Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 6 Part 1 - Chapter 10 Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1999 12:54:10 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE VI: The Planning Room On 10-11-1999 at 12:52:15 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007606 Arriving in the Planning Room, It is a Large Room, A Number of 6 Foot deep Tables along the Walls, " The Walls and table tops can Display Data Readouts, Trace an area to make a Window, and State the Data to be Displayed... Touching the [More Info] will open a window, With all of the "Public" Data Discussed to date... About the Group task for that table." This Room is Big enough for a Dragon or two, to Pace Thoughtfully Up and Down the Center of the Room. Three of the Tables have Displays already open, ------------------------------------------------ Group One Artifact: The Gauge of Infinity Direction and Timing: Dr. Essex Infiltration Team: Dr. Essex, Unknown BackTime Setup Team: StarSpawn led by Already in Process Polaris, Cyan, Frey, and Boogyman. Present Time Tech Distribution: Nemo, Nemisis StarSpawn Persona's Unknown Rabble-Rousing, General Social Agitation, Propaganda: Bard Harlock [MORE Info] ------------------------------------------------ Group Two: Artifact: The Game of IF Direction and Timing: Unknown Suggested, Nemo Suggested, Aurora BackTime Scouting: Scott Osborne, OneEye Action Group: Nemo, FailSafe, Aurora, OneEye [MORE Info] ------------------------------------------------ Group Three: Artifact: The Cosmic Engineer Direction and Timing: Unknown Scouting Team: Nemisis, Unknown [MORE Info] ------------------------------------------------ Sorry I meant to get this out on Sat. but RL intruded... :( ================================= Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1999 13:34:07 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Planning Room On Mon, 11 Oct 1999 20:27:53 GMT Tech Tonic Said As CAoL Message # 00007607 >Group Two: > Artifact: The Game of IF > Direction and Timing: Unknown > Suggested, Nemo > Suggested, Aurora > BackTime Scouting: Scott Osborne, > OneEye > Action Group: Nemo, > FailSafe, > Aurora, > OneEye OneEye Takes a look at the listing, then looks around the room. He flickers, then nods in understanding. "Roight Roight. I'm ready wheneever anyone else is." He looks around then makes a general annoucement. " For those of you who don't know me, I go by oneEye. I'm also a merchant. If you need it, I have it, no ifs ands or buts, and I'm always giving stuff away." He sist back and resumes conversation.. ================================= Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1999 17:41:38 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE VI: The Planning Room, Group One On 10-11-1999 at 17:39:34 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007608 >On 10-11-1999 at 12:52:15 >Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007606 > >Group One > Artifact: The Gauge of Infinity > Direction and Timing: Dr. Essex > Infiltration Team: Dr. Essex, > Unknown > BackTime Setup Team: StarSpawn led by > Already in Process Polaris, > Cyan, > Frey, and > Boogyman. > Present Time Tech Distribution: Nemo, > Nemisis > StarSpawn Persona's > Unknown > Rabble-Rousing, > General Social Agitation, > Propaganda: Bard Harlock "Dr. Essex, What Trigger Event or Time delay do you want to specify, For Release of the New Ansible Technologies?" "Nemo, How were you planning to Publish those Ansible Plans, News Posts to the Int-R-Net (Inter-Realm-Network), Our something more Esoteric...?" "How they hear of it may affect, Their Acceptance that it has Validity, and The Rapidity with which they attempt to Implement the Plans..." ================================= Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1999 17:44:53 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: My Kung Fu, part II... On Mon, 11 Oct 1999 08:17:45 -0700 (PDT) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00007609 >On Mon, 11 Oct 1999 01:42:53 -0700 >Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00007601 > >The arrow, of course, is pointing at the same pouch Rob's coin landed >in. Harlock reaches into the pouch, looking somewhat bemused. After >he pulls a thick, leather-bound tome from the pouch (along with Rob's >coin) he wanders a bit closer to Rob. "A wild mage, are you? What >methods have you developed to ward yourself from the surges?" "No surges at all. There were wild surges in the early days, but with the help of a few footnotes from Dirac, Einstein, and Hawking, we managed to figure out how to avoid them completely. My quantum magic is what wild magic might become with a few centuries of refinement." "This does assume that a planet could survive such a period of experimentation. Iteration X provided computer simulations that allowed us to run several centuries of experimentation without, say, turning the population of the planet into sentient furniture. Without that, there would have been some really bad problems. As it was, Doctor Garrison changed his name to Gervase because of one of the early surges." Rob then heads down the hall, picks a door and walks in. Locking it behind him, he strips, and starts in on a shower. ================================= Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1999 17:44:59 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Meanwhile, back at the Place... On Mon, 11 Oct 1999 19:27:56 -0400 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00007610 >>On Sat, 9 Oct '99 Mike Knight Said >>Once she had 'announced' herself, she got her shake and sat down. >>"Hey, is that -the- Will Robinson? His ship doesn't look like the >>one in the movie..." "'Niece,'" says the Sentinel/Lensdragon, about to depart himself untill he saw Tink's arrival, "I'm going to have to talk to your grandfather about your cultural upbringing. Especialy if you've never seen the Original LiS Irwin Allan(sp?) TV show from the 60's. Frankly, the movie was a *very* poor follow-up. IMNSHO, though, obviously." ================================= Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1999 18:35:32 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Meanwhile, back at the Place... On Mon, 11 Oct 1999 20:20:05 -0500 (CDT) Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00007611 >On Sun, 10 Oct 1999 18:51:15 PST >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00007600 > >>On Sun, 10 Oct 1999 04:31:27 -0500 (CDT) >>Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00007590 >> >> While the discussion shifted away into peanuts and philosophy, >>Tink glanced around for a Nemo or another member of the CAoL who >>could relay the message. > >Nemo practically materializes next to her. (Actually, he just snuck >up, when he has the time for it, he's a sucker for "cute little >girls"). > >"Want some candy little girl?" Tink giggles, "No thanks, Uncle Nemo, I've still got strawberry shake left." She turns her gaze to the X-window. "I don't think Grandfather would object to my telling the whole story. And it'll make the request at the end more understandable." "Once upon a time, about fifty years ago, Grandfather met a redhaired man by the name of William Robinson. Grumpa was on the run from the Time Lords at the time in a stolen TARDIS and was attempting to lay low from them. So he was being very secretive. "They both were working as miners. One night, Will went on duty and there was an accident with one of the machines and Will was killed. Grumpa had been avoiding telling Will how to get home, for fear such a momentous event would somehow give him away. But out of guilt after the accident, Grumpa told the Robinson's the way home. "He'd always hated knowing if he had just pointed them to a star, Will could have survived. And that guilt compounded when the Army of Light met up with a younger Will on Quarren. Especially as he had to hide the truth from him. "But, Grumpa never saw the ship Will arrived in, and if that's it, it's really different from the one Grumpa told me about, which makes me think they aren't the same Robinson's whose future Grumpa knows. At the time they met on Quarren, he didn't know that, so he didn't help them get home then either. "But," Tink concludes, "Seeing as they now would appear to be a different group, I think Grumpa would be very happy to know we had helped them get back to Earth. So, I'm wanting to tell that to the Army of Light, but I can't send that far on the mini-lens. Could you please pass the word on for me?" ================================= Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1999 18:35:38 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Meanwhile, back at the Place... On Mon, 11 Oct 1999 20:31:06 -0500 (CDT) Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00007612 >On Mon, 11 Oct 1999 19:27:56 -0400 >Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00007610 > >>> On Sat, 9 Oct '99 >>> Mike Knight Said >>> >>>Once she had 'announced' herself, she got her shake and sat down. >>>"Hey, is that -the- Will Robinson? His ship doesn't look like the >>>one in the movie..." > >"'Niece,'" says the Sentinel/Lensdragon, about to depart himself >untill he saw Tink's arrival, "I'm going to have to talk to your >grandfather about your cultural upbringing. Especialy if you've never >seen the Original LiS Irwin Allan(sp?) TV show from the 60's. >Frankly, the movie was a *very* poor follow-up. IMNSHO, though, >obviously." Tink giggles, "No, I've seen both. I liked the movie though. The vegetable episode just ruined the series for me, but it started out really good." Tink glances in another direction as a patron catchs her attention and she embarks on figuring out if this is the Will Robinson her grandfather met twice or not then on to explaining what happened both times Michael Seven met Will Robinson. ================================= Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1999 19:11:43 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Planning Room On Mon, 11 Oct 1999 18:42:08 -0700 The Hunter Said As CAoL Message # 00007614 >On 10-11-1999 at 12:52:15 >Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007606 > >Group Three: > Artifact: The Cosmic Engineer > Direction and Timing: Unknown > Scouting Team: Nemisis, "I'll join that last group," Eric says, his voice more businesslike than dry. "I don't think that I'll be able to help much in the scheming against the Ansible Guild, and while the Paradox mages have to deal with doesn't concern me, I suspect a plain old temporal paradox could wipe me out as quickly as the next mortal. This Cosmic Engineer device, however, sounds like it requires a certain amount of combat savvy and flexibility." He smiles. It's not a pleasant smile. "That sounds like my