Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 6c The Cosmic Engineer - ch. 4 Date: Tue, 29 Feb 2000 14:38:57 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE6c: Will and Raver's Explorations On Tue, 29 Feb 2000 16:07:43 -0600 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00008210 Will grumbled under his breath. They'd seen nothing but empty hallways since they left Maj. West in the room that lead to the Dyson Sphere. "We're not lost," he said as if to remind himself, "We just don't know where we're going." Coming upon a new door, Will just hit the "Open" button for whatever room was called last from this gateway. "Maybe we'll luck onto something if we follow someone who knows where they're going." Of course, last time he said that, the door opened onto the garbage shute. This time, the gateway opened onto... ================================= Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 22:37:49 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE VIc: Now what? On Wed, 01 Mar 2000 21:49:26 -0800 Rio Said As CAoL Message # 00008213 >On Fri, 25 Feb 2000 22:51:13 -0800 >The Hunter Said As CAoL Message # 00008197 > >Rio takes Roger's hand. "Come on," she says, not exactly pulling at >him, but assuming that he's coming along. She eyes the door that >Thratchen came through warily. "We can go back the long way," she >adds wryly. As they return to the control room, Rio looks over the view screen again. "That one looks like a bridge, and that number in the lower corner of the screen looks like it might be one of those door codes." As she touches the spot in the screen in question, it expands into a match for the door control panels. Shrugging, she pushes the button. The screen beeps, asking for input . "I think it wants one of those emblems that are on the other viewscreens. Well, folx, where to next?" Meanwhile... Eric leapt away from another Hellgaze, deflecting it with his chi-defenses. A Dragon Fire Storm and a Mew blast are both absorbed by the loose body structure, neither apparently doing much. "Gaia. How do we _stop_ this thing?" "With...faith," The techno-demon rasps, dragging himself to one knee. "You much match the strength in your belief - whatever it may be - against that of the creature, and win, to have any real chance of harming it." Eric scowls. "I have bad news for you, Happy. I stopped believing in much of anything except killing monsters a long time ago." "Then my previous statement stands; we are dead." The techno-demon raises its arm, and a laser snaps out of a cybernetic servo. It fires as the demon stares intently at the gospog. The laser does insignificant damage, and the demon snarls and turns away, grimacing. "Nothing. I never intended to advance through the Cult of the Dominant." "Great, S & M techno-demons, and I get the vanilla member," Eric wisecracks, closing to deliver a devastating combination of spinning kicks that do nothing to the gospog. Eric only barely manages to pull back from the surprisingly fast shambles. [I know deities like Gaia exist, but that doesn't give me 'faith' in them any more than it means I have 'faith' in the Empire State Building.] He continues to dodge, and blocks an attempt by the gospog at possession - curiously, his recent escapade with Thratchen's power has strengthened his resolve, not weakened it. /Any ideas, Mew?/ /You cannot intellectualize your way into belief, Eric,/ Mew replies. Those receiving her on the link hear a gentle but strong feminine voice. /True but unhelpful,/ Eric replies evenly, then sighs as the gospog finally tags him, gripping an arm. [I'm sorry, Kiri.] ================================= Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2000 21:33:42 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE6c: Will and Raver's Explorations On 03-02-2000 at 21:30:28 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00008216 >On Tue, 29 Feb 2000 16:07:43 -0600 >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00008210 > > Coming upon a new door, Will just hit the "Open" button for >whatever room was called last from this gateway. > "Maybe we'll luck onto something if we follow someone who knows >where they're going." > Of course, last time he said that, the door opened onto the >garbage shute. > This time, the gateway opened onto... A Dining Hall, Is The only thing this could be... However it is not a total bust... There are 16 doors into this room... Looks like the Original Trek galley, The Button that activates each synthesizer takes a bio reading, And provides a semi-random meal nutritious for your species, It should be fun to see what Raver gets... ;) > interface that was on one of the monitors in the room Roger and Rio >uncovered. After all, if there's something to stick your head into, >leave it to Will to do it. But, Raver, Fuzzy, if either of you have >other ideas, I'm happy to tag along.> ================================= Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2000 21:34:19 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE VIc: Now what? On 03-02-2000 at 21:30:29 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00008217 >On Wed, 01 Mar 2000 21:49:26 -0800 >Rio Said As CAoL Message # 00008213 > >As they return to the control room, Rio looks over the view screen >again. "That one looks like a bridge, and that number in the lower >corner of the screen looks like it might be one of those door codes." >As she touches the spot in the screen in question, it expands into a >match for the door control panels. Shrugging, she pushes the button. > >The screen beeps, asking for input it prompts for input :-)>. "I think it wants one of those emblems >that are on the other viewscreens. Well, folx, where to next?" A Nemisis split that arrived quietly, While people were distracted, Replies... "It seems to be offering you the chance to edit the Emblem..." "Perhaps entering the door code at a door?" I am going to assume tha Roger made sure, Major West has the Code for This Room... "Roger, I will forward these five sets of Coordinates and Screen Views, to Major West." > The Emblem Reminded me... Now, if he thinks to ask Major West, He can get a Video clip and Coordinates...> ================================= Date: Fri, 3 Mar 2000 17:38:33 -0800 (PST) Subject: Enter the dragon On Fri, 3 Mar 2000 20:13:03 -0500 "Xander Opal" Said As CAoL Message # 00008218 >"The rest of you, take the Central Casting DiD here and get back to >that control room." The damsel in question "mmphs" indignantly. You >bunch need to figure out where the cosmic widget is before that >'Thratchen' creature does." He gazes at the horror from behind his >shades, his expression unreadable. "I'll keep tall, dark and gruesome >here busy." Xander Opal, two-headed humanoid hermaphrodite blue-opal scaled dragon, jogs up. "Finally caught up to you guys-umm," sie breaks off, seeing the beginnings of Roger's fight, and hearing his order. "Guess details can wait- where do we go from here?" Even as sie says that, ORoger- just give a ring if you need an assist,O sie Lenses to him. ================================= Date: Fri, 3 Mar 2000 18:29:35 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE VIc: Now what? On Fri, 3 Mar 2000 20:55:41 EST SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00008220 >In a message dated 3/2/00 1:38:27 AM Eastern Standard Time, >rio writes: > >>Rio takes Roger's hand. "Come on," she says, not exactly pulling at >>him, but assuming that he's coming along. She eyes the door that >>Thratchen came through warily. "We can go back the long way," she >>adds wryly. Roger's wings twitch in indecision, rather like a cat's tail. But he allows himself to be led away. Meanwhile, up in a ceiling corner, an ivisible-to-all-senses Roger dupe perches in Passive Standby mode, just in case. OOC: Heh. Roger *always* stacks the deck. >As they return to the control room, Rio looks over the view screen >again. "That one looks like a bridge, and that number in the lower >corner of the screen looks like it might be one of those door codes." >As she touches the spot in the screen in question, it expands into a >match for the door control panels. Shrugging, she pushes the button. CIC-Resident Roger is still there, doing a good imitation of a cybernetic centipede drunk on Speed Force. Roger-with-Rio handles the talking. "Yeah. All of my tests, so far, have matched up the image to the destination a portal leads to when activated with the associated code string." >The screen beeps, asking for input it prompts for input :-)>. "I think it wants one of those emblems >that are on the other viewscreens. Well, folx, where to next?" "Well, why don't we wait a moment -- we've got several other teamembers who might want to link up here. Or, I suppose we could just give them numbers to use. Lemme update everyone..." Roger molds an energistic link to the team's Globals, Y-splices it to his lenslink, and asks for a roll call (minus Eric, since he's just a leeetle bit busy at the moment). /Rio and I are in, well, call it CIC for lack of a better term. I've got several interesting sites and the door codes to reach them -- additionally, I can provide backup dupes from here, if anyone using these codes gets in over their heads. Anybody have a particular place they want to try out?" OOC: That ought to give everyone a chance to catch up and coordinate. Good opportunity for Xander, too. > Eric leapt away from another Hellgaze, deflecting it with his >chi-defenses. A Dragon Fire Storm and a Mew blast are both absorbed >by the loose body structure, neither apparently doing much. "Gaia. >How do we _stop_ this thing?" > "With...faith," The techno-demon rasps, dragging himself to one >knee. "You much match the strength in your belief - whatever it may >be - against that of the creature, and win, to have any real chance >of harming it." > Eric scowls. "I have bad news for you, Happy. I stopped believing >in much of anything except killing monsters a long time ago." In his ceiling corner, Stealth Roger winces inwardly in sympathetic memory. [No faith in your sister's love for you, Eric? No faith in the willingness of your friends to stand by your side? 'Faith' isn't always in deities, or in Cosmic Concepts of Right and Wrong. You still have it; you've just stopped seeing it.] The invisible dupe makes no movement or sound, but the Roger standing beside Rio in CIC closes his eyes for a long moment. > /Any ideas, Mew?