A.M.P.E.-Experiment in Terror

[Rufus the Mad]

Like a shining beam of pure sunlight, Orin let a warm smile ease its way across his visage, sweeping low in a bow of deference to the young woman before him, and raising up once more with both a keener understanding, and a sense of accomplishment washing through his being. She had harbored no vindictive spite, no wounded pride at the revelation of his deception... she had simply shone displeasure, nay, true anger at the thought of being deceived for no cause. Interesting means of working oneself through life… The fey-kin could appreciate the truth behind her argument, and though he had only hinted at the reasoning behind his illusion, he had found her both receptive and understanding to the alluded reasoning. The Bard wondered, however, just what had occurred in her past, or more to the point, the recent past to have cured her so against the prospect of being deceived…

Showing nothing of his comprehension, howe’re, the Bard let fall his honeyed eyes to the woman once more, and said ”Surely thou art aright, maiden. We should not abandon our stout compatriot to the wiles and ways of this most amusing and confounding of situational mores. Afore we retire once more to his fair presence, howe’re…” he added with a slight tilt of his head, catching her eyes with his own as he drew his shaggy brows together in a slight note of discord ”It may be better to return to him as a unified front, as friends… if for naught else, then to allow him the ease of comprehension that there may be something amiss… To that end, I will introduce myself once more as Orin Therinasi, or simply Orin to my friends… might I now, in the spirit of friendship, be graced with the beauty of your name?”

 

[Sweetp4u]

Beth

She would do her best to let this first impression fade away and give him a second chance as he seemed genuine. She couldn't judge the whole world ... worlds! by her ex's example. As much as she wanted to, she knew it was unfair.

"Of course... A truce." She smiled, relieved that Gwen no longer wished her harm for whatever slight Beth had done, of course she couldn't see Gwen anywhere? Not that she didn't look for the woman..

"Bethany Rose Wilson.. I prefer Beth." Where is she? She scanned over Orin's shoulder and finally looked behind herself, uncaring if the fey-being considered her insane, she knew Gwen was lurking some where?

"I would like that.. Being friends that is." Her attention back on Orin, she motioned him to proceed ahead of her. "We really should get back to John before he thinks something has happened to us. Maybe we can put our collective thoughts together and find a way out of here.. soon!" As much as she didn't want to go and meet another captive, she could find no real reason to excuse or exclude herself from the small adventure. She didn't want to tell them or Gwen she didn't trust any of them, who knew what was real and what wasn't in here? All she had were her instincts and even those had been failing her lately.

She wanted to locate Ben too, find out whatever information she could use to escape this place, but how would she even manage that? She wasn't some space traveling futuristic pirate like John, hell she only watched the shuttle launch, she was in no way linked to it...

Like a lightbulb clicking ON in her mind, she put two and two together. John! He was the only way out of here if he knew how to fly these kinds of things. Her mind halted mid-stride as she realized they were nearing John again. Collecting her thoughts, she knew she'd have to play nice and get along in order to get her ass out of here. It just wasn't sitting well on her mind, how would she get home even if she did escape?

She really was out of her element here and she didn't like that, nor the feeling of being completely helpless in this situation.

 

[IXIHawkeyeIXI]

John was slightly shocked when he heard Gwen speak, and he jumped a bit as he turned. He knew that she was most likely listening, she seemed to be everywhere. But somehow, he thought that he was still able to have a slightly private moment. He was going to have to keep that in mind for later - she most likely was always watching.
At first, he said nothing, simply gathering his thoughts, trying to find the best way to tell her what they did. "Well...I guess the nice way to say it is that we are freelance shippers. We'll work for anybody who can pay the right price. 'Course you wanna know how it really is - we do crime. Mostly smuggling, but we'll do others as well, breaking into places, stealing what there is to be stole. Whatever the job is." His thoughts turned to his crew and he began to smile.
"They're a good crew too - I can trust them with anything, I know that. Always useful in a fight too - 'cept maybe the doctor. Seems to be a bit squeamish when it comes to shootin' folk." He shrugged his shoulders and stood up, brushing the sand off of his pants.

