Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 9: Various Adventures Islands, ch. 1 Subject: AAE9v: Alone at last On Fri, 09 Apr 2004 00:41:07 -0700 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00011953 >On Mon, 5 Apr 2004 22:50:53 -0400 >SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00011915 > > 24hrs ago: > The other cosm teams had left, deploying to their various areas of >operation, as had the various other groups attempting to keep a lid >on the various smaller crises breaking out all over. Which left Rio, >Orchid, and Roger Smith, who had delayed his departure for certain >reasons. > He gave Rio a lingering goodbye kiss, and bowed like the refined >gentleman he was over Orchid's hand. "Ladies, it grieves me to part >company with you, but duty calls, and I have... transportation to >catch." He gave both of them his best Remington Steele smile. "And >don't be alarmed at any momentary tectonic disturbances -- that'll >just be me doing a minor bit of landscaping." > With this cryptic comment and a cheery wave, he strode out of the >command center, headed for a remote part of the Island where he knew >there were no subterranean facilities or services. Kanto looks around. The Middle Earth team has vanished. The Nile Empire team has taken off. The remaining allies have flown, teleported, and otherwise departed to fight Orrorshan incursions or investigate the Spectran realm. Which means the devil-may-care swashbuckler/assassin is now alone with three beautiful women. "There are men," he notes with a sly grin, startling Orchid, "who would kill to trade places with me right now." Orchid gulps. "And men who would kill someone in this position if he took advantage of it," she replies nervously. Kanto laughs. "Oh, _do_ calm yourself, my dear. There are some things that I simply would not do under _any_ circumstances, let alone among allies. And you do seem a touch on the young side." "I'm sixteen!" Orchid blurts heatedly, previous fear forgotten. "Forgive me," Kanto replies, his voice almost sincere. "Even so, you hardly seemed interested." He looks down at Zia, smile fading a touch. "And alas, this worthy woman is rather unavailable at the moment." "A very _long_ moment, no doubt," Rio quips. "Not to mention that you promised my brother that no harm would come to her while you breathe." "My intentions can hardly be considered 'harm,' my dear..." Like a smart weapon (which, well, he _is_), his eyes lock onto Rio, smouldering. "... 'Rio,' is it not?" Rio can't help but smile. "Rio it is," she replies. "And I sure it wouldn't, if she were conscious to consent." "Well then, I suppose I'll have to restrict myself to conscious and consenting," Kanto says jauntily. His smile fades a touch. "You are not a swordswoman, are you?" The young mage blinks, a bit confused by that question. "No. Eric's the fighter in the family. I can take care of myself in a fight, but my skills are more...subtle." Kanto raises an eyebrow, the smile returning full force. "Oh? And what sorts of skills might those be?" Rio thinks for a moment, a hint of a smile playing at her lips. "Well, I suppose the simplest way to put it would be 'tweaking reality.'" [Let him chew on _that_ one for a while,] she thinks to herself playfully. The assassin from Apokolips considers this, smile never wavering. "Would that have anything to do with this 'Cult of Ecstasy' I've heard mentioned?" His eyes all but sparkle. ^Uh, Rio,^ Orchid sends in concern (they having worked out an ability to communicate telepathically with their otherwise minor mental magicks), ^you _do_ realize that you're flirting with _Darkseid's_personal_assassin,_ right?^ ^You see anyone else around here to flirt with?^ Rio replies simply. Orchid's eyes bulge as Rio replies to Kanto, "And what _have_ you heard about the C of X?" "Only what I've learned from the briefings," Kanto replies casually. "A faction of wizards dueling for the nature of...reality..." a previous comment of Rio's clicks, and his smile broadens as he slides subtly closer, "...that uses a number of pleasant techniques to work their will. Music, games, recreational substances...among other 'skills.' I do seem to recall one of our colleagues mentioning that name in relation to yourself..." "Probably, though I don't recall any briefings on the Traditions. Sounds like you've done some homework," Rio's eyes sparkle as well. "Oh, naturally. Before we arrived--" Kanto begins. "To invade our planet and turn everyone into Hunger Dogs," Orchid mutters, doing her best impression of a cold shower. Kanto clears his throat, continuing only missing the one beat, "--the Elite were briefed on the many factions here. I must say, yours fascinated me more than most. The Euthanatos are interesting for professional reasons, but of all the many secret organizations of your world, it struck me that your Cult knew best how to _live._" He's now less than two feet away from her. "Wouldn't you agree?" "We do tend to agree with Khrushchev," Rio grins broadly. At Kanto's extremely puzzled look, Rio clarifies (though with a definite twinkle in her eyes), "Nikita Khrushchev?" "The Soviet leader?" Kanto's eyes narrowed slightly. "Not a man I would expect worshippers of Ecstasy to emulate." Rio's grin breaks into a laugh. "Not in many things, no. But there's a great quote of his I've seen taped up on a lot of walls: 'Life is short. Live it up.'" Kanto almost _boggles_ at this, laughing appreciatively. "Cleverly played, my lady. Though I can only imagine what would happen if Darkseid were to utter such a thing -- and the phrase became popular on Apokolips." He looks her over, almost openly appreciative. "Though I must say, I am beginning to develop a taste for your...world." ^Hello! Earth to Rio!^ Orchid sends, increasingly more desperate. You are _teasing_ the deadliest man on...on a _lot_ of worlds!^ ^He doesn't seem to mind,^ Rio tosses back lightly. TBC... =========================== Subject: AAE9v: A Spirit-Dream Swordlady Met in a Higher Plane On Tue, 20 Apr 2004 19:36:53 -0700 (PDT) Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00012047 [OOC: THIS is what happens when I can't decide how to get UV going in the Nile adventure... Grin.] The Red Zia strolls, one hand neglilently placed through and onto Steppenwolf's own arm, down the corridor of his own command craft. As the two turn a corner, however, their surroundings change. Steppenwolf, given his own powers and abilities, no doubt is aware of their sudden translocation. If he is especially good or sensitive about such things, this translocation felt strangely unlike a teleport. Instead, it felt very much as if they were moving slowing and the universe itself shifted around under their feet like some bizarre version of a 3D escalator. The pair are now walking slowly down a corridor on Champion's Island, Red Zia having chosen to appear far enough away not to unduly alarm anyone. "Given Darkseid's reaction to my arrival with the forces of the Galactic Patrol, I was not expected here. It's unlikely you have much intel about me, which I do not mind." The rather flamboyantly dressed woman smiles. "A woman does like to retain some slight mystery. However, given certain, ah, talents of mine, and their requisite drawbacks, I am going to show you one. Though seeing might not be believing, so I've arranged for someone on your own side to be in a position to substantiate some of what I'll tell you." With that, Red Zia pushes open the door, preceeding Steppenwolf into the control room proper, where Ziactrice-in-Black lies sleeping under Kanto's watchful guard. Red Zia saunters in, posing hand on hip near her blade to give Rio a warm, open smile utterly odd on Zia's face - and that's not even counting the silly eyepatch-heart... or how she is just barely dressed... "See? I told you it wasn't that me." She says to Kanto, as if merely continuing some interrupted former conversation. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9v: A Spirit-Dream Swordlady Met in a Higher Plane On Sun, 25 Apr 2004 23:13:07 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012064 Orchid paces. At over a hundred miles an hour. [I wonder if her brother became the Hunter because it was less maddening than hanging around with _her!_] she wonders, partly serious, trying to figure out how she can make the situation any less of a mess than it seems to be. Meanwhile, Kanto's and Rio's flirting continues apace. "Well, one of my teachers in the dueling arts used dancing as a metaphor," he explains. "One doesn't have many chances to practice _that_ hobby on Apokolips, as you might imagine. I've come to agree, however, that one cannot become a truly masterful swordsman without developing an applicable sense of rhythm, by default if nothing else." "But most of those Renaissance dances are fairly structured, at least as I understand it," Rio smiles up at Kanto, who is leaning on the console next to her. "Dancing at clubs is a lot more...spontaneous." Kanto's eyes sparkle. "Ah, but a fencer learns to be _quite_ spontaneous. It is rather demanding." He grins, raises an eyebrow, and slides almost imperceptibly towards her -- apparently, swordplay isn't the only area he's bold in. "Though I would be _most_ happy to accept any such challenge you'd wish to present me with." Rio bites her lower lip thoughtfully, still smiling. "Tell me, have you ever heard of 'Dance Dance Revolution'?" Meanwhile... >On Tue, 20 Apr 2004 19:36:53 -0700 (PDT) >Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00012047 > >The pair are now walking slowly down a corridor on Champion's Island, >Red Zia having chosen to appear far enough away not to unduly alarm >anyone. > >"Given Darkseid's reaction to my arrival with the forces of the >Galactic Patrol, I was not expected here. It's unlikely you have much >intel about me, which I do not mind." The rather flamboyantly dressed >woman smiles. "Our intelligence indicated that you had parted with the others poorly," Steppenwolf replies conversationally. "Obviously, our intelligence was...dated." His faintly disgusted tone indicates what he thinks of Apokolips' 'intelligence.' >"A woman does like to retain some slight mystery. However, given >certain, ah, talents of mine, and their requisite drawbacks, I am >going to show you one. Though seeing might not be believing, so I've >arranged for someone on your own side to be in a position to >substantiate some of what I'll tell you." Steppenwolf raises an eyebrow, but follows. >With that, Red Zia pushes open the door, preceeding Steppenwolf into >the control room proper, where Ziactrice-in-Black lies sleeping under >Kanto's watchful guard. Red Zia saunters in, posing hand on hip near >her blade to give Rio a warm, open smile utterly odd on Zia's face - >and that's not even counting the silly eyepatch-heart... or how she >is just barely dressed... Orchid looks briefly relieved. Then she sees who's following Zubei-Chan and her lovely eyepatch, and makes faint, choked spluttering noises. Rio casually swivels her chair towards the newcomers, briefly concerned that Orchid may have gained an ally. When Steppenwolf enters, however, she returns Zia's smile. "That's a new look for you," she quips, not disapprovingly. For his part, Kanto stealthily slides his free hand