Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 6
Finale - Chapter 4
Subject: AAE VI: "NOT Standing on Ceremony", Part 1 (was: Re: AAE6:
Inviting Squee) (Long)(sorry!)
Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2001 19:13:54 -0800 (PST)
On Fri, 16 Mar 2001 21:30:38 -0600
Martin (at Work) Said As CAoL Message # 00009596
>On Thu 8 Mar 2K1, "Shadow" (aka "John Roslick" (sp?)) Sent:
< massive snippage as an appeasement to the gods of bandwidth >
>OOC: heh, now will DC 'power up' as well?
And now for my contribution to this shindig
I'll presume that the Inner Circle that was constructed for
the Rebirth Ceremony is big enough to carry what the Big Guy's (tm)
about to do, off. Without further Ado, then, on with the show...
>>Samatha Cooper (aka Dame Ziatrice Keenan of Camber (?)) said:
>>
>>"We three stand all prepared, thinkst I, Begotten of the Drake of
>>All Stars. Commence your work, for my senses ken some great coming
>>into being beginning."
Dhyrclhanc quickly strides towards the Circle, taking his place
between John and Zia, a smirk slowly making it's way across his
draconic face.
As he approaches the, however, his psuedo-T'skrang form begins to
flow, melt and stretch upwards, not to mention the fact that it's also
taken on a silvery sheen not unlike the Nemisisi's natural appearance.
Once he's entered the Circle, he's grows back into his 21'-tall form,
complete with all the "topological and cosmetic"
changes.
As soon as this happens, the shell begins to crack and flake off,
revealing that the Lensdragon's wardrobe has been altered.
In addition to adopting what's now become recognizable as the garb he
wears when in his "Trueform" -- notably the, now dragon-sized, B5
Ranger's Longcoat (complete with the, subtly altered Ranger's Pin),
the green and black waistcote and the two, matching, purple, blue and
black half-gloves -- what's been added is a, dragon-sized and Black
Watch-patterned, kilt and baldric, and claghdah (sp?) broach/pin.
Then, instead of exo-porting his weapons to him, as has been his habit
in the past, the now full-sized Sentinel-Lensdragon makes a formal,
respectful, oriental bow to Zia and then to John and finally to all
others assembled for the Event.
When he come out of the last bow, it is now obvious, by the current
look on his face, that the Lensdragon is completely serious and ready
to get down to business...
At which point, he begins going through an intricate series of
martial-arts-esque katas. Those familiar with such things will see a
great deal of similarity between his movements and both Mok'bara (aka
"Klingon Martial-Arts") and Tai Chi' Chuan (sp?).
He ends the katas by making a vaguely pushing/pulling motion with his
hands, and ends up with a translucent ball of amber-tinted energy in
his cupped hands.
With a wide, sweeping motion his right hand arcs out and he begins
"painting", in mid-air, with the honey-colored light.
After the first several images, which hang in the air, it slowly
becomes obvious that he is {introducing/describing/explaining} himself
to the Greater Powers in attendance.
The first image is that of an old wagon-wheel, such-like was found on
the old Conestoga (sp?) Wagons during the North American westward
expansionist period in the early 20th century on Earth.
Dhyrclhanc mentally labeled this */[{Technology}]/*
The sphere of light-energy darkens to a blackish brown while
Dhyrclhanc moves to "paint" the second image; the icon of a splayed
carrion-bird emblazoned on a circular field.
Dhyrclhanc mentally labeled this */[{Justice, though even death may
bar the way}]/*
The third image was an octagon filled with a multitude of horizontal,
vertical and diagonal, intersecting lines. This, in turn, resolved
itself into a multitude of intersecting cubes, making a 3-D hexagonal
shape. This was drawn with blue-white light and Dhyrclhanc mentally
labeled this */[{The Omni-Cosm}]/*
The fourth image, drawn with silver-blue light, was a seven-pointed
star embedded in a circle.
*/[{Oberon, Titania, The Faerie Court; The Faerie}]/*
The fifth image is drawn with green, red and black light and is the
easily recognizable star-burst image that Dhyrclhanc wears in his
"Sentinel" guise.
*/[{Power, Life, Energy, Magick; the Source}]/*
The sixth image is that of the Egyptian "all-seeing" eye,
super-imposed on an upside-down tear-drop shape, all drawn in black.
*/[{Horus, Isis, and the Heilopolitan Gods of Light}]/*
The seventh is a Yin-Yang symbol, the top of which is a silvery-gold
color and the bottom of which is shot through with all the tints of
all the colors of the rainbow, save for orange, yellow and purple.
Each half, accordingly, possesses an element of the their in its
center. Circling around the center of this, and each other, are two
oriental dragons, each with the coloration opposite that of the
"realm" that they inhabit, Each dragon constantly in opposition of the
other, each constantly acting as a balance against the other's
influence.
*/[{Bahamut/Palatine and Tiamat/Tahkis; Dragonkind}]/*
The eighth is the familiar image of the CAoL sigil; a black & white
yin-yang symbol, with the white ("yang") portion ascendant and the
lower two thirds covered with the image of a red-brick Fireplace with
a familiar bull's-eye pattern in the back of the hearth and a
conventional Green-Lantern Ring mounted just above the mantelpiece.