 

[Elayne]

Eve held her breath as the scene around her wavered, like a heat mirage in the Badlands. Her surroundings melted away and recoalesced into what looked much like the ancient paper pictures.

Eve looked around at her new landscape, feeling a wild surge of panic, wondering just how powerful the bio-containment nodule they were looked in would have to be to affect such a dramatic change so quickly. After a moment of reorienting herself, Eve became aware that the Gwen system was wiping an artificial seeming tear from her simulated eyes.

Eve cocked an eyebrow inquisitively, studying the Gwen unit intently for a moment. "I am impressed by your... programming abilities, Gwen," Eve commented dryly, trying to keep her voice neutral, hoping that would have the same effect on Gwen as it had on Ben. Emotional computers... Eve thought with an odd mixture of bemusement and wariness.

 

[Rufus the Mad]

Orin watched her struggle, watched her try so very hard to come to terms with his request for peace. She seemed so near to desperation that the Bard felt almost swayed to stay his games, to trouble her no more with his small subtleties… Yet still, even as he watched, she seemed to come to some hidden fount of inner strength, and stood she then once more the near regal miss that had seemed at first so filled with surety. He smiled encouragingly to her as she spoke, offering her some solace in this all but untenable situation, and secretly glad for the fact that his amusing pastime need not end so soon. ”Well be it then, my dear…” he said with a deep bow and flourish of hand that seemed to so mark those versed in the thespian trades ”Friends we shall be, and Beth shall be the name I put to thee, though in truth, my gloaming tongue does wish for the more melodic rhythms offered by calling thee Bethany, e’en as my more base and terrestrial nature winds rhapsodic over the urge to announce thee ‘Rose’. You are aright most beauteous Beth, in that we should return anon to the presence of our most capable counterpart, and it is alike again in assumption that we stand on the idea of allying our communal focus toward the common good. Surely, in this most unusual of circumstance, t’would we best be served by a combining of wit and watchfulness.”

The nimble Satyr spied the subtle signs that spoke of her wish that he travel forth before her, and as well the furtive hints that she seemed both pestered and preoccupied by the specter of some unseen proximity. So then, e’en as he tripped along afore her, his mincing steps setting his more bestial seeming firmly in her mind as he seemed more akin, for the moment, to the thick-coated and prancing mountain sheep of his distant home, did he shroud a smile from her view. He had sensed the flutter of energies as the shrouded form of Gwen had made herself known, and had smirked inwardly at the casual grace of her deception. The sundering of his ensorcelment had been overlaid with the vibrations of her “cohesion”, and his pricked and highly keen ears had discerned the gist of their commensurate conversation, e’en as he had seemed to listen attentively to the distraught vixen before him. That alone, however, gave him pause in its own right. He had known her more capable than she had alluded to, better versed in the subtle dance of interaction than she had offered during their time together, but her naïve charm and disused tact had allotted her the frank and open truth of the rumbling brutes history, and she had proven herself quite capable of manipulating the strengths of others for her own ends… Perhaps then, his offhanded intention to train her in the ways and means of glamour and bardic charms had not been for naught. Truly, of all he had met here to date, she, the basis for creation in this small and secluded heaven, had proved to be the most capable so far.

He caught sight of the strange pair as he rounded the trees, and sensed then an alteration in the manner of the wench beside him, a newfound resolution that drew him forth from his rambled musings, even as they drew nearer to the hulking John and the near mystical Gwen. Turning his honey-hued eyes toward the now-resolute Beth once more, he saw she had fair locked her gaze on the nearing male, and recognized the registering of some new truth within her paradigm. Still, he could scarce be judged any the lesser for taking the primed opportunity to make a ribald witticism, so he arched one furry brow and said ”T’would seem, dearest Beth, that our most able companion John has found through to ending your search for the wayward Gwen as well! And all without the benefit of knowing there was cause for the hunt!” The humor clear and evident in his visage stole the sting from his words, and he grinned as readily toward the befuddled John as he did to the insecure Beth. His gaze toward Gwen, however, even as short as it was, allowed her to see the comprehension harbored there, and told her, with a candor he rarely allowed, that he had been privy to her trickery… and that they would speak of this anon…

