Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 9: Star Wars / Space Opera Chapter 10 Subject: AAE9s: Forcing the Issue On Sun, 09 Apr 2006 20:24:39 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012763 >On Mon, 13 Mar 2006 11:19:37 -0800 >Patrick O'Shea Said As CAoL Message # 00012751 > >"*GO!*" Quiet Moon yells and sends, blasting the door off of its >tracks with a single spell. Flying forward, he performs a lightning >slash with his lightsaber. > >Literally. Only mildly startled by the additional effect of the Kai's >modified lightsaber, Vader's own blood-red blade ignites, catching >the second attack. The Force, almost visible thanks to the energy >flying around, flows around the Kai's body, seeking a stranglehold. >And is immediately dissipated, pushed away by the monk's own psychic >disciplines. "I've learned a bit." "So it would seem. You will die at my blade all the same," Vader intones, then charges, attacking aggressively and confidently. He seems to have little doubt in the outcome of the battle. He Force throws a "mouse" droid at Quiet Moon's head as he presses the attack. Anakin grits his teeth as he carves through Imperial Guardsmen. He wants to deal with Vader himself. He wants, desperately, to lance the diseased wound that is the Sith Lord, and was himself. But a Jedi puts the greater need before his own desires, always. So, unhappily, he continues to slice through Guardsmen, his Force senses slowly warning him of something strange coming... >"This blows. I should have taken that Tattooine posting," one of the >guards sighs. "I could have been a cop, but nooo, I had to go for the >prestige job." > >"Shut up. The rebels might attack any moment." The second guard >tries, and fails, to hide his own nervousness. > >"True. How's now?" Lloyd asked, sword at the guard's throat. He, >along with every rebel in a several mile radius, were now right >outside the Imperial base, already disabling guards. > >"Umm...fine by us?" OOC: Oh goodie, I get Kratos back... ;-) The purple-clad warrior neatly and expertly moves among the captured soldiers, disarming them and handing blasters to rebels. "We should move quickly," he says to Leia as a frustrated Luke bounces on the balls of his feet. "The battle within has already begun." "I couldn't agree more," Padme replies from behind Leia. Leia closes her mouth, grins and nods. "The sooner we get in there, the happier I'll...Kratos?" The ancient warrior was looking into the sky, his expression inscrutable. "What's wrong?" "I must go," he replies simply. "Tell Lloyd...tell Lloyd not to die before I do." "Wh-" Padme begins, then gapes as Kratos sprouts blue and purple energy wings. He floats, then soars into the air, where a beam catches him. Kratos vanishes. The Death Star. The far side of the moon. "Any word, commander?" A lieutenant asks. "None at this time," Moff Jerjerrod replies, standing at an enormous viewport and looking at the stars. "And I would reprimand you for your frivolous question, Lieutenant...if I did not share your sentiment -- eh?" A recorded message blinks on the comm unit. "At last." He turns to the bridge crew. "Full speed ahead! We have a target!" The crewmen cheer. "Sir?" the lieutenant asks, confused. "Our Death Star is not yet complete," Jerjerrod explains impatiently, "so we lack the full power to destroy a world, which would be unwise regardless with the Emperor on world. No, this is our target." He points to a holo-projector, which springs to life with a map of the Earth, then indicates one area. "We are to obliterate this area of the world," he reports, his finger jabbing through New York and a significant chunk of the countryside. "Moff Jerjerrod!" The Moff sighs and holds his forehead between two fingers. "Now what?" "You...you have to see this for yourself..." He strides forward, freezing after three steps. A ball of coruscating blue energy, not much smaller than the Death Star itself, has interposed itself between the massive world-destroyer and Earth. "...what in..." A text message appears over the Earth hologram: "This is Derris-Kharlan. You will cease and desist. Any attempt to attack the planet below will result in your destruction. This is your only warning." Jerjerrod gapes. "What nonsense. Whoever this 'Derris Kharlan' is clearly does not realize what he is dealing with. Prepare the main weapon!" The Death Star becomes a hive of activity... Earth. >Then he stops, Force screaming a warning. Turning around, his saber >now low and ready to swing up, the Sith's eyes widen as he sees the >very large, and very unhappy image of Mace Windu. > >Incorporeal. Unable to affect the physical world directly. And still >able to project an aura that says 'you think that makes me LESS >dangerous?' Force Spirit and Sith, betrayer and betrayed, look at >each other for an eternal second. > >Mace arches an eyebrow, looking up. Quiet Moon lets loose with a wild >battlecry, saber crackling with blue energy over the grey beam. And >swings... Vader blocks the blow without ever taking his...black...orb...things...off of Windu. "Your presence here is foolish beyond even what I would expect of you." "No one cares what your expectations are," Windu replies caustically. "You're nothing but a mistake that needs correcting." Vader laughs briefly, harshly. He continues to parry the Kai lord, though the Force sensitive can tell he's paying far more attention to Quiet Moon than his body language indicates. "Do you truly believe I am still the foolish boy who was actually concerned about your approval, Jedi? I am _Vader._ And you," he mocks, as Force lightning from Palpatine's hands tears through Windu's ghostly form, "are a mistake that has _already_ been corrected." Windu vanishes, and Vader returns his full, baleful attention to Quiet Moon. "_You_ did that," he says, as if passing sentence... Then... >On Tue, 14 Mar 2006 21:09:56 -0800 (PST) >Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00012753 > > The fight continues, but now Maul is the one being pushed back. He >tries a variation, expecting Rob to parry in the wrong place, but Rob >jumps instead, hooking an arm around the Sith's neck, and bringing >him down head-first. Maul's saber goes flying, the blades switching >off as it does. > As Maul reaches through the Force to pull his weapon back, Rob >sets the palm of his left hand on top of his right fist, >concentrates, and then lunges forward. "PSYCHO LIGHTNING!" he roars, >letting the Force take the form of a lightning bolt that lances >out... > ...and destroys Maul's lightsaber. > Rob smiles, as the now-useless piece of high technology slides >into Maul's hand. "Are you willing to quit now?" Maul snarls and casts the now-dead lightsaber aside. He pulls at the air, and a half-dozen chunks of debris fly at Rob. The Sith assassin Force leaps backwards in a whirling, tumbling mass of diabolic grace, then lands next to the corpse of one of his sibling-clones, upside-down, in the middle of a backflip. His hand is on the dead comrade's lightsaber as he lands. He ignites both ends and snarls... "No," Tyrannus says, holding out his hand in a commanding manner, eyeing Rob respectfully. "This one is mine." Tyrannus smiles menacingly. "You wield the lightning well, boy. Let us learn...how well." The more verbal Sith glides forward, his fencer's saber at the ready, Force lightning crackling between his fingertips. Meanwhile, the spared Maul looks around, and spies the efficient, now-revealed Master Qui-Gon (who had been hidden by a techno-demon disguise) fighting alongside Anakin. He smiles like a hungry shark. >On Sat, 25 Mar 2006 14:18:09 -0700 >Greymoran Said As CAoL Message # 00012756 > >>On Mon, 20 Mar 2006 17:34:57 -0800 (PST) >>Hudzen Said As CAoL Message # 00012755 >> >>He glances up to see Maul upon him again, swinging for a kill shot. >>Hudzen thrusts his sword up, parrying the blow and giving Hudzen the >>opportunity to take a swing at Maul. Metal meets flesh and the hit >>sends Maul stumbling to the ground. Though he's quick to his feet, >>any arrogance present on Maul's face before is gone, replaced by >>rage. >> >>"Had enough yet, Meatsack?" Hudzen mocks, his voice suddenly >>sounding identical to that of Bender Bending Rodriguez. > >The Maul clone snarls at Hudzen and begins to run towards him, but >before his first step is finished, he jerks and stumbles. He starts >to turn and then jerks again. The second time Hudzen heard the sound >of a Star Wars universe blaster going off and sees smoke coming out >of a hole in the Maul clone's chest. Greymoran shot the dying >Maulette one more time just to be safe. "Like a Xerox of a Xerox," he >says, mocking the corpse. "You all right Hudzen?" Several Imperial Guards approach warily, double-ended energy pikes at the ready, though clearly unhappy at the prospect of dealing with a pair who took down Darth Maul. >On Sun, 26 Mar 2006 21:38:39 -0800 >Harlock Said As CAoL Message # 00012757 > >"Pfeh. Here and I thought you actually had some ambition. Well, as I >said, no hard feelings. Consider this my resignation, if you will." > From somewhere behind Red Fury, a pinprick of blue light whispers >out of the shadows, resolving itself into a thrown dagger that glows >with much the same light that Marivale's rapier did at Minas London. >Fortunately for Dracul, the dagger is _not_ placed properly for a >heart shot...or even a kidney shot. Unfortunately for him, it is not >so badly aimed that it will miss entirely, and it _does_ glow with >the blue flame mentioned previously. Dracul parries it with a (physical) blade with annoyance. The annoyance increases when he realizes the dagger buried itself in the flat of the sword. "Dammit," he snarls, "that was my favorite sword." He crushes both sword and dagger with a TK 'fist' in a fit of pique, then tosses it aside. (OOC-reminder: He vanished soon after this.) >Harlock looks confused by Tyrannus and the Maulettes, then hir eyes >narrow in disgust as sie sees Markoth. [Him again? All right, no more >pussy-footing around.] Sie pulls a short cylinder out of hir utility >belt and tosses it to Roland. *Roland, an ye get the chance, mark him >with this.* The cylinder appears to be a seal of some sort. *?* Roland wonders, catching the cylinder lightly with TK. *Okay, but do I draw on him with it like chalk, or do I open it over him, or what?* The Champion slams Markoth against a wall and holds the cylinder over him. Markoth squirms a little, otherwise unable to do anything more than blink and breathe. "Stay," Defender commands, ignoring Markoth's humiliated rage and fear. Then his ESP screams a warning, and a flash of image enters his mind -- two enormous spheres, one dull gray and jaggedly incomplete, the other coruscating blue and only semi-corporeal, trading punishing blasts. /Aurora! If you've been waiting for something to do, now's your chance! Holy Source...the Death Star.../ Then he suddenly grasps the situation, and grins. [Not that it'll be anything more than a chew toy for a Starspawn. Heh.] >Confident that Roland has Markoth well in hand, the Bard pulls a >lightsaber from hir belt and...futzes around with it a bit, unable to >figure out the controls. Sie looks up at the advancing Maul line and >shakes hir head, then re-hangs the lightsaber and pulls out a >vibrosword just in time to duck a slash from the _other_ end Maul. >[Hmm...parry, parry, block, dodge, parry, dodge...do these folk not >have man-portable force-shields? Heh. This could be fun.] > >A brief look down to tap the controls on hir belt costs Harlock a >vibrosword, but the look of disbelief on Maul6's face is priceless as >his lightsaber sparks and stops dead half an inch from Harlock's >neck. The Bard immediately drops the remains of hir sword and catches >Maul6's neck in an iron claw, grunting slightly as sie proceeds to >hoist the Zabrak into the air by that punishing grip. "Surprise, pav >monkey scum." Maul grunts and does something to the lightsaber one-handed. One end goes out, and the other lengthens, widens, and brightens. He chops at the arm holding him pinned. OOC: They do, in fact, have humanoid-sized deflector screens, but they're not very effective against lightsabers, usually. Since I imagine you don't want Harlock to be nicknamed "Lefty" after this, it's your call on how effective the power redirection is. TBC =========================== Subject: AAE9s: Duel On Sun, 09 Apr 2006 20:26:01 -0700 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00012764 As the battle rages around them, Defender floats toward Palpatine, the merest flicker of thought concentrating on keeping Markoth