Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 3 Chapter 18 Date: Wed, 9 Jul 1997 04:08:00 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE: Vroom! On Wed, 9 Jul 1997 07:27:29 -0400 (EDT), in Message # 00000337 caprice said: >> [OOC: Mischief is currently running around the battleground >> outside, trying to get into the fight. Buffy is trying to keep her >> out of it.] > > shape shift into a tiny tank with Mischief inside. she will take > requests from Mischief in that mode but modify them for safety > before she acts on them> Mischief looks confuzzled by the little tank at first, but quickly gets the hang of the minature tank... ... ankles of the enemy beware! * squee? bugbrain? you're missin' all the fun! vrrrrooom! * =========================== Date: Wed, 9 Jul 1997 04:10:51 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE III-Sleeping Beauty On Wed, 9 Jul 1997 07:30:58 -0400 (EDT), in Message # 00000338 caprice said: > On Wed, 9 Jul 97 00:35:36 +0100, in Message # 00000332 > Roland X said: > > *Excellent timing, Caprice. We seem to have the bad guys > on the run in here; unfortunately, the rebels outside can't > say the same. Let's roll.* Caprice watches the CAoL make short work of the enemies. * Squee? Keep talking to me... I'm going to come and get you. * =========================== Date: Wed, 9 Jul 1997 04:10:59 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE III-Once more into the breech On Wed, 9 Jul 1997 06:04:01 -0500, in Message # 00000339 Michael Jon Knight said: >On Tue, 08 Jul 1997 21:58:56, in Message # 00000333 > "L.J. Wolfe" said: > >Breathing heavily from battle-lust, Morgan glances at her female >comrads, then levels her gaze at Roland. "We have several means of >transport available, and it sounds like there's a _big_ party going >outside." Her voice is deeper than usual, and anyone not on friendly >terms would likely blanch at the implications of her tone. Knytt, remembering the first time Morgan had used the Sigil, as well as her own current physical and mental state, tries to look as non-threatening as possible. /Don't mind me, I'll just blend into the masontry over here./ The gaze having passed, she listens to Morgan, noting the tone. >"_Let's_ _go_ _play_!" > >The Freelance Immortal smiles at the Highlander, and teleports them, >the wolves, and anyone else who wants along for the ride into the >thick of the battle outside. Knytt, katana drawn, teleports to a corner of the battlement overlooking the fighting below. She looks at the Drow manning the lasercannon. /I've been itching to do this since I got here./ One of the Drow spots her. "Hey, look at this. You'd better put that sword away, little lady." He advances towards her. "Human women aren't any good with weapons." The drow stands a few inches over her. Close enough that she could tell what he ate for breakfast. How could anyone digest so much onion and garlic so early in the day? "You're rather pretty," the Pig, er Drow, continues. "You know, there's _one_ thing human women are good at..." Knytt smiles. The Drow smiles, then looks startled. Looking down, he sees the blade of the katana less than an inch from... Knytt slammed her open palm into the Drow's chin before he could finish the thought. He started to fall backwards and the other drow had wrist crosbows at the ready. Knytt grabbed the trooper before he fell, spun him around, and using him as a shield, advanced toward the other Drow. She noticed the blaster on his hip. "So, you're a big man around here?" she asked, drawing the weapon and shooting the other Drow. "They give you a toy like this...and you let it be taken from you by a human woman...don't you know they have no skills with weapons?" Knytt spun him around and slammed him against the side of the cannon. "I will kill you for this disgrace." "No, you will walk with a limp and never bear any further children. And if you persist, I will then think of something _nasty_ to do to you." The Drow dove off the rampart. "I guess he would rather chance the fall." She turned and saw another Drow standing behind her. His crossbow aimed directly for her head. She looked at the Drow. He looked at her. He looked at the wall where his leader had dove off. He ran down the nearest ladder. Knytt kicked the ladder away from the wall and watched the ladder fall backwards, the Drow cursing her. "Oooo...landing like that _can't_ feel good," she said. Knytt took the seat at the laser cannon's controls and swung it around, getting the feel for the controls. She then shot large gaps in the battlements, blocking the path of anyone trying to sneak up on her. /Ladies and gentlemen, we have one lasercannon loaded for bear and looking for a target. Any requests on what I shoot first?/ The laugh that floated through the link and voice were decidedly female as Knytt added, /Wouldn't Mom be proud. / =========================== Date: Wed, 9 Jul 1997 04:37:16 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE III-Sleeping Beauty On Wed, 9 Jul 1997 04:57:28 -0700 (MST), in Message # 00000340 gamer@host.yab.com said: Oh BTW since it just popped into my head, FASA took the apperance of the maurauder if not the exact capabilties from Robotech. The Robotech equivalent is the Zentradi Officer's Battle Pod. Just in case that makes it clearer for anyone as to what they're fighting. ;-) =========================== Date: Wed, 9 Jul 1997 07:38:51 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE III-Once more into the breech On Wed, 9 Jul 97 10:27:04 +0100, in Message # 00000341 Roland X said: >On Tue, 08 Jul 1997 21:58:56, in Message # 00000333 > "L.J. Wolfe" said: >As she mentally ran over her options, Roland shifted his grip on her >and his hand caused something hard on the front of what was left of >her gown to press into her. She hesitated for just a moment, then >began to draw on the Ril'lynttar sigil. Roland, who's hand was indeed >resting on the sigil, caught some of the power flowing from it before >he set his 'sister' on her now quite steady feet. A dark gleam passes through the Freelance Immortal's eyes as he does so; he, too, has gained some power from the sigil...and some of the side-effects. >Surprised to find her "unremarkable belt dagger" still on her person, >she thinks to herself, Byron?> The dagger is transformed into it's claidhmor form, and >between it, Knytt's katana, Caprice's blades, Fuzzy's "toys" and >Roland's powers (hope I didn't miss anyone ), they soon find >themselves out of opponents. Some of the last few were taken down >from behind by Cutter and Leetah, who had finally caught up with >Roland. Roland absent-mindedly skritches Cutter behind the ears, thinking of new and diabolic ways to deal with enemy forces... >Breathing heavily from battle-lust, Morgan glances at her female >comrads, then levels her gaze at Roland. "We have several means of >transport available, and it sounds like there's a _big_ party going >outside." Her voice is deeper than usual, and anyone not on friendly >terms would likely blanch at the implications of her tone. > >"_Let's_ _go_ _play_!" > >The Freelance Immortal smiles at the Highlander, and teleports them, >the wolves, and anyone else who wants along for the ride into the >thick of the battle outside. The helmet flows back onto Roland's head, and a decidedly different version of the Blaze persona takes the Highlander at her word. "KIAI!" He cries, and a force-bolt flies from his hands, scattering the bones of a dozen animated skeletons. His eyes glow with a familiar electric light, and ozone wafts through the air as scores of Controller-made blasters, vehicles, and cybernetic systems short out for their enemies' forces. Blaze draws his sword. "Now, who wants to do this the _right_ way?" His feral smile scatters even some Drow, but one mage of indeterminate humanoid species walks up, frowning at Blaze as he(?) draws a sword as well. Blaze just laughs, appears behind the mage, and clouts him on the base of the neck. The added jolt of electricity keeps him down. "NEXT!" Blaze does a fair impression of the Shadow (the pulp hero) as he laughs and fades from sight... =========================== Date: Wed, 9 Jul 1997 10:37:28 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE III-Once more into the breech On Wed, 9 Jul 1997 12:28:05 -0500, in Message # 00000342 Michael Jon Knight said: >On Wed, 9 Jul 97 10:27:04 +0100, in Message # 00000341 > Roland X said: > > Blaze just laughs, appears behind the mage, and >clouts him on the base of the neck. The added jolt >of electricity keeps him down. > "NEXT!" > Blaze does a fair impression of the Shadow (the >pulp hero) as he laughs and fades from sight... Pyewackett appears in Knytt's lap. His tail flipping back and forth furiously. *I'm suddenly nervous. Are you suddenly nervous?* Knytt scratchs the cat's chin as she brings the laser cannon about to aim at the nearest cannon to her. /Well, a bit, but I always get nervous when 'black' magic is about. You know me, I don't pretend to understand the good stuff, let alone the bad. Right now, I am just happy they are concentrating on the bad guys./ Knytt's cannon fires. The other cannon explodes, with the Drow sentries flying everywhere. *Well, I don't like it.* /Well, _you_ go tell them./ Pyewackett sits quietly for a moment. *I don't feel _that_ strongly about it.* Knytt giggles as she brings the cannon around to fire at the nearest cannon on the other wall. Pyewackett concentrates a moment and a forcefield encases the two of them. And none too soon as a crossbow bolt bounces off it. Knytt fires the cannon and the second cannon explodes and the guards dive for cover. /How long can you hold that forcefield?/ Knytt queries as she scratches Pyewackett's right ear. *All night,* he replies, *You've mellowed out with this change.* /You didn't see how I got this cannon./ Pyewackett purrs. Knytt swings the laser cannon about again. /Is that Mech giving anyone trouble, or shall I continue taking out our top guns?/ *You know, from here, that battlefield is starting to look like something out of a Tolkien novel.* /Which one?/ *Any one.* Pyewackett purrs. --Knytt and Pyewackett =========================== Date: Wed, 9 Jul 1997 11:37:26 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE III-Sleeping Beauty On Wed, 9 Jul 1997 14:30:54 -0400 (EDT), in Message # 00000343 Shadow said: > On Tue, 8 Jul 1997 15:09:26 -0500, in Message # 00000313 > Michael Jon Knight said: > >>On Tue, 8 Jul 1997 12:34:19 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000311 >> fuzzy said: >> >>\While I am droping off any passengers there touch the side of the >>sidecar Nemisis will supply you with some battle armor (Code Name: >>Project A-ko).\ > > Knytt starts to accept, then remembers what the battle armor in > Project A-ko _looked_ like. /'I don't think so, Tim.' I'll get more > protection out of three squares of aluminum foil./ John sends out a big grin, /Awwwww, come on. Think of the neverending supply of missiles./ :) =========================== Date: Wed, 9 Jul 1997 12:03:34 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: Vroom! On Wed, 9 Jul 1997 11:48:05 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000345 fuzzy said: > On Wed, 9 Jul 1997 07:27:29 -0400 (EDT), in Message # 00000337 > caprice said: > > Mischief looks confuzzled by the little tank at first, but quickly > gets the hang of the minature tank... > > ... ankles of the enemy beware! > > * squee? bugbrain? you're missin' all the fun! vrrrrooom! * The Tank zipps around proving that it is as heavily armed as some human BattleSuits... \You know its a good thing the "Tank Police" there will assume until attacked that any one holding one of the new weapons Nemisis made is on our side.