Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 5 SHAZAM! - Chapter 4 Date: Sat, 20 Mar 1999 16:19:47 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: The Rock of Eternity! On Sat, 20 Mar 1999 18:51:20 EST SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00006739 In a message dated 99-03-17 23:41:56 EST, you write: > (OOC II: Folx, feel free to transform into your own Oz-ian. 8^) Roger glances down at his suddenly spherical, bronze-colore torso. "Well, thank chance for UMF," he sighs. His black ensemble reformed to fit him faster than the eye could perceive, but looks rather absurd over his new body. "The good thing about this is that I can use PK to turn my own keys...uh oh. Anybody seen any keys lying about? Big, bronze, looks like 1920's Art Deco....?" > (OOC: Oh, the irony...I'll _have_ to bring in Roland's first love >when we visit the Marvel Universe... 8^) OOC: THAT'll be interesting...... Roger Said to Roland &Morgan: >> ^I'd ike to get a handle on how I ended up here/now, if nothing >>else...^ > To Roger, Roland 'nods' mentally. ^I understand, Roger-better than >you might think.^ He chuckles. ^Then again, seeing how you're several >hundred years older than my present self, you probably do. My guess >is some sort of temporal locus-you _were_ drawn to us in the post >Zero-Hour DCU, at the approximate time they rediscover the >multiverse.^ ^Heh. The 'where' isn't much of a question. Our connection always seems to exert a pull on me when I use any kind of 'port. If I generate a blind Jump with no spatial fix, there are pretty good odds that I'll end up wherever you are, especially if you're together. Other family members, familiar places, all exert varying lesser pulls. In this case, I got knocked about 400 years off course temporally -- I was so far from any kind of anchor, ending up where you two were was almost inevitable. If you hadn't been in that universe during that time period, I'm not sure *where* I would have ended up. Callahan's, I guess. I hope.^ > Roland's boots turn to stone. "Hmm." OOC: Oh, boy, *now* you've done it! An attack on Roland or Morgan is the thing most likely to kick Roger straight over the edge. Fortunately, he's still fairly quick on the draw.... /OOC >"/Honeeey,/" Morgan begins dubiously. Roger's empathic presence suddenly flares nova-white with something beyond homicidal rage, and there is a feeling of an immense power surge building... And vanishes, all so quickly that it might have been imaginary. /"don'tworryMomthisisnonlethalI'llseewhatIcando"/ OOC: Yes, Roger's mouth can almost operate at the speed of teep. Which caused him lots of trouble in kidnergarten..... /OOC > "/I'm working on it,/" Roland replies, and concentrates. The stone >creeps up to his waist. "/'Hmm. Unsettling trend,'/" Roland says in a >frighteningly accurate Tick impersonation. Morgan attempts to counter >by boosting Roland's Life energies. This slows, but doesn't stop, the >effect, and in a few moments more Roland is a statue. Roger runs his ''fingers" through the energy pattern attacking Roland, feeling out weaknesses, strengths, active mechanisms. It seldom takes him long -- energy is his pidgin. OOC: Generally, if Roger 'sees' you do it, he can do it -- and undo it. The more complex the activity, the more exposure he needs. But 350+ years of using his energistic manipulation to make up his lack of raw power relative to Roland has honed his talents pretty sharply. /OOC > "HAH! What have you to say to that, tin man?" Adam exults. > *This itches,* Roland grouses. Even across the Rock, Adam's >astonishment can be sensed. *But I bet you just used a LOT of >magickal power, didn't you...sucker?* Roger snickers, despite displaying a nearly frightening level of concentration. ^He did. And we're gonna make him pay for it.^ > Adam's roar of frustration shakes the realm. > /Folx, this is going to...take a while...for me...to undo...oh, >nass...I'm...slowwiinngg...ddoowwnn....(poit)/ Roland fades out. The >spell is, indeed, taking a lot of power, and (the mages can tell) >simply removing him from the realm will restore him. But until the >CAoL leaves, Roland's stony stubbornness is even more stony than >usual. > >Morgan is still working on countering the effect, however, when >moments later... Mike shows up. Roger-3, one of the two playing with John, leaves off and moseys over to Mike and Tink (see other post). Roger-2 stays with John, while Roger-1 grips Morgan's hand before she goes to see the new arrivals. ^Mom -- I think I can counteract this, but I think that X-Windowing him out of here would be safer. I'm not absolutely sure of my grip on this spell yet, and I'd rather take the low-risk approach unless we get stuck. In the meantime, though, I think we can get more tactical benefit if I "lean" on this construct enough to make BA feel the weight. I can probably nail down his concentration and most of his power on keeping Dad stoned . He strikes me as the type to hold onto a lost cause long enough to snatch victory from defeat.^ Roger sounds amazingly like Roland, saying this -- enough so that casual acquaintances would have to look twice. It's almost as if, with Roland "out of the way" (so to speak), that Roger own Roland-ness becomes much more dominant. OOC: Roger is using his EM and shapeshifting together to sorta-duplicate the Carggite triplication trick. His way is more flexible, but takes more work. /OOC ================================= Date: Sat, 20 Mar 1999 20:05:18 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: Dropping in unannounced... On Sat, 20 Mar 1999 21:46:51 -0600 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00006741 >On Sat, 20 Mar 1999 18:51:22 EST >SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00006738 > >OOC: replying to my own post, yet! Like a dunce, I left out Roger's >greeting to Tink, and I haven't picked up my email in almost >72hours....Suffice to say that Roger will be treating Tink like an >adult and not a kid (unless she indicates otherwise), and his neglect >to greet her along with Mike was my OOC oversight, not his IC. /OOC ================================= Date: Sat, 20 Mar 1999 20:36:23 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: The Rock of Eternity! On Sat, 20 Mar 1999 23:12:08 EST Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00006742 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006706 > "ENOUGH!" the very stones roar. "You wish to see magic? I will >SHOW you magic!" > "Uh-oh," the MBtC gulps, leaping behind Dame Dorothy. > Roland's boots turn to stone. "Hmm." /*"Oh, my stars!"*/ Aurora blurts out, before she begins to scan the magical attack on Roland. >"Mike!" Morgan's pleasant surprise at her old friend's arrival >quickly fades as she looks over Mike and Tink's visible cybernetics. >"Great Goddess, what hap.... I don't want to know, do I?" she >concludes in a quiet voice. Aurora throws two spells, spaced two pico seconds apart. The first at the source of the attack on Roland. The result of this spell is to surround the target with a mobile (moving with and attached to the target) volume of anti-magic, with enough energy in it to extinguish a magical star. This spell has a built in exemption for each of the CAoL (or adjuncts) present. The second is a reversal spell designed to exactly match the spell attacking Roland, both for energy, and effect (this spell will only reverse that one spell in all the Macro Cosmic all of possible spells). ================================= Date: Sat, 20 Mar 1999 20:36:28 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: Off to Save the Wizard On Sat, 20 Mar 1999 23:27:05 EST Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00006743 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006732 > "Let us see how you heroes face Terror, Sin, and Wickedness...the >THREE FACES OF EVIL! HAHAHAHAHA..." Aurora looks on astonished then begins laughing herself. Every being on the planet hears her laugh. For those who seek to do good, every aspect of their being is strengthened a hundred fold. Those who seek to do evil are weakened by half, and experience a fear a hundred times worse than that they would experience were they to face their worst possible nightmare. As she does this, she reaches out to Raver to exempt her, or support her as needed should she react negatively to this (OOC: I'm not saying she would mind you, but since she IS a demon, she might, and Aurora doesn't want to cripple an ally). ================================= Date: Sat, 20 Mar 1999 21:05:29 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: The Rock.../Off to Save... On Sat, 20 Mar 1999 23:47:11 EST Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00006744 >On Sat, 20 Mar 1999 17:40:54 -0600 >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00006735 > >> "Moonstone. I'm not getting much useful data on the transformation >>of Roland. Your knowledge of magic is obviously superior to mine, do >>you have any ideas short of reconstruction of every single molocule >>of his body, which would be both time consuming and messy?" > > Moonstone frowns, "I'd need at my backpack, I might have >something in one of Mom's spell books, I don't really know any >transmutation spells off the top of my head. I'd need time to study >what had been done in order to come up with a solution." "I can access anything in your backpack and pass it through the suit to you if can describe the item in question. Or with a little more maneuvering I can slip the entire pack off your shoulder and hand it out to you." > Moonstone nods, muttering, "Sounds like a good idea, though I >really think you overestimate my abilities." However, she does know a >few magical stunning spells, and is prepared to use them on the >Marvels, hoping to garner enough time to actually study the >enchantments around them. "To one who can neither read nor write, the spelling of a single word is a great feat. And you never know what you can do until you try. Water is one of the simplest molocules to create, and one fo the most common substances there is. It is also one that seems to be most versitile, able to erode and decay almost anything over time, cut channels through solid rock, create pressure enough to crush even the mightiest submarines. Simple things can sometimes be the most effective." ================================= Date: Sun, 21 Mar 1999 18:26:28 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: The Rock of Eternity! On Sun, 21 Mar 1999 19:25:58 -0500 (EST) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00006747 On Sat, 20 Mar 1999 SkyeFire wrote: >In a message dated 99-03-18 18:21:38 EST, you write: >> "Twelve, of course." John says, taking the thermometer out of his >>ear. He looks at it, "35 minutes and 450 degrees, SSW. Looks like >>I'm almost done. Need a bit of basting first." John grabs a pail of >>water out of a subdimension and sticks his head in it just enough to >>get his hair and forehead wet. He whips his head out and back, and >>runs the rest of the overflow out of his hair with his free hand. >>"There." He upends the pail over his face, then wipes his eyes. The >>pail disappears. "Most refreshing." > >Roger takes this in, and simply stares at John for a long moment >before John grins at him, water dripping down his face. >reaching into his jacket and withdrawing a small, foil-wrapped >geometric solid. "You forgot your boullion cube, Uncle John." He >deadpans. John reaches out and takes it. "Thank you," he says in all seriousness. He unwraps it and pops it into his mouth. What's not so evident is that he changes it into crouton just before it hits his tongue. A few chews and he swallows. ================================= Date: Sun, 21 Mar 1999 21:05:00 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: Off to Save the Wizard On Sun, 21 Mar 1999 23:47:53 -0500 (EST) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00006748 >On Sat, 20 Mar 1999 17:41:00 -0600 >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00006734 > >>On Fri, 19 Mar 1999 21:24:14 >>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006732 > >> "Let us see how you heroes face Terror, Sin, and Wickedness...the >>THREE FACES OF EVIL! HAHAHAHAHA..." John snorts, trying to stifle it, then laughs long and loud. "What are they going to do, _glare_ at me? This is a joke right? Surely you're not _that_ desperate?" Contempt practically drips from John's every word. /(image of a fishing line sailing out over the water)/ > Mike looks around at the CAoL. /Uh, defensive positions, >everyone. Ya know, I never realized just how much I relied on Roland >for those split-second plans of action. Uhm, don't hurt the Marvel's, >duh, I assume the other two we don't care about. Dunno what to do >about Larry, Moe and Curly there... uhm, resist the power of the Dark >Side?