Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 7a
                               Chapter 4

Subject: AAE 7a: Past Time (was Saddle up...)

On Thu, 05 Apr 2001 07:43:02 -0700
Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00009880

>On Wed, 04 Apr 2001 22:17:06 -0700
>Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00009871
>
>>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00009858
>>
>>   Roland smacks his forehead as he picks up the Dr's Essex on his
>>ESP sweep. "Duh! Rob, don't worry, you don't need to fit everyone in
>>there." He splits the X-window to show Rob's room at the Singing
>>Landlord and Legion's house. "Those of you on the photo shoot, go
>>with Rob. The Interpol team, to Caprice's. Anyone doing another
>>cover, let me know and we'll work out what's best."
>
>/*"Which would you prefer for me? I can be a model, or body guard for
>the photo shoot. Or an interpol agent."*/ Aurora asks?

   /"The photo shoot is starting to look crowded, Aurora. Besides,
your powers will come in really handy for creating records on
base--any base--as needed,"/ Roland replies.
   After everyone splits up...
   /"Okay, folx, let's head on out. The clock is..."/ he looks at the
holodisplay one last time. /"...looking pretty beat up, actually.
Choose yer poison."/ With that, Roland picks up his 'faber' briefcase,
mentally straightens out his 'suit' (yes, even with the Defender armor
acting as his clothes, he gets rumpled fast), and starts to walk to
the X-Window...then stops, steps to one side, gestures toward it, and
says with a grin, "After you, 'Agent Wolf.'"

Morgan nods. ^I was beginning to think you weren't going to 'hold the
door' for me for the first time since we became a 'we,'^ she sends
with a slight grin. Somewhere along the line, she changed into a dark
business suit and put her hair back in a not-too-severe chignon.

   Roland blinks, stares for a moment, then chuckles. "Light. All you
need is a pair of glasses, and you'll be a dead ringer for Diana
Prince." At her blank look, he explains, "Wonder Woman's secret
identity."

The light goes on. "Oh, yeah," Morgan says. Then she reaches into her
pocket, pulls out a pair of glasses, and dons them. "How's this?" she
asks with a straight face. Mentally, though, she's grinning.

   Roland's caught between a grimace and a grin. Morgan's own cloud
drops a single peanut on her head.

"That wasn't a pun."

   "Sue me." Roland considers for a moment, but even in '75, he isn't
going to risk going as 'Agent Kent and Agent Prince.' Though it's a
near thing. 8^)
   Then he GRINS. "I've _got_ it. 'I'm Agent James Harmon, this is
Agent Elaine King.' And no one'll even raise an eyebrow in 1975."
Roland begins to chuckle wickedly.

"In this outfit, thought, I'm going to have to bite my lip not to say
we're from Interpol, Division 6," Morgan wisecracks. "Especially since
'we at Interpol do not have a sense of humor we are aware of.'" For
having a female voice, she does a passable Tommy Lee Jones. "Ow," she
fails to dodge a peanut.

   A horrified Roland begins to herd his beloved through the
X-Window...
   (OOC-R: All aboard who's comin' aboard! 8^)
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 04:34:29 -0700 (PDT)
Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00009881

>On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 02:52:16 PST
>Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00009874
>
>Nemo "stage whispers" to Zia:
>
>"I think Roger would look cute in a nice thong, actually..."

"Well, Nemo, Rio thought so, too. I just want to make sure the kid
gets a little variety in his stocking, you know." Zia just grins.
"Although I rather thought LEATHER was a bit ... unwise for the beach.
Or perhaps that isn't where she had in mind he'd wear it."
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load

On Wed, 4 Apr 2001 21:35:16 -0700 (PDT)
Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00009882

>Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00009866
>
>>On Tue, 3 Apr 2001 12:44:23 PST
>>Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00009823
>>
>>"Zia? Unless you have other plans, this sounds like your sort of
>>role."
>>
>>Nemo smiles at her.
>
>Zia raises an eyebrow at Nemo. "You know, you can negotiate for
>better pay if you actually wait so long the 'shoot has to ask for you
>personally. And Rob still hasn't discussed what percent and how much
>control I retain of the images and negatives."

/Dhyrclhanc has an option on five percent, which goes to me if he
refuses. Whoever's covering the clothing costs has a similar option on
ten percent. I get five percent on my own. The rest splits up to
everybody else. I get the images, the negatives are divided by
picture, split evenly between me and whoever is in the photo./

/Although it shouldn't take a mathemagician to figure out what ten
percent of the projected gross is at the moment./

/And yes, I'm not the greatest businessman in the world. I've been
rich, lost it all, and I'm doing fairly well right now. But I've never
gone hungry./

>Zia just smiles, and pretends that she believes Nemo might intimidate
>the indomitable Immortal more than her own ire would...

/From a hotel in the Rhine valley, the top ten reasons not to tick off
the Lady Dame Ziactrice Keenan.../

>"We'll see how good an offer Roger can invent. I'd like to work for
>more than just the clothes on my back... though perhaps that gives
>away my age." She smiles.

/Good Dame, if you can find a market, I'll rewrite the deal in your
favor. Right now, though, the main profit is going to fall in a column
marked 'Saving the Universe.' Or in your case, 'Saving the Universe
Yet Another Time.'/

/So, may I have the honor of your assistance in this small matter?/
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 08:21:27 -0700 (PDT)
Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00009883

>Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00009871
>
>/*"Which would you prefer for me? I can be a model, or body guard for
>the photo shoot. Or an interpol agent."*/ Aurora asks.

/If you choose the photo shoot, we're a little heavy on models, and a
little light on bodyguards. As far as spectators will know, anyway./

Rob busies himself putting film in the camera, and storing the extra
in the shoulder strap.
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Past Time (was Saddle up...)

On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 13:44:04 -0400
Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00009884

>On Thu, 05 Apr 2K1 Roland X Said

<ooc> Sorry that I haven't written anything in the last few days. It's
been hectic at work and at home... </ooc>

>   Then he GRINS. "I've _got_ it. 'I'm Agent James Harmon, this is
>Agent Elaine King.' And no one'll even raise an eyebrow in 1975."
>Roland begins to chuckle wickedly.

Dhyrclhanc, still in human-shape, grimaces but, following his sibs'
lead, his "clothes" shift again. This time to a crisp and sharp
looking, cream-colored, business suit and a slate grey trench-coat.

As he pulls a pair of wayfairers out of nowhere, his hair and beard
fade to a ash-blond and, finaly, a golden cross-shaped tie-pin blooms
in the center of a rose-red tie.

"Nicholas Hunter", likewise, changes his "clothes" into something more
formal and buisness-like but, while he keeps his hair and beard-color
the same, he forgoes the sunglasses.

Sythea, having already dressed in a formal looking suit before
'porting down from the Xavier and lacking both Nimrod's shape-shifting
and her "brother's" Image Inducer, simply pulls out a pair of
tortose-shell framed shades and stylishly plops them on her face.

"Agent Lance, Agent Hunter and Agent Black, reporting for Duty, sir."
quips DC.

"Athough, if you need to call me by a first-name, I think it might be
beter to call me 'Drake' rather than 'Derek'. As I am probably more
likely to respond to the former than the latter. However, I can
asssure you that anyone who calls me 'Dinah' or 'Laurel' will
definetly wake up the next morning *black* and blue and _will not_ be
singing like a *canary*. " Dhyrclhanc adds with a smirk on his face.

>   (OOC-R: All aboard who's comin' aboard! 8^)

<OOC>Ahm a commin'! };=8D </OOC>
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 08:13:19 -0700 (PDT)
Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00009885

>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00009873
>
>   Eric looks abjectly stunned. /This is getting ridiculous,/ he
>thinks, not unkindly though, clearly unaware that his musings are
>going into the link. /It's like something out of a bad movie--I'm not
>interested, so every attractive woman in three Realms sets their
>sights on me. And, of course, the one time I respond is the one time
>in ten years that my timing's off. If this is a story, I'm gonna
>throttle the hack writing it./ To Mandy, he just nods, as timidly as
>a human predator like him is capable of.

As Eric arrives at the Singing Landlord, Rob motions him aside.
"Speaking from personal experience: Not being interested sometimes has
the effect of becoming a magnet for women. And I think that the
probability is checked for every woman you meet."

>   (OOC: Yeah, Eric _is_ a good lookin' man, scars aside. He's no
>Adonis, but you don't obsess for ten years at becoming one of the (if
>not THE) world's best martial artists without getting a decent body
>in the bargain. 8^)

"And the scars that aren't hidden by clothing..." Rob turns a critical
eye on Eric. "My mom would say that they add character. Which just ups
the attraction."

"Oh. One more thing. Would you like a quick lesson in not letting your
thoughts spread? I'm not the strongest telepath here, so I've learned
to compensate with skill."
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 16:04:13 -0700 (PDT)
Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00009886

>On Wed, 04 Apr 2001 15:07:09 -0700
>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00009858
>   Roland smacks his forehead as he picks up the Dr's Essex on his
>ESP sweep. "Duh! Rob, don't worry, you don't need to fit everyone in
>there." He splits the X-window to show Rob's room at the Singing
>Landlord and Legion's house. "Those of you on the photo shoot, go
>with Rob. The Interpol team, to Caprice's. Anyone doing another
>cover, let me know and we'll work out what's best."

 Jim nods, "We can create our own gateway and shall. But we think we
should go outside as Mr. Callahan would not be too welcome to our
collecting enough mass to form a car from his bar..." Jim grins and
heads outside.
 Once out he find a empty area and lays down in the dirt, sending out
his nanites to gather mass... His body seems ot melt away and then
little by little the new form grows from the ground up. Within a
couple minutes there's a brand new looking Black and silver 1975
Mercedes Benz Sedan in the lot. The trunk seems to bulge up and a Mr.
Fusion unit pokes out as the engine begins to gun.
 Tires squeel and spew dirt and gravel as the car takes off, quickly
reaching 80 mph. There's a flash and the car's gone, leaving behind
only a set of burning tiretracks.
 The Mercedes reappears on a loanly deserted road in the Rhine valley,
shifting back into a perfectly normal car. Jim considers creating a
driver, then decides to just blanket the windows until they're Opaque.
Then he starts off towards civilization, driving around a bit to
familiarize himself with the area and to make sure no one's following
him before he drives to Legion and Essex's home and parks himself in
the garage.
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 17:35:25 PST
Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00009887

>On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 06:45:25 EDT
>SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00009878
>
>>In a message dated 4/5/01 1:40:46 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
>>RolandX writes:
>>
>>>   Roger perks up. "Hey, did you get to meet Clark Kent? I
>>>understand Olsen worked with him a lot. Even Luthor was afraid of
>>>Kent -- that guy could sniff out corruption in a sewer."
>>>   He flinches from Roland's glare. "What? That was a
>>>*compliment!*"
>>
>>   Except the 'glare' is a look of shock. "You don't know," Roland
>>says in stunned realization. He desperately fights off a laugh; it
>>really isn't polite to laugh uproariously in your son's face. "Four
>>hundred years of future history...knowing the CAoL inside and
>>out...and he doesn't know..." Tears start _streaming_ down Roland's
>>cheeks from the effort not to bust a gut.
>
>   Roger: "Hey, I do SO know!"
>   Me: Well, you used to, but this is funnier. Sooo, I think I'll
>just retcon that part of your past...
>   Roger: "Huh? Retcon what? What're you talking about?"