department." ================================= Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1999 19:37:14 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Planning Room On Mon, 11 Oct 1999 19:35:02 -0700 (PDT) FailSafe Said As CAoL Message # 00007615 > On Mon, 11 Oct 1999 20:27:53 GMT > Tech Tonic Said As CAoL Message # 00007607 > >OneEye to Dr. Essex> Takes a look at the listing, then looks around the >room. He flickers, then nods in understanding. "Roight Roight. I'm >ready wheneever anyone else is." He looks around then makes a general >annoucement. " For those of you who don't know me, I go by oneEye. >I'm also a merchant. If you need it, I have it, no ifs ands or buts, >and I'm always giving stuff away." He sist back and resumes >conversation.. "Since the Plan seems to be for each of the BackTime Scouts, To trace a Different Historical Party, That went in search of 'The Guardians of IF', I can supply the Event-Point Coordinates for you, Will you be traveling under your own power, Having one of the Others Transport you?, Or I'm sure Nemisis could supply a Vehicle for your Use" ================================= Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1999 20:09:37 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Planning Room On 10-11-1999 at 20:07:19 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007616 >On Mon, 11 Oct 1999 18:42:08 -0700 >The Hunter Said As CAoL Message # 00007614 > > "I'll join that last group," Eric says, his voice more >businesslike than dry. "I don't think that I'll be able to help much >in the scheming against the Ansible Guild, and while the Paradox >mages have to deal with doesn't concern me, I suspect a plain old >temporal paradox could wipe me out as quickly as the next mortal. >This Cosmic Engineer device, however, sounds like it requires a >certain amount of combat savvy and flexibility." He smiles. It's not >a pleasant smile. "That sounds like my department." "As we have no idea what may be waiting for us there, Would you like the Direction Spot? That way there would no disruption of the chain of command, Should we find ourselves faced by, Hostile Personnel or Automation." "Do we have any other volunteers, My systems can not always follow Biological logic well, The Intuitions fo a Good Tech may save us time and difficulty." ================================= Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1999 20:09:41 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Planning Room On 10-11-1999 at 20:07:20 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007617 >On Mon, 11 Oct 1999 19:35:02 -0700 (PDT) >FailSafe Said As CAoL Message # 00007615 > >>On Mon, 11 Oct 1999 20:27:53 GMT >>Tech Tonic Said As CAoL Message # 00007607 >> >>OneEye >to Dr. Essex> Takes a look at the listing, then looks around the >>room. He flickers, then nods in understanding. "Roight Roight. I'm >>ready wheneever anyone else is." He looks around then makes a >>general annoucement. " For those of you who don't know me, I go by >>oneEye. I'm also a merchant. If you need it, I have it, no ifs ands >>or buts, and I'm always giving stuff away." He sist back and resumes >>conversation.. > >"Since the Plan seems to be for each of the BackTime Scouts, > To trace a Different Historical Party, > That went in search of 'The Guardians of IF', > I can supply the Event-Point Coordinates for you, > Will you be traveling under your own power, > Having one of the Others Transport you?, Or > I'm sure Nemisis could supply a Vehicle for your Use" "Yes there are a variety of Vehicles in storage here, I am having the Shops of the Carriage House, Modifying the navigation systems to handle, The local coordinate structure." "Any requests for specific vehicular priorities?." ================================= Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1999 20:12:42 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Planning Room On Mon, 11 Oct 1999 20:10:26 -0700 (PDT) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00007618 >On 10-11-1999 at 12:52:15 >Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007606 > >Group One > Artifact: The Gauge of Infinity > >Group Two: > Artifact: The Game of IF > >Group Three: > Artifact: The Cosmic Engineer Rob walks in, finger-combing his hair to finish drying it out, and studies the tables. Picking another table, he types up a note, and leaves it on display. "Other than the obvious fact that I don't belong in Group Two, I don't have any particular preference. If anybody has a specific reason to place me in one group or another, I'll entertain suggestions. Otherwise, I'll decide once the grouping settles out a bit more. -- Rob N." He then opens up another window at the same table, calls up a map of the castle, and locates the kitchen, all the restrooms, and the Danger Room. After studying it for a minute to memorize this, he heads out. ================================= Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1999 23:04:37 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Planning Room On Tue, 12 Oct 1999 01:37:45 -0400 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00007619 >On Mon, 11 Oct 1999 19:35:02 -0700 (PDT) >FailSafe Said As CAoL Message # 00007615 > Direction?, > Exec to Nemo Directing?, > Some other sub-task?> "Nemo, I think you wanted to pool efforts on the Second Group's objective, correct? I believe I can accomplish what you had in mind, although I'll need a way to computer-fast change Trump cards..." ================================= Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1999 23:04:42 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE:Uncommon Allies (WAS:Re: AAE:Visions of home.) On Tue, 11 Oct 1983 22:48:00 -0700 Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00007620 ---------- >From: Richard O'Marro >Subject: Re: AAE:Visions of home. >Date: Thursday, October 07, 1999 8:40 AM > 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. The portal opened up onto a dark deserted street. The moon was high, but only the sliver of a new moon, and over half the streetlights were out, so Squee changes his eyes into those of a cat for a better look around. Not a soul moved on the street around him. One of the cars parked at the curb had been badly vandelized with every bit of glass smashed on it, the wheels missing and dents all over the body. But by the spiderswebs that clung to it, it had sat like that for a while. Squee stretched out his mind. He knew his prey had to be here nearby somewhere. The spell would make sure of that. But the question was where. Finally he brushed a mind that felt 'right.' Locking in on it, Squee began making a bee-line. Squee moved off the street and into an alleyway. The light was almost too dark for even his cayseyes to be able to make anything out, but he navegated it anyways. He paused to get his bearings, and he distinctly heard something rustling in the trash dumpster beside him. Squee's hand went to Soul Stealer, but a pair of thrown cans hit his wrists and made him drop the magic blade. "Welcome to my parlour said the spider to the fly. You like it? I decorated it myself. I call it neo-refuse? So do ya really like it? ya think it might catch on? I hope so. Only trouble is each time someone looks at it I get SOOO hungry. Oh well. Whatcha gonna do? heheheHEHEHAHAHAHAHAHAH" came a voice from the dumpster. A figure slowly rose out of the trash. He wore a string of crushed tin cans around his neck with a banana peel in the center like a pendant. He wore no shirt or pants, only a skirt that looked to be made out of several torn up black trash bags. One his feet were cardboard cereal boxes. The outfit may have looked scavenged from the trash, but the fangs and claws looked in all too good of shape for Squee's tastes. He mentally prepared his fireball spell when he saw another figure seem to step out from the shadows. The trash clad Malkavian stood on the edge of the dumpster over Squee, arms out and ready to strike when there was a clicking noise. The Malkavian's left arm exploded at the elbow and he tumbled off the edge of the dumpster and into the ground with a scream. "OH that hurts. What's the wise guy? This is MY Domain! I AM THE KING OF THE TRASHPILE!!" The match seemed as bright as a flare to Squee's enhanced eyes as the dark figure who stepped out of the shadows lit up a cigar. Even at night in this pitch blackness, he wore his mirrored sunglasses. Leather glove clad fingers snuffed out the match as he re-holstered the silenced Colt 1911 under his trenchcoat. "Well call me the royal tutor then. Heck call me the King of the Tutors then. Cuz I'm about to teach ya a lesson you're never gonna forget. Your hunting is becoming way too public. I was sent to make sure you don't go showing off anymore." The Malkavian scrambled to his feet and tried to run, but Joe moved in a blur and grabbed him by the back of the neck and slammed the Malkavian's head against the dumpster. "Now ya see your troubles is that you ain't got any class. You don't seem to care who finds your trash. We can't let that keep happening." Joe smacks the Malkavian's head into the side of the steel dumpster again. "You see in this neighborhood, peoples are gonna hear this. But they're gonna think some schmuck is gettin rolled. And he is." Joe smacked the head against the steel again, making the half full dumpster slide over a few inches. "They just can't immagine how badly." The Malkavian whimpered, but that was about all he could do with his face shattered until it could heal again. If it got to heal again. Joe hefted him up off the ground one handed and looked at the bloodied face. "Ya see the trouble is. You've been leavin Bodies. You ain't cleanin up after yourself. And dat's not good." Joe swung the body around and smacked it into the brick wall, shattering the Malkavian's spine. "When you leave a mess, humans find it. When humans find things, it makes a mess for me. And then I gotta start cleaning up. I don like to haveta clean up. Ya know what I mean?" Joe threw the crippled body to the ground. The malkavian tried to start crawling away, it's body one huge black and blue spot, but Joe dropped down on one knee onto its back. "Now I ain't finished talking to ya, and it's rude ta try to go like that ya know what I mean? Come on. Say ya." Joe took the Malkavian's head in one massive hand and nodded it up and down for him. "Dat's better." Joe pulled out a knife from his pocket and pushed the button to make the blade click out into place. "Now What I've gotta do here is decide if you know better or not so I won't haveta come have any more talks with ya ever again. Ya know what I mean? Now, I is on the horns of a dilemma. Was this a good talkin to or not. Whatchoo think?" Joe paused and listened to the Malkavian whine. Finally he nodded. "dat's what I thought. So I'll never have to come back right? I thought