Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 7a
Chapter 12
Subject: AAE:Fate of the nanites
On Fri, 1 Jun 2001 10:28:47 -0700
Squee Said As CAoL Message # 00010350
Well it took a while for me to figure out what to do with these
nanites that Leonard rudely wouldn't leave where I said I wanted them,
but I think I came up with something that's poetic justice.
Jim gets given the bag of nanites, deactivated now that their task is
over. His fall mass already restored he don't have use for them but he
can't just leave them about and can't bring himself to disassmble them
after their attemtped sacrifice. Instead the opens an X-window and
passes through it to the surface of an asteroid tumbling through empty
space.
A laser quickly cuts out the chamber he needs and he places the
nanites inside, sealing up the clamber again. Into the stove over the
chamber he carves: THE TWO BILLION WITHIN GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE
FOR A BOY AND HIS UNIVERSE.
He gives a final salute and X-windows back to the group.
FOUR HUNDRED YEARS LATER:
The asteroid tumbles towards a system who's star decides just then to
go Nova. Energy cascades over the Asteroid, saturating and charging
the minerals within it. And the nanites as well. One by one they begin
coming on-line again. Lost... confused... serchign incomplete memory
cells for understanding...
#SYSTEM ERROR#
#BOOT FAILURE DIAGNOSTIC CHECK INCOMPLETE SECTORS NETWORK CONNECTION
VALID DATA TRANSFER BEGUN. RECONSTRUCTION ATTEMPT OF CORRUPTED
SECTORS#
#SELFBOOT SYSTEM RE-INITIATED. SEARCHING FOR PERSONALITY PROGRAM.
ERROR ERROR ERROR THREE PROGRAMS FOUND. ERROR#
#CONTROL NETWORK NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT ON-LINE DRIVER SEARCH INITATED.#
#CONTROLLER DRIVER AND MATCHING PERSONALITY PROGRAM INITIATED
LOADING... LOADING...#
The nanites surge, drawing in the mass of the asteroid and
duplicating as they form themselves into the pattern ingrained on
their memory. A twitch of the foot, a jerk of the elbow, and metal
fingers crunch into the asteroid's surface easily as it begins to
stand and look about.
"I know not where I am or how I have arrived here.. but one thing is
obvious... The Controller Lives! But I have gaps in my memory...
signal check... lock on interdimentional signal. X-window generator,
on-line... take me home... that I may finish healing before I start
extracting my vengence..."
The x-window pops into existance and the metallic man steps through,
leaving this universe alone... for now...
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE VII: Vote of Confidence
On Fri, 01 Jun 2001 10:33:09 -0700
Eric Lancer Said As CAoL Message # 00010351
>On Thu, 31 May 2001 23:41:03 GMT, In alt.callahans
>Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00010343
>
>>On Thu, 31 May 2001 14:03:24 -0700
>>Eric Lancer Said As CAoL Post # 00008141
>>
>> "As for the killer instinct, we won't be duelling to the death,
>>so it won't be a significant advantage." He considers a shuriken,
>>suddenly in his hand, casually. "And Roland has...reason, for
>>fearing that instinct."
>
>"Instincts are for survival. Fearing them is different than learning
>how to use such properly. But then, I didn't have a lot of choice.
>Survival as an Amberite is almost certainly quite different than most
>other races."
Eric scowls. "hrm. I _am_ in the habit of being more precise than
this...in Roland, it's not simply an instinct. He's...it's called
'taint' by some. Scientists talk about an entropic aberration of
Planck scales; mystics speak of spiritual corruption, a literal 'Dark
Side.' Whatever the actual explanation, most immortals have something
unnatural in them. I'm given to understand that a few of them manage
to avoid it, but I've never met one that has."
>> "This...is a weapon...no, something less, but also much more.
>>Excalibur," he mutters. He pushes the bizarre semi-Lens Roland
>>provided up his arm and examines the contents of the box closely.
>
>"I really couldn't say. Every Lens is different, just as every
>Lensman is."
Eric touches it tentatively; he _has_ been warned about the dangers
of Lenses, after all. It lights up at his touch, swirling like any
Lens does. Dark colors, particularly reds and purples, predominate.
>"I don't know what the significance of being 'The' Hunter is, myself.
>We really should do some story-trading sometime."
Eric smiles wryly. "The 'significance,' I'm afraid, is that my
activities have been blown colossally out of proportion...oh, and
whenever something 'no other Hunter can defeat,' I'm the one expected
to deal with it. Personally." He sighs, still smiling. "Yes, I would
like to trade stories with you some time."
>Zia chuckles. "Somehow, Eric, I doubt you have military experience in
>commando group schemes from your notions. You must fight alone. That
>sounds like some Rule Book, not combat experience. A unit commander
>who continual throws his weight around trying to be 'absolute ruler'
>and wants to be a hero gloryhound, will shortly be carried back dead
>from the jungle. Often, the ordnance that killed him might very well
>be the same as in _his_ men's guns." She cocks her head at him with
>a friendly grin.
Eric shrugs, still smiling wryly. "True enough. My 'commando'
experience extends to a small handful of desperate actions against
beings of absurd power, coordinated by the Order of Reason." The smile
fades. "Though I've wondered more than once if better teamwork might
have prevented the casualty rates..."
>"Maybe I'm not used to caring as much about those around me, but his
>yelling at Nemo for keeping him from screwing up was way over the
>line. Well, my line, at least. I've tried to stop killing people just
>because they've annoyed me,
Eric raises an eyebrow, clearly assuming that there's more to that
statement that the surface implication.
>but I have to get away from the source of irritation a while or my
>Shadowshifting sometimes does it for me."
>
>She shrugs, then adds more lightly, "Besides, you _know_, the one
>thing an actor like myself cannot abide is a ham. Roland has
>definitely caught the bug. Frankly, I'm tired of him trying to _talk_
>the villains to death in the final scene." She grins.
Eric does a fair (but obvious) job of acting puzzled. "Isn't it in
the Union Rules? You know, wear spandex, pontificate whenever the
opportunity arises?" He finally can't help an amused chuckle.
>> "As for 'Civilization'--that's with a capital letter, isn't it?
>>--surely there are other groups more suited to you..." he considers
>>his Lens (if he has one), "...us...than..." he jerks his head at
>>where the X-Window was when he stepped through.
>
>She looks a bit surprised. "I hadn't realized that you wanted to stay
>with me." A half-beat pause, and she adds, having just thought of it,
>"Thank you."
If she allows, he kisses her hand gently. "I had hoped," he says,
his eyes intense, "that I had made such obvious. And I thank you, for
the opportunity."
>Ziactrice sighs. "A suitable group? In all of Shadow, perhaps, but
>given that even the Place brought me no better match than the CAoL,
>and the way even in there an Amberite doesn't really fit, I think
>looking for such an unlikely group would prove a search too lengthy
>for much use."
Eric blinks, surprised. "You..." he begins, then stops, scowls, and
starts again. "Hrm. Returning would be...tricky. I'm afraid I don't
know any of them well enough to suggest a starting point," he chuckles
briefly, "except for my sister, and you made quite the impression with
her. Any other 'advice' I could provide would probably be insulting
your intelligence."
>"But the real reason is I cannot do so honorably. The way my
>abilities work, it simply isn't possible for me to fight a duel that
>isn't earnest combat to kill. I can barely lose a hand at cards in
>Shadow, when I'm cheating to make sure I get a bad hand.
Eric toys with the shuriken, a chuckle forming. "Do you play
chess?"
>I very much doubt I could fight Roland with anything close to a
>'level playing field'. Even if I were trying to cheat and let him
>win, my subconscious has more weight with my abilities to change
>Shadow. I could easily damage him severely without 'trying to', at
>least intentionally. Chance itself bends like a pretzel - it is weird
>even to me. I took up martial arts more for the discipline to control
>how stress effects my powers than any military aspect."
He grows silent for a long moment. "I'd bet on you against nearly
anyone, with what I've seen, but...don't underestimate that creature.
The time I fought alongside him, he beat absurd odds seemingly through
sheer stubbornness. Something about him--his sheer absurdity, I'd
say--tends to encourage that attitude." He smiles at Zia. "You, on the
other hand, seem to be grace's avatar."
>Zia shakes her head. "Enough talking about me, already. Goodness,
>actresses are so very vain. Before you make a decision about the
>Lens, will you let me give you what I've learned about it, so far,
>via telepathy? It would take too long to speak it out, and I won't,
>and probably cannot without effort, go through your mental barriers.
>You have very good ones, and I'm not a particularly gifted teep."
"Huh. ...yes, I'd appreciate that, thank you. As for 'not very
gifted,' I don't seem to recall you broadcasting your thoughts to the
entire mental link, so you're well ahead of me." He bows. "I am at
your disposal."
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE VII: Vote of Confidence
On Fri, 1 Jun 2001 14:27:01 -0400
Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00010352
>On Fri, 1 Jun 2001 02:28:21 EDT
>Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00010349
>
>With that, Scott throws his glass into the fireplace.
>
>/"If anybody cares, here's what I believe. I believe that Roland is
>the best choice of a lead card for this deck of jokers. I believe
>that Nemo went too far today; I believe I know why he did what he
>did, and while I disagree with his actions, I agree with his silence
>on why he did it. I believe in something for once, dammit, and I'd
>rather not have it fall apart because some cosmic entity decided to
>advance their goals by brute force."/ Scott is clearly angry.
>
>In the awkward silence that follows, he simmers down to merely tense.
>
>/"I'm sorry if I offended anybody, but I believed it needed to be
>said."/
>
>Scott not quite so much sits down as collapses into his seat. He
>looks deeply tired.
Having dropped the glamour, Moonstone stands up, shouldering her
backpack, "So, what you've got here is a stalemate. Nemo doesn't want
to go, and doesn't want to lead, but can't give Roland the guarentee
that next time a similar situation comes up, he won't do things the
exact same way.
"Roland doesn't want to lead, but figures if he has to, he's
gonna be sure people do respect that he does lead and don't go off
doing things like what happened today. So, by his reckoning, Nemo
shouldn't go either, but he should lead.
"And the rest of this bunch support Roland as leader and/or don't
want to lead themselves. So by at least Mike, Tink, Rob (right?) and
Scott, Nemo can't lead, and by everyone else, apparently, it's at
least an issue of 'anyone but me'. Because I'm not hearing much in the
way of 'What the hell are you doing, Roland? We picked you, not Nemo,
you can't just go passing us off like this.'
"So, it comes down to you two, and to who is more stubborn, and
who is more thinking of the good of the whole group. I'd say right now
you're both tied in the stubborn catagory, so which of you thinks the
group's important enough to back down from his position? Do either of
you really want to see anyone walk away from this bunch if Nemo gives
in and takes Roland's job? Conversely, if Nemo walks away, does anyone
want that? Because the choice Roland is offering Nemo is: Lead, and
lose likely four members of the Army of Light, maybe more; Follow and
be forced into subterfuge and lying should this situation come about
again, or force one heavy burden on the Leader, who seems to hate
these sorts of calls, if the situation arises again; or leave, which
is probably the option, I'd take, Nemo, but I'm not quite as attached
as you are here, so I can't say that's a good call, either.
"I think it's one hell of a spot to put someone in, but at the
same time, it's one hell of a cause that brought everyone to this
spot. Personally, Roland, I think you're just begging to be lied to.
All he'd have to do is say, "Yes, Roland, I'll do what you want," then
go do whatever he wants to anyway. I think the only reason he's not is
having enough respect for you as a person to not want to lie to you.
Contrary to popular belief around here, to any decent person, lying to
someone makes you feel like crap so you don't do it without damn good
reason, but I think around here, the idea is decent people don't lie,
which is so far off the BS scale it's unreadable.
"Were I the two of you, I'd do two things. Roland, I'd figure out
whether the hell I wanted to lead or not and just decide that. Seems
you've had the right all along to step down, but have just never
exercised it. Only problem being no one's gonna be taking your place.
Well, screw 'em, then, do what's right for you if no one else will. I
think you want to see this group survive just enough to forestall your
stepping down. But, I think you're crazy for trying to ask a bunch of
rugged individualists to compromise their principles for you.
Especially because it's those same principles they see in you that
makes you their choice for leader.
"Nemo, I get the idea that this is as close to home and family
you've had for a long time. Personally, I consider that important
enough to suggest the lying and subterfuge option. Mike's already said
he doesn't object to being lied to, as long as he doesn't learn of it
after, and Roland, as I said before, is begging for the same treatment
and calling it 'respecting his authoritay.' So when you gotta do what
you gotta do, make stuff up. And if they start prying, remind 'em of
this day. Maybe throw a few good posers at them when there's time to
poll them to remind them of the schist you deal with all the time and
why they probably don't want to think on your level. No one ever said
it was easy dealing with gods, and maybe it's about time this group
really saw that."