\ ttfn Fuzzy =========================== Date: Wed, 9 Jul 1997 12:03:43 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE III-Once more into the breech On Wed, 9 Jul 1997 11:58:39 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000346 fuzzy said: > On Wed, 9 Jul 1997 12:28:05 -0500, in Message # 00000342 > Michael Jon Knight said: > > Knytt giggles as she brings the cannon around to fire at the nearest > cannon on the other wall. Pyewackett concentrates a moment and a > forcefield encases the two of them. And none too soon as a crossbow > bolt bounces off it. Knytt fires the cannon and the second cannon > explodes and the guards dive for cover. \Knytt, I have arranged for a few more Gunners, You might want to leave some of those Cannons for them to play with, I will be there to start clearing the crews momentarily.\ \If I Recall Correctly, It will take more than 1 of those to down the Mech, But you might want to start the warm-ups.\ ttfn Fuzzy =========================== Date: Wed, 9 Jul 1997 13:22:08 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE3: Enter the Legion On Wed, 9 Jul 1997 16:15:37 -0400 (EDT), in Message # 00000348 Shadow said: John jumps up from where he's sitting with the commander chewing the fat, "Gentlemen, it is time for action. All gunners, follow these instructions, "John relays Fuzzy's instructions mentally, "and take command of those laser cannons." He turns to the commander, "I'll take the tank, and you lead the men. If you need anything, just ask and I'll hear it." He raises his voice, "Let's go win us a revolution!" As he turns and jumps into the tank, everyone can see a fierce grin on his face. Inside the tank, "Mycroft, silent mode off. Start the tank and head for the city. What's the current music selection? Ahh yes, outside speakers on maximum, begin playing 'Born to be Wild'." Meanwhile, out over the city, the Maurauder has just blown away a group of mages and rebels. The fighting troops can hear a distant rumble approaching, and the faint sounds of music, which quickly grows louder. Just as the mech begins to turn, a plasma blast hits it and John flies by, the tank turning barrel rolls as he swoops around for another pass. Over the link everyone hears a joyful shout, /YeeeeeeeeeeHaaaaawwwwwwwwwwww! WHOOO! Let's get this party started./ Down below the Legion hits the army like water hitting snow. Moving impossibly fast, they make short work of any humans who get in their way. Some of the other creatures prove more difficult, but they are a highly trained unit and nothing really seems to slow them much. =========================== Date: Wed, 9 Jul 1997 13:49:34 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE III-Sleeping Beauty On Wed, 9 Jul 1997 15:30:21 -0500, in Message # 00000351 Michael Jon Knight said: >On Wed, 9 Jul 1997 14:30:54 -0400 (EDT), in Message # 00000343 > Shadow said: > >> On Tue, 8 Jul 1997 15:09:26 -0500, in Message # 00000313 >> Michael Jon Knight said: >> >> Knytt starts to accept, then remembers what the battle armor in >> Project A-ko _looked_ like. /'I don't think so, Tim.' I'll get more >> protection out of three squares of aluminum foil./ > >John sends out a big grin, /Awwwww, come on. Think of the neverending >supply of missiles./ :) /Fine,/ Knytt sends, /_you_ wear it./ The mental image of John in B-ko's power armor brings a silly grin to her face. =========================== Date: Wed, 9 Jul 1997 13:50:06 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE III-Sleeping Beauty On Wed, 9 Jul 1997 16:33:07 -0400 (EDT), in Message # 00000353 Shadow said: > On Tue, 8 Jul 1997 16:37:31 -0500, in Message # 00000315 > Michael Jon Knight said: > > Knytt mumbles something about "not gonna become a bikini-clad bimbo > for any reason." John's mental grin from before becomes even bigger, \How do you know it's a bad idea if you don't try it? Who knows, you might make a very _good_ bikini-clad bimbo\ :) =========================== Date: Wed, 9 Jul 1997 14:10:36 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE III-Sleeping Beauty On Wed, 9 Jul 1997 16:57:15 -0400 (EDT), in Message # 00000355 Shadow said: > On Wed, 9 Jul 1997 15:30:21 -0500, in Message # 00000351 > Michael Jon Knight said: > >>On Wed, 9 Jul 1997 14:30:54 -0400 (EDT), in Message # 00000343 >> Shadow said: >> >>John sends out a big grin, /Awwwww, come on. Think of the >>neverending supply of missiles./ :) > > /Fine,/ Knytt sends, /_you_ wear it./ The mental image of John in > B-ko's power armor brings a silly grin to her face. /I think it sets off the fur nicely,/ John chuckles. =========================== Date: Wed, 9 Jul 1997 14:10:53 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE III-Once more into the breech On Wed, 9 Jul 1997 16:05:40 -0500, in Message # 00000356 Michael Jon Knight said: >On Wed, 9 Jul 1997 11:58:39 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000346 > fuzzy said: > >\Knytt, I have arranged for a few more Gunners, You might want to >leave some of those Cannons for them to play with, I will be there to >start clearing the crews momentarily.\ /Okie Dokie, can do./ >\If I Recall Correctly, It will take more than 1 of those to down the >Mech, But you might want to start the warm-ups.\ Swinging the lasercannon to bear on the Mech, Knytt begins an experiment to see the melting point of a Marauder. /Consider it done./ she says. --Knytt and Pyewackett =========================== Date: Wed, 9 Jul 1997 14:22:50 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE III-Sleeping Beauty On Wed, 9 Jul 1997 16:14:11 -0500, in Message # 00000358 Michael Jon Knight said: >On Wed, 9 Jul 1997 16:33:07 -0400 (EDT), in Message # 00000353 > Shadow said: > >> On Tue, 8 Jul 1997 16:37:31 -0500, in Message # 00000315 >> Michael Jon Knight said: >> >> Knytt mumbles something about "not gonna become a bikini-clad bimbo >> for any reason." > > John's mental grin from before becomes even bigger, \How do you >know it's a bad idea if you don't try it? Who knows, you might make a >very _good_ bikini-clad bimbo\ :) /Well, we'll never find out, will we?/ --Knytt =========================== Date: Wed, 9 Jul 1997 14:37:44 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE: Rebel Yell On Wed, 09 Jul 1997 21:59:07 -0700, in Message # 00000359 Gareth L Owen said: Meanwhile, in a side street at the flank of the main battle.... Stranger has been deposited in the street by Fuzzy, as he thinks he's probably most needed there. Around and about him is carnage, there is blood in the streets and it isn't pretty. Quickly assessing the scene around him does not encourage him, a squad of Drow with blasters at the end of the street is decimating the rebels in the street, and in the distance he can hear what sounds like a battlemech. He grabs a bow from a fallen rebel and takes the three arrows the man had left. Not a great bow, just a simple homemade one, but good enough. He nocked it, drew it, settled to a crouch and started counting down from 20. At the end of the street a small russet cat walked calmly through the bloodshed. reaching the squad of drow she looked up at the drow on the end of the line and meowed piteously. The drow looked around, wondering what was mewing so loudly. The cat hissed at him. He chuckled evily and drew his pistol crossbow, no need to waste blaster power on this little annoyance. The cat lept. The drow fired. Strangers countdown reached one. The drow's bolt ricocheted off steel. Stranger's arrow hit the drow leader in the throat. Kitty, now full size, solid steel and mad as hell, ripped through the end three drow like paper. Stranger drew his swords and charged. The drow, leaderless, outflanked and attacked by a very large blasterproof cat, paniced and died. By the time Stranger was there it was all over. There were more drow in the distance, but they had won a small victory and every journey starts with a single footstep. "FOLLOW ME! TAKE THEIR BLASTERS!" /* Guys, like it or not, we've got a rebellion to help. If anyone finds a Beretta 92 or a SPAS-22, can you let me know? */ Rounding the corner, he sees the Battlemech in the distance. "Oh shit!" The Stranger =========================== Date: Wed, 9 Jul 1997 14:37:54 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE III-Once more into the breech On Wed, 9 Jul 1997 14:27:29 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000360 fuzzy said: > On Wed, 9 Jul 1997 16:05:40 -0500, in Message # 00000356 > Michael Jon Knight said: > >>On Wed, 9 Jul 1997 11:58:39 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000346 >> fuzzy said: >> >>\If I Recall Correctly, It will take more than 1 of those to down >>the Mech, But you might want to start the warm-ups.\ > > Swinging the lasercannon to bear on the Mech, Knytt begins an > experiment to see the melting point of a Marauder. > > /Consider it done./ she says. "Dorn, Next task Weapons deliveries as specified by Caprice" "Caprice, Call if you want assitance, and let Dorn know about any Deliveries Argent Specifies" Fuzzy and Nemisis Teleport out, on arrival above the Battlements every one who notices is treated to a Prime Robo-Tech Shift to Battle-Mode with The Side-Car becomeing an over sized rifle. A quick plan up-date to the Bale hound has it bringing set of 4 warriors from John's forces to clear Cannons or cover near other cannons if their are no cannons clear at arrival time, Then looping back for more. \We should have all of the LaserCannons in hand in 30 Seconds or so.\ ttfn Fuzzy =========================== Date: Wed, 9 Jul 1997 15:07:52 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE III-Once more into the breech On Wed, 09 Jul 1997 22:46:55 -0700, in Message # 00000364 Gareth L Owen said: Stranger and Kitty charging along the street killing things. Suddenly they stop and look at each other. "Do you hear music?" "Yeah. Sounds like steppenwulf." Rebels charge past them, wielding their liberated blasters. "Wagner is more traditional." "Metal, classical, what's the difference. If Wagner ahd electric guitars who knows what he'd have done." They start killing things again as the tank roars past them. The Stranger =========================== Date: Wed, 9 Jul 1997 15:09:31 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: Rebel Yell On Wed, 9 Jul 1997 15:05:43 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000365 "P. Campbell" said: On Wed, 9 Jul 1997, Gareth L Owen wrote: > Rounding the corner, he sees the Battlemech in the distance. > > "Oh shit!" Xzerrion, seeing that Roland, Morgan, and Caprice have things relatively under control at the moment, decides he has a rebellion to help. With a few muttered words, an extradimensional gateway appears in the ceiling of the prison complex, with a rope dangling from it. Xzerrion scrambles up the rope, and finds himself on the roof of the bulding. `Anybody else still down there, I found us a great sniper location.' Sealing the gateway, Xzerrion moves cautiously across the rooftops, firing occasional arrows at anybody who seems to be giving orders to the drow guard forces. Then he sees a huge iron golem, firing laser blasts into rebel positions. Facing off against the golem is ... Stranger?? <* Stranger, duck! *> Xzerrion raises to his full height (about 5' 4"), summons an small glowing turquoise ball into one hand, and hurls it at the massive golem. As the ball impacts, sparks begin to fly from the joints. - Xzerrion =========================== Date: Wed, 9 Jul 1997 16:38:00 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: Rebel Yell On Thu, 10 Jul 1997 00:33:54 -0700, in Message # 00000366 Gareth L Owen said: > On Wed, 9 Jul 1997 15:05:43 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000365 > "P. Campbell" said: > > Sealing the gateway, Xzerrion moves cautiously across the rooftops, > firing occasional arrows at anybody who seems to be giving orders to > the drow guard forces. Then he sees a huge iron golem, firing laser > blasts into rebel positions. low tech world. He wouldn't know a battlemech if one bit him on the > a**.