busy. "Give it up, Sidious. It's over." "Wouldn't _that_ be Hero Cliche number three, or some such insipid comment?" Palpatine sneers back. "True..." Defender grins. "...but we're almost always right about it." "Not where I come from." The two epically powerful figures face off, eyes locked. In spite of the raging battle around them, everything seems briefly still to the pair. Then lightning explodes between them, four hands crackling with enough energy to power -- or level -- cities. Incredible forces arc and dance between them, their duel less acrobatic or mobile than the saber battles around them, but no less dependent on skill, speed or cunning. A bright blue burst penetrates Sidious' shields, thrusting through his abdomen. Then an unnatural purple needle of force crashes into Defender's face, sending him stumbling back, briefly sightless. Both men recover quickly. "You have skill, Empyrean," Sidious says, getting a surprised look from Roland, "but you have no idea what you face." "Oh, please, Darth Insipid," Defender quips back. "'Where you come from,' you may be the big bad Emperor, but here you're just another supervillain." Those on the lens-link can tell the shot is more style than substance, though; Roland knows full well what he's facing. "Indeed?" Palpatine smiles monstrously, and Defender slides into a more defensive kata. "Then I suppose you win. HERE!" A black disc flies out of the Emperor's robe at the Eternal. Roland catches it. Defender's eyes go enormously wide, and he stiffens, his power suddenly turned inward, fire and lightning blazing around him in many orbits of tiny phoenixes and dragons. Palpatine laughs. "Yes, yes, show me how you can defeat the Amulet of the Sith! Show me how easy I am to defeat!" "With an asset you don't understand. Teamwork!" Morgan leaps at the Evil Emperor, slashing expertly with Aramegil, and only Force sensitivity and a finely-tuned sense of self-preservation prevent her from ending the battle on the spot. Alas, Palpatine's own lightsaber is instantly to hand, and he parries the fae-enchanted claymore, currently sheathed in a lightsaber's power, though he only barely manages the trick. "Bah!" Palpatine scoffs. "I have slaughtered hundreds of Jedi. You will be no more than another minuscule footnote in the annals of _my_ Empire!" He jumps back, landing spider-like on the wall, free hand and both feet splayed out to leave him almost flat against it. The Sith Master holds the lightsaber out with his remaining arm, pointed directly at Morgan. Morgan did not bother with further banter. Leaping again, she instead vaults at his throne, then ricochets off that, planting her feet in an unwilling Imperial Guard, and kicks him into a wall as she finally leaps at the Emperor. All of this takes less than a second, but even that is not enough to quite disorient Darth Sidious. He leaps away from the arc, spinning like an evil Sonic the Hedgehog, lightsaber out like a buzzsaw, and just misses one of the heroes as he simultaneously attacks and evades Morgan. The Highlander almost grins, but too much is at stake. She drops a lightning bolt at Palpatine from through the hole in the roof Vader left, and as Sidious _catches_ the lightning, Morgan enhances a Force leap with a wind-rider stunt, 'landing' a foot in the air, spinning and thrusting down at Sidious. Again, Palpatine parries, but this time she leaves a tiny, skin-deep burn on the outside of his shoulder. "First blood, sassenach." "Ah, but it is _last_ blood that matters, my dear," Sidious snarls with a wide grin, then Force jumps to the ceiling, doing his Spider-Man thing again, then dives straight at Morgan. This time, the Highlander changes tactics, shifting form into a body that could be Moonstone's sister in this reality, then sidesteps as Sidious adjusts and lands on his feet. She caroms off two walls and a Stormtrooper's helmet to fly at his back, but he pivots without moving, Force-driven, and parries again. As mini-Morgan caroms off the parry, Palpatine's eyes narrow. [She has kept me on the defensive for long enough.] He throws his lightsaber, which follows her in a deadly spinning arc, then leaps around in a pincer maneuver, throwing lightning bolts which she blocks or dodges on the move. When Sidious and his saber are reunited, Morgan is out of blade range again, but the Emperor is smiling once more. He reaches out with his free hand -- -- and one of the titanic doors that had shielded Tyrannus and the Mauls tears itself out of its moorings and flies at Morgan! "Gods!" Morgan transforms into a peregrine, a tiny Aramegil in one talon, barely racing out from under what would have been a crushing defeat. She then shifts into a wolf-woman (Crinos) form, nine feet tall and over 300 pounds of pure muscle, and howls like Death Herself as she drops on Palpatine. Even the otherwise immobile Roland twitches at the eerie, echoing sound. Sidious, however, parries with fluid grace. He 'favors' Morgan with an oily smile. "Impressive. What a Sith you would make." The Sith Master literally slides out from under the blow, which finishes its arc and tears a huge gouge in the ground where the Emperor had been. "As you see, however, strength alone is of little use in a lightsaber duel." "Who says this form only gives me strength?" the auburn wolf growled, flexing her silvery claws. She leaped at Sidious again, moving with a phenomenal speed belied by her size. Hammering at the Emperor's defense repeatedly, even the Sith Overlord is hard pressed to defend himself. During one particularly vicious exchange, Morgan lashed out with her claws, trying to end the battle with one swift neck rip. Sidious, forewarned by the Force, ducks his head, and ends up with four long cuts on his cheek. They bleed slowly, but the blood is viscous and discolored. Strangely, he smiles again. "Glorious. I may actually regret killing you." "The feeling is not mutual," Morgan rumbles, though she does not pursue as quickly as she had. Through her battle lust, she can feel the Dark Side seeping slowly into her, trying to lure her deeper into shadow. Shaking the feeling off, the enormous she-wolf charges again, hammering Palpatine's saber down and trying another duel-ending attack, this time leaning down and just trying to shatter his head with her fangs. Again, Palpatine evades, this time more clearly warned by the pinprick flows of the Dark Side through her. He ducks, rolls, and slashes at her legs at a hamstringing attempt. Morgan's dodge is a touch slow, and while she only takes a shallow wound to her left leg, which she easily compensates for with her Life magick, she does not regenerate the clear burn mark. She melts down to a six and a half foot tall woman with lupine features (Glabro), once again recognizably Morgan but still clearly transformed. The burn mark is still there, her garb burned away in spite of its apparent absence during her furred wolf-giant phase. Yellow wolf's eyes glare at Sidious, the lure of the Dark Side not entirely driven off. Sidious cackles in delight. "Not as invincible as you pretend, eh, woman?" "I've still two blows tae yuir one," she barks, grinning ferally back. "An' ye're still bleedin'." Sidious' smile vanishes. They stare balefully at one another. Then, as one, they roar and leap at each other again. All the while, Roland quivers in place, his power and mind looped off from the lens-link, all anyone can tell being that he's locked in equally dire battle with the Sith Darkness Device... =========================== Subject: RE: AAE9s: Forcing the Issue On Sun, 09 Apr 2006 23:16:29 -0600 Greymoran Said As CAoL Message # 00012765 >On Sun, 09 Apr 2006 20:24:39 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012763 > > Several Imperial Guards approach warily, double-ended energy pikes >at the ready, though clearly unhappy at the prospect of dealing with >a pair who took down Darth Maul. Greymoran brings his recently aquirred blaster to bear on them. "If I can hit a Sith with this thing what chance in the seven Hells do you think you have?" Keeping an eye on the still wary Imperial guards who can't seem to make up their mind wether to attack or run, Greymoran edges over to Hudzen. "OK old friend. It's time to use that threat assesment program of yours. Which one of the Callahanians needs our help more?" =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Forcing the Issue On Sun, 09 Apr 2006 23:38:10 -0700 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00012766 >On Sun, 09 Apr 2006 20:24:39 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012763 > >>Harlock looks confused by Tyrannus and the Maulettes, then hir eyes >>narrow in disgust as sie sees Markoth. [Him again? All right, no >>more pussy-footing around.] Sie pulls a short cylinder out of hir >>utility belt and tosses it to Roland. *Roland, an ye get the chance, >>mark him with this.* The cylinder appears to be a seal of some sort. > > *?* Roland wonders, catching the cylinder lightly with TK. *Okay, >but do I draw on him with it like chalk, or do I open it over him, or >what?* The Bard blink-blinks. [Oh, right. Signets and sealing wax are ancient history for these folk.] *{}* Sie sends an image of pressing the seal against Markoth's forehead like a rubber stamp. >>Confident that Roland has Markoth well in hand, the Bard pulls a >>lightsaber from hir belt and...futzes around with it a bit, unable >>to figure out the controls. Sie looks up at the advancing Maul line >>and shakes hir head, then re-hangs the lightsaber and pulls out a >>vibrosword just in time to duck a slash from the _other_ end Maul. >>[Hmm...parry, parry, block, dodge, parry, dodge...do these folk not >>have man-portable force-shields? Heh. This could be fun.] >> >>A brief look down to tap the controls on hir belt costs Harlock a >>vibrosword, but the look of disbelief on Maul6's face is priceless >>as his lightsaber sparks and stops dead half an inch from Harlock's >>neck. The Bard immediately drops the remains of hir sword and >>catches Maul6's neck in an iron claw, grunting slightly as sie >>proceeds to hoist the Zabrak into the air by that punishing grip. >>"Surprise, pav monkey scum." > > Maul grunts and does something to the lightsaber one-handed. One >end goes out, and the other lengthens, widens, and brightens. He >chops at the arm holding him pinned. Harlock's other claw lashes out and catches Maul6's descending hand. And squeezes. Hard. Hard enough that red fluid starts dripping from hir fist. Hard enough that the lightsaber first sputters, then dies with a popping hiss. The Bard grunts in satisfaction, then releases hir grip, watching a mangled lightsaber drop from an equally mangled hand. "Now, would you rather surrender, or would you rather I did that to your neck?" --Techno-Harlock-- =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Insidious Lair Part One On Wed, 12 Apr 2006 10:14:17 -0400 Saint Dharma / Dr. Energy Said As CAoL Message # 00012769 >On Mon, 19 Dec 2005 20:17:40 -0800 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012725 > > Recap: When last we left Our Heroes, Roland and Morgan had >returned, triumphant over Thratchen. As the result of a bizarre >mystical side-effect of their victory, Roland has gained the >temporary ability to mimic Thratchen down to the smallest detail, >affording the heroes a window of opportunity to infiltrate the very >heart of the Emperor's power, using the form of one of his most >'trusted' allies. #"Mistress,"# chimed a voice that Anna knew well enough, "#there is an object approaching our position. Shall I initiate?"# #"That's a negative, BORIS-1. Monitor signal and telemetry and report anything unusual.# #"Yes, Mistress."