Almost unnecessarily, the Lensdragon labels this one */[{The CAoL}]/*
The ninth image depicts the blue-white, wedge-shaped bird-of-prey icon
currently used by the "Animated Series" version of Richard Grayson
(aka "Nightwing"), which can sometimes be seen on one of Roland's
T-Shirts when he's in "civilian mode", in front of three shafts of
yellow light streaking downwards in an almost claw-slash pattern.
*/[{Roland and Morgan; Family}]/*
The tenth image is that of a multi-colored, tetrahedron, spinning on
all three axises, showing the colors of each of the faces as being
brown, blue-white, blue and red.
*/[{The Elements, the Elementals and the Elemental Courts}]/*
The penultimate image is the vaguely triangular, yellow bird-of-prey
icon that has been used by both Dhyrclhanc and Roland in their various
guises; The Phoenix.
*/[{Hope, Redemption, Resurrection, Honor, Virtue, the Ideal;
Phoenix}]/*
The last item, once again painted with a blue-white hue, is the
skyline of a city which seems to be the equal mix of the modern and
the medieval, as well as the futuristic and the fantastic.
*/[{Civilization}]/*
At which point, the sphere of light disappears.
(end part one)
=================================
Subject: AAE VI: "NOT Standing on Ceremony", Part 2 (Long)(sorry!)
Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2001 00:10:04 -0800 (PST)
On Sat, 17 Mar 2001 02:49:47 -0600
Martin (at Work) Said As CAoL Message # 00009598
... And then the Sentinel-Lensdragon began to Sing and the song was
familiar, somehow, perhaps especially to Morgan...
"My Life goes on in Endless Song above the Earth's Lamentations,
and I Hear the Real and Far-Off Hymn that Hails a new Creation."
"Through all the Tumult and the Stryfe -- I Hear the Music ringing,
and It Sounds an Echo in my Soul -- How can I keep from Singing?"
"When Tyrants Tremble in their Fear when they Hear their Death
Knells Ringing, when Friends Rejoice from both Far and Near;
How can I keep from Singing?"
"Those in Prison Cell and Dungeon Vile, our Thoughts, to them, are
Winging, when Friends, by Shame, are Undefiled, How can I keep
from Singing?"
Dhyrclhanc then briefly closed his eyes, which then, briefly gain a
"pecularness" to them but then return to normal.
... And Stargate chooses this moment to come back to life...
But, strangely enough, the inner ring of the 'Gate hadn't moved...
The Lensdragon's voice, once again, shattered the silence,
"Come Now, Uber-Shaman, Look down Over Me. Give Me the
Wisdom, Give Me the Key. For I'm Telling You, I will not Lay Down
My Head and Rest 'till I'm in The House of Stone and Light!"
And a huge humanoid creature, dwarfing even Nimrod, and seemingly
sculpted out of Rock, Stone, Soil and Granite, strode out from the
portal in the center of the 'Gate at took up a position at the most
Northern point of the outer chalk circle.
... And which direction, exactly, *is* North, when you're on the
inside of a Hollow Sphere with a diameter the size of a Solar System?
Hmm? ;^)
And again,
"Lift the Wings that Carry Me Away from Here, and Fill the Sail that
Breaks the Line to Home. But when I'm Miles and Miles Away from
You, I'm Beside You When I Think of You -- A Sto'rin a Gra'."
And a phantom-like figure came through the 'Gate, the figure moved
with the sound that combined the rusting leaves and the quiet whisper
of a breeze. It, too, moved slowly, but purposely, towards the outer
chalk circle, and then stood at the most Eastern point.
And again,
"If the River can Bend, I'll find you Waiting -- Home at last from the
Wild Sea. All the Twists and Turns We made Together, All those Souls
that We've Rocked with Your Harmony!"
And a gushing vertical column, or fountain, of water, with a "water-y"
pair of humanoid arms, separated itself from the shimmering portal in
the center of the 'Gate and "poured" itself through the air, to stand
at the Western most point outside of the outer-most chalk circle.
And again,
"... After the Fire, the Fire Still Burns. The Heart grows older, but
never ever Learns. The Memory Smolders and the Soul often Yearns. But
after the Fire, the Fire Still Burns... "
Lastly, a man-sized pillar of fire walked through the 'Gate, which
shuts down again, easily as swiftly as it had apparently turned itself
on. Somehow, the pillar gave the viewer a fleetingly-brief impression
of a the vaguest hint of humanoid form but then the glimpse is gone.
Similarly, somehow the grass beneath the pillar remains unignited as
it moved its way to the outer chalk circle and set itself at the
Southern most point.
At which point of time, Dhyrclhanc cleared his prodigious throat,
"These are the representatives of the Elemental Courts, who requested
to have such here to Bear Witness to Fuzzy's Rebirth. For those of you
unaware of such matters, both Fuzzy and I each created and, until
recently; for Fuzzy anyway, maintain a Treaty of Cooperation and
Allegiance with each of the Elemental Courts."
He paused, briefly, and then continued,
"As of this point forward, I Dedicate myself, Totally, to the
Resurrection of the Entity I knew as '"Lord" Fuzzy', who sacrificed
himself in battle with Oblivion and the End of All that Is so that All
Others, and All Else, in the Omni-Cosm would Continue to Exist, Thrive
and Prosper. For One Who Acted as Mentor No Jokes, Please.
