Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 4
                              Chapter 16

Date: Tue, 3 Mar 1998 22:42:34 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: It's too quiet

On Tue, 3 Mar 98 22:35:02 -0800 In Message # 00002924
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001137 Roland X said:

>On Sun, 1 Mar 1998 23:24:29 -0600 In Message # 00002908
> In alt.callahans Post # 00001121 Michael Jon Knight said:
>
<snippage assimilated>
>Knytt smiles, /The Borg are a pet project of mine. I try and keep
>up-to-date on all the information in the Starfleet databases. And a
>few sources that won't make it back to the Federation's space for
>some time. The twins have obviously been reading my notes./

   *And this would have nothing to do with Time Lord animosity toward
Cybermen, of course,* Roland quips.

>/Morbid curiousity./ the girl AI's send. /Also, these Borg -gated-
>in? That is not a Borg technology. We imagine these are not quite the
>same Borg we know about...Be prepared for surprises./

   *Any takers on MolloM? The Borg sound like they're right up his
alley. You don't get much more orderly and arrogant than them.* Roland
frowns. *I like this less with each passing second.*

Then...
>On Tue, 03 Mar 1998 15:38:03 In Message # 00002913
> In alt.callahans Post # 00001126 Morgan said:
>
><*I'll take a piece of that action,*> Morgan sends. She give Roland a
>quick kiss on the check, sends, <*Be right back, love,*> and ports to
>the vicinity of the third group of Borg. <OOC: Melissa got one,
>Rhiannon got the second, right?>

   *MORGAN!* Roland sends, then slaps his head. *Morgan, of all the
sprocking-some leader, can't even second-guess my own wife...*

<*You're not _supposed_ to, dear,*> Morgan replies sweetly.

   *Most hoosbands aren't mentally linked to their wives, either,*
Roland grouses, then sends a kiss to prevent any misunderstandings.

>She watches them from cover for a moment, considering her options.
><*Roland, as near as I can tell the only mind in these things is the
>collective. Whatever was there originally has long since been
>subsumed.*>

   Roland nods. *Take 'em down, love.*

><*When I come from, groups of people working closely together were
>known as 'groves'. That gives me an idea,*> she thinks 'aloud'. She
>reaches out and locates what's left of the life within the cyberware,
>and the remaining flesh becomes wood. Needless to say, the Borg come
>to a stand-still.

   *Ouch!* Roland replies, smiling. *Impressive.*

><*Hmmm,*> she ponders, <*That still leaves them for the others to
>come scavenge.*> With some quick TK, she knocks the group together
>into a pile and, still from a safe distance, sets the wooden
>components on fire. Wiring melts, coolants sizzle, and some of the
>metal components melt out of shape as the blaze takes hold.
>Maintaining cover and scanning the area on every 'frequency' she's
>able, Morgan watches to make sure the conflagration doesn't get out
>of control.

   Roland shrugs. "I give up. Colonel, Major, please excuse me. The
situation just became complicated." With that, Roland vanishes, only
to reappear at Morgan's side.
   *Okay, people, let's take a step back here. With the Borg, our
usual lack of tactics actually works for us. No pattern to adapt to.
But if they're able to isolate us, they might be able to assimilate
some of us.* Roland frowns.

<And if they're trying to draw us out, it's already worked,*> Morgan
notes.

Finally, Knytt said:
>As 18 Borg start giving each other fashion tips, Melissa sends /Nemo,
>if you want this bunch, they are yours. We can release them back to
>the Collective if you would rather deal with that, but it isn't a
>Borg Queen you'll be talking with, some hackerwannabe has totally
>trashed what used to be some elegant code./

   Roland's eyes glaze over for a moment. *Hey, it may not be pretty,
but it's impressive work all the same. Hacking the Collective without
my...advantages..takes some doing.*

<*Hmm...X-Windows...cybernetics...reprogramming...and all showing up
in _our_ vicinity...*> Morgan absently plays with the left tip of her
torc. <*Remind you of anyone?*>

   Roland shrugs. *Not really-*
   Then his brain re-engages.
   *I'm going to rewire that bastich into a toaster when I catch up to
him,* Roland snarls. *But first things first.* Roland's eyes roll
back, and his thoughts flicker out, reaching into the Collective.
(OOC: OK, Gamer, what do I find?)
===========================

Date: Wed, 4 Mar 1998 00:04:35 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: First contact

On Tue, 3 Mar 1998 23:59:57 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002925
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001138 fuzzy said:

> On Wed, 4 Mar 1998 00:02:31 -0600 In Message # 00002922
>  In alt.callahans Post # 00001135 "Ziactrice Keenan" said:
<snip>
> The young woman interrupts herself, as they've run out of the
> immediate Borg 'drag-net' area, and the man keeps watch back and she
> watches forwards. "I've got it. The Gunpowder Plot. Make it November
> the Fifth, Ninja. Guy Fawkes day, concentrate with me. Then most
> everyone will be out at the bonfires, or the churches, even this
> late. And a downtown business district like these, well, it WOULD be
> deserted. Holiday, and all. People going home to their families,
> children. After all... we didn't KNOW what day it was.. it could
> EASILY be that day. It WAS cold up there." She sounds extremely
> reasonable, and extremely concentrated. Almost as if she expects
> reality to conform to her opinion, should she believe in it with
> enough conviction.
>
> The man says, going along with her, also concentrating, "Yes, that
> sounds very probable. But then we've still got the Borg."
> "We should leave the Borg alone. If we act on them, we'll be taken
> as part of the White's side."

\What the .... Somebody just affected reality like it was a stuborn
dreamscape, I don't know who or what it was, but after that go-round
with Lunitic, I think, I had best track this down right now.\

> The Ghost and the Ninja through London's misty night streets.

Fuzzy puts on his cloak of dreams \Be back soon, if I don't end up
calling for help...\

<OOC: Amber, or the Courts? The pair he is looking for may sense the
cloak in use, as something like a stabalized shadow storm vortex.>
===========================

Date: Wed, 4 Mar 1998 06:05:54 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: First contact

On Wed, 4 Mar 1998 07:53:20 -0600 In Message # 00002926
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001139 "Ziactrice Keenan" said:

<<Lowered Verbosity Recap: As the day abruptly changes from whatever
is was to Nov. 5th (Guy Fawkes Day) taking most of the Borg's target
humans out of immediate harm's way...>>
| \What the ....
|   Somebody just affected reality like it was a stuborn dreamscape,
|  I don't know who or what it was, but after that go-round with
| Lunitic, I think, I had best track this down right now.\
| Fuzzy puts on his cloak of dreams
| \Be back soon, if I don't end up calling for help...\
| <OOC: Amber, or the Courts?>

<OOC: Well, as they shifted Shadow just then, slightly, and haven't
shifted shape, I'd say Amber. Trump go 'both ways', of course.>

|   The pair he is looking for may sense the cloak in use, as
| something like a stabalized shadow storm vortex.>

'Ninja' looks towards the sensing, "Ghost, incoming shadow ripple. Get
through the Trump, now." With that the woman stares at the card in his
hand, and then reaches out, touching it lightly with a fingertip. With
a blaze of polychromatic light in a flat, door-like rectangle, she is
gone. (Effect is pretty eye-catching, think long-duration camera
flash.) The man follows immediately. "Too bad we can't CHANGE that
into something a little less 'bull'eye, shoot-me-now'." He sighs.

Both are now on the observation deck of Big Ben, each takes out ear
protections and don them as they earnestly search for any further sign
of pursuit from the area of the Thames downtown business district.
"Think we were spotted or followed?" He frowns, "I don't think so; the
'ripple' I sensed was still several blocks away towards the river.
Also, both sides seem to use tech more than magic, and that was
neither. Although SOMEONE obviously caught on to the shifting through
shadow. A local guardian Beast, perhaps?" She shakes her head, "And it
just happened to be in the same battle area? We were made, somehow. I
didn't think the Family was involved in this yet. And especially not
on the White side - we'll have to be more cautious." She sighs as the
man's head cocks slightly, visibly questioning even with the lower
half of his face still masked, "Which, yes, means more damage to the
locals. I'll get the next Trump cold, if we need to keep retreating."
She offers. He nods, and seems to extend his senses out passively a
bit, "The shadow ripple seems oddly stable - some tech device that
mimics one, perhaps. It doesn't seem to have followed the Trump
transition... yet. Can any of them follow us out of Shadow?" She
snorts, "A regular human can follow if we're walking. These - well, it
wouldn't fit their style not to figure out a way, if we're so foolish
as to let on. Which means inevitable their enemies would take the
knowledge." He nods, "So, no retreating off-Shadow, your plan?" She
nods, but he sounded like he already expected it as they Trump again.
She grins, delighted, "Piccadilly! Haven't been back HERE since I was
little." They remove their masks and put on party-style rubber-banded
ones, and dance out of the doorway's shelter together. Blending in
with the throng, they move easily through the celebrating. Anyone
attempting to follow their course through the pack may be fairly
noticeable, however.

<OOC: Not trying to be too difficult, Fuzzy, if you have a way to find
'em, go ahead. They're just too practiced at infiltration to make it
too easy for you all to spot 'em quickly. For ease of play, I'll TRY
and never shadow-shift any game detail already specified by anyone
else. If I goof on that, someone point it out, and I'll change my
actions.>
Character's Page (see a Trump of Ziactrice, AKA Ghost) at:
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Vault/9524/
===========================

Date: Wed, 4 Mar 1998 06:36:07 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: It's too quiet

On Wed, 4 Mar 1998 09:20:57 -0600 In Message # 00002927
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001140 Michael Jon Knight said:

>On Tue, 3 Mar 98 22:35:02 -0800 In Message # 00002924
> In alt.callahans Post # 00001137 Roland X said:
>
>   *And this would have nothing to do with Time Lord animosity toward
>Cybermen, of course,* Roland quips.

/Cybermen mean nothing to the Time Lords. -Daleks- are another story
all together./ Knytt smirks.

><And if they're trying to draw us out, it's already worked,*> Morgan
>notes.

/Look at it this way, better to try and assimilate us than let what's
left of Humanity be assimilated. For that matter, better than letting
the Grey be assimilated./ Knytt sends, /Girls, can you give me a lift
to your location?/ In reply, Knytt vanished to reappear next to the
twins.

>   Roland's eyes glaze over for a moment. *Hey, it may not be pretty,
>but it's impressive work all the same. Hacking the Collective without
>my...advantages..takes some doing.*

/You're not staring at a dozen Borg fashion consultants, Roland./
Knytt sends.

/Don't be TOO impressed, Dad./ Melissa sends, /We just jammed the
Collective frequency and took it over in this area. Nemo did want them
intact./

>   Roland shrugs. *Not really-*
>   Then his brain re-engages.
>   *I'm going to rewire that bastich into a toaster when I catch up
>to him,* Roland snarls. *But first things first.* Roland's eyes roll
>back, and his thoughts flicker out, reaching into the Collective.
>(OOC: OK, Gamer, what do I find?)

Knytt takes a close look at one of the Borg. /Yeah...this DOES look
like some of the Controller's handiwork./

/Father,/ Grep sends, pointing toward a nearby spot, /There is a
residual trace of an X-Window opening there, but it has decayed to the
point we can't follow it back to its origin. It matches a filed
pattern labeled as being used by the Controller./

/Nemo,/ Knytt sends, /It would appear negotiations will be out of the
question, though if you have any further use for these Borg, feel
free. Otherwise, the girls can wipe the Controller's code and march
them back to Borg space./
===========================

Date: Wed, 4 Mar 1998 07:08:43 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: It's too quiet

On Wed, 4 Mar 1998 08:21:30 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002928
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001141 Driscoll said:

> On Tue, 3 Mar 98 22:35:02 -0800 In Message # 00002924
>  In alt.callahans Post # 00001137 Roland X said:
>
>    Roland shrugs. *Not really-*
>    Then his brain re-engages.
>    *I'm going to rewire that bastich into a toaster when I catch up
> to him,* Roland snarls. *But first things first.* Roland's eyes roll
> back, and his thoughts flicker out, reaching into the Collective.

