Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 4
Chapter 62
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1998 21:44:01 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Crisis Management
On Thu, 03 Sep 1998 00:22:12 -0400
Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005720
> On Wed, 02 Sep '98 Morgan and/or Roland Said
>
> /Emerald Twilight? I think not,/ RB replies icily. /But Dark
> Phoenix...oh yes, rage, passion and unbridled power.../ the ravaged
> mind of the CAoL's leader turns on Dhyrclhanc. /You, who dare to
> claim the mantle of Phoenix-prove yourself worthy of it!/
> And with that, a giant golden bird of pure flame, looking exactly
> like the Phoenix aura that surrounded the pseudo-Jean Grey, flies
> right at Dhyrclhanc...
> (OOC: If Dhyrclhanc actually gets _hurt_ by the Phoenix-
> construct, it vanishes like a burst soap bubble.)
OK, retcon time again kiddies. Before themultiple Dhyrclhancs
appeared in the E3 base with RB, the Lensdragon was physicaly still in
the Xavier and he was just projecting his surface consiousness to
various people who were in several different locations. So where is
the bird-simulacrum headed.
Also, Roland, what is it? Is the faux-Phoenix just a projection of the
multiple duplicate Sinestro rings that RB's weilding or is it
something more than that? Like, an extension of Roland's Cosmic Energy
Manipulation Powers which could, just possibly be a link to the Primal
Phoenix that Sil and the two Grey ladies (Jean and Rachael.. well,
Rachael, anyway) were linked to?
===========================
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1998 21:44:17 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE 4: Why don't you make an appointment?
On Thu, 03 Sep 1998 00:34:20 -0400
Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005722
> On Wed, 02 Sep '98 Morgan and/or Roland Said
>
>>Dhyrclhanc Said
>>/Two; I have more than just a passing aquaintance with Orion.
>
> /Light, you know _everybody,_ sib!/
/I said that I have had had dealings with Highfather, bro. I would
notsay that I knew him. The only one I would say I knew would be Orion
and my impression is that it something more akin to a love-hate
relationship./
===========================
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1998 21:50:16 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE 4: Why don't you make an appointment?
On Thu, 03 Sep 1998 00:40:53 -0400
Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005723
> On Wed, 02 Sep '98
> Morgan and/or Roland Said
>
>>Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005696
>>
>>A slightly hesitant Lensdragon replies, {Ah... Forgive me, Mr.
>>Corwin,but how am I supposed to get to docking bay #7? Is there an
>>access point on the exterior of the station? Besides the obvious
>>one, that is.}
>
> Corwin sighs a heavy, weary sigh and downloads the directions to
> the 'Xavier.' {Go through the main docking bay and follow the
> lights. Yield to outgoing passenger ships; we're trying to get as
> many of the VIPs out of here as we can.}
{Message recieved and understood, C&C. Sorry to be so much of a
trouble. Charles Xavier out.}
Dhyrclhanc begins to manuver the psudeo-Defiant to the main docking
bay in the front of the station, from the ship's previous position
aside the station when, assumedly, his possesed and enraged brother
executes his attack on his former compatriot.
===========================
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1998 22:37:08 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: AAE: Hmm...
On Thu, 3 Sep 1998 01:32:25 EDT
Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00005724
Scott looks at the Sentinal-Lensdragon, and asks "Can I have that
mini-lens? I think I can help Roland with it..."
===========================
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1998 23:10:32 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE4: Emerald Knights
On Thu, 03 Sep 1998 01:36:08 -0400
Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005725
> On Wed, 02 Sep '98 Morgan and/or Roland Said
>
> ^suh...sib.^
> A tiny Roland-energy construct, but the real 'him'-appears next
> to Dhyrclhanc's ear. (Or whatever passes for one.) Even that
> miniscule form is torn and tattered, to the point of missing his
> left arm entirely. ^th-thuh-the rings. source-of power-ghk-^
> He vanishes.
It doesn't change anything but as the "Roland-prime" appears on
Dhyrclhanc's shoulder, near the Lensdragon's bat-wing-like ear, the RP
construct finds out that the Dhyrclhances that were on E-3 were
simply, more or less, psionic constructs. All but one dissapear.
"Brother," says the last remaining one, using his First-Ring replica
to generate a green psi-fire dome-shaped shield and blocking out the
remainder of the RBs still on the planet's surface, "As Ganthet did
for Hal at the end of Ganthet's Tale, let me do for you. Take some of
my life-energy and heal the damage done to you by the
Eddorian/Ploorian mental gestalt." The First-Ring shines once more,
linking brother to brother.
Meinwhile, behind the Reverse-Blaze on the top of the cargo loading
struts, another Dhyrclhanc appears, also garbed in his Sentinel
uniform.
"Sorry to have to do this to you brother," he says as multiple
green-fire tenticles quickly reach around and remove each Sinestro
ring from the Reverse-Blaze's fingers. "Then again, you are not my
brother." The corrupted rings are deposited into a seemingly mundane
burlap sack, which is quickly tied shut and this Dhyrclhanc fades from
view before the Reverse-Blaze is able to retaliate.
===========================
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1998 23:10:41 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE: Hmm...
On Thu, 03 Sep 1998 01:57:34 -0400
Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005726
Talk about your horses and barn doors, here!
> On Thu, 3 Sep '98 Scott Osborne Said
>
> Scott looks at the Sentinal-Lensdragon, and asks "Can I have that
> mini-lens? I think I can help Roland with it..."
Actualy, it's the "Sentinel-Lensdragon" but I'm being picayune,
again.
The Dhyrclhanc on the bridge of the "Xavier" blinks several times as
if being in a trance.
"Oh, sorry, I meant to do something about that. Though, I would like
to hope that particular problem has been delt with."
Once again, Dhyrclhanc's First-Ring and Lens of Arrisia come to life.
One burning brightly, like the cut fragment of the heart of a distant
star, the other looking like a forrest fire in microcosm if viewed
through an emerald tinted lens. A stark, scintillating, beam which is
a swirled mixture of both colors lights up the bridge of the damged
hybred ship, turning it into an unearthly enivironment.
The beam links Scott's forehead to Dhyrclhanc's and, when the light
returns to normal, what appears to be a green and silver coruscating
uncut gemstone of undefinable type now sits embedded in Scott's right
wrist (unless he's left handed, in which case it is on his left
wrist).
===========================
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1998 00:08:52 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Crisis Management
On Thu, 3 Sep 1998 02:14:04 EDT
Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00005727
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005691
> Unfortunately for all concerned, Driscoll is quite correct.
> Nemo's plan _would_ have prevented the interference of the Boskonian
> amalgam, however...
> "I'm impressed," RB says, turning into a golden replica of
> Citizen V.(1) "It's a good plan. I see no reason that it wouldn't
> work. Except, of course, for _me._"
> And with that, once all the screens are in place, golden globes
> surround them all, and they vanish...
> ...only to reappear in the spinal mount of the Dragon's Bane,
> torn open and unleashing the full power of the stars that energize
> them on that juggernaut.
Dragon's Bane sends a surprised, /Whooof/, as it struggles to channel
the unexpected energy. Fortuneately the weapon when fired at full
power deals with considerably more energy than that. The end result is
like a super hot sunbeam (ala EE DOC. Smith) that blasts through the
middle of the furball and into the hyperspacial tunnel, temporarily
cleaning it out.
> "Next," the Reverse Blaze says, returning to his 'normal' form
> and smiling confidently...
/That wasn't nice, Blaze./ Aurora sends. An instant later, the Reverse
Blaze is surrounded by an anti-psi field of cosmic strength. As he
moves the field moves with him. (OOC: it won't cause damage, but it
will weaken if not completely (for a weak psi) prohibit psionic
activity originating inside the globe.)
===========================
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1998 00:09:03 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE4: Emerald Knights
On Wed, 02 Sep 1998 23:15:44
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005728
>On Wed, 02 Sep 1998 20:23:50
>Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005718
>
>>On Wed, 2 Sep 1998 15:17:46 -0500
>>Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005706
>>
>>Mike smirked, *Not to mention, you look like a yellow Parallax.*
/Ohhhhhh, _now_ you've gone and done it,/ Morgan sends quietly.
> ...until Mike takes that _one_ step too far.
> "/*I AM NOT PARALLAAAAAAX!*/"
Morgan sighs. /GL Rant #1: "Hal Wasn't Parallax." One of the big
ones./
> *I...I was a fool,* RB replies, recoiling. Anyone who scans him
>can tell that he's in truly incredible pain, due to a gaping psychic
>wound. The would would have healed over by now-apparently Roland can
>regenerate mental damage as well as physical-but the corrupt energies
>of the Sinestro rings is preventing it, acting on his mind the way
>poison does on his body.
> That wound is the loss of most of his 'higher' emotional self, the
>superego and a large chunk of the ego. Leaving an almost untempered
>id, with the intelligence and imagination of Blaze, and the power of
>a mad Primal...
>On Wed, 02 Sep 1998 21:06:27
>Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005719
>
> "I am Freelance-disavowed! The Lanterns rejected me! Every oath I
>ever took turned out to be a LIE!"
/^_Every_ oath?^/ Morgan's voice is quiet but firm, and the Reverse
Blaze feels the ring on the third finger of his left hand warm ever so
slightly.
The Reverse-Blaze stops dead in his 'tracks,' hitting the
proverbial brick wall in his train of thought. /no...no, not every
oath.../ he admits.
> This time, replicas of _all_ the CAoL members, or vessels if in
>ships, appear...but as cartoon versions thereof. Only Morgan is
>absented (for reasons that will become apparent in the next post)
>as the ships 'attack' with 'toon versions of the Callahanian's
>weapons-rubber staves, singing swords that don't cooperate (see Who
>Framed Roger Rabbit?-heck, see it anyway, it's the best comedy of all
>time), fazers (they 'faze' their targets ;^), guns that shoot pies or
>shaving cream, confetti grenades and various and sundry insanities...
In front of Morgan's approaching mecha, Roland's Citizen V form
appears, except he wears no mask; the force construct has his face. He
holds out his sword and smiles. /^You wanted a duel, my love?^/
/^Wanted? No, not really. But if some sort of pissing contest will
help get you through this, I guess I can oblige,/ Morgan replies
evenly, again forming the mecha-sized claidheamhor.
/^Pis-? Heh. I must say, I can't blame you for being confident.^/
Slowly, carefully, the Reverse-Blaze begins testing Morgan's defenses.
/^After all, you wiped the floor with me mere minutes ago.^/ He whips
the cape at her 'eyes' and flies below her. /^But that was in cramped
quarters, where I couldn't use my full power, and didn't dare risk
hurting you. But that mecha is just another crunchy!^/ He takes a
swing at one of the Valkyrie's legs from beneath.
While the cape in her face blocked Morgan's sight momentarily, RB
either forgot to or couldn't block their link, and Morgan evaded the
blow at the last second. Almost evaded, as his sword scraped across
her footplate. /^Nice move. Thanks for reminding me so early on to
think in three dimensions instead of two.^/
Citizen B(sic) scowls. /^You always _were_ light on your feet.^/ He
parries the wheeling counter-attack-barely. /^So you're adjusting to
the third dimension. Can you adjust to this?^/ He extends his off
hand, and a flash of light fills Morgan's faceplate. When the light
fades, she sees him flying at her like a torpedo!