Moonstone glances down and notes several soapboxes stacked under
her. "How in the purple hells of Palain did those get there?" Hopping
off, she finishes up with, "Anyway, my vote definitely doesn't count
here. I like you all, and am quite willing to help you when I can and
when I agree with you, but after spending some time with Dhyrclhanc
and his crew, I've learned I'm not Army material. I don't want to
lead, I don't want to follow, I just want to be among equals, and
under circumstances like what we just left, I want to be able to walk
away without more than the normal guilty conscience.
"Don't get me wrong, I'm not so mad I could spit. (I guarentee
you you don't want to see me then.) I just want to be sure everyone's
got the Big Picture that's developing and maybe should check
themselves before proceeding. Because it's rapidly gonna get nasty
from this young lady's perspective, and since I have probably the
least invested around here, maybe I should wave it under your
collective noses instead of just watching the collapse in silence.
Besides, watching two immortal beings engaged in a staring contest
could get rather tedious after the first five years or so."
Moonstone sticks out her tongue in disgust, "Yuck, reminds me of
the conversation my parents had when I was ready to go out on my own.
I admit, I wasn't as right as I thought I was. I may not be as right
as I think I am now, but it just infuriated me that two other people
were going to decide my future for me when I thought I was old enough
to do it myself. So, I don't get the silence here. I think whatever
the group decides should be the outcome, not what Roland 'Take my job,
please' Phoenix and Nemo 'Pinky-finger of' NEMO want, unless they want
to take their own futures into their own hands. Which is sorta what
being an individual's all about, in my book."
The young dragoness looks down and, hopping off the new soapbox,
kicks it out of the way. "Stupid things are worse than tribbles."
She turns toward Dhyrclhanc, "Sorry, handsome, wanted to tell you
in private, but it just came out. I like your friends and all, but I
was really starting to feel like the overeager kid sister in your gang
and I hate that role, so I think being under the same roof together
isn't a good idea right off the bat. But look me up, maybe we can go
out and split a herd of cattle sometime. I'll be around here, at least
until I figure out for myself where I want life to take me instead of
where my parents, tradition, or other people want me to go."
And if DC'll allow it, she'll give him a peck on the proverbial
cheek.
To the rest of the Place, "Guys, I really am glad to know all of
you, and I hope you all can get this worked out in everyone's best
interests and still stay together, but I can't watch any more of this
back and forth, so I'm gonna go see a movie and raid a rib joint, if
they even have those this far east. Either that or I'll find myself a
quiet spot and have a little impromptu barbeque. Raw if there's no
other option, there's just something so satisfying about meat and fire
mixed together. You humans must have more dragon spirit in you than
some of you realize. Anyway, good luck, hope the lifestyle comes
together, ta."
With that, the dragoness (in human form) makes her way out the
big front door with the crack in the middle.
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE VII: Vote of Confidence
On Fri, 01 Jun 2001 13:05:44 -0700
Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00010353
>On Fri, 1 Jun 2001 14:27:01 -0400
>Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00010352
>
>>On Fri, 1 Jun 2001 02:28:21 EDT
>>Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00010349
>>
>>>In a message dated 5/31/01 9:11:54 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
>>>technomagetimelord writes:
>>>
>>> /That's my opinion at least. It's pragmatic, but I don't think
>>>we want him to go and I can't see much else able to be done about
>>>it that would keep him from doing it again. We don't have a
>>>'timeout' button here like we do for the Stardragon after all./
Roland shakes his head. /"Words fail, Mike, in expressing my
gratitude for your faith in me, but...I just can't do it that way.
Maybe I can think of something..."/
>>/"If anybody cares, here's what I believe. I believe that Roland is
>>the best choice of a lead card for this deck of jokers. I believe
>>that Nemo went too far today; I believe I know why he did what he
>>did, and while I disagree with his actions, I agree with his silence
>>on why he did it. I believe in something for once, dammit, and I'd
>>rather not have it fall apart because some cosmic entity decided to
>>advance their goals by brute force."/ Scott is clearly angry.
>>
>>In the awkward silence that follows, he simmers down to merely
>>tense.
>>
>>/"I'm sorry if I offended anybody, but I believed it needed to be
>>said."/
>>
>>Scott not quite so much sits down as collapses into his seat. He
>>looks deeply tired.
Roland, who's gotten progressively more stunned with each voice of
support, finally manages to reach 'shocked.' /"Ah. Whoa.
/"I owe you an apology, Scott.
/"You've proven helpful on occasion, but until now, I thought you
were just an annoying bureaucrat doing his job. It's clear that I
misjudged you. I'm sorry...thank you...and it's good to have the
chance to get to know you."/ He extends his hand.
> "Were I the two of you, I'd do two things. Roland, I'd figure
>out whether the hell I wanted to lead or not and just decide that.
>Seems you've had the right all along to step down, but have just
>never exercised it. Only problem being no one's gonna be taking your
>place. Well, screw 'em, then, do what's right for you if no one else
>will. I think you want to see this group survive just enough to
>forestall your stepping down. But, I think you're crazy for trying to
>ask a bunch of rugged individualists to compromise their principles
>for you. Especially because it's those same principles they see in
>you that makes you their choice for leader.
"But that's the _point,_ Moonstone. I'm a fair super-fight
tactician, but we've got omniscient types that could handle that part
a lot better than I could. The whole point of me being team leader is
as sort of a centerpoint for those same principles. I've been chosen
to draw the line, 'this far, no farther.' And..."
Roland takes a deep breath, and exhales heavily.
"...I guess, I'd rather do it than not see it done." He sighs. "Now
I _know_ I'm stuck with the job."
Morgan smiles and gives her husband a big hug. "And that's another of
the many reasons I love you."
> To the rest of the Place, "Guys, I really am glad to know all of
>you, and I hope you all can get this worked out in everyone's best
>interests and still stay together, but I can't watch any more of this
>back and forth, so I'm gonna go see a movie and raid a rib joint, if
>they even have those this far east. Either that or I'll find myself a
>quiet spot and have a little impromptu barbeque. Raw if there's no
>other option, there's just something so satisfying about meat and
>fire mixed together. You humans must have more dragon spirit in you
>than some of you realize.
Roland chuckles. /"Actually, I _am_ part dragon on my mother's
side."/ Out of nowhere, the P-16 appears. /"And anyone who makes
'dragon lady' comments about my mom gets a full broadside, we all
hip?"/
>Anyway, good luck, hope the lifestyle comes together, ta."
> With that, the dragoness (in human form) makes her way out the
>big front door with the crack in the middle.
Roland scowls. /"Okay, that's it. Something's got to be done here,
and it seems to be up to me to do it. NEMO leaving isn't really an
option, but I can't just provide a carte blanche..."/ Roland paces
like a man possessed, and he looks like the floor may end up with a
groove in a few minutes. He glances at the others (either physically
or through the link) one at a time as he wracks his brain.
Morgan gives him a hand-squeeze from time to time as he passes, but
doesn't interrupt his pacing. Some people just think better on their
feet, and she knows Roland is one of them.
Upon seeing Aurora, his palm meets his forehead. /"A-duh! NEMO,
Aurora, Oracle, time for a little of that omniscience to get us out of
the problem it got us into."/ He smiles. /"Am I going to object to
NEMO's actions sufficiently, on an occasion that he acts counter to
one of my rare commands, that I'd want to countermand him?"/
(OOC: I discussed this with Leonard on ICQ. There's a slim chance
that it may happen once, the two characters'll have the chance to
'discuss' it at the time if it does, and other than that it won't be
an issue. Whether Roland _likes_ the answers the other times is
another story, but we can cross those bridges when we come to them.
Even if NEMO can't provide this information for some reason,
presumably Oracle or Aurora can. Dane, I want Leonard to have 'right
of first refusal' in providing this info. 8^)
/"Fine, it's settled, if you can, give me the chance to change
directions if you aren't just _ending_ the fight like this last time,
NEMO, and to quote Jake, 'that's an end to it!' Whew!"/ Roland drops
heavily into a chair, relieved. /"Enough heavy philosophizing. Fight
over, good guys win, let's _eat!_"/ Roland licks his lips. /"Moonstone
gave me a craving for some BBQ'd burgers. Mike C,"/ he continues,
leaning back to look at the Big Irishman upside-down, /"drinks for the
whole team. Mike 7, good to have you back, even if you never really
'left.' And I pity the poor villain that does something while we're
trying to unwind, here."/
(OOC: Whew! Tag, Mike--let's bag us some _crunchies!_ 8^)
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE VII: Vote of Confidence
On Fri, 1 Jun 2001 17:19:44 -0400
Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00010354
>On Fri, 01 Jun 2001 13:05:44 -0700
>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00010353
>
>>On Fri, 1 Jun 2001 14:27:01 -0400
>>Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00010352
>>
>>>On Fri, 1 Jun 2001 02:28:21 EDT
>>>Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00010349
>
> Roland shakes his head. /"Words fail, Mike, in expressing my
>gratitude for your faith in me, but...I just can't do it that way.
>Maybe I can think of something..."/
/"I understand and wouldn't expect less of you,"/ Mike
says/sends, lapsing into silent thought, trying to see a way out of
this situation.
> "But that's the _point,_ Moonstone. I'm a fair super-fight
>tactician, but we've got omniscient types that could handle that part
>a lot better than I could. The whole point of me being team leader is
>as sort of a centerpoint for those same principles. I've been chosen
>to draw the line, 'this far, no farther.' And..."
> Roland takes a deep breath, and exhales heavily.
> "...I guess, I'd rather do it than not see it done." He sighs.
>"Now I _know_ I'm stuck with the job."
Moonstone does give Roland a sympathetic look, it's tough being
between a rock and a hard place, especially when they're two sides of
the same thing. Fortunately, Morgan comes to the rescue...
>> To the rest of the Place, "Guys, I really am glad to know all
>>of you, and I hope you all can get this worked out in everyone's
>>best interests and still stay together, but I can't watch any more
>>of this back and forth, so I'm gonna go see a movie and raid a rib
>>joint, if they even have those this far east. Either that or I'll
>>find myself a quiet spot and have a little impromptu barbeque. Raw
>>if there's no other option, there's just something so satisfying
>>about meat and fire mixed together. You humans must have more dragon
>>spirit in you than some of you realize.
>
> Roland chuckles. /"Actually, I _am_ part dragon on my mother's
>side."/ Out of nowhere, the P-16 appears. /"And anyone who makes
>'dragon lady' comments about my mom gets a full broadside, we all
>hip?"/
Moonstone smiles, "That must have been an interesting mating. But
far be it from me, coming from a long line of dragon ladies, to make
disparaging remarks about any of them...
> /"Fine, it's settled, if you can, give me the chance to change
>directions if you aren't just _ending_ the fight like this last time,
>NEMO, and to quote Jake, 'that's an end to it!' Whew!"/ Roland drops
>heavily into a chair, relieved. /"Enough heavy philosophizing. Fight
>over, good guys win, let's _eat!_"/ Roland licks his lips.
>/"Moonstone gave me a craving for some BBQ'd burgers. Mike C,"/ he
>continues, leaning back to look at the Big Irishman upside-down,
>/"drinks for the whole team. Mike 7, good to have you back, even if
>you never really 'left.' And I pity the poor villain that does
>something while we're trying to unwind, here."/
Mike's finger twitchs and the lens nearly disappears into his
hand and back onto his opposite wrist. Tink's is back on almost as
quickly. Mike meanwhile sends a short message somewhere and when to be
acknowledged with the materialization of a twenty-third century plus,
pollution-free, professional restraunt barbeque between the chalkline
and the fire place.
Slipping off his jacket and hanging it over the back of a chair
as a large refridgerator and some kitchen tools show up, Michael Seven
asks probably the most important question of the moment:
"How many, of what, and how ya want 'em cooked?"
> (OOC: Whew! Tag, Mike--let's bag us some _crunchies!_ 8^)
OOC: Amen. :)
=================================
Subject: Re: AAEVII: A Quiet Talk (was: Vote of Confidence)
On Fri, 01 Jun 2001 14:32:03 -0700
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00010355
>On Wed, 30 May 2001 22:14:52 -0400
>Caprice/Legion Said As CAoL Message # 00010333
>
>>On Wed, 30 May 2001 17:41:00 -0700
>>Morgan Said As CAoL Message # 00010330
>>
>>Morgan blinks. "Certainly," she says in a slightly puzzled voice,
>>and motions Essex towards one of the tables in the Lounge near the
>>NULL Sound equipment.
>>
>>"What did you want to ask me about?"
>
>Essex had collected a pot of tea and two cups on the way over, and
>sits, pouring for both. "I... need a woman's perspective on things.
