Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 4 Chapter 63 Date: Sat, 5 Sep 1998 22:15:24 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Crisis Management [Long] On Sun, 06 Sep 1998 00:45:45 -0400 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005773 > On Fri, 04 Sep '98 Morgan and/or Roland Said > >>Dhyrclhanc Said >> >>> Morgan and/or Roland Said >>> >>>>Dhyrclhanc Said > >>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!* *^We are no imposter^* says the force currently inhabiting theLensdragon's body as it/he/she trades semi-PK-based-energy with the Reverse-Blaze. *^In the past you're friend could've been called that when he used his ring to simulate our powers but we are no imposter^* >>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. > > *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. *^And what makes you think that we are not capable ofpossessing more than one host at a time?^* growls the Dark Lhanc while using it's/his/her matter manipulation powers to try to transform the space around the RB into a shell of pure Promethium (The DCU's version of Admantium. Essentialy an unbreakable, impenterable metal alloy.) > /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... The Silver Phoenix's attempts to reach Dhyrclhanc willbe covered in a latter post. > 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... *First, star-child, our signature will be carved into one particular corpse -- Yours* The Dark Lhanc swoops innear RB in an attempt to grab at him with the tallons of the Stellar-Firebird that surrounds it/him/her. =========================== Date: Sat, 5 Sep 1998 22:22:10 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Revelations, prologue [Long] On Sun, 06 Sep 1998 01:15:47 -0400 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005774 > On Sat, 05 Sep '98 Morgan and/or Roland Said > 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. The Dark Lhanc struggles but while under the grip of Galactus' powers, this Galactus anyway, it is helpless, at least for the moment. However, it still growls at Morgan, its teeth clenched. > 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-^/" Even trapped under the might of the former Galan, the Dark Lhanc continues to struggle. */Lies all lies. Lies and tricks./* Looking at the newly recoverd Roland, it/he/she continues */You are evil. Nothing here changes that. For the suffering you caused you need to be punished. We will kill you and the last thing you will see is your woman. If We decide to leave your eyes for last, that is." snarls the former Lensdragon. > 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./" Meinwhile, Sil, in her true form (not the HIT Mark body)finds herself in a Byzantine series of tunnels and caverns. Coming around what seems like the umpteen-millionth twist in the passageway that she had been follwing since she found herself here, she encounters the Lensdragon. Dhyrclhanc is in his wingless Lens-T'Skrang form sitting next to what appears to be some kind of camp-fire. The firelight making strange shadows on the cavern walls. "Bennu? Sil? Can you tell me what is going on? Where am I?" This is the first time that Sil, or anyone, has seen the Lensdragon looking frightened. =========================== Date: Sun, 6 Sep 1998 09:36:51 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Revelations, prologue On Sun, 06 Sep 1998 12:27:23 EDT Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00005775 >On Sat, 05 Sep 1998 12:44:48 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005766 > > 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./" Driss looks Roland over approvingly and lets his aura fade away again. /It's good to see you returned to your former state. I just wonder if it will be as simple for this... Dark lhanc. Your transformation was brought about by force and augmented by the chaotic nature the of current universe. His obviously seems to have been brought about by your conflict with him, but stemmed much further back to some unknown skeleton in our compatriot's past most likely./ From the planet's surface Roscoe sends, /Umm right now if anyone needs me I'll be stashing myself down a gopher hole I found. With that dome down I really don't need the guys inside noticing me. While we're fixing things can someone de-Order Driss? It's giving me a headache trying to deal with his thoughts right now. I'm used to the good old Chaotic Driss./ He finsihes out the thought with a mental grin and wink. =========================== Date: Sun, 6 Sep 1998 14:07:58 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: Task Force Q-tip On Sun, 6 Sep 1998 13:43:37 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005776 > 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?') I suppose so. >>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.) >>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.) > 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. Pity that they *would* have lowered the force screen... OK, there's a strange "pop" as they vanish and return to their own world (side effect of neutralizing the hallucinogen). =========================== Date: Sun, 6 Sep 1998 14:38:33 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Revelations, prologue On Sun, 6 Sep 1998 15:20:57 -0500 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005777 >On Sun, 06 Sep 1998 12:27:23 EDT >Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00005775 > From the planet's surface Roscoe sends, /Umm right now if anyone >needs me I'll be stashing myself down a gopher hole I found. With >that dome down I really don't need the guys inside noticing me. While >we're fixing things can someone de-Order Driss? It's giving me a >headache trying to deal with his thoughts right now. I'm used to the >good old Chaotic Driss./ He finsihes out the thought with a mental >grin and wink. Puck appears before Driss, a mischievious glint to his eye. "Driss of Braxton, Chaos ally, This Ordered life is really dry. Be as you were before possessed, So Roscoe won't be so depressed." Puck takes a giant Toon mallet and bonks Driss on the head, then vanishes with a high pitched "Heeheeheeheeheeheehee!" =========================== Date: Sun, 6 Sep 1998 14:38:38 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE4: Sync Pulse On Sun, 6 Sep 1998 15:20:51 -0500 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005778 >On Sat, 5 Sep 1998 00:42:47 -0500 >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005760 >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.* ...Only to realize Roland is gone. [Great, now where did he get to?] Puck vanishes again and the GL Corps absorb the volley ball of chaotic yellow energy while Mike turns, searching for the Reverse Blaze. >On Sat, 05 Sep 1998 12:44:48 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005766 > 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. Mike flips backwards to look, upside down, at Galactus, then turns to see what he is watching. [Joy. This is all we need.] > 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-" Mike looks on, not sure why Roland stopped. Then he spots Morgan. > 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...* [Damn.] Mike thinks. >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. Mike's eyes widen as Morgan reaches for the torc. The GLC swarm around him, stopping the forward motion Mike had instintively made. [This'll work,] they all said in a river of soothing voices, [It'll work, let her try and remove it. He won't let her. We're sure.] [Be ready to teleport her out of there if he lets her,] Mike thinks, his mind finally coming back to him. [We are. But, we are sure he can't stand the idea of losing her.] > 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. [See?] Mike nods as Roland and Morgan collapse into each other's arms, letting out a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding. >On Sun, 06 Sep 1998 01:15:47 -0400 >Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005774 >> On Sat, 05 Sep '98 >> Morgan and/or Roland Said >> /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.../ Mike just shakes his head, bemused, but thankful that the gate is closed so this can't happen again. >> "/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./" /We are open to suggestions./ Mike sends, deadpan. =========================== Date: Sun, 6 Sep 1998 18:07:02 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Deja Vu On Sun, 6 Sep 1998 17:48:06 -0700 (PDT) The Lone One Said As CAoL Message # 00005779 > On Thu, 03 Sep 1998 01:02:50 -0700 > Stranger Said As CAoL Message # 00005713 > Stranger turned and faced them. Now he was in trouble, it would take > days to defeat all of them. > > Parrying the various random blaster bolts with his lightsaber > Stranger waded into the mob. Their attacks were vicious, but they > were unco-ordinated, by keeping mobile he was able to avoid most of > them, half the time they hit each other by mistake. His sense-of- > perception and Jedi perceptions kept him alive as he whirled through > the mob, lightsaber flashing. "Hell's bells," Mandy breathed, starting to hyperventilate just a bit. She scurried over to a pile of durasteel crates, and began to pick off intruders at random. [Just like a game...] Slowly, as her confidence increased, her aim began to improve until she was now up to making tricky shots. Thankfully, Stranger was keeping them busy enough so that they didn't try to rush her en masse. In the back of her head, she knew that this was all frighteningly real, but that thought was ruthlessly squashed. [It's a game. Only a game.] If she let herself believe it was real, she'd curl up into a little ball and have a nervous breakdown. When Raver was in control, it was different -- she *knew* the demon could get them out in one piece... Then a fresh wave of attackers came, and she was too busy to think. =========================== Date: Sun, 6 Sep 1998 22:07:23 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Revelations, prologue On Mon, 07 Sep 1998 00:42:47 EDT Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00005780 >On Sun, 6 Sep 1998 15:20:57 -0500 >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005777 > >"Driss of Braxton, Chaos ally, > This Ordered life is really dry. > Be as you were before possessed, > So Roscoe won't be so depressed." > >Puck takes a giant Toon mallet and bonks Driss on the head, then >vanishes with a high pitched "Heeheeheeheeheeheehee!" Driss is knocked to the ground by the mallet and lays there rubbing his sore noggin while his suit changes back to his good old doublet, pants and cloak. While he gets up, the VF-21 lands nearby and vinishes and the Ordered Harlequin gets out. Driss gets to his feet cursing in several languages and holding his head when he notices himself standing there looking at himself with a perplexed expression on his face. Driss does a single, double, then triple take at himself, then finally just goes shuffling off muttering something about having to take care of this headache. Harlequin just looks at the retreating Driss, the perplexed expression fading into his normal calm matter of fact face. "This world just seems to get more and more Chaotic. We definitely must deal with this tower quickly and restore things back into balance." =========================== Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1998 16:19:47 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Revelations, prologue On Mon, 07 Sep 1998 13:44:46 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005781 >On Sun, 06 Sep 1998 12:27:23 EDT >Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00005775 > > Driss looks Roland over approvingly and lets his aura fade away >again. /It's good to see you returned to your former state. I just >wonder if it will be as simple for this... Dark lhanc. Your >transformation was brought about by force and augmented by the >chaotic nature the of current universe. His obviously seems to have >been brought about by your conflict with him, but stemmed much >further back to some unknown skeleton in our compatriot's past most >likely./ Roland blinks, confused. /Former state? Transformation? What the grife are you talking abou-/ >On Sun, 6 Sep 1998 15:20:51 -0500 >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005778 >>On Sun, 06 Sep 1998 01:15:47 -0400 >>Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005774 >>Even trapped under the might of the former Galan, the Dark Lhanc >>continues to struggle. */Lies all lies. Lies and tricks./* Looking >>at the newly recoverd Roland, it/he/she continues */You are evil. >>Nothing here changes that. For the suffering you caused you need to >>be punished. We will kill you and the last thing you will see is >>your woman. If We decide to leave your eyes for last, that is." >>snarls the former Lensdragon. (OOC: Galactus only blew the two of them apart, to prevent their struggle from disrupting local reality; for the sake of continuity, the GM'll just say he was checking Dark Lhanc for potential disruption of The Plan; satisfied, he releases the dragon-borne Dark Phoenix.) Roland's eyes go wide. /Oh yeah. He's gone,/ he sends, excluding Dark Lhanc, though his memory burns with recent events. He recoils... Morgan puts her arms around her husband again, holding him as he remembers being in the thrall of the darkenss. She cradled his head, stroking his hair, and waited for him to come to terms with his recent actions. [Thanks, guys,] she thinks, [I didn't want him to have to deal with this until _after_ we finish with Knightmare.] Meanwhile, she sends comforting thoughts to her love. ...and hugs Morgan, his mind strengthening from his resolve. [Wasn't me. A part of me, maybe, driven to madness, but not the whole of me,] he thinks with grim determination. His friends _need_ him. ^Thank you, my heart.^ He gives her a kiss on the forehead, disentangles himself from her, and rises. To Dark Phoenix, he adds, *Says the entity that blew up an inhabited solar system because she had the munchies. We have both been twisted by dark manipulators.* Roland very deliberately does not mention that DP killed six billion sentients and RB's tally was zero. *We were both rescued by our families. Why have you returned to your destructive nature, dark sister?* >/We are open to suggestions./ Mike sends, deadpan. /We've got to reach Dhyrclhanc,/ Roland replies, again excluding Dark Lhanc. /He's probably dormant-if we can contact him, he might be able to kick out that hitchhiker./ Roland begins to fly up, but Morgan grabs his arm. He looks down at her, puzzled. ^Honey, I don't think you're up for that just yet,^ she sends quietly. ^Sil was going after him; you can check in with her while you heal up a little more.^ Morgan doesn't even bother trying to hide the concern in her voice. She'd come far closer to losing Roland than ever before, and she was still feeling protective. ^Morgan, this situation is my responsibility, not just as leader of this motley but because this is my fault.^ He concentrates, an energy field forming- -and collapsing, as his slowly healing (but still ravaged) mind, split far too many ways, rebels from the effort. ^Then again...^ he adds ruefully. ^Then again,^ Morgan allows herself a small smile, ^Maybe you should see what intelligence the _rest_ of your team has before you go charging off?^ Her hand still on his arm, she sends him some healing energy. Roland's expression does not change, but he's _just_ fighting back a blush. /Keep him occupied, folx. I'm working on a plan. Honest./ Roland's eyes unfocus. ^Morgan, I can't contact Sil-!^ TBC =========================== Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1998 16:19:55 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Revelations, prologue [not long] On Mon, 07 Sep 1998 13:57:00 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005782 >On Sun, 06 Sep 1998 01:15:47 -0400 >Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005774 >Meinwhile, Sil, in her true form (not the HIT Mark body)finds herself >in a Byzantine series of tunnels and caverns. Sil sighs. [Light, what a mess.] Her mind reaches out for the CAoL. Nothing. [Oboy. I really need to get Dhyrclhanc to make me one of those lenses. If he can _make_ an astral Lens. If we even get him back. You two picked one hell of a time to go nuts on us!] >"Bennu? Sil? Can you tell me what is going on? Where am I?" This is >the first time that Sil, or anyone, has seen the Lensdragon looking >frightened. Sil smiles in relief. "Dhyrclhanc, are _you_ a sight for sore eyes. Or, to be more accurate, astral perceptions. We're in your mind. A deep antechamber of your mind, I would imagine." She studies the shadows briefly. "I'm cut off from the others, but I think we should be able to manage, if we put our minds together. I came in here because 'you' started calling yourself Dark Phoenix-out there-" she points a thumb behind her, over one shoulder- "and started thrashing the Reverse-Blaze pretty well. So. Is that another personality of yours, or has a 'real' Dark Phoenix come calling from an alternate reality?" Sil sits down across from the Lens-T'Skrang. "Oh, and remind me, when we get out of here, to talk to you about a Lens." She smiles confidently. =========================== Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1998 16:20:01 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Deja Vu On Mon, 07 Sep 1998 14:06:55 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005783 >On Sun, 6 Sep 1998 17:48:06 -0700 (PDT) >The Lone One Said As CAoL Message # 00005779 > "Hell's bells," Mandy breathed, starting to hyperventilate just a >bit. She scurried over to a pile of durasteel crates, and began to >pick off intruders at random. [Just like a game...] Slowly, as her >confidence increased, her aim began to improve until she was now up >to making tricky shots. Thankfully, Stranger was keeping them busy >enough so that they didn't try to rush her en masse. > In the back of her head, she knew that this was all frighteningly >real, but that thought was ruthlessly squashed. [It's a game. Only a >game.] If she let herself believe it was real, she'd curl up into a >little ball and have a nervous breakdown. When Raver was in control, >it was different -- she *knew* the demon could get them out in one >piece... > Then a fresh wave of attackers came, and she was too busy to >think. A sapphire-blue hardsuit appeared next to Mandy, in the form of Sil's original body (see AAE III for details) adding its firepower to Mandy's. Its weapons were non-lethal, oddly enough. /Need a hand, Mandy?/ Roland sent across the link. /I'm back to normal, and seeing how you're in this fix because of me, I figured I should lend a hand. If you want to 'wear' this hardsuit for protection, just say so-it's a force construct, so there's no one actually 'in' it. If not, I can provide...alternate support and defense./ A spidermech appears above the fight, ready to interpose itself in harm's way. (OOC: Now y'all know why Roland's mind is split in multiple directions. ) =========================== Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1998 16:20:09 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE 4: Thirdspace To Three-Space On Mon, 7 Sep 1998 16:57:50 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005784 James narrows his eyes, undiscernable now that the Helm of Order has once more crept back into it's full helm incarnation around his head. He just doesn't seem to notice it right at the moment. He nods at Etrigan's note of concern. "Not to worry, old chap. We'll be back there in two shakes and a slap." On his Lens, which is imperfect and beginning to show it despite the bolstering and stabilizing by the Helm of Order, James manages to raise the now-Lensed and Lens-less rebel forces. @ We're about to head out, do you all want to come with us, or stay here and make your own way back home? @ "Communications, raise the allied vessel that has been fighting. They probably have a way back themselves, but it might have been damaged. Ask if they want to follow me back, or not." He frowns, then steps to one side of the command deck. Lines and sigils for magic start encribing themselves, and James suddenly sits tailor style in the air, floating above them. A cape of midnight black showing misty stars is suddenly about his shoulders, and the jeweled Kryptonite gleams silver against the black of the rest of his Dr. Fate outfit as his Lens flares fitfully, looking restive. He turns to the sigils, "By the Great Ones who I number among. By the Names and the Numbers of the Ways Between. By the spirit, the will, and the Blood of the Unicorn Herself. I, Lord of Amberite Order, call to the path, and set it open." He looks a little perturbed that this is taking magic as well as simply his own determination, but doesn't let that stop him. "Move us forward, dead slow, helm. I can't move us well without relative motion." The man seems intent, staring at the stars. Then oddly, the constellations swim... shifting somehow. "Uhhhh..." James groans. "We're FAR... I'll have to rest, then do two or three more shifts." He slumps back into the chair-thing that doesn't really fit him. "At least I warned Zia - she can pry this Dr. Fate nonsense away, and maybe even help with this Lens." =========================== Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1998 20:21:37 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE 4: Thirdspace To Three-Space On Mon, 7 Sep 1998 22:54:40 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00005785 >On Mon, 7 Sep 1998 16:57:50 -0500 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005784 > >On his Lens, which is imperfect and beginning to show it despite the >bolstering and stabilizing by the Helm of Order, James manages to >raise the now-Lensed and Lens-less rebel forces. @ We're about to >head out, do you all want to come with us, or stay here and make your >own way back home? @ > >"Communications, raise the allied vessel that has been fighting. They >probably have a way back themselves, but it might have been damaged. >Ask if they want to follow me back, or not." "Spoiler here. You go on ahead. We have to clean up our mess. >He frowns, then steps to one side of the command deck. Lines and >sigils for magic start encribing themselves, and James suddenly sits >tailor style in the air, floating above them. A cape of midnight >black showing misty stars is suddenly about his shoulders, and the >jeweled Kryptonite gleams silver against the black of the rest of his >Dr. Fate outfit as his Lens flares fitfully, looking restive. John turns his efforts back to the unwanted task of controlling the spread of the nano, and making sure that there are survivors. "At least they'll have to stop shooting at me soon." =========================== Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1998 09:37:40 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Revelations, prologue On Tue, 08 Sep 1998 12:27:17 EDT Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00005786 >On Mon, 07 Sep 1998 13:44:46 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005781 > >Morgan puts her arms around her husband again, holding him as he >remembers being in the thrall of the darkenss. She cradled his head, >stroking his hair, and waited for him to come to terms with his >recent actions. [Thanks, guys,] she thinks, [I didn't want him to >have to deal with this until _after_ we finish with Knightmare.] >Meanwhile, she sends comforting thoughts to her love. Harlequin looks on registering little emotion. Driss on the other hand watches Roland and Morgan for a moment before he has to turn away. He can understand what Roland is feeling. Has he not felt the same realization many times over? Roland is strong and has Morgan to support him as well, this greif will pass and Roland will grow from the experience but it's still no fun to watch or feel. The dome is down. And it's time to see what secrets it was protecting. Pulling his Cloak of Shadows tight around him, Driss vanishes and begins advancing on the tower quickly thanks to his 7 league boots. > /We've got to reach Dhyrclhanc,/ Roland replies, again excluding >Dark Lhanc. /He's probably dormant-if we can contact him, he might be >able to kick out that hitchhiker./ Roland begins to fly up, but >Morgan grabs his arm. He looks down at her, puzzled. "Perhaps at the same time as some contact Dhyrclhanc, others of us might try to weaken the Dark Phoenix energies he's carrying making it a bit easier to... 