Morgan 'stands', holding her ground, sword raised to defend... then at
the last possible second drops down and sideways, slashing at his
passing legs as she turns to keep him in her line of sight.
The Roland-construct tucks in its legs at the last second, losing
only a bit of each foot. /^Clever. There's just one problem,^/ he says
with a sly smile. /^My construct _regenerates._^/ The feet reappear.
/^And you don't?^/ Morgan quips.
/^_We_ regenerate. Your _mech_ doesn't, however. Your move.^/ The
smile broadens.
/^Well then, let's level that playing field,^/ Morgan sends brightly,
and ports out of the mech. Her magicks enable her to exist in the
vacume for a while, more than long enough for even an extended duel.
/^Better?^/
The enormous Citizen B snarls. /^I'm THROUGH toying with you!^/ The
giant vanishes. In its place is a human-sized Citizen B with
Shadowclaw's features and physique. /^Let's see if a wolf is a match
for a lion!^/ With a roar, he pounces.
Morgan briefly considers letting him catch her, in hopes that Roland
would snap out of it before the construct tore her head off, but
decides instead to evade and counter attack. She'd sparred with many
different types of opponents while training in Arcadia, and that
variety paid off now.
The duel is short and vicious, and despite Shadowclaw's berserk
ferocity and speed, he's _still_ no match for Morgan in close-quarters
combat, as she's one of the best swordsfolx in the multiverse.
The tattered Shadowclaw dances back, staring at Morgan as the
construct repairs itself. /^You are as skilled as ever,^/ it says,
morphing back into Citizen B. /^But as I said-I'm THROUGH toying with
you!^/ The sword reforms, and becomes a giant lance, rippling outward,
chasing Morgan-
-and explodes as a half-formed Roland-construct appears in its
path. *^NO!^* It extends its one arm, and a burst of blue-gold
lightning shatters the Citizen B. The Roland, missing most of his
chest, his left arm and right leg, collapses in space. *^stop him,^*
he sends, looking at Morgan through his remaining eye. *^please...stop
him.^* With that, the remains fade even as Morgan's arms wrap around
him.
"DAMN!" Morgan shouts in frustration. She floats for a moment, eyes
closed, then ports back into the mech. /Troops, keep those constructs
busy. When it looks like he's as distracted as he's going to get, I'm
going in..../
(OOC: If those in Thirdspace could finish off the Eddorans and
someone could stop Iblis, we can wrap up phase one of the finale and
get to the main event. )
===========================
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1998 00:09:22 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE: Hmm...
On Thu, 3 Sep 1998 02:26:00 EDT
Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00005730
In a message dated 9/2/98 11:11:05 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
Dhyrclhanc writes:
> The beam links Scott's forehead to Dhyrclhanc's and, when the light
> returns to normal, what appears to be a green and silver coruscating
> uncut gemstone of undefinable type now sits embedded in Scott's
> right wrist (unless he's left handed, in which case it is on his
> left wrist).
Scott looks at his hand, and the gemstone melts into his hand.
/^Thanks. For good or ill, you seem to have solved the problem with
Roland without me, though.^/
/Hey, folx, what can I do to help?/
Thanks
Scott "Not there" Osborne
===========================
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1998 00:09:28 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE4: Emerald Knights
On Wed, 02 Sep 1998 23:32:18
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005731
>On Thu, 03 Sep 1998 01:36:08 -0400
>Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005725
>"Brother," says the last remaining one, using his First-Ring replica
>to generate a green psi-fire dome-shaped shield and blocking out the
>remainder of the RBs still on the planet's surface, "As Ganthet did
>for Hal at the end of Ganthet's Tale, let me do for you. Take some of
>my life-energy and heal the damage done to you by the
>Eddorian/Ploorian mental gestalt." The First-Ring shines once more,
>linking brother to brother.
Unfortunately, even the trace of Roland vanishes with him.
>"Sorry to have to do this to you brother," he says as multiple
>green-fire tenticles quickly reach around and remove each Sinestro
>ring from the Reverse-Blaze's fingers. "Then again, you are not my
>brother." The corrupted rings are deposited into a seemingly mundane
>burlap sack, which is quickly tied shut and this Dhyrclhanc fades
>from view before the Reverse-Blaze is able to retaliate.
The Reverse-Blaze laughs, his forcefield cutting off the tendrils
after losing the first two rings. However, the corrupt energies fade a
measurable, if not significant, amount.
/You have GOT to be kidding,/ he sends, his forcefield expanding
and throwing the fading dragon back. /My armor is _made_ of the rings!
My pathetic goody-goody fragment-self is too weak to be of any use to
you!/ The 'toon Dhyrclhanc immediately begins hunting down the genuine
article, firing terrible gouts of molasses breath-weapon...
===========================
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1998 00:09:36 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE4: Emerald Knights
On Thu, 3 Sep 1998 02:47:51 EDT
Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00005732
> Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005718
>
> That wound is the loss of most of his 'higher' emotional self,
> the superego and a large chunk of the ego. Leaving an almost
> untempered id, with the intelligence and imagination of Blaze, and
> the power of a mad Primal...
> *Parallax was RIGHT! There must be order-and there WILL!*
> TBC in the response to Dhyrclhanc.
While this goes on (and she is trying to at least reduce his power
level, see my response to getting the mind screens blown up inside
Dragon's Bane) Aurora scans the various versions of Roland. Then
sensing the damage, she acts, first she nullifies, one after another
at the rate of one each pico-second, the yellow lantern rings. That
finished she throws a beam of pure healing energy at each and all of
the Blaze forms (OOC: this energy is a combination of the physical,
and psychic healing that has been explained before, but there is an
added element, one that only Aurora of all the Starspawn can manage.
That added element is the reverse of the spiritual attack that she
used on Starbreaker. It heals the spirit, and through the spirit the
body and mind of the recipient. As she does this, the Plooran amalgam
tries to take his mind again, and finds Dragon's Bane on gaurd. The
ship's return thrust blows through the L2 based amalgam like a tornado
through a field of wheat. When it's finished, there isn't even stubble
left.
===========================
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1998 00:15:29 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: AAE:Ying becomes Yang
On Thu, 03 Sep 1998 03:05:53 EDT
Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00005733
The final few Chaosi find their way way into the vial as the cartoon
Caol make thier appearences. There is a nanosecond where reality
duplicates itself liek a double exposure, but then it turns over on
itself and becomes a negative of itself before starting again.
The Chaosi are gone from the vial. Order has taken their place, and a
trap made to hold Chaos lets Order escape quickly. Chaos has become
the standard of this universe at least, adn now Order had to take
Chaos's place of action.
In space, Harlequin doubles over in aparent pain before he changes
back to Driss. Driss gasps for a moment as crystalized mist streams
from his mouth, nose and ears. Inexplicably his body pressure does not
cause him to explode, but his skin quickly becomes pale white and ice
forms on it.
Then a piece of Order finds its way to Driss. *The avatar must
continue to fofil his place as the changer.* it sends out to no one in
particular before entering Driss's body. A space suit appears on his
body and the damage from teh cold vastness of space heals itself
quickly.
Driss looks around him slowly and calculatingly. "This method of
space travel is not effective for my needs." He gestures and a VF-21
valkarie fighter(1) appears around him in manish form. The cartoon
harlequin smiles and starts sneaking up at the fighter with a finger
to his lips but the mecha aims its gun at the figure and fires, and
the cartoon harlequin is replaced by a videocassette floating away in
space.
Driss contemplates the cassette for a moment through the neural
interface with the Mecha's sensors. "When a wise man argues with a
fool it becomes difficult for a bystander to tell one from the other.
With order out to disrupt Chaos as Chaos has done for so long to
Order, can they seem anything except alike?"
With that the Mecha tranforms into fighter mode and rockets off into
space.
TBC by cameo in Emerald Knights
===========================
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1998 00:15:35 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE4: Emerald Knights
On Thu, 03 Sep 1998 03:05:53 EDT
Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00005734
>On Wed, 02 Sep 1998 21:06:27
>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005719
>
> "I am Freelance-disavowed! The Lanterns rejected me! Every oath I
>ever took turned out to be a LIE!"
> Still, despite his rage and vehemence, so long as Dhyrclhanc talks
>calmly, Roland does not attack...
Harlequin just appears standing unassumingly nearby. "And what of
your vow of Love for Morgan? Was this a lie as well? And if not, is
this how you prove it? By denying the parts of yourself that drew her
to love you?"
===========================
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1998 00:35:43 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE4: Emerald Knights
On Thu, 3 Sep 1998 01:40:31 -0500
Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005736
>On Wed, 02 Sep 1998 20:23:50
>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005718
>
>>On Wed, 2 Sep 1998 15:17:46 -0500
>>Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005706
> Roland begins to waver. Though his mind has been savaged horribly
>by the Boskonian amalgam, something inside him fights to return to
>his friends...
>
>>Mike smirked, *Not to mention, you look like a yellow Parallax.*
>
> ...until Mike takes that _one_ step too far.
Don't I always?>
> Armor pads form on each of Roland's shoulders for a split second;
>one glare from RB, and they explode harmlessly.
Mike sidesteps the fist coming at his face, *No, you aren't that
angst-ridden. I said you -look- like Parallax. You -act- like a
certain red-faced, ex-Green Lantern, Snidely Whiplash look-alike.
Well, at the age of three.*
> *Parallax was RIGHT! There must be order-and there WILL!*
*Yep, Sinestro, Parallax, same old song and dance.* Mike said as he
decked 'himself'.
Tink was in a serious tussle with herself, spinning through space
wildly in a tangle of limbs, like the average playground fight.
Melissa and Grep were involved with a four-way free-for-all. And Molly
was simply kicking her yellow version's butt, however, not well enough
to concentrate on much of anything else, as her yellow alternate kept
getting back up for more. The rest of the Corps were doing various
stages of 'fair to middlin''.
Looked like this battle was going to be continued in the next issue...
===========================
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1998 01:08:13 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE4: Emerald Knights
On Thu, 3 Sep 1998 02:09:33 -0500
Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005737
>On Wed, 02 Sep 1998 23:15:44
>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005728
>
>>On Wed, 02 Sep 1998 20:23:50
>>Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005718
>>
>>>On Wed, 2 Sep 1998 15:17:46 -0500
>>>Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005706
>>>
>>>Mike smirked, *Not to mention, you look like a yellow Parallax.*
>
>/Ohhhhhh, _now_ you've gone and done it,/ Morgan sends quietly.
^I know,^ Mike sends quietly direct to Morgan.
>> ...until Mike takes that _one_ step too far.
>> "/*I AM NOT PARALLAAAAAAX!*/"
>
>Morgan sighs. /GL Rant #1: "Hal Wasn't Parallax." One of the big
>ones./
^Yup,^ Mike replies, ^Probably why I opened my yap and said it. Not
real smart. But, it was the only idea I had at the time. I was hoping
he'd check himself when he heard that. I goofed. Probably will again
with this...^
===========================
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1998 05:06:15 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Who's He Working For...?