>You see, I proposed to Legion, and... she said no."
Morgan winces sympathetically, but says nothing, letting Nathaniel
continue.
>He stares into his teacup. "It is not that she thinks I am....
>incapable of love. Or unworthy of recieving it. It is that she feels
>it is not possible for someone to love her." He sips his tea,
>definately brooding. "She has multiple personalities, some of which
>are not good people. She maintains that no one could love /all/ of
>them. I can't claim to love them all, since I've not met them all.
>But I like all the ones she has permitted me to meet. And I love
>her.... the whole that is greater than the sum of its parts."
Morgan nods, sipping her own tea. She's not doing any active
'probing,' but her various skills would let her know without really
trying whether Essex is being honest or not. (OOC: and I assume he
_is_ completely sincere.)
>He takes another sip of tea. "She also quotes some idiot who claimed
>that love is only capable between equals. Well, how the hell do you
>define equals? No two people are identical... I have always thought
>it would be better to say that love can only exist between people who
>treat each other as equals... And I try very hard to treat her as
>one."
"Well." [Oy, vey.] Morgan looks a bit taken aback at being asked for
this kind of advice. "You're right about 'equals,'--it's all in how
you define the word. Look at Roland and I. I'm no where near his equal
in various-kinesis powers, he's no where near mine with magic, and
while he's getting better I can still pretty consistently whip his
arse in a swordfight. We have _very_ different ideas, ones we've had
to 'agree to disagree' on, when it comes to issues like killing in
combat." She smiles. "But I don't think anyone would deny the depth of
our love for one another. If I had limited my options to an 'equal' in
terms of someone with similar powers and the rather unique perspective
one gets when one grows up in the 12th century and then moves straight
to the 21st, I think I'd have had a very lonely life."
"I think you're right that what matters is that the people involved
'treat each other as equals.' With mutual respect. And of course we're
talking romantic love here. After all, I love my kids," Morgan grins
broadly, "but they've got a few years to go before I'll start
considering treating them as full equals."
Morgan taps her nails on her teacup thoughtfully. "It seems to me the
biggest problem you've got to deal with here is Legion's viewpoint. If
_she_ doesn't feel 'love-able,' there's only so much effect anything
you _say_ can have. From the little I've had the chance to see, you've
been doing all that little things that _show_ someone you love them.
In matters of the heart, action _do_ speak ever so much louder than
words, as I'm sure you already know."
The druidess sighs. "I think, were I in your shoes, I'd say something
like, 'My lady, I pray you'll not be offended if I choose to take your
'no' as a 'not at this time,' and that you'll grant me the chance to
prove my love for you.' Well," Morgan blushes a little, "maybe not
_quite_ that...flowery. As I said, I grew up in a very different age,
and 'courtly love' was all the rage, at least among the Anglish and
French nobles."
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE VII: Vote of Confidence
On Sat, 02 Jun 2001 01:05:59 GMT, In alt.callahans
Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00010356
>On Fri, 01 Jun 2001 10:33:09 -0700
>Eric Lancer Said As CAoL Post # 00008152
>
>>On Thu, 31 May 2001 23:41:03 GMT, In alt.callahans
>>Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00010343
>
> Eric scowls. "hrm. I _am_ in the habit of being more precise than
>this...in Roland, it's not simply an instinct. He's...it's called
>'taint' by some. Scientists talk about an entropic aberration of
>Planck scales; mystics speak of spiritual corruption, a literal 'Dark
>Side.' Whatever the actual explanation, most immortals have something
>unnatural in them. I'm given to understand that a few of them manage
>to avoid it, but I've never met one that has."
Ziactrice gives him a rather odd look. Not only does her right eyebrow
rise slightly, the left one crimps down in half-puzzlement. "So, what
do you find unnatural about me, then, Eric?"
[Down to Zia producing her third hand-out Lens thus far....]
>>"I really couldn't say. Every Lens is different, just as every
>>Lensman is."
>
> Eric touches it tentatively; he _has_ been warned about the
>dangers of Lenses, after all. It lights up at his touch, swirling
>like any Lens does. Dark colors, particularly reds and purples,
>predominate.
"Hrrrrmmm. Interesting. I've not seen a darker tinged Lens before
this."
> Eric smiles wryly. "The 'significance,' I'm afraid, is that my
>activities have been blown colossally out of proportion...oh, and
>whenever something 'no other Hunter can defeat,' I'm the one expected
>to deal with it. Personally." He sighs, still smiling. "Yes, I would
>like to trade stories with you some time."
"Ah?" She grins merrily. "I'll be sure and be available at your
convenience for any such. And perhaps go do a bit of listening to
these activity reports."
> Eric shrugs, still smiling wryly. "True enough. My 'commando'
>experience extends to a small handful of desperate actions against
>beings of absurd power, coordinated by the Order of Reason." The
>smile fades. "Though I've wondered more than once if better teamwork
>might have prevented the casualty rates..."
Zia nods, "A well-oiled team is far more dangerous, I'm told. I've
only trained in two different groups so far in Amber. It takes quite a
while to demonstrate proficiency such that the Elders trust you as a
team member. But I can measure up in a sneak or a scout mission fairly
well."
> Eric does a fair (but obvious) job of acting puzzled. "Isn't it in
>the Union Rules? You know, wear spandex, pontificate whenever the
>opportunity arises?" He finally can't help an amused chuckle.
Zia laughs, softly. "Well, you have a point."
>>She looks a bit surprised. "I hadn't realized that you wanted to
>>stay with me." A half-beat pause, and she adds, having just thought
>>of it, "Thank you."
>
> If she allows, he kisses her hand gently. "I had hoped," he says,
>his eyes intense, "that I had made such obvious. And I thank you, for
>the opportunity."
Zia actually blushes, although hers is not nearly so much noticeable
on her face as on the skin a bit below. She tightens her fingers about
his for a second, just looking into that intense gaze. Odd. She didn't
even notice him take off the sunglasses this time. Then she realizes
she has been sitting there spellbound for a quite notable length of
seconds, and she blushes further red.
"Well." She blinks. "I am very glad you have made it so, now. You're
welcome, Eric. Although I'm not at all sure where to go.
Perhaps...stay here? Since you came here? Or is there anything or
anywhere else you need to do?"
>>Ziactrice sighs. "A suitable group? In all of Shadow, perhaps, but
>>given that even the Place brought me no better match than the CAoL,
>>and the way even in there an Amberite doesn't really fit, I think
>>looking for such an unlikely group would prove a search too lengthy
>>for much use."
>
> Eric blinks, surprised. "You..." he begins, then stops, scowls,
>and starts again. "Hrm. Returning would be...tricky. I'm afraid I
>don't know any of them well enough to suggest a starting point," he
>chuckles briefly, "except for my sister, and you made quite the
>impression with her. Any other 'advice' I could provide would
>probably be insulting your intelligence."
"Return?" Ziactrice is as surprised as Eric was a second past. "I like
Rio. Good attitude. I can't control my Shadowshifting to the extent
Roland is asking, so I couldn't honorably remain. Besides," her
fingers tighten, knuckles whitening. "I'm very angry he treated Nemo
so poorly. I'd not have yelled those things at Morgan in front of
_him_. The whole group would have called for my head on a platter. Not
that Roland wouldn't already have been taking it, assuming he was
faster than his wife." She shakes her head. "I hate double standards."
>>"But the real reason is I cannot do so honorably. The way my
>>abilities work, it simply isn't possible for me to fight a duel that
>>isn't earnest combat to kill. I can barely lose a hand at cards in
>>Shadow, when I'm cheating to make sure I get a bad hand.
>
> Eric toys with the shuriken, a chuckle forming. "Do you play
>chess?"
"Haven't you ever heard about unicorns and chess?"
>>I very much doubt I could fight Roland with anything close to a
>>'level playing field'. Even if I were trying to cheat and let him
>>win, my subconscious has more weight with my abilities to change
>>Shadow. I could easily damage him severely without 'trying to', at
>>least intentionally. Chance itself bends like a pretzel - it is
>>weird even to me. I took up martial arts more for the discipline to
>>control how stress effects my powers than any military aspect."
>
> He grows silent for a long moment. "I'd bet on you against nearly
>anyone, with what I've seen, but...don't underestimate that creature.
>The time I fought alongside him, he beat absurd odds seemingly
>through sheer stubbornness. Something about him--his sheer absurdity,
>I'd say--tends to encourage that attitude." He smiles at Zia. "You,
>on the other hand, seem to be grace's avatar."
Zia blushes again. "Thank you, Eric. Although," her eyes twinkle, "I'm
not sure if I'm more flattered by the latter, or the fact you think
someone is that much more stubborn than I."
>>Zia shakes her head. "Enough talking about me, already. Goodness,
>>actresses are so very vain. Before you make a decision about the
>>Lens, will you let me give you what I've learned about it, so far,
>>via telepathy? It would take too long to speak it out, and I won't,
>>and probably cannot without effort, go through your mental barriers.
>>You have very good ones, and I'm not a particularly gifted teep."
>
> "Huh. ...yes, I'd appreciate that, thank you. As for 'not very
>gifted,' I don't seem to recall you broadcasting your thoughts to the
>entire mental link, so you're well ahead of me." He bows. "I am at
>your disposal."
Zia goes on her Lens and feeds him the whole Doc Smith series,
although he will pick up a curiously 'strong' first-person feeling
from some of the Nadreck spots in the story.
"That is the basics, at least."
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE VII: Vote of Confidence
On Fri, 01 Jun 2001 20:18:55 -0700
Eric Lancer Said As CAoL Message # 00010357
>On Sat, 02 Jun 2001 01:05:59 GMT, In alt.callahans
>Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00010356
>
>>On Fri, 01 Jun 2001 10:33:09 -0700
>>Eric Lancer Said As CAoL Post # 00008152
>>
>Ziactrice gives him a rather odd look. Not only does her right
>eyebrow rise slightly, the left one crimps down in half-puzzlement.
>"So, what do you find unnatural about me, then, Eric?"
Eric slowly removes his sunglasses, then quickly plants his face in
his palm. "I'm going to find whoever turned my brain into gelatin
and..." he sighs, removing his face from his hand. "Let me start over.
Those immortals of Roland's variety, whom I have heard referred to as
'Eternals' and will use that name for clarity hereafter, have a
tainted power source. The 'Halo' that provides them with their
immortality, along with their other formidable powers, is susceptible
to a corrupting influence. This corruption, as I mentioned, can be
detected and described through a variety of methods. I do not ascribe
the same taint to people simply for having an extended lifespan; a
small group of magical immortals most often sub-classed as 'Mummies'
on my world have no such taint unless they enter a bargain with dark
forces. This taint is usually harmless, but the more an Eternal
accumulates, the more strange side effects emerge." He smiles darkly.
"Oh, and overuse of their powers risks taint in many cases."
>> Eric touches it tentatively; he _has_ been warned about the
>>dangers of Lenses, after all. It lights up at his touch, swirling
>>like any Lens does. Dark colors, particularly reds and purples,
>>predominate.
>
>"Hrrrrmmm. Interesting. I've not seen a darker tinged Lens before
>this."
Eric can't help a genuine chuckle. "Can't say I'm surprised."
>> If she allows, he kisses her hand gently. "I had hoped," he says,
>>his eyes intense, "that I had made such obvious. And I thank you,
>>for the opportunity."
>
>Zia actually blushes, although hers is not nearly so much noticeable
>on her face as on the skin a bit below. She tightens her fingers
>about his for a second, just looking into that intense gaze. Odd. She
>didn't even notice him take off the sunglasses this time. Then she
>realizes she has been sitting there spellbound for a quite notable
>length of seconds, and she blushes further red.
Eric's gaze seems to withdraw slightly, deliberately, for the
express purpose of letting her catch her breath.
>"Well." She blinks. "I am very glad you have made it so, now. You're
>welcome, Eric. Although I'm not at all sure where to go. Perhaps...
>stay here? Since you came here? Or is there anything or anywhere else
>you need to do?"
"Well, I do have this duel to prepare for..." his eyes sparkle with
dark amusement. "Other than that, no, nothing comes to mind." He grows
a touch more serious, replacing the goggles. "Actually, I _should_
start talking to my suppliers soon. I think I'd better pin down the
Phoenix-son on a choice of 'weapons' as soon as I can."
>"Return?" Ziactrice is as surprised as Eric was a second past. "I
>like Rio. Good attitude. I can't control my Shadowshifting to the
>extent Roland is asking, so I couldn't honorably remain. Besides,"
>her fingers tighten, knuckles whitening. "I'm very angry he treated
>Nemo so poorly. I'd not have yelled those things at Morgan in front
>of _him_. The whole group would have called for my head on a platter.
