Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 6 Part 1 - Chapter 9 Date: Fri, 8 Oct 1999 14:47:26 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Hunter and The Hunted? On Fri, 8 Oct 1999 17:19:30 EDT SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00007542 In a message dated 10/7/99 12:41:20 AM Eastern Daylight Time, rio writes: Roger takes a pratfall on Zia's lichens, and: >"Ow!" Rio winces. She glides over to where Roger lays on the ground, >smiles down at him, and offers him a hand up. "Do you need someone to >kiss that and make it better?" Her wide-eyed far-too-innocent smile >broadens, and Roger suddenly realizes he's dealing with a _very_ >desirable woman. (OOC: I'll send the specific effects to you >separately, Rog.) Roger almost tosses off his usual don't-worry-I'm-fine comment before taking a quick second look at Rio and shifting gears. With his lopsided, rather self-deprecating grin, he takes her hand and lets her help him up[1], then manages to somehow hold on to her hand while creating the impression that he's not aware of it. He meets her eyes. "Well, I never turn down a kiss from such a lovely lady (unless she's trying to kill me, of course), but given how flat I landed--" he rolls his broad shoulders by way of explanation-- "you'd have to do a whole lot of kissing to cover that much surface area. And I'm not sure we have the time." With a *very* gentle tug on her hand, he cuts the distance between them by about a third. "Besides," he continues, lowering his voice to a more...intimate...volume and pitch, "I submit that there are more interesting locations of my anatomy for kissing, which would also prove more...effective." His twist on the last word conjures visions of what a potential smorgasbord of various "effects" Rio might consider experimenting with. For the first time, he takes a really *good* look into her eyes, and completely loses track of himself for nearly 0.75sec. He rejoins the current excuse for reality with a shiver just barely strong enough for Rio to feel through their joined hands. He smiles softly, a smile that, unusually for him, has no hidden humor or irony, no lurking punch line. "You know," he murmurs almost to himself, "the last time a CoX kissed something and made it better for me, I found it a most *educational* experience. And the first time. And all the times in between." His eyes crinkle slightly at the corners. "As it happens I enjoy learning. One of my favorite pastimes..." OOC: Hmm. A something-lit walk hand in hand with a give-Mom-a-run-for-her-money beautiful girl across a Dyson Sphere sprouting new-grown lichens towards a castle straight out of a cheesy SciFantasy flick. OOC2: I'm going to go take a cold shower now...... [1] Dunno how strong Rio is, or how her abilities might translate into strength enhancements on demand, so Roger probably pulled most of his own weight. With his cybernetics and armor, he weighs a lot more than he looks. ================================= Date: Fri, 8 Oct 1999 14:47:36 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: House Phoenix/Greywolf On Fri, 8 Oct 1999 17:19:47 EDT SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00007543 In a message dated 10/7/99 3:06:24 PM Eastern Daylight Time, SkyeFire writes: >Roger blinks again. "Oh, Light, no! You both were always completely >up-front with me. Which is why you're among the people whom I'll >accept the 'you're not ready to not that' kind of explanation; *that >list I can count on the fingers of one hand." OOC: Okaaay, that SHOULD have been 'you're not ready to KNOW that'....... ================================= Date: Fri, 8 Oct 1999 14:47:41 -0700 (PDT) cSubject: Re: AAE VI: Command Decisions On Fri, 8 Oct 1999 17:19:45 EDT SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00007544 In a message dated 10/7/99 9:04:13 AM Eastern Daylight Time, caprice writes: >Legion leaves Essex to find out what her daughter was up to, and >pulls the 'ball' out of ground. It sits there, glowing faintly with >enough power to run a small chantry for a year. "This should -not- >have happened. She's not supposed to be able to manipulate magic >until she hits adolesence." > >Without warning, Legion turns and points a finger at Roger. "And >DON'T say anything to me about the future. If Wrinkle doesn't get >you, I Will." Roger looks somewhat less intimidated than perhaps he should, but that might just be because he plans on doing No Such Thing. He spreads his hands. "I wouldn't dream of it. Despite Wrinkle's constant bemoaning about my propensity for bending the rules, I *am* rather more careful than he gives me credit for. And I would certainly never deliberately make any "reports" on the future that might be harmful to Mischief, or yourself. Inadvertant slips of the tongue, on the other hand..." His expression turns rather grimly wry. "Well, that's something I still struggle with on an ongoing basis. My fatal flaw, you might say." He takes a closer look at the 'ball.' "Now, speaking without benefit of foreknowledge, I would speculate that the sheer pervasiveness, density, and malleability of the energy swamping this area 'lowerd the bar,' so to speak, considerably." He cocks his head. "In fact, the effect has some interesting parallels to Garmaryean witch-moss[1]. An perfectly 'normal' human child of equivalent age might well be able to do the same thing, here." [1] A telepathiccally-sensitive lichenoid native to the planet Gramarye (sp?), in Christopher Stasheff's "Warlock" series. Settled by a bunch of radical-fringe SCA types (radical enough that they had their memories wiped and reprogrammed into Feudal modes), Gramarye gained populations of elves, trolls, orcs, wights, etc when latent telepaths with strong, vivid imaginations started telling fairy tales about such beings while in proximity to witch-moss. The effect was sufficiently powerful to create beings that were capable of reproduction, with the result that Gramarye became a *real* high-fantasy setting in the middle of a scifi universe. Enter Rod Gallowglass D'Armand, secret agent trained to subvert totalitarian cultures into democracies, who has a sentient robot horse and a few techno-toys, and much madcapness ensues. ================================= Date: Fri, 8 Oct 1999 17:04:18 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Conversations before a Castle with a Duchess of (C)Amber On Fri, 8 Oct 1999 16:42:54 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00007545 >On Fri, 8 Oct 1999 17:09:36 -0400 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00007541 > >>>[OOC: Is that a compliment on her sneakiness, or just sheer ability >>>to hit blind spots? Either way... BLUSH! >>royalty on the TM>] >> >>>timelines, Zia can manipulate them.> > >but perhaps it would work. We'll see if it's needed or not.> > >>>Zia looks momentarily non-plussed, something quite rare for her, >>>but is so soon lost in the marvels of her beloved mathematics that >>>she recovers spendidly. You can't blame her - Nemo asked her to >>>check _him_. Think about that one a second... (grin). >> >>Hey, they are *her* abilities... And it's easier for Nemo to check >>with Zia than with NEMO. >:-)> > >[OOC: Gee. (rueful grin) Consider it un-swelled. Nemo is only 'using' >Zia because she is 'easier than NEMO', eh? ROTFL!] "Easier", "simpler", same difference. ================================= Date: Fri, 8 Oct 1999 18:27:20 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Conversations before a Castle with a Duchess of (C)Amber On 10-08-1999 at 18:25:20 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007546 >On Fri, 8 Oct 1999 17:09:36 -0400 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00007541 > >>On Thu, 07 Oct 1999 22:48:43 -0700 >>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00007509 >> >>>"Tanstaafl." Zia says, with the air of 'But of COURSE.' >> >> /"Hmm?"/ Roland looks confused. /"I think I missed something... >>which artifact are you talking about now?"/ > >/"The Rod."/ Zia says, /"It makes things from nothing; so somewhere >'paying for it' should happen, according to the Tanstaafl hypothesis. >As for the Blue Horizon and the Cosmic Engineer, I rather fancy that >the Blue Horizon is sort of Frankenstein's monster while the Cosmic >Engineer might be analogous to Dr. Frankenstein himself. What do you >think, Nemesis, am I close enough for muddy thinking?"/ "Possibly, I am not expert in the field of muddy thinking, If the Creation of the Artifacts was something Fuzzy Chose, Then I doubt any of them are Volitional, The Blue Horizon I have insufficient information, To Guess its Mentality Status." ================================= Date: Fri, 8 Oct 1999 19:20:57 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Search For Fuzzy On Fri, 8 Oct 1999 21:20:35 -0400 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00007548 >On Fri, 01 Oct '99 >The Hunter Said > > "You introduce me to the most interesting people," Eric says, as >dry as ever, to Roland. The FI just grins. > "Okay." Eric turns to Zia. "Let me get this straight. There's a >Dyson Sphere out there, it's a _side_effect,_ and it's not directly >threatening _yet._ But you expect it to be." "Eric, let me be the first to formally welcome you to the 'Callahanian Army of Light'." says the immortal "adolescent" hatchling ruby fire dragon, winking in the Hunter's direction. ================================= Date: Fri, 8 Oct 1999 19:21:02 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Search for Fuzzy On Fri, 8 Oct 1999 21:51:21 -0400 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00007549 >On Mon, 4 Oct '99 >SkyeFire Said > >>Zia (aka samatha1) writes: >> >> Zia rolls her eyes in mostly fabricated annoyance. "It's this Place >>- getting the last pun here is impossible. Now, someone will make a >>Crack of Doom pun, likely enough." Then she grins and shrugs in a >>'what can y'do?' manner. > >Roger, still watching from the future, rolls his eyes. "Hey, all the >plumbing in Latveria looks the same, from inside the piping. How was >*I* to know that I was sneaking in through Victor's personal Royal >Privy?" > >OOC: Grin, Duck, and RUN LIKE BLAZES!! "That's it, Nephew!" Dhyrclhanc rolls to his side, shrinking and transmutating into his 6' tall, psudeo-T'Skrang form at the same time. Reaching behind himself and into his Anla'Shok Greatcloak, he withdraws two carbine-style, SMG-like, weapons which look like hybred H&K MP5s and MP5Ks with huge cylindrical, canister clips. Seemingly ignoring the weight of the guns, and their multiple oversized electronic aiming sights, the draconic Lensman hefts a gun in each hand, TK's their actions back and pulls the triggers. Rogger is then hit in the back by two streams of peanuts. Shelled and honey roasted. };=8D ================================= Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 00:49:53 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: My Kung Fu, part II... On Sat, 09 Oct 1999 00:21:59 -0700 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00007550 >Nemisis wrote: >>I don't like wearing the [TSM] armor, either. You'd think that they >>could design something marginally comfortable, given three centuries >>of exo-suit engineering to work from..." > >"I suggest you stop by the Armoury, and > Request the attendants supply you with, > A Form Fitting/Self Repair Upgrade, > Perpetual Energy Cells, and > A New Munitions Synthesis Box. > There may also be other Options, > You will want to discuss with them." > >"The Armoury is Down {Points} That Corridor, > The Eighth Door on the Left..." > >"If you choose to do that now the attendants will direct you to the > Planning Room when you are done there." "The offer is appreciated, but I've held my own with liches without resorting to my TSM gear. I merely wished to make the point that I _could_ function without alerting mages, not that I _wanted_ to. Besides which," Harlock breaks into his roguish grin again, "How many people are going to listen to a rabble-rouser who's dressed in assault gear?" ================================= Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 00:50:04 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Hunter and The Actress On Sat, 09 Oct 1999 00:22:08 -0700 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00007551 >Nemisis wrote: >>Harlock appears to think for a few seconds, then replies. "So if I >>understand the situation correctly, you could place one of your >>splits within each of the switching centers of the realm controlled >>by the Ansible Guild? > >"In Theory, But > FailsSafe has implied that The Ansible Guild controls, > Only their Internal Switching Station, and > I do not know where that is." "Well, if we only