'throw off this hitchiker'." Says Harlequin, turning his gaze on Dark Lhanc and narrowing it thoughfully. =========================== Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1998 19:08:01 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE 4: Thirdspace To Three-Space On Tue, 08 Sep 1998 18:40:47 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005787 >On Mon, 7 Sep 1998 16:57:50 -0500 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005784 > >On his Lens, which is imperfect and beginning to show it despite the >bolstering and stabilizing by the Helm of Order, James manages to >raise the now-Lensed and Lens-less rebel forces. @ We're about to >head out, do you all want to come with us, or stay here and make your >own way back home? @ @Ah, we've still got a war to win here, Mr. Bond,@ Kinnison sends in a friendly tone. @Hot jets, and give that spider of yours a black eye for us!@ James has the distinct feeling that this Shadow is well in hand. *Greetings, Lensmen,* the Second-Stagers hear as James shifts away. *We are Mentor, of Arisia...* >He turns to the sigils, "By the Great Ones who I number among. By the >Names and the Numbers of the Ways Between. By the spirit, the will, >and the Blood of the Unicorn Herself. I, Lord of Amberite Order, call >to the path, and set it open." He looks a little perturbed that this >is taking magic as well as simply his own determination, but doesn't >let that stop him. "Move us forward, dead slow, helm. I can't move us >well without relative motion." The man seems intent, staring at the >stars. Then oddly, the constellations swim... shifting somehow. "He who calls the path can choose the form, but to ride the wind must dare the storm," Etrigan notes evenly. >"Uhhhh..." James groans. "We're FAR... I'll have to rest, then do two >or three more shifts." He slumps back into the chair-thing that >doesn't really fit him. "At least I warned Zia - she can pry this Dr. >Fate nonsense away, and maybe even help with this Lens." Sil's HIT Mark body continues to pulse a beacon of Order, both guiding the scions of Amber and maintaining a veneer of balance in local space... =========================== Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1998 19:37:02 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Revelations, prologue On Tue, 08 Sep 1998 19:15:21 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005788 >On Sat, 05 Sep 1998 16:37:14 -0400 >Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00005767 > >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. ^Yeah. I'm fine,^ Susan sighed, ^Let's hope we never have to deal with _that_ again.^ Susan is very careful not to bring up the Reverse- Blaze's accusation. *Okay, people, show's over, back to work. _Another_ one of the weirdo brigade has gone crazy.* Lyta frowns. *I happen to _be_ one of the weirdo brigade.* *Are you a dragon from another universe?* Susan replies sharply. *Pull it together, all of you. That thing's psionic.* Without the Thirdspace amalgam opposing them, they can direct their full power against Dark Phoenix. ^Natia, do you know anything about that creature that can help?^ =========================== Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1998 19:37:09 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE 4: Thirdspace To Three-Space On Tue, 08 Sep 1998 19:28:33 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005789 >On Mon, 7 Sep 1998 22:54:40 -0400 (EDT) >Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00005785 > John turns his efforts back to the unwanted task of controlling the >spread of the nano, and making sure that there are survivors. "At >least they'll have to stop shooting at me soon." (OOC: What the heck do the nanites do?) The base stations seem to be collapsing from the effect of the nanites, but the strange energy that powers the capitol ships is apparently protecting them somewhat. The cyberfighters, OTOH, are disgustingly vulnerable to most sorts of nanite invasion. The rebels are bugging out, being transported by the Palainians to a ship that looks amazingly like the Dauntless of the Lenswar universe. Many of them are being Lensed as John works. {I am Eukonidor, of Arisia,} is sent to the Spoiler. {Why do you remain? Though I am young, my lack of Visualization in this matter perplexes me.} (OOC: This is an IC hint from the Arisians, _not_ an OOC hint from the GM. I no longer need Thirdspace for my uberplot. Have fun! ) =========================== Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1998 04:38:59 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE 4: Thirdspace To Three-Space On Wed, 9 Sep 1998 06:11:47 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005790 : On Tue, 08 Sep 1998 18:40:47 : Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005787 :>On Mon, 7 Sep 1998 16:57:50 -0500 :>Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005784 : @Ah, we've still got a war to win here, Mr. Bond,@ Kinnison sends : in a friendly tone. @Hot jets, and give that spider of yours a black : eye for us!@ James has the distinct feeling that this Shadow is well : in hand. : *Greetings, Lensmen,* the Second-Stagers hear as James shifts : away. *We are Mentor, of Arisia...* : "He who calls the path can choose the form, but to ride the wind : must dare the storm," Etrigan notes evenly. James grins, a bit sourly and gives Etrigan the sort of look that says 'you just had to rub it in, didn't ya?' : Sil's HIT Mark body continues to pulse a beacon of Order, both : guiding the scions of Amber and maintaining a veneer of balance in : local space... James gets a couple of hours rest, padding the metal floor with various softer materials he scrounges. Then, much recovered, he returns the command deck. "I hope you weren't warning me of a Shadowstorm." He remarks calmly to the demon, then turns back to shifting. He narrows eyes again, and then suddenly smiles. "There is the Order beacon Sil was performing. I can barely hear it; seems to be a lot of noise there." The Lens he had made up is slowly melting into pieces on the back of his hand. James ignores this, again assuming his magical symbols. He whispers, "By my Blood, by her love, by all those things which draw a spirit to it's home. Let the paths of Destiny admit the Lord of Fate, give me passage back to where I belong with her and she with me. By the Keeper of Space, by the Byways of the Secret Ways, By the Realms of the Shaded Ways..." His voice rises, and he grins at Etrigan, singing the doggerel as he shifts through Shadow. "Let form follow Fate, Else we'll be too late. With a lady I've a date And will not hesitate." James staggers, and groans as the magical symbol flares way too bright. He protects his eyes with an arm, then lowers it in alarm. The Pirate Queen's command deck is gone! He stares around this maze of tunnels in bewilderment. "I can't _get_ lost!" He informs the universe, sounding personally offended. "What hap -" He turns, having heard the Order pulse much more strongly now. "Oh. Sil has moved. I wonder where the heck this place is? Am I under Epsilon 3 in the Machine's tunnels?" He strides off in the direction he can feel Sil in. Etrigan and the Pirate Queen swim into existence in this universe out near Velvet Glove. James makes the Helm of Order immaterial so his own face shows, as he hears the Lendragon and Sil speaking ahead. He steps out, giving them a curious look and a wave for a greeting. "Hello? Are we taking a breather to roast some marshmellows, or are you two in trouble? I can't reach Zia from here - what happened since I left?" =========================== Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1998 12:37:14 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE IV: Revelations & Epiphanies On Wed, 09 Sep 1998 15:14:31 -0400 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005791 > On Mon, 07 Sep '98 Morgan and/or Roland Said > > Sil sits down across from the Lens-T'Skrang. > "Oh, and remind me, when we get out of here, to talk to you about > a Lens." She smiles confidently. Dhyrclhnac shuts his eyes and shakes his head with a chagrined look on his face. "In the words of certain Samuel Beckett, who I seem to be quoting an awfull lot this trip, 'Oh boy!'" A sacastic smile spreads over the Lens-T'Skrang's beak as he continues. "Well when Rollie-boy and I decide to make a mess we don't go half-way do we?" "The last thing I remember was being upset that I was not able to reach Roland through whatever power was possessing him through those tainted psudeo-Sinestro power rings. Then he threw that Phoenix Hawk construct at me. The only thing I could thing of doing was summoning all of my power through the First-Ring, my Lens of Arrisia, my Mana Stones, and the Eye of Ammagatto. At the last minute, before I was engulfed in the Sphere of Power I was creating, I remember sending out a vain prayer to any entity who could help because I didn't know what else *I* could do _alone_. I ended up mannaging to summon the Dark Phoenix, did I. Well, at the risk of sounding repetitive, I certainly have made a mess of things. Well let us see what we can do to straighten this out." At Sil's sugestion that the Dark Phoenix is another one of his "personalities", Dhyrclhnac responds, "Bright Lady, all of my personalities are what you see before you." Instantly, the cavern is filled with a multitude of Lens-T'Skrang Dhyrclhances. Seemingly eough to fill a football field. How the small cavern can fit them all is unknown, or it would be if this weren't simply a astral/psychic construct construct. In a vaugue, echoing and reverberating voice, the Dhyrclhances respond, "We, like many others we have known, can surely be called 'a Tribe of One'." Then, as instantly as they appeared, they all dissapear, save one. "Enough cheap theatrics. Sil you should be able to form a psychic power pool by combining our psi-abilities at this frequency {}, and why do you want a Lens?" Dhyrclhanc tries to punch through whatever is blocking Sil's attempts to get in contact with the CAoL. /Hey! Anybody? Anybody out there? Hello?!