>Not that Roland wouldn't already have been taking it, assuming he
>was faster than his wife." She shakes her head. "I hate double
>standards."
Eric shrugs, but his face shows relief. "Ah. I'd been under the
impression, given your earlier statements, that you wished to work
with such a group. Given how you've been treated by that one, I was a
bit...concerned...that you might wish you return to it." He grins
confidently. "So. Exactly what does being a 'guardian of Civilization'
entail?"
>> Eric toys with the shuriken, a chuckle forming. "Do you play
>>chess?"
>
>"Haven't you ever heard about unicorns and chess?"
Eric cocks his head slightly to one side. "I know a great deal of
supposedly 'mythical' lore, but I'm afraid that one eludes me." He
laughs. "I've never had cause to hunt a unicorn, nor any reason to
believe I could catch one..." his laugh collapses, and he is suddenly
chagrined. "...ah, given the requirements."
>> He grows silent for a long moment. "I'd bet on you against nearly
>>anyone, with what I've seen, but...don't underestimate that
>>creature. The time I fought alongside him, he beat absurd odds
>>seemingly through sheer stubbornness. Something about him--his sheer
>>absurdity, I'd say--tends to encourage that attitude." He smiles at
>>Zia. "You, on the other hand, seem to be grace's avatar."
>
>Zia blushes again. "Thank you, Eric. Although," her eyes twinkle,
>"I'm not sure if I'm more flattered by the latter, or the fact you
>think someone is that much more stubborn than I."
"Will to victory is a powerful tool when used properly," Eric
replies. "Faugh. All my attempts to avoid stating the obvious--except
to compliment you, of course--for naught. But my last comment about
him--the absurdity--referred to the tendency of others to
underestimate him, a mistake I won't make." He leans in a touch. "One
I don't intend to make with you, either."
>Zia goes on her Lens and feeds him the whole Doc Smith series,
>although he will pick up a curiously 'strong' first-person feeling
>from some of the Nadreck spots in the story.
>
>"That is the basics, at least."
Eric splutters briefly as his head spins a touch.
"Gah! Gaia...amazing. And one man wrote the chronicle of all this
in _my_ world? I have to read that. And these Kinnisons...I could
almost envy the Eternals' world-walking power for the chance to meet
them."
Eric considers again. "Hrm. A Lensman." He looks at the Lens
intently. "I almost feel like...what's come before in my life,
excepting Julie, is prologue to this." He stands slowly, almost coming
to attention. "I thank you, Zia, for this opportunity. Even if you
decide...other than I hope...I will always be grateful for this."
Slowly, reverently, he takes the Lens...stares at it for one long
moment...and puts it on.
(OOC: So, does this Lens do anything "special," or is it "just" a
Lens? He's at the high end of first stage, but he is still
"merely" first stage. 8^)
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE VII: Vote of Confidence
On Sat, 2 Jun 2001 00:26:37 EDT
Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00010358
>In a message dated 6/1/01 1:15:39 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
>rolandx writes:
>
> Roland, who's gotten progressively more stunned with each voice of
>support, finally manages to reach 'shocked.' /"Ah. Whoa.
> /"I owe you an apology, Scott.
> /"You've proven helpful on occasion, but until now, I thought you
>were just an annoying bureaucrat doing his job. It's clear that I
>misjudged you. I'm sorry...thank you...and it's good to have the
>chance to get to know you."/ He extends his hand.
Scott looks up, slowly. He looks as of a man who has just had what
would normally be a years worth of emotion shoved into a thirty-second
interval.
/"Thank you. Please forgive me if I do not return the gesture."/ Scott
pauses. /"I was ordered to watch. It was my choice to sign up. A
choice I know I will regret, but for the right reasons."/
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE VII: Vote of Confidence
On Sat, 02 Jun 2001 05:18:38 GMT, In alt.callahans
Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00010359
>On Fri, 01 Jun 2001 20:18:55 -0700
>Eric Lancer Said As CAoL Post # 00008157
>
>>On Sat, 02 Jun 2001 01:05:59 GMT, In alt.callahans
>>Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00010356
>>
>>Ziactrice gives him a rather odd look. Not only does her right
>>eyebrow rise slightly, the left one crimps down in half-puzzlement.
>>"So, what do you find unnatural about me, then, Eric?"
>
> Eric slowly removes his sunglasses, then quickly plants his face
>in his palm. "I'm going to find whoever turned my brain into gelatin
>and..."
Zia looks chagrinned and confused, until he explains, thinking she
said something wrong, evidently.
"Oh." She blinks. Then Zia smiles. "I'm glad you don't think I'm
flawed just because I'm not mortal, then."
"So why don't these Eternals just fix their Halo-source so that won't
happen?" Then her eyes sharpen as a sudden realization dawns. "I keep
forgetting Shadows cannot _do_ things like that. Well. Except some
minor manipulations the Lettered Continuums have solved."
"Do you think this is what is happening with Roland, lately? It seemed
more like usual Boy Scouting up-tightness, to me. He wouldn't thank me
for un-tainting his Halo, anyway. In fact, if I showed up and did
anything so direct +at+ Roland, the rest of the group would thwack me
completely before I could blink. Better to let things alone, I think.
If that actually came up, Nemo can find me." She fingers the pendant
she wears still, and the ring on her right pinkie.
> Eric's gaze seems to withdraw slightly, deliberately, for the
>express purpose of letting her catch her breath.
Zia smiles a thank you for his consideration.
> "Well, I do have this duel to prepare for..." his eyes sparkle
>with dark amusement. "Other than that, no, nothing comes to mind." He
>grows a touch more serious, replacing the goggles. "Actually, I
>_should_ start talking to my suppliers soon. I think I'd better pin
>down the Phoenix-son on a choice of 'weapons' as soon as I can."
"If you don't mind, I'd come along with you doing that, unless your
suppliers don't like guests."
> Eric shrugs, but his face shows relief. "Ah. I'd been under the
>impression, given your earlier statements, that you wished to work
>with such a group. Given how you've been treated by that one, I was a
>bit...concerned...that you might wish you return to it." He grins
>confidently. "So. Exactly what does being a 'guardian of
>Civilization' entail?"
"Whatever you think forwards Civilization. This may be positive
actions: finding and recruiting new Lensmen," her eyes twinkle
mischievously at him, "aiding other Lensmen, or groups who work
against Civilization's foes such as the CAoL. Training various law
enforcement groups, solving various problems that come up. I've done
everything from plumbing to relocating the entire population of a
world. Negative actions also apply, such as rooting out plots,
confounding the Forces of Evil, like the Shadows and the espers of B5
when I passed through there or finding the Seventh Ring. Thank
goodness Nemo helped me get that thing to Seth. The books were quite
right about it. If not for the Pattern of Amber in my very Blood, I
think it would have warped my mind to evil permanently."
>>"Haven't you ever heard about unicorns and chess?"
>
> Eric cocks his head slightly to one side. "I know a great deal of
>supposedly 'mythical' lore, but I'm afraid that one eludes me." He
>laughs. "I've never had cause to hunt a unicorn, nor any reason to
>believe I could catch one..." his laugh collapses, and he is suddenly
>chagrined. "...ah, given the requirements."
Zia looks at him and giggles. "You might have to readjust that notion.
Well, unicorns are perfectly wicked chess players. I would suggest you
read _Unicorn Variations_ by Roger Zelzany sometime. Before I tease
your curiosity overmuch, supposedly my family line is direct descent
from the archetypal 'Unicorn'. I'd be.. hmm, third generation. The
Unicorn's grand-daughter, I suppose."
> "Will to victory is a powerful tool when used properly," Eric
>replies. "Faugh. All my attempts to avoid stating the obvious--except
>to compliment you, of course--for naught. But my last comment about
>him--the absurdity--referred to the tendency of others to
>underestimate him, a mistake I won't make." He leans in a touch. "One
>I don't intend to make with you, either."
Zia blushes. "Oh." She half-smiles. "er, thank you?"
> Eric splutters briefly as his head spins a touch.
> "Gah! Gaia...amazing. And one man wrote the chronicle of all this
>in _my_ world? I have to read that. And these Kinnisons...I could
>almost envy the Eternals' world-walking power for the chance to meet
>them."
"Why envy that? I'll take you wherever you'd like to go. Besides," she
glances around. "Oh, no, just missed her. Connie Kinnison was just at
the bar, meeting with Bill Gawne. Perhaps we can catch her another
time, and I'll introduce you."
> Eric considers again. "Hrm. A Lensman." He looks at the Lens
>intently. "I almost feel like...what's come before in my life,
>excepting Julie, is prologue to this." He stands slowly, almost
>coming to attention.
Zia smiles, not at the mention of Julie, but when she realizes Eric
_anticipates_ taking up the Lens with real purpose in his manner.
>"I thank you, Zia, for this opportunity. Even if you decide...other
>than I hope...I will always be grateful for this." Slowly,
>reverently, he takes the Lens...stares at it for one long moment...
>and puts it on.
> (OOC: So, does this Lens do anything "special," or is it "just" a
>Lens? He's at the high end of first stage, but he is still
>"merely" first stage. 8^)
According to my 'take' on the Mystery of What do Lenses do,
they supply whatever that particular race/person 'lacks' that would
make them more balanced and effective. The Tellurians (humans) got
telepathy, since naturally they have almost zero skill with it. The
Delgonians (Worsel) got willpower since their own was lower than
normal. With Zia, being an Amberite, she gets amplified moral
conscience, a trait very much lacking in the Amberite 'race' (one
family of 30 so is hard to call a whole race, but). All Lenses 1)
identify the wearer as a Lensman, 2) translate, 3) provide a basic
form of telepathic communication between sentients, one strong enough
a Lensman can control any non-sentient animal, automatically, and
sometimes control sentient minds briefly.
As for 'first-stage'... that's all Zia is, and she does okay. :) If
Eric finds the capacity to go Second Stage, he'll just have to ask DC
about that... grin.
What do you think Eric's should do as a 'Special Addon' ability?
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE VII: Vote of Confidence
On Sat, 02 Jun 2001 10:31:37 -0700
Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00010360
>On Sat, 2 Jun 2001 00:26:37 EDT
>Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00010358
>
>>In a message dated 6/1/01 1:15:39 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
>>rolandx writes:
>>
>> /"I owe you an apology, Scott.
>> /"You've proven helpful on occasion, but until now, I thought you
>>were just an annoying bureaucrat doing his job. It's clear that I
>>misjudged you. I'm sorry...thank you...and it's good to have the
>>chance to get to know you."/ He extends his hand.
>
>Scott looks up, slowly. He looks as of a man who has just had what
>would normally be a years worth of emotion shoved into a
>thirty-second interval.
>
>/"Thank you. Please forgive me if I do not return the gesture."/
>Scott pauses. /"I was ordered to watch. It was my choice to sign up.
>A choice I know I will regret, but for the right reasons."/
Roland slowly withdraws his hand, nodding. (OOC: I forget; _did_
Scott mention the 'no touching' thing IC?) Then, a thought strikes
him, and he chuckles. /"After what we just went through regarding
my...position, Mr. Osborne, I sympathize entirely."/
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE VII: Vote of Confidence
On Sat, 02 Jun 2001 11:37:14 -0700
Eric Lancer Said As CAoL Message # 00010361
>On Sat, 02 Jun 2001 05:18:38 GMT, In alt.callahans
>Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00010359
>
>>On Fri, 01 Jun 2001 20:18:55 -0700
>>Eric Lancer Said As CAoL Post # 00008157
>>
>>
>
>"Oh." She blinks. Then Zia smiles. "I'm glad you don't think I'm
>flawed just because I'm not mortal, then."
Eric's smile quirks. "Hardly."
>"So why don't these Eternals just fix their Halo-source so that won't
>happen?" Then her eyes sharpen as a sudden realization dawns. "I keep
>forgetting Shadows cannot _do_ things like that. Well. Except some
>minor manipulations the Lettered Continuums have solved."
Eric blinks, then chuckles. "The Eternals can't alter reality, no,
though I understand they've been working on their little problem
for...some time now. However," he continues, lowering his voice
carefully, "this world has many who _can._ Several thousand, in fact,
including my sister. In addition to their...interesting...squabbles,
there are several powerful forces, on a par I'd estimate with NEMO and
the Starspawn, who take an interest in our realm's fate. As the
progenitor of that taint is one of the most powerful, if not _the_
most powerful, of those...well, I'm sure you can see the problem."
>"Do you think this is what is happening with Roland, lately? It
>seemed more like usual Boy Scouting up-tightness, to me. He wouldn't
>thank me for un-tainting his Halo, anyway. In fact, if I showed up
>and did anything so direct +at+ Roland, the rest of the group would
>thwack me completely before I could blink. Better to let things
>alone, I think. If that actually came up, Nemo can find me." She
>fingers the pendant she wears still, and the ring on her right
>pinkie.