On Thu, 3 Sep 1998 06:36:38 -0500
Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005738
: On Tue, 01 Sep 1998 21:56:36
: Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005692
:
: Gharlane of Eddore does not smile. But if it were inclined to, it
: would be smiling now.
: [This has proved more fortuitous than even conquering the psion's
: mind,] he thinks. [But now, he fights creatively, cleverly, and
: savagely-for us.] *Helmuth-*
: "Helmuth," Roland says, a golden replica appearing next to
: Gharlane's humanoid projection, "is an incompetent fool. Though
: given his limitations, he can almost be forgiven them."
James watches Helmuth attempt to scoot rather than fight whatever
James is. "Roland's tactical savvy seems to increase in parallel with
his loss of inhibitions from his higher mind. That will be our first
target, gentlemen. Smaller guns, train the rail gun on THIS one - it's
one of the supports for the gate. I'll try and keep the razzle of all
of you. He's already forgotten Clarissa. Not smart. She should be off
soom enough we can take that one down. IF not, I'll try and get her
off first, or Nadreck. Can you take a human through 3D space your way,
Nadreck, without harm to their mind?"
: Gharlane does not jump, or turn in shock, or attack in reflex.
: But his surprise is such that a lower-Stage mentality would have
: done at least one of the above. "I see you have come to serve the
: Eddoran Empire."
: RB smiles coldly. "Hardly. I have come-" A single concentrated
: blast disrupts the Gharlane-projection. "-to rule it." He steps up
: to the 'throne' Gharlane commanded from and sits in it. *Helmuth,
: you idiot. A fleet the likes of which few realities have seen, and
: you can't catch one woman, much less defeat a handful of cosmics.
: Here.* A shocked Clarrissa MacDougal appears in Helmuth's command
: center, caught in a forcefield that both traps her and protects her
: from the Speaker's vengeance. *Now stop WASTING time and get that
: railgun through the gate!*
James' Lens flickers, as it conceals his surprise, and continues to
change his mental sig to match the Speaker for Boskone.But within the
concealed area of his new command deck. He shakes his head at the
rather confused Clarissa, projecting the emotions she'd have had if
he'd really been Helmuth (i.e. wanting him dead, horror at his
appearance, etc.) instead of her puzzlement at finding humans here.
"My luck is very strange sometimes. Not the first time an enemy
thought I was on his side." He grates out, with effort. "My name... is
James, James Bond, and you must be Clarissa MacDougal, I presume?
Please cloak your normal emotions. Pretend I'm Helmuth, whom I'm
screening from screaming to his boss, and about to finish. Contact
Kinnison, get him applying some pressure - they're scanning us too
heavily for me to move from defense yet."
: Helmuth splutters for several moments, then gathers his wits. *As
: Eddore commands.*
James' Lens flowed with the light of a star, as he channels an IMMENSE
amount of energy, with a control and subtleness that is simply not
human... or even Arisian. Gently, VERY gently, he works in a single
suggestion probe, so weak in force as to be almost ignorable.
Certainly not strong enough in power to be any threat at all... to
Roland's mind, it's not even detectable as external thought. That's
where most of the power went, cloaking it. As he struggles to convince
Roland he's not a problem that needs Roland's personal attention.
: RB sighs and leans back into the chair. [So much to do...] He
: smiles. [...well. Mr. Bond. I almost forgot.] Roland considers for a
: moment. [No. If Helmuth can discover the Resistance fighters and
: defeat them, then he is a worthy speaker for Boskone. If not...
: perhaps the legendary Commander Bond will do better.]
James sighs with relief, as the Lens calms down slightly again on the
back of his left hand. Sweat flows freely and he mops it from his eyes
impatiently. "We have some time, rebels, let's use it wisely." He
notes the smaller guns took out Helmuth's escape ship, checks to see
Helmuth is REALLY dead, then shifts the force again. "Now, the rail
gun ready?"
===========================
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1998 08:35:50 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Breaking the Stalemate
On Thu, 3 Sep 1998 08:25:10 -0500
Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005739
: On Wed, 02 Sep 1998 19:08:37
: Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005714
: Starbreaker, disoriented from mutliple indignities, tries to
: drain the TK, but between Fuzzy's sheath and the previous spirit-
: attack, can't do much. He tries, also, to fight physically. He isn't
: even that bad.
: But against Zia, he's in _way_ over his head.
She is careful to fight using only judo and akido, not even giving up
that much _kinetic_ energy to this creature. Simply avoiding ....er,
the "clutches of Evil" as it were. (GRIN!) Although him fighting, thus
following her, makes it easier to shadow walk and take him along...
: Starbreaker, too, vanishes. (OOC: Unless you had something else
: in mind, Zia. 8^)
===========================
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1998 08:35:56 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Crisis Management
On Thu, 3 Sep 1998 08:18:41 -0500
Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005740
: On Wed, 02 Sep 1998 19:25:51
: Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005715
: A man dressed in the uniform of a Boskonian soldier walks up
: quietly. "Agent Theodore Jones at your service, sir." The earnest
: young man (who must have been able to simulate a Boskonian
: stormtrooper) salutes sharply.
James, for the first time in what seems like a glacier's age, smiles
his cold smile. The ship stinks of death, both physically and
mentally, not something that James can ignore completely. He focuses
on the mission, though. He smiles with the irony of the situation,
however, as he has many times before. The scar on his face showing
briefly white as the skin moves.
He snaps a British style salute back, almost instinctively. "My name
is James, James Bond, Agent Jones. Very honored to meet you. Would you
like to be on the clobbering side of the bat for a bit?" James grins
again, not really needing an answer.
"Come on and show us what you can about the controls. If you'll give
me permission, I really need to telepathically pick up whatever you've
learned about their operational patterns. Although it won't be very
comfortable, I must warn you - I haven't the time for proper delicacy.
But no permanent harm will ensue." James continues his dogtrot for the
control room as they speak, having stopped only long enough for the
salute before waving his team back into motion.
Assuming as I will that no one willing to do this job would miss a
chance to hurt Boskone, and the young agent agrees, James does a
through scan for everything that will aid his imposture as Helmuth and
the rest of the dead Boskone.... Resulting in a bit of a headache on
the part of the agent, but at least not a crippling migrane, as James
had estimated was also a possibility.
[Fortunately, Roland doesn't know the true signature of my mind.]
James thinks to himself. [I guess the Logrus condition isn't always a
bad deal. Have to remember to tell Zia about that point. Later.]
: *THAT is the pain I feel EVERY MOMENT because of what YOU DID to
: my MIND!* RB roars. *But it gives me POWER! The power to mke you
: strong-or to DESTROY YOU! Now you WILL serve your creation-or you
: will DIE!*
: There is a long pause. *As you will,* the amalgam sends as one,
: though the tone is sullen. (Or at least as sullen as a horde of
: Second-Stage minds can be. More on Roland's condition forthcoming.)
James, as Helmuth, and his phantasm crew, are also included in this
broadcast, perforce. James eyes tighten as the pain flows. "Unicorns
and leapfrog games. The man has no pain threshold, apparently. Anyone
reasonable would have dived for unconsciousness, under the lash of
that." With a spare thought, he checks his own "fuses" to prevent the
same being done to him. He idly wonders what the Lens is doing with
all his spare jets in the background, but dismisses the thought as
unworthy at this time of pressure.
"Communications?" He addresses the team, not knowing who is taking one
station. Clarissa herself looks up. "Talk to the rebels. I need your
best mind healer. Preferable a shield-null redacter personality
rebuilder, if you have them classified to that level of detail, as
yet. If not, get me your best healer who is non-violent and extremely
integrous. It'll be hard to convince him to let someone heal him, as
it stands. Morgan will have to help, but she isn't a redactor, so
we'll need someone really trustworthy."
"Nadreck, Agent Jones. If I teleport, remove all non-essential crew to
the Pirate Queen, and jink for that other ship. She's the Spoiler, and
if you come in openly friendly on the telepath bands, you should be
able to fight with her. Those who remain, suit and man the rail gun
until you can't fire, then stay on the hulk if you can. I'll try and
make sure that you're rescued. Or the Spoiler and Queen'll pick you
back up." James grins tightly... because the chance they'll be anyone
alive for that is so remote. But then, he likes to think positive.
The rail gun, having already been targeted and sighted in on one of
the gate supporting huge ships... fires. Clarissa and Agent Jones both
carol with a vindictive glee, as at last they manage a telling blow
for the rebels. James and Nadreck, totally unaffected by success, set
up three more targets. Then James braces for a showdown, to make sure
the rebels have time to take down the rest of the supports, and close
the gate.
[Now, I don't think I can make Roland buy that Helmuth was silly
enough to do that... but maybe...] "Clarissa, I'll be needing your
help. You and Jones get to the auxiliary fire control room... and
we'll have a bit of a drama play. Trying to convince ol' Fearless
leader that I, or rather, Helmuth, lost you to the dear Mr. Jones
here, and you two did that on your own. Playing for time. Have fun."
They vanish in a sparkling teleporter effect, reappearing in the said
room.
James _blinks_. "What the -?" Then realizes the Lens did
it, and it also seems to be reconfiguring some of his other psi, not
just the teleportative. He growls, softly, [I hate surprises. Must
have...] he checks something. [Yes. A personality split. Sneaky,
James, if I do say so to myself. Just don't distract me too much.]
*GET the mines. Blow the whole room if you have to. But kill the
red-headed worm of a human, and that other rebel. I don't CARE about
the damage.* "Helmuth" rants, sounding as near a rage as something
like him could be, with an icy edge of panic lest the "boss" get upset
at the disaster. He "wants" to have dead bodies to show this strange
thing that has just cowed the entire coalition of Bosone... so it
won't KILL Helmuth himself. James is careful to also mimic the guards
panic, and determination to kill them, and let's Clarissa and Agent
Jones 'leak' just a bit, of everything they're thinking that might be
suitable for this faked situation.
Meanwhile the turrents of the James' ship rail gun lines up on the
cherry target he couldn't get on the first shot. The Peashooter, as
James abruptly names her, having achieved a firing position where it
can swipe off the map TWO of the supporting stations. James squeezes
the arms of his chair, smiling and eyes twinkling, as his fire
control, under orders to shoot as SOON as targets are acquired, brings
them down to puddling slag.
The Thirdspave Gate flickers.... and dwindles to half it's former
circumference. THIS kill, James can enjoy. And is. However, in his
mask, it's Helmuth enjoying the thought of a dead Clarissa, of course.
:)
- "Helmuth, speaking for Boskone" - NOT!
===========================
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1998 08:36:05 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: AAE4: Shades of Toon! - the Spoof Scenes (Was: Emerald
Knights)
On Thu, 3 Sep 1998 08:53:11 -0500
Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005741
: On Wed, 02 Sep 1998 23:32:18
: Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005731
: The Reverse-Blaze laughs, his forcefield cutting off the tendrils
: after losing the first two rings. However, the corrupt energies fade
: a measurable, if not significant, amount.
: /You have GOT to be kidding,/ he sends, his forcefield expanding
: and throwing the fading dragon back. /My armor is _made_ of the
: rings! My pathetic goody-goody fragment-self is too weak to be of
: any use to you!/ The 'toon Dhyrclhanc immediately begins hunting
: down the genuine article, firing terrible gouts of molasses
: breath-weapon...
