Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 8 Chapter 10 Subject: AA8: "Is there another Doctor in the house?" (was: Re: AAE 8: Catch-up and wrap-up) On Mon, 3 Feb 2003 23:10:50 -0600 Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00011075 >On Wed, 29 Jan 2K3, Rob Nishakawa (aka Peter Eng) Said (... and Moses supposes his toes are roses... ) >Rob sighs. "I wonder if Doom remembered to program in the important >details? Well, only one way to find out..." Letting the Iron Fist >fade, he dashes to an alley, climbs up a handy fire escape, and >closes in on the Robotic Four from rooftop level. > >[You have a plan?] > >[Yes. It'll take some help from my friends, though...] Rob pauses in >his descent. /Divide and Conquer, anybody?/ > >[A very nice plan.] > >[Thank you, I try to steal from the best.] Unfortunately for "Iron Rob", Johnny Lowel Storm, or his body at least, doesn't look like he's going to do much of anything anytime soon. As soon as the Blast of Stellar-temp flame from the Half-Dragon/Half-Human Torch faded, "Dhonny" made a controlled fall onto the seat of the skycycle below him. However, as soon as he landed he flamed-off and launched the bike up and away from the cone of fire produced by the fuzz-ball of combat surrounding the Doom-blimp. Then he slumped over the handlebars. Those who can currently see him, and have the spare few moments to actually look up, will see that it looks like he's not going to doing much of anything, at least for the next 45 minutes, at least. Thankfully, however, there is at least one other individual within the greater Metropolitan Manhattan area who Dhyrclhanc has some influence over... We take our readers now to the interior of the rather large and esoteric-looking mansion which sits on the corner of Bleeker Street and Fenno Place in Greenwich Village. In one of the few rooms of his Inner Sanctum which doesn't seem to have a mind of it's own and relocates itself within the confines of the mansion's outer walls every half-hour, slumps the napping form of Dr. Stephen Strange, known to the worlds as a retired neuro-surgeon and expert on occult phenomena. To the less mundane, however, he is also known as Doctor Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts and, at least at this point in time, heir to the title of Sorcerer Supreme of the Earth Dimension. As he lays napping on the open pages of a tome of arcane lore, across the room sits a large ceramic bullet-shaped piece of pottery which, in turn sits on a high ornate metal stand. This piece of crockery begins to rapidly rock back and forth and the wobble around to the point that it begins to make a rattling noise and a centimeter wide gap begins to form between the top of the stand and the base of the now revolving ceramic container. From out of the gap flies the, albeit transparent, pale, and miniature, form of Dhyrclhanc. *Oh for all the Hosts of Hoggoth!* Dhyrclhanc's astral form scolds the slumbering Mage. *C'mon Doc, we can't have you napping on the Book of the Vishanti while old 'tin-pants-needs-a-good-Beverly- Hills-plastic-surgeon' and guest are trashing the city! C'mon Stevereno, wakey, wakey.* Doctor Strange continues to snooze. *Tahkis and Palatine! I guess it looks like I'm going to have to do this the hard way!* In so saying, Dhyrclhanc's astral-self flies into the strangely-shaped broach that even now sits at Doctor Strange's throat; his original "Eye of Agamotto". The eye-shaped section of the broach opens up, revealing a bright and shining eye, seemingly made of the same material as the rest of the broach, and then the eye completely separates itself from the broach and slowly rises and attaches itself to Stephen Strange's forehead. "Huh, Hmm, What? Who is there? Show yourself!" says the startled Wizard, as he awakens almost instantly. Almost instantaneously, a golden ray of light shines out of the eye and a human-sized image of Dhyrlhanc appears in the beam. "Greetings, Stephen Strange, I am Dhyrclhanc, a fellow servant of the Vishanti and I am here to alert you of an attack already in progress on this city." The image of Dhyrclhanc pivots slightly and points a finger at the ceramic domed cylinder that he came out of moments before. The inverted container is flung off of the base, revealing a miniature Earth encased in a crystal ball. "If you consult the Orb of Agamotto you will no doubt recognize the perpetrator of the assault." Stephen, wide eyed, rushes over to the Orb, which rotates until North America appears, then the view within the orb focuses and enlarges until it reveals the Doom-Blimp and the besieged "Fantastic Army of Light" and their "Quantum-Leaped" allies. "Doctor Doom." The Master of the Mystic Arts intones. "I've never encountered him before but I am aware of the stories, why does he attack the city and why do I sense the existence of another presence when I look at him?" "He has gained the services of another easily his equal in the sorcerous arts," replies the image of Dhyrclhanc, "an individual from a parallel dimension who calls himself 'Doctor Destroyer'. They currently share the same body and are convinced that together they can defeat the Fantastic Four and who knows what else they may be tempted to do." "Whatever Forces demand a Balance have allowed allies of mine to aid the Fantastic Four, and their compatriots, in a similar manner, but if we are to prevail, we require you help, as well." "Then," replies Doctor Strange, while summoning his Cloak of Levitation with a gesture, "by all means lead on... " "With pleasure!" replies the ghostly Lensdragon, and bows. The golden eye (no James Bond jokes please) on Stephen Strange's forehead dims and returns to the broach at his neck. Then, from out of the broach streaks the smaller, astral-form of Dhyrclhanc. Dhyrclhanc speeds straight for the Orb of Agamotto, pausing only long enough for Doctor Strange to activate the enchantment that allows the Orb as a portal to the scene currently being shows within the orb. ------ At the same time as R.R. is being pulled up through the ceiling of the Doom-blimp's gondola along with the second Owen Reece, a gateway appears in front of the listing Doom blimp. Now floating in mid-air is the Master of the Mystic Arts and the astral form of Dhyrclhanc slowly flits back and forth around the areas of his shoulders and head. "Doom. Destroyer. Whatever your name might be. What, exactly, is it that you intend to obtain by this travesty?" Strange asks as, with another gesture, he creates a large disc-shaped shield of mystical energy around his right hand. */Hiya folks, I brought the cavalry! y'all can thank me later./* Dhyrclhanc sent over the lens-link, with an obvious playful lilt in his mental voice. -- Dhyrclhanc the, for the moment incorporeal, Sentinel-Lensdragon ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 8: Catch-up and wrap-up On Sun, 09 Feb 2003 22:15:36 -0800 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011088 >On Wed, 29 Jan 2003 19:28:37 EST >SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00011043 > >> Bat-Rio and Rog-Frank the Boy Wonder, the Commercial Duo, were >>defending the Baxter Building with the help of Hawaiian Punch, >>Kool-Aid Man and Hostess Twinkies (I'm not kidding). > > But they wish you were. Me? Hey, I *started* that joke... and I >ain't done with it yet. Heh heh heh... >> In virtually every case, the powers of "combined" heroes are >>strictly those of the Marvel counterpart. Fortunately, this applies >>to Doom-Destroyer as well. > > And since nobody's ever really figured out exactly *what* >Franklin's *or* Roger's powers are (partly, but never totally), >they're getting away with... well, not murder, but definitely crimes >against good taste. Yeah, but he keeps gettin' moidered fer it... ;^) >> Naturally, there's still "crunch-all-you-want" Doombots for those >>who don't want a piece of the Foul Foursome. > > "Okay, we're gonna have to mop this up fast, and get down to the >main course." RF frowns. "The Tooniverse keeps turning force-majeur >back on me, so I need a gag -- one I haven't used yet. One that has a >connection in this universe..." > Meanwhile, back outside: > RF's eyes widen. "Oh. Oh, yeah. The Ultimate Weapon of Marvel >Comics. Just need a bit of twist..." > He snags a cellphone out of a handy pocket and pushes the button >that opens the spring-action lid. A voice on the other end replies >immediately: "Acme." > "I'm in deep, and I need a gag, stat!" > "What do you need?" > "Pies. Lots of pies." > "I know the ones you mean. Stand by." > RF looks at his watch. Exactly 2.038sec later, a nigh-infinite >stream of racks emerge from the "vanishing point" of the animation >frame and streak past RF at ludicrous speed, ruffling his hair with >the wake of their passage. They also take out a bunch of random >Doombots, but at this point, who's going to notice? > RF grins, and slips on a pair of exotic sunglasses. Murmuring >"There is no pie," he grabs the nearest one (which for some reason >has developed plaid streaks on its wrapper), a Hostess Dutch Apple, >and chucks it in the direction of the Four Dooms. In the Baxter Building, as Namor and Sonny continue their epic(ally silly) battle, Rio is suddenly enveloped in black leather and vinyl. When the brief storm of accoutrements abated, the Ecstatic was garbed in a skin-tight sleeveless ebon outfit, accentuated by a black long coat that would have looked more at home on her infamous brother. Her hair had pulled itself to a short cropped bowl, and a pair of sunglasses fell into place to complete the ensemble. Rio looks down at herself, then says in annoyance, "Hey! 'The Matrix' isn't animated! What's the deal?" "It's gonna be," the younger Roger-Franklin explains. "The 'Animatrix'?" "I had to ask," the Trinity-ized mage sighs. "Can we just take the Blue Pills and go home now?" > The resulting scramble ties up the Dooms for a good thirty >seconds. RF's grin broadens as he grabs several Say-Guns of assorted >Hostess Pies and starts flinging them about with abandon. > One lands in the hands of the Doubled Doctor, who gazes at it in >frank disbelief. "*This* is the Richards/Phoenix-spawns new gambit? >*Pastries?* He DARES to mock DO--!" > The crunching noise as part of the animate lubricant and several >random Extra-Crunchy Doombots stampeded over him going for the pie >(Vanilla Custard, for those who care) is too ugly to transcribe here. >Foregoing his usual tendency to violence, DD crawls out from under >the dogpile, cape and dignity in tatters, but body intact. > Another pie lands in his hands. DD casually wipes out several >'bots as they turn in his direction, and examines the pie carefully. > DD unwraps the pie and munches on it absently. [Yes... even the >smallest thorn can lead to an infection, if not treated. I must >admit, however, that this is a quite good pie.] > [I agree. Perhaps we should simply confiscate all the pastries for >ourselves, and consume them. That would eliminate the distraction >factor for our forces. We ourselves, of course, are immune to such >mundanities.] > [Of course. I wonder if there are any lemon...?] > [Over there. But it appears we have competition--] > "UNHAND THAT PIE IN THE NAME OF DOOM!" Morgan-Sue watches the battle of baked goods unfold between her/their son(s) and the villainous doctor(s). "I do not _believe_ I'm seeing this," Morgan mutters. "Even knowing Roger, I do not believe I'm seeing this..." Nearby, a mere two levels above the custard-obsessed Doctors... "Ha ha! Even your vaunted brilliance is no match for my omnipotence, my dear Mr. Fantastic!" Molecule Man v.2 waved his wand, and the very metal of the Doom-blimp converged on the fluid genius (and his unwilling co-pilot). The hero(es) gazed at their adversary with a penetrating stare, flowing and bouncing to avoid girders and animate oil alike. "You've grown quite _eloquent,_ Doctor Reece," the Fantastic Defender commented dryly. "Why thank you, Doctor Richards," his opponent replied with a flourish, saluting with his wand. "I try." He then pointed the wand at R.R., and the assault redoubled. "Actually, I thought you'd try _harder,_ at least to be