# replied BORIS, chuffing steam to punctuate the sentence. Anna smiled warmly as she continued tinkering with the small robot in her lap, the third arm acting as a welder and multi tool which left her primary arms and hands free to do what needed doing sometimes. She started playing a finger counting game she learned as a child, and the corners of her smile lowered a bit as she remembered who it was that taught her this game and more. Elsewhere. Waking after a power-cycle was always a tricky thing, even in the good days. Unfortunately for Romanov, those days are not these days. [I can't maintain control much longer.] he thought grimly as he flopped into the Control Room chair. Most of the elaborate trappings were gone, replaced by grey walls and spare furniture. The Chair was the exception. "At least I got to keep the Comfy Chair," he quipped as he flopped into the chair. A pin prick of light, and an image of the armor outside him appeared with a galaxy of colors indicating what systems were lost, which ones were held, and those disabled due to power loss. "Enhance reactor core and control systems pertinent," said Romanov and the image zoomed into the heart area, through the armor, exoskeleton and systems to the heart of the machine. All was safe there, thanks to a steady stream of energy supplied by his allies. All this meant little if the control systems fell out of his control. Outside the suit, three astromech droids worked diligently, occasionally making beeping sounds. A door hissed, and Icewing strode into the lab with a smile to make a shark turn tail and run. "You have results?" it rumbled, causing the Imperial slicer to shake a little more in his boots. "Y-y-yes, my Lord," stammered the tech, his free hand gesturing at the droids while holding a datapad in the other. "Results have been made in all major systems." "Except.?" Icewing asked in a chilly tone, his cybernetic arms glowing blue. "Except," continued the tech quickly, to get to the point before he got the literal point, "for the power systems. All attempts have been unsuccessful but we are continuing to try." Suddenly, one of the droids squealed and exploded before being hurled into the opposite bulkhead wall. Icewing examined the area the droid was working on. He recognized the chest area well enough, due to the ever-present glow that was there when he and his enemy met on the field. What was curious was that it hadn't glowed for some time.until now. Without thinking, he placed his (hand?) cyberhand over the heart. There was a flash, and then darkness. When he came to, he was back in the pain chair. He didn't have to see the pale hand with blood red claws to know who it was. "M-My Lord?" he stuttered slightly before clamping down his Will. "My chain dog. How well you have served me. Lord Thratchen has silenced the fool, Phoenix and his accursed mate. We are to present this gift of yours to the Emperor himself, but your results are.unfortunate," said the White Hand, caressing the controls to the chair. "However, all is not lost, dog. All you need is the proper motivation." A click of talons and a button being pressed were the last things Volkov heard before the screams and then blackness. Romanov was able to stop the droid from accessing the system, but it was only a matter of time before another took its' place. Acting quickly, he pulled a lever that materialized nearby. The chair reclined down, and Romanov slid down into an awaiting tunnel. Down and down he went until popping inside a small capsule area. One chair, practical, with an array of sensors and controls. He flicked his hands over the console, which sprang to life, and a red button appeared. He pressed it. > Thratchen waves its hand imperiously at the door, which opens. It >strides in, leading a most reluctant Anakin behind it, and bows. >"Greetings, Your Imperial Majesty," the Prince intones formally, then >straightens and smiles a dark and cunning smile. "I bring...gifts." > Palpatine claps his hands. "Ah! Anakin. It has been too long, my >boy." > "Not long enough," Anakin snarls back. > Palpatine 'tsks' the young Jedi. "You know," he replies >conspiratorially, "if you wish to defy me, anger and fear are hardly >your best allies." The Emperor turns from the (apparently) smoldering >Anakin back to Thratchen. "I take it that Anakin is the crown jewel >of your...catch?" He asks with hideous delight. > "As you requested, I did not slay the other Skywalker, nor the one >called 'Padme,' though most of the rest are dead. The survivors," it >continues, gesturing grandly at the prisoners behind it, "are with >me, save for a tiny handful." > Palpatine nods. "Then I will summon Lord Vader. He should have >made contact with your allies by now." The Emperor sweeps towards his >throne. > "Ah," Thratchen says with a nod. [Allies?] Roland quickly searches >through 'Thratchen's' mind. [Oh nass. Just what I need -- an evil >Greymoran. Maybe I can sic them on each other...] Earlier... Pretending to be one of the Imps was easy enough after knocking out the four standing guard there. She had a sense to go this way, the stealthy route. "I would rather be knocking on Prunpatine's door with a 50 foot Brass Knocker, personally." she muttered to herself as she calmly hacked the door code to the base. Behind her eyes, a schematic of the base appeared, with lines indicating where the main force was headed, as well as her primary target; the lab. As the crowd of troopers and officers thinned out, she took a side turn and entered a dimly lit corridor that led straight to the labs. Shifting to invisible, she peered out into the hallway leading to the labs. It was unguarded, which was a bold statement here. [Hmmm.. Obviously don't think a guard is necessary. Looks aren't everything though.] She heard a thumping of taloned feet down the other side of the door, and she instinctively ducked her head. The sound was like metal scraping on metal between solid thuds. The room suddenly got colder, and she realized who that was coming out the door. Icewing's ears pricked up, as if hearing something. [I sense something. Something I haven't felt since...] It's anger burned coldly as it marched down the hall, meditating on this sensation. "I must see my Master." it said to no one in particular. Anna froze as she watched Icewing around the corner, then ducked back as she thought she saw recognition in his posture. After a few agonizing seconds, its' talons could be heard going down the hall and out of range. Snapping her self out of fear, she made for the door quickly. With a familiar motion, she pulled a disembodied technodemon hand attatched to a device. She pressed a few buttons and placed the hand over the scanner. There was a moment or two, and then the door opened. The tech and guard assigned to him were startled. "Hey, you're not-" was all the trooper got out before a stun bolt knocked him out. The tech said in a sing-song accent, "Please, do not leave me here. They will...punish me for allowing this. Suddenly the power in the suit just left and control was established. They are preparing it for presentation to the Emperor." Anna regarded him sadly and placed her hand on his forehead. "Sleep, dear one," she said as she delivered a mild shock which knocked him out, "for when you awake it will be a good day and the Empire will be no more." she said as she laid him down gently in a storage closet. Turning her attention to the statue, she saw a curious thing. Rolling around on the floor near the feet of her uncle's armor was a small brass sphere. She picked it up, and an eye appeared in the middle, followed by two tiny arms and legs. #"Hello, my darling. It has been some time. My, how you have grown."# quipped Dr. Energy. "Hello Uncle. We have got to get you and the suit out of here." she whispered, fearing Icewing (or something much worse.) #"No time for much else. Place me inside your backpack and I will assist as best I can."# After placing the mini-Uncle in her rucksack, Anna activated all four arms and made her way out the door to see what she could do. [No time to assist Roland and friends in the chamber. Besides,] she thought slightly glumly, [they have bigger fish to fry. My job is to see my friends don't get burnt.] Pulling up the schematic, she highlighted the time and noted where the bulk of trooper chatter was coming from. Activating stealth mode, she padded down the hall and out of sight. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Forcing the Issue On Wed, 12 Apr 2006 10:50:34 -0400 Saint Dharma / Dr. Energy Said As CAoL Message # 00012770 Near the barracks.... Anna catfooted her way to the bulkhead door leading to the barracks. With her Force program in play, two sabers were lit and in form behind her while her primary hands worked the controls. She had just began the slice when the doors opened. The outer door opened revealing another door, and a second door began to open, revealing four Dark Troopers, with a Dark Jedi guarding them. The Dark Jedi growled, "Rebel Scum. I will show you true power." and lept at the Platinum Princess. Both of her sabers came around and blocked the incoming saber. Reaching out to the Force, she pushed the minion back and into a wall. "Fool! Attack!" All four Dark Troopers ignited their sabers and pressed forward. Anna assumed a form that most of the natives would recognize as Kali Mau, only without the skulls and with a silvery sheen. The effect, however, was to taunt as all four sabers floated from her belt in a ring around her before coming to rest in all four hands. There was a multicolored whirl as she lept into the air, slicing down at the two leftmost troopers. They blocked effectively, but barely which gave the other two troopers an opening...which was blocked barely by Anna. [Two would have been fine...but all four? Time to call the reserves.] #Ana to Doc. I need you to hold off the Sith while I deal with these guys.# #Yes, Anna. I go now.# said Dr. Energy, throwing a switch and grabbing both controls. The rucksack opened and a larger brass sphere flew upwards, powered by helicopter blades. The Dark Jedi eyed this new threat warily. Suddenly, a dark flash of rememberance crossed his features, and he made a Force speed dash to the weapons locker which held his communicator...and his EMP gun. Grabbing both quickly, he pressed a button on the communicator. He brought the weapon to bear on The Platinum One and fingered the trigger. "NO!" shouted Romanov and dove into the line of sight. There was a flash on the monitors. Then blackness. It all went slow, as if they were fighting in molasses. She saw her Uncle fly up, then down and saw the Sith fire on here. The blast hit the sphere full and it fell rolling towards her as she flurried her blocks and thrusts. Horror turned to anger, and she cried "ENOUGH!" and extended both her primary arms knocking all four troopers down and out. Turning her attention to the Sith, she reached out with the Force and lifted him up while choking him in midair. "What! Have! You! Done?" she said through gritted teeth. "Good, good..."said a chilly voice behind her, "even I, a lowly servant can feel your anger." Turning towards the sound, she dropped the minion on the floor, where he laid there moving slightly. Igniting all four sabers again, she spun around and assumed guard position. "You will feel the point of my blades instead, Volkov. If you want me, come and claim me," she mockingly held up all four swords. Uttering a growl borne from the bowels of Hell, Icewing launched into an attack. TBC =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Forcing the Issue On Fri, 14 Apr 2006 22:37:21 -0700 Patrick O'Shea Said As CAoL Message # 00012771 >On Sun, 09 Apr 2006 20:24:39 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012763 > > Vader blocks the blow without ever taking >his... black...orb...things...off of Windu. "Your presence here is >foolish beyond even what I would expect of you." > "No one cares what your expectations are," Windu replies >caustically. "You're nothing but a mistake that needs correcting." > Vader laughs briefly, harshly. He continues to parry the Kai lord, >though the Force sensitive can tell he's paying far more attention to >Quiet Moon than his body language indicates. "Do you truly believe I >am still the foolish boy who was actually concerned about your >approval, Jedi? I am _Vader._ And you," he mocks, as Force lightning >from Palpatine's hands tears through Windu's ghostly form, "are a >mistake that has _already_ been corrected." Windu vanishes, and Vader >returns his full, baleful attention to Quiet Moon. "_You_ did that," >he says, as if passing sentence... "No...I did -this-" Quiet Moon answers, Kai Blast slamming into Vader's mental defenses (1). "And this-" The two sabers spark as the Kai's strike is intercepted. "As well as this-" The Kai spins away, slicing an incoming piece of debris in two, and parrying Vader's low cut. Physically and psychically, it was a stalemate. Fair enough, Quiet Moon decided. He made a few more strikes, then feigned a stumble. The crimson blade descends, seking the Sommlending's blood. The Kai smoothly transitions from stumble to low guard position, saber partly driven into the ground in front of him. Trusting fully in his Magnakai Nexus abilities, his hand reaches out and catches Vader's blade, it stopping mere millimeters from the palm of Quiet Moon's hand, the psychokinetic Discipline shunting all of the mechanized force behind Vader's swing away from the Kai. It hurts. Once, when