”What say you then, friend John?” he called out then, nearing the pair and speaking as clearly as he knew, out of deference for the admitted dullard before him. ”I remand myself to your capable hands, and ask thee only that you exercise a gentle hand in our transference. I am as a child to the burgeoning skill of your authority in the truth of our transportive needs, and humble myself to your wishes. What say you then, are we prepared to seek out our as yet mysterious fourth, or do you require more time to prepare one of these vehicles? He wandered closer to the strange conveyances parked close at hand, and ran his sensitive fingers over the smooth curves of the contrivance nearest him. ”In truth…” he said slowly, his eyes sliding across the aspects of each ”I see the familiar feature of wheels on this one, but can spy naught of such laborious development on the other. Were this second transposed to water, I would think it a small ship of some kind, yet of a make and disposition I have ne’er seen. Shall we then gather to this odd cart for our travels? For, as able as I am, I had not the wish to loft our party to the air, and had I so wished, I would have been more likely to focus on mine own craft, it being of lighter construct that yon behemoth. Yet there is much here I do not yet comprehend, and thou mayest yet have some magic about you that allows you to accomplish the feat… Thereby do I ask again, which of these fair vessels then shall we utilize for our journey?”

 

[VandalHeart]

Gwen thought about how normal it seemed - to her at least - that a healer would be unwilling to cause harm. Not just because of the various oathes on file under the heading "medical guidlines," but also because it just seemed it would create more work. Psychology seemed to point out that humanity did the least ammount of work for the most ammount of gain. Efficiency was the order of the human mind...usually. But it seemed to point again to the strangeness of this man that he took issue with this fact. For some reason, he didn't respect the doctor. Something made him forgive the healer for this fact though: John didn't seem to be the type of man to shrug off cowardice as he just had. There it was again. More to the story. Gwen was fascinated with him.

OK, she was fascinated with all of them, but John was the one having the conversation with her about his past, not what he wanted or how much trust he didn't have for everyone and everything here. Plus he wasn't trying to include her in the second category, so that helped. Gwen was about to respond to John when the duo returned from the bushes and began working out transportation.

"Well, I can make a bridge so that Beth can drive if she likes, but other than that, I guess how you guys get to Eve is you're choice."

They all looked quizically at her, since earlier they had all heard her say that the fourth containee was unnamed, then she said with closed eyes and thrown back head, as if reminding herself,

"Oh...yeah, her...name is Eve. Probably. Maybe. It's complicated. You guys talk, I sound stupid."

And she ended with an unbelievably cute and evasive smile. All of them saw a hint of "don't hurt/make fun of/point out the idiocy of/stare confusedly at/but mostly don't mostly hurt me."

Meanwhile, Eve was getting used to her new surroundings a bit later thatn the aformentioned others.

"Yeah, well, most of this is preprogrammed. Actually, this is mostly what I made for Beth, now that I think about it. Huh. You and her must be from the same place...not counting dimensional disambiguation, that is. Ever heard the name San Francisco?"

 

[IXIHawkeyeIXI]

John stared at the man for a moment, contemplating what he had said. Something about this man made him nervous. John was never a person to use so many words, he had grown up under the learnings of "Why use seven words when three will do?" And he still lived by that. The fact that this gentleman was using strange words didn't help matters either. Nevertheless, John was able to figure out what he was saying and begin thinking about a response.
"Well I guess you're all right - finding this fourth person ain't gonna hurt nothin'. Fact is this..." He looked at Gwen for just a moment "...Eve person might know a little bit more than we do, and that can always be helpful."
His eyes fell over the two forms of transportation that were available to them - his craft or Beth's car.
"Well personally if you want me to be the one drivin', then we ought not to take the car." Realizing that that might not make a whole lot of sense to Orin, he decided to reword it. "We're gonna take the one without wheels, I'm a little bit more comfortable handling that one. More familiar with it." He looked the others up and down for just a moment and then began making his way back to his Fade.