convincing," R.R. said, wiping the smug look off the face of the 'Molecule Man.' "Owen Reece _never_ earned a doctorate, and he's hardly the most flamboyant of adversaries!" The FAoL's leader surged at the badly shaken Molecule Fraud, who gestured frantically with the wand. Metal and oil alike spasmed wildly. "He _is,_ however, quite skilled with his powers -- a talent you haven't displayed..." With two swift motions, the Fantastic Defender snatched away the wand and pounded his rival with a massive uppercut. "...CHAMELEON!" The "Molecule Man" shimmered, replaced a moment later by a bald man with a monocle, replaced a moment after that by a pasty-faced, half-formed human figure that slumped down the wall, unconscious. At that precise moment, several flavors of Hostess Pies poured into the corridor by the dozens. R.R. arched one eyebrow dubiously, picked one up (apple, natch), and smiled. "Franklin," he muttered with a smile. "Roger," he added, shaking his head but still smiling. He deposited the pie in the Chameleon's lap (gracious in victory, of course), then flowed down through one of the several cracks in the walls to rejoin his companions. Dr. D.D. is holding off his own Doom-bots in a frantic attempt to lay claim to the Hostess Pies as the Fantastic Defender returns. "Richards! You think you've won? This is only a temporary setback!" R.R. shakes his head sadly. "Hardly, old friend. Perhaps if your mind wasn't divided and distracted...but no, even _you_ can't resist the power of the Hostess gag, not now." Doom-Destroyer took one shaky step backwards, but his fist was clenched defiantly. "Never! I'll never yield!" He paused briefly to munch on a cherry pie, then cried out in horror and threw it aside, incinerating it in a single fiery gauntlet blast. "Doctor. It's over." "No! I will find a way not only to resist this insidious power, but to turn it to my advantage--!" Double-D roared, stopping suddenly. >On Mon, 3 Feb 2003 23:10:50 -0600 >Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00011075 >Now floating in mid-air is the Master of the Mystic Arts and the >astral form of Dhyrclhanc slowly flits back and forth around the >areas of his shoulders and head. > >"Doom. Destroyer. Whatever your name might be. What, exactly, >is it that you intend to obtain by this travesty?" Strange asks as, >with another gesture, he creates a large disc-shaped shield of >mystical energy around his right hand. > >*/Hiya folks, I brought the cavalry! y'all can thank me later./* >Dhyrclhanc sent over the lens-link, with an obvious playful >lilt in his mental voice. /Heh. When you call in the cavalry, you don't--/ R.R. began. "--OF COURSE!" Doom-Destroyer roared in triumph. "You FOOL! Behold the coming of your DOOM!" "What are you ranting about -- oh, NO!" The Fantastic Defender sprung forward too late, bouncing off a mystical shield generated by a dozen flying Hostess Pies. They flew around Doom in a circle, sorcerous runes forming on them as they spun ever faster. "A SUMMONING circle, you fools! An INEXORABLE summoning circle! The very power of these pies that you would turn against me will now be your UNDOING! BY THE IVORY IDOLS OF IKONN!" Reed-Roland's hands moved like wildfire across half a dozen devices. Several forms of energy struck the magical field impotently. "BY THE SEVEN SEALS OF THE SERAPHIM! BY THE CRIMSON COILS OF CYTORRAK! I CALL YOU! I SUMMON YOU! I COMMAND YOU... "..._DORMAMMU_!!!" (Note: http://www.norse-man.net/Marvel/Char-D/Dormammu.htm for an image and info on our new player.) A deep crimson fire explodes around the dread Doctor, consuming all twelve Hostess Pies and the mighty sigils thereon. A being clad in red and purple, with a face wreathed in flame, appeared in front of the Doubled Doctor. "Who summons the Dread Dormammu?!? I--" He stops, staring at the pies. "Aha! So that is what I experienced! Human comestibles! Such are irrelevant to me..." Dormammu trails off and Reed-Roland buries his face in one hand. A Vanilla Pudding pie floats over to Dormammu. "Hm. Interesting." The wrapping magically removes itself, and he takes a quick, tentative bite. "OHO! Such wonder! Such taste! Such alchemical power! IT MUST BE MINE!" The Doctors smile insolently at the Fantastic 3.5 (as DC is present but Johnny is still sleeping it off) as Dormammu's ravings continue. "I shall claim this world's Hostess Pies for the Dark Dimension!" /Oh, sib. Oh man. Never try to overpower the Tooniverse. Oh boy.../ ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 8: Catch-up and wrap-up On Mon, 10 Feb 2003 11:37:14 -0800 (PST) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00011089 >SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00011043 > > RF grins, and slips on a pair of exotic sunglasses. Murmuring >"There is no pie," he grabs the nearest one (which for some reason >has developed plaid streaks on its wrapper), a Hostess Dutch Apple, >and chucks it in the direction of the Four Dooms. > The resulting scramble ties up the Dooms for a good thirty >seconds. RF's grin broadens as he grabs several Say-Guns of assorted >Hostess Pies and starts flinging them about with abandon. Thirty seconds is more than enough time. Once the smoke, wrapper, pastry, and Real Apple Filling clears, there are Three Dooms. Not long after, the missing Doom rejoins its comrades, dropping its invisibility with a rush of static, followed by...singing. "...get your adverbs here, Father, Son and Lolly selling adverbs here..." Back on the rooftop again, Rob smiles. "It doesn't take much work to turn a million-dollar robot into a television receiver, if all you want is sound. It's getting the holographic projection system to make sense of the picture that takes a while. Now, how do I get the next one...whoa." >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011088 > > "What are you ranting about -- oh, NO!" The Fantastic Defender >sprung forward too late, bouncing off a mystical shield generated by >a dozen flying Hostess Pies. They flew around Doom in a circle, >sorcerous runes forming on them as they spun ever faster. > "A SUMMONING circle, you fools! An INEXORABLE summoning circle! >The very power of these pies that you would turn against me will now >be your UNDOING! BY THE IVORY IDOLS OF IKONN!" "'Uncle has the willies,' and I don't feel too comfortable either..." > Reed-Roland's hands moved like wildfire across half a dozen >devices. Several forms of energy struck the magical field impotently. "'Magic must defeat magic...'" > "BY THE SEVEN SEALS OF THE SERAPHIM! BY THE CRIMSON COILS OF >CYTORRAK! I CALL YOU! I SUMMON YOU! I COMMAND YOU... > "..._DORMAMMU_!!!" Rob winces. [I don't know what that was, but it's Bad News all over. And there's still three of The Four Dooms to deal with...hm. 'The Four Dooms' sounds like a great name for a Motown group...] Shaking his head to get the cobwebs out, he considers priorities: Blimp, or finish off the Four Dooms? > The Doctors smile insolently at the Fantastic 3.5 (as DC is >present but Johnny is still sleeping it off) as Dormammu's ravings >continue. "I shall claim this world's Hostess Pies for the Dark >Dimension!" > /Oh, sib. Oh man. Never try to overpower the Tooniverse. Oh >boy.../ Enough background comes over the lens-link to give Rob an idea of the problem. "Dormammu wants fruit pies? Oh, great. All we need to make this day worse is Galactus showing up with a craving for Twinkies.(1) Seriously, Dormammu's a little bigger than the Iron Fist can handle, so I'll take the rest of the Fantastically Doomed." He slips down a fire escape, and heads for the androids. (1) - No, Rob doesn't know about Marvel Team-Up #137. Thank goodness, it was only a dream. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 8: Catch-up and wrap-up On Mon, 10 Feb 2003 18:08:53 EST SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00011090 >In a message dated 2/10/2003 1:20:10 AM Eastern Standard Time, >rolandx writes: "Pies. Lots of pies." > Rio looks down at herself, then says in annoyance, "Hey! 'The >Matrix' isn't animated! What's the deal?" > > "It's gonna be," the younger Roger-Franklin explains. "The >'Animatrix'?" > >"I had to ask," the Trinity-ized mage sighs. "Can we just take the >Blue Pills and go home now?" FR slips on a pair of shades and intones: "There is no blue pill." His expression shifts back to its usual devil-may-care grin. "Besides," he adds in his best Will Smith imitation, "*I* make *this* look *good.* And so do you," he concludes, blushing a bit as he takes in Rio's transformation. "Although I think you look better with long hair..." His blush increasing to truly animesque proportions, the younger conjoined mutant/immortal scuffs one toe against the floor and tries to figure out why his stomach is suddenly so full of butterflies. After all, it's just *Rio,* and Rio's cool... >> "UNHAND THAT PIE IN THE NAME OF DOOM!" > >Morgan-Sue watches the battle of baked goods unfold between her/their >son(s) and the villainous doctor(s). "I do not _believe_ I'm seeing >this," Morgan mutters. "Even knowing Roger, I do not believe I'm >seeing this..." With a sound somewhere between a snicker and a giggle (a sniggle?), RF 'ports next to his/their mother(s), plants an affectionate kiss on her/their cheek, and flickers back out, still sniggling. /When life gives you lemons, make lemonade, Moms.../ > At that precise moment, several flavors of Hostess Pies poured >into the corridor by the dozens. R.R. arched one eyebrow dubiously, >picked one up (apple, natch), and smiled. "Franklin," he muttered >with a smile. "Roger," he added, shaking his head but still smiling. >He deposited the pie in the Chameleon's lap (gracious in victory, of >course), then flowed down through one of the several cracks in the >walls to rejoin his companions. /We do have our moments, don't we?/ > Dr. D.D. is holding off his own Doom-bots in a frantic attempt to >lay claim to the Hostess Pies as the Fantastic Defender returns. >"Richards! You think you've won? This is only a temporary setback!" > R.R. shakes his head sadly. "Hardly, old friend. Perhaps if your >mind wasn't divided and distracted...but no, even _you_ can't resist >the power of the Hostess gag, not now." /We are Hostess of Borg,/ RF intones as he flickers about the battlefield, shutting down various Doombots and other assorted crunchies by burying them in liberal amounts of pies. /Dieting is futile. Your appetite will be added to our own. Your recipes will be modified to servi-- *Mincemeat?!?* In what sicko universe does Hostess make MINCEMEAT pies? Kyrie Eleison..../ > Doom-Destroyer took one shaky step backwards, but his fist was >clenched defiantly. "Never! I'll never yield!" He paused briefly to >munch on a cherry pie, then cried out in horror and threw it aside, >incinerating it in a single fiery gauntlet blast. > "Doctor. It's over." /I'm gonna swing by the New York Opera House, see if I can find a fat lady who knows Wagner./ > "No! I will find a way not only to resist this insidious power, >but to turn it to my advantage--!" Double-D roared, stopping >suddenly. > >>On Mon, 3 Feb 2003 23:10:50 -0600 >>Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00011075 > >>"Doom. Destroyer. Whatever your name might be. What, exactly, is it >>that you intend to obtain by this travesty?" Strange asks as, with >>another gesture, he creates a large disc-shaped shield of mystical >>energy around his right hand. >> >>*/Hiya folks, I brought the cavalry! y'all can thank me later./* >>Dhyrclhanc sent over the lens-link, with an obvious playful lilt in >>his mental voice. > > /Heh. When you call in the cavalry, you don't--/ R.R. began. > "--OF COURSE!" Doom-Destroyer roared in triumph. "You FOOL! Behold >the coming of your DOOM!" /Eh? Is it just me, or is his dialogue getting even more repetitive than usu-- ohhh, CRAP!