, Teacher, Ally and Friend, I can Do No Less."
Somehow, suddenly, everyone gets the feeling that it wasn't "just" the
Dhyrclhanc that everyone in CAoL was familiar with, who was just
speaking.
At which point, the yellow, black and red, Electro-Rat that the
Sentinel-Lensdragon brought with him, and who was referred to, by him,
as "Max" clapped it's paws to either side of the lower portion of its
head and said, "Peek-A" in a shocked manner.
(end part two)
BTW & FTR: The first set of lyrics is, AFAIK, a traditional folk-song
from the Gods only know where, I got it from the Enya Album "Shepard
Moons". The second set of lyrics are from Martin Page's (no relation)
"In the House of Stone and Light", off of the album of the same name.
The third set of lyrics is from a song called, understandably enough,
"Lift the Wings", written by Bill Whelan, and is off of the
"Riverdance" Soundtrack. "If the River Can Bend" is a Song from, IIRC,
Elton John's recent "The Big Picture" album. Lastly, "After the Fire"
is sung, and presumably written by Hugh Fitzcairn... err... I mean
Roger Daltry, from his old "Under a Ranging Moon" album. Legal Scrawl
ends here.
=================================
Subject: AAE VI: Spin-Offs -- The Return (4/4)
Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2001 20:47:25 -0800 (PST)
On Sat, 17 Mar 2001 23:14:46 -0600
Martin (at Work) Said As CAoL Message # 00009604
This one is short guys; I want to wrap this thread up and put
'er to bed! ;^)
Meanwhile, Moonstone has retrieved her belongings and has gone to
stand at the wire-fence circle, with Nimrod standing close behind her
apparently trying to, surreptitiously, keeping watch over her.
Tag Mike, she's all yours
Synthea, OTOH, sticks close by the Fuchikamas, which, in turn --
finding nothing of interest going here -- break out a deck of cards
and begin playing a game of poker. That is until Sythea drags one of
them out of the game to record the Ceremony.
Likewise, Dhyrclhanc hands Max his Macro-Goggles so he can get a
better view of the proceedings.
And it's about at this point that the Big Guy(tm) is called into the
Inner Chalk Circle, to join Zia and John. (X-post)
=================================
Subject: AAE6 Finale: Lenses
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 15:25:00 -0800 (PST)
On Mon, 19 Mar 2001 15:09:20 -0800
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00009615
^Honey, would you come here a minute?^
Roland looked up, then walked over to where Morgan was sitting
chatting with Rio. Around them, Fuzzy's "birthday party" continued
apace. ^Sure, what's up?^
"Roland," Morgan switched to speech for Rio's benefit, "Rio here's
been saying she'd like to continue adventuring with the CAoL, but
right now she has no way of knowing when they're going out again short
of being here in the Place when the call goes out."
"Yeah, I've been sort of piggy-backing on either Eric's lens
or...whatever it is Roger uses," the CoX shot a smile across the room
at Roger (who was probably fidgeting over his Mom and his girlfriend
talking ;-). "But I'm not a strong enough teep to keep up with you
guys without help."
"Anyway, since you were able to do something up for her brother, I
thought you could do something for her," Morgan concluded.
Roland grinned. "I've been waiting for a chance to show this off."
He held out his hands in a 'nothing up my sleeve' gesture. Then he
clapped them together and began to rub, and soon they were a blur. A
silvery sheen was barely visible around the edges.
At once, he stopped and held out his right hand. What looked for
all the world (to the naked eye, anyway) like a mini-lens floated an
inch above his hand.
"I've been doing some studying of technology based on Quickening,
or what I've heard called Gate Key energy recently. I was able to work
up the lens Eric has sort of intuitively. I'm not really sure how I
did that one, or even its exact properties, but I know it's safe for
him, and since then I've gotten better." He winked.
"They're not full mini-lenses; my pseudo-lenses, or mini-mini
lenses (micro-lenses?) are based on the energies of the Gate Keys.
They're not as utterly impossible to cut off as a 'real' mini-lens,
and they only send and receive conscious thought, unless you're an
accomplished telepath yourself. It's a very basic form of mental
transmission, based on the Halo (or Gate Key) frequency that provides
telepathic ability.
"They also aren't lethal to people they're not keyed to (except
maybe Eric's), so they are transferable. However, they use _my_
mini-lens as a conduit, so a pseudo-lens can't be used to 'hack' the
lens-link. They're just as secure as any other access to the link.
With me so far?"
Rio nodded. "I'm an Initiate in Mind, so I shouldn't have any trouble.
And having my own will _have_ to be easier than going through someone
else's mind. So, how do I...." She trailed off, not quite sure how to
word the question.
"To attune it, just sort of...think at the lens, while I'm holding
it. Uh, floating it over my hand counts. Then touch it. If you can
'hear' the link chatter, you've succeeded." Roland held the lens out a
little farther. "Care to give it a shot?"
Rio reached down to the eponymous MP3 player on her belt, and the
Doors could be heard playing softly as she concentrated. The lens
shimmered and brightened slightly. At a nod from Roland, she gingerly
touched it, and heard the "background chatter" of the CAoL. The
Ecstatic smiled.
/Welcome to the party, pal,/ Roland said, in a credible Bruce
Willis imitation.