so." Joe got up and walked over to Squee, leaving the Malkavian lying behind him as he puffed a couple times on his cigar. "So what da hell are you? Your aura ain't no human, puppydog or mage. So what are ya?" Squee sheathed the regained Soulstealer. "You knew my uncles I believe. Driss and Roscoe?" Joe nodded his head slowly "Ah so you're freinds wit them ehh? Yeh Roscoe had a wierd aura too now that I think of it. So what brings ya here?" Joe digs for something in his coat as the Malkavian slowly starts crawling away. "Do you remember the Army of Light? Uncle Roscoe called you in to help them out on Quaren?" Joe thought for a moment as he pulled out a small flask from his coat. "I think so. That was that wierd king aurthur place weren't it?" Joe undoes the cap on the flask and touches the tip of his cigar to the fuse therein. He tosses it behind his head without looking and it lands on the Malkavian. A moment later the Moletov Cocktail goes off, engulfing the Malkavian in flames. "That's it. Well they need your help again. Umm Maybe we can go somewhere more private to talk?" Squee said looking past Joe at the scene of the writhing corpse. "Yeh. It's getting too damn warm here. I wouldn't wanna ignite now." replied Joe, tossing the half used cigar over his shoulder as he walked furthur down the alley with Squee. A few hours later found Squee and Joe in his Basement apartment. Joe yawned as he could feel the coming dawn despite the fact that the bricked up windows let in no light whatsoever. Squee relaxed in a chair. "OK, this is it in a nutshell. The Army of Light is attempting to bring one of their number back to life again. I want to help out to find out how to do it, but I have some prior engadgements and can't go. But they need the help. So I'd like to send you in my place. You'd help them resurrect Fuzzy and then come back and tell me how they did it. Agreed?" Joe paused in his munching on a Zagnut bar. "Now hold it a minute. what's in this for me? Squee smiled widely. "A great gift for you indeed. I will make it possible for you to go out in the sunlight again." Joe's eyes narrowed. "that's a pretty big claim there." Squee held up a hand. "The sun is already rising. Let me show you now. Help me and you shall have this ability for the rest of your unnatural life if you want." Joe set down hsi Zagnut bar and put his hands on his hips. "Ok, let's see what ya can do. Quick before it gets too high so I can kills ya if it doesn't work." Squee shook his head, "I want you to help the CAoL, how can you do that if I let you get destroyed?" Squee began chanting and made some gestures with his hands, then frowned. "It didn't take." Joe chuckled, "Oh I probly shoulda told ya. I'm pretty resistant to magic." Squee scowled. "Well then we'll just have to not make the magic ON you shall we?" Squee pulled out an amulet out of a pouch, and concentrating, imbued it with magic, and shaped it into the form he wanted. when it felt right, he tossed it to Joe. "Here you go. Put it on." Joe looked at the pendant, "Doesn't really go with my look but OK." He put it on and looked down at himself. "I don't feel no different." Squee smiled, "No, but there's a definite darker outline of you now. The pendent puts a perpetual layer of shadow around you so sunlight can never touch your skin." Joe looked at himself again questioningly, "I can see magic all around me, but I don't notice a shadow." "You're too close. go out and try it." urged Squee. Joe went over to the door and paused. This was a friend's kid, but this was a big risk. Sunlight. Joe stood there frozen picturing going out into the sunlit hall and turning into a pile of ash. While Joe stood there frozen, Squee went and opened the door widely in front of Joe. Reflected sunlight flooded down into the dark room. Joe automatically cringed, but felt nothing. He took a step out and another and another until he was up the stairs and near a window. Blood covered his forehead as he sweated. But he still felt nothing. And it was time for the final test. He moves his hand into the direct sunray. And felt nothing. "you've got a deal. Now let's get inside before someone sees me. I'm sweatin bullets." A few minutes later Joe was dressed and equipped again. Squee sliced Soulstealer through the air three times and made a thrust knocking a small piece of space away and leaving a hole. Joe grinned at Squee, "Ok, I'll just read this card in my pocket when I'm done and you'll bring me home right?" Squee nodded "Right. and then you can let me know what I want." Joe gives Squee the thumbs up. "I'll see ya then." and steps through the portal. TBC ================================= Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 00:04:45 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE VI: Quantum magic? On Mon, 11 Oct 1999 23:55:11 -0700 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00007621 Peter Eng wrote: >"No surges at all. There were wild surges in the early days, but with >the help of a few footnotes from Dirac, Einstein, and Hawking, we >managed to figure out how to avoid them completely. My quantum magic >is what wild magic might become with a few centuries of refinement." > >"This does assume that a planet could survive such a period of >experimentation. Iteration X provided computer simulations that >allowed us to run several centuries of experimentation without, say, >turning the population of the planet into sentient furniture. Without >that, there would have been some really bad problems. As it was, >Doctor Garrison changed his name to Gervase because of one of the >early surges." Harlock grins. "Remind me to tell you some time what happened to the Gnomes of Gellar's Creek. So this quantum magic of yours is reliable? Have you heard of my proposal to glitch the Ansible system? I know a spell that would work, but it would need to be adapted to modern technology, and it sounds like you could help me with the adaptation." ================================= Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 00:04:51 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Planning Room On Mon, 11 Oct 1999 23:55:20 -0700 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00007622 >Nemisis wrote: > >Group One > Artifact: The Gauge of Infinity > Rabble-Rousing, > General Social Agitation, > Propaganda: Bard Harlock Harlock glances at the data table and grins. He then calls up a display of the castle. Upon determining the quickest route to the library, he heads directly there, pausing only to leave a note: "gone to library -- H" ================================= Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 00:04:55 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Communications Glitches On Mon, 11 Oct 1999 23:55:29 -0700 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00007623 >Nemisis wrote: > >"I would think that a Better point of Rabble-Rousing, > Would be the Taxation level, and > The Percentage of those Taxes which are paid to The Guild, > Especially when the Cheaper non-Guild Technologies, > Are Published..." Harlock sighs. "While I believe your analogy to be flawed at some level, I tire of arguing the case. Instead, I shall point out that most people will not abandon a system they know to be reliable just because a new system has come along. The novelty-seekers will, of course--but to get the _masses_ to abandon the Ansible, we need not only provide a replacement, but also prove the replacement is better. An the Ansible remain reliable, I do not see how we could prove our point." "As for my plans for rabble-rousing," the Bard continues in an icy voice, "I had already considered the probability that taxation would be a favorite gripe. I'll thank you not to advise me on my specialty unless you are sure that you have information I do not. I, in turn, have no intention of usurping the leadership of this band from you, as you seem to be quite effective already." >> An you prefer, the spell could _possibly_ be cast from the ship end >>of an ansible link to start the 'virus,' but the spell then acquires >>an added level of complexity. > >"Intrusion in the Switching stations premises, > Is not what I would consider to be an issue." "Is it not? Why, then, do you balk at releasing a spell to disable the Ansibles merely because the spell would be released at such a station? It is the Ansibles I would target with my spell. Not any other form of communication, but the Ansibles alone. Otherwise the masses will have no reason to turn away from the Ansible." >"Perhaps the Infitration Team can acquire the Coordinates, > Of the Guild's Switching Station, > That would be without question a Fair Target..." "Unless the dysfunction is systemic, the Ansible will not be truly discredited. As such, what matters whether we introduce it at a government station or the Guild station?" > The Technology to build another form of Ansible, > Publicly Availible?> ================================= Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 01:05:02 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Planning Room, Group One On Mon, 11 Oct 1999 21:14:23 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00007624 >On 10-11-1999 at 17:39:34 >Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007608 > >"Nemo, > How were you planning to Publish those Ansible Plans, > News Posts to the Int-R-Net (Inter-Realm-Network), > Our something more Esoteric...?" "I feel the best method is to do an in-depth backgound build-up, so that the 'breakthrough' will seem 'inevitable' if anyone tries to trace its origins." "First, there will be researchers nudged into investigating some odd results that have been ignored for some time. Their results will be published in obscure journals. Pre-prints will go out over the 'net." "Next will be speculation in various newsgroups and mailing lists, mostly wrong, but with the seeds of the devices in some of them. Most of the groups with the right ideas will be 'crackpot' or devoted to science fiction related matters." "Since a large number od scientists *do* read such areas, and also write SF, the next step will be both further research and the appearance in fiction of devices close enough to the real thing that most legal systems will consider the stories as 'prior art' making them unpatentable." "The second stage research results will be 'leaked', though the apparent intent will be to get others to check the 'unbelievable' results. This will result in postings in various groups about the 'discovery'." "At this point, things will speed up, which is good, because now we are into the territory where the Guild might take notice. There will be rapid feedback between researchers, interested technical hobbyists, and various other people on the nets. An optimized design will appear 'by luck'." "Now it's time for strategically placed