away from the blaster that it had reached without anyone noticing. >"See? I told you it wasn't that me." She says to Kanto, as if merely >continuing some interrupted former conversation. Kanto blinks, for once utterly confused. Steppenwolf, too, seems rather nonplused. "Ah...attempting every color of the rainbow, my lady?" the assassin finally responds, falling back on what he knows -- verbal banter. ;^) =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9v: A Spirit-Dream Swordlady Met in a Higher Plane On Tue, 27 Apr 2004 16:40:32 -0700 (PDT) Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00012072 >On Sun, 25 Apr 2004 23:13:07 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012064 >>Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00012047 > Orchid looks briefly relieved. Then she sees who's following >Zubei-Chan and her lovely eyepatch, and makes faint, choked >spluttering noises. The newly arrived Zia gives her a lifted eyebrow, and what attempts to be a reassuring wink. It somehow fails in this purpose... >Rio casually swivels her chair towards the newcomers, briefly >concerned that Orchid may have gained an ally. When Steppenwolf >enters, however, she returns Zia's smile. "That's a new look for >you," she quips, not disapprovingly. "Actually, rather an old one. But one of my favorites." Red Zia says, turning one foot slightly to display herself in a typical model's vamp pose. >>"See? I told you it wasn't that me." She says to Kanto, as if merely >>continuing some interrupted former conversation. > > Kanto blinks, for once utterly confused. Steppenwolf, too, seems >rather nonplused. "Ah...attempting every color of the rainbow, my >lady?" the assassin finally responds, falling back on what he knows >-- verbal banter. ;^) "Now wouldn't _that_ be sumpin?" Red Zia looks amused, thoughtful, and mercurcial all at once. The effect is rather disturbingly reminiscent of Roger's attitude. "No." Red Zia says, rather regretfully - with a _pouting_ smile that seems (to Rio at least) very strange to see on Zia's face, comely as it is wearing same. "I don't think I could manage thousands of Dreamselves. I'm doing quite well so far, but I haven't tested my upper limit yet. Enough about me, though; I wanted to ask you a favor." "Since I might not retain my memory from the period where I'm doing this nifty little trick, I wanted you to explain to Steppenwolf what I'm doing. Unless he's already worked it out; New Gods are not one of my more deeply known races." "It could be awkward, you know, since Zia's = er, the other Zia, I mean - is determined to seduce him." Red Zia turns to Steppenwolf and adds, "Honorably, of course. She's like that." As what is probably _meant_ to be a reassuring aside. Then the heart-patch wearing woman addresses Kanto again. "And I've rather had my eye on you since she brought you to my attention. Although Rio, if you're truly interested, should I give you a clear shot, first?" "And after explaining, let's go fight something. I haven't gotten out to play in centuries! I hope I'm not _too_... rusty." She grins at Steppenwolf, wrinkles her nose, and _smiles_ the most come-hither smile Rio's ever seen from the petite Amberite. -- D'jinn Zia, Queen of Hearts - Wild =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9v: A Spirit-Dream Swordlady Met in a Higher Plane On Wed, 28 Apr 2004 20:47:22 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012083 >On Tue, 27 Apr 2004 16:40:32 -0700 (PDT) >Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00012072 > >>On Sun, 25 Apr 2004 23:13:07 -0700 >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012064 >>Rio casually swivels her chair towards the newcomers, briefly >>concerned that Orchid may have gained an ally. When Steppenwolf >>enters, however, she returns Zia's smile. "That's a new look for >>you," she quips, not disapprovingly. > > "Actually, rather an old one. But one of my favorites." Red Zia >says, turning one foot slightly to display herself in a typical >model's vamp pose. Kanto watches appreciatively. Steppenwolf is...neutral. Orchid looks pale. >>"Ah...attempting every color of the rainbow, my lady?" the assassin >>finally responds, falling back on what he knows -- verbal banter. >>;^) > > "Now wouldn't _that_ be sumpin?" Red Zia looks amused, thoughtful, >and mercurcial all at once. The effect is rather disturbingly >reminiscent of Roger's attitude. Steppenwolf shakes his head, almost smiling. [Glutton,] he thinks, glancing wryly at Kanto. > "No." Red Zia says, rather regretfully - with a _pouting_ smile >that seems (to Rio at least) very strange to see on Zia's face, >comely as it is wearing same. "I don't think I could manage thousands >of Dreamselves. I'm doing quite well so far, but I haven't tested my >upper limit yet. "Well, I _was_ merely considering the basic colors within the human spectrum -- six or seven, depending on whom you ask," Kanto replies. >Enough about me, though; I wanted to ask you a favor." "Ask, and ye shall receive," Kanto quips, "well, at least within the limits of _my_ godhood." > "Since I might not retain my memory from the period where I'm >doing this nifty little trick, I wanted you to explain to Steppenwolf >what I'm doing. Unless he's already worked it out; New Gods are not >one of my more deeply known races." Kanto _laughs,_ drawing a scowl from the New God of War. "If you were attempting some military strategy, I would suspect him of being able to recite your entire request word for word -- before you said it," the assassin says. "However, in this field you'll most likely find him adrift." At the crackling sound coming from the joints in Steppenwolf's hands, Kanto waves him down. "Oh, leave off. I'm not entirely certain what she's getting at either." He raises an eyebrow. "Though I do have _my_ suspicions. Fire away." > "It could be awkward, you know, since Zia's = er, the other Zia, I >mean - is determined to seduce him." Red Zia turns to Steppenwolf and >adds, "Honorably, of course. She's like that." As what is probably >_meant_ to be a reassuring aside. "...Direct, aren't you?" Steppenwolf says, not exactly a question. He sounds somewhere between approving and confused. This would certainly be _his_ preferred form of ma/H/H dating procedure, but Steppenwolf does know enough to be aware that it's not the general practice to announce one's intentions so...obviously. Orchid makes an even tinier choked sound than ever, and sits heavily. >Then the heart-patch wearing woman addresses Kanto again. "And I've >rather had my eye on you since she brought you to my attention. >Although Rio, if you're truly interested, should I give you a clear >shot, first?" Rio raises an impish eyebrow at Kanto. "Well, if you saw him first... or at least, _Zia_ saw him first...hmm" She looks thoughtful. "If I saw two men discussing a woman like this, I'd suggest they ask her. So..." And she grins at Kanto with wicked playfulness. Kanto leans back insouciantly, clasping his hands behind his head. "Now now, ladies, no need to become proprietary about this. We're all civilized beings here. Given enough time and Vitamin E, there's quite enough of me to go around." Steppenwolf snorts in faint disgust. And possibly mild insult. >"And after explaining, let's go fight something. I haven't gotten out >to play in centuries! I hope I'm not _too_... rusty." She grins at >Steppenwolf, wrinkles her nose, and _smiles_ the most come-hither >smile Rio's ever seen from the petite Amberite. Steppenwolf smiles back ferally. There's a (relatively) soft BOOM, which deposits his Electro-Axe pack on his back. _This_ he knows how to do. Meanwhile, RedZia's last bit was just _too_ much for Orchid, alas, who faints dead away. Good thing she sat down. 8^) Kanto, displaying a surprising gallantry, prepares to leap to her side, but when it's clear that she isn't going to hurt herself, merely saunters over, leans the chair back, makes her comfortable, then walks back. "Is she ill?" Steppenwolf asks with genuine curiosity, cocking his head sideways slightly. Rio moves to the Sidhe's side, quickly making sure nothing else is wrong and gently trying to revive her. "No, it's just that Sidhe are very sensitive to strong emotions and," her playful grin's grown a faint tinge of guilt, "I think we were just too much for her." Kanto's smile broadens and grows more wicked. "That happens to me a fair amount, I fear," he replies roguishly. Orchid sighs gently again, her eyes fluttering slowly open. "Rio? What happened?" "Emotional overload, I think." "But why..." Orchid holds her head, slowly sitting up. Then she takes in the scene. "oh," she whispers (or whimpers? 8^). "Now that everyone seems to be relatively caught up," Kanto says, managing to not grin menacingly at Orchid, "let me see. This Zia," he begins, gesturing to Z-R, "is a...projection, fragment, avatar, call her what you will -- within reason, of course," he adds with a wink. "All correct, my lady?" OOC aside: Feel free to interject elsewhere as appropriate -- they're not talking over, through, or past her. Kanto just gets a bit long-winded here because, well, she _did_ ask him to explain, and Kanto does like to hear himself talk... ;^) "Drawn from a part of the original, just as we exist _somewhat_ simultaneously in many vibrational planes of reality." Steppenwolf grunts. "Articulate as always," Kanto quips. At Steppenwolf's glare, he continues, though he shows no sign of being intimidated. "When the...biological Ziactrice awakens, her projected selves will vanish, and the central being will remember little if any of what has occurred." Steppenwolf looks puzzled. "Won't that give me an advantage when she _does_ come to seduce me?" Kanto chuckles. "For all I know, she will _like_ that. At any rate, this version seems to also have amorous intentions towards you -- but then, she would appear to be a veritable _incarnation_ of her amorous tendencies." "Didn't she just express amorous interest in _you?_ The impression I just received was that her interest in me is primarily martial." Kanto shakes his head, still chuckling. "And that precludes the other _how,_ precisely?" He tries to suppress the laughter at Steppenwolf's frown, but fails. "Oh, stop being so bloody single-minded. Another of her selves seemed rather involved with that black-clad metahuman, the Champions' Hunter." "He's not a member of the Champions," Rio comments. Kanto waves dismissively. "Regardless, the point is that she isn't likely to worry about such minutiae, aye?" he asks RedZia with a grin. Steppenwolf raises an eyebrow coolly at the swordsman. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9v: A Spirit-Dream Swordlady Met in a Higher Plane On Thu, 29 Apr 2004 18:50:02 -0700 (PDT) Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00012086 >On Wed, 28 Apr 2004 20:47:22 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012083 > "Well, I _was_ merely considering the basic colors within the >human spectrum -- six or seven, depending on whom you ask," Kanto >replies. "Oh, I've heard that one." Red Zia says, giving Rio an insider's joke smile. "Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet, yes? Beyond the visible - to humans - violet is called ultra-violet, too. As an lady actress, I am accustomed to fulfilling a _broad_ spectrum of roles." She puns mercilessly with gleam in her eyes. "I don't think I'll tell how many of us I'm dreaming real." "Weeeell, the memory part was right. As for projection, no. I'm as real as anything else in this room. Ask Steppenwolf - I've touched him. I'm not a fragment. I have my full range of normal abilities - plus some that are far more powerful when applied in a Dreaming state. Although each version of me has different extras and some ... exaggerated traits." > Steppenwolf looks puzzled. "Won't that give me an advantage when >she _does_ come to seduce me?" Red Zia ... smirks. > Kanto chuckles. "For all I know, she will _like_ that. At any >rate, this version seems to also have amorous intentions towards you >-- but then, she would appear to be a veritable _incarnation_ of her >amorous tendencies." Red Zia bows, giving Kanto a touche gesture. > "Didn't she just express amorous interest in _you?_ The impression >I just received was that her interest in me is primarily martial." > Kanto shakes his head, still chuckling. "And that precludes the >other _how,_ precisely?" He tries to suppress the laughter at >Steppenwolf's frown, but fails. "Oh, stop being so bloody >single-minded. Another of her selves seemed rather involved with that >black-clad metahuman, the Champions' Hunter." > >"He's not a member of the Champions," Rio comments. Red Zia lifts an eyebrow at this obvious hole in Darkseid's intel. Interesting. > Kanto waves dismissively. "Regardless, the point is that she isn't >likely to worry about such minutiae, aye?" he asks RedZia with a >grin. > Steppenwolf raises an eyebrow coolly at the swordsman. "Afraid your wrong there, minutiae is my stock in trade. You gentlemen might _ask_ me instead of guessing. However, there is something more important to deal with first. Orchid - I apologize. I didn't know emotions running high were a problem for you. Would you like us to withdraw to a shielded room? This being _your_ place, we should behave as guests and not subject you to unpleasantness." "As for enough of you to go 'round, Kanto, I like to marry my sweethearts." Red Zia glances down at her left hand, where the Gordian Knot ring she wears still shows sixteen golden traceries - and two darkened ones. "Not that it's especially constrictive, but I don't date anyone I don't intend to _try_ to marry one day." "If you have a problem with that idea, it would be best to make it clear to me now. Or later, when I'll actually remember." She adds wryly. "As for you," Red Zia gives Steppenwolf a look, "you might ask me what my interest is. Sometimes, it helps to treat someone as you would prefer to yourself be treated with." "As for me, I'm not just amorous intent. I am Passion; blood-thirst for fighting, lust for love-making, hatred, love, pretty near every truly strong emotion there is. Although I do not do as well with things like... patience, calm, acceptance, forebearance, guilt - the colder or more reasoned ones. Those are much less strong in me, although I have them in some measure." "Now... what would you like to fight first? Something to warm up a bit, before we tackle something _truly_ challenging?" =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9v: A Spirit-Dream Swordlady Met in a Higher Plane On Tue, 04 May 2004 22:48:05 -0700 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00012095 >On Thu, 29 Apr 2004 18:50:02 -0700 (PDT) >Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00012086 > >>On Wed, 28 Apr 2004 20:47:22 -0700 >>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012083 > > > >> "Well, I _was_ merely considering the basic colors within the >>human spectrum -- six or seven, depending on whom you ask," Kanto >>replies. > > "Oh, I've heard that one." Red Zia says, giving Rio an insider's >joke smile. > > "Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet, yes? Beyond >the visible - to humans - violet is called ultra-violet, too. As an >lady actress, I am accustomed to fulfilling a _broad_ spectrum of >roles." Kanto groans. Steppenwolf looks blank, though whether it is lack of comprehension or a refusal to acknowledge (or accept?) the pun is anyone's guess. ;^) And Rio's just sitting back and enjoying watching Zia work ;-). >She puns mercilessly with gleam in her eyes. "I don't think I'll tell >how many of us I'm dreaming real." "Should we be worried?" Kanto asks with a broad smile, not looking worried at all. "Most likely," Steppenwolf answers seriously. You think. "I was joking," Kanto sighs, then blinks. "Did you smile?" "Of course not," Steppenwolf replies, his jaw twitching. Kanto's eyes narrow slightly. [Hm. Have I underestimated Steppenwolf? He _does_ adapt with alacrity...] >> Kanto waves dismissively. "Regardless, the point is that she >>isn't likely to worry about such minutiae, aye?" he asks RedZia with >>a grin. >> Steppenwolf raises an eyebrow coolly at the swordsman. > > "Afraid your wrong there, minutiae is my stock in trade. You >gentlemen might _ask_ me instead of guessing. "I just did," Kanto notes with a wink. > However, there is something more important to deal with first. >Orchid - I apologize. I didn't know emotions running high were a >problem for you. Would you like us to withdraw to a shielded room? >This being _your_ place, we should behave as guests and not subject >you to unpleasantness." Orchid still looks pale, though not unhealthy. "It's...ah...I..." Taking a deep breath, she tries to start again, fails, and backs up. Rio and RedZia get to see what a private group-link looks like from the outside. 8^) Her eyes flicker distantly. "Oh, thank you," she mutters. More eyes flickering. "Seeker's advice is to just mind my own...business," Orchid notes. "I'll leave -- you're not just guests, after all, you're the cavalry, and I can do monitor duty from another room. But I feel like I should mention that you two are flirting with two of the most dangerous beings in any universe." Kanto bows. "Why thank you." When Orchid's eyes widen, he laughs almost apologetically and waves as if to dismiss her concerns. "Oh come now, child! Have we met before this time of invasion and war?" "Not you," Orchid replies, eyes narrowing, "but Defender knows a few Supermen, and there was this you in a suit--" Kanto's laughter splutters to an aggrieved halt, and Steppenwolf _does_ smile. "Ah. _Him._ Rather less art or style to that me, I admit. Magnificent voice, however." "Michael York," Orchid says to Rio and RedZia, as if that explains everything. "I'll go now." ^But _please_ be careful, Rio,^ Orchid tight-beams. ^I don't know anything about this Zia, but...you're really very good at what you do, but both of those two were more than a match for your _brother._ And they work for Darkseid. Remember that? Please?^ ^I'm not planning on engaging in _combat_, Orchid,^ Rio sends, keeping a lid on the wicked grin for Orchid's sake. ^But I'll be careful. _And_ I'll keep an eye on the big picture.^ Orchid sighs and nods, shaking her head as she leaves... > "As for enough of you to go 'round, Kanto, I like to marry my >sweethearts." Red Zia glances down at her left hand, where the >Gordian Knot ring she wears still shows sixteen golden traceries - >and two darkened ones. "Not that it's especially constrictive, but I >don't date anyone I don't intend to _try_ to marry one day." Steppenwolf's eyes widen slightly. "That is...interesting." Kanto chuckles. "Why my dear RedZia, I do believe you've shocked our stone-faced general. However," he adds, becoming serious, "one of the Elite marrying one from beyond Apokolips could result in...concerns...about conflicted loyalties." He grins again. "Personally, I suppose I might try it just to see what dread Darkseid does. I imagine he could consider me a brother-in-law, all things considered," Kanto chuckles. "I take it, given your 'collection,' that the bonds of matrimony are not also exclusivity agreements?" Somehow, he manages to wink at Rio without taking his eyes off RedZia. > "As for you," Red Zia gives Steppenwolf a look, "you might ask me >what my interest is. Sometimes, it helps to treat someone as you >would prefer to yourself be treated with." Steppenwolf shrugs. "Then what _is_ your interest?" > "As for me, I'm not just amorous intent. I am Passion; >blood-thirst for fighting, lust for love-making, hatred, love, pretty >near every truly strong emotion there is. Although I do not do as >well with things like... patience, calm, acceptance, forebearance, >guilt - the colder or more reasoned ones. Those are much less strong >in me, although I have them in some measure." "Ah." Steppenwolf nods, hefting his axe. Kanto sighs theatrically. "Ah well. Duty and honor and all that. I have a body to guard. A rather lovely one," he adds, gesturing towards Zia's physical (?) form, "but until relieved, I should really remain here." He raises an eyebrow at Rio, still smiling. "I suppose I can find _some_ way to pass the time..." Rio smiles playfully. > "Now... what would you like to fight first? Something to warm up a >bit, before we tackle something _truly_ challenging?" Steppenwolf snorts. "A superhero -- I forget which -- once called parademons the 'gold standard of grunts.' I find even their skills a mild distraction at worst. The Gaunt Man has strewn across this world monsters enough to spare; let us rid it of some." -- Kanto, Steppenwolf & Rio "He's on safari. The lions...the tigers...the bears... oh, my!" --Peter Keyes, "Predator II" =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9v: A Spirit-Dream Swordlady Met in a Higher Plane On Thu, 6 May 2004 20:04:35 -0700 (PDT) Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00012099 >On Tue, 04 May 2004 22:48:05 -0700 >Morgan and Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00012095 >>Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00012086 >>> Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012083 > "I was joking," Kanto sighs, then blinks. "Did you smile?" > "Of course not," Steppenwolf replies, his jaw twitching. > Kanto's eyes narrow slightly. [Hm. Have I underestimated >Steppenwolf? He _does_ adapt with alacrity...] Red Zia laughs suddenly at this byplay. > >> "Afraid your wrong there, minutiae is my stock in trade. You >>gentlemen might _ask_ me instead of guessing. > > "I just did," Kanto notes with a wink. "No; you didn't." Red Zia sticks her _tongue out_ at Darkseid's assassin, then she addresses Orchid. >But I feel like I should mention that you two are flirting with two >of the most dangerous beings in any universe." Red Zia raises an eyebrow, trades a look with Rio, then she nods - in agreement - back to Orchid. > Kanto bows. "Why thank you." When Orchid's eyes widen, he laughs >almost apologetically and waves as if to dismiss her concerns. "Oh >come now, child! Have we met before this time of invasion and war?" > "Not you," Orchid replies, eyes narrowing, "but Defender knows a >few Supermen, and there was this you in a suit--" > Kanto's laughter splutters to an aggrieved halt, and Steppenwolf >_does_ smile. "Ah. _Him._ Rather less art or style to that me, I >admit. Magnificent voice, however." > "Michael York," Orchid says to Rio and RedZia, as if that explains >everything. "I'll go now." "What? I thought York was quite passable. Orchid, I cannot