Nemo tosses Roger a PADD.

"Visualize Clark Kent."

As Roger does so the image appears on the screen.

"Just the head".

The image zooms in on Clark's head.

"Ok, now lose the glasses."

"Now have his forelock fall in a cute little curl across his
forehead..."

"Look familiar?"

<eg>
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 17:38:10 PST
Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00009888

>On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 04:34:29 -0700 (PDT)
>Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00009881
>
>>On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 02:52:16 PST
>>Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00009874
>>
>>Nemo "stage whispers" to Zia:
>>
>>"I think Roger would look cute in a nice thong, actually..."
>
>"Well, Nemo, Rio thought so, too. I just want to make sure the kid
>gets a little variety in his stocking, you know." Zia just grins.
>"Although I rather thought LEATHER was a bit ... unwise for the
>beach. Or perhaps that isn't where she had in mind he'd wear it."

"Well, some 'bathing suits' aren't intended to get wet. Say that mink
one I saw..."

"On the other hand, that may explain those books Rio wanted me to make
reproductions of."
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 17:40:06 PST
Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00009889

>On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 08:13:19 -0700 (PDT)
>Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00009885
>
>>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00009873
>>
>>   Eric looks abjectly stunned. /This is getting ridiculous,/ he
>>thinks, not unkindly though, clearly unaware that his musings are
>>going into the link. /It's like something out of a bad movie--I'm
>>not interested, so every attractive woman in three Realms sets their
>>sights on me. And, of course, the one time I respond is the one time
>>in ten years that my timing's off. If this is a story, I'm gonna
>>throttle the hack writing it./ To Mandy, he just nods, as timidly as
>>a human predator like him is capable of.

Just before he steps thru the X-Window, he "hears" a thought from
Nemo.

^Eric, Your timing was bad. But Zia didn't intend you to take it as
'Never'. Just as 'Not right now'. When this is over, let me know when
you have the free time, and I'll let her know. And yes, she wants me
to arrange it this way...^
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 22:24:05 EDT
SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00009890

>In a message dated 4/5/01 6:39:25 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
>Nemo writes:
>
>Nemo "stage whispers" to Zia:
>
>"I think Roger would look cute in a nice thong, actually..."

   Roger looks at the ceiling. "He *never* gives up." Then, with a
lopsided grin, adds: "I suppose I should take it as a compliment..."
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Thu, 05 Apr 2001 19:57:40 -0700
Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00009891

>On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 06:47:34 EDT
>SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00009876
>
>   Roger swivells his gaze from parent to parent, looking
>increasingly befuddled. ^You two mind letting me in on the joke,
>here?^

   Roland looks at his 'son' in confusion for a moment, then smiles,
chuckles and shrugs. "Ah, the heck with it." He holds out his hand,
and a (replica) copy of Superman #1 (which, incidentally, includes the
entire contents of the Superman pages from Action #1) appears in it.
"Here. This'll explain it better than I can."

The Freelance Immortals sit back to watch their son's face...
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Thu, 05 Apr 2001 20:14:58 -0700
The Hunter Said As CAoL Message # 00009892

>On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 08:21:27 -0700 (PDT)
>Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00009883
>
>>Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00009871
>>
>>/*"Which would you prefer for me? I can be a model, or body guard
>>for the photo shoot. Or an interpol agent."*/ Aurora asks.
>
>/If you choose the photo shoot, we're a little heavy on models, and a
>little light on bodyguards. As far as spectators will know, anyway./
>
>Rob busies himself putting film in the camera, and storing the extra
>in the shoulder strap.

   Eric blinks. He opens his duster briefly. (OOC: NO, he's NOT
flashing Rob. Get yer mind outta the gutter. ;^) The arsenal within is
only barely visible to the untrained eye, but Rob can make out some of
the enormous amount of hardware he's packed in there.
   "As for appearance, I have confidence in my ability
to...assure...others that the area is secure." The sunglasses glint in
the light from the fireplace. The effect is...expressive.

>On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 08:13:19 -0700 (PDT)
>Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00009885
>
>As Eric arrives at the Singing Landlord, Rob motions him aside.
>"Speaking from personal experience: Not being interested sometimes
>has the effect of becoming a magnet for women. And I think that the
>probability is checked for every woman you meet."

   He looks around the bar. "Not in the universe _I'm_ used to. I hate
cinematic realities."

>"And the scars that aren't hidden by clothing..." Rob turns a
>critical eye on Eric. "My mom would say that they add character.
>Which just ups the attraction."

   Eric looks decidedly unamused by this revelation. ;^)

>"Oh. One more thing. Would you like a quick lesson in not letting
>your thoughts spread? I'm not the strongest telepath here, so I've
>learned to compensate with skill."

   Eric ponders this for about half a second. "I'll trade you some of
my Shih training for that. Deal?"
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 21:26:16 -0700 (PDT)
The Lone One Said As CAoL Message # 00009893

>On Tue, 03 Apr 2001 17:02:11 -0700
>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00009829
>
>>On Tue, 3 Apr 2001 03:27:20 PST
>>Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00009813
>>
>>Nemo adds a few attache cases to the pile of gear.
>>
>>"These are 'fabers'. Basicly, give a supply of raw materials, they
>>can duplicate anything that'll fit in a 30 cm cube. They *don't*
>>transmute, but they'll cheerfully extract the required atoms from
>>anything handy."
>
>   Roland raises an eyebrow at these, too, but a grin is already
>forming.

     Mandy poked at one of the attache cases and whistled
thoughtfully. "Ve-ery nice toy. Don't suppose you could make one of
'em look like a backpack? Say, hiking sized but not with the steel
frame?"

     Assuming Nemo turns one of the cases into a backpack, she'll take
it.
     In short order, an assortment of buttons with pithy sayings was
pinned all over the front, accompanying various embroidered patches
and the odd scrap of brightly-colored cloth serving as a zipper pull.

(OOC: Yep. That's mine. :) Although without the patches.)

>   /"You wouldn't believe the clearance I have at UNTIL. Anyway,
>those of you using different covers, just use the 'fabers' to turn
>'em into passports, licenses and such. If Nemo hasn't pre-programmed
>that information into them already, I'll eat my helmet. If there are
>any differences in my world's 1975 Interpol and this one's, I'll
>cover it. Any last questions?"/

     Mandy nodded, already feeding her sheaf of papers into the mouth
of the backpack. "Yeah. I'm a bit young to pass as Interpol, even an
absolutely green rookie. How about I go in as a Canadian exchange
student attending Oxford who's using her summer vacation to see the
Rhine Valley? That'd take care of me speaking tourist guidebook
German... If someone could use their Interpol creds to get me entered
into the Oxford records, that'd be a help, too."

     Above her head, Raver smiled a bit. "She learns quickly."

     [Stop that. I'm blushing.]

     [It is merely fact.]

(OOC: Hope this works for y'all. If not, let me know.)
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 21:37:47 -0700 (PDT)
The Lone One Said As CAoL Message # 00009894

>On Wed, 04 Apr 2001 15:07:09 -0700
>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00009858
>
>   Roland smacks his forehead as he picks up the Dr's Essex on his
>ESP sweep. "Duh! Rob, don't worry, you don't need to fit everyone in
>there." He splits the X-window to show Rob's room at the Singing
>Landlord and Legion's house. "Those of you on the photo shoot, go
>with Rob. The Interpol team, to Caprice's. Anyone doing another
>cover, let me know and we'll work out what's best."

     "If I'm playing an exchange student, maybe I should go with the
photo shoot. Easier to hide my presence in a hotel."
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 22:08:49 -0700 (PDT)
Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00009895

>The Hunter Said As CAoL Message # 00009892
>
>   Eric blinks. He opens his duster briefly. (OOC: NO, he's NOT
>flashing Rob. Get yer mind outta the gutter. ;^) The arsenal within
>is only barely visible to the untrained eye, but Rob can make out
>some of the enormous amount of hardware he's packed in there.
>   "As for appearance, I have confidence in my ability to...assure...
>others that the area is secure." The sunglasses glint in the light
>from the fireplace. The effect is...expressive.

"I expected as much. But my point still holds. I'd prefer two
bodyguards and two models to one bodyguard and three models."

>>On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 08:13:19 -0700 (PDT)
>>Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00009885
>>
>>As Eric arrives at the Singing Landlord, Rob motions him aside.
>>"Speaking from personal experience: Not being interested sometimes
>>has the effect of becoming a magnet for women. And I think that the
>>probability is checked for every woman you meet."
>
>   He looks around the bar. "Not in the universe _I'm_ used to. I
>hate cinematic realities."

"I'm not talking about cinematic realities. I'm talking about places
where there's no magic, no psi, no superpowers...nothing more
technologically advanced than a space shuttle. My best guess is some
sort of 'Why is that guy not paying attention to me?' effect."

>>"And the scars that aren't hidden by clothing..." Rob turns a
>>critical eye on Eric. "My mom would say that they add character.
>>Which just ups the attraction."
>
>   Eric looks decidedly unamused by this revelation. ;^)

"You don't have an analog of Harrison Ford in your universe, I take
it."

>   Eric ponders this for about half a second. "I'll trade you some of
>my Shih training for that. Deal?"

"I try not to make unfair deals with people I'm working with. The
quick lesson should take about fifteen minutes, and you still need to
work to keep your mind locked down." Rob's eyes wander toward the
ceiling for a moment.

"Based on what your Dragon Fire Storm looked like, I'll give you the
quick lesson for free, and the _good_ lesson for some of your Shih
training."

[Insert Response Here]

"By the way - I wasn't opening negotiations on a deal. I was making an
offer, no strings. But you made too good an offer to resist." Rob
grins.
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 22:06:27 -0700 (PDT)
Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00009896

>>On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 08:13:19 -0700 (PDT)
>>Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00009885
>>
>>"Oh. One more thing. Would you like a quick lesson in not letting
>>your thoughts spread? I'm not the strongest telepath here, so I've
>>learned to compensate with skill."
>
>   Eric ponders this for about half a second. "I'll trade you some of
>my Shih training for that. Deal?"

Ziactrice follows through the X-window, not quite as
impressive-looking. Especially since the petite Amberite looks
distinctly seasick a moment; Zia walks far too carefully towards the
nearest wall. She leans against it, swallows hard, and breathes very
carefully until the room stops seeming to spin.
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Thu, 05 Apr 2001 22:34:34 -0700
Rio Said As CAoL Message # 00009897

>On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 21:26:16 -0700 (PDT)
>The Lone One Said As CAoL Message # 00009893
>
>     Mandy nodded, already feeding her sheaf of papers into the mouth
>of the backpack. "Yeah. I'm a bit young to pass as Interpol, even an
>absolutely green rookie. How about I go in as a Canadian exchange
>student attending Oxford who's using her summer vacation to see the
>Rhine Valley? That'd take care of me speaking tourist guidebook
>German... If someone could use their Interpol creds to get me entered
>into the Oxford records, that'd be a help, too."