/ =========================== Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1998 16:37:22 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: Revelations & Epiphanies On Wed, 09 Sep 1998 19:22:46 -0400 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005792 > On Tue, 08 Sep '98 Morgan and/or Roland Said > *Are you a dragon from another universe?* Susan replies sharply. > *Pull it together, all of you. That thing's psionic.* Without the > Thirdspace amalgam opposing them, they can direct their full power > against Dark Phoenix. > ^Natia, do you know anything about that creature that can help?^ The Dark Lhanc creature continues to seeth at the CAoL, and, depite the cold vacuum of space, steam vapor begins to rise off its body. Then, when it bocomes the target of the B5 telepaths' attack, it screams out it pain. Whirling around, it points a taloned finger directly at both of the Ivanovas in B5's C&C. *You are repsonsible for this! You _will_ pay dearly!* Immediatly, and for a single instant, every single one of the odd million souls contained within the station suffer in throws of indesribable agony. Dark Lhanc smiles a decidedly predatory grin. Then with a motion of his/her/its arm and hand, the avatar of Destruction renders every part of the station, itself, completly transparent. Dark Lhanc is obviously now relishing the abject terror of B5's inhabitants. Looking partialy sated, Dark Lhanc turns around again, now facing the combined might od the CAoL. Speaking aloud, again despite the hollow vacume of space it says, pointing now at Roland, "You cannot hold the Sins of the Past against _Me_. It is _your_ doing that I am here. Your friend summoned by better nature but it was his feelings in reponse to your actions that allowed me, the Devourer, to be reborn. Any souls I take here today will partialy on your head, Immortal." he/she/it snears. "So who shall be first?" =========================== Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1998 20:12:19 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: Revelations & Epiphanies On Wed, 09 Sep 1998 22:36:00 EDT Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00005793 >On Wed, 09 Sep 1998 19:22:46 -0400 >Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005792 > >Looking partialy sated, Dark Lhanc turns around again, now facing >the combined might od the CAoL. Speaking aloud, again despite the >hollow vacume of space it says, pointing now at Roland, "You cannot >hold the Sins of the Past against _Me_. It is _your_ doing that I am >here. Your friend summoned by better nature but it was his feelings >in reponse to your actions that allowed me, the Devourer, to be >reborn. Any souls I take here today will partialy on your head, >Immortal." he/she/it snears. > >"So who shall be first?" Harlequin float slowly towards Dark Lhanc, between he and Roland. "This course of action holds no justice or logic. The state that Roland was in when he preformed those evils is as related to his normal and present form as you are to the body you now inhabit. Destroying him would be a crime in and of itself and by your own actions, would mean that your own existance would be forfeit. But that actoin would result in the destruction of whichever poor innocent body you would be inhabiting at the time and so the cycle would continue to grow and grow and grow. You have the power and the intelligence to stop it here. I beseech you to do so now, for I shall not stand by and allow you to continue this infantile rampage that is so far below your station. If you will not stand down from this fight, then come. let us see if you have enough power to face me." As he speaks, a suit of golden ultra-tech powered armor begins forming around Harlequin, finishing with the helm with a red glasine cross in the face of it. =========================== Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1998 21:40:13 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Revelations & Epiphanies On Wed, 09 Sep 1998 21:36:04 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005794 James said: >: "He who calls the path can choose the form, but to ride the wind >: must dare the storm," Etrigan notes evenly. > >James grins, a bit sourly and gives Etrigan the sort of look that >says 'you just had to rub it in, didn't ya?' Etrigan just smiles in that way that demons have. >James gets a couple of hours rest, padding the metal floor with >various softer materials he scrounges. Then, much recovered, he >returns the command deck. "I hope you weren't warning me of a >Shadowstorm." He remarks calmly to the demon, then turns back to >shifting. He narrows eyes again, and then suddenly smiles. "There is >the Order beacon Sil was performing. I can barely hear it; seems to >be a lot of noise there." Etrigan's smile vanishes. "You _know_ that storms take many forms," the rhyming demon warns. >"Let form follow Fate, >Else we'll be too late. >With a lady I've a date >And will not hesitate." And James would _swear_ he sees a countryman of like age to himself in a beat-up London Fog, smiling grimly, for a moment. "Leave the verse to the pros, would you?" Then both demon and host vanish. >James makes the Helm of Order immaterial so his own face shows, as he >hears the Lendragon and Sil speaking ahead. He steps out, giving them >a curious look and a wave for a greeting. "Hello? Are we taking a >breather to roast some marshmellows, or are you two in trouble? I >can't reach Zia from here - what happened since I left?" Sil chuckles. "Hi, James. We're in Dhyrclhanc's mind; he's been possessed. I went in to help and-well, here I am. Apparently, you followed the Order pulse straight to the source." She shrugs. "Sorry for the inconvenience." >On Wed, 09 Sep 1998 15:14:31 -0400 >Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005791 > >"Enough cheap theatrics. Sil you should be able to form a psychic >power pool by combining our psi-abilities at this frequency {}, and >why do you want a Lens?" "Because it's unjammable, and in jams like this that would come in _very_ handy," Sil replies in a vaguely amused tone. >Dhyrclhanc tries to punch through whatever is blocking Sil's attempts >to get in contact with the CAoL. > >/Hey! Anybody? Anybody out there? Hello?!/ /Dhyrclhanc!/ Roland replies in relief. /Are _you_ a sight for sore mind!/ The Freelance Immortal winces. /Literally, in this case. My head still feels like a used tacnuke. I need a sitrep, sib-Dark Phoenix is handing us our heads out here, and she seems to have a thing for mine in particular./ =========================== Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1998 22:16:03 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: Revelations & Epiphanies On Thu, 10 Sep 1998 00:42:28 EDT Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00005795 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005792 > Looking partialy sated, Dark Lhanc turns around again, now facing > the combined might od the CAoL. Speaking aloud, again despite the > hollow vacume of space it says, pointing now at Roland, "You cannot > hold the Sins of the Past against _Me_. It is _your_ doing that I am > here. Your friend summoned by better nature but it was his feelings > in reponse to your actions that allowed me, the Devourer, to be > reborn. Any souls I take here today will partialy on your head, > Immortal." he/she/it snears. > > "So who shall be first?" Neither Aurora or Dragon's Bane "say" a thing, but they most definitely act. Dragon's Bane does its teleport turn again, and ends up pointed directly at Dark Lanc. Then simultaneously the ship fires its energy drain, and a worm hole opens at a right angle to that beam and another hits Dark Lanc from it. Each energy drain is pulling down the energy equivalent of full blown quasar. A pico second later, Dark Lanc is hit by two psionic attacks, each powerful enough to have put down the Unit, permanently and instantly. =========================== Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1998 23:06:04 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: Revelations & Epiphanies On Wed, 09 Sep 1998 22:56:05 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005796 >On Wed, 09 Sep 1998 22:36:00 EDT >Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00005793 > >>On Wed, 09 Sep 1998 19:22:46 -0400 >>Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005792 > >>Then with a motion of his/her/its arm and hand, the avatar of >>Destruction renders every part of the station, itself, completly >>transparent. Dark Lhanc is obviously now relishing the abject >>terror of B5's inhabitants. Roland frowns. >>Looking partialy sated, Dark Lhanc turns around again, now facing >>the combined might od the CAoL. Speaking aloud, again despite the >>hollow vacume of space it says, pointing now at Roland, "You cannot >>hold the Sins of the Past against _Me_. It is _your_ doing that I am >>here. Your friend summoned by better nature but it was his feelings >>in reponse to your actions that allowed me, the Devourer, to be >>reborn. Any souls I take here today will partialy on your head, >>Immortal." he/she/it snears. "Oh, so I can't blame you for what _you_ did, but you can blame me for what _I_ did? Bite me, you delusional fire-shard," Roland snaps-in more ways than one. "You want me, dark sister-COME AND GET ME!" He tries to form his Darkangel Armor around him-but it 'burps' and he ends up with the M.A.C.H. 1 battlesuit. (See the Marvel comic Thunderbolts for details.) His eyes narrow, and energy flares and rages around him. Those 'watching' on psychic channels realize that while the mental damage has badly reduced his control, it allows him to cut loose with even more power than even _he_ can usually handle... >>"So who shall be first?" > Harlequin float slowly towards Dark Lhanc, between he and Roland. >"This course of action holds no justice or logic. The state that >Roland was in when he preformed those evils is as related to his >normal and present form as you are to the body you now inhabit. >Destroying him would be a crime in and of itself and by your own >actions, would mean that your own existance would be forfeit. But >that actoin would result in the destruction of whichever poor >innocent body you would be inhabiting at the time and so the cycle >would continue to grow and grow and grow. You have the power and the >intelligence to stop it here. I beseech you to do so now, for I shall >not stand by and allow you to continue this infantile rampage that is >so far below your station. If you will not stand down from this >fight, then come. let us see if you have enough power to face me." Morgan watched, impressed. The Dris she knew wasn't usually so eager to stand between friends and harm. No, that wasn't quite it... He wasn't usually so _openly_ eager. He'd help his friends, but he'd make good-natured complaints about it. Then again, this wasn't exactly Dris.... > As he speaks, a suit of golden ultra-tech powered armor begins >forming around Harlequin, finishing with the helm with a red glasine >cross in the face of it. /Your loyalty is appreciated, Harlequin, but this is my fight./ Roland begins to rise into the air. /Believe it or not, folx, this is a plan-while I'm distracting her, all you folx who have telepathy go after Dhyrclhanc. Everyone who doesn't, boost me to nass and gone./ ^Are you _sure_ you're up to this, Love?^ Morgan sends privately, not wanting to question him in front of the team. Even as she 'speaks', though, she's drawing power to back her husband up. ^Nass, no,^ Roland replies with a quick smile on the private link, ^but this is my fault, and my responsibility, and my lost sister wants _me._ I have to save Dhyrclhanc, and try to save the Phoenix Force too. After all, she's family.