Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 5 Prologs Date: Sun, 17 Jan 1999 10:35:51 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE SO: Orphan Meets Urchin - After Bouts with Bad Seafood On Sun, 17 Jan 1999 13:15:21 -0500 Zia Said As SO.CAoL Message # 00000034 OOC: This is between AAE IV and V. Seems like the whole CAoL team, however far apart they may be in space, are experiencing difficulties with food related subjects. Anyway, I had a lot of fun doing this little one on one game with Roland; I hope you all have fun reading it. Just keep in mind that the truth is stranger than fiction. Cheers all, Dame Ziactrice Keenan Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power. Lao-Tzu * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Zia just finished her 'show' and partied on into the night with the CAoL. She goes to bed, figuring that in the confusion of battle and all, no one will figure out what she was up to soon enough to do anything embarrassing. She makes a mental note to pick up the jacket she won from Starbuck for Lin, or her name is mud back home, and another to make sure to get something equally nice for Tanni. Having twins is hard sometimes... Then suddenly it's morning ... well, as morning as it gets on B5- this is a space station, after all. She giggles at the costume, returns it to the singer she'd borrowed it from in exchange for teaching her two new ancient blues songs from 19th century Earth history, and makes her way over to the bar to hire a pilot to jump her to the Battlestar Galactica. Teleporting being rude in a peaceful environment. [Besides,] Zia thinks to herself over breakfast, [it always upsets my stomach, anyway.] A Gaim offers to pilot her over. After breakfast, haggling, and some barter since she didn't have local currency, they depart the bar enroute to the Battlestar, then. Halfway there the 'Gaim' removes his mask. She's human underneath. With a Starro on her face. And an odd pistol in her hand. That was some-fast draw; you can try to dodge, but a sudden movement could make her twitchy. Zia merely raises both eyebrows. "This seems rather silly. If your intentions are hostile, you should have shot me already. If not, pointing a weapon at me isn't a good bargaining position." "Your body is no use to me dead. You and your companions are fascinating life-forms; alas, the nature of my...agents...makes travel difficult. The Gaim have proven most useful as a disguise of late; however, I believe that with this last failed attempt Earthgov has, as they say, 'caught on.'" Zia has already simply left her Lens open. Anyone nearby can hear through her ears. @We're on your six, Lensman,@ Apollo sends. @Thank you, right where my Projection of the Cosmic All had you placed. Reassuring, too.@ She looks at the Starro agent. "I do not wish to shoot you; the bolt will leave you useless for some time. If you do not resist, becoming part of us is actually quite pleasant." The woman is expressionless beneath the Star Conqueror's puppet-string. "I would think so, if one was willing. I am not however, willing to be a slave taken against my will. If you weren't so stupid as to force things, you could exist openly on volunteers under much better circumstances." "Many of my people do so." The woman sighed, them smiled unpleasantly. "You know the 'everyone does it this way' excuse for stupidity never impressed me." "No, I meant many of my people do it the way you describe. I, however..." the woman twitched. "...have found that I actually prefer this method. I am...considered strange by my kind. No matter. Will you cooperate, or will you be unconscious?" "I'm of no use for your scheme anyway, alien. My blood is nano protected, and even without such, you could not stomach it." The woman snarls. "You would be surprised what I can stomach. But if you-" The woman begins to convulse. @Frac! Zia, can you restrain her?@ Starbuck sends. Zia raises an eyebrow. @I have a TK grip on the needle, already. I can try holding her as well. But I was trained all hostages are to be considered as already dead, in this sort of standoff.@ @We weren't trained that way,@ Apollo replies evenly. @She should be sufficiently distracted to be of no threat to you; we're coming aboard at your approval.@ @Wait. Let me see if I can convince this thing it's not on track. Besides, if it like pain, it will be distracted in trying to cause me some more.@ "All right, then, if my words alone won't convince you, try it. Since you already have an agent here. Although I would suggest locking the weapon up first. Being fried by a former slave of yours has little appeal," Zia says. The woman slowly stops convulsing. "Do you think me so poorly prepared?" She draws another Starro from her suit. "Well you're not efficient in your method of operation otherwise." "I do prefer greater stealth, I admit. But you are a difficult target, and this seemed to be my only opportunity. And, of course, my main body is safely away." If Zia doesn't try anything, Starro moves the star towards her face... She just stonily stares at it. 'Thwuck.' At first, there's just the physical sensation. The suction cups gripping, the necessity of breathing through your mouth. Zia's lips curl a little, involuntarily, in sheer distaste. Then your vision comes back, and it's like looking through a fishbowl with that one bulbous eye. Not disorienting, oddly, but different. "Inter- hrrummmth... interrresting." Then Starro's control hits. you...or rather, tries to. Between the Lens and the Blood, it's rather like a train hitting a bunker. "Now... where oh (grunt of effort) where has my little Starro gone, eh?" *Gnn! You ARE strong, woman...but I have controlled the Manhunter from Mars, Green Lanterns, and your sorceress.* Ziactrice 'feels' around in whatever manages to penetrate, probing icy and lance-like in blue energy... seeking anything to indicate where the 'main' brain is. Bottom of the Pacific, feasting happily on a volcanic vent. That you lanced that deep into his mind startles it, and it redoubles its defenses. @Lensmen! A target for you!@ She sends, knowing that Starro might be aware. @relaying,@ Apollo replies. Zia... suddenly bi-folds her mentality, and four dimensions her mentality, allowing several non-controlled minds to link behind her buffering mind. *EEYAH!* Starro screams, his control-star beginning to burn. Zia's hands uselessly try to block the mental scream, even as a coalition of the remaining telepaths on the station start to work through her. Bester, and Lyta are working together since she *yelled* to them for help. Her Lens works to all telepaths, not just Lensmen. *You will PAY for this! You think you have the upper hand, but I have dealt with recalcitrant puppets before!* Starro begins an attack on her awareness, 'consciousness' in the sense of being 'awake.' Zia screams, this time it's a real sound in the little ship, and fights like a wildcat, although not with such a good technique. One can tell she doesn't have Bester's experience, but what she lacks in finesse, she makes up in will. @Zia! Say the word and we're in! GL sent us some of that lime-stuff!@ Starbuck sends almost desperately. Also, Zia begins to feel a hand grasping the star on her face...slowly at first, weakly, but gaining strength. The petite brunette Starbuck's sending at rolls on the floor, not really cognizant or keeping up with the tactics. Starro has had some measure of success, blunting her ability to be aware of her surroundings. The star seems to be slowly coming apart now, the nanites infecting it in force. Starro's power over Zia seems to be weakening in direct correlation to the star's integrity. She, with all her 'natural' vindictiveness (which is the one Amber trait Zia has in spades) gathers all the empathic fear she can and FLINGS it at her attacker. There's a long, distant scream...then the pieces of star are ripped (harmlessly) from her face. The woman, no longer Starroed, screams furiously and fires blast after blast at the two Starros. Well, click after click. Zia hadn't had the strength to hold the TK, so she spark welded the weapon's barrel and trigger. Solid. After a useless attempt, she flings the gun aside and tries to tear them apart with her bare hands. Does a pretty good job of it, too... @... backup... backup? Backup. @ It sounds... pretty vague and disoriented, but in general it's a mayday for help, now, from Zia. @We're there,@ Starbuck sends. Moments later, the Lensmen storm the small bridge. The ex-Starro victim is weeping over