 

[VandalHeart]

Gwen looked between them all at the statement John had made. Beth seemed a little apprehensive, but kind of intrigued by the prospect of riding in the Fade shuttle. Orin was a different story. It occurred to Gwen that the most advanced technology he was used to was all based on energy manipulation. The only airborn transportation he knew of was winged animals, most of which fell into the category of the bumble-bee: by the tenets of Euclidean physics and aerodynamics, they shouldn't even be able to fly. The funny thing about Orin's world is that they knew more about quantum mechanics than Beth's world, or even John's. Eve's world had started to reapproach the practical applications of it, but there was still so far they had to go. Something that could fly that was designed by intellect instead of biology was going to be something that he'd need either time or some other evidence to get used to. So, she decided to help out.

"Orin, I think you know about a demi-god by the name of Perseus. And his best friend...Pegasus. Well, you've met John already, so it's time for you to meet the Fade trasport shuttle."

She took Orin's elbow in a manner that was slightly alien to him, but now was a time for alien concepts. She figured pushing him foreward to Victorian norms of Beth's dimension would be a good step. Slowly, they approached the Fade.

"Now, John doesn't like the fade very much, but that's because he's more used to something called a Sparkwasp transport. I'm not allowed to make one of those, though, so he has to make due with the Fade. The Fade isn't smart, like Pegasus, and if John messes up, the Fade has to assume that he just knows what he's doing. Basically, it's a boat for the sky. An airship. Now, don't let the prospect of John messing up frighten you because his piloting skills are incredible."

She passed a glance to Beth, hoping she'd follow Gwen's lead. There was a part of Gwen that never wanted her new friends to leave, no matter how mean Beth had been or unapproachable John was. But they were her friends in her mind, and if getting home is really what they all wanted, then that is what she would help them do. With all these things in mind, Gwen knew they would have to start working together if they were going to accomplish anything. When she and Orin reached the steps to the Fade, she let go of his arm and stepped into the shuttle without a sliver of fear showing on her face.

"Trust me. I watched him very closely as he flew over here. He's better than what my data would classify as a professional. I'd say..."

She turned a smile to John.

"...piloting that well might just be illegal."

 

[Elayne]

Eve gave another look around her surroundings, wondering where to start with her questions.

"Who's Beth?" was the first, as Eve turned to face the Gwen again.

The name San Fransico was familiar to Eve. She knew it applied to a valley near where she had fled the Renders before initially being brought to this bio containment module. But her memories of San Fransico were nothing like this sprawling urban wonderland that Beth had illustrated for her. For one thing, there wasn't nearly enough sand.

 

[Rufus the Mad]

Orin furrowed his brow a bit in consternation as John responded. The Fey-born had made a grand gesture of friendship, had even gone so far as to laud the probable qualifications of the brutish human, yet still did he persist in this melancholy vein, still did he seem to bear the bard some measure of contempt for his manner of speech… Had he not apologized anon? Had he not altered his verbose enunciations to better let them fall on simpler ears? Had he not gone so far as to give them both leave to request a more concise declaration of him should the need arise? T’was near maddening to deal with one so stubbornly set against so flitting an affectation…

Yet still, there was naught the Satyr could do to alter the upbringing of his compatriots. He lacked the skill needed to travel the winding ways of time, and had he the means, there would surely be better uses for such talent that tending to the upbringing of those he might someday encounter. Nay, there was precious little he could do to aid them in this augmentation, and little he dared do as yet to alter their present actions or responses… unless he wished to take them over entire. He could only wish, with a growing sense of urgency, that they grow more acquainted with both his mannerisms and ways of communication, even as he grew to know and understand the best ways to convey his rambling ideologies and piqued witticisms. Once having accomplished that, howe’er, they would then be open to the true talents of his bardic training!