he was a Kai Initiate, Quiet Moon was struck by a flaming brand while in battle with a cultist. This is worse, the burning sensation creeping along his arm, Helaing and Curing Disciplines struggling to keep pace with the damage. But it gives Quiet Moon that one second opening, Vader allowing a moment's surprise at the unexpected tactic. "GLOAR!" The Power Word leaps from the Kai's mouth and into the chest of the Sith, throwing the Sith back(2). No stranger to unassisted battlefield propulsion, the Sith rolls with the impact, recovers, and gets to his feet, saber in the classic Djem So ready position. The two lock sabers again, equally matched in both skill and spirit. Across the room... >On Sun, 09 Apr 2006 20:26:01 -0700 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00012764 > > "Indeed?" Palpatine smiles monstrously, and Defender slides into a >more defensive kata. "Then I suppose you win. HERE!" A black disc >flies out of the Emperor's robe at the Eternal. Roland catches it. > Defender's eyes go enormously wide, and he stiffens, his power >suddenly turned inward, fire and lightning blazing around him in many >orbits of tiny phoenixes and dragons. Palpatine laughs. "Yes, yes, >show me how you can defeat the Amulet of the Sith! Show me how easy I >am to defeat!" "Right..." Quiet Moon's saber goes up, face calm. Seeing the opening, Vader charges, energy blade burying itself in the Kai's gut. And screams as Quiet Moon, both hands locked in a death-grip on Vader's helmet, throws the full weight of his Mindforce against Vader's psyche. TBC! ----- Patrick O'Shea (1) a 2d6 RKA, Based on ECV (+1), 1/2 END attack. I'm in a Champions campaign now! (2) a 10d6 EB, X1.5 Knockback, Incantation. Told ya! =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Forcing the Issue On Sat, 15 Apr 2006 18:53:36 -0700 Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00012772 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012763 > > *?* Roland wonders, catching the cylinder lightly with TK. *Okay, >but do I draw on him with it like chalk, or do I open it over him, or >what?* The Champion slams Markoth against a wall and holds the >cylinder over him. Markoth squirms a little, otherwise unable to do >anything more than blink and breathe. "Stay," Defender commands, >ignoring Markoth's humiliated rage and fear. Then his ESP screams a >warning, and a flash of image enters his mind -- two enormous >spheres, one dull gray and jaggedly incomplete, the other coruscating >blue and only semi-corporeal, trading punishing blasts. /Aurora! If >you've been waiting for something to do, now's your chance! Holy >Source...the Death Star.../ Then he suddenly grasps the situation, >and grins. [Not that it'll be anything more than a chew toy for a >Starspawn. Heh.] /*We have been watching, Roland. All is ready.*/ Aurora answers, as Dragon's Bane II appears beside the coruscating blue sphere. Dragon's Bane II makes no announcements, offers no warnings, and speaks no ultimatums. It simply fires every weapon it has, directly into the heart of the incomplete Death Star. Dragon's Bane II, a Battle Machine designed to hold its own against The Stardragon itself, at least for a few seconds, and even give The Stardragon a little grief. At the core of the energy field barrage is its main weapons beam. A spinal mount weapon nearly 100 miles long, capable of firing an energy beam of virtually infinite power. All this fired into a weapons system designed to defend itself against a fleet not even capable of destroying a world, and an incomplete system at that. Every operating energy detection system in the galaxy shorts out and/or buries its needle (if it has one) into the stops instantly. So vehement is the shot that it punches through the Death Star's shields as though they weren't event here. Passing clear through the entire ship, heating the contents of a ten mile diameter column to a temperature of one hundred BILLION degrees, then out the other side and through the shields again (having not had the time for them to drop). The Death Star vaporizes from the inside out. So hot is the material inside that the momentum of the unvaporized metal prevents it from breaking apart until it too has vaporized. As the last nano inches of metal vaporize away, a preasure wave iscreated that expands outward. For the first time, since its formation, the surface the Earth's moon feels the force of huricane wind for a brief moment. Only those places on the moon which had been visited by sentient beings are spared. Protected by energy fields raised by the four guardian Starspawn. Lightyears away, The Stardragon's Presence is felt, as it "catches" the overshot. As Dragon's Bane takes care of the Death Star, Aurora acts to aid the rebel cause. First she reaches out to The Source. Then to every rebel and rebel ally in the battle, acting as a conduit for The Source, at least temporarily. For every person who accepts the contact, every strength is enhanced, every weakness reinforced or neutralized. Latent abilities become active, and the knowlege and skill to use them provided. Extrodinary abilities are enhanced to superhuman levels. Superhuman abilities are enhanced to godlike, and godlike abilities are strengthened to nearly primal states. Injuries, even otherwise lethal ones, are healed almost faster than they can be dealt. If Aurora has HER way, not a single person on the rebel side will fall. Light sabers and blasters pass through rebel bodies, making a terrible stench, and burning clothing, but the bodies they pass through are already healed by the time the blade or bolt exits. Very quickly the rebels realize the enemy's weapons may hurt like the dickens, but are not even able to maim them, let alone kill them. /*Rally your troups, Roland. Your reinforcements have arrived.*/ Aurora announces. /*Dragon's Bane II will help clear the skies of rif raf.*/ She adds. /*Roland, Hydra and The Stardragon are waiting to intercept any attempts by certain entities to leave the field of battle prematurely.*/ Oracle offers. ^Roland, do not forget that YOU can call upon the power of The Stardragon itself. Even to becomming an Avatar.^ =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Forcing the Issue (fwd) On Sun, 16 Apr 2006 14:09:21 -0700 (PDT) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00012773 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012763 > >>On Tue, 14 Mar 2006 21:09:56 -0800 (PST) >>Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00012753 >> >> As Maul reaches through the Force to pull his weapon back, Rob >>sets the palm of his left hand on top of his right fist, >>concentrates, and then lunges forward. "PSYCHO LIGHTNING!" he roars, >>letting the Force take the form of a lightning bolt that lances >>out... >> ...and destroys Maul's lightsaber. >> Rob smiles, as the now-useless piece of high technology slides >>into Maul's hand. "Are you willing to quit now?" > > Maul snarls and casts the now-dead lightsaber aside. He pulls at >the air, and a half-dozen chunks of debris fly at Rob. [Wh-?!] Although he manages to avoid being hit, the attack serves its purpose - Rob can't close in on the clone. > The Sith assassin Force leaps backwards in a whirling, tumbling >mass of diabolic grace, then lands next to the corpse of one of his >sibling-clones, upside-down, in the middle of a backflip. His hand is >on the dead comrade's lightsaber as he lands. He ignites both ends >and snarls... > "No," Tyrannus says, holding out his hand in a commanding manner, >eyeing Rob respectfully. "This one is mine." Tyrannus smiles >menacingly. "You wield the lightning well, boy. Let us learn...how >well." The more verbal Sith glides forward, his fencer's saber at the >ready, Force lightning crackling between his fingertips. The glow around Rob's hand flickers through red, blue, orange, and yellow before settling back into red. [Stall,] he thinks. [Holding off that ghem-lord took a lot out of me, and this Tyranus character - the way he moves practically advertises his skill. Just one minute to catch my breath.] Dooku takes a standard Makashi stance, and smiles. "Your form reminds me of Yoda's tendency towards pointless acrobatics. Ataru is hardly suitable for somebody over three feet tall." "You've seen me fight for," Rob thinks for a moment, "five minutes, and you know my style?" "I am both Jedi and Sith. I balance the Force, and in doing so become greater than either part. Yes, I know how you fight." [What's the same size as an elephant, but isn't an elephant? This guy's ego.] Rob sets his stance, using the Icon of Stone form, and relaxes. "Knowledge is all to the good, but application is what matters. Show me what you know." The lightsaber flicks out, and Rob parries with his right arm. Then his left. Tyranus blinks. "Soresu? Or Niman?" Rob sighs. "You'll never get anywhere that way." A quick series of strikes follows, with the Sith pressing the attack, and the street fighter blocking every blow. "Soresu, I think," Tyranus muses, and launches into a string of feints and thrusts that should force an opening in his opponent's defenses. But when he lunges, the opening isn't there. "That might have worked," Rob remarks, "if I only had one hand." [He's good. But he doesn't seem to know anything except this fencing style. I just hope I'm learning how he moves faster than he can figure out my moves.] Tyranus, for his part, is trying to make sense of this opponent. A wielder of the lightning with no feel of the Dark side, fighting with a mix of three or four forms, and parrying with his bare hands. [Quite the enigma, this one...a challenge worthy of my skills.] =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Forcing the Issue On Tue, 25 Apr 2006 22:03:59 -0700 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00012774 >On Sun, 09 Apr 2006 23:16:29 -0600 >Greymoran Said As CAoL Message # 00012765 > >>On Sun, 09 Apr 2006 20:24:39 -0700 >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012763 >> Several Imperial Guards approach warily, double-ended energy >>pikes at the ready, though clearly unhappy at the prospect of >>dealing with a pair who took down Darth Maul. > >Greymoran brings his recently aquirred blaster to bear on them. "If >I can hit a Sith with this thing what chance in the seven Hells do >you think youhave?" Keeping an eye on the still wary Imperial guards >who can't seem to make up their mind wether to attack or run, >Greymoran edges over to Hudzen. "OK old friend. It's time to use that >threat assesment program of yours. Which one of the Callahanians >needs our help more?" The Guardsmen take a few steps back. The Stormtroopers that had been rushing up to help take one look at this and find somewhere else to be. Then a small pack of techno-demons soars into the room, red lights blinking like alarms along their right temples. One lands next to the Guardsmen and growls at them. Looking at the Tharkoldu and the pair of heroes, they decide to engage the heroes -- after all, the worst Greymoran and Hudzen are likely to do is kill them. The techno-demon circles the cyborg, dismissing the apparent human as a threat (which is, most likely, the last thing it ever does 8^)... >On Sun, 09 Apr 2006 23:38:10 -0700 >Harlock Said As CAoL Message # 00012766 > >>On Sun, 09 Apr 2006 20:24:39 -0700 >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012763 >> >>>Harlock looks confused by Tyrannus and the Maulettes, then hir eyes >>>narrow in disgust as sie sees Markoth. [Him again? All right, no >>>more pussy-footing around.] Sie pulls a short cylinder out of hir >>>utility belt and tosses it to Roland. *Roland, an ye get the >>>chance, mark him with this.* The cylinder appears to be a seal of >>>some sort. >> >> *?* Roland wonders, catching the cylinder lightly with TK. *Okay, >>but do I draw on him with it like chalk, or do I open it over him, >>or what?