pieces of starfish. Zia kneels near the Navigator's chair, trying to wipe remainders of Starro off her face. Unusually, her face shows quite a bit of expression; a look of INTENSE discomfort and unease. She looks blearily up at the two pilots. "Bad morning." "Yeah, bad fish always does that to me too," Starbuck quips. Apollo thwacks him in the shoulder. "What?" Zia... turns green, and hastily locates that most available of space commodities, a barf bag. In the back of the seat she is right next to, fortunately. After regretting having breakfast, she just shakes her head, and climbs back UP into a deck chair. "Are you all right, Ziactrice?" Apollo asks, concerned as he walks up to her. "Oh, only feel like I was run over by a VERY smelly thing about Mac truck sized, that is all. I'll get better. It was good." "Garbage scow," her fellow Starro-victim agrees. Zia suddenly grins in a MOST bloodthirsty manner. Apollo nods. "We've been getting reports on this thing since that insane battle. You're the first to actually fight it off, it seems." "It attacks the will both physically AND psychically," the woman groans. "I was studying bits of it." "But it doesn't know beans about telepathic logic viruses. Didn't." She corrects, while she cackles to herself, rocking a bit in the chair with the force of her wicked gloat. Starbuck looks confused. "That sounds like a computer thing." "We ARE computers, in our minds." The other woman smiles viciously. "Oh, that's perfect..." Apollo quickly shows the 'light bulb' effect with his expression. "You gave him a thought virus!" "Trapezoid in four dimensions. Should collapse naturally. It's a complete tie shield. Catatonia in humans. Don't know what it'll do to that.. thing." Starbuck almost cackles himself. "Don't think it'll matter. As soon as those Earth guys heard, they were making plans to fry the thing." "Doubt they'll get it.. it heard me send the location." "Yeah, but if it can't move?" Starbuck winked. "You nailed him, babe." "It would have agents. And plans. It's old, and has done this all it's existence. No, but I did beat it. And I hurt it. And it will not try that on my family, or probably any Lensman, that is something." Zia says. Apollo frowns. "She's right, Starbuck. But you _did_ do good work." The frown vanishes. "The least we can do is get you to your intended destination. Now that the Galactica is fully stocked, it's quite comfortable. We can get you something for your stomach, and then you can eat again." Zia goes slightly green again. "Apollo, PLEASE don't talk about eating." Apollo nods, chagrined. "Um...can someone fry that thing?" The other lady asks, stripping out the encounter suit. Underneath, she's wearing a Medlab outfit. Starbuck turns grim, draws his blaster, sets it to minimum power, and makes Cajun Calamari. "*Bester? Can you scan the station for that bio sig, and put the doc on it, please?*" Zia speaks aloud so that Starbuck and Apollo now know about the 'second team'. *Here, Ziactrice.* She senses Bester nod. *Scanning...all that's left on board are the pieces in Medlab. They're already placing them in cryostorage. Ms. Alexander is...very thorough.* *Did you scan bio-internals as well?* Bester 'feels' vaguely insulted. *I am not given to sloppy work, Zia. Though that bit with Z'On'Dar was poorly thought out, I'll admit.* Zia blushes... somewhat embarrassed. *Sorry. I was too messed up to tell for myself, yet. I meant on me, actually. Paranoia is a family disease.* *Paranoia,* Bester sends, amused, *is what gullible people call survivors.* Zia laughs out loud. "All right. Miss? Where should we get you back to, after the doc checks you out? I know that one didn't allow you to care for yourself as necessary. Wasteful and arrogant." The woman grimaces. "I was too...'high maintenance.' Bastard. I'll be taking over for Doctor Franklin in a few months." She looks up, suddenly, in one of her 'abstract idea just hit me' modes. "You know what we SHOULD really do? We really SHOULD find that things people, and get one of them here to police the little sucker." Starbuck smiles wickedly. Apollo nods...Zia can feel the Lens at work...then he sighs. "Been done. A 'policeman' should be arriving in this galaxy in a few centuries." She BLINKS at them. "Perhaps we should offer him a lift... er.. after I feel better, that is." Apollo blinks back. "You can DO that?" Ziactrice gives him that odd half-grin. "I only look human." The doctor nods. "I thought your...ahem." She colors visibly. "My deepest apologies." "Huh?" Zia isn't quite her usual sharp self. "I must be shaken," she mutters. "I'm usually _much_ better about medical confidentiality. Really." "Oh. Unless it'll embarrass them... don't worry about it. They're Lensmen." The ship shakes slightly; if Zia's been in sci-fi worlds before, she recognizes the docking sound. Starbuck looks up and smiles. "Welcome back to the Galactica, Zia." "Huh? How'd we move? You two piloting by TK, ALREADY? Should have figured. Gads, that thing clobbered me." The woman shrugs. "Just density, muscular structure...oh, that. I managed to leave the ship on autopilot." She grins, slightly embarrassed. "I was _hoping_ that damn star wouldn't notice." Zia grins at her fellow victim, "Whoa. That is like... totally cool." Apollo shivers, looking confused as to why, however. (OOC: Apollo doesn't know what Val-speak is...but the GM does. ) She blinks at the pilot standing above her. "Heh. You two are a good team. I'm all right, really. I just have bad drug allergies, that is all." Having a doctor around is a good thing; she seems to have a handle on what happened, physically. "I'm a xenobiologist, ma'am. I understand these things." "Looks more like seafood allergies to me." Apollo, of course, thumps him in the shoulder again. "That parasite probably just injected some neurological compound." The doctor nods. "Sounds about right. Weaken the body's resistance to control the mind. Once we flush that out...whoa... ...I think I could use it too. ...anyway, we should be fine after that." Ziactrice manages NOT to be sick, barely. "No, no, please. Don't stick anything else in me. I'll recover better without it." Starbuck looks concerned. "Geez, Zia, are you sure you're gonna be all right?" "Posolutely. The gyros still there, just tumbled a bit." The doctor nods. "All right, but we should _still_ do a 'natural' system flush, at least." "Whose natural? I'm more often called supernatural. And saline solution won't help on MY blood." "Ahem. If you don't mind," the BSG doctor says as you get to their medlab, "I'll do the diagnosis around here." The doctor blushes and sways somewhat. Apollo, ever the gallant, steadies her. Ziactrice is pretty lucid, but it's plain she is speaking a bit more freely than her normal. Well, to Starbuck, who is the only one who has SEEN Zia in 'normal' mode. The lady doc from B5 says, "And how much do you know about xenobiology, doctor?" Ziactrice GRINS wickedly at the doctor. "More than a woman who can barely stand, I'd wager," the BSG doc replies dryly. "Whose xenobiology? Yours or mine?" Zia quips. "Both of you, lie down." Ziactrice promptly does. On the floor. He gives you the 'doctor' look. Then he looks concerned. "Hey, good polish for a slacking gambler, Starbuck." Zia observes his boots from her near vantage point. "Oh my." Starbuck looks stricken. "SLACKER?" "Hey, YOU'RE the one who said it." "I pay ever credit I lose. On the rare occasion that I do." Starbuck goggles. "How did you...?" "Oh, that is right. I was going to pick up that jacket for Lin." The doctor bends down to pick Zia up. (IIRC, Amberites weigh considerably more than humans?) (Heh. That's how Roland clued. She does. Not all Ambers. But Zia's nanoware and skeletal reinforcement make her HEAVY.) Ziactrice giggles at him. "Can you diagnose a hernia, doc?" Starbuck rolls his eyes. "Fine, fine. One jacket, coming up." "Oh, not right away. I can't leave until this wears off, anyway. Besides, you're good for it, I know that. Hey, doc, are you going to admit defeat, yet?" Starbuck smiles. "Why Zia. I'd almost think you _want_ me to stay.: The doctor blinks. "Gladly. Apollo?" "Certainly I do, I have a terribly morbid fear of doctors." Both doctors look vaguely aggrieved, but not surprised. Apollo shrugs. "You could just ask me, you know." To the doctor. Ziactrice sits up, and then takes some hands to stand up, wobbly. And sits on the bed, this time. "They love to shoot drugs into one, can't stand what it does to my head." The doctor blinks. Then he