^ Roland takes a long, deep breath. /^Here goes everything.^/ *"Well, Phoenix? Do you have the guts to back up your threats-or are you just a big bag of HOT AIR?"* =========================== Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1998 03:36:31 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: Revelations & Epiphanies On Thu, 10 Sep 1998 05:26:08 -0500 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005797 >On Wed, 09 Sep 1998 19:22:46 -0400 >Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005792 > >Looking partialy sated, Dark Lhanc turns around again, now facing >the combined might od the CAoL. Speaking aloud, again despite the >hollow vacume of space it says, pointing now at Roland, "You cannot >hold the Sins of the Past against _Me_. It is _your_ doing that I am >here. Your friend summoned by better nature but it was his feelings >in reponse to your actions that allowed me, the Devourer, to be >reborn. Any souls I take here today will partialy on your head, >Immortal." he/she/it snears. > >"So who shall be first?" Mike and the Green Lantern Corps look over at the station, a faint frown on each face. [I know, I know, a quarter of a million humans and aliens, spinning metal, blah blah blah. Alright, we'll do it. I'm going to need a lot of help, though, gang. Form up a conduit to the Dreamtime.] The rest of the GLC vanish and Mike teleports out and back with a large, (60 feet radius) very dense asteroid which he sets into orbit stationary to the station. Driving a couple pitons into it, Mike stands atop the asteroid relative to the station so he can see it. Attaching a harness over the navy blue jacket, white tee and faded blue jeans he returned in, Mike drew a deep breath, cleared his mind, then drew a sword from within his jacket. [Let's see, I set an asteroid in space by hand, which I am now standing on, drawing a deep breath in hard vaccum and withdrawing a sword from under a coat it could not be hidden under. That's four impossible things in the last ten seconds, time to go for five...] ^Legion, I am hoping my attenpt to restore the station does not cause you discomfort. But the amount of fear and plain old vertigo for the station populace (least worrying), not to mention the effect of unfiltered sunlight getting into the station like a greenhouse (very worrying) and being refracted like a lens by the curves in the decks and melting the central support structure (highly worrying) warrent it.^ Mike held the long, silver blade before him as in offering. [Knightmare isn't the only one to blend magic, psionics and tech.] he thought, looking at the runes engraved in the etched circuitry patterns of the blade. It was eerily reminscient of the Gateway Katana, which he had set into the hands of an alternate King Arthur only to have it wind through realities and histories into his hands again, to finally be broken with the help of the Technomages, its original creators, and its stored personalities freed into the forms of Melissa, Grep, and now Tink. Of course, this was not the same sword. The circuitry was different, this one had runes, and both combined to draw the stylized shape of a long oriental dragon on the silvered blade. The guard was two small hawks in flight, wingtips touching in the center, heads looking down either edged side of the blade, tails toward the hilt. The grip was black rubber, nubbed like a motorcycle handle, with a hilt that looked like a silver talon that could either be a dragon's or a hawk's clutching a clear quartz crystal prism around the middle. ['This is going to hurt me worse than it will you?' I don't know that, and too trite anyway.] ^Okay Legion, here we go.^ Mike tested his tethers to the large iron asteroid, then took the grip in his left hand and with his right hand grasped the blade just above the guard. Drawing the blade across his right palm, he smeared a thin track of blood along the length of the blade, then touched his cut palm to the ground, making a small X a couple feet in front of him. Wrapping the chain of the CAoL sigil around the guard of the sword, Mike pointed the sword 'skyward', saying in Old High Gallifreyian, translated via the lenses, "Ward this place from Dark Phoenix's power, but let those with this sigil come and go freely, when the spell is done. Let this stone support us as on Mother Earth. And let me channel the power to right what Dark Phoenix has made wrong." Mike drove the tip of the sword into the X of blood, sparks shooting from the blade's contact with the stone, and stepped back. A spark shot from the 'ground' of the asteroid into the hilt, then another went from hilt to Mike. Another went from one of the pitons into him, and another wrapped itself around to strike him from the opposite pole of the asteroid. Michael Seven staggered around under the assault and the purpose of the harness became obvious, as it was the only thing keeping him relatively in place under the increasing barage of electricity. A whispy cloud of energy began forming around him as small explosions of energy were freed from the asteroid and rushed to be absorbed in the figure atop it. As the asteroid became a fury of energy, Michael held his right hand up and the energy he was absorbing shot out from the cut in his palm, racing toward the transparent station. Where it 'struck', not that it hit with any violence, more like a fine mist, the materials underneath became opaque again, from the inntermost layers outward. That area quickle spread to the rest of the station, until the entire thing was back to the way it was supposed to be. After about ten seconds of this, the station was back to normal. Which was fortunate, as the energy beam cut off then just before Michael slipped into unconsciousness, falling to the ground in front of the broadsword. His last thoughts were to Legion again, probably hoping she/they was/were alright. ^Don't take out...sword, and don't...take me off...rock...dangerous.^ =========================== Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1998 08:37:07 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: Revelations & Epiphanies On Thu, 10 Sep 1998 11:26:59 EDT Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00005798 >On Wed, 09 Sep 1998 22:56:05 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005796 > >>On Wed, 09 Sep 1998 22:36:00 EDT >>Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00005793 >Morgan watched, impressed. The Dris she knew wasn't usually so eager >to stand between friends and harm. No, that wasn't quite it... He >wasn't usually so _openly_ eager. He'd help his friends, but he'd >make good-natured complaints about it. > >Then again, this wasn't exactly Dris.... > *"Well, Phoenix? Do you have the guts to back up your threats-or >are you just a big bag of HOT AIR?"* Harlequin turns to look back at Roland, his facial expressions hidden by the armor but obviously appraising Roland for this upcoming battle. /If you insist on such then so be it, but let me aid your defense at least while the others raise your offensive powers./ He sends. Gesturing he becomes golden light that arcs out towards Roland. A few new devices sprout on Roland's battlesuit and some strange icons appear on his headsup display. Harlequin re-appears standing slightly behind Morgan. /The power I added to your suit is basically a defensive based realtiy generator. it can do anything from simple invisiblity to making you seem to be standing a few feet to one side or the other of your real possition to powerful absorbtion or reflective shieldings. Do not die. I do not want to have to look upon Morgan if you do./ =========================== Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1998 19:35:01 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Revelations & Epiphanies On Thu, 10 Sep 1998 22:01:26 -0400 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005799 > On Wed, 09 Sep '98 Morgan and/or Roland Said > Sil chuckles. "Hi, James. We're in Dhyrclhanc's mind; he's been > possessed. I went in to help and-well, here I am. Apparently, you > followed the Order pulse straight to the source." She shrugs. "Sorry > for the inconvenience." "James?" The current Lens-T'Skrang stands up and offersa three digited hand to the Amberite. "It is James is it not? You will excuse me sir, but you have a look about you that makes me think that I have met you before but I am sure that I have not." He sits down again and motions the quasi-Lord of Order to do the same, "Forgive my manners, I am Dhyrclhanc, the Lensdragon, and I am, it seems, the author of the problem, or problems that we are facing." > /Dhyrclhanc!/ Roland replies in relief. /Are _you_ a sight for > sore mind!/ The Freelance Immortal winces. /Literally, in this case. > My head still feels like a used tacnuke. I need a sitrep, sib-Dark > Phoenix is handing us our heads out here, and she seems to have a > thing for mine in particular./ /Uh bro? Roland? Is that you? I mean are alright?/ The draconic lensman's concern is obvious. /I guess that I have made a mess of things. I tried to absorb that Phoenix Force-based Cosmic Energy Hawk your otherself threw at me. I had hoped that somehow by summoning/playing host to the Phoenix Force would help but instead of solving one problem I gave us two. I keep forgeting that it is the nauture of the Phoenix Force to respond to the emotions and not the intelect. According to what Sil has been telling me The Dark Phoenix came in and set up shop before I had even moved out. Sil and I appear to be trapped in one of the deeper recesses of my unconsious mind and, oh, tell Zia that James is here too./ /I do not know what I can do from here seing that the Dark Lady has control over my body but maybe you guys want to try and help me kick this freeloader out of here. Oh and I suppose you might want to try to get Sil and James out of here too while you are at it./ =========================== Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1998 19:35:09 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Revelations & Epiphanies On Thu, 10 Sep 1998 21:06:26 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005800 : On Wed, 09 Sep 1998 21:36:04 : Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005794 : : Etrigan's smile vanishes. "You _know_ that storms take many : forms," the rhyming demon warns. James sighs. "I don't suppose you'd care to be more specific, would you?" He quips, in a suddenly strong Brit (not Scot, amazingly enough) accent. He doesn't seem to really expect an answer, or at least a good one. : And James would _swear_ he sees a countryman of like age to : himself in a beat-up London Fog, smilingto grimly, for a moment. : "Leave the verse to the pros, would you?" : Then both demon and host vanish. [Everyone is a critic. Should I give him the name of a decent tailor for a better Mac?] James wisecracks, to himself. [Delusions already? This is NOT such a good sign.] : Sil chuckles. "Hi, James. We're in Dhyrclhanc's mind; he's been : possessed. I went in to help and-well, here I am. Apparently, you : followed the Order pulse straight to the source." She shrugs. "Sorry : for the inconvenience." "Possessed by what or whom? I do tend to be rather too precise, at times. Did you deliberately skip the reason I can't contact Zia? Or did she just not return after escorting that Starbreaker creature away? I thought she'd have returned by now - as I could use her help." : /Dhyrclhanc!