/ > "What are you ranting about -- oh, NO!" The Fantastic Defender >sprung forward too late, bouncing off a mystical shield generated by >a dozen flying Hostess Pies. They flew around Doom in a circle, >sorcerous runes forming on them as they spun ever faster. RF flicks in beside RR and stares in frank disbelief. "That is just WRONG on so many levels... I wonder if I could sic Hostess's legal beagles on him for trademark infringement or something?" > "A SUMMONING circle, you fools! An INEXORABLE summoning circle! >The very power of these pies that you would turn against me will now >be your UNDOING! BY THE IVORY IDOLS OF IKONN!" > Reed-Roland's hands moved like wildfire across half a dozen >devices. Several forms of energy struck the magical field impotently. RF reached into jacketspace for, well, *something,* and came out holding... a rubber anvil. "Oh, I do NOT BELIEVE this!" He tries throwing the anvil anyway, with predictable results: it rebounds from DD's shield with enough force to brain the older conjoined Freelance Mutant with appropriate Tooniverse sound FX, and knocks him into a handy pie-rack. "Look, Raoul," his voice mutters blearily from beneath a pile of BannannApple pies, "stars!" > "BY THE SEVEN SEALS OF THE SERAPHIM! BY THE CRIMSON COILS OF >CYTORRAK! I CALL YOU! I SUMMON YOU! I COMMAND YOU... > "..._DORMAMMU_!!!" "But I don't wanna eat haggis for breakfast, Mom," contributes RF from the floor. > A deep crimson fire explodes around the dread Doctor, consuming >all twelve Hostess Pies and the mighty sigils thereon. A being clad >in red and purple, with a face wreathed in flame, appeared in front >of the Doubled Doctor. > "Who summons the Dread Dormammu?!? I--" He stops, staring at the >pies. "Aha! So that is what I experienced! Human comestibles! Such >are irrelevant to me..." Dormammu trails off and Reed-Roland buries >his face in one hand. A Vanilla Pudding pie floats over to Dormammu. >"Hm. Interesting." The wrapping magically removes itself, and he >takes a quick, tentative bite. "OHO! Such wonder! Such taste! Such >alchemical power! IT MUST BE MINE!" RF sits up, pies raining off his shoulders and torso. "ooog. Anybody get the number of that pie truck? Gotta talk to Uncle D about stepping on my gags like..." His brain finally catches up with what he's seeing, and his eyes bug out several feet. "ZOINKS! Awww, nuts! And just when I almost had it all wrapped up!" > The Doctors smile insolently at the Fantastic 3.5 (as DC is >present but Johnny is still sleeping it off) as Dormammu's ravings >continue. "I shall claim this world's Hostess Pies for the Dark >Dimension!" > /Oh, sib. Oh man. Never try to overpower the Tooniverse. Oh >boy.../ "I need a vacation," RF opines as he watches Dorammu rant on. "I've got an essentially unlimited number of pies -- maybe we can help him eat himself sick?" He doesn't sound very hopeful. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 8: Catch-up and wrap-up On Mon, 17 Feb 2003 00:44:27 -0600 Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00011091 >On Sun, 09 Feb 2K3, Roland X Writes: > > "Who summons the Dread Dormammu?!? I--" He stops, staring at the >pies. "Aha! So that is what I experienced! Human comestibles! Such >are irrelevant to me..." Dormammu trails off and Reed-Roland buries >his face in one hand. A Vanilla Pudding pie floats over to Dormammu. >"Hm. Interesting." The wrapping magically removes itself, and he >takes a quick, tentative bite. "OHO! Such wonder! Such taste! Such >alchemical power! IT MUST BE MINE!" > > The Doctors smile insolently at the Fantastic 3.5 (as DC is >present but Johnny is still sleeping it off) as Dormammu's ravings >continue. "I shall claim this world's Hostess Pies for the Dark >Dimension!" > > /Oh, sib. Oh man. Never try to overpower the Tooniverse. Oh >boy.../ */OOops!/ echoes the Astral Dhyrclhanc. /FTR, bro, I wasn't trying to trump the Tooniverse. Just equalize things a bit. But, unfortunately, like everything else I do, when I goof, I goof in a big way! Sorry! But let's see if I can do something to fix this... /* Dhyrclhanc's astral body detached itself from the Master of the Mystic Arts, and grew to the normal size of Dhyrclhanc's normal, non-astral, body. At least it would be the size of Dhyrclhanc's normal body but the lower half of his torso, along with the rest of his astral body below the waist, if it didn't still fade into a smoky cloud like some Disney(tm) Genie. No clothes could be seen on the astral form, either, but it never-the-less appeared to bear equally astral versions of Dhyrclhanc's Green Lantern Ring, Eye of Agamotto and Lens of Arissia. "/Dormammu you would be well to know that this world, like many others, is under my protection. I warn you that I will do everything in my power to prevent you from adding it to your trans-dimensional empire./" says Dhyrclhanc to the several yard-high Faltine Lord. /piece of advice, Doc/ he sends privately to Doctor Strange /Don't use any entireties to the Faltine while this guy's around/ /With all due respect, I know who Dormammu is. And I already have a teacher, and you aren't him./ the now miffed Stephen Strange sends back. "You would do well to recognize me, Lord Dormammu, I am Doctor Strange and I defeated you once before. I am not this realm's Sorcerer Supreme but will also stand in defiance of your adding Earth to the many realms that you have conquered and enslaved." Both Dhyrclhanc's and Doctor Strange begin gestulating wildly and chanting eeriely. The results of Dhyrclhanc's unintelligible castings comes in the form of a large, golden shield which will be instantly recognized by those who stood with him during the siege of Michael Seven's Tardis by the Tharkoldu. In addition, three bolts of glowing dark purple bolts of eldritch power streak from his off-hand and make three jagged holes in the asphalt far below. From one, climbs a massive, hulking, vaguely humanoid figure seemingly carved directly from a mixture of earth, stone and solid rock. Out of the second pours a huge stream of water which like-wise quickly forms itself into a large, wave-like, humanoid form. Out of the third springs a gout of flame which quickly resolves itself into a third, vaguely humanoid form but one which is continually reforming itself as is burns. Strange, in comparison, chooses to attack the problem directly, "By the Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth and Oshtur's Mighty Hands, I command that the rite having just been performed to bring this tyrant here be reversed. As that which is so easily done may just as easily be undone!" A multi-colored veritable fire-works display of magickal energies streak from the good Doctor's hands and envelope both Dormammu and the spirals of Hostess Snack Cakes that still revolve around him. Slowly, at first, and then more quickly, the spiral of pies reverse in direction as the Master of the Mystic Arts tries to undo the summoning spell purportrated by the personage of the doubled Drs. D&D. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 8: Catch-up and wrap-up On Sun, 16 Feb 2003 23:19:59 -0800 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011092 >On Mon, 17 Feb 2003 00:44:27 -0600 >Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00011091 >> On Sun, 09 Feb 2K3, Roland X Writes: >> >> /Oh, sib. Oh man. Never try to overpower the Tooniverse. Oh >>boy.../ > >*/OOops!/ echoes the Astral Dhyrclhanc. /FTR, bro, I wasn't trying to >trump the Tooniverse. Just equalize things a bit. But, unfortunately, >like everything else I do, when I goof, I goof in a big way! Sorry! /No problem, sib,/ Roland...er...fudges. 8^) But before he can continue... >But let's see if I can do something to fix this... /* *eep!* >Dhyrclhanc's astral body detached itself from the Master of the >Mystic Arts, and grew to the normal size of Dhyrclhanc's normal, >non-astral, body. At least it would be the size of Dhyrclhanc's >normal body but the lower half of his torso, along with the rest of >his astral body below the waist, if it didn't still fade into a smoky >cloud like some Disney(tm) Genie. /No, I _haven't_ ever had a friend like him,/ R.R. quips. Morgan-Sue bounces a peanut-shaped force bubble off of R.R.'s head. [?] Reed and Sue think. [Er. Too long to explain,] the Freelance Immortals reply. >No clothes could be seen on the astral form, either, but it never- >the-less appeared to bear equally astral versions of Dhyrclhanc's >Green Lantern Ring, Eye of Agamotto and Lens of Arisia. > >"/Dormammu you would be well to know that this world, like many >others, is under my protection. I warn you that I will do everything >in my power to prevent you from adding it to your trans-dimensional >empire./" says Dhyrclhanc to the several yard-high Faltine Lord. Dormammu chuckles evilly (of course). "I have little use for this world, you serpentine simpleton. Though if I ever _do_ desire to conquer this pitiful planet, it will be child's play once I have taken possession of it's HOSTESS SNACKS! NYAH-HA-HA-HA!" [I do believe that our spell was a bit...overzealous,] Doom thinks. [Well, we _were_ tapping into the strange, inexorable magic that the timelost amalgam-being called upon,] Destroyer replies. Meanwhile, the Fantastic Defender facepalms. "Just when I was certain that the height of absurdity had been reached..." >"You would do well to recognize me, Lord Dormammu, I am Doctor >Strange and I defeated you once before. I am not this realm's >Sorcerer Supreme but will also stand in defiance of your adding Earth >to the many realms that you have conquered and enslaved." Dr. D.D. smiles. [Dormammu will fall, of course, but it will take time that the heroes cannot afford,] Destroyer thinks. [Meanwhile, our reserve scheme will bring the Fantastic Four to their knees,] Doom replies. [Yes. ... But a few more pies before we go,] they finish in unison. >Strange, in comparison, chooses to attack the problem directly, "By >the Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth and Oshtur's Mighty Hands, I command that >the rite having just been performed to bring this tyrant here be >reversed. As that which is so easily done may just as easily be >undone!" "I *munch* would not be so certain, sorcerer," the 2-D Doctor replies, licking his lips to clean the cherry filling away. "There is a primal force at work here, one which *crunch* it would be unwise to oppose recklessly." R.R. stares in disturbed amazement as the D.D. retreats, firing bolts to discourage pursuit while collecting a new pie to replace the one so recently disposed of. >A multi-colored veritable fire-works display of magickal energies >streak from the good Doctor's hands and envelope both Dormammu and >the spirals of Hostess Snack Cakes that still revolve around him. (OOC: Er, sib? See above. The Hostess products in question were consumed -- pun definitely intended -- in the spell's casting. Not that there's any great lack of replacement materials... ;^) >Slowly, at first, and then more quickly, the spiral of pies reverse >in direction as the Master of the Mystic Arts tries to undo the >summoning spell purportrated by the personage of the doubled Drs. >D&D. R.R. looks at Dr. Strange's spell, the Dread Hungerer, the withdrawing Doctors "D," and the overwhelming plethora of artificially flavored goodness around them. The assembled forces can almost _feel_ Reed withdrawing somewhat from the combined mind, allowing Roland to the fore. A wicked smile begins to form on the elastic Champion's face. [Oh my,] Destroyer thinks. [Eh? Don't be absurd! Reed has all but admitted defeat! He has left the defense of his beloved "family" to that amateur!] Doom raves. [Only because the Defender has clearly come up with a plan, you dolt! But what? What deviousness has the boy now devised-!] Destroyer's consciousness stares in alarm as the Fantastic Defender forms a huge scoop out of one hand, reaches down, and gathers an enormous collection of pies. [No! He wouldn't! Not even Roland--!] "So. You megalomaniacs want pies." He turns the smile to his wife, his two closest friends, and finally his son (in a manner of speaking). His other hand begins scooping an equal collection of pastry goodness. /Are you all thinking what I'm thinking?