/ /The ol' biddy hasn't done much yet. I think our problem will be the two Marvels. Could someone immobilize them please?/ ================================= Date: Sun, 21 Mar 1999 21:43:30 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: Off to Save the Wizard On Mon, 22 Mar 1999 00:31:31 -0500 Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00006749 >On Fri, 19 Mar 1999 21:24:14 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006732 *snip* > "Let us see how you heroes face Terror, Sin, and Wickedness...the >THREE FACES OF EVIL! HAHAHAHAHA..." Legion looks surprised and takes a half step back, her mental shields dropping. All of them. (OOC: Yes, it's bait... if one of the spirits rushes into her let me know...) ================================= Date: Sun, 21 Mar 1999 22:04:30 -0800 (PST) Subject: RE: AAE V: The Rock of Eternity! On Mon, 22 Mar 1999 00:47:53 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00006750 >On Sat, 20 Mar 1999 18:51:12 EST >SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00006737 > >> @Oh, _that_ will never work. NEXT idea?@ The so-teased one >>replies, her own mental tongue firmly in her equally mental cheek. >>@As for the difference between true and correct, I remain >>unconvinced of the validity of this contention of yours.@ > >@You're right. I should just revert to my default motormouth mode.@ @If it ain't broke...@ Dame Marvel returns. > Roger seems as bland as vanilla pudding, but there's a persistent >twitch at one side of his mouth. @As for "true" and "correct," it is >possible to speak a subjective truth even if that truth is >objectively correct. How many times have we had this argument now?@ @Why, Rogi, you're the one who supposedly deals better with time, aren't you? This would be the first, of course. If you meant chronologically from my POV, subjectively. Of course, truth depends on labeling your assumptions properly. But it doesn' depend on observation except where it's not truth, but becomes uncertainty.@ >> Dame Marvel frowns, @Confound it, Rogi, I asked you NOT to do >>that. > >Wicked grin, suprisingly Zia-like. @I know.@ There is a small pause; if he didn't know better, Roger might even think he'd hurt her feelings. But that isn't possible... is it? Roger just nods dutifully through this graduate dissertation unti Zia finishes before: >@Yes Aunt Zia. I know, Aunt Zia. I was just kidding, Aunt Zia. >Sorry about the Starros, Aunt Zia. I'm aware of the botanical >provenance of tomatoes, Aunt Zia. You always told me that I need to >be *more* afraid of the unkown, Aunt Zia. You used the Black Death >Argument too many times when I was little, Aunt Zia. I love you, Aunt >Zia.@ > >OOC: Not that that'll shut her up for more tha, ohh, 5 >nanoseconds....(:) /OOC Not EVEN. She sighs. @You know, Rogi, you presume more than _even_ I do? I'm quite sure that I would never instruct a child to be more afraid. The Black Death was a trifle more than an argument to anyone who actually lived while it happened. I will probably come to care about you deeply, precocious one, but right now, you're only annoying me by reading far too deeply into my perceptions for your safety... or mine.@ Her Lens flashes... and goes black as she slips it off her wrist and into a pocket instead. Her mental signature goes psionic null. A complete non-existence of to any effect, as she removes it. She tunes up her FTL radio set from nanoware, instead. See "Mutineer's Moon" by David Weber for technical specs on Zia's internal biohardware stuff. >> "Damage, he calls it." The lady in black and silver snorts to >>herself. > >"The term *is* techinically accurate, as it carries no connotatin of >scale," Roger notes absently. "I bet you got re-labeled Roger the Rabbit for that stunt." She says, just as absently back. ================================= Date: Sun, 21 Mar 1999 22:04:35 -0800 (PST) Subject: RE: AAE V: Off to Save the Wizard On Mon, 22 Mar 1999 01:02:42 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00006751 >On Sat, 20 Mar 1999 23:27:05 EST >Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00006743 >>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006732 >> "Eep! Dorothy, wait-!" tMBtC blurts. This is a common reaction to Zia's tactics of 'move faster than they can aim, and you won't get plugged'... >> A HUGE tornado (if you've seen Twister, think the big one at the >>end) appears, as if from the ether, and descends on the CAoL. >> The whole lot of the team is lifted into the air, spinning at >>Tilt-A-Whirl times-ten speeds, and the world turns blue-green. >> Well whadayaknow, the thing really _did_ appear from the >>ether... >> Suddenly the spinning stops, and the CAoL is shot like a volley >>from a Tommy Gun at the mouth of the cave they'd seen earlier...and >>land, completely unharmed, on their feet in as close to exactly the >>same positions as the terrain allows...which is pretty darn close. >> "Holy moley!" Cap says, shaking his head clear. "I haven't been >>on a ride that wild since the Crisis!" Dame Marvel nods agreement, her eyes bright. Apparently, she LIKES amusement park rides... >> "And you never will be AGAIN, you interloping red cheese!" an >>old woman's voice cackles. >> When folx look up, they see...an old woman with green facepaint, >>on a bizarre weird-science vacuum cleaner, Dame Marvel/Dorothy gives her 'litte dog' a glance. "Hey, Krypto? Fetch it, boy!" She points at the vaccum cleaner contraption, "Have fun. Get it, that's a good doggy." >> "That other Mary warned me you might be coming," Adam's voice >>intones from within the cave. "Said she couldn't find what she was >>looking for here, but that she'd help me get the old wizard's power >>if I killed you all with it. So...DIE, you fools!" "So, of course, Mr. Big, Black, and Icthy is also a Royal Sucker. Eiiigh... horrid image." She makes a face. >> And from out of the cave come three floating faces...one, a mask >>of fear, the next, a leer of desire, and the last, a sneer of cold >>superiority. >> "Let us see how you heroes face Terror, Sin, and Wickedness...the >>THREE FACES OF EVIL! HAHAHAHAHA..." "Oh please, _I_ can do a better melodrama villain laugh." She seems quite a bit more taken aback by the lack of Black Adam's vocal talent than the Faces of Evil themselves. She considers the faces as the move towards the group, with a strangely thoughtful look. "I wonder where Mr. Tawney and Dudley are..." >Aurora looks on astonished then begins laughing herself. Every being >on the planet We ain't on a planet - and the Rock of Eternity doesn't really have a population, anywho... >hears her laugh. For those who seek to do good, every aspect of their >being is strengthened a hundred fold. Those who seek to do evil are >weakened by half, and experience a fear a hundred times worse than >that they would experience were they to face their worst possible >nightmare. Dame Marvel/Dorothy remains completely uneffected by either. >As she does this, she reaches out to Raver to exempt her, or support >her as needed should she react negatively to this (OOC: I'm not >saying she would mind you, but since she IS a demon, she might, and >Aurora doesn't want to cripple an ally). Studying the enemy lineup, she decides her safest route is to try and break fast UNDER the Face of Wickedness. [It's the one I'm closest too, already, I might have some control remaining even if it took me. Especially if I'm as much Doroth-rized as Photonized like it feels at the moemnt...] She sets down her basket, and moves as quickly as she can to roll under the approaching line of Evil Threats. ================================= Date: Sun, 21 Mar 1999 23:38:31 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: The Rock of Eternity! On Mon, 22 Mar 1999 02:22:08 -0500 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00006752 > On Thu, 18 Mar '99 Shadow Said >>Morgan and/or Roland Said >>>>Shadow Said >>>>/Wizard?/ John sends/asks in confusion, /When did we start looking >>>>for a wizard?/ >> >> /He means Shazam, the wizard who gave him, and the Marvels, their >>power,/ Roland explains. /He can't say the old coot's name without >>turning into a pile of dust or something./ > > /Yeah, but last I checked it wasn't him we were looking for, was >it?/ John sends back. *^At this point, old friend, it seems to have turned out to be something of a package deal. Defeat Black Adam, save Mary and Junior and free the Wizard Shazam. Not neccessarily in that order. ^* ================================= Date: Sun, 21 Mar 1999 23:38:36 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: Dropping in unannounced... On Mon, 22 Mar 1999 02:25:35 -0500 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00006753 > On Fri, 19 Mar '99 Mike Knight Said >>Dhyrclhanc Said >>> Mike Knight Said >>> Mike replies, ^No thanks, we've grown rather attached to them.^ >> >>Mike recieves *^Well to {upgrade/replace} them you would not need to >>get "unattached" to them but I take your meaning and forgive your >>pun.