frowns. Deeply. "Ah. This is some bizarre joke. Woman's steeped in neurotoxin and she's playing around while I'm trying to blah blah blah..." Doctor rambles for a while as he scans Zia. "Not a toxin, it's something between an alkaloid and a truth drug." Ziactrice spouts out a real long chemical formula that I won't bore you with. Starbuck chuckles. "Oh, come on, Zia. Some of the stuff they give you here is actually kind of fun." Both doctors blink. Stunned. "If you're human, maybe." "That's...impressive, miss Zia," the BSG doctor replies. "Did I mention my FIRST degree was biochemistry?" Zia says, airily girlish. The other doc is pretty out of it once she's horizontal and NO JOKES PLEASE! "No, you hadn't." The doctor, dryly as ever. "Just don't give me any drugs. Or we'll BOTH be sorry." Apollo chuckles. "I hope that's not a requirement for Lensman status." "Nope. You just have to be incorruptible, unswayable, and completely trustworthy." The doctor sighs. "Well, it doesn't look like it's necessary-those microscopic machines are doing an admirable job of cleaning it out anyway." Apollo looks at Starbuck pointedly. Starbuck looks as innocent as possible-not much. "What? WHAT?" "Heh. Hey, Starbuck... have you met the unicorns, yet, here?" The doctor frowns. "Then again..." "Uni-what?" "Geez. Don't you have any of the common myths. It's okay, doc. I'm a dimensional walker, and sometimes different dimensions have different histories." "I've heard the story. It's somewhat obscure...was obscure...among the colonies." Ziactrice blinks. "Oh! That's nice, then. Say. When the doc'll let me walk, you two get me out of here. I'm probably going to say things that shouldn't be common knowledge." "So why would we have seen a horned, bearded horse that only obeys virgins? Never mind." The doctor sighs. "You can walk, ma'am. You can probably run a marathon. But you're mental state is less than stellar." "Because Starbuck gets involved saving a lost ship's survivors group who ally with the local race of near-corns for protection." Zia rattles off. Starbuck blinks. "I do?" "I'm only a little confused, and a bit too willing to jump first and ask questions later." Zia observes. "You were expecting us?" Starbuck laughs. "Sound like she's fine to me, doc." "I'll be okay with them, doc. They're Lensmen, and won't talk." Zia says in support of Starbuck. "You would." "Expecting you? Nah. I was playing poker. And doing pretty good too." The doctor shrugs. "That's not my concern. If it gets worse, you could decide strolling through an airlock would be a fine time." Starbuck scowls. "Let's see if you do as well at Pyramid, lady." "The human body can tolerate the near vacuum of space for five minutes, Doc. Did you know that?" Apollo chuckles. "They're your credits, Starbuck." The doctor pales. "Yes. At that point, the lungs have burst and the eyes have frozen over, but until then the person is technically alive. You are not leaving that table." "Of course, if I talk someone into the airlock WITH me, that might be a problem... I'm pretty convincing, I'm told." Zia muses. (Oh sure, GIVE the man a heart attack! 8^) "Doc, doc. I'm NOT human." Zia looks thoughtful. "Vacuum wouldn't bother me. The heat loss might, after a while. Oxygen for three hours... hmm, -7 Celcius. Would I freeze or blood boil? Sun's radiation here is how powerful? Nemo said earlier, but my memory of the fight is fuzzy." The doctor blinks. "The strongest straps I have would hold you about as well as tissue paper would Apollo. But... young lady, you are clearly in no condition to be walking about." Ziactrice smiles at the doc. "Oh, don't think like THAT. I am a dedicated pacifist. Ask them." She nods at Apollo and Starbuck. Starbuck almost chokes on his laughter. "Wouldn't harm a fly, unless I positively HAD to." Apollo glares at him. AGAIN. "She's telling the truth, doctor." "She's not a threat to anyone _else,_ Apollo. It's what she might do to herself that concerns me." The doctor says. "I'm Not Into Pain." Zia says, like this is an old statement, often repeated. "If she starts hallucinating..." The doctor ignores her, to continue with Apollo. "That is why I tried to talk you to out of the hero let's rescue the lady bit." "What was the name of that chemical again, Ziactrice?" "But nooooo...." The doctor coughs. "AHem. Point taken." "Like you understand it, Apollo? Oh, wait, you did have a full education before the Cylons invaded, didn't you? Magna cum laude, good marks." Zia nods to herself, having recalled it just now. "Who, me? I'm just a pilot." "Now, yes. Notice you didn't say ANYTHING about that thesis." Starbuck laughs. "She's got YOUR number, Apollo. Better hope she and Serena don't start comparing notes." "Forms of Government Adapted to Feasible Representation of the Minorities? I think that was it." Apollo gives Starbuck a glare that would flash-freeze a lesser man. "There was a mistake in the 32nd equation, too." Zia notes, sounding very much like everyone's concept of a fussy schoolmarm. Meanwhile, the man is blushing. "How did you know...?" Apollo repeats Starbuck's earlier question. Ziactrice GRINS. "What, you don't think I've got a screw loose, still?" "She can go now, doctor." The doctor nods mutely. "Oh, you FOUND it? Marvelous. Of course, Starbuck has HIS secrets, too, don't you, blondie?" Apollo shrugs. "Father wouldn't lift a finger to help us _write_ our papers, but he'd proofread them." Ziactrice hops up, "Want to give me a hand?" Over-sweetly to Starbuck, grinning. Starbuck suddenly takes her hand and helps her up. "Be glad to!" "Heh. That's not the funny part." Zia frowns, and takes a better grip on Starbuck's arm when her knees wobble. "We can talk in private two levels down in Rec Area 3." Starbuck looks at Zia with concern. "You sure about this, kid?" "Your illustrious father wrote virtually the same paper when HE was graduating." Apollo frowns. "He did, did he? He never mentioned that..." "Heh. This kid happens to be older than this ship. He would NEVER." Starbuck raised an eyebrow. "This ship is older than Adama." "Gads.... this is rather like having a flood of ideas, and being just drunk enough to say them all. Good, bad, and otherwise." Zia says. Starbuck immediately begins helping Zia to the door. If the man were any less a gentleman, dragging might be a better word. "Well the constituents would be older than dirt, so what is the point, Starbuck?" Ziactrice goes along, like any affable half-drunk lady would. "Say. Do you folks have coffee? Or something like it?" Starbuck has a brief, lascivious thought...and immediately murders it brutally. "Caffeine doesn't hurt me, in moderation." Ziactrice GRINS at Starbuck. Apollo nods. Starbuck grins weakly. "Hey, can't blame a man for _thinking._" "Oh, come now. You'd only have to duel six husbands. Surely you'd be willing to risk it, gambling man." Starbuck gibbers for a moment. "SIX?!" Ziactrice SMIRKS at him. Knowing he isn't really serious about the thought anyway. Apollo laughs. "Looks like you might have finally found a woman who can keep up with you." "Well.... I STARTED with one, but it mushroomed." Starbuck stares a silent, desperate plea at an unhelpful Apollo. "Actually... I started with two, one each. Wife and a husband." "one EACH?" "But that was all right. Sure..." Starbuck, despite being horrified, is having trouble keeping the, ah, 'improper' thoughts down. "It was just the way it worked out. Besides, YOU don't like a lonely bed, EITHER, Starbuck, what's your problem, eh?" Soon, you all are in Rec Area 3. Starbuck's torn between being scandalized and wondering if there's room for number seven. Ziactrice immediately looks horrified at herself. "Damn stuff." Apollo is desperately trying to keep a straight face. The man could be a Lantern; he's actually pulling it off. "Was there something _else_ you wanted to talk about, Ziactrice? You seemed to want to discuss something sensitive. This didn't appear to be the subject." Ziactrice scratches her head. "To you? Well. I read that paper because it was mathematics. Love that stuff. Oh. No I was talking about the future, and that is bad for the lower order minds." Apollo blinks. "So, I wanted you to get me out of there before I harmed them." "I meant Lensman subjects." "Not all harm, whatever the dear doc thinks, is physical." "Harmed them?" Apollo frowns. "Are you having trouble controlling your Lens?" "Knowing the future can be a REAL bad thing." She sounds like someone talking from MASSIVE amounts of personal experience. "No. The Lens isn't