Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 9 Chapter 8 Subject: Re: AAE 9: The Essence of Eric (was Power of the Darkseid) On Mon, 27 Oct 2003 21:35:18 -0800 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011419 >On Fri, 24 Oct 2003 20:12:18 -0700 (PDT) >Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011397 > >>On Thu, 23 Oct 2003 19:46:24 -0700 >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011395 >> >>>"Really? You'll have to introduce me sometime. Your father - and >>>mother - would be fascinating people to meet, I'm quite sure." Zia >>>says - innocently. She can even pull it off almost straight-faced. >> >> Eric forces his eyes not to bulge. In his current state, it's an >>effort. "Ah." He swallows quietly. "My parents...aren't privy to any >>more of my world's strangeness than has been made public." He looks >>west, though the clouds are obscured by the island's many >>structures. "Though that's quite a bit of strangeness now..." > >"And that effects introducing me how, exactly? I'm quite out of this >world for strangeness." Zia stops. "That didn't quite come out >right." Eric swallows, trying to regain his bearings. [Whoa. Forgot how much she kept me on my toes. Make that _keeps._] "To be more specific," he says, not _exactly_ changing the subject, "that they aren't aware of what I do, as they don't know about the sort of things I...deal with. Or am." >On Thu, 23 Oct 2003 17:24:43 -0700 (PDT) >Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011394 > >Ziactrice looks to the other side of her mental view, finding a large >dial to the lower right, labeled Soft and then Hard on each side. It >is currently resting at about 7/10's of the turn toward the Hard >position. > >With a grin, she turns it down to 3 out of 10 of the marks. The black >and silver armor flickers out, replaced by her ceramic black chain >mail, then by a skirted suit, then by a long dress, and then a silk >kimono in blue and dark purple and black embroidery, and finally, a >light sundress, without sleeves, in a light blue that matches her >eyes with utter precision. Her swords find someplace else to be >during this flickering fashion show. Eric quirks an eyebrow. (It doesn't quite reach Spocking. 8^) >"Now _that_ is a full service wardrobe. He wins that bet. As usual." >The petite Amberite murmurs. Then she meets Eric's eyes most >directly. "Indeed. A very useful piece of clothing," he notes, rather deliberately missing the reference to "he." The 'not-quite-smile' of old returns, but has a different quality -- one of gentle amusement at a universe determined to surprise him. Eric, of course, expects this and refuses to be surprised. >"I know of only two ways to recharge ch'i when the recipient is >nearly at nil. Do you prefer the mystical, or, ah, the physical - >well. Given your sister, and your own mastery, you are not unversed >in such arts - there is a method sexual in action." Then again, sometimes you just have to give in and let the universe know that it wins this time. Eric is amazingly still for about a minute or so. (Or maybe it's just shock. ) Then he rises smoothly, showing why he uses half-lotus for meditation -- the leg underneath allows him to stand almost instantly. (He _is_ still the Hunter, after all. 8^) He strides over to the window and looks out, eyes unfocused. Or perhaps, focused on something other than the garden. He shrugs, and his duster falls into an almost-perfect folded pile on the floor. A few efficient movements later, and his sleeveless tee is on top of the pile, not as neatly gathered but with all its attendant weapons atop it. If Zia hadn't already figured out what he's looking at (and knowing Zia, she probably had), she certainly does now. He's looking at his reflection. Slowly, he slides the glasses off. Once, he had a scar, a particularly livid one, running down from his right eye like a tear. (OOC: Yes, this is actually canon; though not described as anything related to crying, it shows up in an early description in AAE 6 -- part 1, ch. 2 to be specific. 8^) *begin flashback* Fires burned around him. Companions tossed aside like rag dolls, the supreme skills and powers of more than a dozen ultimate warriors -- futile, in the end, against a creature like the Lasombra. A few may yet live, but none move. The horribly ancient vampiric creature had Eric pinned to the ground in a barren crater; though she was savaged and weakened badly, Eric was all but out of ch'i and no longer any match for the antediluvian. "So," Eric said with inhuman calm, "are you going to kill me, or are you just going to stare?" The founder of the Lasombra clan laughed. "I have not been faced by one such as you since the Age of Sorrows." She smiled almost sweetly at him. "Cry for me. Add to my Raiment of Tears." Though her form was torn and her face was inhuman, with glowing blood-red eyes and long fangs, she was still beautiful in some strange way. "Unlikely," Eric said, still near-robotic in tone. The Lasombra -- bearer of the Raiment of Tears, whatever that was -- smiled more broadly. Taking one long, sharp talon, she carved a long groove into his face, tracing from his right eye down his cheek. "Have you no pity for your foes, mortal Hunter, noble Shih, as cold as the unbeating heart of my kind? None at all?" At just that moment, the clouds parted in a burst of light. Sunlight. The monster looked up and screamed. Were she stronger, this would have been but an inconvenience. Battle had left her weak, however. "None at all," Eric replied, kicking her with both legs -- just hard enough to throw her off. With most of his remaining ch'i, he forced himself to leap, a jump that carried him over three dozen yards away. The sunlight tightened, coalesced, and struck the Lasombra as cleaning fire. For a moment, she hung there, suspended in the blazing beam, nothing but a woman-shaped darkness in the light. "No tears for the lost, Hunter?" she asked sadly. And then she was gone. With the last dregs of his ch'i, Eric forced a burning heat into a single finger, and cauterized the wound without a flinch. Not even a drop of blood would provide the _pretense_ that he wept for her. "You were not lost, Lasombra of the Raiment of Tears," he said coolly. "You abandoned the path of your own free will." And he turned and walked away. *end flashback* Eric traces where the scar had been with his finger. He had only been "proud" of three of his scars -- where he had placed his body between an innocent and certain death. One had been a bullet wound, the other two the talons of monsters. He was not so much proud of the tissue as the lives he had saved. Those were marked on his body as white skin, but were otherwise not scar tissue. The rest were simply gone. Even now, he was not yet adjusting to the change. Many had been with him for so long that he had adapted the way he moved and flowed in battle to compensate for the loss of mobility. Studying his now-virgin tissue, the beautiful artwork on his chest of the tiger descending from his left shoulder and the dragon climbing toward his right now pristine, Eric realizes why their loss had thrown him. They were his litany of sins. Aside from the three that he remembers so vividly, each scar represented a creature he killed, a monster he destroyed. Even though every last one had been a horror, all killers, all brutal, they were still lives -- or unlives -- that Eric had ended. Most of his life since Julie died was destruction. The scars had somehow become, rather than a matter of pride as Zia had feared, the representations of his transgressions and weakness. And he feels somehow unworthy of being shriven of them. The scars are gone, but the acts remain. He runs his fingers along his now-smooth skin, both fascinated and disturbed. Finding Callahan's and these many amazing companions has changed him, and he now focuses more on protecting the innocent than hunting the guilty, but he remains the Hunter. [Later,] Eric decides, turning to face Zia. He considers the petite Amberite for a long moment, head cocked to one side in a decidedly human Whatever personal worth he may deal with (or not), he refuses to be unworthy of a lady. "As long as you realize," he says finally, an almost shy smile on his face, "that I'm horribly out of practice." It cannot escape the notice of either participant that Eric is already bare to the waist... >(OOC: This may be taken to the Risque Room, or suitably black-faded, >or done by mystical means should Eric prefer. OOC: For those Callahanians who may be wondering what the Risque Room is, we try to keep posts to a public forum to PG-13 at the outside. The violence would probably reach "R" on occasion if accompanied by appropriate visuals, but it's text. Anyway, we're off. (Yes, yes, we know, only a little and it hardly shows, right? ;^) ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: The Possibility Wars Roster Book ;^) On Tue, 28 Oct 2003 11:19:06 -0800 Patrick O'Shea Said As CAoL Message # 00011420 OOC: Once all the intros are done and out of the way... "Forgive my interruption, but what do you know about the forces that are currently attacking this city? Are there any weaknesses we can exploit against this Darkseid?" ================================= Subject: AAE 9: Here There Be Dragons On Tue, 28 Oct 2003 21:34:53 -0500 (EST) Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00011421 Introductions taken care of, Moonstone gave Karma's shoulder a small squeeze, "Be right back." Karma paused, then cast her gaze where Moonstone was looking and smiled, "Alright." Making her way toward the draconic lensman, she took an appropriately-sized form (as conditions allowed) and awaited a free moment. ^Hello, handsome,^ she sent him privately, ^Been a while.^ ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: The Possibility Wars Roster Book ;^) On Wed, 29 Oct 2003 20:45:49 -0800 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011422 >On Tue, 28 Oct 2003 11:19:06 -0800 >Patrick O'Shea Said As CAoL Message # 00011420 > >OOC: Once all the intros are done and out of the way... > >"Forgive my interruption, but what do you know about the forces that >are currently attacking this city? Are there any weaknesses we can >exploit against this Darkseid?" /"Fortunately, Darkseid's forces are _not_ attacking the city any longer at the moment,"/ Defender says in obvious relief on the subject. /"As for weaknesses, this is Darkseid we're talking about. He doesn't have many. With the Anti-Life Equation at his command, I doubt that we can run him out of X-Element -- the Source-related energy-substance that gives him most of his powers -- any time soon. Currently, my plan -- such as it is -- is to restore Suli's sanity. I've been doing some research,"/ he continues, gesturing at the computer with his remaining hand, /"and it seems that Darkseid's mother had her killed to keep her from 'poisoning' his mind with peaceful, positive uses of science. Doesn't exactly strike me as the sort of woman who would go for the Mad Harriet hairdo and facial."/ ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Here There Be Dragons On Fri, 31 Oct 2003 00:29:06 -0600 Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00011423 >On Tues, Oct 28th, 2K3, "Mike Knight" Said > >Introductions taken care of, Moonstone gave Karma's shoulder a small >squeeze, "Be right back." > >Karma paused, then cast her gaze where Moonstone was looking and >smiled, "Alright." > >Making her way toward the draconic lensman, she took an >appropriately-sized form (as conditions allowed) and awaited a free >moment. > >^Hello, handsome,^ she sent him privately, ^Been a while.