miss the one, the havoc will still be rather wide-spread. As I say, I know of a spell which tangles communications. On Faerun, it works only on ink, and rather slowly at that, but it shouldn't be too difficult to devise a variant that works quickly enough to distort electronic signals. An we could get one of your splits to invoke such a spell at a switching station, the resulting confusion would likely make people less...fond...of the Ansible Guild. An we could do it at all but one of the switching stations, methinks the Guild would lose influence within the fortnight." After a moment's thought, the Bard continues. "For that matter, the spell could be contrived so that it may spread in a manner analogous to a virus. At that point, it need only be invoked once, and 'twould inevitably affect e'en the Guild's switching station. Meanwhile, I can wander merrily from planet to planet, sowing contempt for the Guild. Methinks I _like_ this plan!" ================================= Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 00:50:08 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: My Kung Fu, part II... On Sat, 09 Oct 1999 00:22:17 -0700 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00007552 Peter Eng wrote: >>To all outward appearances, nothing changes, but to mage sight, the >>Bard has just ceased to exist. He removes the brooch and puts it >>back into a belt pouch. "I'll admit, I don't like using that little >>toy. It has some...unfortunate side effects." > >"Hm. Mana disperser, or an Adept-level artifact, I assume. I forgot >about those options." "The former, more or less. The main problem I have with it is that my pouches tend to get a bit scrambled when I wear it. With the ready access to the Weave that this plane supports, however, it should be fairly easy to restore." The Bard reaches into one of his belt pouches. His expression goes from surprised, to enlightened, to rueful within the span of a second or two. He sighs. "If, that is, I can figure out which pouch contains my spellbook at this point." ================================= Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 00:50:13 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: FuzzyHome and Questions On Sat, 09 Oct 1999 00:32:12 -0700 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00007553 Leonard Erickson wrote: > Color me confused. How do you shift "slowly" from "makes >duplicates" to "destroys objects"? Making partial dupes, then >partially destroying things? No problem. Have it start out working normally. Then, it starts not working (ie, nothing happens when it's touched to the object to be duplicated) with increasing frequency. Eventually, if the Ansible Guild pushes their luck too far, it starts destroying things. ================================= Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 03:03:53 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Command Decisions On Sat, 9 Oct 1999 05:54:56 EDT Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00007554 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007535 > >>On Fri, 8 Oct 1999 03:42:53 EDT >>Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00007521 >>/*"Or perhaps as a serious distraction. It would be possible for >>myself, and Dragon's Bane II to -demand- that the rod be turned over >>to us, in order to prevent us from attacking. When we are then >>attacked it would be possible for us to disable without killing, our >>attackers. Making it seem that we are exerting our selves to our >>maximum. With such excitement afoot, the stealth team might more >>easily manage to remain unnoticed."*/ Aurora offers. > >"Let us consider saving that, > Until we see that our other distraction needs covering fire, > That will be the Distribution of the New Communications >> Technology." /*"Agreed."*/ Aurora replies. ================================= Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 03:33:30 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Command Decisions On Sat, 9 Oct 1999 06:20:07 EDT Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00007555 >Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007536 > >>On Fri, 8 Oct 1999 03:51:14 EDT >>Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00007522 > >>/*"If you wish, I can arrange for several -crackpot eccentric- >>inventors to -invent- suitable replacements. The technology is not >>difficult, if you know how, and is easily within the capabilities of >>a number of the races of the Matrix Cosm. I need merely assign a few >>lesser Starspawn to the -task- for a short time."*/ Aurora offers. > >"That may well be a good Idea, > Not as a Replacement for Nemo's Distribution Scheme, > But to Spread The Guild's Attention..." /*"For them to look like -native- crackpots, it will be necessary for them to develop covers. I will get them started on it now, since even if we decide not to take this path it will be good to break the monopoly of the guild."*/ Aurora tells the group. *"Cyan, Frey, Boogyman! I want you to take your special ops teams backtime to implement this plan:{}. Remember you must look like natives, and thus must start out as foundling children. You will have to procure resources locally, and without using sources other than those available to the locals. Invention and dissemination of maths and materiels based upon local science is permitted. Polaris, you will transport the teams backtime, and will provide them with the relevant local informations. Once the teams are placed, you will provide coordination and advise the teams. Use of lethal force, either direct or by instrumentality, is authorized, to protect your host planets from attack by the Ansible Guild or by others who want to gain the technology by force, but only if no other option can be found that will preserve your covers. Execute!"* ================================= Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 07:31:34 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: My Kung Fu, part II... On Sat, 09 Oct 1999 14:44:50 -0700 Stranger Said As CAoL Message # 00007556 >On Sat, 09 Oct 1999 00:21:59 -0700 >Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00007550 > >>Nemisis wrote: >>"The Armoury is Down {Points} That Corridor, >> The Eighth Door on the Left..." >> >>"If you choose to do that now the attendants will direct you to the >> Planning Room when you are done there." >> >"The offer is appreciated, but I've held my own with liches without >resorting to my TSM gear. I merely wished to make the point that I >_could_ function without alerting mages, not that I _wanted_ to. >Besides which," Harlock breaks into his roguish grin again, "How many >people are going to listen to a rabble-rouser who's dressed in >assault gear?" "I don't know, I find assualt weapons often , ah, focus people's attention." interjects Stranger with a grin. "Nemesis? If there's an armoury is there a workshop equiped with Minbari technology?" ================================= Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 10:41:59 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Command Decisions On Sat, 09 Oct 1999 12:13:29 -0400 Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00007557 >On Fri, 08 Oct 1999 17:59:54 GMT >Tech Tonic Said As CAoL Message # 00007540 > >>Dr Essex actually grins a bit, "As well as can be expected after >>dealing with the most aggrevating and..." He glances over at Legion, >>"stimulating woman of my acquintance... The most stubborn too." >> >>He seems in a fairly good mood, though a faint air hangs about him, >>like the aftertaste of meloncholy. > >"Don't mean to eb rude sir, but you seem like a nice enough fellow," >He syrokes his long white beard. "so, if you don't mind my asking, >why does the rest of the gang not like you?" He pauses to pet the >ferret in his wizards hat. Dr. Essex pauses, choosing his words carefully. "Years ago, in my time line, I was considered a villain. Perhaps not the most hated man alive, but in certain circles I was definitely in the running." He looks ahead at Legion's back, as she pursues Mischief. "Then I met a woman who saw in me the humanity I thought I had lost... and showed me that the ends do not justify the means... While they do not know me personally, several members here have encountered or have knowledge of my doubles in nearby parallel realities. They have trouble forgetting the man I was." ================================= Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 12:34:17 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Command Decisions On Sat, 09 Oct 1999 18:54:10 GMT Tech Tonic Said As CAoL Message # 00007558 >Dr. Essex pauses, choosing his words carefully. "Years ago, in my >time line, I was considered a villain. Perhaps not the most hated man >alive, but in certain circles I was definitely in the running." He >looks ahead at Legion's back, as she pursues Mischief. "Then I met a >woman who saw in me the humanity I thought I had lost... and showed >me that the ends do not justify the means... While they do not know >me personally, several members here have encountered or have >knowledge of my doubles in nearby parallel realities. They have >trouble forgetting the man I was." oneeye laughs. "Eh, i know the feeling friend. You wouldn't belive how many people ask me how gonlin and croaker are." He laughs at his own joke. "So you don't actually know them? I could;ve sworn that several of them made comments to that effect..." His eye glints curiously ================================= Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 12:34:27 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: My Kung Fu, part II... On Sat, 9 Oct 1999 12:02:14 -0700 (PDT) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00007559 >On Sat, 09 Oct 1999 00:22:17 -0700 >Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00007552 > >>Peter Eng wrote: >> >>"Hm. Mana disperser, or an Adept-level artifact, I assume. I forgot >>about those options." > >"The former, more or less. The main problem I have with it is that my >pouches tend to get a bit scrambled when I wear it. With the ready >access to the Weave that this plane supports, however, it should be >fairly easy to restore." > The Bard reaches into one of his belt pouches. His expression goes >from surprised, to enlightened, to rueful within the span of a second >or two. He sighs. "If, that is, I can figure out which pouch contains >my spellbook at this point." Rob studies the Bard for a moment, then pulls a coin from his pocket. As he tosses it up with his left hand, his right hand moves, as if grabbing things from the air. Just as the coin drops into one of Harlock's belt pouches, Rob claps his hands together. "Try that one." ================================= Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 12:34:31 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: My Kung Fu, part II... On Sat, 9 Oct 1999 15:29:41 EDT Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00007560 Stranger said: >"Nemesis? If there's an armoury is there a workshop equiped with >Minbari technology?" Scott walks up. "What do you want?" A hollow voice says, "Do not ask that question!" Scott looks slightly disturbed by the interruption. "Er, what kind of Mimbari tech do you need? If it's off the shelf (or a reasonable facsimile thereof), I can hand it to you right now." He pulls out a fighting pike, which extends to five meters[1]. Scott still looks and sounds rather like an actor whose direction was on loan from Jabutoo. [1] For those watching in the US, that's about 16 feet. ================================= Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 13:04:01 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Freelance Responses On Sat, 9 Oct 1999 15:00:17 -0400 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00007561 >On Mon, 04 Oct '99 Morgan and/or Roland Said > >>Dhyrclhanc Said >> >>> Morgan and/or Roland Said >>> >>>"I think just about everyone who's going to get here is here," >>>Morgan says softly to Roland. >>> >>> Roland smiles. "I guess it's time then." >>The Lensdragon's eyes open slightly. "Damned Wights, I suppose that >>will teach me to try and get home from the Elemental Planes via the >>Negative Material Plane." >> >>Martin, still over by the bar, gulps. "Gods, Damned." >> >>The Lensdragon then gets up and opens his eyes again and swings his >>head to look Martin. "Tiamat and Palatine." >> >>"Damned Gods!" utters Martin and vanished in a puff of logic. > > (OOC, R & M: LOL!) Glad you enjoyed it, sibs! >>> "And with as many of the CAoL as seem to be able to arrive here, >>>it's time we told you why." Roland finishes his drink, then floats >>>it a centimeter out of his hand. The two immortals look at each >>>other for a moment, a mental conversation fairly obvious, then in >>>unison, they say happily, "We're pregnant!" >> >>"Congradulations, sibs." Then does a double take of Eric. "Ah, >>Roland? What is Neo doing here?" > > Eric just peers over his sunglasses briefly, then pushes them back >on. "Lousy movie," he mutters. > Roland chuckles. "He's Eric. A Hunter. He'll be helping out in my >abstinence (OOC: sic)." FTR, what does "sic" mean? I never understood that Dhyrclhanc raises and eyebrow and looks at his brother strangely. "He's a Hunter, eh? In that case, what, pray tell, exactly does he Hunt?" Then he looks at Eric, "Actually, Sirah, it was a very *good movie. It was a suprisingly accurate depiction of the events which took place. I was there. I should know. Granted that I was not actually there, *then*." >>>"I just wish _Roger_ could've been here," Morgan says as they >>>return to their seats. >>> >>> "I don't know," Roland replies (deceptively) mildly. "He's >>>probably going to have conniptions as it is when he finds out >>>you're having twins." >> >>"Twins!?" The Lensdragon's eyes widen. >> >>>"Yes, and I want to see his _face_ when he hears!" Morgan laughs >>>with a wicked grin. >> >>ooo^You are a wicked, wicked lady, sis. };=8) ^ooo sends the >>immortal "adolecent" ruby fire hatchling. > > ooo^Why do you think I married her?