra,
  not feeding significant energy yet,
   just repairing structural damage...

<OOC: Just in case Dane wants him healed but at a reduced power
level.>
===========================

Date: Mon, 20 Jul 1998 09:19:08 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: RE: AAE IV: Justice

On Mon, 20 Jul 1998 10:12:24 -0500
Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005035

:-----Original Message-----
:From: Michael Knight
:Sent: Monday, July 20, 1998 4:07 AM
::Subject: RE: AAE IV: Justice
:
:On Mon, 20 Jul 1998 03:37:50 -0500
:Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00005033
:
:>On Sun, 19 Jul 1998 22:26:53 -0500
:>Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005022
:>
:>Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00005013
:<OOC: Do you want to return the Trump Molly gave Zia also? Doesn't
:matter to me, either way. Zia sounds like she is leaving here, but
:who knows? :)>

<ooSC: Nope. The Trump Zia gives Tink is the one that supposedly leads
to the rendezous with Knightmare. She just thought they might want to
look at or study it before going. Hard to do when it's in Zia's pocket
and she has stepped out to get a drink.>

:Tink picks up the card and tucks it away. "I can not help you are
:suggestible. As for Aunt Molly, you seem to expect someone less
:judgemental of your actions. She expected someone with better
:judgement of how to act. Interesting, you both find yourselves
:disappointed in the other for not living up to the standerds you
:expected of them." This, of course, in the tone of someone who is
:truely impassive.

     "No. You could not help that. Save perhaps withholding the
suggestion. I merely stated that I was glad I hadn't hurt anyone -
would have been even odds for the CAoL then hunting ME down like a
dog."
     "No, I don't expect someone less judgemental. My life's
experience has taught me that everyone makes judgement calls. If she
has some problem with how I act, I think it's more due to a horrendous
short-sightedness than any considered judgment. Not that she has the
ability or experience to make judgements of me, anyway. Even I don't
give myself those sorts of airs."
     "As far as standards, I generally try to achieve my aims with as
little upset as is possible, contrary as this is to the very type of
power I wield. Not that I ever chose it. I realize I haven't cleanly
suceeded with all my work in this situation. But I don't think Molly
has done so well she can claim any right of judgement by better skill.
Which is really the only criterion I can respect, being what I am.
Didn't Earth have that great philosopher, who said only a person
without sin should cast the first stone? I think he meant we shouldn't
be tossing stones, really. But I could be wrong."

:"Good day to you, Dame Ziatrice Keenan, I believe I had better look
:for Roscoe as I have not seen him in some time." Tink trots off
:toward the castle. "Woscoe! Hey Woscoe!"

     "I believe that means I've been dismissed." Ziactrice actually
grins as the girl wanders off. "I wonder what has gotten into them?
Oh. Don't be absurd, Sera. They hang around with Hydra; my powers
aren't going to unnerve them. Get real. They probably just think I'm
wasting their time. Partially true. I was wasting time, at least." She
stands up, and dusts off her hands. "Well. This has been little to no
fun at all. I think..." she looks around... "I could REALLY use a
drink."

:<OOC: <snicker> Molly's thoughts exactly.>

<ooSC: Heh, wait until you see where Zia winds up drinking, and with
whom.>

     The second-shortest Amberite ever walks away over the hill, then
lets Sera's wings return. She takes off, winging easily if not quickly
back the few miles to where Driss is regenerating. She glances around
to see if anyone is easily visible watching, although she does not
check with any vigilance or special means. "I am really sorry I
brought Chaos down on your neck again, Driss. That is sort of why I
really try never to use shifts on myself - I loose all my ability to
make good decisions, and do the stupidest things. It's so
embarrassing." She slowly increments Order and Chaos, draining Order
slowly from the area into herself, and letting the Chaotic energy
within her slowly well to the environment. She watches for any effect
on his regeneration's speed, and if it seems to help, she'll continue.
     Regardless of helping or continuing, she does say, "I bet you
would understand what I mean." She half-grins. "Not that I'm staying
around long enough to chat."
     When his body has started to re-form, or when Zia realizes this
isn't helping at all, "Now, I believe I was going to get a drink.
Someplace I'm not known, this time. Drop Sera off on the way, yes."
She walks off talking to herself, complete with hand gestures.

<ooc: I'm all done, just goofing around a bit.>
===========================

Date: Mon, 20 Jul 1998 10:47:19 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: RE: AAE IV: Justice

On Mon, 20 Jul 1998 10:35:26 -0700 (MST)
Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00005037

> On Mon, 20 Jul 1998 10:12:24 -0500
> Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005035
>
>      When his body has started to re-form, or when Zia realizes this
> isn't helping at all, "Now, I believe I was going to get a drink.
> Someplace I'm not known, this time. Drop Sera off on the way, yes."
> She walks off talking to herself, complete with hand gestures.

 Driss still isn't really recognisable as anything human though the
first signs of organs are being built quickly. Needless to say there
is no mind currently accessable in that lump of flesh to give any
answers, Yet there is discticly a mind answering her thoughts.
 *Oh I'm sure he understands. He realizes his fate is written out for
him already. What has come to pass was fated to pass. That's what
troubles him the most. Knowing that everything he is, everything he
does is ment to be. But this is going to take him a while even with
your help. I guess I should take him elsewhere before some stray dog
comes along and decides he looks like a snack.*
 And with that the pile of flesh seems to fly apart disapearing
floating on the breeze.
===========================

Date: Mon, 20 Jul 1998 10:47:32 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: RE: AAE IV: Justice

On Mon, 20 Jul 1998 10:42:35 -0700 (MST)
Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00005038

> On Mon, 20 Jul 1998 03:37:50 -0500
> Molly Said:
>
> "Good day to you, Dame Ziatrice Keenan, I believe I had better look
> for Roscoe as I have not seen him in some time."
>
> Tink trots off toward the castle.
>
> "Woscoe! Hey Woscoe!"

 Roscoe isn't too hard to find tracking him by his sigil or lens. He's
still laying there on the floor seemingly comotose, though there is
nothing physically wrong with his body, even the venom was purged when
he shapeshifted. But his mind is another matter. Any scan, even the
lightest subsurface scan will show that his mind is running the same
scene over and over again. The scene of his fight with Squee.
===========================

Date: Mon, 20 Jul 1998 14:09:19 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE4: A Rapturist at the Gates.

On Mon, 20 Jul 1998 16:59:12 -0400 (EDT)
Shadow <pookie> Said As CAoL Message # 00005041

On Sun, 19 Jul 1998 22:18:34
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005026

><OOC: I wasn't going to send this because Roland thought I was being
>to harsh. Then we read the last few posts :-). So here it is anyway
>;-).>

OOC: Jadis is already gone, I had that planned, but considering the
other things said I'm thinking about sending John away as well. I just
don't know.