 The Collective is much quieter than it should be. It seems only the
voices of the Borg in London are present right now. And their
thoughts, save for stray observations seem to be all on a particular
set of directives right now.
 Priority 1: Clear a 6 block radius of all intrusive beings
 Priority 2: Engadge the Army of Light in Combat referring to
hardwiring for target specifications.
 Priority 3: Assimilate any forgein technology or Members of the Army
of Light into the collective.
===========================

Date: Wed, 4 Mar 1998 12:31:51 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: Aae:First contact

On Wed, 4 Mar 1998 12:03:15 PST In Message # 00002931
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001144 Nemo said:

> As 18 Borg start giving each other fashion tips, Melissa sends
> /Nemo, if you want this bunch, they are yours. We can release them
> back to the Collective if you would rather deal with that, but it
> isn't a Borg Queen you'll be talking with, some hackerwannabe has
> totally trashed what used to be some elegant code./

/There's the remains of some clothing shops two blocks north. Nudge
them that way, and they ought to be safe until we are ready to trace
back the link to their collective. I think we need to have a word with
that 'hackerwannabee'./
===========================

Date: Wed, 4 Mar 1998 13:08:21 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: First contact

On Wed, 4 Mar 1998 12:29:49 PST In Message # 00002932
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001145 Nemo said:

Nemo sends:

/Urgent! Do *not* destroy Borg unit. Immobilize only. We're apparently
dealing with a hive type "swarm and destroy" reflex. Every time we
destroy a unit, it causes the collective to swarm the location to
destroy the attacker. We can't afford that sort of positive feedback
loop./

/I'm going to try immobilizing the bio components. Put on your filter
masks and keep an eye out for humans in precarious positions. Any
unprotected humans will be asleep shortly.../

Nemo concentrates and a wave of change spreads out from his location.
The atmospheric nitrogen is replaced by Xenon gas. Being totally
inert, it won't cause any fire hazards, nor toxicity problems. But it
has an interesting property. As it is absorbed into tissue, it acts
like an anaesthetic. He's already scaned the Borg to make sure it
works on their biology. It'll eventually diffuse into the atmosphere
surrounding the city, but that'll take hours.

While the Borg may be prepared for toxins, the odds strongly favor
them not having that obscure behavior of high concentrations of xenon
in the "working" files. They may be able to figure out what happened
*afterwards*, but not beforehand.

Next Nemo starts attempting to take over the link back to the
collective, so as to feed it false data.
===========================

Date: Wed, 4 Mar 1998 13:08:41 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: It's too quiet

On Wed, 4 Mar 1998 12:16:17 PST In Message # 00002933
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001146 Nemo said:

> /Nemo,/ Knytt sends, /It would appear negotiations will be out of
> the question, though if you have any further use for these Borg,
> feel free. Otherwise, the girls can wipe the Controller's code and
> march them back to Borg space./

/Hmmm. How would the rest of you feel about redirecting these Borg
against the Greys?/

Menawhile, Nemo shifts to a point near the group of 50 Borg and
attempts to tap the link back to their new "Collective".

<OOC: that the trouble with using critters like the borg. They *have*
to have a high bandwidth link back to the main group. Which can be
traced.>
===========================

Date: Wed, 4 Mar 1998 16:20:09 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: Aae:First contact

On Wed, 4 Mar 1998 16:00:15 -0600 In Message # 00002934
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001147 Michael Jon Knight said:

>On Wed, 4 Mar 1998 12:03:15 PST In Message # 00002931
> In alt.callahans Post # 00001144 Nemo said:
>
>/There's the remains of some clothing shops two blocks north. Nudge
> them that way, and they ought to be safe until we are ready to trace
> back the link to their collective. I think we need to have a word
> with that 'hackerwannabee'./

As Knytt finishes his examinations of the altered Borg, Melissa
finishes her retouching of the Borg's program. Grep, meanwhile, has
been working on a substitute for local currency, food being the
primary denomination. A dozen wheelbarrows full of canned food, plus
twelve sacks of can openers are dispersed among the Borg Fashion
Brigade.

"State priorities," Melissa says, just before releasing them.

The borge reply in unison:
"Priority 1: Get a fashion clue.
"Priority 2: Trade clothing for food.
"Priority 3: Wait for the Queen's return.
"Priority 4: Disregard others' claims to the throne.
"Priority 5: Smile. It lifts the face...."

"Ok, that's enough." Melissa says, "You have your marching orders,
execute."

/Just how many priorities did you program?/ Knytt asks.

/1,274./ Melissa sends in reply, /Mostly quotes from old _Cosmo_
magazines. I also randomized the directory structure, renamed all the
files, and rewrote any recovery programs in spaghetti code and
switched bits of one program for another. Anyone wanting to do a
recovery of the original Controller systems will have to recompile the
recovery programs, with all the program pieces in the proper
locations, rename all the files back to their original names, and
unrandomize the directories./

/Uh, and how long will it take you to recover the original program?/

/Couple minutes./ Melissa smiles with some pride, /I know where
everything goes. But it should make for years of work for anyone not
having the key. I also added a few viruses that should stop anyone
from erasing the whole thing and starting fresh. While their storage
mediums are reformatted, their monitors will show Barney videos.
Humans seem to dislike him./

/Can't argue there,/ Knytt smirks.

The Borg Fashion Brigade start their walk for the clothing stores,
complaining about a distinct lack of Starbucks in the vicinity, as
Knytt and the twins teleport elsewhere.
===========================

Date: Wed, 4 Mar 1998 16:20:20 -0800 (PST)
Subject: AAE IV: It ain't quiet no more!

On Wed, 04 Mar 1998 14:40:28 In Message # 00002935
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001148 Morgan said:

>On Wed, 4 Mar 1998 08:21:30 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002928
> In alt.callahans Post # 00001141 Driscoll said:
>
>> On Tue, 3 Mar 98 22:35:02 -0800 In Message # 00002924
>>  In alt.callahans Post # 00001137 Roland X said:
>>
>>    *I'm going to rewire that bastich into a toaster when I catch up
>> to him,* Roland snarls. *But first things first.* Roland's eyes
>> roll back, and his thoughts flicker out, reaching into the
>> Collective.

<OOC: ...And I'll assume this is where the 50 new Borg gate in,
collect the "spidroid", and start setting up a perimeter....>

> The Collective is much quieter than it should be. It seems only the
>voices of the Borg in London are present right now. And their
>thoughts, save for stray observations seem to be all on a particular
>set of directives right now.
> Priority 1: Clear a 6 block radius of all intrusive beings
> Priority 2: Engadge the Army of Light in Combat referring to
>hardwiring for target specifications.
> Priority 3: Assimilate any forgein technology or Members of the Army
>of Light into the collective.

   Roland notes the arrival of the new Borg. *Time to go,* he mutters,
and he and Morgan become invisible. His photokinesis masks them on all
frequencies from radio to gamma waves.

Then,
>On Wed, 4 Mar 1998 12:29:49 PST In Message # 00002932
> In alt.callahans Post # 00001145 Nemo said:
>
>/Urgent! Do *not* destroy Borg unit. Immobilize only. We're
> apparently dealing with a hive type "swarm and destroy" reflex.
> Every time we destroy a unit, it causes the collective to swarm the
> location to destroy the attacker. We can't afford that sort of
> positive feedback loop./

<*No shit!*> Morgan agrees enthusiastically. <*Twelve I could handle,
but this is rapidly becoming diminishing returns.*>

>/I'm going to try immobilizing the bio components. Put on your filter
> masks and keep an eye out for humans in precarious positions. Any
> unprotected humans will be asleep shortly.../

<*Done,*> Morgan sends as she complies.

   Roland concentrates for a moment and his attire changes to his
mecha armor.

And again,
>On Wed, 4 Mar 1998 12:16:17 PST In Message # 00002933
> In alt.callahans Post # 00001146 Nemo said:
>
>/Hmmm. How would the rest of you feel about redirecting these Borg
> against the Greys?/

   *Good idea,* Roland sends, withdrawing his mind from the
collective.

<*Like someone said, get our enemies to fight each other. Sounds like
a plan to me,*> Morgan agrees.

>Menawhile, Nemo shifts to a point near the group of 50 Borg and
>attempts to tap the link back to their new "Collective".

   *Try to convince the Collective that they've accomplished their
mission. Maybe we can draw out whoever sent them.*

<*Or _what_ever,*> Morgan adds.
===========================

Date: Wed, 4 Mar 1998 18:31:54 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Contacting Pavement

On Wed, 4 Mar 1998 20:21:28 -0600 In Message # 00002939
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001152 Zia said:

<<Okay, either way, my chars wind up the same sit. And you're both
correct in how shadow-shifting works. Playing with reality can be so
dangerously like a Wish.>>

So, in the food riot....

As the two figures in black 'ghost' down the street, the woman says
softly, noting the progress of the food riot, "Somehow, I don't think
that worked quite the way I thought it would." Hearing no answer, she
turns, and seeing everyone collapsing in a wave down the street, she
has just enough time to kneel down next to her fallen companion,
muttering, "James?!?" as her own body quickly slumps and falls over
him just like all the others.
===========================

Date: Wed, 4 Mar 1998 22:33:40 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Contacting Pavement

On Wed, 04 Mar 1998 22:01:48 In Message # 00002940
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001153 Morgan said:

>On Wed, 4 Mar 1998 20:21:28 -0600 In Message # 00002939
> In alt.callahans Post # 00001152 Zia said:
>
><<Okay, either way, my chars wind up the same sit. And you're both
>correct in how shadow-shifting works. Playing with reality can be so
>dangerously like a Wish.>>

   (OOC: Same thing, isn't it? <g>)

>So, in the food riot....

   *Oh great,* Roland sends, as the massive wave of fear and rage
emanating from the mob reaches him. *The Greys will _love_ this. We'd
better go get those people under cover.* And with that, Roland and
Morgan vanish.

>As the two figures in black 'ghost' down the street, the woman says
>softly, noting the progress of the food riot, "Somehow, I don't think
>that worked quite the way I thought it would."
>Hearing no answer, she turns, and seeing everyone collapsing in a
>wave down the street, she has just enough time to kneel down next to
>her fallen companion, muttering, "James?!?" as her own body quickly
>slumps and falls over him just like all the others.

   "Oh, bloody nass," Roland mutters. "Now, instead of a mob of
enraged targets, we're protecting a pile of _helpless_ targets."
Roland reaches into the mass of unconscious people with PK, moving
them to cover as quickly as he can. Until something jars his efforts.
   *What the grife?* He blinks at the young lady, 5'4" and thin, who
weighs upwards of 700 pounds.

Morgan adds her scans to Roland's. <*Slight temporal anomaly,*> she
comments. <*Fuzzy, I think we may have found your reality-shifter.*>
Something about the way the woman is draped over the man beneath her
catches Morgan's attention. His clothing is as out of place in the mob
as the woman's. She scans him, and sends, <*This guy, too. Not _quite_
the same, but these definitely aren't locals.*>

   *Hmm. Odd resonance. It seems vaguely familiar, but I can't place
it. I'm sensing impressive power, though.* Roland puts the lady back
down and leans over her, studying her dispassionately. *Maybe her
powers are similar to my own. My kind are vulnerable to toxins as
well, though since Xenon is inert, it probably wouldn't affect me as
dramatically.* He looks at the man...and blinks. His eyes lock onto
the bulge in his front pocket. *Trumps. Grife.* Picking up the
question in Morgan's thoughs, he explains with one word.
   *Amberites.* He holds his head in a vain attempt to stave off a
headache.

<*That's still not much of an explanation,*> Morgan replies.