/ /I am now. That's sort of how this link works,/ Morgan replies dryly. (insert other responses, horrified and otherwise, here. ;^) Roland sends a mental wink in response. "Well, who am I to deny you? FOOD FIGHT!!!" And both Dormammu and D^2 are inundated with a storm of pies, creating a huge mess over both of them. "AARRGGHH!" Doom roars. "You DARE mock Doom this way! I will OBLITERATE YOU!!!" [Of course you will,] Destroyer thinks mockingly. To himself, he adds, [You are already beaten, and I have no intention of sharing your enraged madness.] Bending his tremendous will to thoughts of escape, he concentrates with all of his might...and vanishes from the mind of Doom. Meanwhile, Dormammu is staring in horror at the shattered crusts and spilled filling on and around him. "The waste...the tragic waste...YOU!" He points one glowing gloved hand at R.R. "YOU have denied me their light, tender crust and real fruit filling!!!" "Uh-oh..." R.R. looks around. /Um...team? A little help here?/ Morgan-Sue, taking a cue from their husbands, generates a forcefield scoop and begins flinging masses of delicious treats at their demonic foe. /John Belushi, eat your heart out. Sorry, Sue, it's another long story,/ Morgan adds. As Dormammu turns on Morgan-Sue and Doom looks on in outrage, Roland's smile broadens as he picks up more ammo. /Good work. Next!/ (OOC: What he/I said. This should be the final showdown, so have fun with the smear campaign! ;^) ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 8: Catch-up and wrap-up On Mon, 17 Feb 2003 08:56:13 -0800 (PST) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00011093 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011092 > > "So. You megalomaniacs want pies." He turns the smile to his wife, >his two closest friends, and finally his son (in a manner of >speaking). His other hand begins scooping an equal collection of >pastry goodness. /Are you all thinking what I'm thinking?/ > >/I am now. That's sort of how this link works,/ Morgan replies dryly. /I think so, Reed-Roland, but this time, you wear the unstable molecule jumpsuit,/ Rob parries, in a vain attempt to block out the upcoming rush of comedy. > Meanwhile, Dormammu is staring in horror at the shattered crusts >and spilled filling on and around him. "The waste...the tragic >waste...YOU!" He points one glowing gloved hand at R.R. "YOU have >denied me their light, tender crust and real fruit filling!!!" > "Uh-oh..." R.R. looks around. /Um...team? A little help here?/ > > Morgan-Sue, taking a cue from their husbands, generates a forcefield >scoop and begins flinging masses of delicious treats at their demonic >foe. /John Belushi, eat your heart out. Sorry, Sue, it's another long >story,/ Morgan adds. > > As Dormammu turns on Morgan-Sue and Doom looks on in outrage, >Roland's smile broadens as he picks up more ammo. /Good work. Next!/ [A nice plan, but it still leaves three Fantastic Doombots wandering the street...wait a minute.] Iron Rob slams an iron fist into the Thing-Bot, and runs away as the three remaining robots give chase. Above, Dormammu dodges an invisible shovelful of Hostess Fruit Pies, which fly out of a hole in the blimp. Several seconds later, Rob dashes under a rapidly shrinking shadow, the robots follow him.... *SPLAT*. The amalgamated martial artist studies the pile of snacks for a minute before he realizes that it's shrinking. As it disappears, the cause is clear: the Doombots are eating the pies. Rob stares in confusion. "I didn't realize that the Doombots could eat fruit pies. I expected it to gum up the works, or jam gears, or something." Three Doombots exchange glances of horror before they explode. Meanwhile, on another street corner, the last Doombot is singing of the value of eating breakfast every morning before going back to "Jabberjaw." ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 8: Catch-up and wrap-up On Thu, 20 Feb 2003 10:03:40 -0800 (PST) Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00011094 > On Mon, 17 Feb 2003 00:44:27 -0600 > Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00011091 > > Strange, in comparison, chooses to attack the problem directly, "By > the Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth and Oshtur's Mighty Hands, I command that > the rite having just been performed to bring this tyrant here be > reversed. As that which is so easily done may just as easily be > undone!" > > A multi-colored veritable fire-works display of magickal energies > streak from the good Doctor's hands and envelope both Dormammu and > the spirals of Hostess Snack Cakes that still revolve around him. > > Slowly, at first, and then more quickly, the spiral of pies reverse > in direction as the Master of the Mystic Arts tries to undo the > summoning spell purportrated by the personage of the doubled Drs. > D&D. The Squimpossible Man watches the new developments with extreme interest. Here's something interesting!! He ponders how to join in on the fun without endangering his passengers when imp-spiration strikes. A shall port on the side of the Squimpossible rock opens and a smaller version of it flies off towards Dormammu. Cloaked with magics and technology and pure impobability to makes steadily towards Domamu's head, pausing when right beside it. A hatch opens and an arm and megaphone come out of the rocket and a mouth forms on the nosecone of the rocket. "HEY! Did you know your head's on fire????" The arm retreats and swaps out the megaphone for a fire extinguisher that it sprays Dormammu with before the mini-Squimpossible rocket pops like a soap bubble and is gone. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 8: Catch-up and wrap-up (Long!)(sorry!) On Sun, 16 Mar 2003 23:07:14 -0600 Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00011095 > Way back on Sun, 16 Feb 2K3 > Roland X Writes: > >> Dhyrclhanc wrote: >>*/OOops!/ echoes the Astral Dhyrclhanc. /FTR, bro, I wasn't trying >>to trump the Tooniverse. Just equalize things a bit. But, >>unfortunately, like everything else I do, when I goof, I goof in a >>big way! Sorry! > > /No problem, sib,/ Roland...er...fudges. 8^) But before he can >continue... > >>But let's see if I can do something to fix this... /* > > *eep!* The Astral Dhyrclhanc quickly sneaks a dry look at his sib-by-troth, and then goes back to what he was doing >>Strange, in comparison, chooses to attack the problem directly, "By >>the Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth and Oshtur's Mighty Hands, I command that >>the rite having just been performed to bring this tyrant here be >>reversed. As that which is so easily done may just as easily be >>undone!" > > "I *munch* would not be so certain, sorcerer," the 2-D Doctor >replies, licking his lips to clean the cherry filling away. "There is >a primal force at work here, one which *crunch* it would be unwise to >oppose recklessly." R.R. stares in disturbed amazement as the D.D. >retreats, firing bolts to discourage pursuit while collecting a new >pie to replace the one so recently disposed of. I take it then, sib, that the Dread Dormammu doesn't disapeaar and that Doc Strange's counter-spell failed? > "So. You megalomaniacs want pies." He turns the smile to his wife, >his two closest friends, and finally his son (in a manner of >speaking). His other hand begins scooping an equal collection of >pastry goodness. /Are you all thinking what I'm thinking?/ > >/I am now. That's sort of how this link works,/ Morgan replies dryly. */Well... yes, sib, but where are we going to get scuba gear that's in my size?/* quiped the Big Guy, albeit still not in the flesh, so to speak. > Meanwhile, Dormammu is staring in horror at the shattered crusts >and spilled filling on and around him. "The waste...the tragic >waste...YOU!" He points one glowing gloved hand at R.R. "YOU have >denied me their light, tender crust and real fruit filling!!!" > > "Uh-oh..." R.R. looks around. /Um...team? A little help here?/ > >Morgan-Sue, taking a cue from their husbands, generates a forcefield >scoop and begins flinging masses of delicious treats at their demonic >foe. /John Belushi, eat your heart out. Sorry, Sue, it's another long >story,/ Morgan adds. > > As Dormammu turns on Morgan-Sue and Doom looks on in outrage, >Roland's smile broadens as he picks up more ammo. /Good work. Next!/ > > (OOC: What he/I said. This should be the final showdown, so >have fun with the smear campaign! ;^) Oh. Boo Hiss, sib! However, like the man said; whilst in Rome... }>=8D The translucent Dhyrclhanc directed his three Greater Elementals towards the, quickly being depleted, pile of pastries, where they joined in and began pelting Dormammu and Doc Doom with Hostess Pies. However, the ones hurled by the Earth Elemental end-up being slightly gritty, the ones hurled by the Fire Elemental end up being lightly toasted and the ones hurled by the Water Elemental end up being slightly soggy. Then Dhyrclhanc aims his equally see-through ring-finger at the pile and his astral green lantern ring creates three steam-shovels which then add to the amount of pastry arcing through the air. */It doesn't take a mathematical genius to see the importance of pie/* quips the astral super-annuated adolescent hatchling ruby fire dragon, */Fortunately, however,/* he adds */I _am_ a mathematical genius!/* Dhyrclhanc then goes further, as if to add insult to injury, and begins to repeatedly toss two huge masses at a time at Dormammu and Doom via his still functioning TK ability. Meanwhile, Doctor Strange, rarely one to engage in such childish behavior, summons his own, kelly-green colored mystic shield, and begins to bombard Dormammu with more conventional, loosely speaking of course, neon blue-colored magickal "bolts of bedevilment". At which point, the still recuperating Johnny L. Storm, still hovering above the fray on his absconded hover-cycle, begins to groan. [Whoops!] thinks Dhyrclhanc to himself [there's my ride... ] */Gotta go folks, carry on, I'll be back before you know it!/* and Dhyrclhanc's astral form streaks away from the battle, causing the green flame steam-shovels to disappear, but leaving the three Greater Elemental to continue with the, occasionally fruit filled, bombardment, and re-enters the Human Torch's body. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 8: Catch-up and wrap-up (Long!)(sorry!) On Sun, 16 Mar 2003 23:42:07 -0800 (PST) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00011096 > Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00011095 > >> Way back on Sun, 16 Feb 2K3 Roland X Writes: >> >> As Dormammu turns on Morgan-Sue and Doom looks on in outrage, >>Roland's smile broadens as he picks up more ammo. /Good work. Next!/ [snip In Which Dhyrclhanc Serves Pie] >Meanwhile, Doctor Strange, rarely one to engage in such childish >behavior, summons his own, kelly-green colored mystic shield, and >begins to bombard Dormammu with more conventional, loosely speaking >of course, neon blue-colored magickal "bolts of bedevilment". Rob, meanwhile, is bored. [I can't get up there, and everything's been taken care of down here,] he realizes, as a Damage Control van drives away, [and...wait one minute. Maybe I don't have to be up there...] "Excuse me, miss?" "Mommy told me never to talk to strangers." "May I borrow a piece of chalk?" The little girl quietly hands over the purple chalk. Rob quickly sketches out a circle, adds a few runes, then finishes it off with a clockwise spiral into the center, and a touch of magic. "This completes Summoning 101: the Circle of Sending. And now, Summoning 101: Create Food. Let There Be PIE!" Fruit pies pour from Rob's hands, landing on the Circle, until a three-foot high mound has formed. "Finally, the generation of an endpoint." /Would somebody please tell Doctor Strange to cast a conjuror's spiral, centered on Dormammu?/ [Insert message here] The Master of the Mystic Arts gestures, and a counter-clockwise helix of blue energy appears, starting around Dormammu's feet, and rising in an ever-shrinking radius until it reaches the center of its circle, two feet above Dormammu's head. A conjuror's spiral is a simple matter, the basis for over a third of the summoning spells used in the Marvel universe. Dormammu, the likely winner of "Most Summoned Being in the Dark Dimension" (if it were not for the fact that the first person to suggest such an award was incinerated by Dormammu) has been the center of such a spiral so often that his reaction is to freeze, waiting for the transportation. In this case, this spiral already has a target. By drawing a Circle of Summoning, Rob defined it. The circle glows bright purple, and the pile of pies drops through a mystic hole in reality, erasing the circle in the process, and coming out of the top of Doctor Strange's spiral. Splut. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 8: Catch-up and wrap-up (Long!)(sorry!) On Mon, 17 Mar 2003 04:07:17 -0500 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00011097 > On Sun, 16 Mar 2003 23:07:14 -0600 > Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00011095 > >> Way back on Sun, 16 Feb 2K3 Roland X Writes: >>> Dhyrclhanc wrote: >>>> Roland X wrote: >>>> >>>> "Who summons the Dread Dormammu?!? I--" He stops, staring at >>>>the pies. "Aha! So that is what I experienced! Human comestibles! >>>>Such are irrelevant to me..." Dormammu trails off and Reed-Roland >>>>buries his face in one hand. A Vanilla Pudding pie floats over to >>>>Dormammu. "Hm. Interesting." The wrapping magically removes >>>>itself, and he takes a quick, tentative bite. >>>> >>>>"OHO! Such wonder! Such taste! Such alchemical power! IT MUST BE >>>>MINE!" The Time-Thing, who had ripped off a section of wall to act as an impromptu shield against Doom's power blast, but lowered it as the situation altered drasticly, put one big, orange mitt over his own eyes. "Oh for the love of my great-aunt Petunia," he mutters to himself, "What next?" >>>> The Doctors smile insolently at the Fantastic 3.5 (as DC is >>>>present but Johnny is still sleeping it off) as Dormammu's ravings >>>>continue. "I shall claim this world's Hostess Pies for the Dark >>>>Dimension!" >>>> >>>> /Oh, sib. Oh man. Never try to overpower the Tooniverse. Oh >>>>boy.../ >>>> >>>*/OOops!/ echoes the Astral Dhyrclhanc. /FTR, bro, I wasn't trying >>>to trump the Tooniverse. Just equalize things a bit. But, >>>unfortunately, like everything else I do, when I goof, I goof in a >>>big way! Sorry! >> >> /No problem, sib,/ Roland...er...fudges. 8^) But before he can >>continue... >> >>>But let's see if I can do something to fix this... /* >> >> *eep!* "I hadda ask," Benjamike says. >> "So. You megalomaniacs want pies." He turns the smile to his >>wife, his two closest friends, and finally his son (in a manner of >>speaking). His other hand begins scooping an equal collection of >>pastry goodness. /Are you all thinking what I'm thinking?/ >> >>/I am now. That's sort of how this link works,/ Morgan replies >>dryly. > >*/Well... yes, sib, but where are we going to get scuba gear that's >in my size?/* quiped the Big Guy, albeit still not in the flesh, so >to speak. Benjamike raises that section of metal wall paneling again, making a couple quick folds to create an impromptu shovel from his impromptu shield. /Since all the good jokes have already been done, yes, I am,/ he sends, not quite grumpily. >> Roland sends a mental wink in response. "Well, who am I to deny >>you? FOOD FIGHT!!!" And both Dormammu and D^2 are inundated with a >>storm of pies, creating a huge mess over both of them. The Seven-Grimm mental amalgam flings shovel-full after shovel-full at the pair of would-be pie pirates. >> As Dormammu turns on Morgan-Sue and Doom looks on in outrage, >>Roland's smile broadens as he picks up more ammo. /Good work. Next!/ Another heaping helping of Hostess sails through the air at the pie-faced pair of pastry pilferers. /Looks like their pie in the sky dreams are soon to be over,/ Ben Seven sends, then scowls as Ben's mind rises to the fore, /I don't believe I just said that,/ to which Mike's mind replies, /My bad, I'm just not the crusty type and I'm filling good,/ to which Ben replies, /Get out. Now./ ================================= Subject: AAE 8: Fat lady's on in 5 On Sat, 10 May 2003 22:42:08 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011103 [Note from Morgan: Yes, it's been a while. Life happens, for better and sometimes for worse. For any of you who want a refresher on the Callahanian Army of Light's current situation, or for those of you who are new to the CAoL, the archives and other material can be found at http://silver-gateway.com/caol/index.shtml (or http://silver-gateway.com/caol/chapters.shtml#part-8 for the most recent archive). We hit the Fantastic Four section of the Marvel Universe in ch. 7. Now, on with wrapping up AAE8!] >On Mon, 17 Feb 2003 08:56:13 -0800 (PST) >Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00011093 > > The amalgamated martial artist studies the pile of snacks for a >minute before he realizes that it's shrinking. As it disappears, the >cause is clear: the Doombots are eating the pies. Rob stares in >confusion. "I didn't realize that the Doombots could eat fruit pies. >I expected it to gum up the works, or jam gears, or something." > > Three Doombots exchange glances of horror before they explode. > > Meanwhile, on another street corner, the last Doombot is singing >of the value of eating breakfast every morning before going back to >"Jabberjaw." R-R stretches his head out of the Doom-blimp to survey the damage. "Not bad," he notes with a smile. Then... >On Thu, 20 Feb 2003 10:03:40 -0800 (PST) >Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00011094 > > The Squimpossible Man watches the new developments with extreme >interest. Here's something interesting!! He ponders how to join in on >the fun without endangering his passengers when imp-spiration >strikes. > A shall port on the side of the Squimpossible rock opens and a >smaller version of it flies off towards Dormammu. Cloaked with magics >and technology and pure impobability to makes steadily towards >Domamu's head, pausing when right beside it. A hatch opens and an arm >and megaphone come out of the rocket and a mouth forms on the >nosecone of the rocket. > "HEY! Did you know your head's on fire????" Dormammu jumps out of his boots (_literally_) and turns (somehow still landing back into said boots) to do a wild take at the Squimpossible Man. > The arm retreats and swaps out the megaphone for a fire >extinguisher that it sprays Dormammu with before the >mini-Squimpossible rocket pops like a soap bubble and is gone. "blub-mmrph-grgl-" Dormammu splutters in outrage. "WHO DARES--" he begins, stopping abruptly and blinking. He looks around, squinting his eyes, apparently having trouble seeing in the 'dark.' "Whoa, is my hair out?" A formal looking mouse in a pinstripe suit appears suddenly, serving him a "cease and desist" order for copyright infringement. Dormammu boggles and glares. "WHAT? But that doesn't come out for almost thirty years!" The mouse hands him another paper filled with formulae and squiggly lines. Dormammu frowns. "I hate trans-dimensional paradox." >On Sun, 16 Mar 2003 23:07:14 -0600 >Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00011095 > >The translucent Dhyrclhanc directed his three Greater Elementals >towards the, quickly being depleted, pile of pastries, where they >joined in and began pelting Dormammu and Doc Doom with Hostess Pies. > >However, the ones hurled by the Earth Elemental end-up being slightly >gritty, the ones hurled by the Fire Elemental end up being lightly >toasted and the ones hurled by the Water Elemental end up being >slightly soggy. Dormammu, who is already extremely put-upon, is amused by the Earth and Fire Elemental pies, but absolutely horrified at the sacrilege of...of _soggy_pies?!?_ >Then Dhyrclhanc aims his equally see-through ring-finger at the pile >and his astral green lantern ring creates three steam-shovels which >then add to the amount of pastry arcing through the air. Dormammu, stunned at the "horrors" he has been forced to endure and the tremendous barrage he's under, begins to be buried in a massive mound of pies, currently up to his waist. >*/Gotta go folks, carry on, I'll be back before you know it!/* and >Dhyrclhanc's astral form streaks away from the battle, causing the >green flame steam-shovels to disappear, but leaving the three Greater >Elemental to continue with the, occasionally fruit filled, >bombardment, and re-enters the Human Torch's body. [WHOA! Hey, that tickles!] Johnny objects mentally. /Oh dear, that is not good,/ R-R thinks. He pauses for a moment. /Wait, how did we know that?/ >On Sun, 16 Mar 2003 23:42:07 -0800 (PST) >Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00011096 > > Rob quickly sketches out a circle, adds a few runes, then finishes >it off with a clockwise spiral into the center, and a touch of magic. >"This completes Summoning 101: the Circle of Sending. And now, >Summoning 101: Create Food. Let There Be PIE!" > > Fruit pies pour from Rob's hands, landing on the Circle, until a >three-foot high mound has formed. "Finally, the generation of an >endpoint." /Would somebody please tell Doctor Strange to cast a >conjuror's spiral, centered on Dormammu?/ *Doctor, there's a request for a summoning from these {} dimensional coordinates,* R-R sends. [Hey, wait, how did we do _that?_] they wonder more forcefully. > A conjuror's spiral is a simple matter, the basis for over a third >of the summoning spells used in the Marvel universe. Dormammu, the >likely winner of "Most Summoned Being in the Dark Dimension" (if it >were not for the fact that the first person to suggest such an award >was incinerated by Dormammu) has been the center of such a spiral so >often that his reaction is to freeze, waiting for the transportation. > > In this case, this spiral already has a target. By drawing a >Circle of Summoning, Rob defined it. The circle glows bright purple, >and the pile of pies drops through a mystic hole in reality, erasing >the circle in the process, and coming out of the top of Doctor >Strange's spiral. > > Splut. R-R fights desperately not to laugh as the sight of Dormammu buried up to his armpits in gritty, soggy, toasty, and otherwise pulped fruit pies (both apple and cherry!). >On Mon, 17 Mar 2003 04:07:17 -0500 >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00011097 > Another heaping helping of Hostess sails through the air at the >pie-faced pair of pastry pilferers. > /Looks like their pie in the sky dreams are soon to be over,/ >Ben Seven sends, then scowls as Ben's mind rises to the fore, /I >don't believe I just said that,/ to which Mike's mind replies, /My >bad, I'm just not the crusty type and I'm filling good,/ to which Ben >replies, /Get out. Now./ (OOC-R: That sounds like my cue. ;^) Doom, meanwhile, has been moving through his war machine bent on revenge (big shock there). [Without the interference of that extra-dimensional vagabond, Doom shall know VENGEANCE! Once I find my foe...] His armor's scanners, equaled in this world only by Tony Stark's, move efficiently through system after system. In moments-- "Ah." Behind his titanium-steel mask, Doom smiled a terrible smile. Powerful gauntlets charge with sinister forces. The roof tears apart above the Reed-Roland amalgam, and Doom rockets toward them, firing with deadly precision! "Behold! With my own mental interference gone, all _you_ shall taste this day is the WRATH of DOOM! AHAHAHAHAHA!" The hero(es) is/are engulfed in dark energies crackling with cosmic power. "You are UNDONE, you abomina--WHAT?!?" Reed Richards had been thrown to the wall on his left. ROLAND was firmly embedded in the wall on his right. "WHAT TREACHERY IS THIS?!" Reed gathers his battle-splayed body back into a more standard human form and examines his counterpart, hand in chin. "Fascinating. It appears that with your counterpart's departure, the strange forces bonding the rest of us together have begun to weaken. While it is possible that your power blast caused our bonded molecules to--" "ENOUGH!" Doom roared, firing another bolt of power at Reed. It stops in mid-air inches away from an amazed Doom's gauntlet. "How--?!?" Defender, having pried himself magneto-kinetically from the wall, is 'holding' the energy in place with one outstretched, glowing hand. "Me," he says in a low, dangerous voice. The power blast reverses direction, slamming into Doom himself! /Yes!