^ Obviously Moonstone hadn't noticed the that the Sentinel-Lendragon had been, up until this point anyway, lost in thought and staring, seemingly idly, into space. Immediately after she "spoke" to him, however, his eyes seemed to focus and he turned his head towards the smaller, opalescent white dragon. At which point, just before she severed the initial telepathic contact, she could hear "Bad Company's" "Am I Ready For Love" playing in the background of the draconic Lensman's mental processes. Apparently the Lensdragon's sub-conscious and special form of Spatial-Awareness saved his bacon once again. Finally, His eyes focused on Moonstone and he blinked, shaking himself out of whatever state he'd been in. "Oh, well, Hello Miss Moonstone." he closed his eyes and tipped his head. "This is something of an unexpected pleasure. Yes. It _has_ been some time since the last time we saw each other. I must say that you are looking well. Obviously the time has treated you well, then. Or am I mistaken?" He paused, closing his eyes and opening them again. "These are not exactly the best circumstances for any sort of a reunion, at all. I'm afraid." he said, as if apologizing for something. "Please, forgive me my manners. How have you been?" He added and then waited quietly for the, in contrast, petite dragon's response. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: The Possibility Wars Roster Book ;^) On Fri, 31 Oct 2003 02:04:19 -0600 Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00011424 >On Weds, Oct 29th, 2K3, Roland X writes... > > /"Fortunately, Darkseid's forces are _not_ attacking the city any >longer at the moment,"/ Defender says in obvious relief on the >subject. /"As for weaknesses, this is Darkseid we're talking about. >He doesn't have many. With the Anti-Life Equation at his command, I >doubt that we can run him out of X-Element -- the Source-related >energy-substance that gives him most of his powers -- any time soon. >Currently, my plan -- such as it is -- is to restore Suli's sanity. >I've been doing some research,"/ he continues, gesturing at the >computer with his remaining hand, /"and it seems that Darkseid's >mother had her killed to keep her from 'poisoning' his mind with >peaceful, positive uses of science. Doesn't exactly strike me as the >sort of woman who would go for the Mad Harriet hairdo and facial."/ /*"Perhaps this is more along the lines of what our new friend was asking for" ^{}^*/" interjects Dhyrclhanc, sending a zipped mental file of all commonly known(1) info about Darkseid, his Elite, and Apokalips & New Genesis and Darkseid's eternal enmity with the New Gods, along to the Kai Lord. (1) ...Or at least commonly known to Four-Color Comic-Book Fanboys like Roland and myself, in RL. B^D ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Here There Be Dragons On Mon, 3 Nov 2003 21:45:25 -0500 (EST) Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00011431 >On Fri, 31 Oct 2003 00:29:06 -0600 >Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00011423 > >Obviously Moonstone hadn't noticed the that the Sentinel-Lendragon >had been, up until this point anyway, lost in thought and staring, >seemingly idly, into space. If she had, she isn't letting on. >Immediately after she "spoke" to him, however, his eyes seemed to >focus and he turned his head towards the smaller, opalescent white >dragon. > >At which point, just before she severed the initial telepathic >contact, she could hear "Bad Company's" "Am I Ready For Love" playing >in the background of the draconic Lensman's mental processes. [Well, that is the question, isn't it?] she mused to herself. >Apparently the Lensdragon's sub-conscious and special form of >Spatial-Awareness saved his bacon once again. This would depend on whether his thoughts had been on her or some other dragon. Not that she has laid any sort of claim on the CAoL's dragon-in-residence, but it could have been some time since they last spoke and situations change. >Finally, His eyes focused on Moonstone and he blinked, shaking >himself out of whatever state he'd been in. [Welcome back,] Moonstone thought to herself, [Was that daydream for me?] >"Oh, well, Hello Miss Moonstone." he closed his eyes and tipped his >head. By dragon standards, her grin was mischievious, her head slightly cocked to one side, considering 'Oh, well, Hello Miss Moonstone,' to be something of a humorous turn of phrase, reminding her of something she might have heard on 'The Andy Griffith Show'. She bobbed her head as well in reply. >"This is something of an unexpected pleasure. Yes. It _has_ been some >time since the last time we saw each other. I must say that you are >looking well. Obviously the time has treated you well, then. Or am I >mistaken?" "Yes, I've been doing fairly well," Moonstone agreed. >He paused, closing his eyes and opening them again. "These are not >exactly the best circumstances for any sort of a reunion, at all. I'm >afraid." he said, as if apologizing for something. Moonstone chuckled, "It's not the best, true, but I thought I should at least say 'hello.'" >"Please, forgive me my manners. How have you been?" He added and then >waited quietly for the, in contrast, petite dragon's response. Moonstone smiled, "Fine, thank you. You seem to have expanded your roster. If you don't mind my asking, are these old friends or new?" ================================= Subject: AAE 9: A Death in the Family On Mon, 03 Nov 2003 21:05:00 -0800 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011432 Note: This takes place after the Essence of Eric and most healing/rest/recovery CAoLers need or want to do. Hillsborough is one of the wealthier areas of Bay City (nee San Francisco). Even the most respectable parts of town have their secrets, however -- indeed, it could be argued that the wealthiest sections of a city are those with the most secrets. The Thorne Mansion is one of those secrets. Earth-9 is under attack. Some of these attacks -- like the invasions of Darkseid and Pharaoh Mobius -- are overt, military invasions. Others, like those of Zoltar and the Gaunt Man, are more insidious. The Gaunt Man's efforts are particularly corrosive, as (unlike the other High Lords) he is content to take small areas, leave them as mixed realms, and undermine them slowly with fear. While this is no longer a world of darkness, there are more than enough corrupt forces in the world that finding allies is no challenge for one such as the High Lord of Horror. For weeks, Bay City has "enjoyed" an increase in strangeness. Its resident protectors -- Roland and Morgan Greywolf-Phoenix -- have been kept busy quite handily by the schemes of the myriad invaders. So it falls to more native defenders to fight an invasion from within. Thus far, their luck has been...less than ideal. "This is it," Logan, an experienced Virtual Adept, says grimly. A few taps on his palmtop and the readout on his shades changes to filter native corruptions from alien ones. "Hey Rio, isn't this where that lame-o Nephandi with a hate-on for your heroes came from?" The young Ecstatic thinks for a minute. "Yeah, Adrian Thorne. He studied up on swordplay and thought he could take Lady Morgan. As Roland puts it, Thorne lost his head over another man's wife," she adds with a wicked grin. Sir Ulf, resident knight of Concordia, snorts out a chuckle. "He was a real pain, huh?" Logan asks. "A real Thorne in their side," Rio agrees. A computer-screen green peanut forms out of glowing code in the air, and bounces off Rio's head harmlessly. "If you're through, 'Neo,' we should investigate," Ulf, the troll warrior, comments with a grin. "Get serious, you two," Logan snaps. "Whatever this weird reality crap covering the world is, some of it's coming from there." He gestures at the mansion with a VR-gloved hand. "The disappearances, the vampires -- sorry, _vampyres,_" he corrects derisively, "the weird reports of accidents an' the like...it's all connected. And this is the center of it." Logan's face goes hard, a clearly uncharacteristic expression for the VA. "I got my fill of this crap before the Reckoning, and I'll be damned if I let it start again _now._" "Great speech," Ulf comments dryly. "You got a plan to actually _do_ something about it?" Logan's expression goes flat. Then he starts to tap at the palmtop with gusto. "Let's see how they like being trapped in a spiritual/spacial recursive loop..." The palmtop sparks dramatically with an impressive crackling sound. "YEOW!" Logan waves at the computer to cool it off. "So much for plan 'A.'" "Whoa. _Serious_ countermagick," Rio comments. That's when the zombies begin to pour out of a storm cellar. Though they're not exactly zombies. Plant-like and barely humanoid, these monstrosities shamble forward, blindly unafraid, towards the two mages and their faerie companion. Then more human-seeming versions of the creatures, armed with ancient blunderbusses and with enough of a mouth to have fangs, begin herding strange land-based octopoids out. Behind them all, a thin wisp of a remnant of a man follows. "Two spellcasters and a creature of glamour," he exposits to himself, taking notes. "Harvest the livers of the humans, keep the fingers in ice, pickle the eyes. Take the glamour-thing alive for experimentation." Ulf's eyes bulge as he summons his mace from the Dreaming. "My friends? Do either of you find that as disturbing as I?" "Yeah. I like my body parts where they _are,_" Rio quips back. Then her fingers play across her MP3 unit, weaving Time and Entropy to weaken the creatures. For a moment, the things waver. Logan gets his trinary palmtop working again, sending the spacial senses of the creatures (whatever they may be) for a loop. Ulf summons power into his weapon, ready to dance. Then it all falls apart. The creatures, embodiments of corruption and decay, shrug off Rio's attack. The dry, half-dead man makes several notes on his pad, and a second countermagick wave hits the trio. Though they are ready for this, the occultist's effect is enough to protect the horrors. They advance. "I'm calling for backup," Logan states flatly, typing furiously. "Better hurry," Ulf says, wading in, mace flying. Rio scowls at the advancing creatures, then adjusts. Entropy was the right idea, she just didn't use it the right way. This time, the effect removes entropic (void) energies rather than enhancing them. Coupled with the Time increase, the basic plant-things begin to fall apart. "That's my girl," Logan comments with a smile. Then another man appears, looking entirely human (indeed, a very well dressed human), though the way he grabs Logan by the neck and hauls him into the air effortlessly hints at something more. "You should have left bad enough alone," he laughs coldly. "This will be your grave, I think." "Logan! Rio!" Ulf turns, trying to head back, but one of the multi-tentacled horrors lashes at him, grabbing both arms and a leg. Thinking desperately, Rio switches songs to one of her more fae-oriented ones. The newcomer quirks an eyebrow at her. "And what is _that_ supposed to do, little pretty?" he asks amusedly. A mace virtually identical to Ulf's appears in Logan's hand. The Nephandus, realizing his peril at the last moment, curses and tosses Logan back just as the mace whistles through the air. "Owe...you one, beautiful," Logan coughs. The Nephandus then snarls a chant that sounds eerily like the Black Tongue of Mordor. "You dare cross Eldred Thorne? Die, fools," he spits as he finishes, his own magick flowing together with the alien occultist's to depress magick almost entirely. "Uh-oh," Logan sputters. The half-alive Orrorshan sorcerer actually cackles as Ulf manages to retreat back to them. "Backup?" Ulf asks. Logan shakes his head. Thorne laughs darkly. "Ask the time-witch, boys. Your future is nasty, brutish, and very, very shor--" An