   *They're a bumch of nearly-immortal worldwalkers with almost
godlike powers over realities not their own, and a reputation for
treating anyone not of their own dimension as 'less real.' A guy named
Brand came to our reality from an Amber, looking to make our world his
own. Atlan sent him packing.* Roland scowls. *Some of the younger ones
are decent enough, so I've heard, but Byron's sword wasn't called the
'Shadow Brand' for nothing.*

Morgan shudders slightly at the mention of Roland's former adversary.
<*So what do we do with these two? The last thing we need right now
are more wild cards.*> Roland winces at the last part. <*What?*>
Morgan stares at her beloved for a moment, until his knowledge of the
Trumps filters through to her. <*Okay. That pun really _was_
unintentional.*>

   *I know, love. That only makes it worse.* Morgan sighs as Roland
shakes his head. *My first encounter after being told what I am was
with Amberites. (OOC: My first RPG as Roland was in an Amber-style
campaign, so this is true in many ways.) I think the best thing to do
would be to introduce ourselves, and be coolly polite.*

<*Good enough,*> Morgan agrees, <*but I meant what do we do with them
_now_. We don't know how long they'll be asleep, and I don't think we
want to sit here while we wait to find out.*>

   Roland sighs heavily. *Good point. Let's get the others under
cover, then bring these two to a neutral location where I can wake
them up. Nemisis, please send a split or two. Fuzzy, Knytt, you two
seem to have some experience with Amberites, and I wouldn't mind the
backup.* Roland finally gives up on moving the crowd, and just puts a
building over them, careful not to crush anyone. He levitates himself,
Morgan, and the two visitors to the top floor.
   *And Nemo?* Roland's mental 'voice' is one filled with the sudden
dread of unwanted realization. *Just how large an area did you fill
with Xenon?*

>Character's Page (see a Trump of Ziactrice, AKA Ghost) at:
>http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Vault/9524/

   (OOC: When Ghost wakes up, Roland 'feels' a lot like an Amberite,
but his powers are almost identical to those of a member of the
Courts. She'll pick this up if she uses the Pattern to 'scan' him.
Morgan, being of a different paradigm, doesn't.)
   (OOC 2: Do you have Shadow Knight? Lots of neat new Amber RPG stuff
from the second five books. BTW, you might want to be careful how you
use the word 'Shadow;' the B5 fans in the group might become
confused-IC as well as OOC...)
===========================

Date: Wed, 4 Mar 1998 23:02:18 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Contacting Pavement

On Wed, 4 Mar 1998 22:55:15 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002941
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001154 fuzzy said:

> On Wed, 04 Mar 1998 22:01:48 In Message # 00002940
>  In alt.callahans Post # 00001153 Morgan said:
>
>>On Wed, 4 Mar 1998 20:21:28 -0600 In Message # 00002939
>> In alt.callahans Post # 00001152 Zia said:
>>
> Morgan adds her scans to Roland's. <*Slight temporal anomaly,*> she
> comments. <*Fuzzy, I think we may have found your reality-shifter.*>

\Be right there, I had noticed some kind of a locus shift from where I
first noticed them and then from Big Ben and was still trying to
figure out which way it had gone from Big Ben...\

> <*Good enough,*> Morgan agrees, <*but I meant what do we do with
> them _now_. We don't know how long they'll be asleep, and I don't
> think we want to sit here while we wait to find out.*>

\They should be asleep until a few minutes after the Xenon is switched
back to Nitrogen in the atmosphere they are breathing...\

>    Roland sighs heavily. *Good point. Let's get the others under
> cover, then bring these two to a neutral location where I can wake
> them up. Nemisis, please send a split or two. Fuzzy, Knytt, you two
> seem to have some experience with Amberites, and I wouldn't mind the
> backup.* Roland finally gives up on moving the crowd, and just puts
> a building over them, careful not to crush anyone. He levitates
> himself, Morgan, and the two visitors to the top floor.

As Fuzzy Arrives... \Never even heard of Amber before.
  I've also never encountered anyone other than Gods that can
manipulate the Dreams of an area the way I can, and these two have far
more ability to make mass effects than I can...\

<OOC: OC I've read up to just before Merlin's coronation.>

"You realize that these two have an Energy field simular to but less
... Bound than yours?" \There is also something different about her
Field, Like there might be more than one overlaping source...\
===========================

Date: Wed, 4 Mar 1998 23:02:33 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Contacting Pavement

On Wed, 4 Mar 1998 22:58:52 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002942
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001155 Nemisis said:

> On Wed, 04 Mar 1998 22:01:48 In Message # 00002940
>  In alt.callahans Post # 00001153 Morgan said:
<snip>
>    Roland sighs heavily. *Good point. Let's get the others under
> cover, then bring these two to a neutral location where I can wake
> them up. Nemisis, please send a split or two. Fuzzy, Knytt, you two
> seem to have some experience with Amberites, and I wouldn't mind the
> backup.* Roland finally gives up on moving the crowd, and just puts
> a building over them, careful not to crush anyone. He levitates
> himself, Morgan, and the two visitors to the top floor.

\#Three splits enroute Lord Roland,
  Three more after a short Fishing trip,
   Hunger to this degree needs to be dealt with, so that they can
   understand and accept our Aid.#\
===========================

Date: Wed, 4 Mar 1998 23:55:49 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: First contact

On Thu, 5 Mar 1998 01:10:53 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002944
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001157 Driscoll said:

> On Wed, 4 Mar 1998 12:29:49 PST In Message # 00002932
>  In alt.callahans Post # 00001145 Nemo said:
>
> While the Borg may be prepared for toxins, the odds strongly favor
> them not having that obscure behavior of high concentrations of
> xenon in the "working" files. They may be able to figure out what
> happened *afterwards*, but not beforehand.

 The Borg drop almost too easily, too perfectly. There is no
resistance against the Xenon at all. it's as if a switch were turned
off. A few more spidroids detatch themselves and transmit more
numerical code over the strange signal and soon another X-window
opens. Borg begin filing out of it to gather up the fallen Borg and
carry them back through while others take the posts of the Fallen
Borg. And finally a group of Borg adapted for more technical work
begin coming out carrying materials. Following behind them are a dozen
or so R2 units and a couple of unidentifiable larger robots obviously
ment for doing very heavy labor. They move to the center of the area
being cleared by the Borg and begin to construct something.

> Next Nemo starts attempting to take over the link back to the
> collective, so as to feed it false data.
 As stated before the link doesn't GO back to the main collective it
only seems to reach to the Borg in this universe. Of those, the fifty
have the same priorities stated before, the new workers seem to have
no priorities. They almost appear to be having independed creative
thought in their building except that all of them (including the R2
units and Lumox robots) seem to be linked still in their creative
processes.
===========================

Date: Thu, 5 Mar 1998 00:19:02 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Contacting Pavement

On Thu, 5 Mar 1998 01:49:49 -0600 In Message # 00002945
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001158 Michael Jon Knight said:

>On Wed, 4 Mar 1998 22:55:15 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002941
> In alt.callahans Post # 00001154 fuzzy said:
>
>As Fuzzy Arrives...
>\Never even heard of Amber before.
>  I've also never encountered anyone other than Gods that can
>manipulate the Dreams of an area the way I can, and these two have
>far more ability to make mass effects than I can...\

/What he said./ Knytt's mental voice replies as nearby air molecules
unanimously come to the decision to merge and form Knytt. The twins
are in the street below, replicating foodstuffs for the hungry masses.

/At least about hearing of Amber. I didn't follow much of the rest,/
Knytt grins sheepishly. He idly fidgets with one of the straps on his
wristcomputer, thinking.

/Dreamtime./ Knytt says dazedly, then starts and looks confused. /Ever
feel like someone is whispering secrets in your ear? Dreamtime...is
their sort of deal similar to a Dreamtime where someone's dreams and
reality become one and the same? So they can change the world with a
change of their mind? Or is that what the cards are for?/
===========================

Date: Thu, 5 Mar 1998 00:29:32 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: The Smell of Xenon in London

On Thu, 5 Mar 1998 02:00:15 -0600 In Message # 00002946
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001159 Zia said:

Roland: (OOC: When Ghost wakes up, Roland 'feels' a lot like an
Amberite, but his powers are almost identical to those of a member of
the Courts. She'll pick this up if she uses the Pattern to 'scan' him.
Morgan, being of a different paradigm, doesn't.)

     Ghost has already scanned him and anyone else who shows six ways
to Sunday before she 'wakes' up. (Roland was on the right track, just
like him the xenon didn't affect her as dramatically. In fact, not
hardly at all. But since her companion went down, she played along.
Since he did no active prying, her ruse wasn't detected.)
     As Fuzzy inspects their 'Fields' she does all she can (in a
passive way) to hide whatever details she may (which isn't much). She
takes advantage of the 'few minutes' they expect her to be asleep to
do careful (and remote) Pattern-lensed scans of the arriving CAoLers
she hasn't had a chance to see yet. As this is internal to her, it
shouldn't set off any alarms. It won't show much, either, but that's
the breaks.
     Finally, she flinches (exactly like someone waking startled, with
a muscle jerk) and rolls smoothly to check on her companion. That seen
to, as he wakes, she looks around at the circle with a neutral (truly
Oriental neutral, for you fine detail sorts) expression. She stands,
slowly, keeping her hands a bit away from the body; her diminutive
height and very hourglass outline make the motion seem to cut off a
bit soon. Her eyes are very light blue and her skin very fair. The man
sits up with a suppressed groan. (Don't think anyone searched them,
just looked at what could be seen easily, right?)
     Her eyes skim over everyone lightly, although one eyebrow quirks
the slightest bit at the Nemisis, Nemisis, Nemisis line up. The man
shakes his head once with a tired (or disgusted?) sounding sigh, and
stand up but keeps his hands clear of his ninja-to. His eyes are a
perfect match, however, for hers. They then wait until someone talks.

Roland: (OOC 2: Do you have Shadow Knight? Lots of neat new Amber RPG
stuff from the second five books. BTW, you might want to be careful
how you use the word 'Shadow;' the B5 fans in the group might become
confused - IC as well as OOC...)

     OOC: Yes, I do. Very neat stuff. I meant it to be a little
confusing. I'm also a B5 fan. Although generally, it's plain that I'm
talking about a plane rather than a pain. <Duck, dodge, roll...> My
characters won't use it, however, as it's not used much except to
another Amberite except for those so obnoxious as not to care (i.e.
BRAND).
-----------
Relevant quote for the post:
"Charm is getting the answer yes without asking a clear question."
===========================

Date: Thu, 5 Mar 1998 01:02:02 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: The Smell of Xenon in London

On Thu, 5 Mar 1998 00:46:57 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002947
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001160 fuzzy said:

> On Thu, 5 Mar 1998 02:00:15 -0600 In Message # 00002946
>  In alt.callahans Post # 00001159 Zia said:
>
>    Finally, she flinches (exactly like someone waking startled, with
> a muscle jerk) and rolls smoothly to check on her companion. That
> seen to, as he wakes, she looks around at the circle with a neutral
> (truly Oriental neutral, for you fine detail sorts) expression. She
> stands, slowly, keeping her hands a bit away from the body; her
> diminutive height and very hourglass outline make the motion seem to
> cut off a bit soon. Her eyes are very light blue and her skin very
> fair. The man sits up with a suppressed groan. (Don't think anyone
> searched them, just looked at what could be seen easily, right?)

Roland had a look at the Trumps...
Fuzzy is still wearing his Cloak of Dreams.

>    Her eyes skim over everyone lightly, although one eyebrow quirks
> the slightest bit at the Nemisis, Nemisis, Nemisis line up. The man
> shakes his head once with a tired (or disgusted?) sounding sigh, and
> stand up but keeps his hands clear of his ninja-to. His eyes are a
> perfect match, however, for hers. They then wait until someone
> talks.

The Nemisis Splits are busy helping the twins see that everyone get
fed.

"Well I have A Question, How the blazes do you handle having that much
Dream running through your system?"

From Nemisis Direct to Fuzzy
{!}

"Sorry let me start off, I am Fuzzy
  A Cat-Changeling Esper, Mage, and Techno."
===========================

Date: Thu, 5 Mar 1998 05:32:30 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: The Smell of Xenon in London

On Thu, 5 Mar 1998 07:05:21 -0600 In Message # 00002948
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001161 Zia said:

|> (Don't think anyone searched them, just looked at what could be
|> seen easily, right?)
|
| Roland had a look at the Trumps...
     OCCQ: Did he actually take 'em away and keep 'em, or just look at
where they were? Or look and then returned them? Not quite clear to
me.

| The Nemisis Splits are busy helping the twins see that everyone get
| fed.
     OCC: Need a score card for who's on the scene... <g>

<snip Fuzzy's question about Dream in their systems, and intro>

Her mouth quirks, in unmistakable ironic humor as she gives him a very
Japanese 5 cm bow, and says, in polite recognition tones, "Lord Fuzzy;
it would seem one of the more apropos names I've had occasion to
learn." She glances at the rest of them, "Call me Zia. I don't think I
properly understood the question; I wasn't asleep long enough to begin
dreaming. But don't you have matters of more moment than introductions
to deal with?" She sounds a bit confused by their attention, as if she
doesn't feel that important.