> Facing off against the golem is ... Stranger?? Well, facing off is perhaps dignifying my situation a bit :-) > <* Stranger, duck! *> Stranger ducks by hurling himself through a nearby window. > Xzerrion raises to his full height (about 5' 4"), summons an small > glowing turquoise ball into one hand, and hurls it at the massive > golem. As the ball impacts, sparks begin to fly from the joints. /* Pretty. Do you do children's parties */ /* Oh, thanks, BTW */ > battlemech? That's what Xzerrion just did.> The Stranger =========================== Date: Wed, 9 Jul 1997 19:37:33 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE3: Enter the Legion On Wed, 9 Jul 97 22:30:18 +0100, in Message # 00000368 Roland X said: >On Wed, 9 Jul 1997 16:15:37 -0400 (EDT), in Message # 00000348 > Shadow said: > > John jumps up from where he's sitting with the commander chewing >the fat, "Gentlemen, it is time for action. All gunners, follow these >instructions, "John relays Fuzzy's instructions mentally, "and take >command of those laser cannons." He turns to the commander, "I'll >take the tank, and you lead the men. If you need anything, just ask >and I'll hear it." He raises his voice, "Let's go win us a >revolution!" *You say you want a revolu-tiooon, weh-ell, you know... we all want to change the world.* Roland's singing voice, mercifully, is much more tolerable in thoughtspace than in realspace. > Down below the Legion hits the army like water hitting snow. Moving >impossibly fast, they make short work of any humans who get in their >way. Some of the other creatures prove more difficult, but they are a >highly trained unit and nothing really seems to slow them much. *I believe, Morgan, you were asking if I had a plan to get us out? THERE'S my plan.* Roland grins wickely-if invisibly-taking out officers and equipment as he goes along. *Excellent timing, Shadow.* Also, Xzerrion said: >battlemech? That's what Xzerrion just did.> (OOC: I would imagine they react the way most computer systems do to magnetics; i.e. stop working.) Roland smiles at Xzerrion's clever trick. *Nice one, Xzerrion. Allow me to throw something else into the mix.* Roland concentrates, and the entire mech becomes a transformer (the amperage kind, not the vehicular kind), increasing the magnetic field tenfold...but carefully polarized to affect internal systems only. *THAT should keep the sprocking mech busy for a while. Hopefully, we've given the rebels enough of an edge that they can take it from here-I want to get Morgan out of here as soon as-BLOODY SPROCKING NASS!* Six of the Adversary's MiBs leap out of the fray, heading straight for Roland. *I'll get back to you!* Roland sends, suddenly fighting like a demon just to keep himself in one piece... =========================== Date: Wed, 9 Jul 1997 23:52:34 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE3: Enter the Legion On Wed, 9 Jul 1997 23:49:10 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000369 "P. Campbell" said: On Wed, 9 Jul 1997, Roland X wrote: > *You say you want a revolu-tiooon, weh-ell, you know... > we all want to change the world.* Roland's singing voice, > mercifully, is much more tolerable in thoughtspace than in > realspace. Xzerrion's mental singing voice adds his own contribution, straight from the Heather Alexander album, _Midsummer_, <*Axes flash, broadsword swing; shining armor's piercing ring! Horses run with polished shield; fight those bastards 'til they yield!*> >>>battlemech? That's what Xzerrion just did.> > > (OOC: I would imagine they react the way most computer > systems do to magnetics; i.e. stop working.) > Roland smiles at Xzerrion's clever trick. *Nice one, > Xzerrion. Allow me to throw something else into the mix.* > Roland concentrates, and the entire mech becomes a > transformer (the amperage kind, not the vehicular kind), > increasing the magnetic field tenfold...but carefully > polarized to affect internal systems only. <* More than meets the eye? *> > *THAT should keep the sprocking mech busy for a while. > Hopefully, we've given the rebels enough of an edge that > they can take it from here-I want to get Morgan out of > here as soon as-BLOODY SPROCKING NASS!* > Six of the Adversary's MiBs leap out of the fray, > heading straight for Roland. > *I'll get back to you!* Roland sends, suddenly > fighting like a demon just to keep himself in one piece... Xzerrion glances up. <* Roland, would you mind if I ... *> Deciding to be safe about this, he hurls a flickering blue field at the three on the right, attempting to paralyze them. =========================== Date: Thu, 10 Jul 1997 03:52:25 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE3: Enter the Legion On Thu, 10 Jul 1997 05:38:54 -0500, in Message # 00000370 Michael Jon Knight said: >On Wed, 9 Jul 1997 16:15:37 -0400 (EDT), in Message # 00000348 > Shadow said: > > As he turns and jumps into the tank, everyone can see a fierce >grin on his face. Inside the tank, "Mycroft, silent mode off. Start >the tank and head for the city. What's the current music selection? >Ahh yes, outside speakers on maximum, begin playing 'Born to be >Wild'." Knytt and Pyewackett hear the music. *We did get the shield generators, didn't we?* > Meanwhile, out over the city, the Maurauder has just blown away a >group of mages and rebels. The fighting troops can hear a distant >rumble approaching, and the faint sounds of music, which quickly >grows louder. Just as the mech begins to turn, a plasma blast hits it >and John flies by, the tank turning barrel rolls as he swoops around >for another pass. Over the link everyone hears a joyful shout, >/YeeeeeeeeeeHaaaaawwwwwwwwwwww! WHOOO! Let's get this party started./ /Moot point, I reckon. Hey John, glad you could make it./ --Knytt and Pyewackett =========================== Date: Thu, 10 Jul 1997 11:08:12 -0700 (PDT) Subject: OOC: AAE3: MiB's On Thu, 10 Jul 1997 10:11:31 -0700, in Message # 00000371 Lorena Wolfe said: > On Wed, 9 Jul 1997 23:49:10 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000369 > "P. Campbell" said: > > On Wed, 9 Jul 1997, Roland X wrote: >> Six of the Adversary's MiBs leap out of the fray, >> heading straight for Roland. > > MiB's are "Men in Black". Morgan /|\ =========================== Date: Thu, 10 Jul 1997 11:37:32 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: OOC: AAE3: MiB's On Thu, 10 Jul 1997 11:24:15 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000372 "P. Campbell" said: On Thu, 10 Jul 1997, Lorena Wolfe wrote: > MiB's are "Men in Black". I see, so does that make them about the same as the guys in the movie, or what? :) - Xzerrion =========================== Date: Thu, 10 Jul 1997 16:22:39 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: OOC: AAE3: MiB's On Thu, 10 Jul 97 19:20:01 +0100, in Message # 00000373 Roland X said: >On Thu, 10 Jul 1997 11:24:15 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000372 > "P. Campbell" said: > >On Thu, 10 Jul 1997, Lorena Wolfe wrote: > >> MiB's are "Men in Black". > >I see, so does that make them about the same as the guys in the >movie, or what? :) Well, yes and no. On Roland's homeworld, there are 'good' Men in Black and 'bad' Men in Black. These guys, unsurprisingly, are the 'bad' variety. 8^) I described Roland's attitude upon entering Dibis Keep as being a cross between Tommy Lee Jones and Darth Vader. These guys _are_ a cross between Tommy Lee Jones and Darth Vader. Fortunately, they aren't _quite_ as dangerous as TLJ or Vader. =========================== Date: Thu, 10 Jul 1997 17:07:44 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: Rebel Yell On Thu, 10 Jul 1997 17:29:23 -0700 (MST), in Message # 00000374 gamer@host.yab.com said: On Wed, 9 Jul 1997, P. Campbell wrote: > battlemech? That's what Xzerrion just did.> Personally, all the other inhabitants of this High fantasy world just figure it's some strange brred of steel scaled dragon with magical abilities. ;-) =========================== Date: Thu, 10 Jul 1997 17:37:41 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Aae-WAAHHHOOOEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! On Thu, 10 Jul 1997 17:56:31 -0700 (MST), in Message # 00000375 gamer@host.yab.com said: From the hanger, two more, smaller, battlemechs finally make their way out to the fight. One, a squat, reteangualar contraption with a leg at each corner going up and out at an angle, then down like a spiders, must the Scorpion Driss talked about. No tail or claws on this one though, instead it boasts a large PPC on top to the right of hte cockpit, and a cylindrical rocket luncher tube above and behind that that can launch six missiles at the same time. The Other is a humanoid one called a Hatchet man because of the large axe built into the right arm and designed for smashing through even teh thickest armors. Each arm mounts a laser that it begins firing at the walls, and a huge autocannon also opens fire at the laser cannons, the spent casings doing their own considerable damage to the adobe-like buildings around the huge battlemech. The pilot of the Scorpion tries to raise their squad leader on the radio as he fires a burst of six missiles at another cannon on the wall. He hears nothing but static. The Marauder pilot meanwhile has his hands full. The hull temperatre is heating up slightly faster than his heat sinks can compensate for, and after that show of firepower he just used, the heat sensors are flashing bright red in warning as the cockpit temperature raises to around 150 degrees. He fights to keep conciousness and get the mech out of htere when something else hits him. The Gyro goes wild and the mech begins stumbling wildly as if drunk, smushing rebels and imerial troops alive under its 75 tons of weight. Things begin getting hazy. So hot. So hard ot think. Finally darkness overwhelms him and the mech crashes to the ground. Near where his unconcious head lays on the command console, the damage control panel begins flashing. WARNING. COOLENT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. CORE SHIELDING COMPRIMISED. REACTOR EXPLOSION EMINENT. EMERGENCY SYSTEM FAILURE. RECOMEND MANUAL SHUTDOWN. RECOMEND MANUAL SHUTDOWN. RECOMEND MANUAL SHUTDOWN... The creature advances on Driss while he tries to figure out what to do next and allows some more muscle to regrow on his bare bones. "Ye Gods, htis si like some bad dream. Wait..." The monster keeps advancing, and Driss realizes it doesn;t seem to have ANY definite features. working on a hunch, he visulizes himself as he was entering here. Flesh immediately re-appears on his body, as does his clothing adn weapons, save for a blaster pistol laying a few feet away. The creature gives out a bellow and Driss draws his rapier. The polished steel of the rapier flashes (where is the light coming from anyways?) and hes cuts, once, twice, thrice into the dream beast. parts of it fall off, only to re-appear again a half second later. The monster grows claws and they slash through Driss's flesh with an icy coldness, but his wounds too close soon after beign made. "Ok, we have achieved stalemate. now what big boy?" =========================== Date: Thu, 10 Jul 1997 23:07:12 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: Aae-WAAHHHOOOEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (fwd) On Thu, 10 Jul 1997 23:00:08 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000376 fuzzy said: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 10 Jul 1997 19:50:20 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: Aae-WAAHHHOOOEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! > On Thu, 10 Jul 1997 17:56:31 -0700 (MST), in Message # 00000375 > gamer@host.yab.com said: > > From the hanger, two more, smaller, battlemechs finally make their > way out to the fight. One, a squat, reteangualar contraption with a > leg at each corner going up and out at an angle, then down like a > spiders, must the Scorpion Driss talked about. No tail or claws on > this one though, instead it boasts a large PPC on top to the right > of hte cockpit, and a cylindrical rocket luncher tube above and > behind that that can launch six missiles at the same time. Fuzzy Shreds the last Cannon crew with a spread of needles.... \Caprice, once you have found Squee, Dorn can reform to a Hovercycle, and bring you both out via one oof the other planes.