something like that." Starbuck actually looks sympathetic. "An alternate of mine had a kid who could do that. Damn, I'm sorry." (OOC: From the otherwise execrable Galactica '80.) "It's a co-incidental thing on your own self. Not going to run wild, even if I should, which I won't with it, or else I wouldn't have been given it by Mentor." Ziactrice gives Starbuck a look. "You've met your alternate?" "He's the one who invented the Lenses, right?" "No; I just saw him. It was the weirdest thing...those guys with the flashlight spaceships did it. Wanted to make sure I didn't get separated from the others at the 'right' time." "Hah. Invented? They're not machines. And Mentor isn't a he... really. But anyway. You two should likely go for training, and then probably train Adama when you return. Ah. Then I might be wrong about the unicorns. That was that alternate's line." Apollo shrugs. "Understood. Well, I understand what you're saying. I still haven't got a tenth of this thing figured out." "Come to think of it. In THAT Shadow, y'all found Earth, not B5. In the 19th Century, not the 21st." Starbuck nods. "Ah. You passed through a time distortion, coming here. Tenth of the Lens figured out?" She looks at Apollo... visibly impressed. "I just hit 3%, myself. I'm proud of that, too." "Must've been when we were going between galaxies. The big brains are always going on about how 'hyperspace has unusual properties out there' and like that." Ziactrice GIGGLES. Apollo grimaces. "I was speaking figuratively. I have NO idea of the Lens' full power. I do know I have 'telepathy,' and that I can short out a mind if I concentrate hard enough." "What do you want to know about the Lens? I can try and explain what little I understand. Are they still arguing on the number of dimensions?" Starbuck looks horrified. "Geez, I don't know-" "I think so." "The Lens is what you make of it." "Last I heard, ten dimensions was still out front, but a few theorists were still holding out for 26." "It's mostly just a guaranteed badge of trustworthiness, to everyone else." Starbuck looks at Apollo. "I think I'll just sit down and let the 'half drunk lady' hold one conversation instead of two..." "Ah. Last time I had contact with a large human civilization, they were at 8 and 16." "There is no such thing. Even if only the 'worthy' can have one...I came across an interesting Earth saying. There's always two percent who don't get the word." Ziactrice blinks at Apollo. She slowly turns to Starbuck. "What did he just mean? Please?" Starbuck blinks. "Um...I think he means that some people are going to be dense even if the Creator comes down and hands out clue books with instructions and indexes." "Aha!" She turns back to Apollo. And says solemnly, "Yep. You didn't think I had a cure for that?" Apollo laughs. "Lensman Ziactrice, if you did I'd be as suspicious of you as I was of that spider-creature." "If it was a spider-creature with a Lens, you needn't be. Otherwise, you bet." "I think he means that 'Z'On'Dar' character." "Oh, he wasn't bad, actually. We talked him into seeing reason." Apollo nods, relieved. "I got that impression." "So. What do you guys want to ask me? Besides how I managed to get a transcript of your college thesis." "I'm not sure where to start. Are you from where these-" holds up his Lens- "-come from?" "Oh. No. I travel a lot. The Arisians and I... worked a mutually beneficial bartering deal. I can show you where they live now." "They...barter. For badges of incorruptibility." "I was a ... different case than most." Starbuck starts thinking. You can tell from the smoke coming from one ear. "Although Nadreck IS similar, if you think about his circumstances when he donned the Lens." Starbuck blinks. "I wouldn't exactly say you got suckered, Zia...but that sure sounds like a con to me." Both pilots ask together, "Who?" "A little bit. Nadreck... uhm. On the Lens, gentlemen." @(download the ENTIRE series, annals of the Galactic Patrol, and up to Children of the Lens, which after Zia knows not.)@ They BOGGLE. After a minute or so of assimilation... Ziactrice grins. "That should save time, and explain in greater detail. Should have thought of that earlier. Muddled, quite. I am getting better, however. Oh! Thank YOU both." Apollo shakes his head. (The man must have a mind like 'Klono's Tungsten Teeth'...) "But Nadreck was meant to be part of the Patrol. You...aren't." "For what?" "Somehow, none of the CAoL twigged I was in trouble? They'd be crawling all over us... heh. Don't know how you did that... Who says I'm not part of the Patrol?" "If the Arisians left that universe, and you gained your Lens from them after they left, it stands to reason." "I support Civilization. That's the only tenet on a gray.." She hesitates. "Lensman." Apollo makes the leap. "Ah. Now it makes sense." Starbuck leaps...and falls into the chasm. Ziactrice sighs. Obviously annoyed but not too badly at her slip. "Great. Then you can explain it to me." "Later, Starbuck. On the Lens." "Well, then, that explains my Lens." "I guess the next logical question is what you received. I get the feeling that telepathy wouldn't be that important an ability for you to gain." Ziactrice smiles. "Lens do supplement the weaknesses of the wearers. Generally, humans are weaker in telepathy." Apollo 'knocks' with the Lens. "I needed... hmmm, it's hard to explain." @?Yes?@ @I just thought you might want to 'secure' this." @Oh.Yes. Thank you.@ @And what did the Lens strengthen in you?@ She lays a Lens on Starbuck, as well, so as not to be rude. @I needed...assistance in overcoming environmental damage to my mind that had occurred earlier. My sense of self-ness, basically, Apollo.@ Starbuck seems to grow cold. @'Environmental' damage?@ A tiny bit of anger leaks through him...not at Zia, but to whatever harmed her. It's almost sweet...beneath the rogue, he's almost as noble as Apollo. @(sigh) All right, previous mental damage, excaberated by extraneous famlial problems.@ Ziactrice already knew that... as did Apollo, if not this clearly. But they'd both be able to tell nothing about the revelation surprises her. Neither is Apollo, really...but a small part of Starbuck is appalled at himself. @They...hurt you.@ Ziactrice shrugs. "Life is pain. But there are also pleasures to be won, and tasks to be done." to S: @Only another Lensman can 'see' this well. Don't worry.@ "A rather...bleak outlook." Ziactrice laughs at Apollo. "Do I seem a bleak person?" @Lensmen, from what I've been able to piece together, also have no compunctions about rough justice.@ @Not usually. But sometimes...you seem very human most of the time. On occasion, though, you do seem as alien as you claim to be.@ to S: @It's part of Lensman's Load. To shoulder the burden of the nastier justice meting. To be the executioner, when it's needed. That part will give Apollo trouble. As parts will give you trouble.@ @So, which members of your 'family' need dying?@ @STARBUCK!@ Ziactrice smiles at Apollo. "I AM called 'The Actress', after all." (OOC: Morgan is throwing virtual peanuts, BTW...she _just_ got it.) She twists to grin at Starbuck. @That's nice of you, but your people NEED your help. With only three Lensmen, and the Telepath War on Earth...@ Ziactrice laughs at them both. "You two really like this pilot fighter jock thing, don't you?" Starbuck sighs. "Yeah, well...I don't like people who hurt friends of mine." Apollo chuckles. Ziactrice pats Starbuck's shoulder. "That makes for a great friend." "Starbuck tried to shoot the devil for me, once." Ziactrice raises an eyebrow. "Ah? You two didn't tangle with any Starros, did you now?" Big grin. "A man named Count Iblis had just 'killed' me," Apollo says matter-of-factly. "And we've both been flying since we could reach a control stick." "You're pretty spry, but first husband WAS a vampire... who'd been dead eight centuries when I married him." "Not bad for a dead guy." "Well, I had help coming 'back.'" "Heh. Well, I figured if _Apollo_ is going to tell tale tales, the LEAST I can do is join in." (Perhaps to be continued... but if not, you can just imagine what troubles Zia gets into on her own between the CAoL's adventures.) ================================= Date: Mon, 18 Jan 1999 23:39:02 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE5R: OOC Call to arms On Tue, 19 Jan 1999 02:06:48 -0500 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00006356 >On Tue, 19 Jan '99 Zia Said >P.S. Say, I don't suppose there is a spiritual toxicologist around to >'rescue' Zia from