Then:
>On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 22:08:49 -0700 (PDT)
>Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00009895
>
>>The Hunter Said As CAoL Message # 00009892
>>
>>   Eric blinks. He opens his duster briefly. (OOC: NO, he's NOT
>>flashing Rob. Get yer mind outta the gutter. ;^) The arsenal within
>>is only barely visible to the untrained eye, but Rob can make out
>>some of the enormous amount of hardware he's packed in there.
>>   "As for appearance, I have confidence in my ability to...
>>assure...others that the area is secure." The sunglasses glint in
>>the light from the fireplace. The effect is...expressive.
>
>"I expected as much. But my point still holds. I'd prefer two
>bodyguards and two models to one bodyguard and three models."

And about the same time:
>On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 22:06:27 -0700 (PDT)
>Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00009896
>
>Ziactrice follows through the X-window, not quite as impressive-
>looking. Especially since the petite Amberite looks distinctly
>seasick a moment; Zia walks far too carefully towards the nearest
>wall. She leans against it, swallows hard, and breathes very
>carefully until the room stops seeming to spin.

Rio watches Zia come through. "Rob, I think you're getting a little
talent-heavy, and frankly the 'college student on vacation' thing
sounds like more fun that working, even if the work _is_ modeling."
The Ecstatic smiles. "You've still got Moon Stone and Zia. Hey, Mandy,
how do you feel about _two_ college girls seeing the Rhine Valley, and
if you don't mind can I borrow that backpack to change my
credentials?"
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Thu, 05 Apr 2001 22:47:38 -0700
Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00009898

>On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 21:26:16 -0700 (PDT)
>The Lone One Said As CAoL Message # 00009893
>
>     Mandy nodded, already feeding her sheaf of papers into the mouth
>of the backpack. "Yeah. I'm a bit young to pass as Interpol, even an
>absolutely green rookie. How about I go in as a Canadian exchange
>student attending Oxford who's using her summer vacation to see the
>Rhine Valley? That'd take care of me speaking tourist guidebook
>German... If someone could use their Interpol creds to get me entered
>into the Oxford records, that'd be a help, too."

   "Er, my Interpol 'creds' are in another reality, but I think I can
fake it well enough, especially with a little help from Aurora.
Aurora?" Roland asks.
   /Oh, and we'll need to 'clean up' after ourselves when we're done.
If either you or Oracle could 'tag' all the stuff we plant, so as to
remove it when we're done, I'd appreciate it./

>     Above her head, Raver smiled a bit. "She learns quickly."

   Roland quirks an eyebrow, but shares the smile. "So it would seem."

>(OOC: Hope this works for y'all. If not, let me know.)

   (OOC-R: Well, I don't know about Mike, but I sure don't have a
problem with it. I kind of figured that this herd of cats would
un-herd at the earliest opportunity. ;^)
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Thu, 05 Apr 2001 23:18:32 -0700
The Hunter Said As CAoL Message # 00009899

>On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 22:08:49 -0700 (PDT)
>Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00009895
>
>"I'm not talking about cinematic realities. I'm talking about places
>where there's no magic, no psi, no superpowers...nothing more
>technologically advanced than a space shuttle. My best guess is some
>sort of 'Why is that guy not paying attention to me?' effect."

   Eric sighs (tm Seosaidh). "Never happened before...well, okay,
there was that immortal princess in Canton...and there was an Ecstatic
in Hawaii, but they make passes at _everyone._ Er, no offense, Kiri.
Hm. And I suppose the troll knight I fought that BSD pack with...she
might have been--"

Rio's brief scowl gives way to giggles. "Ricky, Sil asked you out on a
_date_ and you thought she wanted a bodyguard. Seems to me it's been
happening all along, and until now you were too clueless to notice."

   Eric turns red enough to make the scars all but glow in relief.
It's not exactly blushing, though. "'Clueless' Shih don't last long.
And it's not like one gets a lot of chances to socialize in my line of
work."

"The princess, the Ecstatic, the troll...sounds like you've had a
few," Rio chuckles.

   "The princess was...lonely," Eric replies evasively. "As for the
others, those were 'in the line of duty.' I shouldn't have to tell
_you_ how an Ecstatic is about a challenge." He shudders. "I think I'd
rather face Gaiasbane."

"Yeah. Right. Sure, bro, anything you say." Rio is barely managing to
keep her giggles from erupting into full fledged laughter.

>"You don't have an analog of Harrison Ford in your universe, I take
>it."

   "As a matter of fact, we do. I actually rather liked Raiders, even
if it was totally unrea--" he stops this statement before he finishes,
realizing that a man who throws _fire_ is about to say it. <g>

>"I try not to make unfair deals with people I'm working with. The
>quick lesson should take about fifteen minutes, and you still need to
>work to keep your mind locked down." Rob's eyes wander toward the
>ceiling for a moment.

   Eric nods. "I have mental defenses against invasive effects, but
_this_ thing..." he grimaces. "I can hear Rio giggling at me in my own
head."

>"Based on what your Dragon Fire Storm looked like, I'll give you the
>quick lesson for free, and the _good_ lesson for some of your Shih
>training."

   "Mmm." Eric grows thoughtful. "The Dragon Fire Storm is an
extremely advanced technique. I'm sure you know how one maneuver
follows another? Well, the path to that one has five previous steps,
none of them simple. And I've always been a better killer than a
teacher. But I'll teach you what I can."

>"By the way - I wasn't opening negotiations on a deal. I was making
>an offer, no strings. But you made too good an offer to resist." Rob
>grins.

   Eric shrugs. "Shih--the good ones--spend more time negotiating and
bargaining than killing. I don't know if I'm even _capable_ of taking
something for free any more."
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Fri, 6 Apr 2001 00:38:35 -0700 (PDT)
The Lone One Said As CAoL Message # 00009900

>On Wed, 04 Apr 2001 23:04:08 -0700
>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00009873
>
>>On Wed, 4 Apr 2001 01:17:53 -0700 (PDT)
>>The Lone One Said As CAoL Message # 00009844
>>
>>/"While I may not be able to enter that timeline, Mandy should be
>>able to."/
>
>   /"Your call, but between this bunch, we can probably come up with
>something."/

     /"Perhaps...but it would be too much of a hindrance to hide my
trueshape from not only visual methods of detection but also from
tactile methods. Especially given the parameters of this universe. I
will, however, be available in the case that, for whatever reason, you
need an extra fighter."/

>>     If anyone looks around for Mandy, Raver will continue, /"Mandy
>>will be arriving shortly. Unlike me, she walks the Hall Between
>>Worlds, which takes a little longer than shadowdancing."/
>
>   /"The Hall Between...?"/ Roland asks, then adds, /"I don't think I
>want to know."/

     Raver smiles a bit. /"It is not nearly so bad. The Hall Between
Worlds is...a place between worlds that appears as an infinitely long
hallway with an infinite number of doors that connect to fixed
locations on an infinite number of worlds. If one knows one's way,
traveling by this method is fairly quick. We encountered such a
traveller in the People's World, and it was from him that Mandy
learned the ways of the Hall."/

(OOC: The above concept was borrowed from either Feist or Eddings, I'm
not certain which)

>   Roland smiles, then vanishes again. A few moments later, he
>appears (smoke billowing from him for about four seconds before
>fading) with a Noisy Cricket in his hand. "I've really got to update
>my MiB clearance. Anyway, here you go. Be really careful with it--if
>you know what it is, you know what kind of 'bang' you get for your
>buck. There's also a safety--here--" Roland shows Mandy a brief but
>odd series of small levers. "--the safety doesn't go on until you
>pull all four in order, but you have to reverse the order for it to
>work again. Makes it useless to someone who doesn't know how to turn
>it back 'on' again, just in case." 8^)

     Mandy smiled up at Roland, "Thanks." She clipped the Noisy
Cricket onto her backpack so that it seemed merely an overlarge
keychain widget, lost amid the multitude of other decorations.

>>On Wed, 4 Apr 2001 02:28:35 -0700 (PDT)
>>The Lone One Said As CAoL Message # 00009847
>>
>>     "Black is so slimming," Mandy murmured under her breath,
>>looking innocent when Eric looked over. "Seriously, though, I agree
>>-- very useful color, neh?"
>
>   Eric looks abjectly stunned. /This is getting ridiculous,/ he
>thinks, not unkindly though, clearly unaware that his musings are
>going into the link. /It's like something out of a bad movie--I'm not
>interested, so every attractive woman in three Realms sets their
>sights on me. And, of course, the one time I respond is the one time
>in ten years that my timing's off. If this is a story, I'm gonna
>throttle the hack writing it./ To Mandy, he just nods, as timidly as
>a human predator like him is capable of.

     Mandy blinked at the sight of what she would have called, had it
been anyone else, timidity.

     On the other hand, Raver's eyes narrowed.

>   "Gaia." Eric just stares at Rio for a moment. A second later, he
>begins striding straight for the X-Window, the most graceful retreat
>he can manage under the circumstances.
>   (OOC: Yeah, Eric _is_ a good lookin' man, scars aside. He's no
>Adonis, but you don't obsess for ten years at becoming one of the (if
>not THE) world's best martial artists without getting a decent body
>in the bargain. 8^)

     As he passed, he was the only one who heard the growl that
rumbled deep in the big demon's chest. Her eyes held only a tinge of
warning, however.
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Fri, 6 Apr 2001 03:42:54 PST
Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00009901

>On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 21:26:16 -0700 (PDT)
>The Lone One Said As CAoL Message # 00009893
>
>     Mandy poked at one of the attache cases and whistled
>thoughtfully. "Ve-ery nice toy. Don't suppose you could make one of
>'em look like a backpack? Say, hiking sized but not with the steel
>frame?"

Nemo smiles indulgently, and the outside of the case morphs into the
new shape.

"Just be careful when you activate it. It'll have to use a forcefield
to 'clear' the working area inside. Which means it'll be obvious to
anyone watching that *something* weird is in there."
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Fri, 6 Apr 2001 08:00:42 -0400
Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00009902

>On Thu, 05 Apr 2001 22:34:34 -0700
>Rio Said As CAoL Message # 00009897
>
>Rio watches Zia come through. "Rob, I think you're getting a little
>talent-heavy, and frankly the 'college student on vacation' thing
>sounds like more fun that working, even if the work _is_ modeling."
>The Ecstatic smiles. "You've still got Moon Stone and Zia. Hey,
>Mandy, how do you feel about _two_ college girls seeing the Rhine
>Valley, and if you don't mind can I borrow that backpack to change my
>credentials?"

     "Moon" Stone laughs, "I was about to offer the same thing. Okay,
so Zia and I'll model and Rio and Mandy will do the college thing.
It's like musical chairs. I'm gonna go through before we change plans
again."
     She grins at "Drake" Lance. "Like the new moniker, by the way. I
used 'Draco' as a last name myself in college. Have fun playing cops
and robbers."
     Moonstone steps through the portal. "Hi Rob, model number 2,
reporting in. I don't think we've met before. I'm Moonstone."
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Fri, 6 Apr 2001 08:05:11 -0700 (PDT)
Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00009903

>Rio Said As CAoL Message # 00009897
>
>Rio watches Zia come through. "Rob, I think you're getting a little
>talent-heavy, and frankly the 'college student on vacation' thing
>sounds like more fun that working, even if the work _is_ modeling."
>The Ecstatic smiles. "You've still got Moon Stone and Zia. Hey,
>Mandy, how do you feel about _two_ college girls seeing the Rhine
>Valley, and if you don't mind can I borrow that backpack to change my
>credentials?"