^ooo Roland replies in the same >deceptively mild tone. > >Morgan's smile indicates she's not inclined to argue with either >gentleman. :-) Dhyrclhanc grins back and TK's his Holy Symbol back into his hand. ================================= Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 13:06:42 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: My Kung Fu, part II... On Sat, 9 Oct 1999 09:00:36 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00007562 >On Sat, 09 Oct 1999 00:22:17 -0700 >Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00007552 > >"The former, more or less. The main problem I have with it is that my >pouches tend to get a bit scrambled when I wear it. With the ready >access to the Weave that this plane supports, however, it should be >fairly easy to restore." > > The Bard reaches into one of his belt pouches. His expression goes >from surprised, to enlightened, to rueful within the span of a second >or two. He sighs. "If, that is, I can figure out which pouch contains >my spellbook at this point." Nemo speaks up without turning to look. "It's in that one." As he says this a glowing arrow (non-magical, simple air ionization) appears, pointing at one of Harlocks pouches. ================================= Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 13:38:29 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: House Phoenix/Greywolf On Sat, 9 Oct 1999 16:24:30 EDT SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00007563 In a message dated 10/8/99 2:56:19 AM Eastern Daylight Time, kal-el writes: >>"Maybe we should enlist your help then," Morgan replies equally >>brightly. "That's assuming, of course, that we can trust you not to >>build in loopholes for your future 'siblings,'" she adds, with that >>parental tone that says 'of COURSE we can trust you' while implying >>'we'd BETTER be able to trust you.' > >"Pardon me for butting in, but you *really* don't want to do that. If >he remembers getting around the blocks, then he can't change that >without creating a paradox..." "I'm afraid we're already *in* Paradox Alley, Uncle Nemo," Roger replies, one corner of his mouth twitching oddly. "I'm not a twin." ================================= Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 13:38:34 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: FuzzyHome and Questions On Sat, 9 Oct 1999 16:24:34 EDT SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00007564 In a message dated 10/8/99 2:14:29 AM Eastern Daylight Time, Dane0R0A writes: Thus spake Aunt Aurora: >/*"There is also the point that these artifacts BELONG to Fuzzy. He >needs them now. If the usurpers don't like it, TOUGH!"*/ Aurora adds. Roger looks disturbed. "Ah...while it's true that the artifacts in question were originally Fuzzy's property, that does not mean that the current, er, "holders" have no legitimate claim either. In most of the fair legal systems that I am familiar with, "finder's keepers" usually carries substantial weight, as long as the finder has made some reasonable effort to locate the original owner -- maritime salvage law on Earth-Prime is a good example. And in this case, it seems unlikely to me that we could have any *reasonable* expectation that the current "holders" of the artifact were even *capable* of ascertaining the original owner. In any event, we cannot simply ignore the jurisprudence of the jurisdictions within which the artifacts currently reside -- that would be the kind of high-handed arrogance that would earn us a reputation as bullying thugs across the Multiverse." He pauses. "I can stretch my morality far enough to cover stealing the artifact back, as long as we make for some kind of recompense -- a replacement comm system of some kind has already been proposed for regaining the Gauge. I would rather try a legal case for its return, or barter for it, but I am aware that these courses could have worse unforseen consequences than a sneak theft. It appears to be a choice between evils." ================================= Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 13:38:39 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Conversations before a Castle with a Duchess of (C)Amber On Sat, 9 Oct 1999 16:24:45 EDT SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00007565 In a message dated 10/7/99 11:06:42 PM Eastern Daylight Time, samatha1 writes: > "Quite." Ziactrice agrees thoughtfully, as she pauses to think of >what to do with all this Chi force {hint: she decides to make lichen, >later...}. She gives Roger a bland look, "It's too bad I already have >so many husbands, or I really would give serious consideration to >setting my cap at that one." With an indicative nod in the Hunter >leaping away from the pair. "What do you think, Rogi? I have always >say you marry someone you can't win an argument with so you can >continue it indefinitely instead..." She gives him the wickedest >grin. "Perhaps one more wouldn't HURT." The grin just gets wickeder >and wickeder, so to speak. Roger gives her his biggest, and most obviously fake, 'totally smitten' look. "You mean letting you *win* all of those arguments was exactly the wrong strategy?" OOC: To Roger, Zia is sufficiently his "Auntzie" that actually 'making time' with her would seem, er, psychologically incestuous. But the 'heavy flirting' game is still *awfully* fun..... ================================= Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 13:38:43 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Conversations before a Castle with a Duchess of (C)Amber On Sat, 9 Oct 1999 16:24:45 EDT SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00007566 In a message dated 10/7/99 11:06:42 PM Eastern Daylight Time, samatha1 writes: >>Roger grins at his favourite Aunt, very lopsidedly. "Actually, I >>think I've already done it. I'm not a twin, Auntzie." > >Zia gives Roger one quick, serious look. He'll recognize the 'Severe >Disaster Warning' only by his past knowledge of Zia's behavior; she >doesn't make a big deal out of this one word of reply. "Yet." Roger looks rather serene. "Oh, things will work out. They always do. How? I don't know -- it's a mystery." Watching Zia's eyebrows, he adds: "No, Auntzie, I'm *not* being facetious -- well, okay, a little. But for the moment, I'm so far in the dark that all I can do is keep my head down and await further developments." ================================= Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 13:38:57 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: House Phoenix/Greywolf On Sat, 9 Oct 1999 16:24:49 EDT SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00007569 In a message dated 10/7/99 8:49:31 PM Eastern Daylight Time, ljwolfe writes: >> He looks apologetic. "I'm afraid I was rather...exhausting, as a >>child. Cute, bright, and slippery as a wet bar of soap, but >>exhausting." > > Roland sighs. "I should've expected as much...at least I didn't >shut you down completely. Shroedinger's superpowers," he adds with a >wry chuckle. "I should've guessed." "Gave you some top bragging rights in the Superhero Parent's Support Group," Roger says sunnily. "You'd always chew me out for sneaking off, then at the next meeting brag about my latest 'impossible' exploit, until they threatened to bury you in peanuts to shut you up." He pauses thoughtfully. "Of course, I only heard about *that* part from the people you were supposedly bragging to, years after the fact. So it's possible they may have exaggerated for effect." >>Roger finds something very interesting on the ceiling. "Won't work," >>he says brightly. > >"Maybe we should enlist your help then," Morgan replies equally >brightly. "That's assuming, of course, that we can trust you not to >build in loopholes for your future 'siblings,'" she adds, with that >parental tone that says 'of COURSE we can trust you' while implying >'we'd BETTER be able to trust you.' Roger visibly wavers for a moment, and then: with mutual *poof!s*, an tiny angelic Roger appears on his right shoulder, complete with wings and halo (no, that's NOT a pun!), matched on his left by a devilish Rogert with tiny horns and a trident. "C'mon, you don't wanna deny your new siblings the fun *you* always had, do you?" DR says. "Spend your entire childhood stuck in all those old stick-in-the-mud parental rules?" AR counters: "But from your current vantage point, you now realize that your parents' restrictions really were good for you -- it was pure luck that you survived escaping their protection so often. Why, if they weren't immortal, you would have had them grey-haired before they hit 50!" "Big deal," DR sneers. "The Blazing Hypocrite over there--" he waves at Roland "--was oh-so-resentful of *his* father keeping the truth from him, but then turns around and keeps *us* from living up to our full potential until we were 'old enough,' in his opinion! If he had his way, we'd--" "Those cases are not at all parallel!" AR interjects hotly. "Being open with your children is light-years removed from letting them run out and get killed trying to play hero before they have enough experience to survive! If our parents *hadn't* run themselves, and everyone else, ragged keeping us on a leash, we wouldn't have made it to six!" "Oh, suuure, take *their* side," DR rolls his eyes sarcastically. "You bootlicking little goody-two-shoes--" "Why, you -- you -- Oooooh!" AR splutters in rage. "If I weren't categorically opposed to senseless violence I'd march over there and teach you some proper respect!" DR looks oh-so-frightened by this. "Well, c'mon, 'mommie's little angel,' what's stopping you? If yoMMMPH!" "I AM," snarls Roger Prime, closing a fist around each tiny duplicate. "I am *not* this internally conflicted -- I've made my peace, I've reached my understandings, and I've come to terms with all of this! You two," he fixes them each with a steely eye, "are no longer amusing. Get. Lost." PoofPoof! "Ahem," Roger says rather shamefeacedly. "Sorry. Ignore them, I always do. Though they are a bit cathartic at times. Anyway, I'm sure we can reach some kind of effective arrangement to keep, er...'the twins'...safe. Although," he adds with just a trace of evil, "they really *should* be able to sneak out once in a while. I mean, I wouldn't want them to miss out on *all* the fun I had." >>Roger stops *dead* -- Patrons can almost see his thought processes >>freeze for long moment, then start off again in high gear. >>"That....That could explain a great deal. Except...if *that* were >>the case, I should be dead now. Completely dead." He begis chewing >>the inside of his cheek. "I have to think about this." > > /"Just doing the math,"/ Roland replies as calmly as possible. >/"It may be that Destroyer wanted the _other_ guy out of the way, not >you. And ripping half a Halo away has _just_ the sort of Hallmark >sentiment that Destroyer would like to sign his work with. He doesn't >like competition, and he loves pitting his enemies against each >other. (But you probably know all of that by now.) If I _have_ heard >of the loser, if you tell me, that might help."/ "Well, he didn't strip half my Halo -- he literally *killed* me. If I hadn't Duped out just ahead of the hit, I'd be permanently dead right now. As for who he was -- well, that was why I was so confused. 