/Kool,/ Rio opined, and sent a kiss to Roger as she placed the lens on
the back of her left wrist (*). Then she looked thoughtful. /What
about Eric's?/ She reached out to her brother. /Are you keeping
yours?/
/That's a good question,/ Roland replied.
At the same time, Eric responded, /Sure, what the heck--/
Both men chuckled, but Eric's had a more ironic tone to it. /You
first,/ Roland grinned.
Eric paused. /For all the cosmic power floating around in that lot,
they do seem to appreciate someone who knows his way around a fight.
Assuming,/ he added, /this thing isn't going to blow my hand off./
Roland laughed. /Nah, you don't need to worry about that. I
wouldn't leave it lying around for ords to play with, but I wouldn't
have left it for you if there'd been any risk./
(OOC-M: This should answer any questions about Eric's lens, and also
provides us with a "pseudo-lens" to allow people to be on the "comm
link" without having full-fledged "family" mini-lenses.)
(*) When Dhyrclhanc originally created the psi-lenses, he said "The
human, and humanoid, Callahanians bear their Lens on the outside of
their right wrist. The nonhumanoid Callahanians, however, bear their
Lens on their forehead," (AAE2, ch. 6, Sun, 23 Mar 97 00:25:44 PST).
And later, "By the way, for those of you who change shape, you'll find
when you shift forms, those miniLenses will appear to 'disappear.' If
your 'default' form is nonhuman, it'll just submerged into your skull,
if you're 'normally' human or humanoid, then it'll just enter your
body and place itself between whatever passes for the two bones in
your forearm."
Later, though (same chapter, Tue, 25 Mar 97 19:07:23 PST), he gives
a lens to Driscoll, "...a miniLens appears on the outside of whichever
of Driscoll's wrists corresponds with his "off" hand." So, I'm not
sure which wrist (if either) is the "default" location .
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE6 Finale: Lenses
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 23:06:53 -0800 (PST)
On Mon, 19 Mar 2001 22:47:34 -0800 (PST)
Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00009617
Rob is, for a change, enjoying himself, dancing the classic male
dance known as "I'm Making A Fool of Myself, But I'm Having Fun," when
an old feeling comes back.
Wanderlust.
[Understanding that my "itchy feet" are really caused by my ESP
doesn't make it any easier to deal with.]
Grabbing his jacket, he is halfway to the French doors when...
>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00009615
>
> "I've been doing some studying of technology based on Quickening,
>or what I've heard called Gate Key energy recently. I was able to
>work up the lens Eric has sort of intuitively. I'm not really sure
>how I did that one, or even its exact properties, but I know it's
>safe for him, and since then I've gotten better." He winked.
[Hm. Makes me wonder if Eric's lens has some undocumented features
that the mini-lenses don't have.]
>Rio reached down to the eponymous MP3 player on her belt, and the
>Doors could be heard playing softly as she concentrated. The lens
>shimmered and brightened slightly. At a nod from Roland, she gingerly
>touched it, and heard the "background chatter" of the CAoL. The
>Ecstatic smiled.
"..." [It never hurts to ask.]
Walking up to the Freelance Immortals' table, he pauses for a moment,
then asks, "Roland...ah...may I have one of those lenses? It won't
guarantee that I can make it, but if I know that the Army of Light is
gathering, I have a slightly better chance of getting a wormhole that
will redirect to the Place, from the sheer mass of people coming in."
"And while I'm asking questions, can the lenses be redesigned? Not the
essential structure, but cosmetic things? And if so, can I do it
myself, or do I need you to do it?"
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE6 Finale: Lenses
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2001 23:11:24 -0800 (PST)
On Tue, 20 Mar 2001 22:57:57 -0800
Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00009635
>On Mon, 19 Mar 2001 22:47:34 -0800 (PST)
>Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00009617
>
>"..." [It never hurts to ask.]
>
>Walking up to the Freelance Immortals' table, he pauses for a moment,
>then asks, "Roland...ah...may I have one of those lenses? It won't
>guarantee that I can make it, but if I know that the Army of Light is
>gathering, I have a slightly better chance of getting a wormhole that
>will redirect to the Place, from the sheer mass of people coming in."
Roland shrugs. "Sure. It'll just take me a sec to get the armor to
generate enough mass to create another one."
>"And while I'm asking questions, can the lenses be redesigned? Not
>the essential structure, but cosmetic things? And if so, can I do it
>myself, or do I need you to do it?"
It's rather disturbing that this archetypal four-color hero can
pull off so believable a pirate's smile. "You got me, Mr. Nishikawa. I
imagine that the shape is not a requirement, but I'm not inclined to
try messing with it. On the other hand, if you've got a knack for
Kirby-tech, go for it. They're not 'philosophical constructs' like a
real Lens or even a mini-lens, just insanely advanced rubber-science
tech based on cosmic power."
"'Just'?" Morgan smiles at her husband.
"Compared to a Lens? Yep." Roland smiles back, then turns his
attention back to Rob before he and his lady can sicken the entire
Place. He holds out his hand, and a pseudo-lens identical to the one
he just gave Rio floats out of it, hovering just above his palm. "Last
chance to duck out while you still can," he quips. (OOC: Yes, you
_can_ remove a pseudo-lens. He's just using his poetic license, even
if has expired. ;^)
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE6 Finale: Lenses
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 08:41:51 -0800 (PST)
On Wed, 21 Mar 2001 08:24:38 -0800 (PST)
Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00009637
>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00009635
>
> Roland shrugs. "Sure. It'll just take me a sec to get the armor to
>generate enough mass to create another one."
