Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 9: Nile Empire / Pulp Chapter 3 Subject: Re: AAE 9n: Hang Time (2 of 2) On Thu, 08 Apr 2004 14:43:39 -0700 Patrick O'Shea Said As CAoL Message # 00011943 At 01:40 PM 4/8/2004 -0700, you wrote: >>"You'd be surprised." Quiet Moon replies. "Darklord Zagarna's first >>essays into Vassagonia were unprepared for sand. And don't get me >>started on the Bor empire's attempt to oust a group of Cener druids >>from Kakush." > > "Zagarna was narrow-minded," Mobius replies, his voice suddenly >that of a mundane (if passionate) scholar, "and the druids' efforts >to undermine the Bor attack were..." OOC: He knows of Magnamund? Cool. I won't be surprised if someone whips out Helshezag, then. Though maybe that should wait until the Star Wars bit... >he stops suddenly, realizing he's getting into a historical debate >with an enemy. "I hate you." OOC2: All part of the service! > Natatiri reappears behind the broken dais as the Sphinx head flies >there as well. The darkness in the distance is growing stronger. "Wu >Ming! Keep them busy!" > Wu Ming nods, and the remaining Lin Kuei divide, two going to one >Dragon each, with a trio heading for Quiet Moon, Rob, and the >newcomer (Baraka) each. Natatiri flings a bracelet at Patrick as >well. "To show my gratitude," she says acidly. The trapped bracelet is easily dodged, though that still leaves the hero facing a trio of taijutsu terrors tingling for a tussle. (OOC: Alliteration at the expense of accuracy. How I have fallen.) [Okay, half a power-staff left, and three ninja. Now what?] *Call it* Stunned, the Kai monk almost gets decapitated by the statue's first swipe. *S...Stormcrow?* *I didn't spend two weeks sensitizing that blasted thing to you, Patrick. Call it.* *Right* A mental impulse is sent, and the discarded staff-half flies back to Patrick's hand, allowing him to parry a swing from the Lin Kuei trying to stab him. *Thanks.* *It was Marc's idea. Don't get killed, alright?* Abruptly, the telepathic line snaps, and Patrick's attention returns to the melee. The staff whips out and catches one of the Kuei on the head, and forces a second back. > Behind her, another figure -- at nine feet tall, not the size of >the mechs, but still impressive -- strides forward. It is a statue of >Set, wielding a huge polearm of some sort -- a long curved blade >centered on one end, and a huge weight on the other. He strides >toward Patrick as well. > The Dragon and Lin Kuei on Patrick observe this, then dart over to >Rob to battle the amazon. > "It appears I won't be adding you to my collection as well," >Natatiri says, laughing mockingly as the Set-statue's eyes glow >ominously... Growling a bit, Patrick hops back, calls up the Brotherhood spell 'strength', leaps forward and tries to punch a hole in the statue's leg. Punching rock. BAD move. "Owowowowowowowowow!" Unimpressed, the statue takes a swipe at Patrick, who only just manages to block the blade of the polearm from eviscerating him. The force of the blow sends the Kai flying backwards, shooting towards a small shop against the wall. "That's...IT! Hunter Lance...Flight Pulse!" Locking onto the ferrous rebar inside the wall, the staff's energy discharge slows Patrick, preventing him from becoming wallpaper. Using the remaining seconds of the strength spell and the power of the power-baton's own magnetic projectors, Patrick shoots forward, aimed straight at the statue. "Shield!" Patrick yells, remembering (this time) to protect his body just before he smacks into the statue, disarming it and creating several cracks around the impact area. Patrick, for his part, rolls in midair, and lands a few feet away, crouched, one hand holding his Weapon, the other holding his staff horizontal to the ground (aka Action pose #23). Again the statue advances, prompting Patrick to call up an Invisible Fist spell, and then close in with his staff, now enchanted with another battle-magic spell. OOC#Idon'tknowanymore: I'll be up island for the next few days, so my Internet access is gonna be a bit spotty. I can probably check once a day, but my webmail system tends to do mean, nasty, Manos-type stuff to formatting. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE 9n: Hang Time (2 of 2) On Thu, 08 Apr 2004 14:44:27 -0700 Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00011944 >On Thu, 08 Apr 2004 13:13:30 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011942 > >>On Wed, 07 Apr 2004 10:21:04 -0700 >>Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00011932 >> >>The Dragon on the right senses the object and attempts to deflect >>it. Unfortunately for him, it's a tangle grenade. He'll be busy >>untangling himself from the sticky webbing for a while. (But >>probably not long enough) > > That Dragon vanishes entirely, taking some of the tangle with >him/it, leaving some behind to leave a sticky mess. > "Thanks," the Hunter replies simply, as he dances between Dragons. Baraka waves a hand in a salute that somehow turns into a dealy strike at "her" Dragon. :-) [OOC: that vanishing clears up my one question. Whether the Dragons were sufficiently major league to require "extra fancy" work to disposes of.] >>The Dragon she is attacking whirls to face her and attempts to parry >>her attack. She's "merely" expert class at martial arts, so this >>should be easy. >> >>Except not only is she moving faster than a human should be able to, >>but her blow far stronger than should be possible. He's jarred by >>the impact, and realizes that if he'd tried a block it'd have broken >>his arm! > > The Dragon leaps back slightly, very surprised -- but only for a >moment. He smiles confidently, limbering his body, taking more of a >tai ch'i stance, and positively flowing as he circles the newcomer. >"Ah, I _heard_ that Doctor Eon had taken on a female apprentice. >Come, let us see if your Western science-force is a match for the way >of the demon-dragons." "Doctor Eon? Who's that?" Baraka's obvious puzzlement doesn't affect her fighting skills in the slightest. The Dragon will note that her fighting style isn't *anything* he's familiar with (for good reason, it won't be invented for several centuries, if it is ever invented in this timeline :-) Eric may recognize it though. He's seen it before when Nemo was practicing. There's a swift exchange of attack and defense. As the Dragon and the girl pause for a moment, she flicks a drop of blood off a fingernail. And about that time the dragon notes that he's bleeding from several superficial wounds. His clothes have some "decorative" slashes now. Apparently those fingernails are sharper than razors. Baraka makes a move. The Dragon starts to counter. Only to discover that the counter placed just the right stress on his gi to snap the belt that had been weakened by one of Baraka's "misses". His movement goes awary as he tries to avoid getting tangled in the falling pants while trying to block an attack at the same time. There are things that will throw off even an expert. This, needless to say, is one of them. Baraka gets in a couple of good blows and as he bends forward (due to a combination of the blows and his legs getting tangled in his pants, she leaps over him and kicks him from behind a couple of times as she comes down to land facing him from behind. One of her feet snakes out and flips a pole from a fallen canopy into the air, where she grabs it. A couple of quick motions and the pole is broken to a convenient length for a quarter staff. The *noise* as the ends are broken off will startle onlookers. They are rather prounonced *metallic* clangs and crunches. This "girl" has just produced clean breaks in a metal pipe. And is handling it as easily as if it was bamboo. > "Excuse me," the Hunter quips dryly, moving smoothly to protect >her flank, "did I just turn invisible? I'm hurt." Baraka spares a moment (while the Dragon is recovering) to give Eric a visual once over. A very "appreciative" one. "Far from invisible, handsome" she quips. > (OOC: I'm not having Eric ask for introductions at this point, >because I'm going to offer a rtcon where the heroes meet Baraka >before the rescue attempt. Nemo, if you don't want to do that, we can >just pick this up from there.) Fine by me. The meeting should prove "interesting". :-) Oh yes, I suppose I should describe Baraka. Take Kitty Pyrde. Give her brown hair and features that look a bit Middle eastern. Put her in a cross between Princess Leia's slave girl outfit and what a belly dancer might wear under the veils. Add a "combat harness" worthy of Batgirl or a female version of the Punisher. >> "_UN_ likely." Ultraviolet quips back, "Thunder, heads up." She >>flips the chain around, sending the crown tumbling to her ally - she >>isn't sure how to break or destroy it safely. > > Did I mention the half-dozen 'mechanical monsters' slowly walking >toward the fray? No? Silly me... If Baraka has the breathing space beytween fights with the Dragon(s), she'll throw the pieces she broke off her "staff" at them. They shouldn't hit much harder than if fired from an old fashioned cannon. :-) > Behind her, another figure -- at nine feet tall, not the size of >the mechs, but still impressive -- strides forward. It is a statue of >Set, wielding a huge polearm of some sort -- a long curved blade >centered on one end, and a huge weight on the other. He strides >toward Patrick as well. > The Dragon and Lin Kuei on Patrick observe this, then dart over to >Rob to battle the amazon. > "It appears I won't be adding you to my collection as well," >Natatiri says, laughing mockingly as the Set-statue's eyes glow >ominously... Baraka looks at this, shakes her head in disgust and shifts to a one handed grip on her improvised staff. With her now free *left* hand, she produces a gun from her harness. (and no, that didn't appear to be a holster there). The .44 magnum makes short work of the Lin Kuei. The gun disappears back into the harness as Baraka takes a few running steps towards the Set-statue and hurls the staff at its eyes. (figure it's about as bad as a harpoon fired from a whaling ship) She follows up with several smoke(?) grenades. And returns to the Dragon, if he's still up to facing her. =========================== Subject: AAE 9n: Quitting Time? On Thu, 8 Apr 2004 16:56:33 -0700 (PDT) Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011945 >On Thu, 08 Apr 2004 13:13:30 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011942 > > {Wu Ming! My amazon, if you please!} > {Would you not prefer the violet one, my Pharaoh?} the Dragon >replies smoothly. OOC: No, that'd be what you prefer, you Snake-in-Dragon's-Clothing. ;) > {Giving the advantage to Natatiri? Tsk tsk,} Mobius chided in >surprisingly good humor. {Best not to put all your eggs in one >basket. Now if you'll excuse me...} the Evil Genius slid into a >command chair, taking control of the Robo-Sphinx himself. {I'm about >to make a Black Russian.} OOC: I am a woman scorned. Twice already. As if I don't know you're doing that on purpose, Evil-GM San. Well. You know what they say about a scorner woman's fury. ;) Either that, or Dr. M is having too much fun watching the catfight. >"Savor your _victory,_ Doctor Energy. You'll find it _fleeting!_" >{Mobius to Thebes!}" > {Thebes here, mighty Pharaoh.} > "{Activate...the OMEGATRON!}" > The gasp from Thebes is audible on the head's speakers. > {My Pharaoh...are you sure--} > "{I COMMAND IT! BEGIN ACTIVATION SEQUENCE!}" > In the distance, a darkness grows... "Ut-oh." Violet comments, but she is too busy trying not to be sliced up by ninja to see what is creating the darkness. @Doc E, you all right in there, or should I fetch a fifty foot can opener? I'm sure Rog-Thunder has one in a pocket...@ > OOC: Heh. You know, I thought up something like this myself a >while ago. The Egyptian Gods are more aware of the threat than even >the writer, I suspect. Wait until you see what Imhotep is up >against... OOC: Z: "I hate it when he gloats." UV: "Well, it is one of the few privliges of GMing." Z: "Oh, yeah? Did you know he asked me for a basic sketch of Infra-Red to use her?" UV: "On second thought..." >>On Wed, 7 Apr 2004 19:59:58 -0700 (PDT) >>Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011937 >> >> @Note to self - have Eric read _Princess Bride_ soonest so he >>_gets_ the jokes next time.