Eric shakes his head. "I mentioned it since 'instinct' came up.
That may not be the correct term--perhaps 'unnatural impulses' would
be more accurate. The Force's Dark Side is a good analogy, so I'm
told. It becomes more seductive the more one gives in to it, and
Eternals who wish to avoid being consumed by 'the Dark Side' control
themselves carefully. Roland's solution is extreme, in my opinion;
many immortals--excuse me, Eternals--can kill without turning into
tainted blights on the universe. As the child of two Eternals, he's
also especially resistant to it. Then again, I can count the Eternals
with his raw power on one hand."
(OOC: AAE IV finale. 'Nuff said. ;-)
"OTOH, I think he comes by his bad temper naturally. AFAIK, he
doesn't have enough taint to affect his mind."
>> "Well, I do have this duel to prepare for..." his eyes sparkle
>>with dark amusement. "Other than that, no, nothing comes to mind."
>>He grows a touch more serious, replacing the goggles. "Actually, I
>>_should_ start talking to my suppliers soon. I think I'd better pin
>>down the Phoenix-son on a choice of 'weapons' as soon as I can."
>
>"If you don't mind, I'd come along with you doing that, unless your
>suppliers don't like guests."
Eric frowns slightly. "Depends on the supplier. My Chinatown dealer
is quite gregarious, but he's a lecher of epic--or at least
comic--proportions." He chuckles fondly. "Best source of 'exotic
powders' this side of the Pacific, and knows every legend imaginable
about the supernatural from his homeland." The frown returns. "Given
your distaste for rudeness, I'd rather not bring you to Doissetep or
Professor Vorgel's. Doissetep is a stronghold for a faction of
Hermetics that has elevated the 'superior attitude' to an art form,
and they indeed might object to your presence if the 'stars aren't
aligned.'" He shakes his head. "Vorgel, OTOH, is 'merely' a Mad
Scientist who spews insults the way most men breathe. I've gotten used
to him, and he makes some very useful matter-altering devices, but I
try to only call on him rarely."
>>He grins confidently. "So. Exactly what does being a 'guardian of
>>Civilization' entail?"
>
>"Whatever you think forwards Civilization. This may be positive
>actions: finding and recruiting new Lensmen," her eyes twinkle
>mischievously at him,
He chuckles with dry amusement.
>"aiding other Lensmen, or groups who work against Civilization's foes
>such as the CAoL. Training various law enforcement groups, solving
>various problems that come up. I've done everything from plumbing to
>relocating the entire population of a world. Negative actions also
>apply, such as rooting out plots, confounding the Forces of Evil,
>like the Shadows and the espers of B5 when I passed through there or
>finding the Seventh Ring. Thank goodness Nemo helped me get that
>thing to Seth. The books were quite right about it. If not for the
>Pattern of Amber in my very Blood, I think it would have warped my
>mind to evil permanently."
Eric blinks. "Seventh Ring? Any relation to the One Ring? I _have_
read Tolkien, and that sounds similar." He shakes his head. "Gaia.
It's still hard to believe that all these places are _real_..."
Clearly, the job doesn't faze him much, merely the scope. B-)
>> Eric cocks his head slightly to one side. "I know a great deal of
>>supposedly 'mythical' lore, but I'm afraid that one eludes me." He
>>laughs. "I've never had cause to hunt a unicorn, nor any reason to
>>believe I could catch one..." his laugh collapses, and he is
>>suddenly chagrined. "...ah, given the requirements."
>
>Zia looks at him and giggles. "You might have to readjust that
>notion. Well, unicorns are perfectly wicked chess players. I would
>suggest you read _Unicorn Variations_ by Roger Zelzany sometime.
>Before I tease your curiosity overmuch, supposedly my family line is
>direct descent from the archetypal 'Unicorn'. I'd be.. hmm, third
>generation. The Unicorn's grand-daughter, I suppose."
"Heh," Eric chuckles. "Well, I'm no Grand Master, but I manage a
fair chess game myself. And I imagine that the legends would _have_ to
be wrong, at least from your neck of creation, for The Unicorn to be
able to sire...or have?...children."
>>"I thank you, Zia, for this opportunity. Even if you decide...other
>>than I hope...I will always be grateful for this." Slowly,
>>reverently, he takes the Lens...stares at it for one long moment...
>>and puts it on.
>
>What do you think Eric's should do as a 'Special Addon'
>ability?
(OOC: Eric Lancer was created originally as a very different
character; I altered him for the CAoL. Especially since he's 'moved
on' from his previous pain, it's entirely appropriate for him to
receive the usual telepathic abilities from the Lens. B-)
His eyes fly open behind his sunglasses, wide enough to be seen
through them. "Guh...Gaia." Tentatively, he reaches out with new
senses, careful not to go too far, too fast. "I think...I'm
impressed." He chuckles again. "And Mew's going to have a field day."
He frowns briefly, then bows, kissing her hand again if accepted.
"I should begin preparing, as I have a lot of tracking down and
negotiating to do. But I hope to see you again soon."
(OOC: My posting will be erratic for the rest of the
weekend--deadlines loom large. Hopefully, things will start picking up
around Monday anyway. 8^)
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE VII: Vote of Confidence
On Sat, 02 Jun 2001 14:33:46 -0700
Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00010362
>Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00010347
>"But right now, all I know is that somebody died. Granted, he was
>evil, willing to tear time into shreds just for his own gain, but I
>don't see why he had to die."
/"Rob, he had to die, partly, because his inate abilities made it
literally impossible for us to imprison him, and he would never stop
trying to complete this action. Paradoxes irritate The Stardragon.
Paradoxes that involve it also make it furious. Do you REALLY want The
Stardragon LOOKING for someone or something to destroy? The last time
that happened, a universe died."/ Aurora interjects.
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE VII: Vote of Confidence
On Sat, 02 Jun 2001 15:11:02 -0700
Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00010363
>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00010353
> Upon seeing Aurora, his palm meets his forehead. /"A-duh! NEMO,
>Aurora, Oracle, time for a little of that omniscience to get us out
>of the problem it got us into."/ He smiles. /"Am I going to object to
>NEMO's actions sufficiently, on an occasion that he acts counter to
>one of my rare commands, that I'd want to countermand him?"/
/*"Roland, contrary to popular thought, I don't -see- THE future. What
I -see- is all the possible futures, with some exceptions. So it is
impossible for me to give a simple answer to your question, but I will
give what answer I can, for all the futures that I can see, where both
you and Nemo and by extension NEMO associate with the CAoL. Do NEMO,
or one of the other Cosmic's as you call them, disobey your orders?
Yes, it does happen in some futures. Even most futures. However it
does not happen often in any future, and when it does happen it
happens for good reasons. It never happens capriciously, and is ALWAYS
done to preserve the greatest good for the greatest number. Do those
who disobey always warn you in advance? There are events in futures
where they cannot. However if it IS possible to warn you, they do.
When they cannot, they are at least willing to explain afterwards.
There are some rare events where the explaination MUST be limited to:
this path produces the least amount of collateral damage, or produces
the greatest increase or the least decrease in common good. I hope
that this helps."*/ Oracle offers.
/"*As I said before, I cannot promise to obey blindly, but if I can
obey I will. If I can't I will warn you if there is time. If there
isn't time, I will explain if possible afterwards. If it isn't
possible to explain, I will have to ask you to place the same trust in
me, that I have placed in you."*/ Aurora sums up.
=================================
Subject: AAE VII: Side Trips (was Vote of Confidence)
On Sun, 03 Jun 2001 03:50:32 GMT, In alt.callahans
Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00010364
>On Sat, 02 Jun 2001 11:37:14 -0700
>Eric Lancer Said As CAoL Post # 00008160
>
>>On Sat, 02 Jun 2001 05:18:38 GMT, In alt.callahans
>>Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00010359
> Eric frowns slightly. "Depends on the supplier. My Chinatown
>dealer is quite gregarious, but he's a lecher of epic--or at least
>comic--proportions." He chuckles fondly. "Best source of 'exotic
>powders' this side of the Pacific, and knows every legend imaginable
>about the supernatural from his homeland." The frown returns.
Ziactrice grins. "He sounds rather like an interesting character,
indeed."
>"Given your distastefor rudeness, I'd rather not bring you to
>Doissetep or Professor Vorgel's.Doissetep is a stronghold for a
>faction of Hermetics that has elevated the 'superior attitude' to an
>art form, and they indeed might object to your presence if the 'stars
>aren't aligned.'" He shakes his head. "Vorgel, OTOH, is 'merely' a
>Mad Scientist who spews insults the way most men breathe. I've gotten
>used to him, and he makes some very useful matter-altering devices,
>but I try to only call on him rarely."
"You know, Eric," she says, drily, "You could just say you'd rather I
didn't come along. That's perfectly all right. I feel no need to
either be hit on or insulted, since I've got enough of one from
certain gentlemen more acceptable, and enough of the second to last me
a bit." Zia grins her irrepressible smile, apparently in a much better
mood than earlier. "If you don't need assistance with transport, it
sounds as if it might be a very good idea that I did make myself
scarce. If the big power-twisters here are as you've just said, I
could easily attract some very unwelcome attention if my powers went
active here. Sounds like caution should rule the day."
> Eric blinks. "Seventh Ring? Any relation to the One Ring? I _have_
>read Tolkien, and that sounds similar." He shakes his head. "Gaia.
>It's still hard to believe that all these places are _real_..."
>Clearly, the job doesn't faze him much, merely the scope. B-)
"Oh, it was the One Ring, then. The Master Ring. My version of Tolkien
is a little different since I read it in a different shadow, of
course. Ah, and none of these places are truly real, you know. It
really is all Shadow. Or, if you're like the Circle of Ourosboros, it
is all fictons." She pauses. "I haven't talked to Ted in ages. I
should look him up one of these days and catch up on shop-talk."
> "Heh," Eric chuckles. "Well, I'm no Grand Master, but I manage a
>fair chess game myself. And I imagine that the legends would _have_
>to be wrong, at least from your neck of creation, for The Unicorn to
>be able to sire...or have?...children."
"She bore my grandfather, sired by Dworkin. Since he was a
shapeshifting Lord of Chaos from the Courts near the Abyss, I rather
imagine the difficulties -" this pun even makes _her_ wince slightly,
"- were not insurmountable."
> His eyes fly open behind his sunglasses, wide enough to be seen
>through them. "Guh...Gaia." Tentatively, he reaches out with new
>senses, careful not to go too far, too fast. "I think...I'm
>impressed." He chuckles again. "And Mew's going to have a field day."
Ziactrice shields herself rather heavily; now is not the time for him
to discover her 'mental scars' from previous problems. He can *see*
plenty about her anyway, given the Lens.
> He frowns briefly, then bows, kissing her hand again if accepted.
>"I should begin preparing, as I have a lot of tracking down and
>negotiating to do. But I hope to see you again soon."
Zia accepts, then hands him a Tarot card. "Guard this carefully, since
it can be used against me, but with it, you can simply call me when
you need. I would rely on Lens but if I'm too far removed in Shadow,
it likely would not suffice." The card bears an image of her, in
knightly order regalia with a large scepter on a ceremonial mount,
apparently carrying it about to present it. The background shows a
church congregation under a window of stained glass, featuring a white
unicorn rampant.
"Until we meet again, good fortunes, Lensman." She smiles, pulls a
Trump, and vanishes through the polychromatic doorway she summoned.
To her home on the cold shores of Amber herself. There, she glances at
a clock and shakes her head. "I'll never manage - wait! Rob did
agree... maybe..." She sorts through her deck of Trump, finding those
newest ones of people recently drawn.
@Rob? This is Ziactrice on a Trump. Would you be adverse to helping me
get ready for a party? If you like, you might even go along with me,
if you like Renaissance era wine, cards, or dancing?@
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE VII: Vote of Confidence
On Sat, 2 Jun 2001 23:49:38 -0700 (PDT)
Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00010365
>Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00010362
>
>/"Rob, he had to die, partly, because his innate abilities made it
>literally impossible for us to imprison him, and he would never stop
>trying to complete this action. Paradoxes irritate The Stardragon.
>Paradoxes that involve it also make it furious. Do you REALLY want
>The Stardragon LOOKING for someone or something to destroy? The last
>time that happened, a universe died."/ Aurora interjects.
/"No, I don't want an angry Stardragon. But that isn't the point. I
read science fiction on occasion. I understand the risk of paradox,
even if I haven't experienced it personally - even assuming that the
Stardragon somehow does not get involved. But Nemo's explanation was
nothing more than 'You may understand someday.' What you just
presented is an explanation that I _do_ understand, right here, right
now."/
Rob stops, drains his soda, and sets it back on the bar.