speak for Rio, but I have not forgotten that these two are part of Darkseid's army, fashioned to conquer without mercy. We are likely to wind up," Red Zia glances at Kanto, "at sword's point again, against each other. However, there is a wise saying that states: keep your friends close, and your enemies closer." >> "As for enough of you to go 'round, Kanto, I like to marry my >>sweethearts." Red Zia glances down at her left hand, where the >>Gordian Knot ring she wears still shows sixteen golden traceries - >>and two darkened ones. "Not that it's especially constrictive, but I >>don't date anyone I don't intend to _try_ to marry one day." > > Steppenwolf's eyes widen slightly. "That is...interesting." > Kanto chuckles. "Why my dear RedZia, I do believe you've shocked >our stone-faced general. "Did I? I certainly didn't think that the case, Steppenwolf, but if I did, should I apologize?" >However," he adds, becoming serious, "one of the Elite marrying one >from beyond Apokolips could result in...concerns...about conflicted >loyalties." "I don't think so." Red Zia says easily. "This Darkseid has Suli. Fortunately. We're _far_ too much alike to get along. My worry is the dynastic concerns. No child of my Blood shall mature where the likes of Desaad and Granny prey." >He grins again. "Personally, I suppose I might try it just to see >what dread Darkseid does. I imagine he could consider me a >brother-in-law, all things considered," Kanto chuckles. "I take it, >given your 'collection,' that the bonds of matrimony are not also >exclusivity agreements?" Somehow, he manages to wink at Rio without >taking his eyes off RedZia. "Not truly, though we take delicate care not to hurt each other - recently I've asked one paramour to tell another of my interest so both were aware. I dislike lies and subterfuge and willing-done hurt." "Besides which, the quality of my spouses is such I've never been given cause to regret trusting them. I've never been attracted to any man who could be described as easy." Red Zia replies with a smile. "You puzzle me. Unless this flirt of yours is as much a killing act as James' own version, you are the _sole_ unchaste man, god, or heck, just plain masculine creature I've ever felt any interest in who wasn't rather extremely on the chaste side, albeit few have been virginal in the classical sense. So, does your flirtration and chilvalry consist soley of portrayal, or is there substance?" >> "As for you," Red Zia gives Steppenwolf a look, "you might ask me >>what my interest is. Sometimes, it helps to treat someone as you >>would prefer to yourself be treated with." > > Steppenwolf shrugs. "Then what _is_ your interest?" "To capture the fire in your eyes, to make you bellow pleasure in the darkest hour near dawn, to fight back to back with you against overwhelming odds while both of us laugh, to fight you again when you are unhampered by command of an invasion force sized to take a world, to make you growl 'accursed fate witch' at least a half-dozen times more, to get your goat, to conquer your heart, to hold your honor as I'd hold my own, many things. What interest is allowed to become real, however, also depends on you." Red Zia gives him a short, not mocking, bow. >> "Now... what would you like to fight first? Something to warm up >>a bit, before we tackle something _truly_ challenging?" > > Steppenwolf snorts. "A superhero -- I forget which -- once called >parademons the 'gold standard of grunts.' I find even their skills a >mild distraction at worst. The Gaunt Man has strewn across this world >monsters enough to spare; let us rid it of some." "The only answer for the True Horrors is an Elder Thing." Red Zia quips, as one of her polychromatic doorways glimmers into existence at her side. "Whoever kills it first gets to claim a kiss!" She dares as she leaps through it, hand already drawing her blade. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9v: A Spirit-Dream Swordlady Met in a Higher Plane On Wed, 19 May 2004 22:42:08 -0700 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00012107 >On Thu, 6 May 2004 20:04:35 -0700 (PDT) >Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00012099 >>On Tue, 04 May 2004 22:48:05 -0700 >>Morgan and Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00012095 >> >> "Michael York," Orchid says to Rio and RedZia, as if that >>explains everything. "I'll go now." > > "What? I thought York was quite passable. "Oh, he was excellent, I was agreeing with Kanto's comment about the voice," Orchid explains. Then she smiles mischievously. "Though I think the Big Guy has a little trouble with the show now." >Orchid, I cannot speak for Rio, but I have not forgotten that these >two are part of Darkseid's army, fashioned to conquer without mercy. >We are likely to wind up," Red Zia glances at Kanto, "at sword's >point again, against each other. However, there is a wise saying that >states: keep your friends close, and your enemies closer." Kanto's jaw twitches as he stifles another laugh, while Steppenwolf raises an eyebrow and looks Red Zia over with open admiration. Orchid looks relieved. "Well, I guess you've got things in hand here--" she says. And stops. And turns an impressive shade of red. "i'll go now," she whispers, as a tear actually rolls down Kanto's cheek from the strain. >> Steppenwolf's eyes widen slightly. "That is...interesting." >> Kanto chuckles. "Why my dear RedZia, I do believe you've shocked >>our stone-faced general. > > "Did I? I certainly didn't think that the case, Steppenwolf, but >if I did, should I apologize?" "Of course not," Steppenwolf replies mildly (for him, anyway). "Never apologize for who you are." >>However," he adds, becoming serious, "one of the Elite marrying one >>from beyond Apokolips could result in...concerns...about conflicted >>loyalties." > > "I don't think so." Red Zia says easily. "This Darkseid has Suli. >Fortunately. We're _far_ too much alike to get along. My worry is the >dynastic concerns. No child of my Blood shall mature where the likes >of Desaad and Granny prey." "That is rather the point," Kanto replies somberly. "Darkseid will not lose any _one_ of his Elites lightly, let alone his general and personal assassin." >Red Zia replies with a smile. "You puzzle me. Unless this flirt of >yours is as much a killing act as James' own version, you are the >_sole_ unchaste man, god, or heck, just plain masculine creature I've >ever felt any interest in who wasn't rather extremely on the chaste >side, albeit few have been virginal in the classical sense. So, does >your flirtration and chilvalry consist soley of portrayal, or is >there substance?" "Substance, perhaps," Kanto explains, "but opportunities for beings of taste are few and far between on Apokolips." Steppenwolf grunts. "Exactly," Kanto says, gesturing to Steppenwolf. (Is he serious? He _sounds_ serious.) "Given my age, I suppose I'll have to leave it to you to decide whether a semi-genuine tryst every three or four centuries constitutes portrayal or substance." >> Steppenwolf shrugs. "Then what _is_ your interest?" > > "To capture the fire in your eyes, to make you bellow pleasure in >the darkest hour near dawn, to fight back to back with you against >overwhelming odds while both of us laugh, to fight you again when you >are unhampered by command of an invasion force sized to take a world, >to make you growl 'accursed fate witch' at least a half-dozen times >more, to get your goat, to conquer your heart, to hold your honor as >I'd hold my own, many things. What interest is allowed to become >real, however, also depends on you." Red Zia gives him a short, not >mocking, bow. Steppenwolf raises an eyebrow at her. "You certainly do not lack for ambition." "You know, that delightful reality in southern Europe has 'fate witches.' Fascinating, really. I'm looking forward to visiting the Italian city-states again, if I can manage an opportunity," Kanto adds. (OOC: Not bloody likely; I've got _enough_ irons in the fire, thank you. ;^) >> Steppenwolf snorts. "A superhero -- I forget which -- once called >>parademons the 'gold standard of grunts.' I find even their skills a >>mild distraction at worst. The Gaunt Man has strewn across this >>world monsters enough to spare; let us rid it of some." > > "The only answer for the True Horrors is an Elder Thing." Red Zia >quips, as one of her polychromatic doorways glimmers into existence >at her side. "Was that a pun?" Steppenwolf asks clinically. "Most likely," Kanto replies, mock-grimacing at Steppenwolf's seriousness. "They do that." >"Whoever kills it first gets to claim a kiss!" She dares as she leaps >through it, hand already drawing her blade. "Wh-RRR! Accur--" Steppenwolf splutters, cutting off the last statement to avoid giving her the satisfaction, then leaps after her. Kanto leans toward Rio again, smiling slyly. "Ah. Alone at last." He puts thumb and forefinger to chin. "Now, where were we?" "You were plying me with 'flirtation and chivalry,' I think," the young Mage replies with a grin. Kanto slides smoothly towards her. "'Plying?' _Plying._ I like the sound of that." From somewhere (and Rio doesn't sense any manipulation of Correspondence), he pulls out a bottle and two glasses. Nothing too strong, but naturally of singularly impeccable pedigree. "To flirtation and chivalry?" "Aren't you still 'on duty'?" Rio asks, her eyes indicating ZiaBG's sleeping form. Kanto winks. "One of the benefits of divinity." -- Kanto, Rio and Steppenwolf "What is all this nonsense I keep hearing regarding a 'magic carpet ride' from these humans?" --Steppenwolf =========================== Subject: AAE9v: Exit, Stage Left On Fri, 25 Jun 2004 13:44:31 -0700 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00012124 >On Wed, 19 May 2004 22:42:08 -0700 >Morgan and Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00012107 >"Aren't you still 'on duty'?" Rio asks, her eyes indicating ZiaBG's >sleeping form. > > Kanto winks. "One of the benefits of divinity." After two glasses of champagne, but before Eric draws a bad card from the deck... A teleportal opens, Seeker and Jaguar stumbling through. Both have been rather through the wringer, but are otherwise all right. Kanto puts away his sword (again). "Really," Kanto quips, "don't you people ever knock?" "It's our place," Seeker quips right back. He slumps into a chair. "An' that was just one of his 'mini-realms.' Ugh." "'His?'" Kanto asks, eyebrow raised. "The Gaunt Man," Jaguar snarls, shifting into "cat-man" form. "PTHLEH," Rio replies emphatically. Jaguar nods. "Indeed." Seeker winks at Jaguar. "Ah, no need t' go into all that now, uh?" Jaguar looks at Seeker in slight confusion. Seeker looks back tellingly. "Ahh," Jaguar replies sagely, leaning back. Kanto, whose sense of timing is (naturally) as sharp as his blade, grins inwardly. "My dear gentlemen, I don't suppose you would be willing to 'spell' me for a time?" Seeker nods off-handedly, gesturing casually with one hand. "If you would inform Mr. Lancer that you're taking over, please?" he asks, then turns to Rio, smiling brilliantly. "So." Rio blinks. She's a CoX, she knows _damn_ well what he's suggesting. She's just a bit surprised that he's suggesting it now. On the other hand, things are stable for the moment, and the watch-duties (Zia, and Champions' Island in general) are well covered. She elegantly extends a hand to Kanto with an impish smile. "As a military man, I'm sure you know the saying: Never miss a chance to eat, sleep, pee, or..." "An attitude most wise," Kanto agrees wholeheartedly, accepting the hand and guiding her gently up and towards the door. As they leave, Rio turns to Seeker with just a hint of sheepishness in her eyes. "You'll call us if anything happens, if you need us, right?" "Of course, of course," Seeker assures her, waving again, the faintest ghost of a wicked grin on his lips. He doesn't even feel the need to warn Kanto not to take untoward advantage (especially considering that he's having trouble imagining how he _could_ 8^). As soon as Kanto leads Rio off, the door closing behind them, Jaguar turns a mock-reproachful (well, _mostly_ mock) look at Seeker. "You are a dirty old man, Donald Morgan." Seeker leans back, grins widely, and folds his hands behind his head. "What's your point, mate?" Some time later... >On Wed, 9 Jun 2004 20:24:31 -0700 (PDT) >Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00012117 > > On Champion's Island, > >Ziactrice-in-Black stirs uneasily in her sleep. She mutters, "Eric." >The name is almost incomprehensibly vague, but Zia's tone is one >Rio's never heard from the Petite Amberite - fear. Seeker's eyes narrow. Jaguar's ears, though mostly human now, still swivel at the sound. "Something's wrong," the feline warrior rumbles. Seeker nods, gesturing towards Zia, then withdrawing his hand. "Blast. I don't dare go into her mind right now -- can't get conscious permission, too much going on." He concentrates. "We don't have Champions in the Nile." after a moment, *Orchid?* Seeker sends. *Is it safe?* she replies, embarrassed. Seeker chuckles for a moment, then sends her the situation. *I need to make contact with the Nile team. How fast can you make it there and back?* Orchid frowns. *I'm not sure...wait! _Red_Zia!* Seeker blinks. *Who?* Orchid sends a brief, fast burst of info regarding the RedZia/Steppenwolf flirtation. The Akashic chuckles. "Ah. Excellent. ^RedZia?^ Seeker sends carefully, in case she's 'busy,' while Orchid races back into the ready room... =========================== Subject: AAE9v: Entrance, Stage Above On Sat, 26 Jun 2004 16:11:47 -0700 (PDT) Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00012125 >On Fri, 25 Jun 2004 13:44:31 -0700 >Morgan and Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00012124 >>Morgan and Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00012107 >>Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00012117 > Orchid frowns. *I'm not sure...wait! _Red_Zia!* > Seeker blinks. *Who?* > Orchid sends a brief, fast burst of info regarding the >RedZia/Steppenwolf flirtation. > The Akashic chuckles. "Ah. Excellent. > ^RedZia?^ Seeker sends carefully, in case she's 'busy,' while >Orchid races back into the ready room... While all the above was happening, RedZia and Steppenwolf have been, er, enjoying their leisure time together - in a matter of speaking. Another tentacle featuring a maw ringed with teeth that would make a lamprey jealous whips around. RedZia leaps on the black, rain-soaked granite, somehow managing not only to somersault through seven more tentacles trying to snatch her form mid-air, but she lands with secure footing on the next flight breaking the run of tiny, sharp stairs. [Never thought I'd regret not being a flying sort.] the boldly one-color heroine thinks, as she watches Steppenwolf trying to draw this huge monster's attention on the other side of this ruined fortress. Unfortunately, the Cthuloid-looking beastie has plenty of tentacles to spare for the both of them. Despite the damage they've wrought by ax and sword, the sheer size of the creature has reduced even their best efforts to scrapes and bruises. Bits of tentacles she snipped loose flop and twist around her boots, but the larger one that comes for her next actually is tough; her sword can't cut it through. Unable to escape as she had planned, the thing manages one wrap around her torso. RedZia is yanked brutally into the air, her head forced back from the acceleration, her sword jammed in this things flexible, tire-like flesh. "WAaaaaaHHHH!" She screams, from surprise and annoyance both, as the tentacle immediately flings itself high, slinging her loose with a vicious, whipping motion. A good six hundred feet above the ground, spinning so fast she can't make out a difference between darkened, rainy sky and wet, darkened ground, RedZia flies - or rather, comes under the normal influence of gravity. She did manage to bring her sword along, but otherwise it isn't a good thing. The sensation of falling is clear enough; RedZia balls herself up, spreading a hand and a foot here and there trying to check the ferocious spin with a parachuter's instincts. Two seconds or so later, her falling body is half-caught and half-slams into Steppenwolf. Their united mass whirls five times about their center of gravity in a dizzying display of Newton's Third Law of Motion. UnEarthly strength meets Primal power, as the two of them hold on to each other despite the angular momentum attempting to rip them apart. Mirror-like, each devotes only one hand to clinging as the other hand holds a weapon at ready. Just as his jet-pack finally slows the rotation, he winds her up his arm. RedZia winds up held firmly against his chest, his arm firmly across her back, but her sword arm is still clear. "Gad." The woman in red observes, once she has enough breath regained to form words. "You can dance, too?!" She sounds impressed, if a bit unwillingly. Steppenwolf, true to his usual form, merely grunts a sound that could be agreement, annoyance, mere effort, or none of the above. His thumb keys a button on his Electro-Ax. Aiming, he plays a furiously powerful beam over the huge monstrosity below, shortly rendering it into extremely smelly and crispy fried monster flesh. "Now, I believe your challenge has been met." Darkseid's general observes. "If I'd known what you packed extra tricks, I would have picked something hard!" RedZia splutters, then she represses a gasp - almost completely - as he merely tightens his arm slightly as his gaze meets her single eye. "Oh, very well." She concedes, then she begins to kiss him. Barely have their lips come together, however, when another's voice intrudes, if gently, in her mind. > ^RedZia?^ Seeker sends carefully, in case she's 'busy,' while >Orchid races back into the ready room... ^For a guy who's supposed to be in tune with the universe, your timing stinks like Roger's Time-warped, rotten eggs.^ RedZia shields as carefully as she can, but she knows that some will still leak through. Enjoying having an audience, however, is consistent acrost all Zia's everywhere. She keeps kissing, temperature of same slowly rising toward boil, even as she continues. ^Please state the exact nature of your emergency.^ =========================== Subject: AAE9v: Exit, Stage Rescue On Sun, 4 Jul 2004 08:26:23 -0700 (PDT) Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00012129 Red Zia walks down a passage way in the Champion's Island complex, seeking out a room with a familiar psychic signature. Or rather, two. Her face is marred by a most uncharacteristic frown. [I hate to do this, but I know if I didn't tell Rio what is happening with her brother, she would be... very upset with me later.] RedZia sighs. [Of course, interrupting her and Kanto now is likely to upset them both, but sometimes you just haven't got a pleasant alternative.] [Given how much trouble Ultraviolet has had just breaking in before, getting out someone injured or worse, is going to be beyond even her formidable abilities. Even if Eric manages to come through unscathed, I'm not inclined to sit around hoping they make it out.] The woman in red stops at a door, sighs, then she firmly knocks three times, slowly enough to be unmistakable as knocking. Then she waits for Rio or Kanto to answer; she expects it may take a while longer than usual. [Rio, definitely. Kanto - depends on if he wants to leave the Actual Zia under Seeker's guard or not. Whom else do I need for a good rescue mission? I'm not sure if Stepp will desire to join the effort. I can see if I can borrow Quiet Moon from his work in the Nile Realm; it would be good to have someone with some subtlety, given the Queen of Spades proclivities. Ah. And I need to hunt up a Roger-split. And any other heavy-hitter I can enlist. Nemo is, I think, restricted by his moral stance from acting directly in this conflict. But if she has an ally waiting to swoop in once we get everyone there, it would be best not to be straining our limits on the extraction.] =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9v: Exit, Stage Rescue On Thu, 08 Jul 2004 00:44:52 -0700 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00012132 Some time after Rio and Kanto "got a room"... ;-) >On Sat, 26 Jun 2004 16:11:47 -0700 (PDT) >Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00012125 > >>On Fri, 25 Jun 2004 13:44:31 -0700 >>Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00012124 >> ^RedZia?^ Seeker sends carefully, in case she's 'busy,' while >>Orchid races back into the ready room... > >^For a guy who's supposed to be in tune with the universe, your >timing stinks like Roger's Time-warped, rotten eggs.^ RedZia shields >as carefully as she can, but she knows that some will still leak >through. Enjoying having an audience, however, is consistent acrost >all Zia's everywhere. She keeps kissing, temperature of same slowly >rising toward boil, even as she continues. > >^Please state the exact nature of your emergency.