>>On Sun, 19 Jul 1998 18:55:06 -0400 (EDT)
>>Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00005020
>>
>>/Certainly,/ Molly sends, all sweetness and light (to borrow a
>>phrase) walking slowly over to him.
>>
>>Reaching down, she grabs John's ankle and hoists him in the air,
>>upside down in front of her.

"GCHkkk."

>>/You probably don't recall saying this; though considering you were
>>tapping it in morse code, you _certainly_ should have thought it a
>>bad idea at the time; but when you address the people who have come
>>to rescue you as 'fools', it tends to set a low sense of morale and
>>there is little desire to come save such a person. Most people would
>>drop-/
>>
>>Here, she drops John, with just enough of a push outward to have him
>>land on his back instead of straight down on his head.

"Oof."

>>/-such a person immediately./ Molly leans down to look him, upside
>>down, in the eyes. /But these are good people. Which makes the
>>affront doubly insulting. You deserve a fat lip for what you said.
>>You deserve to still be in the clutches of that thing outside. But
>>life isn't fair./

/I <coof>/ as John is picked up.

>>>"Roland Phoenix, you have done some extroardinarily foolish
>>>things, but this one would take the cake."
>>
>>...at which point John is dumped on his ass, with a /You don't
>>learn, do you?/...

John gives her a black look.

>Morgan, who has been monitoring developments through the link, hears
>this and frowns. [Of all the ungrateful....]
>
>   /You're welcome,/ is all Roland says, though he _does_ have a
>faint smile on his face.

/Usually they involve interposing yourself between a wall and a large
moving object. And thanks./ John sends beck.

>>He painfully makes his way over to Jadis, "He and this universe are
>>one. We just got him to give up a large portion of the powers he had
>>and you want to give them back by destroying the universe? Nice bit
>>of justice there." Jadis just looks resigned, but still not unhappy,
>>he closes his eyes.
>
>   /MORGAN!/ Roland replies, shocked. /We don't abandon our own,/ he
>sends with finality.

John's mood darkens even more, /Oh yeah, that would have been a
_BRILLIANT_ idea. Hydra and Nemo eat the energy of the universe, which
at this point _is_ Jadis, as I seem to have been trying to get over to
everyone _only_ since you arrived, and then we watch as Jadis eats his
way out through them. Perfect solution, I applaud the decision making
involved. And while we're on it, What the HELL is all this CRAP about
me calling you fools. I haven't done so and I certainly haven't used
any Morse in ages. I doubt I'd even remember how to./ John shuts
everyone out as he moves over to Jadis.

>>  The body falls from his hands and John steps back, ready to fall
>>down. The body begins to spark, and black lightnings run over it. A
>>dark cloud expands outward from it while seeming to rush into the
>>body from the rest of the universe. The cloud has almost, but not
>>quite, taken shape when it speaks, <My thanks to you for restoring
>>me to myself. I must purify myself.> The cloud seems to wring itself
>>and a greenish glow flows over the dark gas to collect into a ball.
>><This purely human evil I do not need. I cast it forth from me, let
>>it do as it wills.> With that the ball shoots away as if shot from a
>>particle accelerator, smearing as it goes until a long green streak
>>is all that can be seen. The cloud disappears. John begins to
>>collapse.
>
>To which Molly does nothing but watch.

John falls to the ground, in a heap. Rhiannon runs over to him, and
helps him up.

>^Yes, but you'd think your "friends" would give you more credit.^ She
>sighs. ^I'm sorry I ran off like that, but after all the hoops you
>guys jumped through for him, well...^ she smiles faintly. ^It just
>steamed me no end.^

John turns, supported by Rhia. His face is stone, but his voice is
livid, "I spend Decades trapped in that crystal and when I get out my
_friends_ kick me around some more. WELL? Anyone Else Want To Get In A
Few Blows While I'm Down? Come On, Now's Your Chance. It's Been A Few
Hours And I'm _REALLY_ Starting To Miss Those Torture Sessions With
Jadis. No? Oh Well. Since I'm Obviously Persona Non Grata Around Here,
I Guess I'll Just Go Too Before Someone Gets Hurt." Most of that being
said in a kind of controlled shout, John looks ready to explode. He
flares brightly and pops away, leaving only an afterimage. /Uncle,
wait.../ but he's gone. Rhia  looks around at everyone, torn, "I..
I'll talk to him. After he's cooled down." She pulls out her D-Hopper,
"If he's still wanted around here." She looks directly at Molly as she
says this, setting the controls on the hopper and popping out of
existence as well.
===========================

Date: Mon, 20 Jul 1998 23:24:36 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Entity down (longish)

On Tue, 21 Jul 1998 01:22:03 EDT
Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00005043

> Fuzzy Said
> "Hold it you two,
>   even a slight back feed from what it has left,
>    would be a very bad thing for you two,
>     I think this one is mine..."
>
> There is an impression of an Aura of energy around Fuzzy intense
>  enough to sear the boundries of the planes as he taps the Energies
>   availible to him as a Dragon Guard...
> Using that and the implicite ability to handle such energies,
>  He starts working to stabilize the Patterns of Energy that are
>   Hydra, not feeding significant energy yet,
>    just repairing structural damage...

Fuzzy, can feel the life forces of Hydra waning, as he (Fuzzy) begins.
Within seconds, he can feel, that they are holding steady, but they
are not gaining any ground. Through the connection of the stabilizing
forces, Fuzzy "senses" that Hydra, is experiencing pain, on a scale
that would kill MANY gods. Fuzzy can feel Hydra slipping towards (a
Starspawn's version of) unconsiousness. As his last bit of
consiousness slips away, Hydra says, (OOC: on all possible means of
communication, including lenses, and trumps) "Oracle...by...the
compact...of...the...Unaligned......I call for...your
aid...HELP......meeeeee...". With each word (not including the help)
his "voice" gets weaker and weaker. An instant later, Oracle appears
next to Hydra's "body", "Oh, my! You did get hammered didn't you.
Well, let's see what you did to yourself." he says. Then Oracle closes
his eyes for a moment then says, "By That Which Creates, this damage
is beyond even Aurora's skill and power." He looks towards Fuzzy, and
Roland then continues, "I will have to have The Stardragon's help with
this. With your permission?"

(OOC: assuming that one or both of Fuzzy and Roland reply in the
affirmative)

"Thank you!" Oracle says, and an instant later, The Stardragon (in its
child like form) appears. The Stardragon takes one look at Hydra, and
says "WHO DID THIS?" The very universe shakes with its anger.

Oracle answers, "Cerberus is responsible for at least a part of it."

The Stardragon looks around at the assembled CAoL and says one word
before Oracle interupts it, "CERBERUS!..." (OOC: this goes out as a
loud shout across all possible bands of communication as before).
Oracle interupts The Stardragon to say, "They were fighting as they
have since Cerberus first came to be. So this is a personal thing
between them. Hydra lives, the CAoL were NOT injured, by Cerberus, and
Hydra will *continue* to live, IF you get yourself in gear, and help
him." Oracle smiles gently to soften the mild rebuke. "And besides
Cerberus was injured worse than Hydra, though in differant ways,"
Oracle continues.