* > >The Bard blink-blinks. [Oh, right. Signets and sealing wax are >ancient history for these folk.] *{}* Sie sends an image of pressing >the seal against Markoth's forehead like a rubber stamp. */Ah./* Roland TKs the seal over to Markoth, but just before he can thump his forehead with it, the villain vanishes, the only sound a faint inrush of air and a squeal of gutless fear. */Nass./* He TKs it back to its proper place on Harlock's belt without so much as jostling him. (OOC: I have...plans...for Markoth in the finale. ;^) >>>A brief look down to tap the controls on hir belt costs Harlock a >>>vibrosword, but the look of disbelief on Maul6's face is priceless >>>as his lightsaber sparks and stops dead half an inch from Harlock's >>>neck. The Bard immediately drops the remains of hir sword and >>>catches Maul6's neck in an iron claw, grunting slightly as sie >>>proceeds to hoist the Zabrak into the air by that punishing grip. >>>"Surprise, pav monkey scum." >> >> Maul grunts and does something to the lightsaber one-handed. One >>end goes out, and the other lengthens, widens, and brightens. He >>chops at the arm holding him pinned. > >Harlock's other claw lashes out and catches Maul6's descending hand. >And squeezes. Hard. Hard enough that red fluid starts dripping from >hir fist. Hard enough that the lightsaber first sputters, then dies >with a popping hiss. The Bard grunts in satisfaction, then releases >hir grip, watching a mangled lightsaber drop from an equally mangled >hand. "Now, would you rather surrender, or would you rather I did >that to your neck?" Maul spits at him. Then another techno-demon lands near Harlock and gets ready to attack -- then stops, confused at the sight of one of his own trying to throttle one of their erstwhile allies. It looks at the glaring, defiant Maul, then back at Harlock. "Where is Prince Thratchen?" it asks simply, if deeply confused. >On Sat, 15 Apr 2006 18:53:36 -0700 >Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00012772 > >/*We have been watching, Roland. All is ready.*/ Aurora answers, as >Dragon's Bane II appears beside the coruscating blue sphere. "Moff Jerjerrod," a technician begins. Jerjerrod looks up. The enormity of their foe is not readily apparent, but even to the arrogant commander of the Death Star II, there is a clear danger. His eyes begin to widen and the thought of giving an order begins to form. >Dragon's Bane II makes no announcements, offers no warnings, and >speaks no ultimatums. It simply fires every weapon it has, directly >into the heart of the incomplete Death Star. >Passing clear through the entire ship, heating the contents of a ten >mile diameter column to a temperature of one hundred BILLION degrees, >then out the other side and through the shields again (having not had >the time for them to drop). The Death Star vaporizes from the inside >out. "Captain Kratos," one of the emotionless 'angels' of Derris-Kharlan reports calmly. "Yes, what--" Kratos begins. His eyes, not being reduced to subatomic particles, have time to widen, his jaw time to drop -- something that has not happened in millennia. "By the Great Tree," he breathes. >So hot is the material inside that the momentum of the unvaporized >metal prevents it from breaking apart until it too has vaporized. As >the last nano inches of metal vaporize away, a preasure wave is >created that expands outward. For the first time, since its >formation, the surface the Earth's moon feels the force of huricane >wind for a brief moment. Only those places on the moon which had been >visited by sentient beings are spared. Protected by energy fields >raised by the four guardian Starspawn. Lightyears away, The >Stardragon's Presence is felt, as it "catches" the overshot. "Your orders, sir?" the angel asks. "..." Kratos stares at the monitor. "..." "Sir?" "..." "Captain Kratos." Kratos shakes his head clear. "Return Derris-Kharlan to its pocket dimension and await further orders." He strides towards a transmission pad. "Return me to Earth." "By your command," the angel replies evenly. >On Sun, 16 Apr 2006 14:09:21 -0700 (PDT) >Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00012773 > The lightsaber flicks out, and Rob parries with his right arm. >Then his left. Tyranus blinks. "Soresu? Or Niman?" > Rob sighs. "You'll never get anywhere that way." A quick series of >strikes follows, with the Sith pressing the attack, and the street >fighter blocking every blow. > "Soresu, I think," Tyranus muses, and launches into a string of >feints and thrusts that should force an opening in his opponent's >defenses. But when he lunges, the opening isn't there. > "That might have worked," Rob remarks, "if I only had one hand." >[He's good. But he doesn't seem to know anything except this fencing >style. I just hope I'm learning how he moves faster than he can >figure out my moves.] > Tyranus, for his part, is trying to make sense of this opponent. A >wielder of the lightning with no feel of the Dark side, fighting with >a mix of three or four forms, and parrying with his bare hands. >[Quite the enigma, this one...a challenge worthy of my skills.] The Sith duelist falls into a ready stance, saber pointed at Rob, lightning swirling in his free hand...and then the power surges away, vanishing into the ever-increasing, skin-tight maelstrom storming around Roland. "get...away...from...him..." Defender hisses through pained, gritted teeth. Tyrannus chuckled menacingly, glancing back without losing sight of Rob. "Why? You are locked in battle with the Dark Side itself. That you are not its slave already is a testament to your will." The lightning surges again, and he lets himself be a bit more distracted. "Nevertheless, you are but a man against the shadow of a universe." Again, the lightning forms in his hand. This time, it does not vanish. He gives Rob his full attention again... OOC: Only to find, I suspect, Rob's fists in some very unfriendly places. ;^) The Emperor's saber and Morgan's blade crash into each other, incandescent fury exploding from where they meet. Both howl with the savage joy of mortal combat. Moments later, both are thrown back, the Emperor landing in his spider-like three-point stance, Morgan sliding back on the plating, her claws leaving thin grooves in the floor. Wolf's eyes narrow as she weighs her options. "You've lost weight," Palpatine says dryly. "Judge me by my size, do you," Morgan replies coolly, albeit deeper than anything any member of Yoda's people ever spoke. "Don't be absurd." Sidious throws out his hand, Dark lightning screaming at her. She blocks with Aramegil, the power surging around the blade. Soon, it's too much even for Morgan and her enchanted sword, and she throws it off, missing Palpatine easily and creating shrapnel behind them. The Emperor sighs and pinches his nose. "My throne? That was petty." "I considered carvin' my initials in it, but it was'na worth the trouble. HYAH!" Morgan shifts back to her normal human form and charges at Sidious, but this time he dodges more easily, the saber flying out in its deadly arc again. She parries it easily -- but then it comes at her from behind. She blocks again, and it arcs toward her faster. "Feeling a bit frustrated?" Sidious cackles. "Perhaps you haven't unleashed your anger enough. And you were doing so well..." He fires more lightning. "Uh-uh. I've seen Episode Six." She blocks all the attacks, but the effort is starting to take his toll. "Yes, and young Skywalker did _so_ well," he fires back. "Somehow, I doubt that Lord Vader will be coming to _your_ rescue." The saber returns to his hand, the lightning stops, and he falls into a defensive stance. Morgan wastes no time in taking the opportunity to go on the offensive again, roaring and slashing at the Emperor. Ironically, Sidious' defense is almost Jedi-like, calm and controlled. "Sloppy and wasteful. This is not the swordsman I've heard so much of." Almost contemptuously, he Force Pushes her back, leaping over the ruins of his throne and landing, smiling, beckoning her to attack with one taunting 'come here' gesture. Morgan briefly assesses her combat style -- yes, her fury had made her a touch overzealous, but certainly not sloppy -- and she dives after him again, easily avoiding the slag and shrapnel around the chair. Palpatine leaps back and away, throwing the saber again -- but this time, right at Roland's neck! With a slight wolf-like yelp, she leaps into the path of the blade and parries it, blocking it twice more as it arcs around again at him, then glaring as it returns to Sidious' hand. "The great Emperor Palpatine, reduced to cheap shots." He smiles mockingly. "I did not know you valued his life so cheaply." He tries what appears to be a straightforward (if amazingly swift) lunge, which reveals itself to be a feint at the last instant as he wheels around and slices at her right arm. She parries, taking a minor burn for being caught off-guard and off-balance, but one quick step and shift and Morgan is at the ready again. The Highlander attacks again, but the Emperor dodges, throwing the saber at Roland again while firing more lightning at Morgan. She parries calmly as the lightsaber bounces off the Eternal, all his power focused in a sheath Galactus himself would have trouble penetrating right now. "I don't," Morgan says evenly, and she leaps at him, Aramegil a blur of destruction. Palpatine recovers his blade in time to parry again. The duel goes quiet save for the clash of sabers and the occasional howl or cackle of savage joy of battle. Sidious presses ferociously, Morgan responding in kind. They leap and slash and lunge at each other to turn a duelist choreographer into a jade nova of envy for several minutes. The Emperor has given up the taunting, the mocking, the threatening; instead, they fight. Relentlessly. Furiously. Morgan hasn't had her swordsmanship challenged like this in a very long time. It's glorious. Her eyes begin to glow a faint, distant red... "Morgan!" Qui-Gon shouts as a Maul approaches him, the older Jedi moving from a combative stance (for slicing up Imps) to a defensive one. "Be mindful of the Force! This is not your world!" "It bloody well is!" Morgan snarls back, hammering at Palpatine's defense. The Sith Master laughs and ripostes, Morgan just barely countering. They've scored three more shots each, staying 'even' in terms of damage. "Not as far as the rules are concerned!" Qui-Gon warns, parrying Maul's first attack. "You should be paying attention to me," Maul whispers. "I remember I killed you." "Do I appear dead to you?" he replies coolly. "Morgan! Remember your training!" "I'm _using_ it!" Morgan roars, going to full offense against Palpatine, who (in spite of being on complete defense at this point) is laughing with dark, horrific joy. "Listen to yourself!" Qui-Gon leaps away, Maul giving chase. "That's the Dark Side in your voice! You're giving in to it!" Realizing how far she's gone -- and the ramifications of the shock when she recovers, which is just now beginning -- he waits a moment. The two foes clash again, and when their blades lock, he continues, "Remember your control, your center! _Remember_your_grandfather!_" Qui-Gon's hesitation saves her life. Morgan's eyes go wide, the crimson aura around them vanishing. Palpatine, naturally, moves to take advantage immediately, but first he has to disengage his blade, which is just enough time for the Champion to get Aramegil around. She parries his saber less than an inch away from her neck. A few errant strands of hair vanish in brief trails of immolation as they touch the scarlet blade. To Be Concluded =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Forcing the Issue On Tue, 25 Apr 2006 22:08:05 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012775 When last we left our heroes, Morgan was locked in mortal combat -- almost literally -- with Darth Sidious, Quiet Moon was sporting a new piercing, and Roland was fighting a losing battle against a piece of jewelry... Roland's mind. Darkness. *You have lost so much of your taint, Eternal.* The immortal's body trembles. The telepathic communion is relentless, implacable. His shields are nonexistent to its might; indeed, even non-telepaths might be able to hear the conversation if they're paying enough attention. *You feel that you have been through the crucible. Purified.* *Shut up, you glorified piece of rock,* Roland fires back. *And yet you are still so ideal,* it purrs. *So commanding.* *I hate leadership.* *Only because of the burden,* it replies silkily. *The tremendous effort of juggling the needs of dozens of titanic egos and insecure would-be heroes.* At that, Roland _laughs._ *You're so cold, you're frozen.* *Am I?* Roland stops laughing. *Of course, the _true_ burden is your sense of responsibility, your absurd need to 'play fair' with everyone. To hold back, constantly.* Defender begins to sweat. Through the liquid orichalcum sheath. *Shut up.* *You doubt yourself always. Yet if they trust your wisdom, why can you not?* A chuckle answers the Darkness Device. *A trust that I would betray if I surrendered to you.* *There is wisdom in shadow,* it beckons. *Why deny the other half of who you are?* *You are not yin, you lying piece of slag,* Roland snarls. *You are imbalance, hatred, EVIL.* *What is good without evil?