/ Roland replies in relief. /Are _you_ a sight for : sore mind!/ The Freelance Immortal winces. /Literally, in this case. : My head still feels like a used tacnuke. I need a sitrep, sib-Dark : Phoenix is handing us our heads out here, and she seems to have a : thing for mine in particular./ /Really?/ James inquires, in his namesake's own chillest tone. /Isn't even the Darker Pheonix an ordered entity? And we're inside, already.../ The telepathic civil servant looks around, and abruptly tendrils of misty blue and white light (the latter resembling nothing so much as the remaining unmelted Lens-fragments in James' left back of hand) lash out striking through the walls as if they don't exist. "You know the handy thing is... to me, the Dark Pheonix is nothing more than a fictional comic book character. A Shadow Shifting on that basis is ever so easy for me to do, like this." He comments to Sil. His eyes close, and the tendrils seeth, impossibly long and comprehensive, as they were mind-sculpted by a fractal expansion. With a sudden savage wrench on reality, sharply focused to conserve power and apply that power more effectively, James attempts to re-instate the Dhyrclanc he knows, and believes most in. He picture the Dark Pheonix, a force of which he has only read of in comics, as being here with Sil and himself. =========================== Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1998 22:46:31 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: Revelations & Epiphanies On Thu, 10 Sep 1998 22:35:36 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005801 >On Thu, 10 Sep 1998 05:26:08 -0500 >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005797 > >>On Wed, 09 Sep 1998 19:22:46 -0400 >>Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005792 >>"So who shall be first?" >Wrapping the chain of the CAoL sigil around the guard of the sword, >Mike pointed the sword 'skyward', saying in Old High Gallifreyian, >translated via the lenses, "Ward this place from Dark Phoenix's >power, but let those with this sigil come and go freely, when the >spell is done. Let this stone support us as on Mother Earth. And let >me channel the power to right what Dark Phoenix has made wrong." Mike feels...SOMETHING...straining to come to his aid from within the Dome... >His last thoughts were to Legion again, probably hoping she/they >was/were alright. ^Don't take out...sword, and don't...take me >off...rock...dangerous.^ And sees a man and woman, each clad in blue, floating up to him and taking a flank to guard... "Blaze?" Kal-El asks, using his Super-Ventriloquism to reach the Freelance Immortal. "This man _is_ one of yours, isn't he?" *Yep. But this really isn't a good time, Superman, I'm kind of busy being the target of a mad goddess.* Superman chuckled. "Well, don't take too long. We still have to deal with your Shadow friend." *We, my immortal tush!* Morgan, grinning wickedly, sends something to Roland on their private link. Roland blushes (tm). *You've still got Doomers to round up, remember?* >On Thu, 10 Sep 1998 11:26:59 EDT >Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00005798 > > Harlequin turns to look back at Roland, his facial expressions >hidden by the armor but obviously appraising Roland for this upcoming >battle. /If you insist on such then so be it, but let me aid your >defense at least while the others raise your offensive powers./ He >sends. Gesturing he becomes golden light that arcs out towards >Roland. A few new devices sprout on Roland's battlesuit and some >strange icons appear on his headsup display. Harlequin re-appears >standing slightly behind Morgan. /The power I added to your suit is >basically a defensive based realtiy generator. it can do anything >from simple invisiblity to making you seem to be standing a few feet >to one side or the other of your real possition to powerful >absorbtion or reflective shieldings. Do not die. I do not want to >have to look upon Morgan if you do./ /Hey, I'm immortal, remember?/ Roland flashes a smile that's almost confident as his armor hardens. /And by all means, feel free to pitch in wherever, but if I try to avoid this fight we're gonna have a lot of dead innocents. Dark Phoenix gives a whole new meaning to the phrase 'collateral damage.'/ The M.A.C.H. Angel rockets into the air as Roland activates the reflectors and displacement effect. ^Honey...?^ Morgan begins, her attention wavering between Roland and Mike. ^I'm okay for now,^ Roland replies. ^Subtle isn't likely to help against...HER...and I've still got more power than normal.^ A globe of darkness both mundane and psychic swallows Dark Lhanc. ^Besides, if I get in over my head, I'll call in the Big Guns(tm). I'll be fine.^ ^You'd _better_.^ Morgan sends with only a hint of humor masking the seriousness. She gets back into the Valkyrie and heads toward Mike's asteroid. Tentatively, she reaches out to him mentally and magickally, looking for ways she can help without interfereing in the work he's done. *Kal-El, Kara,* the Druid sends by way of greeting. *Hopefully between your Kryptonian powers and my magicks, we can keep him covered until Roland deals with _that_.* "I hope you're right, ma'am," Kal-El replies. =========================== Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 00:45:31 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: Revelations & Epiphanies On Fri, 11 Sep 1998 02:13:08 -0500 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005802 >On Thu, 10 Sep 1998 22:35:36 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005801 > >>On Thu, 10 Sep 1998 05:26:08 -0500 >>Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005797 >>Wrapping the chain of the CAoL sigil around the guard of the sword, >>Mike pointed the sword 'skyward', saying in Old High Gallifreyian, >>translated via the lenses, "Ward this place from Dark Phoenix's >>power, but let those with this sigil come and go freely, when the >>spell is done. Let this stone support us as on Mother Earth. And let >>me channel the power to right what Dark Phoenix has made wrong." > > Mike feels...SOMETHING...straining to come to his aid from within >the Dome... Mike files this information away for later reflection. It may prove useful. >>His last thoughts were to Legion again, probably hoping she/they >>was/were alright. ^Don't take out...sword, and don't...take me >>off...rock...dangerous.^ > > And sees a man and woman, each clad in blue, floating up to him >and taking a flank to guard... Michael mumbles something about blue angels forgetting their planes, then his eyes loll back in his head. >^You'd _better_.^ Morgan sends with only a hint of humor masking the >seriousness. She gets back into the Valkyrie and heads toward Mike's >asteroid. Tentatively, she reaches out to him mentally and >magickally, looking for ways she can help without interfereing in the >work he's done. The work itself is done, Babylon 5 is back to normal. But the mix of energy around the asteroid is only being held in check by Mike and the Sword's presence. Taking either out would be like popping the cork from a champagne bottle. And the pressure is slowly increasing. Mike is otherwise just exhausted. =========================== Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 05:07:43 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Revelations, prologue On Fri, 11 Sep 1998 07:37:34 -0400 Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00005803 >On Tue, 08 Sep 1998 19:15:21 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005788 > > ^Natia, do you know anything about that creature that can help?^ ^I'm afraid not, sister... of course, when has that stopped us before?^ =========================== Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 09:05:17 -0700 (PDT) Subject: IC: Re: GR: re: AAE: Revelations & Epiphanies On Fri, 11 Sep 1998 11:31:43 -0400 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005804 > On Wed, 09 Sep '98 Morgan and/or Roland Said >>Dane Said >> >>Neither Aurora or Dragon's Bane "say" a thing, but they most >>definitely act. Dragon's Bane does its teleport turn again, and ends >>up pointed directly at Dark Lanc. Then simultaneously the ship fires >>its energy drain, and a worm hole opens at a right angle to that >>beam and another hits Dark Lanc from it. Each energy drain is >>pulling down the energy equivalent of full blown quasar. A pico >>second later, Dark Lanc is hit by two psionic attacks, each powerful >>enough to have put down the Unit, permanently and instantly. Using his link to Roland as a carrier wave, Dhyrclhanc piggybacks the following signal to Aurora. /Lady Aurora, I would suggest that you cease your current course of actions. If that were purely the Dark Lady herself, I'd suggest differently. However, she is currently in possession of *my* body and any damage that you currently inflict upon her will, eventualy, be carried over to me. Also, you are inflicting psychic damage upon the amalgam, Sil, James, and myself are currently trapped in a psychic construct in the lower recesses of my/her mind. By continuing you current assault you threaten the irretrivable loss of all of our spirits/souls/intelects, etc. At the risk of sounding like Mentor, I would suggest that you apply less loose and muddy thinking and help the rest of the more psionically capable among the CAoL solve our _entire_ problem rather than simply attacking what, at first, appears to be offending entity. These kinds of tactics might work against the Stardragon but the Dark Phoenix is a slightly different type of Beast. Finally, if it is your, and Dragonbane's, purpose to defeat the Stardragon if it ever becomes a threat then I would suggest that, as my brother says, you do not become your enemy to defeat him./ =========================== Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 09:05:33 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: Revelations & Epiphanies On Fri, 11 Sep 1998 11:48:22 -0400 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005805 >On Thu, 10 Sep '98 Dane Said >Neither Aurora or Dragon's Bane "say" a thing, but they most >definitely act. Dragon's Bane does its teleport turn again, >and ends up pointed directly at Dark Lanc. Then simultaneously the >ship fires its energy drain, and a worm hole opens at a right angle >to that beam and another hits Dark Lanc from it. Each energy drain is >pulling down the energy equivalent of full blown quasar. A pico >second later, Dark Lanc is hit by two psionic attacks, each powerful >enough to have put down the Unit, permanently and instantly. The energy drain attacks seem be having little effect as two quasars seem to wink out of existance in two nearby star-systems. The psionic attack, on the other hand, makes the Dark Lhanc roar out in pain. "AAARggg! Do you think that I am so easily defeated?" He/she/it opens it's mouth and a gout of stellar flame shoots out at the Dragonsbane. At the same instant, all of the Dragonsbane's external guns turn to glass, which in turn is turned into useless lumps by the flame breath. Similarly, the entire surface of the Dragonsbane becomes molten, sealing shut any doors, pannels, portals and, most important, fusing shut the ship's spinal mount track. Strangely enough, though, all internal systems remain intact. =========================== Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 10:39:50 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: IC: Re: GR: re: AAE: Revelations & Epiphanies On Fri, 11 Sep 1998 10:33:45 