Rob's expression doesn't change, except for something in his eyes.
[Yes. He said _yes!_]
> "Compared to a Lens? Yep." Roland smiles back, then turns his
>attention back to Rob before he and his lady can sicken the entire
>Place. He holds out his hand, and a pseudo-lens identical to the one
>he just gave Rio floats out of it, hovering just above his palm.
>"Last chance to duck out while you still can," he quips. (OOC: Yes,
>you _can_ remove a pseudo-lens. He's just using his poetic license,
>even if has expired. ;^)
Rob doesn't reply. He's holding his left hand near the pseudo-lens,
but his eyes are focused elsewhere. Then the pseudo-lens moves,
wrapping itself around Rob's wrist, and merging with the bracelet he's
already wearing. When it finishes, it's impossible to tell where one
ends and the other begins.
A few moments later, Rob refocuses. "All you have to do is ask
nicely," he says in an "I'm joking" tone of voice. Then seriousness
returns.
"Roland...Thank you. I.." /I can't express what this means to me.
'Words fail.'/
"I wish I could stay, but wandering feet are attacking. But I promise,
when the call goes out, I will do everything I can to get here. I
wouldn't miss this for all the worlds."
With that, he steps through the French doors, opens a wormhole, and
jumps in. A whisper comes through: /Rob Nishikawa is neither General
MacArthur nor James Bond, but he will return./
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE6: Inviting Squee
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 13:11:52 -0800 (PST)
On Wed, 21 Mar 2001 16:02:42 -0500
Martin (at Work) Said As CAoL Message # 00009639
(Catch-Up Time, Once Again...)
>Way back on Wed, 07 Mar 2K1, Morgan Said
>
>>"Caprice" Said:
>>
>>Caprice sends through the link, screening out Squee and Mischief,
>>*Have the star-spawn shield me during the Ceremony... then,
>>immediately following, I think we should get things ready to
>>ressurrect Sqee's parents... /not/ out of any kindness. They were
>>both good people... how do you think they will react to their son's
>>actions?*
>
>*I think,* Morgan sends with the same screen, *That that is a
>_wonderful_ idea. From everything I remember hearing, they were
>indeed good people whose lives were wrongly cut short. I'd prefer it,
>though, if it can be managed in such a manner that Mr. Smugness over
>there doesn't think we did it because of anything _he's_ done
>recently.* She looks thoughtful for a moment. *Would it be possible
>to do it in Arcadia? That was their home, so it seems like as good a
>place as any.*
(If this is taking place on a telepathic channel that Dhyrclhanc is
privy to...)
*^ I would certainly be the third to endorse this project. While I
would happily and whole-heartedly donate my resources to the
accomplishment of this goal, my suspicions are that this might be
something to postpone untill later. IOW, I believe we have more
pressing affairs to contend with. {sends image of himself looking
daggers at Squee} ^*
(If not, then the above telepathic comunique (sp?) never took place)
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE6 Finale: Lenses
Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2001 10:12:34 -0800 (PST)
On Fri, 23 Mar 2001 09:51:20 -0800
Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00009648
>On Wed, 21 Mar 2001 08:24:38 -0800 (PST)
>Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00009637
>
>Rob doesn't reply. He's holding his left hand near the pseudo-lens,
>but his eyes are focused elsewhere. Then the pseudo-lens moves,
>wrapping itself around Rob's wrist, and merging with the bracelet
>he's already wearing. When it finishes, it's impossible to tell where
>one ends and the other begins.
Roland spocks an eyebrow. "Neat trick."
>A few moments later, Rob refocuses. "All you have to do is ask
>nicely," he says in an "I'm joking" tone of voice. Then seriousness
>returns.
>
>"Roland...Thank you. I.." /I can't express what this means to me.
>'Words fail.'/
Roland blinks. /Ah, no problem./
>"I wish I could stay, but wandering feet are attacking. But I
>promise, when the call goes out, I will do everything I can to get
>here. I wouldn't miss this for all the worlds."
Roland smiles, more gently this time. "Have fun. Don't do anything
I wouldn't do." He winks as he says it. "And if you need a 'ride,'
just call."
>With that, he steps through the French doors, opens a wormhole, and
>jumps in. A whisper comes through: /Rob Nishikawa is neither General
>MacArthur nor James Bond, but he will return./
Morgan watches Rob leave. "Nice guy."
Roland nods, still smiling. "Yeah. But I just had the strangest
feeling of deja vu."
"Why's that?" Morgan responds.
"I feel like I almost--but not quite--just met myself from nine
years ago," Roland explains, the bemused and amused expression still
on his face. "Wandering the multiverse, fighting the good fight,
picking up useful tricks here and there...but he's not as messed up as
I am." Roland pauses briefly as Morgan raises an eyebrow at him. "Was.
As I was."
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE6 Finale: Lenses
Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2001 22:13:21 -0800 (PST)
On Fri, 23 Mar 2001 21:46:35 -0800 (PST)
Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00009656
>On Fri, 23 Mar 2001 09:51:20 -0800
>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00009648
>
> Roland nods, still smiling. "Yeah. But I just had the strangest
>feeling of deja vu."