^ Then, after Seeker responds with an explanation of what little he knows so far about the situation with Zia and Eric... >On Sun, 4 Jul 2004 08:26:23 -0700 (PDT) >Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00012129 > > Red Zia walks down a passage way in the Champion's Island complex, >seeking out a room with a familiar psychic signature. Or rather, two. >Her face is marred by a most uncharacteristic frown. > The woman in red stops at a door, sighs, then she firmly knocks >three times, slowly enough to be unmistakable as knocking. Rio starts awake. [Oops, hadn't meant to doze off afterwards,] she smiles to herself. Before she'd fallen asleep, she'd been able to stretch Time so they didn't have to feel rushed, but once she'd drifted off it had returned to normal. They hadn't been incommunicado for _too_ long, even so. Kanto, who had been stroking Rio's hair gently (if idly) until that point, is calmly looking over at the door. He hasn't jostled his companion, but he's managed to palm a surprisingly ordinary-looking knife. Of course, the sword didn't look like anything more than master craftsmanship, until he started pressing segments of the hilt... "Awake at last, are we?" he asks lightly, fully dressed. "Mmm. Shall I answer? I rather doubt that non-Euclidean horrors would be so polite as to knock." Rio chuckles. "Non-Euclidean horrors would have gotten us woke up by alarms, not a knock. Go ahead, I'll be ready in a second." And, true to her word, by the time Kanto reaches the door she's fully dressed and ready to go. >Then she waits for Rio or Kanto to answer; she expects it may take a >while longer than usual. Kanto opens the door. He looks a bit surprised, and (amazingly) a touch chagrined, until he either a) sees Steppenwolf with her or b) remembers that she lured him along for the ride. He grins with teeth set to "maximum charm." "Ah, milady...RedZia, I believe?" he asks/says with a bow; not deep, but not shallow either, and in full flourish mode. "You seem determined to prove yourself quite the colorful companion." Now back on CAoL Standard Time and no longer shielded, Rio checks out the Link "traffic," and frowns... =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9v: Exit, Stage Rescue On Fri, 9 Jul 2004 07:17:08 -0700 (PDT) Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00012135 >On Thu, 08 Jul 2004 00:44:52 -0700 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00012132 > > Kanto opens the door. He looks a bit surprised, and (amazingly) a >touch chagrined, until he either a) sees Steppenwolf with her or b) >remembers that she lured him along for the ride. Steppenwolf is not currently at RedZia's side, but he is back in the control room. She merely asked him to wait while she informed Rio. > He grins with teeth set to "maximum charm." RedZia notices this, but despite her self-admitted status as the passionate, chromatic split from Ziactrice, even Kanto's maximum charm bounces off her somber frown with only the slightest slackening of the concern in her eyes. > "Ah, milady...RedZia, I believe?" he asks/says with a bow; not >deep, but not shallow either, and in full flourish mode. RedZia returns it with the regulation 6-cm Oriental bow between equals - with absolute grace and absolutely zero flourish. Something possibly only Roger, Seeker, or Eric could read as Serious Danger Sign (although perhaps Kanto will surprise, no telling where he has trained). > "You seem determined to prove yourself quite the colorful >companion." "I have no need to prove anything further to you, do I? I just color inside the actress' lines." RedZia retorts. "Though fencing with you even verbally is not to be disdained, I have a message of great import and must. Rio?" > Now back on CAoL Standard Time and no longer shielded, Rio checks >out the Link "traffic," and frowns... "Eric has been kidnapped by the Queen of Spades, also known as Infra-red. He was flown out of the Nile Empire to her hideaway, a research lab complex built on the backs of - last I knew - five titanic turtles. She is an archenemy of Ultra-violet's, a Progenitor gone wrong, and worst, a sadist of such an extreme cruelty." RedZia's voice is hard and ... yes, worried. "Violet went in after him immediately. She can travel, after all, at the speed of light. However, even a few moments in IR's hands can be -" Even Redzia pauses. "Too long." "Given how Infra-red hates her, how long they've fought, and how well IR knows her, and planning that went into the snatch on Eric, we both doubt UV can get him away clean. Violet is speeding into the jaws of the trap to try protect him until they can both be rescued by a followup team." "I thought you would want to know, perhaps even accompany us on the rescue, since he is your brother, dear. UV didn't want to strip the Nile Realm team, but I'll probably ask Roger Thunder and the Kai - heavy hitters. I believe Quite Moon can also double as a healer. I'm afraid we're going to need one, for Eric and Violet both, if IR holds true to form." A momentary look of slight relief crosses the red-wearing, pirate-clad, petite Amberite's face. "And it looks like I may have help from quarter's unexpected. Hello, Tink?" She addresses the red (Natch!) lens on her gloved wrist. "Meet us in whichever planning room Steppenwolf's camped out in, please?" =========================== Subject: Re: AAE9v: Exit, Stage Rescue On Sat, 10 Jul 2004 04:56:22 +0100 Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00012136 >On Sun, 4 Jul 2004 08:26:23 -0700 (PDT) >Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00012129 > > The woman in red stops at a door, sighs, then she firmly knocks >three times, slowly enough to be unmistakable as knocking. Then she >waits for Rio or Kanto to answer; she expects it may take a while >longer than usual. In the main chamber of the island, a console lights up, showing an incoming transporter beam on the landing pad. Cameras swivel to get a look at the location, and a Star Trek style transporter beam shimmers with blue white energy as a short, feminine figure forms within. Her hair is platinum blonde and gathered in a long braid that hangs down her back. A silver catsuit hides almost nothing about her lithe, gymnast figure, except where black jackboots and matching belt with pouches conceal her form. As her silver eyes look toward the camera, she smiles, making her golden skin look almost luminous. A few small, highly advanced relays rest on either side of her head just to the side of her eyes, two more along her hairline at the outer sides of her forehead, and as she turns to look around admiring the place, a jack at the base of her neck, under the ponytail is visible. She has no weapons nor anything that looks like it might hold weapons, otherwise, she seems dressed for an adventure, in a Hollywood sort of way. A patch on her shoulder shows her to be a mercenary of Dorsai, and a lens of Arissia is on her off arm. No older than eighteen, she looks to have the combat-readiness of Michael Seven's daughter Grep, combined with the feminine self-assurance of his other daughter, Grep's identical twin sister, Melissa. She is, however, too young to be either, and thus can only be Tink, yet again playing with time travel to be somewhere she wants to be when her younger self can't go. Highly advanced microphones pick up her voice, a match for Marilyn Monroe. "Permission to come aboard?" A small light on the security camera, initially red, then yellow as the transporter beam was recognized, flashs green as the facial recognition and voice prints match the twins and Tink's mental signature seperating her from her identical foremothers. >On Fri, 9 Jul 2004 07:17:08 -0700 (PDT) >Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00012135 > > A momentary look of slight relief crosses the red-wearing, >pirate-clad, petite Amberite's face. "And it looks like I may have >help from quarter's unexpected. Hello, Tink?" She addresses the red >(Natch!) lens on her gloved wrist. "Meet us in whichever planning >room Steppenwolf's camped out in, please?" Tink walks down a hall to a computer console and types in a little information, her silver with gold circuitry nails fluttering across the controls. She smiles as if she received high praise for something. Her aunt's slight relief at her arrival is a warm compliment. "Level 2, section gamma, room number 12," she replies with Grep's efficency and Melissa's warmth, "Spartan furnishings, but very well equipped, perfect for a small team that shouldn't be permitted to get too comfortable. The General and I will see you there." Tink passes through the main control room on her way to the meeting room, stopping at one of the control consoles. Updating her security file with the main computers takes her only a few seconds. "Hello, just making sure everything's current." She also adds a note to the system regarding Rio de Janeiro, which she encrypts for Defender and Solitaire's eyes only. The file notation says "Full report on how it was freed as of this coming dawn." Moving on, she makes her way to the room she told RedZia about. Entering, she nods to Steppenwolf, remarking "General," then runs her hands over the controls for the wall mounted display screen set before a long table with low-backed chairs. The display shifts to a projection-style map of the earth, with the major invasion points' battles displayed, and the minor Orrorsh mixed realms set in small picture-in-picture closeup map displays along the top of the map. At the bottom of the screen is detailed tactical data on all campaigns as they currently stand. Taking a step back, she observes the display a few moments, standing at-ease, hands clasped behind her back, attention mostly on Rio de Janeiro, then nods to herself, turning and taking a seat at the head of the table's left hand, swiveling her chair to look at the display again and await the meeting. =========================== Subject: AAE 9v: Heaven and Hell On Sun, 11 Jul 2004 16:08:55 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012141 Note: with _lots_ of help from Zia. 8^) ----- Eric groaned, slowly sitting up. As his eyes slowly fluttered open, two things surprised him. First, he wasn't dead. Second, he could move. He had, of course, only expected to be either dead or immobilized, but that he was breathing and moving was simply inexplicable. Then his eyes opened completely, and things started to make a little more sense. Everything was white. It was a soft white, like a cinematic limbo, with a white floor stretching out endlessly (?) to a white sky (?). Looking at his hands, then examining himself as he stood, he found himself perfectly normal aside from lacking his long coat and sunglasses. "Hrm. Perhaps I am dead," Eric said. "Either that, or I'm in the loading construct," he quipped dryly. "Sorry," a soft, feminine contralto replied behind him, and Eric froze, eyes wide, "neither." Eric forced his body to move, turning with painful slowness, desperately strangling the hope that leapt up in him. Then he saw her. Half-cursing himself, he still went into analysis mode. [I cannot afford to deceive myself now...] 5'5". Auburn hair. Amber eyes that glowed even in this diffuse light. Gentle curves sculpting an unapologetically feminine body. A pink T-shirt and loose blue jeans. Tan sandals. And her posture...open, trusting, vulnerable (as if he could ever harm her), sincere, unmistakable... "Julie," he said hoarsely, his voice blurred and thick. "Yep," she replied with an impish grin. Eric would never know exactly what happened next. One instant, he was staring at her, barely believing, the next, he was on her, embracing her, kissing her with a passion that overwhelmed him. "mmf," Julie blurted, stunned for a second. Then she returned the kiss enthusiastically. * * * Meanwhile, on an island-that-wasn't-really-an-island (it also that failed to appear on any map or chart) a brief flash of color burst from the greenery, then flowed through the clearing like a bounding predator on the hunt. One foot gently met a rock, but the next stride fell a generous three yards away in a slight patch of gravel amongst slippery moss. The woman enwrapped in violent, violet hues hurled herself with all possible speed through a deep jungle of towering fern-trees heavily undergrown with smaller ferns and moss. In this portion of Infra-Red's island hideaway, the Late Cretacious period flourished. Grass remained a far-off, future dream. Running wasn't a typical pulp hero - or even heroine - stratagem, but Ultra-violet did not employ typical techniques. Even among such an eccentric group as the pulp heros of the Twenties and Forties, the Just Violet's reputation was decidedly flamboyant - most took her as pure myth. A legend of the time, fanciful and fictional, invented by yellow journalists eager to sell penny