If Roland (or anyone else) has taken the Trumps, she'll ask for them
back. Politely. ("Ah, thank you for making sure those came to no harm.
May I please have my cards back now?)
===========================

Date: Thu, 5 Mar 1998 07:04:02 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: The Smell of Xenon in London

On Thu, 5 Mar 1998 08:10:23 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002949
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001162 Driscoll said:

> On Thu, 5 Mar 1998 07:05:21 -0600 In Message # 00002948
>  In alt.callahans Post # 00001161 Zia said:
>
>    OCC: Need a score card for who's on the scene... <g>

 A small fuzzy frog comes hopping across the pavement. It stops to
look at everyone, chuckles, then hops over to a storm drain, turns
into tapioca pudding and slips through to the sewers.
===========================

Date: Thu, 5 Mar 1998 12:33:26 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: The Smell of Xenon in London

On Thu, 05 Mar 1998 12:25:41 In Message # 00002950
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001163 Morgan said:

>On Thu, 5 Mar 1998 07:05:21 -0600 In Message # 00002948
> In alt.callahans Post # 00001161 Zia said:
>
>    OCCQ: Did he actually take 'em away and keep 'em, or just look at
>where they were? Or look and then returned them? Not quite clear to
>me.

<OOC: Speaking for my hunny who's at work, I believe he just noticed
them in the pocket but didn't take them out. His resonance powers are
psychic, so he could tell what they were without removing them.
Touching them would have been rude :-).>

>    OCC: Need a score card for who's on the scene... <g>

<OOC: Noticed that, hm? ;-)>

>Her mouth quirks, in unmistakable ironic humor as she gives him a
>very Japanese 5 cm bow, and says, in polite recognition tones, "Lord
>Fuzzy; it would seem one of the more apropos names I've had occasion
>to learn." She glances at the rest of them, "Call me Zia. I don't
>think I properly understood the question; I wasn't asleep long enough
>to begin dreaming. But don't you have matters of more moment than
>introductions to deal with?" She sounds a bit confused by their
>attention, as if she doesn't feel that important.

"Yes, but nothing of such immediate import as to excuse rudeness."
Morgan smiles. "I'm Morgan Daire (pron. DIE-ray) of Clan Fhaoilcheire
(pron. FALL-key-are), and this is my husband Roland Phoenix."

<pause for others to introduce themselves if they want>

Morgan's tone and demeanor remain warmly polite. "Not meaning to pry,
but since we _are_ in a bit of a war zone, I'm sure we'd all like to
know what you are doing in this reality."

<OOC from Roland: "Who _are_ you?" "What do you _want_?" <grin> >

>On Thu, 5 Mar 1998 08:10:23 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002949
> In alt.callahans Post # 00001162 Driscoll said:
>
> A small fuzzy frog comes hopping across the pavement. It stops to
>look at everyone, chuckles, then hops over to a storm drain, turns
>into tapioca pudding and slips through to the sewers.

<OOC: I didn't see that. I'm very deliberatly _not_ seeing that! :-)

<sigh> No, wait, Morgan knows Driscoll too well to not catch wind of
that energy. So....>

<*Chaos!*> Morgan sends a generalized mental shout (not loud enough to
hurt anyone's 'ears'), knowing full well Chaos can 'hear' her if he
wants to. <*Chaos, get your mercurial butt back here! What did you do
with Roscoe and Squee?*> She hesitates for a moment, then adds with a
resigned tone, <*And Driscoll.*>

<OOC: IIRC, Roscoe and Squee dropped off the link at the same time
Chaos sent Driscoll to "think over his decision", and that was the
last we heard from any of them.>
===========================

Date: Thu, 5 Mar 1998 14:32:26 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Polite Greetings on a Rooftop

On Thu, 5 Mar 1998 17:25:31 -0600 In Message # 00002951
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001164 Zia said:

<Re: Roland handling/taking Trumps from James.>
| <LJW: OOC: Speaking for my hunny who's at work, I believe he just
| noticed them in the pocket but didn't take them out. His resonance
| powers are psychic, so he could tell what they were without removing
| them. Touching them would have been rude :-).>

<Out of Sam's Character: Thought so. Not very superhero-ish to pick
pockets.>

<Re: Scorecard! 8:-) >
Place Holder: London Re: Furry Frogs, Borg, and Amberites, Oh MY!
Setting: Apocalyptic London by Alien Invasion, top story of building
covering the comatose humans from a food riot.
Chars IIAH (involved in action here): Roland, Morgan, Fuzzy, Knytt,
Chaos, Zia, and James {if I missed you, please add in.}

<snip Fuzzy's question about Dream in their systems, and intro, Zia's
return bow & comments that they MUST have better things to do.>

| "Yes, but nothing of such immediate import as to excuse rudeness."
| Morgan smiles. "I'm Morgan Daire (pron. DIE-ray) of Clan
| Fhaoilcheire (pron. FALL-key-are), and this is my husband Roland
| Phoenix."

Zia bows again, still with the oddly grace-while-formal Japanese
manner, to each of them according the same 5 centimeters, and says
politely:
     "Komban-wa." <<Japanese translation: Good evening.>> "This one
honored to greet the lady of the line family of Druids Who Treasure
Philosophy, and her husband, the war chieftain of the descendants of
the Fiery Greater Beast."

| <pause for others to introduce themselves if they want>

Zia lets them all finish, this time then returns simply;
     "Greetings, bumon kara anshinritsumei." <<JPN: warrior
family/clan; from/out of/through/by/because; spiritual peace or
enlightenment.>> The last word has more than a touch of ironic
inflection, although she gives no sign or psi indication of just why
she finds it so.

| Morgan's tone and demeanor remain warmly polite. "Not meaning to
| pry, but since we _are_ in a bit of a war zone, I'm sure we'd all
| like to know what you are doing in this reality."

Zia is as polite as ever. "Not meaning to be insulting, but since you
_are_ from Mike's place I'm sure we'd both like to know why you are
prying." The short but packed brunette ALMOST starts imitating
Morgan's voice as well as her wording and tone - she restrains the
mimicry with somewhat of an effort. It seems almost reflexively
habitual.

<LVR: The "fuzzy frog" <ooSC: WHAT the ?!? No, please DON'T explain
this to me. It's more in character to be bamboozled.> hops chuckling
by, and puddings itself into the storm drain.>

Zia is puzzled, but relieved for the timely distraction. She grins at
the man who stands with/above her as if to say, 'See? The universe
LIKES me.'
===========================

Date: Thu, 5 Mar 1998 15:07:16 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Polite Greetings on a Rooftop

On Thu, 05 Mar 1998 14:59:36 In Message # 00002952
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001165 Morgan said:

>On Thu, 5 Mar 1998 17:25:31 -0600 In Message # 00002951
> In alt.callahans Post # 00001164 Zia said:
>
><Re: Scorecard! 8:-) >
>Place Holder: London Re: Furry Frogs, Borg, and Amberites, Oh MY!
>Setting: Apocalyptic London by Alien Invasion, top story of building
>covering the comatose humans from a food riot.
>Chars IIAH (involved in action here): Roland, Morgan, Fuzzy, Knytt,
>Chaos, Zia, and James {if I missed you, please add in.}

<OOC: I assume where we are Sil is. Roland can comment further on that
when he gets home.>

>| "Yes, but nothing of such immediate import as to excuse rudeness."
>| Morgan smiles. "I'm Morgan Daire (pron. DIE-ray) of Clan
>| Fhaoilcheire (pron. FALL-key-are), and this is my husband Roland
>| Phoenix."
>
>Zia bows again, still with the oddly grace-while-formal Japanese
>manner, to each of them according the same 5 centimeters, and says
>politely:
>    "Komban-wa." <<Japanese translation: Good evening.>> "This one
>honored to greet the lady of the line family of Druids Who Treasure
>Philosophy, and her husband, the war chieftain of the descendants of
>the Fiery Greater Beast."

<OOC: Just as a note, Faoilcheire is Gaelic for 'black wolf'. It's my
SCA clan, and my CAoL character grew out of my SCA persona. Not
important to the current conversation, though :-).>

>Zia is as polite as ever. "Not meaning to be insulting, but since you
>_are_ from Mike's place I'm sure we'd both like to know why you are
>prying." The short but packed brunette ALMOST starts imitating
>Morgan's voice as well as her wording and tone - she restrains the
>mimicry with somewhat of an effort. It seems almost reflexively
>habitual.

"Callahanians? No problem, then!" Morgan smiles broadly. "My
apologies, m'lady, but I wasn't aware of that bit of information.
Between the Greys and the Borg, and who knows who else, I hope can you
understand a bit of healthy paranoia."

>Zia is puzzled, but relieved for the timely distraction. She grins at
>the man who stands with/above her as if to say, 'See? The universe
>LIKES me.'

<OOC: Just an old, um, friend :-) wandering by. If he responds to my
call, you'll see soon enough <eg>.>
===========================

Date: Thu, 5 Mar 1998 17:05:21 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: First contact

On Thu, 5 Mar 1998 19:55:43 EST In Message # 00002953
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001166 Dane0R0A said:

In a message dated 98-03-05 02:56:20 EST, you write:
<<Driscoll wrote
  The Borg drop almost too easily, too perfectly. There is no
resistance against the Xenon at all. it's as if a switch were turned
off. A few more spidroids detatch themselves and transmit more
numerical code over the strange signal and soon another X-window
opens. Borg begin filing out of it to gather up the fallen Borg and
carry them back through while others take the posts of the Fallen
Borg. And finally a group of Borg adapted for more technical work
begin coming out carrying materials. Following behind them are a dozen
or so R2 units and a couple of unidentifiable larger robots obviously
ment for doing very heavy labor. They move to the center of the area
being cleared by the Borg and begin to construct something.
  >>
Armegedon reports " I just detected more of those sub-space signals.
Initiating jamming." Suiting actions to words, he begins jamming
sub-space communications.
===========================

Date: Thu, 5 Mar 1998 17:33:31 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: First contact

On Thu, 5 Mar 1998 20:09:52 -0500 (EST) In Message # 00002954
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001167 Xzerrion said:

On Wed, 4 Mar 1998 gamer wrote:
>> Next Nemo starts attempting to take over the link back to the
>> collective, so as to feed it false data.
>  As stated before the link doesn't GO back to the main collective it
> only seems to reach to the Borg in this universe. Of those, the
> fifty have the same priorities stated before, the new workers seem
> to have no priorities. They almost appear to be having independed
> creative thought in their building except that all of them
> (including the R2 units and Lumox robots) seem to be linked still in
> their creative processes.

Xzerrion finally decides to join the party and play with Borg. <* I
had an interesting idea. This is a hive-mind, right? So there should
be practically no resistance to mental attacks, and striking at one
would be like striking at all. *>

Xzerrion mutters and incantation, and the Borg's eyes begin to widen.
Whatever they most fear is seen moving towards them, closer and
closer, reaching out to touch ...
===========================

Date: Thu, 5 Mar 1998 17:33:42 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: The Smell of Xenon in London

On Thu, 5 Mar 1998 20:16:02 -0500 (EST) In Message # 00002955
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001168 Xzerrion said:

On Thu, 5 Mar 1998, Morgan wrote:
> "Yes, but nothing of such immediate import as to excuse rudeness."
> Morgan smiles. "I'm Morgan Daire (pron. DIE-ray) of Clan
> Fhaoilcheire (pron. FALL-key-are), and this is my husband Roland
> Phoenix."