articles in hobbyist magazines, a few journal articles, articles in 'popular science' type magazines (think 'Scientific American', 'Popular Electronics', etc)." "The final blow will be getting the design as a 'sample application' on manufacturer's data sheets for several of the more critical components." "At that point, *we* would have trouble killing it." ================================= Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 05:04:38 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Planning Room, Group One On Tue, 12 Oct 1999 07:45:33 -0400 Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00007625 >On Mon, 11 Oct 1999 21:14:23 PST >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00007624 > >>On 10-11-1999 at 17:39:34 >>Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007608 >> >>>Group One >>> Artifact: The Gauge of Infinity >>> Direction and Timing: Dr. Essex >>> Infiltration Team: Dr. Essex, >> >> "Nemo, >> How were you planning to Publish those Ansible Plans, >> News Posts to the Int-R-Net (Inter-Realm-Network), >> Our something more Esoteric...?" > >"I feel the best method is to do an in-depth backgound build-up, so > that the 'breakthrough' will seem 'inevitable' if anyone tries to > trace its origins." >"The final blow will be getting the design as a 'sample application' >on manufacturer's data sheets for several of the more critical >components." > >"At that point, *we* would have trouble killing it." Dr Essex nods thoughtfully. "Failsafe... Is there a time differential between here and that dimension?" [OOC: I'm hoping he says yes. If time runs faster THERE than HERE it will make this all easier.] Dr. Essex nods, "Very well... I propose that Legion and I take a small spacecraft, something that can discretely pass as local. We can wait the couple of days to a week for her to adjust completely, then re-evaluate the plan based on the 'local' information her new persona provides. Then we will begin our infiltation of the Guild." ================================= Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 07:36:55 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: FuzzyHome and Questions On Tue, 12 Oct 1999 10:13:43 EDT SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00007627 In a message dated 10/9/99 5:36:50 PM Eastern Daylight Time, oss writes: Roger went all legalistic, and Stranger replied: >"On the other hand, the artifacts, as I understand them, in a sense >_are_ Fuzzy, rather than simply belonging to him. In which case >they're claim to ownership is legally closer to slavery." Roger nods. "In point of fact, yes. But can we have a *reasonable* expectation that the current holders would know that? Or figure it out on their own? If they are unaware, an accusation of slavery would be....on shaky ground, ethically speaking." >"On the third hand, Fuzzy was my friend and one of the bravest >entities I've known - if we need the artifacts to get him back then >I'm not going to worry too much about the morality of the situation. >I'll attempt to get them without harming anyone, of course, and I'll >attempt to fix any problems I may cause. But if push comes to shove, >well..." Roger looks startled. "Oh, I agree, with the caveat that I think we have a fairly good idea how far Fuzzy would *not* want us to go in our attempts to restore him. No, what I'm uncomfortable with was that it seemed that, in our concern over him, we were at some -small!- risk of objectifiying the people who currently hold the artifacts. Depending upon their level of knowledge --or ignorance-- they could very well be victims of this situation as much as Fuzzy is." Roger pauses, clearly uncomfortable lecturing his "seniors" in ethics. "I suppose it's simply that I'm uncomfortable sneaking around behind the backs of people who may well be innocent of any malicious intent." He shrugs rather wryly. "I can *live* with it, as a pragmatic measure. I just can't enjoy it." >"Hmmm. Should we openly approach the 'artifact holders' initially? >Explain the situation and offer an honest trade?" Roger sighs. "That's the rub. I would *prefer* that approach, ethically speaking, but the strategist in me says that that is the more risky path. A great deal depends on how they are likely to react. It's just that--" he pauses, looking embarrassed. "Well, sprock it all, I just don't like explaining to someone after the fact: 'Well, I was sneaking around behind your back because I didn't think you'd be reasonable if I approached you openly.' The response, in my experience, is almost invariably: "Well, you didn't TRY, did you?!?' I find it unpleasant enough to try to avoid it, whenver pragmatically possible." His face is showing a definite tinge of pink, something short of a full blown blush. ================================= Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 07:37:01 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: House Phoenix/Greywolf On Tue, 12 Oct 1999 10:13:47 EDT SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00007628 In a message dated 10/9/99 11:08:06 PM Eastern Daylight Time, kal-el writes: >>"Castor and Pol--" Roger manages to get out, at his most >>irrepressible, before Morgan's LOOK freezes him in place. > >And Nemo chimes in with: > >"When this is all over, I may introduce you to Cas and Pol Stone. >Along with Laz and Lor Smith. The fireworks should be most >entertaining." Roger grins. "Been there, done that, got the T-shirt. In fact, I even took Uncle Rob with me." He blinks at Rob. "Oops, sorry, wrong Rob. I meant Uncle Rob 'Heinlein,' not Nishikawa..." ================================= Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 07:37:05 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: House Phoenix/Greywolf On Tue, 12 Oct 1999 10:13:57 EDT SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00007629 In a message dated 10/10/99 2:51:45 AM Eastern Daylight Time, ljwolfe writes: >sister? And don't anyone _dare_ bring up the Skywalkers! I'm _not_ >Amidala, and Roland is _definitely_ not Darth Anyone!> Yeah, but he makes a great Anikin-- And there are worse things to be than Amidala, after-- ================================= Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 07:37:10 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: FuzzyHome and Questions On Tue, 12 Oct 1999 10:13:52 EDT SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00007630 In a message dated 10/9/99 11:08:14 PM Eastern Daylight Time, kal-el writes: >Nemo gives Roger an odd look. > >"Pardon me, but you appear to have swallowed a lawyer." Roger blushes slightly, and mutters something under his breath about "Uncle Dusty." >"More seriously, you seem to have picked up the 'lawyer meme'. That >is, the idea that law, precednts and procedure are more important >than equity. Note that I said equity, not justice." "Er...yes. I may have let myself get lost in the verbiage, there." >of as "fairness".> OOC: Gotcha. Hopefully, I'm clearing up some of the confusion. ================================= Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 07:37:14 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Decisions, Decisions On Tue, 12 Oct 1999 10:14:00 EDT SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00007631 In a message dated 10/10/99 9:40:22 PM Eastern Daylight Time, caprice writes: >> Tiktok is on the far end of the other side of the spectrum from >>Wrinkle, power-wise; not even sentient, it nestles into its victim >>with all the deliberation of a virus. But it has enough animal >>intelligence to know a threat when it 'sees' one, and recoils >>slightly, with a dog-like 'whadIdo? whadIdo?' look. After all, it's >>only fulfilling its duty... > >Legion sighs, "I feel like I'm kicking a puppy... but we cannot >afford letting -that- little one tag along with us. I believe I can >send him gently on his way, after all this is -not- his side of >reality. Unless you would rather handle him yourself, Roger." "Huh? Handle who--?" Roger looks totally at sea, then manages to "follow" Legion's line of glare and takes a closer look into himself. "What the-! Well, I'll be...never even noticed him. C'mon, Ticker, fish yourself out of there...no, dammit, you big sissy, I'm NOT going to to hurt you! Sorry, sorry, didn't mean to yell. C'mon, that's a good boy...." It's clear that Roger shares Legion's visualization of Tick-Tock...the "image" he gives to the CS now sitting metphorically on his hand looks just like a young puppy who looks rather afraid. Roger raises an automatic hand to stroke its head, and the 'puppy' cringes away visibly. "What!? That's...Ticker, I'd never do anything to you -- huh. Legion, maybe you'd better take him...he seems to be *afraid* of me, but I haven't got a clue why." OOC: I'm just noodling like crazy, here. Retcon at will, if necessary.... >Legion, for a reason she really doesn't understand, actually feels >sorry for the little thing. But these dimensions are no where NEAR >the WoD-verse(s), and it doesn't belong here. It's kinda like a lost >puppy..one about to start chewing on Roger's ankles, but a lost puppy >still. > >OOC: Legion has not turned herself against Roger yet... if she does, >I'll explain then exactly what she is doing. Mmm....I think we can avoid the necessity. I'm going to have to sit down and write out exactly what's going on with him -- it's gotten to the point I can't just slide around with cute hints and stuff anymore. Give me a few days.... ================================= Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 07:37:20 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: House Phoenix/Greywolf On Tue, 12 Oct 1999 10:13:55 EDT SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00007632 In a message dated 10/10/99 1:08:21 AM Eastern Daylight Time, ljwolfe writes: >>they are a bit cathartic at times. Anyway, I'm sure we can reach >>some kind of effective arrangement to keep, er...'the twins'...safe. >>Although," he adds with just a trace of evil, "they really *should* >>be able to sneak out once in a while. I mean, I wouldn't want them >>to miss out on *all* the fun I had." > >"So long as if they can 'sneak out' past the security system," Morgan >comments, "then they should be able to fend for themselves until we >catch up with them." OOC: Wottheheck. I'm gonna let Roger do what I usually do at work in RL...