'He' was an Amalgam, who claimed to be left over from our last little jaunt, when Deathwalker was hijacking Access's powers. Victor Von Doom, Darkseid, and Sauron --the Tolkien one-- were the, er, 'progenitors' of that Amalgam. He *claimed* to have held onto his existence by sheer force of will after all the Almagamations were supposedly shut down, but he was stuck in his own little pocket univers, with nothing but Apokolips/Mordor/Latveria in it. He wanted me, supposedly, in order to use my emulation of Axel's powers to give him Access to the multiverse at large. Why he didn't go after Axel, I'm not sure...but if Destroyer was in there that would explain that -- he wouldn't be above letting his personal grudge with you spill over onto me. In fact, torturing you by holding me would be just his style..." Roger shakes his head as if to clear away a particularly disturbing vision...or memory. "At any rate, I had a feeling there was another one in that Amalgam, someone I couldn't nail down -- he got into hand-to-hand with me a lot more readily than I would have expected from any of the others. If Destroyer were the fourth one, that would explain the Amalgam's physical combat style, and his knowledge of Halo attacks. But I shouldn't have survived that fight, if so....unless....." Roger trails off into silence for a long moment. "Unless he was less than the sum of his parts. If his Amalgam was faulty, or fraying...I mean, the internal personality conflicts in a persona like that have to be pretty major." >>Roger waits until well after the laugh is gone. "One might be >>tempted," he says dryly, "to think that Wrinkle's one joy in life >>consists of trying to make me freak. Or at least jump a little." > > Roger hears a rather ordinary ticking... > (OOC: No, that's NOT Wrinkle. It's Tiktok, a _much_ lesser Paradox >spirit. About as far in the other direction as possible, in fact. >Utterly harmless. At first... ) OOC: Er..."uh oh"? >>"Tristan and Isolde?" Roger says brightly. > >"No," Morgan says simply. "They're _twins_. Siblings. I'm _not_ going >to mess with them by giving them the names of a pair of lovers." Her >tone speaks louder than her words that this is the _end_ of this line >of baby-name speculation. "Castor and Pol--" Roger manages to get out, at his most irrepressible, before Morgan's LOOK freezes him in place. ================================= Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 14:36:19 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: My Kung Fu, part II... On Sat, 09 Oct 1999 22:12:23 -0700 Stranger Said As CAoL Message # 00007570 >On Sat, 9 Oct 1999 15:29:41 EDT >Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00007560 > >Stranger said: >>"Nemesis? If there's an armoury is there a workshop equiped with >>Minbari technology?" > >Scott walks up. "What do you want?" A hollow voice says, "Do not ask >that question!" Scott looks slightly disturbed by the interruption. Stranger grins at Scott. "It's OK, I can tell you what I want, as I know who I am." >"Er, what kind of Mimbari tech do you need? If it's off the shelf (or >a reasonable facsimile thereof), I can hand it to you right now." He >pulls out a fighting pike, which extends to five meters[1]. Scott >still looks and sounds rather like an actor whose direction was on >loan from Jabutoo. Stranger raises an eyebrow. "Got one, but yours is bigger" "No, I want to make a changeling net. I want to _make_ it because I prefer kit I've made myself. So what I want is a suitably equipped workshop." "No particular plan for the net, but I think it may come in handy." ================================= Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 14:36:23 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: FuzzyHome and Questions On Sat, 09 Oct 1999 22:06:14 -0700 Stranger Said As CAoL Message # 00007571 >On Sat, 9 Oct 1999 16:24:34 EDT >SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00007564 > > He pauses. "I can stretch my morality far enough to cover stealing >the artifact back, as long as we make for some kind of recompense >a replacement comm system of some kind has already been proposed for >regaining the Gauge. I would rather try a legal case for its return, >or barter for it, but I am aware that these courses could have worse >unforseen consequences than a sneak theft. It appears to be a choice >between evils." "On the other hand, the artifacts, as I understand them, in a sense _are_ Fuzzy, rather than simply belonging to him. In which case they're claim to ownership is legally closer to slavery." "On the third hand, Fuzzy was my friend and one of the bravest entities I've known - if we need the artifacts to get him back then I'm not going to worry too much about the morality of the situation. I'll attempt to get them without harming anyone, of course, and I'll attempt to fix any problems I may cause. But if push comes to shove, well..." "Hmmm. Should we openly approach the 'artifact holders' initially? Explain the situation and offer an honest trade?" ================================= Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 17:33:49 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE VI: Equipment Mods... On 10-09-1999 at 17:32:22 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007572 >On Sat, 09 Oct 1999 14:44:50 -0700 >Stranger Said As CAoL Message # 00007556 > >"I don't know, I find assualt weapons often , ah, focus people's >attention." interjects Stranger with a grin. > >"Nemesis? If there's an armoury is there a workshop equiped with >Minbari technology?" "Yes, Mimbari and Related Technologies, That would be the Sixth Door, If you need something you do not see, Ask the Attendants." > Stranger "I had several points in mind, and None of them had to do with addressing Crowds, Comfort perhaps being the most significant... Equipment maintenance in the field running a Close second, The Perpetual Energy Cells, Self Charge at a rate of 10% per hour in any Realm where, Access to the Elemental Plains is Possible, The Munitions Synthesis Box, Can adapt your Munitions for Local Physics, As well as provide supplies anywhere that, Access to the Elemental Plains is Possible." ================================= Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 17:33:55 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Hunter and The Actress On 10-09-1999 at 17:32:23 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007573 >On Sat, 09 Oct 1999 00:22:08 -0700 >Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00007551 > >"Well, if we only miss the one, the havoc will still be rather >wide-spread. As I say, I know of a spell which tangles >communications. On Faerun, it works only on ink, and rather slowly at >that, but it shouldn't be too difficult to devise a variant that >works quickly enough to distort electronic signals. An we could get >one of your splits to invoke such a spell at a switching station, the >resulting confusion would likely make people less...fond...of the >Ansible Guild. An we could do it at all but one of the switching >stations, methinks the Guild would lose influence within the >fortnight." > >After a moment's thought, the Bard continues. "For that matter, the >spell could be contrived so that it may spread in a manner analogous >to a virus. At that point, it need only be invoked once, and 'twould >inevitably affect e'en the Guild's switching station. Meanwhile, I >can wander merrily from planet to planet, sowing contempt for the >Guild. Methinks I _like_ this plan!" "Do we really want to attack Governments and Corporations, That are not directly involved, In the actions regarding The Ansible Guild?" ================================= Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 20:06:38 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Command Decisions On Sat, 9 Oct 1999 18:37:47 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00007574 >On Sat, 09 Oct 1999 18:54:10 GMT >Tech Tonic Said As CAoL Message # 00007558 > >oneeye laughs. "Eh, i know the feeling friend. You wouldn't belive >how many people ask me how gonlin and croaker are." He laughs at his >own joke. "So you don't actually know them? I could;ve sworn that >several of them made comments to that effect..." His eye glints >curiously "If I thought you were *that* 'One Eye', I'd not be here. The Father of Runes is not a being any sane mortal wishes to have dealings with." The best easy to find example of why you want no part of Odin is Poul Anderson's novel "The Broken Sword". It depicts the Odin of the legends and saga, not the Odin of comic books and New Age types. It's not that Odin dislikes humans. It's that he's got a lot in common with Lovecraft's "Great Old Ones". Humans are mostly beneath his notice and if having something nasty happen to one or even a lot of humans will further his plans, then so be it. Brrr. ================================= Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 20:06:43 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: FuzzyHome and Questions On Sat, 9 Oct 1999 18:56:53 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00007575 >On Sat, 9 Oct 1999 16:24:34 EDT >SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00007564 > >He pauses. "I can stretch my morality far enough to cover stealing >the artifact back, as long as we make for some kind of recompense -- >a replacement comm system of some kind has already been proposed for >regaining the Gauge. I would rather try a legal case for its return, >or barter for it, but I am aware that these courses could have worse >unforseen consequences than a sneak theft. It appears to be a choice >between evils." Nemo gives Roger an odd look. "Pardon me, but you appear to have swallowed a lawyer." "More seriously, you seem to have picked up the 'lawyer meme'. That is, the idea that law, precednts and procedure are more important than equity. Note that I said equity, not justice." ================================= Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 20:06:48 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: House Phoenix/Greywolf On Sat, 9 Oct 1999 19:05:15 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00007576 >On Sat, 9 Oct 1999 16:24:49 EDT >SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00007569 > >>"No," Morgan says simply. "They're _twins_. Siblings. I'm _not_ >>going to mess with them by giving them the names of a pair of >>lovers." Her tone speaks louder than her words that this is the >>_end_ of this line of baby-name speculation. > >"Castor and Pol--" Roger manages to get out, at his most >irrepressible, before Morgan's LOOK freezes him in place. And Nemo chimes in with: "When this is all over, I may introduce you to Cas and Pol Stone. Along with Laz and Lor Smith. The fireworks should be most entertaining." ================================= Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 20:06:54 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: House Phoenix/Greywolf On Sat, 9 Oct 1999 19:09:17 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00007577 >On Sat, 9 Oct 1999 16:24:30 EDT >SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00007563 > >In a message dated 10/8/99 2:56:19 AM Eastern Daylight Time, >kal-el writes: > >>"Pardon me for butting in, but you *really* don't want to do that. >>If he remembers getting around the blocks, then he can't change that >>without creating a paradox..." > >"I'm afraid we're already *in* Paradox Alley, Uncle Nemo," Roger >replies, one corner of his mouth twitching oddly. "I'm not a twin." "It has yet to be established whether or not you have or had younger siblings. And don't even *think* about telling us." ================================= Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 20:06:59 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Equipment Mods... On Sat, 9 Oct 1999 21:30:13 -0500 (CDT) Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00007578 >On 10-09-1999 at 17:32:22 >Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007572 >"I had several points in mind, and > None of them had to do with addressing Crowds, > Comfort perhaps being the most significant... > Equipment maintenance in the field running a Close second, > The Perpetual Energy Cells, > Self Charge at a rate of 10% per hour in any Realm where, > Access to the Elemental Plains is Possible, > The Munitions Synthesis Box, > Can adapt your Munitions for Local Physics, > As well as provide supplies anywhere that, > Access to the Elemental Plains is Possible." A ramp extends from the lowest floor of the Jupiter Two and William and family emerge, save Dr. Smith and Robot. Don and John head immediately for the engines while Maureen, Judy and Penny walk around the base of