Zia's face gets tight around her mouth, trying to suppress a
mischievious grin.
>"Why's that?" Morgan responds.
>
> "I feel like I almost--but not quite--just met myself from nine
>years ago," Roland explains, the bemused and amused expression still
>on his face. "Wandering the multiverse, fighting the good fight,
>picking up useful tricks here and there...but he's not as messed up
>as I am." Roland pauses briefly as Morgan raises an eyebrow at him.
>"Was. As I was."
Zia uses Roland's distraction at Morgan's pause to indulge one
semi-choked giggle, then she manages to get her face straight again.
P.S. No, it doesn't mean a thing, but I couldn't resist the 'shadow
analog' thought this provoked.
=================================
Subject: AAE: _The Party_ (The Real McCoy) (lengthy -- sorry) (part 1)
Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2001 13:46:27 -0800 (PST)
On Thu, 29 Mar 2001 13:34:13 -0800
Martin (at Work) Said As CAoL Message # 00009682
The new and old members of the CAoL have gathered around a group of
tables in the Place and no time at all proceed to get quite merry in
ancipation for the begining of the Main Event; namely Fuzzy's
"Re-birthday Party".
Then, their attention is drawn to the stage in between Fast Eddie's
Upright and the pedistal where Jake usually jams with his beloved Lady
MacBeth.
(What?! You didn't know Callahan's had a stage? Shame on you!) };=8)
Instead of either Jake or Ed taking the limelight, Dhyrclhanc,
everyone's lovable Lensdragon, is setting-up (and fiddling with) what
looks like a very expensive, not to mention complicated looking,
electronic keyboard-organ.
He's also adjusting a mike and stand assembly (Thats a microphone, for
all you wiseacres out there. No, he's not stringing up either of the
_Mikes_ (Callahan or Seven) in residence).
There's a gentle paff, paff of him lightly hitting the Mike and we're
off...
"Hi everyone! For those of you not familiar with this traveling
carnival act of meddlers, well-wishers, fighters of the forces of evil
and tyrany, and demolition experts, we're the Callahanian Army of
Light."
"Say 'Hi' everybody."
"What we're doing here, tonight anyway, is celebrating the return to
our ranks of our resident senior technomancer, Fuzzy, but we like to
think of ourselves as an inclusive bunch so anyone who wants to join
the merriment is welcome."
"I figured that we'd want to start this little shindig off right, and
that means a little music. As Harlock is notibly absent, that makes me
the default bard around here. So, this one's for everybody here, and I
do mean everyone!"
With that, he flips what everyone concludes in the "on" switch and
everyone's mental ears are filled with the sounds of an orchestra of
celtic instruments warming up. Then Dhyrclhanc's voice, normaly
somewhere in the tennor range, rings throughout everyone's minds, and
ears, as a high alto.
*"From High in the Sky, through the Clouds and Rain,
every Familar Field seems like an Old Friend."
"When every Hand that you shake Feels like a Warm
Embrace, Could be only One Sweet Place -- Home and
the Heartland."
"Sing out your Songs, ring-out your Stories and Rhymes,
Weave from your Dreams those Mystical Dances that lead
us to Bind in Heart and Mind."
"As we Circle the World with our wandring aires,
gathering here and there and Leaving our own Share."
"Like the Leaves in the Wind, we are Blown Along,
each Melody Rising Up from Home and the Heartland"*(1)
TBC...
-------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) "Home and the Heartland", Anu'na , Riverdance Soundtrack
=================================
Subject: AAE: _The Party_ (The Real McCoy) (lengthy -- sorry) (part 2)
Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2001 13:46:32 -0800 (PST)
On Thu, 29 Mar 2001 13:34:55 -0800
Martin (at Work) Said As CAoL Message # 00009683
Dhyrclhanc smiles, briefly, and says, "For this next number, I
searched through my collection for a song that would donate the
feelling of the coming of Spring. Something that was strangely
accenuated by our friend Fuzzy's return. I hope this does the job.
The irish orchestra strikes up again and all of the Patron's minds
fill with a melancholy swell of gaelic music...
"Oh, How can the small flowers Grow, if the Wild Winds
Blow and the Cold Snow is All Around?"
"And where will the frail birds Fly, if their Homes on
High have been Torn Down to the Ground?"
"Lift the Wings that Carry me Away from Here,
and Fill the Sail that Brakes the Line to Home."
"But when I'm Miles and Miles Apart from You,
I'm Beside You When I Think of You -- a Sto'r 'in a Gra'"
"How can a Tree stand Tall, if the Rain woun't Fall
to Wash its branches Down."
"And How can the Heart Survive, can it Stay Alive
if its Love is Denied for Long?"
"Lift the Wings that Carry me Away from Here,
and Fill the Sail that Brakes the Line to Home."
"But when I'm Miles and Miles Apart from You,
I'm Beside You When I Think of You -- a Sto'r 'in,
And I'm With You as I Dream of You -- a Sto'r 'in,
And this Song will Bring Me near to You -- a Sto'r 'in a Gra'"(2)
TBC...