"I can work with that, although I'd like your help anyway. Zia's hair
is fine, but it isn't period. I can fix that, but I'll still need
somebody to pick up clothing. Mm...could I convince _both_ of you to
do a little power shopping before you go 'college student?'"

Rob Nishikawa, trying to make six people do ten people's worth of
work, and thank goodness that I don't need to do the accounting as
well.
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Fri, 6 Apr 2001 08:24:38 -0700 (PDT)
Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00009904

>The Hunter Said As CAoL Message # 00009899
>
>>On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 22:08:49 -0700 (PDT)
>>Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00009895
>>
>>"I'm not talking about cinematic realities. I'm talking about places
>>where there's no magic, no psi, no superpowers...nothing more
>>technologically advanced than a space shuttle. My best guess is some
>>sort of 'Why is that guy not paying attention to me?' effect."
>
>   Eric sighs (tm Seosaidh). "Never happened before...well, okay,
>there was that immortal princess in Canton...and there was an
>Ecstatic in Hawaii, but they make passes at _everyone._ Er, no
>offense, Kiri. Hm. And I suppose the troll knight I fought that BSD
>pack with...she might have been--"

[To quote Nemo, 'The persecution rests.']

>Rio's brief scowl gives way to giggles. "Ricky, Sil asked you out on
>a _date_ and you thought she wanted a bodyguard. Seems to me it's
>been happening all along, and until now you were too clueless to
>notice."

"It seems to be a side effect of absolute dedication."

>   Eric turns red enough to make the scars all but glow in relief.
>It's not exactly blushing, though. "'Clueless' Shih don't last long.
>And it's not like one gets a lot of chances to socialize in my line
>of work."

[Clueless in affairs of the heart, though...I've been there. Still am,
though it looks like Eric's winning the prize in this bunch.]

>   "The princess was...lonely," Eric replies evasively. "As for the
> others, those were 'in the line of duty.' I shouldn't have to tell
>_you_ how an Ecstatic is about a challenge." He shudders. "I think
>I'd rather face Gaiasbane."

"Eric? Correct me if I'm wrong, but short of making her angry at you,
she wouldn't have had a chance of killing you. Unless you assumed the
possibility of starvation...nemmind. Don't want to know, shouldn't
have asked."

>>"You don't have an analog of Harrison Ford in your universe, I take
>>it."
>
>   "As a matter of fact, we do. I actually rather liked Raiders, even
>if it was totally unrea--" he stops this statement before he
>finishes, realizing that a man who throws _fire_ is about to say it.
><g>

Rob struggles for a moment. While watching somebody deal with an area
of inexperience is not his idea of entertainment, seeing somebody deal
with a point of logic is.

>>"Based on what your Dragon Fire Storm looked like, I'll give you the
>>quick lesson for free, and the _good_ lesson for some of your Shih
>>training."
>
>   "Mmm." Eric grows thoughtful. "The Dragon Fire Storm is an
>extremely advanced technique. I'm sure you know how one maneuver
>follows another? Well, the path to that one has five previous steps,
>none of them simple. And I've always been a better killer than a
>teacher. But I'll teach you what I can."

Rob's face falls into 'yeep!' mode. "Five? I would have guessed seven.
But I'd be starting from..." Rob trails off. Then he studies his right
hand for a moment, before looking at the bracelet on his left wrist.

"I can't do anything other than basic hand-to-hand here anyhow." He
pulls something about the size of an electric razor from a pocket, and
pushes three buttons. The device responds with a six-note tune.

"This works, but it's a bit unsubtle. Anyhow, I'll give you the
fifteen minutes now, and we can trade the lessons later.

>>"By the way - I wasn't opening negotiations on a deal. I was making
>>an offer, no strings. But you made too good an offer to resist." Rob
>>grins.
>
>   Eric shrugs. "Shih--the good ones--spend more time negotiating and
>bargaining than killing. I don't know if I'm even _capable_ of taking
>something for free any more."

"Maybe advice. Regardless, I'm willing to deal on the terms I offered,
unless you want to negotiate further."
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Fri, 06 Apr 2001 13:19:27 -0700
Sil Said As CAoL Message # 00009905

>On Fri, 6 Apr 2001 08:05:11 -0700 (PDT)
>Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00009903
>
>"I can work with that, although I'd like your help anyway. Zia's hair
>is fine, but it isn't period. I can fix that, but I'll still need
>somebody to pick up clothing. Mm...could I convince _both_ of you to
>do a little power shopping before you go 'college student?'"

   "Dibs on the shopping," Sil says as she walks through. "Beside, you
said you needed an extra bodyguard, didn't you?" ;-)
=================================
Subject: AAE 7a: Moving In

On Fri, 6 Apr 2001 16:57:01 -0400
Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00009906

     Night. A starlit sky hangs above with all the usual
constellations and planets one would expect in the wee hours of the
morning. The town is quiet, the bars closed, the tourists tucked away
in rented beds, the locals sleeping in familiar surroundings.
     The Drs. Essex could regail one with the horror stories of moving
into a house that had been stripped of everything not literally bolted
down by the last occupants, and the discovery of a complete lack of
closets, and the abundance of styles of wardrobes in the local
furniture shop, as well as finding they had no stove or refrigerator,
the German style of renting being to take everything with you when you
move out.
     <OOC: It's a story someone told me IRL.>
     More importantly, there are the newspapers with their stories on
tracking down a group of scientists trying to create a race of
supermen. How Gary Sieben had been assigned to look into it and how
the bust went down a few weeks prior. Not one to talk to reporters,
the single quote was reused all over the media in Germany. They'd
found the scientists trying to engineer children. How a gas main had
ruptured and the lab caught fire. How firefighters had found all the
equipment and experiments destroyed. How all the scientists had been
charged and all were expected to receive long jail terms, 25 years
minimum. The country was even now trying to come to terms with its
Nazi past thus animosity was high. People were angry. This sort of
thing didn't happen in Germany. It had once, but not now and never
again.
     But still, that was several weeks in the past. People were
returning to their daily lives, it was old news, thankfully stopped so
they could move toward a bright future again. Back now to the rising
gas prices, inflation, and other matters of daily living.
     Unbeknownst to anyone born of this world, there had been a
temporal distortion the day after the raid on the Eugenics lab in
Biovalley, well south of Lorelei Rock, on the border where France,
Switzerland, and Germany met, where the Rhine began in the Alps, a
valley of univerisities and medical industries. It started in the
upper atmosphere, streaking downard until it struck a tank, broken and
burnt, where a pair of cells still remained alive. A pair of very
special cells.
     The cells merged, combined and began to divide. The one became
two, two begat four, four begat eight, the pace accelerating under the
influence of the time distortion. Far faster than natural, far faster
than planned, a fetus became a newborn, a toddler, a child, a
teenager, a young man, a middle-aged man, stopping finally at a man of
sixty at the oldes, fifty the earliest.
     But the eyes were empty, hollow. Then, following the end of the
time distortion came a vast presence, an ancient intellect, filling
the body with life and vitality.
     Then it was done.

<OOC: What's actually known to those who can sense such things, is
that there was a time distortion that lasted for maybe thirty seconds
where I mentioned above, in Biovalley, followed by a psychic presence
landing in this world at the same location, but only detectable for a
second before it, too vanished. Not the same kind as the paradox
coming, though, so far, apparently, there's nothing paradoxical going
on in this world. Make of that what you will. The rest of the verbage
is just flavor. :)>

     The man, naked, naturally, stepped out of the tank onto the
broken glass and ash of the forr below. He gazed about the room
regally, then turned to the tanks and running his fingers across the
nameplate, smiled.
     "Khan Noonian Singh.." he said, ripping the nameplate from its
bolts on the tank, "Lord Rassilon thanks you for your sacrifice, that
-I- may live again."
     Rassilon turned his gaze to his new form.
     "You would have had great strength, yes...and a noble bearing,"
he added, catching a glimpse of himself in the mirrored surface of the
nameplate, "Handsome, you are, a -prince- among men. And -now-, with
your form as a foundation, I shall be a -god-, -my- empire spanning
the -multiverse-, even surpassing those who lurked in the shadows whom
I used to garner power."
     "But first," he said, his face twisting into a hateful glare, "I
shall repay the mortal who nearly cost me that power, and oh, so much
more."
     "I do not know -why-" he said to the nameplate still in his hand,
"my Matrix did not forsee that that -female- would be the death of my
world and not the child possessed, but they all spawn from the same
man. -He- must have somehow usurped my control over his clone and
caused this, for my coronet could not stop her from stealing my rod
and opening the Eye of Harmony, a foolish name. I was right to trap
that fool Omega in the event horizon of his own creation, you see, he
had no lust for power. I would have had to kill him anyway, if he had,
so it is no great loss. Soon, though, very soon, I shall restore
Gallifrey to its former glory then lead it onward to even greater
feats.
     "Now, however, I must rid myself of the one who might someday
stand in my way. Oh, my servants were foolish in bringing him to me,
in attempting to retrieve him once he'd been lost. 'Lord Rassilon,'
they said to me, Khan, 'we can salvage him, he is not yet a resource
lost to us, merely requiring more cautious handling.' Perhaps I shall
kill them, too, once Gallifrey is restored to the multiverse. Yes,
Khan, you think they would deserve that, too, hmm. I think you are
wise. Thankfully, I do not have to kill you as a threat to my power
too."
     Running a hand through his silver and black hair, Rassilon walked
toward a gaping hole in the wall, speaking to the nameplate as he did,
"First, I shall find Michael Seven, then, I shall kill him.
Afterwards, with Gallifrey restored to the multiverse, my army of
warriors scooped throughout Time and Space will reclaim Gallifrey from
my younger self and then, oh yes, and then I shall take the power of
those amorphous wouldbe puppet masters as my own."
     His hand curled into a fist as he spat, "But first, I must kill
Michael Seven."

<OOC: End of flavor, back to the present day...>

     A white and gold motorcycle with two riders pulls up outside the
place, sporting a sidecar. In the sidecar is a black and white border
collie with a yellow bandana around the neck. Lilith takes the dog,
while Seth takes a small pet carrier from the floor of the side car as
well as a small stack of books. They enter the Place with a wave to
the assembled and Seth places the pet carrier on a table, the stack of
books atop it. Atop all that, he places an origami angel, with the
words, "For Zia" written (somehow) in Japanese.
     "If someone would be so kind as to direct Zia to this table when
she returns, we would be grateful," Seth says. Then, "This is Lilith,
my Goldberry and my wife, and our dog, Shep."
     Lilith smiles, "Hello, good folk, forgive us our brief visit, but
our time is short and we must see all our tasks done before we sleep."
     "But do call on us should you need us in the next few days," Seth
adds, "We shall be honored to lend assistance as allowed."
     With that they turn and depart, unhurriedly but with deliberate
speed.

