Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 6 Part 1 - Chapter 7 Date: Wed, 6 Oct 1999 20:07:18 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE VI: House Phoenix/Greywolf On Wed, 06 Oct 1999 20:04:29 -0700 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00007439 >On Wed, 6 Oct 1999 20:58:03 EDT >SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00007425 > >In a message dated 10/6/99 3:21:08 AM Eastern Daylight Time, >ljwolfe writes: > >> Roland beams proudly, shifting his energy form to look briefly >>like Daugie Daddy. /"That's my _boy_ what said that!"/ > >Roger fights it for a moment, then lets the blush through, dropping >his eyes rather abashedly. "Well," he mutters sotto voce, "it *would* >make for a refreshing change of pace." /"True. Probably not going to happen that way, of course, for the same reasons that it _would_ be a nice change of pace..."/ Roland grins wryly. >Roger BLINKS. Once, and then again. "Oy? Dad, I was practically >dimension-hopping before I could *walk.* Remind me to tell you about >the fax machine and the PB&J sometime. Heck, my first battlefield was >one where I 'port-followed you and Mom after getting past the >cottage's security systems. > I was too young to remember, but you told me later that I saved the >day." Roger leaves out the details of *how* he saved the day, which >involved his discarded diaper and the foot of the head Bad Person at >an innoportune moment...after all, it's not *really* important, is >it? Roland relaxes. Somewhat. /"Good. I promised myself I wouldn't let that happen, but you should have had your powers at least reduced while so young."/ There seems to be more, but he doesn't go into detail. (OOC: OTOH, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that Roland had to figure things out for himself, through the standard blocks of youth - and he _has_ mentioned that he's so powerful due to having two Immortal parents...) ^Remind me to make sure we give the home security system an upgrade,^ Morgan sends with a mental smile, letting her 'words' 'leak' out over the 'family link' to Roger. >> "How in the Light-?" Roland frowns. "That's not - that shouldn't >>be possible. It'd take more control than I can imagine and enough >>power to obliterate..." he trails off. "Destroyer." > >"No, not Destroyer," Roger sighs. "But someone who could definitely >give him a run for his money. Fortunately for all of us," his face >turns grim, "that particular 'person' is unlikely ever to be seen in >the Multiverse again. What I find *truly* disturbing," he adds >worriedly, "is that this 'person,' while having the power and >control, shouldn't have had the *knowledge.* When I get a chance, I'm >going to have to research this a little more thouroughly." /"Someone I don't know yet, I'd imagine,"/ Roland replies coolly. /"Maybe I'm just getting paranoid in my old age, but I'd bet a Slingshot that Destroyer's talons are in it somewhere. Especially if someone is showing more information than they should."/ (OOC: A Slingshot is the Champions' equivalent of a Quinjet, what the Avengers use.) >>OOC-M: It's not like it isn't weird enough being your mother in one >>post and then flirting with you in another, all while being _quite_ >>happily married.... ;-) > >OOC: It should be noted that all flirting remarks are purely >OOC, and intended purely for their fun factor -- Roger can well >appreciate, from an intellectual aesthetic viewpoint, how drop-dead >knock-down drag-out hold-the-phone gorgeous his mother is, but >neither he nor I suffer from an Oedipal Complex. >Now, an Edible Complex OTOH -- Okay, Okay, I'll >stop!! OOC-M: Well of _course_! I already met and fell in love with one guy through this game, and I'm quite happy with him. But that doesn't mean I can't have fun flirting. :-) OOC-R: That, in turn, doesn't mean I can't have fun providing dire IC threats from the appropriate characters. Not that _Eric's_ going to have much luck there.... >Roger *pretends*, obviously, to be longsuffering-teenage-type-person: >"Yes, Mom." Who, of course, doesn't buy a word of it. (Hey, Morgan may be carrying her first children, but she had to deal with plenty of her kinsmen's kids over the years!) >> Roland looks at the crystal dubiously for a moment. Then his >>energy form shrugs, and he concentrates. His body jumps, in both >>places, and he twitches, but the 'body' in the Sphere becomes a bit >>more solid, and somewhat more focused. He smiles. /"Whoa. Now >>_that's_ multitasking. Dante, eat your heart out. Thanks, Roger."/ >>Roland blinks. /"Um, this isn't going to cause any paradoxes, is >>it?"/ > >"Uh. Err. Um. That is....ah, well, if Wrinkle hasn't shown up *yet,* >I guess not, eh? Heh. Heh. (oboy)" There's a laugh from nowhere, and everywhere, that sounds like it'd make the Shadow wet his pants. It fades quickly, though... OOC-Morgan/Rio: I'm _so_ glad Rio is in the Sphere and not in the Place anymore! >"Hmmm.....hey, have you considered 'Roger'? What?!? WHAT?!? It's a >perfectly good name, y'know! And it's NOT mine -- Roger is my >*nickname!* Remember, *I* got saddled with 'Roland Junior'...." /"And what,"/ Roland says, his voice gaining just a touch of steel, /"is wrong with 'Roland,' might I ask?"/ /"So, it'll be Elaine and Roland, then?"/ Morgan asks too brightly. /"I didn't say that,"/ Roland adds quickly, as Morgan's chuckle can be heard in the background. Obviously the subject of names is still being 'discussed.' >On Wed, 6 Oct 1999 21:33:15 -0400 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00007431 > >"Careful, Roger; they might decide on a different name." Zia remarks. >"You'll un-Roger yourself, and then we'll have to just call you Wilco >alone, instead of just Roger Wilco for jumping the gun so often." > >[OOC: Okay, it's only a GUESS. This-time Zia cannot time travel - but >she is a durn good guesser. She figures it'll be worth it if on the >longshot she is correct. This seems as likely as any anecdote to >explain 'Roland Junior's' nickname.] Roland weighs Roger with his eyes, amusement flashing behind them once more. /"Heh. I wasn't aware that you'd trained with the Space Janitor Corps. So how _are_ the Andromeda Brothers, anyway?"/ (OOC: Forged No-Prize to the first person who gets the reference. 8^) ================================= Date: Wed, 6 Oct 1999 20:36:45 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Global Life Insurance's Traveler's Bonus Plan On Wed, 6 Oct 1999 20:16:50 -0700 (PDT) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00007440 On Wed, 6 Oct 1999, Tek Tonic wrote: >On Wed, 06 Oct 1999 14:55:07 PDT >Tech Tonic Said As CAoL Message # 00007417 > >OneEye, looks up suddenly, then fishes around in his giant backpack. >He pulls out a small scanner, and aims it roughly towards where the >ship currently is. His face drains color, and he shakes his head. "Is >it just me, or do improbabilities follow this group like nothing >else? Good lord...." "No, improbabilities follow the CAoL like a litter of starving kittens following a pickup truck with bad shocks and no tailgate that has been overloaded with fish." Rob grins. "On a slow day, that is." "On the bright side, nobody's labeled the CAoL like this..." Rob hands OneEye a piece of paper. A biohazard symbol has been sketched on it, with the biohazard type listed as, "Callahanian Army of Light." ================================= Date: Wed, 6 Oct 1999 20:36:50 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAEVI: Enter Stage, Castle On Wed, 06 Oct 1999 20:26:40 -0700 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00007441 >On Wed, 6 Oct 1999 22:42:52 EDT >Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00007438 > >Scott whispers, at a volume only Zia and Roland can hear, "I still >have one last item of conversation. A warning. I am not the only SC >unit in the Matrix Cosm right now. And not all of them are as nice as >I am. The 'trick' was a warning of the power level some of Us can >achieve. My offer was made out of the knowledge that you might want >to place your deck somewhere where it will be safer from theft, or >... interference; my offer stands." > >Scott, it must be noted, has changed demeanor since last he spoke. >Something dark has come over him, and has made him strangely serious. > >And with that, Scott turns to Roland. "You wished to speak to me, >Phoenix?" The royal blue in Roland's energy form darkens a few shades as well. The cats almost expect the wing-like 'ears' on his costume to flatten back. /"I do. First, a warning of my own. If your...fellow units...are considering interfering with the CAoL, you might inform them that we take care of our own. I have been underestimated in the past, by Gaunt, Thorne, even Malice. I am here. They are not."/ Roland's expression twists briefly, as though his stomach twinged at the thought. /"And I am far from the greatest power in this group. /"Second. While I hardly consider myself a gentleman any more, your little stunt was rude in the extreme, especially considering where Zia apparently keeps her...cards."/ Roland's eyes stop glowing; instead, the bright white 'superhero' eyeslits go jet black. /"Kindly refrain from such 'tricks' again."/ ================================= Date: Wed, 6 Oct 1999 20:36:55 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE VI: Watching and Waiting On Wed, 06 Oct 1999 20:28:09 -0700 The Hunter Said As CAoL Message # 00007442 >On Wed, 6 Oct 1999 21:17:13 EDT >SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00007427 > >In a message dated 10/5/99 4:08:51 PM Eastern Daylight Time, >rolandx writes: > >Zia begins dancing, and Eric is impressed.... > >> "I was not aware," Eric says slowly, "that I was in the presence >>of a Master of Prime." > >"Oh, she's full of surprises and unplumbed depths, is our Zia." Roger >comments to no one in particular. Somewhere under his jacket, a >stereo (or the band itself, I mean, who *knows* what all he's got in >there) begins playing U2's "Mysterious Ways" at a rather embarrassing >volume. And then proves rather resistant to being shut off as he >pokes at it with increasing irritation..... Eric pauses in mid-leap, eyeing the boom box as if considering obliterating it. "So am I," he replies in a growl that would do Batman justice. His leap then continues as if he'd never slowed... Once the CAoL has gathered more fully (possibly at the castle?) Eric comes to a quivering stop. A flash of annoyance crosses his face; the link is still leaking a bit, and it appears he's irritated at the possibiliy that others might have mistaken his burning some frustration for showing off. He watches the CAoL discuss plans, remaining quiet and melting into the shadows... ================================= Date: Wed, 6 Oct 1999 21:40:33 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Global Life Insurance's Traveler's Bonus Plan On Wed, 6 Oct 1999 23:21:41 -0500 (CDT) Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00007443 >On 10-06-1999 at 13:09:38 >Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007413 > >>On Wed, 6 Oct 1999 13:09:10 -0500 (CDT) >>Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00007412 >> >> {"Jupiter Two to ground control. We've lost our way and need >>assistance. Requesting permission to land."} > >{"Juptier Two, > This is Nemisis of the Callahanian Army of Light, > That sounds Like Will Robinson talking, > Have we met in your Experience?"} Will blinked in surprise. "Do you know her, Will?" Penny asked. "I think so... maybe seven years back, when I was on that bad medieval planet with all the Tolkein-esque aliens." "It would have been fifteen years for the people there after accounting for the Twin Paradox. Is that where we are?" "No, no, we left that place a long time ago, and it wasn't a Dyson Sphere." Will then keyed the mic, looking bemused, {"You certainly do get around. Yes, I remember you. Am I to infer the Callahanian Army of Light have jurisdiction here to authorize our landing?"} >{"What is your ship's condition?"} Will smiled a bit sheepishly, {"We appear to be intact, the question on our minds more being to determine just how we got here when we were last trying to escape some sort of bizarre energy vortex...... {".....Though checking our systems does seem in order as they show us inside an extremely large sphere containing a star and system of small planets. Unless we somehow slipped through (or punched) a hole in the side of this thing (and survived), I'm assuming our sensors are in error."