The Stardragon looks at Hydra again, and says, "He is almost dead, I
will need to feed, and will need to feed him when I am through."
Oracle sighs, shakes his head, and answers, "As you will."

The Stardragon reaches out, and touches Hydra, Fuzzy feels forces
flowing into Hydra from The Stardragon unlike anything he has EVER
knowingly experienced (unknowingly, or un-remembered is a differant
story). Those forces take over the stabilization, and rapidly begin to
rebuild what has been destroyed. In minutes Hydra regains
consiousness. One of Hydra's heads looks over at Oracle, and asks,
"Did anyone think to get a spacial id of the monoblock that ran over
me?" He retrieves something from the area of his chest, and "hands" it
to Oracle.

"I have repaired what can be repaired. For the rest, only time can
undo the damage," The Stardragon says. "I must feed now, and I must
take Hydra to where he can feed also."

"I will see to a replacement for the CAoL forces, Mighty One. You go
ahead. I will join you shortly." Oracle says. The Stardragon vanishes
an instant later and Hydra vanishes with it. "I assume you would like
me to restore these people?" Oracle asks of Roland as he holds out one
hand with the index finger extended, as though showing a speck of
dust.

(OOC: assuming assent)

Oracle waves the hand that was extended, and says "It is done." Back
in the village, all the assembled citizens are restored in exactly the
locations they were when the village fire fight started. Oracle then
ponders (visibly) for a moment. "Roland, as the leader of the CAoL,
there is some information that I should 'show' you, that will allow
the CAoL to possibly make possible the end of The Stardragon's curse.
The curse of eternal childhood. Will you allow me to show you this
information?"
===========================

Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1998 00:22:03 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Entity down (longish)

Fuzzy Said As CAoL Message # 00005044

> On Tue, 21 Jul 1998 01:22:03 EDT
> Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00005043
>
> "Oh, my! You did get hammered didn't you. Well, let's see what you
> did to yourself." he says. Then Oracle closes his eyes for a moment
> then says, "By That Which Creates, this damage is beyond even
> Aurora's skill and power." He looks towards Fuzzy, and Roland then
> continues, "I will have to have The Stardragon's help with this.
> With your permission?"

"Seems like a good idea to me,
  If you are sure that The StarDragon won't over react..."
===========================

Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1998 17:08:54 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: AAE4 (part C) Ambulances and Apologies

On Tue, 21 Jul 1998 18:45:16 -0500
Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00005051

<OOC: I know I said I was done posting on Shadow's part, but I just
can't leave it hanging like it is, so I have one more bit.>

Tink enters the castle, the child's form bursting into several hundred
bees which quickly locate Roscoe. The bees converge and recombine, and
Tink hurries over to Roscoe.

"You don't wook so good. Don't worry, though, I'll getcha outa here."

Meanwhile Molly's angry expression has changed to one that looks like
she has been stabbed in the gut.

*I..* she telepathicly sends feebly, but the words don't come. While
the rest of the CAoL are behind the castle assisting Hydra, Molly just
stands, staring after where John and Rhia were.

Eight small globes of light detach themselves from her abdomen and
drift varying degrees away before taking on several forms. Roberta
Lincoln-Seven and Gary Seven are on each side of Molly, each with
their arms around her. Molly and Grep appear just behind them, with
two black cats and one white one at Molly's feet. Finally, Mike
appears in front of her.

Molly stiffens and straightens as Mike arrives. She announces over the
link /I must apologize. It was poetic justice that I be fooled,
presumably by,/ and suddenly stops as Mike puts a finger to his lips,
reminding her silently not to say the name right now, /By... _it_...
into believing John had sent that message, considering how much I
prided myself in not allowing anyone to push my buttons. In fact, I
didn't even believe it at the time I originally heard it, so I can't
even use that excuse. I was simply so angry at... it... I lashed out,
using even the feeblest of excuses as reason. There was no excuse for
my behavior toward John and Rhia and oh, I did it to Zia, didn't I?
And I can't begin to express how sorry I am./

/I just don't think I am suited for this sort of work, Dad. You should
be here, not me. You have standing orders about that Shadow anyway.
I.../ Molly just drops her arms to her sides. /I just don't fit the
job description. It's too personal with me./

Mike nods, putting his hand on her shoulder and trying for all he's
worth to be the model sympathetic father, despite the suddeness of the
position. The link is silent for a moment as some silent conversation
goes on. Then an agreement seems to be reached and everyone but Mike
teleports out.

Mike looks around, runs a hand through his short brown hair, which is
now starting to show a few hints of grey, and walks down toward the
back of the castle. /Ah well. Now, I'll apologize too, folks. First, I
should have come back myself, not sent anyone, even family members.
You don't send a proxy to a family get-together. It was probably
frightfully rude and a bit of a blow, both of which were unintended.
Second, I knew what Molly was walking into conceptually, and I should
have never let her. Third, I should have announced myself earlier.
Mom, Dad and the crew came through earlier with me and we were
concerned about letting...well, our friend who now looks like the
green ball of glowing goo from the 'Heavy Metal' movie...well, anyway,
the idea was if things got hot we would be cavalry, but heck, with the
Hindu God bit going for you all, you pretty much took care of things
on your own./

Mike stops just short of the corner of the castle, dusts his blue
jeans off, straightens the green 'points' blanket capote, tugs at the
hem of his white t-shirt with the molecular diagram for chocolate '+'
the molecular diagram for caffeine '=' and the word 'Mochachino'
scrawled in cursive beneath it, and gathers his thoughts as he stares
at the light brown moccasins on his feet. /John, Rhia, hope wherever
you both landed you're still getting all this. If not, well, we'll
just have to say it again next time we meet. Hopefully, we will./

Mike pats himself down. Lightsaber on the left hip, phaser on the
right. PPG holstered in the small of the back. Throwing knife up the
left sleeve, straight dagger up the right. Twin shoulder-holstered
silver magnums. Should set off every alarm in even the most backwater
spaceport in the galaxy. Yup, just what you need for the average
outing with the CAoL family. Mike stepped around the corner to stand
in full view of the CAoL.

/At any rate, if you bunch of Rummies want or need the assistance of
this old timer, you've got it./ Mike puts on his maniacal grin as he
tosses Roland a smart alex, but good-natured, salute. "Michael Seven,
reporting for duty."

At about that time, Tink comes rolling around behind the castle in a
child's pedal-car dump truck with the word 'Tonka' on the grill and
skids to a stop. Tink hops out and hurries around to the back where
Roscoe is stretched out comfortably in the bed.