<OOC: The next is a setup for AAE 7b, don't worry about it yet.>

     After all the Callahanian Army of Light have left...
     Fast Eddie heads over to table Seth just left. Inside the pet
carrier a small meow can be heard. Eddie peeks inside the cage.
     "Wonder what kinda cat dis is...'ey dere ain't not'in in 'ere. I
to't I hoid a meow." He flips the unlocked cage door open with a
finger. It hadn't been latched and was hanging loose.
     "Maybe he hid when he saw you comin'," Long-Drink quips.
     Doc Webster jumps as something suddenly runs behind his chair,
"Whatha-" he yelps, "I think he ran behind me. Fast, whatever it was."
     Then a small grey and black-striped tabby cat is noticed sitting
atop the bar next to Mike Callahan. Callahan blinks and looks at a
little red tag on the cat's red collar.
     "Well, Schroedinger, how about some cream while you wait for
Zia?"
     The little kitten purrs loudly.
     Fast Eddie hehs at the brand new books bound in string atop the
cat carrier. "Callahan's Chronicals, Mary's Place, Callahan's Legacy,
Callahan's Key, Da Hitchhikuhs Guide ta da Galaxy, Da Res'tront at da
End uh da Universe, Life, da Universe, and Ev'ryt'ing, So Long an'
T'anks fer all da Fish, and Mos'ly 'armless. Wonder wot dese is for?"
     Tom Hampton comments, "God works in mysterious ways, Eddie."
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Fri, 06 Apr 2001 17:46:23 -0700
Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00009907

>Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00009870
>
>>The Lone One Said As CAoL Message # 00009845
>>
>>     Raver brightened a bit at the news. "If you would provide one
>>for me, it would be appreciated."
>>
>>OOC: I assume that that means they work even if someone happens to,
>>say, trip over Raver's tail? Or is that a hole?
>
>OOC: The tripped person would FEEL the tail, but not see it. Most
>people would rather doubt their secondary senses, than question their
>primary sense.

OOC: I forgot to mention that she gives Raver one each of the
translators and disguise modules.

/*"Certainly, here you are."*/ Aurora says as she hands Raver the two
devices.
(OOC: pick a shape for each).
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Fri, 06 Apr 2001 18:19:12 -0700
Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00009908

>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00009898
>
>>On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 21:26:16 -0700 (PDT)
>>The Lone One Said As CAoL Message # 00009893
>>
>>     Mandy nodded, already feeding her sheaf of papers into the
>>mouth of the backpack. "Yeah. I'm a bit young to pass as Interpol,
>>even an absolutely green rookie. How about I go in as a Canadian
>>exchange student attending Oxford who's using her summer vacation to
>>see the Rhine Valley? That'd take care of me speaking tourist
>>guidebook German... If someone could use their Interpol creds to get
>>me entered into the Oxford records, that'd be a help, too."

/I will see to past records for all of us, with whatever organizations
we should have such. Also those, that we should have had interactions
with, will have memories of those interactions./ Aurora offers.
/Anybody who seeks out our pasts will find as much detail as they
would if they were checking on any normal inhabitant of that world. No
matter how through they are. Has anybody any particular requests for
items in their pastcx?/

>   "Er, my Interpol 'creds' are in another reality, but I think I can
>fake it well enough, especially with a little help from Aurora.
>Aurora?" Roland asks.
>   /Oh, and we'll need to 'clean up' after ourselves when we're done.
>If either you or Oracle could 'tag' all the stuff we plant, so as to
>remove it when we're done, I'd appreciate it./

/I had been planning to do that anyway./ Aurora answers

/Since it will not take much of my capacity, do you want me to keep an
-eye- on everybody in case some unforseen accident occurs too quickly
for the individual to call for help?/ She asks.
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Past Time (was Saddle up...)

On Fri, 06 Apr 2001 18:47:32 -0700
Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00009909

>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00009880
>   A horrified Roland begins to herd his beloved through the
>X-Window...

Aurora smiles, shakes her head, and then vanishes from the Place to
reappear on beside the X-window, on the other side.
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Fri, 6 Apr 2001 18:52:17 -0700 (PDT)
Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00009910


>On Fri, 06 Apr 2001 18:19:12 -0700
>Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00009908
>/I will see to past records for all of us, with whatever
>organizations we should have such. Also those, that we should have
>had interactions with, will have memories of those interactions./
>Aurora offers. /Anybody who seeks out our pasts will find as much
>detail as they would if they were checking on any normal inhabitant
>of that world. No matter how through they are. Has anybody any
>particular requests for items in their pastcx?/

 Jim chuckles, "Don't forget to register us at the DMV..."
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Sat, 07 Apr 2001 00:05:16 -0700
The Hunter Said As CAoL Message # 00009911

>On Fri, 6 Apr 2001 00:38:35 -0700 (PDT)
>The Lone One Said As CAoL Message # 00009900
>
>     As he passed, he was the only one who heard the growl that
>rumbled deep in the big demon's chest. Her eyes held only a tinge of
>warning, however.

   Eric looks back at her in confusion for a moment, but more at ease
than when Mandy had complimented him. Demons threatening him is part
of his day job. 8^)
   ^Problem?^ (OOC: Sent via lens link--he does okay with it when he
concentrates)

Later (assuming he survives... ;^)
>On Fri, 6 Apr 2001 08:24:38 -0700 (PDT)
>Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00009904
>
>>The Hunter Said As CAoL Message # 00009899
>>
>>   "The princess was...lonely," Eric replies evasively. "As for the
>>others, those were 'in the line of duty.' I shouldn't have to tell
>>_you_ how an Ecstatic is about a challenge." He shudders. "I think
>>I'd rather face Gaiasbane."
>
>"Eric? Correct me if I'm wrong, but short of making her angry at you,
>she wouldn't have had a chance of killing you. Unless you assumed the
>possibility of starvation...nemmind. Don't want to know, shouldn't
>have asked."

   Eric shudders. "I wouldn't have been in danger of dying. That would
have been easy. Really powerful Ecstatics are capable of
being...insatiable. _Literally._ I think it was a Paradox flaw of some
sort in her case. I hope she recovered..."

>"I can't do anything other than basic hand-to-hand here anyhow." He
>pulls something about the size of an electric razor from a pocket,
>and pushes three buttons. The device responds with a six-note tune.
>
>"This works, but it's a bit unsubtle. Anyhow, I'll give you the
>fifteen minutes now, and we can trade the lessons later.

   Eric cocks his head slightly, trying to follow just what happened.
"Agreed."

>>   Eric shrugs. "Shih--the good ones--spend more time negotiating
>>and bargaining than killing. I don't know if I'm even _capable_ of
>>taking something for free any more."
>
>"Maybe advice. Regardless, I'm willing to deal on the terms I
>offered, unless you want to negotiate further."

   Eric shakes his head. "Deal's fine. I like to keep things simple."
He pauses a moment. "I should pass on some of what I've learned,
anyway--should've done it long ago, for that matter. By all rights, I
should be dead a dozen times over, and I have a duty to keep the
knowledge alive. You understand, I'm sure."
=================================
Subject: AAE 7: Timing

On Sat, 07 Apr 2001 00:20:01 -0700
The Hunter Said As CAoL Message # 00009912

>On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 17:40:06 PST
>Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00009889
>
>Just before he steps thru the X-Window, he "hears" a thought from
>Nemo.
>
>^Eric, Your timing was bad. But Zia didn't intend you to take it as
>'Never'. Just as 'Not right now'. When this is over, let me know when
>you have the free time, and I'll let her know. And yes, she wants me
>to arrange it this way...^

   Eric STOPS, suddenly enough for his foot to be frozen in mid-step.
Only ten years of fanatic training keeps his jaw from going completely
slack. A fraction of a second later, he continues walking.
   ^Ah. I...see. Hrm. I think...hrm. I think I need time to consider.
Gaia.
   ^For that matter, I seem to recall her mentioning something about
husbands, plural...^

>On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 22:06:27 -0700 (PDT)
>Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00009896
>
>Ziactrice follows through the X-window, not quite as impressive-
>looking. Especially since the petite Amberite looks distinctly
>seasick a moment; Zia walks far too carefully towards the nearest
>wall. She leans against it, swallows hard, and breathes very
>carefully until the room stops seeming to spin.

   Eric starts to move, then stops, understanding about pride.
However, a quick jerk of a leg later, a chair slides its way over next
to her. (OOC: Yes, even if the room has one of those godawful 70s
rugs. 8^) He silently extends a hand, as an offer to help her sit.
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Sat, 07 Apr 2001 00:28:11 -0700
Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00009913

>On Fri, 06 Apr 2001 18:19:12 -0700
>Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00009908
>
>>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00009898
>
>/I will see to past records for all of us, with whatever
>organizations we should have such. Also those, that we should have
>had interactions with, will have memories of those interactions./
>Aurora offers. /Anybody who seeks out our pasts will find as much
>detail as they would if they were checking on any normal inhabitant
>of that world. No matter how through they are. Has anybody any
>particular requests for items in their pastcx?/

   Roland grimaces. /Only that you do your best to keep mental
tampering to a minimum, Aurora,/ he sends carefully. /The thing with
the records is appreciated, though./

>>   /Oh, and we'll need to 'clean up' after ourselves when we're
>>done. If either you or Oracle could 'tag' all the stuff we plant, so
>>as to remove it when we're done, I'd appreciate it./
>
>/I had been planning to do that anyway./ Aurora answers

   Roland smiles. /Should've guessed./

>/Since it will not take much of my capacity, do you want me to keep
>an -eye- on everybody in case some unforseen accident occurs too
>quickly for the individual to call for help?/ She asks.

   /Hm. Better ask the others first. I think it's a good idea,
personally, but some folks get touchy about privacy, and
understandably so. Also, watch out for our opponent. Don't want him to
know about us too soon./ He grins sheepishly. /I know, I know--I don't
have to tell you this stuff. It's still my job./
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7: Timing

On Sat, 7 Apr 2001 01:37:47 PST
Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00009914

>On Sat, 07 Apr 2001 00:20:01 -0700
>The Hunter Said As CAoL Message # 00009912
>
>>On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 17:40:06 PST
>>Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00009889
>>
>>Just before he steps thru the X-Window, he "hears" a thought from
>>Nemo.
>>
>>^Eric, Your timing was bad. But Zia didn't intend you to take it as
>>'Never'. Just as 'Not right now'. When this is over, let me know
>>when you have the free time, and I'll let her know. And yes, she
>>wants me to arrange it this way...^
>
>   Eric STOPS, suddenly enough for his foot to be frozen in mid-step.
>Only ten years of fanatic training keeps his jaw from going
>completely slack. A fraction of a second later, he continues walking.
>   ^Ah. I...see. Hrm. I think...hrm. I think I need time to consider.
>Gaia.
>   ^For that matter, I seem to recall her mentioning something about
>husbands, plural...^

^I'm not sure about that myself. But understand this, while I think
you are quite a 'hunk', *think* is all I'll ever do unless *you* tell
me you are interested. Ok?^
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Sat, 7 Apr 2001 07:06:14 -0700 (PDT)
Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00009915

>The Hunter Said As CAoL Message # 00009911
>
>>On Fri, 6 Apr 2001 08:24:38 -0700 (PDT)
>>Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00009904
>>
>>"Eric? Correct me if I'm wrong, but short of making her angry at
>>you, she wouldn't have had a chance of killing you. Unless you
>>assumed the possibility of starvation...nemmind. Don't want to know,
>>shouldn't have asked."
>
>   Eric shudders. "I wouldn't have been in danger of dying. That
>would have been easy. Really powerful Ecstatics are capable of
>being...insatiable. _Literally._ I think it was a Paradox flaw of
>some sort in her case. I hope she recovered..."