/ Morgan's "voice," no longer tinged with Sue's, is heard on the lens-link. *Excuse me, Sue, but I think we'll both be happier helping in our own way," she says to her hostess (OOC: Yes, I did that one on purpose *eg*), and teleports herself out of the Invisible Woman and appears as herself on the deck. The Highland Druidess stretches like a cat after a nap, sighs with a smile, and looks around. Outside, clouds start to gather, and a thunderclap is heard. /Good to _see_ you again, beloved. You know this guy better than I do, love. How well insulated do you expect this blimp is?/ she sends to her no-longer-amalgamated husband. /*Knowing Doom, exceedingly wel-*/ Roland begins, stopping abruptly. A broad, wicked grin appears spontaneously across his face. Still pinning Doom down with the villain's own energy bolt, he reaches up with his free hand and _pulls._ The entire Doom-blimp shudders as wires pull loose, Kirby-tubing shakes free and special protective plastics are torn out of place. /*Not terribly well, why do you ask?*/ he asks wryly. "Because, my love, there's a storm coming." Morgan's smile echoes Roland's. "To borrow a quote from a movie that won't be made for a few decades," the life-mage's hair and eyes turn white, "Hold on to something." The winds outside pick up, and lightning flashes around the blimp. Bolts lash out, rendering the cosmic ray cannon and lesser weaponry inoperative. The deck tilts slightly as the blimp-o-Doom begins a surprisingly gentle descent into the Hudson River. Meanwhile, Roland and Doom are locked in a contest of power, skill, and will. Even with the immortal psion's indomitable willpower, he is no match for Doom in that regard. In this time, place, and contest, however... Doom wildly commands his armor to defend him, shunting power systems and pulse-hardening furiously. He hasn't a chance. Roland constantly reroutes, reconfigures and reinforces his electrokinetic assault faster than Doom can keep up with. The mad monarch's mind is easily up to the task, but in terms of raw speed Doom is hampered by physical limitations while the energy-master is not. "Inconceivable! Your mind is inferior! _Inferior!_" "True enough," Roland replies coolly. "But this isn't about technological skill, but command of the assets available to us _now._ In a few decades, the original's armor will have the neural networks and defensive systems to give me a run for my money. _You,_ on the other hand, are a cartoon caricature of the true master." Roland explodes with St. Elmo's Fire, redoubling his assault on Doom's systems with a dozen simultaneous complex attacks. The now-free Richardses recover quickly. Sue holds her head for a moment, shaking her mind clear. "Goodness, what an experience! Reed, are you all right?" Reed nods absently, staring at Roland's display of psychokinetic mastery. "Fascinating." Doom slams against a far bulkhead, scowling. "This is not over, Fantastic Four!" Roland frowns. "Yes it is." The Doom-blimp hits the Hudson gently, skillfully cushioned by the Lady Greywolf-Phoenix. Yet both freelance immortals must take a moment to steady themselves -- during which Doom throws a switch. The floor beneath him opens up, and the Latverian monarch drops down a tube and vanishes! "Blast!" Roland spits, leaping to where Doom had been a second ago. The distinct sound of an escape pod firing causes him to stop and grimace. "You get used to it," Reed commiserates. {Hear me, so-called 'heroes,'} echoes through the Kirby-tech ship's comm system. {The memory of Doom is as long as his reach and as eternal as his wrath. We shall meet again, and when next we meet, victory will be as the coming of DOOM!} "Light," Roland breathes. "We won, and I _still_ just got cold shivers." "Are you going to be all right?" Morgan adds to the Fantastic Four (who are now actually four :-). Reed and Sue nod in unison. "Oh, yes, he does this all the time," Reed notes evenly. "Though he was especially poetic this once," Sue adds. Roland nods. "Glad to hear it. Did we miss anything?" He slaps his helmet. "Oh no, Molecule Man--" At that moment, a nine-foot tall mound of Hostess(tm) Fruit Pies explodes, and a furious (but still extinguished) Dormammu seethes at the assembled heroes. "RrrrRRRAAAHHHRRRrrr! You shall all PAY for your abuse of the greatness of Dormammu and delicious fruit pies!" The assembled heroes boggle for a moment. "Oh. Yeah. Him," Roland notes sardonically. Then the freelance immortal gets another brainstorm (as Morgan gives Dormammu one...a small rain cloud just big enough to drizzle on his head). He smiles wickedly. "Sib? Johnny? I think Dormammu...needs a light." (OOC-R: Last call! Dane, take MM and run with it; Mike, DC, go to town; everyone else, if you've got someone to finish off, have fun! We post the actual wrap-up soon [hopefully sometime Sunday]!) (/) Roland Morgan /|\ "That is the only true legacy we can leave to those we love...that we have made the world a little better than when we found it." -- Reed Richards ================================= Subject: AAE 8: Cosmic Enlightenment (long) On Sun, 11 May 2003 13:46:15 -0700 Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00011104 In the pocket universe "battleground" that Aurora created, Molecule Man stands wand arm outstretched, with his mouth gapping open before a casually seated Aurora. He closes his mouth only for it to open silently again a couple times. Finally he remembers he has a voice. "Completed my mission? What are you talking about? We haven't even begun to fight." Aurora begins giggling, her infectious, and healing laughter fills the pocket universe. Slowly at first, and then as though the weight of ages had been removed from his shoulders Molecule Man joins her in laughter. At long last, she regains her composure. *"You were not commanded to fight me. Doom told you to rid him of me. You have done that. With the completion of that action, your agreement with him is ended if you wish it to be."* She tells him, and then pauses for him to absorb this. Slowly it dawns on him, that she is right, and he owes Doom nothing else. As he begins to understand, he begins laughing again. Laughter which Aurora joins. As their laughter dies down, Molecule Man makes an observation "Boy, is Doom going to be mad when we step out of this place, and not a scratch on either of us." *"Dr. Doom will not be there. I calculate, that Doom will summon Dormammu, and after a short battle, Destroyer will abandon Doom just before Doom is defeated by The Defender and makes his own escape."* Aurora answers Molecule Man relaxes, and sits in the chair that Aurora had created for him. Boggling a bit, "Who is Dormammu, and how can you possibly know these things will happen?" he inquires. . *"Dormammu is a would be conqueror of the multiverse. One with power, though not on the scale of yourself, or Galactus. He is also considered a god by many and even has SOME godlike attributes. As to making a prediction, it is trivial with so much data available to calculate what will be. Here let me show you."* She answers. Then she opens a connection between her mind, and his, and shows him The Future. This {} is what would have happened across the next millennium on your world had I not had this conversation with you. This {} is what will happen because of it, and assuming that we say no more. THIS {} is what will happen because I wish to understand something and have no intention of stopping the conversation."* Again, his jaw goes slack as he looks across a thousand years of activity for three different time lines. As he TRIES to get a tiny understanding of a mind that could calculate so much, with what he considers so little data, she just watches, and helps where she can. Finally he finds some bit of understanding. "You said you wanted to understand something. If you can do what you just showed me, of what possible help can -I- be?" He asks. *"You had a desire to conquer your world. While I can comprehend the desire, and calculate using it, I cannot understand it. Let me show you some things and perhaps you can explain the desire to me."* She answers. Then, again, she links her mind to his, and 'reaches' out. Compressing time, she shows him thousands of worlds and universes where one being conquered all before him, and the eventual results of those conquests. She finishes the 'show' with Cerberus' conquest of thousands of universes, and his complete lack of satisfaction in his accomplishments. *"You see. The one common theme thoughout: when one conquers for personal glory, or gain, one spends the rest of one's life trying to hold onto what has been gained, and it almost always provides little or no personal satisfaction. This is known to most rational beings, but there are those that ignore this to conquer anyway. Let me show you the other possiblities."* She tells him. Now she shows him countless histories where a single individual, or a group worked behind the scenes, working for the advancement of all, with no thought of personal glory, or gain. *"As you can see, with ALL of these beings, their successes bring them personal satisfaction, and fulfillment. Even in their failures they are content in the knowledge that their own actions were right, though they may not be happy with the outcomes. These people, though they may work through their whole lives, CAN find fulfillment even in defeat. This is something that NO conqueror can ever feel. Please tell me WHY you wanted to conquer your world. Perhaps if we explore that, -I- can come to understand."* She says. Haltingly at first, and then speeding up, he begins to tell her about his life. Unconsciously he alters the chair he is sitting on into a couch where he can recline while he speaks. Sensing that it will ease his mind, she alters the pocket universe to more and more resemble the office of a psychiatrist, then she alters her own appearance. First the chair she is sitting in. Then her apparel changes to a tasteful business suit (skirt, blouse, jacket). Finally a pad and pen appear floating in the air beside her, with the pen vigorously taking notes as the Molecule Man spills his innermost memories, thoughts, fears, disappointments, and ambitions. ================================= Subject: AAE 8: Dark Secrets and Covert Ops: Two Children of the Lens Versus Hydra (Part 2) On Mon, 12 May 2003 09:02:24 -0400 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00011106 Last time... >On Sun, 26 Jan 2003 23:58:04 -0500 >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00011038 > > ^@Recognize these uniforms?@^ David asked. > ^@Predominantly green with yellow belts and harnesses, and green >cowls that only reveal the mouth and jaw?@^ Tinkerbell sent back, >^@Certainly, it's Hydra.@^ > David nodded, ^@They appear to be using the opportunity provided >by the battle to hijack a U.S. nuclear missile. If I recall comic >continuity, they're not supposed to have one at this time.@^ > ^@Talk to me, bro. (I'm detecting Hydra's base right where it >ought to be.)@^ Tink sent, ^@What's your real motive here?@^ > ^@It's ... silly, (Guards.)@^ David answered. While David and Tink were secretly operating underground as well as coordinating their forces on the streets, another group of opportunists were using the Doom-Blimp attack to perform an armored car heist. "Man, this attack couldn't have come at a better time," one thug said, standing over the unconscious bodies of the two guards, "I mean, they were so busy gawking, they never even put up a fight." "Yeah, musta been from outta town, now gimmie a hand loading up the loot," the other complained, "Someone used to this sort of thing could come along at any minute." They each grabbed bags from the back of the truck and turned to put them in the car. As they turned, they found themselves facing a Cable-gun(TM) held by Grep. "Bad move, boys," Bernice said, her own arms morphing into similar energy weapons. Behind the two thugs, a motorcycle pulled up and Melissa, Zora and Inyu dismounted. While Inyu and Zora tended to the guards, Walkabout transformed and Melissa came to stand near the two crooks, expertly removing their weapons.. "We'll take those bags, please. Then you can lie down on the ground with your hands behind your backs," the lensed twin informed them. "Or my sister and her partner can stun you where you stand." Walkabout strode over, kneeling and extending a large hand for the cash sacks. "Aw man..." the thugs said with a sigh as they handed over the money. ^@I win again,@^ Tink sent, rising as the last guard fell. ^@Best 5 out of 7?