^* Mike also receives the impression that the Lensdragon's >>tongue was firmly ensconced in his cheek for that one. > > ^Drat, could use the protein,^ Mike grins. Arroo? ================================= Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 00:05:16 -0800 (PST) Subject: RE: AAE V: Off to Save the Wizard On Mon, 22 Mar 1999 01:59:24 -0600 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00006754 >On Mon, 22 Mar 1999 01:02:42 -0500 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00006751 >On Sat, 20 Mar 1999 23:27:05 EST >Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00006743 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006732 >> "That other Mary warned me you might be coming," Adam's voice >>intones from within the cave. "Said she couldn't find what she was >>looking for here, but that she'd help me get the old wizard's power >>if I killed you all with it. So...DIE, you fools!" > > "So, of course, Mr. Big, Black, and Icthy is also a Royal Sucker. >Eiiigh... horrid image." She makes a face. Tink finally makes a noise, a quiet giggle and the link receives the following image. /{mental image of a big fish, a cod, with tiny human body dressed in a black version of Captain Marvel's costume, a crown on his head, a lollipop in his fish mouth, and apparently suffering from a persistant all-over itch, it's obviously supposed to be Black Adam, big, black and Icthy, the royal sucker}/ Mike smiles wide and is obviously relieved. >On Mon, 22 Mar 1999 00:31:31 -0500 >Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00006749 > >>On Fri, 19 Mar 1999 21:24:14 >>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006732 >> >> "Let us see how you heroes face Terror, Sin, and Wickedness...the >>THREE FACES OF EVIL! HAHAHAHAHA..." > >Legion looks surprised and takes a half step back, her mental shields >dropping. All of them. Mike glances between the two women, seeing his first two impulses already being done. He and Tink decide to try a third tack. Sitting down crosslegged on the ground, Tink identically seated in Mike's lap, they concentrate on the thoughts of safety, contentment, and purity, reinforcing those feelings in each other and making themselves a psychic brace for the others to fall back on. The proverbial safe island in a sea of troubles. Wanting for nothing, already having all they could desire. A purity of intent and spirit, allowing good to flow through them as it's servant, with no desire of reward in return. In other words, the Roland-Co(TM) Mental Anchor(Patent Pending). ================================= Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 00:05:27 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: Dropping in unannounced... On Mon, 22 Mar 1999 02:02:31 -0600 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00006755 >On Mon, 22 Mar 1999 02:25:35 -0500 >Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00006753 > >> On Fri, 19 Mar '99 Mike Knight Said >> >> ^Drat, could use the protein,^ Mike grins. > >Arroo? ================================= Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 14:35:22 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: Off to Save the Wizard On Mon, 22 Mar 1999 17:28:32 -0500 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00006756 > On Sat, 20 Mar '99 Mike Knight Said > >>Morgan and/or Roland Said (dueling snipages) >> "Eep! Dorothy, wait-!" tMBtC blurts. > > Mike glances at the 'carpetbagger', "What's wrong?" > Tink taps Mike on the shoulder, then directs his attention >skyward. > Mike looks up, "Oh, that..." Dhyrclhanc glances skywards and just has enough time to flick on his personal force feild generator, surrounding him with a shimmering gold and azure shroud of energy, before the Mother of all Twisters encompasses the CAoL. >> "Let us see how you heroes face Terror, Sin, and Wickedness...the >>THREE FACES OF EVIL! HAHAHAHAHA..." > > Mike looks around at the CAoL. /Uh, defensive positions, >everyone. Ya know, I never realized just how much I relied on Roland >for those split-second plans of action. Uhm, don't hurt the Marvel's, >duh, I assume the other two we don't care about. Dunno what to do >about Larry, Moe and Curly there... uhm, resist the power of the Dark >Side?/ > Mike looks at the Big, Red - er, make that Ruby - Cheese, :) >"Any information would be appreciated." "That depends," answers the Ruby "Cowardly Lion" dragon, in a Sean Connery-esque voice, "upon exactly what you want to know." ================================= Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 16:47:27 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: Off to Save the Wizard On Mon, 22 Mar 1999 18:28:12 -0600 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00006757 >On Mon, 22 Mar 1999 17:28:32 -0500 >Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00006756 > >> On Sat, 20 Mar '99 Mike Knight Said >> Mike looks at the Big, Red - er, make that Ruby - Cheese, :) >>"Any information would be appreciated." > >"That depends," answers the Ruby "Cowardly Lion" dragon, in a Sean >Connery-esque voice, "upon exactly what you want to know." Mike turns to Dhyrclhanc, keeping his voice low, a tactic that may be useless, but it never hurts to make the baddies work for their information. "Well, I was hoping the Captain here might have some information about our, uhm, Distinguished Competition, but any you have would be useful as well." Mike turns back to the World's Greatest Mortal, "By the way, I'm Michael Seven, this is my Granddauther Tinkerbell, and I sometimes fill in for Roland as cat herder for this crew of free spirits." He leans in conspiritorially. "Which usually involves taking what they were going to do anyway and working it to my advantage. Fortunately, they're all team players, they just sometimes individually get ahead of the group." > ================================= Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 17:35:56 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: The Rock of Eternity! On Mon, 22 Mar 1999 20:26:54 EST SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00006758 In a message dated 99-03-22 01:04:50 EST, you write: >>Wicked grin, suprisingly Zia-like. @I know.@ > > There is a small pause; if he didn't know better, Roger might >even think he'd hurt her feelings. But that isn't possible... is it? [Ah?] Roger suddenly looks like a man who just kissed his favorite aunt and got beaten over the head with her umbrella... > She sighs. @You know, Rogi, you presume more than _even_ I do? >I'm quite sure that I would never instruct a child to be more afraid. @Well, I was translating freely--@ Roger gets out before she rolls over him. >The Black Death was a trifle more than an argument to anyone who >actually lived while it happened. @ Yes, but you *did* use the analogy--@ Roger is starting to do a good impression of a man trying to ski on an avalanche....and losing. >I will probably come to care about you deeply, precocious one, but >right now, you're only annoying me by reading far too deeply into my >perceptions for your safety... or mine.@ OOC: Okay, I'm confused. What did he see/say/do that upset Zia so much? Whatever it was, I don't want to do it again..... /OOC Roger looks like a man just discovering how much a gut shot hurts after the adrenaline shock wears off. > Her Lens flashes... and goes black as she slips it off her wrist >and into a pocket instead. Her mental signature goes psionic null. Now Roger looks absolutely panicked. @No! Don't -- @ He starts to reflexively reach out to Zia with a non-intrusive link --the teep equivalent of pressing the intercom call button-- before pulling it back, obviously afraid of making things worse. OOC: IIRC, Zia's lens was patching up some psi or psych damage that she was suffering from. If she gets hurt because of whatever he did that caused her to shut her lens off, he'll never forgive himself. /OOC > See "Mutineer's Moon" by David Weber for technical specs on >Zia's internal biohardware stuff. OOC: Oooh, cool! Bridge officer's set? /OOC >>"The term *is* techinically accurate, as it carries no connotatin of >>scale," Roger notes absently. > > "I bet you got re-labeled Roger the Rabbit for that stunt." She >says, just as absently back. Roger's pulse drops from Sheer Panic to mere High Anxiety. [Okay. She made a joke. To me. She's mad at me, but it'll be all right. Eventually. As long as I keep my mouth shut. Tight. Zipped. Welded. Riveted. Stapled, Superglued, and Sealed.] OOC: In case I haven't made it obvious enough (:) , one thing gauranteed to completely freak Roger out is the idea that he's hurt someone he cares about --or an innocent bystander, for that matter-- through carelessness or callousness. He's willing to stand up to his family when he feels it's worth it, but the chance that he might have damaged something as precious to him as a familial bond simply through sheer boneheaded frivolous childishness will frighten him badly. After this he's likely to act like a kicked puppy around Zia for a while. Especially since he missed the point where the game turned serious -- *that* is going to make him very unsure. /OOC ================================= Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 20:35:10 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: The Rock of Eternity! On Mon, 22 Mar 1999 20:22:44 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006759 >On Sat, 20 Mar 1999 18:51:20 EST >SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00006739 > >In a message dated 99-03-17 23:41:56 EST, you write: >> To Roger, Roland 'nods' mentally. ^I understand, Roger-better >>than you might think.^ He chuckles. ^Then again, seeing how you're >>several hundred years older than my present self, you probably do. >>My guess is some sort of temporal locus-you _were_ drawn to us in >>the post Zero-Hour DCU, at the approximate time they rediscover the >>multiverse.^ > >^Heh. The 'where' isn't much of a question. Our connection always >seems to exert a pull on me when I use any kind of 'port. If I >generate a blind Jump with no spatial fix, there are pretty good odds >that I'll end up wherever you are, especially if you're together. >Other family members, familiar places, all exert varying lesser >pulls. In this case, I got knocked about 400 years off course >temporally -- I was so far from any kind of anchor, ending up where >you two were was almost inevitable. If you hadn't been in that >universe during that time period, I'm not sure *where* I would have >ended up. Callahan's, I guess. I hope.^ ^That's odd, though. Were you knocked through time before you 'anchored,' or simultaneously? The answer could be signifi-^ Roland begins, but then... >> "/I'm working on it,/" Roland replies, and concentrates. The >>stone creeps up to his waist. "/'Hmm. Unsettling trend,'/" Roland >>says in a frighteningly accurate Tick impersonation. Morgan attempts >>to counter by boosting Roland's Life energies. This slows, but >>doesn't stop, the effect, and in a few moments more Roland is a >>statue. > >Roger runs his ''fingers" through the energy pattern attacking >Roland, feeling out weaknesses, strengths, active mechanisms. It >seldom takes him long -- energy is his pidgin. > >OOC: Generally, if Roger 'sees' you do it, he can do it -- and undo >it. The more complex the activity, the more exposure he needs. But >350+ years of using his energistic manipulation to make up his lack >of raw power relative to Roland has honed his talents pretty sharply. >/OOC (OOC: Not just to Roger, but to folx at large-you're about to succeed in undoing this-see my next post-but in the meantime, this is being maintained fairly constantly.) >Mike shows up. Roger-3, one of the two playing with John, leaves off >and moseys over to Mike and Tink (see other post). Roger-2 stays with >John, while Roger-1 grips Morgan's hand before she goes to see the >new arrivals. ^Mom -- I think I can counteract this, but I think that >X-Windowing him out of here would be safer. I'm not absolutely sure >of my grip on this spell yet, and I'd rather take the low-risk >approach unless we get stuck. In the meantime, though, I think we can >get more tactical benefit if I "lean" on this construct enough to >make BA feel the weight. I can probably nail down his concentration >and most of his power on keeping Dad stoned . He strikes me >as the type to hold onto a lost cause long enough to snatch victory >from defeat.