@ Ultraviolet deliberately lets him hear >>her on the link, but she is secretly glad he is enjoying himself for >>a change.For an artist - especially a martial one - not to enjoy his >>art was a true shame. > > @Sorry -- I guess the reference was a bit oblique,@ Eric replies >with a shrug as shocktroopers go flying in every direction. @Or the >movie was different enough.@ The Tommy goes into the topcoat, soon >replaced with the twin 45s. @Me? Oblique? _In-con-ceivable_!@ Violet returns even as she darts into combat herself. >>"Because he - and his allies - are intent on avoiding killing >>anyone. Why is an interesting question. My own limitations can't >>have effected their whole strategy - how would they have guessed I >>would be here?" > > @?@ Eric sends, a touch confused and more than a little worried. @They called me the Just Violet because I would never use worse means than any given foe - or allied group of foes.@ The Purple Pulp Heroine informs him. @In this world, it feels hard to break that, now that it has become rather a calling card of mine. I _think_ I could, if the situation were dire enough. But I'm not sure.@ > "A proper Pharaoh," Mobius replies, primarily to the Scarab, >"cares _properly_ for his subjects." > "Oh, yes, as tyrants go you're top-notch," the Scarab fires back >acidly. "Everyone has food and medicine, and the trains run on time. >Of course, anyone who _disagrees_ with you is 'disposed of,' but --" > "Bah," Mobius scoffs. "You Westerners of this time are so naive. >My methods are ancient and time-honored, and by history's standards I >am among the greatest and most merciful of kings." "I am impressed with neither the mercy nor the ability of a king who chooses to chain a woman to the foot of his throne. Or one who would tolerate the likes of Wu Ming in his demense." The Just Violet remarks, her voice suddenly taking on the cold, unbending appraisement that originally won her the sobriquet. > @/'Of this time?'/@ Eric wonders 'aloud.' @/Scarab's from _his_ >world, isn't he? Interesting.../@ @I guess that would be the case. What're you thinking?@ UV asks. >> "Harnessed? Goodness. Now even the villains are giving me lovely >>ideas." The Just Violet quips in (forgive me) off-color humor. > > OOC: I'm not sure I will. ;^) > Wu Ming and the Hunter stop in mid-fight, both looking over at the >Just Violet. The Dragon's expression is one of mild distaste, OOC: Aw, c'mon, we are the _C_oAL... and I can tell Wu Ming's fought her before. ;) >while Eric's is unreadable -- but UV can clearly make out an 'aroo?' >thought, as well as mild curiosity. The Just Violet grins under her scarf and shrugs with a 'you'll find out' thought at Eric that is singularly smug. >> @Hmmm. Eric, try fighting like _me_ instead of you, since he has >>your usual style's number. Despite his mastery and my relative lack >>of same, he's never been able to predict what I'd do next in a >>fight.@ > > @'Relative lack of same?' Do tell me what you consider 'mastery' >some day,@ Eric sends. @What my aunts, uncles, and father can do.@ Ultra-violet says, quite seriously. >After concentrating for a moment, he retracts the kusari-gama and >enters a crane stance. > "Huh." Two Dragons make flying leaps. Eric parries both, then >switches to cat stance, evades a third, goes into a boxer's posture, >and blocks a fourth. @That's the ticket!@ UV encourages. >>On Wed, 07 Apr 2004 10:21:04 -0700 >>Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00011932 >> >>>On Tue, 06 Apr 2004 23:47:56 -0700 >>>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011928 > The Dragon leaps back slightly, very surprised -- but only for a >moment. He smiles confidently, lumbering his body, taking more of a >tai ch'i stance, and positively flowing as he circles the newcomer. >"Ah, I _heard_ that Doctor Eon had taken on a female apprentice. OOC: That's worse than assuming Hunter was UV's sidekick - when she let him jump into battle ahead of her! Okay, major weakness of UDragon - not great tactician, VERY over-confident. But superlative martial artist...> >Come, let us see if your Western science-force is a match for the way >of the demon-dragons." > "Excuse me," the Hunter quips dryly, moving smoothly to protect >her flank, "did I just turn invisible? I'm hurt." @It's going around.@ UV quips back. > Did I mention the half-dozen 'mechanical monsters' slowly walking >toward the fray? No? Silly me... OOC: Patience, G(M)rasshoper! > "We're not 'flowers and candy' types of women, though, are we?" >Natatiri quips back, her smile a very different kind of predatory >now... "That's as accurate as all your _other_ statements today." The Just Violet says in a tone so completely unruffled she might as well be saying 'another cup of tea?' A tone designed to be terribly galling to over-confident villains. > "The Pharaoh's idea. Would you _rather_ I just stabbed you?" >Natatiri quips back. > "As someone who has been there, _I_ would!" Hippolyta shouts. "Thanks for telling me his plans." Ultra-violet does not append the words 'you idiotic bimbette' but she thinks it - loudly. > "Oh, yes, I _remember_ how much you hated the Pharaoh's hands on >your back," the Overgovernor laughs. > "When he gives up conquest for a massage parlor, _then_ we'll >talk," the amazon snarls, flushing slightly. "Why, I do believe the little girl is _jealous_ of you, Queen of Amazonia. Maybe he only likes women with wit?" UV groans, forcing the chain to hold against the constrictive force trying to crush her senseless even as she taunts her enemy. > Meanwhile: @/ZIA!/@ "VIOLET!" Eric roars on multiple channels. He >flings his hands out, slamming them together, creating a very loud >clap or a soft sonic boom. All the nearby Dragons are suddenly >disrupted, flying back or even vanishing. Then Eric leaps, >anime-style, to the Just Violet's side. Natatiri backflips away >quickly, then assesses the Hunter with a keen eye. > "Oh, the dark avengers are my _favorites,_ you know..." she says >hungrily. "You really don't want to go there." The Just Violet forces out through a jaw clenched in effort and annoyance. > "You can't fool _me,_ hon," Natatiri says in a sultry tone, slowly >walking toward him with her hands _out,_ extended at the sides. (OOC: >At this point, Zia will realize that Eric has something in common >with one of her _other_ husbands -- while he can [and will] take out >female threats, he'd much rather not fire at a woman if he can help >it.) > "You haven't shed a drop of sweat in that get-up so far, but..." >and indeed, a single drop is rolling slowly down his temple, then >over the scarf. Ultra-violent growls, but she doesn't have enough breath left to make the reply she'd like to. Actually, the one she'd like most would involve fists, not words, but that is also out of the picture. For now. >>On Wed, 07 Apr 2004 21:01:53 -0700 >>Patrick O'Shea Said As CAoL Message # 00011939 >> >>[Maybe she does have something on Shamath, at that.] With a quick >>motion, Patrick's staff is split in two, one half shooting towards >>UV, crackling with mystical energy (the other half is busy smacking >>a random thug upside the head, but that's another post :-) ). The >>energy plays over the restraint... > > Again, the device resists the attempt. It seems to have a tiny, >virtually microscopic, power source of...chance? Entropy? Possibility >-- yes, _solid_ possibility -- that helps these devices resist. Ultraviolet makes a mental note to capture one of these and see how shadowshift effects - or doesn't - this property. Under carefully cautious conditions, that is, with Doc E and Nemo's help, perhaps. > Between Eric, UV's chain, and the Kai staff... >...disintegrating it and freeing the heroine. > Natatiri sighs. "Mobius is _not_ going to be pleased." She fades >out again, and the Lin Kuei retreat. > Eric frowns. "Why don't I think that's a good..." > *CLANG* > "...thing?" He looks up...ALL the way up...at a mech-walker. >"Great." He fires at the thing's head while unlimbering the chain >with the other, hook lashing out for a finger... @No, Eric.@ UV says, even as she slowly (getting crushed was uncomfortable, even as a Dreamer) to her feet. > Natatiri reappears behind the broken dais as the Sphinx head flies >there as well. The darkness in the distance is growing stronger. "Wu >Ming! Keep them busy!" > Wu Ming nods, and the remaining Lin Kuei divide, two going to one >Dragon each, with a trio heading for Quiet Moon, Rob, and the >newcomer (Baraka) each. UV frowns, glances as the giant robots surround the heroes, not liking this situation much at all. > Behind her, another figure -- at nine feet tall, not the size of >the mechs, but still impressive -- strides forward. It is a statue of >Set, wielding a huge polearm of some sort -- a long curved blade >centered on one end, and a huge weight on the other. He strides >toward Patrick as well. > The Dragon and Lin Kuei on Patrick observe this, then dart over to >Rob to battle the Amazon. > "It appears I won't be adding you to my collection as well," >Natatiri says, laughing mockingly as the Set-statue's eyes glow >ominously... @Attention all heroes! It is now time to make an orderly retreat. Let's have groups of two to four, the Amazon and Jack out first, and the rest of us by order of ability to escape and/or power level. Baraka - you with the Amazon? Eric, you take Jack and me. Patrick, will you and the Silver Scarab collect our Scientist and make him vanish, please? Thunder - break me a path through these mechanical monstrosities. You can't cover my rear - Eric's got the duty today.@ @Ready? BREAK.@ The Just Violet leaps into the fray with the Amazon, determined not to leave anyone behind as they withdrawal, but feeling that time is running out. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE 9n: Hang Time (2 of 2) On Thu, 08 Apr 2004 17:55:38 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011946 >On Thu, 08 Apr 2004 14:43:39 -0700 >Patrick O'Shea Said As CAoL Message # 00011943 > >At 01:40 PM 4/8/2004 -0700, you wrote: >>>"You'd be surprised." Quiet Moon replies. "Darklord Zagarna's first >>>essays into Vassagonia were unprepared for sand. And don't get me >>>started on the Bor empire's attempt to oust a group of Cener druids >>>from Kakush." >> >> "Zagarna was narrow-minded," Mobius replies, his voice suddenly >>that of a mundane (if passionate) scholar, "and the druids' efforts >>to undermine the Bor attack were..." > >OOC: He knows of Magnamund? Cool. I won't be surprised if someone >whips out Helshezag, then. Though maybe that should wait until the >Star Wars bit... OOC: He does. I don't. I'll do some research, of course, but I wanted to get across Mobius' penchant for picking up any and every bit of information he can get. Also, Mobius has conquered quite a few realities, and has his eye on more -- perhaps Quiet Moon will find maps of his homeworld, complete with invasion strategies, in some antechamber in Thebes... >> Wu Ming nods, and the remaining Lin Kuei divide, two going to one >>Dragon each, with a trio heading for Quiet Moon, Rob, and the >>newcomer (Baraka) each. Natatiri flings a bracelet at Patrick as >>well. "To show my gratitude," she says acidly. > >THe trapped bracelet is easily dodged, though that still leaves the >hero facing a trio of taijutsu terrors tingling for a tussle. (OOC: >Alliteration at the expense of accuracy. How I have fallen.) Actually, the trapped bracelet is _very_ easily dodged -- it sort of "sproings" half-heartedly, flopping to the ground with a weak bounce. "When I get my hands on that artificer..." Natatiri mutters direly. >> The Dragon and Lin Kuei on Patrick observe this, then dart over >>to Rob to battle the amazon. >> "It appears I won't be adding you to my collection