His distracted musings were interrupted then by the beauteous personage of Gwen, and Orin could scarce keep the smile from his face as she granted him some small allotment of her knowledge on the vehicle John had chosen. Indeed he had scrutinized it fair well, and could see nothing beyond the hard coldness of human science, o’erlaid, of course with the all-encompassing flow of her own energies. He could see that both she and John were certain of the crafts functioning, could see that John was indeed familiar with the various needs of its operation, and knew enough to comply with their assurances that it would serve their needs… Yet to the Satyr it seemed nothing so much as a mass of dead metal, shot through with the crude and simplistic toolings of science, and as such, seemed somewhat suspect in his mind.

He had come of age in a world where such inflexible views were an oddity, where such zealous tendencies were viewed with pity, if not scorned outright. He could scarce hold any that were not also ingrained with such freedoms to his own standards, and to do so marked him as being just as obstinate and narrow-minded as those worthy of such derision. Of course, he reminded himself, this was a contraption made possible only through the magics that abided here… Alas did he smile then, though not at the patronizing slight that Gwen paid him, but at his own inadequacies. Still, even as he grinned in self reproach did he cock an amused brow toward the earnest nymph before him. Her assumptions on his lack of comprehension, coupled with the genteel and overly-indulgent nature of her attempts at teaching were both endearing and slightly insulting, and were he not able to see the humor in it, he may well have taken offence to her manner, just as he had seen her do over some slight given her of Beth but moments earlier. He had seen plans, designs if you will, for a flying contraption once, and knew well that mankind had long dreamt of soaring the heavens as would the loft birds. An amusing option, surely, in a land where one needed only seek the proper incantation to grow wings of your own. This, then, would be the fruition of one such dream, designed and crafted from someone’s imaginings, and made whole by the application of limited human knowledge and understanding. He had no doubt that the vessel would perform as it had been designed to do, and held some respect for the applications involved. After all, did not the squared sail capture wind enough to e’ev allow his own craft to move as was predicted? Verily, he did hold a place, even in his own magic-centric experiences, for the application of simple truths, but he knew also that there were ways to create that wind far beyond the ken of the most sage of human scholars…

Still, for all her understanding, Gwen had missed a critical bit of information… Normally, he would be less than keen to reveal an exploitable weakness such as this, but it hardly occurred to the Satyr that this simple fact might be anything less than known to all here already, so he felt no qualms as he addressed the maid with a cordial but staying shake of his shaggy head. ”I doubt not either the worthiness of the craft, nor Johns skills as pilot. Yet for myself, alas, there is reason enough for hesitation. My ken, lest it be forgot, have a certain incompatibility with the most base of metals, and it seems fair of me to assume that this vessel contains at least trace amounts of ferrous iron, does it not? Were I to expose myself without restraint to such considerations, t’would surely weaken my physical form, perhaps e’en lend itself to toxic concentrations of such connate matter. How, then, shall I join you aboard this craft without knowing best how to proceed? As well, I am hesitant to subject myself to the harsh… reality of this scientific edifice… I found myself both bereft and weakened while away from the elements of nature afore this, and one could scarce hold me accountable for such reservations.” In truth he could scarce scent the burning ore in the contrivance before him, at least while so near to the other vehicle. He could all but taste the iron and steel buried ‘neath the glossy coat of that sleek but passed o'er vessel, and though it certainly looked as though it might transport them at velocities rivaling Nike herself, he shuddered inwardly to think of trying to clamber within that low chamber that served as a cabin… Surely to enter such a space would be to invite physical harm to his fey spirit, and being encompassed on all sides by the cold grip of iron would most certainly sicken him, perhaps even succeed in ending his existence entirely. At least this Fade, as t’was so named by Gwen, could bear them in a more comfortable, open manner, with at least the wind and sky able to touch his beleaguered seeming, and a clear view about him of the passing views of Nature in all her glory.

 

[VandalHeart]

"Beth is one of the other three containees. The other two are John and Orin. Beth is from late 20th/early 21st century America. Her history is already disambiguated from your in that the alignments of the planets in the Sol system didn't cause the quantum reflux that it did in yours. So, basically, this is San Francisco from your Earth from around 1981, so it should be accurate for both dimensions."

Gwen walked a bit closer to Eve, trying to test her reactions. Gwen was attemtping to build trust, but it was time to gauge it.