^ ^III hhheeeaaarrrddd ttthhhaaattt,^ Roland sends _very_ slowly. (In fact, that takes most of his time from that point until the next post...) >Roger sounds amazingly like Roland, saying this -- enough so that >casual acquaintances would have to look twice. It's almost as if, >with Roland "out of the way" (so to speak), that Roger own >Roland-ness becomes much more dominant. > >OOC: Roger is using his EM and shapeshifting together to >sorta-duplicate the Carggite triplication trick. His way is more >flexible, but takes more work. /OOC (OOC: For anyone who doesn't know, Carggites are a race from the Legion of Super-Heroes universe/time that can triplicate themselves. Triad/Triplicate Girl/Duo Damsel [the last was after the death of one of her 'selves,' before the Zero Hour reboot] is a Carggite and a member of the LSH. Don't laugh; she can use her triplication powers to great effect in a fight, splitting and recombining as part of her martial arts training.) ================================= Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 22:05:59 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE V: Hook, Line & Sucker 8^) On Mon, 22 Mar 1999 21:39:28 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006760 >On Sat, 20 Mar 1999 17:41:00 -0600 >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00006734 > >>On Fri, 19 Mar 1999 21:24:14 >>Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006732 >> When folx look up, they see...an old woman with green facepaint, >>on a bizarre weird-science vacuum cleaner, and on either side of >>her, the local versions of Mary and Cap Jr! From the necks up, the >>younger Marvels struggle like crazy, but from the neck down, they >>wait like tigers poised for the strike. >> "That other Mary warned me you might be coming," Adam's voice >>intones from within the cave. "Said she couldn't find what she was >>looking for here, but that she'd help me get the old wizard's power >>if I killed you all with it. So...DIE, you fools!" >> And from out of the cave come three floating faces...one, a mask >>of fear, the next, a leer of desire, and the last, a sneer of cold >>superiority. >> "Let us see how you heroes face Terror, Sin, and Wickedness...the >>THREE FACES OF EVIL! HAHAHAHAHA..." > > Mike looks around at the CAoL. /Uh, defensive positions, >everyone. Ya know, I never realized just how much I relied on Roland >for those split-second plans of action. Uhm, don't hurt the Marvel's, >duh, I assume the other two we don't care about. Dunno what to do >about Larry, Moe and Curly there... uhm, resist the power of the Dark >Side?/ > Mike looks at the Big, Red - er, make that Ruby - Cheese, :) >"Any information would be appreciated." "Yes-it seems that _this_ Marvel family is stronger than mine, and if we can get Mary to say the wizard's name, or Jr. to say mine, they should be fairly harmless," Cap says grimly. "We're trying, Cap," Junior says through gritted teeth, "but Adam's control spell won't LET us!" "holy moley," Cap whispers. "That monster-he's making them watch their bodies attack us!" >On Sat, 20 Mar 1999 23:27:05 EST >Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00006743 >Aurora looks on astonished then begins laughing herself. Every being >on the planet hears her laugh. For those who seek to do good, every >aspect of their being is strengthened a hundred fold. Those who seek >to do evil are weakened by half, and experience a fear a hundred >times worse than that they would experience were they to face their >worst possible nightmare. As she does this, she reaches out to Raver >to exempt her, or support her as needed should she react negatively >to this (OOC: I'm not saying she would mind you, but since she IS a >demon, she might, and Aurora doesn't want to cripple an ally). Sin and Wickedness stop leering and start to retreat. Adam immediately begins countering, using the massive resources of the Rock at his disposal. The old biddy shrieks and flies back. And Terror...laughs. *FOOOOOL! I _am_ fear! Even with your inversion taken into account, you have strengthened me a hundredfold-a THOUSANDfold! The universe Shazam protects now belongs to TERROR!* "Yeah, yeah, heard it before, save it for the serials, willya?" tMBtC says, sidling over to Roland. He pulls an oil can from his carpetbag and starts squirting his joints... >On Sun, 21 Mar 1999 23:47:53 -0500 (EST) >Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00006748 >John snorts, trying to stifle it, then laughs long and loud. "What >are they going to do, _glare_ at me? This is a joke right? Surely >you're not _that_ desperate?" Contempt practically drips from John's >every word. > >/(image of a fishing line sailing out over the water)/ Meanwhile, back at the cottage on Earth-9... Sil and Ma'an are sitting on the couch, noshing at some munchies, feet propped up on the coffee table as they watch the latest Animated Series...the Callahanian Army of Light. (The broadcast is coming from another dimension. 8^) Sil notices John's wisecrack...and smiles. [Oh, I HAVE to!] she thinks, then sends: /(image of kid looking proudly at Mom, fishing line in hand, with Jaws dangling from the end) 'Hey, ma, look what _I_ caught!'/ Back at the Rock. "Ah. I see. You wish a truly _horrific_ death. Very well." The Seven Deadly Enemies of Man-statues of the Seven Deadly Sins (with Injustice replacing Lust for the G-rated audience of the time)- begin to shamble forth from the cave. And Adam appears. "Hmm..." he begins flipping casually through his grimoire, smiling distractedly at Captain Marvel, who bounces off the forcefield around him a fraction of a second after his appearance. "...I need a truly vicious spell to satisfy your desire for oblivion, do I not?" >On Mon, 22 Mar 1999 00:31:31 -0500 >Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00006749 >Legion looks surprised and takes a half step back, her mental shields >dropping. All of them. Sin, looking pretty wiped, sees a vulnerable target and makes a beeline for Caprice. *Ah! shelter, victim, and meal, all in one neat package...* >(OOC: Yes, it's bait... if one of the spirits rushes into her let me >know...) (OOC: There ya go. Have fun. It's vulnerable after Aurora's whammy, no less... ;^) >On Mon, 22 Mar 1999 01:02:42 -0500 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00006751 > >On Sat, 20 Mar 1999 23:27:05 EST >Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00006743 >Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006732 >> "And you never will be AGAIN, you interloping red cheese!" an old >>woman's voice cackles. >> When folx look up, they see...an old woman with green facepaint, >>on a bizarre weird-science vacuum cleaner, > > Dame Marvel/Dorothy gives her 'litte dog' a glance. "Hey, Krypto? >Fetch it, boy!" She points at the vaccum cleaner contraption, "Have >fun. Get it, that's a good doggy." "Woof!" Krypto replies happily, and rockets to the vacuum cleaner. "NO! Stop! Off!" The old woman pulls a newspaper out of...somewhere...and starts batting Krypto on the nose as he grabs on to the vacuum's handle and shakes it. "I'll get you for this, Marvel-and your little dog, toooooo!" The old woman goes flying. Krypto returns to Dorothy Marvel, tail wagging just below the speed of sound as he offers the vacuum to her. > "Oh please, _I_ can do a better melodrama villain laugh." She >seems quite a bit more taken aback by the lack of Black Adam's vocal >talent than the Faces of Evil themselves. She considers the faces as >the move towards the group, with a strangely thoughtful look. "I >wonder where Mr. Tawney and Dudley are..." "Safe in Fawcett City, I hope!" Cap blurts. > Studying the enemy lineup, she decides her safest route is to try >and break fast UNDER the Face of Wickedness. [It's the one I'm >closest too, already, I might have some control remaining even if it >took me. Especially if I'm as much Doroth-rized as Photonized like it >feels at the moemnt...] She sets down her basket, and moves as >quickly as she can to roll under the approaching line of Evil >Threats. Wickedness, also looking for shelter/victims, makes a beeline for the Amalgamated Amberite. >On Mon, 22 Mar 1999 01:59:24 -0600 >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00006754 > Mike glances between the two women, seeing his first two impulses >already being done. He and Tink decide to try a third tack. Sitting >down crosslegged on the ground, Tink identically seated in Mike's >lap, they concentrate on the thoughts of safety, contentment, and >purity, reinforcing those feelings in each other and making >themselves a psychic brace for the others to fall back on. The >proverbial safe island in a sea of troubles. Wanting for nothing, >already having all they could desire. A purity of intent and spirit, >allowing good to flow through them as it's servant, with no desire of >reward in return. > In other words, the Roland-Co(TM) Mental Anchor(Patent Pending). > Adam stops in mid-spell, wincing as if in pain. "STOP THAT!" He fires a lightning bolt in their general direction; something seems to be affecting his aim... >On Mon, 22 Mar 1999 18:28:12 -0600 >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00006757 > Mike turns back to the World's Greatest Mortal, "By the way, I'm >Michael Seven, this is my Granddauther Tinkerbell, and I sometimes >fill in for Roland as cat herder for this crew of free spirits." He >leans in conspiritorially. "Which usually involves taking what they >were going to do anyway and working it to my advantage. Fortunately, >they're all team players, they just sometimes individually get ahead >of the group." "Captain Marvel," the BRC replies, bowing slightly to Tink. "Always _did_ want to meet you, miss," he adds to the young girl with a smile and a wink. Then there's a loud CRACK of stone coming apart. "UH-oh!" Adam gulps. "All RIGHT!" tMBtC exults. Roland the statue explodes, revealing Roland the Defender, good as new and twice as mad. "That...ITCHED," Roland snarls. /Any ideas, Morgan?/ /Nothin' comes to mind,/ Morgan replies dryly. /That's okay-I have a couple./ Roland dodges an attack by Cap Jr. -barely- and starts heading towards Terror. Eyeing the approaching Seven Enemies, he sends to Morgan, /Generate a spraypaint can on my belt, would you?/ Morgan looks at Roland like he's grown a second head, but merely sends, /Any particular color preference?/ /It's not really relevant. Just _not_ the color of the rock. And see if you can break Adam's hold on the younger Marvels; it's certainly _not_ mind control./ And with that, Roland dives headlong at Terror as a Metallic Neon Lime Green spray can (from Morgan Paints Intl.) appears on his belt. "Hey, wiz, I could sure use some ribbon in a moment!" "Huh?!" The Wiz asks, blinking. He begins rummaging through his bag... Meanwhile, Morgan turns to face the struggling Marvels. She immediately begins scanning for the type of magicks used to control them, in the hopes of finding a counter...and learns that the power used to control them is a sort of life spell. "Bingo," she says quietly, and begins weaving countermagick. Morgan's magick, Aurora's 'hero' boost, and Mike and Tink's 'serenity' field combine (along with anyone else I forgot-if so, sorry, folx) and heterodyne, and the Marvels suddenly plunge from the sky. They regain control quickly, Mary just before smacking into the hard ground of the Rock...Cap Jr. just after. "How do you _do_ that, Mary?" Jr. asks, shaking rubble out of his hair. "Grace of Selene, I guess," Mary says with a blush, a shrug, and a genuinely innocent smile. Elsewhere, Terror, seeing Roland charging at it, laughs cruelly. *And what are YOU, my little metal morsel? Someone who thinks he's brave?