as well," >>Natatiri says, laughing mockingly as the Set-statue's eyes glow >>ominously... > >Growling a bit, Patrick hops back, calls up the Brotherhood spell >'strength', leaps forward and tries to punch a hole in the statue's >leg. > >Punching rock. BAD move. > >"Owowowowowowowowow!" Actually, the trapped bracelet is _very_ easily dodged -- it sort of "sproings" half-heartedly, flopping to the ground with a weak bounce. "When I get my hands on that artificer..." Natatiri mutters direly. >Again the statue advances, prompting Patrick to call up an Invisible >Fist spell, and then close in with his staff, now enchanted with >another battle-magic spell. The spent capture bracelet falls apart, revealing half a dozen mechanical scarabs. They immediately take to the air. "To finish what I was saying," Natatiri says smugly, "when I get my hands on that artificer -- I'm going to kiss him." The scarabs' pincers pop out to double their length. "So _how_ many toxins are you immune to?" >OOC#Idon'tknowanymore: I'll be up island for the next few days, so my >Internet access is gonna be a bit spotty. I can probably check once a >day, but my webmail system tends to do mean, nasty, Manos-type stuff >to formatting. OOC: Ew. Well, Quiet Moon's busy for a while, so it can be assumed that you're "playing" with Set & co. Oh, and that 'toxins' bit? She's lying (well technically, just deceiving -- she didn't _actually_ lie). The scarabs are explosive -- too small to be lethal, but they make a nice "boom" on contact -- say, from a parry. Or a Scarab Sting shot. If QM gets kicked around by those...ouch. Have fun! 8^) =========================== Subject: Re: AAE 9n: Hang Time (2 of 2) On Thu, 8 Apr 2004 21:42:31 -0400 Dr. Energy Said As CAoL Message # 00011947 >On Thu, 8 Apr 2004 16:56:33 -0700 (PDT) >Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011945 > > "Ut-oh." Violet comments, but she is too busy trying not to be >sliced up by ninja to see what is creating the darkness. @Doc E, you >all right in there, or should I fetch a fifty foot can opener? I'm >sure Rog-Thunder has one in a pocket...@ The Good Doctor tightbeams, /"No, my dear Violet. I am merely resting. As you will soon see, I am not as they say 'down for the count' "/ The Good Doctor checks the gauges on the BORIS. "Shields are down, but structural integrity is holding. Activating Reverse Energy Magneto Overthruster." There is a HUMMMMMM as the REMO turns the metal body of the BORIS into a reverse magnet. Any metallic object around it, is suddenly repulsed. This would include the RoboKitten. The force of the field is enough to shoot the Kitten, claws and all up into the air. Suddenly the BORIS kips up, and rockets into the air. The 'bot grabs the RoboKitty, and grabs him by the half-melted tail. He lands on his feet, and like a Bronze Hammer thrower, spins around and around until the RoboCat is tossed harmlessly into the sea some 500 feet away. The Sphinx did leave his mark, however as there are a few holes where the claws were. The spike fists transform back into hands, and there is a WHOOOSH and a ker-CHUNK, as the whole thing powers down. The cockpit opens, and out flies The Good Doctor in a whoosh of sparklers and smoke. The armor that he is in now is a man-sized version of the BORIS, only without the ability to transform into vehicles. He booms, as he watches Mobius make his escape, "The only thing that will be fleeting, villian, is you when I kick your ass back to whatever pit that spawned you." #"Uncle Emil?"# He puts his hand to his ear, as if listening to something, #"Yes, my dear?"# In his cyberlink, he hears a laugh, #"I have never seen this side of you before. What happened to you since that cold night when you and the purple lady saved me from that horrible Volkov?"# The Good Doctor grins, #"Let's just say I have had an Awakening since then, and leave the tale-telling for another day. Do you have news?"# #"Yes, Papa. We have allies, it seems. I am bringing one along the way, while the others are searching for an artifact that will turn the tide of the war on this front."# #"Excellent, Ana. Who is this gentleman?"# Somewhere, in the skies above Egypt, Ana giggles. #"Let's just say he's a defender of the True Faith of Egypt, and leave it at that for now."# Doc Energy gets a little worried, [Oh, dear. What has that curious child gotten into this time?] > OOC: Heh. You know, I thought up something like this myself a >while ago. The Egyptian Gods are more aware of the threat than even >the writer, I suspect. Wait until you see what Imhotep is up >against... OOC: They say that great minds think alike. I did some research on Sobek (Sebek) and he was the god of the 4th hour of night which was considered the darkest and most frightening part of Ra's journey through the night. Set actually manned the Prow, and it's Set who protects Ra from Sobek. Helps to have a friend who is a amature Egyptologist. > As Imhotep's tale nears its end, Rick, Ardeth and Marion race into >the cave to help their respective friends/loved ones, and... > "WHOA!" > "The creature!" > Marion cocks her head to one side and grins. "Not bad for three >thousand years." > "Marion!" Indy shoots back, aggrieved, as Rick and Ardeth point >their weapons at Imhotep. > Imhotep looks at them with something between condescension and >disgust. "You know better than that." > Rick gives him a mocking glare in response. "For someone whose >_butt_ we kicked twice, you've got a lot of mouth, buddy." > "Rick, it's all right," Evie replies, running over and gently >guiding the weapons down. "He is on _our_ side this time." > Rick looks at the Mummy dubiously. "You sure?" Evie looks her husband in the eyes, "Yes, I am *very* sure. Something tells me that he will be more of an ally than a villian now. Especially since The Gods will be watching him VERY closely. Imhotep bows his head, "What I have done to you cannot be undone, but all that I can offer is my service to you and to my Gods. I have been tried before the High Court, and though my sins were great, they were not great enough to warrant Apep devouring me. I have been shown a vision that a Pretender walks in the Valley of The Kings as a puppet being controlled by an Evil Puppeteer. It is my duty to see that the strings are cut." >>Imhotep assumed a pious look, and smiled. "So it would seem, my gold >>digging friend. While I would be happier with my former love by my >>side, I know that it can never be." >>Ana said suddenly, "Does she look like this?" She described Naitiri >>to Imhotep. Imhoteps' features became a stone mask. "Yes, that would >>be her, though I am not surprised that her shadow has fallen on >>other realms as well. I think I would be very interested to meet >>her..." >>Ana smiled, "Well, I think I can arrange that...." Imhotep smiles, which is a Very Scary thing, because it is not a kind smile at all. "That would be lovely. But first, I must share with you a vision that I had while awaiting you all." He walks over to a shallow pool filled with black water. He waves his hand, and a picture of Giza appears. "Here you will find the Nose of The Sphinx buried beneath the sands. In the Nose, there is writing that gives you directions to the locations of the Four Effreet. Ardeth blanches, "The Four who were bound by Solomon? The ones of neither Good nor Evil? They would do more harm than good." Imhotep regards the Ma'jai with a look that one would give a child, "Actually, they are Four Elemental beings, who were summoned by the ancient kings to combat the tribe of Israel. The God of The Slaves had great hold over this area, so the kings sought to turn the populace back by creating a land of wealth and abundance where the Old Gods would reign supreme. They did not factor in the tenacity and the wisdom of Soloman, who recognized them for what they were and bound them in 4 different artifacts. One is a brazier of gold, another is a lamp of everflowing water, the third is a large clay jar which is ever flowing with fruits and grains, and the fourth..." he said looking over at the Forge, "is the Forge of Ptah. These items must be placed at exact locations..." he waves his hand over the water again, and a map of Egypt appears. The Lamp of Water must be placed here." he says pointing at Luxor. "The Brazier of Air must be placed here" he points to a region near the Libyan border (OOC: Near the town of Siwa for you map-geeks) "The Clay Jar of Earth must be placed in the Temple of Osiris" he says pointing to an area near Alexandria "and the Forge of Ptah must be placed here." he says pointing to the area between Gebel Katarina and Mount Sinai." He waves his hand and shows the map from a higher view. "When you utter the words to activate the magic within each object, the effreets are bound to defend Egypt. As you Storm Knights would say, "They will remove this cosm from Core Earth and restore the balance. Once the balance is restored, then my service will end and I will go to The Heavenly Chariot to take my place among the gods." He reaches into the folds of his robe, and pulls out 4 parchments. "Now who will take the charge?" Indy and Rick look at each other, [In for a penny...] thinks Indy. "Me and the Boy Scout here will take care of the Forge." says Indy, taking the parchment and the Forge. Rick glares at him, but says nothing. Evie and Marion exchange looks of 'why-should-they-have all-the-fun' "Me and Mrs. Jones will take the Clay Jar to the temple. Alex pipes up, "I can read heiroglyphs." Evie looks over at Ardeth, "It would be my honor to accompany your son to Siwa with the Brazier" he says. He looks Imhotep up and down, and takes the scroll. "I am sorry to have doubted you, priest." Jonathan looks over at Buck, "Well, big guy, looks like it's you and me taking the Lamp to Luxor." Buck spits a wad of tobacco on the ground near his boot. "Suits me fine. I don't like Mobius or his thugs much anyway." Imhotep smiles as Jonathan takes the last scroll. "Excellent, now..." he turns to Ana. "You were wishing to introduce me to someone?" Ana smiles, "Why yes." she said, opening an X-Window to the streets of Cairo. Imhotep bows, and steps through the window, whereupon it closes behind him. Ana reaches into her back pack and pulls out walkie-talkies. She hands each one to each of the team members. "These devices will keep you in contact with each other. Once we have the locations secured and ready, give me a sign that says you have done so. Then we must coordinate our recitals exactly. I will go with Jonathan and Buck to secure their passage to Luxor. Good luck to you all." she says turning on her heel and heading out the door, with the others following behind to the jeep. > OOC note: Cute. 8^) FTR, while Natatiri will _not_ be Imhotep's >Anck Su Namun, she _is_ an interdimensional cognate (the reincarnated >Anck Su Namun of Mobius' universe). OOC: Proving once again that great minds think alike. Just call me Evil GM-San In Training. 8-) The Good Doctor rockets over to the fray, and engages 5 of the mechanical men. "Time for me to get amped up, while I show of my magnetic personality." There is a "Whump" as a glowing electrical ball of energy surrounds him. He points his right hand at the five who have foolishly tried to step on him, and with his left hand (the one with the mini-Lens on it) a glowing Tesla gun emerges, and it fires upon the 5. Suddenly, all five mechs are attracted to each other.....literally. They all collapse into a heap > Behind her, another figure -- at nine feet tall, not the size of >the mechs, but still impressive -- strides forward. It is a statue of >Set, wielding a huge polearm of some sort -- a long curved blade >centered on one end, and a huge weight on the other. He strides >toward Patrick as well. > The Dragon and Lin Kuei on Patrick observe this, then dart over to >Rob to battle the amazon. > "It appears I won't be adding you to my collection as well," >Natatiri says, laughing mockingly as the Set-statue's eyes glow >ominously... Suddenly a whirl of sand appears in the square. The sand gathers and forms into a man shape, which then changes into a man in ornate black robes that say "High Priest" to the casual observer. "My dear Ahnk Su Namun. You abandoned me to my fate, and even though I knew that you had suffered a similar fate in another realm, I see that fate has played me into your hands again. And here I find you serving not the True Pharoah, but a False One. The Gods have judged you to be unworthy. Warriors! Attack!" Suddenly from out of the sands, 7 mummified warriors appear. 