Xzerrion steps forward and bows, occompanied by Tezrantha and Dantris.
"I'm Xzerrion Rilynt'tar, formerly of the third house of Undraeth.
This is my lady Tezrantha, and her companion Dantris." Tezrantha nods
graciously. Dantris whickers slightly.
===========================

Date: Thu, 5 Mar 1998 17:33:52 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Polite Greetings on a Rooftop

On Thu, 5 Mar 1998 17:18:44 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002956
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001169 fuzzy said:

> On Thu, 05 Mar 1998 14:59:36 In Message # 00002952
>  In alt.callahans Post # 00001165 Morgan said:
>
> "Callahanians? No problem, then!" Morgan smiles broadly. "My
> apologies, m'lady, but I wasn't aware of that bit of information.
> Between the Greys and the Borg, and who knows who else, I hope can
> you understand a bit of healthy paranoia."

"We are from Mike's Place, but we are not in Mikes Place, and time may
be important in terms of getting any pertenent info, Since you are
Callahanians, While the questions must stand, Answers are far more
optional. :) We feel sure that you will speak-up about if we should
know... ;)"
===========================

Date: Thu, 5 Mar 1998 20:35:58 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Polite Greetings on a Rooftop

On Thu, 5 Mar 1998 22:09:55 -0600 In Message # 00002957
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001170 Michael Jon Knight said:

>On Thu, 5 Mar 1998 17:25:31 -0600 In Message # 00002951
> In alt.callahans Post # 00001164 Zia said:
<snip>
>Zia bows again, still with the oddly grace-while-formal Japanese
>manner, to each of them according the same 5 centimeters, and says
>politely: "Komban-wa." <<Japanese translation: Good evening.>> "This
>one honored to greet the lady of the line family of Druids Who
>Treasure Philosophy, and her husband, the war chieftain of the
>descendants of the Fiery Greater Beast."

"Good evening, it is a pleasure to meet you both. I am Knytt."
(Pronounced: Knight) The brown haired, brown-eyed twenty-five-year-old
male motions toward two twenty-year=old platinum blonde twins, who
have just appeared. "These are my daughters, Melissa and Grep." The
twins bow, silver-grey eyes looking at the pair curiously.

>Zia lets them all finish, this time then returns simply; "Greetings,
>bumon kara anshinritsumei." <<JPN: warrior family/clan; from/out
>of/through/by/because; spiritual peace or enlightenment.>> The last
>word has more than a touch of ironic inflection, although she gives
>no sign or psi indication of just why she finds it so.

In Japanese, the twin referred to as Grep asks, "Is that not an
oxymoron? A peaceful warrior?"

>Zia is as polite as ever. "Not meaning to be insulting, but since you
>_are_ from Mike's place I'm sure we'd both like to know why you are
>prying." The short but packed brunette ALMOST starts imitating
>Morgan's voice as well as her wording and tone - she restrains the
>mimicry with somewhat of an effort. It seems almost reflexively
>habitual.

"There are times when that rule has been suspended," Knytt replies
easily, a southern drawl showing itself, "But even in those times, I
do not recall anyone being forced to answer. In our business, it can
be dangerous not to pry, but yes, we do try and live up to Callahan's
standards and prying is not Mike's Standard Operating Procedure. Since
if you wanted to kill us, you would have probably already done so, I
see no reason to continue that line of inquiry. You are correct that
we are involved with others who need our help at the moment and should
get back to them if you are not in need of our services, such that
they are, as well. If you are not, we apologize for delaying you from
your business, and will be on our way."

/Remember, we tracked -them- down. They may just be passing
through...if so, and they are such a danger if they stick around,
let's let them be on their way./

<OOC: It also means if we can't ask why you are here, we can't know
you might wish to join up. I hope the above will give you sufficent
oppertunity to offer without being snoopy. ;) We have been noted as
being a bit too accepting of new members in the past, letting them
join in without any questions asked, so we like to give new members a
light grilling (we usually skip the marinade, we like our RPers
tough), makes things more realistic. :) And lets you get acquainted
with everyone's style and characters at the same time.>
===========================

Date: Thu, 5 Mar 1998 22:03:55 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Polite Greetings on a Rooftop

On Fri, 6 Mar 1998 01:01:12 -0600 In Message # 00002958
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001171 Zia said:

Place Holder: London Re: Furry Frogs, Borg, and Amberites, Oh MY!
Setting: Apocalyptic London by Alien Invasion, top story of building
covering the comatose humans from a food riot.
Chars IIAH: Roland, Morgan, Fuzzy, Knytt, Chaos, Zia, Xzerrion,
Tezrantha, and her companion Dantris. Knytt, with daughters Melissa
and Grep.

<OOC: Just as a note, Faoilcheire is Gaelic for 'black wolf'. It's my
SCA clan, and my CAoL character grew out of my SCA persona. Not
important to the current conversation, though :-).>
<ooSC: All right; Zia was going from ancient Gaul, the closest tongue
she knows.>

<Re: Intros snippage>
Morgan:
"Callahanians? No problem, then!" Morgan smiles broadly. "My
apologies, m'lady, but I wasn't aware of that bit of information.
Between the Greys and the Borg, and who knows who else, I hope can you
understand a bit of healthy paranoia."

Zia simply shakes her head, as if misunderstood, but does not seem
troubled enough to attempt any further explanation as Fuzzy continues:

"We are from Mike's Place, but we are not in Mikes Place, and time may
be important in terms of getting any pertinent info, Since you are
Callahanians, While the questions must stand, Answers are far more
optional. :) We feel sure that you will speak-up about if we should
know... ;)"

Zia cocks her head and answers, building the haiku as she speaks,
"Mike's Place is
heartfelt
brought within
not without efforts
heartsore

Place is not
neither
Justin Mike
Callahanians
exist not."
She frowns, and mutters something about 'easier in Japanese'. The man
behind her grins at Zia's tanka poem, but as she speaks, removes the
deck of Trump from his pocket and sorts through, seeming to carefully
divide the cards into two sections.

<More intros follow, to which each time she bows still.>
| In Japanese, the twin referred to as Grep asks, "Is that not an
| oxymoron? A peaceful warrior?"

The short, curvaceous brunette shrugs, and remains facing the girls
and their 'father'. She seemed almost concerned once she saw Knytt,
but quickly it faded. She answers in English, noticing that the other
haven't readily understood the Nihongo. "Perhaps it is. But it is odd
you would have to ask me; it is the name of your own group. A joke or
play on words I would, indeed, agree with you as to that possibility
may have been in mind when the name of your band was chosen. Your own
seems also well chosen."

<Re: Prying Questions and Knytt's rejoinder>
| "There are times when that rule has been suspended," Knytt replies
| easily, a southern drawl showing itself, "But even in those times, I
| do not recall anyone being forced to answer. In our business, it can
| be dangerous not to pry, but yes, we do try and live up to
| Callahan's standards and prying is not Mike's Standard Operating
| Procedure. Since if you wanted to kill us, you would have probably
| already done so, I see no reason to continue that line of inquiry.
| You are correct that we are involved with others who need our help
| at the moment and should get back to them if you are not in need of
| our services, such that they are, as well. If you are not, we
| apologize for delaying you from your business, and will be on our
| way."

"Ah, well. Since you are polite enough to apologize for laying my
husband low, I shall relent and satisfy some of your paranoia. Though
methinks a closer word would be curiosity. I am not one for many words
of explanation, when not teaching. I find that actions prove more
strongly and more easily." "And thus, I shall stay and work with you
as I deem fit." The man hands her the slighter bundle of cards, and
she lays back against his chest for a long deep kiss. She sighs,
looking for all in the world like a love-struck older teen as she
says, "Ohhh, James..."

Then man grins, and gently rubs a side of her jaw before setting her
upright, and walking off towards the edge of the roof. He looks about
the circle of CAoLers, "Don't expect too much of her. She IS only a
nearly-immortal worldwalker with almost godlike powers over realities
not her own, and a reputation for treating anyone not of her own
dimension as 'less real', after all. But," he glances somewhat coolly
at Roland, "rumor-mongering and mud throwing isn't what I'd have
expected of you, either, hero." "Would it help you if I told you every
single one of your conceptions of her was untrue? Not that it matters.
Treat her well, no matter what, or I'll make sure you wish you had."
He grins a devil-may-care thin-lipped way, exposing a scar down one
cheek as it whitens a bit as muscles stretch, and then steps out onto
the air, and floats down (TK).

Zia sighs, "That wasn't a threat, although to you it must sound like
one. He's just used to dealing with quite a different kind of
personage. Now, I believe that you have work to do? I would like to
observe, if I may, for now."

Knytt:
| /Remember, we tracked -them- down. They may just be passing
| through...if so, and they are such a danger if they stick around,
| let's let them be on their way./
|
| <OOC: It also means if we can't ask why you are here, we can't know
| you might wish to join up. I hope the above will give you sufficent
| oppertunity to offer without being snoopy. ;) We have been noted as
| being a bit too accepting of new members in the past, letting them
| join in without any questions asked, so we like to give new members
| a light grilling (we usually skip the marinade, we like our Rpers
| tough), makes things more realistic. :) And lets you get acquainted
| with everyone's style and characters at the same time.>

<ooSC: Oh, yes. I was just setting it up to have only Zia stay. And
you may grill at leisure - just don't expect to be able to demand an
answer. Zia simply made it clear from the first that was how it would
be. And she doesn't believe in wasting time talking when you're not
going to believe her from that. Especially when this world and the
others are under attack.>
===========================

Date: Thu, 5 Mar 1998 22:49:39 -0800 (PST)
Subject: AAE IV: Patterns in Amber

On Thu, 5 Mar 98 22:41:33 -0800 In Message # 00002959
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001172 Roland X said:

>On Thu, 05 Mar 1998 14:59:36 In Message # 00002952
> In alt.callahans Post # 00001165 Morgan said:
>
><OOC: I assume where we are Sil is. Roland can comment further on
>that when he gets home.>

   Sil is _not_ there when they arrived. (Roland forgot her again.)
When she _does_ arrive, she throws Roland an annoyed glare, though she
doesn't even seem slightly winded from the run. (Sil is an astral
construct; her present body is of comparable height and weight to
Ziactrice. <g>)
   Roland doesn't even notice the glare. He is completely focused on
the new visitors.
   This worries Sil.
   *Morgan?* Sil asks. *Are you as worried as I am?*

<*About?*>

   *Roland seems very...distracted,* Sil explains as best she can...

<Snippage is irrelevant. You will be assimilated.>
>"Callahanians? No problem, then!" Morgan smiles broadly. "My
>apologies, m'lady, but I wasn't aware of that bit of information.
>Between the Greys and the Borg, and who knows who else, I hope can
>you understand a bit of healthy paranoia."

   Roland scowls furiously. (His face _is_ visible through the
faceplate, but looks like an anime rendering of himself. The effect is
astonishing.) "Morgan, she said _we_ are from the Place. She didn't
say anything about herself. Or her companion." Roland makes an attempt
at coolly polite, but the effort is obvious to the local bacteria, let
alone an Amberite. "Your ladyship, if your reality is not like the
Amber with which I am familiar, I apologize in advance, but I have had
my share of dealings with Oberon's brood." *Not Arcadia's Oberon,
guys-an impressive impostor.* "The rule only applies to Callahanians
or anyone in the Place. In my business, prying is part of the
territory. And quite frankly, Amberite...cleverness...is legendary."
   Roland crackles with energy, and ozone wafts from his armored form.
(OOC: Folx, he's been a lot more controlled lately; he is very
obviously upset.) "And if you _are_ from Lady Ariel, tell her to go
sit on a pike. I'm ready for her now." (OOC: Unless you want to, you
don't have a clue what he's talking about. If you _do_ want to be from
the same Amber, write to me in private and I'll give you a summary.)

>On Thu, 5 Mar 1998 01:10:53 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002944
> In alt.callahans Post # 00001157 Driscoll said:
>
<snip>
> The Borg drop almost too easily, too perfectly. There is no
>resistance against the Xenon at all. it's as if a switch were turned
>off. A few more spidroids detatch themselves and transmit more
>numerical code over the strange signal and soon another X-window
>opens. Borg begin filing out of it to gather up the fallen Borg and
>carry them back through while others take the posts of the Fallen
>Borg. And finally a group of Borg adapted for more technical work
>begin coming out carrying materials. Following behind them are a
>dozen or so R2 units and a couple of unidentifiable larger robots
>obviously ment for doing very heavy labor. They move to the center of
>the area being cleared by the Borg and begin to construct something.