"Oh. So starvation _was_ a possibility."

>>"I can't do anything other than basic hand-to-hand here anyhow." He
>>pulls something about the size of an electric razor from a pocket,
>>and pushes three buttons. The device responds with a six-note tune.
>>
>>"This works, but it's a bit unsubtle. Anyhow, I'll give you the
>>fifteen minutes now, and we can trade the lessons later.
>
>   Eric cocks his head slightly, trying to follow just what happened.
>"Agreed."

"Let me guess. Explanation wanted, correct?"

"Think of it as my personal reaction to Paradox. In your world, a mage
who tries to break the rules can get away with it, until the universe
gets tired of people ignoring the rules, and sends a referee/Paradox
spirit, right?"

"In my case, I can't break the rules. But the Forceweb generator is
within the rules, and the diagnostic checks out. But I can't use Chi
powers here/now for some reason."

>>"Maybe advice. Regardless, I'm willing to deal on the terms I
>>offered, unless you want to negotiate further."
>
>   Eric shakes his head. "Deal's fine. I like to keep things simple."
>He pauses a moment. "I should pass on some of what I've learned,
>anyway--should've done it long ago, for that matter. By all rights, I
>should be dead a dozen times over, and I have a duty to keep the
>knowledge alive. You understand, I'm sure."

"'For our style to live on, you must one day share its secrets with
others as I have shared them with you,'" Rob quotes. "Supposedly,
Ryu's teacher said that. Then again, if he said everything that people
claim, he wouldn't have had time to teach anybody anything. But yes, I
understand."
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7: Timing

On Sat, 7 Apr 2001 07:08:56 -0700 (PDT)
Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00009916

>The Hunter Said As CAoL Message # 00009912
>
>>On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 22:06:27 -0700 (PDT)
>>Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00009896
>>
>>Ziactrice follows through the X-window, not quite as impressive-
>>looking. Especially since the petite Amberite looks distinctly
>>seasick a moment; Zia walks far too carefully towards the nearest
>>wall. She leans against it, swallows hard, and breathes very
>>carefully until the room stops seeming to spin.
>
>   Eric starts to move, then stops, understanding about pride.
>However, a  quick jerk of a leg later, a chair slides its way over
>next to her. (OOC: Yes, even if the room has one of those godawful
>70s rugs. 8^) He silently extends a hand, as an offer to help her
>sit.

[Right. Zia will need a period hairdo, may need some different
eyeshadow, and probably needs anti-nausea medication.]

"I'll be right back," Rob says, heading out to do some shopping of his
own.
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Sat, 07 Apr 2001 17:39:54 -0700
Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00009917

>Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00009910
>
> Jim chuckles, "Don't forget to register us at the DMV..."

/"Already done. Here {} is the license plate and VIN number for you."/
Aurora responds.
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Sat, 07 Apr 2001 17:48:22 -0700
Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00009918

>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00009913
>
>>On Fri, 06 Apr 2001 18:19:12 -0700
>>Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00009908
>>
>>/I will see to past records for all of us, with whatever
>>organizations we should have such. Also those, that we should have
>>had interactions with, will have memories of those interactions./
>>Aurora offers. /Anybody who seeks out our pasts will find as much
>>detail as they would if they were checking on any normal inhabitant
>>of that world. No matter how through they are. Has anybody any
>>particular requests for items in their pastcx?/
>
>   Roland grimaces. /Only that you do your best to keep mental
>tampering to a minimum, Aurora,/ he sends carefully. /The thing with
>the records is appreciated, though./

/I will not do any more tampering than is absolutely necessary, and
when we leave I will restore all that I have changed to their original
condition. I believe in being a good camper./ She says with a chuckle.

>   /Hm. Better ask the others first. I think it's a good idea,
>personally, but some folks get touchy about privacy, and
>understandably so. Also, watch out for our opponent. Don't want him
>to know about us too soon./ He grins sheepishly. /I know, I know--I
>don't have to tell you this stuff. It's still my job./

/I believe that our opponent has just arrived. At least that is how I
interpret the temporal anomaly that just occured./ She says.
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Sun, 8 Apr 2001 01:59:14 EDT
SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00009919

>In a message dated 4/5/01 9:15:43 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
>Nemo writes:
>
>Nemo tosses Roger a PADD.
>
>"Visualize Clark Kent."
>
>As Roger does so the image appears on the screen.
>
>"Just the head".
>
>The image zooms in on Clark's head.
>
>"Ok, now lose the glasses."
>
>"Now have his forelock fall in a cute little curl across his
>forehead..."
>
>"Look familiar?"

   Roger shrugs. "Yeah, he looks like Clark w/o his glasses, and his
hair hanging over his eyes. What am I supposed to be seeing?"

   OOC: I don't know about Roger, but *I've* been known to be that
dense on more than one occasion -- especially embarassing when it
happens in a professional context: "Dave, you *did* notice that you
have a 24VDC sensor plugged into a 120VAC power line?" "Uhh...D'OH!!!"
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Sun, 8 Apr 2001 13:59:54 -0400
Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00009920

>On Sat, 07 Apr 2001 17:48:22 -0700
>Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00009918
>
>/I believe that our opponent has just arrived. At least that is how I
>interpret the temporal anomaly that just occured./ She says.

OOC: "Just" being several weeks ago. Say, a month, to make it simple.
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Sun, 8 Apr 2001 12:42:20 PST
Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00009921

>On Sun, 8 Apr 2001 01:59:14 EDT
>SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00009919
>
>   Roger shrugs. "Yeah, he looks like Clark w/o his glasses, and his
>hair hanging over his eyes. What am I supposed to be seeing?"

"Ok. Save that image."

"Bring up the database of famous men on Earth-1. Run a correlation
scan, excluding Clark Kent."

Nemo waits for Roger's reaction when the 99.9% match pops up. <eg>

(And yes, Nemo is cheating a bit :-)
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Mon, 09 Apr 2001 07:59:23 -0700
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00009922

>On Sun, 8 Apr 2001 12:42:20 PST
>Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00009921
>
>>On Sun, 8 Apr 2001 01:59:14 EDT
>>SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00009919
>>
>>   Roger shrugs. "Yeah, he looks like Clark w/o his glasses, and his
>>hair hanging over his eyes. What am I supposed to be seeing?"
>
>"Ok. Save that image."
>
>"Bring up the database of famous men on Earth-1. Run a correlation
>scan, excluding Clark Kent."
>
>Nemo waits for Roger's reaction when the 99.9% match pops up. <eg>
>
>(And yes, Nemo is cheating a bit :-)

"Nemo," Morgan chides gently, "Let the poor kid finish reading the
comic book first." She's grinning, but it's obvious that the grin
would be a _lot_ wider if she let it ;-).
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Moving In

On Mon, 09 Apr 2001 08:27:59 -0700
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00009923

>On Fri, 6 Apr 2001 16:57:01 -0400
>Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00009906
>
>     Unbeknownst to anyone born of this world, there had been a
>temporal distortion the day after the raid on the Eugenics lab in
>Biovalley, well south of Lorelei Rock, on the border where France,
>Switzerland, and Germany met, where the Rhine began in the Alps, a
>valley of univerisities and medical industries. It started in the
>upper atmosphere, streaking downard until it struck a tank, broken
>and burnt, where a pair of cells still remained alive. A pair of very
>special cells.
>     The cells merged, combined and began to divide. The one became
>two, two begat four, four begat eight, the pace accelerating under
>the influence of the time distortion.

When Rio gets into the hotel room, she sits on the bed (to get out of
the way of anyone else coming in ;-), curls her legs up under her, and
plays her fingers across her 'customized' Rio. "I'll have to borrow
the faber to disguise this as a radio or something," she mutters
softly as her eyes become unfocused. Pink Floyd's "Time" flows out of
the machine at first, then "Dreamweaver" echos softly through the room
for a moment. "At least a lot of the music I use won't be
anachronous," she adds with a grin, then her voice becomes more
serious.

"/Like Aurora said, there was a massive anomaly, about a month ago.
South of here--I think it was in the area they call Biovalley. Must
have been not long after the raid the papers were going on about,/"
the Ecstatic says softly. "/A...mind?...came through the time rift./"
She shakes her head. "/It was only there for a moment. Then...that's
an awful lot of life energy going on in for ruined lab, but I can't
make out...Lady Morgan?/" Rio appeals to someone she knows is stronger
in that area.

Morgan, now through the X-window into the house, follows Rio's
'pointer.' ^Good thing I picked up some Time skill from Thorne, or I
wouldn't be able to 'see' that far back,^ she comments to Roland.
/"Yes, very strange./"

<OOC: Mike, go ahead and retcon out any details you don't want us to
have picked up.>

"/Someone...grew...there must have been something left after the raid,
because they grew an adult body in a matter of moments./" Morgan
sounds faintly astonished.

"/More time distortion,/" Rio agreed.

   "/Let's see what our friend built,/" Roland adds, picking up
information from Morgan and Rio. He holds out his hand, and a
'hologram' forms. A handsome man, in prime specimen of human physique.
"/Why would someone clone Ricardo Montelba...oh, nass,/" the Freelance
Immortal comments as he realizes who they're dealing with.

><OOC: What's actually known to those who can sense such things, is
>that there was a time distortion that lasted for maybe thirty seconds
>where I mentioned above, in Biovalley, followed by a psychic presence
>landing in this world at the same location, but only detectable for a
>second before it, too vanished. Not the same kind as the paradox
>coming, though, so far, apparently, there's nothing paradoxical going
>on in this world. Make of that what you will. The rest of the verbage
>is just flavor. :)>

<OOC: If Roland wants to make any changes to how I wrote him, I'll
pass them along. Meanwhile, like I said, Mike can feel free to retcon
any of the details he doesn't want us knowing yet :-).>
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Moving In (Lengthy)(sorry)

On Mon, 9 Apr 2001 12:50:45 -0400
Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00009924

>On Mon, 09 Apr 2K1 Morgan Said
>
>   "/Let's see what our friend built,/" Roland adds, picking up
>information from Morgan and Rio. He holds out his hand, and a
>'hologram' forms. A handsome man, in prime specimen of human
>physique. "/Why would someone clone Ricardo Montelba...oh, nass,/"
>the Freelance Immortal comments as he realizes who they're dealing
>with.

<OOC> Something that doesn't come up all that often IC, is the fact
that Dhyrclhanc is mentally tied, albeit semi-subconsciously, into the
"Omniversal Overconsciousness" (sometimes refered to as the "Tao").
The practical up-shot of this is that he is automatically aware of
any, and all, cosmic-level entities in his vicinity (which, in
Dhyrclhanc's case, is an entire country, AFAIR).

Thus, as soon as "Agent Drake Lance" steps through the X-window into
Essex and Legion's (rented) house he'll immediately, and almost
instinctively, know that Rassilion's already here, not to mention
quickly develop the Mother of all Headaches (tm) (I haven't figured
how he's been able to remain in the same room, much less the same
planet as any of the Stars-paw^H^H^H Starspawn since this is the case,
but maybe that's why he seems so grumpy when one of them's around
<shrug>).