(:) Roger's eyes glaze over, and he speaks a single word. "CAD." A cluster of X...Cubes? Pop open around him, and blocks of light begin moving around inside of them as his eyes flicker about and his lips move in what looks like a classical Engineering Trance. There's a reason the Virtual Adepts like hanging with him so much back home.... Those with quick eyesight can see that the CAD blocks are jumbles of program code in various languages, hard-logic diagrams, functional blocks hiding layer upon layer of complexity, hyperlinks, cross-references, algorithms, equations, symbolic logic, and nonlinear imprecise-data decision-making systems, all swirling in a witche's brew that somehow, seemingly by sheer luck, begin to merge into something resembling a harmonius whole in a process that resembles nothing so much as Brownian motion.... OOC2: Welcome to my mind, folx.... > "I don't want them wandering off before they can _walk,_ Roger," >Roland adds. "Mobility evaluation....general survival quotient...random element interjector..." Roger mumbles under his breath, clearly Somwhere Else.... >>>"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. >> >>"Castor and Pol--" Roger manages to get out, at his most >>irrepressible, before Morgan's LOOK freezes him in place. > >anyway :-).> > >"And just _which_," Morgan says through the LOOK, "would you suggest >for your _sister_?" Sometime's Roger's sense of humor is stronger than his survival instinct (not that that's OBVIOUS, or anything...). His lips, still stuck at the end of "Pol," switch vectors in midstream and continue on with "lyanna?" before his superego can override his id.... > (OOC: Since we said we left the Place shortly after everyone else >went through the gate anyway...) > Roland, wisely, changes the subject. "My love, we should probably >be going. If Iteration 9.1 and Davenport start in on each other >again..." > After saying their goodbyes, an X-Window opens to the cottage, and >the happy parents-to-be depart. Roger waves to them, surpressing a sense of loss. [Dammit, boy, you'll see them again soon. Stop freaking out.] But he still can't quite restrain a small shiver. Then, having nothing more to do in the Place, and sensing some... interesting developements on the Sphere, he remerges back to the Roger currently...engaged...with Rio..... ================================= Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 09:07:29 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Planning Room On Tue, 12 Oct 1999 15:44:16 GMT Tech Tonic Said As CAoL Message # 00007634 >"Since the Plan seems to be for each of the BackTime Scouts, > To trace a Different Historical Party, > That went in search of 'The Guardians of IF', > I can supply the Event-Point Coordinates for you, > Will you be traveling under your own power, > Having one of the Others Transport you?, Or > I'm sure Nemisis could supply a Vehicle for your Use" "I'm Traveling under my own power of course! Can't stand those mechanical devices, I'm a merchant not an engineer...." He grumbles to himself. ================================= Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 12:06:47 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Communications Glitches On 10-12-1999 at 12:04:17 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007635 >On Mon, 11 Oct 1999 23:55:29 -0700 >Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00007623 > >Harlock sighs. "While I believe your analogy to be flawed at some >level, I tire of arguing the case. Instead, I shall point out that >most people will not abandon a system they know to be reliable just >because a new system has come along. The novelty-seekers will, of >course--but to get the _masses_ to abandon the Ansible, we need not >only provide a replacement, but also prove the replacement is better. >An the Ansible remain reliable, I do not see how we could prove our >point." "We don't need them to Abandon their current system, We just need them to know they have another Choice... So that they will not support The Ansible Guild, If our task comes to open conflict." "Still you may be correct as to the best course, I am not flesh, and Can not always understand what those who are will do." >"As for my plans for rabble-rousing," the Bard continues in an icy >voice, "I had already considered the probability that taxation would >be a favorite gripe. I'll thank you not to advise me on my specialty >unless you are sure that you have information I do not. I, in turn, >have no intention of usurping the leadership of this band from you, >as you seem to be quite effective already." "I had no intention of Offending, Please accept my apologies." >>>An you prefer, the spell could _possibly_ be cast from the ship end >>>of an ansible link to start the 'virus,' but the spell then >>>acquires an added level of complexity. >> >>"Intrusion in the Switching stations premises, >> Is not what I would consider to be an issue." > >"Is it not? Why, then, do you balk at releasing a spell to disable >the Ansibles merely because the spell would be released at such a >station? It is the Ansibles I would target with my spell. Not any >other form of communication, but the Ansibles alone. Otherwise the >masses will have no reason to turn away from the Ansible." "I was taught that any Cat has the Right, To Be Anyplace that, He or She can get to." "The Point was Targeting, not Access." >>"Perhaps the Infitration Team can acquire the Coordinates, >> Of the Guild's Switching Station, >> That would be without question a Fair Target..." > >"Unless the dysfunction is systemic, the Ansible will not be truly >discredited. As such, what matters whether we introduce it at a >government station or the Guild station?" "If that is the Goal, There is No Difference." "Perhaps one day you will explain, Why that is the goal." ================================= Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 12:06:53 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Planning Room, Group One On 10-12-1999 at 12:04:17 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007636 >On Mon, 11 Oct 1999 21:14:23 PST >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00007624 > >"I feel the best method is to do an in-depth backgound build-up, so >that the 'breakthrough' will seem 'inevitable' if anyone tries to >trace its origins." > >"First, there will be researchers nudged into investigating some odd >results that have been ignored for some time. Their results will be >published in obscure journals. Pre-prints will go out over the 'net." "Which will have been planted by the BackTime Setup team. They can do at least this much without being too obvious." >"Next will be speculation in various newsgroups and mailing lists, >mostly wrong, but with the seeds of the devices in some of them. Most >of the groups with the right ideas will be 'crackpot' or devoted to >science fiction related matters." "This much might be possible." >"Since a large number od scientists *do* read such areas, and also >write SF, the next step will be both further research and the >appearance in fiction of devices close enough to the real thing that >most legal systems will consider the stories as 'prior art' making >them unpatentable." "At this point if done BackTime, 'The Guardians of IF', Will almost assuredly notice..., But Since This Team's actions do not threaten them in any way, They may not do anything about it... They may even assist if it suits their purposes..." "And That makes a nice added point, To keep it in the Public Domain." >"The final blow will be getting the design as a 'sample application' >on manufacturer's data sheets for several of the more critical >components." > >"At that point, *we* would have trouble killing it." "Sounds Good to me." "Dr. Essex, Do you have any thoughts on this at this time?" >Dr Essex nods thoughtfully. "Failsafe... Is there a time differential >between here and that dimension?" > >[OOC: I'm hoping he says yes. If time runs faster THERE than HERE it >will make this all easier.] Failsafe answers " I am very sorry Dr. Essex, The Structure of the Matrix Cosm is some what confusing, Since it is Really one structure there is no significant, Natural Difference in duration from one realm to another." >Dr. Essex nods, "Very well... I propose that Legion and I take a >small spacecraft, something that can discretely pass as local. We can >wait the couple of days to a week for her to adjust completely, then >re-evaluate the plan based on the 'local' information her new persona >provides. Then we will begin our infiltation of the Guild." "I will have a Family Outing Class Craft prep'ed , With Variable Bipolar Time Dilation Capacity, ETC 15 Minutes..." ================================= Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 12:07:00 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Planning Room, Group Two On 10-12-1999 at 12:04:18 FailSafe Said As CAoL Message # 00007637 >On Tue, 12 Oct 1999 01:37:45 -0400 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00007619 > >"Nemo, I think you wanted to pool efforts on the Second Group's >objective, correct? I believe I can accomplish what you had in mind, >although I'll need a way to computer-fast change Trump cards..." "Is that Alter or Relocate?" ================================= Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 12:07:04 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Planning Room, Group Two On 10-12-1999 at 12:04:18 FailSafe Said As CAoL Message # 00007638 >On Tue, 12 Oct 1999 15:44:16 GMT >Tech Tonic Said As CAoL Message # 00007634 > >"I'm Traveling under my own power of course! Can't stand those >mechanical devices, I'm a merchant not an engineer...." He grumbles >to himself. "As you wish, Here {} are the Event-Point Coordinates, Of the Start Points and Last Sightings, Of Five groups to make the attempt..." ================================= Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 12:45:54 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Planning Room, Group Two On Tue, 12 Oct 1999 19:15:34 GMT Tech Tonic Said As CAoL Message # 00007639 >"As you wish, > Here {} are the Event-Point Coordinates, > Of the Start Points and Last Sightings, > Of Five groups to make the attempt..." OneEye studies the points, then puts down the paper. "could ya give me a little information on the universe types these places are? You know, the basic laws that they allow, magic level/type, science level/type..." ================================= Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 13:04:31 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: FuzzyHome and Questions On Tue, 12 Oct 1999 16:01:51 EDT Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00007640 Roger said: >Roger sighs. "That's the rub. I would *prefer* that approach, >ethically speaking, but the strategist in me says that that is the >more risky path. A great deal depends on how they are likely to >react. It's just that--" he pauses, looking embarrassed. "Well, >sprock it all, I just don't like explaining to someone after the >fact: 'Well, I was sneaking around behind your back because I didn't >think you'd be reasonable if I approached you openly.' The response, >in my experience, is almost invariably: "Well, you didn't TRY, did >you?!?' I find it unpleasant enough