4 attack the statue of The False Set, and 3 pair off against the villians facing the CAoL. "Leave Ahnk Su Namun alive. Destroy the rest" bellows Imhotep. Doc Energy, watching all of these, shakes his head and joins his compatriots. "I think now would be a good time for us to make our escape." =========================== Subject: Re: AAE 9n: Hang Time (2 of 2) On Thu, 08 Apr 2004 20:15:30 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011948 >On Thu, 08 Apr 2004 14:44:27 -0700 >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00011944 > >>On Thu, 08 Apr 2004 13:13:30 -0700 >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011942 >> >> That Dragon vanishes entirely, taking some of the tangle with >>him/it, leaving some behind to leave a sticky mess. >> "Thanks," the Hunter replies simply, as he dances between >>Dragons. > >Baraka waves a hand in a salute that somehow turns into a dealy >strike at "her" Dragon. :-) Who becomes two Dragons (though not in the same obvious "splits in half" way he did to Eric). >[OOC: that vanishing clears up my one question. Whether the Dragons >were sufficiently major league to require "extra fancy" work to >disposes of.] OOC: Er, no. 8^) You seem to have mistaken the Ubiquitous Dragon for a mere *henchman,* understandable given the appearance of such above. Actually, he is a Master (at least!) of the Mage Sphere of Correspondence -- allowing him to teleport, co-locate, and perform even nastier tricks of spatial relations. Remember Caprice? How she could move from one place to another without (exactly) beaming herself or traveling between dimensions? She was a 'spirit' of Correspondence. The Ubiquitous Dragon is Earth-9's greatest pulp villain, and master of the largest "independent" (i.e. not controlled by a larger faction of supernaturals) criminal empire in the world. This is a guy who gave a Really Hard Time to Earth-9's greatest pulp _hero,_ Doc Eon. Basically, he's just "slumming" with Mobius -- even super-criminals need a vacation now and then. (And, well, Mobius just has _so_ many Neat Toys...who knows what might end up in the Heaven Thunder Triad's arsenal? ;^) As such, I'm going to be retconning a fair amount of this fight. Actually, a lot of it... >> The Dragon leaps back slightly, very surprised -- but only for a >>moment. He smiles confidently, limbering his body, taking more of a >>tai ch'i stance, and positively flowing as he circles the newcomer. >>"Ah, I _heard_ that Doctor Eon had taken on a female apprentice. >>Come, let us see if your Western science-force is a match for the >>way of the demon-dragons." > >"Doctor Eon? Who's that?" The Dragon sneers. >Baraka's obvious puzzlement doesn't affect her fighting skills in the >slightest. > >The Dragon will note that her fighting style isn't *anything* he's >familiar with (for good reason, it won't be invented for several >centuries, if it is ever invented in this timeline :-) OOC: Actually, you just _confirmed_ to him that she's Eon Girl or something. Did I mention that Doc Eon's nickname is "The Man of Many Tomorrows?" He time-travels. Among other things. "That spin kick...was it from the 28th century? No -- the 29th," the Dragon's sneer broadens. "Your mentor does like to chatter while he fights, you know." >As the Dragon and the girl pause for a moment, she flicks a drop of >blood off a fingernail. And about that time the dragon notes that >he's bleeding from several superficial wounds. Which heal as she watches. >His clothes have some "decorative" slashes now. Apparently those >fingernails are sharper than razors. So are his. He's not surprised. UD, on the other hand, has different substances on his. Eric dances in. He's trying to combine Zia's seemingly random style with his own more focused methods, but the split in concentration is hampering him. Ever so slightly -- a lesser foe would never see it -- but Wu Ming's hand flickers through an opening. Literally -- the hand is in TWO PLACES AT ONCE for a split second. Two scratches appear on Eric's chest, a touch of blood welling through his _undamaged_ clothing. The Dragon fighting Eric looks at the two nail tips with flecks of blood on them and frowns slightly. >Baraka makes a move. The Dragon starts to counter. Only to discover >that the counter placed just the right stress on his gi to snap the >belt that had been weakened by one of Baraka's "misses". Unfortunately, 1) he's not wearing a gi, but rather fairly form-fitting pants that wouldn't fall regardless, and 2) he could do any number of things -- switch in an undamaged pair being the most obvious -- that would negate the problems detailed in what I snipped. >A couple of quick motions and the pole is broken to a convenient >length for a quarter staff. The *noise* as the ends are broken off >will startle onlookers. They are rather prounonced *metallic* clangs >and crunches. > >This "girl" has just produced clean breaks in a metal pipe. And is >handling it as easily as if it was bamboo. Her opponent observes this flatly. He then begins chanting. "Dao te lung kuei...dao te lung kuei... dao te lung kuei..." (Intended translation : "Virtue of the Way of the Dragon-Demons..." Apologies if I just mangled Mandarin beyond all excuse. ;^) This interferes with _his_ style not at all... >> "Excuse me," the Hunter quips dryly, moving smoothly to protect >>her flank, "did I just turn invisible? I'm hurt." > >Baraka spares a moment (while the Dragon is recovering) to give Eric >a visual once over. A very "appreciative" one. > >"Far from invisible, handsome" she quips. Eric clears his throat. "I meant _he's_ ignoring me, for the most part." [What _is_ it about this realm and hormones?] Eric and UD circle one another. [I'm not exactly Cary Grant here, even if anything _was_ showing.] (OOC: Actually, my choice for Eric in the movie: Hugh Jackman. See the trailer for Van Helsing. Oh, and that outfit may cover everything, but his figure is easily discernable beneath it...) >> (OOC: I'm not having Eric ask for introductions at this point, >>because I'm going to offer a rtcon where the heroes meet Baraka >>before the rescue attempt. Nemo, if you don't want to do that, we >>can just pick this up from there.) > >Fine by me. The meeting should prove "interesting". :-) Heh. I'll get to that. >> Behind her, another figure -- at nine feet tall, not the size of >>the mechs, but still impressive -- strides forward. It is a statue >>of Set, wielding a huge polearm of some sort -- a long curved blade >>centered on one end, and a huge weight on the other. He strides >>toward Patrick as well. >Baraka looks at this, shakes her head in disgust and shifts to a one >handed grip on her improvised staff. With her now free *left* hand, >she produces a gun from her harness. (and no, that didn't appear to >be a holster there). > >The .44 magnum makes short work of the Lin Kuei. Well, not _too_ short -- they're Wu Ming's elite warriors -- but yeah. They go down, bleeding, but a Dragon appears behind each of them in turn, vanishing them. (Waste not... ;^) >The gun disappears back into the harness as Baraka takes a few >running steps towards the Set-statue and hurls the staff at its eyes. >(figure it's about as bad as a harpoon fired from a whaling ship) The statue's glowing eyes suddenly fire lancing beams of power. The staff is reduced to shards and lumps before it touches the thing. >She follows up with several smoke(?) grenades. > >And returns to the Dragon, if he's still up to facing her. Yes, actually, he is. _His_ next punch, while not _quite_ as strong as hers, is superhuman -- and just as fast as hers. UD's smile broadens as a second him flanks her, just as strong and fast. On the other hand, the ones facing Rob and Hippolyta are starting to flicker a little. He's devoting more of his concentration to Baraka now. Aren't you lucky? He seems to be trying to slash Baraka with his right index finger and his left ring finger. "When you awaken, tell your teacher that the Dragon-Who-Is-In-All-Places has learned much over the decades." "TELL HIM YOURSELF," an heroic voice booms from a rooftop. "Ah," the Dragon says with satisfaction. Doc Eon has arrived. "Forgive me for not correcting his assumptions," Eon's voice whispers _very_ quietly in Baraka's ear, "but he doesn't make an error like this often. I'd rather not disabuse him of it any sooner than necessary." Eric gets the closest look to hero worship anyone will ever see on his face. Fortunately for him, UV is the only non-cosmic present with the perception to pick it up. (If Zia ever wants to see it again, she'll have to introduce him to Lamont. It'll only work once, though. ;^) "It's an honor, sir." Eon chuckles. "Joe likes to...embellish my adventures," he clarifies. Then he jumps down four stories, landing with a *crunch* that leaves bootmarks in the sidewalk, and takes a stance not dissimilar to the one Baraka was using. "Interesting choice with the nails. I thought you preferred that paralytic lotus extract?" The Dragon's smile grows more cunning. "My Heaven Thunder Triad has had several encounters with the Champions. Learning that their leader is fond of American manga, I had one of my wives do some research. A fictional 'Mandarin' proved...inspirational, if absurd." "And _I_ am 'chatty?'" Eon quips with a hearty smile. The Dragon doesn't bother answering with words, taking Eon's quip to heart, it would seem. Instead, the Dragons (four of them now) begin to circle Eon and Baraka, chanting "Dao te lung kuei...dao te lung kuei...dao te lung kuei..." TBC (after some retconning in _other_ posts) =========================== Subject: Re: AAE 9n: Hang Time (2 of 2) On Thu, 08 Apr 2004 21:51:54 -0700 Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00011949 >On Thu, 08 Apr 2004 20:15:30 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011948 > >>On Thu, 08 Apr 2004 14:44:27 -0700 >>Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00011944 >> >>Baraka waves a hand in a salute that somehow turns into a dealy >>strike at "her" Dragon. :-) > > Who becomes two Dragons (though not in the same obvious "splits in >half" way he did to Eric). Drat. >>[OOC: that vanishing clears up my one question. Whether the Dragons >>were sufficiently major league to require "extra fancy" work to >>disposes of.] > > OOC: Er, no. 8^) > You seem to have mistaken the Ubiquitous Dragon for a mere >*henchman,* understandable given the appearance of such above. >Actually, he is a Master (at least!) of the Mage Sphere of >Correspondence -- allowing him to teleport, co-locate, and perform >even nastier tricks of spatial relations. Remember Caprice? How she >could move from one place to another without (exactly) beaming >herself or traveling between dimensions? She was a 'spirit' of >Correspondence. Oh, I figured them for more than "henchmen". I just didn't want to defeat "major bit players" too easily... > The Ubiquitous Dragon is Earth-9's greatest pulp villain, and >master of the largest "independent" (i.e. not controlled by a larger >faction of supernaturals) criminal empire in the world. This is a guy >who gave a Really Hard Time to Earth-9's greatest pulp _hero,_ Doc >Eon. Basically, he's just "slumming" with Mobius -- even >super-criminals need a vacation now and then. (And, well, Mobius just >has _so_ many Neat Toys...who knows what might end up in the Heaven >Thunder Triad's arsenal? ;^) As such, I'm going to be retconning a >fair amount of this fight. Actually, a lot of it... I'll just lie back and enjoy it. >>As the Dragon and the girl pause for a moment, she flicks