} John Robinson muttered to Maureen, "I was wondering that myself." Maureen smiled, "Great minds think alike." ================================= Date: Wed, 6 Oct 1999 21:40:39 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAEVI: Enter Stage, Castle On Thu, 7 Oct 1999 00:24:22 EDT Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00007444 In a message dated 10/6/99 8:37:20 PM Pacific Daylight Time, ljwolfe writes: > The royal blue in Roland's energy form darkens a few shades as >well. The cats almost expect the wing-like 'ears' on his costume to >flatten back. /"I do. First, a warning of my own. If your...fellow >units...are considering interfering with the CAoL, you might inform >them that we take care of our own. I have been underestimated in the >past, by Gaunt, Thorne, even Malice. I am here. They are not."/ >Roland's expression twists briefly, as though his stomach twinged at >the thought. /"And I am far from the greatest power in this group."/ "They are not considering it. They have decided. If the CAoL goes into a particular place, they will force you out by any means necessary." Scott's eyes vanish while he speaks the last sentence; Osborne blinks, and the eyes are once more blue. "There is a battle happening on the far edges of Matrix Cosm, and we have the bad luck to have to walk through the middle of it. But I will get to that later." > /"Second. While I hardly consider myself a gentleman any more, >your little stunt was rude in the extreme, especially considering >where Zia apparently keeps her...cards."/ Roland's eyes stop glowing; >instead, the bright white 'superhero' eyeslits go jet black. /"Kindly >refrain from such 'tricks' again."/ "As I said, it was also a warning; and the motion was performed after she took the Trumps out, when it would be marginally easier, and infinitely less rude." ================================= Date: Wed, 6 Oct 1999 21:40:44 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: My Kung Fu, part II... On Wed, 6 Oct 1999 21:30:16 -0700 (PDT) The Lone One Said As CAoL Message # 00007445 >On Wed, 6 Oct 1999 21:17:26 EDT >SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00007430 > >Roger wanders over and scopes out the discarded papers, with a pretty >good suspicion of what he's going to see in advance. He sidles over >towards Rob. "Feeling redundant? Welcome to the club -- I mean, let's >face it, compared to firepower like *them*--" He cocks a thumb each >at Aurora and FailSafe, "you and I are equally...flyspeckish." He >shrugs. "And in some conflicts, we really are effectively useless. >But," His expression hardens, "we also get into situations where that >old saw about the horshoe nail becomes frighteningly true. At some >point, every one of us is pivotal to the fate of universes." His >expression lightens. "Frightening, isn't it? Besides, don't forget >what you did to Deathwalker on our last outing -- the Unbearably >Cute Brigade kept her distracted long enough for Zia to pull her >card." Mandy finished putting the Galil back together, and slid it home in the back scabbard. She wandered over to Rob, flopping on the grass nearby, just in time to catch Roger's last words. "Yeah." A nod followed that pronouncement before she fell silent. The T-shirt logo changed from the gothic 'Raver' to a drawing of a lawn sign reading, 'The Club' in scratchy letters. A silver-nailed hand scratched abstract designs in the spreading lichen growth. Ignoring the changing T-shirt message, she continued, "Welcome to the club. Last time I went out, the only thing I had going for me was my sharing a body with Raver. At least this time around I know which end of a gun to point at the bad guys thanks to Wanderer..." ================================= Date: Wed, 6 Oct 1999 21:40:54 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE VI: The Hunter and The Hunted? On Wed, 06 Oct 1999 21:33:19 -0700 Rio Said As CAoL Message # 00007447 >On Wed, 6 Oct 1999 21:17:19 EDT >SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00007428 > >"Fiat Lux," Roger murmurs, obviously enjoying Zia being so >unreservedly happy. He gets up out of his chair and leans down to >touch a bit of the growth himself. "It's easy to forget," he muses, >"how much joy there can be in even the simplest acts of creation. And >just how profound such small beginnings can be." >As he stands, his bootheel unfortunately lands on a small patch of >lichen, with the predictable -THUD!- result. From his new position >flat on his back, he studies the view overhead. >"It's also easy to forget how slippery lichen on bare rock can be. >Watch your step, everyone." "Ow!" Rio winces. She glides over to where Roger lays on the ground, smiles down at him, and offers him a hand up. "Do you need someone to kiss that and make it better?" Her wide-eyed far-too-innocent smile broadens, and Roger suddenly realizes he's dealing with a _very_ desirable woman. (OOC: I'll send the specific effects to you seperately, Rog.) ================================= Date: Wed, 6 Oct 1999 23:43:02 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Global Life Insurance's Traveler's Bonus Plan On Thu, 7 Oct 1999 01:12:14 -0500 (CDT) Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00007450 >On Wed, 06 Oct 1999 19:22:53 -0700 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00007436 > > 'Roland' concentrates. /"I wonder if I can-"/ > He appears on the bridge of the Jupiter Two. 8^) > /"-pull this off. WHOOPS!"/ He grins sheepishly at the (no doubt >astonished) Robinson extended family. /"Sorry,"/ he says to them. /"I >intended to appear _outside_ the ship. My name is Roland, also of the >Callahanian Army of Light, and their leader until I can stick >some-ah, well, that's neither here nor there. I can bring your ship >down safely, if you wish. Would you like me to, or might I help in >some other fashion?"/ Will and family do look surprised, but adapt very quickly. One might think beings appeared to them out of thin air every weak. One wouldn't be far off in that estimate, either. ;) "Uhm," Will says, running a hand through his red hair, "Well, as I just finished saying to Nemisis, we seem to be physically intact, but are at a loss to explain how we got here. If you know of a good landing place, we'd like to touch down and make sure we didn't sustain any damage our systems aren't detecting." ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 03:03:48 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Hunter and The Actress On Thu, 07 Oct 1999 02:40:18 -0700 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00007451 FailSafe wrote: >>Harlock grins. "Who said anything about explaining what we were >>doing? I merely stated that our acquisition of the rod would seem to >>serve the greater good. I agree, though, that we should leave >>that...cosm? continuum? whatever...with some other form of long >>distance communications, lest the galactic society collapse in >>barbarism. That would serve nobody." > >"Then, What where you thinking of Saying to them?" "As little as possible, to be quite honest. If the plan is to acquire the Gauge by stealth and guile, interaction with the people we're planning to acquire it from is likely to be counterproductive at best." >"That has possibilities, but > would it not take crippling signal loss rates, > to over turn several Thousand Years of Service? > And even then it seems more likely the populace, > Will blame the government that maintains the Switching Station, > More than the Ansible Guild, > Unless the Signal loss happens only in "New" Hardware... "Um," says Harlock, as a frown appears on his face, "I hadn't thought of that aspect. Several thousand years of service? Hmm..." After a few moments of brooding thought, he looks back up. "Nemisis? If I understand correctly, you are capable of splitting parts of your consciousness off to different points in the Matrix Cosm? How many of these 'splits' can you maintain? Regardless, I intend to be in on this portion of the adventure." The Bard heaves a dramatic sigh and continues: "Would that I could travel with all three groups, for ballads are best written from personal knowledge." ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 05:05:50 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: FuzzyHome and Questions On Tue, 5 Oct 1999 23:14:00 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00007452 >On 10-05-1999 at 11:35:12 >Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007342 > >>On Tue, 5 Oct 1999 00:48:11 PST >>Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00007327 >> >>>On 10-04-1999 at 19:16:23 >>>Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007303 >>> >>>"Anything that we can Make one of, >>> we can make multiples of..." > >>"Not necessarily. It is possible to construct items that, by their >>very nature, *must* be unique, at least in the universe they are >>in." > >After a moments thought, >"You are of course correct, > I had not realized that these (The Quantum-NegaBands), > Gave me that capability, > So I had not considered it, > ... > In this case, > Would we Want To?" "That depends on what the required natures of our 'replacement' items are. If it's best that they be 'unique' then we should make them unique. And it may even be a requirement of some items." ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 05:06:00 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: FuzzyHome and Questions On Tue, 5 Oct 1999 23:17:02 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00007453 >On 10-05-1999 at 11:35:12 >Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007341 > >>On Tue, 05 Oct 1999 00:54:55 -0700 >>Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00007320 >> >>Harlock grimaces. "An I understand your words correctly, this master >>switching station sounds like a prime place for Murphy to strike." >>He breaks off and looks thoughtful for a few minutes. His grimace >>slowly fades, to be replaced by a mischevious grin. "An I could... >>ah...'talk shop' with a techno-mage of some sort, I believe I know a >>spell which could be adapted to the purpose." > >"When ever you are Ready, > Call..." > >"Even if it is not used, > We should have it ready, > The most likely disaster is, > The Disaster you are not ready for..." "It occurs to me to wonder what this Guild would do if they thought that their device was no longer working." "For example, if we were to tracelessly remove *both* the original item and the 'duplicate' as soon as the duplicate formed, we might convince them that the "Guage" was now functioning in reverse." ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 05:06:05 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: My Kung Fu, part II... On Tue, 5 Oct 1999 23:41:32 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00007454 >On Tue, 05 Oct 1999 12:20:56 -0700 >The Hunter Said As CAoL Message # 00007346 > > Eric just _watches_ this display, almost disbelieving. And it's >pretty clear by now that the man's seen a lot. "Roland?" he finally >says, quietly. > /"Yes?"/ > "Why in Gaia's name am I here?" he asks. > Roland chuckles. /"I imagine a few rounds would answer that >question. I have to admit I'd love to see the reaction of a Zia or a >Nemo when you used your Heaven Stance block on 'em."/ His smile >fades. /"Still, we should get moving."/ "You are here to learn." /By observation./ "And to teach." /By example./ > Eric mutters something about gnats and hammers, leaping back (each >leap a blur of lines and motion) to the rest of the group. (OOC: If >you've seen the anime 'Blue Seed,' think Kusanagi. There is probably >plenty of other anime with similar characters. For the rest of you, >his jumps seem to defy laws of physics, able to stop in mid-air and >'re-leap,' sudden starts and landings between which he's at a >constant state of high speed. 8^) Nemo willl cheerfully admit that his "style" is composed partly of "analysis" of a *literally* uncountable number of forms from across the multiverse, and "cheating". Think of it as being *impossibly* centered. At rest, he cannot be moved, and in motion, he cannot be stopped. Both are aspects of that "anchor to the universe" trick. He really *could* leave a man sized hole thru a mountain by walking thru it if he so desired. ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 05:06:11 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Command Decisions On Wed, 6 Oct 1999 10:12:00 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00007455 > On Tue, 05 Oct 1999 23:29:51 -0700 > Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00007389 > > /"Well, that's some good news, at least,"/ Roland replies, /"but >the basic principle remains. Unless the comm units are >indestructible, and to a lesser extent even then, stealing the Gauge >would result in a traumatic period in civilization during its absence >if a replacement was invented, and a long, slow slide to barbarism if >not. Neither is acceptable."