/"And if the reasoning you gave were NEMO's basis for killing
Rassilon, then I see no sense in a song-and-dance about the knowledge
being beyond me. And to be frank, I don't consider myself to be the
brightest bulb in this marquee. When I look like a genius, sometimes
it's because I had a genius to consult with."/
/"So at the moment, it seems to me that NEMO has a reason beyond the
perfectly acceptable one you just gave, he's honest enough to admit
it, but it isn't possible to dumb it down to a level where he can
offer Roland more than the _possibility_ of understanding it
_someday._ And Roland has the potential to outlive me by several
lifetimes."/
"Mike, would you make me another soda, this one with--"
>Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00010364
>
>@Rob? This is Ziactrice on a Trump. Would you be adverse to helping
>me get ready for a party? If you like, you might even go along with
>me, if you like Renaissance era wine, cards, or dancing?@
Rob pauses, looking about as if a fly has just buzzed his ear. After a
moment, he says, "Cancel the soda, Mike. I've been asked to help with
a minor problem."
@I'd be delighted, Zia. I'm not especially knowledgeable about wine,
I'll play any card game except no-limit Texas hold 'em, and I haven't
had a chance to dance in a while. One moment.@
"Nemo, and NEMO: I'll accept that you have your reason, and that it is
sufficiently complex that I can't understand it. But my preferred
solution to being stuck with an insoluble problem is taking on a
challenge that I know I can handle."
"So, if you folks will excuse me..."
@Clear, Zia.@ With that, Rob vanishes in a flare of polychromatic
light.
=================================
Subject: Re: AAEVII: A Quiet Talk (was: Vote of Confidence)
On Sun, 3 Jun 2001 08:19:12 -0400
Caprice/Legion Said As CAoL Message # 00010366
>On Fri, 01 Jun 2001 14:32:03 -0700
>Morgan Said As CAoL Message # 00010355
>
>>On Wed, 30 May 2001 22:14:52 -0400
>>Caprice/Legion Said As CAoL Message # 00010333
>>
>>He stares into his teacup. "It is not that she thinks I am....
>>incapable of love. Or unworthy of recieving it. It is that she feels
>>it is not possible for someone to love her." He sips his tea,
>>definately brooding. "She has multiple personalities, some of which
>>are not good people. She maintains that no one could love /all/ of
>>them. I can't claim to love them all, since I've not met them all.
>>But I like all the ones she has permitted me to meet. And I love
>>her.... the whole that is greater than the sum of its parts."
>
>Morgan nods, sipping her own tea. She's not doing any active
>'probing,' but her various skills would let her know without really
>trying whether Essex is being honest or not. (OOC: and I assume he
>_is_ completely sincere.)
(OOC: Painfully sincere. Caring about people is something he had
gotten out of the habit of, and he's rediscovering how much it can
hurt.)
>"I think you're right that what matters is that the people involved
>'treat each other as equals.' With mutual respect. And of course
>we're talking romantic love here. After all, I love my kids," Morgan
>grins broadly, "but they've got a few years to go before I'll start
>considering treating them as full equals."
Essex chuckles, "True enough... I have little experience with
children, unless you count a small four pawed one." Yes, he means
Mischief.
>The druidess sighs. "I think, were I in your shoes, I'd say something
>like, 'My lady, I pray you'll not be offended if I choose to take
>your 'no' as a 'not at this time,' and that you'll grant me the
>chance to prove my love for you.' Well," Morgan blushes a little,
>"maybe not _quite_ that...flowery. As I said, I grew up in a very
>different age, and 'courtly love' was all the rage, at least among
>the Anglish and French nobles."
Nathaniel actually grins, "No, flowery just might work. She has had
little enough of that kind of treatment." He sighs, "Every world she
goes, she is an outsider... and to make it worse, she has memories of
belonging. She keeps travelling, hoping to find the world she comes
from. Someplace she belongs. But even if she never finds where she
comes from, she has found a place to belong with the Army of light. I
want to thank you and your husband for that."
Nathaniel glances over at where Roland is sitting, "Speaking of which,
I should let you get back to him. I don't mind if you relate this
conversation to him, but I would rather it didn't become common
gossip." He looks back at Morgan and smiles, "And thank you. Both for
listening and for the advice."
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE VII: Vote of Confidence
On Sun, 03 Jun 2001 14:55:53 GMT, In alt.callahans
Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00010367
>On Sat, 2 Jun 2001 23:49:38 -0700 (PDT)
>Rob N Said As CAoL Post # 00008163
>
>>Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00010364
>
>@I'd be delighted, Zia. I'm not especially knowledgeable about wine,
>I'll play any card game except no-limit Texas hold 'em, and I haven't
>had a chance to dance in a while. One moment.@
Ziactrice grins. She understood exactly what the card reference was, a
rare event given the depth of Shadow.
>"Nemo, and NEMO: I'll accept that you have your reason, and that it
>is sufficiently complex that I can't understand it. But my preferred
>solution to being stuck with an insoluble problem is taking on a
>challenge that I know I can handle."
>
>"So, if you folks will excuse me..."
>
>@Clear, Zia.@ With that, Rob vanishes in a flare of polychromatic
>light.
Zia takes his hand, to complete the 'circuit'. Not to mention it helps
him step down from the mid-air doorway of light to the floor level.
"Thank you for coming, Rob; I'm delighted to have you as a guest. I
don't get to entertain as much as I'd like." The room is built rather
on the comfy side of small, but composed of huge wood logs for walls,
intricately sewn tapestries, and the mellow light of kerosene lamps
hung 'round with prisms. This appears to be the conventional parlor of
tables, lamps, a large fireplace with fire going, Oriental carpets,
odd bric-a-brac and books. The large casement window seat shows a huge
sea that is somehow not the Pacific, in twilight since Rob can see the
golds and oranges still fading.
"Welcome to my realm, such as it is. A rocky beach east of Amber
herself, the fiefdom I hold as Knight of Glamscyre. That is what the
beach is called, rather. My usual title here is Dame Sarah of
Glamscrye, in case you wonder who they're talking about." Ziactrice
gives him a wink. "I don't have soda, but what else would you like to
drink while we get ready?
"If we hurry, we can make the party. If you don't mind waiting for the
nickel tour until a little later? I'm fairly certain I can find
something suitable for you to wear upstairs - I have a horrible
packrat tendency for costumery."
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE VII: Vote of Confidence
On Sun, 03 Jun 2001 12:52:52 -0700
Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00010368
>Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00010365
>/"No, I don't want an angry Stardragon. But that isn't the point. I
>read science fiction on occasion. I understand the risk of paradox,
>even if I haven't experienced it personally - even assuming that the
>Stardragon somehow does not get involved. But Nemo's explanation was
>nothing more than 'You may understand someday.' What you just
>presented is an explanation that I _do_ understand, right here, right
>now."/
/"The explaination I gave would be sufficient for the action, and it
MAY have been sufficient for Roland to accept, however it was NOT the
driving reason for NEMO's action, or so I envision. NEMO does not
particularly CARE if The Stardragon gets angry. NEMO's prime directive
seems to be: seek the greatest common good. It DOES happen that
seeking the common good, most often does coincide with reducing
potentials for angering The Stardragon. I believe that I understand
the potential that NEMO actualized in this action, but it must be
admitted that his visualization may be more complete than mine."/
Aurora answers.
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE VII: Vote of Confidence
On Sun, 3 Jun 2001 21:55:28 -0700 (PDT)
Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00010369
>Ziactrice Said As CAoL Message # 00010367
>
>>Rob N Said As CAoL Post # 00008163
>>
>>@I'd be delighted, Zia. I'm not especially knowledgeable about wine,
>>I'll play any card game except no-limit Texas hold 'em, and I
>>haven't had a chance to dance in a while. One moment.@
>
>Ziactrice grins. She understood exactly what the card reference was,
>a rare event given the depth of Shadow.
OOC: Cool. I've never played it, but I understand that it's one of the
trickiest variants of poker.
>Zia takes his hand, to complete the 'circuit'. Not to mention it
>helps him step down from the mid-air doorway of light to the floor
>level. "Thank you for coming, Rob; I'm delighted to have you as a
>guest. I don't get to entertain as much as I'd like." The room is
>built rather on the comfy side of small, but composed of huge wood
>logs for walls, intricately sewn tapestries, and the mellow light of
>kerosene lamps hung 'round with prisms. This appears to be the
>conventional parlor of tables, lamps, a large fireplace with fire
>going, Oriental carpets, odd bric-a-brac and books. The large
>casement window seat shows a huge sea that is somehow not the
>Pacific, in twilight since Rob can see the golds and oranges still
>fading.
"Oh. My. This is a beautiful place." Rob turns to rubbernecking for a
moment, trying to take the whole room in.
>"Welcome to my realm, such as it is. A rocky beach east of Amber
>herself, the fiefdom I hold as Knight of Glamscyre. That is what the
>beach is called, rather. My usual title here is Dame Sarah of
>Glamscrye, in case you wonder who they're talking about." Ziactrice
>gives him a wink. "I don't have soda, but what else would you like to
>drink while we get ready?
Rob's eyes focus on the ceiling for a moment. "Good Dame, I would
appreciate lemonade, if you have it. By the by, it may be a good idea
to acquaint me with local custom. I would prefer not to subject
anybody to a faux pas." Rob's tone of voice is serious, but his eyes
are showing signs of laughter, as he does his best job of overdoing
courtly manners.
>"If we hurry, we can make the party. If you don't mind waiting for
>the nickel tour until a little later? I'm fairly certain I can find
>something suitable for you to wear upstairs - I have a horrible
>packrat tendency for costumery."
"Lead, and I shall follow."
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE VII: Vote of Confidence
On Mon, 4 Jun 2001 01:50:50 PST
Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00010370
>On Thu, 31 May 2001 22:30:02 -0700 (PDT)
>Rob N Said As CAoL Message # 00010347
>
>"The point is, they knew they couldn't be more detailed. But they
>gave the best answer they had, using words of one syllable if
>necessary. Now, I can understand allowing the monobloc detonation -
>it made an empty universe into a universe with the potential for
>life, correct? But Rassilon's death is tossed aside by telling
>Roland, 'You may understand someday.'"
"Not tossed aside."
"But just because a monobloc 'detonates', that doesn't mean the
resulting universe will support life, or even contain matter. The
physical laws of the new universe may not allow it."
"That was one reason."
"For another, if NEMO hadn't done it the way he did, would Roland be
taking this vote now? Would the rest of you be going over what it
*means* to be a member of the Callahanian Army of Light?"
>"That's fine for him. He may have a thousand years he's not using.
>_But I don't._ So if you can't explain it to this ephemeral in words
>of one syllable, with allowance for Things That Can Not Be Known,
>then as far as I know, I'm dealing with a killer. Not just any murder
>either. Premeditated murder."
"It *was* homocide. As it is any time *any* of us kills on a mission.
In case you haven't noticed, we do not have legal authority in most of
the places we've been. In fact we are sometimes going *against* the
legal authorities."
"But it wasn't murder. Negligient homicide is the usual term when one
who *could* prevent a death fails to do so. On the other hand the
number of beings whose death has been prevented by *allowing* Rassilon
to die is very large. Universes worth."
"And by dying in that place, and in that manner, he is responsible for
*creating* life. Not merely in that universe, but in many others by a
cascading chain."
"Do you have any idea how many times 'I' have died, often painfully,
because it would save even *one* life? Then do not assume that I treat
life as lightly as that."
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE:Fate of the nanites
On Mon, 4 Jun 2001 01:40:00 PST
Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00010371
>On Fri, 1 Jun 2001 10:28:47 -0700
>Squee Said As CAoL Message # 00010350
>
> Well it took a while for me to figure out what to do with these
>nanites that Leonard rudely wouldn't leave where I said I wanted
>them, but I think I came up with something that's poetic justice.
>
I wasn't being rude. But Roland had asked for someone to gate the CAoL
members out of there. That meant *all* of you.
> "I know not where I am or how I have arrived here.. but one thing is
>obvious... The Controller Lives! But I have gaps in my memory...
>signal check... lock on interdimentional signal. X-window generator,
>on-line... take me home... that I may finish healing before I start
>extracting my vengence..."
> The x-window pops into existance and the metallic man steps through,
>leaving this universe alone... for now...
*And so it begins* thinks a multidimensional entity known to some as
NEMO...