explosion of fire and lightning cuts Thorne short as a seemingly middle-aged man appears, dressed casually -- for the 1940s -- and a cavalry saber in one hand. "Eldred Thorne. I thought I got rid of you," the newcomer says in a casual, almost friendly tone. The occultist in the distance begins recalculating. "An immortal. Useful for brain tissue, spinal column, heart, intestines..." "Who's your friend?" the Eternal asks, gesturing at the insane occultist with his saber. Thorne retreats. "Kill them all!" He begins chanting again as he runs back. "Some things never change," the immortal comments, the saber slashing up and down in workmanlike fashion. Each stroke shreds one of the plant-like zombies into mulch. "You kids better get out of here," he comments with a friendly smile, nodding towards the monsters. "I'll handle this bunch." Ulf grits his teeth at the "kids" comment, then his eyes go wide at the newcomer's willingness to "handle" the small army. "We're staying." The Eternal sighs. "It's got to be this way. I've sensed it. Your lady looks like a C of X," he says, saluting Rio with his blade in between devastating blows. "She can tell you." Rio considers their options...and the consequences thereof. "He's right. We're needed uptown." Her eyes go wide. "They're about to attack the Scarlet Mansion!" "Damn. The biggest mage Chantry in Bay City. If that goes down..." Logan curses a blue streak. "I've got an exit! Sir, you gonna be okay?" Ulf blinks, his own mace lashing out wildly (in contrast to the Eternal's workmanlike efficiency). "You know this guy?" "Later!" Logan snarls, typing furiously. "I'll manage," their rescuer replies cryptically. "Just tell them...I did my duty." "That doesn't sound--" Ulf begins. "Got it! Hang on!" Logan cries, and both mages and changeling vanish in a burst of emerald code. * * * Not far from Golden Gate Park, overlooking the Pacific. "I'm messaging the Chantry Mistress now," Logan explains as he types. "I'm getting multiple anomalous signatures from the east." "So who _was_ that?" Rio asks. "He looked familiar." Logan chuckles. "Him? That was James Phoenix, kiddo." There's a long pause as Ulf and Rio blink at the Virtual Adept. "_Roland's_ dad?" Rio blurts. Logan nods. "The one and only. He had a rep before the kid was even born. Y'ask me, those slimeballs are the ones in trouble." He frowns at his deck. "At least, over there. You can check if you want, but don't take long." Rio's fingers play over her...rio. She checks one of James' futures. And another one. And another. "Gaia." "CRAP!" Logan blurts. "They SHIFTED!" And the mages of Bay City are suddenly too busy to do anything but fight for their lives... * * * James Phoenix, one-time agent of the Aeon Society and lifelong defender of reality, shakes his head as the more intelligent monsters fall back, sending the cannon fodder to fall forward. Which, he ensures, they do. "You sure you want to do this, Thorne?" Thorne chants even more horribly than before. After a few moments of watching James plow through horrors, he looks up in shock. "You're INSANE!" "It's called 'love,' Thorne. Not that I'd expect you to understand. You can run, or you can die," Phoenix replies simply. Thorne runs. "How about you, ugly?" the immortal asks the occultist, who is still taking notes. "Are you more brains than guts?" With a quick look at the thing's emaciated frame, he adds, "Not that you have much of either." The withered thing does not respond. It does not even look up from its note-taking. "Have it your way," James mutters, lashing out with a psychic probe. It is fairly common knowledge that the immortals of Earth-9 have strict rules of engagement when it comes to telepathic contact. Mental intrusion is not entirely forbidden, however -- it is simply too useful for that. To invade the mind of another is to effectively declare yourself absolutely opposed to your target; it is a mark of utter enmity. James figures that any such declaration against this horror would be trivial if not openly obvious. However, even the old warhorse is stunned by what he finds. Inside the man's mind is ugliness, cruelty, and sheer, relentless disregard for his victims that is stunning in its inhumanity. Worse, the creature was human itself once, named Stanton Cheltenham, a lord from a Britain-like nation called Victoria. The creature's sole desire is to gain more occult power and knowledge, literally to the exclusion of all else; it serves its master, the Gaunt Man, with dog-like loyalty because he is the alien reality's master of occult understanding. Survival is only important in how it serves the creature's access to more of this foul, corrupt magick. [In a century, I've never encountered a fouler thing,] James thinks disgustedly. Still, he knows what the monster is -- the invasion leader's master of evil sorcery. And he knows its weakness. Slashing his way to the creature, he uses his telekinesis for one final burst of speed, flying into the monster and piercing its heart with his sword. The thing looks up in surprise. "What are you doing?" it asks, suddenly afraid, suddenly aware that its existence might genuinely be in danger. "You brought a lot of your books with you, didn't you?" Mr. Phoenix asks conversationally, as claws tear into his back. He ignores the sudden, desperate assault. "No -- I must not -- must not -- you will die as well!" the thing gasps with a rasping snarl. As papers and tomes fly about the pair, bursting into flames, a searing magic burns the elder Phoenix from within. "I've heard of people who can't live without their obsessions, but you take the cake," James quips even as the foul counterattack tears at his blood. Even his immortal Halo seems to have limited effect against this power. Not that it matters. He never gave up hope, but he knew his likely fate when he chose to face this horror in the first place. [I never did like ESP,] James decides, for the thousandth time no doubt. And the last. Much of the Gaunt Man's power comes from the desire of sentient beings to survive. More often than not, it takes a willingness to die to overcome his "Ecology of Horror." Such willingness in an immortal is proving even more potent. With a final, determined burst of power, the mansion, the monsters, and their master are all consumed in a flash of light. The stelae shatter. The invading reality pops like an obscene bubble. Impossibly, the Possibilities of the ordinary people of the city are restored from...somewhere. The monsters attacking the Scarlet Mansion -- and all of Bay City -- are suddenly weakened. Every use of their powers endangers their very existence, and their ability to evoke a literally unnatural fear is lost. And all it costs is one brave man's life. * * * Champions Island. The gathered heroes have reached a lull in their planning. Roland Phoenix, the Defender, has withdrawn to a side chamber, where he is surrounded by status maps from around the world. He taps idly at a keyboard with his remaining hand, doing most of the work with his cyberkinesis. "Frustrated" is the only word that applies, but it's woefully inadequate for his incredible feeling of powerlessness. [I've got what may be the most powerful collection of heroic forces ever assembled on my side,] he thinks, teeth grinding under his helm, [and I can't do a damn thing.] After a moment, he adds a phenomenally savage [YET.] to the thought queue. "We've got a plan," Morgan (who is, of course, by his side) points out. "People are resting, recovering, and researching." Roland nods, reaching over to squeeze his beloved's hand gently. "I know, I know, but the Source only knows what the High Lords are doing while we figure out what to do about Darksei--" QUICKENING. From everywhere and nowhere, Roland is surrounded and suffused by Eternal power in a rush unlike any he's ever felt before. His armor screams and flows like water, soaking into his very skin, bonding to him even more completely than before. He wants to scream -- not in pain, but from sheer intensity -- though no sound comes out. Just getting the residue from this flow, Morgan is staggered. And Roland is suddenly in a mindscape. Home, many years ago. "Hello, Roland." Roland gapes. "Dad?! What are you doing here?" He's grateful for the presence, but with so many distractions -- Then it hits him. _Quickening._ "Oh, Source," Roland gasps. His father is dressed casually, an image from his childhood, a familiar smile he hasn't seen in too long. A man at ease. "It's all right, R.J. I knew this was coming." The elder Phoenix puts a comforting hand on Roland's shoulder. "I'm going to miss you and Lana, of course, but I think I've earned a break." He chuckles, but his voice cracks as he says it. "God, Dad...I just...there's so much..." Roland babbles. "I know. Even immortals never have enough time." James looks intently in his son's eyes. "I know I told you this once, but it's the one thing I'm not sure you know that I _want_ you to know. In your heart. In your soul. I'm _proud_ of you." "But...but..." James sighs, still smiling. "I know, we never exactly saw eye-to-eye on some things. You always stuck to your guns, though, you always fought to make a difference, and you never gave up. You're going to be fine." Roland throws his arms around his father. "I love you, Dad." "I know. I love you too, R.J." And he is gone. Roland is suddenly back in the room. He has both arms, and he gleams a bright sapphire. Morgan is already holding him. He hugs her fiercely, tears streaming down his face. * * * Defender returns to the ready room. He looks different, to say the least. (See http://silver-gateway.com/rc/chars/defender2.png for Defender 2.0.) The Champions' leader is, if anything, more powerful than ever, and for those with the senses to feel it he crackles with cosmic power. He's got his game face on, but those who know him can tell he'd rather still be "Lefty." "I. Ah." Roland takes a deep breath and starts again. "Bay City is safe. There was an attack...anyway." Deep breath. Again. "There is a ritual among Eternals of my world, a very rare ritual. If an immortal dies without his head or heart being taken, the Quickening can be sent to another. Typically, someone close to the person. That's why..." he gestured with his newly-restored right arm. Morgan quietly reaches out and squeezes his shoulder, and Roland gratefully takes the hand with his left. "My father just stopped the invasion there, took out the Gaunt Man's top occultist. Our first major victory. Really, really major. It...cost him his life." Roland takes one more deep breath, then goes into "leader" mode. "I can already feel the support and friendship I'd expect from Callahanians, and believe me I'm grateful." He manages a smile. "I'll deal with this later, though. For now," he finishes, looking at his restored arm, which crackles with lightning enough to power a city, "I think a plan to deal with Amazo has just come to me." And with that, he falls into place through sheer force of will. "Fuzzy, between my Gate Key powers and whatever you've got concocted, I think we can keep Amazo from duplicating my powers. Aurora, Hydra, I have an idea of how to get around the super-guns. The Anti-Life Equation is still the elephant in the room, but if we can get to Darkseid we can get around it -- and Suli is still the key. Just not the way I thought at first. Between our various telepaths and reality-tinkerers, I think we can get Darkseid to take care of this invasion _for_ us. "Any questions?" Dedicated to Thomas Richard Flanagan, 1943-2003 ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: A Death in the Family On Tue, 04 Nov 2003 00:28:24 -0800 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00011433 >On Mon, 03 Nov 2003 21:05:00 -0800 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011432 > > "Fuzzy, between my Gate Key powers and whatever you've got >concocted, I think we can keep Amazo from duplicating my powers. >Aurora, Hydra, I have an idea of how to get around the super-guns. >The Anti-Life Equation is still the elephant in the room, but if we >can get to Darkseid we can get around it -- and Suli is still the >key. Just not the way I thought at first. Between our various >telepaths and reality-tinkerers, I think we can get Darkseid to take >care of this invasion _for_ us. > "Any questions?" The Bard glances up from his fingering exercises. "Just one comes to mind off hand. Well...two, really. What _is_ the plan, and how do I and my friends fit in?" ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: A Death in the Family On Tue, 4 Nov 2003 04:04:05 -0800 (PST) Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011434 >On Mon, 03 Nov 2003 21:05:00 -0800 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011432 > >"My father just stopped the invasion there, took out the Gaunt Man's >top occultist. Our first major victory. Really, really major. >It...cost him his life." "Eric," the Lady-Knight of Amber whispers, startling him because it's very unlike her to interrupt anyone, "cover for me. I'll be back soon." She eases out, a doorway of polychromatic light flashing briefly as she vanishes to the blasted landscape of the battle in Bay City. "You'll excuse me, I hope, Mr. Pheonix." She says, respectfully, though not expecting any answer. "The knight who trained me taught me that we have an obligation to our comrades in war to see their swords home to their families. As they would for us, if we ourselves fall." The Lady-Knight of Amber is a Taoist; life and death mean something a bit different to her - and ancestor worship is rather the thing among her family. Talking to the dead is not unusual, save for this isn't a member of her Blood, for once. The armored figure pauses to survey the scene with pursed lips, then she adds quixotically. "Although, given how quite mangled you left the Bad Guys, perhaps it did not survive, eh? Well, I can only look. If no one asks, I don't have to tell them if my search is fruitless." Using her ability to shift Shadow, Zia turns slowly, taking a step in a random direction, trying to let it lead her to where the blade might be lost. If it exists, still. > "Fuzzy, between my Gate Key powers and whatever you've got >concocted, I think we can keep Amazo from duplicating my powers. >Aurora, Hydra, I have an idea of how to get around the super-guns. >The Anti-Life Equation is still the elephant in the room, but if we >can get to Darkseid we can get around it -- and Suli is still the >key. Just not the way I thought at first. Between our various >telepaths and reality-tinkerers, I think we can get Darkseid to take >care of this invasion _for_ us. > "Any questions?" "Would you break that last down a little, please? I didn't get it. And... well, some of us like to have some few cues for the acts before the climax." Ziactrice quips with wicked humor, carefully +not+ looking at Eric as she does so. She takes her seat by his side, again, as she removes her helm to speak more politely without the armor over her face. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: A Death in the Family On Tue, 4 Nov 2003 20:55:32 -0500 (EST) Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00011435 >On Tue, 04 Nov 2003 00:28:24 -0800 >Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00011433 > >The Bard glances up from his fingering exercises. "Just one comes to >mind off hand. Well...two, really. What _is_ the plan, and how do I >and my friends fit in?" Karma says, "I think the plan, such as it is, is to occupy Darkseid's troops while one or more of the telepaths attempts to infiltrate Suli's mind and heal it. The idea being with her sanity restored, her desire for peace will move Darkseid to call off the invasion. As with the last attack, I presume we engage the enemy according to our abilities. That's presuming Defender here has not come up with a better method to encourage Darkseid to leave this world alone." ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: A Death in the Family On Wed, 5 Nov 2003 10:12:21 -0600 Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00011436 >On Tues, Nov 4th, 2K3 "Mike Knight" writes... > >Karma says, "I think the plan, such as it is, is to occupy Darkseid's >troops while one or more of the telepaths attempts to infiltrate >Suli's mind and heal it. The idea being with her sanity restored, her >desire for peace will move Darkseid to call off the invasion. As with >the last attack, I presume we engage the enemy according to our >abilities. That's presuming Defender here has not come up with a >better method to encourage Darkseid to leave this world alone." "... And I guess that means that yours truly gets to take on old crater-puss himself, again", says Dhyrclhanc, to no one in particular, "Oh joy." he finishes in a non-plussed voice. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Here There Be Dragons (Long)(sorry!) On Wed, 5 Nov 2003 11:11:46 -0600 Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00011437 >On Mon, Nov 3rd, 2K3, Mike Knight writes... > >>Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc wrote... >> >>Apparently the Lensdragon's sub-conscious and special form of >>Spatial-Awareness saved his bacon once again. > >This would depend on whether his thoughts had been on her or some >other dragon. Not that she has laid any sort of claim on the CAoL's >dragon-in-residence, but it could have been some time since they last >spoke and situations change. Trying not to get too technical, there are a number of layers of Dhyrclhanc's "internal psychological architecture", for lack of a better term. Some of this I've touched upon before, but, IC-ly, no one within the current roster of the CAoL is aware of any of this, except for maybe Fuzzy, who -- I suspect -- has his suspicions, but I digress. What everyone around him "sees" is a sophisticated facade, which is so sophisticated that even the facade doesn't realize that it's a facade. This is what someone else would refer to as Dhyrchanc's conscious mind. Behind this is a gestalt of a large number of multiple copies of Dhyrclhanc's "core" personality, all running in parallel with each other, which, in addition to everything else the gestalt is doing, generates and maintains the facade. This is what might best be called Dhyrclhanc's higher subconscious. Behind this, are all the individual copies of Dhyrclhanc's core personality, all working independent of each other in small alcoves of Dhyrclhanc's segmented psyche. This is what might best be described as Dhyrclhanc's deeper subconscious. My point is that the song that Moonstone "heard" wasn't something that Dhyrclhanc was doing consciously and was rather more likely to be coming from some level of his sub-consciousness. While Moonstone wouldn't be able to detect any cracks in Dhyrclhanc's conscious mind which would enable her to determine that it wasn't anything else than what it appeared to be on the surface, she'd probably be able to tell that it wasn't anything more than a stray thought -- not really directly connected to anything going on outside of himself. His _sub-conscious_, OTOH... Which is what I was trying to imply with my original comment.... >>Finally, His eyes focused on Moonstone and he blinked, shaking >>himself out of whatever state he'd been in. > >[Welcome back,] Moonstone thought to herself, [Was that daydream for >me?] See my comments above. >>"Oh, well, Hello Miss Moonstone." he closed his eyes and tipped his >>head. > >By dragon standards, her grin was mischievous, her head slightly >cocked to one side, considering 'Oh, well, Hello Miss Moonstone,' to >be something of a humorous turn of phrase, reminding her of something >she might have heard on 'The Andy Griffith Show'. She bobbed her head >as well in reply. Actually, Moonstone would be able to tell that he was just trying to be polite. He remembers how much he annoyed Moonstone in the past by calling her "Moonshadow" but he can't call her just "Moonstone", because it reminds him of Karla Sofen; the "Moonstone" from the MU, recently of the Thunderbolts. >>He paused, closing his eyes and opening them again. "These are not >>exactly the best circumstances for any sort of a reunion, at all. >>I'm afraid." he said, as if apologizing for something. > >Moonstone chuckled, "It's not the best, true, but I thought I should >at least say 'hello.'" "... And I am glad you did, but ... " >>"Please, forgive me my manners. How have you been?" He added and >>then waited quietly for the, in contrast, petite dragon's response. > >Moonstone smiled, "Fine, thank you. You seem to have expanded your >roster. If you don't mind my asking, are these old friends or new?" This presumes that this is before Dhyrclhanc makes his introductions. Which is, AFAIC, a pretty safe bet. "'My Roster', as you call it, has expanded somewhat but not as much as you might think." Dhyrclhanc answered, with a grin. "Mark Twelve is the result of yet another one of my attempts to meddle with Time-Space in order to try to put right what went wrong the first time." He sent a mental image /{}/ to Moonstone of the silvery, humanoid robot with the jack o'lantern face, including the grin with the more than slight air of malevolence to it. "His actual story is quite complicated, not to mention convoluted, so I will refrain from boring you with it here. Nightwraith /{}(mental image indicating the silvery gray-black serpent-like dragon)/ is the something of the same; unjustly accused of a crime he did not intentionally commit, a greater justice demanded that I avail to him a better chance to fulfill his potential." Dhyrclhanc added, with a mental shrug. "As for the rest of them, for reasons I would rather not get into at this moment, I was made aware of Darkseid's attack of this Earth's New York and I went in search of help from any organization, or organizations, who'd be willing to provide me with 'back-up', as it were." "I found two such organizations on the alternate, post-apocalyptic Earth, that is called Rifts-Earth by the inhabitants, I believe that one of our friend Michael Seven's group is familiar with it. The first such organization is called 'Megaversal Legion" and the other, 'The New Navy'." " 'The Megaversal Legion' are a group of cybernetic, trans-dimensional mercenaries who used to be a slave army to a race called the Dakir. The Legion is composed of Human Army Personnel from the U.S.'s 7th Armored Cavalry Division from yet another alternate Earth and the 3rd Rifles, a group of Foot Soldiers, from a race called the Ojahee, who combine the traits of Ogres, Next Gen-Era Klingons and Japanese Samurai. The 'Megaversal Legion' is based in their two base cities 'Fort Desperado' and 'Peace City, built atop what was once La Paz in the pre-Rifts country of Bolivia. So I journeyed there and was able to gain their employment as a land unit in this conflict." "The 'New Navy', on the other hand, is the remains of a special force of a combined Navy and Marine Task Force housed primarily in the Pre-Rifts submersible aircraft carrier, the 'U.S.S. Ticonderoga', although they have now grown into a powerful force of four fleets of submersible vessels that all patrol the North Atlantic, not to mention their two underwater bases, named 'Refugee' and 'Salavation', respectfully. The 'New Navy' is commanded by Nemo Dobson, one of the many members of the 'New Navy' who were transformed into the equivalent of supernatural creatures, and I was able to convince him to allow the crews of three of the submarines under his command, who had volunteered for the duty, to join me to act as waterborne and air-support. You probably saw the 'air-subs' during the end of the initial battle. Those comprise one-half of the air-power that they brought with them." "Since we are on the subject of new friends, who is that new friend of yours? Is there anything you can add to what she already said?" Dhyrclhanc asked, jovially. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: A Death in the Family On Tue, 04 Nov 2003 21:07:01 -0800 Patrick O'Shea Said As CAoL Message # 00011438 >On Tue, 4 Nov 2003 20:55:32 -0500 (EST) >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00011435 > >Karma says, "I think the plan, such as it is, is to occupy Darkseid's >troops while one or more of the telepaths attempts to infiltrate >Suli's mind and heal it. The idea being with her sanity restored, her >desire for peace will move Darkseid to call off the invasion. As with >the last attack, I presume we engage the enemy according to our >abilities. That's presuming Defender here has not come up with a >better method to encourage Darkseid to leave this world alone." Overhearing this, Patrick nods. "Based on what has been shared with me about this Darkseid, it does sound like a good plan. Some foes are too powerful to fight directly, after all." ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Here There Be Dragons (Long)(sorry!) On Wed, 5 Nov 2003 00:40:09 -0500 (EST) Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00011439 >On Wed, 5 Nov 2003 11:11:46 -0600 >Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00011437 > >"Since we are on the subject of new friends, who is that new friend >of yours? Is there anything you can add to what she already said?" >Dhyrclhanc asked, jovially. Moonstone glanced toward Karma. "Not really, I've known her about as long as you have. She's a bit shy about her remembered abilities, but she's very good at just about everything she's discovered she can do. Does make me wonder what else she can do when she needs to." ================================= Subject: AAE9: Saving Suli (was: Re: AAE 9: A Death in the Family) On Thu, 6 Nov 2003 23:32:36 -0600 Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00011441 >On Tue, 04 Nov 2K3 "Patrick O'Shea" writes... > >Overhearing this, Patrick nods. "Based on what has been shared with >me about this Darkseid, it does sound like a good plan. Some foes are >too powerful to fight directly, after all." Dhyrclhanc sniggers to himself, quietly, then approaches the table around which many of the more human-sized, and -looking, members of both the Champions and the CAoL have congregated. His size adjusts itself as he comes nearer, to the point at which he's reduced himself to Ted Cassidy-size (the actor who played "Lurch" in the original "Adams Family" series as well as acting in one or two eps of "Star Trek:TOS") by the time he reaches the table. "In that case, let me offer this to our endeavor." and reached to his left, whereupon his arm, up to the elbow at least, disappears. His face took on a slightly uncomfortable look to it, as he appeared to be adjusting something, and then pulled his arm out of the hyperspace pocket that he'd reached into, and pulled out a helmet that looked like a cross between a Babylon 5 breathing mask and a paintball helmet and face shield. He placed this onto the table and slid it over in Roland and Morgan's direction. "This is a hybrid electronarcosis and dream-teaching unit, plus it has a 12-hour air-supply. Presuming that someone can get it on her, it will immediately knock Suli into a REM-sleep state and also render her into a suggestive-state that should make any "teeps" that want to try to help cure her of her current mental problems." "You understand that normally, neither Fuzzy or I are in the habit of creating devices like this, but the state of entire planet is at state here, and it certainly does not make it any less urgent that this is Roland and Morgan's home that we're talking about." Anyone who inspects the helmet will find it a bit heaver than one would expect (almost 11 lbs.), but it shouldn't be anything that a New God couldn't be able to support. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: A Death in the Family On Fri, 7 Nov 2003 06:30:57 -0600 Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00011442 >On Mon Nov 3rd, 2K3, Roland X writes... > > Roland takes one more deep breath, then goes into "leader" mode. >"I can already feel the support and friendship I'd expect from >Callahanians, and believe me I'm grateful." He manages a smile. "I'll >deal with this later, though. For now," he finishes, looking at his >restored arm, which crackles with lightning enough to power a city, >"I think a plan to deal with Amazo has just come to me." And with >that, he falls into place through sheer force of will. Dhyrclhanc, still Ted Cassidy-sized, puts a hand on Roland's shoulder, if only mentally, and sends, via his, Roland's and Morgan's ring-link... % My condolences for your loss, Bro. But at least you knew your father, some of us never got the chance. Still, even if Hades himself should bar the way, I'm here for you.% ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: A Death in the Family On Thu, 06 Nov 2003 22:17:36 -0600, In alt.callahans Frank McCoy Said As CAoL Message # 00011443 >On Tue, 4 Nov 2003 20:55:32 -0500 (EST) >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Post # 00009113 > >Karma says, "I think the plan, such as it is, is to occupy Darkseid's >troops while one or more of the telepaths attempts to infiltrate >Suli's mind and heal it. The idea being with her sanity restored, her >desire for peace will move Darkseid to call off the invasion. As with >the last attack, I presume we engage the enemy according to our >abilities. That's presuming Defender here has not come up with a >better method to encourage Darkseid to leave this world alone." Just a thought: Has anybody considered this whole attack/war/whatever by Darkseid might just be a side-issue to him? Perhaps the *real* purpose *IS* to get Suli's mind healed, without Darkseid owing anybody for doing a job he cannot do himself. After all, he is supposed to *love* Suli ... and that means a *lot* to some people. I know it sounds a bit twisted but .... I've heard of stranger reasons for battles/quests. Think about it: Isn't it just *amazing* how few of the participants on *both* sides have taken truly bad damage ... and those who have, were usually involved with people Darkseid doesn't really have direct control over. Or so it appears to me. Perhaps there's a reason ... Maybe not the one I suggest; but Darkseid is not above having ulterior motives, even for going to war with his declared enemies. Just a thought. What's obvious, isn't necessarily the main reason for something. Any prestidigitator knows enough to keep people's eyes on the obvious hand, while the other picks things out of pockets or puts things away. Is not Darkseid aware of the art of minor deception as well as the major one? Sorry if I butt in; but empathy is the only power I have; and it doesn't always work. Even when it does; it's not always useful. Knowing WHY your enemy is carving you to bits might make you sympathize, even if it disgusts or frightens you ... But it doesn't do a thing for making the hurt stop hurting, or make you want to stop living either. I'm not saying this is why he's doing what he is right now. I'll be darned if I'll get close enough to him to find out. Like I said, it's just a thought ... a shot in the dark. Still, major players like Darkseid rarely have just one reason for doing something ... Far more usually seven or eight reasons. Often it's a case where even if he loses, he wins something that makes losing a profit. Pardon me, if I stay WELL out of any battles. Of course ... There's always the reminder of the guy who knew war with Japan was coming ... So, he picked out a nice island to hide out on, while the major powers of the time duked it out. I'm not sure ... Was that nice "safe" island he picked called Guadalcanal? Something like that. Probably any bunker I pick to hunker down in, is going to be the first place to get resolved into component quarks. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: A Death in the Family On Fri, 7 Nov 2003 12:42:50 -0800 (PST) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00011445 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011432 > > "Fuzzy, between my Gate Key powers and whatever you've got >concocted, I think we can keep Amazo from duplicating my powers. >Aurora, Hydra, I have an idea of how to get around the super-guns. >The Anti-Life Equation is still the elephant in the room, but if we >can get to Darkseid we can get around it -- and Suli is still the >key. Just not the way I thought at first. Between our various >telepaths and reality-tinkerers, I think we can get Darkseid to take >care of this invasion _for_ us. > "Any questions?" In a corner, Rob's hands move through the final stitches, bringing his jacket back to a tolerable condition, while his mind shores up empathic defenses with a crude block, the psychic equivalent of putting a table against the door. Pulling the jacket on, he pockets various items, including odd change, a matchbook, and a can whose label bears the image of a bandaged donkey. "For my part, no. To paraphrase one of my teachers, just tell me where to go and who to hit." ================================= Subject: AAE 9: Plan? There's a plan? On Fri, 07 Nov 2003 23:59:43 -0800 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011446 >On Tue, 4 Nov 2003 04:04:05 -0800 (PST) >Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011434 > >>On Mon, 03 Nov 2003 21:05:00 -0800 >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011432 >> >>"My father just stopped the invasion there, took out the Gaunt Man's >>top occultist. Our first major victory. Really, really major. >>It...cost him his life." > >"Eric," the Lady-Knight of Amber whispers, startling him because it's >very unlike her to interrupt anyone, "cover for me. I'll be back >soon." She eases out, a doorway of polychromatic light flashing >briefly as she vanishes to the blasted landscape of the battle in Bay >City. Eric blinks -- whether due to mild surprise or the lightshow is uncertain -- then quietly fills the space where two had been a moment before. >"You'll excuse me, I hope, Mr. Pheonix." She says, respectfully, >though not expecting any answer. "The knight who trained me taught me >that we have an obligation to our comrades in war to see their swords >home to their families. As they would for us, if we ourselves fall." There is no overt response, not even by Amberite standards. No spectral presence, no faint voice, not even a sudden, brief "coincidental" change in the environment. There is, however, the faint but unmistakable sense of friendliness, welcome, and gentle amusement. >The Lady-Knight of Amber is a Taoist; life and death mean something a >bit different to her - and ancestor worship is rather the thing among >her family. Talking to the dead is not unusual, save for this isn't a >member of her Blood, for once. The armored figure pauses to survey >the scene with pursed lips, then she adds quixotically. (OOC: Grin. Did you know that I consider my closest religious spiritual/religious affiliation to be to Taoism? Though, reading the admonitions of Lao Tze, I have to say I make a rather poor Taoist...) >"Although, given how quite mangled you left the Bad Guys, perhaps it >did not survive, eh? Well, I can only look. If no one asks, I don't >have to tell them if my search is fruitless." Using her ability to >shift Shadow, Zia turns slowly, taking a step in a random direction, >trying to let it lead her to where the blade might be lost. If it >exists, still. She takes three steps. The sword then falls out of katana-space at her feet, as if it had been waiting there for someone. >> "Fuzzy, between my Gate Key powers and whatever you've got >>concocted, I think we can keep Amazo from duplicating my powers. >>Aurora, Hydra, I have an idea of how to get around the super-guns. >>The Anti-Life Equation is still the elephant in the room, but if we >>can get to Darkseid we can get around it -- and Suli is still the >>key. Just not the way I thought at first. Between our various >>telepaths and reality-tinkerers, I think we can get Darkseid to take >>care of this invasion _for_ us. >> "Any questions?" > >"Would you break that last down a little, please? I didn't get it. >And... well, some of us like to have some few cues for the acts >before the climax." Ziactrice quips with wicked humor, carefully >+not+ looking at Eric as she does so. She takes her seat by his side, >again, as she removes her helm to speak more politely without the >armor over her face. Roland shakes his head ruefully (his thinking is muddy enough to block an Arisian's sight through his brain, just now, and he knows it) while Eric's jaw spasms in an uncharacteristic loss of control. Then it's Mike to the rescue! 