"I really do want you to feel as confortable as possible. It's become very clear to me that being here is not on everyone's happy list, and I understand that you probably want to leave, so I want to help. I don't know how to get any of you home, but I'm not going to hinder you."

Meanwhile,

Orin was smelling the oxidation of iron inorrectly and Gwen could see it. She realized that his trepidation was ue to his olfactory sense because his nostrils were flaring. Another explanation was in order, and hopefully he wouldn't react as badly as her last explantion. She hesitated a moment, using the same "in the ear" speaking she had just used to communicate with Beth.

So, first, she said,

"I wasn't trying to speak down to you. You seem to want your weaknesses hidden, and a part of that would include implying weaknesses that don't exist. I was only trying to help you in the manner you seem to prefer. I still think it would be better to simply work with them, but I'm not going to hand them any weapons against you."

Then, out loud, she said,

"The rusty smell you're catching hints of is exhaust - expended fuel. If you get too much of a whiff of it, it could be fatal, but right now, it's just a twinge in your nose, I promise. The Fade is actually made of an alloy called hantridium. It was actually constructed specifically without iron so that it would be unaffected by magnetic fields unintentionally. There is actually a control inside that can activate or deactivate the Fade's magnetic properties. Regardless, the shuttle is made without cold iron and the roof is retractable, so you should be fine, but if you don't want to climb in, then don't."

 

[Sweetp4u]

Beth

She looked helplessly at Gwen, how could she assure Orin of John's talents when she had no clue herself? She fumbled with something to say, anything that might reassure Orin but words just wouldn't form that didn't sound mocking, childish or stupid.

Luckily for her Orin spoke up, although his words were a little confusing she guessed the nature of his problem, "An allergy to metal?" Her brows drew together as she turned to face Orin. "If what you are saying is translating correctly, you have some kind of allergic reaction to metal? Something bad happens to you when you're around it." She spoke with a final tone of voice, she settled it in her mind without his response.

"So take the lamborghini. It's contructed of fiberglass and aluminum, plastics and maybe a little rubber here and there, but this vehicle is totally recycleable." Beth's smile grew to show off her pearly whites, "Besides I love to drive these things...The speed is enough to make you tingle!" Orin might not live through the process of speed, but she'd have a blast driving it!

"So John can fly on over, I'll drive this beauty and if Orin isn't comfortable in either, Gwen can always make a little winding river on over to the next area so Orin can take whatever mode of transportation he's happy with." Problem solved. "You'd think with this technology they'd have some kind of beamer that just magically moves us from one section to the next without having to walk or drive around.." She wasn't being insulting to anyone present or complaining how this place worked, it just seemed logical in her mind to have some kind of transport like that. Hell.. Even a monorail!

"So how we get there isn't really that huge of a deal, let's just get going and each one of us can decide how we're going to do it." Standing around discussing how to get there, allergies to metal.. Which was really weird in her mind... magic? Did he suggest he was magical? Too weird..

Without further ado, Beth simply opened the door and slid into the sleek sports car, her grin growing as was her pulse's speed. "I would say that this car and it's speed AND how sweet it handles is a rush that is better than sex!" She fished for the ignition, finding the keys ready and waiting. Gwen thought of everything.

Turning the car over, it started so easily and purred so softly that Beth felt an even greater rush to her system. "Maybe being captive isn't such a bad thing." She spoke softly to herself as she inspected the interior.

"Gwen? There is a paved road leading to the fourth containee, right?" She didn't want to begin to imagine abusing this babe with off roading... Was it even possible to take a Lamb off road?