\ \This type of armor was originaly designed for fighting much larger Mecha by Speed and Manuverability, in the universe I got the designs from.\ \Unlike the originals, Nemisis Splits have little or no Missile capability unless missiles are supplied, due to mass constraints. Instead of Missile racks there are rapid fire Plasma Pulse Weapons.\ ... \The Bale-Hound has enough mass... Who wants use of a set of Cyclone Armor?.\ \Let's see what I can do with this Scorpion.\ Fuzzy starts moving fast with abrupt direction changes. (ie typical Anime) > The Other is a humanoid one called a Hatchet man because of the > large axe built into the right arm and designed for smashing through > even teh thickest armors. Each arm mounts a laser that it begins > firing at the walls, and a huge autocannon also opens fire at the > laser cannons, the spent casings doing their own considerable damage > to the adobe-like buildings around the huge battlemech. \The Locals haven't much hope against these things.\ > The pilot of the Scorpion tries to raise their squad leader on the > radio as he fires a burst of six missiles at another cannon on the > wall. He hears nothing but static. Barrages of Plasma Bursts start jaring the Mech around him, so he turn his attention to the more immediate concern of personal survival, "Where is that comeing from!" Each Burst seems to come from a different direction and each burst pumps up the system heat levels. ttfn Fuzzy =========================== Date: Fri, 11 Jul 1997 00:30:50 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE3: Enter the Legion On Fri, 11 Jul 97 01:58:03 +0100, in Message # 00000381 Roland X said: Xzerrion said: > Roland X said: >> *THAT should keep the sprocking mech busy for a while. >> Hopefully, we've given the rebels enough of an edge that >> they can take it from here-I want to get Morgan out of >> here as soon as-BLOODY SPROCKING NASS!* >> Six of the Adversary's MiBs leap out of the fray, >> heading straight for Roland. > > *MEN IN BLACK!* Roland replies, dodging desperately. >> *I'll get back to you!* Roland sends, suddenly >> fighting like a demon just to keep himself in one piece... > >Xzerrion glances up. <* Roland, would you mind if I ... *> Deciding >to be safe about this, he hurls a flickering blue field at the three >on the right, attempting to paralyze them. > >big fat target of myself?> (OOC: Not really. ) One of the immortals is staggered by the attack, the two others stepping back a moment. A much more disturbing effect, however, is the sudden increase in lint on their otherwise immaculate suits. All three turn to Xzerrion, cold fury in their eyes, when a familiar flashing claidhmor slices through the stunned MiB. The other two turn, only to be brought down by Cutter and Leetah. "Ye seem tae be losin' yer touch, Rodhlann," Morgan says with a laugh, her Gaelic accent growing thicker as she dives into the the heart of the battle once more. Roland quickly dispatches the remaining servants of the Adversary with the help of the wolves and Xzerrion's little surprise. *Thanks for the save, all,* Roland sends to his rescuers, his eyes following Morgan. "Hmm...unsettling trend," he mutters, shocking a handful of cyborgs unconscious as Morgan literally cuts a path through the battlefield... =========================== Date: Fri, 11 Jul 1997 00:31:03 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE III: Beginnings and Endings (VERY long) On Fri, 11 Jul 97 02:03:29 +0100, in Message # 00000382 Roland X said: Roland watches Morgan with concern. Her claidhmor slices up and down in a reliable stacatto rhythm. While she is clearly capable of protecting herself from other warriors, the sigil is steadily gaining more influence over her. The glow coming from her bodice is disturbingly bright. *Morgan, give me an empathic reading,* Roland sends to his-for now, 'sword-sister' will have to do. Morgan snaps, *I'm BUSY!* and turns to face the nearest enemy. A large guardsman with cybernetic arms pops a full set of claws. He stops short, a surprised look forming on his face-at which point he falls down in two separate directions, neatly bisected by Morgan's claidhmor. A red glow emanates from her eyes, and she smiles as she seeks another opponent. "Okay, that's it," Roland says, speeding over to her side. *Folx, I'm taking Morgan out of this until she can recover. Cutter and Leetah have decided to stick around; they will fight with anyone who needs or wants their aid.* Roland teleports the wolves to whomever responds, then gates himself and Morgan out of the city. Roland turns to Morgan. *All right, sword-sister, try to calm down,* he sends to her. Suddenly deprived of opponents, Morgan rounds on the only available target-Roland. She raises the claidhmor as if to strike. *IloveyouMorganpleasedon'tkillme,* Roland sends as one word, taking a step back. Morgan pauses for a moment. Then her smile alters subtly, and the claidhmor falls to the ground as she advances on her sword-brother. *Morgan?* Roland sends, confused by her response. Her eyes still glow, pulsing in time with the sigil. /Oh grife,/ he thinks, and does the first thing that comes to mind. He psychokinetically pulls the sigil away from her. *Oh bloody nass,* Roland sends, realizing-too late-that the sigil had been an integral part of her bodice. *Morgan, I'm sorry.* "I'm not," Morgan replies, continuing to advance. Roland blushes furiously. "Um, here," he says, taking his cape from his shoulders and offering it to Morgan. He backs into a tree, no longer able to retreat from his determined sword-sister, staring at her much the way a deer locks eyes with headlights. Although the unnatural glow has vanished, her eyes still shine with the intensity of a woman who knows what she wants. A psi-shield drops between the two immortals and the rest of the CAoL. *We'll report in later,* Roland sends quickly as the connection to the rest of the psiweb fades. Still grinning ferally, Morgan reaches out, takes his outstretched hand-and pulls him into a passionate kiss, walking him back into the tree in the process. Roland is paralyzed with shock for a moment, then regains his wits and responds in kind. The cape falls unnoticed to the ground. Just as suddenly, Roland stops, breaking away (reluctantly) from the embrace. He slips out from between Morgan and the tree, sidestepping his sword-sister for the moment. "Morgan-" Morgan stands there unmoving for a moment, then begins to collapse, the last of her reserves depleted. Roland is at her side in an instant. "Morgan! Are you all right?" he asks, catching her before she can fall to the ground. He lowers her gently, the cape flowing back and wrapping itself around her. He cradles her in his arms, stroking her hair with one free hand. Roland smiles as he remembers their 'capture,' her caring for him as he slid into unconsciousness. "Thank you, brother," Morgan whispers. Roland smiles down at her, blushing more deeply than before. "Any one of us would have done the same, given the circumstances." "Bull," she mutters, and smiles. "Who else would have awakened me with a kiss?" Roland shrugs. "Got me there," he says, his voice clearly shaking. "Sprocking Gaunt," he growls, looking away-and making a bald-faced attempt to change the subject. "When I get my _hands_ on him-" "No!" Morgan says, just a _little_ too forcefully. Roland stares at his sword-sister, stunned for a moment. "Morgan?" he asks in a disbelieving tone. "Are you _sure_ you're all right?" Morgan smiles and gets a faraway look in her eyes. "I'm fine." "After what you've been through?" Roland watches in confusion as Morgan's smile broadens. Roland frowns. "What did that slimy piece of worm-ridden filth do to you?!" "That's not fair," Morgan replies. "Which part," Roland says, a smirk forming on his face, "slimy, worm-ridden, or filth?" "All of it," Morgan says evenly. Roland looks down, more concerned than ever. "Come on," he says, "the bastard helped destroy the Green Lantern Corps and tried to release the single most hateful being in my reality. He's soulless." "No one is soulless," Morgan says, her voice calm and gentle. "He's not as bad as you make him out to be." Roland blinks. "I wonder if there's a backlash effect from sudden sigil withdrawal." He pauses to gather his thoughts. "I know that Byron has walked in darkness for a long time. But I've seen a glimmer of light in him," Morgan replies. She slides out of Roland's hands, sitting up beside him. "'Byron?'" Roland asks, a single eyebrow raised. "Morgan, glimmer or no, the man is dangerous. We will see him again, I can guarantee that." "Then maybe we should arrange to meet him on _our_ terms," Morgan says. Roland blinks again. "Beg pardon?" "Gaunt expressed an interest in a temporary alliance for dealing with the Controller. If we reason with him, maybe we could turn it into something more permanent?" Morgan asks. Roland considers a moment. He doesn't even concern himself with the paradox of Gaunt turning Morgan over to the Controller; the man is so steeped in duplicity he proabably never even considered straight dealings with the CAoL. /The problem will be getting Gaunt to rethink that same duplicity,/ Roland thinks. "How are you feeling, Morgan?" Roland asks suddenly. A slightly puzzled look on her face, Morgan replies, "I'm recovering, why?" Roland smiles. "Let's call him. Right now." At Morgan's stare, he continues, "We can call the rest of the CAoL if he tries anything underhanded, and he'll be off-balance. It might make it easier to reason with him. How did he tell you to get in touch with him?" "Just send him an image of a white flag," Morgan says, a disbelieving look on her face. Roland weakens the barrier that holds worlds apart, and sends the image to Gaunt's manor on their homeworld. Gaunt appears a moment later, four drove zombies following in his wake. *How kind of you to accept my invitation,* Gaunt sends, motioning his servants forward. "So much for glimmers," Roland says sardonically. *Morgan, drop the psi-sh-* he sends, the thought dying unfinished as he turns- -and sees the blank expression on his sword-sister. "Oh grife," is all he has time to say before the droves engulf him. *MORGAN!* Roland cries out mentally, fighting desperately against the combat machines stripping away his defenses. *Morgan, for Light's sake, drop the shield!* Roland reaches out for his sister's mind...and finds nothing. *You always were too trusting for your own good,* Gaunt sends, and Roland realizes with a sinking feeling that Morgan isn't maintaining the shield. *Come to me, my angel.* Byron's cloak flows toward her, and the cape wrapped around Morgan's shoulders flutters in a non- existent breeze as she takes a step toward him. "NO!" Roland screams, and fights like a demon. One zombie falls, but the others are beginning to close, pressing through his force shield. *Those last warriors of mine in that primitive village weakened you too much, scion of Phoenix,* Gaunt smiles as Roland begins to fall back. *You are mine, as is this beauty.* Grimly drawing his sword, Roland uses what little mental energy he has remaining to bolster Morgan's personal shields. *Morgan, get out of here while you still can. I'll hold off the Three Stooges here.