@^ David offered. ^@Not a chance,@^ Tink grinned. ^@I just can't compete in the grace and beauty department,@^ David sighed. ^@Not to mention speed of the kill.@^ Tink smiled smugly, but still blushed at the compliment, ^@You've got Dad's frame, it's a bit harder to get moving quickly than mine.@^ ^@True.@^ ^@So, why did you come back here?@^ ^@{Sigh.} I tell you what, when this is all over, I'll tell you.@^ Tink mentally tsked to herself, watching her 'uncle-brother'. [What are you up to, David? Our past selves would have come to help find the twins. 'Muddy thinking'? as Uncle Nemo would call it, is that it?] She could almost hear Grumpa in her head, were he privy to her thoughts, 'Sometimes, in the matter of emotions, muddy thinking is the most compelling in determining our actions.' But the situation at the moment drew her attention again. They were approaching the underground lair where HYDRA was holding the stolen nuke. Her senses and David's both confirmed this was where the main contingent of HYDRA troops were holed up, as well as the lack of a HYDRA head in attendance. ^@Good, no head to cut off this monster.@^ David said, ^@Take them out without leaving an explanation or calling card.@^ ^@I think I have a better idea. Make it look like we just happened to see the theft and throw around a few superpowers, but make sure they know it's us. That way they won't be looking over their backs when the real heros of the story bust in on them in the future.@^ ^@Good point. Alright, we'll do it your way.@^ ^@Might want to hide your lensmen status, too. Just in case someone in HYDRA actually reads the pulps.@^ David nodded, and his lens vanished. His grey leathers also shifted to more closely resemble Tink's attire. He gestured toward the wall beyond which the main HYDRA forces waited. Tink grinned. The wall exploded into the room with a rain of brick and mortar dust. "Hold it RIGHT there, whoever you are!" Tink shouted, "You're not getting away with taking Uncle Sam's H-bombs while we're around!" One HYDRA operative recovered enough to ask, "And who're you?" "We're...." Tink started then paused. David glanced at her, wondering what she'd come up with. He didn't have long to wait as she announced with pride, "The Random Duo!" David blinked at her. ^@You're kidding.@^ The operative smirked, "You're kidding." "Nope," Tink said, "Now hand over the bomb and come along quietly." "Obviously you don't understand the situation," the HYDRA agent said, "Men, kill them." The HYDRA agents opened fire. Tink just smiled as the bullets came to a screeching halt in front of her, realigned themselves in a horizontal arc hovering at her chin height, then suddenly shot away from her at full speed. The agents, ducking low, all ran for cover. ^@Okay, Neo, you've had your fun,@^ David remarked, ^@Just don't forget about the nuke.@^ ^@I'll leave that to you, then.@^ David nodded and ran for the stolen atomic bomb. The HYDRA agents, realizing what he was up to, fired at him, but Tink stopped the bullets, sending them back to the agents who fired them, without actually striking any of them. A dozen of the HYDRA agents decided that tackling David might be a good idea, only to discover a telekinetic force slamming into them that sent them flying through the air as they got close to him. Finally, as David approached the bomb, a HYDRA agent rose up from behind it, holding a pair of wires. "Freeze, Random Duo, or I'll detonate the bomb and we'll take out a good chunk of New York." David stopped where he was. "If you explode that thing, you'll die too." "Yes, I will die, but HYDRA can not be destroyed so easily. It-" A large wrench under David's telekinetic direction struck the HYDRA agent in the back of the head. He dropped like a sack of potatoes. Tink called out, "Anyone else want to try and stop us from returning this to its rightful owner?" HYDRA agents were already attempting to sneak away, but now they made their exits in earnest. The one David had struck over the head stumbled to his feet rubbing the back of his neck and beat a hasty retreat as well. "You've not seen the last of HYDRA! We shall remember the Random Duo!" the last agent shouted as he left. Tink giggled, "Yeah, like that bit of information is going to do them again good." "Wanna return this to its proper place?" David asked, gesturing at the bomb. Tink nodded and teleported the bomb back to the military facility were it had been held. ^@I think things are about to be wrapped up upstairs, we'd better hurry back.@^ Tink advised. David nodded and within an instant was standing where his copy had been. Tink's copy had simply returned to wherever it had originated. ^@So why did you come back here?@^ Tink asked. ^@I'll tell you later.@^ ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 8: Fat lady's on in 5 On Mon, 12 May 2003 20:11:09 -0700 (PDT) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00011107 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011103 > > Reed Richards had been thrown to the wall on his left. > ROLAND was firmly embedded in the wall on his right. > "WHAT TREACHERY IS THIS?!" > Reed gathers his battle-splayed body back into a more standard >human form and examines his counterpart, hand in chin. "Fascinating. >It appears that with your counterpart's departure, the strange forces >bonding the rest of us together have begun to weaken. While it is >possible that your power blast caused our bonded molecules to--" > "ENOUGH!" Doom roared, firing another bolt of power at Reed. > It stops in mid-air inches away from an amazed Doom's gauntlet. >"How--?!?" > Defender, having pried himself magneto-kinetically from the wall, >is 'holding' the energy in place with one outstretched, glowing hand. >"Me," he says in a low, dangerous voice. The power blast reverses >direction, slamming into Doom himself! On the ground, Rob feels a sudden vacancy, as Iron Fist fades away. [Danny? Danny?] Using the leftover chalk, he draws three linked radioactivity symbols on the ground, muttering, "I hope the whole split-photon thing works in this case..." A moment later, he gets a flash of information: Daniel Rand is in K'un Lun, where he started. With nothing else to do, Rob watches as the blimp is struck down by lightning, at which point he hails a cab. "Follow that blimp!" [I can't believe I just said that.] >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00011105 > > Roland notes the huge swath of damage, and quips, "Clean up, Aisle >Nine." > >"Aisles 42nd and below, more like," Morgan quips back. Rob's cab arrives just in time for him to catch Morgan's quip, causing Rob to blink, and study the city for a moment. In fact, the damage does not reach past Forty-Second street. "Ooookay..." After paying the cabbie, he goes to a pay phone, flips through the business section of the White Pages, and drops in a dime. "Hello? Damage Control? My name is Robert Nishikawa, and I'm calling about the recent fight involving the Fantastic Four...it's covered? You don't understand, there's a transdimensional group of superheroes...they've got insurance for -that-? Look, I just don't want the FF's rates to be affected because of problems that are partly the fault of somebody else...I see. Mm hmm. Uh-huh. Right. Thank you for your time." Even as Rob speaks, a Damage Control van is clearing up fallen skycycles, and hauling away three of the four Doombots. The fourth one has been stolen by a young man who wanted a television anyway, and will eventually figure out how to make the Doombot into a projection television. [The rest of this post is with the "That's all folks" thread in ch. 11] ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 8: Fat lady's on in 5 On Tue, 13 May 2003 14:49:16 -0700 Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00011108 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011103 >"Are you going to be all right?" Morgan adds to the Fantastic Four >(who are now actually four :-). > > Reed and Sue nod in unison. "Oh, yes, he does this all the time," >Reed notes evenly. > "Though he was especially poetic this once," Sue adds. > Roland nods. "Glad to hear it. Did we miss anything?" He slaps his >helmet. "Oh no, Molecule Man--" As Roland speaks, the sky above the Baxter building curdles slightly, and an opening into the pocket universe 'battleground' opens up to reveal what looks like a psychiatrist's office, with Molecule Man streached out on the couch spilling his life to the tastefully, but conservatively attired Aurora, who is sitting in the psychiatrist's chair taking notes via a pad and pen which are floating beside her. /*"Owen, I believe it is time for us to return to your world."*/ She gently tells him as he pauses for breath. "Uh, yeah, I guess." He says as he looks out through the opening. "But..." /*"Don't worry. Call this {} phone number. Give the doctor this pad, and he will be able to continue what we've begun here."*/ Aurora tells him as she hands him the pad. /*"Owen, If you will go to this {} address in Denver, you will find a girl who has been looking for you. She doesn't know you are who she has been seeking, but you and she are destined to find happiness with each other. If you will take her and these objects to Galactus, he will know what to do. Don't worry, he will do her no harm."*/ She says, handing him two small objects. "Uh, did you learn what you wanted to learn?" He asks. /*"Partly, and for what I have learned, I am grateful."*/ She answers. "YOU'RE grateful? You turn my life upside down, and inside out, helping me feel good about myself for maybe the first time in my life, and YOU'RE grateful?" He boggles. "A girl who's been looking for ME, you say? Uh, if you'll forgive me, I've got a shrink to call, and a girl to meet. If you're ever back this way, let me know. I'd like a chance to help YOU in some way." He says before 'popping' out. > At that moment, a nine-foot tall mound of Hostess(tm) Fruit Pies >explodes, and a furious (but still extinguished) Dormammu seethes at >the assembled heroes. "RrrrRRRAAAHHHRRRrrr! You shall all PAY for >your abuse of the greatness of Dormammu and delicious fruit pies!" > The assembled heroes boggle for a moment. "Oh. Yeah. Him," Roland >notes sardonically. Then the freelance immortal gets another >brainstorm (as Morgan gives Dormammu one...a small rain cloud just >big enough to drizzle on his head). He smiles wickedly. "Sib? Johnny? >I think Dormammu...needs a light." Glancing down, Aurora sighs, and vanishes only to reappear above the Baxter building, again in her titanic skyscraper dwarfing form, as the opening to the pocket universe closes. /*"Are we going to have trouble with YOU now Dormammu?"*/ She asks with a frown forming on her face, her 'voice' echoing through the artificial canyons of the city. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 8: Fat lady's on in 5 (very long)(sorry) On Thu, 15 May 2003 00:14:10 -0500 Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00011109 5/14/03 ce Sorry; my apologies. I was doing this late at night and I couldn't make the decsions that I probably should've to do a more invasive job of editing than I did. Again, sorry. >On May, Sat 10th, 2K3 >Roland X and/or Morgan Greywolfe writes... > >>"Driscoll" wrote... >> >> A shall port on the side of the Squimpossible rock opens and a >>smaller version of it flies off towards Dormammu. Cloaked with >>magics and technology and pure impobability to makes steadily >>towards Domamu's head, pausing when right beside it. A hatch opens >>and an arm and megaphone come out of the rocket and a mouth forms on >>the nosecone of the rocket. >> >> "HEY! Did you know your head's on fire????" At which point, *both* the Master of the Mystic Arts _and_ the Astral Draco-Lens-Mage do consecutive face faults. >>"Dhyrclhanc" wrote... >> >>*/Gotta go folks, carry on, I'll be back before you know it!