the drug-induced fallout of her little... Interview >with a StarLeech, is there? I was trying to think of a way to >detoxify her without resorting to transfusions, which basically don't >help much, or invasive techniques (which give Zia the absolute >willies). I haven't managed anything yet, but if someone has an idea, >show up on the Battlestar Galactica, and we'll adlib something. Oh, >and as a by the way... Zia has decided to give up seafood for a LONG >time. So you ask and so shall you recieve... }>:=8D Actually I think that this might not be what you wanted but *I* wanted to show off one of DC's new "toys". I proactivly apologize for any unintentional inconvienence Where ever is on the Galactica, Zia hears a small but sharp "pop" behind her and, if she turns around to investigate, she'll see a strange, irridencent winged, metalic-looking being almost 2 yards long floating in the air. Behind which she'll see a closing minature jump-point or perhaps its a hyper-spacial tube or a Boom-Tube, she can't tell. The being looks at her with a pair of large compound eyes which take up most of its face and head. At least she assumes that its it's head as the only thing point of reference she has is that it looks like a cross between a Bell Huey Cobra helicopter and an oversized dragonfly. #Godden herzelv rhoyalley mezzed up hazzend zhe? Embathee do dell dat igd dozzend dayg.# To Zia it sounded like Yoda with a bad headcold trying to talk through an electric fan. #Doh need vor veer ave ewe. Zend my won ewe galled "Deezee" wuz I. Heeler aye yam. Zikorzge am Aye. Zeeyah Ewe are. Vat iz dee madder Dell zhe Dogdoor zen, Yez?# Sorry about the speach. If its giving you a headache, e-mail me and I'll provide you with the Lens translation. OTOH, just out of curiosity, do Lenses work on artifical people? As always... just trying to help. };=8) ================================= Date: Tue, 19 Jan 1999 05:05:37 -0800 (PST) Subject: RE: AAE5R: OOC Call to arms On Tue, 19 Jan 1999 07:36:12 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00006357 >On Tue, 19 Jan 1999 02:06:48 -0500 >Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00006356 > So you ask and so shall you recieve... }>:=8D > >Actually I think that this might not be what you wanted but *I* >wanted to show off one of DC's new "toys". I proactivly apologize for >any unintentional inconvienence >Where ever is on the Galactica, Zia hears a small but sharp "pop" >behind her and, if she turns around to investigate, she'll see a >strange, irridencent winged, metalic-looking being almost 2 yards >long floating in the air. Behind which she'll see a closing minature >jump-point or perhaps its a hyper-spacial tube or a Boom-Tube, she >can't tell. >The being looks at her with a pair of large compound eyes which take >up most of its face and head. At least she assumes that its it's head >as the only thing point of reference she has is that it looks like a >cross between a Bell Huey Cobra helicopter and an oversized >dragonfly. > >#Godden herzelv rhoyalley mezzed up hazzend zhe? Embathee do dell dat >igd dozzend dayg.# Zia grins. She does not seem to need to wait on her Lens to try translating (OOC: Not to mention it might not, considering the 'mech-ness' of this fella...), being a Mathemagician means she can solve tougher encryptions than this in her sleep, @"Actually, I didn't do it to myself. Or, if you see it that way, one might at least be charitable enough to say I did, but with aid in the wrong direction by an apparent enemy."@ She says, in a 'professorial debate' tone. >To Zia it sounded like Yoda with a bad headcold trying to talk >through an electric fan. Her Lens is mangling her own normal speech to this little fellow's accent or dialect. >#Doh need vor veer ave ewe. Zend my won ewe galled "Deezee" wuz I. >Heeler aye yam. Zikorzge am Aye. Zeeyah Ewe are. Vat iz dee madder >Dell zhe Dogdoor zen, Yez?# The petite Amberite lady _giggles_ at him. @"Whever you go, there you are. DC's your uncle? Or somerhing like that, eh? Another doctor.... now they're lining up for me. (sigh) It's enough to want you try and find a rabbit's hole and fall down it." She shakes her head ruefully. "Madder than the Doctor depends on the Doctor in question, young fella. But you're being rude - if you didn't have an invitation, you should make sure the commander of this vessel knows you're aboard - rules of etiquette do apply, even to the sane, you know."@ She is smiling however, as she looks back to the other two Lensmen. "I always did like dragonflies, don't you? IN-credible flight manuevering. Someday I'll design a small flying craft for atmosphere that can duplicate the paired wing arrangement." > Sorry about the speach. If its giving you a headache, e-mail me >and I'll provide you with the Lens translation. OTOH, just out of >curiosity, do Lenses work on artifical people? As always... just >trying to help. };=8) ================================= Date: Tue, 19 Jan 1999 23:05:18 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE5R: OOC Call to arms On Wed, 20 Jan 1999 01:49:39 -0500 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00006358 > On Tue, 19 Jan '99 Zia Said >>#Godden herzelv rhoyalley mezzed up hazzend zhe? Embathee do dell >>dat igd dozzend dayg.# @ Gotten herself royally messed up, hasn't she? It doesn't take empathy to tell that@ At which point, Zia will probably realize that the strange being in front of her is wired for Empathy and Telepathy. >Zia grins. She does not seem to need to wait on her Lens to try >translating (OOC: Not to mention it might not, considering the >'mech-ness' of this fella...), being a Mathemagician means she can >solve tougher encryptions than this in her sleep, @"Actually, I >didn't do it to myself. Or, if you see it that way, one might at >least be charitable enough to say I did, but with aid in the wrong >direction by an apparent enemy."@ She says, in a 'professorial >debate' tone. In the spirit of wanting to avoid any more crossed wires between the two of us, I'm going to provide Lens translations for you. No offence, intended but I have a feeling that you may have gotten off in the wrong direction. Then again, I could be wrong. Third hand; "Sikorsky" doesn't have a sense of humor so if you're joking with "him", he won't get it. >>#Doh need vor veer ave ewe. Zend my won ewe galled "Deezee" wuz I. >>Heeler aye yam. Zikorzge am Aye. Zeeyah Ewe are. Vat iz dee madder >>Dell zhe Dogdoor zen, Yez?# @You have no need for fear. I was sent by the one you called "DC". I am Healer. I am Sikorsky. You are Zia. Tell the Doctor what is the matter then, Yes?@ Zia will also notice that when he speaks, Sikorsky reverses his subject and verb. >The petite Amberite lady _giggles_ at him. @"Whever you go, there you >are. DC's your uncle? Or somerhing like that, eh? Another doctor.... >now they're lining up for me. (sigh) It's enough to want you try and >find a rabbit's hole and fall down it." She shakes her head ruefully. Sikorsky appears to be confused for a moment; it's compound eyes unfocus from Zia. Then it says, #Darglaze ungle not. Gombligaded doe id izz. Do vor know ungle well .# @Dhyrclhanc not uncle. Though it is complicated. "Uncle" will do for now.@ >"Madder than the Doctor depends on the Doctor in question, young >fella. But you're being rude - if you didn't have an invitation, you >should make sure the commander of this vessel knows you're aboard - >rules of etiquette do apply, even to the sane, you know."@ She is >smiling however, as she looks back to the other two Lensmen. "I >always did like dragonflies, don't you? IN-credible flight >manuevering. Someday I'll design a small flying craft for atmosphere >that can duplicate the paired wing arrangement." #Ahlp virzt ewe. Gabden oh ohdare uv zip den zee. Ewe den wid wudz de madder, den?# @First help you. Then see captain or owner of ship. Whats the matter with you, then?@ Then Sikorsky waves a cross between a landing strut and a leg at Starbuck and Apollo. #Deed elp eeder of hew? Er eer orjus?# @Either of you need help? Or just her here?