-------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) "Lift the Wings", A'ine Ui Cheallaigh, Riverdance Sndtrk
=================================
Subject: AAE: _The Party_ (The Real McCoy), finale (lengthy -- sorry)
Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2001 13:46:38 -0800 (PST)
On Thu, 29 Mar 2001 13:35:22 -0800
Martin (at Work) Said As CAoL Message # 00009684
Again, Dhyrclhanc smiles, and blushes (tm Roland), although given that
he's mostly red around the head anyway, it's a wonder that you can
tell that he's doing it.
"Now, before I give the stage up to some other deserving soul, I have
two more songs. These two are for my Sibs."
A hush falls over the assembled Patrons as the concensual psychic
concert resumes, only instead of the irish orchestra, the
Sentinel-Lensdragon gets the Place jumping with a rock beat filled
with the sounds of sythesizers, brass, and strings, and Dhyrclhanc's
metal voice voice falls down into the Soprano range...
*"Some people think that She's one of those Mink-
Coated Ladies..."
"They say She Wakes up at One, and makes the Paparazzi
Run 'till Dawn."
"That She Wines And dines with Argentines and Kuwaitis,
after She Sips Margaritas on the White House Lawn."
"That's Not Her Style, I can Tell You, that ain't His
Woman."
"That's just Not Her style and He can Tell You Because
He's Her Man."
"The Papers say that She was Seen in L.A. with a Stranger."
"That She found a Perfect Body with Maserati, Right and
Outa-sight."
"And then She chartered a Lear, when She Heard her Career
was In Danger, and then Gave the Pilot Somethin' Extra for
the Perfect Ride."
"That's Not Her Style, and He can Tell You, 'That ain't my
Woman'."
"That's Not Her Style, and He can Tell You Because
He's Her Man."
"That's Not Her Style, and He can Tell You Because
He's Her Man."
"It's Not that She's Never Done Something Crazy or Done
Something Wild."
"It's Just That She's Better at Doing Whatever _Suits_Her
Style_...."
"And That's Not_Her_Style_!"
"I've read where it's been Said that She Sleeps in a Bed
Made Of Satin."
"That She's had her Face Done in Every Place That You Could
Try."
"They say She Gets a Piece of Every Lease in Manhattan, And
it's said that She Says That She's Thirty when She's Really
Pushing Forty-Five."
"That's Not Her Style, and He can Tell You, 'That ain't my
Woman'."
"That's Not Her Style, and He can Tell You Because
He's Her Man."
"That's Not Her Style, and He can Tell You Because
He's Her Man."*(3)
Then the mental band calms way down and then rises up again filled
only with the full sound of strings and woodwinds...
Dhyrclhanc sneaks another quick glance at his Foster Sibs and then
begins again, his voice raising back, once again, into alto mode...
*"Fare thee well, My own True Love. Farewell for I may
be Going Away for Awhile. But I'll be Back, though I
Go 10,000 miles."
"10,000 miles, My own True Love, 10,000 miles or more."
"The Rocks may Melt, and the Seas may Burn, Should I Not
Return."
"Oh, don't you See that Lonesome Dove Sitting on that Ivy
Tree? She's Weeping for Her own True Love, as I would Weep
for Mine."
"Oh, Come Ye Back, My own True Love and Stay Awhile with me.
If I have Had a Friend, on All This Earth, then You've Been
A Friend to Me."* (4)
At which point, Dhyrclhanc comes out from behind his keyboard, bows,
and then vacates the stage, lugging the keyboard with him off the
stage.
--------------------------------------------------------------
* is the notation that's used by the Callahanian Army of Light
Writers' Collective to denotenon-verbal (read: telepathic)
communication.
(3) "That's Not Her Style", Billy Joel, Storm Front
(4) "10,000 Miles", Mary Chapin Carpenter, "Party Doll
and Other Favorites
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE: _The Party_ (The Real McCoy), finale
Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2001 19:17:58 -0800 (PST)
On Thu, 29 Mar 2001 18:41:09 -0800
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00009685
>On Thu, 29 Mar 2001 13:35:22 -0800
>Martin (at Work) Said As CAoL Message # 00009684
>
>A hush falls over the assembled Patrons as the concensual psychic
>concert resumes, only instead of the irish orchestra, the
>Sentinel-Lensdragon gets the Place jumping with a rock beat filled
>with the sounds of sythesizers, brass, and strings, and Dhyrclhanc's
>metal voice voice falls down into the Soprano range...
OOC-M: That would be hard to do, as soprano is the highest of the
female voices. Think all those operatic devas who can shatter crystal
with their voices, the "Christine" role in "Phantom of the Opera,"
stuff like that.
>"That's just Not Her style and He can Tell You Because
>He's Her Man."
>
>
Morgan raises an eyebrow, as if to say, "And this description relates
to me...how?"
Roland just continues watching the show.
>"The Papers say that She was Seen in L.A. with a Stranger."
>
>Stranger's shocked looks, then shrugs, and faills utterly at trying
>to look innocent.>
OOC-M: Sorry, no shocked looks from Morgan. Perhaps a grin since she
knows her sib seems to relate the song to her somehow. Besides, it's
not like her husband's the jealous type, as has been shown more than
once. Besides, in her very pregnant condition, she looks way too
settled and maternal to have much of the stuff in this song being said
about her ;-).
>Dhyrclhanc sneaks another quick glance at his Foster Sibs and then
>begins again, his voice raising back, once again, into alto mode...