/ > /You cannot intellectualize your way into belief, Eric,/ Mew >replies. Those receiving her on the link hear a gentle but strong >feminine voice. > /True but unhelpful,/ Eric replies evenly, then sighs as the >gospog finally tags him, gripping an arm. [I'm sorry, Kiri.] Still in the corner, Stealth Roger continues to wait. ================================= Date: Sat, 4 Mar 2000 08:42:25 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: Enter the dragon On Sat, 4 Mar 2000 11:24:09 -0500 "Xander Opal" Said As CAoL Message # 00008223 >Roger's fight, and hearing his order. "Guess details can wait- where >do we go from here?" Even as sie says that, ORoger- just give a ring >if you need an assist,O sie Lenses to him. Oh, Shards-- I mis-read; replace Roger with Eric. Sorry about the mix-up, folks! ================================= Date: Sat, 4 Mar 2000 18:37:54 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE VIb: Rapid Rescues & Recoveries R Zia On Sat, 4 Mar 2000 21:29:35 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00008225 [Ed. Note: Snip part that's in AE6b.] Her eyes spark like blue ice, but she just grits her teeth, summons a Sign much more easily this time, and steps through the electric blue swirl to elsewhere... "Hello, Rhia. I just learned you were stuck here, so I came as soon as possible. I can't imagine why the CAoL hasn't charged to your rescue already - this separate operating unit thing must be cramping their style. Any idea which control opens that cage you're in, or should I just start frying things at random?" The petite Amberite grins at the other lady, "Random is usually on my side, but I can't guarantee it, of course." ================================= Date: Sat, 4 Mar 2000 21:57:52 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE VIc: Now what? On 03-04-2000 at 21:42:28 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00008226 >On Fri, 3 Mar 2000 20:55:41 EST >SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00008220 > > "Well, why don't we wait a moment -- we've got several other >teamembers who might want to link up here. Or, I suppose we could >just give them numbers to use. Lemme update everyone..." Roger molds >an energistic link to the team's Globals, Y-splices it to his >lenslink, and asks for a roll call (minus Eric, since he's just a >leeetle bit busy at the moment). /Rio and I are in, well, call it CIC >for lack of a better term. I've got several interesting sites and the >door codes to reach them -- additionally, I can provide backup dupes >from here, if anyone using these codes gets in over their heads. >Anybody have a particular place they want to try out?" /Thank you, It had not occurred to me that you could do such a thing./ Nemisis does a quick light verify on the members, And logs apparent status to the Team Status Database, In the Castle... ================================= Date: Sat, 4 Mar 2000 23:23:40 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE VIc: Now what? On Sun, 5 Mar 2000 00:10:20 -0600 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00008228 >On Wed, 01 Mar 2000 21:49:26 -0800 >Rio Said As CAoL Message # 00008213 > > /Any ideas, Mew?/ > /You cannot intellectualize your way into belief, Eric,/ Mew >replies. Those receiving her on the link hear a gentle but strong >feminine voice. > /True but unhelpful,/ Eric replies evenly, then sighs as the >gospog finally tags him, gripping an arm. [I'm sorry, Kiri.] [Ed. Note: Snipping the section of this post that's in AAE6b.] On the Blue Horizon, a doorway opens near Eric and the demons and Seth passes through, already reverted to his mundane form the CAoL knows him as. "My apologies if I am intruding upon a duel of honor but you looked to need a moment to gather your forces," Seth says, as he moves to break the grip on Eric's arm with his bare hands in a maneuver that vaguely resembles Judo, then makes an obvious boxing-style punch to the gospog's jaw or some other vulnerable spot. Akido, karate, and jujitsu also make an appearance in his style, which the perceptive will probably work out as that of Krav Maga, a style only some 40-odd years old, developed in Israel. Boxing style punchs with low kicks to the knee and groin. It's also the same style he used earlier with Zia's attackers. Seth's faith is unshakeable, but he holds himself in enough reserve to allow Eric to alternately get away or find what faith he lost. He's not about to interfere in Eric's personal story of Job if this is the time chosen for Eric to have it. ================================= Date: Sun, 5 Mar 2000 17:38:28 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE VIc: Now what? On Mon, 06 Mar 2000 00:56:20 -0800 Stranger Said As CAoL Message # 00008231 "You're lost aren't you?" "I am not lost!" "You look lost to me, don't know where you are, even got split up from your partner." "I am not lost!!" "Well where are you then?" "On... the Blue Horizon" "Oh very good, on a ship, Sherlock Holmes must be shaking in his boots" Stranger turned on the creature following him and pushed the muzzle of his Beretta against its forehead - the face of a beautiful young man on the body of a whippet looked mournfully up at him. "I'm a god, Stranger, shooting me won't achieve anything" "No Arioch, your wrong, it'll give me a great deal of satisfaction." Stranger replied with some conviction. "Well aren't we the tetchy one." "Look, just leave me alone and I won't be forced to find the sword and use it on you." Stranger emphasized the words 'the sword' and gave the creature a meaningful look. "Now there's no need for that." the creature morphed into a slightly more humanoid form, although he retained the whippets legs and grew small feathered wings. "Why don't you try that door over there?" "Apart from the fact I've tried it before?" "Are you sure? They all look the same to me." Stranger glared at the creature. > "Well, why don't we wait a moment -- we've got several other >teamembers who might want to link up here. Or, I suppose we could >just give them numbers to use. Lemme update everyone..." Roger molds >an energistic link to the team's Globals, Y-splices it to his >lenslink, and asks for a roll call (minus Eric, since he's just a >leeetle bit busy at the moment). /Rio and I are in, well, call it CIC >for lack of a better term. I've got several interesting sites and the >door codes to reach them -- additionally, I can provide backup dupes >from here, if anyone using these codes gets in over their heads. >Anybody have a particular place they want to try out?" /Roger, it's Stranger, I've got a small problem/ /It appears that, well, consider him a Chaos avatar, has decided to toy with me for a bit, I can't find my way back to a portal door, been wandering for ages, it seems. I think he's been blocking me - like the way faerie do in their forests/ Stranger looked over at Arioch, he had squatted on the floor and was watching a small army of green ants fighting an army of red ants. He was sure they weren't there a few seconds ago. /I think he's growing bored with me, but I could do with a signal of some sort to home in on/ [If this doesn't work and the presence of Arioch on board causes a problem we can easily retcon - he'll get bored and head off to see what's happening on Reich 5 shortly anyway] ================================= Date: Sun, 5 Mar 2000 23:09:04 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE6c: Will and Raver's Explorations On Sun, 5 Mar 2000 22:57:06 -0600 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00008232 >On 03-02-2000 at 21:30:28 >Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00008216 > >>On Tue, 29 Feb 2000 16:07:43 -0600 >>Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00008210 >> >> Coming upon a new door, Will just hit the "Open" button for >>whatever room was called last from this gateway. >> "Maybe we'll luck onto something if we follow someone who knows >>where they're going." >> Of course, last time he said that, the door opened onto the >>garbage shute. >> This time, the gateway opened onto... > >A Dining Hall, > Is The only thing this could be... > However it is not a total bust... > There are 16 doors into this room... Will huhs, "Well, at least it isn't the garbage chute again..." >Looks like the Original Trek galley, > The Button that activates each synthesizer takes a bio reading, > And provides a semi-random meal nutritious for your species, > It should be fun to see what Raver gets... ;) Will thumbs one of the buttons set in the wall next to a slightly above waist-high panel and, after a few beeps and whirs, a panel opens to reveal a tray. Will looks inside. "Ham and pea soup, or something like, with tea. Doesn't seem to offer any selection of choices, just the cook's special of the day." Will presses the next button over and this time gets some sort of meat and rice dish with a glass of clear liquid. "On the other hand, maybe it just makes the choice for you. Great, just like home, eat what you're given." Ignoring the replicator units, Will looks over the doors in the room. On the fourth one, his global lets out a synthetic ring. He stops to pull it out and see what's been going on. {"Okay,"} Will says over the global, {"That room with the lone chair, big console and funny headgear sounds vaguely promising. I'm gonna check it out. So far, we've just found hallways, garbage chutes and finally a mess hall here{}."} Will enters the console room's coordinates on the door's panel and opens it, stepping through, global held out like a video camera, without further preamble... ================================= Date: Sun, 5 Mar 2000 23:09:10 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE VIc: Now what? On Sun, 5 Mar 2000 23:51:59 -0600 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00008233 >On Fri, 3 Mar 2000 20:55:41 EST >SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00008220 > > "Well, why don't we wait a moment -- we've got several other >teamembers who might want to link up here. Or, I suppose we could >just give them numbers to use. Lemme update everyone..." Roger molds >an energistic link to the team's Globals, Y-splices it to his >lenslink, and asks for a roll call (minus Eric, since he's just a >leeetle bit busy at the moment). /Rio and I are in, well, call it CIC >for lack of a better term. I've got several interesting sites and the >door codes to reach them -- additionally, I can provide backup dupes >from here, if anyone using these codes gets in over their heads. >Anybody have a particular place they want to try out?" Will calls for the code for the room with the single chair and large console with the neural interface. Major West pulls out his global. {"Great job, you two. I was beginning to worry here. I'd appreciate it if everyone would use those badges Nemisis passed out to keep an open channel all the time, in case something happens with any of your globals or Roger."} He considers for a moment, then adds, {"Okay, so we know we've got at least one group after the Cosmic Engineer. That means we're going to have to pick up the pace. But, looks like Roger and Rio have a good lead. Keep me updated, folks."} ================================= Date: Mon, 6 Mar 2000 18:08:18 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE VIc: Now what? On Mon, 6 Mar 2000 20:52:25 EST SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00008240 >In a message dated 3/5/00 8:39:22 PM Eastern Standard Time, >oss writes: > >Stranger looked over at Arioch, he had squatted on the floor and was >watching a small army of green ants fighting an army of red ants. He >was sure they weren't there a few seconds ago. > >/I think he's growing bored with me, but I could do with a signal of >some sort to home in on/ /Gotcha. Do you recall the last portal code you used? Yes? Thank you. I'll send a mob of drones through and swamp the area -- unless your little 'friend' has somehow shuffled you off to another section of the ship without benefit of a portal door, they'll find you. I'll also mark the door with a broadband sonic/optical/teep flare keyed to you. Meanwhile, I'm mapping out the entire ship from here in CIC -- slow going, but we'll be able to find you eventually no matter what stunts this chaosite pulls, even in the worst case scenario./ Suiting action to words, one of Rogers in CIC jogs off to an unused portal door, punches up the code for Stranger's last known location, and starts tossing drones through. ================================= Date: Mon, 6 Mar 2000 21:18:51 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE VIc: A Single Step On Mon, 06 Mar 2000 20:33:25 -0800 The Hunter Said As CAoL Message # 00008241 >On Fri, 3 Mar 2000 20:13:03 -0500 >"Xander Opal" Said As CAoL Message # 00008218 > >>He gazes at the horror from behind his shades, his expression >>unreadable. "I'll keep tall, dark and gruesome here busy." > >Xander Opal, two-headed humanoid hermaphrodite blue-opal scaled >dragon, jogs up. "Finally caught up to you guys-umm," sie breaks off, >seeing the beginnings of Roger's fight, and hearing his order. "Guess >details can wait- where do we go from here?" Even as sie says that, >ORoger- just give a ring if you need an assist,O sie Lenses to him. ^^^^^ OOC: IIRC, Xander corrected this to Eric. /Just watch yourself - the demon that was fighting us switched sides when it saw the _other_ ugly that its boss sent in - oh Gaia -/ Eric cuts off as the gospog tags him (as noted in his last post). >On Fri, 3 Mar 2000 20:55:41 EST >SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00008220 > > CIC-Resident Roger is still there, doing a good imitation of a >cybernetic centipede drunk on Speed Force. Roger-with-Rio handles the >talking. OOC: LOL! I'm not crazy about Waid's "Speed Force" thing, but that description was just _priceless!