From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Sat Jan 1 20:14:45 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Sat Jan 1 20:15:07 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: Someone once compared shifting from the Wastelands into Cyberia to going from the open range of the country to the expressways of the city. While faster in many respects, your destinations are more limited. Why this comparison was made is readily apparent as the sands of the wastelands disappeared in the dazzling weave of the shadows of Cyberia. But this was not the Cyberia of Suhuy's memory. There was something terribly wrong, and even Dot could sense it. There was a malaise in the very stuff of shadow- a taint that clung to anything that passed through its grip, weighing not on body or mind, but on the spirit. Through ways known only to a few, Suhuy had intended to bypass the outer realms taking them directly into Cyberia proper, but that way had become warped, and they found themselves unceremoniously deposited in a blasted warzone, filled with the twisted detrius of battles- some ancient, but others as recent as now. An incredible blast in the darkened skies overhead signalled that the area that they had arrived in was anything other than safe, as the skies scorched with the heat of whatever weapon had been employed. Though it was not aimed at them, the heat of the blast warmed their faces even more than the absent sun could have. As the flare of the explosion faded, they could see that to the east were standing buildings, but through a battlefield alive with death-bringing munitions, that scant few miles seemed as distant as they were from the enclaves... From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Sat Jan 1 20:16:10 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Sat Jan 1 20:16:31 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: An incredible blast in the darkened skies overhead signalled that the area that they had arrived in was anything other than safe, as the skies scorched with the heat of whatever weapon had been employed. Though it was not aimed at them, the heat of the blast warmed their faces even more than the absent sun could have. As the flare of the explosion faded, they could see that to the east were standing buildings, but through a battlefield alive with death-bringing munitions, that scant few miles seemed as distant as they were from the enclaves... ++++ Suhuy stared up at the structures, his dark eyes pulsing with a sudden wetness. "But... but... what is this? Where are the clever foaming drinks? The dancing girls? The cybernetic chickens?" He inched forward, sniffling. "This is all =wrong=." From wraith808 at gamera.cc Sat Jan 1 20:17:03 2005 From: wraith808 at gamera.cc (wraith808) Date: Sat Jan 1 20:17:25 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: Suhuy stared up at the structures, his dark eyes pulsing with a sudden wetness. "But... but... what is this? Where are the clever foaming drinks? The dancing girls? The cybernetic chickens?" He inched forward, sniffling. "This is all =wrong=." +++++ Dot thought. This was not a good time for hesitation, but she had little choice. She had anticipated a fairly warm reception... hot lead was not supposed to be on the menu. She glanced at Suhuy skeptically, "you wouldn't have a welding torch, would you?" From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Sat Jan 1 20:18:01 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Sat Jan 1 20:18:22 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: Dot thought. This was not a good time for hesitation, but she had little choice. She had anticipated a fairly warm reception... hot lead was not supposed to be on the menu. She glanced at Suhuy skeptically, "you wouldn't have a welding torch, would you?" +++++ Suhuy felt about his sand crusted robes, frowning. His eyes brightened at a sudden discovery, but all he pulled out a fire extinguiser, dangerously past its expiration. "Would a touch of magic do?" he asked carefully. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Sat Jan 1 20:18:47 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Sat Jan 1 20:19:09 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: "Would a touch of magic do?" [Suhuy] asked carefully. +++++ "I don't know how to work magic. Will it get us where we want to be?" Dot picked up the fire extinguisher thoughtfully. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Sat Jan 1 20:19:54 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Sat Jan 1 20:20:15 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: "I don't know how to work magic. Will it get us where we want to be?" Dot picked up the fire extinguisher thoughtfully. +++++ "Most of us!" The cheer returned to Suhuy's voice. "and whatever doesn't go with us I can remake! I can usually spirit all the vitals to and fro." He paused, considering the landscape. "Or maybe we could walk." From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Sat Jan 1 20:20:42 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Sat Jan 1 20:21:03 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: "I don't know how to work magic. Will it get us where we want to be?" Dot picked up the fire extinguisher thoughtfully. "Most of us!" The cheer returned to Suhuy's voice. "and whatever doesn't go with us I can remake! I can usually spirit all the vitals to and fro." He paused, considering the landscape. "Or maybe we could walk." +++++ It appeared that some sort of decision would have to be made soon, for though the bulk of the combat seemed to be far enough from them that being embroiled in the combat was not an issue, the cracks of the shots were getting closer. They estimated that if they could crest the debris scattered hill in front of them, they would actually see the combat raging. Of course, the combatants would probably be able to see them also... From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Sat Jan 1 20:21:54 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Sat Jan 1 20:22:15 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: It appeared that some sort of decision would have to be made soon, for though the bulk of the combat seemed to be far enough from them that being embroiled in the combat was not an issue, the cracks of the shots were getting closer. They estimated that if they could crest the debris scattered hill in front of them, they would actually see the combat raging. Of course, the combatants would probably be able to see them also... +++++ A low whistling sound ended with screaming in the distance as Dot gave the matter thought. "What about walking in the direction that doesn't cause injury? Is anyone fighting over there? Will it get us closer to the city?" Dot was still looking at the extinguisher, but in a distant way... distracted by survival. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Sat Jan 1 20:22:34 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Sat Jan 1 20:22:55 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: A low whistling sound ended with screaming in the distance as Dot gave the matter thought. "What about walking in the direction that doesn't cause injury? Is anyone fighting over there? Will it get us closer to the city?" Dot was still looking at the extinguisher, but in a distant way... distracted by survival. +++++ Suhuy considered it. "We can go beneath ground," he suggested. "Or in boxes! We can hide under them, and when people come close, we can just stop and pretend to be deliveries." He began to climb over the rubble in a direction not filled with gunfire and death. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Sat Jan 1 20:23:29 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Sat Jan 1 20:23:52 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: Ruins stretched for as far as the eye could see, the outlying areas a mixture of twisted metal and scorched earth, punctuated by the skeletal remains of combatants both mechanical and biological. There was no life to be seen as far as the horizon, blood red in the reflected bare light that filtered through the scorched cloud cover. A keening sound overhead drew their gazes as a wounded AV fell from the sky, its blocky structure unable to stay aloft as smoke trailed from its engines. Crashing to the earth at the base of the hill they stood upon, it exploded into a minor sun, etching ghostly images of its dying on their retina. As they blinked away the afterimages, the flames from the wreck illuminated the outlines of a trench running beneath the ruined vehicle that ran parallel to the hill that they were standing upon, before intersecting with others, forming a maze running beneath the surface of the broken terrain. Shouts over the hill gave wings to their flight as the trench grew closer. But even as they began to be able to make out the details of the trench, a flash of light caught Dot's attention. Possibly binoculars- or a weapon scope- but which, she was not sure. The fact that the sky was not abuzz with tracers was a positive sign, but more than that was not immediately evident. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Sun Jan 2 16:33:51 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Sun Jan 2 16:34:12 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: Shouts over the hill gave wings to their flight as the trench grew closer. But even as they began to be able to make out the details of the trench, a flash of light caught Dot's attention. Possibly binoculars- or a weapon scope- but which, she was not sure. The fact that the sky was not abuzz with tracers was a positive sign, but more than that was not immediately evident. +++++ Regardless of the flash, Dot pressed on, toward the trench. From it she felt she might be able to find the source of the light. She didn't mind where Suhuy was going, but hoped he would be nearby. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Sun Jan 2 16:34:30 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Sun Jan 2 16:34:50 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: Regardless of the flash, Dot pressed on, toward the trench. From it she felt she might be able to find the source of the light. She didn't mind where Suhuy was going, but hoped he would be nearby. +++++ Suhuy seemed to be making a game of jumping from rubble to rubble, his robes futtering up and down like filthy feathers. He cackled now and then as a peice of salvagable technology poked from the rubble, and he was able to reclaim it. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Sun Jan 2 16:35:21 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Sun Jan 2 16:35:41 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: As they neared the trench, they could see that it was more a interconnected network of separate efforts than eny sort of preplanned structure. At some places the fortification was dug in deeply, and at other places, detcharges had been used to lay in minimal trenches surrounded by hollowed out wrecks. Tracers buzzed by the pair even as they made it to safety. Though the deadly fire could not reach them, they found themselves pinned down in the wreckage. A shadow moved to Dot's right. "Who the hell are you?" A man crouched among the rubble, pointing the business end of a wicked looking weapon at Dot and Suhuy. He was full of the promise of violence; a predator made for the battlefield around them. He stood and moved to a position where he could better cover them. The way that he made his way among the broken ground in silence told them how they had missed him before. "You don't look fit to be out here. Where did you come from?" From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Sun Jan 2 16:36:07 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Sun Jan 2 16:36:27 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: A man crouched among the rubble, pointing the business end of a wicked looking weapon at Dot and Suhuy. "You don't look fit to be out here. Where did you come from?" +++++ Dot looked at the weapon, "I'm from Bellpit. Did you know that this weapon's accuracy is not optimal? Oh, and you could probably get... eep! Sorry, can't help you kill people." From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Sun Jan 2 16:36:58 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Sun Jan 2 16:37:20 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: The man frowned at Dot's words, his heavy brow beetling in thought. While thinking, he drew his thumb along the curve of his jawbone. Dot could hear the faint scratch of fingernail over stubble and scars. A low sigh, more like a growl, escaped his heavy chest. There was the sound of booted feet behind him as a figure in ragtag armour trotted into view. It's weapon too was immediately pointed at Dot and Suhuy, but the man raised his hand silently, palm towards Dot, and dropped it moving it sideways. The effect was instantaneous, as the man reduced his pace and the noise he made. The armour's visor was raised and Dot could see that it was a young man- the armour making him appear bulkier than the few years he obviously had. "Grey... The Thratchen have been routed, but we took heavy casualties. Scouts have been sent to secure the area, and make sure that there are no other evidences of The Bleed." Grey merely nodded, never taking his eyes from Suhuy and Dot. "This is no place to interrogate you- indeed it's no place for you period if my instincts are correct." He slung the weapon, but in almost the same move, a pistol, diminutive and evil, found it's way into his hand as he spun it to bear on the pair. "Heft, finish the sweep," he said to the other as he began to move. "No errors. We can't take the chance of any more Thratchen catching us by surprise." "We'll take you back to town," he said, his voice not threatening, but there was no question in it. "Come on. Move," he added, motioning down the trench with the pistol. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Sun Jan 2 16:37:57 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Sun Jan 2 16:38:18 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: "We'll take you back to town," he said, his voice not threatening, but there was no question in it. "Come on. Move," he added, motioning down the trench with the pistol. +++++ Suhuy shambled forward, trying to quiet Pretty, who had mysteriously reappeared, attached to his shoulder. "Oh, lovely! Do you have a section that isn't burnt up? We were rather hoping on shopping!" From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Sun Jan 2 16:39:06 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Sun Jan 2 16:39:26 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: "We'll take you back to town," he said, his voice not threatening, but there was no question in it. "Come on. Move," he added, motioning down the trench with the pistol. Suhuy shambled forward, trying to quiet Pretty, who had mysteriously reappeared, attached to his shoulder. "Oh, lovely! Do you have a section that isn't burnt up? We were rather hoping on shopping!" +++++ Dot nodded, smiling carefully, before she moved. She tried really hard to do what the people with the guns said, and she was succeeding so far. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Sun Jan 2 16:40:14 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Sun Jan 2 16:40:38 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: The trip back was uneventful- if walking through a scorched battlefield could be termed uneventful. Grey was as unrelenting in his scrutiny of the pair as he was terse in his speech. Actually, terse would be better than the few grunts he issued to them. Finally, they reached the town that had been promised- if one could even call it that. Though it appeared that some recent effort at construction had been attempted, there was nothing much that could be done for this blasted city other than let it die a well-deserved death. Ferrocrete and steel stood in stark relief against the fading light, resembling nothing more than the bare ribs of some long dead skeleton. Cracked and bent sewer lines and concrete completed the picture, reaching from the ground like some zombie attempting to claw his way from the grave. The inhabitants looked none to far from death themselves, ragged with fatigue and low morale. Though it was apparent that they stayed together for something more than could be seen, whatever tenuous hold kept them here was quickly eroding. Grey steered them for one of the more solid looking of the skyscrapers, through rows of trenches that spoke of closely fought battles and into the building proper. A table had been appropriated and more people stood around it, looking at a rough depiction of the town and the area immediately surrounding. All looked up as Grey shepherded his charges into the building. "Where's Asha?" "Bringin' 'n strays, mon?" A swarthy man with dancing eyes and dreads that appeared more tangled mess than fashion statement spoke up. "She'll b'back in a sec," the man hastily added at Grey's dark look, going back to the model. Just then, the far door opened, and a startlingly beautiful woman walked in. Darker hued, with perfect features, even the dusty overcoat and fatigues could not eclipse her natural radiance. She walked over to where Grey, Dot, and Suhuy stood, a question on her face. "Found them in the field," Grey stated bluntly. "Oh?" she asked, her voice melodic and fitting her appearance. "And who are these two that you found?" she asked, looking to Dot and Suhuy. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Tue Jan 4 17:09:06 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Tue Jan 4 17:09:30 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: "Found them in the field," Grey stated bluntly. "Oh?" [Asha] asked, her voice melodic and fitting her appearance. "And who are these two that you found?" she asked, looking to Dot and Suhuy. +++++ Dot smiled a little, her eyes roaming a bit, "Dorothy Sullivan... of Bellpit." She looked at Suhuy, "this is my guide... Suhuy. He's supposed to lead me to Cyberia. Is it anywhere nearby?" From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Tue Jan 4 17:09:53 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Tue Jan 4 17:10:17 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: Dot smiled a little, her eyes roaming a bit, "Dorothy Sullivan... of Bellpit." She looked at Suhuy, "this is my guide... Suhuy. He's supposed to lead me to Cyberia. Is it anywhere nearby?" +++++ "Bellpit," Asha repeated, looking intently at the smaller woman. "I can't say that I've ever heard of it," Asha said guardedly. "You have indeed made it to Cyberia, though one of the more forsaken areas- the Tatters. Did you come through the Bleed?" Though she said the question lightly, the looks that some of the others in the room gave the pair would indicate that the question was not as innocuous as it sounded. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Tue Jan 4 17:11:00 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Tue Jan 4 17:11:23 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: "Bellpit," Asha repeated, looking intently at the smaller woman. "I can't say that I've ever heard of it," Asha said guardedly. "You have indeed made it to Cyberia, though one of the more forsaken areas- the Tatters. Did you come through the Bleed?" Though she said the question lightly, the looks that some of the others in the room gave the pair would indicate that the question was not as innocuous as it sounded. +++++ "Bleeding?" Suhuy looked up from his sniffing about for food. "I don't think so... I mean, there were some body parts lying about, but they weren't bleeding. Maybe it was the Molding we came through, or the Rotting. Perhaps Maggot Alley..." From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Tue Jan 4 17:12:09 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Tue Jan 4 17:12:33 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: "Bleeding?" Suhuy looked up from his sniffing about for food. "I don't think so... I mean, there were some body parts lying about, but they weren't bleeding. Maybe it was the Molding we came through, or the Rotting. Perhaps Maggot Alley..." +++++ Dot shook her head absently, "no molding... I didn't see the equipment for that." "but I did see the bodies," she whispered as her eyes glazed with the hope that this shadow had a place for the dead. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Tue Jan 4 17:13:37 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Tue Jan 4 17:14:01 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: "Bleeding?" Suhuy looked up from his sniffing about for food. "I don't think so... I mean, there were some body parts lying about, but they weren't bleeding. Maybe it was the Molding we came through, or the Rotting. Perhaps Maggot Alley..." +++++ Grey's countenance darkened, and was mirrored by much muttering in the room as the atmosphere grew hostile. Asha, thankfully, was a bit more subdued. Though nonplussed at the old man's response, she held up a hand to quiet the others, still awaiting Dot's reply as if nothing had happened... +++++ Dot shook her head absently, "no molding... I didn't see the equipment for that." "but I did see the bodies," she whispered as her eyes glazed with the hope that this shadow had a place for the dead. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Tue Jan 4 17:14:38 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Tue Jan 4 17:15:02 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: Dot shook her head absently, "no molding... I didn't see the equipment for that." "but I did see the bodies," she whispered as her eyes glazed with the hope that this shadow had a place for the dead. +++++ Asha's eyes narrowed just a bit, but that was the only sign of emotion that she showed. Her voice, however, was a different story. It was flatter than it had been as warmth drained from it. "How did you get to the Tatters? Bellpit is not in Cyberia, which means you came from the Wastelands, or beyond. How did you make the crossing without drawing the attention of the KillSat?" From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Tue Jan 4 17:17:41 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Tue Jan 4 17:18:06 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: Asha's eyes narrowed just a bit, but that was the only sign of emotion that she showed. Her voice, however, was a different story. It was flatter than it had been as warmth drained from it. "How did you get to the Tatters? Bellpit is not in Cyberia, which means you came from the Wastelands, or beyond. How did you make the crossing without drawing the attention of the KillSat?" +++++ Dot pointed at Suhuy. "He got you here?" Asha asked rhetorically. "Ok, then. Suhuy, was it? How did you manage to get the two of you past the KillSat? How did you cross the boundaries from the Wastelands to here?" "We walked!" Suhuy's voice had taken on a pitiful whine. Pretty danced about his shoulders, screeching, its hanks of fur standing straight up. "That's all we did. That... and I'm very clever. I knew about them, I think, and I think I might have thought them away. I do that sometimes, when I'm not thinking about it. Oh! Is that a plasma rifle? May I? I've needed another one of those since Pretty chewed through the first..." Through the room there were scattered mutterings- "...madman...", "...insane..." - but Asha ignored it all. Her eyes widened at Suhuy's words for a brief moment, then narrowed as she looked at him intently. It seemed as if she were trying to see deeper into the man in front of her. "Clever indeed," she said, almost to herself. Dot looked at Asha briefly, her head turning toward the weapon, "do you command an army?" From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Tue Jan 4 17:21:26 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Tue Jan 4 17:21:50 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: Dot looked at Asha briefly, her head turning toward the weapon, "do you command an army?" +++++ Grey laughed at that, even as Asha smiled, looking away from Suhuy for the moment. "It has been called that before, but realistically it is no more than the dregs of Cyberia that have nowhere to go. The Tatters was dangerous even before the evidences of the Bleed, and now even more so- those that go it alone don't survive too long." She turned, and Dot could see that there was something strange about the way that she carried herself... Her beauty drew the attention away from it, but there was obviously more to the woman than met the eye. "Grey, take over here. We're going somewhere else to speak to get out of your way. There's not much chance the Thratchen are going to relent for long, so make the most of the time." Turning back to Dot and Suhuy, she beckoned to them. "Follow me this way," she said, walking towards the door at the back of the room. Though the skyscraper was in better repair than most of the buildings Dot and Suhuy had seen since their arrival, it was a sight less than pristine. For the most part, the eyesores were only debris from wear and tear, here and there they could see signs of a recent battle within the building itself. Chunks of the wall were torn away, and there were dark stains that looked to be dried blood. A musty smell pervaded the area, and a malaise hung in the air. They passed few as they walked through the halls, and in spite of the misery in the place, everyone spared at least a smile for Asha, and a scrutinizing look for the other two. Their journey took them through a massive atrium that at one time must have been stunning. But now, it looked like a battle scene not much better than the tatters. Though whatever had occurred here had been cleaned up, there was just no way to hide the fact that a pitched battle had occurred here, and many people had died. The fact that Asha and her group were still there spoke that they must have won, but if they