to try to avoid it, whenver >pragmatically possible." His face is showing a definite tinge of >pink, something short of a full blown blush. Scott says something, for the first time since he entered the castle. "Suggestion: We could make the Rod much less valuable to them via the "invention", and *then* ask them, with an offer of a better device in trade. I can supply two or three devices that work similarly to the Rod. Not quite as well tuned to the Matrix Cosm, but they can truly duplicate *themselves*, given a trivial amount of effort and a middling amount of mass." Scott grins. "I figure that you can hold one object all of the time, and you can hold many objects some of the time, but you can't hold many objects all of the time. That is, eventually, they'll lose control over at least one; and from there, if the holder of the 'lost' device has reasonable smarts, the guild's power is completely lost." ================================= Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 14:34:37 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Planning Room On Tue, 12 Oct 1999 16:16:53 -0500 (CDT) Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00007641 William is about to ask Nemisis a question when he gets a good look in some of the rooms of the castle and is stopped in his tracks. Agape at the multitude of technologies before him, he is swept along with the crowd until he finds himself ... >On 10-11-1999 at 12:52:15 >Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007606 > >Arriving in the Planning Room, > It is a Large Room, > A Number of 6 Foot deep Tables along the Walls, >" The Walls and table tops can Display Data Readouts, > Trace an area to make a Window, and > State the Data to be Displayed... > Touching the [More Info] will open a window, > With all of the "Public" Data Discussed to date... > About the Group task for that table." Will nods slowly, his eyes starting to glaze over from information overload, or the potential information he could so easily acquire. "I'd ask," he says in a daze, "But I wouldn't know where to begin." Will's radio goes off in his ear. {Will, we've checked over everything out here,} John Robinson says, {How are things inside?} {"Uh, I'm not sure you'd believe me if I told you,"} Will replies, {"I think I'm gonna need some extra minds in here to make sure we don't miss anything we want to ask."} {Alright, leave your radio on, we'll listen in as we come inside.} {"Bring Robot and Doctor Smith, too. They both tend to have unique perspectives on things."} {That's one way of putting it,} Major West interjects. {We're on our way, son.} John replies, sounding worried. About a minute later, the entire Robinson crew is inside the castle, noteably lightly armed with the exception of Doctor Smith. They entered expecting some danger, but by the time they caught up with Will, everyone was similarly floored. "I see why you wanted help with all this." John says quietly, "You come in here to see how we got here and if they can help us get back home with some sort of directions on technology, and realize it's all here if you just knew what to ask for." Will nodded, then called out, "Uhm, Nemisis, can you explain how we got here while we look around and see if maybe we can help you in trade for some... well, I'm not sure what to ask for, but we're looking for a way back to our earth and had hoped, rather more strongly now, you or your friends might know a way to get us there." ================================= Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 17:15:11 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE VI: Exploring (1 of 3) On Tue, 12 Oct 1999 16:44:08 -0700 Rio Said As CAoL Message # 00007642 >On Sat, 09 Oct 1999 23:00:28 -0700 >Rio Said As CAoL Message # 00007588 > >>On Fri, 8 Oct 1999 17:19:30 EDT >>SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00007542 >> >>He meets her eyes. "Well, I never turn down a kiss from such a >>lovely lady (unless she's trying to kill me, of course), but given >>how flat I landed--" he rolls his broad shoulders by way of >>explanation-- "you'd have to do a whole lot of kissing to cover that >>much surface area. And I'm not sure we have the time." > >"I'm sure we can _make_ time, eventually," Rio says silkily. didn't see the double or triple meanings in that until _after_ I >typed it. Really! :-)> "Make time? Er, I'd rather Oh, you mean the *normal* way. Okay, um.... well, ah....er....um....I....." Roger stammers. >"'You teach best what you most need to learn'?" Rio offers helpfully. >Then she looks at the others heading for the castle. "I think we need >to catch up with the group," she says, almost regretfully. >"Eventually they'll decide what they're going to do, and I suppose we >should be there if we want to go along." Her tone suggests she could >definitely think of things to do if they were to be 'left behind'. Roger looks torn for a moment. "Yeesss, I suppose you're right. After all, we *do* have work to do..." Still looking a bit shaken by the depth of her effect on him, he allows her to draw him off after the others.... "Wow," Rio says, looking up at the castle. "What a place." "Heating bill must be enormous," Roger comments rather inanely. [Oh, good one. Impress her with your costestimation skills, why don't you?] "Depends on how you generate the heat." She comments. Even sounding innocent, there's a sultry undertone to her voice. Roger gulps. "Must have _lots_ of rooms." Roger rallies his wit valiantly, beginning to suspect he may be overmatched. "Um...yeah. Lots of different *kinds* of rooms, too. Shall we...?" He cocks an eyebrow at Rio. Rio smiles at Roger (again? still?) "Sure." Roger sends orders to his cybernetics to keep his knees operational. "Well, what do you prefer? Bottomup, or topdown?" Roger says, then blinks, then BLUSHes.... Rio finally fails to keep it at a smile, and giggles. "You're so cute when you blush." "Really?" Roger brightens. "That's how Dad won Mom over, you know. I could tell you *stories*...." "I've seen some of them. I watched all the CAoL X-window reruns, remember. They're a really cute couple." "Yeah," Roger sighs just a bit enviously. "The kind they don't make anymore. Well, at least it seems awfully elusive..." "You just have to keep looking until you find the right one," Rio smiles. "And remember to enjoy the quest." "Hmmm." Roger meets her eyes again, and starts to grin impishly. "Enjoy it, and the company along the way?" She smiles, her tongue just peeking out at the corner of her mouth, "Of course." Roger just seems to drink in her appearance for a long moment. "You know, if we keep smiling at each other like this, people are going to start thinking we're deranged or something." "Oh, I don't know. Two young people, enjoying each other's...company; what's so deranged about that?" She squeezes Roger's hand. Roger considers debating the point about "young" in his case, but given Starspawn, Zia, and others present, wottheheck? "You...have a strong point, my lady. Well, shall we...tour the premises, and see what strikes our fancy?" He doesn't bother loading his words with any double meaning Rio's doing enough of that for both of them. (:) Rio looks like she's considering the many possibilities in his suggestion. "Yes, lets," SHe replies brightly. shifting from holding his hand to having her hand on his arm if he lets her (yeah, right ;). Roger compromises by letting her slip her hand into his elbow, then "twining" his forearm around hers to recapture her hand again. "Well, let's try the stairs. All the *interesting* parts of castles are above or below the ground floor, I've noticed...." She squeezes his arm lightly to acknowledge the gesture. "To paraphrase a lady on a Star Trek Next Gen episode, let's start at the top and work our way down." Rio's smile indicates she remembers _exactly_ what the line originally referred to. "Ah, yes, I saw that episode...so you share that preference? I must admit, I do too...." Rio just bites her lower lip gently and gives her eyebrows a quick lift in response. [Dammit, heart, keep beating! DAMN, but that lip biting is...is... is.....ooohhhboy] "Ahem! Er, yes, ah, that is well, this balustrade is interesting. I'd be inclined to say that it was designed to be slid down at insane speed. Maybe we can try that later?" [Oh yeah. Sauve. Geez, how is this cuddlesome armful pushing ALL of my buttons?] "That does sound like fun," she responds playfully, "But, like you said, maybe later." Roger is probably reasonably certain she's aware of her affect on him, but she's not showing it much. Roger waffles for a moment, then throws caution to the winds. "Yours to command, my lady," he says in his best Miles Vorkosigan voice. "Your merest whim is my foremost desire." [In for a penny, in for a megabuck...] Rio's eyebrows raise questioningly and invitingly. Roger rises on his toes in time with her eyebrows. They stand for a long, silent moment before Roger finally says: "Well, don't jsut stand there, command me already!" Rio blinks, and her eyes flicker with amusement and various other things as she ponders the possibilities. "Hey, my mother was the premier swordswoman of several realities.. You think I go for passive chicks?" Rio giggles. "I suppose," she says wickedly, "We could start with the banister." Roger looks doubtful. "Both of us? It's a bit narrow, but I could probably balance us..." "One behind the other, the width isn't as much of an issue." "Unless we try to roll over...Maybey vertical?" She looks a tiny bit doubtful. "How's your Forces? I'd rather not have a rough landing, and I didn't see any carpet at the bottom." "Ah. Let me answer...this way." Roger makes a tiny exertion, and the two of them go totally weightless and airborne, towards the top of the staircase. "Trust me," he says with a broad grin, "falling is *not* one of the things we need to worry about..." Rio laughs out loud a musical sound. "Oh, the _possibilities!