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE VII: Vote of Confidence
On Mon, 4 Jun 2001 02:17:41 PST
Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00010372
>On Fri, 01 Jun 2001 13:05:44 -0700
>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00010353
>
> Upon seeing Aurora, his palm meets his forehead. /"A-duh! NEMO,
>Aurora, Oracle, time for a little of that omniscience to get us out
>of the problem it got us into."/ He smiles. /"Am I going to object to
>NEMO's actions sufficiently, on an occasion that he acts counter to
>one of my rare commands, that I'd want to countermand him?"/
> (OOC: I discussed this with Leonard on ICQ. There's a slim chance
>that it may happen once, the two characters'll have the chance to
>'discuss' it at the time if it does, and other than that it won't be
>an issue. Whether Roland _likes_ the answers the other times is
>another story, but we can cross those bridges when we come to them.
>Even if NEMO can't provide this information for some reason,
>presumably Oracle or Aurora can. Dane, I want Leonard to have 'right
>of first refusal' in providing this info. 8^)
Nemo answers speaking in a very careful, precise tones.
"You'll object a number of times. And you'll be unhappy about the
actions a number of those times. But it will be possible to convince
you of the necessity in all of them."
Note that *one* is "a number".
And "convince"" is a lovely bit of weasel-wording if one choses to
take it that way.
No, I don't plan on making a habit of this. I'd prefer not to have it
happen again without the full conivance of the GM and authors of other
characters. But I want that "wiggle room" in just in case we wind up
writing ourselves into a corner at some future date.
If folks think it should be worded differently, I'll accept
suggestions.
> /"Fine, it's settled, if you can, give me the chance to change
>directions if you aren't just _ending_ the fight like this last time,
>NEMO, and to quote Jake, 'that's an end to it!' Whew!"/ Roland drops
>heavily into a chair, relieved. /"Enough heavy philosophizing. Fight
>over, good guys win, let's _eat!_"/ Roland licks his lips.
>/"Moonstone gave me a craving for some BBQ'd burgers. Mike C,"/ he
>continues, leaning back to look at the Big Irishman upside-down,
>/"drinks for the whole team. Mike 7, good to have you back, even if
>you never really 'left.' And I pity the poor villain that does
>something while we're trying to unwind, here."/
Nemo smiles oddly.
"For some reason there's a *remarkable* string of equipment
malfunctions and other 'bad luck' affecting certain persons for the
next few hours."
=================================
Subject: AAE VII: Meat of the Discussion
On Mon, 04 Jun 2001 22:40:10 -0700
Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00010373
>On Fri, 1 Jun 2001 17:19:44 -0400
>Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00010354
>
>>On Fri, 01 Jun 2001 13:05:44 -0700
>>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00010353
>>
>>>On Fri, 1 Jun 2001 14:27:01 -0400
>>>Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00010352
>>>
>>>Either that or I'll find myself a quiet spot and have a little
>>>impromptu barbeque. Raw if there's no other option, there's just
>>>something so satisfying about meat and fire mixed together. You
>>>humans must have more dragon spirit in you than some of you
>>>realize.
>>
>> Roland chuckles. /"Actually, I _am_ part dragon on my mother's
>>side."/ Out of nowhere, the P-16 appears. /"And anyone who makes
>>'dragon lady' comments about my mom gets a full broadside, we all
>>hip?"/
>
> Moonstone smiles, "That must have been an interesting mating.
"Well, my mother only has a bit of dragon herself. Goes back to her
Pride's patriarch, Sharakai, a bunch of generations back."
>But far be it from me, coming from a long line of dragon ladies, to
>make disparaging remarks about any of them...
Roland smiles. "Not that I expected many from _this_ lot, to be
sure..." He looks at Dhyrclhanc, Xander and Moonstone in turn, then
idly regards the Stardragon mentally.
>Mike meanwhile sends a short message somewhere and when to be
>acknowledged with the materialization of a twenty-third century plus,
>pollution-free, professional restraunt barbeque between the chalkline
>and the fire place.
> Slipping off his jacket and hanging it over the back of a chair
>as a large refridgerator and some kitchen tools show up, Michael
>Seven asks probably the most important question of the moment:
> "How many, of what, and how ya want 'em cooked?"
After Roland gets four burgers medium-well turned into two
mouth-watering double cheeseburgers, and Morgan has a steak sizzling
away on the grill, Roland considers recent events.
"I'm sure glad we can kick back and relax in the Place," Roland
notes, waving his burger idly in the air. "That last fight really
ground me down."
A peanut flies from Morgan's hand to bounce off Roland's skull with an
audible 'ping!'
Roland blinks innocently at his wife. "Why Morgan, do you have a
beef with me?"
'Ping!'
"Yeah, that _was_ a pretty cheesy line, wasn't it?"
'PING!'
"Don't you think this is a meaty topic?"
'PING!!'
Roland decides (after smoothing the dent in his skull 8^) to change
the subject. Picking up a sausage and putting it in a bun, he adds,
"Okay, okay, enough cheeseburger jokes. You don't think I was hot
dogging it, do you?"
'PING!!!'
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE VII: Meat of the Discussion
On Tue, 5 Jun 2001 09:47:48 -0400
Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00010374
>On Mon, 04 Jun 2K1, Roland X Said
>
>>Mike Knight Said
>>
>>>Roland X Said
>>>
>>> Roland chuckles. /"Actually, I _am_ part dragon on my mother's
>>>side."/
Dhyrclhanc gives his foster sib a double-take.
>>>Out of nowhere, the P-16 appears. /"And anyone who makes 'dragon
>>>lady' comments about my mom gets a full broadside, we all hip?"/
Everyone's lovable Lensdragon smirks
>> Moonstone smiles, "That must have been an interesting mating.
>
> "Well, my mother only has a bit of dragon herself. Goes back to
>her Pride's patriarch, Sharakai, a bunch of generations back."
ooo^ Sib, I do believe that you have been holding out on me. Shame on
you. };=8) ^ooo
>>But far be it from me, coming from a long line of dragon ladies, to
>>make disparaging remarks about any of them...
Dhyrclhanc then gives Moonstone a double-take.
I hope to be able to make an longer direct response, IC, to
Moonstone's leaving remarks sometime tomorrow
>>Mike meanwhile sends a short message somewhere and when to be
>>acknowledged with the materialization of a twenty-third century
>>plus, pollution-free, professional restraunt barbeque between the
>>chalkline and the fire place.
>> "How many, of what, and how ya want 'em cooked?"
"Toss on two or three Delmonico Steaks and a baked potato or two for
me, would you Mike? As for the steaks, for obvious reasons, I would
prefer them to be 'still moo-ing' rather than 'burned to a crisp'."
At which point, once he gets Mike's permission, he begins rifling
through the refrigerator for the makings of a salad.
What? He's an omnivore!
> After Roland gets four burgers medium-well turned into two
>mouth-watering double cheeseburgers, and Morgan has a steak sizzling
>away on the grill, Roland considers recent events.
> Roland decides (after smoothing the dent in his skull 8^) to
>change the subject. Picking up a sausage and putting it in a bun, he
>adds, "Okay, okay, enough cheeseburger jokes. You don't think I was
>hot dogging it, do you?"
>
>'PING!!!'
"I would've thought, sib," quips Dhyrclhanc "that, by now, you'd have
realized that we all have a steak in keeping you honest." }8=:D
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE VII: Meat of the Discussion
On Tue, 05 Jun 2001 07:41:07 -0700
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00010375
>On Tue, 5 Jun 2001 09:47:48 -0400
>Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00010374
>
>>On Mon, 04 Jun 2K1, Roland X Said
>>
>> Roland decides (after smoothing the dent in his skull 8^) to
>>change the subject. Picking up a sausage and putting it in a bun, he
>>adds, "Okay, okay, enough cheeseburger jokes. You don't think I was
>>hot dogging it, do you?"
>>
>>'PING!!!'
>
>"I would've thought, sib," quips Dhyrclhanc "that, by now, you'd have
>realized that we all have a steak in keeping you honest." }8=:D
Morgan turns her life magic on her sib, this time conjuring a peanut
of an appropriate scale to his draconic form.
'_PING_!'
;-)
Roland leans over conspiratorially. "Sorry, sib--I guess she
doesn't like her meat in a pun."
'Ping.'
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE VII: Meat of the Discussion
On Tue, 5 Jun 2001 11:21:54 EDT
SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00010376
>In a message dated 6/5/01 1:53:01 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
>rolandx writes:
> Roland decides (after smoothing the dent in his skull 8^) to
>change the subject. Picking up a sausage and putting it in a bun, he
>adds, "Okay, okay, enough cheeseburger jokes. You don't think I was
>hot dogging it, do you?"
>
>'PING!!!'
Roger, observing these goings-on from a dark, quiet corner where
he's been recuperating with an icepack on his head, another behind his
neck, and a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster in each hand (you KNOW you're
hurting when a PGGB is *good* for what ails ya), breaks down
completely into silent hysterical laughter, and slowly melts into a
limp puddle on the floor....
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE VII: Meat of the Discussion
On Tue, 5 Jun 2001 12:06:01 -0400
Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00010377
>On Tue, 05 Jun 2K1, Morgan and/or Roland Said
>
>>On Tue, 5 Jun 2K1, Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc Said
>>
>>"I would've thought, sib," quips Dhyrclhanc "that, by now, you'd
>>have realized that we all have a steak in keeping you honest." }8=:D
>
>Morgan turns her life magic on her sib, this time conjuring a peanut
>of an appropriate scale to his draconic form.
^^^^^^
_Scale_, Sis?! I didn't know you had it in you?
BTW, exactly just many dots in the Life Sphere do you to have need to
be able to force grow peanuts _and_ to get them to grow on trees? ;^)
> Roland leans over conspiratorially. "Sorry, sib--I guess she
>doesn't like her meat in a pun."
>
>'Ping.'
Dhyrclhanc picks himself off of the floor while, with some help from
his TK, gets himself out from under the dragon-hatchling-sized legume.
"Yeah, bro, I guess your wife's opinions are like Josie Bauer's;
Morgan must believe that the pun is the lowest form of wit."
"Sis," he calls over, while throwing the ruined proto-salad into a
trash bin and starting his efforts over, "I wouldn't go patty-ing
myself on the back too overly much, were I you."
He then goes over to ask Callahan if he has any HP Sauce or Ranch
Dressing in the Place.
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE VII: Meat of the Discussion
On Tue, 05 Jun 2001 12:03:18 -0700
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00010379
>On Tue, 5 Jun 2001 12:06:01 -0400
>Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00010377
>
>>On Tue, 05 Jun 2K1, Morgan and/or Roland Said
>>
>>Morgan turns her life magic on her sib, this time conjuring a peanut
>>of an appropriate scale to his draconic form.
> ^^^^^^
>
> _Scale_, Sis?! I didn't know you had it in you?
OOC1: To a human, the average peanut is about the size of one finger
joint. So, figure how big one of Dhyrclhanc's "finger joints"
are/would be, and that's the size of the peanut Morgan 'pinged' him
with. I didn't mean a peanut as big as his whole body! :-)
>BTW, exactly just many dots in the Life Sphere do you to have need to
>be able to force grow peanuts _and_ to get them to grow on trees? ;^)
>
OOC2: You'll have to ask Roland, but remember--Morgan's powers aren't
specifically modeled on the "Mage: The Ascension" paradigm. That's why
we've done her character write-up in several different systems
. We need to re-do
her DCU stats, now that we have the "Magic Handbook."
>Dhyrclhanc picks himself off of the floor while, with some help from
>his TK, gets himself out from under the dragon-hatchling-sized
>legume.
OOC3: See above note. If you assume DC is about 4 times as tall as a
human, then the peanut wasn't any bigger than about 6" long, if that.
>"Yeah, bro, I guess your wife's opinions are like Josie Bauer's;
>Morgan must believe that the pun is the lowest form of wit."
Morgan mock-frowns. "What? I 'honor' your puns with the traditional
Callahanian salute, and suddenly I don't appreciate them anymore?
Humph." Her attempt at a pout is spoiled by the grin that keeps
creeping in around the edges.
>"Sis," he calls over, while throwing the ruined proto-salad into a
>trash bin and starting his efforts over, "I wouldn't go patty-ing
>myself on the back too overly much, were I you."
'ping ping' Two more peanuts rain down on the Lensdragon.
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE VII: Meat of the Discussion
On Tue, 05 Jun 2001 12:36:36 -0700
Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00010381
>On Tue, 05 Jun 2001 12:03:18 -0700
>Morgan Said As CAoL Message # 00010379
>
>>On Tue, 5 Jun 2001 12:06:01 -0400
>>Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00010377
>>
>>BTW, exactly just many dots in the Life Sphere do you to have need
>>to be able to force grow peanuts _and_ to get them to grow on trees?
>>;^)
>
>OOC2: You'll have to ask Roland,
OOC: Four, I believe--which is what we have tentatively given her.