the vessel scanning for any damage to the ship's hull. All are armed with discreet laser pistols, their scanning equipment is larger in most cases. Something of a unneccesary precaution perhaps, but as the CAoL never said they owned the whole sphere, best to not be caught out. Doctor Smith and Robot are inside, Robot guiding Smith in checking the ship's systems, the pair bickering as usual. Obviously, the Robinsons have learned not to rely on Smith for the truely important jobs, Robot babysitting Smith also so he doesn't sneak out and annoy their hosts. Not that he disagreed after seeing Failsafe, Polaris and Aurora. In the Place, a shimmering transporter beam in a far corner announced Tink's arrival. She hadn't grown any, but had changed into a starfleet engineering uniform ala Voyager, downsized for her. She grinned at Mike Callahan, placing a finger to her lips in a 'shhhhh' gesture, put a dollar on the bar and ordered a strawberry milk shake in a hushed whisper. While Mike worked on that, she snuck over to Roland and Morgan's table, glancing at the X-window to see Roland's mental projection with the CAoL, and attempted to peck Roland on the cheek just to see the reaction. Once she had 'announced' herself, she got her shake and sat down. "Hey, is that -the- Will Robinson? His ship doesn't look like the one in the movie..." Meanwhile, Will walks over to the rest of the CAoL, curious to hear how they had gotten there, as well as curious, after overhearing Nemisis, just what sort of enhancements, if any, could be done to help get them home. He's a polite fellow, though, not wanting to interrupt. ================================= Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 21:08:02 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Conversations before a Castle with a Duchess of On Sat, 09 Oct 1999 20:33:37 -0700 The Hunter Said As CAoL Message # 00007579 >On Fri, 8 Oct 1999 17:09:36 -0400 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00007541 > >>On Thu, 07 Oct 1999 22:48:43 -0700 >>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00007509 >> >> (OOC: "Whaaa-?" -Hawkeye (of Avengers fame 8^) What the heck is >>'soothly norom?') > >Land' by Micheal Valentine, to describe some sort of Martian logic >process akin to the Boolean sort. But I don't recall precisely....> (OOC: I missed a STRANGER reference?!? It's time to reread the book... 8^) >> Roland blinks, confused. ^'Palm my card?' Unless you're referring >>to my NOT letting Mr. Osborne in on my little strategic triage with >>Aurora and Nemo - by the way, if you have any ideas on getting >>around Osborne's 'colleagues,' I'm listening - I haven't the >>foggiest idea what you mean. And if you don't want me leaping to >>your defense,^ he adds with a slow mental grin, ^please say so now. >>Gentleman I may not be, but the chivalry thing is a lot harder to >>kill.^ > >^(laugh) Yes, that is what I meant. No, I don't mind chivalry in the >way you are defining it. As for leaping to my defense, feel free. >You've been quite timely about it several times 'ere this. Just >remember not to be angry with me if it turns out to be a sham instead >of a true 'lady in distress' situation. To warn you, or act >otherwise, would severely limit my normal mode of operating.^ Roland grins. ^Ah. That. I felt it...prudent. As for the rest, I've been burned on that respect before, but you didn't seem to be in danger, and I had no intention of tolerating that level of rudeness.^ He throws a brief, sidelong glance at Scott. ^Though in retrospect, I'm not sure he _knew_ that it was rude.^ >> Roland manages to throw Zia a mock-frown for a moment...then >>smiles wickedly as an energy duplicate of the infamous P-16 appears >>in his hands... > >Zia's reply is only an "Eeep!" if not one so panicked as during the >Tower of Terror story thread. She dives in through the door of the >Castle to avoid the hail she anticipates from such a well-armed >peanut thrower. Zia just manages to evade a peanut peppering. 8^) Oddly, they flatten on impact... >> /"Hmm?"/ Roland looks confused. /"I think I missed something... >>which artifact are you talking about now?"/ > >/"The Rod."/ Zia says, /"It makes things from nothing; so somewhere >'paying for it' should happen, according to the Tanstaafl hypothesis. >As for the Blue Horizon and the Cosmic Engineer, I rather fancy that >the Blue Horizon is sort of Frankenstein's monster while the Cosmic >Engineer might be analogous to Dr. Frankenstein himself. What do you >think, Nemesis, am I close enough for muddy thinking?"/ Roland's grin broadens considerably as he walks _through_ the door, sans P-16. /"Ah. That makes sense...and has a wonderfully wicked sense of karmic justice to it.'/ He looks around, confused. /"Say, where'd Eric go - wait, did anyone mention an armory?"/ Upon hearing the affirmative, he sighs. /"I should've gotten that Glock to him faster..."/ ================================= Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 21:08:09 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Freelance Responses On Sat, 09 Oct 1999 20:45:55 -0700 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00007580 >On Sat, 9 Oct 1999 15:00:17 -0400 >Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00007561 > >>On Mon, 04 Oct '99 Morgan and/or Roland Said > >>>Dhyrclhanc Said >>> >>>"Congradulations, sibs." Then does a double take of Eric. >>>"Ah, Roland? What is Neo doing here?" >> >> Eric just peers over his sunglasses briefly, then pushes them >>back on. "Lousy movie," he mutters. >> Roland chuckles. "He's Eric. A Hunter. He'll be helping out in my >>abstinence(OOC: sic)." > > FTR, what does "sic" mean? I never understood that (OOC: 'sic' means thus, or so. Used most commonly to refer to a word that seems misspelled or inappropriate but is what the author means anyway. Don't feel bad, sib, I wondered about that for years before finally tracking down the data myself. 8^) >Dhyrclhanc raises and eyebrow and looks at his brother strangely. > >"He's a Hunter, eh? In that case, what, pray tell, exactly does he >Hunt?" Eric smiles coolly. "Demons." Roland rolls his eyes. "Partially accurate. Mr. Shoot-It-If-It-Moves here hunts vampires, werewolves, fomori, ghosts, changelings...but only if the critter in question serves Oblivion. Not mere evil, mind you, though he'll go after them too, but things that serve corruption incarnate. He's sort of a supernatural cop." Eric snorts. >Then he looks at Eric, "Actually, Sirah, it was a very *good movie. >It was a suprisingly accurate depiction of the events which took >place. I was there. I should know. Granted that I was not actually >there, *then*." Eric raises an eyebrow. "It had the potential to be a real eye-opener to the mundanes, and they copped out with that whole 'VR' thing. Lame nonsense." "It was a _metaphor,_ Eric. _You_ know that some people aren't ready to face what our world really is," Roland replies. Eric just shakes his head. (OOC: BTW, Morgan and I _loved_ it in RL; we just rented it again today. 8^) ================================= Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 21:11:21 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Decisions, Decisions On Sat, 09 Oct 1999 21:05:41 -0700 The Hunter Said As CAoL Message # 00007581 >On Fri, 08 Oct 1999 08:06:04 -0400 >Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00007529 > >>On Thu, 07 Oct 1999 22:27:04 -0700 >>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00007507 >> >> Roland looks vaguely disturbed by that, glancing over at Roger. >>Legion, if she looks, can notice the minor Time Paradox spirit >>Tiktok nestled in his time sense, slowly matching with it so the >>thing can slowly start messing with his timing...almost an insult to >>a powerful Time mage, but still dangerous at the right - ah - time. >>8^) > >Legion stop at this, and looks at the spirit for a moment... Tiktok pulses slightly to her; if it were a dog, it would be wagging it's tail... >> /"Oh, I wasn't suggesting that,"/ Roland replies as they approach >>the castle. /"Come to think of it, we should be able to find out >>more concretely soon enough."/ He looks at the castle as the group >>approaches it, and it's clear that some of the reality of fatherhood >>is starting to sink in... > >Legion sighs, "Being a parent is never easy..." She drifts from >Roland's side closer to Rogers. After a moment she looks TikTok dead >in the eyes and Roland watches Legion go; his physical eyes flicker back to Morgan. >politely clears her throat. She arches a brow, and gives it a polite >'I don't RECALL inviting you to tea' look with one lump of menace, >not two. Tiktok is on the far end of the other side of the spectrum from Wrinkle, power-wise; not even sentient, it nestles into its victim with all the deliberation of a virus. But it has enough animal intelligence to know a threat when it 'sees' one, and recoils slightly, with a dog-like 'whadIdo? whadIdo?' look. After all, it's only fulfilling its duty... >On Sat, 9 Oct 1999 16:24:51 EDT >SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00007568 >OOC: Okay, TickTock is going after *Roger's* time sense, correct? It >shouldn't be easy, but a Correspondance Spirit probably could pull it >off. What kind of effects should I start hitting Roger with? (OOC: Correct, it's a Time Paradox spirit, and nothing yet. Tiktok just sets itself up in the victim's time sense, slowly synching with it. Once the rhythm has been established, it starts altering said time sense, throwing off its victim's timing at crucial moments. Y'know, little things like dancing with a Duchess, evading HIT-Marks while on a motorcycle, playing Liszt in Carnegie Hall... This particular Paradox spirit is quite low-powered, and given that Roger has gained Wrinkle's attention, could almost be considered an insult...except for its sheer insidiousness. ;^) ================================= Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 22:07:35 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: House Phoenix/Greywolf On Sat, 09 Oct 1999 21:31:12 -0700 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00007582 >On Sat, 9 Oct 1999 16:24:49 EDT >SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00007569 > >>In a message dated 10/7/99 8:49:31 PM Eastern Daylight Time, >>ljwolfe writes: > >"Gave you some top bragging rights in the Superhero Parent's Support >Group," Roger says sunnily. "You'd always chew me out for sneaking >off, then at the next meeting brag about my latest 'impossible' >exploit, until they threatened to bury you in peanuts to shut you >up." He pauses thoughtfully. "Of course, I only heard about *that* >part from the people you were supposedly bragging to, years after the >fact. So it's possible they may have exaggerated for effect." Roland grins wryly. "Probably half-bragging, half-kvetching." The grin turns into a self-deprecating smile. "I can be like that. Or so I've heard." "Now where would you have heard that?" Morgan asks innocently. "Can't imagine, dear," Roland replies with a chuckle. >>"Maybe we should enlist your help then," Morgan replies equally >>brightly. "That's assuming, of course, that we can trust you not to >>build in loopholes for your future 'siblings,'" she adds, with that >>parental tone that says 'of COURSE we can trust you' while implying >>'we'd BETTER be able to trust you.' >"I AM," snarls Roger Prime, closing a fist around each tiny >duplicate. "I am *not* this internally conflicted -- I've made my >peace, I've reached my understandings, and I've come to terms with >all of this! You two," he fixes them each with a steely eye, "are no >longer amusing." "That's your opinion," Roland wisecracks between chuckles. (OOC: ROFL! 8^) >"Get. Lost." >PoofPoof! >"Ahem," Roger says rather shamefeacedly. "Sorry. Ignore them, I >always do. Though they are a bit cathartic at times. Anyway, I'm sure >we can reach some kind of effective arrangement to keep, er...'the >twins'...safe. Although," he adds with just a trace of evil, "they >really *should* be able to sneak out once in a while. I mean, I >wouldn't want them to miss out on *all* the fun I had." "So long as if they can 'sneak out' past the security system," Morgan comments, "then they should be able to fend for themselves until we catch up with them." "I don't want them wandering off before they can _walk,_ Roger," Roland adds. >>>Roger stops *dead* -- Patrons can almost see his thought processes >>>freeze for long moment, then start off again in high gear. >>>"That....That could explain a great deal. Except...if *that* were >>>the case, I should be dead now. Completely dead." He begis chewing >>>the inside of his cheek. "I have to think about this." >> >> /"Just doing the math,"/ Roland replies as calmly as possible. >>/"It may be that Destroyer wanted the _other_ guy out of the way, >>not you. And ripping half a Halo away has _just_ the sort of >>Hallmark sentiment that Destroyer would like to sign his work with. >>He doesn't like competition, and he loves pitting his enemies >>against each other. (But you probably know all of that by now.) If I >>_have_ heard of the loser, if you tell me, that might help."