Meanwhile the cartoon of Zia appears near the Reverse-Blaze on the arm
of B5. "Have some fun? My specialty." She smiles. "Wanta dance,
cowboy?" In _exactly_ the same tones that James was using to "seduce"
Morgan in Earth-9. This cartoon Zia seems remarkably like the real
one, except for the racoon-face half-mask, and the openly mischievious
smile and twinkling eyes.
"Or would you rather watch ME dance? I used to really wow them on the
frontier. Even got famous THAT lifetime. Ever heard of Mae West?
Course, I was blond then..." Her hair morphs to a platinum blond
perfect do, ala long, the way superheroines hair ALWAYS looks neat and
good. Then her black uniform changes to a white frothy affair circa
1870's, with a matching _parasol_.
"You're such a young man, Roland." She says, the mask gone now to
reveal her features and "war paint" of a stage performer. Looks good
in harsh straight starlight, though. "Do you even know what can-can
IS? Would you like to see one, honey?" Best saloon gal's voice - or if
you've ever HEARD Mae West, you know what she sounds like.
Ultraviolet
OR Zia, since she TRIES not to let on that this is a superhero thing.
:)
===========================
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1998 08:36:11 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Crisis Management
On Thu, 3 Sep 1998 07:39:52 -0500
Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005742
: Subject: Re: AAE IV: Crisis Management
: Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00005710
:*Does the link need to remain useful? I have two methods, both
: untested. I could just static the link, rendering it useless and
: really annoying to anyone who can't shut it out, or I could take
: part of it, but some of us will be cut off entirely, probably the
: ones with full lenses of their own. We don't have the capacity to do
: the entire link.*
*Check on the second option with Nemo holding it - he's got spare
capacity, still. And Zia might be back to help out soon.* James spares
the quick reply when he has time to, after a noticeable delay - even
on a telepathic band of thought.
===========================
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1998 09:35:59 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Crisis Management [Long]
On Thu, 03 Sep 1998 12:19:39 -0400
Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005743
> On Wed, 02 Sep '98 Morgan and/or Roland Said
> (OOC: It's looking for Dhyrclhanc himself, though it will do any
> collateral damage. It _will_ destroy any things that tries to stop
> it, and try to disable any folx that stand in its way without harm.
> It will thread the B-5 docking bay without damaging it.)
Lucky for the B5 folx, at that point the Xavier isn't in thedocking
bay, just three-quarters up the length of the station but still
outside. Unfortunatly, the only drive system that's still functional
on the Xavier is its reactionless Bergenholm/impulse engines.
Since the Xavier can be piloted away and since luring the
Phoenix-quasi-avatar away is no longer an option, this necessitates
Dhyrclhanc to personaly deal with the firebird.
> (OOC: It's an extension of the sum total of the Reverse-Blaze's
> energy powers, made _both_ of the Sinestro-ring-energy and Roland's
> PK. IOW, this has a touch of the Real Deal. )
I presumed as much.
Being inherently immune to the effects of hard vacuum, Dhyrclhanc flys
out of one of the Xavier's upper airlocks at a speed very near 1C.
Attempting to lure the bird construct to the very edge of the Epsilon
Erdianii binary-star system.
Once arriving at the edge of Clear Ether, Dhyrclhanc turns around and,
despite the absence of air, all concerned can hear him say, "I have
said it before and will say it again but I hope that I may never have
to mean it like I do today,
I AM POWER, LIFE AND MAGICK,
MADE IINCARNATE!
NOW AND FOREVERMORE,
I AM PHOENIX!!!"
Dhyrclhanc's Lens of Arrisia, First-Ring and Eye of Ammagatto seem to
explode with green, ice white-blue, and pure golden light. An
increasing sphere of luminescent and polychromatic light expands
creating a smaller third sun. Pico-seconds later the light-hawk
construct sinks into the psudeo-star's coronasphere and everyone is
momentarily blinded.
When their sight returns, Dhyrclhanc is once again in their midst.
Only he is now garbed in a costume remincent of the psudo-Jean Grey
Phoenix. He is also surrounded by a red and yellow starbird composed
of stellar flame
*So star-child, you fancy yourself a scion of the Phoenix Force, do
you?*
Who or whatever this new being is, it is not the Lensdragon. Its
voice, at the very least, is completly different.
The green portions of the costume instantly change to scarlet and
Dhyrclhanc's frozen blue eyes turn to a burning yellow.
*Then do you fancy yourself a match for the Dark Phoenix?*
On the planet's surface, Darkseid's attention is drawn to the conflict
by the seemingly newcomer.
"Again, she is beautiful." the Dark God whispers to no one as a single
tear of joy falls from his eye.
A parademon takes notice of this and is instantly incinerated by the
Overlord of Apocolyps' Omega Factor.
Meinwhile, all itterations of the Reverse-Blaze are being
simultaneously attacked by the unimaginable unbridled energies of the
Dark Phoenix.
As RB suffers, the Dark Lhanc construct says, *You should not have
done that, star-child. By upsetting your friend and giving him access
to such power you cemented our previously tenous link to him and let
us Live Again* Dhyrclhanc smiles a feral grin.
Sil will be able to tell. Yes, this is the real deal, or a very
large segment of it. }>:=8)
===========================
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1998 10:05:33 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE4: Emerald Knights
On Thu, 03 Sep 1998 12:48:56 -0400
Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005745
> On Wed, 02 Sep '98 Morgan and/or Roland Said
>
>>Dhyrclhanc Said
>>
>>"Brother," says the last remaining one, using his First-Ring replica
>>to generate a green psi-fire dome-shaped shield and blocking out the
>>remainder of the RBs still on the planet's surface, "As Ganthet did
>>for Hal at the end of Ganthet's Tale, let me do for you. Take some
>>of my life-energy and heal the damage done to you by the
>>Eddorian/Ploorian mental gestalt." The First-Ring shines once more,
>>linking brother to brother.
>
> Unfortunately, even the trace of Roland vanishes with him.
With *who*?
> The Reverse-Blaze laughs, his forcefield cutting off the tendrils
> after losing the first two rings. However, the corrupt energies fade
> a measurable, if not significant, amount.
> /You have GOT to be kidding,/ he sends, his forcefield expanding
> and throwing the fading dragon back. /My armor is _made_ of the
> rings! My pathetic goody-goody fragment-self is too weak to be of
> any use to you!/ The 'toon Dhyrclhanc immediately begins hunting
> down the genuine article, firing terrible gouts of molasses
> breath-weapon...
Besides the multiple Dhyrclhances that are runningaround here.
We've got the potential for two or three conflicting time-lines here,
folx. Just wondering if anybody besides me had noticed
"Oh no, you are not going to get away with doing that. To misquote a
Commander William Riker, 'Another Dhyrclhanc dimineshes my value as an
indivual in ways I cannot even begin to imagine.'"
Dhyrclhanc's mouth opens wide and a gout of flame burns brightly,
vaporizing the 'toon Dhyrclhanc's syrupy breath weapon and turning the
'toon doppleganger into a black, soot covered, silhouette of its
former self.
Then, utilizing his First-Ring, Dhyrclhanc creates a huge
parallelogram prism with "Ink Eraser" written on one side. The 'toon
Dhyrclhanc's eyes go wide and its mouth drops open as Dhyrclhanc
rubs him out.
"Now, back to the buisness at hand." Dhyrclhanc's Lens glows brightly
as the full potential of his psychic senses is opened up and each of
the Roland/Blazes are probed to determine which one of them is the
original and which are the Brand X knock-offs.
===========================
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1998 19:28:24 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE4: Emerald Knights
On Thu, 3 Sep 1998 19:54:59 -0400 (EDT)
Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00005746
>On Wed, 02 Sep 1998 21:06:27
>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005719
>
> This time, replicas of _all_ the CAoL members, or vessels if in
>ships, appear...but as cartoon versions thereof. Only Morgan is
>absented (for reasons that will become apparent in the next post) as
>the ships 'attack' with 'toon versions of the Callahanian's weapons
>-rubber staves, singing swords that don't cooperate (see Who Framed
>Roger Rabbit?-heck, see it anyway, it's the best comedy of all time),
>fazers (they 'faze' their targets ;^), guns that shoot pies or
>shaving cream, confetti grenades and various and sundry insanities...
On the Spoiler they stare in amazement at the toon Spoiler attacking
them. A huge cream pie hits the forward viewscreen. Rhia's voice rings
out, "This is bad folks. The weapons that ship is employing may not be
deadly, but the others are. Don't let it distract you from the real
dangUrkkk.." As the crew is fazed. The huge ship rocks as it gets hit,
hard, by the neverending supply of enemy vessels. The crew unfazes,
damage reports come flooding in. 'Decompression decks 16 to 20',
'Power lost to starboard weapons systems, rerouting.' Rhia looks at
John, ^The crew?^
John's manages through of gritted teeth, "They are safe, for now, but
a full quarter the weapons on this ship are phase weapons." He gets
those of the crew he is keeping alive to a safe part of the ship.
^Options?^
^Scramble. Hopefully they get that gate down before too many ships get
through.^
^Gotcha.^
Rhia gives the order, "Sherman, start dancing. By toon logic we should
be able to hit the enemy with those gag attacks when they miss us for
about.. one and a half minutes."
The entire fleet disappears, reappearing elswhere in space guns
blazing. They continue to blink, never staying in one place for more
than a half-second. John stays behind, in the original position. He
advances on the toon ship, which starts blinking as well, though this
blinking is done by a few hundred miles of christmas lights. A toon
John advances on this one, smiling, but John ports over to the ship,
which promptly, but slowly deflates. The toon John looks puzzled, and
advances on the real one rapidly. He approaches and says, "Custard
Stor.." but stops, a look of fear on his face. John hold up his mighty
weapon, the common sewing needle. The toon John bows, and disappears
of his own accord.
John looks at the still tremendous forces out there and comes to a
decision, ^Ree, switch to modified MataNano, attack plan 3.^
^But..^
^I know, do it anyway.^
^Those..^
^Sherman, command override. Initiate attack program triple triad
triax. Desist only on my command.^
^You..^ Rhia is furious, then gone, taking the crew with her.
John looks pained, very pained, but he has a job to do. Namely,
finding any of the rebels near here before the nano did, and keeping
them alive while it did it's work.
===========================
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1998 19:35:15 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Crisis Management
On Thu, 3 Sep 1998 19:10:49 PST
Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005747
> On Thu, 3 Sep 1998 07:39:52 -0500
> Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005742
>
> *Check on the second option with Nemo holding it - he's got spare
> capacity, still. And Zia might be back to help out soon.* James
> spares the quick reply when he has time to, after a noticeable delay
> - even on a telepathic band of thought.
Nemo can handle it if asked. He can just set up the telepathis
equivalent of a Internet router as a background process. Makes
filtering much simpler :-)
===========================
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1998 04:34:43 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Final Solution
On Thu, 3 Sep 1998 19:22:16 PST
Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005750
> On Tue, 01 Sep 1998 21:17:51
> Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005689
>
>>On Mon, 31 Aug 1998 09:34:40 PST
>>Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005673
>>
>>Yes. Nemo has had a *very* recent encounter with Count Iblis (see
>>AAE4 chapter 10). So if this *is* the same being, then he's going to
>>know. If it's some sort of avatar, I think Nemo is going to be
>>rather curious at the least.