@ > Zia Zikorzge... er, ah... Sikorsky ================================= Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1999 20:34:59 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE 5: Prequels - Things with Fur, Spines, or Eyes On Wed, 20 Jan 1999 23:06:40 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00006359 >On Wed, 20 Jan 1999 01:49:39 -0500 >Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00006358 >> On Tue, 19 Jan '99 Zia Said > In the spirit of wanting to avoid any more crossed wires >between the two of us, I'm going to provide Lens translations for >you. No offence, intended but I have a feeling that you may have >gotten off in the wrong direction. Then again, I could be wrong. >Third hand; "Sikorsky" doesn't have a sense of humor so if you're >joking with "him", he won't get it. Aha! Thank you. Well, I was close a lot, but you're right. I wasn't really hitting in the right direction. Someone lacking a sense of humor might have a real hard time understanding how Zia thinks when she is this goofy, but I think this fella can handle that minor hurdle. If nothing else, Apollo (or perhaps, moreso Starbuck) can help him out on those parts. >>Her Lens is mangling her own normal speech to this little fellow's >>accent or dialect. Anyone care to picture what Zia sounds like that way? I won't do the dialect, however... >>>#Doh need vor veer ave ewe. Zend my won ewe galled "Deezee" wuz I. >>>Heeler aye yam. Zikorzge am Aye. Zeeyah Ewe are. Vat iz dee madder >>>Dell zhe Dogdoor zen, Yez?# >@You have no need for fear. I was sent by the one you called "DC". I >am Healer. I am Sikorsky. You are Zia. Tell the Doctor what is the >matter then, Yes?@ Zia will also notice that when he speaks, Sikorsky >reverses his subject and verb. "Me? Fear? I have as much need for fear as the next entity. Fear is a healthy emotion, when used constructively. The trouble is usually where it isn't used to overcome, but to become. The petite Amberite lady _giggles_ at him. @"Whever you go, there you are. DC's your uncle? Or somerhing like that, eh? Another doctor.... now they're lining up for me. (sigh) It's enough to want you try and find a rabbit's hole and fall down it." She shakes her head ruefully. >Sikorsky appears to be confused for a moment; it's compound eyes >unfocus from Zia. Then it says, #Darglaze ungle not. Gombligaded doe >id izz. Do vor know ungle well .# @Dhyrclhanc not uncle. Though it is >complicated. "Uncle" will do for now.@ "Like I said. SOME entities just don't know _when_ to round off... Madder than the Doctor depends on the Doctor in question, young fella. But you're being rude - if you didn't have an invitation, you should make sure the commander of this vessel knows you're aboard - rules of etiquette do apply, even to the sane, you know."@ She is smiling however, as she looks back to the other two Lensmen. "I always did like dragonflies, don't you? IN-credible flight manuevering. Someday I'll design a small flying craft for atmosphere that can duplicate the paired wing arrangement." >#Ahlp virzt ewe. Gabden oh ohdare uv zip den zee. Ewe den wid wudz de >madder, den?# @First help you. Then see captain or owner of ship. >Whats the matter with you, then?@ "No. First of all, DC should know me well enough than to think I'd let a self-proclaimed doctor know diddly just on dropping the big Lizzo's name." The normal light sheen of short hairs a human has is taking on a white sheen on Zia. The extreme detail observer (given the machine-ness?) might observe the thicking of said hairs to an almost fur consistency. "Second of all, manners are more important than all else save honor and then life. My life not being in danger, just my dignity, you have erroneously assessed my priorities. Or tried to superimpose your own upon me. Either way, unpolite to suspicious. I lean to suspicious, but that is an inheirited trait." Her ears have taken on to points, much like an elf... then more so, pink and bare of fur on the inner surfaces, but her face also begins to...subtly change. "Third, if you so much as TRY it, I'm screaming for help in about 300 directions, Oh Machine Dragonfly Thingie Who Might be a Wolf in Sheep's Clothing. Fourth, I just got away from the OTHER two doctors and their poking, prodding, overly rude and noisy practicing." Her clothing, from the normal space-blacks is shifting to a paisley waistcoat, showing the heavy white fur already present on arms and cleavage, although the pants conceal her legs, it's still plain the knees are bending the wrong way for human. They're tucked up underneath her, so she can still sit there, crouching. "That rabbit's hole is starting to sound better and better..." she muses, as she absently digs a huge silver pocket watch out of the waistcoat's pocket. The lid pops open to reveal her Lens, shining as if it were actually in circuit with her body (because it is; her own reality being that most easily changed with her powers. "Oh, dear, it's SO late. I should be getting back, right away." The White Rabbit Ziactrice perks up, wiggles nose and whiskers officiously as she glances around like Bugs Bunny looking for a convenient rabbit hole. Spotting same over there on the bulkhead behind Starbuck, she makes a short hop out of her chair, and prepares to exit stage, diving... >Then Sikorsky waves a cross between a landing strut and a leg at >Starbuck and Apollo. #Deed elp eeder of hew? Er eer orjus?# @Either >of you need help? Or just her here?@ I daresay probably not as much as Zia does... and this Healer might even need some help, if any of the other offerers want to, er, "throw Brer Rabbit in that briar patch". :) [No innuendo re: Zia intended. Giggle. We all know she is already prickly enough.] Dame Ziactrice Keenan Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power. Lao-Tzu ================================= Date: Sun, 24 Jan 1999 23:04:03 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 5: Prequels - Things with Fur, Spines, or Eyes On Mon, 25 Jan 1999 01:58:04 -0500 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00006360 > On Wed, 20 Jan '99 Zia Said >>Dhyrclhanc Said >Spotting same over there on the bulkhead behind Starbuck, she makes a >short hop out of her chair, and prepares to exit stage, diving... > >>Then Sikorsky waves a cross between a landing strut and a leg at >>Starbuck and Apollo. #Deed elp eeder of hew? Er eer orjus?# >>@Either of you need help? Or just her here?@ > > I daresay probably not as much as Zia does... and this Healer >might even need some help, if any of the other offerers want to, er, >"throw Brer Rabbit in that briar patch". :) [No innuendo re: Zia >intended. Giggle. We all know she is already prickly enough.] At Zia's departure, Sikorsky gets that unfocused look in it's eyes again, then turns to Apollo and Starbuck. #Do know arm, zee virst rule uv medcine izz. Zee bashent woo duzungnt want doobe alped, ziss dogdoor gannot alp. Indroduce Zigorske do oner/gabtan of dis vessil, baby know vood be bezt dime, no?# @The first rule of medicine is do no harm. This Doctor cannot help the patient who doesn't want to be helped. Maybe now would be the best time to introduce Sikorsky to the owner/captain of this vessle, no?@ ================================= Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1999 19:05:41 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE V: Through the Looking Glass (Prologue) On Wed, 27 Jan 1999 18:25:24 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006362 >On Mon, 25 Jan 1999 01:58:04 -0500 >Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00006360 > >> On Wed, 20 Jan '99 Zia Said >>Her ears have taken on to points, much like an elf... then more so, >>pink and bare of fur on the inner surfaces, but her face also begins >>to...subtly change. >> >>"Third, if you so much as TRY it, I'm screaming for help in about >>300 directions, Oh Machine Dragonfly Thingie Who Might be a Wolf in >>Sheep's Clothing. Fourth, I just got away from the OTHER two doctors >>and their poking, prodding, overly rude and noisy practicing." Until this point, the two Galactica Lensmen had merely been watching with amusement. At the beginning of Zia's transformation, however, their amusement vanished. "Uh, Apollo?" Starbuck asked, looking confusedly at Apollo. "Shh!" Apollo replied, focused on Sikorsky and Zia. >>Her clothing, from the normal space-blacks is shifting to a paisley >>waistcoat, showing the heavy white fur already present on arms and >>cleavage, although the pants conceal her legs, it's still plain the >>knees are bending the wrong way for human. They're tucked up >>underneath her, so she can still sit there, crouching. "Apollo," Starbuck tried again. "Not now," Apollo hissed. >>"That rabbit's hole is starting to sound better and better..." she >>muses, as she absently digs a huge silver pocket watch out of the >>waistcoat's pocket. The lid pops open to reveal her Lens, shining as >>if it were actually in circuit with her body (because it