* Roland's stomach swims as he enters the miasma of fear. But he doesn't back away. *I'm someone who was chosen to be a Green Lantern, you relic-fear can't stop me!* *CAN'T IT?!* Terror tries to invade Roland, who doubles over. *You were one of those who can stave off fear, as opposed to not feeling it! But can you fight fear itself?!* "Heh...nothing to fear..." Roland grits his teeth. "...you're tryin'...the wrong...psion, sucker...gotten _real_ good...at fighting...possession..." "OH!" The Wiz laughs and throws Roland a bright ribbon with a shiny pendant at the end... ...a medal. *Eat resonance, sucker,* Roland snaps as he is suddenly, truly, without fear. *EEEYAHHhh...* Terror, suddenly a flame in a vacuum, vanishes, reconstituting in its Eternal prison. Roland falls, angling toward Injustice as he lands. Hard. "Heh. Pretty clever, kid. If life were fair, you'd have time to recover... but life _isn't_ fair, and I notice everything!" Injustice laughs. "Yeah, you would..." Roland grunts...and smiles. "...because JUSTICE IS BLIND!" He quick-draws the spray-paint and covers the statue's eyes. As the statue screams in surprise, then quickly hardens again, Roland looks at the color of the paint, then at the can. /Oh, that was sadistic, love!/ he sends with a chuckle. Morgan just looks singularly pleased with herself. :-) (OOC: Okay, we're just about done here, folx-finish 'em off and we'll move on to our next, hopefully more exciting, chapter. 8^) ================================= Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 22:06:42 -0800 (PST) Subject: RE: AAE V: The Rock of Eternity! On Tue, 23 Mar 1999 00:52:09 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00006761 On Mon, 22 Mar 1999 20:26:54 EST SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00006758 In a message dated 99-03-22 01:04:50 EST, you write: I replied in much greater length and detail to this just to the author, given that most of you don't have a very intimate acquaintance with Zia as yet. Suffice it to say that Roger has somewhat mistaken her emotion, and motivation for blocking him from her mind in thinking her 'angry with him', and has been told of the true underlying reasons so he can have fun with them as time becomes available. However, in character, I'll do a little bit, as well, to 'lighten' the atmosphere - I'd like to keep this a bit zany. After all, playing Dame Dorothy Marvel, how serious can you expect me to remain, eh? >> There is a small pause; if he didn't know better, Roger might >>even think he'd hurt her feelings. But that isn't possible... is it? > >[Ah?] Roger suddenly looks like a man who just kissed his favorite >aunt and got beaten over the head with her umbrella... Involuntary flash of an umbrella-weilding Zia whacking away at Black Adam's head. "Bad villian! Bad villain! Horrible laugh!" Remeber she is only 5' 4" tall, and rather on the ... uhm, womanly side (built like brick outhouse), when you picture this at home... >>I will probably come to care about you deeply, precocious one, but >>right now, you're only annoying me by reading far too deeply into my >>perceptions for your safety... or mine.@ > >OOC: Okay, I'm confused. What did he see/say/do that upset Zia so >much? Whatever it was, I don't want to do it again..... /OOC > >Roger looks like a man just discovering how much a gut shot hurts >after the adrenaline shock wears off. @I _don't_ have time to explain in the midst of a supers fight... considering what that idiot has released. Be patient, Rogi - or at least _try_.@ >> Her Lens flashes... and goes black as she slips it off her wrist >>and into a pocket instead. Her mental signature goes psionic null. > >Now Roger looks absolutely panicked. @No! Don't -- @ He >starts to reflexively reach out to Zia with a non-intrusive link >--the teep equivalent of pressing the intercom call button-- before >pulling it back, obviously afraid of making things worse. OOC: IIRC, Zia's lens was patching up some psi or psych damage that she was suffering from. If she gets hurt because of whatever he did that caused her to shut her lens off, he'll never forgive himself. /OOC Heh. Some folks cling to their privacy a bit harder than others. And some folks think that their inner minds aren't quite 'presentable' for company. Especially if they have secrets, or have done something like... walked the Logrus. James and Zia both refuse full contact teeping because they are concerned of the effect on said teep who manages the feat. Plus, Zia has additional, quite personal reasons, as I sent to Roger's player privately. Sometimes, being more acute of 'vision' (like his telepathy), can result in seeing things that might not be apparent to others, I figured. >> See "Mutineer's Moon" by David Weber for technical specs on >>Zia's internal biohardware stuff. > >OOC: Oooh, cool! Bridge officer's set? /OOC Remains to be seen - the only way to tell is interrogate the set with the proper codes. Maybe if Nemo thought it needful, otherwise, I don't see how (or why) the CAoL would be finding out real soon. They already know about her skeleton and modifications to reflexes. >>> "The term *is* techinically accurate, as it carries no connotatin >>>of scale," Roger notes absently. >> >> "I bet you got re-labeled Roger the Rabbit for that stunt." She >>says, just as absently back. > >Roger's pulse drops from Sheer Panic to mere High Anxiety. [Okay. >She made a joke. To me. She's mad at me, but it'll be all right. >Eventually. As long as I keep my mouth shut. Tight. Zipped. Welded. >Riveted. Stapled, Superglued, and Sealed.] > >OOC: In case I haven't made it obvious enough (:) , one thing >gauranteed to completely freak Roger out is the idea that he's hurt >someone he cares about --or an innocent bystander, for that matter-- >through carelessness or callousness. He's willing to stand up to his >family when he feels it's worth it, but the chance that he might have >damaged something as precious to him as a familial bond simply >through sheer boneheaded frivolous childishness will frighten him >badly. After this he's likely to act like a kicked puppy around Zia >for a while. Especially since he missed the point where the game >turned serious -- *that* is going to make him very unsure. /OOC My private missive should both 1) clear this problem, and 2) give Roger a whole new ball of wax to worry about. :) Feel free to consult the Meta-GM, if need be, but try not to 'spoiler' too much of the 'secrets of Zia', please, unless you do need to. Smile. Even as she worries that she can't make it under the Face of Wickedness fast enough to escape it, Dame "Dorothy" Marvel can't prevent the twitch that makes a small half-smile on her face as Tink follows up on her earlier jibe. Dame Ziactrice "Dorothy" Marvel Reality-twister Pun-ton Super (Photon isn't as much fun) and Ruby-slippered Quip Artist ================================= Date: Tue, 23 Mar 1999 04:34:03 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: Hook, Line & Sucker 8^) On Tue, 23 Mar 1999 07:25:01 -0500 Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00006763 >On Mon, 22 Mar 1999 21:39:28 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006760 > >>On Mon, 22 Mar 1999 00:31:31 -0500 >>Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00006749 >> >>Legion looks surprised and takes a half step back, her mental >>shields dropping. All of them. > > Sin, looking pretty wiped, sees a vulnerable target and makes a >beeline for Caprice. *Ah! shelter, victim, and meal, all in one neat >package...* Once Sin is inside, Legion's shields come up HARD. Faintly, the CAoL hears the echo of a distant scream over the link and the sound of something scrabbling to escape before the link is shielded too. And the scream did not sound like Legion's. Legion's eyes go distant for a second or two before commenting, "Less filling. But we make no claims about the taste." ================================= Date: Tue, 23 Mar 1999 05:35:12 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: Hook, Line & Sucker 8^) On Tue, 23 Mar 1999 07:27:35 -0600 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00006764 >On Mon, 22 Mar 1999 21:39:28 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006760 > >>On Sat, 20 Mar 1999 17:41:00 -0600 >>Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00006734 >> Mike looks at the Big, Red - er, make that Ruby - Cheese, :) >>"Any information would be appreciated." > > "Yes-it seems that _this_ Marvel family is stronger than mine, and >if we can get Mary to say the wizard's name, or Jr. to say mine, they >should be fairly harmless," Cap says grimly. > "We're trying, Cap," Junior says through gritted teeth, "but >Adam's control spell won't LET us!" > "holy moley," Cap whispers. "That monster-he's making them watch >their bodies attack us!" Mike nods. "Thought he might. Classic Villiany." >>On Mon, 22 Mar 1999 01:59:24 -0600 >>Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00006754 > >> Mike glances between the two women, seeing his first two impulses >>already being done. He and Tink decide to try a third tack. Sitting >>down crosslegged on the ground, Tink identically seated in Mike's >>lap, they concentrate on the thoughts of safety, contentment, and >>purity, reinforcing those feelings in each other and making >>themselves a psychic brace for the others to fall back on. The >>proverbial safe island in a sea of troubles. Wanting for nothing, >>already having all they could desire. A purity of intent and spirit, >>allowing good to flow through them as it's servant, with no desire >>of reward in return. >> In other words, the Roland-Co(TM) Mental Anchor(Patent Pending). >> > > Adam stops in mid-spell, wincing as if in pain. "STOP THAT!" He >fires a lightning bolt in their general direction; something seems to >be affecting his aim... Mike and Tink remain calm, the feelings of serenity increased. >>On Mon, 22 Mar 1999 18:28:12 -0600 >>Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00006757 > >> Mike turns back to the World's Greatest Mortal, "By the way, I'm >>Michael Seven, this is my Granddauther Tinkerbell, and I sometimes >>fill in for Roland as cat herder for this crew of free spirits." He >>leans in conspiritorially. "Which usually involves taking what they >>were going to do anyway and working it to my advantage. Fortunately, >>they're all team players, they just sometimes individually get ahead >>of the group." > > "Captain Marvel," the BRC replies, bowing slightly to Tink. >"Always _did_ want to meet you, miss," he adds to the young girl with >a smile and a wink. Tink heehees in reply, smiling at CM. > Then there's a loud CRACK of stone coming apart. > "UH-oh!" Adam gulps. Mike and Tink smile. Things are going well. > "All RIGHT!" tMBtC exults. > Roland the statue explodes, revealing Roland the Defender, good as >new and twice as mad. > (OOC: Okay, we're just about done here, folx-finish 'em off and >we'll move on to our next, hopefully more exciting, chapter. 