a drop of >>blood off a fingernail. And about that time the dragon notes that >>he's bleeding from several superficial wounds. > > Which heal as she watches. And that produces a mental shrug from her. The wounds weren't the point. >>Baraka makes a move. The Dragon starts to counter. Only to discover >>that the counter placed just the right stress on his gi to snap the >>belt that had been weakened by one of Baraka's "misses". > > Unfortunately, 1) he's not wearing a gi, but rather fairly >form-fitting pants that wouldn't fall regardless, and 2) he could do >any number of things -- switch in an undamaged pair being the most >obvious -- that would negate the problems detailed in what I snipped. Ah, in that case, if we can double retcon to the outfit becoming rather more abbreviated due to the slashes??? >>Baraka spares a moment (while the Dragon is recovering) to give Eric >>a visual once over. A very "appreciative" one. >> >>"Far from invisible, handsome" she quips. > > Eric clears his throat. > "I meant _he's_ ignoring me, for the most part." > [What _is_ it about this realm and hormones?] Eric and UD circle >one another. [I'm not exactly Cary Grant here, even if anything _was_ >showing.] > (OOC: Actually, my choice for Eric in the movie: Hugh Jackman. See >the trailer for Van Helsing. Oh, and that outfit may cover >everything, but his figure is easily discernable beneath it...) Well, Baraka does have an excess of hormones. For various reasons. :-) >>Baraka looks at this, shakes her head in disgust and shifts to a one >>handed grip on her improvised staff. With her now free *left* hand, >>she produces a gun from her harness. (and no, that didn't appear to >>be a holster there). >> >>The .44 magnum makes short work of the Lin Kuei. > > Well, not _too_ short -- they're Wu Ming's elite warriors -- but >yeah. They go down, bleeding, but a Dragon appears behind each of >them in turn, vanishing them. (Waste not... ;^) Dead or out of the fight fotr a while, it's all the same to her. >>The gun disappears back into the harness as Baraka takes a few >>running steps towards the Set-statue and hurls the staff at its >>eyes. (figure it's about as bad as a harpoon fired from a whaling >>ship) > > The statue's glowing eyes suddenly fire lancing beams of power. >The staff is reduced to shards and lumps before it touches the thing. Yeek! >>She follows up with several smoke(?) grenades. >> >>And returns to the Dragon, if he's still up to facing her. > > Yes, actually, he is. > _His_ next punch, while not _quite_ as strong as hers, is >superhuman -- and just as fast as hers. > UD's smile broadens as a second him flanks her, just as strong and >fast. On the other hand, the ones facing Rob and Hippolyta are >starting to flicker a little. He's devoting more of his concentration >to Baraka now. Aren't you lucky? He seems to be trying to slash >Baraka with his right index finger and his left ring finger. "When >you awaken, tell your teacher that the Dragon-Who-Is-In-All-Places >has learned much over the decades." Isn't he going to be surprised when he succeeds and her skin doesn't scratch worth a damn (unless his nails are reinforced some way). (And if he does scratch her, she won't display much of an effect while he's watching) > The Dragon doesn't bother answering with words, taking Eon's quip >to heart, it would seem. Instead, the Dragons (four of them now) >begin to circle Eon and Baraka, chanting "Dao te lung kuei...dao te >lung kuei...dao te lung kuei..." Baraka whispers to Eon as the move so their backs are to each other. "I think it's about time we leave. The party is getting too unfriendly." =========================== Subject: Re: AAE 9n: Quitting Time? On Thu, 08 Apr 2004 22:15:54 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011950 >On Thu, 8 Apr 2004 16:56:33 -0700 (PDT) >Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011945 > >>On Thu, 08 Apr 2004 13:13:30 -0700 >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011942 >> >>>On Wed, 7 Apr 2004 16:49:51 -0400 >>>Dr. Energy Said As CAoL Message # 00011933 >> >> {Wu Ming! My amazon, if you please!} >> {Would you not prefer the violet one, my Pharaoh?} the Dragon >>replies smoothly. > >OOC: No, that'd be what you prefer, you Snake-in-Dragon's-Clothing. > ;) OOC: Who, him? ;^) Actually, his interest is strictly professional -- really -- he just recognizes her as the greater threat. Given that the other lady is the Queen of the Amazons, I'd say that's a high compliment. 8^) >> {Now if you'll excuse me...} the Evil Genius slid into a command >>chair, taking control of the Robo-Sphinx himself. {I'm about to make >>a Black Russian.} > >OOC: I am a woman scorned. Twice already. As if I don't know you're >doing that on purpose, Evil-GM San. Well. You know what they say >about a scorner woman's fury. ;) Either that, or Dr. M is having too >much fun watching the catfight. OOC: A gentleman never tells. 8^) Okay, okay, but I'm not talkin' either. Morgan, of course, has to differ with him -- he's very much a gentleman (except of course at those times when I don't _want_ him to be a gentleman *eg*.) >Mobius, Ph.D Emeritus"> ROFLMAO!!!!! (Almost LITERALLY!) >> @Sorry -- I guess the reference was a bit oblique,@ Eric replies >>with a shrug as shocktroopers go flying in every direction. @Or the >>movie was different enough.@ The Tommy goes into the topcoat, soon >>replaced with the twin 45s. > > @Me? Oblique? _In-con-ceivable_!@ Violet returns even as she darts >into combat herself. @Hyu keep-a husin' that hword,@ Eric chuckles. >>>"Because he - and his allies - are intent on avoiding killing >>>anyone. Why is an interesting question. My own limitations can't >>>have effected their whole strategy - how would they have guessed I >>>would be here?" >> >> @?@ Eric sends, a touch confused and more than a little worried. > > @They called me the Just Violet because I would never use worse >means than any given foe - or allied group of foes.@ The Purple Pulp >Heroine informs him. @Oh, _right,_@ Eric replies. >@In this world, it feels hard to break that, now that it has become >rather a calling card of mine. I _think_ I could, if the situation >were dire enough. But I'm not sure.@ @Hm.@ Eric glances up at...oh, heck, _wherever_ Mobius is at the moment. @/Didn't the boy scout say he thought Mobius could be turned?/@ he asks, adding the lens link to the latter sending. >> "A proper Pharaoh," Mobius replies, primarily to the Scarab, >>"cares _properly_ for his subjects." >> "Oh, yes, as tyrants go you're top-notch," the Scarab fires back >>acidly. "Everyone has food and medicine, and the trains run on time. >>Of course, anyone who _disagrees_ with you is 'disposed of,' but --" >> "Bah," Mobius scoffs. "You Westerners of this time are so naive. >>My methods are ancient and time-honored, and by history's standards >>I am among the greatest and most merciful of kings." > > "I am impressed with neither the mercy nor the ability of a king >who chooses to chain a woman to the foot of his throne. Or one who >would tolerate the likes of Wu Ming in his demense." The Just Violet >remarks, her voice suddenly taking on the cold, unbending >appraisement that originally won her the sobriquet. "Every monarch has his peccadilloes," Mobius replies dismissively -- but something in his tone hints that UV may have struck the mark a touch with the former comment. "As for Wu Ming...he has style. I like that." >> @/'Of this time?'/@ Eric wonders 'aloud.' @/Scarab's from _his_ >>world, isn't he? Interesting.../@ > > @I guess that would be the case. What're you thinking?@ UV asks. @/I'm thinking,/@ Eric notes quietly, @/that there's more to this Mobius than meets the eye. The hidden face. The Ancient Egypt fetish. The apparent insanity that doesn't seem to hinder him. When we get out of here, I want to do a little research on this clown./@ >>> @Hmmm. Eric, try fighting like _me_ instead of you, since he has >>>your usual style's number. Despite his mastery and my relative lack >>>of same, he's never been able to predict what I'd do next in a >>>fight.@ >> >> @'Relative lack of same?' Do tell me what you consider 'mastery' >>some day,@ Eric sends. > > @What my aunts, uncles, and father can do.@ Ultra-violet says, >quite seriously. @You really have to introduce me someday,@ he replies dryly. >>After concentrating for a moment, he retracts the kusari-gama and >>enters a crane stance. >> "Huh." Two Dragons make flying leaps. Eric parries both, then >>switches to cat stance, evades a third, goes into a boxer's posture, >>and blocks a fourth. > > @That's the ticket!@ UV encourages. @Effective,@ Eric replies gratefully. @It's tough counter-attacking, though.@ >> The Dragon leaps back slightly, very surprised -- but only for a >>moment. He smiles confidently, lumbering his body, taking more of a >>tai ch'i stance, and positively flowing as he circles the newcomer. >>"Ah, I _heard_ that Doctor Eon had taken on a female apprentice. > > OOC: That's worse than assuming Hunter was UV's sidekick - when >she let him jump into battle ahead of her! Okay, major weakness of >UDragon - not great tactician, VERY over-confident. But superlative >martial artist...> OOC: Actually, the Dragon is a fine tactician. Definitely overconfident, yes. However, he's got good reason to believe that Baraka is related to Eon somehow -- see my previous post. And he's so damn hard to tag for more than a split second, and has so many back-up plans, that it's hard to do more than keep him in check. Ah well, show, don't tell. >> "We're not 'flowers and candy' types of women, though, are we?" >>Natatiri quips back, her smile a very different kind of predatory >>now... > > "That's as accurate as all your _other_ statements today." The >Just Violet says in a tone so completely unruffled she might as well >be saying 'another cup of tea?' A tone designed to be terribly >galling to over-confident villains. Natatiri doesn't seem galled, darn it! "Oh, really?" she smiles _evilly,_ glancing over at the Hunter out of the corner of her eye (though not so that she takes her gaze off of UV). >> "The Pharaoh's idea. Would you _rather_ I just stabbed you?" >>Natatiri quips back. >> "As someone who has been there, _I_ would!" Hippolyta shouts. > > "Thanks for telling me his plans." Ultra-violet does not append >the words 'you idiotic bimbette' but she thinks it - loudly. Again, Natatiri is unruffled. For that matter, maybe she _wanted_ you to know that? (The scheming...) >> "Oh, yes, I _remember_ how much you hated the Pharaoh's hands on >>your back," the Overgovernor laughs. >> "When he gives up conquest for a massage parlor, _then_ we'll >>talk," the amazon snarls, flushing slightly. > > "Why, I do believe the little girl is _jealous_ of you, Queen of >Amazonia. Maybe he only likes women with wit?" UV groans, forcing the >chain to hold against the constrictive force trying to crush her >senseless even as she taunts her enemy. Finally, _finally,_ that strikes home, if only a touch. Natatiri's eyes narrow. "Brave talk, but that _is_ all you have left, isn't it?" >> Meanwhile: @/ZIA!/@ "VIOLET!" Eric roars on multiple channels. He >>flings his hands out, slamming them together, creating a very loud >>clap or a soft sonic boom. All the nearby Dragons are suddenly >>disrupted, flying back or even vanishing. Note: it wasn't the force that knocks them back, but the Prime pulse of magick/ch'i disruption. >> Eric frowns. "Why don't I think that's a good..." >> *CLANG* >> "...thing?" He looks up...ALL the way up...at a mech-walker. >>"Great." He fires at the thing's head while unlimbering the chain >>with the other, hook lashing out for a finger... > > @No, Eric.@ UV says, even as she slowly (getting crushed was >uncomfortable, even as a Dreamer) to her feet. As quickly as he had begun the complex maneuver (what he had already done was only the first part of a multiple-action strike), he disengages, freeing the chain's blade from the finger. @Z?