* "Exhausted and outmatched-and you're still a wiseass, Roland Phoenix," Gaunt chuckles. "No matter-soon, you will belong to the Adversary, and your precious freedom won't even be a memory." Roland backs away from the three remaining droves, his sword wavering in his hand-when he feels a trickle of familiar energy. Not much, but just enough for a brief surge of super-speed. In moments, the droves are unconscious on the ground. Roland turns on Gaunt, rage burning in his eyes. Gaunt returns the gaze with pure hatred. "You always escape me, accursed Phoenix child, as if it were some sort of natural law. Well at least this time, I will have a small victory. Come, Morgan. We're going home." Roland stares in shock as Morgan responds by walking willingly towards Byron. Roland tries again to help Morgan resist Gaunt's control, only to recoil in horror as he realizes that she isn't resisting. *Morgan?* he sends. *Roland?* a small, faint corner of her mind responds plaintively. "You...YOU...what did you DO to her?!" Gaunt shows him. "EEYAH!" Roland screams, and charges at Gaunt. If Roland had not known true hatred before, he certainly does now. Unfortunately, rage and hatred do not aid in swordsmanship. Gaunt parries easily, responding with a riposte that leaves a long gash on Roland's side. The armor is easily stripped away by the power of the Brand. Morgan winces slightly. "The irony, here," Gaunt says, casually parrying Roland's furious thrusts, "is that she _wants_ to go with me. You're defending someone who doesn't want to be rescued." "Believe what you want, you monster," Roland snarls, blood trickling from his nose. "Morgan is only obeying you because of what you did to her." "Well, yes," Gaunt replies with a smile. "Of course, that isn't really surprising." "You can't keep her," Roland says, breathing heavily as he goes on the defensive. "She's too strong for you to hold like that for long." Gaunt laughs. "You poor, naive fool. She is _mine._ Her will is mine, her body is mine, her soul is mine, and they always will be. And there's not a thing you can do about it." Roland's eyes flicker, as he realizes the depth of Gaunt's control. Somewhere deep within him, a decision is reached. "Yes, there is." Drawing on every last bit of energy inside of him, Roland performs one last burst of super-speed. Gaunt's thrust misses, and Roland buries the Phoenix Claw in his heart. Byron gasps in shock, his halo draining into a suddenly reenergized Roland. They lock eyes for a moment. They both know that this is the last time. Gaunt slashes down, determined to end this. Roland ends it first. Morgan screams and collapses like a puppet with its strings cut. A moment later, Roland is on his knees, the night's events having taken their toll. Behind him, Gaunt's head, several feet away from his body, stares at the sky in frozen surprize. A glow surrounds them both. "There can be only one," Roland says, his voice thick with irony. The grove explodes in light and power. Flickers of electricity pass from Gaunt's still form to Morgan's forehead, slowly moving from Byron's halo to Roland's. Soon, it is over. The Quickening has passed. Roland and Morgan, both exhausted, look up and into each other's eyes. A long moment passes. As one, they flow into each other's arms, and into a deep, intense, emotional kiss. Moments later, both realize that the psi-shield Gaunt was maintaining has dropped with him. They find that they don't really care, and continue to embrace. === / "What good is life...without friends?" -Barry Allen O (/) "No evil shall escape my sight!" -Hal Jordan | Roland X: === / Support the Green Lantern Net Corps! | Freelance http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/2255/aae-home.html | Immortal =========================== Date: Fri, 11 Jul 1997 02:29:28 -0700 (PDT) Subject: What is leaking Radio-Active Steam?!?!?! On Fri, 11 Jul 1997 02:11:31 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000384 fuzzy said: #Lord Fuzzy, The mech Identified as a Maurader is leaking increasingly Radio-Active steam from its cooling system, Reactor Cooling system failure seems likely, Immediate action suggested# \#Nemisis Identify Comms channel for active Mechs, Transmit Reactor overload warning at earliest opportunity, Request cease-fire until the reactor is under control.#\ \I am going to try to damp Neutrino activity in that mech, If I succeed the reactor core should cool off, But I am going to need either someone to tell me how to shut-down the reactor from outside or a stronger TK than I have to manually move the Reactor Dampening Rods into place before I let go of the Neutrino levels.\ #Nemisis Re-route all Offencive system to Nuclear Damper Effects.# The Scorpion pilot is suprised by the sudden end of the attack. ttfn Fuzzy =========================== Date: Fri, 11 Jul 1997 11:38:00 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE III: Beginnings and Endings (VERY long) On Fri, 11 Jul 97 12:57:22 CDT, in Message # 00000387 Mike Knight said: >On Fri, 11 Jul 97 02:03:29 +0100, in Message # 00000382 > Roland X said: > Although the unnatural glow has vanished, her eyes >still shine with the intensity of a woman who knows >what she wants. > A psi-shield drops between the two immortals and >the rest of the CAoL. *We'll report in later,* >Roland sends quickly as the connection to the rest >of the psiweb fades. /But, she doesn't seem to be recovered from the effects of the sigil, Roland. It wouldn't be the...same...Morgan.../ Knytt ends feebly. /MEN!/ she thinks in a huff. /What am I saying!?!/ Pyewackett purrs, *Getting a new perspective on things, eh?* > Soon, it is over. The Quickening has passed. > Roland and Morgan, both exhausted, look up and >into each other's eyes. A long moment passes. > As one, they flow into each other's arms, and >into a deep, intense, emotional kiss. > Moments later, both realize that the psi- >shield Gaunt was maintaining has dropped with >him. They find that they don't really care, and >continue to embrace. /Bloody Hell,/ Knytt thinks, heart still racing after the sudden reconnection of Roland and Morgan to the Psi-link. /Well, at least their alright./ *Without a doubt,* Pyewackett replies. --Knytt and Pyewackett =========================== Date: Fri, 11 Jul 1997 16:10:04 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE3: "Beg. & End." & "Enter/Legion" On Fri, 11 Jul 1997 22:57:42 -0700, in Message # 00000390 Gareth L Owen said: > On Fri, 11 Jul 1997 07:00:47, in Message # 00000385 > "L.J. Wolfe" said: > > Enjoy the rest of the battle, folks. I'm sure Roland and Morgan will > rejoin you if there's a need, but they _both_ need a little time to > rest and recover right now ;-). "rest and recover" - is that what you call it :-) the Stranger =========================== Date: Fri, 11 Jul 1997 16:10:16 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE: Rebel Yell On Fri, 11 Jul 1997 23:18:15 -0700, in Message # 00000391 Gareth L Owen said: Kitty watched the Marauder fall over in a sparking mass and started heading for the window Stranger had dived through, she thought she could hear yells and maybe he needed help. As she approached the window an Orc was propelled through it, landing in a heap at her feet. She sniffed him. He stank and was unconscious. Distasteful, but harmless. Stranger stepped out of the window. "Kitty, look what I found!" He waved a Colt Python revolver at her and a lever action twelve gauge shotgun. "Nothing quite so reassuring as a fully loaded twelve gauge." At the end of the street a shout broke out. Men on horseback started to round the corner. They were knights, heavily armed and armoured cataphracts. "OK, you men with the blasters, spread out, get in cover and start firing at them!" A ragged volley of blaster bolts rang out, blowing bits off nearby buildings. "Great, give me Ewoks." "Never mind, shall we?" asked Kitty. "OK." Kitty morphed, growing higher and a saddle grew from her back. Stranger vaulted onto her back. The cataphracts lined up, on was blown off his horse by a lucky blaster bolt, but the others were too disciplined to bother. The leader raised his visor, Stranger could see he had an eyepatch. "Lay down your weapons and we'll go easy on you!" shouted the knight. "And if we don't?" "We'll kill you to a man and piss on your graves!" "Think your hard enough do you!" shouted Stranger back "Look at us, we have knights, horses, armour, lances. we'll tear your puny force to pieces! What do you say to that?" "I CALL THAT BOLD TALK FOR A ONE EYED FAT MAN!" "That's right" whispered Kitty "antagonise him." The knight snarled and snapped his visor down. The cataphracts lowered their lances, which slotted into place in a kind of steel mexican wave. Stranger spurred Kitty forward. "FILL YOUR HANDS YOU SONOFABITCH!" The row of knights and the solitary Stranger thundered towards each other, Stranger firing his shotgun and reloading by spinning it around his hand. Two knights fell as they closed to his shotgun, the blaster fire intensified. Stranger picked his spot, passing through the line he'd have to face two of them. Timing his last shot he took out the one to the left with the shotgun, the blast punching through his visor and throwing his body from the horse. The one to his right levelled his lance, but Kitty was fast and Stranger, unencumbered by armour was able to duck under it, dropping his shotgun. Coming up he drew his Ninjato, slicing off the knights arm as he did so. Kitty, braked sharply, as Stranger scooped up a lance from a fallen cataphract. Turning he saw the knights closing on the rebels, their blaster fire becoming more effective at close range. Their leader however turned to face him. They both stood for a second, raising their lances in salute to a brave foe, before their mounts spurred forward and they thundered together. To be continued.... The Stranger =========================== Date: Fri, 11 Jul 1997 19:23:07 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: What is leaking Radio-Active Steam?!?!?! On Fri, 11 Jul 1997 21:19:02 -0500, in Message # 00000392 Michael Jon Knight said: >On Fri, 11 Jul 1997 02:11:31 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000384 > fuzzy said: > >\I am going to try to damp Neutrino activity in that mech, If I >succeed the reactor core should cool off, But I am going to need >either someone to tell me how to shut-down the reactor from outside >or a stronger TK than I have to manually move the Reactor Dampening >Rods into place before I let go of the Neutrino levels.\ /I have no idea how to shut down a reactor, but if things don't look good, let me know. If nothing else, we can pull the pilot out and shift that mech into the sun where a nuclear explosion will hardly be noticed./ =========================== Date: Fri, 11 Jul 1997 20:08:13 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: What is leaking Radio-Active Steam?!?!?! On Fri, 11 Jul 1997 20:01:34 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000393 fuzzy said: > On Fri, 11 Jul 1997 21:19:02 -0500, in Message # 00000392 > Michael Jon Knight said: > > /I have no idea how to shut down a reactor, but if things don't look > good, let me know. If nothing else, we can pull the pilot out and > shift that mech into the sun where a nuclear explosion will hardly > be noticed./ \I know how, but I either have to get inside or findout where the external maintainance controls are, and they may have an unusual command interface or password, which I would not neccessarily be able to guess safely...\ \Nemisis cannot plane shift this much mass, or I would have dumped it in the elemental plane of fire already. Her teleport can handle even less mass than Her Plane Shift.\ \Basicly what is happening is that I am slowing the reactor down, but that requires constant maintainance, when I let go of it we are right back where we were, a reactor cascadeing towards overload..., unless the normal or emergency control systems can be used to shut the reactor down first.\ \#Bale-Hound, Status Check.