"Something's wong with Woscoe." the little computerized girl says, "He
seems hurt, but I can't see anything wong."
===========================

Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1998 18:38:38 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE4 (part C) Ambulances and Apologies

On Tue, 21 Jul 1998 18:30:06
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005052

>On Tue, 21 Jul 1998 18:45:16 -0500
>Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00005051
>
>/At any rate, if you bunch of Rummies want or need the assistance of
>this old timer, you've got it./ Mike puts on his maniacal grin as he
>tosses Roland a smart alex, but good-natured, salute. "Michael Seven,
>reporting for duty."

"Mike!" Morgan shouts in surprise, and bounces over and gives him a
big hug. "Getting to be like Old Home Week around here."

   Roland smiles. "REAL good to have you back, Mike. Saving the
universe wasn't the same without you." The smile vanishes. "We _wiil_
help you find your lady, of course. But for the moment, there's this
little matter of a spider that needs squashing."

>"Something's wong with Woscoe." the little computerized girl says,
>"He seems hurt, but I can't see anything wong."

The smile on Morgan's face quickly fades. "Aw, hell," she mutters as
she kneels at her old friend's side. She does a light scan, and sees
the scene playing over and over in his mind.

/That little.../ She hesitates, searching for the right word. /Rat,/
she finally spits, and shares the incident with the rest of the
'family'. Then she turns her full attention on Roscoe.

   Roland sighs. /Can't we have five minutes of good news without some
disaster poking its butt in?/

/*Roscoe?*/ Morgan sends on both the lens link and the first TP
frequency she ever learned. /*Roscoe, come on. Snap out of it. I know
what he did hurt, but you have to come back so we can try to _do_
something about it.*/

Her concern is evident. /*Come on, old friend.*/
===========================

Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1998 18:44:36 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Entity down (longish)

On Tue, 21 Jul 1998 18:38:47
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005053

>On Tue, 21 Jul 1998 01:22:03 EDT
>Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00005043
>
>Fuzzy can feel Hydra slipping towards (a Starspawn's version of)
>unconsiousness. As his last bit of consiousness slips away, Hydra
>says, (OOC: on all possible means of communication, including lenses,
>and trumps) "Oracle...by...the compact...of...the...Unaligned......I
>call for...your aid...HELP......meeeeee...". With each word (not
>including the help) his "voice" gets weaker and weaker. An instant
>later, Oracle appears next to Hydra's "body", "Oh, my! You did get
>hammered didn't you. Well, let's see what you did to yourself." he
>says. Then Oracle closes his eyes for a moment then says, "By That
>Which Creates, this damage is beyond even Aurora's skill and power."
>He looks towards Fuzzy, and Roland then continues, "I will have to
>have The Stardragon's help with this. With your permission?"

   "*NASS, yes!*" Roland blurts.
   *Um...just keep an 'eye' on the eternal childe, would you?* he adds
in retrospect.

>The Stardragon reaches out, and touches Hydra, Fuzzy feels forces
>flowing into Hydra from The Stardragon unlike anything he has EVER
>knowingly experienced (unknowingly, or un-remembered is a differant
>story). Those forces take over the stabilization, and rapidly begin
>to rebuild what has been destroyed. In minutes Hydra regains
>consiousness. One of Hydra's heads looks over at Oracle, and asks,
>"Did anyone think to get a spacial id of the monoblock that ran over
>me?" He retrieves something from the area of his chest, and "hands"
>it to Oracle.

   Roland chuckles.

>"I will see to a replacement for the CAoL forces, Mighty One. You go
>ahead. I will join you shortly." Oracle says. The Stardragon vanishes
>an instant later and Hydra vanishes with it. "I assume you would like
>me to restore these people?" Oracle asks of Roland as he holds out
>one hand with the index finger extended, as though showing a speck of
>dust.

   "Um, yeah, except they should probably end up with the rest of
their people. If you can find where Jadis sent them, that would be
cool," Roland notes.

>a moment. "Roland, as the leader of the CAoL, there is some
>information that I should 'show' you, that will allow the CAoL to
>possibly make possible the end of The Stardragon's curse. The curse
>of eternal childhood. Will you allow me to show you this
>information?"

   "Of course!" Roland frowns briefly. "We need to hurry, though;
KnightMare just might make the Stardragon's curse moot."
===========================

Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1998 21:52:50 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE4 (part C) Ambulances and Apologies

On Tue, 21 Jul 1998 23:14:02 -0500
Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00005055

>On Tue, 21 Jul 1998 18:30:06
>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005052
>
>"Mike!" Morgan shouts in surprise, and bounces over and gives him a
>big hug. "Getting to be like Old Home Week around here."

As always, Mike returns the hug, no worse for wear.

>   Roland smiles. "REAL good to have you back, Mike. Saving the
>universe wasn't the same without you."

"Thanks, it was getting too quiet back home anyway."

>The smile vanishes. "We _wiil_ help you find your lady, of course.
>But for the moment, there's this little matter of a spider that needs
>squashing."

Mike smiles. His eyes are a bit sad, but obviously still hopeful. "I
never thought y'all wouldn't," he drawls, "I would have been back
sooner, I only planned on getting the word out about her and
returning, but you know how it is, you can never do just _one_ thing."

"As for Knightmare, everyone back home knows if they encounter him, to
call me and evacuate. I plan on ensuring his past happens just like he
remembers it. As he said to Thorne, 'I hate time travelers.' I intend
to be the reason for that little sentiment."

>   Roland sighs. /Can't we have five minutes of good news without
>some disaster poking its butt in?/

Mike frowns. /Good thing I brought my butt-kicking gear with me,/ he
sends absently.

>/*Roscoe?*/ Morgan sends on both the lens link and the first TP
>frequency she ever learned. /*Roscoe, come on. Snap out of it. I know
>what he did hurt, but you have to come back so we can try to _do_
>something about it.*/
>
>Her concern is evident. /*Come on, old friend.*/

Mike picks up Tink as she whispers "Hi Grumpa". He says aloud "We can
make this right, but we're gonna need you to help, Roscoe."
===========================

Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1998 09:43:54 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE4 (part C) Ambulances and Apologies

On Wed, 22 Jul 1998 09:43:21 -0700 (MST)
Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00005058

> On Tue, 21 Jul 1998 18:30:06
> Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005052
>
> /*Roscoe?*/ Morgan sends on both the lens link and the first TP
> frequency she ever learned. /*Roscoe, come on. Snap out of it. I
> know what he did hurt, but you have to come back so we can try to
> _do_ something about it.*/
>
> Her concern is evident. /*Come on, old friend.*/

 Slwoly his conciousness seems to drip back, like a swimmer who thinks
the water is far too cold to simply jump into. Within a few minutes he
is coherant again but fear adn aprehension are still evident in his
mind.
 *He...he HATES me Morgan. I could feal every bit of the venom far
before he ever stung me. He absolutely hates me and the worse things
is...he has good reason. I could see it unspoken in his mind. They
found his parents but they arrived too latein the time line. They were
already dead and he blames me. And he's right for it. I ignored him.
If I had tried I could have found them and rescued them. But I didn't.
I didn't want to find them. I couldn't bear to have to give Squee up
and now he hates me because of it.*
===========================

Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1998 10:32:18 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: AAE: Nothing Cyclic ever Precisly Repeats

Fuzzy Said As CAoL Message # 00005060 (& 5061)

When Jadis "Reset" his universe Fuzzy's Alteration was less
 immediatly affected than the Manifestations of The Gods,
  Perhaps due to it being less direct an effect of Zia's Invokation,
   Or Perhaps because the "reset" was related to the Great Wheel as
    well...