/ "There are many techniques for harnessing certain 'quantum' effects to not only provide untappable point-to-point communications, but *tunable* units. That means you'd no longer need several communicators, one for each destination. You'd merely need enough for the maximum number of 'links' you wished to keep open simultaneously." "And not only are these easily fabricated by anyone with a certain level of technology, they are untraceable and unjammable. This makes them far superior to the Guild product for most uses. Though some governments tend to upset about the inability to tap or block private links." "Distribute working copies as well as instructions, and shortly the Guild will be out of business, with a minimal amount of disruption of the societies involved." As someone opens their mouth to object, Nemo adds. "However, it is well to remember that 'minimal' is *not* a synonym for 'minor'. Whatever we do, there will be large and long term effects. But this is one of many scenarios that will minimize the disruptions and maximize the benefits." "One matter that needs to be decided is if we want to distribute the version that is both cheap and 'instantaneous', or if we want to distribute a version that works cheaply at lightspeed, but gets more expensive for FTL linkages?" >>[OOC: StarSpawn and other Cosmic and Up Class Powers are, >> The Only ones who should get anywhere near, >> 'The Guardians of IF.'... >> As for Why, You will find out... >> Now Where did I put that Evil Laugh....?] You'll need it. Nemo's previously established abilities (as noted in another message) couldn't be a better match for these guys if I'd *tried*. Add Zia and they'll never know what hit them. > Roland laughs. /"Nemisis, on a Dyson Sphere, anything smaller than >a _planet_ is 'hidden,' IMHO. It sounds like a fine base of >operations. Does it have a Danger Room/Holodeck?"/ "If it doesn't, I'm sure something can be provided." Nemo's glance at all the higher powered members makes it clear who he expects could do the 'providing'. :-) ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 05:06:18 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: My Kung Fu, part II... On Thu, 7 Oct 1999 00:56:22 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00007456 >On Wed, 6 Oct 1999 21:17:13 EDT >SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00007427 > >In a message dated 10/5/99 4:08:51 PM Eastern Daylight Time, >rolandx writes: > >Zia begins dancing, and Eric is impressed.... > >> "I was not aware," Eric says slowly, "that I was in the presence >>of a Master of Prime." > >"Oh, she's full of surprises and unplumbed depths, is our Zia." Roger >comments to no one in particular. Somewhere under his jacket, a >stereo (or the band itself, I mean, who *knows* what all he's got in >there) begins playing U2's "Mysterious Ways" at a rather embarrassing >volume. And then proves rather resistant to being shut off as he >pokes at it with increasing irritation..... "A question. I know of a possible 'training aid' for martial artists. I'd be interested in where you think it should go. In the danger room? Or out in the main courtyard, open to all?" "It's a simple pattern..." Nemo display to Eric, Roger, and any others how are interested an image of a set of footprints, rather like one would use to teach dance steps. They are numbered, and arranged rather oddly. The first few are simple, after that, it appears as though it would be increasingly difficult to 'take the next step'. There are 97 steps in all. ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 05:06:23 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Third Artifact On Thu, 7 Oct 1999 01:03:04 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00007457 >On Wed, 06 Oct 1999 19:32:50 -0700 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00007437 > >>"According to the Legends, >> The Cosmic Engineer was used to change the Collapsed Galaxy, >> Into The Ship of War called, The Blue Horizon." > > > /"Mmm,"/ Roland 'comments,' looking at FailSafe with an unreadable >expression. /"A device with the genius of a Tony Stark, the >processing power of a Borg Cube, apparently telepathic CAD/CAM >facilitles, and a possibly total lack of morality,"/ he muses. >/"Sounds lovely. Any idea what might still be in the same universe >with it? The last thing we need is some paranoid tyrant engineer >looking for reinforcements among our enemies."/ Roland swallows, and >those looking at the back of his cape can briefly see the image of >Dr. Destroyer flicker across it... "It's nothing that the Skylark of Valeron couldn't do. Though I can't see Dick Seaton *doing* it. On the other hand, Duquesne's DQ is equally powerful, and Marc Duquense tends to believe that the only good enemy is a dead enemy." ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 05:06:27 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: A Long Commute 8^) On Wed, 6 Oct 1999 09:57:24 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00007458 >On Tue, 5 Oct 1999 23:25:03 -0700 (PDT) >FailSafe Said As CAoL Message # 00007383 > >>On Tue, 05 Oct 1999 14:54:24 PDT >>Tech Tonic Said As CAoL Message # 00007352 >> >>OneEye raises his hand. "As far as time travel goes, I'm more than >>willing to help. Paradox...."He grins, and it is not a nice thing. >>"Well, it doesn't seem to mind me very much. Geuss I'm just lucky." > >"I'm not sure you understand the Risk, > They can plan a Series of actions intended to stop this team, > With the First Item being create a Paradox Gem, > Collect and Examine the Gem, > If that Plan did not work in to probable Future of the Gem, > Dissipate the Gem and make a new plan, > Until they find one that works, > Then with the touch of a Button swap the Realities, > So that the one where that happens is What Happened... > A true Paradox Immune would be unaffected by the Swap." Nemo smiles. It's the sort of smile that would make anyone not *certain* of where they stodd with him want to back off. Way off. Like a universe or two. "Unfortunately for them, while I don't 'do' time travel, I do 'see' probability sheafs. Where they have to keep running 'experiments', serially, I see the plenum as a vast parallel process. Thus, unless they were to get the perfect plan on their first try, I can see all their possible plans, along with the means to thwart them." He pauses. "Hmmm, and with Zia's shadow shifting abilities...." /Zia? Check me on this...{..............}/ With that thought Nemo and Zia start "discussing" some sort of math. The sort that has most of the others looking dazed. I'm assuming that after Nemo and Zia finish "discussing" the matter, the result will be something along the lines of: "We can counter anything they try 'before' they try it. To the extent that they can't come up with a 'stable' future that doesn't include us getting what we want. Anything else will be Heisenberged to death." If this isn't acceptable to the GM, let us know what is. ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 05:06:33 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Global Life Insurance's Traveler's Bonus Plan On Thu, 7 Oct 1999 00:46:51 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00007459 >On Wed, 6 Oct 1999 20:16:50 -0700 (PDT) >Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00007440 > >"On the bright side, nobody's labeled the CAoL like this..." Rob >hands OneEye a piece of paper. A biohazard symbol has been sketched >on it, with the biohazard type listed as, "Callahanian Army of >Light." "That'd be improper labeling, lad. The sign should look like this:" / \ / 4 \ / \ / \ / 4 \ / 4 \ \ / \ / \ / * \ / \ * / \ / The upper asterisk is a biohazard symbol, the lower is a radiation trefoil. ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 06:03:36 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Command Decisions On Thu, 07 Oct 1999 08:29:51 -0400 Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00007460 >On Tue, 5 Oct 1999 23:25:17 -0700 (PDT) >FailSafe Said As CAoL Message # 00007388 > >>On Tue, 5 Oct 1999 23:51:48 -0400 (EDT) >>caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00007379 >> >>Essex arches a brow, "I'm flattered, I think. Failsafe, I trust you >>can provide a... telepathic download of the data I will need in >>order to pass as a native and do what needs to be done?" > >"Only to a point, > I have little data on the internal workings of The Guild..." > >>Legion says, "If not, I can provide that information once I've >>become...acclimatized to that reality." > >>Essex turned to Legion, taking one of her hands in both of his. "I >>would rather you stayed here, it would be safer." > >"It may be the only way to access the Information, > Which I can not supply... > If she has a local Alternate who is a Guild Member..." [OOC: Let's see if I can make this conversation flow.] Essex arches a brow, "That seems highly improbable." Legion just chuckles. "Never say that around this group. Besides, >>Legion looks up at him, "You don't have to do this alone, >>Nathaniel.. you have nothing to prove to any of them." >> >>Essex says softly, "Not to them. To you." He raises one of Legion's >>hands to his lips, and kisses it gently. >> >>Legion... doesn't say a thing for once. She just blushes furiously, >>her eyes lowering. When Legion finally looks up again, she sees... >Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007408 > >At the same time, >At one end soil slides up over the ball, >At the other a hole 'perhaps 2" diameter' opens in the ground, > and air blows up past Mischief's Tail... Mishief gives a squeek of indignation, leaping straight up in the air, and managing to land rotated 180 degrees. Without any other thought in her furry little head she bolts down that hole to find out What Did That To Her, intending to notch its ears and teach it to Leave Kittens' Tails Alone. Legion leaves Essex to find out what her daughter was up to, and pulls the 'ball' out of ground. It sits there, glowing faintly with enough power to run a small chantry for a year. "This should -not- have happened. She's not supposed to be able to manipulate magic until she hits adolesence." Without warning, Legion turns and points a finger at Roger. "And DON'T say anything to me about the future. If Wrinkle doesn't get you, I Will." [OOC: And since Roger's the only one who ICly KNOWS who her mom is (though others might suspect after meeting her briefly) this sounds alot more threatening to him than it does to Legion herself, who doesn't know her parentage. Eric and Rio -might- guess her an Oracle of Correspondance if they get a look at one of her 'ports' or her 'fixing' a disturbance. Or they might guess something else. ;) ] *snip* >I am expecting a Jump swap ends and explore the hole... > Its got a 8 legged Squirrel in it... > Just about right for a game of tag... > 4 of the Legs can morph to wings... > It is A Nemisis Split. > Caprice, Feel free to write some or all of the Game... ;) Mischief and the Squirrel come BOLTING out of the far side of the hole, and take to the air. There are a couple near-misses of peoples heads at the two play chase. >"People, > I think we should move these discussions into the Castle, > Where amongst other things, > I will be able to control the local level of ambient Energy." Legion comments, "Sounds like a VERY good idea to me." She keeps ahold of the quint sphere, and begins to help herd the kitten towards the Castle. Essex heads to the castle, giving Legion her space for now (and leaving him alone if someone wants to take him aside for a talk). ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 08:40:23 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE:Visions of home. On Fri, 7 Oct 1983 07:51:19 -0700 Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00007462 >On Wed, 5 Oct 1983 10:06:35 -0700 >Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00007332 > Squee shifted the sword to his left hand and held it up, at the same >time, willing the mini-lens to appear in his human form. He gazed at >the pair, as if comparing them for some reason. > >TBC Night fell quickly, plunging the old castle into complete darkness while Squee sat there, lost in thoughts. A cold breeze made him shiver and snapped him out of his self induced trance, and he slowly stood up again and sheathed Soulstealer away. A single thought and Squee's body was covered with a thick covering of fur, and a casual gesture placed roaring fires in the three fireplaces. The voices were silent now, as they often got. It was almost as if it was tiring for them to torment him so. And so it should be. They sould exaust themselves with overwhelming fatigue for trying to torture him. He was the strong one, he had survived. They were weak. They had died. So why did it feel the other way around sometimes? Squee walked about the room trying to follow his own thoughts and ideas. What did he want? His goals seemed so clear once before. Now everything was becoming muddled, confused. He couldn't even seem to trust his own thoughts. Power. Power is what he always desired, and now he had it, but was it too much for him? Immediately he rejected that thought and kicked himself. He was the strong one. He could handle any power he got. He was invincible! Memories of Isla floated into his head. Power hadn't been his quest, it had been hers. But she had taught him well and he had taken it for his own as well. But what had been his? His family. Memories of The Controller's lair in Arcadia. Running around and hiding in rat form, as his world was beseiged. Alone and frightened. He wanted his mommy, and his daddy. But they were gone. Lost in the chaos when the Dopplegangers and The Controller's legions had attacked the village and began hauling away prisoners. Squee looked at the castle walls around him and realized they reminded him more of The Controller's lair than he cared for. And he could still feel so vivdly the hurt and longing he had felt then. He wanted his family back. His thoughts then moved to the CAoL who had found him. They had considered themselves a family. Claimed he was part of their family. Hate. Anger. Confusions. Pain. Sorrow. Envy. Satisfaction. All these emotions welled up in him at once at the thought of the CAoL. Then came the voices again. Faint soft voices. He braced himself for another mental onslaught, but then realized that these were different voices. He looked down at his mini-lens and it glowed softly. He had activated the link unconciously. That was their voices he was hearing in his mind. But he couldn't recognise all of them. Squee concentrated and wove together spells of masking to hide his mind on the link. He realized it would probably be smarter just to close the link, but he didn't want to. If nothing else this was a distraction from the self-destructive thoughts of a moment ago. Also his curiousity had been Piqued as to what the CAoL was up to right now. Now mentally cloaked he let his mind slip a bit furthur into the link. The spells were not perfect and would only keep his hidden as long as he stayed inactive. The voices got louder and he could start to see blurred images through the mind's eyes of the people on the link. Finally he got as close in as he dared. The voices were still echoed and he had to listen carefully to make out the words, and the pictures were blurry, but he didn't dare let his mind slip any furthur in. They might notice him and attack his mind, leaving his body as a gibbering husk on the Castle floor. Piece of....Dyson....Trump...Fuzzy...Erik. So many mixed thoughts, Squee wasn't making out anything intellegable. He had to focus on one voice in the crowd. Curiosity welled up inside him. Finally he got the gist of what was going on and dropped his Link. They were on a Dyson Sphere looking to bring one of their own, Fuzzy, Back to life. His own magics could animate the dead, but his attempts at ressurrection thusfar had failed. What if there was something about it they knew he didn't? It could bring back his parents! He wouldn't be alone anymore! But they wouldn't let him in on their secrets. They hated him. They feared him. They had always feared him. He would have to find someone else to get the secret for him. But who? The CAoL could be very suspicous people, expecially when questing. Someone finding them from The Place might be good. But someone they knew would be better. Squee smiled to himself as he thought of the perfect person to send. Powerful enough to be able to survive in the CAoL, yet naive enough to be able to convince to help. Yes, he would work perfectly... Squee drew out SoulStealer and made three slashes through the air with it in the form of a Triangle. With each cut, a thin glowing line appeared. Then after the third cut, Squee thrust the sword into the exact center of the triangle and the piece of reality fell away, leaving a portal there. Squee passed through, letting it close again behind him. TBC-Again. ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 08:40:29 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: My Kung Fu, part II... On Thu, 7 Oct 1999 08:29:14 -0700 (PDT) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00007463 >On Wed, 6 Oct 1999 21:30:16 -0700 (PDT) >The Lone One Said As CAoL Message # 00007445 > >>On Wed, 6 Oct 1999 21:17:26 EDT >>SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00007430 >> >>Roger wanders over and scopes out the discarded papers, with a >>pretty good suspicion of what he's going to see in advance. He >>sidles over towards Rob. "Feeling redundant? Welcome to the club >>I mean, let's face it, compared to firepower like *them*--" He cocks >>a thumb each at Aurora and FailSafe, "you and I are equally... >>flyspeckish." He shrugs. "And in some conflicts, we really are >>effectively useless. "It's not the power, it's the duplication of effort. With two World-class fighters, and one that uses cosmic power to back up hand-to-hand abilities, the skill I've spent most of my life honing seems unnecessary to the group." >>But," His expression hardens, "we also get into situations where >>that old saw about the horshoe nail becomes frighteningly true. At >>some point, every one of us is pivotal to the fate of universes." >>His expression lightens. "Frightening, isn't it? Besides, don't >>forget what you did to Deathwalker on our last outing -- the >>Unbearably Cute Brigade kept her distracted long enough for Zia to >>pull her card." "Which fits my point. Nobody here is likely to have studied spells like Animate Plush Toy, or Scramble an Egg in the Shell. A friend of mine who studied business said it was something about relative and absolute advantage. Even in relative advantage, my Ler Drit training is still a small contribution. I'm looking to contribute in a realm of absolute advantage." > Mandy finished putting the Galil back together, and slid it home >in the back scabbard. She wandered over to Rob, flopping on the grass >nearby, just in time to catch Roger's last words. "Yeah." A nod >followed that pronouncement before she fell silent. The T-shirt logo >changed from the gothic 'Raver' to a drawing of a lawn sign reading, >'The Club' in scratchy letters. > > A silver-nailed hand scratched abstract designs in the spreading >lichen growth. Ignoring the changing T-shirt message, she continued, >"Welcome to the club. Last time I went out, the only thing I had >going for me was my sharing a body with Raver. At least this time >around I know which end of a gun to point at the bad guys thanks to >Wanderer..." "And you're more inconspicuous than most of the people in this group. A trained fighter could read my power level, and judge me to be a threat. Any mage could see Harlock coming. And Aurora...let's not get started." ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 11:07:35 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: FuzzyHome and Questions On 10-07-1999 at 11:04:49 FailSafe Said As CAoL Message # 00007464 >On Wed, 6 Oct 1999 20:18:28 EDT >SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00007424 > >Roger blinks. "Maybe I missed something. But if I understand >correctly, the only *practical* use that they put the Gauge to is >creating simultaneous infinite-range communication systems. If they >were offered something that worked just as well, if not better, they >might part with the Gauge willingly. Unless they hold it as a >religious icon or some such." "You are missing the distasteful point that, As the sole source of an Essential Technology, They can Ask any price they want, and Get It from somebody, I believe the Current price is set, To Balance Quantity versus Unit Price for Maximum Net. The Political Power they wield follows naturally, from the fact that they can refuse to sell to some one, and Do the Same to anyone who Sells them second-hand Equipment." "Thus they will Suppress Any potential for another source." >He pauses in thought for a moment. "Hmm. I wonder if we might >convince them to trade it for a working prototype transmat system >that worked in the same speedrange regime...something rigged so that >reverse-engineering it would not be too difficult for opponents of >the monopoly." He shrugs. "It's a long shot at best, but I thought is >was worth tabling for discussion." "Worth Discussion." ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 11:07:51 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Third Artifact On 10-07-1999 at 11:04:50 FailSafe Said As CAoL Message # 00007465 >On Wed, 06 Oct 1999 19:32:50 -0700 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00007437 > >>On 10-06-1999 at 17:49:46 >>FailSafe Said As CAoL Message # 00007419 >> >>"According to the Legends, >> The Cosmic Engineer was used to change the Collapsed Galaxy, >> Into The Ship of War called, The Blue Horizon." > > /"Mmm,"/ Roland 'comments,' looking at FailSafe with an unreadable >expression. /"A device with the genius of a Tony Stark, the >processing power of a Borg Cube, apparently telepathic CAD/CAM >facilitles, and a possibly total lack of morality,"/ he muses. >/"Sounds lovely. Any idea what might still be in the same universe >with it? The last thing we need is some paranoid tyrant engineer >looking for reinforcements among our enemies."/ Roland swallows, and >those looking at the back of his cape can briefly see the image of >Dr. Destroyer flicker across it... "You have a Very Nasty Mind." "I can not refute the possibility, But I also must point out that it may have had a Crew." "There have been no recorded contacts or sightings of The Blue Horizon, During the last 3 or 4 hundred million years." ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 11:07:58 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Global Life Insurance's Traveler's Bonus Plan On 10-07-1999 at 11:04:50 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007466 >On Thu, 7 Oct 1999 01:12:14 -0500 (CDT) >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00007450 > >>On Wed, 06 Oct 1999 19:22:53 -0700 >>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00007436 >> >> 'Roland' concentrates. /"I wonder if I can-"/ >> He appears on the bridge of the Jupiter Two. 8^) >> /"-pull this off. WHOOPS!"/ He grins sheepishly at the (no doubt >>astonished) Robinson extended family. /"Sorry,"/ he says to them. >>/"I intended to appear _outside_ the ship. My name is Roland, also >>of the Callahanian Army of Light, and their leader until I can stick >>some-ah, well, that's neither here nor there. I can bring your ship >>down safely, if you wish. Would you like me to, or might I help in >>some other fashion?"/ > > Will and family do look surprised, but adapt very quickly. One >might think beings appeared to them out of thin air every weak. > One wouldn't be far off in that estimate, either. ;) > "Uhm," Will says, running a hand through his red hair, "Well, as >I just finished saying to Nemisis, we seem to be physically intact, >but are at a loss to explain how we got here. If you know of a good >landing place, we'd like to touch down and make sure we didn't >sustain any damage our systems aren't detecting." {"I am Activating a Standard Landing Beacon Now, Unless you would like to have a tug bring you down."} {"Fuel and Supplies are Availible on Request"} {"Be Aware that the Shape of the Gravity Slope is Non-Standard."} ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 11:42:17 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE VI: The Third Artifact On 10-07-1999 at 11:40:47 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007467 >On 10-06-1999 at 17:49:46 >FailSafe Said As CAoL Message # 00007419 > >"According to the Legends, > The Cosmic Engineer was used to change the Collapsed Galaxy, > Into The Ship of War called, The Blue Horizon." > >"Within a year from that point The Blue Horizon, > had exterminated the users of the Gravitic Imploder, > Root and Branch..." :( > >"The Blue Horizon, > has not been seen since, > and the Government and all of the Cultures, > which used it were destroyed by internal strife, > short there after..." "Stranger, You said the Blazon of the Ship that got you to the Sphere, Was a Flat Black Disk with a Bright Blue Border?" "I am sending a Split to Verify the the Hatch is Still Open." "FailSafe, I think we may have a clue as to an access point, By which we can Board The Blue Horizon." ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 11:42:22 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Global Life Insurance's Traveler's Bonus Plan On 10-07-1999 at 11:40:48 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007468 >On Wed, 6 Oct 1999 23:21:41 -0500 (CDT) >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00007443 > > Will blinked in surprise. > "Do you know her, Will?" Penny asked. > "I think so... maybe seven years back, when I was on that bad >medieval planet with all the Tolkein-esque aliens." > "It would have been fifteen years for the people there after >accounting for the Twin Paradox. Is that where we are?" > "No, no, we left that place a long time ago, and it wasn't a >Dyson Sphere." > Will then keyed the mic, looking bemused, {"You certainly do get >around. Yes, I remember you. Am I to infer the Callahanian Army of >Light have jurisdiction here to authorize our landing?"} {"Close Enough, we have a Facility in this Sphere."} >>{"What is your ship's condition?"} > > Will smiled a bit sheepishly, {"We appear to be intact, the >question on our minds more being to determine just how we got here >when we were last trying to escape some sort of bizarre energy >vortex...... > {".....Though checking our systems does seem in order as they >show us inside an extremely large sphere containing a star and system >of small planets. Unless we somehow slipped through (or punched) a >hole in the side of this thing (and survived), I'm assuming our >sensors are in error."} > John Robinson muttered to Maureen, "I was wondering that >myself." > Maureen smiled, "Great minds think alike." {"Your Sensors are essentially correct, As to the Circumstances of your arrival, I think That had best wait until you are here. It is a rather difficult tale."} ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 12:04:48 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Roger and retcons On Thu, 7 Oct 1999 14:46:17 EDT SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00007469 In a message dated 10/6/99 4:08:38 AM Eastern Daylight Time, ljwolfe writes: >>>Rio stops, turns, and stares at Roger. "Ohh, yeah," she mutters, >>>"Roger from the Future. _This_ is going to be _interesting_." >> >>"I should change my codename to Timex...." > >Rio very deliberatly licks her lips. Roger *twitches* at that, then: >> He gives her his rakish grin, the rare one that comes with a >>Surgeon General's Warning. "You *do* realize, lovely lady, that we >>are now violating several causality rules? My Unc -- er, I mean, >>Wrinkle will be *quite* put out with us." He pauses for reflection. > >The playful sparkle in Rio's eyes fades as her eyes grow wide. >"Wrinkle? I'd be messing with WRINKLE?" [Dear me, I think I've impressed her.] "Well, actually, no...normally, Wrinkle won't bother with little things like this unless we start actually messing with the flow of continuity. Or if he thinks he needs to throw a scare into you. Or if he's just having a slow day...." >> "Although I must say that if you kiss him like you just did me, >>you should be able to wrap him around your little finger. He's... >>vulnerable, that way...sometimes." > >"Are we talking about the same Wrinkle?" Rio has a decidedly >deer-in-the-headlights look. "The ultimate Boogie Man? The Paradox >spirit, the guy who any self-respecting Cultist prays they never >meet? And if you do, you agree with everything he says and _hope_ >it's enough?" Her voice shakes just thinking about it. "And he thinks >I could just kiss him and...." She shudders slightly. "Take it as a compliment on your CoXmic Kissing Ability," Roger says before thinking, somehow making the capitals come across verbally. "Ahem! All kidding aside, I can't deny that Wrinkle is dangerous -- cross him inside his sphere of authority, and he's absolutely ruthless. But he's not completely merciless, and he's not into idle malice. Now, I have to admit I seem to be on his good side -- he may cut me a bit more slack than most. I think I tickle his sense of irony." >> A momentary wave of ineffable sadness washes across Roger's face >>and disappears back into his rakish grin. "In the meantime, about >>that tie-dye: have you given any thought to the benefits of... >>spaaaandex?" > >"'Benefits'?" Rio has calmed down a little (possibly with Roger's >help? ). "To me, or to the fanboys who... hmmmmm...." She bites >her lip thoughtfully. Roger looks bland as vanilla pudding. >>>OOC: How's Roger at sensing Time abilities in others? >> >>Normally pretty damned good (Wrinkle wants someone to spell him >>during vacations -- kidding!), although his edge is going to be >>rather dulled at the moment by his condition. But if she has an >>affinity for Time, he should be able to make an educated guess at >>how strong and how accurate she is, and end up somewhere in the >>ballpark. Is she a Traveller, or a Sensor? > >OOC: She's an Adept - Time 4, if you're familiar with Mage. It's her >strongest Sphere. She can't time travel (yet), but she can still do >some pretty impressive things to the fabric of time. Five would be a >Master (Zia, that's what Eric was referring to re: Master of Prime), >but even a Master can't travel to the past and hope to return. At >least, no one has yet. That takes 6, a level held only by Wrinkle and >(if you believe legend) a gentleman known as Master Scientist Wells. >;-) Level 6? But Roger *has*....or has he? Going to have to think about this. There may be a reason that Wrinkle took a shine to the kid after all."Let me get this straight. You want to take a vacation. For a century. As a "mortal" (a term that's relative as all hell in this case). And you want *me* to run things for you while you're gone?" "Well, you do have a certain native talent for it. As for your attitude...well, having the rest of the Correspondance Spirits watching over your shoulder all the time, day and night, should keep you from giving in to your, shall we say, 'heroic' impulses." "This is revenge, isn't it? For all the hassle I've given you about 'lightening up.'" "Why, my *dear* boy, what*ever* would give you *that* idea? Heh heh." >Rio >"Sex is one of the nine reasons for reincarnation. . . the other >eight are unimportant." > Herny (sic?) Miller Hmm....suddenly, Rio puts me very much in mind of the girl from Meatloaf's "Objects in the Rearview Mirror" from Bat Out of Hell II. ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 12:04:58 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Global Life Insurance's Traveler's Bonus Plan On Thu, 7 Oct 1999 14:46:26 EDT SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00007471 In a message dated 10/6/99 6:07:25 PM Eastern Daylight Time, kingofthecastle writes: >OneEye, looks up suddenly, then fishes around in his giant backpack. >He pulls out a small scanner, and aims it roughly towards where the >ship currently is. His face drains color, and he shakes his head. "Is >it just me, or do improbabilities follow this group like nothing >else? Good lord...." Roger opens his mouth, decides against the first three or four reflexive responses to that question, and settles for: "It's not you." ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 12:05:03 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: FuzzyHome and Questions On Thu, 7 Oct 1999 14:46:37 EDT SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00007472 In a message dated 10/6/99 10:04:36 PM Eastern Daylight Time, samatha1 writes: >"Careful, Roger; they might decide on a different name." Zia remarks. >"You'll un-Roger yourself, and then we'll have to just call you Wilco >alone, instead of just Roger Wilco for jumping the gun so often." > >[OOC: Okay, it's only a GUESS. This-time Zia cannot time travel - but >she is a durn good guesser. She figures it'll be worth it if on the >longshot she is correct. This seems as likely as any anecdote to >explain 'Roland Junior's' nickname.] OOC: If it's a sure thing, is it still a bet? (:) Roger grins at his favourite Aunt, very lopsidedly. "Actually, I think I've already done it. I'm not a twin, Auntzie." ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 12:05:08 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: House Phoenix/Greywolf On Thu, 7 Oct 1999 14:46:44 EDT SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00007473 In a message dated 10/6/99 11:07:39 PM Eastern Daylight Time, ljwolfe writes: >>Roger BLINKS. Once, and then again. "Oy? Dad, I was practically >>dimension-hopping before I could *walk.* Remind me to tell you about >>the fax machine and the PB&J sometime. Heck, my first battlefield >>was one where I 'port-followed you and Mom after getting past the >>cottage's security systems. I was too young to remember, but you >>told me later that I saved the day." >>Roger leaves out the details of *how* he saved the day, which >>involved his discarded diaper and the foot of the head Bad Person at >>an innoportune moment...after all, it's not *really* important, is >>it? > > Roland relaxes. Somewhat. /"Good. I promised myself I wouldn't let >that happen, but you should have had your powers at least reduced >while so young."/ There seems to be more, but he doesn't go into >detail. > (OOC: OTOH, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that Roland had >to figure things out for himself, through the standard blocks of >youth - and he _has_ mentioned that he's so powerful due to having >two Immortal parents...) Roger blinks again. "Oh, Light, no! You both were always completely up-front with me. Which is why you're among the people whom I'll accept the 'you're not ready to not that' kind of explanation; *that list I can count on the fingers of one hand."His expression changes from fond to impish. "As for power regulators, well, their affect on me seemed...erratic, at best. Aunt Sil always said that it seemed like my powers most of my childhood trying to decide what they wanted to be -- she swears up one way and down the other that my powers had a mind of their own, trying to get around the blocks." He looks apologetic. "I'm afraid I was rather...exhausting, as a child. Cute, bright, and slippery as a wet bar of soap, but exhausting." >^Remind me to make sure we give the home security system an upgrade,^ >Morgan sends with a mental smile, letting her 'words' 'leak' out over >the 'family link' to Roger. Roger finds something very interesting on the ceiling. "Won't work," he says brightly. >>"No, not Destroyer," Roger sighs. "But someone who could definitely >>give him a run for his money. Fortunately for all of us," his face >>turns grim, "that particular 'person' is unlikely ever to be seen in >>the Multiverse again. What I find *truly* disturbing," he adds >>worriedly, "is that this 'person,' while having the power and >>control, shouldn't have had the *knowledge.* When I get a chance, >>I'm going to have to research this a little more thouroughly." > > /"Someone I don't know yet, I'd imagine,"/ Roland replies coolly. >/"Maybe I'm just getting paranoid in my old age, but I'd bet a >Slingshot that Destroyer's talons are in it somewhere. Especially if >someone is showing more information than they should."/ > (OOC: A Slingshot is the Champions' equivalent of a Quinjet, what >the Avengers use.) Roger stops *dead* -- Patrons can almost see his thought processes freeze for long moment, then start off again in high gear. "That....That could explain a great deal. Except...if *that* were the case, I should be dead now. Completely dead." He begis chewing the inside of his cheek. "I have to think about this." >>>eat your heart out. Thanks, Roger."/ Roland blinks. /"Um, this >>>isn't going to cause any paradoxes, is it?"/ >> >>"Uh. Err. Um. That is....ah, well, if Wrinkle hasn't shown up *yet,* >>I guess not, eh? Heh. Heh. (oboy)" > > There's a laugh from nowhere, and everywhere, that sounds like >it'd make the Shadow wet his pants. It fades quickly, though... Roger waits until well after the laugh is gone. "One might be tempted," he says dryly, "to think that Wrinkle's one joy in life consists of trying to make me freak. Or at least jump a little." >OOC-Morgan/Rio: I'm _so_ glad Rio is in the Sphere and not in the >Place anymore! OOC: Oh, Roger would have "protected" her.....(:) >>"Hmmm.....hey, have you considered 'Roger'? What?!? WHAT?!? It's a >>perfectly good name, y'know! And it's NOT mine -- Roger is my >>*nickname!* Remember, *I* got saddled with 'Roland Junior'...." > > /"And what,"/ Roland says, his voice gaining just a touch of >steel, /"is wrong with 'Roland,' might I ask?"/ Roger backpedals fast enough to leave skid marks. "Nothing! Nothing at all! Nada, zlich, zero, the big goosegg! It's just..." he falters momentarily..."a little hard to live up to, sometimes." >/"So, it'll be Elaine and Roland, then?"