8^) It may take five, but far more so than even Roland, Morgan's
powers are heavily dependent on the plot and/or situation.
>but remember--Morgan's powers aren't specifically modeled on the
>"Mage: The Ascension" paradigm. That's why we've done her character
>write-up in several different systems
>. We need to
>re-do her DCU stats, now that we have the "Magic Handbook."
BTW, 'super' magic is now a lot more possible on Roland's world.
Her magic may actually be more similar to the Changeling system than
the Mage one, except that she doesn't have to 'spend' Glamour to cast
spells. Right now, though, the closest version of what she can do is
the DC magic system--which basically allows anything. ;^)
The big Earth-9 update _is_ coming, when I have the time...
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE VII: Meat of the Discussion
On Tue, 05 Jun 2001 12:38:25 -0700
Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00010382
>On Tue, 5 Jun 2001 11:21:54 EDT
>SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00010376
>
> into sleeping on the couch tonight...>
OOC-M: Nah, it'd take a hell of a lot more than that to make me kick
him out of bed :-).
> Roger, observing these goings-on from a dark, quiet corner where
>he's been recuperating with an icepack on his head, another behind
>his neck, and a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster in each hand (you KNOW
>you're hurting when a PGGB is *good* for what ails ya), breaks down
>completely into silent hysterical laughter, and slowly melts into a
>limp puddle on the floor....
The Freelance Immortal, still punslinging, turns a thought to his
collapsed pseudo-offspring. /It's okay...the fight's over. How are you
coming along over there, son?/
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE VII: Meat of the Discussion
On Tue, 5 Jun 2001 16:17:40 -0400
Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00010384
>On Tue, 05 Jun 2001, Morgan Said
>
>>Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc Said
>>
>>>Morgan and/or Roland Said
>>>
>>>Morgan turns her life magic on her sib, this time conjuring a
>>>peanut of an appropriate scale to his draconic form.
^^^^^^
>> _Scale_, Sis?! I didn't know you had it in you?
Dragon? Scale? Yeesh! I'm waisting some of my best material
here! ;^)
>OOC2: You'll have to ask Roland, but remember--Morgan's powers aren't
>specifically modeled on the "Mage: The Ascension" paradigm. That's
>why we've done her character write-up in several different systems
>. We need to
>re-do her DCU stats, now that we have the "Magic Handbook."
I picked that up myself at the same time I finaly got a copy of his
DOC book. B^D
Very Nice!
Only, no Bloodwynd (sp?) and no Tempest. (Roland will know what I'm
talking about)
>>Dhyrclhanc picks himself off of the floor while, with some help from
>>his TK, gets himself out from under the dragon-hatchling-sized
>>legume.
>
>OOC3: See above note. If you assume DC is about 4 times as tall as a
>human, then the peanut wasn't any bigger than about 6" long, if that.
3.8, you were close. This is presuming that DC's exactly 21'
tall; he's not but I stopped keeping track of the exact numbers a long
time ago. The peanut (peanuts ?) , will be 10" long, BTW.
>>"Yeah, bro, I guess your wife's opinions are like Josie Bauer's;
>>Morgan must believe that the pun is the lowest form of wit."
>
>Morgan mock-frowns. "What? I 'honor' your puns with the traditional
>Callahanian salute, and suddenly I don't appreciate them anymore?
>Humph." Her attempt at a pout is spoiled by the grin that keeps
>creeping in around the edges.
That was what's known as the set-up line, Sis. ;^)
>>"Sis," he calls over, while throwing the ruined proto-salad into a
>>trash bin and starting his efforts over, "I wouldn't go patty-ing
>>myself on the back too overly much, were I you."
>
>'ping ping' Two more peanuts rain down on the Lensdragon.
"Incoming!"
The 21' (give or take a few inches) tall, super-anuated adolecent
hatchling Ruby Fire Dragon ducks under the table.
"Well, now there are peanuts in the salad, anyone object to a few
olives and some tuna, if there's any around?" }:=8D
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE VII: Meat of the Discussion
On Tue, 5 Jun 2001 13:15:52 PST
Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00010385
>On Mon, 04 Jun 2001 22:40:10 -0700
>Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00010373
>
> Roland decides (after smoothing the dent in his skull 8^) to
>change the subject. Picking up a sausage and putting it in a bun, he
>adds, "Okay, okay, enough cheeseburger jokes. You don't think I was
>hot dogging it, do you?"
>
>'PING!!!'
Nemo chimes in...
"I think you've proved you can still cut the mustard."
He reaches for some salad.
"Now lettuce change the subject. Turn over a new leaf."
If any peanuts are thrown towards him, his head will snap around so he
can catch them in his mouth. He'll eat them shell and all.
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE VII: Meat of the Discussion
On Tue, 05 Jun 2001 14:46:36 -0700
Roland X Said As CAoL Message # 00010386
>On Tue, 5 Jun 2001 13:15:52 PST
>Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00010385
>
>Nemo chimes in...
>
>"I think you've proved you can still cut the mustard."
"But you ketchup so quickly...
>He reaches for some salad.
>
>"Now lettuce change the subject. Turn over a new leaf."
"I could, but I relish the original topic. Besides, you're tossing
in the same basic idea--you're just dressing it up differently."
'Ping!'
"ow!" Roland rubs his nose after a particularly good shot...
"Oooooh," Morgan looks (just a little) chagrined, and kisses Roland on
the nose to make the owie better :-).
>If any peanuts are thrown towards him, his head will snap around so
>he can catch them in his mouth. He'll eat them shell and all.
'chomp' ;-)
Morgan nods in appreciation at Nemo's chosen method of dealing with
her projectiles.
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE VII: Meat of the Discussion
On Tue, 5 Jun 2001 21:30:29 EDT
SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00010389
>In a message dated 6/5/01 4:00:16 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
>rolandx writes:
>
> The Freelance Immortal, still punslinging, turns a thought to his
>collapsed pseudo-offspring. /It's okay...the fight's over. How are
>you coming along over there, son?/
The Roger-puddle extrudes a limp pseudopod and waves it in a
"so-so" gesture. /I'll survive -- I'm immortal. The drawback is that I
can't just die to escape this headache...well, I *could,* but then I'd
have to come back and pick up where I left off, plus interest......../
/Kidding aside, I'll be fine in an hour or two. The dupes that went
with Rassi's TARDIS were low-grade types anyway. I don't lose much
Halo with those. It was the arguments afterwards that really did me
in. Now that everyone's calmed down, I can regen without anxiety..../
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE VII: Meat of the Discussion
On Tue, 05 Jun 2001 19:10:17 -0700
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00010390
>On Tue, 5 Jun 2001 21:30:29 EDT
>SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00010389
>
> The Roger-puddle extrudes a limp pseudopod and waves it in a
>"so-so" gesture. /I'll survive -- I'm immortal. The drawback is that
>I can't just die to escape this headache...well, I *could,* but then
>I'd have to come back and pick up where I left off, plus
>interest......../
> /Kidding aside, I'll be fine in an hour or two. The dupes that
>went with Rassi's TARDIS were low-grade types anyway. I don't lose
>much Halo with those. It was the arguments afterwards that really did
>me in. Now that everyone's calmed down, I can regen without
>anxiety..../
Morgan, smiling at the punfest which means her extended family is over
the worst of the latest rough spot, raises and eyebrow at Roger. "I
know there's only so much I can do for Halo problems. But, I hope you
never have to feel you're too grown-up to ask Mom for a little
healing."
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE VII: Meat of the Discussion
On Thu, 7 Jun 2001 15:01:06 EDT
SkyeFire Said As CAoL Message # 00010410
>In a message dated 6/5/01 10:15:46 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
>ljwolfe writes:
>
>Morgan, smiling at the punfest which means her extended family is
>over the worst of the latest rough spot, raises and eyebrow at Roger.
>"I know there's only so much I can do for Halo problems. But, I hope
>you never have to feel you're too grown-up to ask Mom for a little
>healing."
"Grown-up? ME? That's a damned lie--!...er, I mean, of course not.
Never." The puddle oozes across the room in a manner disturbingly
reminiscent of the Blob (the SF/Horror flick creature, not the Marvel
supervillain), and pulls up into a sudden halt by Morgan's feet.
"Umm...just let me pulll myself together, here. Now, where did I leave
my spleen? And what's my liver doing over *there*? Darn it, this
always happens..."
OOC: The preceding bit of anatomical tomfoolery has been brought to
you by Not Douglas Adams Publishing, presenting the new edition of Dr.
Reed Richards' classic text "Drawbacks to Shapeshifting Powers and How
to Avoid Them," copyright 2001, ISBN 3.14159xyzabcibmhal.
=================================
Subject: Re: AAE VII: Vote of Confidence
On Fri, 8 Jun 2001 16:44:57 -0500
Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00010427
>On Thu, 31 May 2K1, Roland X Said
>
>>Martin and/or Dhyrclhanc Said
>>
>>/Now exactly _what_ are you doing here, Brother-of-mine? I mean if
>>you're stepping down as our Fearful Leader, I suppose that this is
>>no never-mind of mine, but, Beggin' Your Pardon Captain, if you are
>>shaking up what ever loose hierarchical command structure this loose
>>affiliation of Misfits and Walking Social-Disorders then, as X-O of
>>this inter-dimensional roving band of Meddlers, Malcontents, and
>>Interlopers, I think I have got the right to know./
>
> Roland chuckles. /Hey, sib, if _you_ want the job, it's all yours.
>You've certainly got dibs./ His humor vanishes. /I take my position
>seriously, Dhyrclhanc. If you can deal with NEMO under these
>circumstances, good luck to you. But I won't. I _can't._ Besides, he
>_does_ know everything! Or near enough as not to make any difference
>to beings like us! If I have some magical quality that makes me the
>best leader for the CAoL, then he can sprocking follow me--and if
>not, why in the Light am I giving something like _NEMO_ orders?/
> The Freelance Immortal sighs. /You are right about one thing,
>sib--you do have a right to know what I'm doing, and I'm sorry I just
>reacted like that. But it's got to be one way or the other, and I'm
>tired of hanging by a thread in the middle./
> He smiles wryly. /"So, how's _your_ taste for Moose Turd Pie,
>sib?/
Dhyrclhanc's mental "voice" looses all trace of emotion.
/Roland, I have enough of the Gift that, if exersized enough and in
the right manner, would blosom into the Visualization of The Cosmic
All, to not be able to say without fear of contradiction that Nemo, or
NEMO for that matter, went to far./
/Similarly, while I can understand _why_ he needed to do what he did I
also understand that he has the potential, at least, to do what he
did, only acomplish it differently. At least as far as
politeness and chain-of-command, such that it is in our
group, was/is concerned./
/Somewhat unique in this band of inter-dimensional interlopers,
Roland, you and I have the tendnancy to try to talk our opponents to
death, coloquially speaking at least, or try to hold a conversation
with them while seemingly trying to kill them at the same time. This
habit has something of a grand tradition in the "spandex set",
coloquially speaking, and comes, as far as I have been able to tell,
from the realization that in many cases there is, at least potentialy,
something else -- besides violence -- that can be used to settle a
conflict./
/One of the reasons, if not the main reason why I accepted the
position of second-in-command of this bunch is because I recognized
that I was, essentially, a loose-cannon among loose-cannons. In
addition, I have other responsibilities which, while they seem to be
less demanding at present, could, and would, prevent me from being
anything more than a facilitator and co-ordinator for this group./
/Additionaly, on the rare occasions that I have been in command of the
CAoL, I've been entirely too heavy-handed and too militaristic than
was good either for me or the CAoL. The other problem being that I
like the sound of my own voice too much to be able to be able to order
someone else to do something that I wouldn't want to do myself./
Of course, there are also the little matters of say, time and
'Net access.
/Back to the situation at hand, if my experiences with the Galafreian
Time-Lords, in general, and the Doctor, in particular, have taught me
one thing, it's that none of them have no hard and fast information on
Rassilon that isn't steeped in either miss-information, at worse, or
the trappings of mytholog, at best. More to the point, unlike Nemo or
NEMO. and like you, Sib, I didn't KNOW that Rassilon was an
unredeemable bastard who could've taught a thing or two to both Stalin
and Machievelli. So there was no way that I could know that any
attempts to confront him and/or appeal to his better nature would be,
at best, a moot point./
/Finally, sib, while this might be apropos of nothing, while I can
appricate the point that you're trying to make, I don't think that I
appriciate the imagery that you 've used to make it./
/So, Sib, the short answer to your question is -- no, if you're
offereing me the job of First-in-Command then I don't want it, if only
because I know that I'm not capable of fullfiling its requirements. On
the other hand, making Nemo a part of the command structure might not
be a bad idea. Which is what I though you were doing and why I asked
to begin with./
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