/ > >"Well, he didn't strip half my Halo -- he literally *killed* me. If I >hadn't Duped out just ahead of the hit, I'd be permanently dead right >now. Roland's eyes narrow to tiny slits... >As for who he was -- well, that was why I was so confused. 'He' was >an Amalgam, who claimed to be left over from our last little jaunt, >when Deathwalker was hijacking Access's powers. Victor Von Doom, >Darkseid, and Sauron --the Tolkien one-- were the, er, 'progenitors' >of that Amalgam. Roland's eyes grow wide again. _Very_ wide. >If Destroyer were the fourth one, that would explain the Amalgam's >physical combat style, and his knowledge of Halo attacks. But I >shouldn't have survived that fight, if so....unless....." Roger >trails off into silence for a long moment. "Unless he was less than >the sum of his parts. If his Amalgam was faulty, or fraying...I mean, >the internal personality conflicts in a persona like that have to be >pretty major." "That...that would explain it," Roland admitted. "That many megalomaniacs in one head...it's a good thing they didn't get along. Although any _one_ of them would have wanted to be rid of an abomination like that..." >> Roger hears a rather ordinary ticking... >> (OOC: No, that's NOT Wrinkle. It's Tiktok, a _much_ lesser >>Paradox spirit. About as far in the other direction as possible, in >>fact. Utterly harmless. At first... ) > >OOC: Er..."uh oh"? (OOC: See my most recent 'Decisions, Decisions' post. 8^) >>"No," Morgan says simply. "They're _twins_. Siblings. I'm _not_ >>going to mess with them by giving them the names of a pair of >>lovers." Her tone speaks louder than her words that this is the >>_end_ of this line of baby-name speculation. > >"Castor and Pol--" Roger manages to get out, at his most >irrepressible, before Morgan's LOOK freezes him in place. "And just _which_," Morgan says through the LOOK, "would you suggest for your _sister_?" (OOC: Since we said we left the Place shortly after everyone else went through the gate anyway...) Roland, wisely, changes the subject. "My love, we should probably be going. If Iteration 9.1 and Davenport start in on each other again..." After saying their goodbyes, an X-Window opens to the cottage, and the happy parents-to-be depart. ================================= Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 22:07:44 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Command Decisions On Sat, 09 Oct 1999 21:37:10 -0700 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00007583 >On Sat, 09 Oct 1999 12:13:29 -0400 >Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00007557 > >Dr. Essex pauses, choosing his words carefully. "Years ago, in my >time line, I was considered a villain. Perhaps not the most hated man >alive, but in certain circles I was definitely in the running." He >looks ahead at Legion's back, as she pursues Mischief. "Then I met a >woman who saw in me the humanity I thought I had lost... and showed >me that the ends do not justify the means... While they do not know >me personally, several members here have encountered or have >knowledge of my doubles in nearby parallel realities. They have >trouble forgetting the man I was." Roland nods and approaches the two. /"I would be at the top of that list,"/ he says, not unkindly. /"Except I have been having trouble forgetting the man someone else is. I wouldn't trust Mr. Sinister as far as I could comfortably spit him. Dr. Essex is another story."/ A glance flickers from Legion to Essex and back. /"If the company you keep is any indication, Dr. Essex will make a fine addition to our band."/ He offers his 'hand.' /"If you'll have us."/ ================================= Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 22:07:49 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: House Phoenix/Greywolf On Sat, 09 Oct 1999 21:38:51 -0700 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00007584 >On Sat, 9 Oct 1999 16:24:30 EDT >SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00007563 > >In a message dated 10/8/99 2:56:19 AM Eastern Daylight Time, >kal-el writes: > >>"Pardon me for butting in, but you *really* don't want to do that. >>If he remembers getting around the blocks, then he can't change that >>without creating a paradox..." > >"I'm afraid we're already *in* Paradox Alley, Uncle Nemo," Roger >replies, one corner of his mouth twitching oddly. "I'm not a twin." Roland shrugs. "Hardly, as far as I can see. You're now from an alternate timeline, if I remember Drs. Pym and Hunter correctly, so no more paradox." ================================= Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 22:07:56 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: My Kung Fu, part II... On Sat, 09 Oct 1999 21:55:20 -0700 The Hunter Said As CAoL Message # 00007585 >On Thu, 7 Oct 1999 21:49:56 PST >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00007517 > >>On Thu, 07 Oct 1999 17:18:45 -0700 >>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00007494 >> >> Eric looks at the pattern. "Simple. Hrm. Do you know a gentleman >>by the name of 'Mister Komodo,' by any chance?" He then leaps over >>to the pattern, and begins moving through it. It's not easy, even >>for him, but if it is at all possible (he won't use his Lightning >>Leap - the power he activated earlier - unless he can't do it >>otherwise), he manages to take the last step/kata. He stumbles back, >>sweat beading all over his face, and looks at what he just did. >>"Gaia. What is that?" > >"The Siblings of the Shroud call it 'The 97 Steps'. It usually takes > years of training to walk the entire pattern." Eric stands there, practically sweating at the pattern, and nods. "I would guess as much. Of course, I've _had_ years of training, and a lifetime's worth compressed into it at that." (OOC: Olympic-gold-class acrobat. Superhuman reflexes. Martial arts training greater than most of even the best achieve in a lifetime. That do it? 8^) >On 10-08-1999 at 12:26:20 >Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007537 > >>On Fri, 08 Oct 1999 01:11:09 -0700 >>Harlock Said As CAoL Message # 00007523 >> >>Harlock suddenly flashes an evil grin. "Any mage, you say? And what >>if I were to do this?" He pulls a brooch out of one of his belt >>pouches and pins it on. To all outward appearances, nothing changes, >>but to mage sight, the Bard has just ceased to exist. He removes the >>brooch and puts it back into a belt pouch. "I'll admit, I don't like >>using that little toy. It has some...unfortunate side effects. If I >>truly wanted to go dead to magic detectors, I could also pull my TSM >>armor out of the tesseract and wear it, leaving my toys in the >>tesseract. I don't like wearing the armor, either. You'd think that >>they could design something marginally comfortable, given three >>centuries of exo-suit engineering to work from..." "Milspec," Eric replies with a slow, slight, sardonic grin. "If it's designed for grunts, it's _supposed_ to be uncomfortable. The theory is that is discourages _liking_ killing, but I think the designers are just sadistic. You can bet that a general's suit is padded, form-fitting and air-conditioned." >"I suggest you stop by the Armoury, and > Request the attendants supply you with, > A Form Fitting/Self Repair Upgrade, > Perpetual Energy Cells, and > A New Munitions Synthesis Box. > There may also be other Options, > You will want to discuss with them." "Munitions _synthesis?_ Energy cells?" Eric almost blurts. >"The Armoury is Down {Points} That Corridor, > The Eighth Door on the Left..." Eric smiles coolly, and pratically vanishes. >"If you choose to do that now the attendants will direct you to the > Planning Room when you are done there." A few minutes later, Eric reappears. If anything, his outfit seems even _less_ bulky, though some odd studs can be seen on his gloves now. "Roland never mentioned the perks a body could get from being with this lot." His smile isn't very pleasant, but at least it seems to be meant for the CAoL's enemies... ================================= Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 22:08:02 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Search For Fuzzy On Sat, 09 Oct 1999 21:59:00 -0700 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00007586 >On Fri, 8 Oct 1999 21:20:35 -0400 >Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00007548 > >>On Fri, 01 Oct '99 The Hunter Said >> >> "You introduce me to the most interesting people," Eric says, as >>dry as ever, to Roland. The FI just grins. >> "Okay." Eric turns to Zia. "Let me get this straight. There's a >>Dyson Sphere out there, it's a _side_effect,_ and it's not directly >>threatening _yet._ But you expect it to be." > >"Eric, let me be the first to formally welcome you to the >'Callahanian Army of Light'." says the immortal "adolescent" >hatchling ruby fire dragon, winking in the Hunter's direction. Eric blinks behind his glasses. "Roland." "Yes, Eric?" "That's a dragon, Roland." Roland smiles and nods. "Yes, Eric." "It's a cybernetic, cape-wearing dragon with a mirror and a dozen gems implanted in his head, and what looks like a Green Lantern ring on one talon, Roland." "Very perceptive, Eric." Eric shrugs and mutters to himself about wiseacres... ================================= Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 22:50:47 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Hunter and The Actress On Sun, 10 Oct 1999 01:45:52 EDT Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00007587 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007573 > >>On Sat, 09 Oct 1999 00:22:08 -0700 >>Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00007551 >> >> At that point, it need only be invoked once, and 'twould inevitably >>affect e'en the Guild's switching station. Meanwhile, I can wander >>merrily from planet to planet, sowing contempt for the Guild. >>Methinks I _like_ this plan!" > >"Do we really want to attack Governments and Corporations, > That are not directly involved, > In the actions regarding The Ansible Guild?" /*"I do not believe that will be necessary. I am sure that all of the Ansible Guild's -clients- are less than happy that they must bow to the Guild's pleasure. Provide them with an alternate and the Guild's position will erode rapidly without other help from us. Make that alternate compatible with the Guild's systems, and all support for the Guild will vanish in a heart beat."