_ Bravo! 8^) >> Eric leapt away from another Hellgaze, deflecting it with his >>chi-defenses. A Dragon Fire Storm and a Mew blast are both absorbed >>by the loose body structure, neither apparently doing much. "Gaia. >>How do we _stop_ this thing?" >> "With...faith," The techno-demon rasps, dragging himself to one >>knee. "You much match the strength in your belief - whatever it may >>be - against that of the creature, and win, to have any real chance >>of harming it." >> Eric scowls. "I have bad news for you, Happy. I stopped believing >>in much of anything except killing monsters a long time ago." > > In his ceiling corner, Stealth Roger winces inwardly in >sympathetic memory. [No faith in your sister's love for you, Eric? No >faith in the willingness of your friends to stand by your side? >'Faith' isn't always in deities, or in Cosmic Concepts of Right and >Wrong. You still have it; you've just stopped seeing it.] The >invisible dupe makes no movement or sound, but the Roger standing >beside Rio in CIC closes his eyes for a long moment. Eric's head cocks, resembling a cat's ears twitching in a metaphoric way, something in him stirred as the gospog draws him in. >On Sat, 4 Mar 2000 00:21:44 -0500 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00008221 > > Someone let me know if Eric needs a pull out of the >demon-doom, or anyone else wants a Zia drop in cameo. Or if the DM >wants one, etc. Just offering cuz I'd hate to see Eric go all to >pieces... literally, even. OOC: Grin. Feel free to drop by...but see below. >On Sun, 5 Mar 2000 00:10:20 -0600 >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00008228 > >>On Wed, 01 Mar 2000 21:49:26 -0800 >>Rio Said As CAoL Message # 00008213 >> >> /Any ideas, Mew?/ >> /You cannot intellectualize your way into belief, Eric,/ Mew >>replies. Those receiving her on the link hear a gentle but strong >>feminine voice. >> /True but unhelpful,/ Eric replies evenly, then sighs as the >>gospog finally tags him, gripping an arm. [I'm sorry, Kiri.] > > free to retcon this. As a servant, Seth could have been called away >from Middle Earth for many reasons.> OOC: Actually, apropos for an angel, your timing is perfect. I'd written myself into a corner. (Roland blushes[tm]. 8^) > On the Blue Horizon, a doorway opens near Eric and the demons >and Seth passes through, already reverted to his mundane form the >CAoL knows him as. > "My apologies if I am intruding upon a duel of honor but you >looked to need a moment to gather your forces," Seth says, as he >moves to break the grip on Eric's arm with his bare hands in a >maneuver that vaguely resembles Judo, then makes an obvious >boxing-style punch to the gospog's jaw or some other vulnerable spot. Eric falls back, shaking his arm out. "Hardly. That _thing_ is more demonic than vanilla-borg here. My thanks-" he begins, stopping suddenly. [An angel?] "Vanilla-borg" throws Eric a dirty look. > Akido, karate, and jujitsu also make an appearance in his style, >which the perceptive will probably work out as that of Krav Maga, a >style only some 40-odd years old, developed in Israel. Boxing style >punchs with low kicks to the knee and groin. It's also the same >style he used earlier with Zia's attackers. > Seth's faith is unshakeable, but he holds himself in enough >reserve to allow Eric to alternately get away or find what faith he >lost. He's not about to interfere in Eric's personal story of Job if >this is the time chosen for Eric to have it. Seth would know this almost instinctively - the protection the creature has must be actively bested in a contest of faith versus its own horrific power to have a serious chance of harming it. (Seth could do it without breaking a sweat, natch. 8^) That protection, however, does not prevent the use of arm locks and jujitsu. Eric flexes his arm as he watches the battle between angelic being and demonic thing, frustration vying with confusion for uppermost emotion. [It's been a long time since I've felt so - useless.] He glares at the battle, holding his right wrist with his left hand. His fingers brush against the mini-lens. He looks down at it, non-plused. [Curse you, Roland. Why is an angel bailing me out anyway? I thought we'd suitably determined my lack of faith. Oh great, I'm free- associating. Not a good sign.] He fingers the lens as a tiny pink glow flickers from Mew's forehead. [Why am I _doing_ this, anyway? These people don't need me. They have an _angel._ Gaia, they have _gods._ I avenged Julie a long time ago...and I'm so damn _tired._ I've courted Death like a jilted lover for so long - maybe it's time I just kissed her and be done with it.] He glares at the gospog. [Is the angel _toying_ with it? Or can't he-] Eric's eyes narrow. Julie is long dead. But his sister is at the other end of this corridor, very much alive. The techno-demon, Mew, even the angel, none of them seem to be able to stop this thing. But none of them are Demon Hunters. He reaches out to her through her connection to the lens-link. If there's anyone he knows with faith, it's Kiri - faith in love, faith in her friends, faith in life itself. Through her, he feels Roger, so much like his parents but very much his own man, and through him (echoed by his own mini-lens) so much family, so much joy, so much love...it is a testament to the spirit of goodness within all sentience and a defiance of entropy. For one that one moment, brother and sister can "feel" the Eric that was while Julie lived, a man who could be surprisingly tender for one so stern, a man who knew what it was to have a soul mate. They know that he didn't become Shih to avenge Julie, but to protect all the other Julies who did not know that the shadows had teeth. And they hear a familiar laughter, like tiny bells ringing... Eric's jaw drops. Mew smiles. /There is more to faith than religion, Eric. You forgot that when you lost the person who taught it to you,/ someone(s?) sends to him through the link. Maybe it's the link itself. Maybe something even more. Eric will never know...but it won't matter. /Remember it now./ [I love you, Julie. Goodbye.] A single tear trickles down one cheek. "MONSTER!" comes a roar from the edge of the melee. Even the gospog stops fighting Seth's grip to locate the source of the sound. Eric is standing there, his sunglasses and longcoat lying in a pile beside him, his kusari-gama wrapped around one arm. "I don't mean this shambling thing, either. I mean the corruption _behind_ it. You can hear me, can't you?" Somewhere else, the Gaunt Man frowns slightly... "I've fought dozens like you. You think that you can use fear and lies to control the universe, to master reality itself. And it can even work...for a while. But sooner or later, someone learns the truth. And that one person is all it takes. Because your power comes to an end with one simple statement..." Eric's arm burst with light - not fire, truly, but the stuff of life itself - and he falls naturally into a ready stance, flowing as his practiced maneuvers never did. "I DEFY YOU!!!" The gospog manages to look shocked, then leaves Seth holding a whole arm in an effort to reach Eric in time. It never has a chance. "THOUSAND-" Eric begins to pull his arms back, chi flowing into two patterns at once as the gospog tries desperately to close. "-DRAGON-" His hands are at his waist, cupped around a tiny ball of light, as the gospog gets to within a few paces. It frantically leaves more bits with whatever Callahanians try to grab it. "-_FIRE_-" The ball of light grows with amazing speed, Eric's entire body trembling not with effort, but with the sheer energy of life coursing through him. The gospog is almost within claw's reach of him. "STOOORM!!!" The ball of light lashes out right into the gospog's face as Eric's arms lash out. Then another ball flies out. And another. And another. It isn't literally a thousand blasts, if anyone bothers to count - more like fifteen or so. But that's clearly more than enough to engulf both combatants in a blaze of raw life and pure corruption doing battle. The corruption burns away at an incredible rate. But when the light fades, it is the gospog that is standing there. "MEW!" /ERIC!/ Mew locks eyes with the gospog, afraid that it has miscalculated, ready to pit its own considerable belief against the gospog. Five throwing stars blur, cracking the sound barrier and pinning the gospog by different strands of what's left of it to the deck. Eric is smiling in genuine amusement. "Stay." He walks over and picks up his sunglasses and longcoat. Even as he puts them back on, though, they have less of a feel of emotional armor to them than they had. It's still there, but hardly as prevalent. "You're an angel, right?" Eric asks Seth. Assuming the affirmative, he gestures at the gospog with his left arm, the chain snaking back into the coat as he does so. "The spirit in that...thing...is the dupe of something evil. I don't know the whole of how it got there, but I do know that it sees only two options - eternal corruption or eternal damnation." Eric's smile becomes a combination of cleverness and kindness. "I'm sure you can find it a third option. Some nice reincarnation cycle, maybe, where it can work off whatever 'real' sins it committed?" Pink light glints off the sunglasses. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go talk to my sister. It's been a while." He points a thumb at the Tharkoldu. /"Oh, and could someone send that back where it belongs?"/ He picks up the woman and throws her over his shoulder, where she lands with another indignant "mmph." The techno-demon looks like it's torn between outrage and gratitude, which leaves it in a very awkward state. It presumably ends up wherever it belongs before it has a chance to decide. 8^) Eric, at any rate (probably with a pretty interesting group trailing him, including Mew, Xander, and quite possibly Seth and Joe) looks around as he reaches the door. He props the attractive, indignant lady up next to the door. "I'll get right back to you." She rolls her eyes as he opens the door and tries to walk in - -but Rio's going to impede that progress in her next post. ;^) ================================= Date: Mon, 6 Mar 2000 21:46:58 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE6c: Will and Raver's Explorations On Mon, 6 Mar 2000 21:41:27 -0800 (PST) The Lone One Said As CAoL Message # 00008242 >On Sun, 5 Mar 2000 22:57:06 -0600 >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00008232 > >>On 03-02-2000 at 21:30:28 >>Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00008216 >> >>A Dining Hall, >> Is The only thing this could be... >> However it is not a total bust... >> There are 16 doors into this room... > > Will huhs, "Well, at least it isn't the garbage chute again..." "I would agree," Raver commented, wrinkling her nose. "That was...certainly fragrant." > "On the other hand, maybe it just makes the choice for you. >Great, just like home, eat what you're given." Looking over Will's shoulder, the demon cocked her head slightly before stepping up to another unit. It announced the arrival of food with a *ding*, and she opened the door. If Will craned his neck, he could see a bowl of reddish-orange liquid with little bone-white bits floating in it. "What's that?" "Tomato soup." She gave him a slit-eyed look, daring him to *say* anything. Taking another look, Will now recognized the white bits as oyster crackers. > {"Okay,"} Will says over the global, {"That room with the lone >chair, big console and funny headgear sounds vaguely promising. I'm >gonna check it out. So far, we've just found hallways, garbage chutes >and finally a mess hall here{}."