Obviously, it's Mike call as to weither or not this works but I
suspect that it's probably a non-issue at this point between R, R &
M's seemingly adeptness with M:TA "Time-abilities" and the fact that
The Doctor already told us it was going to be Rassilion (or rather
*this* Rassilion) that we'd be dealing with to begin with. <shrug>

Also, Rassilion, AFAICT, is more on the "threat-level" of, say, the
Surfer, the Oblitorator, or Champion, rather than, say, Galactus or,
even worse, Oblivion. So, again, I don't think it's going to be that
big a deal. </OOC>
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Moving In (Lengthy)(sorry)

On Mon, 9 Apr 2001 16:44:23 -0400
Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00009925

>On Mon, 9 Apr 2001 12:50:45 -0400
>Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00009924
>
>Obviously, it's Mike call as to weither or not this works but I
>suspect that it's probably a non-issue at this point between R, R &
>M's seemingly adeptness with M:TA "Time-abilities" and the fact that
>The Doctor already told us it was going to be Rassilion (or rather
>*this* Rassilion) that we'd be dealing with to begin with. <shrug>
>
>Also, Rassilion, AFAICT, is more on the "threat-level" of, say, the
>Surfer, the Oblitorator, or Champion, rather than, say, Galactus or,
>even worse, Oblivion. So, again, I don't think it's going to be that
>big a deal. </OOC>

<OOC: No clue on threat level, but right now, there's nothing big
standing out. After the initial burst of time manipulation and psychic
presense, Rassilon went off the map, barring, if one were close to
him, a feeling that this body's immune to Paradox, in the same way
Anna is.>
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Moving In

On Mon, 9 Apr 2001 18:01:44 EDT
SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00009927

>In a message dated 4/9/01 11:39:04 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
>Morgan and/or Roland writes:
>
>   "/Let's see what our friend built,/" Roland adds, picking up
>information from Morgan and Rio. He holds out his hand, and a
>'hologram' forms. A handsome man, in prime specimen of human
>physique. "/Why would someone clone Ricardo Montelba...oh, nass,/"
>the Freelance Immortal comments as he realizes who they're dealing
>with.

   Roger *twitches.* "/DA-aaad...you *said* we weren't going to run
into *him.*/" The younger Immie seems uncharacteristically freaked --
his teeth are almost chattering.

   OOC: Well, even Roger must have a *few* things that even he can't
joke about...well, at least not without an effort. The Immortal Khan
thing seems like a good contender for the title. <beg>
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Moving In

On Mon, 09 Apr 2001 15:26:48 -0700
Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00009928

>On Mon, 9 Apr 2001 18:01:44 EDT
>SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00009927
>
>   Roger *twitches.* "/DA-aaad...you *said* we weren't going to run
>into *him.*/" The younger Immie seems uncharacteristically freaked  
>his teeth are almost chattering.

   /"It's not Khan, Roger,"/ Roland replies calmly. /"It's someone
else in a Khan-body. It's okay. Besides, we can take him."/

>   OOC: Well, even Roger must have a *few* things that even he can't
>joke about...well, at least not without an effort. The Immortal Khan
>thing seems like a good contender for the title. <beg>

   OOC-R (or is that K?): Beg all you want, hero--the Immortal Khan
has no mercy! HAhahahahaha
   *cough*
   Sorry. Couldn't help that one. <EG>
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7: Timing

On Mon, 09 Apr 2001 18:51:48 -0700
The Hunter Said As CAoL Message # 00009929

>On Sat, 7 Apr 2001 01:37:47 PST
>Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00009914
>
>>On Sat, 07 Apr 2001 00:20:01 -0700
>>The Hunter Said As CAoL Message # 00009912
>>
>>   ^Ah. I...see. Hrm. I think...hrm. I think I need time to
>>consider. Gaia.
>>   ^For that matter, I seem to recall her mentioning something about
>>husbands, plural...^
>
>^I'm not sure about that myself. But understand this, while I think
>you are quite a 'hunk', *think* is all I'll ever do unless *you* tell
>me you are interested. Ok?^

   Eric blinks loudly enough to be heard by those with sharp ears.
(Good thing, too, for those without a zillion other senses... ;^) ^... 
 ...   ...   ...Okay.^
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Mon, 09 Apr 2001 19:14:13 -0700
The Hunter Said As CAoL Message # 00009930

>On Sat, 7 Apr 2001 07:06:14 -0700 (PDT)
>Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00009915
>
>>The Hunter Said As CAoL Message # 00009911
>>
>>>On Fri, 6 Apr 2001 08:24:38 -0700 (PDT)
>>>Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00009904
>>>
>>>"I can't do anything other than basic hand-to-hand here anyhow." He
>>>pulls something about the size of an electric razor from a pocket,
>>>and pushes three buttons. The device responds with a six-note tune.
>>>
>>>"This works, but it's a bit unsubtle. Anyhow, I'll give you the
>>>fifteen minutes now, and we can trade the lessons later.
>>
>>   Eric cocks his head slightly, trying to follow just what
>>happened. "Agreed."
>
>"Let me guess. Explanation wanted, correct?"

   Eric looks over at Fast Eddie (through the X-Window, if necessary)
and back at Rob. "Thank you."

>"Think of it as my personal reaction to Paradox. In your world, a
>mage who tries to break the rules can get away with it, until the
>universe gets tired of people ignoring the rules, and sends a
>referee/Paradox spirit, right?"

   Eric nods. "For those with the power to bend reality itself, as
opposed to those with less flexible methods, yes, you are in essence
correct."

>"In my case, I can't break the rules.

   "At all. Hrm."

>But the Forceweb generator is within the rules, and the diagnostic
>checks out. But I can't use Chi powers here/now for some reason."

   Eric frowns, then concentrates. He utters a single word in Chinese
(which I don't know, since I loaned out my copy of Demon Hunter
X...bad gamer, no biscuit) and his hand is surrounded by a faint
nimbus of flame. If Rob can still sense chi, he feels Eric burn the
chi, then regenerate it. (Imagine if a Garou, or Wolverine, had to
slice himself open to work an effect. It heals quickly, but it's still
ripping off a piece of yourself. He doesn't flinch.) "Hrm. Mine works.
Wonder why."

>>   Eric shakes his head. "Deal's fine. I like to keep things
>>simple." He pauses a moment. "I should pass on some of what I've
>>learned, anyway--should've done it long ago, for that matter. By all
>>rights, I should be dead a dozen times over, and I have a duty to
>>keep the knowledge alive. You understand, I'm sure."
>
>"'For our style to live on, you must one day share its secrets with
>others as I have shared them with you,'" Rob quotes. "Supposedly,
>Ryu's teacher said that. Then again, if he said everything that
>people claim, he wouldn't have had time to teach anybody anything.
>But yes, I understand."

   Eric _laughs,_ an almost normal human laugh. "My friend Rob
Nishikawa, do you suppose that we all have the same master, and that
he just co-locates to every martial arts school in creation?"

"Not just martial arts," Rio quips. "Most of the trads have at least
one of those. The type that all of their student grouse about the
harsh methods, but people still line up for the opportunity?"

   "The very one," Eric replies knowingly. "Though some students just
can't stop complaining. If the teacher was soft, the students would
fail."

Rio looks at her big brother with a mischievous grin. "Yeah, and
you're gonna _be_ one of those teachers some day."

   To that, Eric just _smiles._
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Mon, 9 Apr 2001 21:45:26 -0700 (PDT)
Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00009931

>The Hunter Said As CAoL Message # 00009930
>
>>On Sat, 7 Apr 2001 07:06:14 -0700 (PDT)
>>Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00009915
>>
>>"Let me guess. Explanation wanted, correct?"
>
>   Eric looks over at Fast Eddie (through the X-Window, if necessary)
>and back at Rob. "Thank you."

"All my teachers said that my ability to read body language was
astonishing. I try to use it to make life easier on people."

>   Eric nods. "For those with the power to bend reality itself, as
>opposed to those with less flexible methods, yes, you are in essence
>correct."

"I'm basing what I know on the two issues of the Freelance Immortals
mini-series that I've seen, so I imagine that there are a few things I
have wrong."

>>"In my case, I can't break the rules.
>
>   "At all. Hrm."

"Exactly." [Sux2Bme. :) ]

>   Eric frowns, then concentrates. He utters a single word in Chinese
>(which I don't know, since I loaned out my copy of Demon Hunter X...
>bad gamer, no biscuit) and his hand is surrounded by a faint nimbus
>of flame. If Rob can still sense chi, he feels Eric burn the chi,
>then regenerate it. (Imagine if a Garou, or Wolverine, had to slice
>himself open to work an effect. It heals quickly, but it's still
>ripping off a piece of yourself. He doesn't flinch.) "Hrm. Mine
>works. Wonder why."

Rob blinks. "I felt that." For a moment, Rob reaches for power again,
but comes up empty. "Nothing there for me. It seems to be a quirk
peculiar to me. Although I've heard rumors of a college professor from
Ohio with similar limitations."

>   Eric _laughs,_ an almost normal human laugh. "My friend Rob
>Nishikawa, do you suppose that we all have the same master, and that
>he just co-locates to every martial arts school in creation?"

"If one believes the rumors, Ryu's teacher is not just stereotype, but
Dolby Stereotype. Old, pushes his students to the limit, then sends
them off into the world and disappears. But considering that my
teachers were both female, I don't think that my master was like
yours."

"Unless your master was a transvestite, that is."
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Tue, 10 Apr 2001 02:32:15 EDT
Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00009932

>In a message dated 4/9/01 10:54:18 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
>Rob writes:
>
>"If one believes the rumors, Ryu's teacher is not just stereotype,
>but Dolby Stereotype. Old, pushes his students to the limit, then
>sends them off into the world and disappears. But considering that my
>teachers were both female, I don't think that my master was like
>yours."
>
>"Unless your master was a transvestite, that is."

Scott, as he watches through the X-Window, mutters "Or this instructor
had a real fun time at Jusenkyo."
=================================
Subject: AAE 7: Picking the shot

On Tue, 10 Apr 2001 07:44:32 -0700 (PDT)
Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00009933

>Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00009916
>
>[Right. Zia will need a period hairdo, may need some different
>eyeshadow, and probably needs anti-nausea medication.]
>
>"I'll be right back," Rob says, heading out to do some shopping of
>his own.

By the time Rob gets back with a medium-sized bag, Zia is looking
better, but he still takes the time to drop a Generic Anti-Nausea Pill
in her hand, along with a glass of water.

>Michael Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00009902
>
>     Moonstone steps through the portal. "Hi Rob, model number 2,
>reporting in. I don't think we've met before. I'm Moonstone."

"No, I don't think we have," Rob replies, offering to shake her hand.
"And I hope you'll excuse me, but the other model appears to be
feeling ill, I'm still making arrangements for the clothing," Rob
pauses to pull a silver tube from his bag and hand it to Moonstone,
"you might try this lipstick, I don't know where we're going to shoot,
and thankgodthereisnodeadline."