*/ Aurora states. ================================= Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 23:48:53 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Hunter and The Hunted? On Sat, 09 Oct 1999 23:00:28 -0700 Rio Said As CAoL Message # 00007588 >On Fri, 8 Oct 1999 17:19:30 EDT >SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00007542 > >>In a message dated 10/7/99 12:41:20 AM Eastern Daylight Time, >>rio writes: >> >Roger takes a pratfall on Zia's lichens, and: >>"Ow!" Rio winces. She glides over to where Roger lays on the ground, >>smiles down at him, and offers him a hand up. "Do you need someone >>to kiss that and make it better?" Her wide-eyed far-too-innocent >>smile broadens, and Roger suddenly realizes he's dealing with a >>_very_ desirable woman. (OOC: I'll send the specific effects to you >>separately, Rog.) > >Roger almost tosses off his usual don't-worry-I'm-fine comment before >taking a quick second look at Rio and shifting gears. With his >lopsided, rather self-deprecating grin, he takes her hand and lets >her help him up[1], then manages to somehow hold on to her hand while >creating the impression that he's not aware of it. > (OOC: Not at all ) If Rio is aware that Roger more or less 'helped himself up,' she gives no indication. She also makes no move to free her hand. In fact, Roger might notice that her hand feels _awfully_ nice. >He meets her eyes. "Well, I never turn down a kiss from such a lovely >lady (unless she's trying to kill me, of course), but given how flat >I landed--" he rolls his broad shoulders by way of explanation >"you'd have to do a whole lot of kissing to cover that much surface >area. And I'm not sure we have the time." "I'm sure we can _make_ time, eventually," Rio says silkily. >With a *very* gentle tug on her hand, he cuts the distance between >them by about a third. "Besides," he continues, lowering his voice >to a more...intimate...volume and pitch, "I submit that there are >more interesting locations of my anatomy for kissing, which would >also prove more...effective." His twist on the last word conjures >visions of what a potential smorgasbord of various "effects" Rio >might consider experimenting with. Rio lowers her voice as well. "Oh, I'm quite sure there are more ... effective ... locations." >For the first time, he takes a really *good* look into her eyes, and >completely loses track of himself for nearly 0.75sec. Looking back at Roger, Rio blinks as she thinks she sees an odd time effect. But she's more interested in Roger's eyes. >He rejoins the current excuse for reality with a shiver just barely >strong enough for Rio to feel through their joined hands. He smiles >softly, a smile that, unusually for him, has no hidden humor or >irony, no lurking punch line. "You know," he murmurs almost to >himself, "the last time a CoX kissed something and made it better for >me, I found it a most *educational* experience. And the first time. >And all the times in between." His eyes crinkle slightly at the >corners. "As it happens I enjoy learning. One of my favorite >pastimes..." "'You teach best what you most need to learn'?" Rio offers helpfully. Then she looks at the others heading for the castle. "I think we need to catch up with the group," she says, almost regretfully. "Eventually they'll decide what they're going to do, and I suppose we should be there if we want to go along." Her tone suggests she could definitely think of things to do if they were to be 'left behind'. >OOC: Hmm. A something-lit walk hand in hand with a >give-Mom-a-run-for-her-money beautiful girl across a Dyson Sphere >sprouting new-grown lichens towards a castle straight out of a cheesy >SciFantasy flick. OOC: Hey, Roger, go back and read up on Argent and Akasta. Let's see if we can (eventually, when the opportunity presents itself) give Xzerron and Caprice a run for their money. >OOC2: I'm going to go take a cold shower now...... OOC2: I just _love_ having that effect... >[1] Dunno how strong Rio is, or how her abilities might translate >into strength enhancements on demand, so Roger probably pulled most >of his own weight. With his cybernetics and armor, he weighs a lot >more than he looks. Rio "There are three possible parts to a date, of which at least two must be offered: entertainment, food, and affection. It is customary to begin a series of dates with a great deal of entertainment, a moderate amount of food, and the merest suggestion of affection. As the amount of affection increases, the entertainment can be reduced proportionately. When the affection IS the entertainment, we no longer call it dating. Under no circumstances can the food be omitted." -- Miss Manners' Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior ================================= Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 23:51:27 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: House Phoenix/Greywolf On Sat, 09 Oct 1999 23:06:01 -0700 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00007589 >On Sat, 9 Oct 1999 19:09:17 PST >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00007577 > >>On Sat, 9 Oct 1999 16:24:30 EDT >>SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00007563 >> >>"I'm afraid we're already *in* Paradox Alley, Uncle Nemo," Roger >>replies, one corner of his mouth twitching oddly. "I'm not a twin." > >"It has yet to be established whether or not you have or had younger >siblings. And don't even *think* about telling us." ================================= Date: Sun, 10 Oct 1999 02:35:31 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE VI: Meanwhile, back at the Place... On Sun, 10 Oct 1999 04:31:27 -0500 (CDT) Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00007590 >On Sat, 9 Oct 1999 21:30:13 -0500 (CDT) >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00007578 > > In the Place, a shimmering transporter beam in a far corner >announced Tink's arrival. She hadn't grown any, but had changed into >a starfleet engineering uniform ala Voyager, downsized for her. She >grinned at Mike Callahan, placing a finger to her lips in a 'shhhhh' >gesture, put a dollar on the bar and ordered a strawberry milk shake >in a hushed whisper. > While Mike worked on that, she snuck over to Roland and Morgan's >table, glancing at the X-window to see Roland's mental projection >with the CAoL, and attempted to peck Roland on the cheek just to see >the reaction. Only to discover, as she slipped out of sight behind a few oversized chairs, that Roland and Morgan had gotten up. As their X-window closed behind them, she frowned. "Drat, I missed. Oh well, Hi all." > Once she had 'announced' herself, she got her shake and sat >down. > "Hey, is that -the- Will Robinson? His ship doesn't look like >the one in the movie..." Someone confirmed he had introduced himself as 'William Robinson' and Tink hmmed to herself. "Looks like the wrong ship, though." Someone else replied, "He's the one they met on Quarren." Tink mulled that over for a bit. She took out a datapad and stylus and started doodling on it. "If you take that away..." the girl mused, "Then stretch it here...no, it still doesn't mesh right." She set the datapad down and twirled the pen between her fingers. "I don't think you can get from one to the other without completely starting from scratch. The engine's all wrong, the fuel's different, everything is wrong." Someone asked, "So?" "Well, so, I think he's not the one Grumpa met the first time, so no one knows this Will's future outside of probabilities. So instead of having to do nothing so as to not create a temporal paradox, this Will could be safely helped home." Someone else nodded, "Okay, so they could help him home, so what?" Tink shrugged, "So it's the nice thing to do. No real gain comes from it, except a bit more good Karma." "I was wondering what we'd reap from all that 'so'ing," someone quipped then was pelted with pretzels and peanuts. "Karma's good," someone else said. "Karma's karma," someone replied. "That was Zen..." someone else remarked. "But this is Tao," several others finished. While the discussion shifted away into peanuts and philosophy, Tink glanced around for a Nemo or another member of the CAoL who could relay the message. ================================= Date: Sun, 10 Oct 1999 07:36:22 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Equipment Mods... On Sun, 10 Oct 1999 11:50:18 -0700 Stranger Said As CAoL Message # 00007591 >On 10-09-1999 at 17:32:22 >Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007572 > >>"Nemesis? If there's an armoury is there a workshop equiped with >>Minbari technology?" > >"Yes, > Mimbari and Related Technologies, > That would be the Sixth Door, > If you need something you do not see, > Ask the Attendants." "Thanks." Stranger heads off through the door. Anyone entering in the next hour or so will find him hard at work over a workbench, random bits of equipment scattered around him. A number of attendants gathered around him. ================================= Date: Sun, 10 Oct 1999 16:34:36 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Command Decisions On Sun, 10 Oct 1999 23:05:13 GMT Tech Tonic Said As CAoL Message # 00007592 >>oneeye laughs. "Eh, i know the feeling friend. You wouldn't belive >>how many people ask me how gonlin and croaker are." He laughs at his >>own joke. "So you don't actually know them? I could;ve sworn that >>several of them made comments to that effect..." His eye glints >>curiously > >"If I thought you were *that* 'One Eye', I'd not be here. The Father >of Runes is not a being any sane mortal wishes to have dealings >with." OOC: Actually the refernece i was making, and the name should be goblin, not gonlin, was to the glen cook series, The Black Company. He hasn't said anything about not being Odin OneEye.;) ================================= Date: Sun, 10 Oct 1999 18:07:10 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Command Decisions On Sun, 10 Oct 1999 21:02:19 -0400 (EDT) caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00007593 >On Sat, 09 Oct 1999 18:54:10 GMT >Tech Tonic Said As CAoL Message # 00007558 > >>Dr. Essex pauses, choosing his words carefully. "Years ago, in my >>time line, I was considered a villain. Perhaps not the most hated >>man alive, but in certain circles I was definitely in the running." >>He looks ahead at Legion's back, as she pursues Mischief. "Then I >>met a woman who saw in me the humanity I thought I had lost... and >>showed me that the ends do not justify the means... While they do >>not know me personally, several members here have encountered or >>have knowledge of my doubles in nearby parallel realities. They have >>trouble forgetting the man I was." > >oneeye laughs. "Eh, i know the feeling friend. You wouldn't belive >how many people ask me how gonlin and croaker are." He laughs at his >own joke. "So you don't actually know them? I could;ve sworn that >several of them made comments to that effect..." His eye glints >curiously Dr. Essex shakes his head. "Know? No. However I have meet some of them briefly on two occasions when I had to minister to Legion's... unique medical needs." ================================= Date: Sun, 10 Oct 1999 18:39:48 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Decisions, Decisions On Sun, 10 Oct 1999 21:11:25 -0400 (EDT) caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00007594 >On Sat, 09 Oct 1999 21:05:41 -0700 >The Hunter Said As CAoL Message # 00007581 > >>On Fri, 08 Oct 1999 08:06:04 -0400 >>Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00007529 >> >>Legion stop at this, and looks at the spirit for a moment... > > Tiktok pulses slightly to her; if it were a dog, it would be >wagging it's tail... >>Legion sighs, "Being a parent is never easy..." She drifts from >>Roland's side closer to Rogers. After a moment she looks TikTok dead >>in the eyes and politely clears her throat. She arches a brow, and >>gives it a polite 'I don't RECALL inviting you to tea' look with one >>lump of menace, not two. > > Tiktok is on the far end of the other side of the spectrum from >Wrinkle, power-wise; not even sentient, it nestles into its victim >with all the deliberation of a virus. But it has enough animal >intelligence to know a threat when it 'sees' one, and recoils >slightly, with a dog-like 'whadIdo? whadIdo?' look. After all, it's >only fulfilling its duty... Legion sighs, "I feel like I'm kicking a puppy... but we cannot afford letting -that- little one tag along with us. I believe I can send him gently on his way, after all this is -not- his side of reality. Unless you would rather handle him yourself, Roger." Legion, for a reason she really doesn't understand, actually feels sorry for the little thing. But these dimensions are no where NEAR the WoD-verse(s), and it doesn't belong here. It's kinda like a lost puppy.. one about to start chewing on Roger's ankles, but a lost puppy still. >>On Sat, 9 Oct 1999 16:24:51 EDT >>SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00007568 >> >>OOC: Okay, TickTock is going after *Roger's* time sense, correct? It >>shouldn't be easy, but a Correspondance Spirit probably could pull >>it off. What kind of effects should I start hitting Roger with? > > (OOC: Correct, it's a Time Paradox spirit, and nothing yet. Tiktok >just sets itself up in the victim's time sense, slowly synching with >it. Once the rhythm has been established, it starts altering said >time sense, throwing off its victim's timing at crucial moments. >Y'know, little things like dancing with a Duchess, evading HIT-Marks >while on a motorcycle, playing Liszt in Carnegie Hall... This >particular Paradox spirit is quite low-powered, and given that Roger >has gained Wrinkle's attention, could almost be considered an >insult...except for its sheer insidiousness. ;^) Legion has not turned herself against Roger yet... if she does, I'll explain then exactly what she is doing. ================================= Date: Sun, 10 Oct 1999 18:39:54 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Equipment Mods... On Sun, 10 Oct 1999 18:33:06 -0700 (PDT) Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00007595 >On 10-09-1999 at 17:32:22 >Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007572 > >"Yes, > Minbari and Related Technologies, > That would be the Sixth Door, > If you need something you do not see, > Ask the Attendants." Rob pauses. "In no particular order, is there some place I can get some new clothing, and a hot bath with lots of soap? I need to get the smell of smoke out of my hair, and I'd like to replace my jacket, at the very least." ================================= Date: Sun, 10 Oct 1999 18:39:58 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Command Decisions On Mon, 11 Oct 1999 01:32:01 GMT Tech Tonic Said As CAoL Message # 00007596 >Dr. Essex shakes his head. "Know? No. However I have meet some of >them briefly on two occasions when I had to minister to Legion's... >unique medical needs." OneEye Nods acceptingly. "So, what do you make of this mission we're on? I think t'will be a wonderous adventure." He smiles broadly, then stops. He looks up into the air where two ravens circle high above him. "Now what are those two up to?" ================================= Date: Sun, 10 Oct 1999 19:04:25 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Command Decisions On Sun, 10 Oct 1999 22:01:23 -0400 (EDT) caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00007597 >On Sat, 09 Oct 1999 21:37:10 -0700 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00007583 > > Roland nods and approaches the two. /"I would be at the top of >that list,"/ he says, not unkindly. /"Except I have been having >trouble forgetting the man someone else is. I wouldn't trust Mr. >Sinister as far as I could comfortably spit him. Dr. Essex is another >story."