All through the healing of Hydra the Spheres of Wisdom fade out one by
 one, Each Takeing with it some of the Knowledge that it would be
  better Fuzzy, Not retain...

<OOC: This will include certain details of the Xodaii.>

Last to go is the Enlarged Field of "Lens" around Fuzzy's Hand,
 Which fades as The StarDragon takes over the Healing of Hydra,
  The Aura of Energy fades at the same time...

<OOC: I think this will leave Fuzzy placed to be able to more actively
       relate to new posts...>
===========================

Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1998 13:09:51 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE4 (part C) Ambulances and Apologies

On Wed, 22 Jul 1998 12:43:59
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005062

>On Wed, 22 Jul 1998 09:43:21 -0700 (MST)
>Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00005058
>
> *He...he HATES me Morgan. I could feal every bit of the venom far
>before he ever stung me. He absolutely hates me and the worse things
>is...he has good reason. I could see it unspoken in his mind. They
>found his parents but they arrived too latein the time line. They
>were already dead and he blames me. And he's right for it. I ignored
>him. If I had tried I could have found them and rescued them. But I
>didn't. I didn't want to find them. I couldn't bear to have to give
>Squee up and now he hates me because of it.*

Morgan hugs him (unless he seems to object). *OK, I'm not going to
argue that maybe you could have done some things differently. But
there is _no_ _such_ _thing_ as a perfect parent, and all too often
you can only see what you did wrong in retrospect. 20/20 hindsight.
Can you honestly say that at any given time you didn't take the course
of action that seemed like the right choice _at the time_? That's all
anyone can do, you know.* Her mental 'voice' is calm but firm with
just a hint of her brogue, and although the others may not 'hear'
anything they can probably pick up the emotions going between the two.

*A very wise woman once said that there's plenty of guilt in the
Universe without having to grab any more for yourself. Unless you can
think of a way to go back and change that past, the only thing you can
do is take it from here. Seems to me that such a hate-filled young man
running around with that sort of power needs to be dealt with.* She
look him straight in the eye and continues softly. *Whether or not
you're personally responsible for Squee now, don't you still have a
responsibility Oberon and to your people?*
===========================

Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1998 19:32:13 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Beginings, Endings, and New Beginings (very long)

On Wed, 22 Jul 1998 22:08:19 EDT
Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00005067

Roland wrote:
>    "Of course!" Roland frowns briefly. "We need to hurry, though;
> KnightMare just might make the Stardragon's curse moot."

"Have no fear. While it will seem to take a while for you, your
companions will not, save for those who can measure nanosecond
intervals, even notice your absense." Oracle answers.

To ultra high speed senses of the CAoL (those that have them), both
Oracle and Roland seem to flicker. But Roland (OOC: and presumably
Morgan through their link) sees much much more.

Roland "hears" Oracle, "We are at the begining, 'before' time began if
you will. Some of what I will show you, you will only be able to sense
through my senses, but everything will be translated into terms you
can understand." He (Roland) can feel a great "mass" of something
nearby, his other 'dimensional' senses feel NO dimensions, or more
correctly an infinite number of dimensions (beyond the height, width,
depth he normally can sense). "There is no 'time' here and all time as
well". He (Roland) "feels" the "approach" of two "beings". He can feel
the infinite power of one of them. Then the two speak. First the one
of infinite power "Let there be light". In that instant he "sees" the
"birth" of The Stardragon. The other being speaks "Let there be
darkness". (OOC: Morgan if she is "listening in" will sense a third
presence, this one female. But will not be able to find a location
(even in N dimensions) for her.)

"This much did The Great Adversary show to Jadis, but you need to see
more." Oracle says. Roland can feel Oracle's senses reach out and
gently examine the new born child. There is a definite but infinitely
intricate and varied pattern to be discerned. The 'tour' continues.
Roland 'sees' the second speaker 'reach' for the child. A moment later
the great mass begins to break up becomming uncounted dimensional
universes. Before the new universes can begin to scatter, ALL are
examined again. The pattern of The Stardragon is everywhere. "Looking"
closer, Roland sees that the very fabric of each of the new universes
is PART of The Stardragon. He can see that the "fabric" of time and
space IS The Stardragon, that the "forces" that separate the various
universes is another part of the child. "Now" he can "feel" universes
around him. In the center of the expanding universes is one where
consiousness of The Stardragon can be detected. Roland can "feel" that
this universe has the greatest share of the matter and energy and
whatever of the great mass and that with just a crude examination one
would conclude that The Stardragon is fully half of the total. Again
Oracle's senses move in to more closely examine, both the child, and
the matter of this universe. Again the pattern is there. Where there
is energy, it IS The Stardragon, and where there is matter, he sees
the child's pattern. "As you see, the physists of your world are
correct, time, space, matter, and energy, are all different aspects of
the same thing, The Stardragon." Time flows by like a fast moving
river, Roland sees The Stardragon moving about in it's "home"
universe. It moves randomly, much like a baby might explore a room.
Then he sees it feed. It consumes a double star system, planets and
all, leaving nothing behind. "What The Stardragon is satisfying is
appetite not hunger. In truth, it has no need to eat. The Stardragon
is not even aware of its true nature, and thus does not have access to
its full power. When was the last time you were aware of your
appendix, unless something brought it to your attention?" Again time
flows past.

Then Roland "feels" the approach of the second speaker. He sees it and
The Stardragon fight. It (the second speaker) takes the form of a
giant batwinged snake of pure darkness. The Stardragon is victorious
and Roland "feels" the other retreat, severely wounded. He feels a
jump in time and movement through the inter-universal hyper volume,
then Roland sees the city of Avalon on the world of Arcadia, with The
Stardragon high above in dragon form. In the Controler's base he sees
the shadow spider manipulate the Controlers equipment and fire the
Mundanity beam at The Stardragon. The Stardragon is seemingly unharmed
by the beam but a rift in the universes is opened and The Stardragon
passes through it. To a universe where the physical laws are such that
the Monoblock CAN'T explode. Roland sees The Stardragon begin feeding
on the Monoblock, but it is clear that it (The Stardragon) is half
asleep. The Stardragon continues to feed on the Monoblock until the
mass remaining is too small to keep the mass together and it explodes.
Roland would guess that The Stardragon must have fed on the mass of
2/3 of a LARGE universe. The Stardragon then leaves that universe
stopping in Arcadia momentarily and in Calahan's for a second. It then
appears above Dibis on Quaren.