8^) Mike gets up, picking up Tinkerbell in the process, and walks over to Black Adam, still generating the 'Serenity Field'. Tink says, "That book does not belong to you. You should give it back." She gives Black Adam the wide-eyed innocent look. Mike adds, "And apologize." ================================= Date: Wed, 24 Mar 1999 11:35:08 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: Hook, Line & Sucker 8^) On Wed, 24 Mar 1999 14:27:57 -0500 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00006766 > On Mon, 22 Mar '99 > Morgan and/or Roland Said > > "Mike Knight" Said > >> Mike looks around at the CAoL. /Uh, defensive positions, >>everyone. Ya know, I never realized just how much I relied on Roland >>for those split-second plans of action. Uhm, don't hurt the >>Marvel's, duh, I assume the other two we don't care about. Dunno >>what to do about Larry, Moe and Curly there... uhm, resist the power >>of the Dark Side?/ After his sudden and involuntary transformation into a Sentinel-Cowardly Lion-Dragon, Dhyrclhanc quickly withdraws his minature nanotech VonNeumann machine from somewhere in amongst his fur and "unfolds" it into an electronic keybord organ. Begining with some rather synthetic piano chords and then working into some stirring string and brass notes he begins to sing, invoking the blessings of Hastur, the Egyptian God of War, to empower him and his allies in the following battle. "In the search-lights, you could see us as we circled around. Down below us, you were screaming -- I could hear the sound. I could see your arms, reaching up to me. Like a Demon, feel the Madness running through the crowd. We were Freedom, from the moment that we hit the ground. And the Wild Man, He Lay The Thunder Down! Do You Remember Me? Like I Remember You? In a sea of Pain, you came Shining Through! In the Mist of Time, I can see it now! All my Life I will Remember This! -- Under a Raging Moon! For this Moment, I was Born for it! -- Under a Raging Moon! Under a Raging Moon! -- We were Flying there! Under a Raging Moon! -- We saw us dying there! It ended All too Soon. Under a Raging Moon! We were Out There, when they handed us the Rebel Crown. All the headlines -- all they tried to do was Tear Us Down. But the Wild man, He Didn't Fool Around! Do You Remember Me? 'Cause I Remember You! Yeah, You want my Love when the Dream came True. Well my Blood Ran High, and I Can Hear it Now. All my Life I will Remember it! -- Under a Raging Moon! For this Moment, I was Born for it! -- Under a Raging Moon! Under a Raging Moon! -- We were Flying, boy! Under a Raging Moon! -- It was worth Dying For! It ended All too Soon. Under a Raging Moon! Under a Raging Moon! Taking me back to Better Times. We never Read the Danger Signs. While the Young... While the Young still Climbed! Do You Remember Me? 'Cause I Remember You! Yeah, You want my Love when my Dream came True. All my Life I will Remember This! -- Under a Raging Moon! From this Moment, I was Born for This! -- Under a Raging Moon! All my Life I will Remember This! -- Under a Raging Moon! For this Moment, I was Born for it! -- Under a Raging Moon! Do You Remember Me? Do You Remember Me? Do You Remember Me?" The use of Roger Daltrey's lyrics for the song "Under a Raging Moon" is in no way to be infered as an infringement of his copyrighted ownership of either the song or any part thereof. The same goes for Elton John's "Live like Horses" and Curtis Steiger's "Sleeping with the Lights On" below As Dhyrclhanc ends in a rather rousing drumbeat solo, those who might benifit from these effects will find themselves able to react faster in combat, be protecteted from physical harm as if they were wearing a suit of armor constructed from reinforeced concrete (with no loss in movement), and are now protected from psychic and magickal attacks, domination attempts, etc as if they had the mental shields and magickal resistance of a God. > Morgan's magick, Aurora's 'hero' boost, and Mike and Tink's >'serenity' field combine (along with anyone else I forgot-if so, >sorry, folx) and heterodyne, and the Marvels suddenly plunge from the >sky. They regain control quickly, Mary just before smacking into the >hard ground of the Rock...Cap Jr. just after. > "How do you _do_ that, Mary?" Jr. asks, shaking rubble out of his >hair. > "Grace of Selene, I guess," Mary says with a blush, a shrug, and a >genuinely innocent smile. At, about the same time, Dhyrclhanc sings out, "'Oh, I've been Sleeping with Light On!'," invoking Agamotto, the Cosmic Couch Potato member of the Vishanti, and tags both Black Adam and Auntie Minerva, the Wicked Witch of the West, with beams of scintilating golden light from the Eye, not only will the beam momentarily blind them and cause them great pain but for the remainder of the combat all of their spells are at -33% of their power, in addtion to whatever other whammys might be caused by other CAoLers. Dhyrclhanc's Eye of Power open once again, as he sings out, "'Live like Horses, Free Rein from your Old Iron Fences...!'" and Morgan feels an additional power help her undo the Ensorcery binding the two younger Marvels. > (OOC: Okay, we're just about done here, folx-finish 'em off and we'll > move on to our next, hopefully more exciting, chapter. 8^) The immortal "addolecent" Ruby Cowardly Lion-Dragon, chuckles to himself, while compacting the keyboard organ back into the minature nanotech VonNeumann machine. [I wonder what other kinds of trouble I can get into.] }>:=8D ================================= Date: Wed, 24 Mar 1999 18:35:29 -0800 (PST) Subject: RE: AAE V: Hook, Line & Sucker 8^) On Wed, 24 Mar 1999 21:07:23 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00006767 >On Mon, 22 Mar 1999 21:39:28 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006760 >>On Mon, 22 Mar 1999 01:02:42 -0500 >>Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00006751 >> >> Dame Marvel/Dorothy gives her 'litte dog' a glance. "Hey, Krypto? >>Fetch it, boy!" She points at the vaccum cleaner contraption, "Have >>fun. Get it, that's a good doggy." > > "Woof!" Krypto replies happily, and rockets to the vacuum cleaner. > "NO! Stop! Off!" The old woman pulls a newspaper out >of...somewhere...and starts batting Krypto on the nose as he grabs on >to the vacuum's handle and shakes it. "I'll get you for this, Marvel >- and your little dog, toooooo!" > The old woman goes flying. > Krypto returns to Dorothy Marvel, tail wagging just below the >speed of sound as he offers the vacuum to her. Her face breaks into a large smile, and she kneels down to ruffle his ears with affection. "Yes, you're a good dog, all right. Thank you." She takes the offering, grinning hugely, and pats him a couple more times before standing and paying any attention to the fight again... >> Studying the enemy lineup, she decides her safest route is to try >>and break fast UNDER the Face of Wickedness. [It's the one I'm >>closest too, already, I might have some control remaining even if it >>took me. Especially if I'm as much Doroth-rized as Photonized like >>it feels at the moemnt...] She sets down her basket, and moves as >>quickly as she can to roll under the approaching line of Evil >>Threats. > > Wickedness, also looking for shelter/victims, makes a beeline for >the Amalgamated Amberite. "Eep!" in something like Zia's voice is heard distinctly as she tries to lash it with a kick, somewhat disadvantaged by her own rolling forward motion. Various folks do things to both weaken it, and strengthen her resistance before it can quite land, however. Her body goes still a moment, and abruptly morphs back to the Ziactrice everyone is more accustomed to seeing, in her black and silver, faintly Chinese uniform, Caucasian features and skin, and 5'4" womanly silhouette. Dorothy's ruby slippers, and the suit of Photon are gone as if never existent. Mere seconds pass in the 'larger' world, but a very long time mentally later, she manages to break free of the Face of Wickedness' control. If it hadn't been weakened and herself strengthened, she knows she couldn't have managed it. The Face appears back in the place it's held, with Terror earlier (and far more easily) vanquished by Roland and tMBtC's actions. Unsure as yet just how much time that required, Zia eases herself up to sit and take a gander at the other's fortunes in the fight. She might also be taking a moment to catch her breath before standing. Only those with acute observational skills will note the faint shudder that runs through her body at irregular intervals while she rests there. ================================= Date: Thu, 25 Mar 1999 22:07:57 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: Hook, Line & Sucker 8^) On Fri, 26 Mar 1999 00:50:53 EST Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00006771 >On Wed, 24 Mar 1999 21:07:23 -0500 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00006767 > > Mere seconds pass in the 'larger' world, but a very long time >mentally later, she manages to break free of the Face of Wickedness' >control. If it hadn't been weakened and herself strengthened, she >knows she couldn't have managed it. The Face appears back in the >place it's held, with Terror earlier (and far more easily) vanquished >by Roland and tMBtC's actions. Unsure as yet just how much time that >required, Zia eases herself up to sit and take a gander at the >other's fortunes in the fight. She might also be taking a moment to >catch her breath before standing. > Only those with acute observational skills will note the faint >shudder that runs through her body at irregular intervals while she >rests there. The Face of Wickedness looks about for another host to invade, and notices the young girl in blue and gold nearby. The face moves closers and closer, and Jim, unsure of its exact powers, extends himself to cover Moonstone head to foot ecept for small holes for the stones of her rings. The face comes on towards them, but because of Jim's efforts, it is Jim who ends up attacked rather than Moonstone. The mask disappears into Jim and Moonstone feels the suit begine writhing like a thousand snakes all over her body. Then the suit seems to liquify, sliding off her body into a pool on the ground. Moments later it begins re-forming. The black metalic body is easily recognisable. The Controller. "Muahahaha I AM REBORN!!!" He yells, firing plasma blasts randomly. Then he doubles over, grasping his stomach. Moaning in obvious pain, he struggles for his balance and then falls over onto the ground. Hands move up from his middle to his face and fingers drive themselves into the metal, pulling it apart to reveal Justin's face. "No, You are destroyed. You always shall be destroyed. Jim's sole purpose is to make sure of that.. You cen not be borne again from him." Jim writhes on the floor, his form beginning to fall apart. As each peice of metal falls, it is replaced with flesh. But the fallen parts begin to meld together, and soom there is both a Justin and The Controller standing there. "You are wrong. I am borne again. I live on forever within