} > Will enters the console room's coordinates on the door's panel >and opens it, stepping through, global held out like a video camera, >without further preamble... Downing the soup in a few gulps, the big demon trotted after Will, passing through the portal to the console room. "Hm." ================================= Date: Mon, 6 Mar 2000 22:02:50 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE VIc: A Single Step On Mon, 06 Mar 2000 21:40:52 -0800 Rio Said As CAoL Message # 00008243 >On Mon, 06 Mar 2000 20:33:25 -0800 >The Hunter Said As CAoL Message # 00008241 > > Eric's eyes narrow. Julie is long dead. But his sister is at the >other end of this corridor, very much alive. The techno-demon, Mew, >even the angel, none of them seem to be able to stop this thing. > But none of them are Demon Hunters. > He reaches out to her through her connection to the lens-link. If >there's anyone he knows with faith, it's Kiri - faith in love, faith >in her friends, faith in life itself. Through her, he feels Roger, so >much like his parents but very much his own man, and through him >(echoed by his own mini-lens) so much family, so much joy, so much >love...it is a testament to the spirit of goodness within all >sentience and a defiance of entropy. Watching her brother via the monitors in CnC, Rio smiles. > For that one moment, brother and sister can "feel" the Eric that >was while Julie lived, a man who could be surprisingly tender for one >so stern, a man who knew what it was to have a soul mate. They know >that he didn't become Shih to avenge Julie, but to protect all the >other Julies who did not know that the shadows had teeth. > And they hear a familiar laughter, like tiny bells ringing... "Julie," Rio whispers. > Eric's jaw drops. Mew smiles. > The ball of light lashes out right into the gospog's face as >Eric's arms lash out. Then another ball flies out. And another. And >another. It isn't literally a thousand blasts, if anyone bothers to >count - more like fifteen or so. But that's clearly more than enough >to engulf both combatants in a blaze of raw life and pure corruption >doing battle. The corruption burns away at an incredible rate. > But when the light fades, it is the gospog that is standing there. "ERIC!" Rio calls out, grabbing the nearest Roger's arm in shock. [Gaia, no...] > "MEW!" /ERIC!/ Mew locks eyes with the gospog, afraid that it has >miscalculated, ready to pit its own considerable belief against the >gospog. > Five throwing stars blur, cracking the sound barrier and pinning >the gospog by different strands of what's left of it to the deck. > Eric is smiling in genuine amusement. "Stay." He walks over and >picks up his sunglasses and longcoat. Even as he puts them back on, >though, they have less of a feel of emotional armor to them than they >had. It's still there, but hardly as prevalent. Rio laughs in relief, and releases Roger. > Eric, at any rate (probably with a pretty interesting group >trailing him, including Mew, Xander, and quite possibly Seth and Joe) >looks around as he reaches the door. He props the attractive, >indignant lady up next to the door. "I'll get right back to you." She >rolls her eyes as he opens the door and tries to walk in - Rio, on her way _out_ of the same door, smiles broadly as she throws her arms around her brother's shoulders. "Ricky!" "Gmf-" Eric chuckles. "Hello, Kiri." Rio releases her grip enough that her feet drop lightly back to the floor, but her hands stay on Eric's shoulders. She grins up at him for a moment. "Good to have you back, bro." Eric shakes his head. "I'd say I was never gone - but that's not exactly true, is it?" His smile vanishes. "You realize, I'm still going to be doing what I have been? Shih hunt 'demons.'" He shrugs, the smile creeping back. "It's what I'm good at anyway." Her smile doesn't fade. "And you think I don't fight the Wyrm, in my own way? At least it'll be *you* fighting, not a...shell." Her voice drops a bit on the last word, uncertain how he'll take it. Indeed, Eric winces slightly. "I...still have a lot to sort out." He musses her hair playfully. "But it's good to _be_ back, Kiri. Er, Rio. Sorry about the hard time I gave you back in the bar, kiddo." She blinks at him. "Bar? Oh," the light comes on, and she grins again. "Eric, _no_body calls the Place a 'bar.' At least, no one who's spent any time there." He raises an eyebrow. "Well, that's what it is, isn't it? At least, the big Irish guy seems to have drinks that'll get anything that _wants_ to drink, drunk. That's better'n most bars do." "Did you _see_ any drunks there? Sure, Mike serves drinks, but that's not what the Place serves best. I think you felt what Callahan's is really about." Rio smiles mischievously. "Open yourself to the link again if you've forgotten already." "Hrm," Eric snorts. "I think I'm not ready for another straight 'shot' of that just yet. And I think we've run _that_ metaphor as far into the ground as it deserves." He gestures at the icons. "So what did I miss while I was going through 'shock therapy?'" "Mew mewmew memew mew mew, Mewew?" /All business again so soon, Eric?/ Mew sends gently. "'The journey of a thousand miles,' Mew. Right now we've got to find that Engineer before demon-boy does." Eric thinks for a moment, then grins wickedly. "Hold on. I'm going to bug Roland. That kid knows everybody," he adds under his breath. ================================= Date: Tue, 7 Mar 2000 02:38:13 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE VIc: A Single Step On Tue, 07 Mar 2000 02:48:22 -0800 Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00008244 >The Hunter Said As CAoL Message # 00008241 > > "You're an angel, right?" Eric asks Seth. Assuming the >affirmative, he gestures at the gospog with his left arm, the chain >snaking back into the coat as he does so. "The spirit in >that...thing...is the dupe of something evil. I don't know the whole >of how it got there, but I do know that it sees only two options - >eternal corruption or eternal damnation." Eric's smile becomes a >combination of cleverness and kindness. "I'm sure you can find it a >third option. Some nice reincarnation cycle, maybe, where it can work >off whatever 'real' sins it committed?" /*"If he cannot, I can."*/ Aurora offers. > Pink light glints off the sunglasses. "Now if you'll excuse me, I >have to go talk to my sister. It's been a while." He points a thumb >at the Tharkoldu. /"Oh, and could someone send that back where it >belongs?"/ He picks up the woman and throws her over his shoulder, >where she lands with another indignant "mmph." > The techno-demon looks like it's torn between outrage and >gratitude, which leaves it in a very awkward state. It presumably >ends up wherever it belongs before it has a chance to decide. 8^) There is a flash of light, bright but not blindingly so, and the techno-demon vanishes. /*"You have given it an example and a reason to take its own first step. I have given it the opportunity. I sense it has taken the lesson to heart. I will check in on it to help it along in a few centuries. Thank you! You may not need my 'help' after all, but when this is over, the cause of my needing to take that first step, may help you to make your second. Welcome back to the ranks of the living."*/ Aurora says. ================================= Date: Tue, 7 Mar 2000 13:43:17 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE VIc: A Single Step On Tue, 7 Mar 2000 16:09:50 EST SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00008246 >In a message dated 3/7/00 12:20:00 AM Eastern Standard Time, >hunter writes: >> CIC-Resident Roger is still there, doing a good imitation of a >>cybernetic centipede drunk on Speed Force. Roger-with-Rio handles >>the talking. > > OOC: LOL! I'm not crazy about Waid's "Speed Force" thing, but that >description was just _priceless!_ Bravo! 8^) OOC: Thank you. It's hell on the keyboards, though -- somebody grab a Halon extinguisher! (:) >>> Eric scowls. "I have bad news for you, Happy. I stopped >>>believing in much of anything except killing monsters a long time >>>ago." >> >> In his ceiling corner, Stealth Roger winces inwardly in >>sympathetic memory. [No faith in your sister's love for you, Eric? >>No faith in the willingness of your friends to stand by your side? >>'Faith' isn't always in deities, or in Cosmic Concepts of Right and >>Wrong. You still have it; you've just stopped seeing it.] The >>invisible dupe makes no movement or sound, but the Roger standing >>beside Rio in CIC closes his eyes for a long moment. > > Eric's head cocks, resembling a cat's ears twitching in a >metaphoric way, something in him stirred as the gospog draws him in. OOC: I should have added something about "faith that Zia wants to jump his bones," or some such. But that would detracted from the seriousness of the moment. (hey, I'm not ALL slapstick...) > Eric falls back, shaking his arm out. "Hardly. That _thing_ is >more demonic than vanilla-borg here. My thanks-" he begins, stopping >suddenly. > [An angel?] > "Vanilla-borg" throws Eric a dirty look. OOC: Vanilla-Borg!?!?????? Peanuts! I need Peanuts! > [Why am I _doing_ this, anyway? These people don't need me. They >have an _angel._ Gaia, they have _gods._ OOC: Welcome to the club, Eric. (:) >I avenged Julie a long time ago...and I'm so damn _tired._ I've >courted Death like a jilted lover for so long - maybe it's time I >just kissed her and be done with it.] He glares at the gospog. [Is >the angel _toying_ with it? Or can't he-] OOC: ObFreeAssociation, from a fanfic I've read recently: "Travelling with Takashi wasn't so much flirting with Death, as buying it a dozen red roses and proposing..." > Eric's eyes narrow. Julie is long dead. But his sister is at the >other end of this corridor, very much alive. The techno-demon, Mew, >even the angel, none of them seem to be able to stop this thing. > But none of them are Demon Hunters. > He reaches out to her through her connection to the lens-link. If >there's anyone he knows with faith, it's Kiri - faith in love, faith >in her friends, faith in life itself. Through her, he feels Roger, so >much like his parents but very much his own man, and through him >(echoed by his own mini-lens) so much family, so much joy, so much >love...it is a testament to the spirit of goodness within all >sentience and a defiance of entropy. In CIC, the winged Roger closes his eyes and reaches Rio's hand as his wings shift from the black steel Archangel combat wings, to the white feathery "Classic Angel" mode. One wing tucks around Rio's shoulder in an unconscious gesture... > For one that one moment, brother and sister can "feel" the Eric >that was while Julie lived, a man who could be surprisingly tender >for one so stern, a man who knew what it was to have a soul mate. >They know that he didn't