/ Morgan asks too brightly. > > /"I didn't say that,"/ Roland adds quickly, as Morgan's chuckle >can be heard in the background. Obviously the subject of names is >still being 'discussed.' "Tristan and Isolde?" Roger says brightly. >>On Wed, 6 Oct 1999 21:33:15 -0400 >>Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00007431 >> >>"Careful, Roger; they might decide on a different name." Zia >>remarks. "You'll un-Roger yourself, and then we'll have to just call >>you Wilco alone, instead of just Roger Wilco for jumping the gun so >>often." >> > Roland weighs Roger with his eyes, amusement flashing behind them >once more. /"Heh. I wasn't aware that you'd trained with the Space >Janitor Corps. So how _are_ the Andromeda Brothers, anyway?"/ > (OOC: Forged No-Prize to the first person who gets the reference. >8^) "Still swinging a pretty heroic mop....although if I have to bail those guys out *again*...." OOC: Space Janitor Corps...that's from the old SpaceQuest games, right? I'm afraid I missed the Andromeda Bros ref -- consider the above an adlib, free retcon to the first 5 responders. (;) ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 12:05:17 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Global Life Insurance's Traveler's Bonus Plan On Thu, 07 Oct 1999 18:47:26 GMT Tech Tonic Said As CAoL Message # 00007474 >"No, improbabilities follow the CAoL like a litter of starving >kittens following a pickup truck with bad shocks and no tailgate that >has been overloaded with fish." Rob grins. "On a slow day, that is." > >"On the bright side, nobody's labeled the CAoL like this..." Rob >hands OneEye a piece of paper. A biohazard symbol has been sketched >on it, with the biohazard type listed as, "Callahanian Army of >Light." OneEye looks at the paper and grins. Laughing, he gives Rob a solid clap on the back, much stronger than an old man like him should be able to. "I think I'm going to like this group!" ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 12:05:28 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Global Life Insurance's Traveler's Bonus Plan On Thu, 07 Oct 1999 18:54:58 GMT Tech Tonic Said As CAoL Message # 00007475 >>{"What is your ship's condition?"} > > Will smiled a bit sheepishly, {"We appear to be intact, the >question on our minds more being to determine just how we got here >when we were last trying to escape some sort of bizarre energy >vortex...... > {".....Though checking our systems does seem in order as they >show us inside an extremely large sphere containing a star and system >of small planets. Unless we somehow slipped through (or punched) a >hole in the side of this thing (and survived), I'm assuming our >sensors are in error."} > John Robinson muttered to Maureen, "I was wondering that >myself." > Maureen smiled, "Great minds think alike." OneEye Finally Finishes setting up his instruments, pointed towards the Jupiter 2, roughly. The entire thing looks like an old telephone booth. He steps inside, then picks up the phone and begins speaking. He waits a few moments, then says a few more words, then waits, then hangs up. "Dr smith is up there too, eh? Well, he knows enough not to mess with me again." He grins evilly as he folds up the booth. crew or old crew?> ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 12:09:45 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Command Decisions On Thu, 07 Oct 1999 19:06:44 GMT Tech Tonic Said As CAoL Message # 00007476 >Legion comments, "Sounds like a VERY good idea to me." She keeps >ahold of the quint sphere, and begins to help herd the kitten towards >the Castle. > >Essex heads to the castle, giving Legion her space for now (and >leaving him alone if someone wants to take him aside for a talk). OneEye, not noticing anyone else do so, attempts to striek up a conversation with essex. "Good day sir, how art thou this fine" he looks up "Whatever it is? ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 12:33:53 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Global Life Insurance's Traveler's Bonus Plan On Thu, 07 Oct 1999 19:17:47 GMT Tech Tonic Said As CAoL Message # 00007478 >Roger opens his mouth, decides against the first three or four >reflexive responses to that question, and settles for: "It's not >you." Oneeye looks over at roger, a smart comment on his tongue, than does a slight double take. "Roger?" He mummurs, then shakes his head. "This travelling is getting to me, I'm seeing things." ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 13:04:04 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Global Life Insurance's Traveler's Bonus Plan On Thu, 7 Oct 1999 14:39:24 -0500 (CDT) Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00007479 >On 10-07-1999 at 11:04:50 >Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007466 > >{"I am Activating a Standard Landing Beacon Now, > Unless you would like to have a tug bring you down."} > >{"Fuel and Supplies are Availible on Request"} > >{"Be Aware that the Shape of the Gravity Slope is Non-Standard."} {"Thank you, Nemisis, I think we can manage the landing. We'll abort if we get into trouble,"} Will replied. Don took the pilot's chair and Doctor Robinson took the copilot's place. Will took a position at the sensors and main computer, working out the landing procedure for the interior of a Dyson Sphere. Everyone else strapped in. Will looked at Roland, "I'm not sure if you need to strap in or not, but this could get bumpy." ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 13:33:45 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Global Life Insurance's Traveler's Bonus Plan On Thu, 7 Oct 1999 15:27:11 -0500 (CDT) Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00007480 >On Thu, 07 Oct 1999 18:54:58 GMT >Tech Tonic Said As CAoL Message # 00007475 > > crew or old crew?> ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 14:09:38 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: FuzzyHome and Questions On Thu, 7 Oct 1999 12:10:27 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00007481 >On 10-07-1999 at 11:04:49 >FailSafe Said As CAoL Message # 00007464 > >"You are missing the distasteful point that, > As the sole source of an Essential Technology, > They can Ask any price they want, and Get It from somebody, > I believe the Current price is set, > To Balance Quantity versus Unit Price for Maximum Net. > The Political Power they wield follows naturally, > from the fact that they can refuse to sell to some one, > and Do the Same to anyone who Sells them second-hand Equipment." > >"Thus they will Suppress Any potential for another source." "If we use the designs I mentioned, it will be interesting to see them try to 'suppress' a technology that can be built in a home workshop from simple plans when they only find out about said plans as they appear in everything from hobby magazines to handouts at swap meets. Simultaneously." ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 14:09:44 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Roger and retcons On Thu, 07 Oct 1999 13:52:33 -0700 Rio Said As CAoL Message # 00007482 >On Thu, 7 Oct 1999 14:46:17 EDT >SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00007469 > >In a message dated 10/6/99 4:08:38 AM Eastern Daylight Time, >ljwolfe writes: >>>"I should change my codename to Timex...." >> >>Rio very deliberatly licks her lips. > >Roger *twitches* at that, then: Rio smiles :-). >>The playful sparkle in Rio's eyes fades as her eyes grow wide. >>"Wrinkle? I'd be messing with WRINKLE?" > >[Dear me, I think I've impressed her.] "Well, actually, no... >normally, Wrinkle won't bother with little things like this unless we >start actually messing with the flow of continuity. Or if he thinks >he needs to throw a scare into you. Or if he's just having a slow >day...." Rio starts to look less worried, at first. As Roger says the last two sentences, though, the concerned look starts to come back. "Don't worry," Roland comments. "Wrinkle doesn't _have_ slow days. There's always some fool or 'nother who's willing to fly in the face of Paradox." OOC: Roland won't say this if it violates causality. We're assuming this is the real-time-in-the-Place Roger, not the 5-minutes-in-the-past-to-hear-the-announcement Roger. >>"Are we talking about the same Wrinkle?" Rio has a decidedly >>deer-in-the-headlights look. "The ultimate Boogie Man? The Paradox >>spirit, the guy who any self-respecting Cultist prays they never >>meet? And if you do, you agree with everything he says and _hope_ >>it's enough?" Her voice shakes just thinking about it. "And he >>thinks I could just kiss him and...." She shudders slightly. > >"Take it as a compliment on your CoXmic Kissing Ability," Roger says >before thinking, somehow making the capitals come across verbally. >"Ahem! All kidding aside, I can't deny that Wrinkle is dangerous >cross him inside his sphere of authority, and he's absolutely >ruthless. But he's not completely merciless, and he's not into idle >malice. Now, I have to admit I seem to be on his good side -- he may >cut me a bit more slack than most. I think I tickle his sense of >irony." "Well," Rio admits, "It's true I've never heard of him negating anyone who didn't do something to deserve it. And not without giving them a chance or two to recant first. So I've heard." Her smile for Roger returns. >>> A momentary wave of ineffable sadness washes across Roger's face >>>and disappears back into his rakish grin. "In the meantime, about >>>that tie-dye: have you given any thought to the benefits of... >>>spaaaandex?" >> >>"'Benefits'?" Rio has calmed down a little (possibly with Roger's >>help? ). "To me, or to the fanboys who... hmmmmm...." She bites >>her lip thoughtfully. > >Roger looks bland as vanilla pudding. OOC: Somehow, Roger doesn't stike me as the 'vanilla' type . . We need to get these divergent threads tied up :-).> OOC2: After helping me with some of the wording, Roland commented, "And I'm helping you seduce our son." I about fell over laughing . >>Rio >>"Sex is one of the nine reasons for reincarnation. . . the other >>eight are unimportant." >> Herny (sic?) Miller > >Hmm....suddenly, Rio puts me very much in mind of the girl from >Meatloaf's "Objects in the Rearview Mirror" from Bat Out of Hell II. I had to look this one up. I'm assuming you refer to: "There was a beauty living on the edge of town She always put the top up and the hammer down, and she taught me everything I'll ever know, about the mystery and the muscle of love "She used her body just like a bandage She use my body just like a wound I'll probably never know where she disappeared, but I can see rising up out of the back seat now, just like an angel rising out of a tomb" Hmm, could be ;-) Like Eric, Rio's still a "young" character, created because I wanted to bring in someone who would be as different from Morgan as I could get and still have fun playing her, and had a minimal chance of getting romantically involved with Roland's character. With someone _else_, now, that's another story.... ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 15:28:21 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Hunter and The Actress On 10-07-1999 at 15:26:39 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007483 >On Thu, 07 Oct 1999 02:40:18 -0700 >Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00007451 > >FailSafe wrote: >> >>"That has possibilities, but >> would it not take crippling signal loss rates, >> to over turn several Thousand Years of Service? >> And even then it seems more likely the populace, >> Will blame the government that maintains the Switching Station, >> More than the Ansible Guild, >> Unless the Signal loss happens only in "New" Hardware... > >"Um," says Harlock, as a frown appears on his face, "I hadn't thought >of that aspect. Several thousand years of service? Hmm..." After a >few moments of brooding thought, he looks back up. "Nemisis? If I >understand correctly, you are capable of splitting parts of your >consciousness off to different points in the Matrix Cosm? How many of >these 'splits' can you maintain? Regardless, I intend to be in on >this portion of the adventure." The Bard heaves a dramatic sigh and >continues: "Would that I could travel with all three groups, for >ballads are best written from personal knowledge." "I am not limited to the Matrix Cosm, I currently have Splits in several other Universes." "I have not yet found a true Limit, However more than a few hundred nodes of shared consciousness, and It becomes Impossible to communicate with, Anything resembling a Mortal Mind... Difficulties arise far sooner." "More typically, I maintain no more than a dozen nodes of shared consciousness, With any others having, A Task List, A Set of Problem Solvers, and optionally a Persona. I am able to oversee their operations at will, and I then review and integrate their new data in detail on retrieval." ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 15:28:27 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: FuzzyHome and Questions On 10-07-1999 at 15:26:39 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007484 >On Tue, 5 Oct 1999 23:17:02 PST >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00007453 > >"It occurs to me to wonder what this Guild would do if they thought >that their device was no longer working." > >"For example, if we were to tracelessly remove *both* the original >item and the 'duplicate' as soon as the duplicate formed, we might >convince them that the "Guage" was now functioning in reverse." "A Possibility, but I'm not sure." "We should be able to program the replacement, To slowly shift from Normal to Reversed operation, Like some kind of elastic conservation law catching up to them." ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 15:28:32 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Command Decisions On 10-07-1999 at 15:26:40 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007485 >On Wed, 6 Oct 1999 10:12:00 PST >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00007455 > >"There are many techniques for harnessing certain 'quantum' effects >to not only provide untappable point-to-point communications, but >*tunable* units. That means you'd no longer need several >communicators, one for each destination. You'd merely need enough for >the maximum number of 'links' you wished to keep open >simultaneously." > >"And not only are these easily fabricated by anyone with a certain >level of technology, they are untraceable and unjammable. This makes >them far superior to the Guild product for most uses. Though some >governments tend to upset about the inability to tap or block private >links." "What level of Technology?, Technomagic seems to be common here, Some of the more common Stardrives as an example." >"Distribute working copies as well as instructions, and shortly the >Guild will be out of business, with a minimal amount of disruption of >the societies involved." > >As someone opens their mouth to object, Nemo adds. > >"However, it is well to remember that 'minimal' is *not* a synonym >for 'minor'. Whatever we do, there will be large and long term >effects. But this is one of many scenarios that will minimize the >disruptions and maximize the benefits." > >"One matter that needs to be decided is if we want to distribute the >version that is both cheap and 'instantaneous', or if we want to >distribute a version that works cheaply at lightspeed, but gets more >expensive for FTL linkages?" "Expensive to construct, or to operate? An Energy / Distance relationship?" >>>[OOC: StarSpawn and other Cosmic and Up Class Powers are, >>> The Only ones who should get anywhere near, >>> 'The Guardians of IF.'... >>> As for Why, You will find out... >>> Now Where did I put that Evil Laugh....?] > >You'll need it. Nemo's previously established abilities (as noted in >another message) couldn't be a better match for these guys if I'd >*tried*. Add Zia and they'll never know what hit them. [OOC: You think I didn't try? But that is only the second line of defense, and Easily predictable that they would have it, The First you will never notice, Not being native makes it ineffective, The Last line of defense is another matter. ;) ] ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 15:28:37 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: My Kung Fu, part II... On 10-07-1999 at 15:26:40 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007486 >On Thu, 7 Oct 1999 00:56:22 PST >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00007456 > >Nemo display to Eric, Roger, and any others how are interested an >image of a set of footprints, rather like one would use to teach >dance steps. They are numbered, and arranged rather oddly. The first >few are simple, after that, it appears as though it would be >increasingly difficult to 'take the next step'. There are 97 steps in >all. "Danger Room, I Think, Assuming it is best to follow that at a steasy pace, So that pacing reminders, and Error Indicators can be easily supplied." [OOC: This reminds me of something but it's vague, 'Sinanju' ? Maybe] ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 15:32:35 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Global Life Insurance's Traveler's Bonus Plan On Thu, 7 Oct 1999 14:40:45 -0700 (PDT) The Lone One Said As CAoL Message # 00007487 >On Thu, 07 Oct 1999 18:47:26 GMT >Tech Tonic Said As CAoL Message # 00007474 > >OneEye looks at the paper and grins. Laughing, he gives Rob a solid >clap on the back, much stronger than an old man like him should be >able to. "I think I'm going to like this group!" Mandy hauled herself up, using Rob's rock as a handhold, just far enough to get a good look at the paper (with the modification made by someone else, can't remember who), and grinned. "Hey, I *like* that." The lawn sign on the T-shirt rippled, changing to form a copy of the sketch. People wth a good view of the back got a look at stamped letters reading, 'Mobile Disaster Area -- Do Not Cross'. Well, the message could be inferred from the parts showing under the scabbarded Galil. Raver sent a burst of wry amusement down the bond, but the human simply flopped back down onto the lichens, replying with a loud raspberry. ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 15:32:41 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE VI: Decisions, Decisions On Thu, 07 Oct 1999 14:53:45 -0700 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00007488 >On Thu, 7 Oct 1999 00:24:22 EDT >Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00007444 > >In a message dated 10/6/99 8:37:20 PM Pacific Daylight Time, >ljwolfe writes: > >> The royal blue in Roland's energy form darkens a few shades as >>well. The cats almost expect the wing-like 'ears' on his costume to >>flatten back. /"I do. First, a warning of my own. If your...fellow >>units...are considering interfering with the CAoL, you might inform >>them that we take care of our own. I have been underestimated in the >>past, by Gaunt, Thorne, even Malice. I am here. They are not."/ >>Roland's expression twists briefly, as though his stomach twinged at >>the thought. /"And I am far from the greatest power in this group."/ > >"They are not considering it. They have decided. If the CAoL goes >into a particular place, they will force you out by any means >necessary." Scott's eyes vanish while he speaks the last sentence; >Osborne blinks, and the eyes are once more blue. "There is a battle >happening on the far edges of Matrix Cosm, and we have the bad luck >to have to walk through the middle of it. But I will get to that >later." /"Have they now,"/ Roland comments quietly. /"If there isn't a Fuzzy artifact in there, there's no reason to bother them. If there is...well, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."/ Privately, to Aurora and Nemo, he adds, ^Which doesn't mean we can't start preparing for it. I'd like you two to come up with some plans on that regard; I don't like that 'by any means necessary' bit, and I like threats even less.^ >> /"Second. While I hardly consider myself a gentleman any more, >>your little stunt was rude in the extreme, especially considering >>where Zia apparently keeps her...cards."/ Roland's eyes stop >>glowing; instead, the bright white 'superhero' eyeslits go jet >>black. /"Kindly refrain from such 'tricks' again."/ > >"As I said, it was also a warning; and the motion was performed after >she took the Trumps out, when it would be marginally easier, and >infinitely less rude." Roland grunts slightly, apparently somewhat mollified; the jet black in his eyes fades to a silvery-grey, and the blue of his 'costume' lightens a bit. /"Somewhat less, at any rate. The point stands."/ He seems unamused. >On Wed, 6 Oct 1999 10:12:00 PST >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00007455 > >"There are many techniques for harnessing certain 'quantum' effects >to not only provide untappable point-to-point communications, but >*tunable* units. That means you'd no longer need several >communicators, one for each destination. You'd merely need enough for >the maximum number of 'links' you wished to keep open >simultaneously." > >"And not only are these easily fabricated by anyone with a certain >level of technology, they are untraceable and unjammable. This makes >them far superior to the Guild product for most uses. Though some >governments tend to upset about the inability to tap or block private >links." Roland smiles _coldly._ /"You'd be amazed how little I care for a government's ability to deny communications to its populace."/ The smile vanishes. /"On the other hand, there are legitimate uses for communication tracing, and no matter how advanced the transmission system, the terminals are never as secure."/ >"However, it is well to remember that 'minimal' is *not* a synonym >for 'minor'. Whatever we do, there will be large and long term >effects. But this is one of many scenarios that will minimize the >disruptions and maximize the benefits." > >"One matter that needs to be decided is if we want to distribute the >version that is both cheap and 'instantaneous', or if we want to >distribute a version that works cheaply at lightspeed, but gets more >expensive for FTL linkages?" /"And there, you're out of my league,"/ Roland says with a wry grin. /"I trust to your judgement - and your probability sight."/ >On Thu, 07 Oct 1999 08:29:51 -0400 >Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00007460 > >>On Tue, 5 Oct 1999 23:25:17 -0700 (PDT) >>FailSafe Said As CAoL Message # 00007388 >> >>>Legion looks up at him, "You don't have to do this alone, >>>Nathaniel.. you have nothing to prove to any of them." >>> >>>Essex says softly, "Not to them. To you." He raises one of Legion's >>>hands to his lips, and kisses it gently. >>> >>>Legion... doesn't say a thing for once. She just blushes furiously, >>>her eyes lowering. Roland doesn't really look in their direction. He isn't even giving 'Essex' the majority of his attention. But the truly attentive (and there are quite a few in _this_ lot 8^) see the flinch, the deliberate turning to another issue, and the fact that he's _trying_ to give Essex the benefit of the doubt, but the name 'Sinister' won't shake loose from his head... >Legion leaves Essex to find out what her daughter was up to, and >pulls the 'ball' out of ground. It sits there, glowing faintly with >enough power to run a small chantry for a year. "This should -not- >have happened. She's not supposed to be able to manipulate magic >until she hits adolesence." /"Hmm."/ Roland looks thoughtful. >Without warning, Legion turns and points a finger at Roger. "And >DON'T say anything to me about the future. If Wrinkle doesn't get >you, I Will." Roland looks, of all things, _amused._ /"I'd listen to her, Roger. I saw her and Wrinkle together once. _He_ didn't want to mess with her."/ >[OOC: Eric and Rio -might- guess her an Oracle of Correspondance if >they get a look at one of her 'ports' or her 'fixing' a disturbance. >Or they might guess something else. ;) ] The following is Eric's knowledge of Paradox: it messes up magick somehow, it's some sort of 'natural' force, and it has related spirits, seemingly like everything else in the WoD. >>I am expecting a Jump swap ends and explore the hole... >> Its got a 8 legged Squirrel in it... >> Just about right for a game of tag... >> 4 of the Legs can morph to wings... >> It is A Nemisis Split. >> Caprice, Feel free to write some or all of the Game... ;) > >Mischief and the Squirrel come BOLTING out of the far side of the >hole, and take to the air. There are a couple near-misses of peoples >heads at the two play chase. Roland turns his head to keep track of what's going on, which is just enough...his form proves to be not entirely solid as the Nemisis split goes _through_ his head, leaving a warped hole in his head as it tries to regain its original shape. Then _Mischief_ plows through it, and it looks as if Mischief would have gained Quickening from that if it had actually _been_ Roland, except of course that Roland has a much harder head than that. 8^) Unless either decides to react, there is no effect on the chase. The two 'sides' of Roland's...er...neck threads flow back into a single head. (Think the end of T2. 8^) He looks rather disoriented, but otherwise unharmed. /"That was...weird."