#\ tbc Fuzzy =========================== Date: Fri, 11 Jul 1997 21:52:58 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: What is leaking Radio-Active Steam?!?!?! On Fri, 11 Jul 1997 23:46:38 -0500, in Message # 00000394 Michael Jon Knight said: >On Fri, 11 Jul 1997 20:01:34 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000393 > fuzzy said: > >\I know how, but I either have to get inside or findout where the >external maintainance controls are, and they may have an unusual >command interface or password, which I would not neccessarily be able >to guess safely...\ /Yeah, that's not good./ >\Nemisis cannot plane shift this much mass, or I would have dumped it >in the elemental plane of fire already. Her teleport can handle even >less mass than Her Plane Shift.\ /Oh? That's all that's stopping you?/ Knytt sends with a mischievious grin. >\Basicly what is happening is that I am slowing the reactor down, but >that requires constant maintainance, when I let go of it we are right >back where we were, a reactor cascadeing towards overload..., unless >the normal or emergency control systems can be used to shut the >reactor down first.\ > >\#Bale-Hound, Status Check.#\ Knytt teleports down to the fallen Mech, leaving Pyewackett to keep an eye on the other two Mechs. Knytt examines the crashed Mech, speaking in a loud, clear tone as she does. /I don't want there to be any confusion on their side about what I am doing here./ "Ok," she shouts over the battle noises as she peers through the domed glass cockpit, "According to the readings in here, this mech's reactor is about to explode. We have to get the pilot out and either shut it down or dispose of it. "Otherwise," she adds, putting all the weight she can muster onto these last words, "We _ALL_ go boom!" Knytt walks over to the 'Hatchetman' battlemech and looks up at it for a second. Then she turns her back on it and kneels on the ground in front of it. "I am going to open a portel inside the cockpit just large enough to pull your man out." Taking her katana, she traces a gate on the ground who's other end is inside the cockpit. Reaching through it, she gently lifts out the unconscious pilot and lays him on the ground. Then she closes the gate. "Your pilot is clear. You need to get him a doctor to check him out." She steps around the prone form and walks back over to the Maurader Mech. /Phase one complete. Fuzzy, do you want to go inside and try to stop it, or drop it into the elemental plane? If you can give me some mental description, I can trace a gate in the ground around the mech and it will fall through into the plane you describe./ =========================== Date: Fri, 11 Jul 1997 22:09:58 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: What is leaking Radio-Active Steam?!?!?! On Fri, 11 Jul 1997 22:04:44 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000395 fuzzy said: > On Fri, 11 Jul 1997 23:46:38 -0500, in Message # 00000394 > Michael Jon Knight said: > >>On Fri, 11 Jul 1997 20:01:34 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000393 >> fuzzy said: >> >>\#Bale-Hound, Status Check.#\ \#Last Cannon Crew transfered, Weapons Deliveries continue.#\ > /Phase one complete. Fuzzy, do you want to go inside and try to stop > it, or drop it into the elemental plane? If you can give me some > mental description, I can trace a gate in the ground around the mech > and it will fall through into the plane you describe./ \It doesn't belong in this reality anyway, {} This is the shape of where the elemental plane of fire is.\ #Nemisis, Point to the Elemental Plane of Fire# Fuzzy's armor grows a hand that points off thru the planes \I hope thats good enough.\ "I can not be sure that I could get the shutdown sequence correct, We will have to get rid of it." =========================== Date: Fri, 11 Jul 1997 22:38:40 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Weapons for the people... Drek I forgot Axes! On Fri, 11 Jul 1997 22:36:22 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000396 fuzzy said: Since they are now in use I thought a reminder would not be amiss... Weapons List: Daggers Sling Bullets (Some Explosive Gold Shrapnel... Indicated by a star) Quarterstaves (W\energy damper) Spears (W\energy damper) Arrows Crossbow Bolts (Some Explosive Gold Shrapnel... Indicated by a star) Swords (W\energy damper) All Gold inlayed Spare Gold Spikes to be mounted on Clubs or Thrown. The matterials are standard for the weapon type except for the gold inlay and the quality. Quality: all of the blades are assembled atom by atom as multiple single molecule thick layers of high and low carbon steel. Edges are sharp enough to make a fresh flint edge seem dull (About 2 billionths of a meter). None of the weapons have any flaws in their molecular bond structure, which makes them both harder and stronger than normally possible. About 20x Harder and 10x Stronger. (Stress and Occlusion free if you know the terms) The Swords, Spears and Quarterstaves have built in energy suppressors that will reduce the effectiveness of energy weapons fired though the field and spell effects passing through. Not enough to protect the wielder from Mech Weapons or Cannons but enough for sidearms and AD&D Spells below 5'th level, reduced damage or increased saving throw as appropriate above that. Field Diameter about 5 meters. Dhyrclhanc, once said of the Melee Weapons > attention to Dhyrclhanc's section of the Psi-web durring all of the > arguments, is the wood-and-gold weapons are now enchanted As > follows: > > 1.) The weapon's weilder will be +30% more proficient with the > weapon. > > 2.) These weapons will inflict +30% of the weapon's normal of > damage. > > 3.) Once the weapon has imprinted upon an invidiual wielder, if the > weapon and weilder are separated then the weapon will > immediately return to weilder's grasp; this is physical flight; > *not* teleportation.> Dhyrclhanc's additions are the only magic involved in these weapons. With every bonus taken into consideration the swords may be able to carve their way through a Mech's armor in time. Dhyrclhanc also said that he would let us in on the projectile weapon enchantments later. ttfn Fuzzy =========================== Date: Fri, 11 Jul 1997 23:23:10 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: What is leaking Radio-Active Steam?!?!?! On Sat, 12 Jul 1997 01:18:27 -0500, in Message # 00000397 Michael Jon Knight said: >On Fri, 11 Jul 1997 22:04:44 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000395 > fuzzy said: > >\It doesn't belong in this reality anyway, {} This is the shape of >where the elemental plane of fire is.\ > >#Nemisis, Point to the Elemental Plane of Fire# > >Fuzzy's armor grows a hand that points off thru the planes > >\I hope thats good enough.\ /I think so. / >"I can not be sure that I could get the shutdown sequence correct, We >will have to get rid of it." /Good point,/ she nods, takes the katana in one hand and points it to the mech. *Trace narrowest gap which the object can fall through. Begin.* The sword flies out of Knytt's hand and the blade marks the ground, defining an outline of the mech in the dirt. After a second, the gate is complete and automatically opens as the katana returns to Knytt's hand. The mech seems to fall through the ground as a blast of heat radiates from the gap. The gate immediately closes. /I assume that was it. I didn't want to hold that open long enough to be sure. Speaking of 'things that won't last long,' I doubt this truce will hold now that the danger has past. We'd best get back to a-feudin'/ Grinning like a Chesire cat, she turns, salutes the mechs, shouts "Don't step on your friend!" and vanishes, to reappear next to the lasercannon of which she quickly retakes the controls. --Knytt =========================== Date: Fri, 11 Jul 1997 23:52:48 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: What is leaking Radio-Active Steam?!?!?! On Fri, 11 Jul 1997 23:42:25 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000398 fuzzy said: > On Sat, 12 Jul 1997 01:18:27 -0500, in Message # 00000397 > Michael Jon Knight said: > > /I assume that was it. I didn't want to hold that open long enough > to be sure. Speaking of 'things that won't last long,' I doubt this > truce will hold now that the danger has past. We'd best get back to > a-feudin'/ \That was it, Essence of Fire... It should have occured to me to say 'close it as fast as possible'.\ > Grinning like a Chesire cat, she turns, salutes the mechs, shouts > "Don't step on your friend!" and vanishes, to reappear next to the > lasercannon of which she quickly retakes the controls. Addressing the Mechs, "I suggest you leave the field, The truce between us will end with your next hostile action." Fuzzy is not going to let them blind-side him. Fuzzy decides to give the Mechs a chance to clear-out and spends the next several minutes shredding concentrations of Imerial (or is that Imperial) Troop in various corners of the field. Buffy so far has not had any difficulty identifying friend/foe seperation, and is allowing Mischief to have fun with any foes except the Mechs. ttfn Fuzzy =========================== Date: Sat, 12 Jul 1997 04:22:58 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: Aae-WAAHHHOOOEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (fwd) On Sat, 12 Jul 1997 07:19:29 -0400 (EDT), in Message # 00000399 Shadow said: > On Thu, 10 Jul 1997 23:00:08 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000376 > fuzzy said: > >> On Thu, 10 Jul 1997 17:56:31 -0700 (MST), in Message # 00000375 >> gamer@host.yab.com said: >> >> The pilot of the Scorpion tries to raise their squad leader on the >> radio as he fires a burst of six missiles at another cannon on the >> wall. He hears nothing but static. The commander lifts his handset, /Just call out, he says. Couldn't he have been more bloody specific./ "The party's started and we've got gatecrashers poundin' on the walls, John GET US SOME AIR COVER NOW!" In his head a strained voice replies, /You try making a tight turn at 600 mph./ Up in the tank John is checking the readouts on the mechs, "Mycroft, go to full auto on my mark." A burst from the cannon sprays both mechs. /That should get their attention./ The tank swoops back in, going much slower this time. Dodging missiles and cannon fire, several times it appears to move in almost impossible ways, finally bringing it right over top of the two mechs. > Barrages of Plasma Bursts start jaring the Mech around him, so he > turn his attention to the more immediate concern of personal > survival, "Where is that comeing from!" Each Burst seems to come > from a different direction and each burst pumps up the system heat > levels. "Mark." With that John turns the tank ethereal, and falls through the bottom of it. As he freefalls towards the hatchetman, his staff appears in his hands, and the tank regains solidity as it turns for another pass. /I love skydiving/ he sends, as he projects, /Just a falling peice of shrapnel/ very hard at the mech pilots. =========================== Date: Sat, 12 Jul 1997 04:37:54 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: What is leaking Radio-Active Steam?!?!?! On Sat, 12 Jul 1997 07:25:37 -0400 (EDT), in Message # 00000400 Shadow said: > On Fri, 11 Jul 1997 23:46:38 -0500, in Message # 00000394 > Michael Jon Knight said: > > Knytt walks over to the 'Hatchetman' battlemech and looks up at it > for a second. Then she turns her back on it and kneels on the ground > in front of it. John's amused voice reaches her, along with an exhilarated feeling of freefall, /I _really_ think they have other things on their minds./ Just the the tank swoops back to harry the Scorpion, plasma beam crawling over it before winking out. > "I am going to open a portel inside the cockpit just large enough to > pull your man out." Taking her katana, she traces a gate on the > ground who's other end is inside the cockpit. Reaching through it, > she gently lifts out the unconscious pilot and lays him on the > ground. Then she closes the gate. > > "Your pilot is clear. You need to get him a doctor to check him > out." She steps around the prone form and walks back over to the > Maurader Mech. John reaches out and removes the man from the battlefield. =========================== Date: Sat, 12 Jul 1997 12:10:06 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: Aae-WAAHHHOOOEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (fwd) On Sat, 12 Jul 1997 11:54:32 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000401 fuzzy said: > On Sat, 12 Jul 1997 07:19:29 -0400 (EDT), in Message # 00000399 > Shadow said: > > Up in the tank John is checking the readouts on the mechs, "Mycroft, > go to full auto on my mark." A burst from the cannon sprays both > mechs. /That should get their attention./ The tank swoops back in, > going much slower this time. Dodging missiles and cannon fire, > several times it appears to move in almost impossible ways, finally > bringing it right over top of the two mechs. \John, Here is contact info (Freq. & Cypher) for Buffy, She has been building IIF tables based on who attacks who with what, also she and Mischief are loose in the battlefield acting like a very small tank.