8^) >On Tue, 4 Nov 2003 20:55:32 -0500 (EST) >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00011435 > >Karma says, "I think the plan, such as it is, is to occupy Darkseid's >troops while one or more of the telepaths attempts to infiltrate >Suli's mind and heal it. The idea being with her sanity restored, her >desire for peace will move Darkseid to call off the invasion. As with >the last attack, I presume we engage the enemy according to our >abilities. That's presuming Defender here has not come up with a >better method to encourage Darkseid to leave this world alone." "Bingo," Roland replies. "Thanks, Karma. I believe that Suli has been damaged on a psychic level, if not deeper. I think that, if we can get our best mental and primal healers to help her recover, then based on her past, she may well convince Darkseid to stop the invasion." Eric frowns reluctantly. "You have a disturbing amount of 'maybe' in that theory, Defender." The Champion shrugs. "Tell me about it. _If_ we can undo the Equation's damage, and _if_ Darkseid and Suli are both amenable, it should work. It's the best I have, short of turning the entire Northeast into a giant Fire Pit from collateral damage. After our last encounter, though, I think it has a good chance of working." "Dependent on that other part of the question, namely our ability to keep the forces of this 'Darkseid' distracted," the Hunter adds. Defender smiles wickedly (if a bit unsteadily). "My plan for that part isn't quite as shaky. Darkseid forced us to fight on his terms last time. Now it's our turn. As soon as we attack, I want folx to take on their 'expected' foe -- then start mixing and matching the moment they think we're going to stick to their plan. The only higher priority is covering for whoever is working on Suli." He gives Morgan's hand a gentle squeeze as he continues; her support is practically keeping him upright at this point, in spite of the thorough physical healing he's received. "Oh, and I'm arranging for some cover fire. /"Aurora, Hydra, I take it that neither of you will have any problem teleporting the island to the target area?"/ he finishes with a lopsided grin. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Plan? There's a plan? On Sat, 08 Nov 2003 01:11:06 -0800 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00011447 >On Fri, 07 Nov 2003 23:59:43 -0800 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011446 > > Defender smiles wickedly (if a bit unsteadily). "My plan for that >part isn't quite as shaky. Darkseid forced us to fight on his terms >last time. Now it's our turn. As soon as we attack, I want folx to >take on their 'expected' foe -- then start mixing and matching the >moment they think we're going to stick to their plan. The only higher >priority is covering for whoever is working on Suli." He gives >Morgan's hand a gentle squeeze as he continues; her support is >practically keeping him upright at this point, in spite of the >thorough physical healing he's received. Harlock finally puts away his lute. "All very well and good, but who are we considering to be my expected foe? I'm sure Marivale would appreciate a rematch with Kanto, and I suspect the Furies will happily pile on Kell and Rob again; but what of Erindrea, Veren, and myself?" ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Plan? There's a plan? On Sat, 8 Nov 2003 06:40:20 -0800 (PST) Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011448 >On Fri, 07 Nov 2003 23:59:43 -0800 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011446 >>On Tue, 4 Nov 2003 04:04:05 -0800 (PST) >>Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011434 >> >>"You'll excuse me, I hope, Mr. Pheonix." She says, respectfully, >>though not expecting any answer. "The knight who trained me taught >>me that we have an obligation to our comrades in war to see their >>swords home to their families. As they would for us, if we ourselves >>fall." > > There is no overt response, not even by Amberite standards. No >spectral presence, no faint voice, not even a sudden, brief >"coincidental" change in the environment. There is, however, the >faint but unmistakable sense of friendliness, welcome, and gentle >amusement. Beneath her black and silver - and blood-marked - helm, Zia smiles slightly in great relief, and a rueful amusement of her own for her previous trepidation. >>The Lady-Knight of Amber is a Taoist; life and death mean something >>a bit different to her - and ancestor worship is rather the thing >>among her family. Talking to the dead is not unusual, save for this >>isn't a member of her Blood, for once. The armored figure pauses to >>survey the scene with pursed lips, then she adds quixotically. > > (OOC: Grin. Did you know that I consider my closest religious >spiritual/religious affiliation to be to Taoism? Though, reading the >admonitions of Lao Tze, I have to say I make a rather poor Taoist...) (OOC: I believe we'd spoken of this once before, as I am (in reality) a Taoist myself. As for poor or good, well, I follow the tenet of 'If you meet Buddha (or Lao-tze, in our case) on the road, kill him!' There is no one right way to the Way, and I think that even goes for the things Lao-tze wrote. I prefer the Tao de Ching and trying to keep my life as simple as I can with comfort and acceptance. For instance, I haven't turned on my TV in months. Don't miss it... enjoy things like this much more.) >>"Although, given how quite mangled you left the Bad Guys, perhaps it >>did not survive, eh? Well, I can only look. If no one asks, I don't >>have to tell them if my search is fruitless." Using her ability to >>shift Shadow, Zia turns slowly, taking a step in a random direction, >>trying to let it lead her to where the blade might be lost. If it >>exists, still. > > She takes three steps. > The sword then falls out of katana-space at her feet, as if it had >been waiting there for someone. The sword falls toward her feet, but a gauntleted hand closes on the grip before it actually hits the ground. Zia hesitates a moment - even she is surprised to have found it _waiting_ for her - but then she stands back up. Reversing her grip, she holds the blade point-upmost, then she bows her head for a long moment. "Now I have it to do." Zia raises her head and nods once, sharp and somber. "I think I know where this will come to rest, but first it must go back to your home, to the hands of your love. I'll do my best to show you the proper honor before her." On her Lens, she orders an honor guard of 21. The other Lensmen, those not too engaged in deadly battle at the moment, may tune in to her Lens - the first time Zia has left it open, and she mightiliy wishes it were for a happier reason. The CAoL, who are forming their combat plans, other champions of Earth-9 still in combat she is careful to not distract at this time. Zia does cheat enough to shadowshift to _ensure_ that someone James' widow trusts is there to comfort her. To form a proper number, Zia calls instead on the services of eleven officers of the Galactic Patrol armed with Mark 28 Lewiston blasters in full dress uniforms. These worthies assemble beside a picked 10 of Valencia's huge Marines with their space-axes in deadly array on one of the GP's ships. They are joined by one more. Another officer, in full array, but unarmed save for the drum carried on hip, already muffled to sound the single beat, ceremonial march of an honor guard for the fallen. Zia picks up the honor guard, via her usual polychromatic doorway. The Lady-Knight now wears a bright cloak and tabard of James' own colors and symbols now worn over her own colors and armor. She takes her place at the front of the unit, sword still held vertically before her eyes, point upward. The drum begins to tap it's quiet, single beat, as the formation marches forward in perfect step. She has warned them to watch her, despite the flickering of the surrounds as she shifts through this Shadow of Earth-9. Her power surrounds them, moves them, and takes them just where they need to be - faster and further than anyone else could manage, in just the right order (of course!). Every close friend, comrade, old but cherished rival, colleague or other person who should see the passing honor guard hears, in the next several minutes, the single-drum beat, and then sees the slow-stepping march of the honor guard as it passes by bearing James Pheonix's sword home. The madly flickering surroundings finally slow, giving way to a long, silent street lined with people. At the end, a woman waits, with a small group of people around her in support. The slow march up that street is the longest, toughest one Ziactrice has ever had to endure, but it is what needs to be done. The drum stops as the honor guard does - in perfect unison. The sword bearer bows slightly, then whips the blade down wordlessly. One arm cradles the blade on armor, while the other hand guides it in presentation of the hilt to the lady waiting to receive it. Once that lady has taken possession of the bright steel, the armored figure bows again, takes two steps back without turning. This puts the swordbearer in rank anf file with the honor guard's own position. The officer in charge of the unit calls about-face. Then the honor guard marches back down the street again to the single-beat cadence. Once around the corner, out of sight, the unit vanishes back to its original ship. The Lady-Knight of Amber, feeling even older than she truly is, has to take a few moments to get her game face back on before she slips back to Champion's Island. The tabard and the cloak she carefully removes before returning, as well. >>"Would you break that last down a little, please? I didn't get it. >>And... well, some of us like to have some few cues for the acts >>before the climax." Ziactrice quips with wicked humor, carefully >>+not+ looking at Eric as she does so. She takes her seat by his >>side, again, as she removes her helm to speak more politely without >>the armor over her face. > > Roland shakes his head ruefully (his thinking is muddy enough to >block an Arisian's sight through his brain, just now, and he knows >it) while Eric's jaw spasms in an uncharacteristic loss of control. > (OOC: Hmm. Now, I bet that was Eric, almost laughing out loud. Since he didn't start Blushing (TM), that is....) > "Bingo," Roland replies. "Thanks, Karma. I believe that Suli has >been damaged on a psychic level, if not deeper. I think that, if we >can get our best mental and primal healers to help her recover, then >based on her past, she may well convince Darkseid to stop the >invasion." > Eric frowns reluctantly. "You have a disturbing amount of 'maybe' >in that theory, Defender." Zia, who had opened her mouth to say something, abruptly shuts it with a thoughtful look. > Defender smiles wickedly (if a bit unsteadily). "My plan for that >part isn't quite as shaky. Darkseid forced us to fight on his terms >last time. Now it's our turn. As soon as we attack, I want folx to >take on their 'expected' foe -- then start mixing and matching the >moment they think we're going to stick to their plan. The only higher >priority is covering for whoever is working on Suli." He gives >Morgan's hand a gentle squeeze as he continues; her support is >practically keeping him upright at this point, in spite of the >thorough physical healing he's received. > "Oh, and I'm arranging for some cover fire. /"Aurora, Hydra, I >take it that neither of you will have any problem teleporting the >island to the target area?"