/ >>"People, >> I think we should move these discussions into the Castle, >> Where amongst other things, >> I will be able to control the local level of ambient Energy." > >Legion comments, "Sounds like a VERY good idea to me." She keeps >ahold of the quint sphere, and begins to help herd the kitten towards >the Castle. /"Legion...maybe it's this place,"/ Roland says, trying to be reassuring. /"Pretty much everyone has commented how much easier the stuff is to manipulate around here..."/ >On 10-07-1999 at 11:04:50 >FailSafe Said As CAoL Message # 00007465 > >>On Wed, 06 Oct 1999 19:32:50 -0700 >>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00007437 >> >> /"Mmm,"/ Roland 'comments,' looking at FailSafe with an >>unreadable expression. /"A device with the genius of a Tony Stark, >>the processing power of a Borg Cube, apparently telepathic CAD/CAM >>facilitles, and a possibly total lack of morality,"/ he muses. >>/"Sounds lovely. Any idea what might still be in the same universe >>with it? The last thing we need is some paranoid tyrant engineer >>looking for reinforcements among our enemies."/ Roland swallows, and >>those looking at the back of his cape can briefly see the image of >>Dr. Destroyer flicker across it... > >"You have a Very Nasty Mind." /"I'm afraid I have to,"/ Roland replies solemnly. /"Leading...ah...the CAoL, along with my experiences on my home world, have forced me to take >"I can not refute the possibility, > But I also must point out that it may have had a Crew." Roland frowns. /"Do we have anything on this 'Cosmic Engineer' besides a name?"/ >"There have been no recorded contacts or sightings of The Blue > Horizon, > During the last 3 or 4 hundred million years." Roland blinks. /"Okay, I'm a bit confused. Is the artifact this 'Engineer,' or the ship? Or have they become one and the same?"/ >On 10-07-1999 at 11:40:47 >Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007467 > >"FailSafe, > I think we may have a clue as to an access point, > By which we can Board The Blue Horizon." /"Well, if the Horizon is the artifact, or part of it, then our job gets easier from there. Unless _it_ fights us. Stranger, did you run into any resistance on board?"/ ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 16:33:22 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Probability Divergence lots of OOC On 10-07-1999 at 16:31:44 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007489 >On Wed, 6 Oct 1999 09:57:24 PST >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00007458 > >Nemo smiles. It's the sort of smile that would make anyone not >*certain* of where they stodd with him want to back off. Way off. >Like a universe or two. > >"Unfortunately for them, while I don't 'do' time travel, I do 'see' >probability sheafs. Where they have to keep running 'experiments', >serially, I see the plenum as a vast parallel process. Thus, unless >they were to get the perfect plan on their first try, I can see all >their possible plans, along with the means to thwart them." "Yes Serial Experimentation, In The Past..." [OOC: First let me apologize, for not having made some thing important Clear before, The Matrix Cosm allows but does not encourage divergent probability lines, 'The Game of IF' can force them to happen, As noted in its description... I have been working on how to Fix this without changing the Physical Laws of the Matrix Cosm... Each deliberate action generates a Sparse Probability Spread, No more than a Dozen lines, The Highest Probability is the one that does not dissipate, within 2 milliseconds, in cases of a tie, The Highest Survival count decides, The runner-up Becomes the Paradox Gem, Nemo can of course see these as they happen. he can also see the Probability pattern of any Paradox Gem, Which is currently installed on 'The Game of IF' for analysis, I would prefer (but not require) that he not realize that, he can track that sustained perception until after, Our Temporal Scouts report in. Nemo is of course Paradox Immune here because, to Trap Nemo in a Paradox they would have to Trap *NEMO*, That is beyond their Power and Reach...] >better suited for Nemo to derail them if he'd set them up himself!> "But since they will want to 'Activate' the Paradox Gem Reality in the present or future to force a 'Paradox Trap'...." >He pauses. > >"Hmmm, and with Zia's shadow shifting abilities...." > >/Zia? Check me on this...{..............}/ > >With that thought Nemo and Zia start "discussing" some sort of math. >The sort that has most of the others looking dazed. > > >I'm assuming that after Nemo and Zia finish "discussing" the matter, >the result will be something along the lines of: > >"We can counter anything they try 'before' they try it. To the extent >that they can't come up with a 'stable' future that doesn't include >us getting what we want. Anything else will be Heisenberged to >death." > >If this isn't acceptable to the GM, let us know what is. > [OOC: Should be able to, there is a small chance of failure, That however would require a Cosmic Grade mind on their side...] ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 16:33:28 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Decisions, Decisions On Thu, 7 Oct 1999 19:15:29 EDT Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00007490 Roland spoke thusly: > /"Have they now,"/ Roland comments quietly. /"If there isn't a >Fuzzy artifact in there, there's no reason to bother them. If there >is...well, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."/ "There is, but hopefully, they'll be done Pinning everything down by the time you must pass through. When the time comes, the CAoL -might- be allowed through, depending on the situation; it may require... special precautions, however." Scott pauses. "As to underestimation, I doubt they are capable of it. Many of them have pure tactics machines where their soul should be; one of the reasons I warned Zia about their relative friendliness." ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 17:03:42 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Decisions, Decisions On Thu, 07 Oct 1999 16:54:30 -0700 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00007491 At 03:32 PM 10/07/1999 , you wrote: >>"You have a Very Nasty Mind." > > /"I'm afraid I have to,"/ Roland replies solemnly. /"Leading... >ah...the CAoL, along with my experiences on my home world, have >forced me to take a lot into account, and a 'worst-case scenario' >outlook, on a regular basis."/ OOC: OOps! I _did_ write out that whole sentence honest...although it looked a little different the first time, I think... ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 17:48:59 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: House Phoenix/Greywolf On Thu, 07 Oct 1999 16:58:00 -0700 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00007492 >On Thu, 7 Oct 1999 14:46:44 EDT >SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00007473 > >In a message dated 10/6/99 11:07:39 PM Eastern Daylight Time, >ljwolfe writes: > >His expression changes from fond to impish. "As for power regulators, >well, their affect on me seemed...erratic, at best. Aunt Sil always >said that it seemed like my powers most of my childhood trying to >decide what they wanted to be -- she swears up one way and down the >other that my powers had a mind of their own, trying to get around >the blocks." He looks apologetic. "I'm afraid I was rather... >exhausting, as a child. Cute, bright, and slippery as a wet bar of >soap, but exhausting." Roland sighs. "I should've expected as much...at least I didn't shut you down completely. Shroedinger's superpowers," he adds with a wry chuckle. "I should've guessed." >>^Remind me to make sure we give the home security system an >>upgrade,^ Morgan sends with a mental smile, letting her 'words' >>'leak' out over the 'family link' to Roger. > >Roger finds something very interesting on the ceiling. "Won't work," >he says brightly. "Maybe we should enlist your help then," Morgan replies equally brightly. "That's assuming, of course, that we can trust you not to build in loopholes for your future 'siblings,'" she adds, with that parental tone that says 'of COURSE we can trust you' while implying 'we'd BETTER be able to trust you.' >>>"What I find *truly* disturbing," he adds worriedly, "is that this >>>'person,'while having the power and control, shouldn't have had the >>>*knowledge.* When I get a chance, I'm going to have to research >>>this a little more thouroughly." >> >> /"Someone I don't know yet, I'd imagine,"/ Roland replies coolly. >>/"Maybe I'm just getting paranoid in my old age, but I'd bet a >>Slingshot that Destroyer's talons are in it somewhere. Especially if >>someone is showing more information than they should."/ >Roger stops *dead* -- Patrons can almost see his thought processes >freeze for long moment, then start off again in high gear. "That.... >That could explain a great deal. Except...if *that* were the case, I >should be dead now. Completely dead." He begis chewing the inside of >his cheek. "I have to think about this." /"Just doing the math,"/ Roland replies as calmly as possible. /"It may be that Destroyer wanted the _other_ guy out of the way, not you. And ripping half a Halo away has _just_ the sort of Hallmark sentiment that Destroyer would like to sign his work with. He doesn't like competition, and he loves pitting his enemies against each other. (But you probably know all of that by now.) If I _have_ heard of the loser, if you tell me, that might help."/ >> There's a laugh from nowhere, and everywhere, that sounds like >>it'd make the Shadow wet his pants. It fades quickly, though... > >Roger waits until well after the laugh is gone. "One might be >tempted," he says dryly, "to think that Wrinkle's one joy in life >consists of trying to make me freak. Or at least jump a little." Roger hears a rather ordinary ticking... (OOC: No, that's NOT Wrinkle. It's Tiktok, a _much_ lesser Paradox spirit. About as far in the other direction as possible, in fact. Utterly harmless. At first... ) >>/"So, it'll be Elaine and Roland, then?"/ Morgan asks too brightly. >> >> /"I didn't say that,"/ Roland adds quickly, as Morgan's chuckle >>can be heard in the background. Obviously the subject of names is >>still being 'discussed.' > >"Tristan and Isolde?" Roger says brightly. "No," Morgan says simply. "They're _twins_. Siblings. I'm _not_ going to mess with them by giving them the names of a pair of lovers." Her tone speaks louder than her words that this is the _end_ of this line of baby-name speculation. >> Roland weighs Roger with his eyes, amusement flashing behind them >>once more. /"Heh. I wasn't aware that you'd trained with the Space >>Janitor Corps. So how _are_ the Andromeda Brothers, anyway?"/ >> (OOC: Forged No-Prize to the first person who gets the reference. >>8^) > >"Still swinging a pretty heroic mop....although if I have to bail >those guys out *again*...." > >OOC: Space Janitor Corps...that's from the old SpaceQuest games, >right? I'm afraid I missed the Andromeda Bros ref -- consider the >above an adlib, free retcon to the first 5 responders. (;) OOC: Ka-CHING! Your No-Prize would be winging its way to you right now, except, of course, it's a No-Prize. ;^) And the 'Andromeda Brothers' are the personae of the programmers, sort of a retro-sci-fi version of 'those annoying Post brothers,' if I get the reference right. 8^) ================================= Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 17:49:06 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Decisions, Decisions On Thu, 07 Oct 1999 17:04:46 -0700 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00007493 >On Thu, 7 Oct 1999 19:15:29 EDT >Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00007490 > >Roland spoke thusly: >> /"Have they now,"/ Roland comments quietly. /"If there isn't a >>Fuzzy artifact in there, there's no reason to bother them. If there >>is...well, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."/ > >"There is, but hopefully, they'll be done Pinning everything down by >the time you must pass through. When the time comes, the CAoL -might- >be allowed through, depending on the situation; it may require... >special precautions, however." /"Mmm. Carggite training..."/ His voice is rather...grim...as he says this... (OOC: Fuzzy, did you coordinate this with Scott? ) >Scott pauses. "As to underestimation, I doubt they are capable of it. >Many of them have pure tactics machines where their soul should be; >one of the reasons I warned Zia about their relative friendliness." Roland smiles sourly, glancing at Eric for no apparent reason. 8^). /"Huh. I've almost gotten used to it...it used to drive me nuts, and now I miss it."/ =================================