>
> (OOC: Oh, _I_ remember. It is, in fact, the _very_ same
> Count Iblis, and every iteration seen of him/it so far has been an
> avatar, much like Nemo himself relates to NEMO. The Imperious
> Leader, the Count you fought, and the Fleet Captain are all
> extensions of the same entity. So what does _Nemo_ have to say about
> this situation?)
Normally, Nemo would inform Roland. That's not an option at the
moment. He will pass on the info to the rest of the CAoL, to Apollo
and ...
^Commander Adama. Count Iblis has somehow become involved and *he*
wants the Cylons destroyed. Therefor I suggest that you *not* attack
them.^
Nemo also sends an "info packet" about Iblis to both Sheridan *and*
Sinclair, requsting that they confirm the following orders.
#Task Force Omega. Break off the attack on the Cylons. Your Commander
is *not* who he appears to be! He is to be relieved of command
immediately.#
Alas, since the Cyclons *have* "given themselves freely", trying to
stop *Iblis* from destroying them is apt to get us in trouble. But I
can certainly try to keep anyone *not* "owned" by him from helping.
===========================
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1998 21:43:42 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Crisis Management
On Fri, 04 Sep 1998 21:03:00
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005752
>On Thu, 3 Sep 1998 02:14:04 EDT
>Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00005727
>
>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005691
>> "Next," the Reverse Blaze says, returning to his 'normal' form
>> and smiling confidently...
>
>/That wasn't nice, Blaze./ Aurora sends. An instant later, the
>Reverse Blaze is surrounded by an anti-psi field of cosmic strength.
>As he moves the field moves with him. (OOC: it won't cause damage,
>but it will weaken if not completely (for a weak psi) prohibit sionic
>activity originating inside the globe.)
/-pfft-Oh come now. If I'd _really_ wanted to hurt you, I wouldn't
have used energies _known_ to be insufficient. That was just to give
your overgrown fountain pen a case of indigestion./ Roland curls up,
then throws out an expanding burst of force 'spikes' laced with his
metapsi power. /Impressive display of psi-dampening, by the by. If I
lacked this armor, you would have disabled me rather thoroughly./ The
anti-psi field pops
>On Thu, 3 Sep 1998 02:47:51 EDT
>Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00005732
>While this goes on (and she is trying to at least reduce his power
>level, see my response to getting the mind screens blown up inside
>Dragon's Bane) Aurora scans the various versions of Roland. Then
>sensing the damage, she acts, first she nullifies, one after another
>at the rate of one each pico-second, the yellow lantern rings.
Half the remaining evil rings wink out like lights in a power
shortage. The others (remaining on his left hand) turn into a
gauntlet.
/This grows tiresome,/ Roland mutters, and his other hand grows a
gauntlet. It begins to glow again in short order. /Congratulations,
Aurora. You and the Dragon's Bane are now an official nuisance./ A
giant cork covers the spinal mount of the Dragon's Bane, and the 'toon
Bane fires a cosmic-level coconut cream pie torrent at its 'normal'
opposite.
(OOC: The cream pies aren't meant to do real, lasting harm to the
Bane, but they will 'gum up the works' if given the chance, jamming
psi transmissions, blocking weapon ports, etc.)
> As she does this, the Plooran amalgam tries to take his mind again,
>and finds Dragon's Bane on gaurd. The ship's return thrust blows
>through the L2 based amalgam like a tornado through a field of wheat.
>When it's finished, there isn't even stubble left.
Actually, there's quite a bit more than that left, though the DB's
thrust _does_ savage it horribly. The remains are supplemented
by...something. It feels vaguely Eddoran...
Meanwhile, Roland concentrates, and his power recharges to
compensate for the lost rings and energies. But an interesting thing
happens.
The 'recharge' energy is not corrupted.
The Reverse-Blaze is losing ground...
===========================
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1998 21:43:51 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE4: Emerald Knights
On Fri, 04 Sep 1998 21:04:35
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005753
>On Thu, 3 Sep 1998 01:40:31 -0500
>Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005736
>
>Mike sidesteps the fist coming at his face, *No, you aren't that
>angst-ridden. I said you -look- like Parallax. You -act- like a
>certain red-faced, ex-Green Lantern, Snidely Whiplash look-alike.
>Well, at the age of three.*
*I RESENT THAT!* Sinestro rages.
*No, he's right,* Roland replies with a laugh. With that, a giant
Sinestro beanie-baby appears in front of Mike, and starts firing giant
yellow pacifiers at him.
*Of course, you aren't exactly one to talk, are you, 'Puck?'* The
'toon Mike vanishes, replaced by the Sinestro doll, which looks cute
and menacing at the same time, somehow.
===========================
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1998 21:43:57 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Crisis Management
On Fri, 04 Sep 1998 21:26:10
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005754
>On Thu, 3 Sep 1998 08:18:41 -0500
>Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005740
>
>: On Wed, 02 Sep 1998 19:25:51
>: Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005715
>Assuming as I will that no one willing to do this job would miss a
>chance to hurt Boskone, and the young agent agrees, James does a
>through scan for everything that will aid his imposture as Helmuth
>and the rest of the dead Boskone.... Resulting in a bit of a headache
>on the part of the agent, but at least not a crippling migrane, as
>James had estimated was also a possibility.
Yep, the agent agrees...he's been through much worse just to get
here. He has a Lensman-grade mind.
>: There is a long pause. *As you will,* the amalgam sends as one,
>: though the tone is sullen. (Or at least as sullen as a horde of
>: Second-Stage minds can be. More on Roland's condition forthcoming.)
>
>James, as Helmuth, and his phantasm crew, are also included in this
>broadcast, perforce.
Fortunately, while James can certainly get a sense of just what
Roland's mind has been through, all the Boskonians not in the amalgam
get is what radiates from the broadcast.
>*GET the mines. Blow the whole room if you have to. But kill the red-
>headed worm of a human, and that other rebel. I don't CARE about the
>damage.* "Helmuth" rants, sounding as near a rage as something like
>him could be, with an icy edge of panic lest the "boss" get upset at
>the disaster. He "wants" to have dead bodies to show this strange
>thing that has just cowed the entire coalition of Bosone... so it
>won't KILL Helmuth himself. James is careful to also mimic the guards
>panic, and determination to kill them, and let's Clarissa and Agent
>Jones 'leak' just a bit, of everything they're thinking that might be
>suitable for this faked situation.
*Helmuth, you idiot,* Roland sends. The Freelance Immortal _did_
suspect something, but a tiny, subconscious spark managed to keep him
from worrying too much about it, and with his attention split so many
ways, it was easy enough. *If you weren't going to die at the hands of
Kinnison or Bond soon, I'd kill you myself. Now quit playing and space
the whole section of the ship with-no, I'll deal with her myself.*
Clarrissa frowns at the controls. "Poor Kim must be worried sick.
Ted, patch that wiring-we have to-"
"All you 'have' to do, Ms. MacDougal, is play the damsel in
distress," Roland snarls as he appears.
At which point Kimball Kinnison appears courtesy of Nadreck,
hitting the construct for all his nascent telepathy is worth. *Will
you stop fighting, kid?! We're trying to help you!*
"Ngg-" Roland steps back, and prepares a counter-thrust that the
Lens-less Kinnison cannot hope to deflect. But in that one moment,
Kimball Kinnison is no longer Lensless, and he does in fact block.
"What-how-" Roland staggers back as a Lens forms on Clarrissa's
wrist as well. "AHA!" He snatches a tiny golden machine out of the
air. "Compensating for not being Third-Stage by letting the Power do
the work, eh, goody-goody? Well forget it!" There's a slight squeal.
Roland attacks again...but this time, he faces the two most powerful
human minds in a universe. The construct shatters like cheap glass.
[Grr...] Roland reforms in his 'throne room.' [I believe that is
_quite_ enough of that. This should deal with that pseudo-Fate...JASON
BLOOD, I INVOKE YOU! COME!]
On the railgun...
A 'pop' registers behind James.
"What manner of fool is the man...who summons the fiend, ETRIGAN?!"
a yellowish bat-eared humanoid bellows, dressed in Kirby fashion.
(OOC: This isn't a construct-he's Etrigan, all right. Thing is, that
means he can be reasoned with.)
===========================
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1998 21:44:05 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE:Ying becomes Yang
On Fri, 04 Sep 1998 21:29:36
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005755
>On Thu, 03 Sep 1998 03:05:53 EDT
>Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00005733
>
> The final few Chaosi find their way way into the vial as the cartoon
>Caol make thier appearences. There is a nanosecond where reality
>duplicates itself liek a double exposure, but then it turns over on
>itself and becomes a negative of itself before starting again.
> The Chaosi are gone from the vial. Order has taken their place, and
>a trap made to hold Chaos lets Order escape quickly. Chaos has become
>the standard of this universe at least, adn now Order had to take
>Chaos's place of action.
KnightMare 'smiles.' Though an avatar of Order is loose, a brief
bit of concentration returns its prisoner to her crystal 'cell.'
And Chaos is unconscious.
Perfect...
> Driss contemplates the cassette for a moment through the neural
>interface with the Mecha's sensors. "When a wise man argues with a
>fool it becomes difficult for a bystander to tell one from the other.
>With order out to disrupt Chaos as Chaos has done for so long to
>Order, can they seem anything except alike?"
> With that the Mecha tranforms into fighter mode and rockets off into
>space.
"What is this, Macross Day?" Roland mutters, and a golden Khyron
appears, followed shortly by his Officer's Pod. The Backstabber
quickly gives chase.
===========================
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1998 22:07:25 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE4: Shades of Toon! - the Spoof Scenes (Was: Emerald
On Fri, 04 Sep 1998 21:48:43
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005756
>On Thu, 3 Sep 1998 08:53:11 -0500
>Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005741
>Meanwhile the cartoon of Zia appears near the Reverse-Blaze on the
>arm of B5. "Have some fun? My specialty." She smiles. "Wanta dance,
>cowboy?" In _exactly_ the same tones that James was using to "seduce"
>Morgan in Earth-9. This cartoon Zia seems remarkably like the real
>one, except for the racoon-face half-mask, and the openly
>mischievious smile and twinkling eyes.
RB does a 'wild take,' his mask blown off by his eyes flying two
feet out of his head. "aOOOgah!" is heard throughout space, despite
that obvious impossibility.
Duck Dodgers, also, stops in mid-heroics, turning into a wolf
(Lupus Hollywoodus) and crying, "howwwwld is she?!" with a wide,
hungry grin.
>"Or would you rather watch ME dance? I used to really wow them on the
>frontier. Even got famous THAT lifetime. Ever heard of Mae West?
>Course, I was blond then..." Her hair morphs to a platinum blond
>perfect do, ala long, the way superheroines hair ALWAYS looks neat
>and good. Then her black uniform changes to a white frothy affair
>circa 1870's, with a matching _parasol_.
RB's jaw crashes through the cargo bay.