   *Oh, even better,* Roland grumbles through the link. Since the Borg
aren't connected to the Collective, he simply disconnects them from
one another and erases their Priorities. They should now be standing
around motionless, awaiting further orders from the Collective.

<*Honey, do you think that's a good idea? What about the radio bugs?*>
Morgan comments.

   *It's covered,* Roland replies. *Armagedon's jamming them, and I
have more... permanent plans for them.*

> As stated before the link doesn't GO back to the main collective it
>only seems to reach to the Borg in this universe. Of those, the fifty
>have the same priorities stated before, the new workers seem to have
>no priorities. They almost appear to be having independed creative
>thought in their building except that all of them (including the R2
>units and Lumox robots) seem to be linked still in their creative
>processes.

   Roland hacks into the system and tries to convince them that
they've completed their mission. Failing that, he just turns them off.
Any spidroids are shorted out in advance, then magnetized to one
another. Soon, a fair sculpture of a Shadow appears near the workers.
*Better than a scarecrow,* Roland quips.
   The responding sighs from Morgan and Sil are in high-fidelity
stereo. <G>
===========================

Date: Thu, 5 Mar 1998 23:35:20 -0800 (PST)
Subject: AAE IV: (Less than) Polite Greetings

On Thu, 05 Mar 1998 23:21:37 In Message # 00002960
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001173 Morgan said:

>On Fri, 6 Mar 1998 01:01:12 -0600 In Message # 00002958
> In alt.callahans Post # 00001171 Zia said:
>
><OOC: Just as a note, Faoilcheire is Gaelic for 'black wolf'. It's my
>SCA clan, and my CAoL character grew out of my SCA persona. Not
>important to the current conversation, though :-).>
><ooSC: All right; Zia was going from ancient Gaul, the closest tongue
>she knows.>

<OOC: No prob. And you _did_ get the Dhaire=(aprox) druid. :-) "Of the
oaks" is a bit closer.>

>Then man grins, and gently rubs a side of her jaw before setting her
>upright, and walking off towards the edge of the roof. He looks about
>the circle of CAoLers, "Don't expect too much of her. She IS only a
>nearly-immortal worldwalker with almost godlike powers over realities
>not her own, and a reputation for treating anyone not of her own
>dimension as 'less real', after all. But," he glances somewhat coolly
>at Roland, "rumor-mongering and mud throwing isn't what I'd have
>expected of you, either, hero."

   (OOC: That was sent through the telepathic link; I use *these
symbols* to represent that. You may wish to revise James' commentary
if you missed that, or if he couldn't penetrate Roland's passive
mindshields. If the above was a mistake, the following of course does
not apply.)

<Another OOC: And I (Morgan) use <*this*>. We suggest that you check
the web site - I've listed many of our less common notations, and some
other notes that newcomers might find helpful. A FAQ of sorts, I
guess. URL is in the sig. :-) And if you plan on hanging around for a
while, send me a brief bio and let me know if you want a mailto link
and/or a link to your URL, and I'll add you to the "Charater" page.>

   Roland's eyes go wide for a moment, then narrow. If either of them
_is_ in his mind, his active mind shields kick in, and the intruder is
booted with a feeling of finality. "You have a lot of nerve, accusing
us of prying after that bit of mental intrusion. As for the rest,
relaying personal experience doesn't qualify as 'rumor-mongering,' the
last time I checked." Lightning begins to crackle around him.

>"Would it help you if I told you every single one of your conceptions
>of her was untrue? Not that it matters. Treat her well, no matter
>what, or I'll make sure you wish you had." He grins a devil-may-care
>thin-lipped way, exposing a scar down one cheek as it whitens a bit
>as muscles stretch, and then steps out onto the air, and floats down
>(TK).

Morgan quietly takes a sidestep away from her beloved as she hears a
'snap.'

   That snap is the last shard of Roland's patience shattering.
   In a flash of light, he transforms into his costumed-hero mode,
lightning raging around him as the Phoenix Rod snaps open in his hand.
The power surging around him is enough to break open a battleship.
"ANY TIME, MINDRIPPER," he replies, the PK around him causing his
voice to reverberate and amplify. His stance is defensive, but anyone
with real martial training can see the counterattacks built into the
move.

>Zia sighs, "That wasn't a threat, although to you it must sound like
>one. He's just used to dealing with quite a different kind of
>personage. Now, I believe that you have work to do? I would like to
>observe, if I may, for now."
>
>Knytt:
>| /Remember, we tracked -them- down. They may just be passing
>| through...if so, and they are such a danger if they stick around,
>let's let them be on their way./

^Roland.^ Morgan sends quietly on their private link, the tone
calming. "OK, folks, let's calm down. Zia, we did not deliberately
'lay your husband low' - you were caught in an effect we were using to
try to neutralize the Borg. And Roland was not intentionally insulting
_you_, merely commenting on the Amberites he has met before -
_privately_, I might add. Knytt, _we_ didn't 'track them down.' OK,
Fuzzy was looking for the source of the reality shift, but Roland and
I found them while trying to protect the locals caught in the
combination riot and xenon. Our 'prying' was based on the fact that we
had no idea whether you were friend or foe, since neither of you had
bothered to mention any connection to the Place before then." She
looks around. "Did I miss anything?" she adds with a wry grin.

   (OOC: If the intrusion took place)
   Roland steps back, the energies surging around him calming and
becoming more defensive, as does his posture. His eyes remain as
narrow as before, however. "Don't _ever_ invade my mind again." He
pauses to take a long breath. "Go where you wish. Just watch
yourselves, especially if you choose to travel alone. Borg are
entering this reality."

   (OOC: If not)
   Roland watches the whole byplay with calm reserve, almost amused by
this point. "Hey, you can't have too many big guns. I think we've had
more members than the Avengers at this point; one more fighting with
the good guys can't hurt."

<snip>
><ooSC: Oh, yes. I was just setting it up to have only Zia stay. And
>you may grill at leisure - just don't expect to be able to demand an
>answer. Zia simply made it clear from the first that was how it would
>be. And she doesn't believe in wasting time talking when you're not
>going to believe her from that. Especially when this world and the
>others are under attack.>

   (OOC: Roland's anger is IC; OOC I'm having a blast getting to play
him this riled. Just making sure that no one feels slighted.)
===========================

Date: Thu, 5 Mar 1998 23:35:33 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Polite Greetings on a Rooftop

On Fri, 6 Mar 1998 01:24:57 -0600 In Message # 00002961
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001174 Michael Jon Knight said:

>On Fri, 6 Mar 1998 01:01:12 -0600 In Message # 00002958
> In alt.callahans Post # 00001171 Zia said:
>
><Re: Intros snippage>
>Morgan:
>"Callahanians? No problem, then!" Morgan smiles broadly. "My
>apologies, m'lady, but I wasn't aware of that bit of information.
>Between the Greys and the Borg, and who knows who else, I hope can
>you understand a bit of healthy paranoia."
>
>Zia simply shakes her head, as if misunderstood, but does not seem
>troubled enough to attempt any further explanation as Fuzzy
>continues:

<OOC: Heh, I meant to mention this eventually as well, once it was
brought up.>

/Morgan, I believe that the Place reference was more a gentle
chastisement than a statement of origin./ Knytt smiles, /It would seem
a fine line to draw, but consider the Controller spied on us from
Callahan's Place, so, knowing of it doesn't always put one on the same
side. BTW, I take it no one is getting any details psychicly from our
potential friends?/

>She frowns, and mutters something about 'easier in Japanese'. The man
>behind her grins at Zia's tanka poem, but as she speaks, removes the
>deck of Trump from his pocket and sorts through, seeming to carefully
>divide the cards into two sections.

"Point taken." Knytt says, grinning slightly.

<snip of AoL pun>
>| In Japanese, the twin referred to as Grep asks, "Is that not an
>| oxymoron? A peaceful warrior?"
>
>The short, curvaceous brunette shrugs, and remains facing the girls
>and their 'father'. She seemed almost concerned once she saw Knytt,
>but quickly it faded. She answers in English, noticing that the other
>haven't readily understood the Nihongo. "Perhaps it is. But it is odd
>you would have to ask me; it is the name of your own group. A joke or
>play on words I would, indeed, agree with you as to that possibility
>may have been in mind when the name of your band was chosen. Your own
>seems also well chosen."

Knytt glances briefly toward the other twin, Melissa, as understanding
dawns on him. <OOC note: Normally, I would have replied, but since the
various Lenses that make up our group translate languages by
telepathicly interpreting the psychic intent of the speaker (I believe
they also allow us to speak the same languages by functioning
similarly) and you are not giving off any psychic impressions, the
translation shouldn't work unless the speaker understands the language
itself.>

"It is a subtle pun for one so young to grasp immediately." he says.

><Re: Prying Questions and Knytt's rejoinder>
<snip of my remarks>
>"Ah, well. Since you are polite enough to apologize for laying my
>husband low, I shall relent and satisfy some of your paranoia. Though
>methinks a closer word would be curiosity. I am not one for many
>words of explanation, when not teaching. I find that actions prove
>more strongly and more easily."

Knytt glances at Fuzzy. "Laying your husband low was not our intent as
we were mostly unaware of your presence. As for our curiousity, it
-is- as intent as a feline's and as wide in scope. But we can curb it,
if you prefer. I believe our original intent was more to discover if
you were friend or foe. A question I believe we have answered."

>"And thus, I shall stay and work with you as I deem fit." The man
>hands her the slighter bundle of cards, and she lays back against his
>chest for a long deep kiss. She sighs, looking for all in the world
>like a love-struck older teen as she says, "Ohhh, James..."

Knytt arches an eyebrow, more at the former statement than the kiss.
/That should confirm her intent, folks. She wishes to sign on./

>"Would it help you if I told you every single one of your conceptions
>of her was untrue? Not that it matters. Treat her well, no matter
>what, or I'll make sure you wish you had." He grins a devil-may-care
>thin-lipped way, exposing a scar down one cheek as it whitens a bit
>as muscles stretch, and then steps out onto the air, and floats down
>(TK).

Knytt glances after James, his hand brushing against the wristcomputer
on his forearm. Telepathicly, direct to James, Knytt broadcasts the
thought without actually intruding anywhere: ^First impressions are
often wrong, but it isn't until we get to make a second that we
realize that. Allow him to be proven wrong.^

>Zia sighs, "That wasn't a threat, although to you it must sound like
>one. He's just used to dealing with quite a different kind of
>personage. Now, I believe that you have work to do? I would like to
>observe, if I may, for now."

"A very protective fellow," that same easy-going smile on Knytt's
face. "I don't blame him a bit...