@ he queries, falling back and shifting to a fully defensive posture. >> The Dragon and Lin Kuei on Patrick observe this, then dart over >>to Rob to battle the Amazon. >> "It appears I won't be adding you to my collection as well," >>Natatiri says, laughing mockingly as the Set-statue's eyes glow >>ominously... > > of the statue, and himself...> > > @Attention all heroes! It is now time to make an orderly retreat. >Let's have groups of two to four, the Amazon and Jack out first, and >the rest of us by order of ability to escape and/or power level. >Baraka - you with the Amazon? Eric, you take Jack and me. OOC: Assuming that was 'open' Lensing: Eric nods, and the chain's defensive weaving takes on a rhythmic, almost hypnotic pattern. Jack looks puzzled. "Splitting up me and Scarab?" Still, he'd be a few inches taller if not for those two, so he crouches, ready to bolt. >Patrick, will you and the Silver Scarab collect our Scientist and >make him vanish, please? *I will accompany them as well,* a faint, feminine voice (with an accent somewhere between Arabic and French) adds, echoing strangely in the mental realm. >Thunder - break me a path through these mechanical monstrosities. You >can't cover my rear - Eric's got the duty today.@ > > @Ready? BREAK.@ The Just Violet leaps into the fray with the >Amazon, determined not to leave anyone behind as they withdrawal, but >feeling that time is running out. The purpose of Eric's pattern becomes instantly clear a fraction of a second later, as he suddenly brings the entire chain into his palm and flings out his hand, crying "KIAA!" The robot that was descending on Zia and him simply...isn't there any more. Several of the Hunter's old scars appear, bleeding faintly. "Hnn." [Damn. I was _afraid_ that'd be vulgar, even here. Well. Take what you want, and pay the price.] @^Z?^@ Eric asks as he and Jack retreat toward the dais. @^Are we retreating as a unit, or scattering? If the latter, I don't grasp our heading for the Amazon.^@ The darkness in the distance (coming from upriver -- SSE to be specific) begins to rise into the sky, like some obscene anti-sunrise. {"And now, you fools, you all DIE!"} Mobius rants enthusiastically... =========================== Subject: Re: AAE 9n: Quitting Time? On Thu, 08 Apr 2004 23:01:31 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011951 Note: Subject changed to thread in sequence. >On Thu, 8 Apr 2004 21:42:31 -0400 >Dr. Energy Said As CAoL Message # 00011947 > >>On Thu, 8 Apr 2004 16:56:33 -0700 (PDT) >>Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011945 >> >> "Ut-oh." Violet comments, but she is too busy trying not to be >>sliced up by ninja to see what is creating the darkness. @Doc E, you >>all right in there, or should I fetch a fifty foot can opener? I'm >>sure Rog-Thunder has one in a pocket...@ > >The Good Doctor tightbeams, /"No, my dear Violet. I am merely >resting. As you will soon see, I am not as they say 'down for the >count' "/ > >The Good Doctor checks the gauges on the BORIS. "Shields are down, >but structural integrity is holding. Activating Reverse Energy >Magneto Overthruster." There is a HUMMMMMM as the REMO turns the >metal body of the BORIS into a reverse magnet. Any metallic object >around it, is suddenly repulsed. This would include the RoboKitten. >The force of the field is enough to shoot the Kitten, claws and all >up into the air. Unfortunately, this also tears some impressive rents in BORIS. Those claws were _nasty._ And hooked. And buried in BORIS. Ow. >The armor that he is in now is a man-sized version of the BORIS, only >without the ability to transform into vehicles. He booms, as he >watches Mobius make his escape, "The only thing that will be >fleeting, villian, is you when I kick your ass back to whatever pit >that spawned you." Dr. Mobius "tut tut"s amusedly. {"Such _language,_ Doctor! For _shame!_"} he cackles. OOC: At Morgan's request, I describe Dr. Mobius' "working" voice: he's somewhere between Mark Hamill's Joker and the 80s Cobra Commander/Starscream (same voice in the latter cases); high-pitched for a guy, manic, and perfectly suited for crazed laughter. >> OOC: Heh. You know, I thought up something like this myself a >>while ago. The Egyptian Gods are more aware of the threat than even >>the writer, I suspect. Wait until you see what Imhotep is up >>against... > >OOC: They say that great minds think alike. I did some research on >Sobek (Sebek) and he was the god of the 4th hour of night which was >considered the darkest and most frightening part of Ra's journey >through the night. Set actually manned the Prow, and it's Set who >protects Ra from Sobek. Helps to have a friend who is a amature >Egyptologist. OOC: Grin. Though I thought it was Apep/Apophis that threatened Ra during the night. And the threat in question is apparently not quite what you think... >The Good Doctor rockets over to the fray, and engages 5 of the >mechanical men. "Time for me to get amped up, while I show of my >magnetic personality." There is a "Whump" as a glowing electrical >ball of energy surrounds him. He points his right hand at the five >who have foolishly tried to step on him, and with his left hand (the >one with the mini-Lens on it) a glowing Tesla gun emerges, and it >fires upon the 5. Suddenly, all five mechs are attracted to each >other.....literally. They all collapse into a heap Well, five minus however many are taken out by others (Eric already got one, and expect Capt. Thunder to take out at least one more). A strange whine, like a cross between screeching birds and slightly stressed metal (OOC: another trailer to see: Sky Captain &/t World of Tomorrow), echoes in the distance. Gleaming silvery bird-like machines are racing towards the fray at an alarming speed. Those with enhanced senses or telescopic sights can see/sense machine guns sliding out in forward mounts. {Hey, DOC!} Eon's communicator howls. {We got more bogies than a Sam Spade film festival comin' at us!} {"Noted, Ace. We are leaving as quickly as possible,"} Eon says calmly. >> The Dragon and Lin Kuei on Patrick observe this, then dart over >>to Rob to battle the amazon. >> "It appears I won't be adding you to my collection as well," >>Natatiri says, laughing mockingly as the Set-statue's eyes glow >>ominously... > >Suddenly a whirl of sand appears in the square. The sand gathers and >forms into a man shape, which then changes into a man in ornate black >robes that say "High Priest" to the casual observer. Natatiri squints, then recoils. "What..." >"My dear Ahnk Su Namun. You abandoned me to my fate, and even though >I knew that you had suffered a similar fate in another realm, I see >that fate has played me into your hands again. And here I find you >serving not the True Pharoah, but a False One. The Gods have judged >you to be unworthy. Warriors! Attack!" "You _definitely_ have me confused with someone else," the Overgovernor says, somewhere between dubious and scared (finally!). [Of course, he _is_ reminiscent of something from a past life the Mathematician showed me, but I am certainly not telling _him_ that!] >Suddenly from out of the sands, 7 mummified warriors appear. 4 attack >the statue of The False Set, and 3 pair off against the villians >facing the CAoL. "Leave Ahnk Su Namun alive. Destroy the rest" >bellows Imhotep. "You are too kind," Natatiri says wryly, when a beam lances down from the Sphinx head and whisks her away. She looks shocked for a moment, then immensely relieved. "I am entirely in your debt, my Pharaoh." "See that you remember it," Mobius snaps, briefly all business. He finishes performing some repairs, and the damaged eyes flare to life. {"As for _you,_ rebellious one, I'll see your undead warriors and raise you some gospog! Nai Sekhem!"} Mobius chants in a roar, and the ground shakes. Out of the ground, ten -- twenty? -- creatures dig themselves free. Each "pair" resembling Siamese mummies, joined at some body part, seven attack Imhotep's warriors. Though their movements are clumsy and jerk oddly, their combat skills don't seem to suffer, and they wield spiked staves well. The other three "pairs" charge at Imhotep himself. >Doc Energy, watching all of these, shakes his head and joins his >compatriots. "I think now would be a good time for us to make our >escape." "Now where have I heard _that_ before," Eric mutters. To the south, the dark field is rising more quickly and ominously than ever. Eon squints, (barely) parrying blows from his two Dragons to give him a chance to analyze -- "Good Lord!" {"That's _right,_ Doctor Eon, even _you_ should be terrified! For I have done the impossible!"} Mobius rants. In a more pedantic, lecturing tone, he continues. {"During a recent crisis within this cosm, a spirit force appeared in the heavens. Invisible to mere mortals, it signalled the end of their vampires' society, and heralded the change of were-things to these 'Exalted' creatures."} @/Oh Gaia. He's insane,/@ Eric sends, impressed despite himself and openly horrified (albeit at the implications than out of real fear for himself). {"This 'Red Star' caused the very orbit of the spirit world to shift, becoming its axis -- a diabolic Axis Mundi, as it were! When the Gaunt Man began to scout his invasion, he tried to claim it -- and failed! Darkseid attempted to master it! HE failed!"} Mobius' glee is truly epic now as his ravings continue. {"But I, DOCTOR MOBIUS, succeeded! I alone have claimed Anthelios -- the primordial Titaness -- freeing her from an ancient prison and giving her succor in my own artificial sun!"} "As if the _original_ wasn't bad enough," the Scarab grumbles, firing his Sting as he fights his way toward Patrick. {"And now, I have created what others have barely imagined -- ANTI-FUSION!"} Mobius' laughter booms through the Sphinx head's speakers. {"And thus, you shall fall! FALL BEFORE THE MIGHT OF MOBIUS! AH-HA HA ha ha..."} His laughter fades as the flying head turns and rockets off. @/Barely imagined, huh?/@ Eric comments in annoyance. @/I hope this anti-weapon-of-the-day isn't going to become a habit. So which way do we jump, Z?@ the Hunter asks, twin 45s blazing as he covers their retreat... =========================== Subject: Re: AAE 9n: Quitting Time? On Fri, 9 Apr 2004 03:12:38 -0400 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00011952 Karma's airchariot races through the buildings, the car's weapons stunning random guards firing at her and dodging the shots of other airchariots attempting to bring her down. She's not the keenest strategist, but she can recognize herding when she's in the middle of it. These guys are trying to nab her, not shoot her down. [Good, at least we're on the same wavelength,] she thinks to herself as a railing scorchs. She'd no more bring these chariots down on someone's innocent head than Mobius would, though perhaps for more strictly humanitarian reasons, though at this rate, she may never know. [Give it time, Karma, our objective's just to rescue this guy, not retake the kingdom,] the raven-haired woman reminded herself. Her gaze was drawn towards the open desert beyond the city limits. /Meet everyone at the safe house, I'm going to have to shake these guys first./ Saying so, she pushed the throttle to its limits, taking the skilled pilots of Mobius's air guard out over lush river and verdant banks, navigating a risky course between obstacles that required all involved to slow for their own safety and to avoid losing their quarry (or pursuers, as the case was for Karma.) But eventually, airchariots swept clean of pilots by trees or tripped by contact with the slow river, Karma found herself alone and felt safe enough to raise her craft high enough to gain a better vantage on the conflict. >On Thu, 08 Apr 2004 22:15:54 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011950 > > The darkness in the distance (coming from upriver -- SSE to be >specific) begins to rise into the sky, like some obscene >anti-sunrise. > {"And now, you fools, you all DIE!"