* it asks. *Peace,* Roland replies. Even he is amazed at how easily the answer comes to him. *Then why are you tempted?* *You're not temptation,* Roland replies, his confidence growing. *You're a cosmic _cheat,_ using supernatural empathic control to corrupt the passionate side of human nature in Force wielders. That's why you're so afraid of Anakin. He can _beat_ you if you don't conquer him.* *And yet you are still tempted.* *Ha!* Roland is almost dismissive now. *Sure, I'm tempted to try my luck, become the High Lord long enough to pull your sprocking stelae and drop you into the heart of the sun. Unfortunately for you, I'm not that overconfident. I'll just give you to the Stardragon for target practice and let Aurora clean up this ugly mess you made. Once you're out of the way, I imagine that the Skywalkers can take it from there.* The sense of seductive lure vanishes, replaced by implacable, hateful hunger. *Very well. You chose this, remember.* It attacks him. Were it not for the aid of the Starspawn, it would be like a sledgehammer on an eggshell. Even with the power of the cosmic forces available to him, Roland's mind screams with the effort of not being broken to the Device's will. Defender's hand clenches on the Amulet hard enough to crush steel, but the Device is utterly unharmed. *is that...the best...you got?* Roland hisses. His hand begins to unclench. *NO! You will not...you must not...NO!* The Amulet redoubles its attack. Roland's grip slackens more. *We will leave your world! You can have it back!* The Amulet begins to slide out of his fingers. *I'll destroy them! Your wife, your children -- their hearts will be made into talismans for Sith apprentices!* *oh, that's just pathetic,* Roland whispers mentally. His hand opens. The Amulet drops. The link breaks. Defender falls to his knees, panting, grateful that even a Darkness Device can't use the lens-link as a carrier. He looks up, seeing his wife's blade locked with Palpatine's scant centimeters from her throat. "Get away from my wife, you glorified prune," he hisses. "Please. You can hardly stand!" Sidious laughs. "Tharkoldu," he orders, suddenly stern. Three alphas land around the Champion. Roland stands shakily. "Fine," he replies through a torn, gravelly voice. The Phoenix Rod expands violently to full length in his right hand. "Let's go." Meanwhile, Morgan slowly pushes the Sith Master's lightsaber away from her neck. "I believe the score is five-all," she notes lightly. Sidious cackles. "This is not your way. Attempt to duel as a Jedi, and I will certainly destroy you." He slides back with a strange hop, sword at the ready before him. "You think so?" she asks, her voice perfectly serene. Adopting a fencing stance with Aramegil, she does the Morpheus 'come get some' wave with her free hand. The Emperor roars and charges. This time, his furious fusillade is met with a calm, impenetrable wall of force and mithril. Morgan smiles faintly, the smile of cool confidence. In spite of his demeanor, Darth Sidious is in complete control as well, and the duel resumes in earnest. Their blades blur and spin, clashing in a deadly wheel of light and fire. This time, however, there is a very different quality to the battle. Where ferocity met ferocity in a whirlwind of impending death, now ferocity instead meets fluidity. Whenever Sidious thrusts, Morgan is somehow not there. Each deadly scythe of crimson fire passes through air or skitters lightly off the faerie sword. Every bolt of lightning simply stops inches from the Greywolf's body, vanishing entirely. Palpatine scowls. "Passionless spawn of Jedi scum. And you had such potential." Morgan laughs musically and dances away from the next lunge. She spins, seemingly on the defensive but utterly invulnerable in her defense, until he finally overreaches. Her expression snaps as flat as the stroke of her sword, and Palpatine's arm comes off just below the elbow. He screams and falls backwards, hand and saber several feet away, while Aramegil comes to rest, energy sheath gone, with the tip literally on his throat. "Roland, m'eudail, aside from the usual, d'ye have a good reason?" The Phoenix Rod spins fast enough to make a sonic snap, then comes down on the last conscious techno-demon's head. It quickly becomes the _formerly_ conscious third Tharkoldu. "One, actually. Hey, Lefty! Put back the Possibilities, take your stelae and go home." Sidious, who is still clutching at the stump and grimacing, snarls. "Or?" Roland smiles viciously. "What do _you_ think?" Elsewhere... >On Fri, 14 Apr 2006 22:37:21 -0700 >Patrick O'Shea Said As CAoL Message # 00012771 >"Right..." Quiet Moon's saber goes up, face calm. Seeing the opening, >Vader charges, energy blade burying itself in the Kai's gut. > >And screams as Quiet Moon, both hands locked in a death-grip on >Vader's helmet, throws the full weight of his Mindforce against >Vader's psyche. Vader burns. This has not happened in a long time. The last time, they were real burns, his body seared by the flames of Mustafar, his limbs sent spiraling into the oblivion of its lava river. It is not a pleasant memory. So he does what comes naturally. He burns back. Using the pain of his blade in Quiet Moon's intestines as a conduit, he returns the pain of the mind-fire, magnified by the native pain of the Kai Lord's injury. While it would probably be wiser to break the link, Vader decides somewhere in his mind that now he _must_ win. It is a matter of pride. After what feels like an eternity, however -- [what...stamina...] he thinks -- there is the distant sound of ceramic on metal, and a beckoning unlike anything he has ever known. ^Lord...Vader...now is...the time...take me. ... TAKE ME!^ The Amulet flies into his gauntlet. Quiet Moon feels the change immediately. His Mindforce, which had dug deep and hard into the Sith's mind, is thrown back. Vader is as well, strangely enough, the sword coming out of the Kai's body neatly as the Dark Lord of the Sith lands. Any unfinished battles pause briefly. Palpatine cackles strangely. "It would seem, young Champion, that my bargaining position is...dubious." "Away," Vader intones. Force akin to only one sparring partner she's ever known pushes Morgan back from Sidious, who looks at Vader in shock. "You are not mistaken," Vader explains, his voice somehow more menacing than ever. "I am now High Lord of our universe. You live, as you may yet be of use to me." "Use...to you?" Sidious laughs. "Certainly, my pupil, certainly." "Good." Vader turns, sweeping an ominous gaze across the heroes. Power simply emanates from the black-clad figure, as does pure menace. "Lay down your weapons, and I may let you live." "Not going to happen," Roland replies coolly. */Okay, folx, this is about to turn into a whole world of ugly./* */It wasn't already?/* Morgan asks dryly. */That was the most fantastic duel I've ever seen, love, but this is _Vader_ with a _Darkness_Device._ Apprentice or no apprentice, this just got a lot worse. Simple plan time, team -- we dog-pile Vader fast and furious, hit him with everything, overload his senses, top priority is to _get_that_Amulet_ away from-"By the Source!"/* On a catwalk above the tableau, three figures slowly walk in. Leia has point, scanning the room carefully with her blaster at the ready. Behind her, Luke helps a frail, beautiful woman walk hesitantly beside him. Padme. More to the point, a clone of Padme, pale and seemingly wispy, a haunted, ancient look on her face. "Ani?" she asks, scanning the room and finally locking on...the young Anakin Skywalker, his lightsaber still in the body of a just-dead Royal Guard. Almost sheepishly, he pushes the corpse away. "I..." the Jedi says slowly. "...I'm not sure I'm the Anakin you're looking for." Shakily, clearly confused, her eyes scan the room jumpily again, passing over Vader twice before coming to rest on him through sheer intuition...perhaps with some help from the Force. "Ani? By the Force...is that you?" "Well? Answer her," Sidious giggles madly. "Silence!" Vader snaps, his voice deadly...but with a quality that has been absent since a few moments after the helmet was snapped into place. He looks up. "I was Anakin Skywalker once. And you..." he glares at Luke and Leia, then turns back to Padmee(sic). "...you should not be out of your tank," he says, some sternness still in his voice, but concern starting to creep in. A look of soul-deep hurt flickers through her eyes. "Why? You weren't finished reprogramming me?" "You needed...perspective," Vader avers, helmet tilting away slightly. "You have been dead for many years." She looks between Luke and Leia again. "Just over twenty, at a guess," she replies dryly enough to vaporize a lake, some of her old fire evident for a moment. Then it's gone, consumed once more by grief and fatigue born from the decades' echo of death. "I'm looking for Anakin Skywalker. If you're not him..." Padmee looks confused again for a moment, then she straightens, nobility and sheer will conquering weakness of body and spirit. "...from what I've heard, there's a rebellion that could use my help." "NO!" Vader roars, and reality itself ripples through the room as if someone splashed a small rock in it. "They are...responsible for...the chaos in our Galaxy. It would be...unwise of you to join their number." "It wouldn't be my first 'unwise' act," she replies, her voice strengthening, though she's holding onto the railing very tightly. Vader stares up for a few long moments, then whirls around to face Roland. "Eternal. As the new High Lord, I accept your offer." Exhausted, Roland blinks. "What are you -- oh. Fine. Deal." Meanwhile, with Morgan's attention split between Vader and the Emperor, Sidious has a window of opportunity. He takes it. Force-pulling his severed arm -- its death-grip on his lightsaber intact -- to his free hand, he leaps to a panel, tucks the wrist under the remains of its upper arm, and slaps his still-attached hand on it. A section of wall opens, and while Morgan is already chasing him, he has just enough time to leap through the opening -- and vanishes in a column of pure darkness. Morgan, being smarter than the average bear, doesn't follow him, and the column vanishes. "What in the Seven Hells was that?" "A dimthread," Defender replies in annoyance. "High Lord transporter. He must have had it set up, just in case." "He will not be a problem," Vader intones with finality. He holds up the Amulet by its chain, and a much larger portal appears behind the ruins of the throne. "Come." Hesitantly at first, then with alacrity arising from the desire to keep breathing, the surviving Imps follow. "Vader," Roland intones back. Vader turns briefly. "You _will_ be seeing me again." "Then you will die," Vader replies. He turns back toward the portal and vanishes through it, the Imperial soldiers following. A ragged cheer goes up. The apex of the Imperial Fortress. A disarmed Emperor drops the ruined limb and concentrates. [Ah, Darth Plagueis. I almost miss him.] As he concentrates, grunting and hissing from the effort, a new lower arm forms from the stump Morgan had left. "There," he gasps once the regeneration is complete. "Now, to set the self-destruct mechanism." Sidious laughs evilly as he approaches a console. "I'll obliterate those fools below, and complete the dimthread journey back to...to..." Force senses warn him of a presence that simply _should_not_be_there._ (OOC: Tag Zia. Longer explanation coming in the GR. ;-) Throughout the Realm, Maelstrom Bridges snake down from the sky, clouds forming around the interdimensional apertures. Possibility Energy flows back through them, just enough to re-energize the populace and allow them to survive the transformation back to Earth-9 reality (and give the Starspawn a breather -- we'll need them to take care of Theah anyway 8^). Huge numbers of ships launch, taking the vast majority of the Star Wars denizens back to their native cosm. A few remain, having become attached to the area, which will leave India a nation of hyper-advanced technology and curious, potent spirituality. Fortunately, it appears that Vader took the Dark Side with him. After a long exhale of intense relief, still leaning heavily on the Phoenix Rod, Roland turns to Morgan, a fond smile crinkling the corners of his eyes. "'Seven Hells'? When have _you_ been to Thanagar?" (OOC: Smoke 'em if you got 'em -- the villains, that is. I don't want to encourage cigarette use, after all. It's time to dive into the Big Finish, so wrap up your loose ends and get your trunks on!) =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Forcing the