"Roland, what I am going to suggest to you may anger you, but it is
for the good of all that exists that it be done. The Stardragon hates
and fears The Great Adversary. When it (The Stardragon) encounters one
of the incarnations or the avatars of those incarnations of The Great
Adversary, it attacks. Because it cannot tell the differance between
them. It sees only The Great Adversary. The Great Adversary is
prohibited, both by decree ot That Which Creates, and by the animosity
of The Stardragon, from taking a direct hand in anything occurring in
this Macro Cosmic All. There are exceptions however. If The Stardragon
is in the presense of one of the incarnations of The Great Adversary,
or an avatar of an incarnation, The Great Adversary CAN enter, for a
time. Also there are occasional rips in a space time continum, that
allow him to enter for a while. These rips almost always attract the
attention of The Stardragon, who often arrives in time to kick The
Adversary's toush." Oracle says.

He pauses a moment, then continues, "What I am going to tell you now
is what you may get angry about. Fuzzy is more than he seems. I do not
often tell others what MAY be in store for them, but this time it is
very important that you know, so that you can take maximum advantage,
if you will. In your comming battle, you may face the adversary of
your world. Whether you do or not, if a rip in the cosmos were to
happen in the presence of the CAoL, many of you would feel inclined to
*try* to stop The Great Adversary from entering. Which he surely would
do. Only one of you has the power to stop him, Fuzzy. Even NEMO does
not have the raw power that Fuzzy unknowingly possesses. Fuzzy even
eclipses the power that The Stardragon consiously controls, though
when the whole of The Stardragon's power is accounted for Fuzzy would
come in a distant second. Fuzzy must be allowed to face The Great
Adversary. This will result in a macro cosmic shutdown, and Fuzzy's
death. The shutdown will give That Which Creates a chance to repair
the damage done to The Stardragon, at a time when That Which Destroys
cannot interfere (due to the macro cosmic all blowing up in his face).
At that point, The Stardragon will restore all as it was just before
the blowup, except that the rip will be repaired, and The Great
Adversary will have been ejected, again. Zia and Driscoll can alter
the probabilities that allow a rip to occure. The knowlege of how to
do this will be placed in their minds (OOC: Oracle rates as high or
higher than a third stage lensman. For a referance check the mental
stress levels of the inhabitants of the planet Cahuita in the E.E.
Doc. Smith book "Masters of the Vortex" original title "The Vortex
Blaster". And even Chaos can be convinced to cooperate if one knows
how to ask).

As Oracle finishes, Roland can sense two "presenses" approach. In one
he senses the infinite power of the being of the first voice of The
Stardragon's "birth". Roland can somehow sense the second is not quite
as powerful as the first, but isn't far behind. The first one speaks,
"Roland Phoenix (OOC: Sorry about the spelling), this is the child
grown to adulthood." That presense then fades away.

"Roland, I cannot tell you if you agree to do this thing, for that
would affect your decision, and raise a potential paradox. I cannot
tell you if there will be other potential opportunaties for the
necessary repairs to be made. I CAN tell you that if you attempt this
thing, it will work, and I swear to you upon all that is good, and
holy, that no being that does not wish to will die from this action. I
was created to be a protector, and a teacher for those who live in
this macroverse. This will allow me to become what I can be." The
Stardragon says. Its voice seems full of confidence, and assurance,
and Roland can sense, only benevelance, where (thinking back on it)
the child was rife with uncertainty, and confusion. Having said these
things, The Stardragon's adult being fades out.

"Roland, for reasons that you don't need to know about, Fuzzy should
not be told about the extent of his power. He would not believe you if
you told him, and would quickly forget in any event. I understand that
I am asking a lot of you, but in this I ask you to trust me." Oracle
says.

Then both Oracle and Roland reappear exactly where they were, before
leaving. Exactly one nanosecond from the point in time from when they
left.
===========================

Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 00:10:32 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: AAE4: Catching Up

On Thu, 23 Jul 1998 02:35:49 -0400
Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005071

Dhyrclhanc/Shiva responds to Jadis' demands that the CAoL/Hindu
Pantheon surrender by saying, under his breath, "I take back what I
said about this person before, when I refered to him as my 'honorable
prey' there is _nothing_ honorable about him."

Then, as Jadis' troops seem to coalese out of thin air around and
about him, Shiva begins to tear through them at a frightening pace but
he's only 3/4 of the way through them when Jadis' transformation wave
violently returns to his Lensdragon form.

Between Jadis' and Roland's and Zia's conversation Dhyrclhanc, for the
first time since he's joined the CAoL, is left speachless. The state
continues well after John's act of "cerimonal slaying" of the Insane
Mage. Dhyrclhanc is only shaken out of this spell when Rhiannon walks
up to him, taps him on the leg and holds the, still mute,
Sentinel-Lensdragon a small, earth-colored marble.

(Take it away Paul!)
===========================

Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 02:26:11 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE4 (part C) Ambulances and Apologies

On Thu, 23 Jul 1998 02:24:30 -0700 (MST)
Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00005073

> On Wed, 22 Jul 1998 12:43:59
> Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005062
>
> *A very wise woman once said that there's plenty of guilt in the
> Universe without having to grab any more for yourself. Unless you
> can think of a way to go back and change that past, the only thing
> you can do is take it from here. Seems to me that such a hate-filled
> young man running around with that sort of power needs to be dealt
> with.* She look him straight in the eye and continues softly.
> *Whether or not you're personally responsible for Squee now, don't
> you still have a responsibility Oberon and to your people?*

 *Yeh. You know I really was much happier when I was just the loveable
sidekick. I hate having to be responsible. <sigh> Ok let's go.*
===========================

Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 17:05:06 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE4 (part C) Ambulances and Apologies

On Thu, 23 Jul 1998 18:38:15 -0500
Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00005078

>On Thu, 23 Jul 1998 02:24:30 -0700 (MST)
>Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00005073
> *Yeh. You know I really was much happier when I was just the
>loveable sidekick. I hate having to be responsible. <sigh> Ok let's
>go.*

Tink reached under her Smiley face shirt and pulled out the Trump she
had tucked into the pocket of her jeans.

Mike took the card, saying "I think I can do a work-around to get us
here by looking at the card and making a sort of gateway to the place
it represents. It won't be like Trumping there, but it will also be
faster than a shadow-walk, to use Amber parlance. And it will let us
scout the place out first before going in full force. Sound good?"

The zipper on Tink's Hobbes (stuffed toy tiger) backpack opened and a
small rectangle of plastic, a microcassette tape, popped out and into
the air. Seams split and unfolded and a small head popped up and
forward and, in a few moments, a small metal and plastic stylized
buzzard flew to Tink's index finger and perched there.

"Laserbeak wecording pwobe weady, Grumpa."

Mike's face seemed to go through several emotions: 'What the-?'
'_That's_ a _probe_?', 'Hey, I remember those things...', and 'What
the heck, long as it works.'