_" She throws her arms around his neck, and enjoys the ride up the staircase. "Well, you wanted to start at the top. So, let's find the highest point in this pile, shall we?" "Lets." She agrees with a big smile. Roger, automatically tucking his arms around her waist (well, where *else* would he put them?) proceeds at a sedate flying pace up through the stairwell... Spiraling lazily up the stairwell, Roger was slowly losing himself in the depths of Rio's eyes and considering going for the clinch when: BUZZ! "Yeow!" "Yipe!" "Chitter!" "Mew!" Rio blinks in surprise. "I should know better with this group," she giggles. Roger brushed some cat hair off his lips and looked at the retreating animal tag brigade. "My usual luck. If we actually start making out, the universe will collapse or some such rot and we'll have to break off to go save it...." Roger growls deep in his chest. "The heck with it. I've got probability control powers, and I'm gonna USE them ,dammit! C'mere!" And so saying he pulls Rio (gently!) into a firm kiss... Rio melts into his arms, returning the kiss with equal fervor. And showing no interest in ending it any time soon. Roger decided he's on a roll, and begins running his hands up and down her back, calculating his reserve oxygen supply... The Ecstatic responds in kind, never moving much farther ahead of where Roger leads. She's patient ;). The moment does seem to stretch, however . Roger begins...exploring.... A bit. Rio moans. "Mmmmmmm." BUMP! [oops, ceiling. Shields. No problem. Keep kissing] Rio runs her fingers through Roger's hair. Sloooowly. Roger shudders more than a bit and responds in kind, running her silken tresses around his fingers like...like....like tiny bands of silk ribbon. Roger's fingers find her ponytail and teleports the confining bands into a pocket. Then gently uses TK to undo *every* little snarl before his fingers hit them.... "Ohhhhhhhhh," she responds. "MmmmmmHmmmmmm," is about all Roger is capable of saying at that point... They're near the tallest point of the castle, at any rate. "MMMMMMMMmmmmmmm, Roger?" "Mmmmmmmyes, Rio?" "I believe this is the point where anyone watching us might suggest we 'get a room'." TBC in another post - in this at least, size _does_ matter ;-) Rio "Sex is not the answer. Sex is the question. 'Yes' is the answer." Swami X ================================= Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 17:15:19 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE VI: Exploring (2 of 3) On Tue, 12 Oct 1999 16:46:17 -0700 Rio Said As CAoL Message # 00007643 >Rio had just commented to Roger: >"I believe this is the point where anyone watching us might suggest >we 'get a room'." "Oh. Yes. Hang on..." #Glitch, radar map of structure. Locate "boudoir" equivalent, and teleport# #working. Located.# BAMF! Rio laughs softly. Roger starts working his lips down the white arch of her neck, mumbling "Will this suffice? We can try others without Mmm! stopping...." Rio looks around a bit, (easier since Roger's head has dropped below her line of vision ). "A comfortable surface, air temp nominal, this is just fiiiiiiine......." Roger chuckles, nipping just a bit at the cute little vnotch in her collarbone. "So technical. I thought that was my line..." She gasps, then sighs. "Got to have things so nothing detracts from the ... pleasure..." A momentary thought crosses Roger's mind, and his cybernetics go into autonomous security mode: jamming, door locks, point defense, etc. With that dealt with, he returns to the business at hand.... Becoming a bit more daring, he slips one hand under the back of Rio's shirt and begins sliding upwards, in slow gentle spirals rather like a massage therapist.... "Mmmmmm. You have nice hands." Rio looks thoughtful for a moment. "We really shouldn't miss the breifing. But then," She draws back from the kiss and SMILES at him. "Between the two of us, I don't think that'll be a problem." "No, no problem at all," Roger replies a bit breathlessly, and begins working back up the other side of her neck... Rio begins nibbling on Roger's ear when it comes into range. At this, Roger TWITCHES as if she had stuck him with a live wire, and teleports his jacket out of her way. No prey ever looking so willing.....(:) His back less covered, she runs her hands slowly down it. Then slowly back up. His spine arches like a stroked cat as he exhales softly into her hair. "aahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....." When her hands go down his back again, she lightly rakes with her nails. Roger tightens his arms around her convulsively and runs both hands up under her shirt, caressing her shoulderblades and the nape of her neck. Her shirt is beginning to be a bit of an annoyance.... HIS shirt moves one meter to the left . Roger pulls his head (but nothing else) back far enough to look into her eyes again. "Well," he pants slightly, "talk about walking on air." One hand moves out of her shirt, notquiteaccidently brushing past her breast, and reaches up to lightly touch her temple. "Would you like...?" He trails off [hey, where did my shirt go?] "Probably." She replies, just as breathless. Roger stares deeper into her eyes, and opens a minor gate....letting her in, rather than reaching into her... Rio accepts the contact (with Mind 2 she can't initiate complex telepathic conversation, but it allows her to link quite nicely with another tepe). Roger opens up a carrier channel, and Very Gently presses a kiss into her mind.... Rio's eyes close, as she savors and returns the contact. She wriggles just enough that the shirt doesn't catch anywhere. A silver gleam of bubbles and laughter well up through Roger's mind. He grins against her lips, and makes a tactile inquiry. At her rather enthusiastic response, he grips her shirttails gently in both hands and slloooowly, teasingly, begins pulling it upwards. He gives her a look through his eyes as her delectable skin is slowly revealed to him.... With a gentle whisper of cloth, her shirt pulls free over her head in a flurry of golden hair. He holds her eyes for a moment as she shakes them clear, then leans back a bit to get a better view as his eyes...travel....downwards...... She smiles, sure that he's liking what he sees, and her hands slide from his back to his waste, allowing him the motion without losing contact. Not to mention carrying the tactile input lower... He lets her see herself through his eyes, and taps hers a moment to get a look at his own expression. [Do I look that poleaxed? Well, she takes as a compliment...] She giggles gently. He leans back in and kisses her lips lightly, then begins working south again, more...puposefully this time.... Rio's head falls gently back as she enjoys Roger's....ministrations. Roger can feel the vibrations from her low moan.... He slides past he collarbones on a breath of warm air, and plants a kiss in the valley between her breasts. Extending the tactile sense of his ears as he does so...(:) Her hands play through his hair, occasionally dropping to caress his shoulders. Without a clear sense of preference from Rio, he does a mental coin toss and begins moving sideways...slowly, veerrryyyy sloooooowwwwwlllyyyyyyy.... Rio's knees start to buckle. Through the link, Roger feels Rio go limp below the waist, and grins as he begins spiraling in around her right breast, planting quick, featherlight kisses as he goes... "Ohhhhhhhhhhh,, yeahhhhhhhhhhh," she whisers. "I like a light touch." Roger momentarily plays with the idea of Ghosting, but decides that au natural is probably best. And continues toward the, er peak of his current ambition with an admirable single-mindedness. Rio is just basking in the sensations, sharing them over the mental link (which I imagine will heterodyne their, um, emotions, nicely). Roger reaches her right nipple after an eternity of teasing, and blows on it. Then again. Then again... She gasps in pleasure, and gently holds his head in place with her right hand. As he continues, he begins to feel a small amount of pressure from that hand, pulling him closer. He grinned again, slightly, and let himself be drawn, taking nearly a minute to cross the ten millimeters of space before his lips touched, and opened, and kissed firmly... She shudders, and her hand convulsively pulls him even closer into her breast. The corner of his lips quirk as she, er, squashes slightly against his face, but doesn't stop paying Really Close Attention to her nipple, teasing at it with his tongue and just a teeny bit with his teeth. Her gasps let him know just how much of an affect he's having on her. Meanwhile, his right hand begins strolling slowly up her stomach toward her free breast, tingling with little teeny bits of static electricity. While his left hand cups her buttocks gently, and hsi PK begins loosening up her belt.... It just 'happens ' to open easily. [Gotta love Entropy.] Roger is very aware by now that the Ecstatic is limp in his arms. Except when she shudders in pleasure. His right hand finds the soft contours of her left breast and begin exploring, gently, while his left begins to dive down the back of her pants..... Her hands ocassionally slide down his back as far as they'll reach, but mostly she's just holding on. With obvious reluctance, Roger releases her breasts and moves back up to gently kiss her lips again, letting his hands travel down to her waist and grip the top of her embroidered, flowerchild style jeans. Her response to the kiss puts his plans on hold for a long moment.... She returns the kiss eagerly, almost hungrily. Then he runs back down he body, pausing to plant kisses on each nipple and her bellybutton before drifting to a stop at her undone belt buckle... Rio continues to caress whatever she can reach as he moves. Roger gently unsnaps and unzips the jeans, and skins them off in one long slow motion. Once her jeans are drifting free in the air currents, he kisses her ankle and begins working back up... Once he moves out of range of her hands, she switches to 'mental' caresses. As he kissed his way back up her inner thighs, jumping from leg to leg, and tickling the backs of her knees lightly with his fingertips, he came faceto....well, up to her underwear, which he really hadn't payed attention to before. He blinked, the chuckled in a wash of warm air across her thighs. ^flowers, luv?^ he teased slightly. ^why didn't I guess?^ Rio moves gently to make whatever Roger kisses more available to him, and giggles slightly at the tickle. She chuckles. ^I like being... feminine.