is; her own >>reality being that most easily changed with her powers. "Oh, dear, >>it's SO late. I should be getting back, right away." The White >>Rabbit Ziactrice perks up, wiggles nose and whiskers officiously as >>she glances around like Bugs Bunny looking for a convenient rabbit >>hole. "APOLLO!" Starbuck insisted. "I see it," Apollo replied, annoyed, turning to face his partner when- >>Spotting same over there on the bulkhead behind Starbuck, she makes >>a short hop out of her chair, and prepares to exit stage, diving... "Frac!" Apollo curses, diving to catch her, Starbuck far too late to react. Both Apollo and the White Zia are brought up short as they run into the shapely young woman who emerged from the rabbit hole, however, Apollo thumping rather loudly into her knee and she and Zia konking heads. "Ouch!" the lady said in a rather young voice. "Oh dear, I'm sorry, are either of you hurt?" She doesn't seem to be, despite Zia's mass and being struck in the knee. However, the explanation for that is obvious to anyone who recognizes the red tunic and miniskirt she wears, with the golden thunderbolt shooting down the front of the tunic. The boots and white, ribboned cape complete the costume of Mary Marvel. Starbuck, however, only knew that another beautiful lady just appeared...and smiled his most devastating smile. "I doubt it-if there are two people in the universe with hard heads, you just ran into them. The lady with the rabbit ears is Zia. The star scout with the thick skull is Apollo. My name's Starbuck." He held out his hand to the young lady... ...who doesn't get smiled at like that very often. "Oh. Um. Ah. I'm...i'm mary marvel. Ahem-Mary Marvel." She stood and shook Starbuck's hand as neutrally as she could with trembling hands and wavering knees. "Are you all right, Mr. Apollo?" >At Zia's departure, Sikorsky gets that unfocused look in it's eyes >again, then turns to Apollo and Starbuck. > >@The first rule of medicine is do no harm. This Doctor cannot help >the patient who doesn't want to be helped. Maybe now would be the >best time to introduce Sikorsky to the owner/captain of this vessle, >no?@ Apollo groaned slightly. "I'm fine, thanks, and I don't think we need to bother Commander Adama with this. Sikorsky, is it?" He waved off the offered helping hands and stood just slightly wavering. The doctor was immediately on top of him, scanning his head with a wand-like device. "And Mary...Marvel? Are you related to a big fellow dressed in red, with that same symbol on his chest?" Mary nodded in relief. "Cap! That's my big brother. I came here looking for him. Is he all right?" Starbuck's smile wavered; he too remembered Captain Marvel. A man strong enough to push starships around, and tough enough to do it in hard vacuum without a suit... (OOC: Poor Starbuck! Let the games begin...) ================================= Date: Sat, 30 Jan 1999 20:05:00 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE 5: Prequels - Hard Headed Women On Sat, 30 Jan 1999 22:49:19 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00006367 "Ow!" The White Rabbited Ziactrice sits down suddenly, and holds a temple, as going head to head with a Marvel can be a rather solid encounter, even if you're a stubborn descendant of Amber with a space-alloy strengthened skull. She smiles at Mary's apology, however, obviously quite likely the young lady, "Oh, I'm not hurt. I'm qui-" She was going to say quite all right; it is plain that she couldn't manage to finish the words. With a troubled frown, she looks at her free hand, fur and all. The frown deepens to blackness as the other hand, still at her temple, is brushed with a tall rabbity ear. "This is what comes of kidding around with Weylin about the cartoons." She says, apparently out of left field, but the words have for the first time in several moments, a ring of lucidity to them. Flicking a glance around, she nods at Starbuck and Apollo. "I think I might need help, but it has to be someone I can trust. Don't even try taking me back to sickbay - I don't want my antics to actually hurt anyone, and I feel threatened even by doctors who are trying to help me. It's flickering now, wearing it off, but it's realigning constant - " She breaks off with a blink, looking for a second like she is trying to recall herself. Then it is plain to see her completely loose that train of thought, a frightening thing to see in the normally sharp as a tack (almost as sharp as her own tongue) petite brunette that the two Lensmen have come to know Zia for. She grins, pops out a watch. "Oh, I'm SO late, so very late. Don't you owe me a jacket, Starbuck? I must be hopping, you know, tea parties to go, and worlds to walk before I can sleep again, safely." Zia The Mad Habadasher might be more appropriate for her. :) ================================= Date: Sun, 31 Jan 1999 09:48:28 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE 5: Prequels - Hard Headed Women On Sun, 31 Jan 1999 12:01:22 -0500 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00006368 > On Sat, 30 Jan '99 Zia Said > >"Galatica Lensmen" v. "Galatic Patrol Lensmen"? Or have we already >done that one? I, for one, completly missed that one. OTOH, in RL I'm the original "silver tongue, rapier wit and mind like a steel sieve", despite any objections from Roland >Then it is plain to see her completely loose that train of thought, a >frightening thing to see in the normally sharp as a tack (almost as >sharp as her own tongue) petite brunette that the two Lensmen have >come to know Zia for. She grins, pops out a watch. "Oh, I'm SO late, >so very late. Don't you owe me a jacket, Starbuck? I must be hopping, >you know, tea parties to go, and worlds to walk before I can sleep >again, safely." Sikorsky finishes working over Apollo, who'll notice the absence of any throbbing pain in his head, and just hovers in the air. Seemingly absorbing the above series of events by osmosis, then... #Bee mayd oh where uv thizz Durglanz needz. Heeler aye am. Sicologizt Maj and better Si izz he. Onner and plezzure to meet ewe hall it iz Goe muszt eye.# @Dhyrclhanc needs to be made aware of this. I am Healer. He is a Psycologist, mage and better Psi. It is an honor and pleasure to meet you all. I must go.@ With that, another "hyperspacial bypass" opens up on the left side of Sikorsky. Into which he slides, dissapearing. Afterwhich, the Boom Tube/Jump Point/Hyperspacial Tube closes down and it, too, dissapears. ================================= Date: Mon, 1 Feb 1999 00:42:46 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE 5: Prequels - Reentering the fray On Mon, 1 Feb 1999 00:35:10 EST Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00006369 Scott walks back into the party, after having walked out for a few minutes. "'Bother' said Pooh as he called in another airstrike," Scott mutters. He looks rather tired. If any help is offered, he just says, "I don't need any help; I've just had a long nanosecond/week." If you look closely, you'll note that his image appears slightly fuzzier then normal. He observes the entrance of Mary Marvel with minor interest. He stands up, walks over, and says, "May I ask how I may be of assistance to m'Lady?" He offers his hand. Thanks Scott "Knight" Osborne ================================= Date: Thu, 4 Feb 1999 22:04:05 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE V: Prequels - And They're Off! On Thu, 04 Feb 1999 21:38:48 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006371 >On Sun, 31 Jan 1999 12:01:22 -0500 >Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00006368 > >> On Sat, 30 Jan '99 Zia Said >> > I, for one, completly missed that one. OTOH, in RL I'm the >original "silver tongue, rapier wit and mind like a steel sieve", >despite any objections from Roland OOC-R: I'm older than you, IIRC. ;^) >>"This is what comes of kidding around with Weylin about the >>cartoons." She says, apparently out of left field, but the words >>have for the first time in several moments, a ring of lucidity to >>them. Flicking a glance around, she nods at Starbuck and Apollo. "I >>think I might need help, but it has to be someone I can trust. Don't >>even try taking me back to sickbay - I don't want my antics to >>actually hurt anyone, and I feel threatened even by doctors who are >>trying to help me. It's flickering now, wearing it off, but it's >>realigning constant - " She breaks off with a blink, looking for a >>second like she is trying to recall herself. "Our doctor is trustworthy," Apollo says