Mike said "Ooookay, anyway, let's have a look at this card..."

<OOC: Assuming we want to go this way to Roland's portion, take it
away when y'all are ready.>
===========================

Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 22:45:45 -0700
Subject: Re: AAE4: Catching Up

On Fri, 24 Jul 1998 01:22:33 -0400 (EDT)
Shadow <pookie> Said As CAoL Message # 00005082

>On Thu, 23 Jul 1998 02:35:49 -0400
>Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005071
>
>Between Jadis' and Roland's and Zia's conversation Dhyrclhanc, for
>the first time since he's joined the CAoL, is left speachless. The
>state continues well after John's act of "cerimonal slaying" of the
>Insane Mage. Dhyrclhanc is only shaken out of this spell when
>Rhiannon walks up to him, taps him on the leg and holds the, still
>mute, Sentinel-Lensdragon a small, earth-colored marble.

"Uncle Dhyrclhanc, Ummm, The WildCATS, Synthea, Nimrod, and I were
chasing shadows, and, well, they got freeze-dried, I think. Here they
are." She gives him the marble, then John collapses and she runs over
to help him.
===========================

Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 16:35:53 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE4: Catching Up

On Fri, 24 Jul 1998 18:22:59 -0400
Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005092

> On Fri, 24 July '98
> Shadow Said
> "Uncle Dhyrclhanc, Ummm, The WildCATS, Synthea, Nimrod, and I were
> chasing shadows, and, well, they got freeze-dried, I think. Here
> they are." She gives him the marble, then John collapses and she
> runs over to help him.

Dhyrclhanc begins to stare, wide-eyed, at the marble, still mute. His
eyes widen and his jaw drops. His hand goes slack and the "marble"
drops onto the ground. Dhyrclhanc morphs into a cartoonish
representation of himself and proceeds to go into the Daffy Duck/Bugs
Bunny routine of making wierd faces and contorting one's body into
strange pretzel shapes complete with the requisite "EEE" "AH" "OO"
noises coming out of his mouth.

After a few minutes of this he seems to recover, picks up the marble,
smooths back his, nonexistant hair, and declares, "Ah... I have got a
couple of stops to make before we go head to head with KnightMare so I
will be catching up with you guys later." he stares grimly at the
marble again, shudders, and adds, "If anyone needs me, I am
maintaining a translocated version of myself at the Place."

With that, he activates his C-bands and disolves into a quickly fading
blotch of dark metalic red, orange and yellow.
===========================

Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 19:34:59 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Beginings, Endings, and New Beginings (very long)

On Fri, 24 Jul 1998 18:19:09
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005098

>On Wed, 22 Jul 1998 22:08:19 EDT
>Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00005067
>
>The Stardragon is everywhere. "Looking" closer, Roland sees that the
>very fabric of each of the new universes is PART of The Stardragon.
>He can see that the "fabric" of time and space IS The Stardragon,
>that the "forces" that separate the various universes is another part
>of the child. "Now" he can "feel" universes around him. In the center
>of the expanding universes is one where consiousness of The
>Stardragon can be detected. Roland can "feel" that this universe has
>the greatest share of the matter and energy and whatever of the great
>mass and that with just a crude examination one would conclude that
>The Stardragon is fully half of the total. Again Oracle's senses move
>in to more closely examine, both the child, and the matter of this
>universe. Again the pattern is there. Where there is energy, it IS
>The Stardragon, and where there is matter, he sees the child's
>pattern. "As you see, the physists of your world are correct, time,
>space, matter, and energy, are all different aspects of the same
>thing, The Stardragon."

   "The Primal of Quantum Reality," Roland whispers, understanding the
depth of what Oracle speaks; at least, as well as any non-cosmic
entity can, anyway.

>He pauses a moment, then continues, "What I am going to tell you now
>is what you may get angry about. Fuzzy is more than he seems. I do
>not often tell others what MAY be in store for them, but this time it
>is very important that you know, so that you can take maximum
>advantage, if you will. In your comming battle, you may face the
>adversary of your world.

   (OOC: Dane, ARE you Oracle? I have big plans for Roland and Malice
in the finale... ;^)

>Whether you do or not, if a rip in the cosmos were to happen in the
>presence of the CAoL, many of you would feel inclined to *try* to
>stop The Great Adversary from entering. Which he surely would do.
>Only one of you has the power to stop him, Fuzzy. Even NEMO does not
>have the raw power that Fuzzy unknowingly possesses. Fuzzy even
>eclipses the power that The Stardragon consiously controls, though
>when the whole of The Stardragon's power is accounted for Fuzzy would
>come in a distant second. Fuzzy must be allowed to face The Great
>Adversary. This will result in a macro cosmic shutdown, and Fuzzy's
>death.

   "WHAT?!"

>The shutdown will give That Which Creates a chance to repair the
>damage done to The Stardragon, at a time when That Which Destroys
>cannot interfere (due to the macro cosmic all blowing up in his
>face). At that point, The Stardragon will restore all as it was just
>before the blowup, except that the rip will be repaired, and The
>Great Adversary will have been ejected, again. Zia and Driscoll can
>alter the probabilities that allow a rip to occure. The knowlege of
>how to do this will be placed in their minds (OOC: Oracle rates as
>high or higher than a third stage lensman. For a referance check the
>mental stress levels of the inhabitants of the planet Cahuita in the
>E.E. Doc. Smith book "Masters of the Vortex" original title "The
>Vortex Blaster". And even Chaos can be convinced to cooperate if one
>knows how to ask).

   "Oracle, do you have the slightest idea what you're asking me to
do?" Roland asks in a near-whisper. "While you're talking about a
subject of cosmic importance, Fuzzy is still my friend...and a member
of the CAoL. As their leader, I am responsible for their safety."

>As Oracle finishes, Roland can sense two "presenses" approach. In one
>he senses the infinite power of the being of the first voice of The
>Stardragon's "birth". Roland can somehow sense the second is not
>quite as powerful as the first, but isn't far behind. The first one
>speaks, "Roland Phoenix (OOC: Sorry about the spelling),

   (OOC: The spelling is correct.)

>this is the child grown to adulthood." That presense then fades away.

   Roland smiles sadly. "Hey there, big guy."

>"Roland, for reasons that you don't need to know about, Fuzzy should
>not be told about the extent of his power. He would not believe you
>if you told him, and would quickly forget in any event. I understand
>that I am asking a lot of you, but in this I ask you to trust me."
>Oracle says.

   "Oracle, I may not be able to tell him of his power, but I cannot
and WILL not order him-or even ask him-to do something that will
result in his death without informing him of the consequences," Roland
says slowly. "But I can't in good conscience take the decision away
from him by keeping him ignorant of it. I will tell him what I can. I
can't promise you any more than that."

>Then both Oracle and Roland reappear exactly where they were, before
>leaving. Exactly one nanosecond from the point in time from when they
>left.