} Mobius rants >enthusiastically... Unaware of Mobius's threats, a darkness caught her gaze. Karma paused, putting the chariot in a hovering position. From her high vantage, she had an excellent view of the surroundings. She started to reach for her rifle, but then remembered the Ishers on her hips and drew one of those fantastic weapons instead. Bringing up the sights, she looked toward the darkness rising through this magnified view, adjusting the focus until she could clearly see... =========================== Subject: Re: AAE 9n: Quitting Time? On Fri, 9 Apr 2004 07:35:58 -0700 (PDT) Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011954 >On Thu, 08 Apr 2004 22:15:54 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011950 >>Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011945 >>> Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011942 > > @Hm.@ Eric glances up at...oh, heck, _wherever_ Mobius is at the >moment. @/Didn't the boy scout say he thought Mobius could be >turned?/@ he asks, adding the lens link to the latter sending. @/Defender did. Of course, he thinks anyone short of the Gaunt Man can be turned./@ Ultraviolet replies with so much asperity, she sounds like Eric. >> "I am impressed with neither the mercy nor the ability of a king >>who chooses to chain a woman to the foot of his throne. Or one who >>would tolerate the likes of Wu Ming in his demense." The Just Violet >>remarks, her voice suddenly taking on the cold, unbending >>appraisement that originally won her the sobriquet. > > "Every monarch has his peccadilloes," Mobius replies dismissively >-- but something in his tone hints that UV may have struck the mark a >touch with the former comment. "As for Wu Ming...he has style. I like >that." Since the Baddies don't know about the Lens she has, and UV did not formerly have Super-Overhearing, she ignores this so as not to give any ability she has gained over the past seventy years she hasn't been fighting Wu Ming away to the enemy. >> @What my aunts, uncles, and father can do.@ Ultra-violet says, >>quite seriously. > > @You really have to introduce me someday,@ he replies dryly. @You're so gonna regret that.@ UV quips. > Natatiri doesn't seem galled, darn it! "Oh, really?" she smiles >_evilly,_ glancing over at the Hunter out of the corner of her eye >(though not so that she takes her gaze off of UV). UV not only isn't worried, she has to choke back a snort of amusement. Given Eric's past, she very much misdoubts that he'd fall under this lady's spell - the sort, at least. >>> "The Pharaoh's idea. Would you _rather_ I just stabbed you?" >>>Natatiri quips back. >>> "As someone who has been there, _I_ would!" Hippolyta shouts. >> >> "Thanks for telling me his plans." Ultra-violet does not append >>the words 'you idiotic bimbette' but she thinks it - loudly. > > Again, Natatiri is unruffled. For that matter, maybe she _wanted_ >you to know that? (The scheming...) [Interesting.] However, given what this lady just did to Patrick, UV is sure she won't like the motivation behind this. >>> "Oh, yes, I _remember_ how much you hated the Pharaoh's hands on >>>your back," the Overgovernor laughs. >>> "When he gives up conquest for a massage parlor, _then_ we'll >>>talk," the amazon snarls, flushing slightly. >> >> "Why, I do believe the little girl is _jealous_ of you, Queen of >>Amazonia. Maybe he only likes women with wit?" UV groans, forcing >>the chain to hold against the constrictive force trying to crush her >>senseless even as she taunts her enemy. > > Finally, _finally,_ that strikes home, if only a touch. Natatiri's >eyes narrow. "Brave talk, but that _is_ all you have left, isn't it?" "You _so_ don't know how I fight." UV forces out, her muscles straining hard. >>Patrick, will you and the Silver Scarab collect our Scientist and >>make him vanish, please? > > *I will accompany them as well,* a faint, feminine voice (with an >accent somewhere between Arabic and French) adds, echoing strangely >in the mental realm. One of the rarest events in Pulpdom follows this. UV pauses, looking utterly surprised for about a third of a second, then she keeps moving. > The darkness in the distance (coming from upriver -- SSE to be >specific) begins to rise into the sky, like some obscene >anti-sunrise. > {"And now, you fools, you all DIE!"} Mobius rants >enthusiastically... @^I was going to try and give her the side-benefit of my exit.^@ The Purple Pulpstress sends, sounding rushed even mentally. "Hey, Wu Ming. Trick I never showed you." She taunts, as the Queen of Amazons, Patrick, and Eon, and the girl (and any other friendly within fifty feet) hear: @CLOSE your EYES!@ "The Twilight's Last Gleaming." Ultraviolet says, even as her form waxes more and more violet, as her body _becomes_ ultrviolet light, with some visible light as a side-product. The light bubbles up, brighter than a flash of lightning, and more sustained. The violet light blinds anyone without some sort of protection caught in the open near the dias, before it rises and steaks away before the darkness falls. Yes, exactly like a sunset's last purple color before the sky goes black. Eric and Jack feel the transition - and there are no adequate words to describe _becoming_ light. Seemingly without interval, their bodies return to flesh. They are standing within Baraka's hideout. Ultraviolet is between them, her garments the brightest purple Eric's ever seen thus far, but as she becomes flesh, she stumbles and her kness give out. Only both their quick reactions in catching her prevent her from slumping to the floor. "Gad. Now I remember why I never did that much." UV notes, sounding drunk with fatigue. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE 9n: Hang Time (2 of 2) On Fri, 9 Apr 2004 11:19:19 -0700 (PDT) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00011955 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011942 > > Behind her, another figure -- at nine feet tall, not the size of >the mechs, but still impressive -- strides forward. It is a statue of >Set, wielding a huge polearm of some sort -- a long curved blade >centered on one end, and a huge weight on the other. He strides >toward Patrick as well. > The Dragon and Lin Kuei on Patrick observe this, then dart over to >Rob to battle the amazon. > "It appears I won't be adding you to my collection as well," >Natatiri says, laughing mockingly as the Set-statue's eyes glow >ominously... Rob barely breaks stride. The Lin Kuei (OOC: Are all of these jokers part of the Ubiquitous Dragon's crowd scene schtick, or are some of them actual minions?) are skilled. But Rob has a subtle advantage. The Master of Multiplicity has faced many foes, and knows many styles. Ler Drit is not, however, one of the forms he knows well. He literally does not know what Rob is going to do next. Rob, on the other hand, has faced the Lin Kuei before, refining his Psycho Chiller by studying the rare Chilling Fist technique. In the process, he learned more about their methods than most people outside the tribe learn without dying shortly afterward. So they find their counterstrikes countered, their blocks outmaneuvered, and their evasions expected. And Rob is smiling. It's a smile that would be familiar to a few residents of Barsoom, and the last thing that a great many people of that planet saw. Rob, for his part, would be annoyed if he knew that all he got out of training with Carthoris for three months was the famous fighting smile. Then... >Ziactrice said as CAoL message 00011945 > @Attention all heroes! It is now time to make an orderly retreat. >Let's have groups of two to four, the Amazon and Jack out first, and >the rest of us by order of ability to escape and/or power level. >Baraka - you with the Amazon? Eric, you take Jack and me. Patrick, >will you and the Silver Scarab collect our Scientist and make him >vanish, please? Thunder - break me a path through these mechanical >monstrosities. You can't cover my rear - Eric's got the duty today.@ (OOC: Assuming that this isn't retconned to a more open form) Hearing none of this, Rob reacts a little late, but in good form. Turning to Hippolyta, he remarks, "Night has fallen on the chrysanthemum of battle." Fortunately, the Amazon queen is used to enigmatic comments; the Oracle of Delphi is far worse, she decides. "As much as I would prefer to grind that tyrant's face into the dust, I agree. Who are you, anyway?" "I am Robert Nishikawa. Come with me. We will help you." Then he pulls a pellet from his vest, and dashes it to the ground. The street fighter and the amazon vanish in a boil of smoke and flame. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE 9n: Hang Time (Long Sorry) On Fri, 9 Apr 2004 15:33:51 -0400 "David McMillan" Said As CAoL Message # 00011956 >Patrick O'Shea wrote on 4/6/2004, 8:00 PM: > >At 01:10 PM 4/6/2004 -0700, you wrote: >>> There is a distant, mournful howl that would be familiar to any >>>"Airwolf" fan (no one in *this* crowd, alas), > >OOC: He don't know me vewwy well, do he? OOC: Actually, I meant the *execution" crowd... (:) >>The Good Doctor begins his controlled descent, tight beaming to >>Roger Thunder /"I hearby dub thee Roger Ramjet."/ The "Airwolf Howl" stutters momentarily, almost like a cough or a choke... =========================== Subject: Re: AAE 9n: Hang Time (1 of 2) On Fri, 9 Apr 2004 15:54:41 -0400 "David McMillan" Said As CAoL Message # 00011957 (OOC: Did a bit of cut&paste for ordering) >>> When the dust clears, Thunder is hovering above the shallow >>>crater, grinning at the startled Scarab. "Howdy. Heard y'all was >>>having a little shindig, decided to invite our ownselves. Hope >>>y'all don't mind." >> >> "Thundie, we still have villains on the loose. Pleasantries and >>introductions must wait." UV frowns to herself, throwing off the >>black robe, and then taking careful aim at the poles holding the >>covering over the grand dais. Her pistols speak in a smooth, rolling >>roar, as she blasts away at the poles, seeking to plunge the canvas >>down around the villains for a momentary advantage. Thunder looks as abashed as only a painfully earnest farmboy can. "Yes'm. I--" > Mobius claps. All else is still for one moment. "Bravo! You must >be the Phoenix-son I've heard so much of. Until your estimable >parents arrive, then..." /"Aw, fer--/" Thunder has just enough time to think aloud, before: >He points a traditional Pharaoh's crook at him. "...a good host >always entertains his guests!" A ripple lances through the air, and >Captain Thunder feels himself being crushed to the ground! > "Gravity," Mobius explains conversationally, "is one of the few >energies that your father cannot control. Tell me, is this one area >that you exceed him?" /Aunt Zee, GET CLEAR!/ Thunder teeps desperately as the gravitic effects crush him into a low crouch, blastfield flaring to new heights. The crush is getting steadily worse, forcing him to use increasingly high power levels whose backblast and shrapnel he can't control. He grits his teeth and forces himself semi-erect, blastfield digging a progessively deeper crater under his feet as he bares his teeth as Mobius. "Just be glad you caught me on bad day, you lowdown carpetbagger, or ah'd make you *eat* that staff! As is, ah'm just gonna have to work a little harder!" /Ah could use a little help here, anybody,/ he teeps, strain obvious in his voice. /Ah think Ah got an idea, but Ah can't beak his grip without blastin' half the town down!/ =========================== Subject: Re: AAE 9n: Hang Time (1 of 2) On Fri, 9 Apr 2004 16:08:00 -0400 "David McMillan" Said As CAoL Message # 00011958 >Samatha Cooper wrote on 4/7/2004, 11:01 AM: > >>>Mobius has just enough time to start looking for the source before >>>his platform and awning are hammered flat by the shockwave of a >>>nearly-indestructible man-sized object travelling at about Mach 3. > >OOC: Oops. Guess UV can't shoot it down later, huh? Ah, okay, Thunder just knocked *part* of it down? (:) He's a good boy, after all -- he wouldn't want to steal any of his favorite aunt's fun... =========================== Subject: Re: AAE 9n: Hang Time (2 of 2) On Fri, 9 Apr 2004 16:25:24 -0400 "David McMillan" Said As CAoL Message # 00011959 >Samatha Cooper wrote on 4/7/2004, 12:53 PM: > >A frown becomes a colder smile, as UV's hands clench to fists. OOC: Run for the HILLS! >> Natatiri reappears a scant few meters from Roger Thunder. "Hello, >>tall, blond, and handsome," she says with a satisfied smirk... OOC: Guess I should retcon that bit about Thunder blasting away the ground around him. Or we could just say that he's tunneling more than cratering, and that Zia and Natatiri both felt unthreatened by the dirt&rock shrapnel being thrown about. Thunder, currently tied up ("Tied up? What with? "Gravity." ), rolls his eyes in Natatiri's direction, showing just a bit more white than normal. "Um, sorry, ma'am, but Ah, um..." /Help!