>"You're such a young man, Roland." She says, the mask gone now to
>reveal her features and "war paint" of a stage performer. Looks good
>in harsh straight starlight, though. "Do you even know what can-can
>IS? Would you like to see one, honey?" Best saloon gal's voice - or
>if you've ever HEARD Mae West, you know what she sounds like.
"Duh...duh..." in his best Conrad Condor voice.
Then Snidely Whiplash appears, on cue, jumping poor Ms. West. (Hey,
he's been invoked enough times in the past several days, real time...
;^)
A cloud of yellow dust appears, concealing their struggle.
(OOC: If Snidely wins)
Ultraviolet finds herself bound to train tracks that just _happen_
to have appeared beneath her, stretching out across B-5 and points
beyond.
"NYAH-ha-ha-ha! Now I have you!" Snidely cackles, rubbing his hands
together. "Now where is the deed to the space station? Tell me, my
proud beauty, or the Galaxy Express will be very hard on your perfect
form..."
A train bearing the number '999' begins rushing toward them...
(OOC: If Zia wins)
Snidely is squished flatter than a mackarel. "I've _got_ to find
another line of work...or at least a sidekick like that Dastardly
fellow has..." He reinflates himself woozily. "No matter! For I,
Snidely Whiplash, have tied a bundle of dynamite sticks to this very
station! Surrender, or-"
(OOC: Either way)
"Heeere I come to save the daaay!"
Snidely looks up, cringing. "Oh, NO!"
Yep, a six-inch tall yellow Roland, wearing the classic Mighty
outfit, sporting a long thin tail and giant ears, flies out of the
'sky.' If the damsel is distressed, then he stops the train with one
mighty hand, crunching it into a can of corn, and gallantly frees
Ultraviolet. Either way, though, Snidely turns into Oil-Can Harry and
makes a break for it in that classic Terrytoons gait. Mighty Roland
catches him in a split second, of course, and crumples him like an old
newspaper, tossing him away. (The construct vanishes.) "That was very
brave of you, facing that villain, ma'am. Now if you'll excuse me," he
says in a deep voice, then rockets off to help the GLC.
/h...hey...what do you expect...on such short ...notice?/ flitters
through the link briefly.
===========================
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1998 22:37:55 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Crisis Management [Long]
On Fri, 04 Sep 1998 22:04:29
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005757
>On Thu, 03 Sep 1998 12:19:39 -0400
>Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005743
>When their sight returns, Dhyrclhanc is once again in their midst.
>Only he is now garbed in a costume remincent of the psudo-Jean Grey
>Phoenix. He is also surrounded by a red and yellow starbird composed
>of stellar flame
>
>*So star-child, you fancy yourself a scion of the Phoenix Force, do
>you?*
The Reverse-Blaze turns. *Who dares-*
>The green portions of the costume instantly change to scarlet and
>Dhyrclhanc's frozen blue eyes turn to a burning yellow.
>
>*Then do you fancy yourself a match for the Dark Phoenix?*
*HA!* Roland burns with the same aura. *Face me, impostor, if you
dare!*
>As RB suffers, the Dark Lhanc construct says, *You should not have
>done that, star-child. By upsetting your friend and giving him access
>to such power you cemented our previously tenous link to him and let
>us Live Again* Dhyrclhanc smiles a feral grin.
*Give me a break, you two-bit knockoff,* the Reverse-Blaze snarls,
blazing with the same Dark power. *Phoenix Herself is down there, a
prisoner of the spider. The silver one hides from me, knowing she
cannot stand against my unbridled might. That leaves exactly ONE
source of that power within this entire continuum. Me!* With that, an
insanely powerful wave of metapsi power bursts forth from Roland,
attempting to both weaken Dhyrclhanc's connection to the Phoenix Force
and strengthen Roland's own might.
/Dhyrclhanc!/ Sil cries, hoping that she can at least help the
dragon. Roland was thrust too far into the darkness too quickly, but
if there is enough of the Lensdragon to reach, she just might be able
to stop Dark Phoenix from claiming him...
At that same time, Roland laughs. *You think I _fear_ the Dark
Mother, dragon? I have EMBRACED her! She has chosen _me_ to carve her
name in the corpses of worlds. ME!*
Galactus frowns...
===========================
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1998 22:38:02 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Final Solution
On Fri, 04 Sep 1998 22:15:35
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005758
>On Thu, 3 Sep 1998 19:22:16 PST
>Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005750
>
>> On Tue, 01 Sep 1998 21:17:51
>> Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005689
>> (OOC: Oh, _I_ remember. It is, in fact, the _very_ same
>> Count Iblis, and every iteration seen of him/it so far has been an
>> avatar, much like Nemo himself relates to NEMO. The Imperious
>> Leader, the Count you fought, and the Fleet Captain are all
>> extensions of the same entity. So what does _Nemo_ have to say
>> about this situation?)
>
>Normally, Nemo would inform Roland. That's not an option at the
>moment.
>He will pass on the info to the rest of the CAoL, to Apollo and ...
>
>^Commander Adama. Count Iblis has somehow become involved and *he*
> wants the Cylons destroyed. Therefor I suggest that you *not* attack
> them.^
"Eh?" Adama looks up. "Iblis? How-"
{Trust him, Father!} Apollo says.
Apollo NEVER calls Adama 'Father' in combat situations. (OOC: I've
tried to avoid that; please ignore any places where I might have had
Apollo do so.) The Commander frowns.
"Commander?" Tigh asks.
"Recall the Vipers. Order them to concentrate solely on
these...Thirdspace invaders."
"Yes sir."
Somewhere in space, Captain Apollo lets out a breath he hadn't
known he was holding.
>Nemo also sends an "info packet" about Iblis to both Sheridan *and*
>Sinclair, requsting that they confirm the following orders.
Sheridan frowns. {Captain Iblis has served with distinction in
Earthforce for years-}
{We don't have time to argue this, Admiral,} Sinclair replies. {I
have independent confirmation of this datapack from the Galactica's
Captain Apollo. Back Nemo up.}
>#Task Force Omega. Break off the attack on the Cylons. Your Commander
> is *not* who he appears to be! He is to be relieved of command
> immediately.#
>
>Alas, since the Cyclons *have* "given themselves freely", trying to
>stop *Iblis* from destroying them is apt to get us in trouble. But I
>can certainly try to keep anyone *not* "owned" by him from helping.
Iblis' First Officer turns reluctantly. "Uh, sir, we have orders to
stand down. And to relieve you of command."
Iblis hisses one word. "Nemo..."
...and vanishes.
>prevent him from "taking" what is "his".>
(OOC: Perhaps, but he's been thwarted from a _much_ greater prize.
Nemo realizes, as Iblis rages, that the 'sacrifice' of an entire race
from an area will set Iblis free within that area, if a numerical
threshhold is reached. If the Cylons had been destroyed, Iblis would
have been free to stretch his powers openly and completely across the
entire galaxy...and given that there's a _gateway_ in this galaxy at
the moment, that would have been BAD.)
Iblis reappears in Thirdspace, behind the throne Roland has chosen.
[Any port in a storm, as they say.]
Gray Roger (another avatar of Gharlane, for those unfamiliar with
Lensman) is already there.
"Unwise choice," Roger says, and the two avatars attack one
another.
(OOC: How's that for a no-lose situation? ;^)
===========================
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1998 22:38:10 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE:Ying becomes Yang
On Sat, 05 Sep 1998 01:30:50 EDT
Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00005759
>On Fri, 04 Sep 1998 21:29:36
>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005755
>
>> With that the Mecha tranforms into fighter mode and rockets off
>>into space.
>
> "What is this, Macross Day?" Roland mutters, and a golden Khyron
>appears, followed shortly by his Officer's Pod. The Backstabber
>quickly gives chase.
/You might as well have sent a sherman tank after me as those things.
let me show you a couple of the improvements that were made in this
model./ Thinks Driss as the Zentradi counterparts begin to close. His
mind merged with the computer of the fighter, he quickly plots the
possible attack formations and choses his route as the fighter
accellerates to speeds impossible for even a boostered Valkarie
fighter. Blasts pass within inches of the fighter but never touch him.
He seems to be on a suicide charge at the Zentraedi Officer battle
Pod. The pod fires its particle beams at Driss in what should be a
sure kill, but at the last moment the VF-21 transforms into mecha mode
again right in front of the pod, unleashing a vicious kick into the
pod's nose. /I always did think those things kind of looked like
footballs with legs./
===========================
Date: Sat, 5 Sep 1998 00:16:26 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE4: Emerald Knights
On Sat, 5 Sep 1998 00:42:47 -0500
Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005760
>On Fri, 04 Sep 1998 21:04:35
>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005753
>
>>On Thu, 3 Sep 1998 01:40:31 -0500
>>Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005736
>>
>>Mike sidesteps the fist coming at his face, *No, you aren't that
>>angst-ridden. I said you -look- like Parallax. You -act- like a
>>certain red-faced, ex-Green Lantern, Snidely Whiplash look-alike.
>>Well, at the age of three.*
>
> *I RESENT THAT!* Sinestro rages.
> *No, he's right,* Roland replies with a laugh. With that, a giant
>Sinestro beanie-baby appears in front of Mike, and starts firing
>giant yellow pacifiers at him.
> *Of course, you aren't exactly one to talk, are you, 'Puck?'* The
>'toon Mike vanishes, replaced by the Sinestro doll, which looks cute
>and menacing at the same time, somehow.
Puck appears right in front of Roland, "Someone call me? Hey, like the
new duds! Going for that Parallax/Dark Phoenix look, eh? Ooo, I know,
we'll call you Phallix!" Puck takes a magic marker and draws a lewd
body part on Roland's chest. "There, there's your Phallix Symbol.
Though you will be breaking a few obsenity laws, but hey, you're a
supervillian! Who cares about decency?"
Mike, meanwhile, dodges pacifiers. Three dozen screaming three year
olds appear, attacking the Sinestro doll with a vengence, ripping it
apart, then start crying as now no one has a beanie baby to play with.
The tots disappear.
The rest of the GL Corps have managed to get their copies together
into the shape of a giant ball of arms and legs, held together by
superglue. They are currently using the ball of yellow clones in a
giant game of volley ball. Giant green fists manipulate giant blue
gloves, which in turn spike the 'human' volley ball around.
Mike looks over at Roland. *You were saying? Oh, hi, Puck.*
===========================
Date: Sat, 5 Sep 1998 07:06:22 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Crisis Management
On Sat, 5 Sep 1998 07:39:57 -0500
Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005761
: On Fri, 04 Sep 1998 21:26:10
: Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005754
:>On Thu, 3 Sep 1998 08:18:41 -0500
:>Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005740
:>Assuming as I will that no one willing to do this job would miss a
:>chance to hurt Boskone, and the young agent agrees, James does a
:>through scan for everything that will aid his imposture as Helmuth
:>and the rest of the dead Boskone.... Resulting in a bit of a
:>headache on the part of the agent, but at least not a crippling
:>migrane, as James had estimated was also a possibility.
:
: Yep, the agent agrees...he's been through much worse just to get
: here. He has a Lensman-grade mind.
Now, if only James could make stable Lenses. Ah, well, he'll do what
he can.