   "Fuzzy, we have to talk..." Roland sighs.
===========================

Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 19:57:55 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Beginings, Endings, and New Beginings (very long)

Fuzzy Said As CAoL Message # 00005099

> On Fri, 24 Jul 1998 18:19:09
> Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005098
<snip of the year...>
>    "Fuzzy, we have to talk..." Roland sighs.

"Sure,
  Whats Up,
   Did I eat your Mouse or Something?"
===========================

Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 23:48:00 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Beginings, Endings, and New Beginings (very long)

On Sat, 25 Jul 1998 02:08:51 EDT
Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00005108

Roland wrote:
>    "Oracle, I may not be able to tell him of his power, but I cannot
> and WILL not order him-or even ask him-to do something that will
> result in his death without informing him of the consequences,"
> Roland says slowly. "But I can't in good conscience take the
> decision away from him by keeping him ignorant of it. I will tell
> him what I can. I can't promise you any more than that."

"I do not expect you to order him to his death, however temporary it
might be. His basic nature will aim him in that direction, without
your orders, and might do so against your wishes even. Please bear in
mind, that Fuzzy is not the bait of the trap, he IS the trap. What I
am asking you to do is bait the trap, by having Zia, and/or Driscoll
cause the necessary rip in the fabric of spacetime, through which The
Great Adversary will enter the trap. He must enter through such a rip,
if he enters by means of The Stardragon's presence, Fuzzy would still
act to stop him, and would die, but the macro-cosmic shut down would
not be complete, and the oppertunety (OOC: I just can't spell worth a
darn, and AOL doesn't have a spell checker), would be lost. It is the
rip in spacetime that elevates Fuzzy's death to a complete
macro-cosmic event. I know I have given you little to base such trust
in me, but for the sake of all that exist, and for the sake of the
eternal child, I beg you to consider doing this." Oracle answers.
===========================

Date: Sat, 25 Jul 1998 21:08:37 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Beginings, Endings, and New Beginings (very long)

On Sat, 25 Jul 1998 19:06:53
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005122

>On Sat, 25 Jul 1998 02:08:51 EDT
>Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00005108
>
>What I am asking you to do is bait the trap, by having Zia, and/or
>Driscoll cause the necessary rip in the fabric of spacetime, through
>which The Great Adversary will enter the trap. He must enter through
>such a rip, if he enters by means of The Stardragon's presence, Fuzzy
>would still act to stop him, and would die, but the macro-cosmic shut
>down would not be complete, and the oppertunety (OOC: I just can't
>spell worth a darn, and AOL doesn't have a spell checker), would be
>lost. It is the rip in spacetime that elevates Fuzzy's death to a
>complete macro-cosmic event. I know I have given you little to base
>such trust in me, but for the sake of all that exist, and for the
>sake of the eternal child, I beg you to consider doing this." Oracle
>answers.

   Roland thinks for a long (within the confines of the time bubble)
moment. "I can do it," he says slowly.
   (Assuming Oracle is at least somewhat surprised)
   "Under normal circumstances," Roland begins, "I can't 'rip'
space/time. I can get around it-that's how I worldwalk-but actually
unravelling the fabric of reality is beyond my kind. MOST of my kind."
   "But Malice is another matter. If he manifests, the mere process of
dumping him back into the Morpheum will cause the rip you're talking
about. That's what destroyed Atlantis-" Roland's train of thought
grinds to a halt. "how did i know that?"
   Roland shakes his head, as if to clear it. "Regardless. Unless he
has a body, I can do it with a simple quantum pulse. If I'm down,
anyone who can engage Malice in his astral form can cause the rip by
defeating him. If he really _is_ an avatar of the Adversary, that
should get you what you need."
   Roland smiles. "If Fuzzy's death is only temporary, I'm not as
worried about this plan. But I think we don't need to drag anyone else
into this."

<Fuzzy's mice comment snipped>

   /Oracle has a plan, to heal the Stardragon's inability to mature.
{PLAN} As you can see, it has a few drawbacks, especially where you're
concerned. Still, it's your call./
===========================

Date: Sat, 25 Jul 1998 21:45:42 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Beginings, Endings, and New Beginings (very long)

On Sat, 25 Jul 1998 21:38:09 -0700 (PDT)
Fuzzy Said As CAoL Message # 00005127

> On Sat, 25 Jul 1998 19:06:53
> Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005122
>
>    /Oracle has a plan, to heal the Stardragon's inability to mature.
> {PLAN} As you can see, it has a few drawbacks, especially where
> you're concerned. Still, it's your call./

/A little extra care in my preparations to Decline Death should do the
trick,

<Roland can tell that some datum's included in the plan were flat not
 visible to Fuzzy, and that others are being mis-interpreted or
  discounted...
   a general effect not unlike The Veil>

  I may have to prepair a few extra Tools...
   But hey, I am a Cat and I do still have a few Lives left, and
    It sounds like something the the Dragon Guard has need to put
     right, for a long time but just did not have the guts for.
 If it happens, It happens./

<OOC: I hope we are going to catch up with ourselves now...>
===========================

Date: Sat, 25 Jul 1998 23:12:17 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Beginings, Endings, and New Beginings (very long)

On Sun, 26 Jul 1998 01:50:44 EDT
Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00005128

Roland wrote:
>    Roland thinks for a long (within the confines of the time bubble)
> moment. "I can do it," he says slowly.

"Oh?" Oracle asks. He doesn't seem greatly surprized though. (OOC:
remember Oracle can see all the possible futures, in at least a few of
them Roland does this.)

>    Roland smiles. "If Fuzzy's death is only temporary, I'm not as
> worried about this plan. But I think we don't need to drag anyone
> else into this."

"That's fine," Oracle answers.
===========================

Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1998 21:42:32 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Fwd: [Fwd: Re: AAE IV: Beginings, Endings, and New Beginings

On Tue, 28 Jul 1998 00:26:02 EDT
Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00005151

Fuzzy wrote
>I may have to prepair a few extra Tools...
> But hey, I am a Cat and I do still have a few Lives left, and
>  It sounds like something the the Dragon Guard has need to put
>   right, for a long time but just did not have the guts for.
>  If it happens, It happens./

/More like, did not have the opportunity to do, Fuzzy. There are
special circumstances at this time, that make it possible, that have
never been available, before./ Oracle answers.
===========================

Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1998 22:10:52 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Beginings, Endings, and New Beginings

Fuzzy Said As CAoL Message # 00005189

> On Wed, 29 Jul 1998 00:25:29 EDT
> Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00005188
>
> Fuzzy Said
>>  <OOC: Dane this attitude on Fuzzy's part is generated by His mind,
>>        Hiding the Details from itself, Remember a Cats Pride...
>>        He has to find an explanation he can remember.
>>         You may not want Oracle to distrube the process.>
>>
> <OOC: I understand, that's why Oracle didn't add any details about
> the special circumstances.>

Fuzzy Just Shrugs....
" So Be It."
===========================