become Shih to avenge Julie, but to protect >all the other Julies who did not know that the shadows had teeth. > And they hear a familiar laughter, like tiny bells ringing... > Eric's jaw drops. Mew smiles. Roger grins widely, with just a trace of old, sad nostalgia. > /There is more to faith than religion, Eric. You forgot that when >you lost the person who taught it to you,/ someone(s?) sends to him >through the link. Maybe it's the link itself. Maybe something even >more. Eric will never know...but it won't matter. /Remember it now./ > [I love you, Julie. Goodbye.] A single tear trickles down one >cheek. Roger (the big softie) actually sniffles, just a teeny bit. His free hand reaches into katana space for a hanky. > "MONSTER!" comes a roar from the edge of the melee. Even the >gospog stops fighting Seth's grip to locate the source of the sound. > Eric is standing there, his sunglasses and longcoat lying in a >pile beside him, his kusari-gama wrapped around one arm. "I don't >mean this shambling thing, either. I mean the corruption _behind_ it. >You can hear me, can't you?" "Go go go go go go GO!" > Somewhere else, the Gaunt Man frowns slightly... > > "I've fought dozens like you. You think that you can use fear and >lies to control the universe, to master reality itself. And it can >even work...for a while. But sooner or later, someone learns the >truth. And that one person is all it takes. Because your power comes >to an end with one simple statement..." > Eric's arm burst with light - not fire, truly, but the stuff of >life itself - and he falls naturally into a ready stance, flowing as >his practiced maneuvers never did. > "I DEFY YOU!!!" "Yes!" > The gospog manages to look shocked, then leaves Seth holding a >whole arm in an effort to reach Eric in time. > It never has a chance. > "THOUSAND-" > Eric begins to pull his arms back, chi flowing into two patterns >at once as the gospog tries desperately to close. > "-DRAGON-" > His hands are at his waist, cupped around a tiny ball of light, as >the gospog gets to within a few paces. It frantically leaves more >bits with whatever Callahanians try to grab it. Stealth-Roger actually sits back and grins, with a "what, ME worry?" grin. Of course, no one can SEE it.... > "-_FIRE_-" > The ball of light grows with amazing speed, Eric's entire body >trembling not with effort, but with the sheer energy of life coursing >through him. The gospog is almost within claw's reach of him. > "STOOORM!!!" > The ball of light lashes out right into the gospog's face as >Eric's arms lash out. Then another ball flies out. And another. And >another. > It isn't literally a thousand blasts, if anyone bothers to count - >more like fifteen or so. But that's clearly more than enough to >engulf both combatants in a blaze of raw life and pure corruption >doing battle. The corruption burns away at an incredible rate. > But when the light fades, it is the gospog that is standing there. "Heh." > "MEW!" /ERIC!/ Mew locks eyes with the gospog, afraid that it has >miscalculated, ready to pit its own considerable belief against the >gospog. /Faith, Mew. Faith/ > Pink light glints off the sunglasses. "Now if you'll excuse me, I >have to go talk to my sister. It's been a while." He points a thumb >at the Tharkoldu. /"Oh, and could someone send that back where it >belongs?"/ He picks up the woman and throws her over his shoulder, >where she lands with another indignant "mmph." > The techno-demon looks like it's torn between outrage and >gratitude, which leaves it in a very awkward state. It presumably >ends up wherever it belongs before it has a chance to decide. 8^) Stealth Roger deStealths and lands lightly on the floor nearby, pulling out a small notebook and a pencil. "Not a bad day's work. One (1) soul set back on the Wheel, Check. One (1) soul's sense of faith restored, Check. Ass, Generic Forces of Evil, kicked, Check." He tucks the props away and nods formally to Seth and Mew. He actually *bows* to Eric (what Zia would recognize as respect-between-equals), albeit with the characteristic Roger Grin playing about his lips. "Good to have you back, Eric." The grin threatens to crack his reserved expression wide open. "So, does this mean you'll be more open to laughing at my jokes from now on?" He rocks back on his heels, cheerfully awaiting Eric's return zinger... > Eric, at any rate (probably with a pretty interesting group >trailing him, including Mew, Xander, and quite possibly Seth and Joe) >looks around as he reaches the door. He props the attractive, >indignant lady up next to the door. "I'll get right back to you." She >rolls her eyes as he opens the door and tries to walk in - > -but Rio's going to impede that progress in her next post. ;^) No-longer-Stealth Roger vanishes as the portal opens, remerging. Winged Roger turns to observe the triumphant procession. "Mmmm...Eric? Not that it's my business or anything, but -- well, I really don't think you have to resort to such, er, extreme measuers in order to get a date." He gestures at the DID slung over Eric's shoulder, then his expression turns thoughtful. "Unless, of course, she's *into* that kind of thing..." OOC: Yes, I remember that the DID's wrappings are Rogerware -- he can dissolve them as soon as it's Dramatically Convenient... ================================= Date: Tue, 7 Mar 2000 18:38:49 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE VIc: A Single Step On Wed, 8 Mar 2000 21:10:57 -0500 "Xander Opal" Said As CAoL Message # 00008247 >On Tue, 7 Mar 2000 16:09:50 EST >SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00008246 > >>In a message dated 3/7/00 12:20:00 AM Eastern Standard Time, >>hunter writes: >> Eric, at any rate (probably with a pretty interesting group >>trailing him, including Mew, Xander, and quite possibly Seth and >>Joe) looks around as he reaches the door. He props the attractive, >>indignant lady up next to the door. "I'll get right back to you." >>She rolls her eyes as he opens the door and tries to walk in - As Eric attempts to leave the room, the two-headed dragon easily takes in the assorted beings sie finds hirself with... and murmurs an oddly appropriate line... "Weee're off to see the wizard..." @Way to /GO/, Eric!@ sie lenses to the fellow in congratulations. ================================= Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2000 06:08:43 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE VIc: A Single Step On Wed, 8 Mar 2000 06:50:43 -0600 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00008248 >On Mon, 06 Mar 2000 20:33:25 -0800 >The Hunter Said As CAoL Message # 00008241 > >>On Sun, 5 Mar 2000 00:10:20 -0600 >>Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00008228 >> >>> On Wed, 01 Mar 2000 21:49:26 -0800 >>> Rio Said As CAoL Message # 00008213 >> >> >free to retcon this. As a servant, Seth could have been called away >>from Middle Earth for many reasons.> > > OOC: Actually, apropos for an angel, your timing is perfect. I'd >written myself into a corner. (Roland blushes[tm]. 8^) > > Eric falls back, shaking his arm out. "Hardly. That _thing_ is >more demonic than vanilla-borg here. My thanks-" he begins, stopping >suddenly. > [An angel?] > "Vanilla-borg" throws Eric a dirty look. "You are quite welcome," Seth replies as he drives an elbow into the demon's face. > Seth would know this almost instinctively - the protection the >creature has must be actively bested in a contest of faith versus its >own horrific power to have a serious chance of harming it. (Seth >could do it without breaking a sweat, natch. 8^) That protection, >however, does not prevent the use of arm locks and jujitsu. Seth makes sure to make some show of things on the physical level, the two trading shots back and forth. The battle of faith versus horror seems to follow the same give and take, neither side giving or taking any real ground. > Eric flexes his arm as he watches the battle between angelic being >and demonic thing, frustration vying with confusion for uppermost >emotion. [It's been a long time since I've felt so - useless.] He >glares at the battle, holding his right wrist with his left hand. His >fingers brush against the mini-lens. He looks down at it, non-plused. >[Curse you, Roland. Why is an angel bailing me out anyway? I thought >we'd suitably determined my lack of faith. Oh great, I'm >free-associating. Not a good sign.] He fingers the lens as a tiny >pink glow flickers from Mew's forehead. Seth starts to fall back a bit, the gospog making headway in it's attacks. > [Why am I _doing_ this, anyway? These people don't need me. They >have an _angel._ Gaia, they have _gods._ I avenged Julie a long time >ago...and I'm so damn _tired._ I've courted Death like a jilted lover >for so long - maybe it's time I just kissed her and be done with it.] >He glares at the gospog. [Is the angel _toying_ with it? Or can't >he-] The gospog manages a fabulous strike against Seth, sending him staggering. > Eric's eyes narrow. Julie is long dead. But his sister is at the >other end of this corridor, very much alive. The techno-demon, Mew, >even the angel, none of them seem to be able to stop this thing. > But none of them are Demon Hunters. > He reaches out to her through her connection to the lens-link. If >there's anyone he knows with faith, it's Kiri - faith in love, faith >in her friends, faith in life itself. Through her, he feels Roger, so >much like his parents but very much his own man, and through him >(echoed by his own mini-lens) so much family, so much joy, so much >love...it is a testament to the spirit of goodness within all >sentience and a defiance of entropy. Seth wades back in, beating the gospog back again, but not as strong as he had been. > /There is more to faith than religion, Eric. You forgot that when >you lost the person who taught it to you,/ someone(s?) sends to him >through the link. Maybe it's the link itself. Maybe something even >more. Eric will never know...but it won't matter. /Remember it now./ > [I love you, Julie. Goodbye.] A single tear trickles down one >cheek. > "MONSTER!" comes a roar from the edge of the melee. Even the >gospog stops fighting Seth's grip to locate the source of the sound. Seth glances back as he drives a fist into the gospog's ribcage. > "I've fought dozens like you. You think that you can use fear and >lies to control the universe, to master reality itself. And it can >even work...for a while. But sooner or later, someone learns the >truth. And that one person is all it takes. Because your power comes >to an end with one simple statement..." > Eric's arm burst with light - not fire, truly, but the stuff of >life itself - and he falls naturally into a ready stance, flowing as >his practiced maneuvers never did. > "I DEFY YOU!!!" > The gospog manages to look shocked, then leaves Seth holding a >whole arm in an effort to reach Eric in time. Seth looks ready to lunge after it, but reacting at a speed that would never allow him to reach it in time. > But when the light fades, it is the gospog that is standing there. > "MEW!" /ERIC!