/ A glance flickers from Legion to Essex and back. /"If the >company you keep is any indication, Dr. Essex will make a fine >addition to our band."/ He offers his 'hand.' /"If you'll have us."/ Dr. Essex shakes the 'hand' or at least gives a good appearance of it. "I would be honored, sir." ================================= Date: Sun, 10 Oct 1999 20:06:29 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Equipment Mods... On 10-10-1999 at 20:03:16 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007598 >On Sun, 10 Oct 1999 18:33:06 -0700 (PDT) >Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00007595 > >>On 10-09-1999 at 17:32:22 >>Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007572 >> >>"Yes, >> Minbari and Related Technologies, >> That would be the Sixth Door, >> If you need something you do not see, >> Ask the Attendants." > >Rob pauses. "In no particular order, is there some place I can get >some new clothing, and a hot bath with lots of soap? I need to get >the smell of smoke out of my hair, and I'd like to replace my jacket, >at the very least." "Of Course, The Wardrobe in each suite will see to Cleaning and Mending, As Well as Tailoring any new Clothes requested, From the Indicated Materials..." If you want a Kevlar or Steel Bikini just ask... ;) The Wardrobe will deal with it... Nemisis Give Directions to a hall of Suites, Select any door that has a Key in the Keyhole, Keep the key as long as you may have use for it. ================================= Date: Sun, 10 Oct 1999 20:06:34 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Command Decisions On Sun, 10 Oct 1999 22:06:15 -0400 (EDT) caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00007599 On Sun, 10 Oct 1999, Tek Tonic wrote: >OneEye Nods acceptingly. "So, what do you make of this mission we're >on? I think t'will be a wonderous adventure." He smiles broadly, then >stops. He looks up into the air where two ravens circle high above >him. "Now what are those two up to?" Dr. Essex says thoughtfully, "I think it should prove educational... This group would not only go through hell for one of its own, they seem to remember to come out again... and don't bring it with them." ================================= Date: Sun, 10 Oct 1999 20:06:38 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Meanwhile, back at the Place... On Sun, 10 Oct 1999 18:51:15 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00007600 >On Sun, 10 Oct 1999 04:31:27 -0500 (CDT) >Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00007590 > > While the discussion shifted away into peanuts and philosophy, >Tink glanced around for a Nemo or another member of the CAoL who >could relay the message. Nemo practically materializes next to her. (Actually, he just snuck up, when he has the time for it, he's a sucker for "cute little girls"). "Want some candy little girl?" ================================= Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1999 02:07:15 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: My Kung Fu, part II... On Mon, 11 Oct 1999 01:42:53 -0700 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00007601 >Peter Eng wrote: >>He sighs. "If, that is, I can figure out which pouch contains my >>spellbook at this point." > >Rob studies the Bard for a moment, then pulls a coin from his pocket. >As he tosses it up with his left hand, his right hand moves, as if >grabbing things from the air. Just as the coin drops into one of >Harlock's belt pouches, Rob claps his hands together. > >"Try that one." > >Nemo speaks up without turning to look. > >"It's in that one." > >As he says this a glowing arrow (non-magical, simple air ionization) >appears, pointing at one of Harlocks pouches. The arrow, of course, is pointing at the same pouch Rob's coin landed in. Harlock reaches into the pouch, looking somewhat bemused. After he pulls a thick, leather-bound tome from the pouch (along with Rob's coin) he wanders a bit closer to Rob. "A wild mage, are you? What methods have you developed to ward yourself from the surges?" ================================= Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1999 02:07:31 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: The Hunter and The Actress On Mon, 11 Oct 1999 01:43:50 -0700 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00007602 >Nemisis wrote: >>After a moment's thought, the Bard continues. "For that matter, the >>spell could be contrived so that it may spread in a manner analogous >>to a virus. At that point, it need only be invoked once, and 'twould >>inevitably affect e'en the Guild's switching station. Meanwhile, I >>can wander merrily from planet to planet, sowing contempt for the >>Guild. Methinks I _like_ this plan!" > >"Do we really want to attack Governments and Corporations, > That are not directly involved, > In the actions regarding The Ansible Guild?" Harlock looks confused. "In what way would we be doing that? We would merely be showing the ansible up as an unreliable system, thus causing people to lose faith in the Ansible Guild. An you prefer, the spell could _possibly_ be cast from the ship end of an ansible link to start the 'virus,' but the spell then acquires an added level of complexity. The simplest variant of the spell is one which glitches a single switching station for a set period of time. Anything beyond that becomes increasingly more complex. My judgement in this matter may be amiss, but I do not believe I could manage the 'virus' variant that spread from the ship end of an ansible. Setting the 'virus' variant at a switching station is, I believe, about the limit of my ability." "The best aspect of the plan, unless I'm making unwarranted assumtions again, is that the Guild, when they discover the glitches, will never think to check for magic. Psionic interference, perhaps, but not magic." [Actually, I'd just like to take these ansibles out. An a high-tech society arrived on Faerun with instantaneous communications with their home-world...] The Bard shudders. ================================= Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1999 02:07:37 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Equipment Mods... On Mon, 11 Oct 1999 01:44:02 -0700 Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00007603 >Nemisis wrote: >>"The offer is appreciated, but I've held my own with liches without >>resorting to my TSM gear. I merely wished to make the point that I >>_could_ function without alerting mages, not that I _wanted_ to. >>Besides which," Harlock breaks into his roguish grin again, "How >>many people are going to listen to a rabble-rouser who's dressed in >>assault gear?" > >"I had several points in mind, and > None of them had to do with addressing Crowds, > Comfort perhaps being the most significant... > Equipment maintenance in the field running a Close second, > The Perpetual Energy Cells, > Self Charge at a rate of 10% per hour in any Realm where, > Access to the Elemental Plains is Possible, > The Munitions Synthesis Box, > Can adapt your Munitions for Local Physics, > As well as provide supplies anywhere that, > Access to the Elemental Plains is Possible." "Hmph. I am a Bard, good being. As such, addressing crowds is meat and bread to me, whether from a tavern hearth or a trideo studio. As for the proposed modifications to my armor, if a plane has access to the elemental planes, then I have access to my magic. Nemo's little stunt with my Ioun Stones notwithstanding, I have a healthy respect for technology, but I am far more comfortable with the trappings of my home plane." ================================= Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1999 10:19:11 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE VI: Communications Glitches On 10-11-1999 at 10:16:56 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007604 >On Mon, 11 Oct 1999 01:43:50 -0700 >Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00007602 > >Harlock looks confused. "In what way would we be doing that? We would >merely be showing the ansible up as an unreliable system, thus >causing people to lose faith in the Ansible Guild. "You speak of Creating an unreliability, Not Merely Exposing one." [One thing that bothers me about having to argue This Point, Is that I know Fuzzy would Not...] "What you propose would be like, In a world where communications is handled by Mounted Couriers, If the "Best" or as in this case only ranch, You could buy Courier Mounts From, Had built and must maintain its Blood Lines by breeding, A Unique Immortal Stallion Acquired Millennia ago. Then when someone arrives claiming ownership of The Stallion, Causing the Courier Mounts which had been bought in good faith, and Put in Service by the new owners, to develop an intermittent Lameness or other defect, Which Impedes the Owners of the Couriers ability to Communicate. Thus attacking the Courier operators rather than, Those who hold The Stallion." "I would think that a Better point of Rabble-Rousing, Would be the Taxation level, and The Percentage of those Taxes which are paid to The Guild, Especially when the Cheaper non-Guild Technologies, Are Published..." >An you prefer, the spell could _possibly_ be cast from the ship end >of an ansible link to start the 'virus,' but the spell then acquires >an added level of complexity. "Intrusion in the Switching stations premises, Is not what I would consider to be an issue." >The simplest variant of the spell is one which glitches a single >switching station for a set period of time. Anything beyond that >becomes increasingly more complex. My judgement in this matter may be >amiss, but I do not believe I could manage the 'virus' variant that >spread from the ship end of an ansible. Setting the 'virus' variant >at a switching station is, I believe, about the limit of my ability." "Perhaps the Infitration Team can acquire the Coordinates, Of the Guild's Switching Station, That would be without question a Fair Target..." >"The best aspect of the plan, unless I'm making unwarranted >assumtions again, is that the Guild, when they discover the glitches, >will never think to check for magic. Psionic interference, perhaps, >but not magic." > >[Actually, I'd just like to take these ansibles out. An a high-tech >society arrived on Faerun with instantaneous communications with >their home-world...] > The Bard shudders. ================================= Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1999 10:19:22 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE VI: Equipment Mods... On 10-11-1999 at 10:16:57 Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00007605 >On Mon, 11 Oct 1999 01:44:02 -0700 >Harlock - Bard Extraordinaire Said As CAoL Message # 00007603 > >"Hmph. I am a Bard, good being. As such, addressing crowds is meat >and bread to me, whether from a tavern hearth or a trideo studio. As >for the proposed modifications to my armor, if a plane has access to >the elemental planes, then I have access to my magic. Nemo's little >stunt with my Ioun Stones notwithstanding, I have a healthy respect >for technology, but I am far more comfortable with the trappings of >my home plane." "So be it." [I'm Tired of Arguing with this Bard, If he does not see the purpose now, He may later. I will arrange for new hardware/equipment to be made, and held in storage until that time...] >_you_ be comfortable/confident? ;) > =================================