\ ttfn Fuzzy =========================== Date: Sat, 12 Jul 1997 18:57:07 -0700 (PDT) Subject: aae-turning tides. On Sat, 12 Jul 1997 19:09:40 -0700 (MST), in Message # 00000402 gamer@host.yab.com said: The Marauder may be gone, but so is the pilot, finally succumbing to the massive heat inside the cockpit, no attempts to revive teh badly burned man can help. (Yes Burned. I figure at 150+ degrees, he's going to have at least a first degree burn over most of his body since he was nearly nude in there.) The other two mech pilots seem a bit confused for a moment, then decide they still have the advantage adn try to press it. The hatchetman begins aiming his fire at the flying tank while moving to step on Fuzzy. The Scorpion however can't raise its weapons up effectively to do anything against the air support, so continues to fire on the laser cannons on the walls. Both Mechs are looking pretty beaten up from teh lasers and John's straffing runs, but the walls are also on the verge of collapse with large areas already missing due to missile impacts and PPC blasts. The battle on the ground seems to be turning towards the benefit of the rebels as well. Over half the rebels lay dead on teh ground, but a larger portion of hte bodys are those of hte Guardsmen. Some rebels seem to be getting the hang of the captured weapondry, but most are relying on good old fashioned melee combat. A Cybered Ogre that was being a problem is finally brought down, a dozen golden arrows stuck in him and three warriors with gold axes covered in his blood as they strike the final blows. Iasun shoots one of hte star arrows at a marauding Juicer, striking directly in the throat. The resulting blast rips the head off and in a few minutes, the Juicer realizes it's dead. Some of hte Guard have even striped off their colors to fight with the rebels. But there are still those who take advantage of any situation. Fires are breaking out all over town, both accidental and arson. Shops ar4 being broken into and looted. Several officials are being dragged out into the streets and beaten. Chaos is erupting everywhere. Squee's voice fills Caprice's head, adn directs her like a beacon, west. a long way west. Into the desert floor under the sands. Through Squee, Caprice sees the Controllers finishing their devious work, and the prisoners in their cage, and the two bodies, floating behind their glass prisons... The beast rips at Driss with its claws again and Driss slices it some more with his Rapier, neither making any progress. Then from the darkness, a large form jumps at teh creature, snarling. The creature bats Roscoe away, but Rosoce rolls up to his feet again next to Driss. [Ah... I finally figured out how to get to you. this is all a] Driss inturrupst [A dream? yeh, I already figured tha tout, unfortunately, so has he, so neither of us can hurt the other.] Roscoe grinned mentally. [Sometimes i forget how little you really do know about magic. You can hurt him. See? I did.] it was true, the creature had backed off a bit, with what looked liek purple rose petals fluttering away from its body where Roscoe had struck. [OK, I'll bite. How?] Roscoe's grin grew. [You're in a Dreamworld. You're attacking a dream creature, with a physical object. and a Dream Creature is attacking a physical object with claws that he doesn't believe in anymore. Hence you can't really touch each other. You need to attack a dream in a dream.] A sinister grin crossed Driss's face as realization sunk in. [Ooooooooooo This is going to be FUN!!] Energy rippled around Driss and he grew. muscle stretched and cloth ripped under the strain. Soon Driss stood as a giant, a hundred feet tall and solid muscle. The creature was now running in terror, but Driss reached out and grabbed and handful of stars from the inky black void, and threw them at the creature. They landed forming a perfect circle penning the beast in. Then Driss reached down and grabbed the tiny creature, and held him up to get a better look at him. "So, what should I do with you? I could squish you. I could drop you. I could fry you like a sausage. Hmmm Oh what the heck." driss opend his mouth, tossed the creature inside and swallowed. Shrinking back to normal, (or was Roscoe growing?) He gave out a burp. "Ok, now let's get out of here." [Agreed. When I fiured this place out, I took a quick look around, and there's a gate to Arcadia that way. from Arcadia it should be an easy jump back to Quaren. Oh and Driss, this time we're _not_ stopping to let you antagonise that Grendel again. I don't care if you DO think he started it, this fued has to stop. Filling his cave with 3 million overripe casaba melons was just taking things a bit too far I think.] "Ok, Ok OK. You never let me have anyfun." A quick Jaunt to a past Arcadia and a better forgotten incident involving Driss, three elves and a gallon of superglue, and Driss and Rosoce finally are ready to go back to Quaren. =========================== Date: Sat, 12 Jul 1997 20:38:10 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: aae-turning tides. On Sat, 12 Jul 1997 20:32:57 -0700 (PDT), in Message # 00000403 fuzzy said: > On Sat, 12 Jul 1997 19:09:40 -0700 (MST), in Message # 00000402 > gamer@host.yab.com said: > > The Marauder may be gone, but so is the pilot, finally succumbing > to the massive heat inside the cockpit, no attempts to revive the > badly burned man can help. (Yes Burned. I figure at 150+ degrees, > he's going to have at least a first degree burn over most of his > body since he was nearly nude in there.) > The other two mech pilots seem a bit confused for a moment, then > decide they still have the advantage adn try to press it. The > hatchetman begins aiming his fire at the flying tank while moving to > step on Fuzzy. Fuzzy was not silly enough to cease watching for treachery... \That flash of Elemental Fire gives me an Idea.\ A rapid exchange of mixed Tech and Magic concepts flickers back and forth between Fuzzy and Nemisis, The mages Identify terms relating to bound Essence of Fire, The Techs Sense relationships to Plasma containment. #30 Seconds ETC, New Weapon Configuration, Elemental Plasma Pulse# Fuzzy grabs a hand full of Daggers from the passing Bale-Hound and starts jumping around like a flea on a hot gridle, Jamming a dagger into a Mech joint whenever he gets the Chance. > Squee's voice fills Caprice's head, adn directs her like a beacon, > west. a long way west. Into the desert floor under the sands. > Through Squee, Caprice sees the Controllers finishing their devious > work, and the prisoners in their cage, and the two bodies, floating > behind their glass prisons... \Caprice, Dorn will follow, and give support as requested, He can also supply alternate transport if needed.\ ttfn Fuzzy =========================== Date: Sun, 13 Jul 1997 18:34:38 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: aae-turning tides. On Sun, 13 Jul 1997 21:52:10 -0400 (EDT), in Message # 00000408 caprice said: > On Sat, 12 Jul 1997 19:09:40 -0700 (MST), in Message # 00000402 > gamer@host.yab.com said: > Squee's voice fills Caprice's head, adn directs her like a beacon, > west. a long way west. Into the desert floor under the sands. > Through Squee, Caprice sees the Controllers finishing their devious > work, and the prisoners in their cage, and the two bodies, floating > behind their glass prisons... Caprice inhales deeply... Those words through the link are the only warning that Caprice gives... Caprice reaches... ... and twists... ... and splits... As the echos of a dozen? Two dozen? minds fill the CAoL link, Caprice appears in the Controller's base... Within her thoughts, a soldier grits her teeth against the pain as bullets and lasers take aim on their body... she takes the pain... ... a druid tries to reach for the life forms in the tank, and snuff their spark, not knowing if he'll succeed. Too much of their power is being used by another... ... who spins threads of reality, trying to grab everyone for the teleport back... ... as a mercenary makes a quick grab for Squee, not feeling the pain, just the impact of the weapons attacking their body.... ... as a child hides in fear... ... as a student watches, and learns... ... as a healer comforts... ... as a feline contemplates... As all the minds work together, as they fight the clock, a few seconds at most, not nearly enough time... They teleport out, viciously wrenching at the reality of the controller's base, sending waves of damage both great and minor... Caprice, Squee, and another appear in the training room of the Assassain's Guild... Squee is frightened, and the young man who looks remarkably like Dris, isn't in much better shape. But Caprice is too busy bleeding to answering any questions... Any listening to her through the CAoL link will hear a whispered chorus of voices, from all walks of life, working together desperately to save the one life they share. =========================== Date: Sun, 13 Jul 1997 21:33:22 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE3 - Hellos and Goodbyes (Long) On Sun, 13 Jul 1997 23:23:52 -0500, in Message # 00000410 Michael Jon Knight said: Ace watched the Doctor at the TARDIS control console. He moved frantically around the console, hitting switches, taking readings and muttering in Gallifreyian. Whatever he was saying, he sure didn't seem happy. "Ace, come man this console. When the blue rectangle on this screen starts to drift off the red path, use the arrow keys on the keypad to move it in the opposite direction." Ace looked at the monitor. A red vertical line with a blue rectangle traveling on it. Green grid lines divided the screen into quadrants. "Why are we on manual?" "Because we are trying to track the Time Scoop." Ace blew air out of her lips, "You're kidding. Why are you doing it the hard way? Here, step aside. I need into the main computer." Ace pushed him aside. The Doctor, surprised, went to the flight controls where Ace had been. Ace typed a few lines of text into the computer, smiled and hit the autopilot. "What did you do?" the Doctor asked, staring at the monitor. "It's a pipe function. I took the coordinates from the tracking computer, shoved them into the navigation system and let the autopilot trace the path Knytt took. Doctor, you told me you were on earth in the 70's, surely you heard of UNIX?" "Well, I was more into electronic gadgets during that regeneration..." Ace grinned. Finally, she thought to herself, something he doesn't know about. -------------------- Knytt had just taken her place at the laser cannon when she heard a very familiar sound. "The TARDIS!" she shouted excitedly. Then as the noise got louder and the time machine began materializing, her face fell. It wasn't her TARDIS at all. Pyewackett silently brought the force field around the TARDIS. He sat in Knytt's lap trying to comfort his traveling companion as best he could. Knytt absently petted the cat. The cannon controls worked by themselves. Knytt managed to compose herself just as the TARDIS door opened. Knytt knew that TARDIS, it was the Doctor's, and she wanted to get down to business as soon as possible. The Doctor and a young woman walked out...the woman was VERY familiar. Tipping his hat, the Doctor said, "Hello, I'm the Doctor and this is my friend-" the Doctor did a double-take. "Knytt!?" he said, shocked. "Do what!?" Ace exclaimed, "Professor, what are you going on about?" "Ace?" Knytt asked, then smiled. "Ace, you've grown!" "Do I know you, lady?" Ace asked, a bit stunned. "Ace, meet Knytt. Knytt, Ace." the Doctor replied with a mischievous grin. Ace gawked at Knytt, "But, but..." "I know, Ace," Knytt replied, hopping off the laser cannon and setting Pyewackett in the seat. "I don't have a lot of time right now and I need a few things, if you can spare them." "Of course," the Doctor replies, "Anything you need." *Knytt, do we have time for this?