OOC-M: And again, alto is a female voice, this time the lower end of
the range. It goes like this, highest to lowest:
Women: Soprano
Alto
Contralto
Men: Tenor
Baritone
Base
I know these because, back in high school when I had my full range, I
was singing soprano in one choir, alto in another, and tenor in a
third :-). Usually, though, I'm an alto.
Sorry to rain on your parade, sib .
=================================
Subject: Re: re" AAE 6: Scott & _Scott_ (long)(sorry).txt
Date: Sat, 31 Mar 2001 13:12:23 -0800 (PST)
On Sat, 31 Mar 2001 15:39:50 -0600
Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00009713
>On Sat, 10 March 2K1, Scott Osborne Said:
>
>"You want to know why I hate doppelgangers? They always slip, and act
>out of character. You forgot to turn off the cameras, you never
>talked to Rob about those goggles."
>
>And with that, another Scott appears.
Dhyrclhanc stands ready to come charging out of the Inner Circle;
however, even an Exhaulted Dragon with a computer-like mind has his
limitations and the smoke's been coming out of his ears since the now
collapsed Scott began making threatening noises at Squee (and probably
since about the time Squee initially appeared in the Dyson Sphere)
>The old 'Scott' stands. "You have seen, child, and I am soon to have
>my vengeance." It is the first time he has had any emotion in his
>voice; there is heavy distortion in it. He sheds the facade, and
>shows his true nature, a dark shadow with no particular form.
>
>"Why me? And why Squee?"
>
>"You do not see, do you? Let us leave it that way." The figure
>laughs, and fades away.
[Great, and I thought having two Koshes roaming around had been a
problem.]
[Mr. Osbourne, probably the one member of this little inter-planetary
demolition squad that I know the least about, and trust about as far
as Roland could throw me, seems to have obtained an evil twin,
Skippy.]
[Glorious.]
[If only I knew anything about this 'Carson White' character.]
[Now, why'd I take this job of XO again?]
>>Scott (assumedly the real one) stands for a second, rubbing his
>>temples. "Well, that's gratitude for ya." The barrier fades. "Would
>>somebody do me a favor, and cut the wires between the cameras? You
>>only have to cut it at one point for the whole set up to shut down."
>>
>>He turns. "I'm sorry about this. I couldn't return to stop him. It
>>was still to dangerous for me to return." Scott laughs. "One nice
>>thing to come out of this; I won't need that personality profile.
>>There wasn't the vaguest hint of Julie in that thing."
[Julie? Something tells me I Don't Want To Know.]
>>He looks down. The diamond edged sword remains. "So, the blade was
>>real. Anybody care to have an example of the finest longsword ever
>>mass manufactured? It'll make a nice museum piece, if nothing else."
At which point, Dhyrclhanc strides out of the chalk enclosure,
shifting back to back to his Lens-T'Skrang form, and picks-up the
sword, gingerly.
I hate to ask this, but Dhyrclhanc *is* a psychometric (IOW, he
talks to things, and they talk back, or vice versa; only
telepathically though, of course). Are there any _really_ bad vibes
coming off of this thing? None of this would be cause for any major
re-writes on my part, I hope, but it'd still be nice to know.
"You want this, Nimrod?" he calls over to the Magenta-colored Hunter
Android.
"Why? You already gave me this."
Nimrod reaches behind his back and retrieves a, vaguely familiar,
short-handled berdiche (or is that redundant) style axe that would
scare trolls and make a dwarf weep with joy. (See AAE Chpt 5, Pt. 2)
"Oh. Yeah. Moonstone?"
Mike, you can insert Moonstone's, presumably negative, response
here.
"I Guess not. Synthea?"
Dhyrclhanc's olive-skinned and dark-haired "sister" grins an almost
feral smile and approaches the Psuedo-T'Skrang. In turn, he carefully
hands her the diamond-coated sword.
What was this thing constructed of, again, Scott?
She steps back and takes a few practice swings with it.
"I like it. Now I've got a matching set."
DC shoots her a quizzical look.
She reaches down to her waist towards a small pouch on her belt that'd
hold either a mag-lite or a lightsabre.
She withdraws a short, coppery-colored, tapered cylinder and then
makes a quick downward snapping motion with her hand, extending a
nearly 4-feet long vaguely conical staff with something sharp and
shiny at its tip.
"Oh you've still got that 'viper' I see."
Sythea just smiles and collapses the diamond-tipped whip/staff/sword
back into a 14"-long rod and places it back into it's holster.
Then, holding the sword out away from her, "But what am I going to
keep it in?"
"Leave that part to me." says the Lensdragon, spreading his hand out
about half-a-foot from each other, the palms facing.
What happens next is that a large, hi-tech-looking broadsword sheath,
complete with fiber-weave blackstrap, phases into existence in the
space between his two three-digited hands.
The Lens-T'Skrang quickly grabs it and then tosses it to his "sister".
"Just remember to take the sheath off your back whenever you draw the
sword or put it back into the sheath, and press these two buttons when
you do so." He says, indicating two large, prominent, bar-shaped
buttons on the back of the sheath.
"You're getting better at that." says Sythea as she receives the
sheath.
Dhyrclhanc shrugs.
"I've had practice." Is all he says.
=================================