in as much of a Lensman-voice as he can generate-which is quite a bit; Apollo's been Lensman-grade for a _while._ >>Then it is plain to see her completely loose that train of thought, >>a frightening thing to see in the normally sharp as a tack (almost >>as sharp as her own tongue) petite brunette that the two Lensmen >>have come to know Zia for. She grins, pops out a watch. "Oh, I'm SO >>late, so very late. Don't you owe me a jacket, Starbuck? I must be >>hopping, you know, tea parties to go, and worlds to walk before I >>can sleep again, safely." Starbuck sighs and rolls his eyes at Apollo, who frowns back at his fellow Lensman. "Sure thing, doll," Starbuck replies calmly, "just as soon as we take care of that lump on your head." (OOC: I know Zia doesn't have a lump on her head; _Starbuck_ knows she doesn't have a lump on her head. He's hoping _Zia_ won't notice in her present state.) "We should probably Lens you to make sure you're all right, especially seeing how you don't like the doc." >Sikorsky finishes working over Apollo, who'll notice the absence of >any throbbing pain in his head, and just hovers in the air. Seemingly >absorbing the above series of events by osmosis, then... (OOC: Okay, I'm going to give up at this point. I've been _really_ fried of late, and with my sib's permission leave this scene in unchanged, with apologies.) >#Bee mayd oh where uv thizz Durglanz needz. Heeler aye am. Sicologizt >Maj and better Si izz he. Onner and plezzure to meet ewe hall it iz >Goe muszt eye.# > >@Dhyrclhanc needs to be made aware of this. I am Healer. He is a >Psycologist, mage and better Psi. It is an honor and pleasure to meet >you all. I must go.@ > >With that, another "hyperspacial bypass" opens up on the left side of >Sikorsky. Into which he slides, dissapearing. Afterwhich, the Boom >Tube/Jump Point/Hyperspacial Tube closes down and it, too, >dissapears. "Oh my," Mary says, looking at the collected folx. "I'm beginning to feel like _I've_ dropped down the rabbit hole." At the confused stares from Apollo and Starbuck, she adds, "Alice in Wonderland. Earth story." "Ah," the Lensmen say in unison, clearly confused. Starbuck shakes his hand out; Mary was careful, but she's got the strength of Hippolyta after all. "Maybe I can help your friend?" Mary almost giggles in delight. "Oh, that would be wonderful. I don't have the opportunity to use the skill of Ariadne very often." (OOC: Zia, shall we? 8^) ================================= Date: Thu, 4 Feb 1999 23:59:04 -0800 (PST) Subject: RE: AAE V: Prequels - And They're Off! On Fri, 5 Feb 1999 01:57:46 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00006372 >On Thu, 04 Feb 1999 21:38:48 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006371 >>On Sun, 31 Jan 1999 12:01:22 -0500 >>Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00006368 >>> On Sat, 30 Jan '99 Zia Said > "Our doctor is trustworthy," Apollo says in as much of a >Lensman-voice as he can generate-which is quite a bit; Apollo's been >Lensman-grade for a _while._ The tone reaches her with a visible effect of gaining her attention. Ziactrice doesn't seem to notice the ears, furr, wrong-way knees... or even that CUTE bunny tail sticking out the back of her posterior as she rises with what dignity she can muster evne in this situation. She brushes her shoulders off, then says calmly, "I _said_ that I could trust; your doctor isn't the problem, my paranoia about doctors in general is the problem. If reality listened to YOUR imagination, I bet you wouldn't want to place yourself in situations that provoked especially bad thoughts, either. That is why Mentors gave me a Lens after all, and even it only helps me deal with it a bit better. If I didn't have it, things would have been REALLY strange and Mr. Starfishy-fellow with the attitude would have regretted even getting a feel of my mentation even more than he did. He? Not really. Anthromorphsizing an echnoderm, now? An alien one, at that. Really, Zia. Tsk, tsk. Keep your wits as all about you loose theirs, I say." > Starbuck sighs and rolls his eyes at Apollo, who frowns back at >his fellow Lensman. "Sure thing, doll," Starbuck replies calmly, >"just as soon as we take care of that lump on your head." (OOC: I >know Zia doesn't have a lump on her head; _Starbuck_ knows she >doesn't have a lump on her head. He's hoping _Zia_ won't notice in >her present state.) "We should probably Lens you to make sure you're >all right, especially seeing how you don't like the doc." She giggles at him. "That is what James calls me, too. Did you two already figure out how to heal with your Lenses? That is so cool. Show me, please? I haven't been able to find out how that would work for me, yet. Just remember..." She points to her nose. "SOME of these lumps on my head are SUPPOSED to be here. And we've really GOT to hurry, Starbuck, Alice is about to go down the rabbite hole, and I have to get there first so we don't lose her. She is a good kid, after all." >>@Dhyrclhanc needs to be made aware of this. I am Healer. He is a >>Psycologist, mage and better Psi. It is an honor and pleasure to >>meet you all. I must go.@ With that, another "hyperspacial bypass" >>opens up on the left side of Sikorsky. Into which he slides, >>dissapearing. Afterwhich, the Boom Tube/Jump Point/Hyperspacial Tube >>closes down and it, too, dissapears. "I really hate those so close to me..." Zia turns light green in the face, and hops away from the opening. > "Oh my," Mary says, looking at the collected folx. "I'm beginning >to feel like _I've_ dropped down the rabbit hole." At the confused >stares from Apollo and Starbuck, she adds, "Alice in Wonderland. >Earth story." "Right. You did. Alice down the hole; we didn't know where to find her." Zia explains, like someone who is relieved they finally got that little point across. > "Maybe I can help your friend?" Mary almost giggles in delight. >"Oh, that would be wonderful. I don't have the opportunity to use the >skill of Ariadne very often." > (OOC: Zia, shall we? 8^) "Arachne? The Fates.. no. Ariadne? Who is that? I could use a new uniform.. This one seems to have shrunk a lot..." The "White" Zia ================================= Date: Sun, 7 Feb 1999 17:05:27 -0800 (PST) Subject: RE: AAE V: Prequels - And They're Off! On Sun, 07 Feb 1999 16:43:29 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006376 >On Fri, 5 Feb 1999 01:57:46 -0500 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00006372 > >>On Thu, 04 Feb 1999 21:38:48 >>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006371 >> "Maybe I can help your friend?" Mary almost giggles in delight. >>"Oh, that would be wonderful. I don't have the opportunity to use >>the skill of Ariadne very often." >> (OOC: Zia, shall we? 8^) > > > >"Arachne? The Fates.. no. Ariadne? Who is that? I could use a new >uniform.. This one seems to have shrunk a lot..." Mary's face becomes somber as she concentrates; the transformation is amazing to behold, given that she does not actually change shape. "Ariadne helped Theseus defeat the Minotaur. In some legends, she is the wife of Dionysus." (OOC: A _very_ clean version of the legends. 8^) Mary begins to glow faintly, as she looks at Zia with almost sisterly concern. "My guess would be a shifting of the Seven Energies, conforming to a stray thought given power by the Energy of Prudence/Sloth," she begins in an educated (but not pedantic) voice. "I think a realignment of the Energies should do the trick." (OOC: While Mary would probably blink confusedly at references to the Pattern, the forces she's working with are quite similar.) "It's a good thing I got more than beauty from Aurora." Mary suddenly looks like herself again, childlike-and embarrassed. "Not that I'm _really_ as beautiful as a goddess," she says, rubbing her neck. A moment later she's all business. "Now if you can focus on this light," Mary finishes, holdin up her index and middle finger together before Zia, a soft glow emanating from the fingertips, "I think we can begin." Apollo and Starbuck blink at each other and shrug. Once Zia is focused on the light, Mary begins, the glow strengthening. (OOC: If Zia doesn't mind being 'healed' at this point) The chaos within Zia seems to...calm. Almost like an agitated cat being scratched between the ears, it relaxes, settling down to an almost sedate 'purring.' "There. Call on some Temperance energy when you feel, um, 'rabbity' and you should be fine." Mary smiles gently. "How do you feel, dear?" =================================