^ The last word carried lots of subtext. ....Roger stops his ears from wriggling with an act of will, then reaches up to grasp her buttocks in each hand and pulls them gently facetoface again which, incidentally, gives her a lot more to "handle".... At which point he's within her arms' reach again, and she begins caressing his hair. "Hmmmmmyl lady," he murmurs against her lips, of which he can't quite seem to get enough, "you want to take a turn? Or are you happy as things are going now?" "Oh, I'm _very_ happy..." she murmers, "but that doesn't stop me from wanting to _return_ the favor." "Hah!" he puffs softly. "I exist for my lady's...pleasure." Rio kisses Roger deeply and passionately for a time. Roger's toes CURL.... [hey, where did my boots go? Must have tossed them somewhere along the line....] Then she begins moving her lips down to his neck, looking for just the _right_ spot.... Now it's Roger's turn to go LIMP. Rio smiles as she gently nibbles at that spot for a while. One of Roger's hands plays with her hair, the other runs up and down her back while it's still in reach.... If she were a cat, she'd be purring. The sound she makes is as close as a human can make. Across the link, though, it's a purr. A most definitely _satisfied_ purr. Roger purrs back, when he can keep enough coherent thought together.... Rio slowly moves her lips from his throat, going down to one of _his_ nipples, and gently brushing across it. [I surrender] Roger thinks rather redundantly, at this point of things....and shivers mightily... Her hands around his back, carresing with the occasional light raking of nails, she moves her lips slowly and circuitously to his other nipple. She'll gauge the caress:rake ratio based on his responses. [yiyiyiyiyiyiyiyiyiyiyiyi...] Roger's hand almost fists in her hair before he forces it open, and moves to the back of her neck. She can practially feel the muscle spasms under her nails.... She gently flicks a tongue across his nipple, looking up at him with a grin as she does. Then settles her lips over it, ever so gently, unless his response indicated he'd enjoy more pressure. "Eeeeeyooowwwwwwwww...." Roger puts one hand out in open air where it won't do any harm and lets it clench several times. "Maybe," her lips brush agains him as she speaks, "this would be a good time to move to a more stable surface." "Whwhwhat's more suitable oh, *stable*...uh, yeah....." Roger lets them drift toward the nearest pile of soft stuff BIG bed...with lots and lots of pillows... Since Rio is currently "active," Roger drifts onto the "bottom" of the stack, letting the CoX have her wicked way with him from on top. (:) ^Floating is nice, but so's being able to relax and enjoy things,^ she sends with sultry overtones no throat could produce. Roger's end of the link experienced a momentary burst of static. ^yyyeah....how much gravity do you want?^ ^Whatever,^ she murmers, as her lips resume their travel south. Roger bleeds the Gs up to about .5, and holds it there pending further... developments.... Rio takes her time, moving her lips in spirals down his chest, then his abdomen, caressing his sides and however much of his back she can reach with her hands as she goes. Roger, meanwhile, lies there and does Roland's fish imitation...."gasp! Pant! Gasp!" (:) He cranks in just a bit of altitude to let her at his back....and arches at the result. ^oooooooooooooo^ By now, she has a pretty good sense of just how much nail has the optimal effect. His belt starts to move "helpgfully" as she touches it, then slows at her reaction, waiting for her to prod it along.... Rio smiles up at Roger as the belt moves out of her way. She helps the belt finish what it started, then lowers her face to the fastening on his jeans. She proceeds to undo the button with her teeth. Roger almost falls out of Sex Mode. ^I cannot believe you did that without breaking your teeth...^ ^Practice^ Rio smiles, and he gets an image of a cherry stem tied in a neat little knot.> Rio then proceeds to grab the zipper pull in her teeth, and sloooooooowly pulls it down. "Oy. Vey." Roger strains his neck to see her twinkling merrily back up at him, zipper tab locked between her teeth. "Yipe." And she _was_ looking towards his face when she did it, just in case ;) TBConcluded in another post - in this at least, size _does_ matter ;-) ================================= Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 17:15:33 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE VI: Exploring (3 of 3) On Tue, 12 Oct 1999 16:52:44 -0700 Rio Said As CAoL Message # 00007644 FTR, I went back and read the Argent and Ak'hasta stuff. Gauging from that, it seemed appropriate to leave our heros while both still had at least one item of clothing on. Hopefully I didn't push the envelope past the breaking point. ;-)> Later.... "I think I lost about thirty IQ points," Roger said idly as the nestled togther in the afterglow. "Have you seen them?" Rio smiles. "They're probably with mine somewhere, enjoying themselves." she murmurs, nestling back. Roger rolls his eyes. "Making lots of baby IQ points, no doubt. Well, we'll both be smarter....You know, my dear, you really should come with a Surgeon General's warning tattooed on this lovely skin somewhere...if it wouldn't spoil the canvas...." She arches an eyebrow at him. "Well, I think you've ruined me for any other woman." He smirks at her. "And I'm not your first CoX. I'm flattered," she says, completely sincere. His grin drops away. "You are definitely...unique, even in my experience. Which, while long, isn't intensely varied...I'm not much of a ladies man, really. Your effect on me...caught me by surprise." Her eyes widen, and she caresses his cheek. "I'm glad it was a _pleasant_ surprise." "Damn near lethally so," Roger says dramatically. "My poor heart may never recover wait, I'm immortal. Gimme five minutes..." She giggles musically. He nuzzles her neck playfully. She sighs, enjoying the afterglow herself. "I'll admit," he murmurs against her ivory skin, "that I'm tempted to go for seconds...thirds...eighths...but I suppose we really *should* rejoin the others before tomorrow..." Rio giggles again, then sighs. "It's only been a minute or two for the rest of them. They won't have even missed us yet." she smiles. Roger's eyes widen. "Oh? And I didn't even notice...Well, in THAT case..." he reaches for her with his best Evil Leer.... She affects the mock horror look again, although the smile spoils it. "Oh, No! Anything but that!" Later still..... Rio smiles. Roger lies exhausted, head pillowed on her chest. "Okay. I'm definitely going to need some time to recover from THAT one. Where did you learn to do that?" "You don't want me giving away 'trade secret', now, do you," she asks in mock seriousness. "Trade secrets!" he snorts into the side of her breast, then kisses the spot. "I'm not sure I could remember that one well enough to try it on my own things were getting a little hazy at that point..." Her smile broadens. "Good." He looks up at hers eyes, then moves up level and snuggles like a cat into a blanket. "Mmmm. In some ways, this is even nicer than sex. More relaxing, definitely." "Yeah. But then again, getting here is at _least_ half the fun." "True, true," he murmurs, experimenting with a closer snuggle fit. Rio sighs again. "We'll have to do this again sometime when we can fall asleep in each other's arms. I wouldn't want to try stretching the time that far, with that group around." Roger mock-snores, then gives up faking sleep and concedes the point. "You're right. How much more time do we have before you think we need to rejoin them...?" "We should probably start working on getting back," Rio admits reluctantly. "Mmm. Quick shower? I have a fully equipped...er, jacket...a complete apartment in there for this kind of thing." He raises up on one elbow and waggles his eyebrows at her. "Scrub your back?" She giggles, "Sure." She looks at the jacket. "Similar effect to your Mom's house or something?" "Or something," Roger grins very broadly. "Among other things, I've got a small fleet of warships in there, plus an armory second only to the Weapons Shops of Isher. Comes in handy, sometimes." "I bet!" Ten minutes of soap, water, and ticklishness later, they ported back to the top of the castle and this time walked down the stairs, hair damp and grinning like kids who'd gotten away with robbing the cookie jar. Eric gives them a long, cool look, but says nothing. Roger exchanges a look with Rio that says "Is he gonna kill me?" Rio smiles at Roger, and then at Eric. ^Don't worry,^ she says privately. ^if you say so...I'd hate to have HIM after me....^ ^He's just going to have to accept that I'm a Big Girl now. I don't want to have to count on being able to get past his countermagic stuff, though...^ Roger looks somewhat doubtful of just how willing Eric will be to accept that his baby sister is a Big Girl now [but boy, could I testify!], but keeps the thoughts to himself. Rio giggles, and kisses Roger on the cheek. Making sure Eric is looking when she does. Roger, surrendering, slips a momentary arm around her waist and squeezes before she gets away. (Not that she's trying .) "Do you know what the Cult of Ecstasy is?" Eric comments, his voice as dry as ever. "I know what *I* know it is...what *you* know may be...different," Roger says affably.... Eric's eyes narrow. "Have a care, son of the Phoenix," he comments. "If she's joined them now, she may be as pleasant as a summer shower, but she'll be just as transient." Rio glares at her brother, not sure whether to be shocked or pissed. "Perhaps. Perhaps not. Even *I* don't know what this future holds." Roger shrugs with his free shoulder. "I'm aware of the risks, and benefits, Eric. But I suspect that there is more individual variation among the CoXs than you credit them with." Eric grins sourly. "They pride themselves on their 'individuality.' But they're more alike with each other than they think." His expression changes, and though he doesn't say it, the look adds, 'and of course I don't have to warn you what I'll do if you mess with my baby sister.' He's fairly certain that Roger knows it; that's why he doesn't bother commenting on it. Roger looks unflappable. "We haven't exactly traded vows, Eric. We exchanged some time, and some respect, and some...fun. More than that comes on a momentbymoment basis." He doesn't bother answering the unspoken warning everyone here has that perfectly clear. Rio smiles at Roger. Very fondly. "I'll admit," he continues, "that I would be saddened if she were to...er, flitter off...to someone else. But I won't regret it, and I have some memories to cherish for all time. And besides," he grins wickedly, "maybe I'm good enough to hold her affections for a while...." Rio's smile indicates that she's not going to argue that point at this time. Eric nods. "Luck to you both, then. Who knows what the future brings? Not even the Ecstatics." Roger looks solemn, and bows to Eric. "Thank you." Eric almost looks sad for a moment, and then like a flash is gone. Rio sighs. "I feel so sorry for him sometimes. You know how he got into Hunting?" "I'm....um, maybe you'd better tell me...." "Short version, a vampire, his mentor in some ways, killed the love of his life," she says quietly. Roger's eyes close briefly. "That....does tend to leave a gap in one's soul," he whispers, almost to himself. "I keep hoping he'll find someone to help heal that wound, but, well, with his lifestyle...." "No one can heal it for him, Rio...they can only help him heal himself." He pauses, and presses a kiss to her forehead. "And you helped me with some old scars today, that I'd thought I'd forgotten..." She smiles and leans into the kiss, hugging him in return. "Glad I could help." She takes a deep breath. "OK, enough angst. So, where do you think they're holding this briefing?" He grins back at her. Then closes his eyes, scans for 0.38 sec, and reopens them. "Hang on," he says, and 'ports them directly. =================================