* Knytt scratches the feline God's ear. "Kitten, we are going to have to make time. I need some things until we can set down roots elsewhere." The Doctor looks puzzled, "Elsewhere? I thought you were rooted very well in your TARDIS?" Knytt opened the door to the TARDIS, then paused, holding her stomach with a slight grimace on her face. "Are you alright?" the Doctor asked. "Yeah, fine. C'mon, I'll tell you what happened inside." -------------------- 9 "Alright, here's your blood sample." Ace handed the vial out through the door to the TARDIS wardrobe room. "I'll run a complete workup this time." the Doctor said, taking the sample. "Changing sex should not be possible for him...er...her." "That's what I thought." Knytt shouted from inside. Knytt stood half naked, looking at herself in the mirror. Her hair was lighter, nearly blonde, and fell halfway down her back. Her skin was still as light. She was sort of thin, shaped kind of like a pear when she looked at herself from the front. Miss Average, she thought. "You're pretty. You'll have to beat the men off with a stick," Ace said, tossing the duster she had adopted recently over the back of a chair where Knytt had tossed her too-large, bloodied, burnt, and torn clothes. "And I will, with a stick that says 'Louisville Slugger' on the side. God, what am I going to tell my girlfriend?" she whined. "Worry about that later. And give her credit. Even if things don't work out..." Ace noticed Knytt's expression sink even lower. "Um, that was the wrong thing to say, wasn't it?" "Yes." "Well, here's something else you won't want to hear. You are telepathically linked to your friends. And you've been standing in your new-found women's underwear in front of a mirror." "SHIT!" Knytt exclaimed as she spun the mirror around to face the wall. Ace roared with laughter as Knytt blushed furiously. "Shut up and help me find something to...wear..." Knytt trailed off. Ace looked up. Knytt was staring at her. Or was it leering, Ace thought nervously. "What?" Ace asked, suddenly blushing. "What are you wearing?" Knytt asked slowly walking over and feeling the material on Ace's collar. Ace was covered head to toe in a body suit that shone like a cross between black latex and a wet suit, yet was no thicker than a heavy plastic trash bag. "Oh, it's combat armor. I spent three years with the space marines in the 25th century." Ace smiled suddenly. "Be right back." Ace dashed out of the TARDIS wardrobe room and returned a few seconds later with a duplicate suit. "Try this on." Knytt shrugged and slid the suit on. When she finished, Ace spun the mirror around again. Having given up all hope of modesty, Knytt looked at her reflection. Knytt's jaw dropped. "A little tight, isn't it?" Knytt asked. Tight was an understatement. The combat armor was form-fitting. It felt like a second skin and was just as flexible and comfortable. "It's supposed to be." "I can't wear this in public," Knytt protested. Ace drew a blaster from her jacket and without so much as a word, shot Knytt point blank in the chest. Knytt cringed, then looked down. There wasn't even a singe. "I'll wear something over it." Knytt replied, still slightly shocked. -------------------- The Doctor scuttled around the TARDIS console, entering commands to the central computer. He would stop every once in a while and examine a small, dark grey notebook computer. He had slipped out of his coat and question-marked sweater vest and was mopping his brow with a paisley handkerchief. He had had the hardest time getting the two computer to operate properly, finally giving up on the notebook and erasing it's operating system and replacing it with a scaled-down copy of the TARDIS's OS. This turned out to be a mish-mash of FreeDOS 2007, Macintosh System 15, Linux 4, and VM/ESA. No wonder so many things broke down around here, he thought. Next thing you know, repairs will be made with baling wire, chewing gum and duct tape. The interior door opened and the Doctor glanced up from his work. "Oh, hello, Romana." "Who?" Knytt asked. She stood in the doorway, wearing a white blouse tucked into blue jeans and a black leather vest. The combat suit, zipped up to the neck, with the zipper covered by the snapped-closed collar was underneath. The suit came with a pair of very good black boots, so she wore those. Over it all, she wore a long pink duster with a white silk scarf draped around her neck that was at least twice as long as she was tall. "Oh, you just look like someone I used to know. Well, after her first regeneration. That was her coat and scarf, actually." "Well, it was the only thing that fit. I hope you don't mind." "Not at all," the Doctor replied. He closed the notebook computer. "I had to install the TARDIS OS to make this work, but you now have access to the TARDIS computers and can use us for your E-mail and such. You'll want to set a password, but you have root access like Ace and I. If you need a lift anywhere, you can call us anytime. And, the connection is untraceable, of course. "I also began those tests on your blood sample." Knytt grimaced slightly again as her hand drifted to her stomach. "Mmf, cramp, Oh well, not surprising really. Most women my age would be having them now." The Doctor's eyebrows raised. "Your regeneration is that complete?" "Yup." Ace appeared behind Knytt, carrying a large duffle bag. She put an arm on Knytt's shoulder and dropped a couple pills into Knytt's hand. Knytt swallowed them, then drank the glass of water Ace offered her. "She is woman, hear her roar," Ace grinned, then handed Knytt the duffle bag. "I packed all the clothes I could in here. Plus, the usual extras. And a few surprises, considering you are in a war zone. "Oh," Ace added, pulling the small elastic band from her hair and removing the leather strap holding Knytt's hair in a pony tail, "These are far easier to deal with. I put some in your bag, also." "Thanks, Mom." Knytt grinned, slipping the bag over her shoulder. Ace grinned and the two women hugged. The Doctor handed Knytt the notebook computer. She slipped it inside the duffle bag. Taking her katana where it was leaning near the door, she slipped it into a scabbard jury-rigged to the side of the bag. Knytt turned to the pair. "I will see you later. You had better get out of here. The Time Lords know your every move as long as I'm here. I don't want to see you lose your home as well." "We'll depart immediately. Ace will E-mail your blood test results as soon as I have exhausted every test I have." "Thank you. Both of you." Knytt turned and walked out of the TARDIS. She got a quick status report from Pyewackett and retook her seat. Pyewackett shrank toe force field to its previous size as the TARDIS dematerialized. -------------------- As the time rotor rose and fell steadily, the Doctor turned to check on the tests of Knytt's blood. He stopped short when he saw Ace. Tears were running down her face from beneath her dark sunglasses. "Ace?" the Doctor asked, putting an arm around her, "What's the matter?" "Nothing," she said quietly, "I just have the strangest feeling that we won't see her again...." --Knytt =========================== Date: Sun, 13 Jul 1997 22:32:46 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Aae-Driss's return? On Sun, 13 Jul 1997 18:48:22 -0700 (MST), in Message # 00000412 gamer@host.yab.com said: The air near Fuzzy shimmers and Driss and Roscoe appear standing next to fuzzy in teh Midst of the battle. /Glad to see you're back in one piece/ remarks Fuzzy, still mostly concentrating on the creation of hte new weapon. "So am I. seems live I;'ve been gone days. Oh wait, I have. Anyways, what's happening?" Driss remarks, whipping out his rapier and dicing up a Juicer who decided to charge Fuzzy. Fuzzy projects a capsulated synopsis into Roscoe adn Driscoll's minds, of Morgan's near death, the rescue, the ensuing battle, the marauder, the Death of Gaunt and the new bomd between Morgan and Roland. Driss stands shocked at this and the Juicer manages to cuff him with what remained of his left arm. Then hopped on its remaining leg towards where the stunned immortal lay. Roscoe shifted to hellhound form and took out the other leg, leaving the juicer flailing helplesslyy until it could realize there was no more blood in its brain. Driss just lay there. He stretched his mind to Morgan, using Roscoe's mind as an amplifier for his own. He had to know if this was true. He had to know from her. Their minds touched. Suddenly he was seeing things through her eyes. feeling with her heart, even as his own was breaking. He could feel the raw emotion. Love. Passion. Feelings she once held for him, and he for her as he now realized. He wanted to scream. He wanted to call out to her. He wanted to tell her how he had really felt. But nothing would come, the vocal chords of his mind froze. All he could do was watch, watch and despair. [Driss? Are you ok? Snap out of it!] Roscoe's mind seemed to be screaming at his how, yet still seemed a million miles away. Finalyl he managed to break himself away. he had only touched Morgan's mind for the briefest second, but it seemed like years. He only now noticed the burning of his eyes and the wetness on his cheeks. Roscoe and Fuzzy were both looking at him with concerned looks on their faces. Trying to recover what dignity he could and re-compose himself, Driss got to his feet. He tried to spoke with authority, with confidence, but what came out was more a hoarse whisper, "I have something I need to do, someplace I have to go. I'll be back... maybe." Before anyone could ask what was so wrong, the cloak was wrapped around the immortal, turnign him invisible, and he was running with huge leaps and bounds in the 7-league boots, covering miles with every step. Soon he was far away from Dibis. Far away from Misern. far away from... her. when he stopped, he flopped down onto the snow of the mountainside and finally gave out the scream that had been building up inside. Tears fell freely down his cheeks and made little tunnels in the snow where they hit. His cries echoed off the mountains, and the tribe of goblins nearby closed all teh bolt-holes to their lairs and hid from it. Shiela he had lost because of his actions. He swore never to fall in love again, but no one can fully master their heart. He fell for Morgan, so he ran. But he never could run all the way away from her. he always found himself coming back. sometimes, expecially most recently, he didn't let her know he was there, but he had to see her. to watch her. And now she was lost due to his inactivity. What was he supposed to do? If he let them get close, they died. but to keep them at arms length, they leave. And the whole time, the burning lonliness eats away at him. when would it end? when? When? WHEN??? He found himself screaming it to the mountains, but it didn't echo back, instead, all that returned was the all to familiar chuckling. ===========================