/I know my vote already. Before any telepathy, magic, or electronic
equipment were at my disposal to judge whether I wanted someone
around, I had to use what they said and did. I wasn't too bad a judge
of character even then. I like her, and her husband's heart is in the
right place as well. I'm willing to take the chance./

><ooSC: Oh, yes. I was just setting it up to have only Zia stay. And
>you may grill at leisure - just don't expect to be able to demand an
>answer. Zia simply made it clear from the first that was how it would
>be. And she doesn't believe in wasting time talking when you're not
>going to believe her from that. Especially when this world and the
>others are under attack.>

<OOC: <Chuckle> I was about to suggest you have received the worst of
it when Roland's post came in. So, perhaps not. Anyway, I just wanted
to be sure we didn't scare anyone off. For those lurking, I say again,
we are just playing. :) And enjoy the show.>
===========================

Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 00:59:15 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: The Smell of Xenon in London

On Fri, 6 Mar 1998 01:09:13 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002962
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001175 Driscoll said:

> On Thu, 05 Mar 1998 12:25:41 In Message # 00002950
>  In alt.callahans Post # 00001163 Morgan said:
>
> <*Chaos!*> Morgan sends a generalized mental shout (not loud enough
> to hurt anyone's 'ears'), knowing full well Chaos can 'hear' her if
> he wants to. <*Chaos, get your mercurial butt back here! What did
> you do with Roscoe and Squee?*> She hesitates for a moment, then
> adds with a resigned tone, <*And Driscoll.*>

 Chaos is loud and clear over the link and even into the minds no on
it. *Did with them? I did something with them? I dunno what DID I do
with them? But you know the weather in London is just too dreary to go
conversing out here. Come into my parlor said the spider to the fly
and sing along with the bouncing ball.*
 With that a red ball appears out of nowhere and begins bouncing donw
the road while "99 bottles of beer on the wall" seems to eminate from
nowhere in particular.
===========================

Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 00:59:24 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Polite Greetings on a Rooftop

On Fri, 6 Mar 1998 00:55:16 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002963
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001176 fuzzy said:

> On Fri, 6 Mar 1998 01:24:57 -0600 In Message # 00002961
>  In alt.callahans Post # 00001174 Michael Jon Knight said:
>
>>On Fri, 6 Mar 1998 01:01:12 -0600 In Message # 00002958
>> In alt.callahans Post # 00001171 Zia said:
>>
> /Morgan, I believe that the Place reference was more a gentle
> chastisement than a statement of origin./ Knytt smiles, /It would
> seem a fine line to draw, but consider the Controller spied on us
> from Callahan's Place, so, knowing of it doesn't always put one on
> the same side. BTW, I take it no one is getting any details
> psychicly from our potential friends?/

\Yes and No, I have not attempted to intrude into their minds,
   But Either of them is carrying enough Dream charge to make
significant alterations on a world wide basis, Especially Her...
 To clarify 'Dream' charge a bit, an accidental interaction between
the much lower charge that I was carrying at the time and Dhyrclhanc's
creation of a Mini-Lens for me is why I have a True Lens,
 Which Neither I nor Dhyrclhanc could have made deliberatly, alone or
working together...\

>>She frowns, and mutters something about 'easier in Japanese'. The
>>man behind her grins at Zia's tanka poem, but as she speaks, removes
>>the deck of Trump from his pocket and sorts through, seeming to
>>carefully divide the cards into two sections.
>
> "Point taken." Knytt says, grinning slightly.

"Indeed."

>  <OOC note: Normally, I would have replied, but since the various
> Lenses that make up our group translate languages by telepathicly
> interpreting the psychic intent of the speaker (I believe they also
> allow us to speak the same languages by functioning similarly) and
> you are not giving off any psychic impressions, the translation
> shouldn't work unless the speaker understands the language itself.>

<OOC: actually that is only needed, if none of the wearers of either a
Mini-Lens of True Lens on the link understands the Language in
question.
 The Group of Mini-Lenses or Dhrclhanc's True Lens will work on any
method of communication Live or Recorded, Fuzzy's Does not work on
Non-Live sources (it is slightly different than an Arrisian Lens).>

> Knytt glances at Fuzzy. "Laying your husband low was not our intent
> as we were mostly unaware of your presence. As for our curiousity,
> it -is- as intent as a feline's and as wide in scope. But we can
> curb it, if you prefer. I believe our original intent was more to
> discover if you were friend or foe. A question I believe we have
> answered."

"Or Leading a Foe in this Direction."
<OOC: feel free to suggest Fuzzy take of the Cloak of Dreams, He put
it on because (as he remembers it) it was first designed to protect
its wearer from an out-of-control Lathe of Heaven. Basicly a Dreamer
whose Dreams reshaped Reality. See a Leguin Novel The Lathe of
Heaven.>
===========================

Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 01:32:45 -0800 (PST)
Subject: 99 Bottles of Chaos on the Wall

On Fri, 06 Mar 1998 01:12:27 +0800 In Message # 00002965
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001178 Nemisis said:

> On Fri, 6 Mar 1998 01:09:13 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002962
>  In alt.callahans Post # 00001175 Driscoll said:
>
>  Chaos is loud and clear over the link and even into the minds no on
> it. *Did with them? I did something with them? I dunno what DID I do
> with them? But you know the weather in London is just too dreary to
> go conversing out here. Come into my parlor said the spider to the
> fly and sing along with the bouncing ball.*
>  With that a red ball appears out of nowhere and begins bouncing
> donw the road while "99 bottles of beer on the wall" seems to
> eminate from nowhere in particular.

\Also, if you happen to know where Ironman Went, and are able to
retrieve him, I would appreciate your doing so, One of my splits is
somewhat distraught<sp> at having lost track of him.\

As one of Nemisis' Splits Chimes in on the Round of 99 Bottles of Beer
on the Wall...
===========================

Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 04:02:58 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: 99 Bottles of Chaos on the Wall

On Fri, 06 Mar 1998 06:54:33 -0500 In Message # 00002966
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001179 Caprice said:

>On Fri, 06 Mar 1998 01:12:27 +0800 In Message # 00002965
> In alt.callahans Post # 00001178 Nemisis said:
>
>> On Fri, 6 Mar 1998 01:09:13 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002962
>>  In alt.callahans Post # 00001175 Driscoll said:
>
>>  Chaos is loud and clear over the link and even into the minds no
>> on it. *Did with them? I did something with them? I dunno what DID
>> I do with them? But you know the weather in London is just too
>> dreary to go conversing out here. Come into my parlor said the
>> spider to the fly and sing along with the bouncing ball.*
>>  With that a red ball appears out of nowhere and begins bouncing
>> donw the road while "99 bottles of beer on the wall" seems to
>> eminate from nowhere in particular.

Mischief darts out of some rubble, hissing and spitting at the ball.
Somehow the tiny grey kitten manages to sound ferocious.

*come -back-! where's squee?!? i want my friend back! come -back-!
i'll bite your ankles i don't care how many you have! if you don't
have any i'll find something else to bite!*

>As one of Nemisis' Splits Chimes in on the Round of
> 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall...

Mischief begins to mew pitifully, looking over at Fuzzy. #unca
fuzzy... I want my friend back!#

--
* * indicates telepathy to the link and anyone else that might
overhear.
# # indicates Feline.
/ / indicates telepathy to the link only.
===========================

Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 07:34:49 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: (Less than) Polite Greetings

On Fri, 6 Mar 1998 10:08:25 -0600 In Message # 00002968
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001181 Zia said:

| <OOC: No prob. And you _did_ get the Dhaire=(aprox) druid. :-) "Of
| the oaks" is a bit closer.>
 <ooSC: Wouldn't want Zia to be infalible. :) Then she'd REALLY be
annoying.>
 <snipped James' poke at Roland's ego with a mud-slinging accusation,
and word for word quote of his earlier thoughts>
 <snipped ooc stuff about Roland's mindshields, answered in my reply
to his Patterns in Amber message>
 <snip of Roland's patience going SNAP and the group trying to calm
him down again. Including a careful NOT aplology from Zia about James.
And she asks to observe, IF SHE MAY, seemingly expecting this
concession will be modifying Roland's ire.>

| ^Roland.^ Morgan sends quietly on their private link, the tone
| calming. "OK, folks, let's calm down. Zia, we did not deliberately
| 'lay your husband low' - you were caught in an effect we were using
| to try to neutralize the Borg. And Roland was not intentionally
| insulting _you_, merely commenting on the Amberites he has met
| before - _privately_, I might add. Knytt, _we_ didn't 'track them
| down.' OK, Fuzzy was looking for the source of the reality shift,
| but Roland and I found them while trying to protect the locals
| caught in the combination riot and xenon. Our 'prying' was based on
| the fact that we had no idea whether you were friend or foe, since
| neither of you had bothered to mention any connection to the Place
| before then." She looks around. "Did I miss anything?" she adds with
| a wry grin.

"I was stating facts, not intentions. As I've never yet been in
anyone's mind here, any intentions of your I stated would be
supposition. Would you think someone laying Roland low
"unintentionally" excused them of responsbility to redress the wrong,
Morgan? As for friend or foe, I was not your foe. I would find it hard
to become friends with individuals bigoted against my entire race. And
I question the propriety of you wanting to know such - I have every
bit as much right to be here as do you. Perhaps MORE. I'm not bringing
down a plague of Borg merely because I've chosen this place as a
battleground."

(OOC: If the intrusion took place)
|    Roland steps back, the energies surging around him calming and
| becoming more defensive, as does his posture. His eyes remain as
| narrow as before, however. "Don't _ever_ invade my mind again." He
| pauses to take a long breath. "Go where you wish. Just watch
| yourselves, especially if you choose to travel alone. Borg are
| entering this reality."

(OOC: As Roland probably BELIEVES it did...)

"So kind for you to give your permission." Very drily, as James was
already leaving, Zia comments to Roland. Then to both of them:

"As for privacy, I've never invaded yours nor your husband's, nor did
James. Mistaken conclusions of that degree are due only to the fact
that you are deceived by a rather simple trick. I am not personally
responsible for your gullibility, or for James being irked enough at
him." Nods in Roland's direction. "To play that prank. By our
standards... it was an extremely mild one."

"No wonder you're having such tremendous difficulties with this
present series of feints and Snark hunts." She cocks her head to the
side, and says in an amazingly obnoxious analytical tone to Roland,
"You're just NOT the subtle type are you?"

As he stands there in four-color superheroic splendor, with the might
to crack battleships crackling about him, he makes a surprising FUNNY
contrast to the 5'4" little woman in black looking UP at him (pretty
far up, too). She having no visible power about her but her Trumps. It
looks like a big huge mean dog vs a pink minature poodle. Anyone with
a grain of being able to read people can tell she's trying to portray
this comedically, and draw a laugh or at LEAST some humor from the
onlookers - and perhaps even Roland himself.

"So. May I please watch as you keep attempting to stop the influx of
Borg?" With the tones of 'mother may I' and 'boy the local Gestapo is
really getting officious lately' and 'gee, I guess I'm the ONLY one
with a sense of humor' ALL simultaneously emotionally overlaid as she
allows her empathy (it being linked with her emotions) to flow again.
===========================

Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 07:36:20 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Polite Greetings on a Rooftop

On Fri, 6 Mar 1998 10:19:18 -0600 In Message # 00002969
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001182 Zia said:

|>She frowns, and mutters something about 'easier in Japanese'. The
|>man behind her grins at Zia's tanka poem, but as she speaks, removes
|>the deck of Trump from his pocket and sorts through, seeming to
|>carefully divide the cards into two sections.
|
| "Point taken." Knytt says, grinning slightly.

Zia's eyebrows rise; it's fairly obvious that someone GETTING her is
uncommon. She considers Knytt a bite more carefully, then grins
faintly.

<snippage warriors of light pun in Japanese explained to Grep>

| Knytt glances briefly toward the other twin, Melissa, as
| understanding dawns on him. "It is a subtle pun for one so young to
| grasp immediately." he says.

<Knytt says 'a question I believe we have answered>

"Count not upon loyalties not stated, sir, that is a liberty upon my
honor I will not offer you." Zia says, softly, her emotions saying
that this is merely a convention that must be clearly understoof.

| Knytt glances after James, his hand brushing against the
| wristcomputer on his forearm. Telepathicly, direct to James, Knytt
| broadcasts the thought without actually intruding anywhere: ^First
| impressions are often wrong, but it isn't until we get to make a
| second that we realize that. Allow him to be proven wrong.^

James to Knytt, natural psi TK making the sound of his voice propogate
in the air near his ear, softly says, "Do you really think I'd leave
her here alone if I thought the boy didn't have that chance?" <OOC:
How's THAT for not intruding?>

| /I know my vote already. Before any telepathy, magic, or electronic
| equipment were at my disposal to judge whether I wanted someone
| around, I had to use what they said and did. I wasn't too bad a
| judge of character even then. I like her, and her husband's heart is
| in the right place as well. I'm willing to take the chance./

Zia grins, obviously recognizing the last as gallantry. Then her face
shades a bit she dampers her empathy, "We need to go - the Borg are
hurting the few who live yet, here. But later, I needs must speak with
you, Sir."

| <OOC: <Chuckle> I was about to suggest you have received the worst
| of it when Roland's post came in. So, perhaps not. Anyway, I just
| wanted to be sure we didn't scare anyone off. For those lurking, I
| say again, we are just playing. :) And enjoy the show.>

<OOC: Oh, don't WORRY about it - Zia does this to EVERY leader/Type A
personality in command she EVER meets. I'm used to it. Snicker,
chuckle. Besides, it's fun to see how easily SHE does this, when
others don't even come close. Wonder why??>
===========================

Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 07:37:50 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Polite Greetings on a Rooftop

On Fri, 6 Mar 1998 10:22:12 -0600 In Message # 00002970
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001183 Zia said:

Zia turns to Fuzzy, as the group leaves or teleports, "Would you
consider removing that cloak? I find it a distraction, and under
certain circumstances it might be dangerous to me. If you want an
assurance of safety or such from me, I would like to hear your terms
and I might be able to oblige you."
===========================

Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 08:03:02 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Polite Greetings on a Rooftop

On Fri, 6 Mar 1998 07:52:27 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00002971
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001184 fuzzy said:

> On Fri, 6 Mar 1998 10:19:18 -0600 In Message # 00002969
>  In alt.callahans Post # 00001182 Zia said:
>
> "Count not upon loyalties not stated, sir, that is a liberty upon my
> honor I will not offer you." Zia says, softly, her emotions saying
> that this is merely a convention that must be clearly understoof.