Jim, waiting to come out. His memories are yours. Yours are mine. He is Me. I can never be completely destroyed, and the multi-verse can never truly be rid of me." snarls The Controller "Yes, You are me. But Jim is his own being. He knows the tales of The Controller from my mind, but that mind is gone, and with it the twisted emotions that gave birth to you. you are nothing but a poor imitation." Snapped Justin, pulling out what appears to be a flashlight from his pocket and shining an emerald beam into The Controller's face. "NO! Your personality formed Jim's personality. Everything about you went into him, including me!!" screamed The Controller, but in the light of the beam, his face was already shifting into that of Jim. "This can not be right. I am programed to destroyed The Controller. If I become The Controller I can not do that. there is only one choice...destroy myself." gasped Jim, but as he did, The Controller face began strenthening, reforming as Wickedness got a second wind. Justin noticed this and frowned, sticking the flashlight device away. "I can help you fight it Jim." Justin reached out and began flowing back into the rest of hte colony. The face began shifting rapidly as he battled with himselves. Jim. The Controller. Jim. Justin. The Controller. Jim. Justin. Jim. The Controller. Jim. With the last shift the head began splitting, half The Controller, half Jim. Suddenly the mass exploded with massive concussionary force, sending pieces of Jim flying in all directions and leaving the Face of Wickedness standing there alone. Cracks were already evident in the face, and more were appearing every moment. Finally the face shattered, pieces falling into a pile on the ground. All about the room, pieces of Jim began seeking each other out, merging into larger and larger clumps. ================================= Date: Fri, 26 Mar 1999 19:36:17 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: Dropping in unannounced... On Fri, 26 Mar 1999 22:04:19 EST SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00006774 Catching up at Ludicrous Speed -- I've had a bad case of RL the past week. In a message dated 99-03-19 01:07:54 EST, you write: >> Roger's steps up, eyebrows cocked. "Hi, Uncle Mike. Have we met >>yet?" If the Sevens' Borg acoutrements mean anything to him, there's >>no sign. > > Mike and Tink blink. "No, we haven't met yet, not by at least >nine months, judging by the familial implications and that I don't >have a brother or sister. Our names you know, so what do I call you >in case you should accidently walk out in front of a bus and I need >to warn you?" Roger blinks at this vision. "Ah. Well, I'm -- that is, call me Roger. Short version: I'm Mom and Da -- er, Roland and Morgan's son from about 400 years in their subjective future, give or take a couple decades. I just bounced in a couple of hours ago by dint of an as-yet-unknown plot device and while I'd love to discuss this further with you I think there's a big tornado coming this way and it might be a good idea to hold on -- WHHOOAAAA!!!!" OOC: Segue? We don't need no stinkin' segues....(:) /OOC ================================= Date: Sun, 28 Mar 1999 15:07:32 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE V: Rocks and Cubes On Sun, 28 Mar 1999 14:53:04 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006775 (OOC: Well, _that's_ the slowest I've ever seen this list! Anyhoo, moving right along...Mandy, let me know when you've got some free time, we're not going to _that_ world just yet...) >On Tue, 23 Mar 1999 07:25:01 -0500 >Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00006763 > >>On Mon, 22 Mar 1999 21:39:28 >>Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006760 >> Sin, looking pretty wiped, sees a vulnerable target and makes a >>beeline for Caprice. *Ah! shelter, victim, and meal, all in one neat >>package...* > >Once Sin is inside, Legion's shields come up HARD. Faintly, the CAoL >hears the echo of a distant scream over the link and the sound of >something scrabbling to escape before the link is shielded too. And >the scream did not sound like Legion's. *nooo-* >Legion's eyes go distant for a second or two before commenting, "Less >filling. But we make no claims about the taste." A few shards of the 'Sin' concept are reabsorbed into the Rock of Eternity, as the idea itself is too ingrained in the consciousness of the humans of this space/time to wipe out completely. The 'Sin' _being,_ OTOH, is another story... One year from now, Stalin is assassinated. No one mourns him. Five years later, an up-and-coming Senator named Joe McCarthy is laughed out of office after he tries to whip up an anti-Communist frenzy. Ten years later, a new generation of heroes begins to appear. The 50s begin to fade, never having been as oppressive as our version... >On Tue, 23 Mar 1999 07:27:35 -0600 >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00006764 > Mike gets up, picking up Tinkerbell in the process, and walks >over to Black Adam, still generating the 'Serenity Field'. > Tink says, "That book does not belong to you. You should give it >back." She gives Black Adam the wide-eyed innocent look. > Mike adds, "And apologize." Adam looks at the cosmic vagabod and the five-year-old girl. "You CAN'T be serious." He raises his free arm, and begins to cast a spell... ...and stops, a few words into it. "Wh-what?!" Adam tries again...and fails again. "AARGH!" >On Wed, 24 Mar 1999 14:27:57 -0500 >Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00006766 > >> On Mon, 22 Mar '99 >> Morgan and/or Roland Said >> *EEEYAHHhh...* Terror, suddenly a flame in a vacuum, vanishes, >>reconstituting in its Eternal prison. Roland falls, angling toward >>Injustice as he lands. Hard. >> "Heh. Pretty clever, kid. If life were fair, you'd have time to >>recover... but life _isn't_ fair, and I notice everything!" >>Injustice laughs. >> "Yeah, you would..." Roland grunts...and smiles. "...because >>JUSTICE IS BLIND!" He quick-draws the spray-paint and covers the >>statue's eyes. >> As the statue screams in surprise, then quickly hardens again, >>Roland looks at the color of the paint, then at the can. /Oh, that >>was sadistic, love!/ he sends with a chuckle. >> >>Morgan just looks singularly pleased with herself. :-) > >The immortal "addolecent" Ruby Cowardly Lion-Dragon, chuckles to >himself, while compacting the keyboard organ back into the minature >nanotech VonNeumann machine. Roland, OTOH, looks pretty wiped. /[Whew. Good thing I had all those boosts going for me; even with all that power, it was a near thing. I'd better...uh-oh.]/ As Roland, still on his knees, looks up, a wildly laughing Wrath looms overhead. "You and Injustice, that was like fire and ice...but we're fire and FIRE!" [oboy!] >On Wed, 24 Mar 1999 21:07:23 -0500 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00006767 > >>On Mon, 22 Mar 1999 21:39:28 >>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006760 >> >> "NO! Stop! Off!" The old woman pulls a newspaper out >>of...somewhere...and starts batting Krypto on the nose as he grabs >>on to the vacuum's handle and shakes it. "I'll get you for this, >>Marvel-and your little dog, toooooo!" >> The old woman goes flying. >> Krypto returns to Dorothy Marvel, tail wagging just below the >>speed of sound as he offers the vacuum to her. >> > Her face breaks into a large smile, and she kneels down to ruffle >his ears with affection. "Yes, you're a good dog, all right. Thank >you." >She takes the offering, grinning hugely, and pats him a couple more >times before standing and paying any attention to the fight again... Krypto's tail breaks the speed of sound a few times as he enters dog-heaven briefly. Then, as Dame Zia moves on to deal with other things, Krypto goes off to fetch Auntie Minerva (THANK you, Martin!!!)... > Mere seconds pass in the 'larger' world, but a very long time >mentally later, she manages to break free of the Face of Wickedness' >control. If it hadn't been weakened and herself strengthened, she >knows she couldn't have managed it. The Face appears back in the >place it's held, with Terror earlier (and far more easily) vanquished >by Roland and tMBtC's actions. Unsure as yet just how much time that >required, Zia eases herself up to sit and take a gander at the >other's fortunes in the fight. She might also be taking a moment to >catch her breath before standing. Sloth oozes in her general direction-a bizarre sight considering he's still a stone statue. "I'll get you...yawn...you can't escape... oh, the heck wi' it," it says, giving up, and a moment later it curls up and turns back into stone. >On Fri, 26 Mar 1999 00:50:53 EST >Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00006771 > The Face of Wickedness looks about for another host to invade, and >notices the young girl in blue and gold nearby. The face moves >closers and closer, and Jim, unsure of its exact powers, extends >himself to cover Moonstone head to foot ecept for small holes for the >stones of her rings. The face comes on towards them, but because of >Jim's efforts, it is Jim who ends up attacked rather than Moonstone. > With the last shift the head began splitting, half The Controller, >half Jim. Suddenly the mass exploded with massive concussionary >force, sending pieces of Jim flying in all directions and leaving the >Face of Wickedness standing there alone. Cracks were already evident >in the face, and more were appearing every moment. Finally the face >shattered, pieces falling into a pile on the ground. Wickedness, having had enough, slinks back into the Rock to try another day. > All about the room, pieces of Jim began seeking each other out, >merging into larger and larger clumps. Roland, meanwhile, stares up at Wrath...it's clear by the fading of his armor and the claws and fur that are trying to replace it, that he's starting to be affected by it... "Hah! You're MINE!" Wrath raises its sword. A moment later, a red and gold blur flashes past, and Wrath is deposited next to Mike and Tink. "Wha-huh-hey!" Wrath blurts as it turns back into stone. "No FAIR-" Roland gives Cap a weary salute as he slows enough to be seen. The younger Marvels, free once more, quickly clean up the remaining Enemies. Krypto returns with Aunt Minerva. "Oof-uhn-ugh! Let me GO, you miserable MUTT!" Adam retreats from Mike and Tink. "No-I won't-you can't make me-" The Man Behind the Curtain sighs, walks up to Adam-and swipes the book from his hand. "GIVE me that! You had your chance, Teth-Adam. You blew it." Adam gapes at the elderly would-be wizard. "Wh-" he begins, as the con artist grows a beard, his suit turning into a robe, his features becoming those of- "SHAZAM!" Adam blurts as he faces his old tutor and enemy. A lightning bolt forms in the sky. "Oh-OH, NO!" One thunderbolt later, Mike, Tink and Shazam are staring at a small pile of ash. "My thanks to you all," Shazam says, patting the (to him) alternate Cap. "Would that I had the power to restore the one you seek to you. This, however, I can do." Shazam gestures as the last of the Enemies returns, sullenly, to its post (except Sloth, who's still asleep where it fell) and a swirling, circular portal opens before the CAoL. It shows a small, tropical island with a glowing golden domelike forcefield at its center. Cap Jr. points a thumb at the