: Fortunately, while James can certainly get a sense of just what
: Roland's mind has been through, all the Boskonians not in the
: amalgam get is what radiates from the broadcast.
James "takes notes" carefully, communicating his findings to
Ultraviolet over a link of which the CAoL, not being Trump Artists,
know nothing of.
: [Grr...] Roland reforms in his 'throne room.' [I believe that is
: _quite_ enough of that. This should deal with that pseudo-Fate...
:JASON BLOOD, I INVOKE YOU! COME!]
[Oh wonderful.] James thinks, and absently re-orders some spare
equipment to shield out his entire ship with both Thought Screens, and
Teleport Blocks. Then another machine, apparently whipped up
specifically to draw the dark energies Roland's been warped with. If a
construct or Roland himself comes through, it'll drain selectively. [I
gave the rest of them away.] James thinks, in self-disgust. How clumsy
of him! [I knew this superhero thing was going to be a problem. At
least the dis-logic of Helmuth and Doctor Fate sharing coordinates
hasn't hit Roland yet.]
To his 'team', *Wherever you two got the Lens from, get Nadreck and
Agent Jones fitted when you can. First priority, however, is take down
the Gate. I can still get folks who are transposed back if need be.*
Then he turns as his danger sense alerts him.
: "What manner of fool is the man...who summons the fiend,
: ETRIGAN?!" a yellowish bat-eared humanoid bellows, dressed in Kirby
: fashion. (OOC: This isn't a construct-he's Etrigan, all right. Thing
: is, that means he can be reasoned with.)
James bows formally, in the best educated English gentleman style.
"The particular fool in question happens to be an insane immortal, at
the moment. His inhibitions and superego have been destroyed by the
action of some invading aliens. They misjudged his power level,
however, and he took over and is now spear-heading the attack on his
own ideas. I gather his latest was to toss you at me like a cat and a
dog, in the hopes we would soon be involved in the ensuing
altercation. However. If I may suggest, you might want to take a look
at the constructed symbol Tower on the little planet through that
Gate, before deciding on a course of action."
"If I'm right, this area and a immense scope of reality and Shadow
beyond it will soon be very dangerous places to be. You, of course,
will make your own decision from that point. But I dislike senseless
violence, desipte the heavy aura of death about me that you can no
doubt sense today."
The Peashooter, ordered to not cease firing, keeps taking down
Gate-supporting structures even as James speaks, as rapidly as it can
fire. Three more stations are melted to slag with significant holes
blasted through them when suddenly...
The Thirdspace Gate flickers out, falling closed and crushing all the
ships inside it at the moment. The Peashooter takes out another
support on the Thirdspace side. The Boskone minds still in their own
space abruptly cut off.
===========================
Date: Sat, 5 Sep 1998 07:06:31 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: AAE4: Re-Tooning Roland
On Sat, 5 Sep 1998 07:49:58 -0500
Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005762
: On Fri, 04 Sep 1998 21:48:43
: Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005756
:>On Thu, 3 Sep 1998 08:53:11 -0500
:>Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005741
: "Duh...duh..." in his best Conrad Condor voice.
: Then Snidely Whiplash appears, on cue, jumping poor Ms. West.
: (Hey, he's been invoked enough times in the past several days, real
: time... ;^)
: A cloud of yellow dust appears, concealing their struggle.
:
: (OOC: If Snidely wins)
: "NYAH-ha-ha-ha! Now I have you!" Snidely cackles, rubbing his
: hands together. "Now where is the deed to the space station? Tell
: me, my proud beauty, or the Galaxy Express will be very hard on your
: perfect form..."
: A train bearing the number '999' begins rushing toward them...
The hog-tied Zia looks extremely embarrassed and in distress. You
know, the typical woman in need of a hero type thing. "Oh, you
villain! Help, please help!" She does. Only someone REALLY paying
attention would note her fingers are crossed behind her back....
: /h...hey...what do you expect...on such short ...notice?/
: flitters through the link briefly.
"Oh, oh course! Just - " the cartoon Mae West leans in, frothy
Victorian lace and all to peck her even more than herself height
challenged rescuer on the check. A kiss for the hero being de rigeour.
But as she does, she smiles. *Good thing you've already proved
this possible.* Suddenly, blue lambent power flares, as Zia's form
resolves into pure Patterned Power, draining into the "goody-goody"
Roland. Mae West's form fades, leaving the cartoon Zia, then that
fades, leaving the "real" Zia, then THAT even dissolves into yet more
power. Her presence fades somehow as the last of the burden of her
aura and power shifts into "her hero".
===========================
Date: Sat, 5 Sep 1998 07:06:39 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: AAE: The Heavy Weapons
On Sat, 5 Sep 1998 09:46:47 EDT
Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00005763
Osborne is standing on top of C&C's window to the world. Looking out,
he sees the battle between Reverse Blaze and the rest of the CAoL.
"Aw well. Might as well try and help."
He pauses, and pulls something out of his pocket. The device looks
like a gun from a Marvin the Martian cartoon, right down to the sphere
at the end. The thing is labled "Ray Gun".
Scott blinks out, and reappears near Roland. "Hey, over here!" he
yells.
When Roland turns to face Scott, Scott pulls the trigger.
From the gun pours a ray [1]. (What'dya expect?) "Eat pure order!"
Osborne yells in a voice oddly reministant of various action movie
'heros'.
[1] A geometrical ray, to be exact; that is, a 'line' with a point
that marks it's begining, but no point marking it's ending.
Thanks
Scott "Terimambo" Osborne
===========================
Date: Sat, 5 Sep 1998 10:47:17 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Crisis Management [Long]
On Sat, 05 Sep 1998 12:10:35 EDT
Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00005764
>On Fri, 04 Sep 1998 22:04:29
>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005757
> At that same time, Roland laughs. *You think I _fear_ the Dark
>Mother, dragon? I have EMBRACED her! She has chosen _me_ to carve her
>name in the corpses of worlds. ME!*
> Galactus frowns...
"You're wrong you know Blaze." comes a voice from behind Roland and
to his left. Despite Driss's being currently engadged in combat in the
VF-21, he's also here now., Dressed in a simple black suit and
sungasses. "You're wrong about who's power you're actually weilding
right now. Yes, you have that pheonix power you had before, but it was
I who made those rings that transformed you into this parody of
yourself. Me, wielding Chaos's power in a universe that's gone
completely chaotic."
"I know how strong that power is. I know everything you can do with
it. I even know how addicting it is to wield. But in the hundrds of
years I've delt with it, I've also found out the price. The torture of
having Chaos constantly in your life, running your life. The more
power you wield, the more of a slave you actually become. You still
have a chance to turn back before you begin walking down the path of
my life."
He concentrates for a moment and brings his personal aura to the
visible light specturm. The colors are still all present, but are in
uniform striped now instead of their usual crazy mix. The tattered
ends are still there however and the left side is still conspicously
gone, a thing not even his new Order power seems to be able to fix.
"Turn back now Roland and rid yourself of those rings. Don't end up
eternally paying the price of your power like I have. Don't end up
like me. Morgan deserves better than that. You deserve better than
that."
===========================
Date: Sat, 5 Sep 1998 10:59:39 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: AAE IV: Crisis' End
On Sat, 05 Sep 1998 10:43:10
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005765
>On Sat, 5 Sep 1998 07:39:57 -0500
>Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005761
>
>James bows formally, in the best educated English gentleman style.
>The particular fool in question happens to be an insane immortal, at
>the moment. His inhibitions and superego have been destroyed by the
>action of some invading aliens. They misjudged his power level,
>however, and he took over and is now spear-heading the attack on his
>own ideas. I gather his latest was to toss you at me like a cat and a
>dog, in the hopes we would soon be involved in the ensuing
>altercation. However. If I may suggest, you might want to take a look
>at the constructed symbol Tower on the little planet through that
>Gate, before deciding on a course of action."
Etrigan focuses a moment. "Beyond fools are the villains who, make
a hero villain too. But when enemies multiply, even fire and ice
ally," he says in a deep, echoing, otherworldly tone.
(OOC: Etrigan's a rhyming demon. )
>"If I'm right, this area and a immense scope of reality and Shadow
>beyond it will soon be very dangerous places to be. You, of course,
>will make your own decision from that point. But I dislike senseless
>violence, desipte the heavy aura of death about me that you can no
>doubt sense today."
Etrigan smiles. "True deathless come not from a mind, but from a
spirit force entwined. Danger calls to Blood the man, but brings the
demon Etrigan. Show to me your plan to date, then command me, Lord of
Fate."
>The Thirdspace Gate flickers out, falling closed and crushing all the
>ships inside it at the moment. The Peashooter takes out another
>support on the Thirdspace side. The Boskone minds still in their own
>space abruptly cut off.
Gray Roger, the Last Man Standing(tm) as the Iblis and Roland
projections are cut off, scowls mentally, though the projection's face
is as placid as ever. Extreme loss for no gain. That is NOT the way of
Eddore or Boskone. Without Roland's disruptive influence, Gray Roger
can do the logical thing, and orders the Peashooter destroyed.
Meanwhile, Etrigan frowns at the collapsing gate. "That could be a
problem," he says in a much more human voice than before...
===========================
Date: Sat, 5 Sep 1998 13:07:03 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: AAE IV: Revelations, prologue
On Sat, 05 Sep 1998 12:44:48
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005766
B-5.
The Babylon amalgam presses their advantage, striking surgically at
the devastated Boskonian unit. Between Susan's tactical savvy and
Lyta's experience in psychic combat, they're making considerable
headway.
Until a golden form appears among them.
"Tsk, tsk," the RB construct says with a chuckle. "So many
well-meaning minds, but not knowing even themselves. Lyta, finding
comfort in G'Kar's arms like so many others. Susan, fighting to help a
woman who never was destroy one of her allies. And G'Kar, the bold
Justice Legionnaire, who can't seem to concentrate on one enemy-or one
woman-for more than a few minutes. I can't imagine how you've held
your force together for so long when you're so fragmented yourselves."
Roland scowls. "Enough of this nass."
Susan stops and glares at the Reverse-Blaze. "It's going to take
more than _that_ to stop-"
Every telepath in the amalgam is teleported randomly throughout the
station, but not to anywhere hazardous.
Except Natalia.
The Reverse-Blaze extends his hand. "Come with me if you want to-"
And a flaming bird the size of a man tears the force construct to
ribbons.
Space.
Galactus watches the two pseudo-Phoenixes (with the Primal Phoenix
imprisoned in KnightMare's Dome, neither of them can channel more of
that power than they already bear-though the Sinestro energy they've
each absorbed can boost their powers) for a short while. Then he
raises his new ebon staff.
*"ENOUGH!"* he bellows.
The two Phoenixes are thrown apart from one another in a display of
raw might even Galactus himself shouldn't have been able to perform,
at least without exhausting himself...
*"That will be quite sufficient,"* Galactus says, staring coolly at
the two Phoenix-kin.