/ Mew locks eyes with the gospog, afraid that it has >miscalculated, ready to pit its own considerable belief against the >gospog. > Five throwing stars blur, cracking the sound barrier and pinning >the gospog by different strands of what's left of it to the deck. Seth tosses the arm toward what's left of the gospog casually, straightening and taking a deep breath. His smile is back. > Eric is smiling in genuine amusement. "Stay." He walks over and >picks up his sunglasses and longcoat. Even as he puts them back on, >though, they have less of a feel of emotional armor to them than they >had. It's still there, but hardly as prevalent. > "You're an angel, right?" Eric asks Seth. Assuming the >affirmative, he Seth nods slightly with a smile. >gestures at the gospog with his left arm, the chain snaking back into >the coat as he does so. "The spirit in that...thing...is the dupe of >something evil. I don't know the whole of how it got there, but I do >know that it sees only two options - eternal corruption or eternal >damnation." Eric's smile becomes a combination of cleverness and >kindness. "I'm sure you can find it a third option. Some nice >reincarnation cycle, maybe, where it can work off whatever 'real' >sins it committed?" Seth nods and sends the gospog in it's way with a glance. In a petting zoo in New York City, a ewe gives birth to a new black baby lamb which becomes the hit of the zoo. > Pink light glints off the sunglasses. "Now if you'll excuse me, I >have to go talk to my sister. It's been a while." He points a thumb >at the Tharkoldu. /"Oh, and could someone send that back where it >belongs?"/ He picks up the woman and throws her over his shoulder, >where she lands with another indignant "mmph." > The techno-demon looks like it's torn between outrage and >gratitude, which leaves it in a very awkward state. It presumably >ends up wherever it belongs before it has a chance to decide. 8^) Seth smiles, saying, "Good luck, friend," as Aurora sends the techno-demon away. > Eric, at any rate (probably with a pretty interesting group >trailing him, including Mew, Xander, and quite possibly Seth and Joe) >looks around as he reaches the door. He props the attractive, >indignant lady up next to the door. "I'll get right back to you." She >rolls her eyes as he opens the door and tries to walk in - > -but Rio's going to impede that progress in her next post. ;^) Seth trails along with a smile, looking as if nothing had happened. He stands out of the way of the hunters for the Cosmic Engineer, awaiting some unseen cue for his next move with the Guardians of If. ================================= Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2000 08:08:48 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE VIc: Now what? On Wed, 08 Mar 2000 15:14:58 -0800 Stranger Said As CAoL Message # 00008249 >On Mon, 6 Mar 2000 20:52:25 EST >SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00008240 > >>Stranger looked over at Arioch, he had squatted on the floor and was >>watching a small army of green ants fighting an army of red ants. He >>was sure they weren't there a few seconds ago. >> >>/I think he's growing bored with me, but I could do with a signal of >>some sort to home in on/ > >/Gotcha. Do you recall the last portal code you used? Yes? Stranger sends the code. >Thank you. I'll send a mob of drones through and swamp the area >unless your little 'friend' has somehow shuffled you off to another >section of the ship without benefit of a portal door, they'll find >you. I'll also mark the door with a broadband sonic/optical/teep >flare keyed to you. Meanwhile, I'm mapping out the entire ship from >here in CIC -- slow going, but we'll be able to find you eventually >no matter what stunts this chaosite pulls, even in the worst case >scenario./ /OK, I think I've got it./ >Suiting action to words, one of Rogers in CIC jogs off to an unused >portal door, punches up the code for Stranger's last known location, >and starts tossing drones through. Stranger looked back at Arioch. "Put it down, that's disgusting." Arioch grinned back at him. "You can go now, soldier." "Bored of me are you?" "No, but I had to keep you out of a fight that would have killed you. Not badly, but it would've taken you too long to get back to the others." "Why should that bother you?" Stranger was marching quickly now back towards Roger's beacon. "I'll let MolloM tell you that." Stranger, stopped, shocked that Arioch should even mention his rival, he looked back at Arioch to ask why, but he was gone. One of roger's zones zipped around the corner and past Stranger, making him flinch. "Damn you Arioch." In the distance he thought he heard laughter as he sprinted for the portal door. ================================= Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2000 14:41:58 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE VIb: Rapid Rescues & Recoveries R Zia On Wed, 8 Mar 2000 16:20:28 EST John and/or Rhia Said As CAoL Message # 00008252 >In a message dated 3/6/00 12:08:34 AM Eastern Standard Time, >samatha1 writes: > >"Hello, Rhia. I just learned you were stuck here, so I came as soon >as possible. I can't imagine why the CAoL hasn't charged to your >rescue already - this separate operating unit thing must be cramping >their style. Any idea which control opens that cage you're in, or >should I just start frying things at random?" The petite Amberite >grins at the other lady, "Random is usually on my side, but I can't >guarantee it, of course." Rhia's head whips up from where she had been resting it on her paws. 'ZIA!?!,' she sends, 'Can you hear me? I tried to call out when I was captured but I couldn't get through. I don't know how the cage operates, I was dropped into it from above. There was this crazy scientist guy and he injected me with something and now I can't shift back.' As she sends this last she lets out a distressed little yeowl. 'Can you get me out?' ================================= Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2000 17:54:27 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE VIb: Rapid Rescues & Recoveries R Zia On Wed, 8 Mar 2000 20:51:24 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00008254 >On Wed, 8 Mar 2000 16:20:28 EST >John and/or Rhia Said As CAoL Message # 00008252 > >Rhia's head whips up from where she had been resting it on her paws. >'ZIA!?!,' she sends, 'Can you hear me? I tried to call out when I was >captured but I couldn't get through. I don't know how the cage >operates, I was dropped into it from above. There was this crazy >scientist guy and he injected me with something and now I can't shift >back.' As she sends this last she lets out a distressed little yeowl. >'Can you get me out?' "Yes, I can hear you. I'll make speed to get you out soonest." Zia's hand finds the button labeled as 'Cage Release'. Then she stops as if hearing something and frowns. "Danger Sense says this cage doesn't open the Simple Simeon way. Nemo, can you give me an assist, here?" She'll open up the Lens link through to him, and let him Perceive the innards of this machine to untangle how to open the cage without setting off an alarm or suchlike. Zia helps Rhia jump/crawl out of the confined space within the cage, then starts to open another Sign back to the Planning Room. "I should make a Trump; this is too tiring to do regularly." She mutters absently under her breath. Zia ================================= Date: Thu, 9 Mar 2000 05:39:50 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE VIb: Rapid Rescues & Recoveries R Zia On Thu, 9 Mar 2000 00:46:41 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00008256 >On Wed, 8 Mar 2000 20:51:24 -0500 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00008254 > >herself in the proper manner...> "Cages... I don't *like* people cage others against their will..." Nemo reaches *past* not thru, the bars, and gently takes hold of Rhia. Anyone watching can't quite follow *where* his arm goes as it nears the bars. He carefully extracts Rhia, who seems to reced momentarily in the same odd direction as he extracts her from the cage. "There you are." >Zia helps Rhia jump/crawl out of the confined space within the cage, >then starts to open another Sign back to the Planning Room. "I should >make a Trump; this is too tiring to do regularly." She mutters >absently under her breath. Something odd happens to the space inside the cage after Zia leaves. The cage is the same size, yet somehow a full sized Nemo (all 6 feet of him) is standing inside. From the expression on his face, someone is not going to enjoy meeting him. ================================= Date: Thu, 9 Mar 2000 11:08:55 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE VIc: Now what? On Thu, 09 Mar 2000 18:12:05 -0800 Stranger Said As CAoL Message # 00008257 >On Wed, 08 Mar 2000 15:14:58 -0800 >Stranger Said As CAoL Message # 00008249 > >In the distance he thought he heard laughter as he sprinted for the >portal door. Stranger soon reached the portal, passing through at full speed and skidding to a stop in CIC. He made his gun safe and returned it to his shoulder holster. "Right, I'm back." He looked around at the various monitors and other equipment. "Arioch seems to have an interest in our endeavours, not sure if he'll try and help or hinder us, maybe both, but we'll burn that bridge when we come to it I guess." "Where can I do some good?" ================================= Date: Thu, 9 Mar 2000 13:43:21 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE VIb: Rapid Rescues & Recoveries R Zia On Thu, 9 Mar 2000 11:58:08 -0800 (PST) Ziactrice Roaming Said As CAoL Message # 00008258 >On Thu, 9 Mar 2000 00:46:41 PST >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00008256 > >Something odd happens to the space inside the cage after Zia leaves. >The cage is the same size, yet somehow a full sized Nemo (all 6 feet >of him) is standing inside. From the expression on his face, someone >is not going to enjoy meeting him. Zia steps through into the Planning Room, from a polychromatic spiral of mostly blue light, either carrying or being followedby Rhia in her other-form. "Hello, again. I'll just make sure y'all can communicate with Rhia and check her out on whatever was injected, then I'll be on my way again." ================================= Date: Sat, 11 Mar 2000 16:57:07 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE VIc: Now what? On 03-11-2000 at 16:52:29 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00008261 >On Thu, 09 Mar 2000 18:12:05 -0800 >Stranger Said As CAoL Message # 00008257 > >"Where can I do some good?" "At the moment, I would suggest taking a Breather, We are gathering data, and Trying to re-establish contact with, All Deployed Troops." ================================= Date: Sat, 11 Mar 2000 16:57:12 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE VIb: Rapid Rescues & Recoveries R Zia On 03-11-2000 at 16:52:29 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00008262 >On Thu, 9 Mar 2000 11:58:08 -0800 (PST) >Ziactrice Roaming Said As CAoL Message # 00008258 > >Zia steps through into the Planning Room, from a polychromatic spiral >of mostly blue light, either carrying or being followedby Rhia in her >other-form. "Hello, again. I'll just make sure y'all can communicate >with Rhia and check her out on whatever was injected, then I'll be on >my way again." *Rhia do you understand me?* *I do not know if the process is identical, However the bio-chemical cues used in my host mother's body, Are known the the medical facility's systems, If the match is not too far off, They should be able to, Identify and Neutralize the inhibiting factor, In a fairly short time frame...* ================================= Date: Sun, 12 Mar 2000 11:03:43 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE6c: Will and Raver's Explorations On 03-12-2000 at 10:47:46 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00008264 >On Mon, 6 Mar 2000 21:41:27 -0800 (PST) >The Lone One Said As CAoL Message # 00008242 > >>On Sun, 5 Mar 2000 22:57:06 -0600 >>Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00008232 > > Looking over Will's shoulder, the demon cocked her head slightly >before stepping up to another unit. It announced the arrival of food >with a *ding*, and she opened the door. If Will craned his neck, he >could see a bowl of reddish-orange liquid with little bone-white bits >floating in it. "What's that?" > > "Tomato soup." She gave him a slit-eyed look, daring him to >*say* anything. Taking another look, Will now recognized the white >bits as oyster crackers. >> {"Okay,"} Will says over the global, {"That room with the lone >>chair, big console and funny headgear sounds vaguely promising. I'm >>gonna check it out. So far, we've just found hallways, garbage >>chutes and finally a mess hall here{}."