dreadfuls. Admittedly, tarting her derring-do in the Mauve Decade had left stylistic remnants decades of other training and experiences failed to erase. Some, like her costume, were obvious. Some were not so easily discerned. Infra-red knew more than many, but even her mind lacked background enough to piece the puzzle. Eric knew, but IR knew that the old Violet had not given up her secrets to her own strongest ally and lover, Doc Energy. The Queen of Spades would not assume Eric would know anything of use. Her old enemy would not discover from him that Amber lay hidden beneath Violet's color. Violet hoped not, even as she silently wished her violet were truly orchid for the young lady's speed. Eric must be freed soon. Every moment his hazard increased exponentially, by some quantity she refused to calculate. At this moment, Mathemagic was not a discipline that eased her mind. Huge jaws snapped as the Deinonychus lunged from cover. Violet's reflexes, however, were no longer just her own. The feeling of being stalked and the air pressure from the motion allowed her to evade easily. As she had warned Eric, mindmelds were unpredictable. [Although in this case, fortunate. I like my head better still attached to my shoulders.] The sarcasm might have been Eric's influence, too, but Violet didn't have time to ponder it. The rest of the pack closed for the kill. The Just Violet dodged all strikes with an effortless grace. The beasts were moving in slow-motion; her body naturally evaded with some set of senses and skills that took over. There was the oddest... pleasure. [Is that how he feels now? Or is that just my own reaction to this?] Violet blinked at her own thought. [And how the Elders do I have time to be wondering about it while in the _thick_ of evading?] No mere animals could resist her mental might. Her purple-gloved fist rose, showing a small gem latched around her wrist coming to violent, violet life, flashing like a jewel encasing fire. The beasts slowed, milled, then one bowed down, since it was twenty foot height at the shoulder. She swung herself to sit on the velociraptor's bigger cousin. She bowed ironically toward the hovering camera-ball she had noticed earlier. "I see you've been raiding someone else's toy chest, Minerva. So," the purple lady smiled, not warmly, beneath her large hat and scarf, "have I." In silent but deadly reply, the camera-orb spat deadly bit of sharpened steel. Violet ducked, but the machine-driven knife was too fast even for her! A thin line of red, beneath sliced purple silk, appeared on her face, a knick to her ear's lobe. The throw had been for a mortal wound, right between Violet's own purple eyes. The Just Violet's off-hand weapon shot the shining metal globe out of the air. The twin pearl-handled pistols spoke authoritatively twice more, then each was reloaded. The rest of the pack and her erstwhile mount thundered back into motion, in step now. The beasts resembled nothing as much as some strange cavalry cantering to the rescue. Their course was a direct line towards Eric's dimly felt location, getting stronger as he awoke. Time for an evasive route, feints, or other misleading gambits could not be taken given what Violet knew of durance vile under IR's ungentle hands. The cheek of her scarf shaded to vermillion from the blood seeping through, but Violet merely drew the scarf tighter. Purple eyes failed to flinch at the pain. IR had kidnapped Eric because of her. For the first time, the Just Violet desired to end IR's menace. Permanently. * * * A glorious instant/eternity later... "So if I'm not dead," Eric said dryly, propped up on one elbow, "where did this bed come from?" Julie looked around at the four-poster beneath them, then smiled back at him. It, and they, were the only visible objects in the endless white plain. "Where do things come from when you're dreaming?" she shrugged. At his frown, Julie's smile vanished, and she placed one delicate hand on his shoulder. "What's wrong?" "If I'm not dead, I should be trying to get back," Eric replied, eyes clouded. "There's...I'm needed." Julie chuckled and hugged him ferociously. "It's going to be all right, Eric." Eric shook his head. "Nothing's been all right since you died, Julie," he replied, hugging her back. "I've found someone else, sort of..." Julie disengaged, held his shoulders, and gave him a wry look. "'Sort of?' You go into a divine communion with someone, and it's 'sort of?'" Eric blinked. "How do you know that?" Julie sighed. "We're beyond space and time. Someplace that...exists without existing. Try to know something. Anything. You probably won't remember when you wake up, but--" An image of a man in garish red, green, and gold garb, with a full face mask and a cape, floats in front of them. Eric groaned and shook his head. "What's that?" Julie giggled. "I didn't think you were into funny books." "I wanted to know who the greatest escape artist I could find reasonably soon is," Eric sighed. "One of the boy scout's friends, no doubt." Julie kissed him on the cheek, shaking her head as she sat back. "My obsessive-compulsive honey." She sobered quickly. "Eric, as glad as I am to see you again, I am here to try and help." "The Queen of Spades," Eric growled softly. Somewhere in the distance, Styx began to play faintly. "Beware of the Queen of Spades..." "Whatever happens, Eric, you have to hold on," Julie said, her throat tightening. "Her black widow's curse might find you yet." Eric raised an eyebrow. "Julie," he began, making sure he wasn't condescending, "I understand your concern -- and appreciate it. I am all too aware of the Queen of Spades' reputation." "Beware of a love that you will regret--" "Eric..." she took his hand and hugged it. "...I _know_ what's going to happen." Eric grew solemn. "Her love means only your death..." The Hunter looked out at what he guessed was the horizon and snarled, "Shut up." The music stopped. "Can I remember anything?" Eric asked then. Julie nodded slowly. "You'll remember what _happened._ You just won't..._know_ everything, like you can here." "Where are you?" Eric blurted. [Sol and Gaia. Did I just _blurt?_ I haven't 'blurted' since...since before Julie died, I think.] Julie smiled gently...and a touch sadly. "I'm, um...I reincarnated." "You--" Eric blinked. Then gasped. Then took a deep breath. Then smiled broadly. "You're _alive._" "Eric, I can't be more than _five,_" Julie replied, not sure whether to be relieved or exasperated. "I think I'm in kindergarten somewhere. This is one of those 'not allowed to know' things, damn it." Eric chuckled and hugged her fiercely. "It's just as well." Then he laughed outright. "'My life is really...com-_plex._'" Julie laughed back. The world rang and wavered. "Oh god, you're waking up," Julie gasped. "Eric, she's going to put you through your worst nightmare -- but you can beat it, I've seen it, you just need to focus," she raced through quickly. Then she kissed him. [Didn't want that to be the last thing that happened,] they thought as one, with a final laugh/embrace/sob/union of love. Then heaven rang again, shattered, and melted into darkness. ... "- note that the basic physique is good. The physical training is acceptable. Not quite up to my longer-baseline standards. Ah, Sleeping Beauty wakes. At last. You really shouldn't keep a lady waiting; I had to entertain myself a bit." Eric's eyes fluttered open to look up at Infra-Red, the Queen of Spades, smiling down at him. She wore the cliche'd (what else?) mad scientist's white lab coat and suit, had a stethoscope around her neck, a syringe in one hand, and horn-rimmed glasses (with a HUD barely visible from Eric's side) on. She was still stunning. Physically. Eric, meanwhile, was just barely comic-code approved, and that only because one of the many metal bars pinning him down covered his groin. (Mercifully, that one was flat.) The rest of his body was oddly contorted, the most disturbing feature being that his right arm was pulled taut, with the inside of his elbow conspicuously exposed. He very deliberately did not look at the syringe. Around him was a spartan, plain room with the faint odor of any hospital disinfectant, mixed somewhat here with the more biting smells of a chemical laboratory. One wall was solely comprised of monitors displaying varied information, including several showing major online news stations from the United States. Another wall was filled with cabinets holding many tools and substances Eric didn't want to know about, and behind him, he could sense his Lens and Essence-charged devices. With whatever she had done to him, however, they might as well have been on the other side of the universe. In front of him, the narrowest portion of the room was dominated by a single door. [Damn. I think if I knew how, I could get _out_ of this. Mental note: have Zia drop me in an ultra-fast reality/Shadow with that guy in the funky tights.] At the thought of the dream, Eric smiled suddenly. "Hello, Your Majesty." IR arched one eyebrow in a disturbingly familiar way. "A man who likes restraint, I see. You must have been the apple of her violet eye. A colorful clashing of colors, certainly." Eric's smile vanished. IR's smile returned. "Ah. Back to your strong, silent stereotype? This fondness of yours for such hackneyed behavior is so charming." She reached out to pat him on the chest, but her hand stopped slightly short of his bared skin. The Hunter quivered slightly as his body reached against his will, in a most unexpected manner. IR withdrew her hand, smile broadening cruelly. "Whatever you may be thinking, whatever you may believe, know this: you are mine, now. You will not escape. You will not die. And -- most _especially_ -- that puce paladin will not save you." At that, even Eric could not be silent. He chuckled. "And how many times, Your Majesty, have you said _that?_" he cracked. With a snarl, Infra-Red slammed a final bar down across his mouth, driving it between his teeth and clamping it so tightly he began to lose feeling in his cheeks. Her amber eyes had gone colder than liquid nitrogen. "You _will_ regret that, my dear Hunter. You've been one of my hunting hounds for years, but any involvement with Ultra-Violet cannot be countenanced." [Great Sol, I don't believe this,] Eric thought, forcing himself not to roll his eyes. Despite his conviction that a) Infra-Red had gone far enough off the deep end that she would focus entirely on Zia and b) that UV would trounce IR as she had always done, there was no reason to taunt IR into inflicting misery on him (and Zia, by proxy). Still, she was in fine form. Which was odd. "Wuh nuh," he began, stopping when he realized that he couldn't make the slightest coherent sound. [We're not in the Nile realm. I feel...well, as normal as I ever feel.] "Have you forgotten so soon? You embraced your fate long before embracing her. One does not bind the mouth of the kine as they tread out the grain, does one, Beefcake? You've never questioned your role before; you've never even attempted to grow beyond it. You shall even fail to be grateful for what I've given you - such is the gratitude of man." Then IR looked at him with devastating contempt -- which was _also_ devastatingly familiar. [GAIA! She is Zia's _counterpart!