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005806 >On Fri, 11 Sep 1998 11:31:43 -0400 >Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005804 > >Using his link to Roland as a carrier wave, Dhyrclhanc piggybacks the >following signal to Aurora. > >/Lady Aurora, I would suggest that you cease your current course of >actions. >Finally, if it is your, and Dragonbane's, purpose to defeat the >Stardragon if it ever becomes a threat then I would suggest that, as >my brother says, you do not become your enemy to defeat him./ Morgan winces, smiling. /Ow. Ow. Ow./ Morgan /|\ <"Aurora, is that your face over there?" ;-)> =========================== Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 12:05:52 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: Revelations & Epiphanies On Fri, 11 Sep 1998 14:46:47 -0400 Dhyrclhanc Said As GR.CAoL Message # 00001713 > On Thu, 10 Sep 1998 11:26:59 EDT Driscoll Said >>Dhyrclhanc Said >>> Driscoll Said >>> Harlequin float slowly towards Dark Lhanc, between he and >>> Roland. "This course of action holds no justice or logic. The >>> state that Roland was in when he preformed those evils is as >>> related to his normal and present form as you are to the body you >>> now inhabit. Destroying him would be a crime in and of itself and >>> by your own actions, would mean that your own existance would be >>> forfeit. But that actoin would result in the destruction of >>> whichever poor innocent body you would be inhabiting at the time >>> and so the cycle would continue to grow and grow and grow. You >>> have the power and the intelligence to stop it here. I beseech you >>> to do so now, for I shall not stand by and allow you to continue >>> this infantile rampage that is so far below your station. If you >>> will not stand down from this fight, then come. let us see if you >>> have enough power to face me." >>> As he speaks, a suit of golden ultra-tech powered armor begins >>> forming around Harlequin, finishing with the helm with a red >>> glasine cross in the face of it. The momemt that the Order Harliquin is finished speaking, and his armor has finished forming around him, he _feels_ as well as sees the Dark Phoenix/Lensdragon amalgam fix his/her/it's steel cold gaze on him. At the same time he is held in place by his/her/it's will and TK powers. "Ah yes but you have just made the same mistake that those who opposed my previous incarnation, Agent of Order." Dark Lhanc snears. "Despite what I may have done in the past, here and now I serve neither Logic nor Justice. I serve Vengance and I shall have my pound of flesh! Do you truly wish to stand in opposition to me?" Dark Lhanc releases the Harliquin. Tossing him away like a hawk would discard a small rodent. And assumes a new location above Babylon 5. "Are ther any others?" =========================== Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 12:35:44 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Revelations & Epiphanies On Fri, 11 Sep 1998 15:09:51 -0400 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005809 > On Thu, 10 Sep '98 Zia Said >: And James would _swear_ he sees a countryman of like age to >: himself in a beat-up London Fog, smilingto grimly, for a moment. >: "Leave the verse to the pros, would you?" >: Then both demon and host vanish. > > [Everyone is a critic. Should I give him the name of a decent tailor > for a better Mac?] James wisecracks, to himself. [Delusions already? > This is NOT such a good sign.] If I'm not complety mistaken the gentleman in question ought tohave dark red hair with a streak of white running verticaly through it and goes by the name Jason Blood. OTOH, if I'm wrong I'm sure Roland'll correct any mistaken assumptions I may have. }:=8) > His eyes close, and the tendrils seeth, impossibly long and > comprehensive, as they were mind-sculpted by a fractal expansion. > With a sudden savage wrench on reality, sharply focused to conserve > power and apply that power more effectively, James attempts to > re-instate the Dhyrclanc he knows, and believes most in. He picture > the Dark Pheonix, a force of which he has only read of in comics, as > being here with Sil and himself. As the Amberite focuses his power, a figure slowly appears in the cavern. She is a stunningly beautiful woman. Beautifull, the same way that a Bengal Tiger is beautiful. She has an olive complexion, eyes that shine like the hearts of two distant stars, and a large flowing mass of red hair flowing behind her. She is dressed in a red costume that leaves nothing to the imagination, with a golden bird-of-prey icon stretching from her neck to her prominent chest. She is also wearing golden mid-calf boots and long gloves of teh same hue which reach up to her mid-upper arms. A long golden sash at her waist which is fashioned by a clip-like device in the shape of the same bird-of-prey icon. With a look on her face that appears to indicate that she is deciding whether to take James to bed with her or devour him on the spot, she asks, with a smoky and husky voice, "Who dares to summon the Dark Phoenix?" while shifting her gaze between James and Dhyrclhanc, as if Sil were not there. =========================== Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 16:06:33 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Deja Vu On Fri, 11 Sep 1998 16:02:33 -0700 (PDT) The Lone One Said As CAoL Message # 00005811 > On Mon, 07 Sep 1998 14:06:55 > Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005783 > > /Need a hand, Mandy?/ Roland sent across the link. /I'm back to > normal, and seeing how you're in this fix because of me, I figured I > should lend a hand. If you want to 'wear' this hardsuit for > protection, just say so-it's a force construct, so there's no one > actually 'in' it. If not, I can provide...alternate support and > defense./ A spidermech appears above the fight, ready to interpose > itself in harm's way. > (OOC: Now y'all know why Roland's mind is split in multiple > directions. ) /Thanks,/ Mandy replied. /I'll take anything I can get in the way of help./ The hardsuit flashed and reformed around her, and she sighed with relief, glad to actually have something to protect her from the enemy. Examining the weapons (OOC: Can't find the relevant details, sorry.), she muttered to herself, "Hoe the frag does this stuff work?" Suddenly a stream of weapons knowledge poured into Mandy's mind. [Raver?! God, you had me so totally freaked!] The reply was wry. [My apologies -- HEY!] Mandy's arm came up to smash into a hapless intruder trying to storm her perch. [We talk later. For now, shoot.] As the bodies piled up around the crates, more and more enemies began to notice. [See the next stack of crates? Run for them on my mark....GO!] Mandy muttered as she ran, "Now I'm making like Lara Croft in space armor. How did I wind up in this mess?" A man lunged at her, and she slammed a hand into his face -- unfortunately, it was the hand with the gun, and he went down with a crunch. "I am NOT cut out for this." [Whyinell aren't you taking over, Raver?!] [You seem to be dealing with this quite well.] [Are you fragging NUTS? I'm fighting for our lives here!] [And I suppose I was not?] She snarled and kneed another baddie before ducking into the shelter of the other crates. [Well, excuse me, Miz Bazillion-Year-Old Demon, for not having the same amount of experience as you!] [You understimate yourself. You are fighting them -- and winning -- without, as you put it, 'curling up and howling'.] Mandy shot a quick look over her shoulder at the other stack, which was under siege as the spidermech distracted them by taking potshots. She took in the fairly impressive pile of bodies, and nodded. [All right, all right. I get it already.] Her tone had lost a lot of the anger at Raver's assessment of her skills, made in a tone that was almost...proud. [But get us the hell outta here, willya?] [I am not sure that will be necessary, as between the two of you, the enemy is almost gone.] The young woman blinked, and took in a larger part of the bay. Raver was right -- not too many baddies were left. [Huh.] =========================== Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 20:14:22 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Deja Vu On Fri, 11 Sep 1998 18:37:58 -0500 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005812 >On Fri, 11 Sep 1998 16:02:33 -0700 (PDT) >The Lone One Said As CAoL Message # 00005811 > [I am not sure that will be necessary, as between the two of you, >the enemy is almost gone.] > The young woman blinked, and took in a larger part of the bay. >Raver was right -- not too many baddies were left. [Huh.] Puck appeared seated in the rafters. "Hey, thought time travel wasn't working here!" He winked at Mandy and Roland's constructs and said in a sing-song voice. "And don't -forget-, you need some of those guys -alive- to start this whole -CAoL thing- off." Puck waved and vanished. =========================== Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 20:14:40 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Revelations & Epiphanies On Fri, 11 Sep 1998 21:18:11 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005814 : On Fri, 11 Sep 1998 15:09:51 -0400 : Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005809 : As the Amberite focuses his power, a figure slowly appears in the : cavern. She is a stunningly beautiful woman. : : Beautifull, the same way that a Bengal Tiger is beautiful. James is visibly stunned. "Zia? No. You're a shadow of her. Wunderval. The Wunder Kid is living up to her rep." : With a look on her face that appears to indicate that she is : deciding whether to take James to bed with her or devour him on the : spot, she asks, with a smoky and husky voice, "Who dares to summon : the Dark Phoenix?" while shifting her gaze between James and : Dhyrclhanc, as if Sil were not there. James smile, the cold daring one that comes only when his life is under immediate threat. "I dare summon you. Do you dare more than answering the summons and leaving?" James Playing with fire She's a hot lady. A steady flame? Heat of the Moment? =========================== Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 12:05:30 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Revelations & Epiphanies On Sat, 12 Sep 1998 14:50:23 -0400 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005818 > On Fri, 11 Sep '98 Zia Said >: Dhyrclhanc Said > DC and DP. Dhyclhanc is 'outside' again, for the moment. And James > will attempt to ... er, show the lady a hot time. (snicker!)> > > James smile, the cold daring one that comes only when his life is > under immediate threat. "I dare summon you. Do you dare more than > answering the summons and leaving?" Actually, *I* did notice that part. The Dark Phoenix, however, isn't quite willing to give up her claims on the Lensdragon's body, yet. Her eyebrow rises in response to James statement. "You pique my interest, especialy considering that you're not even supposed to be here, and then you expect me to leave? You certainly are an interesting man." Her eyebrow rises higher. "What is your relationship to this one who acts as my host?" =========================== Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 15:07:04 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Revelations & Epiphanies On Sat, 12 Sep 1998 14:56:32 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005819 >On Fri, 11 Sep 1998 14:46:47 -0400 >Dhyrclhanc Said As GR.CAoL Message # 00001713 > >"Despite what I may have done in the past, here and now I serve >neither Logic nor Justice. I serve Vengance and I shall have my pound >of flesh! Do you truly wish to stand in opposition to me?" > >Dark Lhanc releases the Harliquin. Tossing him away like a hawk would >discard a small rodent. And assumes a new location above Babylon 5. > >"Are ther any others?" *That would be me.