were the winners, there was no telling what the losers looked like. Taking an old service elevator that was surprisingly still in order, they rose in the towering structure. After about 14 levels, the elevator stopped with jerk, and the doors opened. What they saw was nothing short of amazing... The part of the floor that they were on was surrounded on all sides by windows, forming an observation area. Asha led them into the room, gesturing to the seats and taking one herself. "My people don't know everything about me... Makes things a bit easier. So I figured that a little privacy would allow us to talk more- frankly," she said shifting as the smartchair snuggled her into its memory fabric. "You are both of the Blood of Amber?" From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Tue Jan 4 17:36:14 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Tue Jan 4 17:36:38 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: "You are both of the Blood of Amber?" Dot looked at Suhuy, then to Asha. "Ummm... Not exactly. I don't think." She seemed a little nervous, "why do you ask?" +++++ "Not exactly?" She smiled, looking full at Dot. "You don't think?" She laughed lightly, and it was like the tinkling of bells. "Now, that's an evasion if I ever saw one. But if you must know, shadow people don't usually walk shadows, now do they? And you've already told me that you didn't wander here, but sought us out." She regarded Suhuy and his pet askance, but still talked to Dot. "And in case you didn't know it, the KillSat pretty much seals Cyberia from other shadows. There are ways through, but you don't just stumble on them." Standing up, she walked over to the window, beckoning Dot to her side. "Look down... To the pavement below." Down where she pointed, a huge chunk of pavement had been almost surgically removed, like a cancerous tumor excised by a surgeon's scalpel. The circular wound in the center of the city was nearly 30 feet deep, and all of the windows that were not glassteel around the impact had been blown out. "We were in a pitched battle, with no way to win, let alone survive. This was the result of a desperate move- an attempt to hellride out of this Godsforsaken place." She turned from the window to look at Dot's response. "I know that you came here for something. It is likely that if you level with me, I might be able to help you. But this sparring, while amusing, is not exactly productive." She returned to her seat, steepling her hands as she looked from Dot to Suhuy. "Well? What shall it be?" From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Tue Jan 4 17:59:52 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Tue Jan 4 18:00:16 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: [Asha] turned from the window to look at Dot's response. "I know that you came here for something. It is likely that if you level with me, I might be able to help you. But this sparring, while amusing, is not exactly productive." She returned to her seat, steepling her hands as she looked from Dot to Suhuy. "Well? What shall it be?" +++++ Dot looked like she had just watched a puppy get kicked... one that had been roaming a meadow of ankle-high grass and spotted someone dear, someone to run to. Ears flopping gently in a slow-motion scene, it bounded through the grass to the smiling person. Then, for no reason, the person's foot swung back equally as slow as the bounding. There was still laughter and smiles, and the puppy didn't see the malice until it's ribs were struck with crushing force. No one had ever called her honesty into question. She wasn't sure how to react. Her mouth opened and shut a few times while the woman spoke. And then it ended. "Yes. I'm of Amber... I'm a clone. Suhuy, however, is not... either. He's not 'of Amber' and he's not a clone. We came in hopes of acquiring an army and getting some lab equipment for a major confrontation with Karadon. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Tue Jan 4 18:03:07 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Tue Jan 4 18:03:31 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: "Yes. I'm of Amber... I'm a clone. Suhuy, however, is not... either. He's not 'of Amber' and he's not a clone. We came in hopes of acquiring an army and getting some lab equipment for a major confrontation with Karadon. +++++ "Amber!" Suhuy's robes ruffled with a life all their own; a life that didn't seem to be all that content with being called an Amberite, at that. "I'm no Amberite! I collect them! =I'm= from the old days, I'll have you know, missy!" He shuffled forward, sniffing at the air as close to Asha as he could get. "You, though... You have a certain odor about you..." From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Tue Jan 4 18:04:22 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Tue Jan 4 18:04:47 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: [Suhuy] shuffled forward, sniffing at the air as close to Asha as he could get. "You, though... You have a certain odor about you..." +++++ Dot gestured at her, "he's right. Oh, and the reason we're fighting Karadon is to restore Chaos and the Pattern, and destroy the presence of plantaxy. Or at least get some balance. That's why we're here. You haven't seen a man, average looking, named Robert come through... maybe with a leaning toward studying science or something?" From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Tue Jan 4 18:05:37 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Tue Jan 4 18:06:01 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: Asha had thought that a candid assessment of the pair would net her more information so that she could know what to do. But what she got was much worse than she ever could have expected. The formerly laconic pair seemed now incessantly garrulous- it was all that she could do to keep up with the spew of information. She looked from one to the other as they tag-teamed prating in a series of segues that made her head hurt. She held up her hands. "Hold ... On. Give me a second, and I can at least *try* to answer your questions." "Robert," she said, tackling the easiest question first. "No, I can't recall that I've seen someone named Robert. I'd remember something so ... Normal." "You are a ... clone. Not an Alpha? But a clone of an original Amberite? I've never heard of such." She scrutinized Dot, even while she attempted to avoid Suhuy's sniffing- more for wanting to stay a safe distance away from Pretty than anything else. "Which Amberite?" "And you... You're an actual Elder? But I don't know of a Suhuy... Rook never mentioned anyone named Suhuy. Not of Amber... Then Chaos?" "And while we're on that subject... Restore Chaos? That's already been tried, and look what happened here. Why would you *ever* want to do that? Rook was beside himself when he found out what Morgan had done," she said, looking from one of them to the other. "That catastrophe was worse than anything that Crown ever could have unleashed." "Why do you think you could succeed?" From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Tue Jan 4 18:08:00 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Tue Jan 4 18:08:23 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: "You are a ... clone. Not an Alpha? But a clone of an original Amberite? I've never heard of such." She scrutinized Dot, even while she attempted to avoid Suhuy's sniffing- more for wanting to stay a safe distance away from Pretty than anything else. "Which Amberite?" +++++ Dot shrugged, "it's vague. I haven't done research on it, but most people are inclined to believe it's Fiona." "I've licked her," Suhuy added, nothing but helpful. "She tastes all red and sharp. You can lick her too!" +++++ "And while we're on that subject... Restore Chaos? That's already been tried, and look what happened here. Why would you *ever* want to do that? Rook was beside himself when he found out what Morgan had done," she said, looking from one of them to the other. "That catastrophe was worse than anything that Crown ever could have unleashed." "Why do you think you could succeed?" +++++ "We will succeed because if we don't, everyone dies. It can't be much worse than that. Actually, I think what happens is worse than death. Word is that there's a place where 'souls' go... but that'll be destroyed by the Plantaxy." Dot looked at Asha, cocking her head to the side, "Crown?" Suhuy puttered off to another dark corner, muttering under his breath about 'hurting lovelies...' From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Tue Jan 4 18:10:20 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Tue Jan 4 18:10:44 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: Dot shrugged, "it's vague. I haven't done research on it, but most people are inclined to believe it's Fiona." "I've licked her," Suhuy added, nothing but helpful. "She tastes all red and sharp. You can lick her too!" +++++ Asha wisely decided to say nothing else on that matter, choosing instead to concentrate on Dot. >>>>> "We will succeed because if we don't, everyone dies. It can't be much worse than that. Actually, I think what happens is worse than death. Word is that there's a place where 'souls' go... but that'll be destroyed by the Plantaxy." Dot looked at Asha, cocking her head to the side, "Crown?" Suhuy puttered off to another dark corner, muttering under his breath about 'hurting lovelies...' +++++ "We seem to be the victim of tangential thoughts at this point," Asha said, her perfect white teeth worrying her lower lip as her eyes wandered towards the horizon. "I wish Rook were here. He'd be able to answer you a whole lot better than I." She looked back towards Dot. "Why don't we start from the beginning; I think that would be more productive, eh?" She sat forward, steepling her hands as she began her tale. "Somehow, the shadows around Cyberia are sealed off from the Wastelands. I'm not sure how- I've just seen the results first hand. Any overt attempt at affecting reality results in a gigawatt laser from the heavens frying the unfortunate and anyone in a swath around him." She shuddered at the thought. "For some reason, however, in this relatively small area of Shadow, there are more elders than you could count, in addition to Alphas running all over the place. As you can surmise, this makes the life expectancy here very low. In the absence of Amber to fight over, the Elders fight over the makeup of Cyberia, with games of deceit and treachery determining who's in charge." "Crown Enterprises is the mega-corp that has held all of the chips for a long time. They have a piece of everything from weapons manufacturing to baby food. No matter who you buy from, you can be sure that they owe some allegiance to Crown. TriOptimum opposes them in this, but they have not been able to gain the upper hand for a long time- their only edge seems to be in BioTech, but from what I understand, some of the depredations that they have made in that arena have caught up with them as of late." "A wrench was thrown into their game this time around- a player that noone expected. This player also wanted Chaos. They had apparently found out that Chaos was not destroyed... Merely imprisoned. So they set one of their agents out to free it." "The agent freed - something." She sat back a bit and sighed, her eyes focussed on a spot behind Dot. "I have felt the touch of the echoes of Chaos, and there is a purity to it that defies comprehension. This thing is not of Chaos. Chaotic, yes. But there is a malevolence to it that pure Chaos does not possess. This entity is breaking down the barriers that separate the Shadows of Cyberia. They are merging together, and this merge is in no way benign. Storms occur where the shadows bleed into each other, and out of these storms ride creatures unseen before." She brushed a stray strand of hair from her eyes. Shaking her head slowly, she finished, "I don't think that you'll find anything here but death." From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Wed Jan 5 12:52:59 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Wed Jan 5 12:53:22 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: "The agent freed - something." She sat back a bit and sighed, her eyes focussed on a spot behind Dot. "I have felt the touch of the echoes of Chaos, and there is a purity to it that defies comprehension. This thing is not of Chaos. Chaotic, yes. But there is a malevolence to it that pure Chaos does not possess. This entity is breaking down the barriers that separate the Shadows of Cyberia. They are merging together, and this merge is in no way benign. Storms occur where the shadows bleed into each other, and out of these storms ride creatures unseen before." She brushed a stray strand of hair from her eyes. Shaking her head slowly, she finished, "I don't think that you'll find anything here but death." +++++ Dot looked around at the decay, the deterioration of the building and environs. "It's not that bad." "Perhaps," Asha said, her tone the slightest bit lighter. "But then again, you don't *live* here. And you haven't exactly seen the worst Cyberia has to offer. >From the dark corner, Suhuy's gaze had drifted up from the shattered plasma gun. His eyes were shining, a flicker of fire boiled within the pitch black pools. He rasped a dry tongue over his pathcwork mouth, and shuffled forward. "I want to see this place. I =need= to see this place." Dot gestured at Suhuy, "He's probably right. Either that or he thinks you said something else." From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Wed Jan 5 12:54:21 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Wed Jan 5 12:54:44 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: "I want to see this place. I =need= to see this place." Dot gestured at Suhuy, "He's probably right. Either that or he thinks you said something else." +++++ "You have *no* idea of what you ask," Asha replied, focussing on the now intent man. "You think you will find what you once were," she said. "But you won't. She doesn't know what you really desire," she said, gesturing dismissively towards Dot. "No offence intended- a while ago, even with the evidences that I had, I wouldn't have either." "But now I do. Now I know my heritage, and I wish that I didn't." She sat on the edge of the couch, almost pleading with Suhuy. "I know what it's like. The longing for the power- the longing for the simplest manifestations. But this is *not* your Logrus." "Besides," she continued, shrugging. "Even if I wanted to help you- there's no way that we could get within Serenity Towers *now*. Anywhere that isn't locked down by corporate cops is not fit to live in anyway..." Her voice faded as her mind continued to process what she was thinking. Her eyes glassed over, and it seemed that she wasn't even with them anymore. There was only the faintest of autonomic functions left- her chest moving rhythmically was their only clue that she still lived. Just as suddenly, she snapped out of whatever fugue she had been in, looking intently towards Dot. "Are you wired? Do you have a plug?" From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Wed Jan 5 12:55:37 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Wed Jan 5 12:56:00 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: Just as suddenly, [Asha] snapped out of whatever fugue she had been in, looking intently towards Dot. "Are you wired? Do you have a plug?" +++++ Dot looked nervously from Asha to Suhuy and back. "Ummm... no, why do you ask?" "Most Alphas excel in the ether," Asha replied, still studying Dot, "even those who normally have no aptitude." She shrugged apologetically. "I can't tell you the specifics of it- I don't even understand. Rook said it had something to do with the way we were wired- 'less interference between the synapses', whatever that means." "I can't lead you to the upper levels- Chaos tends to draw unwanted attention, and I am too tainted," she said matter-of-factly. "For some reason, Suhuy doesn't seem to exhibit the same qualities, even though he is inimically of Chaos, so the two of you should be able to make it. However," she added quickly. "Without anyone to look over you, and without your knowing where you are going, this would quickly become quite dangerous." "The only answer to that, is to get you wired. Are you willing? How badly do you want this?" From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Wed Jan 5 12:57:07 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Wed Jan 5 12:57:30 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: "The only answer to that, is to get you wired. Are you willing? How badly do you want this?" +++++ "I am!" Suhuy's arm shot up in the air, his eyes lighting up like a star student who knew the correct answer to a tough question. "Oh!" He graabbed Dot's wrist and forced her to hold up her hand as well. "And she does too!" It was easy, looking at Asha and Suhuy, to determine what was expected of her. She didn't really want to, and squirmed under the scrutiny before nodding ascent. +++++ Looking at the woman, Asha felt for Dot. "It's not very invasive, and a simple procedure." She knew that she had experienced something akin to what Dot was going through now with Rook- and it hadn't felt very good. "You don't *have* to do this, you know," she said. "I know it seems as if the fate of all reality is on your shoulders. But you can't let pressure *make* you do anything. You always have to remember that you have a choice." She stood, towering over the pair. "So. Is this your choice?" From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Wed Jan 5 12:58:30 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Wed Jan 5 12:58:54 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: [Asha] stood, towering over the pair. "So. Is this your choice?" +++++ Dot listened, carefully taking in the words. "May I get a copy of the plans? I would like to see how invasive... and if it can be undone. I think I'll still do it, but I'd feel better." "And we can improve it!" Suhuy bounced in his seat, his clothes giving up a storm of collected dust. "We're good at that, you know. Very good. Especially me. I make things better all the time. Look at Pretty!" He motioned at the peicemeal creature sniffing at his master's ankles, giving a machanical grown whenever its backleg misfired. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Wed Jan 5 13:00:20 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Wed Jan 5 13:00:44 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: Dot listened, carefully taking in the words. "May I get a copy of the plans? I would like to see how invasive... and if it can be undone. I think I'll still do it, but I'd feel better." +++++ Asha nodded. "No problem," she responded. "We can go through the whole process virtually, and you can see everything as it's done also." >>>>> "And we can improve it!" Suhuy bounced in his seat, his clothes giving up a storm of collected dust. "We're good at that, you know. Very good. Especially me. I make things better all the time. Look at Pretty!" He motioned at the peicemeal creature sniffing at his master's ankles, giving a machanical grown whenever its backleg misfired. +++++ "Sometimes, less is more," Asha said, looking over to Suhuy. She seemed to have become more comfortable with him- it seemed that she thought she had a handle on the man. "You'll see- I'm more than sure Dot the plug will be sufficient for her." "Now, give me one minute, and we can show you quite a bit of what will happen." Seemingly looking at nothing, Asha stood almost stock still for a few moments, akin to what had happened earlier before she proposed this path. "I just switched to holographic interface- it will allow you to see as I interact in the Ether. This area isn't wired for access, but Rook helped me set up a pirate broadcast station in the building- being mostly metal, it does well as a giant antenna." Bringing one hand up and pointing to an area in front of them, a large screen rezzed into existence. Though it was transluscent, the visual was quite clear. As she moved her hands through the air like a maestro directing a symphony, screens appeared and disappeared in rapid succession, until the main screen held a projection of a anatomical model of the human body. With a wave of her hand, the screen disappeared, leaving only the model in thin air. With another wave of her hand, a small avatar of a surgeon appeared and began to speak. "The neural interface plug is a technological marvel- the perfect blending of bio- and cyber- technology to create an interface to the software of any properly equipped piece of machinery." The avatar related the functions and development of the neural interface plug, and the details of the implantation operation over a 30 minute whirlwind of information. Asha took the chance to study the responses of Dot and Suhuy to the crash course, sitting in silence during the dissertation. After it was over, she gesstured, and the imagery disappeared. "The operation is so commonplace that it takes no time- you can have your choice of a few locations- the wrist is common for machine interfaces. The temple and behind the ear are also possibilities, in addition to rear of the skull. One thing I would like to point out is that this video was created for Baselines. Alphas do not need a filter from the information pouring in- a boon since it frees you from the need for a deck to interface to the Ether." She stood, stretching her long limbs like a cat up from an afternoon in the sun. "If you don't have any questions, we can get this done, so you can get some training in the use of your new wetware." She looked expectantly toward Dot, even as she moved towards the door. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Wed Jan 5 13:02:09 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Wed Jan 5 13:02:33 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: > "Look at Pretty!" Dot glanced and a nervous expression rose. >"You'll see- I'm more than sure Dot the plug will be sufficient for her." Dot nodded, trying not to hurt Suhuy's feelings. > Asha took the chance to study the responses of Dot and Suhuy to the crash course. Dot listened with apprehension at first, but seemed to lose it within the first 5 minutes, and by the end looked like had glimpsed something that, with a little work, could really achieve something. >"If you don't have any questions, we can get this done, so you can get some training in the use of your new wetware." Dot hesitated before speaking, "Ummm... maybe in the crook of my arm? Opposite the elbow?" > She looked expectantly toward Dot, even as she moved towards the door. Dot followed, still a little concerned, but feeling better. "Can I have it anywhere?" He bounced behind Dot, his excitement not too far from an attention staved pup. Indeed, had Asha had some brand new leather pumps lying about, he'd be chewing on them. "I want mine here!" He pointed at his midsection, roundabout the area of his belly button. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Wed Jan 5 13:03:32 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Wed Jan 5 13:03:55 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: Dot hesitated before speaking, "Ummm... maybe in the crook of my arm? Opposite the elbow?" +++++ "I've never heard of such," Asha began. "But I don't see why not. The nerve ganglia there should support it- though it might interfere with free movement of the joint." She thought a moment. "Well, not so much interfere, as be a mite uncomfortable." +++++ She looked expectantly toward Dot, even as she moved towards the door. Dot followed, still a little concerned, but feeling better. "Can I have it anywhere?" He bounced behind Dot, his excitement not too far from an attention staved pup. Indeed, had Asha had some brand new leather pumps lying about, he'd be chewing on them. "I want mine here!" He pointed at his midsection, roundabout the area of his belly button. +++++ Asha considered Suhuy again, and thought of unleashing him in the Ether. She shuddered involuntarily at the thought. "For the purposes of our task, it would be better if Dot served as the liason." "After all," she added placatingly, "you'll need to be her eyes and ears in the real world whenever she's connected." From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Wed Jan 5 13:04:42 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Wed Jan 5 13:05:05 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: "After all," she added placatingly, "you'll need to be her eyes and ears in the real world whenever she's connected." +++++ For all the reaction this should have gotten, Dot was distantly looking at the flesh along her arm. She poked at it gently as she kept pace with Asha. Suhuy pouted, trailing some paces behind, his grumbling made up of some terribly old language that might have been made just for saying bad things, so rough was the sound of it. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Wed Jan 5 13:06:46 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Wed Jan 5 13:07:10 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: Their minds occupied by weightier things, the trip down was non-eventful in comparison. Asha led them to an room that smelled of antiseptic and other less savoury things- a moan from one of the cots in the back of the room gave hints of what those other things might be. Though simple in form- an empty area with a portable terminal on a low table, cots in the back of the room and an area curtained off to one side- the room was obviously an infirmary. A silhouette was limned in the light from behind the curtain, and upon their entrance, it moved and the fabric rippled. "Who's there?" "It's me, Kayle," Asha replied, leading them further into the room. The curtain parted, and a slight woman in fatigues stepped out towards them. There were hints of beauty in the blonde's face, though they were marred by lines of fatigue and worry. She did smile at the sight of Asha, and as they clasped hands, looked up at the taller woman. "No problems with the wing?" "No, none at all," Asha replied. "I'm not here for me... I'm here for her," Asha said, motioning towards Dot. "Dot, meet Kayle. Kayle, Dot." Asha said, introducing them. Then her gaze falling on Suhuy, she added, "And Dot's guide, Suhuy." After giving them a moment to greet, Asha continued. "Dot needs an interface plug, and I brought her to you. Are you busy?" Kayle had been studying Dot from the moment of the introduction, and the question startled her out of her reverie. "Oh... No. Well, not really." "Can you explain the technique to us?" Asha asked. "Oh. Certainly. How much do they already know?" "I showed them the classical course on the plug and its uses." At this Kayle frowned a bit, but the look passed. "Oh. Ok," she said, thinking. "Well, basically the coursework is sort of overkill- it's a lot easier to understand than that. Like all bioware, the plug is a hybrid of cultured biomass and technological interface. The biomass is a symbiotic organism, which when injected, naturally attaches itself to your neural systems. The interface allows you to connect to systems that are rigged for such interfaces. A combination of software and hardware enable you to sift through the morass of information that would normally result from an interface between two machines, leaving something that your mind can process." She motioned back towards the curtained area. "If you'll follow me." Now in her element, Kayle was more animated, the fatigue washed away by her love for her art. Parting the curtain, she led them into the area. A table was the only furniture in this area, though cabinets were attached to the wall, along with a terminal that seemed the duplicate of the one to the front of the office. "Take a seat on the table, Dot," she said, as she knelt down to retrieve something from the cabinet. Walking to Dot's side, she showed her a small cylinder. There were no markings on it- only three small buttons that were flush with the material of the cylinder, and a hole at one end of it. "This is a multi-tool. It has a variety of functions, but currently we are going to use it to inject the plug-module." Attaching a small extension to the hole, she showed it to Dot. "The modules are sterile, and contain everything necessary for the procedure- anesthetic, anticoagulant, the module itself, and skin-spray. Local anesthetic is all that's required. A minute or so of application, and the plug is in place. It takes 2-3 hours for the plug to be online, and then I can check the functions to make sure that it took- there are a very few people who reject even so basic a thing as a plug." She smiled, chuckling. "I'm sorry. I get carried away." She rubbed her eyes, and yawned. "I should have told you to stop me if you had any questions. Too much jet always gets me going." "Did you? I mean have any questions? Or can we get started?" From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Wed Jan 5 14:45:01 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Wed Jan 5 14:45:25 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: An Ill-Met Welcome Message-ID: "Did you? I mean have any questions? Or can we get started?" +++++ Looking at those around her, Dot found herself numbing already. "I... ummm, the location... I've changed my mind," she said as she indicated the curve of her bicep, the inner one. "Along the side of the muscle, I think." Kayle nodded. As she professionally swabbed the area and applied the multitool to the bare stretch of skin, she said, "That's an interesting choice. Most get their first closer to the head, figuring incorrectly that this will affect the performance." She looked up at Dot, pressing the button on the multi-tool. "Why did you choose there?" A hissing and a tugging sensation was all that Dot felt as Kayle looked at her, waiting a response. "Well," Dot started, "I didn't want anything... in my head, or chest. That left extremities, and I was more... secure with my arms," her cheeks hinted at a blush as she spoke," and then I just didn't want it really visible, or inconvenient." From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Wed Jan 5 14:46:42 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Wed Jan 5 14:47:05 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Cyberia: Down the Rabbit Hole Message-ID: "Well," Dot started, "I didn't want anything... in my head, or chest. That left extremities, and I was more... secure with my arms," her cheeks hinted at a blush as she spoke," and then I just didn't want it really visible, or inconvenient." +++++ Kayle didn't say anything in response, merely thought for a moment and nodded, smiling. She looked down at her handiwork, then back up at Dot, brushing a stray strand of hair from her eyes. "Well, we're done," she announced, and sure enough, where she had used the tool, there was a small hole. It was quite unnoticeable, unless you looked closely. "I'll get a cover to conceal it, and you won't even notice it's there yourself until you need it," she said. Then looking to Asha, she added, "We can't check the results for a few hours yet. If you want to bring her back here then that's fine." "Not unless you're terribly busy," Asha replied, peering at Dot's new addition. "Do you want to wait until we test it to give her the cover?" "Well, we can match up skin tone with the sample in the multi-tool," Kayle said holding up the small cylinder, "so we can have it ready when she is." "If you don't mind, we're going to borrow your front terminal," Asha said, parting the curtain. "I'm going to run her with 'trodes until the plug is ready for use." Kayle nodded her assent. "If you'll follow me, Dot?" Asha asked, stepping out of the enclosed area. "As I stated before, you need plugs to run the Ether. But 'trodes," she pulled a device that looked like a set of headphones from the terminal, "are good enough for local access. They keep them around for the few who can't get plugs." "Just as the filter on terminals slow down reaction time, so does the inductive nature of 'trodes." She handed the device to Dot. "Just put it over your head, and make sure the pads at your temples align, and we'll get started." "Ready?" she asked, her hand on a key on the terminal. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Thu Jan 6 15:42:49 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Thu Jan 6 15:43:15 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Cyberia: Down the Rabbit Hole Message-ID: It was quite unnoticeable, unless you looked closely, and Dot did, stretching the skin around it slightly with her finger. "If you'll follow me, Dot?" Asha asked, stepping out of the enclosed area. Dot quietly followed, looking rather like a stunned rabbit while she continued to inspect the new addition. She handed the device to Dot. "Just put it over your head, and make sure the pads at your temples align, and we'll get started." Dot got comfortable and placed the 'trodes on her head, adjusting them for maximum efficiency. It took a few moments to get them just right. "Ready?" she asked, her hand on a key on the terminal. Dot nodded, feeling a pit in her stomach opening up as she did so. +++++ Asha pressed the key, and reality yawned wide, revealing a layer of electronic infrastructure behind it, rendered in a photo-realistic sepia tones. She could see two realities- Asha and Suhuy still stood there, but there was a world that overlaid them. Vertigo affected her as she saw what appeared to be people moving past and through them so fast that she could barely make them out. She heard snatches of conversation, and could see that they gave her a wide berth. "...slow ... move... mustbeon ... nodontdiscom ..." Asha's voice cut through the haze. "This is what living on two worlds is like." Her voice seemed disconnected from her body, and it was hard associating the two. "...why..." "The images going past are avatars of people jacked into the Ether. Right now, you have only one advantage over them- you are still aware of your 'meat' body. Now. Close your eyes. It will signal to the interface that you want to plunge deeper." As she complied, the vertigo disappeared, though she felt a foreigner in her own 'body'. She could see clearly that she was standing on what appeared to be a 'street' of glowing material of some sort, and people and vehicles of all sorts were whizzing by her. A form rezzed in the street in front of her- slowly enough so that it was non-threatening, as she could make out the features before they were fully filled in. It seemed to be Asha, but she was in more of an idealized form- she looked to be an angel. "In case you didn't figure it out," Asha said, "this really is me- or rather my avatar. Most runners can't do what I just did- you usually have to enter the Ether through a designated port." She gestured towards a door that Dot stood next to. "Because of how you entered, you didn't have the actual experience of passing through the port- we'll get to that later." "I have slowed down my interface to you so that we can converse. But they," she waved her hand expansively, "have not. That's why they are going so much faster. A 'trode interface has so much meat to pass through that it slows the connection down." "Let's go back into the terminal itself, and we can start your lessons," she said, opening the door that she had referred to as a port and gesturing for Dot to pass through. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Thu Jan 6 15:46:08 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Thu Jan 6 15:46:34 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Down the Rabbit Hole Message-ID: "Let's go back into the terminal itself, and we can start your lessons," [Asha] said, opening the door that she had referred to as a port and gesturing for Dot to pass through. Dot looked around, still a little uneasy, before passing through the door. +++++ Back in the real, Asha sat down, and closed her eyes. >>>>> Suhuy was at the edges of everything, Reilly-like, peering at every conceivable angle of every conceivable contraption. He chattered to himself under his breath, scratching notes into the back of his hand with a sharpened fingernail. +++++ Suhuy could make out one discrepancy- Asha didn't hook herself into anything. No wires, no trodes. She just sat there, still as a statue. As he came particularly close, her eyes suddenly snapped open. They looked unfocussed for a bare moment, then inhaling deeply, she focussed upon the man. Raising one finger, she tched. "Please try to stay out of trouble while we're gone?" she queried. Then, smiling, she closed her eyes. >>>>> As Dot passed the portal, she could somehow sense that something was different, but it was too subtle to pickup on. "This area is inside of the process space of the terminal back in Kayle's office," Asha said, slowly filling a space a little bit in front of Dot. "When you first connect to the Ether, you have the option of moving directly into the Virtual World at any public port within the immediate 'hop' distance of your terminal, or any private port in that same range that you have access to. Or you can start in the process space of whatever terminal you are utilizing." She gestured towards a spot in the floor between them, and two comfortable looking chairs materialized in the space. "Have a seat," she said, sliding gracefully into the one in front of her. "Within your terminal, you are able to do pretty much anything you can imagine, within limits of your processing power. Outside, it's more difficult to impose your whim on the environment. Programs help with this, but truly talented hackers can program the environment around them on the fly. This allows them to be versatile in their approach to the Ether." She smiled. "This will become more obvious once you do it yourself- being used to walking shadows will help. It's not much different from that, which is one reason you should be better than most hackers in almost no time. Why don't you try it yourself?" "Raise your right hand, extend your index finger, and draw a circle, counter-clockwise." She waited a moment for Dot to complete the task. As Dot did this, she could see that a transluscent series of icons superimposed themselves on her vision. "You should now see your interface. The time and date appears in the upper left hand corner, and icons for your primary memory cache and emergency shut-down to the right. The motion you just performed is the universal motion for 'open'. It is contextual... By that I mean that it's function changes depending on what options you have available." "I'm sure by now you're starting to become a little overwhelmed with all of the information I'm giving... And if you're not, I am," she said, laughter in her tone. "So we'll do something practical." She stood up, and her chair disappeared into the ether as she began to walk to the portal out of the room. "I'll be on the other side of this port waiting for you. If you need help, your interface has a help daemon- just query it for whatever information you need." "See you on the other side," Asha said, stepping through the portal. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Thu Jan 6 15:47:41 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Thu Jan 6 15:48:07 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Down the Rabbit Hole Message-ID: "See you on the other side," Asha said, stepping through the portal. +++++ And there was Dot, once again in a reality shaped by her whim... and no Robert. She didn't dwell on it, perhaps as long as she normally would. Her body rippled and became silvery and smoother, and electricity etched her features. She could feel herself slipping toward her normal shape and size, and she let it happen. She felt numbers take over, logic, and her shape did not change, but her environment became more comfortable. She held up her hand and etched a symbol for recurrsion, and a ripple flew out from her hand. And then she decided to step through. +++++ As she did, it was obvious that something was different, even before her interface lit up like the cheap neon that she had seen on her visit to the Ether. There were warring forces within the portal- the daemon that she had released warred with another entity. Not a war of flesh and blood, but a war of letters and numbers. She knew that recursion was a tricky method of programming, though effective in it's own way, using previous knowledge to power the next iteration of logic. But it depended on massive amounts of processing power and speed, and the size of your memory stack. And with that memory, the two bars that flashed on her screen made sense, though she could not be sure if that realization came because of her memory, or the AI that calmly intoned warnings to go along with the visuals. "Stack overflow imminent. Process ID 7540 utilizing 97% of available memory." Now inside the portal, she could see the daemon in a labyrinthine series of corridors engraved onto the back of a larger construct. Bull-headed creatures labeled <> chased the daemon as it attempted to make it's way back to Dot's avatar, carrying a shining payload that could only be the code to the portal. But it was obvious that it wouldn't make it before it was either caught, or crashed her system... From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Thu Jan 6 15:50:00 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Thu Jan 6 15:50:26 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Down the Rabbit Hole Message-ID: "Stack overflow imminent. Process ID 7540 utilizing 97% of available memory." Now inside the portal, she could see the daemon in a labyrinthine series of corridors engraved onto the back of a larger construct. Bull-headed creatures labeled <> chased the daemon as it attempted to make it's way back to Dot's avatar, carrying a shining payload that could only be the code to the portal. But it was obvious that it wouldn't make it before it was either caught, or crashed her system... +++++ Dot canceled program 7540, in bits, replacing what she could with faster code. Hoping to retrieve the data, and sweating a little. Even as Dot patched the code, the dawning realization that she had subtly been slowing down as her memory was leeched hit her like lightning. As she backed out of the process, her speed returned in fits and starts, allowing her to proceed faster and faster. But would it be enough? Though the daemon seemed to be running more efficiently, the microTaurs were clearly corrupting its memory segments. "Program integrity 50%... 45%... 40%..." "Download proceeding. 10MP of data incoming. 1%... 2%... 3%... 5%..." The numbers seemed to mock her, the candied voice of the AI ringing with the studied pseudo-sincerity that only a machine could manage. Her choices seemed equally grim- take her chances continuing the patch- hoping that she could grab the data before the microTaurs were done crashing the program. Or cut off the tranfer, hoping that she could salvage the unlock code from the portion of the data that had been downloaded... Dot refused to surrender, continuing her patch, crunching numbers, replacing code, working fast. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Thu Jan 6 15:51:40 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Thu Jan 6 15:52:09 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Down the Rabbit Hole Message-ID: "Program Integrity 35%, Download 8% done." Dot's hands and mind flew through the code. It was a synergy that produced an efficiency unrivalled in the real world, except perhaps in walking shadows. The Ether seemed to have a lot in common with shadow, but there were limitations that she experienced here that she would not have run into there. Part of her struggle was finding these limitations and working around them. "Program Integrity 30%, Download 13% done." Time seemed to be against her. Though it was obvious that her work was having an effect, it just seemed like too little, too late. The download rate was increasing, but the microTaurs were tearing too much from her Daemon. Horns gored, sinewed thews ripped, and bits flowed. The Daemon was having trouble maintaining it's icon at this point. "Program Integrity 25%, Download 21% done." Dot had done almost all that she could. The data flow was unimpeded and gaining strength with each passing moment, so she was helpless to do anything but watch the numbers scroll by. Still she worked, but it was more to do all that she could, than for any practical gain. "Program Integrity 20%, Download 34% done." The numbers scrolled more quickly now, as her daemon's defenses were fully penetrated, it's demise almost assured. "Program Integrity 15%, Download 55% done." "Program Integrity 10%, Download 89% done." "Program Integrity 5%, Download Complete." The message blinked in her interface, even as the daemon and the minotaurs faded from existence. With no preamble, the port opened before Dot as the downloaded passcode gained her access... Dot blinked. It felt... anticlimactic. She then shrugged and entered the port. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Thu Jan 6 15:57:07 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Thu Jan 6 15:57:34 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Down the Rabbit Hole Message-ID: [Asha] looked down the street at the massive towers that lit up the landscape with their digital glow. "Come. Walk with me," she said, even as she started down the sidewalk. Dot walked, her head bowed downward, though she watched Asha's feet for direction. Though their speed was only a fraction of those around them, the other passersby gave them a wide berth as Asha led them onward. "You looked a bit let down as you came through the port. What is it?" "Hmm? Oh," Dot muttered in her usual way, "I was just... it just... disappeared. I expected more... I think I can go a little faster, if I try." Dot looked at Asha and stopped. "I have to try something. You might need to distract Suhuy." With great concentration Dot moved her arm... her real arm, and within moments had what she needed. As Dot's concentration split, the Ether seemed to almost fragment momentarily, but came back into focus as she did. "I can't switch as easily as you can right now," Asha said. "And as soon as you are jacked in, you won't be able to either. So I hope that distracting Suhuy wasn't a necessity to what you did." "And I know you can go faster," Asha continued, her voice full of confidence in her charge. "Even through the induction link, you did more than 90% of the users that are passing us would ever dream of being able to do. You showed an instinctive understanding of the underlying concepts that is positively amazing." In her excitement, she had walked a bit ahead of Dot, and realizing it, slowed her pace a bit, turning to face her companion. "You've proven something that I've not been able to get Rook to see... By not relying on the capabilities of the programs you have in your terminal, you were able to adapt on the fly." She laughed, her voice even more like the tinkling of bells in this vitual environment. "Rook said I was an aberration, but I told him that it was because I wasn't constrained by a lifetime of using this interface... But my connection is corrupted. I give off a signal that can be traced, and so far, haven't been able to mask it. You, on the other hand, will have a traditional interface." She shook her head, her hair giving off a rainbow of colours as it waved in the ethereal wind. "You don't understand now... But you will soon." "So what was it that you needed?" she finished, looking at Dot askew. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Thu Jan 6 16:01:54 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Thu Jan 6 16:02:19 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Down the Rabbit Hole Message-ID: She shook her head. "I don't know much about the Enclaves- only what Rook has told me. I know even less about plantaxy- he was disturbingly vague about it. But from what he told me, you want to be very careful with anything you do with one here." "It's sensitive to energy," Dot nodded in thought. "The wrong type can cause a large explosion." "But, I don't relish finding out what actually utilizing a plantaxy would do. I have too many people here that I'm responsible for to take the chance of an orbital laser targetting this facility," she finished, looking at Dot gravely. Dot looked sad, but understanding. "Is there a genetic decoder about? I've still got some samples from the... alphas, that I'd like to run tests, and a simulation, with. It wouldn't, technically, be altering reality. You wouldn't have access to alpha DNA that I don't, would you?" Hope opened across her face, even as in reality her hand replaced returned to her pocket. Asha thought for a moment. "I've never heard of a genetic decoder," she said. "One second." Her form blurred, and for a brief moment, Dot saw a light appear around Asha's hand. The blurring effect ended, even as Asha refocussed on Dot. "No. Kayle doesn't have access to anything like that. I put in a vague message to Rook, but one of his daemons answered," she said, looking mildly annoyed. "As far as the DNA, that shouldn't be a problem- I'll give you a strand of hair once we're back in the real. Will that be enough?" "I can always use more," Dot replied. "And we need to get some of Suhuy's for experimentation. He'll probably give it freely... I wonder what the culture's would do to each other... Oh! Well, what's next on our agenda?" "What's next," she replied, looking thoughtfully at Dot, "is that we go back to the real, and test out your new wire." "The best way to revert to the real is to find a port, and use it to traverse the Ether back to your terminal," she said, motioning to one of the plentious orb-shaped constructs. "Doing so is akin to shadow-walking; you walk to it, and imagine where you want to be. You can forcibly jack out without utilizing a port, but it's quite dangerous, and not recommended unless you're in a really bad spot," she said, her tone emphasizing the last. "That said, let us take our leave," she finished. Her avatar floated to the port, and disappeared from the street. Dot looked over what she was leaving, and sighed before crossing into the port and concentrating on exiting the ether. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Thu Jan 6 16:18:06 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Thu Jan 6 16:18:32 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Down the Rabbit Hole Message-ID: "That said, let us take our leave," [Asha] finished. Her avatar floated to the port, and disappeared from the street. Dot looked over what she was leaving, and sighed before crossing into the port and concentrating on exiting the ether. In the real, Kayle came from her area in the back of the office towards where Dot and Asha sat. She seemed somewhat agitated, though she attempted to conceal it, her breathing exaggerated in the attempt. She nodded to Suhuy, even as she looked at Dot. She looked somewhat nervously at Suhuy as she approached the terminal. She looked at the readouts on the terminal, then sighed in relief as Asha opened her eyes. Asha smiled reassuringly at Kayle, and the blonde smiled hesitantly back. She opened her mouth as if to speak, but Asha looked warningly at Suhuy. "Should her 'wire be ready?" She asked Kayle. Even as she did, Dot began to move. +++++ Awareness came back to Dot in a rush as her perception reverted to real time. She heard Kayle speaking, but through a haze, muffled by the switch in senses. "It should be. You were in there quite a long time," she said, unspoken overtones audible in her voice. "Did anything happen?" "No. Not really," Asha answered. "I just had to slow down my interface to match the trodes, and slowed down the ICE on the simulation to make up for the loss in efficiency caused by the induction filter." Dot could sense that the two approached her before her vision reverted totally, and the room came into focus as control of her optic nerves were returned to her. Asha stood in front of her, waiting patiently. "Are you ok?" she asked. Dot woke with the slow easiness of a good night's sleep, a hand moving to sweep her hair back, and a gentle smile as she nodded and said, "hmm?" Asha mirrored Dot's smile, moving to allow Kayle to come closer. Laying a hand lightly on the woman's shoulder, she said, "Kayle needs to run some diagnostics on your plug and install the wireless transmitter module." She backed up as Kayle looked at Dot questioningly, a flat pad with a holo-screen in her hand. Dot nodded, as she regained her senses. "Then we'll have a real run," Asha said, the excitement evident on her face. "I'm not sure if a clone has ever run the Ether before. You'll still be a slight bit slower than full immersion, but that shouldn't present a problem," she added chewing her lower lip as she thought on something. "May I?" Kayle queried, even as Asha continued to look at Dot, her eyes a bit unfocussed. "Please." Kayle first brushed back Dot's hair, causing the petite woman to smile a little, being ticklish right there, as she attached an induction pad to the nape of her neck. Effeciently attaching this to a wire trailing from her pad, she took a few readings, nodding the whole while. Then she efficiently attached another wire to the plug in Dot's arm. Dot could feel a small amount of pressure in her head as she did this, that adjusted as Kayle fiddled with the pad in her hands. Dot felt awkward, but would happily take this over the idea that she would never go back again. "Who am I," she muttered to herself as the diagnostics continued. '/scrm01/dsullivan' appeared in the lower corner of her vision. "Everything is within tolerances," she said matter-of-factly. "Let me install the wireless module, and we should be set." Removing all of the paraphernalia that she had attached, Kayle took a small metallic object from a case she'd had secreted in one of her pockets. Turning Dot's arm so that it was palm up, she screwed the object into the plug on Dot's arm. The feeling was strange- though she knew that there was something being inserted into her, the only sensations she felt were peripheral to the actual placement of the module. Dot was straightening her thoughts, putting them in order before the interface, which she knew would come. Her lips tightened at the penetration, and she looked at Asha. Or perhaps through her. After the module was in place, Dot instantly saw an interface similar to the one that she'd had while plugged in appear at the edges of her vision. The menus were different- the interaction options were gone, to be replaced only with a diagnostic menu, a manual interface option, and a connect option. Regardless, Dot couldn't help but wonder if she could manipulate the system, perhaps finetuning the diagnostic from here... she could see some of the numbers were off... she reached out... "You should see the interface on the periphery of your vision," Kayle said, looking carefully into Dot's eyes. "Everything still falls within tolerances", she continued, for Asha's benefit apparently. "How is everything to you," she asked Dot. Dot, feeling the flow of electrons again, raw, pulsing with her, asked, "how long can a person stay in? Is there a limit?" From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Thu Jan 6 16:20:39 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Thu Jan 6 16:21:05 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Down the Rabbit Hole Message-ID: After the module was in place, Dot instantly saw an interface similar to the one that she'd had while plugged in appear at the edges of her vision. The menus were different- the interaction options were gone, to be replaced only with a diagnostic menu, a manual interface option, and a connect option. Regardless, Dot couldn't help but wonder if she could manipulate the system, perhaps finetuning the diagnostic from here... she could see some of the numbers were off... she reached out... +++++ As she did, she felt a rush unlike anything she had felt before. It permeated her being, as even in this limited interface mode, the ether seemed more ready to respond to her slightest command, akin to a pet, anxious to do her bidding. The raw power lay coiled within her being- it was more akin to utilizing a plantaxy than utilizing a program... +++++ "You should see the interface on the periphery of your vision," Kayle said, looking carefully into Dot's eyes. "Everything still falls within tolerances", she continued, for Asha's benefit apparently. "How is everything to you," she asked Dot. Dot, feeling the flow of electrons again, raw, pulsing with her, asked, "how long can a person stay in? Is there a limit?" +++++ Kayle waited for a moment, to see if Asha was going to chime in. When the other woman remained silent, she looked back to Dot. "Right now, you are in passive mode," she said. "Whenever you are in range of a terminal that you have access to, you will see the interface appear, allowing you to manipulate certain functions of that terminal, and your own headware by association, if you have the required access. This mode can be maintained indefinitely." "If you actually use the connect menu, or manually access the port of whatever you are interfaced to, then you go into active mode," she continued, still looking from Dot to the pad. At one point her eyes narrowed as she looked at the pad. "In... In this mode," she stuttered, catching herself, "your autonomic functions are the only bodily functions that continue- your consciousness is for all intents and purposes in the Ether. There is no theoretical limit to how long you can remain, though extended trips will make you tired. Practically, however, you are limited to how long your body is maintained, i.e. food and excretion." She disconnected the pad, applying a plug of flesh that perfectly matched Dot's skin tone over the site of the data jack. "Keep in mind, however, that the Ether can be psychologically addictive. Some get lost in the rush of power from the abilities that they possess in the virtual world. Not being wired, you don't have to be concerned about physical additiction as others do, but still- be careful." Dot had a distant look, but shook herself out of it, once more as if waking, this time from a nice dream. She seemed slightly annoyed, before focusing on Asha and Kayle. As she stowed her pad, she looked at Dot, measuringly. "During those last moments, the tolerances optimized- and I did nothing to them. Did you have something to do with this?" At Kayle's words, Asha's attention snapped back to Dot, as she awaited her answer. Under Asha's gaze Dot withered as she said, "some of the numbers looked... off?" From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Thu Jan 6 16:24:57 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Thu Jan 6 16:25:22 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Down the Rabbit Hole Message-ID: At Kayle's words, Asha's attention snapped back to Dot, as she awaited her answer. Under Asha's gaze Dot withered as she said, "some of the numbers looked... off?" +++++ And then there was a buzzing from another corner of the room. And a yelp. Then an electrified yelp. Suhuy giggled. Pretty jumped about, as if trying to shake off the new implants jammed into its neck. Asha's eyes widened, even as she looked at Kayle. "I told you to keep an eye on him," she said evenly, even as the smaller woman ran towards Suhuy and Pretty. "It was sort of hard to watch everyone," Kayle said, pointedly. "It doesn't look like he used any wireless modules- so the poor thing is merely trapped within it's own mind." She tried to figure out how to get closer to the nightmare creature without getting eviscerated by accident. Approaching closer, Asha bracketed Suhuy with a glare. "You are *not* what I expected of a Chaos Lord," she said, dirisively. "Else you might notice that your distractions put us farther from your goal." She looked worriedly at Kayle and Pretty. "Can you make it stand down so Kayle can help it? The loopback effect will kill it," she said, managing to keep the worry from her voice. She looked towards Dot imploringly. "Or can you do something?" Suhuy looked up with boiling black eyes. His robes rustled as if someone had turned on an electric fan underneath the tatters of fabric. "You don't want me to be what you'd expect," he growled. Asha was taken aback at the sudden transformation Suhuy had undergone, to the point that she stood in shock watching him as he moved to the beast's side. Then the expression and the rustling was gone, and he was back to his simple joy in watching Pretty read her own mind. "Sit, Pretty! Sit! Like this!" He ran his fingers over the creatures spine and flicked something that looked like a mole. Suddenly, Pretty's legs stopped working, and the creature was reduced to laying on the floor and whimpering. "There you go!" Dot got closer to Pretty, almost fearlessly when it's legs went out, hoping that the passive interface would come up. She jumped as Pretty twitched toward her, but tightened her resolve after realizing that Pretty was very little threat to her... for now. Emboldened by the fact that Dot was still in one piece, Kayle came to kneel beside Pretty. "This is some pretty nasty work," she said, shaking her head. "I don't even know enough about it's physiology to know if removing the implants would do more harm than good," she finished grimly. "So I suppose the best thing is just to disable them." With the care of one who doesn't know how long before danger strikes, Kayle hooked up her pad to a plug sticking out of Pretty's neck. It hadn't been implanted with the care Kayle had shown, so it was fouled up in a tuft of hair, half protruding from the skin. But the connection apparently worked, as she began looking at the pad. "Dot, I'm going to need your help- I can't do both of these at once. See that nodule on the back of its neck? There should be a slight depression in it's surface. I'm going to need you to press it on the count of three." Just as she spoke, Pretty convulsed, almost causing Kayle to disconnect the pad in her haste to move out of the way. "Ummm... Right. I'm not sure how much more of this it can take, so we're going to have to move fast. One. Two. Three!" Dot plunged her finger against the nodule, a sickening sensation accompanying the action. Pretty convulsed, jerking once as they buzzing stopped, and the panels popped free. Suhuy pouted almost audibly from his station near them. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Thu Jan 6 16:26:32 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Thu Jan 6 16:26:57 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Cyberia: Spirits in the Material World Message-ID: Dot plunged her finger against the nodule, a sickening sensation accompanying the action. Pretty convulsed, jerking once as they buzzing stopped, and the panels popped free. Suhuy pouted almost audibly from his station near them. +++++ Kayle sighed in relief. Emboldened, she scooted closer to the animal, attempting to assess the damage that the makeshift cybernetic surgery had caused. It was difficult enough working on cybernetic animals, which was the reason that she usually stayed away from such work. But complicating matters was the fact that it was almost impossible to determine what each part of the patchwork beastie did. But her empathy for the suffering of the animal drove her onward. As she probed the animal, there was little movement, making her more adventurous in her diagnosis. Her hands expertly examined her subject, flitting over the area around the implants with care. "I don't *think* there's any permanent damage," she began, looking at Asha, but stopped when she saw the expression on her leader's face. Kayle had been with Asha through a lot of situations that seemed, to her, to be worse than hell. Through wars with Ephemerides and corporate soldiers to desperate defenses against Skavvies and other dangers, Kayle had seen all that she thought that there was of Asha- even to the depths of what she could do in an urgent situation. But, through it all, there was one thing she had never seen before on those familiar features. Fear. But there it was, unadulterated. Tentatively, she looked around at the clockwork beast, and saw what appeared to be a black cloud of smoke rising above it's supine form. The more she looked, the more detail she could see... It wasn't exactly smoke. For one, it was too black. Too awfully black. But she also saw that it was not just one form. She could make out particles in the amorphous mass. As she continued to stare, she began to imagine that she saw- something- in the mass. She could make out the outline, but nothing else. It was maddening. She stared all the harder, her mind attempting to synthesize what she saw. +++++ A raw, throat-ripping scream tore from Kayle, resonating through the room, punctuated by Pretty's scrabbling on the floor. A cloud of inky black smoke caressed the woman's exposed skin, as pulses of electrical energy flared within it's darkness. Pretty looked even more hideous now, as whatever was inside of it ate at the little flesh that remained on it's monstrous form. Rising from the floor, it looked around with a disturbing new intelligence at the inhabitants of the room, before it's gaze finally settled on Dot. The muzzle opened raggedly, one disturbing electrosynthetic sound emanating from the black maw. "you." From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Thu Jan 6 16:29:04 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Thu Jan 6 16:29:30 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Down the Rabbit Hole Message-ID: Dot blinked. It felt... anticlimactic. She then shrugged and entered the port. +++++ She was unceremoniously deposited on the street on which she had first entered the Ether. Asha's avatar stood there waiting for her, the shadow of a smile on her lips. "Excellent work," she said cheerily. "Your performance was well above even a graded hacker. You recovered well from the recursion mistake, and though Rook would say that your reluctance to use your AI was foolhardy, I never suffer from a problem, even though I don't have one." She looked down the street at the massive towers that lit up the landscape with their digital glow. "Come. Walk with me," she said, even as she started down the sidewalk. Though their speed was only a fraction of those around them, the other passersby gave them a wide berth as Asha led them onward. "You looked a bit let down as you came through the port. What is it?" From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Thu Jan 6 20:51:02 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Thu Jan 6 20:51:25 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Cyberia: Down the Rabbit Hole Message-ID: As Dot's concentration split, the Ether seemed to almost fragment momentarily, but came back into focus as she did. She whinced as her focus returned to the Ether "I can't switch as easily as you can right now," Asha said. "And as soon as you are jacked in, you won't be able to either. So I hope that distracting Suhuy wasn't a necessity to what you did." "It might be, but I think this is important." "And I know you can go faster," Asha continued, her voice full of confidence in her charge. "Even through the induction link, you did more than 90% of the users that are passing us would ever dream of being able to do. You showed an instinctive understanding of the underlying concepts that is positively amazing." "You don't understand now... But you will soon." Dot gave Asha a look. One that said 'maybe, but you don't either.' "So what was it that you needed?" she finished, looking at Dot askew. "Has anyone ever attuned to a plantaxy while in the ether?" Asha looked at Dot with a look akin to shock. Her avatar lost a bit of coherence before she regained her composure. "So," she finally said when she could speak again, "Bellpit is in the Enclaves." She shook her head. "I don't know much about the Enclaves- only what Rook has told me. I know even less about plantaxy- he was disturbingly vague about it. But from what he told me, you want to be very careful with anything you do with one here." "I don't know how much Suhuy told you about Cyberia, but there is a delineation between Cyberia and the Wastelands that is rabidly guarded by- something," she said, shrugging. "I don't know what it is, but I do know that it controls orbital KillSats in low orbit that agressively target any signs that anyone is meddling with reality. The Bleed seems to have confused it somewhat- I've been able to do things that I would never have attempted before with no signs of detection." As she talked, it was hard for Dot to keep up- the words were sped up just a bit, her voice a little higher pitched than normal. "But, I don't relish finding out what actually utilizing a plantaxy would do. I have too many people here that I'm responsible for to take the chance of an orbital laser targetting this facility," she finished, looking at Dot gravely. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Fri Jan 7 14:42:44 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Fri Jan 7 14:43:13 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Spirits in the Material World Message-ID: Rising from the floor, it looked around with a disturbing new intelligence at the inhabitants of the room, before it's gaze finally settled on Dot. The muzzle opened raggedly, one disturbing electrosynthetic sound emanating from the black maw. "you." +++++ Dot appeared worried. She shouldn't be using her plantaxy abilities, but it looked like that might be the way to go here... risking the kilsat. Suhuy giggled, looking at the new Pretty. "Oh! She talks now! That's much better..." He looked over at the screaming Kayle, utterly confused. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Fri Jan 7 14:44:13 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Fri Jan 7 14:44:39 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Spirits in the Material World Message-ID: The black cloud pulsed with energy as it swirled around Kayle and Pretty. For Kayle's part, all she did was scream, her body shaking in a rictus as her skin began to take on the hue of the cloud that so lovingly caressed her. Pretty's body warped with the energy pulsing through it, seeming to expand in a futile effort to contain the energies now leashed to it's frame. It took one halting step towards Dot, it's leg moving in a spastic scrape/drag across the floor that scored the ferrocrete with the motion, the sound akin to fingernails across a chalkboard. Even as Dot and Suhuy took in the macabre scene, wind whipped past them. So fast was the movement, that they barely recognized Asha as she flew towards Pretty, brandishing a gleaming sword. An answering electricity crackled around Asha's body as she hovered between Pretty and the others, the indecision that had marked her last few moments gone from her features. They could now see what she had hidden beneath the voluminious coat that she had worn- a pair of wings extended from her back, their white feathers almost gleaming in the luminescence of the forces arrayed. "There is no place here for you," she said, her tones implying knowledge of what she faced. "Let the creature go." "no." Again, a monosyllabic response from the now torn maw of Pretty, as the blackness that surrounded the beast coalesced into a tendril of darkness, shooting towards Asha's form. The two energies met, even as Asha closed the distance with Pretty, attempting to eviscerate the monstrosity. It was a valiant charge- a noble stand. Worthy of the epics of old- an angel facing a demonic force. But this was no legendary ballad- this was life. And in life, the light does not always conquer the shadow. The tendril penetrated her defenses, and she fell from the sky skidding across the floor, landing a mere meter from the monstrosity. As Pretty looked at her fallen form, the tendril caressed Asha's skin, and her body convulsed on the floor. "tainted." Pretty looked from her victim towards Dot. *screech* It's leg moved again as it drew closer to the woman. "you." From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Fri Jan 7 14:45:46 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Fri Jan 7 14:46:12 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Spirits in the Material World Message-ID: "tainted." Pretty looked from her victim towards Dot. *screech* Dot watched the preceedings with numbness, her brain trying combinations for a winning scenario. The angel hit the floor and her brain came up with one: Run. Her legs locked as she tried to move them. Run! Yet her conscious mind refused the thought as it came again. This was no longer an option. She reached out with her mind and made an effort to deny it the electricity that pulsed around it. It's leg moved again as it drew closer to the woman. "you." Suhuy surveyed the seizing Asha with a dispassion that had been absent from his features the whole of the time he had been with Dot. His lips, barely visible within the mess of his beard, became a thin line, then a sharp, press-lipped smile. "You'll leave that one alone," he said, stepping forward. "She's mine." From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Fri Jan 7 14:48:29 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Fri Jan 7 14:48:55 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Spirits in the Material World Message-ID: Suhuy surveyed the seizing Asha with a dispassion that had been absent from his features the whole of the time he had been with Dot. His lips, barely visible within the mess of his beard, became a thin line, then a sharp, press-lipped smile. "You'll leave that one alone," he said, stepping forward. "She's mine." +++++ The chimerical mass surrounding Pretty had gained a manner of substantiality, though it was as amorphous as ever. The ephemeral cloud had formed into a sense-defying tentacular mass, the tips of the extrusions seemingly tasting of the air around them in a sensual orgy. Writhing in the face of this new threat, they seemed to simultaneously quest towards and withdraw from Suhuy as Pretty's attention was drawn to the small man from her prey. "no." The maw worked again, defying the damage done to Pretty's form by the energy pulsing within and around her. "mine." As the word was spoken, Pretty opened her muzzle wide- wider than one would think possible as her lower jaw unhinged. Daemonic voices echoed gibberings within the small space as the creature vomited forth a a morass of black tentacles tinged sickly green, pulsing with barely contained power, intent upon consuming Suhuy... "You really don't want to consume poor Suhuy," said a calm and even slightly languid voice from a slight distance. The white-haired figure of Mandor strollled closer. He was dressed in a suit of dark vlue velvet with intricate heavy embrodiery on the collar and reversed cuffs - rather like a stylish smoking jacket, and he held, almost casually, a small glowing golden ball in his right hand. As he approached, he released it, but the ball hovered in place a foor above his hand, as tjough reluctamt to leave him. Suddenly he flicked his hand and the ball skimmed across the room like a pebble bounced on water, until it suddenly stopped, with the gentlest of bounces, about Pretty's head. "So ... what do you want me to do with your pet, Suhuy?" Mandor asked. He glanced at Dot. "Any ideas?" From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Fri Jan 7 14:49:36 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Fri Jan 7 14:50:02 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Spirits in the Material World Message-ID: "So ... what do you want me to do with your pet, Suhuy?" Mandor asked. He glanced at Dot. "Any ideas?" +++++ Dot was still shaken from events, but her instincts prevailed, "do we know what it is?" "It's Pretty!" Suhuy shuffled to Mandor, his eyes gleaming. "And that other thing... it was like... it was -very- like... Oh, but did you feel it? We must extract it, and get those rotten voices out." From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Fri Jan 7 14:52:16 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Fri Jan 7 14:52:42 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Spirits in the Material World Message-ID: "It's Pretty!" Suhuy shuffled to Mandor, his eyes gleaming. "And that other thing... it was like... it was -very- like... Oh, but did you feel it? We must extract it, and get those rotten voices out." +++++ Dot wasn't sure whether to approach the pair or not, the word "mine" still echoing in her mind. "What was it like?" The object of their discussion was now prowling around the perimeter circumscribed by the ball floating around her head. Though there was seemingly nothing between she and her prey, the energy she summoned had disappeared as effectively as if a brick wall was present, and Pretty seemed as if she didn't know what to make of it. Low to the ground she studied the new arrival, and though her stance was submissive, the gleam in her eyes was not. Now that the cloud was dissipated, it was very apparent that Pretty was quickly deteriorating; gibbets of flesh and liquid metal littered the area around her. Her agitation was a very palpable thing as she probed this prison for a weakness. "mine." she said almost plaintively, looking back to Dot. She looked from Pretty to Suhuy, "why..? Ownership?" "Because of your blood! But he can't have you." Suhuy leapt forward, grabbing her wrist and pulling her a few steps closer to Mandor. "You're mine!" He glanced up at Mandor with eyes suddenly bright and brown and liquid. "Isn't she?" "Well, I certainly see an affinity between you," said Mandor. "And it's one that she doesn't share with ... that." He moved an expressive hand to the rapidly disintegrating Pretty - not a pleasant sight. "What is it, Suhuy? Do you know?" he asked. "Not that ... which we seek, I believe. It takes a lot of my power to hold it .... but ... " He was frowning now, watching as though intrigued. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Fri Jan 7 14:53:54 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Fri Jan 7 14:54:20 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Spirits in the Material World Message-ID: "Well, I certainly see an affinity between you," said Mandor. "And it's one that she doesn't share with ... that." He moved an expressive hand to the rapidly disintegrating Pretty - not a pleasant sight. "What is it, Suhuy? Do you know?" he asked. "Not that ... which we seek, I believe. It takes a lot of my power to hold it .... but ... " He was frowning now, watching as though intrigued. Dot looked at the silvery orb that kept Pretty in check, "okay, but my blood isn't very useful without the others... I think." Pretty became more and more violent the closer she came to complete dissolution- for all the good it did her. It seemed that something was fighting within her- postules burst on her body to spew out vile goo, only to be consumed by roiling undulations that attempted to patch the damage. It was to the point now that even her basic feature were gone; her eyes moved throughout the goo, attempting despite the convulsions to stay riveted on Dot. Unlikely though it was, she was apparently still capable of speech. "mine... please," the voice implored, almost child-like now in it's request. "so... close". The miasma funnelled up through the area circumscribed by the globe, finally leaving the wreckage that had been pretty in a pile of protoplasmic glop on the floor of the infirmary. Kayle finally stirred, groaning, her consciousness coming back slowly. She favored her arm, moving it only gingerly even in her semi-conscious state. "Wha..." she managed, then seeing what was left of Pretty scrabbled as fast as she could away from it, looking at it in terror. But Pretty was not much of a danger now. The miasma started to lose it's consistency, even as it roiled around the space it was limited to. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Fri Jan 7 14:58:48 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Fri Jan 7 14:59:15 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Spirits in the Material World Message-ID: Kayle finally stirred, groaning, her consciousness coming back slowly. She favored her arm, moving it only gingerly even in her semi- conscious state. "Wha..." she managed, then seeing what was left of Pretty scrabbled as fast as she could away from it, looking at it in terror. But Pretty was not much of a danger now. The miasma started to lose it's consistency, even as it roiled around the space it was limited to. +++++ Suhuy frowned at the blob, leaning in as close as he dared. "I'm going to need another Pretty," he mused. The waking Kayle caught his attention, and he hobbled over to her. "You! Where are more parts? I need to throw something together?" He thought a second. "And if you have a morgue, that would help..." Compared to Pretty, Suhuy was not a priority currently in Kayle's eyes. So she continued to shudder, watching as the creature disintegrated. Dot approached Asha. It was apparent that Asha was still alive, for her chest still moved with her breathing, and occassionally, a shiver would course through her achromatic wings. But other than that, it was hard to tell. Black scorches marred her arms, and Dot was easily able to see that the sword that the woman carried saved her life- apparently the properties of whatever Pretty had used were similar to electricity, for her sword had grounded most of the charge. But how much damage the portion that had not been grounded done was beyond a casual look. Mandor watched with interest even as, with a snap of his fingers, he called the ball, which flew back into his hand and disappeared. As the ball ceased it's circuit, the cloud's dissipation grew more rapid. Sparks flashed through the coiling miasma in dark parody of neurons. It seemed that despite the lack of wind, the cloud was migrating towards Dot, but the rate of dissipation was greater than it's motion, and soon, nothing remained of it other than bad memories, and the damage it had inflicted. Kayle recovered her senses a few moments later, and looked towards Asha with an anguished cry. Painfully she circumscribed the area where Pretty had fallen, paying no attention to Suhuy or Dot in her haste to make it to Asha's side. She attempted to aid the fallen woman, but her body was not up to the task- she could get no more than a few twitches from her burned arm. Thus far, professionalism overrode her emotion, but it was plain to see that she cared deeply for her leader. She looked to Dot, imploring, "Please. I- I can't use my arms. Help me." Dot looked at Kyla, herself forming tears, "I think I can... but it's going to hurt. Her. Alot." Dot gave them both looks. "Maybe both." She closed her eyes and, without plantaxy, began to feel the minerals in their bodies and repair. Suhuy sniffed the air, a frown crinkling his face like used butcher's paper. Something made him sneeze a could of dust, and he hurried to Mandor's side, watching the operation from a, for once, safe distance. "Interesting," murmured Mandor, watching Dot. His attitude was the clinical one of a top level heart surgeon watching a bright young registrar trying out a new technique for removing gall stones. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Fri Jan 7 14:59:52 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Fri Jan 7 15:00:18 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Spirits in the Material World Message-ID: "Interesting," murmured Mandor, watching Dot. His attitude was the clinical one of a top level heart surgeon watching a bright young registrar trying out a new technique for removing gall stones. +++++ The damage to Kayle was not extensive, but still she arched in pain as the caress of Dot's abilities attended to her wounds. The energy that Pretty used had suffused her body, creating the 'dead spots' that appeared as burns. Whatever energy this was seemed to be averse to Dot's abilities- almost as if they were opposite polarities- and as such, Dot was able to shunt the malign energy from the woman's body. Asha was a different story. The energy in Asha's body was more aggressive- the malignancy even seemed to be spreading, feeding off some sort of force in the woman's body that was akin to the energy put forth by Pretty. Though not exactly the same, the two forces had enough affinity that it was difficult to separate the two. Tears of blood ran down Asha's angelic face as her features warped themselves in a paroxysm brought on by the intense pain caused by Dot's probing. Dot was sure that utilizing her plantaxy would give her the needed boost to be able to separate the woman from the cancer eating at her, but did she dare despite Asha's earlier admonitions? Even to save her life? From moonryu at yahoo.com Fri Jan 7 16:53:50 2005 From: moonryu at yahoo.com (Dawn) Date: Fri Jan 7 16:53:55 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Spirits in the Material World Message-ID: <20050107215350.9450.qmail@web80504.mail.yahoo.com> [OOC: Question -- would by any chance Morgan sense any of this happening? He has been monitoring both the Ether and the Real for various signs of Chaos / Logurs users? And both Mandor and Suhuy would qualify as that.] ===== ~D From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Sat Jan 8 18:19:23 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Sat Jan 8 18:19:47 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Spirits in the Material World Message-ID: Dot was sure that utilizing her plantaxy would give her the needed boost to be able to separate the woman from the cancer eating at her, but did she dare despite Asha's earlier admonitions? Even to save her life? +++++ But, for Dot, it wasn't really a matter of daring. She drew out her plantaxy, figuring she'd have to run really soon. Without anyone to stop her, Dot could be a remarkably brave, or foolish, girl. Mandor was far from stopping her. He was watching closely - clearly intrigued to the point of being fascinated by her actions. Suhuy sniffed the air, then frowned even further as the Plataxy came out. He huddled down in his rags until only his black, marble eyes showed. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Sat Jan 8 18:21:07 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Sat Jan 8 18:21:31 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Spirits in the Material World Message-ID: It was almost anticlimactic. Apparently, there was a lot that Asha didn't know about the workings of plantaxy, for whatever doom she predicted was not forthcoming. At least not immediately. The malignancy was leaves before a wind, scattered by Dot's augmented power. A cloud, not unlike the one that had inhabited Pretty, seeped from Asha, hovering over her impotently. It seethed and roiled bare inches from Asha, attempting to invade her again, but being held at bay by Dot's power. Then seeing that it was making no progress in it's invasion attempt, the cloud seemed to fall passive, calming down into only a distinct inky blackness floating in the air. Under his mass of rags, Suhuy shuddered. One long, patched arm appeared, and hovered before his eyes. The hair, corse and multihued, stood straight up. "That's rarely good..." Dot noticed, but seemed involved. She grabbed Asha and looked at Kayle, "quickest way out?" "It is not that simple," said Mandor, observing the phenomenon with the same clinical detachment. "It appears that it is able to affect the fabric of reality - with a rather unsettling effect. If I withdraw my attention, I suspect that this will only get worse. I also suspect that our actions here will have drawn attention." He glanced at Asha. "Is that not correct?" From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Sat Jan 8 18:23:30 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Sat Jan 8 18:23:55 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Spirits in the Material World Message-ID: Asha nodded weakly. She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts, even as she looked over the situation. "It appears that something is registering to the KillSat, but only weakly." Her voice wavered, but steadily gained strength as she talked. Coughing, she rested for a moment until the spate had passed. "Since I'm assuming that none of you are causing this, it must be that," she added, inclining her head in the cloud's direction. At that, she finally noticed who she was talking to, and her eyes opened a little wider at the unexpected presence, but she kept speaking. "It's apparently weakened, though how, I can't fathom, other than some interesting things must have occurred while I was unconscious," she looked at those assembled musing. "But even in it's weakened state, I don't see it taking very long to accumulate the power necessary to attract a laser from above." "I can't do anything about it, as it's source is too akin to mine." Noticing how Suhuy deferred to the newcomer, she made some assumptions as to his origins. "I fear that Suhuy would find things much the same. And possibly yourself, also," she added, with the slightest upturn to the end of her voice questioning this fact. Then she looked to Dot. "But perhaps if the power came from another source..." Dot, still holding the plantaxy, focused. Mandor, still watching with interest, nevertheless took several prudent steps backwards, drawing Suhuy with him. Suhuy allowed himself to be pressed further away from Dot, and, from within the folds of his covers, seemed to be both relieved and irritated. "I'll have to observe her =some= time, if she's to be my assistant." Dot seemed to waiver, just for an instant, in her concentration. As Dot focussed on the cloud, she could see that it was indeed more powerful than when she first encountered it. She could also see a haziness surrounding it- almost a shimmering- and *something* beyond. Something malevolent- she could feel it's anger in palpable waves. Whatever it was doing had made the cloud more able to withstand her- for though it shrank from the power, she was unable to directly affect it. She *did* however notice that when she concentrated on it, it seemed to skitter (if one could do that in the air) away from her. She began sense the same phenomena as Suhuy, as the hair on the back of her neck rose, and she smelled a faint ionization in the atmosphere... From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Sat Jan 8 18:24:56 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Sat Jan 8 18:25:19 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Spirits in the Material World Message-ID: [Dot] *did* however notice that when she concentrated on it, it seemed to skitter (if one could do that in the air) away from her. She began sense the same phenomena as Suhuy, as the hair on the back of her neck rose, and she smelled a faint ionization in the atmosphere... She pursued the cloud, concentrating harder even as electricity seemed to be pulsing through the air. Mandor seemed about to speak. Then he shook his head, and simply continued to watch. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Sat Jan 8 18:25:53 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Sat Jan 8 18:26:18 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Spirits in the Material World Message-ID: [Dot] pursued the cloud, concentrating harder even as electricity seemed to be pulsing through the air. Mandor seemed about to speak. Then he shook his head, and simply continued to watch. ++++ Thus continued a strange form of cat and mouse- a slow motion chase through the building. The cloud was becoming more and more powerful, so the chase began to slow, even as the strain upon Dot began to increase. "Go with her," she heard Asha call weakly, perhaps in some way realizing what she meant to do. Though not in much better shape herself, Kayle went before Dot, keeping pace only because of the slowness of the chase, her own breath coming in gasps as sweat poured off her brow. "Out of the way!" she yelled to the crowds that had come to witness the strange procession, forcefully punctuating it with a weak shove when necessary. The grizzled man that originally brought Dot to the tower appeared in the hall at a run. "Kayle! What..." "No time," she gasped. "Lead her.. Out of the building," she finished, sliding down the wall in exhaustion. Her expression was worried as she saw how much the hair on Grey's arm standing, and looking at it himself, Grey seemed to pull from some memory as his eyes widened from their usual slits. "Come on, Girl!" he yelled to Dot, even as he took over the point guard, pushing their way forward. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Sat Jan 8 18:27:39 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Sat Jan 8 18:28:02 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Spirits in the Material World Message-ID: "No time," she gasped. "Lead her.. Out of the building," she finished, sliding down the wall in exhaustion. Her expression was worried as she saw how much the hair on Grey's arm standing, and looking at it himself, Grey seemed to pull from some memory as his eyes widened from their usual slits. "Come on, Girl!" he yelled to Dot, even as he took over the point guard, pushing their way forward. Dot followed, sweat beginning to bead on her as she continued her focused assault on the cloud before her. One of her arms spasmed as she walked, but she took no notice. Mandor was following after at a marked distance, keeping a restraining hand on Suhuy. Someone who never owned a dog might have said that Suhuy was acting like an overeager puppy, straining at his leash. Puppies, however, could be trained. There were doubts about Suhuy. "Do you think she'll make it?" "I believe she has the capabilities," said Mandor. "And I believe ... She could be the one we need." He did not relax his grip, but he was watching Dot intently. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Sat Jan 8 18:30:27 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Sat Jan 8 18:30:50 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Spirits in the Material World Message-ID: Dot followed, sweat beginning to bead on her as she continued her focused assault on the cloud before her. One of her arms spasmed as she walked, but she took no notice. Mandor was following after at a marked distance, keeping a restraining hand on Suhuy. Someone who never owned a dog might have said that Suhuy was acting like an overeager puppy, straining at his leash. Puppies, however, could be trained. There were doubts about Suhuy. "Do you think she'll make it?" +++++ Suhuy's question seemed on the verge of being answered as Dot and Grey made the agonizing trip through the lobby of the skyscraper. They had not taken this way into the building when Grey first brought Dot and Suhuy here, and Dot could easily see why. The area was littered with the detrius of what seemed like an apocalyptic battle- casings of spent ammunition littered the floor, and the smell of death hung heavy in the air. A layer of ash and soot was caked on the floor, and as they walked through the room, small clouds of particles punctuated their every step. By the time they reached the glassteel doors, the air was thick with dust. Grey continued to motion Dot forward, even as they reached the outside. The sky was as dark as usual, the diffused sunlight only barely filtering through the cast everything in deep shadow. The destruction was especially thorough in the area in front of the building, looking like something had flattened everything in a large circular area- an area that Dot was now in the center of... Grey grabbed her hand, pulling her back towards the building. "Run, Girl!" he commanded, even as he pulled her behind him. As tired as she was, the sound of the air burning far above them gave her limbs speed... Her arms pumped in a way that she was unused to, her brain working to optimize the aerodynamics for running, and putting them into practice at the speed of thought. Somewhere, somehow, she felt a pulse... she felt alive. Suhuy looked up to the sky, endlessly intrigued. On a scrap of his dressing he scribbled notes, and muttered under his breath. Apparently the order to 'run' didn't apply to him. And then he was seized, by the neck of his robe. Mandor ran his over the ground almost effortlessly. Those observed Mandor's gliding gait might also have observed that he actually lifted up and over the ground, moves a with a speed that suggested to those watching cybernetic enhancements - although there was actually a rather different explanation. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Mon Jan 10 17:24:00 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Mon Jan 10 17:24:26 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Spirits in the Material World Message-ID: In the dead of space far above the Fallen Plaza, the screams of the tapestry had increased to the point where only a break in the threads of reality woke the Guardian from it's sleep. Overtaxed by the level of taint in the weave, the Guardian's tolerance for disorder rose proportionately to the signal-to-noise ratio it experienced. But even with its systems taxed, the ancient being's purpose remained true- its vigilance, while dimmed, still continued. One point of reality shrieked on a small point on the earthen orb, drawing the Guardian's attention. What had started as a numb ache now screamed for action. The tapestry must be preserved- the weave was all that held back the chaos of the Umbra. Once more, the tender ministrations of the Guardian had been called to action. The consciousness came to full awareness, shivering with the ignition of ancient engines, as its chemical jets fired, moving it over the disturbance, its ancient targetting systems coming on-line. Once it made such movements out of a sense of conformation to the local paradigms- it's existence was outside of spatial relations. Now, they were imperative- with the dimming of its resources, it could not put anything to chance. Again, the disturbance was located in region K87, subsector T124 of the Tatters dominion. It confirmed that an unauthorized Shadow-Manipulation was in progress, but the perpetrator appeared to exist only partially in the protectorate. This was of little concern compared to the damage being done to the weave, so, once a proper lock had been achieved and permission to fire sanctioned, the airless space around the creature dimmed as the very essence of creation was altered to remove an infestation from its domain. A second after that, the spear streaked toward the world below. A brief scan confirmed that the paradigm-anomaly had been nullified. Its task completed, the Guardian returned eternal vigilance, always on the lookout for threats to its charge. +++++ There was the sound of the air screaming in protest, then anti-climatically... silence. But only for a brief moment. Then the light touched this sun-deprived area- so brilliant in it's display, that if they didn't know they were facing away from the point of impact, they would have doubted their direction. Suhuy and Mandor were far enough away that when the laser actually touched the ground, they were spared any effects, other than the overpressure as the kinetic energy rushed into the building. Grey and Dot were not so lucky. Lifted from their feet, they were caught like twigs in a hurricane, except the blazing winds gave them an exposure to UV light a hurricane would not have. The heat sucked the breath from their lungs as they were carried deeper into the building, tumbling uncontrollably through the air. Then just as suddenly, silence returned. And only at that moment did Dot realize that she was covered in a thick layer of ash and soot- and she realized why this level of the building had no glass- it had been touched by this phenomena before. It was thus that she was spared the storm of lethal glass that would surely have accompanied such a display. Movement only a few yards from her caught her attention, as Grey shook off a layer of ash, rising to his knees. "You okay, girl?" he asked gruffly, making his way stiffly towards her. She could tell that he had injuries, though the extent of them were hard to see under the layers of dust and ash that caked his form. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Mon Jan 10 17:29:15 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Mon Jan 10 17:29:38 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Spirits in the Material World Message-ID: Then just as suddenly, silence returned. And only at that moment did Dot realize that she was covered in a thick layer of ash and soot- and she realized why this level of the building had no glass- it had been touched by this phenomena before. It was thus that she was spared the storm of lethal glass that would surely have accompanied such a display. Movement only a few yards from her caught her attention, as Grey shook off a layer of ash, rising to his knees. "You okay, girl?" he asked gruffly, making his way stiffly towards her. She could tell that he had injuries, though the extent of them were hard to see under the layers of dust and ash that caked his form. +++++ Suhuy struggled under Mandor's grip, trying to make his way to where Dot was struggling to stand. "Off! Off!" He swatted at the man behind him. "My Dot!" Dot shook off some of the ash from her hair and coughed. "Fine," she muttered as she made a vain attempt to wipe some of the ash and debris off of her. Mandor relaxed his grip on Suhuy's collar, then turned to look at Grey and Asha. "This was not Chaos," he said quietly. "But you have come perilously close." Almost as pale as the ash that covered the floor, Asha nodded. She scanned the area intently from her position by the door, holding herself up with a hand that gripped the frame with a manic strength that only receded when she saw that Grey and Dot were ok. "Rook has shown me something of what you speak, and I could instinctively tell that this had too much malevolence to be what you sought." She paused, thinking, worrying her fingernails, looking into the distance. "However," she said finally, looking towards Dot, "could there be enough of a similarity in it's substance to aid your synthesis of Chaos?" "It is close," murmured Suhuy as he waddled close. "It -smells- like it. There are many things you forget as you wind your way down, but the bouquet of distilled change isn't one of them. Though.." Suhuy looked up at the now empty sky. "It's certainly picked up some nasty habits somewhere." Mandor moved forward now to Dot. "Are you all right?" he asked politely. Dot limped forward slightly, and frowned. Her eyes roamed downward over the ash-covered landscape of her body. "My right leg is hurt. I think there's something in it." Mandor looked around for Asha and Grey. "You will treat her," he said - a calm statement of fact. "Suhuy, you will observe - but you will not try to improve on what they do. Not ... yet." Suhuy cheeks puffed out, as if he were seriously considering the psychological and physiological ramifications of blowing a raspberry at Mandor. He kept his tongue where it was, though, as he trundled over to where Dot was. "I'm -good- at fixing things." Grey's eyes narrowed, and it was not obvious if this was because of how he was spoken to, or because of how Asha had been spoken to. But a slight shake Asha's head was enough to untense his corded muscles- to temporarily leash the violence within the man. Walking towards Dot, he said, "It would probably be faster if I carried you to the infirmary." His tone was matter-of-fact, not asking, but merely offering the best suggestion. But he laid not a hand on her, awaiting her response. Dot nodded, "okay," and positioned herself for ease of lifting. Suhuy looked over his shoulder at Mandor. "=I= could carry!" he said in a stage whisper. Judiciously ignoring the statement, Grey lifted Dot into his arms, more gingerly than it would have seemed possible for the gruff warrior. Following, he was made aware for the first time of Asha's injuries by her movements as she led the way to the infirmary. "What happened in there?" he asked Dot, his eyes never leaving Asha. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Mon Jan 10 17:41:49 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Mon Jan 10 17:42:13 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Spirits in the Material World Message-ID: Judiciously ignoring the statement, Grey lifted Dot into his arms, more gingerly than it would have seemed possible for the gruff warrior. Following, he was made aware for the first time of Asha's injuries by her movements as she led the way to the infirmary. "What happened in there?" he asked Dot, his eyes never leaving Asha. Dot muttered as she hung limply, her hands trying to help, "it was electricity and evil, but I'm not sure who. Except that Asha seemed good. And oil slick demon. And blood. I had to chase it away. It's hazy, a little." As Dot answered, Grey looked at her- really looked at her for the first time. And though he said nothing, his grip on her became the slightest bit more comfortable. "There were lasers, too!" Suhuy piped up, helpful as ever. "Those were the best. My -next- Pretty will have lasers, and I'll make it talk properly, too. "I might leave out the jack, though..." As they reached the infirmary, it was apparent that Kayle had been busy- expecting incoming wounded. She had drafted a couple of the residents to be her assistants, and do whatever she couldn't in her current state. Though she didn't look to good herself- her blonde hair was damp, and plastered to her face, her pallor looked markedly unheathly- she wouldn't take rest until she was sure that her charges were fine. "Put her on that table," she said to Grey, looking up as soon as he entered. Making her way to Dot's side, she asked "Where does it hurt?" Dot leaned up a bit, "it's sore across my right thigh, with sharp pain about mid-way on the inside." Dot then leaned back, but kept her eye on the woman that was tending her. Not afraid, or worried, but curious. Asha looked on from the doorframe, still weak from her recent ordeal. "So," she asked noone in particular, "is there any need now to meet that- being- on it's home turf? That was *too* close for comfort, and I'm even less sure of our capabilities to handle it in the Ether." Dot twitched, "it lives in the Ether?" From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Mon Jan 10 17:46:29 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Mon Jan 10 17:46:55 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Spirits in the Material World Message-ID: Dot leaned up a bit, "it's sore across my right thigh, with sharp pain about mid-way on the inside." Dot then leaned back, but kept her eye on the woman that was tending her. Not afraid, or worried, but curious. +++++ "Nessa," Kayle called to one of her assistants. A thin woman with stringy blonde hair and rather severe features looked up from her ministrations to a patient in the rear of the room. "Bring me that hypo-spray." In the meantime, she checked out Dot's leg, moving very carefully, and not just for Dot's sake. "Yes," she said finally, reaching a hand out to the woman as she approached. Fiddling with the device, Kayle continued. "I see it- very easy to miss. A sliver of glass-steel, most likely from what was left in the doors from the last time, lodged itself in your thigh. It missed your femoral by only a few centimetres, catching only the meat of your leg. You'll be fine- once we get it out." She turned to Nessa. "Wheel that surgical table over here," she said, even as she did something to Dot's leg- there was a snap, a hiss, and the pain disappeared. "Ok," she said to Dot. "This is going to be a relatively minor surgery, but I need to take care because of how close it is to your femoral." Turning to the table, she sterilized her hands, and donned a pair of gloves. "I'm going to need you to assist, Nessa." The woman was already prepping for the surgery, so the statement was a bit superfluous- she approached Kayle's right side, ready to work. "Clamp," she asked, retrieving the instrument from Nessa. It was becoming hard to focus- though the anesthetic was apparently local, the adrenaline, energy used, and wound combined to take the edge off. "2 ccs amatropine and forceps." Even through the haze, Dot felt something tugging at her leg. "Be ready to clamp that shut." +++++ Asha looked on from the doorframe, still weak from her recent ordeal. "So," she asked noone in particular, "is there any need now to meet that- being- on it's home turf? That was *too* close for comfort, and I'm even less sure of our capabilities to handle it in the Ether." Dot twitched, "it lives in the Ether?" +++++ "It can live anywhere." Suhuy looked up, his usually marble like eyes suddenly very calm. His voice was modulated, approaching pleasant, like a professor speaking over the dissection of an etherized frog. "That's its nature. Adaptability. But the flip side of that advantage is that it is not only adaptable, but forces its host to adapt." Asha looked at Suhuy with an expression of one seeing a monkey suddenly gain the power of speech. "So then, you have an idea what it actually is? I never thought it could exist out of the Ether- even in a host. From what Rook said, Dara sent Morgan in to look for a Serpent, but instead he found a Dragon. I don't know what in the world that means, but for some reason they were very pleased that Morgan couldn't gain the Serpent's other eye for it." She shrugged. "I wish that Rook was here now. I feel so over my head it's not funny- sort of like a child faced with the daunting prospect of handling adult..." She smiled self-consciously. "Forgive me. I'm rambling." "So *do* you still need to see it? Will it help you?" From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Tue Jan 11 13:24:31 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Tue Jan 11 13:24:59 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Spirits in the Material World Message-ID: Asha looked at Suhuy with an expression of one seeing a monkey suddenly gain the power of speech. "So then, you have an idea what it actually is? I never thought it could exist out of the Ether- even in a host. From what Rook said, Dara sent Morgan in to look for a Serpent, but instead he found a Dragon. I don't know what in the world that means, but for some reason they were very pleased that Morgan couldn't gain the Serpent's other eye for it." She shrugged. "I wish that Rook was here now. I feel so over my head it's not funny- sort of like a child faced with the daunting prospect of handling adult..." She smiled self-consciously. "Forgive me. I'm rambling." "So *do* you still need to see it? Will it help you?" +++++ "It's ridiculously dangerous, incredibly unpredictable, near-impossible to contain, and possessed with an irritable and malicious spirit." Suhuy giggled, the momentary lucidity cracking like desert worn paint. "Of course we need it! Where is this Rook of yours?" "I... I don't know," Asha said sadly. "He left some time ago- said he had some 'Family Problems' to resolve." "He's been gone for long periods before," she continued, "but never this long." Then she thought about Suhuy's statement. "What did you need from him?" Dot listened, without speaking. She felt the operation distantly. "History." Suhuy trundled over to where Dot lay, looking over the work on her body with a detached interest. "How long this has been going on. What he's seen. What he knows. Can't get my fingers around a cloud without it." He looked up, his dark eyes focusing on some point well beyond the room. "I could go looking for him... Dot and I could! And Master, if he =must= come." From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Tue Jan 11 13:27:00 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Tue Jan 11 13:27:26 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Spirits in the Material World Message-ID: "History." Suhuy trundled over to where Dot lay, looking over the work on her body with a detached interest. "How long this has been going on. What he's seen. What he knows. Can't get my fingers around a cloud without it." He looked up, his dark eyes focusing on some point well beyond the room. "I could go looking for him... Dot and I could! And Master, if he =must= come." +++++ Mandor simply looked at him. To Asha, he said, "This ... Rook. Dod he have some other name? Some other identity?" There was a sharpness in his tone. Asha returned his look for a long moment before replying. Finally she nodded, slowly. "Yes. But I don't know if it's mine to give. He has enemies. Especially now." Her eyes narrowed as she looked at Mandor. "And I don't know you." Mandor shrugged. "It's possible that I might know him. I once knew a lot of people ... people like Rook. Like Dot. Like you ... "It's possible that I Rook was my enemy. It's also possible that he was my friend." His dark eyes were fixed on her. "It's not impossible that he's my brother." Asha returned his gaze, before shifting uncomfortably to regard Grey. A small shrug of his shoulders is all that he had to offer her. She sighed. "No. I'd think not your brother." She looked at Dot for a long moment, then to Suhuy, as if trying to mentally connect dots between the trio- wondering about their relationship. Then she looked back to Mandor. "A long time ago, Rook told me that you can never trust anyone, especially not family. I responded that I hoped I'd never get that cynical." A wry grin stole across her face at the memory. Sighing she closed her eyes, as if trying to contain the image that had brought her a fleeting happiness, and her eyebrows beetled at the effort, before she finally opened them again. Sighing sadly, she said, "Martin. Rook's real name is Martin." Mandor's face was impassive. "Then he is not my brother. But he was my brother's friend. When you see him ... you will tell him that we have been here. It might give him ... hope. And it might also answer certain questions ... and probably pose many more." He glanced at Suhuy and Dot. "What experiments will you need to run here?" From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Tue Jan 11 13:27:59 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Tue Jan 11 13:28:27 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Spirits in the Material World Message-ID: [Mandor] glanced at Suhuy and Dot. "What experiments will you need to run here?" +++++ Dot blinked. "We dangle ourselves on the lip of raw chaos and you ask that?" She glanced around, the way an alcoholic might once inside a "Liquor Max." "All of them, I think." ------------------------------------- OOC: "Liquor Max" is a store for Alcohol. The name says it all, really. And the last line can also be found in the Terminator 2 film. It can be found other places, true, but none of them really do it justice like this: John Connor: "The cops are here." : "How many?" John: "All of them, I think." From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Tue Jan 11 13:30:17 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Tue Jan 11 13:30:43 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Spirits in the Material World Message-ID: Dot blinked. "We dangle ourselves on the lip of raw chaos and you ask that?" She glanced around, the way an alcoholic might once inside a "Liquor Max." "All of them, I think." +++++ Suhuy, if one watched him too long, appeared to be vibrating in place. "We should go soon!" He clapped his hands. "Now! Dot's all fixed!" All that was missing was the piped 'Can we, huh?' to complete the visual. "Can we take her?" He pointed at Asha. "She's useful!" "Where are you proposing to set up your laboratory?" asked Mandor. He glanced around. "Here ... it might be a little too dangerous. As you want to be thorough ... how about a fast Shadow in the Wastelands?" Though Asha ignored Suhuy's question, Grey positively glared at the little man for suggesting such. "I think that Mandor is correct- if you are going to research the phenomena, Cyberia might not be such a good location," she said, nodding. "But you will need a sample- an untainted sample. And the only way to retrieve that, is through the Ether," she said looking at Dot pointedly. Dot looked back, distantly. She could hear the hum of wire and the call of data. Somewhere within... evil. "How do I prepare?" "Evil's a vague term," chastised Suhuy, crawling up on the cot to sit at Dot's feet. "And it implies 'good', as a diametric opposite, is an effective weapon. Not so. Most cases, evil will feed upon good, glutting itself on desecration and corruption. We need something that can combat what we've seen. Hurt it." He thought a moment, then looked sidelong at Dot. "Order?" From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Tue Jan 11 13:33:56 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Tue Jan 11 13:34:23 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Spirits in the Material World Message-ID: "Evil's a vague term," chastised Suhuy, crawling up on the cot to sit at Dot's feet. "And it implies 'good', as a diametric opposite, is an effective weapon. Not so. Most cases, evil will feed upon good, glutting itself on desecration and corruption. We need something that can combat what we've seen. Hurt it." He thought a moment, then looked sidelong at Dot. "Order?" +++++ Asha nodded at Suhuy's words. It still amazed her that the man could vacillate so between brilliance and senility. "Yes," she agreed, "to limit your view of the entity to 'evil' will compromise your efforts. The reason that it referred to me as 'tainted' is because I have used Chaos." She winced as one of her wings fluttered unconsciously, a spasm of pain marring her perfect features. Gathering herself, she sat gingerly to continue. "I believe it wanted you because of the fact that it cannot exist on this plane for long in it's current state- it needs something securely grounded in the Blood of Amber to stabilise its form. A non-reactive substance if you will." She looked towards Mandor and Suhuy both, to see if there was a reaction or interjection before she continued, suddenly conscious of the fact that these two could write a thesis on the subject she dared lecture on. "Make no mistake, there is a malevolence present in the entity- but that actually makes it *less* dangerous. Basically, all you are trying to do is to gain a sample- remember that first and foremost," she cautioned, concern evident in her voice. "Then, look for a pattern to its forms and attacks. This pattern will let you close enough to do what you need to do. No matter *how* powerful it seems, it will have this weakness, and it will be all the more obvious because it is attempting to appear to be totally chaotic." "Other than that, you have what you need. You're actually more prepared than most- you are not bound by the expectations of the medium- your innovative approaches should more than make up for your lack of experience." She smiled reassuringly. "I'll give you all of the backup that I can, but in the end, it's your show." She looked again to Mandor and Suhuy. "Did either of you have anything to add?" Suhuy was back to poking at buttons at the side of Dot's cot, eyes shining with boiling fascination. He turned his head when he felt Asha's gaze upon him. "We'll need to pack a lunch, but no, I think we're ready. You are coming, aren't you? I like the wings. It's been too long since I had wings." Dot looked at Asha in thought, "so, do I catch it in the buffer then? Or... something else?" She glanced at Suhuy, "and we should go get it before setting up the lab, yes?" Though the conversation was between the three of them, Asha was very conscious of Mandor and Grey's scrutinizing stares- though for two separate reason, both were very intense. Focussing her attention back on Dot, she nodded in answer. "That would be safer than anything I could give you, though I will transfer a few new routines to you when we're ready." Dot looked down at her leg, which was nicely repaired. "How long will it take until then. I'm... a little anxious to go back." "That," Asha replied, catching Dot's eyes with her own gaze, "depends entirely upon you. It is a mental preparation that you must make- not a physical. I'm of the school of thought that says that nothing can prepare you for your first run- not anything anyone says or does or shows you. But, I don't want to push you faster than you're ready to go." Light played within her eyes as Dot looked back, her vision going beyond what was present. Her lips moved curiously as she spoke, "vrooom." Suhuy sulked over his button pressing, casting a red glinting eye over his shoulder. "It's not fair. These Amberites get to do everything." From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Tue Jan 11 13:36:36 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Tue Jan 11 13:37:04 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Spirits in the Material World Message-ID: Asha looked over Dot's shoulder as she continued. "It would be unwise to go after so- unique- a target from here. Not only could the traffic bring unwanted attention on my people, but the possible latency from going into the deep ether could be deadly." She finally caught Grey's eyes as she finished, "We need a more direct link into the hub- like the one at Serenity Towers." Grey's face clouded as soon as Asha spoke the words, but it was Kayle that spoke up. "That's suicide Asha. Rook could barely handle it- how in the world are you going to make it there? You might as well be trying to hack from Crown's core!" Ignoring her wounds, she attempted to gesticulate, but the motion brought her only pain as she winced. "You can't do it!" she finished emphatically, finally sitting on one of her own tables. Asha shook her head as she responded to Kayle. "It has to be done. There's no other way." She looked to Grey and Dot, continuing. "And it's not as hopeless as it seems- else I wouldn't suggest it," she said, smiling reassuringly. "Rook left me his Merlin." Grey's eyebrow raised slightly at this, as Asha continued for the sake of those who didn't know what she referred to. "An HK-Boeing Merlin, is a vector-thrust, combat flyer built for recon and quick- strike missons. It was meant for exactly the run that we intend, especially with the broadcast suite Rook had custom fitted into it. The stealth suite should- will- protect us long enough for Dot to do what she has to. The MOSS defense systems on the wall have been crippled from Rook's previous dabblings, and now the wall is manned by only humans. Enough to keep back the tide of Geeks and Gorehounds, but not enough to detect us." "Once we get close enough to the broadcast point at Serenity Towers, Dot can jack into the Ether. I'll stay near the surface- her anchor point to return from Deep Ether. With someone to monitor Serenity's security, we'll be fine- it's a short run in any case. In, grab, and out." "It seems that you've already thought this out," Grey said slowly, watching carefully as Asha nodded, her hair irridescent in the light. "Ok. If Dot agrees, I'll get my stuff and we can take off." "Not this time," Asha said. "It has to be a particular three. Dot, myself, and Shirow." Grey's brow furrowed as he was silent for a long moment processing what Asha had said. Finally, he asked, "Why?" "Suhuy was right- they are going to need one of us to go with them, but I can't. Shirow will be an acceptable substitute." "But we haven't seen him for about as long as Rook," Grey objected. "And if he doesn't want to be found..." "He knows the obligations of the Blood." Grey looked quizzically at Asha as she began to sing- but what she sang was nothing that should have been generated by a human mouth. It was a techno-beat with decidedly dour overtones; a tune that carried both the pinnacle of hope and the depths of sorrow. It was a songline. The answer was not long in coming, though it seemed reluctantly given. Asha stood motionless for a long moment, then reached out her hand, pulling through what seemed to be an apparition- something to frighten children as they prepared to sleep at night with the tales of ghosties and ghoulies. Dressed in tattered black rags covered by a cloak that seemed to shimmer as it reflected the space behind it, the figure reached up towards the cloth veiling it's face revealing an asiatic man of indistinct age, with eyes that had seen too much over his lifetime. A huge rifle was in one hand, a plain black scabbard over his back, but other than that, he carried nothing visible. He bowed low to Asha. "Shirow," Grey said, his eyes narrowing as Asha returned the bow, slightly shallower. As he straightened, the demands of honour fulfilled, he looked around the room, assessing everyone with a glance, his eyes missing nothing as he catalogued all that was in the room. Even in repose, there was a dark violence about him that seemed inbred- one that was unsettling. "Shirow, this is Dot. She will be your charge, and I believe in keeping her safe and helping her meet her goals, you can reach your own." He said nothing, merely regarding her with intense scrutiny. "Dot, this is Shirow. I believe that you have a lot in common, and can help him, even as he helps you." She regarded Shirow, even as she continued to talk to Dot. "He is currently pledged to me by bonds of loyalty, but I believe that what he is bound to you by bonds transcend mere loyalty to Blood. If you accept this, you will have a more potent weapon than you can ever imagine." From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Tue Jan 11 13:41:05 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Tue Jan 11 13:41:32 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Re: Cyberia: Spirits in the Material World Message-ID: It was a songline. +++++ Dot listened intently as she recognized it for what it was, trying to divine the soul it spoke of. +++++ The answer was not long in coming, though it seemed reluctantly given. Asha stood motionless for a long moment, then reached out her hand, pulling through what seemed to be an apparition- something to frighten children as they prepared to sleep at night with the tales of ghosties and ghoulies. "Shirow," Grey said, his eyes narrowing as Asha returned the bow, slightly shallower. As he straightened, the demands of honour fulfilled, he looked around the room, assessing everyone with a glance, his eyes missing nothing as he catalogued all that was in the room. Even in repose, there was a dark violence about him that seemed inbred- one that was unsettling. "Shirow, this is Dot. She will be your charge, and I believe in keeping her safe and helping her meet her goals, you can reach your own." He said nothing, merely regarding her with intense scrutiny. "Dot, this is Shirow. I believe that you have a lot in common, and can help him, even as he helps you." She regarded Shirow, even as she continued to talk to Dot. "He is currently pledged to me by bonds of loyalty, but I believe that what he is bound to you by bonds transcend mere loyalty to Blood. If you accept this, you will have a more potent weapon than you can ever imagine." +++++ "I... I accept," she said as she watched Shirow move. A thousand questions rose in her mind ~how are we related? How will I help you?