} >> Will enters the console room's coordinates on the door's panel >>and opens it, stepping through, global held out like a video camera, >>without further preamble... > > Downing the soup in a few gulps, the big demon trotted after >Will, passing through the portal to the console room. "Hm." This is easily, The Most complex control console that Will has ever seen, This section here seems to be a Periodic Chart of the Elements, and It looks like you can adjust ratios of the isotopes of each Element, As well as half-life and several other attributes, That will has never heard of... On the other hand there are over 300 entries... Over here we have some kind of Chart (Possibly 'Periodic'), Of basic forces, Dozens of them... Apparently Range and Amplitude and a few other characteristics, Are adjustable... That sections looks like you can design new basic particles... And here you can design new Elements, That include those new basic particles... Along the walls are, Banks of registers that can store, Particle or Element Definitions... When Will sits down and tries on the Neural interface... ================================= Date: Sun, 12 Mar 2000 18:15:37 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE6c: Will and Raver's Explorations On Sun, 12 Mar 2000 19:31:39 -0600 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00008270 >On 03-12-2000 at 10:47:46 >Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00008264 > > I've Been trying to figure out how to describe this, > So that Mike knows how to avoid the Disasters, > That Will should understand, > Without being too obvious...> > >This is easily, > The Most complex control console that Will has ever seen, Will whistles in amazement. >This section here seems to be a Periodic Chart of the Elements, and > It looks like you can adjust ratios of the isotopes of each Element, > As well as half-life and several other attributes, > That will has never heard of... > On the other hand there are over 300 entries... Will nods, looking over the rows of elements. "Two dots with one orbiting... must be hydrogen. So that's helium... yeah, oxygen's where it ought to be. These are the inert gases... here's the end of the natural elements... I recognize a few of these as ones that are man-made... and a bunch I've never seen before..." >Over here we have some kind of Chart (Possibly 'Periodic'), > Of basic forces, Dozens of them... > Apparently Range and Amplitude and a few other characteristics, > Are adjustable... Will mused over this panel. "That looks like magnetic force, there's the strong and weak nuclear forces, gravity...the rest I don't know..." >That sections looks like you can design new basic particles... Will scratchs his head, "I think this has something to do with subatomic particles, but I'm not sure how. Maybe you can pick out what particles to use by altering the settings." >And here you can design new Elements, > That include those new basic particles... Will rubs his chin, "And this lets you incorporate the particles into new elements maybe. That part looks like the nucleus, these the electron shells..." >Along the walls are, > Banks of registers that can store, > Particle or Element Definitions... Will looks at the walls, "Data storage, I guess." >When Will sits down and tries on the Neural interface... Will sits back in the chair. "Okay, so if this thing lets you manipulate elements around at the atomic and subatomic level-" Will remarks, looking up at the helmet over his head then reaching up to slide it down and try it on, "-then this thing must somehow let you see what you're doing..." ================================= Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2000 01:33:52 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE6c: Will and Raver's Explorations On 03-13-2000 at 01:22:06 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00008272 >On Sun, 12 Mar 2000 19:31:39 -0600 >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00008270 > > Will sits back in the chair. > "Okay, so if this thing lets you manipulate elements around at >the atomic and subatomic level-" Will remarks, looking up at the >helmet over his head then reaching up to slide it down and try it on, >"-then this thing must somehow let you see what you're doing..." > If you can imagine a Really high grade Fractal/Paint/CAD hybrid, In 3D with full volume sensing... Currently in the Neutral state you can safely experiment... Say Paint a 'Planet' at all levels, The Console sets up your Color/Texture pallets Specify Solar Direction, Amplitude, and Spectra... Visualize what you want, Implied details will be filled in... Then fine tune... Eventually find the 2 digit base 64 Selection panel... Each selection here other than "-" "-" shows an existent pattern... A Planet or small solar system, and Every time the neural interface is disengaged, This setting returns to "-" "-". As an Example 00 Is an Earth type world with six small moons, There is an indication that the Pattern has been altered, And an Option to "Undo" the Changes... A Closer examination will show that that would, Fill in an enormous number of Excavations... And What seems to be hundreds of millions of years, Of Erosion... As well as reversing continental drift, but that is a separate option... ================================= Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2000 05:39:06 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE6c: Will and Raver's Explorations On Mon, 13 Mar 2000 06:28:45 -0600 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00008275 >On 03-13-2000 at 01:22:06 >Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00008272 > >If you can imagine a Really high grade Fractal/Paint/CAD hybrid, > In 3D with full volume sensing... > >Currently in the Neutral state you can safely experiment... > Say Paint a 'Planet' at all levels, > The Console sets up your Color/Texture pallets Will just stops for a moment. "Wow..." After a moment, he reachs forward and sets up a hydrogen atom, seeing it in his mind. He frowns. >Specify Solar Direction, Amplitude, and Spectra... > >Visualize what you want, > Implied details will be filled in... > Then fine tune... "Well this is all fun," he says to himself, "but what if I want two atoms?" In his mind, a second atom appears. Will blinks. "Holy cow... twelve..." Twelve hydrogen atoms float there in his mind. [What if I wanted a star-ful?] Will thinks to himself. Will's view suddenly shifts to the macroscopic as a star is born in his mind. His jaw drops. >Eventually find the 2 digit base 64 Selection panel... As the implications start sinking in, Will happens to spot a panel he hadn't paid attention to before. >Each selection here other than "-" "-" shows an existent pattern... > A Planet or small solar system, and > Every time the neural interface is disengaged, > This setting returns to "-" "-". Will reachs forward and flips it from the empty settings to the first real setting. The sun vanishs in his mind... >As an Example 00 > Is an Earth type world with six small moons, > There is an indication that the Pattern has been altered, > And an Option to "Undo" the Changes... > A Closer examination will show that that would, > Fill in an enormous number of Excavations... > And What seems to be hundreds of millions of years, > Of Erosion... > As well as reversing continental drift, > but that is a separate option... Will stares for a moment, taking everything in. "My God... We found it." He reachs up and taps his communicator badge as his mind propels his view down along the planet's surface in a flyby. {"We found the Cosmic Engineer... Roger, give me one of those numbers on the monitors for a dead star system... If this pans out, I think I know what happened to them..."} ================================= Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2000 13:39:17 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE6c: Will and Raver's Explorations On Mon, 13 Mar 2000 13:33:06 -0800 (PST) The Lone One Said As CAoL Message # 00008278 >On Sun, 12 Mar 2000 19:31:39 -0600 >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00008270 > > Will whistles in amazement. Looking over his shoulder, Raver lifted her eyebrows. "Impressive." > Will nods, looking over the rows of elements. "Two dots with one >orbiting... must be hydrogen. So that's helium... yeah, oxygen's >where it ought to be. These are the inert gases... here's the end of >the natural elements... I recognize a few of these as ones that are >man-made... and a bunch I've never seen before..." "Hmm. You would know more than I, as Mandy never paid much attention in Chemistry or Physics class." The demon wandered over, tilting her head to one side and studying the table with interest. > Will rubs his chin, "And this lets you incorporate the particles >into new elements maybe. That part looks like the nucleus, these the >electron shells..." "I shall leave this to you, as you know more than I or Mandy of these...scientific...things." > Will sits back in the chair. > "Okay, so if this thing lets you manipulate elements around at >the atomic and subatomic level-" Will remarks, looking up at the >helmet over his head then reaching up to slide it down and try it on, >"-then this thing must somehow let you see what you're doing..." > Raver's eyes narrowed. "Wait. Are you certain that this is safe?" She stepped back, taking a look around the room for emergency cutouts. ================================= Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2000 14:39:36 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE6c: Will and Raver's Explorations On Mon, 13 Mar 2000 14:13:55 -0800 (PST) The Lone One Said As CAoL Message # 00008279 >On Mon, 13 Mar 2000 06:28:45 -0600 >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00008275 > > Will just stops for a moment. "Wow..." > After a moment, he reachs forward and sets up a hydrogen atom, >seeing it in his mind. He frowns. Raver relaxed, seeing that Will seemed to be unharmed by the neural interface. "What do you see?" She took up a position slightly behind him, where she could see him work, yet remain out of the way. > Will stares for a moment, taking everything in. > "My God... We found it." He reachs up and taps his communicator >badge as his mind propels his view down along the planet's surface in >a flyby. {"We found the Cosmic Engineer... Roger, give me one of >those numbers on the monitors for a dead star system... If this pans >out, I think I know what happened to them..."