/ Unfortunately for Thunder, he got little (or none) of Roger Prime's normal savoir faire *or* sarcasm. >"Thanks for using poison and treachery." UV remarks as a purple chain >strikes, wrapping the crown with a whipping noise of metal. "Now I >can serve you likewise." Thunder feels VERY relieved. >A savage jerk of the chain attempts to both strip the Villainous >Temptress of her crown and throw her spinning to Egypt's hot, harsh >sand. /Aunt Zee, Ah love ya./ Thunder teeps earnestly, sounding awfully relieved for a young man still being crushed by multiple Gs. Perhaps not an entirely safe thing to say to *any* Zia, but right now Thunder would probably be glad to see *anyone* who got Natatiri off his case. Dealing with seductresses isn't his strong suit.... =========================== Subject: Re: AAE 9n: Hang Time (1 of 2) On Fri, 9 Apr 2004 16:46:05 -0400 "David McMillan" Said As CAoL Message # 00011960 >Roland X wrote on 4/7/2004, 8:28 PM: > >>A savage jerk of the chain attempts to both strip the Villainous >>Temptress of her crown and throw her spinning to Egypt's hot, harsh >>sand. > > And succeeds admirably. > While not familiar with the superb fighitng styles of the Orient, >however, Natatiri is obviously in excellent shape, doing a flip to >regain her feet in short order. Her eyes flicker from crown to chain >to heroine with lightning speed. > "Oh, you _will_ regret that," she says evenly. Thunder, despite being rather heavily occupied, has a chance to snort at that. His implicit faith in his Aunt Zee's inevitable victory over that... female person... is obvious. OOC: Roger Prime: "You know, you *could* just call her a cheap floozy, or something." Thunder: "But Ah *cain't* do that! It ain't right to call a lady names!" RP : "That's no lady." T: "Well, still, Ah just... Ah just *cain't,* that's all!" =========================== Subject: Re: AAE 9n: Hang Time (1 of 2) On Fri, 9 Apr 2004 15:05:38 -0700 (PDT) Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011961 >On Fri, 9 Apr 2004 15:54:41 -0400 >"David McMillan" Said As CAoL Message # 00011957 > > /Aunt Zee, GET CLEAR!/ Thunder teeps desperately as the gravitic >effects crush him into a low crouch, blastfield flaring to new >heights. > The crush is getting steadily worse, forcing him to use >increasingly high power levels whose backblast and shrapnel he can't >control. > He grits his teeth and forces himself semi-erect, blastfield >digging a progessively deeper crater under his feet as he bares his >teeth as Mobius. "Just be glad you caught me on bad day, you lowdown >carpetbagger, or ah'd make you *eat* that staff! As is, ah'm just >gonna have to work a little harder!" > /Ah could use a little help here, anybody,/ he teeps, strain >obvious in his voice. /Ah think Ah got an idea, but Ah can't beak his >grip without blastin' half the town down!/ OOC: Ummmmmm. Ultraviolet got him out of thet gravity wave. Think; what one thing cannot be caught and stopped by gravity - short of a black hole? And Mobius isn't going to throw a black hole around near Earth-9. Yep. That's right. Light. Even ultraviolet light. ;) Or you can retcon that she didn't, but I can't see UV just chatting up the villains while Roger (or Rogi-dupe) was still in peril... =========================== Subject: Re: AAE 9n: Hang Time (1 of 2) On Fri, 9 Apr 2004 15:08:39 -0700 (PDT) Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011962 >On Fri, 9 Apr 2004 16:08:00 -0400 >"David McMillan" Said As CAoL Message # 00011958 > >>Samatha Cooper wrote on 4/7/2004, 11:01 AM: >> >> OOC: Oops. Guess UV can't shoot it down later, huh? > > Ah, okay, Thunder just knocked *part* of it down? (:) He's a good >boy, after all -- he wouldn't want to steal any of his favorite >aunt's fun... That's all right. Apparently Natatiri distracted Roger's writer so much that he completely missed his favorite aunt dragging him out of a gravity well. :) I DO think I wrote that part in before, at least... Heh. This ain't the usual side/face of Auntzie Roger is used to. Although that isn't to say that the "Real" Ziactrice could shapeshift to ultraviolet light. She actually managed to use Roland's thunderbolt ring transformation, although it did discombolate her a bit. Or so it seemed.... Grin. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE 9n: Quitting Time? On Fri, 09 Apr 2004 15:13:46 -0700 Eric Said As CAoL Message # 00011963 >On Fri, 9 Apr 2004 03:12:38 -0400 >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00011952 > >/Meet everyone at the safe house, I'm going to have to shake these >guys first./ @/QX, holler if you need backup,/@ Eric replies, distracted but sincere. >>On Thu, 08 Apr 2004 22:15:54 -0700 >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011950 >> >> The darkness in the distance (coming from upriver -- SSE to be >>specific) begins to rise into the sky, like some obscene >>anti-sunrise. >> {"And now, you fools, you all DIE!"} Mobius rants >>enthusiastically... > >Unaware of Mobius's threats, a darkness caught her gaze. > >Karma paused, putting the chariot in a hovering position. From her >high vantage, she had an excellent view of the surroundings. She >started to reach for her rifle, but then remembered the Ishers on her >hips and drew one of those fantastic weapons instead. > >Bringing up the sights, she looked toward the darkness rising through >this magnified view, adjusting the focus until she could clearly >see... ...a blasphemous anti-sun, larger in the sky than the genuine article (say, about 125% the apparent diameter of the solar disc), "burning" in the distance. Light seems to fall into it, like a black hole, but close observation reveals that light isn't so much _falling_ into it as being annihilated, like matter and anti-matter colliding. The corona, at least, is quite spectacular, although it usually consists of colors that are just "wrong." Rust red, toxic green, sickly yellow, etc. The top is slowly distending, as if it were some sort of impossible amoeba about to divide... >plot. I presume Karma should have worn her red shirt and brown >trousers today, Evil GM-Sama?> OOC: Heh. Then... >On Fri, 9 Apr 2004 07:35:58 -0700 (PDT) >Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011954 > >>On Thu, 08 Apr 2004 22:15:54 -0700 >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011950 >>>Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00011945 >>>>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00011942 >>> >>> @What my aunts, uncles, and father can do.@ Ultra-violet says, >>>quite seriously. >> >> @You really have to introduce me someday,@ he replies dryly. > > @You're so gonna regret that.@ UV quips. @Indubitably.@ >> Again, Natatiri is unruffled. For that matter, maybe she _wanted_ >>you to know that? (The scheming...) > > [Interesting.] However, given what this lady just did to Patrick, >UV is sure she won't like the motivation behind this. That's because UV isn't blindingly _stupid._ Just blinding. ;^) >> Finally, _finally,_ that strikes home, if only a touch. >>Natatiri's eyes narrow. "Brave talk, but that _is_ all you have >>left, isn't it?" > > "You _so_ don't know how I fight." UV forces out, her muscles >straining hard. That hits Natatiri right in the feline curiosity. OOC: But I'm afraid our Nile contestant has run out of time. Victory, and the last word, go to Ziactrice Keenan of Amber! Let's give the lady a big hand! >retreat in order> > >>>Patrick, will you and the Silver Scarab collect our Scientist and >>>make him vanish, please? >> >> *I will accompany them as well,* a faint, feminine voice (with an >>accent somewhere between Arabic and French) adds, echoing strangely >>in the mental realm. > > One of the rarest events in Pulpdom follows this. UV pauses, >looking utterly surprised for about a third of a second, then she >keeps moving. Sadi makes a mental note to apologize later. ;^) >> @^Z?^@ Eric asks as he and Jack retreat toward the dais. @^Are we >>retreating as a unit, or scattering? If the latter, I don't grasp >>our heading for the Amazon.^@ Clarification -- he's following orders (Rob and Hippolyta, at last check, were still at the dais; she was jut free), just asking since Lensing makes that relatively easy. >> The darkness in the distance (coming from upriver -- SSE to be >>specific) begins to rise into the sky, like some obscene >>anti-sunrise. >> {"And now, you fools, you all DIE!"} Mobius rants >>enthusiastically... > > @^I was going to try and give her the side-benefit of my exit.^@ >The Purple Pulpstress sends, sounding rushed even mentally. Pulp"stress" indeed. Evercalm Eric is going to start mainlining Maalox at this rate... ;^) > "Hey, Wu Ming. Trick I never showed you." She taunts, as the Queen >of Amazons, Patrick, and Eon, and the girl (and any other friendly >within fifty feet) hear: The robed Dragon on the rooftop takes on a defensive posture and raises an eyebrow, but is otherwise unruffled. At first. The others continue to fight as if she hadn't spoken. > @CLOSE your EYES!@ Eon does so, pulling on his Ether Goggles as well. (And _still_ parrying a blow from a Ubiquitous Dragon simultaneously. Whattaguy. ;^) > "The Twilight's Last Gleaming." Ultraviolet says, even as her form >waxes more and more violet, as her body _becomes_ ultrviolet light, >with some visible light as a side-product. The light bubbles up, >brighter than a flash of lightning, and more sustained. The violet >light blinds anyone without some sort of protection caught in the >open near the dias, before it rises and steaks away before the >darkness falls. "Ah!" the Dragon(s) cry out, the robed one spinning away and covering his eyes, the combative splits crouching and taking defensive postures (and also covering). The shocktroopers are hopelessly blinded. The gospog, OTOH, don't seem bothered... (OOC: This is from work, so I can't remember if Natatiri is still on the battlefield. If she is, she recoils as well.) > Yes, exactly like a sunset's last purple color before the sky goes >black. > Eric and Jack feel the transition - and there are no adequate >words to describe _becoming_ light. Seemingly without interval, their >bodies return to flesh. They are standing within Baraka's hideout. Eric wavers ever so slighty. "Whoa." Jack's knees are rather more gelatinous than Eric's. He's still, however, doing better than... > Ultraviolet is between them, her garments the brightest purple >Eric's ever seen thus far, but as she becomes flesh, she stumbles and >her kness give out. Only both their quick reactions in catching her >prevent her from slumping to the floor. > > "Gad. Now I remember why I never did that much." UV notes, >sounding drunk with fatigue. "No kidding," the Hunter replies. Jack lets Eric take her from here, as he gently (but firmly) picks her up and places her on a couch. "I hope this isn't going to become a habit," he says in fond exasperation, brushing a lock of hair from her eyes. "I need a cigarette," Jack adds, half-collapsing to sit on the floor. Somehow, from halfway across the room, without leaving UV's side, and without force- or spatial magick, Eric _still_ manages to slap Murphy upside the head. >The Just Violet > >"Look, I can escape at the speed of light, and I _still_ don't know >how _he_ disappears that fast." A frustrated UV to a reporter >regarding Batman. ===========================