~ She subdued them in favor of her goals. "When do we leave?" "Now," Asha replied. "Grey- you have command. We might be coming back hot, so be prepared." She looked towards Shirow and Dot, and nodded. For his part, Shirow was quiet, his too intent gaze never settling on anything, but absorbing everything as he followed Asha from the room. Taking the elevator again, they proceeded upward in the structure- but this time they didn't stop at the observation level, instead, heading even higher. After a few moments, the lift stopped. "This is as high as it can still go- we'll have to proceed on foot to get to the roof," Asha explained. Stepping from the lift, they emerged on a floor that might as well have been the roof- it was completely exposed to the elements other than the immediate area around the lift. The windows had been blown out in some long ago conflict, leaving only glass shards as testament that it was ever sealed. Taking the stairs to the next level, it proved to be worse. "Watch your step," Asha cautioned as she trailblazed the path for them to follow. The structure of the floor had been weakened, and in places, wires and pipes stuck up at odd angles, strangely resembling fingerbones, as if those who had died here thrust their hands up in revenge. They bypassed the stairs on this level, and it was plain to see why- the stairwell was open to the sparse sunlight- the stairs themselves obliterated by whatever had caused the gaping hole. Instead, they came to a ladder that had been propped up to access an old hatch to the roof. Climbing the ladder proved to be a challenge in and of itself- it swayed precariously as their weight tested its mettle- thankfully it proved to hold up, and soon they found themselves on the roof. A spectacular view awaited them- you could literally see for miles. There were only a couple of buildings in the tatters as tall as this one- and skyscraper fit as a description very well. They could almost taste the moisture in the air as they walked through the clouds towards the AV. Asha and Shirow both stayed low, and motioned for Dot to do the same- soon it was apparent why, as a sudden gust of wind blew over the rooftop, chilling them to the bone. They hurried towards the Merlin, it's sleek form awaiting them on the roof. It's matte black surface seemed to absorb the spare sunlight rather than reflect it, it's lines aerodynamic in the extreme, disturbed only by the vector-thrust nacelles. Asha inputted the sec-codes for the vehicle's rear entrance ramp; waiting as it slowly descended. Once inside, she closed the door, shutting out the world behind them. The control panels rezzed to life, casting the interior in the bare glow of their screens. "Shirow, take the pilot's seat," Asha commanded, turning to Dot. "Choose one of the rear seats," she said to her, even as she took another. The smart-seats reconfigured themselves to the their occupants, even as a low growl reverberated through the Merlin as Shirow fired up the engines. The vector-thrust vehicle had been styled after its namesake to be sure. Compact as it was, the sleek aircraft still hummed with predatory strength. Shirow slipped on his HUD headset and interface gloves. The Merlin immediately responded, shuddering and shifting as if ready to pounce. A sensual female voice echoed the positive results of a rapid series of weapon and system. Shirow grunted as he heard the voice. "I didn't get the chance to reprogram it yet," Asha said in way of explaination. "Besides, Rook..." She faltered, and Shirow completed the line. "...might be back," he said. "Lillith," he continued, his voice low. "All systems ready?" "All systems nominal," the Nav-Com purred. Shirow lifted off and piloted the aircraft into the air, arcing towards the far away Serenity Towers. "We'll be in broadcast range in 90 minutes," he said, then lapsed into silence, concentrating on piloting the craft. "90 minutes," Asha echoed. "Did you have any other questions? If not, we'll jack in locally, so I can transfer some utilities to you. We can stage from there- I'll tether you as you make your way into the Deep Ether." Dot shook her head, "no questions." She quietly jacked in, thinking vaguely as she did, "Lillith? Odd name." From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Tue Jan 11 13:47:30 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Tue Jan 11 13:47:57 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Cyberia: The Undiscovered Country Message-ID: "90 minutes," Asha echoed. "Did you have any other questions? If not, we'll jack in locally, so I can transfer some utilities to you. We can stage from there- I'll tether you as you make your way into the Deep Ether." Dot shook her head, "no questions." She quietly jacked in, thinking vaguely as she did, "Lillith? Odd name." The disorientation as she jacked in was more intense that in her trial run- she was completely cut off from the real as the plug blocked input from her more mundane senses in exchange for the input from her UI. But in exchange, her HUD was more intuitive and less obtrusive, responding immediately to her thoughts. The room that she found herself in was featureless grey, only shadows from some unseen light source delineating the corners of the chamber. Momentarily, Asha appeared on the landscape next to Dot. Her avatar was only slightly different from her form in the real- the notable exception being that she did not bother to hide her wings. She sketched her hand in the air, and unlike in Dot's inaugural trip, she could see the exact commands that Asha invoked, rezzing in a subjective table and chairs. "My apologies about the accomodations," Asha said. "We are trying to keep our signature low as we fly in, so no unnecessary processor usage." As they sat, the screen flared to life. "Serenity Towers. Built by Crown over 50 years ago, it is the home of much of what makes Cyberia what it is- for good and bad. What we are concerned with," she said flicking her hand over the screen, "is the broadcast tower- here." At her command, the screen zoomed in on an almost unimaginably tall tower, that terminated in what appeared to be a fine strand extending into orbit. "The ether is ... An overlay of the 'real' world... For lack of a better word, it comprises the superstructure of the real. Noone knows how it was formed," she stopped, tching. "Let me say that noone will _admit_ to knowing how it was formed- but it is unique in shadow. Extending past the surface of the planet, it actually traverses space, though much of the 'Deep Ether' as it is known, is unexplored. Dara directed Morgan towards an entity that exists there- one that she 'thought' was the representation of the Logrus." The screen showed a panoply of images that had been taken in the Deep Ether, and none of it particularly pleasant. "For a while, some expatriates of Chaos had assumed that since it was still useable in a limited form, it must not be destroyed, but merely supressed- or imprisoned." She leaned back in her chair, observing Dot as she continued. "They were wrong, but desperate people will cling to improbable ideas, even when faced with irrefutable proof of the fallibility of their stance." She seemed to be quoting someone, and had a faraway look in her eye. Shaking her head, she continued. "Dara found a perfect pawn in an Alpha- Morgan- who had the qualities they had been attempting to breed for this purpose. He succeeded past their wildest imaginings, releasing this - thing - from the Deep Ether. Fortunately, it has not been able to completely manifest in the Ether- but has been slowly infecting it, in preparation for manifestation in the real. In order to get a pure sample of the being, you'll have to encounter it in the Deep Ether. Fortunately, travel times in the Deep are a fraction of what they are in even the Ether, and you should be able to find it with a minimum of trouble." She sighed. "Unfortunately, it will be much more powerful in it's home desmene." Calling up her own internal interface, Asha motioned, and Dot could see a request for a transfer appear in her own HUD. "Nothing will allow you to defeat the creature, but all you have to do is wound it with this." The program that streamed across was labeled 'Suffusion Ivx'. "All you have to do," she shook her head. "I've been hanging around the wrong company." She transferred a complete intrusion and detection suite to Dot. "It has limited range, so you'll have to get very close. Hopefully you can cloak yourself until that point, attack it, and I can pull you back. But I'm not optimistic of how close you can actually get before it's aware of you. Just remember- you don't have to defeat it. In fact, you probably can't defeat it. Just get your sample, and get out of there." "It looks like we're coming into broadcast range- do you have any questions?" From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Thu Jan 13 18:11:22 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Thu Jan 13 18:11:50 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Cyberia:The Undiscovered Country Message-ID: The disorientation as she jacked in was more intense that in her trial run- she was completely cut off from the real as the plug blocked input from her more mundane senses in exchange for the input from her UI. But in exchange, her HUD was more intuitive and less obtrusive, responding immediately to her thoughts. +++++ Dot hummed as she zipped along. +++++ "We are trying to keep our signature low as we fly in, so no unnecessary processor usage." +++++ Dot nodded. +++++ "Hopefully you can cloak yourself until that point, attack it, and I can pull you back. But I'm not optimistic of how close you can actually get before it's aware of you. Just remember- you don't have to defeat it. In fact, you probably can't defeat it. Just get your sample, and get out of there." "It looks like we're coming into broadcast range- do you have any questions?" +++++ Dot nodded, "how will you know to pull me back? Does this work like normal space, where I just give a push and go on forever?" Dot seemed nervous... or anxious. Her hands were moving for no noticeable reason. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Thu Jan 13 18:13:22 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Thu Jan 13 18:13:48 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Cyberia:The Undiscovered Country Message-ID: "The routine I have you for containing the sample has a callback function embedded in it," Asha explained. "It will notify me the moment that you have completed the mission, and I'll assume to call you back. You can do a direct post to me if you want to change the parameters for some reason," she continued. "As far as the Ether," she began, then paused for a moment to collect her thoughts. "It is a lot like shadow- your imagination will be your motive force. Use the scan routines- they have already been programmed with the parameters of your target, though you may have to tweak them a bit. Once you have a lock, then imagine yourself there. As you need to change your direction, you will need to think about that also." She was silent for a moment again, biting her lower lip. "I've toyed around with the idea of... well." Again she was silent, thinking. "The Deep Ether is very much like deep space, but it is also not in the real. There may be- things- that try to bring you back to this paradigm by affecting your thoughts. Stay focussed, no matter what you encounter." She seemed anxious, and her anxiety seemed to be for Dot. "Be careful. Don't try to take this head on." She chuckled nervously, and a tentative smile crossed her face. "You know, Rook sent me on a mission very much like this- except in my case the threat was more physical. It was necessary, but it wasn't pleasant- for either of us." She looked at Dot fondly. "I think I understand a bit more of what he went through." "I'm sure I'll be fine," Dot responded. A screen appeared in mid-air, showing the interior of the Merlin, and Shirow's inscrutable features. "We're in range," he said without preamble, his tone flat. "Any changes in mission parameters?" "No," Asha said, shaking her head. "Just notify me if you see the slightest sign of any visitors." She cut the connection, looking back to Dot. "Ready?" Dot nodded vigorously, "more for this than anything else I've done in the recent past... can I change my avatar on the fly?" From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Thu Jan 13 18:15:27 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Thu Jan 13 18:15:53 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Cyberia:The Undiscovered Country Message-ID: Asha nodded. "Yes- normally it takes a bit of time, but the stealth suite that you are running will allow you to morph your avatar at will," she explained, even as she turned towards an apparently clear portion of wall. The white space began to glow even brighter as they watched, before concentric circles of blackness appeared. The area began to take shape into seemingly a portal into nothingness- a long black tunnel into the dark. "We're at broadcast distance. I'll go with you as far as the edge of the Deep Ether. Then you're on your own." With that, she signed as she gathered her resolve, moving into the tunnel and accelerating in a flash of digital resonance, speeding up the broadcast wave. >From an objective viewpoint, Dot's trip would have looked much the same as Asha's. But POV can make all the difference in an experience. The acceleration was nothing of Dot's doing, but the broadcast repeater, so as soon as she stepped into the port, it was a rollercoaster ride through a tunnel of darkness interspersed with light from the other packets surfing the wave. Before there was even an opportunity to become adjusted to the raw speed of the journey, it was over, and Dot found herself next to Asha, floating weightlessly in a hub on the outer portions of subjective reality. Icons of all sorts flitted by in the hub, some on their way to other destinations, some remaining, exchanging information in bursts of encoded information. The ports on the hub were alive with information, flickering like neon lights in an airport. The information flow seemed constant, with the exception of one port- the port where Asha was leading Dot. "There is not much broadcast traffic to the Deep Ether," Asha said as they closed on the darkened oval. "We won't have much of a wait for a pulse." And as she predicted, only moments after they arrived at the port, the inner portion of the oval blazed with light, and they stepped through, again being propelled at speeds almost beyond imagining. This time, when they stopped, they were at a smaller hub- much less active. Few data packets lit up it's interior, giving the appearance of a dead light bulb. "This is the edge of the Ether, as it broaches the Deep. All paradigms cease here- beyond this point there is only what the inhabitants of the Deep Ether make. You also have this ability- to shape the Deep to your will. Because of this, your resources are almost infinite- limited only by your will and your imagination." As they walked to the rear of the Hub, Dot could see that there was one outbound port that had no seal, no barrier, and no illusions of the material world. "Remember what I said: Once you are outside of this Hub, your mind and your abilities are your most potent weapons. Locate the anamoly, stealth your avatar, will yourself to the anamoly, and take your sample." They were now on the edge of the black void. Smiling confidently, she took Dot's hand. "May the winds be in your favour, and carry you true." Dot gave Asha's hand a rather gentle squeeze, "thank you." She looked like she wanted to say something more but simply glanced at the portal... and entered. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Thu Jan 13 18:17:10 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Thu Jan 13 18:17:36 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Cyberia:The Undiscovered Country Message-ID: After the trip to get to the hub, the transition into the Deep Ether was anticlimactic. There was a shifting as disorienting when she had plugged in for the first time- almost as if she were plugging in again. Then nothing. Darkness deeper than the darkest night surrounded her, interspersed with pinpricks of light- some closer than others, some brigher than others, some larger than others- but all were indistinct at this distance. It was akin to the night sky at it's clearest. She noted that the darkness was kept at bay by a similar light emanating from her own avatar as she floated in the void. A red light pulsed in her HUD, calling for her attention- notification from her navigation software that it awaited her input. Dot looked at the display, wondering for a moment what to use as input. She decided to forego it for the moment, focusing her will on her target before setting system. The HUD reconfigured itself to her thoughts, the scanning software working on the parameters that had been programmed into it. For a long moment, nothing happened, but soon enough, a small red arrow appeared in her HUD, pointing to the left and upward. As she turned in that direction, the arrow became smaller, and adjusted itself to her turn, until it became a dot on her display, pulsing slowly- marking her target in the void. A single line of text scrolled across the lower portion of her vision. "Trace complete. Vector to target?" Dot thought her way through a complex path, setting the computer to take an indirect route before also thinking herself into stealth mode, her clothing becoming an almost perfect blend to the background. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Thu Jan 13 18:18:41 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Thu Jan 13 18:19:06 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Cyberia:The Undiscovered Country Message-ID: The software responded instantly to Dot's thoughts, her configuration changing to a sleeker version of her avatar, angular, mechanical, and armoured against the rigours of space. The curves in her route became more angular as the software plotted vectors over her intended course. "Translation in 5... 4... 3... 2... 1..." The paradigm of the void of space disappeared, her POV changing to be purely digital as Dot's user filters were removed. In a very real way, she was now seeing a true representation of the Deep Ether- and in it's apparently random scatterings of 0's and 1's she saw a form take shape- one that closely resembled the long destroyed pattern. As fast as her trip to this point had been, there was no comparison to her movement in this state. She travelled as if along rails, zooming from one point of her vector to another with no pause to change direction. But just as quickly it was over, as she was jarringly translated back the Ethereal paradigm. Looking around, she could tell that something was terribly wrong, even before her HUD informed her that she was not in her desired destination. Asteroids and detrius floated in space around her- a graveyard of destroyed icons- spinning dizzyingly in the void as her nav automatically adjusted to keep her out of harm's way. Her translation software had been jarred out of phase by something that was not in her databases, her stealth suite compromised, and her shielding programs damaged. She was sure that she could repair it given time- time that she apparently did not have. "Incoming object on intercept course, approaching at unsafe speeds," a line of blinking text announced, even as her AI attempted to perform a passive probe of the object- and failed. A blinking prompt at the bottom of her HUD let her know in no uncertain terms that response to this threat had been placed directly into her hands... Dot's eyes widened. "Meep!" She then tried to pull herself together, quickly. "Best," she muttered, "to dodge." She began flitting about the debris field, looking at what was left of previous intruders. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Thu Jan 13 18:22:39 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Thu Jan 13 18:23:05 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Cyberia:The Undiscovered Country Message-ID: Dot's vision had been overlaid with a wireframe image showing the vectors of the myriad of obstacles that faced her- so it only remained to her to make sure that her own icon didn't intersect any of the lines on the grid. That taken care of, she could then track the incoming, enabling her to keep the bulk of the debris between her and the unidentified object seeking her- a little more difficult, but she managed it with considerable aplomb. But that did nothing for getting her closer to her target- she got the idea that if she was not in the field of broken icons that her pursuer would be able to overtake her in little time- her greater maneuverability and smaller size worked to her advantage to keep it off of her. Looking to the dead icons, she could see that many were merely programs- but there were a few avatars here and there- meaning that people had actually died here. The fact that the icons had fragmented rather than derezzed completely meant that they had been attacked with overwhelming force- their terminus had been overloaded, preventing garbage collection. Looking to her selection of defensive and offensive programs, she didn't think that she had anything that could directly withstand such power- though she did have a couple of worm programs that could do amazing things given time, and there was always her stealth suite- if she could repair it on the move... Dot looked around at the fragments, and considered her options. Maybe she could write something together... She twisted toward the remnants of a trace program and began putting together a distraction, adding features as time permitted... which she didn't figure would be long. Manipulating code on the fly was not a simple thing to do for most people, but for Dot, it seemed to come more naturally than using a canned program. Flitting about the field of wreckage, she cannibalized the code fragments, even while keeping the intruder at bay by keeping large chunks of debris between herself and it. A small break in the wreckage let her see what she was up against, and though her AI was not able to identify it, the icon was enough to give nightmares. She could see why only parts of the avatars were present- the other parts had been cannibalized to make the monstrosity she saw. It warped depending on the angle one saw it at, and she make out multiple broadcast frequencies coming from it, creating a horrid screech not totally unlike the noises that Pretty had made... From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Thu Jan 13 18:49:39 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Thu Jan 13 18:50:05 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] RE: Cyberia:The Undiscovered Country Message-ID: Dot considered her options, and set about trying to set up counterfrequencies, perhaps weakening the assault she was receiving, and maybe disturbing the creature. She ducked behind more detritus, and let her first creation go, perhaps to cause havoc... But hopefully to give her a little more time. The worm streaked towards the hostile program, which didn't even bother to dodge. It seemed that its instincts were correct- Dot's projectile splashed against the program's code on impact, spreading to become only a small stain on its outer shell. Opening it's main orifice wide, the construct vomited a massive cone of energy towards Dot, and even as it bore down on her, she could discern that the code algorithms were indeed of the same style as those that had 'possessed' Pretty. But none of that mattered now, as her alerts were blaring the hostile nature of the streams of energy heading towards her. She was only barely able to find a piece of code large enough to obscure her avatar- it sizzled and popped with the impact, and though it held, would be unable to stand up to a sustained assault. ...defect in code found. routing exploit... The callback from her creation finally reported, at the same nanosecond that the assault ceased. Though it did not appear that her worm was causing significant damage, it was indeed proving to be an effective distraction... For now. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Tue Jan 18 20:11:18 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Tue Jan 18 20:11:55 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] RE: Cyberia:The Undiscovered Country Message-ID: The program's icon instantly came to life on her HUD, even as she saw it detach from her own avatar, blossoming into four hooked, tentacle-like lines. Streaking through the ether, they homed in on their target, embedding themselves into it's code. An unearthly shriek emanated from the construct, and her own readouts maxed out, her inputs threatening to cut out on her. Barely holding onto consciousness, she watched as the probe sliced into the subject, dissecting it into the binary code that was it's lifeblood. Much code was thrown away as redundant and unuseable- apparently, even though it had fully transmogrified its victims, parts of their original functions remained. Even through the intense pain, Dot's brain still analyzed the data streaming into her ui, discerning that before this beast was created, it had been a user- much like herself. The virtual table mapped itself at seemingly a snail's pace, routing the method pointers back to their memory space within the immense program. It seemed to sense that it's vital functions were threatened, as it launched one last attack, shredding the icons that were Dot's meager cover. If she disabled the probe, she was sure that she could easily dodge the attack- though all of her work would be lost. Otherwise, it would be very close... Dot would not release, dedicating her thoughts to pressing the attack. The tendrils tying her to the construct proved to be her undoing- the attack wended it's way along the cord, delivering it's payload directly into Dot's interface. Her weakened shields began to give way before the intensity of the attack, as she for the first time was reminded of her meat body back in the hovercraft. Though she didn't know how she knew, something bad had happened. All of her indicators were redlining, and if she'd had to make the ultimate effort to stay conscious after the last attack, this was exponentially worse. ...shields at 23%... Her only distraction lay in the user beneath it all... something itched in the back of her brain. "Which one are you? Order trying to cloak itself in Chaos." "Random?" As that name escaped into the ether, the attack suddenly relented, leaving her facing a blank cursor in her interface. Text scrolled onto the prompt. "Who are you?" From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Tue Jan 18 20:21:14 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Tue Jan 18 20:21:35 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] RE: Cyberia:The Undiscovered Country Message-ID: "Random?" As that name escaped into the ether, the attack suddenly relented, leaving her facing a blank cursor in her interface. Text scrolled onto the prompt. "Who are you?" +++++ Dot took a breath, trying to recover for a moment before responding. "I'm Dot, renegade Chosen... and possibly a clone of Fiona. Are you Random?" There was no response for the longest moment. Dot's interface recovered from whatever the attack had done, and slowly showed the progress of the sampling program. Finally, the prompt came to life again. ... Random(x) x='Fiona' ... Child process spawned. Improper input. Function Terminated. Parameter rejected. ... x=? The question mark blinked with a quiet urgency, the construct strangely quiescent as it awaited ... something. Dot looked at the cursor, uncertain. After all the speculation... well, she'd never tested herself against any of the samples. She could be Merlin's child... or Bleys'. It would make sense that the clone of Bleys and Fiona would watch over one of them. But it wasn't empirical. "Unknown. Exchange samples?" From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Tue Jan 18 20:22:19 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Tue Jan 18 20:22:41 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] RE: Cyberia:The Undiscovered Country Message-ID: "Unknown. Exchange samples?" +++++ At the issued command, it seemed that the tendrils exuded from Dot's program became bi-directional- she could feel alien code rifling through her avatar. While not hostile, it was also not altogether pleasant, as memories flitted through her consciousness like pages being turned in the wind. It was very close to the clich? of 'your life flashing before your eyes'- uncomfortably close. Then just as quickly as it had come, the presence withdrew, the cursor blinking again in the silence. . .. ... analysis complete DNA scan complete 90% match initiating subroutine Random(x) x='Dot' ... Child process spawned. Improper input. Function Terminated. Parameter rejected. ... x=? Again the cursor winked at her from her screen, glaring almost balefully at her. But this time, in addition, there was an icon from her AI in the upper right corner, a green question mark, with the floating text, 'types of actual and formal parameters must be identical. derived classes are acceptable input parameters.' As she pondered that point, her attention was drawn to the progress of Asha's routine- it had apparently stalled, and the construct was becoming more agitated... From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Tue Jan 18 20:24:31 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Tue Jan 18 20:24:53 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] RE: Cyberia:The Undiscovered Country Message-ID: Dot blinked. In the exchange of information she'd ignored the routine, and now it seemed to be pressing... she deactivated it. "90 percent?" She muttered. What else could be in her coding. Pattern. Who else? Bleys? The idea began to really bother her. And how did this thing have Fiona's DNA on file? She looked at the coding. It didn't look right. Not familiar. x='Dorothy Sullivan' And then it struck her that she'd taken the last name of her father. She'd assumed that cloning had occurred to create her, but it was entirely possible that she'd been produced in the... traditional way. +++++ As the construct once again churned the information that Dot had provided, she was taken down the path of her memories. There seemed to me a more concentrated effort, as the process focussed on her recent memories- particularly those since she had come to Cyberia. The images sped by faster than she could process, slowing down only briefly... +++++ To Asha, [Mandor] said, "This ... Rook. Did he have some other name? Some other identity?" There was a sharpness in his tone. +++++ Again the replay sped up, but only momentarily, as another scene was brought into focus. +++++ She looked at Dot for a long moment, then to Suhuy, as if trying to mentally connect dots between the trio- wondering about their relationship. Then she looked back to Mandor. "A long time ago, Rook told me that you can never trust anyone, especially not family. I responded that I hoped I'd never get that cynical." A wry grin stole across her face at the memory. Sighing she closed her eyes, as if trying to contain the image that had brought her a fleeting happiness, and her eyebrows beetled at the effort, before she finally opened them again. Sighing sadly, she said, "Martin. Rook's real name is Martin." +++++ The feed sped up again, bringing Dot back to the present, as the process ended. analysis complete DNA scan complete 90% match initiating subroutine Random(x) x='Dorothy Sullivan' ... Child process spawned. Improper input. Function Terminated. Parameter rejected. ... x=? More insistently, the cursor reappeared. Instead of the help icon in the upper portion of her display, a red dot was displayed, the message beside it: //warning: construct resuming offensive patterns. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Tue Jan 18 20:26:12 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Tue Jan 18 20:26:32 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] RE: Cyberia:The Undiscovered Country Message-ID: "Bother," Dot cursed as she plugged in the provided Data. x='Martin' +++++ For a long moment, the cursor blinked steadily at the prompt as the construct moved towards Dot. She could see it fully now; the almagam of the remnants of the avatars it had destroyed blended into its warped form. Mouths moved silently in the creature as it loomed large in Dot's HUD. Random(x) x='Martin' ... Child process spawned. Thread active. Processing. ... Processing. ... Child. ... Child? ... Martin? ... Who ... are you? Mental processes unused for eons turned as binary data gave way to remnant memory. A voice scratchy with disuse echoed through the ether. A voice more than synthesized binary data, but less than human. A voice filled with pain and weariness. A voice that echoed the words emblazoned on Dot's command line. "Who ... are you?" "Umm... Dot. But I really don't know anymore than you do. Maybe less." Dot could feel her face reddening as she spoke, "but I could fill you in on everything I do know." and without further ado she started in on a very abbreviated relation of her journeys... From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Tue Jan 18 20:28:27 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Tue Jan 18 20:28:48 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] RE: Cyberia:The Undiscovered Country Message-ID: "Umm... Dot. But I really don't know anymore than you do. Maybe less." Dot could feel her face reddening as she spoke, "but I could fill you in on everything I do know." and without further ado she started in on a very abbreviated relation of her journeys... +++++ As she disgorged her recent history, the entity stopped her at times to ask questions. Most of them whenever she named an Amberite, she noticed. But for the most part it just let her speak. She did notice that its speech became more and more human sounding, though still stilted, and sometimes tinged with synthesizer static. Even its form changed, becoming less horrific; more and more, one face seemed to dominate the form now, though even still, another would surface as a bursting postule occasionally, before being drawn back into the form. When she was finally through, silence filled the air for a long moment, until finally the construct spoke. "In... In another life, I was the Amberite known as Random," it said, it's voice a melange of synthesizer hiss and human sorrow. "In my latter days, I was King of Amber, or what was left of it after Patternfall. King not through pussiance of arms, nor strength of character, but through compromise and chance- a fitting ascent for one called Random, I suppose." If a machine could sigh, Dot sensed that the empty silence after that last would have been filled with one. "I can't say that everything was exactly well during my rule, but I tried to be the King I thought I should be. It became increasingly hard, day after day. It seemed I was losing myself, and I never understood why. My wife suffered alongside me, but she was no balm to the pain I felt as I increasingly did things and made decisions that I never would have, had I been myself." The face that the construct had chosen winced in remembered pain, even as it forced the continuation of its tale. "Then came the blackouts. I knew something was amiss, but the chirurgeons could make nothing of it, and I never would have guessed the source, and never did until it was too late." "One of the symbols of the Rule of Amber was the Jewel of Judgement- an artefact of surpassing power. My brother, Eric, died after a short rule, attempting to wield its power in the defence of Amber." Snarling Random said, "At least he should have died on the steps of Kolvir! Then I would still have life!" The face began to break up as the subsumed avatars within the construct fought for control. It was a disturbing thing as the ghosts of long dead users passed across the huge face, each wanting control of the construct. But eventually, Random was able to supress them, regaining control, both of the construct, and of his emotions. "The Jewel saved Eric, after a manner of speaking. For long years, his soul occupied it, even as I wore it. He slowly took control of my body, my life, and imprisoned me within my own mind." Again he stopped for a long moment, this time closing what approximated for eyes, as he turned his focus within. "I... Don't know how I escaped. Or even if it really was an escape. Eric is a real bastard, but I hate to admit that the only person that could really match him for wits was Corwin. All I really know is that I escaped from one prison into another, driven like some rat in a maze for this damnable experiment of Eric's..." He stopped, and in a person, it would have been a respite for breath. But in the Random-Construct, it was a fight for life. The avatars within him fought doggedly to pull him back under. Finally, he regained tentative control, but it was obvious that he was struggling. With his return to control, Asha's program restarted spontaneously, showing that a 100% pure sample had been retrieved. "Here... I don't know what you can do with it, but if you make Eric pay at all..." He stopped again, directives attempting to restrain him, as his face began to disappear in a digitized storm. "Go... Before I revert, but please..." The construct looked almost ready to explode from the stresses put on it by the avatars' battle within it, but Random struggled to get out his last words, "...tell Martin that it wasn't his fault." With that, the swarm of avatars overwhelmed Random's face within the construct, the icon reverting to it's former monstrous state. Apparently Random still exerted some control, for the construct didn't immediately attack... but this could change at any time... From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Wed Jan 19 15:10:06 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Wed Jan 19 15:10:30 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Cyberia:The Undiscovered Country Message-ID: Dot activated the signal Asha had embedded within the program and moved as quickly as she could, away from the construct, glancing back at the morass of faces with a trace of fear. +++++ The construct immediately began to follow, and though it's pace was stilted, it was still faster than Dot could manage, her translation software still being damaged. Bubbling like a digital tar, the construct roiled through the Ether towards her, faces snapping at her from within the morass of code fragments. ...lock obtained... Suddenly, Dot translated, not of her own accord, as the recall software activated and sped her through the Deep Ether. Again vectoring at incredible speeds through the understructure of the Ether, the binary data distending in her visuals as she rocketed towards her destination, Dot angled towards the hub from which she had first entered the Deep Ether. As her speed tapered off, she could see the station approaching in the distance. The retrieval bay enveloped her as she was drawn into the hub, the dark of the Deep Ether giving way to the lights of the interior of the station. Her feet on solid ground again, her first sight as she stepped onto solid ground was Asha, waiting anxiously by the gantry, her concern apparent in her expression, and the slight whitening around her knuckles as she gripped the railing. "You made it," she said, her eyes bright. "Are you ok?" Dot had the appearance of someone who'd just had an electric anal probe. Her eyes were wild and intense, her hair slick with sweat, and her hands shaking. "I think we need to get out of here." From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Wed Jan 19 15:14:28 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Wed Jan 19 15:14:51 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Cyberia:The Undiscovered Country Message-ID: Dot had the appearance of someone who'd just had an electric anal probe. Her eyes were wild and intense, her hair slick with sweat, and her hands shaking. "I think we need to get out of here." +++++ About to respond, Asha's eyes rolled up into the back of her head as her avatar began to shimmer. For long moments she stood there unmoving, before she was again able to focus on Dot. Her expression had undergone a radical transformation, as she looked worriedly at her charge, taking Dot by the hand. "You're more right than you could have known." At the touch, the transmission that Asha had received replayed for Dot, though it was not as intrusive as it had been for the taller woman, enabling her to follow as Asha ran to the transmission point, her virtual wings leaving trails of light behind her. It was a video from the Real, Shirow's face imposed over what seemed to be a warzone. "Asha," he began in a tone that belied his current situation, "we are under attack- I cannot maintain broadcast height for much longer." The ship shook in punctuation to his remark as some ordinance exploded nearby. "Only the cloak has saved us so far, but I estimate that we have less than 2 minutes before they are able to obtain a positive lock." "I'll do the best I can, but haste is advised. End Transmission." The video winked off in her HUD, even as they reached the transmission point. "You first," Asha motioned. Dot took a moment to look as she willed herself to be translated. The edges of this reality looked pixalated in places, and she could almost feel the once king keeping himself in check as she winked out of existence in one reality, and found herself blinking into another. The vehicle rocked for a moment, and Dot steadied herself with a hand, though she had no need to with the harnesses that had kept her in place. She looked to Asha before saying anything. Asha's eyes fluttered, but didn't open. "We're almost out of time," Shirow's voice came over the comm. "Ready back there?" Dot looked forward, although she couldn't see Shirow. She waited for Asha to return before responding, the 'go' waiting in the back of her throat. Asha's face twisted in obvious pain, as her readouts spiked on the monitor screen. It was painfully obvious that something had happened- and she wasn't going to return on her own. Flak burst in the air nearby, reminding her of the importance of time... Dot reached toward her, her hands coming to rest on Asha's head and jack. She started to concentrate, adding speed and strength as best she could... knowing that the heavens could rain down upon them for her actions. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Wed Jan 19 15:18:16 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Wed Jan 19 15:18:37 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Cyberia:The Undiscovered Country Message-ID: Dot reached toward her, her hands coming to rest on Asha's head and jack. She started to concentrate, adding speed and strength as best she could... knowing that the heavens could rain down upon them for her actions. +++++ Asha's body twitched at the contact, and there was a blip on the screen- but not much other than these symptoms did Dot see. She did feel power leave her, and a wrenching of local space... "What's going on back there," Shirow's voice interrupted. He seemed so far away, his voice seeming to come from the end of a tunnel. "Our cloak has been disrupted, there was some energy pulse... And now they are locking on. Taking evasive action..." Dot could hear the strain in his voice, and wasn't sure if this anamoly was because she was better able to read him, or because of the fact that Shirow was actually panicing... The Merlin shook as an explosion detonated very close to the ship. "I'm not sure how long I can hold this!..." Asha's eyes fluttered, but did not open. She was fighting, that much was obvious, as sweat rolled down her face, her brow creased as if in concentration. Finally, her eyes opened, weakly. Her mouth formed the words *Thank you* before she lost consciousness. The AV rocked with another explosion, and the metal screamed in protestation. "We can't take another hit like that! Talk to me! We need to get out of here!" "Go!" Dot yelled as she secured herself better. She wondered, briefly, if another burst of satellite fire would sear past them, destroying things they had been near, before she looked at Asha. Sweet Asha. They'd known each other only a short while, but Dot was certain they were becoming friends. The craft jerked while Dot looked at the sweat drenched face of her friend. What had happened? She'd have to wait for the answer. From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Wed Jan 19 15:25:53 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Wed Jan 19 15:26:15 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Cyberia:The Undiscovered Country Message-ID: The small craft, while not up to direct combat with the forces of Crown, was more than up to eluding them. Slowly they began to pull away, though the shots from the larger craft were nothing to be ignored... Through it all, Asha slept, though it seemed that the sleep might not have been as restful as hoped for. Something dogged her even in her sleep, as her eyes fluttered and her face winced against some pain. The craft banked hard- the minions of Crown were nothing if not persistent. Even when it was obvious that they could not catch the Merlin, they still stayed on the craft's tail. But, though there were some close calls, Shirow guided the craft deftly back to the Tatters. "Dot..." Asha stirred, her green eyes fluttering open. "...not home. Wastelands. Tell Shirow." She tried to speak more, but her strength failed her, and blessed unconsciousness claimed her once more. It was like whispered rage. Hurt and fear threaded her voice: "Shirow! The Wastelands! Go to the Wastelands!" From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Thu Jan 20 23:13:22 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Thu Jan 20 23:13:43 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Cyberia:The Undiscovered Country Message-ID: << It was like whispered rage. Hurt and fear threaded her voice: "Shirow! The Wastelands! Go to the Wastelands!" >> Again the Merlin banked as Shirow altered course. His voice rang through the cabin. "What you say makes sense... But what about the barrier? I don't know of a way past it." Dot thought. She could use a songline, but she'd never tried one. She could shift, but it might bring down the wrath. Honestly, she said, "I don't know. Head for it. I'll try to think of something." +++++ Cyberia was vast- larger than most shadows. Possibly it was because of the lack of a 'fringe' in Cyberia- there were no other realities like it, no adjacent shadows. You were either 'in' Cyberia or not; it was closed to normal shadow-shifting. Why was the case was unknown- perhaps the meddling of one of the several elders that resided there, perhaps something else... But what was known was that there was a presence above Cyberia that enforced this barrier with a draconian force- obliterating any that attempted to circumvent it's charge with a ruthless prejudice. Dot had arrived courtesy of the Chaosian Suhuy, and thus had skirted around this issue before- now it seemed to confront her directly to solve it, with no clues as to what would be the catalyst to access the whole of shadow without destroying herself in the attempt. The information banks on the craft yielded information to her- but none of it was good. Without shifting, the only way out of Cyberia was past the Wall- and through the Cannibal Sectors beyond. After an hour of travel, they still had about that long to go. It was while pondering this conundrum that she saw Asha stir once again in the chair where she reclined. She moaned, as she forced her eyes open with some effort. "Dot?" She winced at the dim light in the cabin. "I take it we made it out ok..." She looked over to the smaller woman. "Are you ok? How far are we from the Wall?" "An hour," Dot replied, looking at Asha. The light cast upon her face made her seem more gentle. "I'm alright... are you?" From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Thu Jan 20 23:14:48 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Thu Jan 20 23:15:06 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Cyberia:The Undiscovered Country Message-ID: "An hour," Dot replied, looking at Asha. The light cast upon her face made her seem more gentle. "I'm alright... are you?" +++++ Asha nodded, smiling. "I'm not sure what happened ... There was a surge of energy- a blockage of some sort. Then another surge, destroyed it." She shook her head. "It seemed like some sort of transmission gone awry- nothing specifically targetted against me- in fact, it might have actually been *for* me." Returning her seat to the upright position, she swivelled to face Dot. "Mandor and Suhuy are gone- they're not in the Plaza anymore. Something terrible has happened- is happening," she said, as she screwed her eyes shut trying to remember. "It's all so jumbled," she continued, her palm pressing against her forehead. She fell into silence, gathering herself, before finally opening her eyes, focussing on Dot. "I can't even relate the whole experience - but what is clear is that this is where we part." "I need to get back to my people- to see what's happened. But your path lies elsewhere. And we have to get you back on it." She looked from Dot. "Shirow. We need you back here to discuss our next move." Shortly, Shirow came to the back of the craft, seating himself in one of the seats, his almond eyes regarding the two ladies gravely. "I took it for granted that you wanted me to slow our progress," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. Asha merely nodded. "We need to get you two to the Wastelands- Dot's progress mustn't be hindered any longer. But there's the problem of the barrier, and the guardian. I don't have any knowledge of the way that the others get past it, so I have an idea of my own. Since the Ascension, the Guardian has been a bit slower to respond than usual- and the farther you get from the centre of Telos, it seems the worse his response is. I'm thinking that it's a result of the Bleed." She looked at the two for a long moment, making sure they were following her. "Your flight will have to be rapid- you'll have to hellride through." "But the Guardian..." Shirow responded immediately. "Will be too busy with another interruption. I'll take flight in the other direction. And Storm Ride back to the Plaza." Shirow was already shaking his head. "That's suicide! It's even worse than Hellriding from what you told me before!" As Asha started to talk, Shirow continued on, for once animated. "The Wastelander that held Asha... Brought her here. Their gang was in a bad way- a deal gone bust. He tried to Storm Ride out of Cyberia, and got himself and both gangs fried." "But," Asha quickly interjected, "I won my way free. My speed, flight, and etheric vision allowed me to see the beam before it struck, and respond." "It's too risky..." Shirow shook his head. "But it's the only way..." Dot nodded numbly, "I'll come back sometime... after things have been fixed." She looked over Asha, uncertain of her own feelings, but knowing that even with the little time they'd known each other there would be a deep absence without her. "I'll go." From cyberiagm at gamera.cc Thu Jan 20 23:16:46 2005 From: cyberiagm at gamera.cc (Cyberia GM) Date: Thu Jan 20 23:17:06 2005 Subject: [Cyberia] Cyberia:The Undiscovered Country Message-ID: Dot nodded numbly, "I'll come back sometime... after things have been fixed." She looked over Asha, uncertain of her own feelings, but knowing that even with the little time they'd known each other there would be a deep absence without her. "I'll go." +++++ Asha knelt next to Dot, and hugged her. "I know you will," she said, her face shuttered. "Just make sure you fix everything first," she added, forcing a smile onto her face. Dot nodded dumbly. She turned to Shirow. "Take care of her," she said, taking his hands into hers. He said nothing in return. Nothing needed to be said. "You'll need to shift in tandem. When you hear the cracking from the beam scouring the surface, fly like the wind. You won't have a large window, and you need to break through the barrier as quickly as possible." She smiled wryly. "I can't exactly repeat the distraction." She paused, looking at the two of them, before speaking again. "Let's get on with this, then," she said, moving towards the door. Placing her palm on the lock, she watched as the door opened. The Merlin was moving slowly, so only the stench of the blasted wastes- a result of the pollutants of the MultiNats- assailed them. Asha crouched by the open door for only a moment, looking back at Dot. Then with a smile, she was gone, and her wings unfurled, catching the sparse sunlight as they caught the drafts and she sped away. Finally the reserves that held Dot began to seep. She sniffed noisily as tears traced her cheeks. She stood, silent with sorrow. "Close the door," Shirow said at last, making his way to the front. "Do you know of a specific location in the Wastelands you'd like to shift to? I'd not like to be working against you unbeknownst when we're in such a hurry..." "No," Dot replied as she dried her face with her sleeve. "But I could describe the place Suhuy and I went through. We could aim for that if don't know of one better." A grunt and a nod were Shirow's only reply, as he settled into the control seat, motioning for Dot to take the co-pilot's seat. As she described the location, Shirow listened intently, starting the Merlin back along it's course at half speed. They cruised for a few minutes before the craft began to buck against a wave of energy, detritus assaulting them from behind. A cloude of black eclipsed even the bare sun, engulfing them in darkness. "Now," Shirow said, calmly, his voice almost a whisper. The craft lurched forward and upward, into the nuclear sky, shooting from the cloud like a bullet from a pistol- a crack sounding as they broke the sound barrier. Shirow's face was set in a grim line as he began to concentrate on shifting the craft... Dot concentrated, her thoughts focusing as deeply as she could on a land she'd seen only briefly in the past. But it was tainted with the sadness of having to leave Asha behind.