} Interest flaring, she reached out to Will, only to realize that he wasn't on the Link. "Is there a way to show us what you see?" ================================= Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2000 18:33:09 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE6c: Will and Raver's Explorations On 03-13-2000 at 18:28:54 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00008282 >On Mon, 13 Mar 2000 06:28:45 -0600 >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00008275 > > [What if I wanted a star-ful?] Will thinks to himself. > Will's view suddenly shifts to the macroscopic as a star is born >in his mind. His jaw drops. Specificly a first gen star, Pure hydrogen... He is subliminally aware of all of the Details, Throughout the Volume of the Star, He can be consious of it, If it occurs to him... > Will stares for a moment, taking everything in. > "My God... We found it." He reachs up and taps his communicator >badge as his mind propels his view down along the planet's surface in >a flyby. There are signs of existent Civilization on this world... >{"We found the Cosmic Engineer... Roger, give me one of those numbers >on the monitors for a dead star system... If this pans out, I think I >know what happened to them..."} On second look, He notices that only the two digit "Realm" section, Is present, the rest of the standard coordinate panel is missing... To answer Raver, Yes you can project a view point on the wall in front of you... ================================= Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2000 13:39:36 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE6c: Will and Raver's Explorations On Tue, 14 Mar 2000 16:08:07 EST SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00008284 >In a message dated 3/13/00 8:39:49 AM Eastern Standard Time, >mjknight writes: > Will stares for a moment, taking everything in. > "My God... We found it." He reachs up and taps his communicator >badge as his mind propels his view down along the planet's surface in > a flyby. {"We found the Cosmic Engineer... Roger, give me one of >those numbers on the monitors for a dead star system... If this pans >out, I think I know what happened to them..."} Roger's eyebrows pop up, both from Will's tone and what little of Will's observations he can see through the Globals (plus whatever Raver might be putting onto the lenslink). {Coming right up, Will. {} Just watch where you point that thing, yes?} /This is Roger, calling Nemo and all members Team 3. We have a strong probable on the location of the target. Major West, may I suggest that we all rally on either CIC or Will's current location?/ ================================= Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2000 11:32:29 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE VIc: Now what? On Thu, 16 Mar 2000 17:59:22 -0800 Stranger Said As CAoL Message # 00008290 >On 03-11-2000 at 16:52:29 >Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00008261 > >>On Thu, 09 Mar 2000 18:12:05 -0800 >>Stranger Said As CAoL Message # 00008257 >> >>"Where can I do some good?" > >"At the moment, > I would suggest taking a Breather, > We are gathering data, and > Trying to re-establish contact with, > All Deployed Troops." "OK, if you say so." Stranger started wandering around CIC looking at the monitors and poking things. >/This is Roger, calling Nemo and all members Team 3. We have a strong >probable on the location of the target. Major West, may I suggest >that we all rally on either CIC or Will's current location?/ /Wilco. I'm at CIC. Will wait here until we're ready to move./ ================================= Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2000 12:36:51 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE VIc: Now what? On Thu, 16 Mar 2000 12:11:42 -0800 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00008291 >On Thu, 16 Mar 2000 17:59:22 -0800 >Stranger Said As CAoL Message # 00008290 > >>/This is Roger, calling Nemo and all members Team 3. We have a >>strong probable on the location of the target. Major West, may I >>suggest that we all rally on either CIC or Will's current location?/ > >/Wilco. I'm at CIC. Will wait here until we're ready to move./ Morgan, also speaking for Roland /|\ ================================= Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2000 10:03:34 -0800 (PST) Subject: AAE6c: Jumping to Conclusions... On Sat, 18 Mar 2000 10:05:16 -0600 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00008294 >On Mon, 13 Mar 2000 13:33:06 -0800 (PST) >The Lone One Said As CAoL Message # 00008278 > >> On Sun, 12 Mar 2000 19:31:39 -0600 >> Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00008270 >> >> Will nods, looking over the rows of elements. "Two dots with >>one orbiting... must be hydrogen. So that's helium... yeah, oxygen's >>where it ought to be. These are the inert gases... here's the end of >>the natural elements... I recognize a few of these as ones that are >>man-made... and a bunch I've never seen before..." > > "Hmm. You would know more than I, as Mandy never paid much >attention in Chemistry or Physics class." The demon wandered over, >tilting her head to one side and studying the table with interest. Will chuckles. "Well, this is still far more than I ever learned." >> Will rubs his chin, "And this lets you incorporate the >>particles into new elements maybe. That part looks like the nucleus, >>these the electron shells..." > > "I shall leave this to you, as you know more than I or Mandy of >these...scientific...things." Will grins, "I hope." >> Will sits back in the chair. >> "Okay, so if this thing lets you manipulate elements around at >>the atomic and subatomic level-" Will remarks, looking up at the >>helmet over his head then reaching up to slide it down and try it >>on, "-then this thing must somehow let you see what you're doing..." > > Raver's eyes narrowed. "Wait. Are you certain that this is >safe?" She stepped back, taking a look around the room for emergency >cutouts. Will smirks, "How are we sure the soup you drank was safe?" as he continues to put the helmet on. > Then... >On Mon, 13 Mar 2000 14:13:55 -0800 (PST) >The Lone One Said As CAoL Message # 00008279 > >>On Mon, 13 Mar 2000 06:28:45 -0600 >>Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00008275 >> >> Will stares for a moment, taking everything in. >> "My God... We found it." He reachs up and taps his communicator >>badge as his mind propels his view down along the planet's surface >>in a flyby. {"We found the Cosmic Engineer... Roger, give me one of >>those numbers on the monitors for a dead star system... If this pans >>out, I think I know what happened to them..."} > > Interest flaring, she reached out to Will, only to realize that >he wasn't on the Link. "Is there a way to show us what you see?" "Let's see..." Will says. [How can I show what I see to everyone else?] A full wall image comes to life of the flyby Will is doing of the world. Then... >On Tue, 14 Mar 2000 16:08:07 EST >SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00008284 > >Roger's eyebrows pop up, both from Will's tone and what little of >Will's observations he can see through the Globals (plus whatever >Raver might be putting onto the lenslink). >{Coming right up, Will. {} Just watch where you point that thing, >yes?} >/This is Roger, calling Nemo and all members Team 3. We have a strong >probable on the location of the target. Major West, may I suggest >that we all rally on either CIC or Will's current location?/ {"Thanks, Roger."} Will reachs up to switch over the view to that reality's setting. "Wait a minute, there's only two settings..." On the screen is another planet, alive and well, not a dead star system. {"Everyone hold your positions, I may have made an error here. Let me check a couple things first."} Major West is about to agree with Roger, but stops as Will's next transmisison comes through. {"What's the problem, Will?"} Will's POV camera being shown on the wall begins to pull backwards from the planet. {"There's only two settings, unlike the ones for the doors and in the monitoring room."} {"Can you pilot your view around to that particular spot?"} Will thinks for a moment. [Take me here. {}] Nothing happens onscreen. {"No,"} Will replies, [Move my view as far back as possible.] The view cuts to a point where the planet is a pinprick dot. Will spins the view around. {"There's some sort of barrier here. Like a corner in a room."} [Show me the limits of this space and it's contents.] The view doesn't change, but Will's perception of the space does. {"It's a room with a planet in it."} Will changes the view back to 00. {"So's this one."} Will thinks for a moment, {"These things are like those rooms in the castle. This is the control console. The, uhm, holodeck control console."} {"This first world,"} Will says, changing the view screen to a satellite view of one of the digs, {"There are excavations going on. Which seems odd for a computer-generated world. I wonder if they realize they're on a artificial planet. And if they do, what are they digging for?"} ================================= Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2000 12:42:31 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: AAE6c: Jumping to Conclusions... On Sat, 18 Mar 2000 12:19:48 -0800 The Hunter Said As CAoL Message # 00008295 >On Sat, 18 Mar 2000 10:05:16 -0600 >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00008294 > >>On Tue, 14 Mar 2000 16:08:07 EST >>SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00008284 >> >>>In a message dated 3/13/00 8:39:49 AM Eastern Standard Time, >>>mjknight writes: >>> >>> Will stares for a moment, taking everything in. >>> "My God... We found it." He reachs up and taps his >>>communicator badge as his mind propels his view down along the >>>planet's surface in a flyby. {"We found the Cosmic Engineer... >>>Roger, give me one of those numbers on the monitors for a dead star >>>system... If this pans out, I think I know what happened to >>>them..."} Eric's ears perk up, literally, in an almost cat-like motion. "What was that?" >>Roger's eyebrows pop up, both from Will's tone and what little of >>Will's observations he can see through the Globals (plus whatever >>Raver might be putting onto the lenslink). >>{Coming right up, Will. {} Just watch where you point that thing, >>yes?} >>/This is Roger, calling Nemo and all members Team 3. We have a >>strong probable on the location of the target. Major West, may I >>suggest that we all rally on either CIC or Will's current location?/ Eric frowns. "That's the thing that cyber-boy was looking for, right?" > {"This first world,"} Will says, changing the view screen to a >satellite view of one of the digs, {"There are excavations going on. >Which seems odd for a computer-generated world. I wonder if they >realize they're on a artificial planet. And if they do, what are they >digging for?"} "If it isn't another piece of this 'Fuzzy,' does it matter?" Eric says evenly. Meanwhile... Thratchen looked at the door in amusement. [A demon from a realm of superstition, and an ape boy with delusions of grandeur,] he thought with a terrible smile. [This should provide a bit of...amusement.] A pop of air signalled a teleport arrival behind Thratchen, who sighed. "I _must_ find this 'Murphy' the humans speak of and eviscerate him." He turned. Thratchen snarled and took a step back. "YOU!" Blaze smiled. "I picked up on my friends' mental link that you'd been giving them some trouble. Now then. Do we do this the easy way, or the hard way?" Blaze reached out, and a small cylinder appeared in his hand. his fingers flexed, and the cylinder extended with a snap, becoming a Mimbari fighting pike, though it gleamed like platinum. "I'm hoping you choose the hard way. I'm out of practice." Thratchen hissed at Blaze. "I remember when you were a whelp interfering with your betters, Realm Walker. Mara's forgotten you, you know." Blaze's smile just broadened. "She was at my wedding." "Damn you." The right side of Thratchen's head bulged again, and he vanished in a swirl of black flecked with red and blue. Blaze sighed theatrically. "Aw, nuts. He chose the easy way." Roland chuckled and vanished. =================================