/* and >>Dhyrclhanc's astral form streaks away from the battle, causing the >>green flame steam-shovels to disappear, but leaving the three >>Greater Elemental to continue with the, occasionally fruit filled, >>bombardment, and re-enters the Human Torch's body. > > [WHOA! Hey, that tickles!] Johnny objects mentally. ... and goes back to joining the committe of Dhyrclhanci in his head where they are discussing the best way to defeat Doom, something the current Johnny would be much more familiar with now that his sister made him the chief CEO of "Fantastic Four, Inc.", but I digress... >>Rob Nishakawa (aka Peter Eng) wrote... >> >> Rob quickly sketches out a circle, adds a few runes, then >>finishes it off with a clockwise spiral into the center, and a touch >>of magic. "This completes Summoning 101: the Circle of Sending. And >>now, Summoning 101: Create Food. Let There Be PIE!" Gotta love those food spells that they teach at the COM at IOU! >> Fruit pies pour from Rob's hands, landing on the Circle, until a >>three-foot high mound has formed. "Finally, the generation of an >>endpoint." /Would somebody please tell Doctor Strange to cast a >>conjuror's spiral, centered on Dormammu?/ > > *Doctor, there's a request for a summoning from these {} >dimensional coordinates,* R-R sends. > > [Hey, wait, how did we do _that?_] they wonder more forcefully. Doctor Strange shakes his head, almost violently, as if awaking from a daze... "Oh, certainly Reed, nothing simpler. Er, that _is_ you there, isn't it Reed?" > At that moment, a nine-foot tall mound of Hostess(tm) Fruit Pies >explodes, and a furious (but still extinguished) Dormammu seethes at >the assembled heroes. "RrrrRRRAAAHHHRRRrrr! You shall all PAY for >your abuse of the greatness of Dormammu and delicious fruit pies!" > > The assembled heroes boggle for a moment. "Oh. Yeah. Him," Roland >notes sardonically. Then the freelance immortal gets another >brainstorm (as Morgan gives Dormammu one...a small rain cloud just >big enough to drizzle on his head). He smiles wickedly. "Sib? Johnny? >I think Dormammu...needs a light." Dhyr-Johnny had been standing atop the saddle of the skycycle, his entire body flamed-on except for his lower-legs and feet, and dual helixes (helixi ?) of flame running up and down his arms. The Half-Dragon/Half-Human Torch had been contemplating where best to shove another high-intensity fire-bolt, when the Amalgamated "Fantastic Army of Light" began to fall apart into their component pieces... At which point, "Dhonny" began to have multicolored "St. Elmo's Fire" ripple over his entire body. whereupon, a full 21-foot tall Dhyrclhanc seemingly "falls", face-first, out of Johnny L. Storm's stomach. "Whoa, I had _that_ in my head?" says Johnny, and then begins to fly through what's left of the Doom-Blimp making sure to thoroughly skrag any possible left-over surprises left by the Lord of Latveria (say that ten-times fast... ;). Similarly, a recovered Dhyrclhanc lands right in-front of Dormammu, who just finished struggling out from under the neck-deep pile of fruit-pies. Dhyrclhanc quickly whistles a peppy tune and multiple arcs of crackling and multi-colored miniature lightning begin to jump between his two clawed hands. "I am 'only' a humble mage, Dormammu, but might even I suggest that you give-up while you are ahead and leave now?" Dormammu, his head still unlit, does a double-take at the, now, fully incarnated Lensdragon, as if he were seeing the Draconian Lensman for the first time. "Oh, it's _him_, or rather _you_. No thank you. Normally, I'd prefer to stay and recoup my Vengeance but if they're with _you_, then they've got enough to worry about and I'll, as you humans say, just take my losses and go." At which point, Dormammu disappears back to the Dark Dimension, in a bright burst of smoke and flame. Dhyrclhanc blinks, twice, and then dispells the electro-kinetic energies that had been still building within his hands. "What in the name of Klono's curving, carbon-alloy, fangs and stainless steel talons was _that_ all about?" ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 8: Fat lady's on in 5 On Thu, 15 May 2003 13:26:00 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011110 >On Thu, 15 May 2003 00:14:10 -0500 >Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00011109 > >Doctor Strange shakes his head, almost violently, as if awaking from >a daze... > >"Oh, certainly Reed, nothing simpler. Er, that _is_ you there, isn't >it Reed?" *Yes and no. It is...complex,* R-R sends in response. >"I am 'only' a humble mage, Dormammu, but might even I suggest that >you give-up while you are ahead and leave now?" > >Dormammu, his head still unlit, does a double-take at the, now, fully >incarnated Lensdragon, as if he were seeing the Draconian Lensman for >the first time. Dormammu the looks from the Sentinel-Lensdragon to the Starspawn and back, clearly weighing his options. He doesn't have any. The Lord of the Dark Dimension rubs his head irritably. (Being doused seems to affect Dormammu much like a normal person having a really bad case of dandruff. 8^) >"Oh, it's _him_, or rather _you_. No thank you. Normally, I'd prefer >to stay and recoup my Vengeance but if they're with _you_, then >they've got enough to worry about and I'll, as you humans say, just >take my losses and go." > >At which point, Dormammu disappears back to the Dark Dimension, in a >bright burst of smoke and flame. ...and as he vanishes, the entire pile of Hostess Fruit Pies disappears with him. >Dhyrclhanc blinks, twice, and then dispells the electro-kinetic >energies that had been still building within his hands. > >"What in the name of Klono's curving, carbon-alloy, fangs and >stainless steel talons was _that_ all about?" Roland blinks. Loudly. He turns to look at the towering Dhyrclhanc, then back to the clean, empty spot where Dormammu (and an entire host of pies ;^) had been a moment before, then back to his draconic sib. "Unless that had something to do with whatever you and Malais were on about a last year...beats the ever-livin' heck out of me." ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 8: Fat lady's on in 5 On Thu, 15 May 2003 21:00:55 -0400 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00011111 >On Thu, 15 May 2003 13:26:00 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011110 > >>"What in the name of Klono's curving, carbon-alloy, fangs and >>stainless steel talons was _that_ all about?" > > Roland blinks. Loudly. He turns to look at the towering >Dhyrclhanc, then back to the clean, empty spot where Dormammu (and an >entire host of pies ;^) had been a moment before, then back to his >draconic sib. "Unless that had something to do with whatever you and >Malais were on about a last year...beats the ever-livin' heck out of >me." Mike capped a small bottle of purple liquid that smelled of blueberries and slipped it into his blazer pocket. "If that isn't it, then I suggest, my multiplexing intertransspaciotemporal friend, you just wait and see," he said with a wry grin. "As one who knows, you'll drive yourself looney trying to figure it out." Mike also takes out a business card, scribbles a note on it, and passes it to Dr. Richards now that Roland is out of his head. 'If you would be interested in a guest lecturing position with our science and technology department, please give me a call (when you work out how)' and a little winking happy face was on the back, and on the front was the IOU logo, 'Dr. Michael Rufus Seven, Archdean, Illuminati University,' with interdimensional-trans-spacial-temporal coordinates along with a street address, and a phone number that involved an intermingling of relativity and chaos theory, with an extension that worked out to be the square root of negative pi. [I suspect he'll work that out by the time I get back, though whether he'll accept is anyone's guess.] Mike thinks to himself, [But gotta try.] ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 8: Fat lady's on in 5 On Thu, 15 May 2003 22:45:37 -0500 Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00011112 >On May, Thurs 15, 2003, Roland X writes... >>Dhyrclhanc wrote... >> >>Dhyrclhanc blinks, twice, and then dispells the electro-kinetic >>energies that had been still building within his hands. >> >>"What in the name of Klono's curving, carbon-alloy, fangs and >>stainless steel talons was _that_ all about?" > > Roland blinks. Loudly. He turns to look at the towering >Dhyrclhanc, then back to the clean, empty spot where Dormammu (and an >entire host of pies ;^) had been a moment before, then back to his >draconic sib. "Unless that had something to do with whatever you and >Malais were on about a last year...beats the ever-livin' heck out of >me." "Er... Even with my "Visualization of the Cosmic All" being what it is, I doubt it, Sib." "And if you ever run into that arrogant, self-absorbed, ego the size of the Golden-Gate Bridge, with arms, legs, scales and wings, tell him that if I ever meet him again, I'll be happy to hand his head to him, again." " 'Otherwise, Tonto, I think it's time we moving along; I think our work here is done... ' " Cue page from the House Computer :^D ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 8: Fat lady's on in 5 On Fri, 16 May 2003 09:58:24 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011114 >On Thu, 15 May 2003 22:45:37 -0500 >Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00011112 > >> On May, Thurs 15, 2003, Roland X writes... >> >> Roland blinks. Loudly. He turns to look at the towering >>Dhyrclhanc, then back to the clean, empty spot where Dormammu (and >>an entire host of pies ;^) had been a moment before, then back to >>his draconic sib. "Unless that had something to do with whatever you >>and Malais were on about last year...beats the ever-livin' heck out >>of me." > >"Er... Even with my "Visualization of the Cosmic All" being what it >is, I doubt it, Sib." Roland shrugs. "Didn't think so, but you never know..." >"And if you ever run into that arrogant, self-absorbed, ego the size >of the Golden-Gate Bridge, with arms, legs, scales and wings, tell >him that if I ever meet him again, I'll be happy to hand his head to >him, again." Roland just chuckles. >" 'Otherwise, Tonto, I think it's time we moving along; I think our >work here is done... ' " Roland looks at the Lensdragon with mock-confusion. "I thought _you_ were Tonto." Then he grins. "I considered commenting on my tribal blood..." he adds, looking the Big Guy over, "...but I think it's safe to say I'm more closely related to 'em both than you are." He winks. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 8: Fat lady's on in 5 On Sun, 18 May 2003 23:04:34 -0500 Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00011116 >On May, Fri 16, 2K3 Roland X writes.... >>Dhyrclhanc wrote... >> >>" 'Otherwise, Tonto, I think it's time we moving along; I think >> our work here is done... ' " > > Roland looks at the Lensdragon with mock-confusion. "I thought >you_ were Tonto." Then he grins. "I considered commenting on my >tribal blood..." he adds, looking the Big Guy over, "... but I think >it's safe to say I'm more closely related to 'em both than you are." >He winks. Dhyrclhanc does a double-take at his Freelance Immortal Sib-By-Troth and then glances momentarily skyward and mutters, briefly, as if half-silently adding to a rather lengthily, and invisible, list of grievances. Then his 21-foot tall draconian form temporarily turns into the organic jelly that represents his physical state during shapeshifting and reforms, now standing next to Roland, into Dhyrclhanc's more humanoid, wingless, 6-foot tall T'Skrang form. Dhyrclhanc reaches behind his back and withdraws what looks to Roland like a FN P-90, albeit slightly redesigned by Syd Mead, and points the business end at the Lensdragon's adopted brother. After Dhyrclhanc assumedly pulls the trigger, a burst of honey-roasted goodness shoots out the barrel and hits Roland square in the chest with enough force for him to feel it, but not enough to knock him over. =================================