*Says you!* Roland snarls as he lands on Epsilon Three. He creates
a giant golden Thing (FF member) which rears back to swing. "IT'S-"
[O.K., enough of this noise,] Morgan thinks. She directs her mental
communications at Reverse-Blaze-Prime. ^Roland?^
The Thing stops in mid-punch. ^You rang,^ echoes back in a Lurch
voice. ^I thought you were busy trying to pound on me,^ he adds in a
more normal (if cool) tone.
Morgan ports out to RB^'s location, sans Valkyrie. ^Sib,^ she sends in
a no-nonsense 'voice' to what's left of Dhyrclhanc, ^let _me_ handle
this.^ She walks up to Roland, empty-handed, not making any
threatening moves.
Power crackles around Roland's gauntlets, ready to generate any of
a dozen different force constructs. ^So exactly what are you planning
_this_ time, my love? Would you like another demonstration of my
power?^
Hands raised in the classic show of "I'm unarmed", Morgan steps up to
him, their bodies not quite touching. "After a fashion," she whispers,
wraps her arms around him, and pulling him into a passionate kiss.
Meanwhile, Zia said:
> "Oh, oh course! Just - " the cartoon Mae West leans in, frothy
>Victorian lace and all to peck her even more than herself height
>challenged rescuer on the check. A kiss for the hero being de
>rigeour.
/Great minds..../ Morgan sends to Zia with a smile.
> But as she does, she smiles. *Good thing you've already proved
>this possible.* Suddenly, blue lambent power flares, as Zia's form
>resolves into pure Patterned Power, draining into the "goody-goody"
>Roland. Mae West's form fades, leaving the cartoon Zia, then that
>fades, leaving the "real" Zia, then THAT even dissolves into yet more
>power. Her presence fades somehow as the last of the burden of her
>aura and power shifts into "her hero".
Without Boskonian maintenance, and the continued efforts of his
friends to free him, the emotional fire inside him was already
dimming.
But _this_ double-whammy sent him into a tailspin in short order.
'Mighty Roland' expanded from six inches to sixty in seconds, then
to six meters. Then, his eyes bulging 'toon style, and he 'pops,' all
that ordered power flowing back into his 'self.' His Reverse-Blaze
armor starts to crack in several places, a brilliant sapphire-blue
light shining from the openings.
The Boskonian amalgam, sensing that they're losing their mightiest
weapon, and the imminent collapse of the Thirdspace gate, fire one
last bolt of mental force in an attempt to either destroy Roland's
mind or drive him over the edge forever. But Roland's will is strong,
and the window of opportunity small. The gate collapses.
But the Reverse-Blaze still stands, and he gently pushes Morgan
away.
*Cuh...close...but not quite,* the ravaged mind of the Freelance
Immortal sends, weaving badly. *I...am still...a Primal...and no force
...can overwhelm me...*
Morgan takes a step back, and gazes evenly at her husband. She closes
her eyes briefly, and when they reopen the look on her face is
resolved. Looking the Reverse Blaze straight in the eye, she reaches
up, brushing her long hair aside, and rests her hand on her torc. ^Yer
love is th' only thing that's made the prospect of immortality
bearable. Without that, Ah'd rather take m' chances.^ Her mental voice
is even, but a note of sadness can be felt.
A golden forcefield hardens instantly around her neck. */^NO!!!^/*
The Reverse-Blaze tries to sound confident, but even the most
insensitive person could tell that he's fading fast. ^And...and...why
shouldn't I...let you, if you're that willing...to-to leave...don't
leave me...to leave me?^
Morgan's 'voice' remains calm, almost quiet. ^Ye'd _force_ me t' stay
with ye'?^
^I...I...^ RB reels, falling to one knee on the barren plain of
Epsilon Three. ^...Morgan, don't...NNN!^ Roland stands shakily. ^I can
change your mind, you know,^ he sends, less shakily than before, but
it's clearly a last burst of strength.
^Ye'd force yer will on me, then,^ the tone is almost more a statement
than a question, but she's not fighting the forcefield.
RB shakes for a moment, then straightens and smiles almost sadly.
^How can one of us force our will on the other? How can we _not_
impose our will on each other? We are one.^
And the golden armor cracks down the center.
"*/^#EEEYYYAAAHHH!#^/*" Roland cries, and the sinister armor
shatters like glass, revealing the true Blaze beneath. The forcefield
around Morgan's neck vanishes and Roland drops to one knee.
Morgan drops to her knees and into Roland's arms. She hold him
tightly, her face buried in his neck, not quite managing to suppress a
sob.
/uhh...morgan? what the nass happened?/ Roland groans through the
link. /Morgan, love, are you all right?/ Sensing that she's okay, he
lets himself go limp in her arms. /Grife. I feel like I went ten
rounds with Galactus./ He looks up wearily, seeing the imposing form
of the Devourer of Worlds above him. /eep. Um, I _didn't_ just go ten
rounds with Galactus, did I? All I can remember is slipping into a
berserker rage.../
^I'll explain it later, my love.^ Morgan takes a deep breath, pulls
herself back together, and kisses Roland lightly. ^It's a bit
complicated, and right now...^ she looks up at the Dome, /^...we have
a Spider to deal with.^/
Roland hugs his wife almost fiercely as the last pieces of the
armor melt into pure light. "/^Yeah. Yeah. That forcefield may have
stood up to any _one_ of us, but I'll bet that there isn't a wall in
the multiverse than can hold up against the entire CAoL,^/" Roland
replies, "/^when we put our minds to-^/"
(OOC: If Dhyrclhanc has recovered by now)
The forcedome vanishes.
"/Hmmph./" Roland scowls. "/'Walk into my parlor.' Looks like
KnightMare agrees with me on that one. Let's go see if tall, dark and
ugly is willing to be reasonable." Not that I'm betting on it.../
(OOC: If not)
Roland looks up, his eyes wide, at the sight of Dark Lhanc glowing
with the shard of Phoenix Force wihtin him.
"/Oboy,/" he whispers. A sapphire blue suit of force-construct
armor forms around him. "/This is bad. We need to find a way to get
through to-/" He looks at the armor he just formed. /Wait a minute.
How did I-/ He shrugs it off. [Not now.] "/Okay, folx, let's go bring
back our Lensdragon./"
===========================
Date: Sat, 5 Sep 1998 14:05:46 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Revelations, prologue
On Sat, 05 Sep 1998 16:37:14 -0400
Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00005767
>On Sat, 05 Sep 1998 12:44:48
>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005766
> Every telepath in the amalgam is teleported randomly throughout
>the station, but not to anywhere hazardous.
> Except Natalia.
Natalia draws her fighting staff, her eyes watching RB narrowly.
> The Reverse-Blaze extends his hand. "Come with me if you want to-"
> And a flaming bird the size of a man tears the force construct to
>ribbons.
Natalia comments to herself, "Why do I think I was just spared
something terribly cliche?"
Before Natalia can go looking for the others, telepaths begin to
reappear in the room, transported there by Legion.
===========================
Date: Sat, 5 Sep 1998 20:36:06 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: AAE4: Task Force Q-tip
On Sat, 5 Sep 1998 18:28:18 PST
Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005768
When we last this strange group, they were sitting in a hoverbus in
space surrounded by a fair sampling of the spacecraft from every Grade
B SF movies ever made...
Then they received "orders" from Zia.
The apparent leader of the group speaks.
"Ok, we attack that dome on the planet. Eveybody think up *good*
nasties to break in with."
The bus lands in sight of the dome, but well back. These folks may be
stoned, but they aren't *stupid*.
The ships they'd already hallucinated start attacking. Some of the
more recognizable are the Bellerophon (Forbidden Planet), several
"Invaders" flying saucers, the "saucer" from "This Island Earth", and
entire fleets from Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers.
More forces appear on the ground. The Martian war machines from George
Pal's "War of the Worlds", Godzilla, Mecha-Godzilla, King Kong and his
robotic double, Rodan, Gamera, Ghidra, Mothra. And what looks like the
entire Japanese Self Defense Force as seen in "The Mysterians"
And then in a bolt of lightning, a trio of costumed figures. A man, a
boy, and a girl. Can it be? Yes, it's the Marvel Family!
And with this last addition, the assualt on the dome begins.
Rays flash out from Martian and Japanese war machines. Godzilla flames
the dome, and the monsters and Marvels try to break thru by sheer
strength.
(Ok, now tell us what happens... :-)
===========================
Date: Sat, 5 Sep 1998 22:15:14 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE4: Task Force Q-tip
On Sat, 05 Sep 1998 21:40:51
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005772
>On Sat, 5 Sep 1998 18:28:18 PST
>Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005768
>
>
(OOC: That's okay, I wanted to wait on the dome until we were done
with the crunchies anyway. Can we say that it happens 'now?')
>The ships they'd already hallucinated start attacking. Some of the
>more recognizable are the Bellerophon (Forbidden Planet), several
>"Invaders" flying saucers, the "saucer" from "This Island Earth", and
>entire fleets from Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers.
Galactus glares at the fleet, annoyed by the 'insects.' His eyes
glow brightly, and the ships are absorbed into his gaze. Any pilots
are left floating, unharmed, in mid-air (the chaos factor kicking in
again) but left in their shorts or other modesty-saving garments.
>More forces appear on the ground. The Martian war machines from
>George Pal's "War of the Worlds", Godzilla, Mecha-Godzilla, King Kong
>and his robotic double, Rodan, Gamera, Ghidra, Mothra. And what looks
>like the entire Japanese Self Defense Force as seen in "The
>Mysterians"
(OOC: Wow, you really know your monsters! And even I don't know who
the 'Mysterians' are.)
Shard smiles a wicked smile. "Here they come, boss. Should I nail
'em?"
*No. Let them break their teeth on the dome.*
>And then in a bolt of lightning, a trio of costumed figures. A man, a
>boy, and a girl. Can it be? Yes, it's the Marvel Family!
(OOC: Um...only if they've been hallucinated up or borrowed from
Earth-S. The GM knows where the 'local' Billy Batson is. Not only is
this a rather large plot point for IV, if I _do_ end up running V-a
he's our tie-in.)
Deathwalker frowns.
"Is there a problem, Jha'dur?" Bester asks politely.
"I do not think so," the last Dilgaran replies. "But I have this
sudden, bizarre craving for red cheese."
Above the Tower, six spheres hover. In the topmost sphere, a young
teen frowns.
>Rays flash out from Martian and Japanese war machines. Godzilla
>flames the dome, and the monsters and Marvels try to break thru by
>sheer strength.
>
>(Ok, now tell us what happens... :-)
Not much, at first-KnightMare's prediction is pretty close to
accurate. (No teeth are really broken, of course, unless one of the
monsters is stupid enough to bite the dome.)
Then under the powerful, diverse assault, the dome begins to hum
slightly.
KnightMare's eyes dim. *Unacceptable. Jha'dur?*
Jha'dur smiles. She tosses a pellet at the dome, which quickly goes
through one of the 'force locks' and flies past the monsters and into
Task Force Q-Tip. The pellet explodes.
Jha'dur, past master of bioweaponry and given access to the godlike
scanners of Z'On'Dar, was able to analyze the origin of the
hallucinations and create a countering effect.
The pellet produces a light orange gas that 1) neutralizes the
hallucinogen, both in their bodies and in the pills, and 2) displaces
the breathable air provided by the Shadow.
===========================