"One may always Count on a Person's Loyalty, to what they perceive as
Their own nature, This is not a Liberty taken mearly an observation of
Nessecity."

> On Fri, 6 Mar 1998 10:22:12 -0600 In Message # 00002970
>  In alt.callahans Post # 00001183 Zia said:
>
> Zia turns to Fuzzy, as the group leaves or teleports, "Would you
> consider removing that cloak? I find it a distraction, and under
> certain circumstances it might be dangerous to me. If you want an
> assurance of safety or such from me, I would like to hear your terms
> and I might be able to oblige you."

"If you are sure you have proper control of the Forces of Dream
flowing in your system, I will be willing to take the Risk, However
Few Gods have the ability to control that magnitude of Dream, so I
worry..."
===========================

Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 08:33:49 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Aae:Follow the bouncing ball!

On Fri, 6 Mar 1998 10:00:38 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002972
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001185 Driscoll said:

 (ooc: Assiming there's people who are going to trust Chaos enough to
follow this thing. hehehehe)

 The ball bounces through the streets happily, quickly but obviously
not trying to get away from the group too much. It seems to be
wandering aimlessly though, occasionally making complete circuts of a
block before heading off down another direction entirely.
 Finally it comes ot a pub where it begins bouncing in the doorway
faster and faster until the ball disappears into a red blur. The blur
stretches and grows until it fills the entire doorway and a soft glow
eminates out onto the street.

 The pub inside is empty, save for a gorilla with the head of a wolf
wearing a kilt who's seated before a large table. On the table are
dozens of mugs of liquid, and directly in front of Chaos are a stack
of papers; napkins with things scribbled on them, old ATM receipts,
old envelopes covered in notes, tattered notepads with covers torn
off, etc. Chaos is currently studdying what appears to be the back of
a Cheez Whiz label and moving a pair of horn-rimmed glasses around
trying to get it in focus. Dropping the glasses he reaches into his
kilt and pulls out a pair of night vision goggles. Putting htem on he
looks up at the group for a moment and goes back to studying the
label.
 "Come in come in, have a seat, your drinks will be right in front of
you. I'm still trying to figure out what you're talking about." He
sighs and waves his hand and the papers all disappear but the night
vision goggles remain on his face. "So you've come to report a missing
persons case? When was the last time you saw them? I need all their
vital statistics." He turns to look directly at Zia. 'Any tattoos?
Just personal curiosity."

 (OOC: The drinks form into whatever your expectations are going to
be. Expecting good liquor, it'll be there. Expect poison and it's full
of chlorine bleach, just expect something strange or suspicious and
there may be a tentacle reaching out of it or a few eyeballs bobbing
in a cup of slime or some such.)
===========================

Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 10:33:09 -0800 (PST)
Subject: AAE 4: If you're not the lead dog... :-)

On Fri, 06 Mar 1998 10:25:56 In Message # 00002974
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001187 Morgan said:

<lots of snippage here and there - y'all know what's gone on :-)>
>On Fri, 6 Mar 1998 01:24:57 -0600 In Message # 00002961
> In alt.callahans Post # 00001174 Michael Jon Knight said:
>
>/Morgan, I believe that the Place reference was more a gentle
>chastisement than a statement of origin./ Knytt smiles, /It would
>seem a fine line to draw, but consider the Controller spied on us
>from Callahan's Place, so, knowing of it doesn't always put one on
>the same side. BTW, I take it no one is getting any details psychicly
>from our potential friends?/

Morgan's patience is lasting longer than Roland's, but the situation
is beginning to tire even her. She attempts to focus the link so that
only the CAoL will hear. <*Point taken. But I'm beginning to see why
Amberites have the rep they do. And so far I'm not getting anything
other than the fact that they're being _mostly_ truthful.*>

<OOC to Zia: Morgan has Bene Gesserit training in Truth Sense, so if
I'm getting something different than that let me know :-).>


>On Fri, 6 Mar 1998 09:45:04 -0600 In Message # 00002967
> In alt.callahans Post # 00001180 Zia said (OOC):
>
>Boy, I hate giving away my magic tricks like that. Zia cannot even
>empthatetically overhear Roland and Morgan's private link, it's too
>focused and personal to emit any emotion. Could you use some
>additional character for to Morgan ( which she does as <**> to
>Roland, and to everyone just ** ) distinguishment?

<OOC: We use * * and <* *> respectively for the open link, and ^ ^ for
our private one. That should be on the web site, but there's so much
there I can easily see if you missed it :-).>

<snip of further explaination>
>That and, well, she got her Lens fair and square. So she doesn't
>eavesdrop unless Civilization requires it. The empathy is far too
>strong for her to completely ignore, however, she does 'not see' many
>of the things she senses due to an over-developed sense of
>politeness.

<Roland sez <OOC>: I like it <g>. The trick definately stands, but
Roland's been fighting mages since he Awakened. When his _active_ mind
shield went up, all 'broadcasting' was silenced, except for the
occasional intense emotion. If it serves the plot <g>.>


>On Fri, 6 Mar 1998 10:08:25 -0600 In Message # 00002968
> In alt.callahans Post # 00001181 Zia said:
>
>"I was stating facts, not intentions. As I've never yet been in
>anyone's mind here, any intentions of your I stated would be
>supposition. Would you think someone laying Roland low
>"unintentionally" excused them of responsbility to redress the wrong,
>Morgan? As for friend or foe, I was not your foe. I would find it
>hard to become friends with individuals bigoted against my entire
>race. And I question the propriety of you wanting to know such - I
>have every bit as much right to be here as do you. Perhaps MORE. I'm
>not bringing down a plague of Borg merely because I've chosen this
>place as a battleground."

"You gave a pretty good impression of being in our minds, commenting
on what was meant to be a private conversation." Morgan begins.

   Roland adds, "Just because the method wasn't telepathic, that
doesn't make it any less an intrusion."

Morgan continues, mentally ticking off points. "If someone
unintentionally put Roland to sleep in the process of trying to
neutralize an enemy of the magnitude of the Borg, especially if I were
there and able to protect him while he was out, I like to think I
_would_ forgive them. I'm glad you're not our foe, but when we first
found you we had no way of knowing that." Before she can start on the
next item, Roland takes up the thread.

   "Bigoted against your race? No. Wary of your _family_? Nass, yes,"
Roland says evenly.

Morgan continues. "As for the propriety of questions, you and we both
had a right to ask, and receive answers to, the questions that were
asked. And it's not like we _wanted_ the Controller to track us down
and make the situation here worse."

   Roland comments wryly, "And of course you have _no_ enemies in the
multiverse."

>|    Roland steps back, the energies surging around him calming and
>| becoming more defensive, as does his posture. His eyes remain as
>| narrow as before, however. "Don't _ever_ invade my mind again." He
>| pauses to take a long breath. "Go where you wish. Just watch
>| yourselves, especially if you choose to travel alone. Borg are
>| entering this reality."
>
>"So kind for you to give your permission." Very drily, as James was
>already leaving, Zia comments to Roland. Then to both of them:

Morgan's eyes narrow slightly, and those who know her know her
patience with this woman's attidude is nearing it's limits.

   "I can not, of course, tell you _where_ to go," Roland's mouth
quirks for a moment, "But there's one place I can tell you where _not_
to go." He becomes serious again. "I'm responsible for the safety of
my friends. If I thought you were a threat to them..."

>"As for privacy, I've never invaded yours nor your husband's, nor did
>James. Mistaken conclusions of that degree are due only to the fact
>that you are deceived by a rather simple trick. I am not personally
>responsible for your gullibility, or for James being irked enough at
>him." Nods in Roland's direction. "To play that prank. By our
>standards... it was an extremely mild one."

   "As I said earlier, the method does not change the intrusion."
Roland's tone has become very cold...

>As he stands there in four-color superheroic splendor, with the might
>to crack battleships crackling about him, he makes a surprising FUNNY
>contrast to the 5'4" little woman in black looking UP at him (pretty
>far up, too). She having no visible power about her but her Trumps.
>It looks like a big huge mean dog vs a pink minature poodle. Anyone
>with a grain of being able to read people can tell she's trying to
>portray this comedically, and draw a laugh or at LEAST some humor
>from the onlookers - and perhaps even Roland himself.

<OOC: He's only about 5'9" in this form. That's not so far up. Believe
me, I'm 5'8" and have a friend who's 6'6" - I know ;-)>

>"So. May I please watch as you keep attempting to stop the influx of
>Borg?" With the tones of 'mother may I' and 'boy the local Gestapo is
>really getting officious lately' and 'gee, I guess I'm the ONLY one
>with a sense of humor' ALL simultaneously emotionally overlaid as she
>allows her empathy (it being linked with her emotions) to flow again.

   An image passes through Roland's mental shields. The big mean dog
briefly considers making a meal of the poodle, but quickly concludes
that she wouldn't even be a light snack.
   Then Roland laughs.
   "Oh, Light, this job is going to give me ulcers," he chuckles
slightly. With James having quit the field, and the implied threat
gone with him, Roland reabsorbs the kinetic energies.

<*Aren't you glad you're married to a healer?*> There is a light tone
in Morgan's mental voice, and she's no longer shielding the link.

   Roland's shields have gone passive again as well. *I regenerate,
love, but it does have it's advantages.* He leans over and gives her a
kiss that causes steam to rise from everyone's socks.
   *"OK, people, we have Borg to thwart and Greys to overthrow."*

<*"And..."*> Morgan begins, in response to:

>On Fri, 06 Mar 1998 06:54:33 -0500 In Message # 00002966
> In alt.callahans Post # 00001179 Caprice said:
>
>>> On Fri, 6 Mar 1998 01:09:13 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00002962
>>>  In alt.callahans Post # 00001175 Driscoll said:
>>>
>>>  Chaos is loud and clear over the link and even into the minds no
>>> on it. *Did with them? I did something with them? I dunno what DID
>>> I do with them? But you know the weather in London is just too
>>> dreary to go conversing out here. Come into my parlor said the
>>> spider to the fly and sing along with the bouncing ball.*
>>>  With that a red ball appears out of nowhere and begins bouncing
>>> donw the road while "99 bottles of beer on the wall" seems to
>>> eminate from nowhere in particular.
>
>Mischief darts out of some rubble, hissing and spitting at the ball.
>Somehow the tiny grey kitten manages to sound ferocious.
>
>*come -back-! where's squee?!? i want my friend back! come -back-!
>i'll bite your ankles i don't care how many you have! if you don't
>have any i'll find something else to bite!*
>
>Mischief begins to mew pitifully, looking over at Fuzzy. #unca
>fuzzy... i want my friend back!#

<*"...Chaos to deal with,"*> she adds, looking after the kitten and
the ball.

   "That does it," Roland says, and his eyes roll back as vast,
ancient power begins to flow into him...

tbc.....
<and hoping nothing that comes in when I send this complicates things
further :-)>
===========================