* Roland rockets out, clipping Dark Lhanc's head with a glancing blow. Then he proceeds to fly around, blasting with low-powered beams meant to do nothing but annoy the Dark Phoenix. Being a combination of psychic bolts and heavy-stun disruptors, they probably do a good job. (Imagine being harassed by a mosquito that can spit acid.) Zooming around wildly, with the displacer effect masking his true location, Roland seems unhittable. (OOC: Assuming DP is actually _trying_ to nail M.A.C.H. Roland) Until he's hit. Though powerful, Roland is no match for Dark Phoenix, even without her connection to Phoenix itself. There is a sound like a world tearing open, and Roland is... ...in two places at once? No-not unless one Roland is a short woman. {Zia!} She hears from the Power Ring she's wearing (yep, Roland's JL Ring-getting to be a habit, isn't it? ) as Blaze-back in his supers costume (and sans ring)-continues to harry Dark Lhanc. {Good to have you back. You might want to get out of the blast radius; the big guy's possessed by a rogue shard of Phoenix with a mad-on for me. {Where were you, anyway?} Epsilon Three. "Z'On'Dar-we have power-!" Morden says, his face rapt with near-ecstasy. The four Patterns merge with the fifth. The Gate generator churns with the magickal power of a planescape. A spirit of Primal power comes to life within the runes. Six spheres appear around the projector at the top of the Tower, each bearing a single sentient, arrayed in the cardinal directions. And Z'On'Dar, already powerful, is at once bursting with more psychic power than most races ever display as a whole throughout their entire history. And in that one incredible, terrifyingly beautiful moment, Shard smiles. "It's-it's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen..." Two new figures appear in orbit. One is a...THING...that beings limited in nearly any way in perception see as a metallic-skinned amoeba with slug-like eyestalks, a hooded eyeless toad face, and dozens of tentacles of varied lengths astride its transportation. Which is a neutron star. This star is small but massive, even for its kind. The entire star system should come apart at the seams from its mere presence. But the entity is _feeding_ off the gravity, light and heat generated. Those with the ability to perceive cosmic/fundamental reality see a...knot...of reality, twisted into something impossible in most planes, a self-contained 'loop' of sentient unreality. An Outsider Thing. Aadschlaggha, the Crawler in the Pit at the End of All Worlds. The other looks like Shard's _very_ big brother. Pure brilliant light on one side and utterly black jagged metal on the other, it-he?-is a humanoid twenty feet tall. He laughs. Stranger definitely, and several others in all likelihood, recognize him as Mournblade. The Dome fades away. =========================== Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 15:07:12 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Revelations & Epiphanies On Sat, 12 Sep 1998 14:59:59 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005820 >On Fri, 11 Sep 1998 15:09:51 -0400 >Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005809 > >> On Thu, 10 Sep '98 Zia Said >> > If I'm not complety mistaken the gentleman in question ought >tohave dark red hair with a streak of white running verticaly through >it and goes by the name Jason Blood. OTOH, if I'm wrong I'm sure >Roland'll correct any mistaken assumptions I may have. }:=8) (OOC: Nope, that's him. But he's gone now, so it's moot. Unless he comes back. ) >With a look on her face that appears to indicate that she is deciding >whether to take James to bed with her or devour him on the spot, she >asks, with a smoky and husky voice, "Who dares to summon the Dark >Phoenix?" while shifting her gaze between James and Dhyrclhanc, as if >Sil were not there. Sil frowns. Using Dhyrclhanc as a 'carrier,' she sends, /Have any of you folx managed to get to this cow psychically yet? She's starting to annoy me./ >On Fri, 11 Sep 1998 21:18:11 -0500 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005814 >DC and DP. Dhyclhanc is 'outside' again, for the moment. And James >will attempt to ... er, show the lady a hot time. (snicker!)> (OOC: Always possible that it's only partially successful...for the moment.) >James smile, the cold daring one that comes only when his life is >under immediate threat. "I dare summon you. Do you dare more than >answering the summons and leaving?" ^Oh, good one, James, call on destruction incarnate then trade quips with her,^ Sil replies with a mental chuckle. Then she brightens. Literally. "So, little sister, ignoring me now? Tsk tsk." Sil (who is rather older than Dark Phoenix) shakes her head at her sibling, then sends a quick query to James. (OOC: This has already been set up between Zia and me.) Then Sil changes from a black-haired woman clad in a silver bodysuit to a human-shaped being of silver fire. Then she pours into James, as if made of quicksilver. And James, too, is carrying an avatar of Phoenix, the difference being that _this_ one is cooperating fully with her host... (OOC: Neither of them is channeling Mom, but Sil never lost the Power Cosmic granted to her when Chaos showed up yet again. _That_ ought to do it. ) =========================== Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 20:36:14 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Revelations & Epiphanies On Sat, 12 Sep 1998 23:25:48 -0400 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005821 > On Sat, 12 Sep '98 Morgan and/or Roland Said > Roland rockets out, clipping Dark Lhanc's head with a glancing > blow. Then he proceeds to fly around, blasting with low-powered > beams meant to do nothing but annoy the Dark Phoenix. Being a > combination of psychic bolts and heavy-stun disruptors, they > probably do a good job. (Imagine being harassed by a mosquito that > can spit acid.) Zooming around wildly, with the displacer effect > masking his true location, Roland seems unhittable. > (OOC: Assuming DP is actually _trying_ to nail M.A.C.H. Roland) And the Dark Lhanc entity responds in kind, or triesto. Roland's relative size and speed seems to be in his favor. Several blasts of cosmic energy go wild, not hitting Roland in the M.A.C.H.-1suit but not hitting the station either. However, the Dark Phoenix is not only a powerfull Telekinetic but a Telepath as well. And a stray thought gives Roland's true position away for long enought that this Dark Lhanc creature can sucessfully tag him. While the body armor, itself, is not breached, Dark Lhance has seemed to inflict some amount of damage to the suit's ability to keep "airborn". On the other hand, as the battle wears on, the Dark Phoenix/Lensdragon hybred enitity seems to be getting noticably weaker and unfocused. > Two new figures appear in orbit. One is a...THING...that beings > limited in nearly any way in perception see as a metallic-skinned > amoeba with slug-like eyestalks, a hooded eyeless toad face, and > dozens of tentacles of varied lengths astride its transportation. > Which is a neutron star. > This star is small but massive, even for its kind. The entire > star system should come apart at the seams from its mere presence. > But the entity is _feeding_ off the gravity, light and heat > generated. > Those with the ability to perceive cosmic/fundamental reality see > a...knot...of reality, twisted into something impossible in most > planes, a self-contained 'loop' of sentient unreality. An Outsider > Thing. Aadschlaggha, the Crawler in the Pit at the End of All > Worlds. > The other looks like Shard's _very_ big brother. > Pure brilliant light on one side and utterly black jagged metal > on the other, it-he?-is a humanoid twenty feet tall. He laughs. > Stranger definitely, and several others in all likelihood, > recognize him as Mournblade. > The Dome fades away. Over the Astral Dhyrclhanc's piggyback link tothe rest of the CAoL, the following can be heard /Oh boy! (tm)/ =========================== Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 21:05:59 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Revelations & Epiphanies On Sat, 12 Sep 1998 23:57:58 -0400 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005822 > On Sat, 12 Sep '98 Morgan and/or Roland Said >>Dhyrclhanc Said >>> Zia Said > "So, little sister, ignoring me now? Tsk tsk." Sil (who is rather > older than Dark Phoenix) shakes her head at her sibling, then sends > a quick query to James. (OOC: This has already been set up between > Zia and me.) Then Sil changes from a black-haired woman clad in a > silver bodysuit to a human-shaped being of silver fire. > Then she pours into James, as if made of quicksilver. > And James, too, is carrying an avatar of Phoenix, the difference > being that _this_ one is cooperating fully with her host... > (OOC: Neither of them is channeling Mom, but Sil never lost the > Power Cosmic granted to her when Chaos showed up yet again. _That_ > ought to do it. ) Dhyrclhanc snaps out of whatever trance or revere he hasbeen in. His eyes focus on the Dark Lady who has made herself known in the place. "Alright 'sister' this nonsense has gone on far enough. My my first mistake was obviously asking here in the first place. _I_ *forgive* him. After all he, is my brother and it was not _him_ who did those things. More importantly, it was me who invited you in here and _YOU_ ARE NO LONGER WELCOME HERE!!!" Part of the Amberite Shadow Manipulation Energies that James infused this palce with recently suddenly coming pouring out of the walls and pour into Dhyrclhanc. >From nowhere and everywhere is heard, "And at the end of every hard earned day, people find some reason to believe." A genuinely shocked look passes over the face of the Dark Phoenix, "No, You can't, I have the right to be here!" Dhyrclhanc's various symbols of power begin appearing; The Rune-magiteck sword -- Redemption, Krull, the Eye of Power of Amagatto, and his Lens of Arrisia and, last but not least, the First-Ring. Wide-eyed, the Devourer protests, "No, I hid those from you. You can't have found them already." Dhyrclhanc, his Lens, the First-Ring, and the Eye all blazing, turns to the James/Sil figure. "James, Sil; my friends, I am sorry to have gotten you involved in all of this. This is my fight, but _you_ but _you_ _are_ _welcome_ _here_. How would you like me to help me kick this freeloader's butt out of here?" Dhyrclhanc, notacibly a bit larger than he was before, then turns his head to address the representaion of the Dark Phoenix, "As for you Lady, and I do use the term loosly, I WANT MY MOLECULES BACK!!!" "Nooo!" =========================== Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 22:06:40 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Revelations & Epiphanies On Sun, 13 Sep 1998 00:40:45 EDT Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00005823 >On Sat, 12 Sep 1998 14:56:32 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005819 > > The Dome fades away. Roscoe taps everyone's mental shoulders to what's going on while Driss sees how close he can sneak towards the tower invisibly in the hopes of being able to throw a monkeywrench in something. ===========================