Issue On Wed, 26 Apr 2006 00:18:12 -0600 Greymoran Said As CAoL Message # 00012776 >On Tue, 25 Apr 2006 22:03:59 -0700 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00012774 > >>On Sun, 09 Apr 2006 23:16:29 -0600 >>Greymoran Said As CAoL Message # 00012765 >> >>Greymoran brings his recently aquirred blaster to bear on them. "If >>I can hit a Sith with this thing what chance in the seven Hells do >>you think you have?" Keeping an eye on the still wary Imperial >>guards who can't seem to make up their mind wether to attack or run, >>Greymoran edges over to Hudzen. "OK old friend. It's time to use >>that threat assesment program of yours. Which one of the >>Callahanians needs our help more?" > > The Guardsmen take a few steps back. The Stormtroopers that had >been rushing up to help take one look at this and find somewhere else >to be. > Then a small pack of techno-demons soars into the room, red lights >blinking like alarms along their right temples. One lands next to the >Guardsmen and growls at them. Looking at the Tharkoldu and the pair >of heroes, they decide to engage the heroes -- after all, the worst >Greymoran and Hudzen are likely to do is kill them. The techno-demon >circles the cyborg, dismissing the apparent human as a threat (which >is, most likely, the last thing it ever does 8^)... Greymoran had never seen anything like this before in his three centuries with the XDCA, but he wasn't going to go down without a fight. He shot the creature, knowing full well that what few spells he had left to use would have no effect on the thing. "I just hope that like the Borg you need both halves to work you freak," he muttered under his breath. He fired into the parts of the thing he could tell were technological, avoiding the parts that he could identify as supernatural. It was having an effect, the thing was hurting, but it was coming for him. "Hudzen, now would be a good time!" =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Forcing the Issue On Thu, 27 Apr 2006 04:35:12 -0700 (PDT) Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00012778 >On Tue, 25 Apr 2006 22:08:05 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012775 > >Meanwhile, with Morgan's attention split between Vader and the >Emperor, Sidious has a window of opportunity. He takes it. >Force-pulling his severed arm -- its death-grip on his lightsaber >intact -- to his free hand, he leaps to a panel, tucks the wrist >under the remains of its upper arm, and slaps his still-attached hand >on it. A section of wall opens, and while Morgan is already chasing >him, he has just enough time to leap through the opening -- and >vanishes in a column of pure darkness. "I really hate it when they steal my schtick." Zian Solo remarks quietly to Chewie. "Release to manual." She adds in the same absent tone, as the Milennium Falcon rears suddenly out of hyperspace into clouds. "Finally on target." She bites air, her hands smoothing the bumps as much as possible as the underside of the ship glows red. "Maybe a little too ON the target..." She mutters to herself, with only a roar from the larger fury humanoid. "Let's just say I don't use the Force, I rely on more practical things than ancient myths and a do-goodie attitude." >Morgan, being smarter than the average bear, doesn't follow him, and >the column vanishes. "What in the Seven Hells was that?" > > "A dimthread," Defender replies in annoyance. "High Lord >transporter. He must have had it set up, just in case." > "He will not be a problem," Vader intones with finality. He holds >up the Amulet by its chain, and a much larger portal appears behind >the ruins of the throne. "Come." Hesitantly at first, then with >alacrity arising from the desire to keep breathing, the surviving >Imps follow. As a huge black portal also appears directly in front of the Unicorn. "Wh-" the ship disappears through it, then Zian whoops as a larger wall appears directly ahead, twisting the controls to corkscrew around the sudden obstacle. "-o has Chaos magic around HERE??!?" > "Vader," Roland intones back. Vader turns briefly. "You _will_ be >seeing me again." > "Then you will die," Vader replies. He turns back toward the >portal and vanishes through it, the Imperial soldiers following. > A ragged cheer goes up. > > The apex of the Imperial Fortress. > A disarmed Emperor drops the ruined limb and concentrates. [Ah, >Darth Plagueis. I almost miss him.] As he concentrates, grunting and >hissing from the effort, a new lower arm forms from the stump Morgan >had left. "There," he gasps once the regeneration is complete. The whine of engines is almost lost in the sound of the wind. >"Now, to set the self-destruct mechanism." Sidious laughs evilly as >he approaches a console. "I'll obliterate those fools below, and >complete the dimthread journey back to...to..." Force senses warn him >of a presence that simply _should_not_be_there._ Zian Solo raises both eyebrows in recognition, and immediately applies thumbs to both blasters. Her expression doesn't even change as Sidious avoids both blaster charges, leaping straight up - and through the polychromatic, hollow half-sphere that appeared behind him. Another such inner-lit shape appears far from the cliff's edge of the Abyss, and well under the escape horizon. The falling shape wrapped in its black robes merges with the Void, falling forever. "I do enjoy the occasional perks of not being a hero." Zian observes with a cold smile. "The vacation is good, the clean-up is easy, and I always arrive just in time for the clean-up and party." Zian Solo Have gun, will travel =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Forcing the Issue On Fri, 28 Apr 2006 09:25:33 -0700 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00012780 >On Tue, 25 Apr 2006 22:03:59 -0700 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00012774 > > Then another techno-demon lands near Harlock and gets ready to >attack -- then stops, confused at the sight of one of his own trying >to throttle one of their erstwhile allies. It looks at the glaring, >defiant Maul, then back at Harlock. "Where is Prince Thratchen?" it >asks simply, if deeply confused. "Gone," snarls Harlock. "It overplayed its hand against the Defender, then had its spirit sundered by the Emperor. You may continue to support these pav monkey scum if you wish. I will be leaving as soon as I can get out of this madhouse." The Bard glances over at the Zabrak, still dangling helplessly in hir grip, and heaves a purely internal sigh. [Well, he _did_ ask for it, after a fashion.] One quick squeeze, and Maul6's trachea is crushed. Sie makes sure hir claws sever veins as they withdraw, just for good measure. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Forcing the Issue On Fri, 28 Apr 2006 21:39:06 -0700 (PDT) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00012781 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00012774 > > The Sith duelist falls into a ready stance, saber pointed at Rob, >lightning swirling in his free hand...and then the power surges away, >vanishing into the ever-increasing, skin-tight maelstrom storming >around Roland. "get...away...from...him..." Defender hisses through >pained, gritted teeth. > Tyrannus chuckled menacingly, glancing back without losing sight >of Rob. "Why? You are locked in battle with the Dark Side itself. >That you are not its slave already is a testament to your will." The >lightning surges again, and he lets himself be a bit more distracted. >"Nevertheless, you are but a man against the shadow of a universe." >Again, the lightning forms in his hand. This time, it does not >vanish. He gives Rob his full attention again... "I see," Rob says with a glint in his eye. "That's how it works." His left hand moves into a blocking position, the purple aura somehow absorbing the lightning as fast as Dooku can throw it. "Thanks, D. I couldn't quite figure that part out." "Then I could have destroyed you before," Dooku whispers as he struggles to *stop* his attack. "Maybe. I might have been able to block you, but I couldn't ground you out then." Dooku changes tactics, with a Force strike that speeds past Rob's guard. Rob manages to dodge the worst of it, but still ends up backed against the wall. [I think that cracked a rib.] He manages to parry Dooku's lunge, but the pain cuts into his speed. [I hope this works - I need to end this fight now.] He blocks with his left, while his right hand takes on a matching glow, then slides up to green, back to blue, then up to yellow. [I have you now, Storm Knight,] Dooku thinks as he thrusts at Rob's shoulder. [Just block this feint...] Rob blocks. Aggressively. "Fist of THREE THUNDERS!" The lightning is absorbed by Darth Tyranus's lightsaber. The blast nearly deafens the Sith warrior, and the shockwave sends him tumbling across the room, just as the Darkness Device chooses the new High Lord. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9s: Forcing the Issue On Sat, 29 Apr 2006 18:50:10 -0700 (PDT) Hudzen Said As CAoL Message # 00012782 >On Sun, 09 Apr 2006 20:24:39 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012763 > >>On Sat, 25 Mar 2006 14:18:09 -0700 >>Greymoran Said As CAoL Message # 00012756 >> >>>On Mon, 20 Mar 2006 17:34:57 -0800 (PST) >>>Hudzen Said As CAoL Message # 00012755 >>> >>>Metal meets flesh and the hit sends Maul stumbling to the ground. >>>Though he's quick to his feet, any arrogance present on Maul's face >>>before is gone, replaced by rage. "Had enough yet, Meatsack?" >>>Hudzen mocks, his voice suddenly sounding identical to that of >>>Bender Bending Rodriguez. >> >>The Maul clone snarls at Hudzen and begins to run towards him, but >>before his first step is finished, he jerks and stumbles. He starts >>to turn and then jerks again. The second time Hudzen heard the sound >>of a Star Wars universe blaster going off and sees smoke coming out >>of a hole in the Maul clone's chest. Greymoran shot the dying >>Maulette one more time just to be safe. "Like a Xerox of a Xerox," >>he says, mocking the corpse. "You all right Hudzen?" "I am fine, sir." Hudzen stares down at the dead Sith clone. "I must admit, he was defeated in an easier manner than I would have predicted." > Several Imperial Guards approach warily, double-ended energy pikes >at the ready, though clearly unhappy at the prospect of dealing with >a pair who took down Darth Maul. Hudzen brings his sword back up as they near. "Captain," he warns, bringing the guards to Greymoran's attention. >On Wed, 26 Apr 2006 00:18:12 -0600 >Greymoran Said As CAoL Message # 00012776 > >>On Tue, 25 Apr 2006 22:03:59 -0700 >>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00012774 >> >>>On Sun, 09 Apr 2006 23:16:29 -0600 >>>Greymoran Said As CAoL Message # 00012765 >>> >>>Greymoran brings his recently aquirred blaster to bear on them. "If >>>I can hit a Sith with this thing what chance in the seven Hells do >>>you think you have?" Keeping an eye on the still wary Imperial >>>guards who can't seem to make up their mind wether to attack or >>>run, Greymoran edges over to Hudzen. "OK old friend. It's time to >>>use that threat assesment program of yours. Which one of the >>>Callahanians needs our help more?" Hudzen, watching the approaching guards, does a quick scan of the room. In any other situation, the sheer magnitude of the various kinds of energy being released by the room's group of beings would be astounding. But he would have to marvel in that later. One Callhanian was fighting Dooku, another Vader, Morgan's taking Palpatine. All of them imposing opponents to be sure, but it seemed that the CAoLers were holding their own. Then there was Roland... "I don't know about your expertise on Sith artifacts, sir," Hudzen responds a half second after he's been asked, "but Roland appears to be having trouble with one." Hudzen was doubtful about how much he or his underpowered commanding officer could do to stop a device that was incapacitating someone like Roland. "There is always the battle outside..." Though that seemed to be going unnaturally well, too. [Not that I should be surprised by that.] Who knew what a little magic would do against Imperial forces? "And there are still a few Darth Maul clones to take down." He indicates one in particular, heading for a pair of Jedi whom Hudzen's scanners read as Anakin Skywalker and Qui-Gon Jinn. >> The Guardsmen take a few steps back. The Stormtroopers that had >>been rushing up to help take one look at this and find somewhere >>else to be. >> Then a small pack of techno-demons soars into the room, red >>lights blinking like alarms along