_] Eric's eyes bulged. "Ah," IR said, satisfaction practically emanating from her, "you begin to realize. Not that you'll _truly_ appreciate my artistry," she added silkily, examining her syringe with pride, "until you have experienced my miracles first-hand." She smiles. "Not my latest and greatest, but it was too appropriate not to employ in this instance." * * * The large trap-door spider at the door to the cavern was a surprise - to the dinosaurs. Violet slipped by in the confusion. When had Minerva had finally overcome the cube-root law? No doubt her archenemy was now branching out into more fields of magic than her former work with Mind methods. A fact to be taken into consideration, but not to waste time worrying about. The actual, mechanical trapdoor and mirrored chute sliding into the Pit and Plunger trap, likewise mirrored, almost sufficed. Despite Doc Energy's armor, Violet was being slowly crushed to death. Slowly, of course, because the Queen of Spades loved to see - or in this case, considering the near-perfect mirrors - hear the groans of suffering. UV took out one of her own pistols. The metal barrel was driven through the mirrored and armored walls with a high, wavering kia as she summoned all her strength to the task. [That's two I owe you, already, Eric. Please hold on. I'm coming to you as fast as I.... UHHH... can.] A transition to ultraviolet again, to flow through the barrel, and into a another, hopefully safer area. The change back to flesh was wearying. She had no time to stay longer as light which would have made such shapeshifting easy. Though this lair was far from actual ground, Gaia's power lived even in the ocean. Violet, kneeling on the cold metal floor, was panting but she took the momentary safety to again draw on the deity's power, her determination to rescue Eric much greater than her unease at using energies of such a nature. Or even Nature. The pulp heroine stood and ran down the hallway again. Ultra-Violet now wore only silks and three pistols, plus other, smaller weapons. Her armor, damaged beyond further usefulness, she had abandoned ruthlessly. She was getting close, now. She could feel Eric's Lens - dormant as it was. Infra-red must have removed it already. * * * "I did minor modifications, tailored for your background and training, of course. There are powerful people in this world who have surrendered all they possessed to gain lesser efforts." Infra-Red smirked as Eric struggled furiously - for several minutes - quite ineffectually. Then letting him watch her every motion, she set the needle gently onto the skin of his elbow. "Naturally, Ultra-Violet will encounter all manner of traditional traps; the spinning blades, the Violet woman-traps, light-seeking thorns - all the oldies but goodies. Soon or late, however, Blood will out. She will _bleed_." * * * [May the Serpent shit her into the Abyss itself.] Violet curses with great sincerity and forlorn hopefulness, limping slowing, shooting with one hand, as the other slowly pulls thorn after thorn from her punctured pelvic area. [Minerva. I am going to stop you. All your little clones, too. He is mine. If you hurt him, I'm - you'll be my first kill. And my family will be glad I'm blooded. Oh, Unicorn, do not let her harrow his heart as she did mine. Please. Protect him if I'm too late; I've never asked you for anything until now.] * * * As the Queen of Spades reached down to steady the vein in his arm, he forced the whole arm to relax, in a final, desperate bid to deny her a good place to inject her concoction. "Heh. Such recalcitrance to embrace your fate, the one you've already chosen? Your very name has become it, my dear Hunter. A valiant heart beats in your breast, but no shreds of wisdom in the head. I've forgotten more about your body than you - for all your misguided training - are aware of." Eric glared in contempt as she gave a slight tug on the gantry beneath him. [Arrogant cow. I'm going to enjoy proving you wrong on that.] With a mechanical sound of faint hydraulics working beneath it, his arm was pulled taut. She pressed the needle home, injecting the entire contents into his body. Then she calmly bent the needle, placing it in a red disposal unit nearby. A press of a button brought a stool out of some concealed place. The Queen of Spades took a seat, watching him with a eery, proprietary air. "Can you picture it, my newest creation? Eventually, after great struggle, Ultra-Violet will overcome all obstacles, reach the chamber holding her latest catch, and rescue the hero in distress." She smiled down at him, with such a look of sadism that even Eric was stunned. "And when she does..." The Queen of Spades glanced up as a nearby clock's second hand swept through the fifth second since the injection. A strange feeling came into Eric's awareness. It began in his arm, but quickly spread onward through his body. A terrible, all-too-familiar hunger slowly grew in him. He felt his own muscles shift; some shrank, some grew, some just... changed. He watched, in the ceiling's mirror, his skin growing pale. And slowly, horrifically slowly, his canine teeth began to grow into fangs... "When she does, she will have to choose between the Lady and the Tiger. _She_ will be the Lady - " This time, Infra-red's fingers _did_ touch him. Between the agonizing, conflicting impulses, his entire body convulsed so hard that he almost broke three disparate bones. Actually, the bones should have broken. The changes went further than he had directly felt. "- and the Tiger will be _hungry._" With that, the Queen of Spades rose, the stool folding back into concealment. She practically floated from the room. A section of wall irised open for her, revealing a corridor leading to a larger laboratory complex. "So nice of you to stay for dinner, Eric; I do hope you'll enjoy your tastefully selected dining... companion." She waved him an insouciant goodbye as the wall closed again. "One thing you can say for Ultrabooblet. Her timing is wonderful. Just now the dining hour. Bon apetite, my tiger." "RRAAAAAAA!!!" [RED!!!] Eric roared, both in mind and body. [I SWEAR, I WILL HUNT YOU DOWN! YOU ARE A WALKING CORPSE! THE HUNTER _ALWAYS_ FINDS HIS PREY!] * * * Violet's head snapped up, her forehead wrinkling in dismay. The emotional outpouring was angry, anguished, and heartbreakingly familiar. "HUNTER!" She managed barely not to scream his first name, a cardinal sin in the heroing biz. That door - he must be just beyond it. She pulled off a length of the plastic explosive saved for this juncture. It burned through the heavily armored door in seconds. The plunging steel fell before purple boots, as Ultra-violet leaped over it. Two pistols swung around the room, without finding a target. Her face was cut, battered, and bruised like the rest of her, for once not immaculately dressed, but far fiercer than Eric has ever seen as well. "I'll make her number finite." Ultraviolet says, looking at Eric's predicament with angry eyes. Another door slides down behind her, blocking the burned opening. She ignores it, going instead to free Eric. "I'm sorry to have gotten you into this, Hunter." Both her pistols put away, she tests the metal for electric current, then she climbs up, braces both feet, and begins to pull at the metal binding his face down. The smell of her sweaty, blood-streaked body would be plain even to a being without enhanced senses. When the steel is just beginning to deform from her strength, all the catches on the metal straps holding him down suddenly slide free. Violet is thrown back as the bar rips loose, toppling her off balance onto Eric's legs, with a muffled curse of surprised indignation. =========================== Subject: Re: AAE 9v: Heaven and Hell On Sun, 11 Jul 2004 16:39:06 -0700 Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012142 >On Sun, 11 Jul 2004 16:08:55 -0700 >Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00012141 > Violet's head snapped up, her forehead wrinkling in dismay. The >emotional outpouring was angry, anguished, and heartbreakingly >familiar. > "HUNTER!" She managed barely not to scream his first name, a >cardinal sin in the heroing biz. That door - he must be just beyond >it. She pulled off a length of the plastic explosive saved for this >juncture. It burned through the heavily armored door in seconds. The >plunging steel fell before purple boots, as Ultra-violet leaped over >it. Two pistols swung around the room, without finding a target. Her >face was cut, battered, and bruised like the rest of her, for once >not immaculately dressed, but far fiercer than Eric has ever seen as >well. Eric's eyes widened as the door exploded inwards and Violet burst in. > "I'll make her number finite." Ultraviolet says, looking at Eric's >predicament with angry eyes. Another door slides down behind her, >blocking the burned opening. She ignores it, going instead to free >Eric. "I'm sorry to have gotten you into this, Hunter." "Ggg hnn nnn..." [Zia, don't! I'M the trap!] he thought desperately. Nothing. [Hrm. And how clear would _your_ mind be were the situation reversed?] he added to himself as Ultra-Violet apologized needlessly -- [I've been a bad influence on her,] he thought with a cool humor that surprised Eric -- and fought to free him. > Violet is thrown back as the bar rips loose, toppling her off >balance onto Eric's legs, with a muffled curse of surprised >indignation. As if waiting for this moment, the hunger hammered him full force. "ZZZzzzsss..." Eric hissed through his teeth, sliding away from Violet as carefully as he could. [God. I almost said her name.] As Infra-Red had predicted, she was bloodied, bruised, wounded and vulnerable. She had gone through hell -- in an almost literal sense -- for him. And yet, the one impulse that filled him was the desire to drink, and drink deep. Guilt and need tore at him from opposite directions. "Vvvv...violet," he said finally. "Ssssolarsss...vampires came from solars..." he locked eyes with her, _willing_ her to understand, to realize what the death-queen had done to him. [Gaia...my mind...is mush...] Thinking was so _hard._ Every sense was attuned on Ultra-Violet, nostrils flaring as the scent of fresh blood drove him near to frenzy, eardrums pounding in time with her heartbeat, pupils dilated at the sight of her blood's heat, tracing its flow through her body. With a shock, he realized that on top of the incredibly enhanced awareness, the mad biologist had given him infra-red vision. A genetically engineered pun. [NO,] he managed, turning his fury inward. [I. Will. Not. Hurt. Zia.] Forcing himself to the floor, on his hands and knees, he drove his claws through the tile to hold himself in place, away from her. He turned his senses inward. [Am Abyssal now...formula reacted...with Solar nature...different weaknesses...think.] Somehow, he knew that if he could just have a drink, a taste, he could clear his mind -- NO! Too addictive, too dangerous! [Red was right! Damned useless brain, thinking with my glands...wait a minute...] "...light." (pause for UV's reaction 8^) "...ul...tra...vio...let...light. Can. Stop. Me." [Pale. Translucent. Send me into shock. Painful, but her control is good. I'll live. I'll be a mess, but I'll live.] OOC: Tag Zia & co. ===========================