/ he finishes with a lopsided grin. "Actually," Zia says in an aside to Eric, "I think Defender's strategy is likely quite sound." Eric can discern her discomfort, though her voice gives not the slightest sign of it. "I think Suli is one of my shadow-selves. That makes it quite possible that the damage is, as you guessed, much deeper than merely psychic levels. I also think it would not be a good idea for me, reality-tinkerer or not, to directly change anything to do with her. Bit too close for comfort, y'see." "It's a good thing it was arranged by a certain comrade of ours that I show up in full helm and armor; I think that I would have been recognized otherwise." Her lips twitch into a wicked half-smile. "I'm not so sure Steppenwolf didn't get an inkling _anyway_, especially when I chose not to deal a death blow when I could have. Too many habitual motions would be similiar. Since his Suli doesn't actually do sword combat, he hasn't tumbled yet, or they'd be knocking on the door right now." "I promised that Kanto fellow a duel, though I chose non-fatal terms. That'll give him choice of weapon and place. He won't betray me; it would ruin his victory, but some of those lot are slimy enough to try something directly afterward - or during if they can be sneaky enough he won't catch on. Is anyone else good at Hot LZ Extraction, aka teleporting? I'd like to arrange a fast getaway. I might have a chance of beating him, but it isn't a sure thing. I can keep him darned busy a while, however, which is worth it." ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Plan? There's a plan? On Sun, 9 Nov 2003 00:21:56 -0800 Reality Hacker AJ47 Said As CAoL Message # 00011449 On 2003.11.08 06:47 Samatha Cooper wrote: >"I promised that Kanto fellow a duel, though I chose non-fatal terms. >That'll give him choice of weapon and place. He won't betray me; it >would ruin his victory, but some of those lot are slimy enough to try >something directly afterward - or during if they can be sneaky enough >he won't catch on. Is anyone else good at Hot LZ Extraction, aka >teleporting? I'd like to arrange a fast getaway. I might have a >chance of beating him, but it isn't a sure thing. I can keep him >darned busy a while, however, which is worth it." Avery, currently laying on his back on the floor, raises a hand. "I should be able to cover you there. Best if we set up a vector in advance, so when the time comes to use it, we each just have to hit a Big Red Button." ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Plan? There's a plan? On Sun, 9 Nov 2003 11:03:44 -0800 (PST) Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011451 >On Sun, 9 Nov 2003 00:21:56 -0800 >Reality Hacker AJ47 Said As CAoL Message # 00011449 >Avery, currently laying on his back on the floor, raises a hand. "I >should be able to cover you there. Best if we set up a vector in >advance, so when the time comes to use it, we each just have to hit a >Big Red Button." Ziactrice glances down at him. She is visibly puzzled as to why he is laying on the floor, but she has spent too much time in the Place to ask nosy questions - even outside Mike's tavern. It wouldn't be polite. "Is there, perchance, a way you can set my side to activate without needing a button pushed? I might not be able to push a button. Even damage short of mortal wounds can be bad enough, as Defender has had the misfortune to discover. Or perhaps my Second can take care of that, but then we shall need two escape routines, one for each. What do you mean by vector, however?" ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Plan? There's a plan? On Sun, 09 Nov 2003 14:24:41 -0800 Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00011452 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011446 > "Oh, and I'm arranging for some cover fire. /"Aurora, Hydra, I >take it that neither of you will have any problem teleporting the >island to the target area?"/ he finishes with a lopsided grin. /*"Transporting such a small object will be no problem Defender."*/ Hydra responds. It's clear that he feels that a small sneeze would be much more difficult. ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Plan? There's a plan? On Sun, 9 Nov 2003 14:30:50 -0800 Reality Hacker AJ47 Said As CAoL Message # 00011453 >On Sun, 9 Nov 2003 11:03:44 -0800 (PST) >Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011451 > >Ziactrice glances down at him. She is visibly puzzled as to why he is >laying on the floor, but she has spent too much time in the Place to >ask nosy questions - even outside Mike's tavern. It wouldn't be >polite. Returning Zia's glance, Avery points out a suction cup attached to his right temple, and connected to an LCD clock that is steadily counting down toward zero. [OOC: In CAoL Message # 00011392, Roland suggested getting back into action after my self-repair is complete. That can take place whenever is convenient for the rest of y'all.] >"Is there, perchance, a way you can set my side to activate without >needing a button pushed? I might not be able to push a button. Even >damage short of mortal wounds can be bad enough, as Defender has had >the misfortune to discover. "Sure thing-- 'button' is just figurative. I can rig it up to answer to a mental signal... oh, and I'll build in a dead-man switch as well, in case you're knocked unconscious. Terrible name, I know, but it's pretty much standard." >Or perhaps my Second can take care of that, but then we shall need >two escape routines, one for each. "Entirely do-able. Who's your Second? I'm afraid I'm still getting a handle on who some of the people here are." >What do you mean by vector, however?" Avery disconnects the wire and connects it to a video monitor, which illustrates - using vector graphics, of course - as he speaks. "The idea is that I set up a line from you to wherever you want to be retrieved to, and keep track of it at all times in the background. That way, when the time comes to actually perform the retrieval, I don't lose any time figuring out where you are, or where you need to go." ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Plan? There's a plan? On Mon, 10 Nov 2003 04:17:42 -0800 (PST) Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011455 >On Sun, 9 Nov 2003 14:30:50 -0800 >Reality Hacker AJ47 Said As CAoL Message # 00011453 > >Returning Zia's glance, Avery points out a suction cup attached to >his right temple, and connected to an LCD clock that is steadily >counting down toward zero. Ziactrice gives this a blink and a nod, but it's more for form's sake than she understood. >"Sure thing-- 'button' is just figurative. I can rig it up to answer >to a mental signal... oh, and I'll build in a dead-man switch as >well, in case you're knocked unconscious. Terrible name, I know, but >it's pretty much standard." Zia grins. "So James - er, one of my husbands - has occasionally given me to understand. Thank you; that should do nicely." >"Entirely do-able. Who's your Second? I'm afraid I'm still getting a >handle on who some of the people here are." "Be glad to assist you with bios at need." Zia offers. "Though I've been busy otherwhere a while, so I'm meeting new Folx, too. As for my Second, well, I'm not sure who to ask, yet." >Avery disconnects the wire and connects it to a video monitor, which >illustrates - using vector graphics, of course - as he speaks. > >"The idea is that I set up a line from you to wherever you want to be >retrieved to, and keep track of it at all times in the background. >That way, when the time comes to actually perform the retrieval, I >don't lose any time figuring out where you are, or where you need to >go." "A line? You need to have that? How odd. Never use those myself - but I have more direct means when I'm conscious and mobile. A vector implies a force in conjunction. I was curious what force you implied." Zia frowns. She finds Omen's existance more worrisome than Darkseid's invasion. One can reason with Darkseid, or fight him openly, but more than half the time she, despite the ability to perceive Shadow order from her Blood, hasn't noticed Nemo's opening set of moves. Omen is probably just as sneaky, which means no realizing the trap until you've already got one foot planted in it. "Set the retrieval point for here, then." Zia points out the location Morgan and Roland showed here earlier, to bring injured combatants back to. "If I have to use this, or I'm knocked out, I'll probably be needin' assistance." ================================= Subject: AAE 9: Omens of fallen Empire On Mon, 10 Nov 2003 21:29:22 -0800 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011456 Another Earth, not far from Earth-9, yet unimaginably distant at the same time. "I'm worried," Lady Liberty said for the third time that hour. "C'mon, Lib, that's the third time you've said that this session," Johnny Rocket sighed. The two members of the re-formed Freedom League were on monitor duty while the rest of the team helped the new Global Republic rebuild in the wake of the successful rebellion against Golgoth. The rest of the team, that is, except for Endymion, their world's mightiest hero and leader of the League. "He should have contacted us by now. He should be _back_ by now. I mean, Endymion, allied with the heroes who helped him overthrow Golgoth -- what could stand against them for more than a couple of hours?" Lady Liberty gestured at the central monitor, the heart of a display system eerily similar to the one on Champions Island. "They dismantled the most horrific global empire our world's ever seen in a _day._ Defeated Golgoth. _Golgoth._ What the devil is going _on_ in their universe?" "Hey, maybe it's one of those big super-crossovers, like in the comics," Johnny quipped. "You know, where some giant cosmic guy shows up and twenty zillion heroes have to--" the speedster trailed off at the disgusted look Lady Liberty threw him. "It was just an idea, Beth. Geez, I wasn't really serious." The console beeped. "Freedom Hall," Lady Liberty said, slapping the call button. #This is Endymion,# they heard. Liberty sagged into a chair in relief as Johnny gave her a thumbs-up. #Sorry about the delay. Keep me posted if you need my help back home, but this invasion is very ugly. Several galaxy-class conquerors have invaded Earth-9, and I want to at least help with the super-villain before I head home. We owe these people.# Liberty ignored a thrust-out tongue from the smug speedster. "Do you need backup?" Endymion chuckled faintly. #No, we have a large cadre of heroes from various dimensions. If I need help, I'll call. Anything happening back there?