their right temples. One lands >>next to the Guardsmen and growls at them. Looking at the Tharkoldu >>and the pair of heroes, they decide to engage the heroes -- after >>all, the worst Greymoran and Hudzen are likely to do is kill them. >>The techno-demon circles the cyborg, dismissing the apparent human >>as a threat (which is, most likely, the last thing it ever does >>8^)... Hudzen is getting ready to charge the guards when the demons arrive. Taken aback by their appearance, he halts. "Captain? What are _those_?" >Greymoran had never seen anything like this before in his three >centuries with the XDCA, but he wasn't going to go down without a >fight. Like Greymoran, whatever these were, they were new to him. He'd been fairly confident about taking out the Imperial guards. These were something different. [Not the first demon we've faced.] Hudzen thought. >He shot the creature, knowing full well that what few spells he had >left to use would have no effect on the thing. "I just hope that like >the Borg you need both halves to work you freak," he muttered under >his breath. He fired into the parts of the thing he could tell were >technological, avoiding the parts that he could identify as >supernatural. It was having an effect, the thing was hurting, but it >was coming for him. "Hudzen, now would be a good time!" "For what, precisely, sir?" Hudzen inquires. Seeing the abomination heading for Greymoran, however, makes him act. Stepping between the techno-demon and Greymoran, Hudzen takes a swing, his right fist slamming into techno-demon's chin in a powerful uppercut. The techno-demon is lifted off of its feet, but has apparently recovered by the time it lands. It tries to grab Hudzen, but the android lashes out, knocking the demon with three more hits before throwing it into a nearby wall. As soon as he's done this, the remaining techno-demons attack. Hudzen thrusts his sword out, stabbing one to his left in its stomach area. Before he can check the damage he's caused to it, another of the demons has him in its grip. A second later, Hudzen feels himself flying through the air, on his way for more hard contact with yet another wall. TBC =========================== Subject: AAE 9s: Forcing The Issue Part 2 On Sun, 14 May 2006 05:22:58 -0400 Saint Dharma / Dr. Energy Said As CAoL Message # 00012784 When we last left The Platinum Princess, she was on the wrong end of a TechnoDemon attack with Dr. Energy currently out of action. So therefore... Blackness. A darkness so deep that a light would barely scratch the surface. The first thing that Emil noticed was that he noticed it in the first place. "Good," he said in a weary, but relieved tone, "My secondary systems are unaffected. Good thing that I had the escape pod Tempest hardened. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it." In the chair, if he could be seen, his hands became a blur of activity as he sought to restore power to all relevant systems. Finally after much groping about in the dark, the interior lights came on. Smoke trailed out of several monitors and one control panel was completely fried, with blackened scorch marks where the systems were overloaded. "Good thing life support is tied to the secondary systems as well, yes. Now to see if I can reroute to..." he said, before a jolt of lightning zapped an undamaged monitor and brought it to life. And what he saw filled him with both joy and horror as the scene unfolded before the unblinking eye. Icewing smiled as he pressed the attack. "Your hatred has given you strength, little one. Had the White Russian known your true value, we could have been better friends. After all, we all served the Beloved Tsar in our own way." he said in a voice smooth as ice and twice as cold. "Never!" spat Anna as she transformed and pointed her left index finger at a row of lockers. A reddish glow surrounded the lockers and with a sound like a crashing metal shop, the lockers came loose and hurled themselves at the MIB/Tharkoldu. Icewing just looked up as the heavy metal flew towards him. Sheathing the lightsaber talons, he pointed his Iceblaster at them and fired. A sickly blue/green beam froze the lockers in the air. While she was distracted, he arced the beam weapon towards The Platinum Princess and cackled as she barely got her sabers up in time. "Why, Princess. You disappoint me." he said icily. "Just....fulfilling...my...obligation to help those that are helpless." said Anna, the strain obvious. Back in the sphere, Dr. Energy worked frantically as he rerouted all systems to get the sphere going. Since his signature was tied into the power systems, it was easy enough as long as he was delicate doing so. With sweat running from his black hair to collar and beyond, he was surprised when the goggles he thought he had lost appeared on his head. He donned the goggles and the world fell away for a moment. Meanwhile, a voice was heard inside Anna's head. #"Mistress, shall I activate the Gravity Glide?"# #"Five minutes ago would have worked, but yes."# said Anna in a tone that would cause Lake Baikal to dry up. Her boots began to hum, and Anna released the maglocks. The force of Volkov's attack was enough to push towards the locker area behind her, which allowed her to throw two of the lightsabers at Volkov, which he easily deflected. The primary green and blue sabers floated around into the two right hands while the left switched to normal. Her left palm up, an arc of lightning, pure blue with a slight tinge of dark purple, lashed out at Volkov who grunted as the bolt struck his left saber-talons. Turning her left arm up and the palm out, the arc shifted and became a ray, which glowed dark purple and slammed into Volkov knocking him backwards. Sparks flew as his clawed feet tried to stop his momentum but to no avail. He flew backwards, his trajectory curving into a wall where he bounced..very hard. The force of the impact and the ray almost ripped the forearm from the bicep then smashed the upper arm actuators, rendering the cyberlimb useless. The pain caused Volkov to scream. He rolled over on his back, and saw the Princess glide over to him with green lightsaber pointed at his throat. "And now, you will learn what it means to be helpless. Did you ever pull the wings from a fly, Volkov?" said Anna, her tone becoming darker with dark lightning in her eyes. Grabbing Volkov and flipping him over, she grabbed both wings and yanked. Hard. The sound of metal tearing from their moorings was not as bad as the pain which came after. As his vision blackened, he saw her flip him onto his back and reach for his useless arm. A memory flashed into her head as she grabbed the demon's limb. [As my Master would say, 'Be mindful of your emotions.'] said Ani in her mind. Pausing for a moment with a look of conflict on her face, she said, "I shouldn't do this." Volkov saw the moment, turned the pain into power and reached for her unprotected side with his now glowing Ice Claw. The ground thumped, and rumbled. Then a giant tearing sound, like a tin can being pried open and a car being mangled, came from above them. Gleaming brass fingers pulled at the roof of the building, and the familiar BORIS-1 came into view. #"Need some help, Princess?"# said a booming voice, which Anna knew immediately. Looking down, she saw the Ice Claw reach for her and in one fluid motion cut the weapon from him. Silver tears formed and fell onto Volkov's eyes. "You..shed...tears...for..me." uttered Volkov as hydraulic fluid leaked out of the now useless Ice Claw. "I shed tears for the lives affected by you, including myself. You are your own worst enemy, Volkov. Always have been but you are not without redemption, and it would serve you right for you to die here, limbless and without friends." "But that is where you are wrong, child," said a voice like cold wind. Out stepped a ice blonde man, looking much like Julian Sands from Warlock. "He has friends, and an appointment with The Gaunt Man." The White Hand (in human form) snapped his fingers and both he and Volkov disappeared. As the tears made their way into his eyes, Volkov dreamed again. This time, it was not painful, but instead filled with horrors he had only read about. When he awoke, he saw something that looked like the Sistine Chapel developed by William S. Burroughs, Anton LaVey and Clive Barker. Horrific images lined the walls, some were mockeries of religious icons. There was not a window to be seen. "Excellent, my Iceblade, you are awake. Do you know where we are?" said the Hand. "No...my lord," said Volkov, The Hand smiled, "Perhaps this will refresh your memory." Suddenly, the Demon pressed the tips of his fingers into Volkov's temple..and then pressed in. Oddly, there was no blood. However, Volkov never noticed that as images of Ipatiev House flooded his mind, including rites done in the dark after the Romanov deaths. Twitching on the Dark Altar as the images distorted reality from fiction, he screamed as the stump of his arm began to regrow into something else. Outside, the visitors to the Church on The Blood where Ipatiev House once stood swore that they could hear the screams of the Romanov family as they died. They thought better of going inside and headed back into the night. Elsewhere. Anna leapt into the air and floated above the head of the BORIS-1, which opened up slightly to let her in. Plopping down into her usual chair, she linked up. #You will have to tell me about how you did that later, Uncle. For now, let us rescue "You"# Dr. Energy #chuckled#. #"Perhaps I will, but for now, let us recover. Roland and his team seem to have things in hand."# As she turned the cameras to the skies, she could see large numbers of star destroyers leaving the area. Turning to the instruments, she could detect the signatures of Roland and his team.but no Darth Vader. She detected another dark energy source, which was beginning to fade. "That must mean that Roland has won here. Let us collect ourselves and be on our way. It's a long way to Akademgorodok, and the sooner we leave the better." said Anna Romanov, her red hair lengthening and her appearance getting a little older, like 25. #"I would agree, Anna. Locked onto suit coordinates and returning now. Energy out."# The orb floated down the hall, mostly being ignored by all the chaos ensuing around it. It retraced the steps back to the hangar bay where the suit remained. The carbonite was gone, and the armor gleamed as though new. The firing pose was still in place, pointed to the north and west. Towards Siberia and the place that was a second home to him. The Anikei Institute of Science and Technology. "Seventeen years..has it been that long?" said Romanov to no one in particular. Looking around, he could see familar knick-knacks fading in as power was restored by remote. A slight bump, barely shaking his chai tea, was the only sign he had docked. A wooden panel slid open and a big red button swung out. Pushing the button was the easy part. Then the world fell away.... Darkness. Then a pinprick of light, and the suitscreen became his eyes. His feet clanked as he marched down the hall, then roared as the rocket pack ignited, sending him sailing through an open hole in the roof. The city was returning, but nothing would ever be the same. Doing a pirroette in mid-air, Dr. Energy turned faster and headed into the chest plate where an iris was opening up. Darkness. Then the VR returned, as he was now in the main power systems. Looking down, he saw the Lens return. He looked up and thought, and his eyes rested on the award given to him when he became Professor Emeritus at the Institute. Sadness crept up slightly as he thought, [That was the year I left. Just after I had built Anna. She hadn't been the same since the accident. Her mind was intact but the body was broken and crumbling. The last set of convulsions...]he shuddered at the memory. He said at last before Lens transmission, "No matter. In the end, I was right and they were wrong. I had the power, I had the storage capacity. They thought sabotage would stop me, but I showed them. I showed them all." Clearing his mind, he activated the mini-Lenslink. @Greetings. Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated. But enough seriousness. Anyone wishes transport is free to come aboard. Anna informs me that we will be dusting off as soon as.@ he sends out to nearby CAoL members not currently incapacitated. With that, the BORIS takes off into the skies then reverts to Blimp mode, then takes off again as all four engines ignite in a hellfire display over the skies of Mumbai. ===========================