/Maybe I missed it in the briefing, but where is the Seven residence?
If it's not touristy enough, I could set up a photo shoot somewhere
near there for daytime surveillance. And unless I misunderstand the
problem, protecting the young Michael Seven is Priority 1./

/Priority 2 being the location of Rassilon, plans to come later./

/And would somebody please correct me if I'm wrong?/

Rob, at this point, sounds like a novice juggler who has just been
thrown three knives and three lit torches, and told that he will be
shot if he drops any.
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7: Picking the shot

On Tue, 10 Apr 2001 09:03:36 -0700
Sil Said As CAoL Message # 00009934

>On Tue, 10 Apr 2001 07:44:32 -0700 (PDT)
>Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00009933
>
>"No, I don't think we have," Rob replies, offering to shake her hand.
>"And I hope you'll excuse me, but the other model appears to be
>feeling ill, I'm still making arrangements for the clothing," Rob
>pauses to pull a silver tube from his bag and hand it to Moonstone,
>"you might try this lipstick, I don't know where we're going to
>shoot, and thankgodthereisnodeadline."

   "Forty-seven hours, thirty-two minutes, twenty-seven seconds," Sil
reports in a computer-like monotone as she arrives. Then she giggles.
   "Sorry. I've sort of been looking for a chance to use the
HIT-Mark's 'I'm gonna git you sucka' voice." She grows serious. "But
there really _is_ a deadline, and we'd better be in place by then.
Eric?" She holds out a hand. Eric blinks at this, then the light goes
off and he tosses her one of his many guns. It vanishes into her light
jacket, they repeat the process, and she turns her attention to the
Shadow-sick Amberite.
   "What did I tell you about eating burritos before Shadow-walking?
They never listen," she adds sotto voce to Rob. "You should see how
_Roland_ eats."
   /I heard that!/
   /Wouldn't have said it if I didn't think you would, dear,/ Sil
replies. Then, quietly to Zia, she whispers, "Ziactrice, I can
provide...er...'reality buffering,' if you like. Think of it as
Dramamine for dimension sickness."

>/Maybe I missed it in the briefing, but where is the Seven residence?
>If it's not touristy enough, I could set up a photo shoot somewhere
>near there for daytime surveillance. And unless I misunderstand the
>problem, protecting the young Michael Seven is Priority 1./
>
>/Priority 2 being the location of Rassilon, plans to come later./
>
>/And would somebody please correct me if I'm wrong?/

   Sil chuckles. /See what happens when you volunteer? Roland suckered
himself into the leadership slot, and he's been stuck there ever
since./ She looks over Rob appraisingly. /On the other hand, you look
like a good candidate for his replacement./

>Rob, at this point, sounds like a novice juggler who has just been
>thrown three knives and three lit torches, and told that he will be
>shot if he drops any.

   There's a too-long pause (though I suspect a nanosecond is too long
for Rob, here) before Roland finally replies, /Sil, don't _do_ that to
the guy./
   /You were thinking about it. Admit it./
   /We confirm or deny nothing,/ Roland finishes in his 'Agent Harmon'
voice.
   Sil chuckles. /You're doing _fine,_ Rob./
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7: Picking the shot

On Tue, 10 Apr 2001 18:26:29 -0400
Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00009935

>On Tue, 10 Apr 2001 09:03:36 -0700
>Sil Said As CAoL Message # 00009934
>
>>On Tue, 10 Apr 2001 07:44:32 -0700 (PDT)
>>Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00009933
>>
>>No, I don't think we have," Rob replies, offering to shake her hand.
>>"And I hope you'll excuse me, but the other model appears to be
>>feeling ill, I'm still making arrangements for the clothing," Rob
>>pauses to pull a silver tube from his bag and hand it to Moonstone,
>>"you might try this lipstick, I don't know where we're going to
>>shoot, and thankgodthereisnodeadline."

     Moonstone steps over to the mirror, opening the tube as she goes,
then applies the lipstick, blotting with a hotel tissue. She turns
back to Rob, obviously looking for his impression of the color in
relation to her almost albinstic complextion, only slightly modified
by the very light gold dye in her hair.

>>/Maybe I missed it in the briefing, but where is the Seven
>>residence? If it's not touristy enough, I could set up a photo shoot
>>somewhere near there for daytime surveillance. And unless I
>>misunderstand the problem, protecting the young Michael Seven is
>>Priority 1./

     Meanwhile, at the "Sieben" residence, Isis creeps along the floor
behind a MouseyBeast, sniffing the air. =Is it food? Or should I
worry?=
     Nemisis will surely know "G. and R. Sieben" are in the phonebook.
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7: Picking the shot

On Tue, 10 Apr 2001 22:34:24 -0500
Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00009937

>On Tue, 10 Apr 2K1 "Sil" Said:
>>Rob N Said:

<some snippage ocurreth> (and my sister Suzie's sewing shirts for
soldiers... };=8)

>>/And would somebody please correct me if I'm wrong?/
>
>   Sil chuckles. /See what happens when you volunteer? Roland
>suckered himself into the leadership slot, and he's been stuck there
>ever since./ She looks over Rob appraisingly. /On the other hand, you
>look like a good candidate for his replacement./

/And what am I, Silver?/ interjects the normally draconic Lensman,
doing a dead-on impersonation of Mel Brooks over the lens-link /A loaf
of bread?/

This, in turn, probably garners a few odd stares from the crew at the
house.

"Hey, I certainly do not want the job but I could probably handle it.
As long, I knew it was a temporary gig, that is. I *am* the XO of this
herd of cats after all."

>>Rob, at this point, sounds like a novice juggler who has just been
>>thrown three knives and three lit torches, and told that he will be
>>shot if he drops any.

<OOC> See my previous comments. :^) </OOC>

>   There's a too-long pause (though I suspect a nanosecond is too
>long for Rob, here) before Roland finally replies, /Sil, don't _do_
>that to the guy./
>   /You were thinking about it. Admit it./
>   /We confirm or deny nothing,/ Roland finishes in his 'Agent
>Harmon' voice.

*Come clean, Sib, just what _wouldn't_ you do to get out of the Leader
job for this Commando Squad of Meddlers, Well-Wishers, Interlopers and
Wanna-be Merrie Marching Band of otherwise misbegotten Misfits?* the
Human-guised Sentinel ribs his Freelance Immortal Foster Brother.

>   Sil chuckles. /You're doing _fine,_ Rob./

/Actually, for our first attempt at a truly _covert_ op. I think that,
so far, we seem to be doing pretty good. Of course, 'the organic
refuse matter has yet to impact upon the rotory impeller device'.
Yet./

/Now all we can hope is that this Khan Noonian Sighn/Rassilion hybrid
entity doesn't share the same bio-regenerative characteristics that a
normal Gallifreian Time lord has. Our saving grace seems to be that he
has no access to any Gallifreian Tech./

<pregnant pause #2>

/Whoops! Cart. Horse. Download Time, Folks. {*}/

... and Dhyrclhanc reveals the info that he, Rio and Morgan found
about the Bio-Valley Complex, including the early appearence of their
new (would-be) Nemesis Du Jour to the rest of the group.
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7a: Saddle up, Lock 'n Load (was Past Imperfect)

On Tue, 10 Apr 2001 20:16:22 -0700 (PDT)
Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00009938

>On Fri, 6 Apr 2001 08:05:11 -0700 (PDT)
>Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00009903
>>Rio Said As CAoL Message # 00009897
>>
>>Rio watches Zia come through. "Rob, I think you're getting a little
>>talent-heavy, and frankly the 'college student on vacation' thing
>>sounds like more fun that working, even if the work _is_ modeling."
>>The Ecstatic smiles. "You've still got Moon Stone and Zia. Hey,
>>Mandy, how do you feel about _two_ college girls seeing the Rhine
>>Valley, and if you don't mind can I borrow that backpack to change
>>my credentials?"
>
>"I can work with that, although I'd like your help anyway. Zia's hair
>is fine, but it isn't period. I can fix that, but I'll still need
>somebody to pick up clothing. Mm...could I convince _both_ of you to
>do a little power shopping before you go 'college student?'"
>
>Rob Nishikawa, trying to make six people do ten people's worth of
>work, and thank goodness that I don't need to do the accounting as
>well.

Ziactrice would normally protest that she could fix her own hair, and
she wants to shop, too, durn it! But she isn't feeling up to such
protestations immediately after a X-window transition.

"Get a good sewing kit together, for me, whilst you're shopping, if
you will, please?" She adds once she becomes sure her stomach won't
misbehave too badly.
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE 7: Timing

On Tue, 10 Apr 2001 20:35:39 -0700 (PDT)
Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00009939

>On Sat, 07 Apr 2001 00:20:01 -0700
>The Hunter Said As CAoL Message # 00009912
>>On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 17:40:06 PST
>>Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00009889
>>
>>Just before he steps thru the X-Window, he "hears" a thought from
>>Nemo.
>>
>>^Eric, Your timing was bad. But Zia didn't intend you to take it as
>>'Never'. Just as 'Not right now'. When this is over, let me know
>>when you have the free time, and I'll let her know. And yes, she
>>wants me to arrange it this way...^
>
>   Eric STOPS, suddenly enough for his foot to be frozen in mid-step.
>Only ten years of fanatic training keeps his jaw from going
>completely slack. A fraction of a second later, he continues walking.
>   ^Ah. I...see. Hrm. I think...hrm. I think I need time to consider.
>Gaia.
>   ^For that matter, I seem to recall her mentioning something about
>husbands, plural...^

This conversation being completely on a private link, Ziactrice hears
nothing. She sees Eric's freeze-step, as she was following along
behind, but since he doesn't snap a glance at Nemo, she does not leap
to any female intuitions of the gig being 'up' or this discussion
about her.

Which also means she cannot answer any of their questions, of course.

>>On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 22:06:27 -0700 (PDT)
>>Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00009896
>>
>>Ziactrice follows through the X-window, not quite as impressive-
>>looking. Especially since the petite Amberite looks distinctly
>>seasick a moment; Zia walks far too carefully towards the nearest
>>wall. She leans against it, swallows hard, and breathes very
>>carefully until the room stops seeming to spin.
>
>   Eric starts to move, then stops, understanding about pride.
>However, a quick jerk of a leg later, a chair slides its way over
>next to her. (OOC: Yes, even if the room has one of those godawful
>70s rugs. 8^) He silently extends a hand, as an offer to help her
>sit.

Pride is fine, but if you're sick enough, you just don't care any
longer. She is apparently close enough to that degree or her time with
the CAoL is aclimatizing even an Amberite to accept help when offered.
Zia takes his hand with a very abbreviated bow (not more than a tight
nod, afraid to move herself too much). She sits with the exaggerated
granduer of a queen regnant, trying to conceal the inner feeling of
extreme fragility and nausea.

"Thank you, Eric." She manages a half-smile as Rio and Sil come
through. She overcomes the urge to defend Nemo's hairstyle; it truly
isn't period. She sighs as Rob departs, using a bit of time to recover
her normal spirit.

"You know, while it is a good thing to hardly understand 'getting
lost', sometimes these spontaneous translocations really wobble the
internal compass in my head." She blinks, and looks thoughtful.
"Although it is uncommon for it to hit me so hard as this, when I was
aware it was going to happen."

<ooc: Insert whatever conversation? Catchup? That you want for the
time I've missed, esp. anything Eric might say if he and Zia wind up
in Rob's hotel room alone. :) Snicker.>
=================================