# Johnny laughed. "Golgoth's body got stolen." Endymion sighed. #_Again?_# "Nothing unusual at this point," Liberty clarified. "The whole gravesite was vandalized for the fourth time this month. Most likely it's someone else venting frustration on his corpse again, but Raven and Deadalus are investigating." "Don't they always?" Johnny quipped. Endymion paused. #Keep me posted. I don't _think_ Golgoth had anything else up his sleeve, but better safe than sorry. It's our job to make sure the Empire _stays_ dead. That includes its emperor.# Johnny let out a sound between a laugh and a snarl. "Dude, the man is toast. You couldn't make a decent _zombie_ out of what's left of him." Endymion's pause was longer this time. #Probably. I'm serious, though. _Keep_me_posted._ I want to know if someone so much as _sneezes_ in Nuremburg Prison.# Lady Liberty and Johnny Rocket looked at each other nervously, then back at the console. "Sure thing, big guy," Rocket replied. #Good. Endymion out.# As the indicator light went out, Johnny looked at Liberty with concern. "Think he knows something we don't, Lib?" "Spirit, I hope not," Liberty replied. * * * Deep underground, in a sub-basement under a ruined building, the tattered remains of a man had the shards of a black and gold suit of armor laying on top of them. This gruesome collection was in a hollowed out piece of cement. Large metal shackles of some cunning design could still be discerned on what was now the outside of the thing. A large array of scientific equipment had obviously been destroyed here. Now, the hyper-advanced equipment had been replaced by what looked like Dr. Frankenstein's chemistry set, with a touch of Dracula's castle thrown in for ambience. Above the obscene cauldron, Omen chuckled as he poured a vial of a liquid that had striations of green and black into the ad hoc bowl. He caressed the lip of the strange pseudo-mortar almost lovingly. "I am not particularly fond of this genre, you know," Omen said to the insensate mass. "Bright, outlandish costumes. Operatic melodrama. Absurd situations. And of course, fear never, _ever_ defeats heroism." Omen gestured, and a bottle of sickly orange smoke floated over to his hand. He upended it over the bowl, and it slowly poured in. "Except here. This wonderful, terrible place you created. Just as that disgustingly cute boy wizard was the hero who lived, _you_ are The Villain Who _Won._ Heroes? Dead." Omen snapped his fingers. "Rebels? Crushed." He closed his fist. When he opened it, a mandrake root was in his palm. "Rivals? Broken." A flick of his wrist, and Omen's nails sliced through the root, sending the pieces into the mixture. "Admittedly, I could find a counterpart of yours that _didn't_ have his captive arch-rival rescued by the Champions, _wasn't_ betrayed by half his cabinet, and _hadn't_ been torn to pieces by an enraged mob." Three quick throwing gestures, and three more vials shot into the bowl from a counter, glass and all. "But what fun would that be?" Omen's almost gleeful smile became truly horrible. "An undead horror, driven by hate and revenge, combining occult powers with your advanced science, will be _so_ much more terrifying, not to mention resilient and deadly." Omen floated over to the only table that still had ingredients on it. "True, you'll enjoy your victories even less than you did when you were alive." He tossed a newt and a pickled eye casually over his shoulder. Each fell dead center into the bowl. "I daresay you'd rather stay dead, particularly given the condition you'll be in. Still, if I were the sort of entity to give you that...kind...of...choice..." Omen trailed off, confused. The last ingredient, a tiny vial of distilled Hero's Fall, was missing. One hand clenched into a fist. "Nemo," he snarled. And turned. (Up to you if Nemo's there, Leonard, but I imagine him floating on the opposite side of the room, dangling the vial in question from one thumb and forefinger. ;^) -- Evil GM-San Just think: what are the Omens that are _succeeding_ up to? ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Plan? There's a plan? On Mon, 10 Nov 2003 21:35:57 -0800 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011457 >On Sat, 08 Nov 2003 01:11:06 -0800 >Harlock Said As CAoL Message # 00011447 > >>On Fri, 07 Nov 2003 23:59:43 -0800 >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011446 >> >> Defender smiles wickedly (if a bit unsteadily). "My plan for that >>part isn't quite as shaky. Darkseid forced us to fight on his terms >>last time. Now it's our turn. As soon as we attack, I want folx to >>take on their 'expected' foe -- then start mixing and matching the >>moment they think we're going to stick to their plan. The only >>higher priority is covering for whoever is working on Suli." > >Harlock finally puts away his lute. "All very well and good, but who >are we considering to be my expected foe? I'm sure Marivale would >appreciate a rematch with Kanto, and I suspect the Furies will >happily pile on Kell and Rob again; but what of Erindrea, Veren, and >myself?" /"Well, start with parademons and dog soldiers. As I recall, that's what you were doing when we bailed,"/ Roland notes. /"Once the fight gets rolling, feel free to tag in. Er, switch foes. After the trouble the Furies had with those two, they'll probably have re-armed, so you might want to even the odds up a little."/ ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: A Death in the Family On Mon, 10 Nov 2003 21:59:35 -0800 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011458 >On Fri, 7 Nov 2003 06:30:57 -0600 >Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00011442 > >Dhyrclhanc, still Ted Cassidy-sized, puts a hand on Roland's >shoulder, if only mentally, and sends, via his, Roland's and Morgan's >ring-link... > >% My condolences for your loss, Bro. But at least you knew your >father, some of us never got the chance. Still, even if Hades himself >should bar the way, I'm here for you.% %I really appreciate the support, sib,% Roland replies gratefully. %Right now, I'm holding it together because I _have_ to. Later, though...% With an effort, Defender forces the rising tide of emotion into the back of his brain. %Keep that helmet handy, sib. We may need it,% he finishes, all business again. -- (/) Roland They are not dead who are remembered ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: A Death in the Family On Tue, 11 Nov 2003 09:56:19 -0600 Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00011462 >As CAoL Message # 00011445, On Fri, Nov 7th, 2K3, >Rob Nishakawa (aka Peter Eng) writes... > > In a corner, Rob's hands move through the final stitches, bringing >his jacket back to a tolerable condition, while his mind shores up >empathic defenses with a crude block, the psychic equivalent of >putting a table against the door. > Pulling the jacket on, he pockets various items, including odd >change, a matchbook, and a can whose label bears the image of a >bandaged donkey. > "For my part, no. To paraphrase one of my teachers, just tell me >where to go and who to hit." [Since when,] wonders Dhyrclhanc to himself, [Did Rob get Ben Grimm to sign on as a mentor-figure...]. ================================= Subject: AAE 9: Swords and requiems On Sun, 16 Nov 2003 17:30:08 -0800 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011463 >On Sat, 8 Nov 2003 06:40:20 -0800 (PST) >Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011448 > >>On Fri, 07 Nov 2003 23:59:43 -0800 >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011446 >> >> The sword then falls out of katana-space at her feet, as if it >>had been waiting there for someone. > >The sword falls toward her feet, but a gauntleted hand closes on the >grip before it actually hits the ground. Zia hesitates a moment - >even she is surprised to have found it _waiting_ for her - but then >she stands back up. Reversing her grip, she holds the blade >point-upmost, then she bows her head for a long moment. The sword itself is not significantly more self-aware than others of its kind, but faintly exudes a gratitude and an acknowledgement of, and reciprocation of, the show of respect. >The CAoL, who are forming their combat plans, other champions of >Earth-9 still in combat she is careful to not distract at this time. >Zia does cheat enough to shadowshift to _ensure_ that someone James' >widow trusts is there to comfort her. Lana Phoenix calmed herself by making tea. "Thank you for coming, Lin Do." Her guest bowed. "The honor is mine, old friend." Lana turned and smiled shakily. "I'm not _that_ old." Lin Do smiled gently back. "Of course not." >The madly flickering surroundings finally slow, giving way to a long, >silent street lined with people. At the end, a woman waits, with a >small group of people around her in support. The slow march up that >street is the longest, toughest one Ziactrice has ever had to endure, >but it is what needs to be done. In the distance, Lana hears the drumbeat. Like many a widow past, she does not want to face that presentation, that acknowledgement of James' death -- but she has always prided herself on being tough and practical. James came to her -- came to her _last,_ even now, even with her son facing...facing the same possible fate. There. She admitted it. "Lana?" Lin Do asked. "Our marriage...let's just say it had its ups and downs," Lana said. "We managed to become friends again in the last decade. I suppose I never really expected that we'd still have that bond after so long..." >The drum stops as the honor guard does - in perfect unison. Lana stiffens, then relaxes. It is time. >The sword bearer bows slightly, then whips the blade down wordlessly. >One arm cradles the blade on armor, while the other hand guides it in >presentation of the hilt to the lady waiting to receive it. She looks at the lady knight with mild curiosity. "You are one of Roland's friends." It isn't exactly a question, but it isn't exactly _not_ a question either. (Zia's response) She takes the sword carefully, accepting the hilt with one hand, then slowly cradling the blade with the other. "Thank you," she says simply, bowing formally. (Yes, with the saber still carefully balanced in her arms.) -- A Lady of Pride Sharakai "When Yen Hui died, the Master wept uncontrollably. The disciples said, 'Master, you are going overboard with this!' Confucius said, 'Going overboard?! If I can't cry now, when should I cry?'" -- the Analects, 11:9 ================================= Subject: Re: AAE 9: Swords and requiems On Sun, 16 Nov 2003 19:12:56 -0800 (PST) Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011464 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011463 > > [Lana] looks at the lady knight with mild curiosity. "You are one >of Roland's friends." It isn't exactly a question, but it isn't >exactly _not_ a question either. Ziactrice feels her eyes widen in surprise to be recognized - in full plate armor and helm - with only her eyes to be seen. This is a woman of surpassing keeness of mind it is painfully clear. Zia does her best not to smooth over her own hesitation. "I am honored to fight under his command." Zia doesn't quite agree but tries to make it seem so; she is unsure of Roland's feelings toward her. She hopes Lana failes to not the slight dodge. "If it please you, I would own myself a friend of the family." Zia adds, quite formally - and sincerely. > She takes the sword carefully, accepting the hilt with one hand, >then slowly cradling the blade with the other. "Thank you," she says >simply, bowing formally. (Yes, with the saber still carefully >balanced in her arms.) Zia returns the bow, with about two addtional degrees of deeper to signal her respect, before withdrawing with the honor guard. =================================