gateway. "She went thataway. (I always wanted to say that.)" "Good luck to you all, Shazam says. "Thanks," Cap-D says, and flies through the portal. "Cap-" Roland sighs. "Here we go again." /----------------------------------------------\ | Assuming everyone passes through the portal... | \----------------------------------------------/ As Our Heroes enter the new reality, they see an enormous castle within the forcefield, with one road leading to it inside the field. An enourous green slab of meat easily recognized as the Hulk and a crimson-armored monstrosity who some will recognize as the Juggernaut stand guard within. "Lo!" A thunderous voice cries. "Behold-more constructs of that miscreant Whirlwind!" Any who look up see Thor, God of Thunder (though he may seem oddly dressed to the more fantasy-oriented types) hovering overhead, his enchanted hammer Mjolnir spinning in his right hand like a helicopter blade. "Though he fill the _world_ with the creations of the Cosmic Cube, Thor shall ever stand against him!" "Thor, WAIT!" A young blond man in blue-and-black armor flies up beside him. "They're friends! I recognize their leader!" (OOC: And anyone else with ties to the FF or X-Men, if they wish-it's the future Franklin Richards in his Psi-Lord guise.) "Cosmic Cube?" Defender gulps. "oooooboy..." ================================= Date: Tue, 30 Mar 1999 23:03:46 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: Rocks and Cubes On Wed, 31 Mar 1999 00:50:41 -0600 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00006784 >On Sun, 28 Mar 1999 14:53:04 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00006775 >>On Tue, 23 Mar 1999 07:27:35 -0600 >>Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00006764 > >> Mike gets up, picking up Tinkerbell in the process, and walks >>over to Black Adam, still generating the 'Serenity Field'. >> Tink says, "That book does not belong to you. You should give >>it back." She gives Black Adam the wide-eyed innocent look. >> Mike adds, "And apologize." > > Adam looks at the cosmic vagabod and the five-year-old girl. "You >CAN'T be serious." He raises his free arm, and begins to cast a >spell... > ...and stops, a few words into it. > "Wh-what?!" Adam tries again...and fails again. "AARGH!" Mike and Tink just smile. The effort they're putting into this field is tremendous, otherwise they'd just take the book themselves and give it back to Shazam. As it is, they make do with herding Black Adam toward the Wizard of the Rock. > Roland, meanwhile, stares up at Wrath...it's clear by the fading >of his armor and the claws and fur that are trying to replace it, >that he's starting to be affected by it... > "Hah! You're MINE!" Wrath raises its sword. > A moment later, a red and gold blur flashes past, and Wrath is >deposited next to Mike and Tink. "Wha-huh-hey!" Wrath blurts as it >turns back into stone. "No FAIR-" Tink smiles and waves at Wrath. "Play nice." > Roland gives Cap a weary salute as he slows enough to be seen. The >younger Marvels, free once more, quickly clean up the remaining >Enemies. Krypto returns with Aunt Minerva. "Oof-uhn-ugh! Let me GO, >you miserable MUTT!" > Adam retreats from Mike and Tink. "No-I won't-you can't make me-" > The Man Behind the Curtain sighs, walks up to Adam-and swipes the >book from his hand. "GIVE me that! You had your chance, Teth-Adam. >You blew it." > Adam gapes at the elderly would-be wizard. "Wh-" he begins, as the >con artist grows a beard, his suit turning into a robe, his features >becoming those of- > "SHAZAM!" Adam blurts as he faces his old tutor and enemy. A >lightning bolt forms in the sky. "Oh-OH, NO!" > One thunderbolt later, Mike, Tink and Shazam are staring at a >small pile of ash. Mike and Tink visibly sag as the field drops instantly. He sets the little girl on her feet as he nods his thanks to Shazam. ================================= Date: Tue, 30 Mar 1999 23:03:58 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE V: Hook, Line & Sucker 8^) On Wed, 31 Mar 1999 00:50:36 -0600 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00006786 >On Fri, 26 Mar 1999 00:50:53 EST >Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00006771 > The Face of Wickedness looks about for another host to invade, and >notices the young girl in blue and gold nearby. The face moves >closers and closer, and Jim, unsure of its exact powers, extends >himself to cover Moonstone head to foot ecept for small holes for the >stones of her rings. The face comes on towards them, but because of >Jim's efforts, it is Jim who ends up attacked rather than Moonstone. Moonstone threw up a forcefield, and frowned as the mask passed right through it. She gasped involuntarily as it continued to approach, but blinked as it seemed to disappear mere milimeters from her face. "Uh, Jim?" she inquires of her suit, glancing at the monitor on her arm. > The mask disappears into Jim and Moonstone feels the suit begine >writhing like a thousand snakes all over her body. Then the suit >seems to liquify, sliding off her body into a pool on the ground. >Moments later it begins re-forming. The black metalic body is easily >recognisable. The Controller. "JIM! NO!" Moonstone shouts. > "Muahahaha I AM REBORN!!!" He yells, firing plasma blasts randomly. >Then he doubles over, grasping his stomach. Moaning in obvious pain, >he struggles for his balance and then falls over onto the ground. >Hands move up from his middle to his face and fingers drive >themselves into the metal, pulling it apart to reveal Justin's face. Moonstone throws up that same forcefield as a few plasma bolts bounce off. "Fight him, Jim!" She contines to watch as the drama unfolds. > With the last shift the head began splitting, half The Controller, >half Jim. Suddenly the mass exploded with massive concussionary >force, sending pieces of Jim flying in all directions and leaving the >Face of Wickedness standing there alone. Cracks were already evident >in the face, and more were appearing every moment. Finally the face >shattered, pieces falling into a pile on the ground. Moonstone dropped to her knees as her forcefield absorbed the brunt of the explosion, left hand clasped about the right wrist, whose clenched fist had the forcefield-generating ring. > All about the room, pieces of Jim began seeking each other out, >merging into larger and larger clumps. Moonstone sighed as she tried to gather Jim together as best she could during the battle. "C'mon, let's get you back together." ================================= Date: Thu, 1 Apr 1999 21:12:44 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE:Nanite group therapy On Fri, 02 Apr 1999 00:04:45 EST Jack Said As CAoL Message # 00006790 Sorry it's been a bit, I'm undergoing a lot of OT and a shift change right now, which will be part of the reason for this post. The other reason is it's going to take care of some issues I planned on dealing with with Jim anyways. >On Wed, 31 Mar 1999 00:50:36 -0600 >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00006786 > > Moonstone sighed as she tried to gather Jim together as best she >could during the battle. "C'mon, let's get you back together." With Moonstone's help, Jim was assembled quickly. As pieces found each other adn became larger pieces, they became various little machines and devices, driving, hovering, flying back together until Jim was whole again. "Diagnostics. Nanite count completed. 37% of colony destroyed. Reconstruction proccesses begun using native atoms. Estimated time of completion, 136 minutes." Looking around himself, Jim watches as, the battle being over, the Wizard points out the way to go, and some of the CAoL head through the portal. "Thank you for your help miss Moonstone. I believe I shall take up Dhyrclhanc's invitation to travel via the ship. Will you still be joining me?" Jim calls to the Charles Xavier for beamup, and once aboard, pardons himself to go to medical to check on the unconcious cyberpunk. I'm assuming Sikorski (sp?) is still there. let me know to retcon this stuff if he wouldn't be, Martin. Jim looks over the information from Sikorski's examination with only half intrest. Finally he gives up all pretense of examining it all together. "It is unfortunate that he has not awoken yet. Perhaps Morgan can have better luck. she is an impressive magical healer from what I remember. Right now though I have some healing of my own to do. In the last battle I was attacked by an entity who was an embodyment of evil. It manifested by forcing me to transform into The Controller. I underwent a personal civil war aided by the memories of Justin and why he set aside his Controller persona." "The entity was repelled, but it has left me with a severe problem of logic within my primary function. My duty is to destroy all memory of The Controller's wickedness and make sure he can never rise again. However, inorder to do so, I believe I must destroy myself. I contain many, although not all, of the memories and thoughts of Justin Fleisch, collected from his concious and subconcious for the entire time I was his body. That includes memories of The Controller." "Now my drive for self-preservation is at odds with my duty towards Justin and his final request. How may I destroy that which I carry a part of within myself? Granted. I can delete my memory banks, restart myself as it were fresh and new. But I still do not understand much of living beings, and cope by reviewing Justin's mind and seeing how he would handle things. Deleting his memories could severly handycap me. And there is a sentimental attachment too I suppose. My existance began with co-existance with Justin. I often find comfort and solence by being able to review Justin's memories and remember him as he was, before the paradox destruction. Having his memories with me lets me feel he is living on through me, and that he has finally acheived the immortality that he so long saught." "So, what would your suggestion be, as a medical professional?" ================================= Date: Fri, 2 Apr 1999 02:06:00 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE:Nanite group therapy On Fri, 2 Apr 1999 03:58:51 -0600 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00006793 >On Fri, 02 Apr 1999 00:04:45 EST >Jack Said As CAoL Message # 00006790 > > Looking around himself, Jim watches as, the battle being over, the >Wizard points out the way to go, and some of the CAoL head through >the portal. "Thank you for your help miss Moonstone. I believe I >shall take up Dhyrclhanc's invitation to travel via the ship. Will >you still be joining me?" Moonstone nods. "It'll give me a chance to get better equipped, I'm with you." > Jim calls to the Charles Xavier for beamup, and once aboard, pardons >himself to go to medical to check on the unconcious cyberpunk. Meanwhile, Moonstone is (I assume) shown to her quarters and makes her preparations for battle as well as seeing what the ship has to offer that might be more suited to her style of defense than single combat. (OOC: She's a Tech-head and a Mage. I'm sure she'll find something less frontline to do while still being of benefit. And don't feel obliged to create something for her to do, this is my attempt at a fade to background. She's just not the landing party type. :)) ================================= Next stop - the Marvel universe