 

[Rufus the Mad]

Orin gave a secret smile as the beauteous Gwen spoke to him, recognizing the delicate resonance respondent to the inner ear communication she utilized. He understood the focus it took to do such a thing, knew as well the skill involved, and could not help but be impressed by her wherewithal. He understood, as well, the true depth of their situation… To be able to wield his shortcoming against him, the humans must first have access to the harmful element. He thought again of the human dependence on ferrous Iron, of how it was the cornerstone of their industry, the central component of their way of life, and knew, suddenly, that due to his presence here, due to this single failing of his inhuman physiology, Gwen had completely removed this factor from their new reality! He glanced again at the nearby cityscape, remembering the iron and processed steel it would normally have taken humanity to achieve such a feat… and stood, for a moment, in transfixed awe of the true scope of her duties…

And the oxidation he had scented? Was it truly created simply as a byproduct of this device? Had it simply been an unforeseen connection? He knew better. No matter the construction methods used, no matter the actual reality, he knew enough about the human mind to understand their innate and unknowing connection between scent and their surroundings… Baking bread, the curious sweetness of a campfire… even the salty tang that flowed from a lovers skin, each of these held a near sacred place in the human psyche. The inclusion of that scent, whether it were actual or no, was directly linked to the reality she hoped they would expect. More bluntly put, some small part of their comprehension would be expecting the stink of metal to accompany the hard feel of these contraptions, and so, it had been attached to the scene, much as one would melt honey into butter…

Beth spoke then, her personality having shifted from sullen reclusion to effervescent charm as she lauded the praises of her granted toy. Indeed, as she said, the vessel seemed made of lighter stuff than the metal he had mentioned, but Orin suspected that at the very heart of the beast, one could normally expect a spine of forged metal. She had brought up an interesting option, howe’er… John would surely prefer the familiar façade of the vehicle he seemed more in tune with, and it was clear enough that Beth hoped to keep possession of her newest affectation… why then, should Orin feel any less free? T’was true enough that he was more of a mind to simply walk from place to place, that he, in point of fact, preferred to feel the stretch and play of his body if at all possible… yet that need not preclude traversing the distance which lie between their present locale and their destination with alacrity. It would mean only that he speak frankly and pointedly to his newfound friends… After all, one need not keep up pretence for human legs and an unbroken expanse of forehead when he was sporting a pair of feathered wings…

Orin drew the power to him, reaching out with his will and teasing the energies needed for his planned usage out of the surrounding weave… He gathered the power, even as he addressed the pair of humans that lay nearby. ”By the gods, Beth has struck upon a most advantageous idea!” he expounded, slapping his hand down upon the now-harmless craft before him ”Tis indeed possible that we need abandon nothing, that we may, indeed, bring both of these auspicious gifts with us, treating them as the hope and goodwill that Gwen most obviously intended them.” He held their attention, a showman to the core, even as he turned part of his abilities to another task. Unlike the compassionate Gwen, he preferred to borrow a bit from the sounds that surrounded them, to draw on the existing truths to wield his will… and it was this unseen trickery that he drew from to replicate her own ruse. Even as he spoke to the others, as he was making all manner of distraction so that she might be given a sense of privacy to react, he sent whispered words to find harbor in her ear, speaking calmly and clearly despite the tumult. I felt not the sting thou dost seem to suspect of your words, sweet Nymph, he said in a marked genteel manner But sought only to allay the potential dangers that these constructs could well have held. Know also that I understand now the true amplitude of your directives, and will thank thee now, unheard by the others, for your considerations, and let be known the depth of mine own appreciation for the actions taken for consideration of my disparate physiognomy. Though I comprehend fully that thou art but fulfilling the roll given thee, I hold for thee a fair deal more than a modicum of respect for the unseen wonders thou hast wrought.

He continued speaking to the others, attending to the building strength of Beth’s exuberance, and decided that yes, he had indeed carried this ruse as far as he wished. He stood back now, a seeming of deep consideration affected by the tugging of his thick beard, and spoke with more intent, more the feel of intensity, as though he were but only now reaching his decision. ”There is but a single problem with this, “ he said to the others, continuing the speech he had began earlier. ”In that mine own conveyance, though sturdy and adept at its duties, lacks the necessary proclivity for speed that would be needed to keep the pace. There is a solution to this…” he amended with a halting tremor in his manner, as though he had been but at that moment struck with an idea, and one that sat not well with him. ”John…” he said finally, turning to the fidgeting form of the burly male ”I am to understand that you have traveled among the stars, is this not so?” He did not wait for a true reply, but hurried forward with his words, building the illusion that he was unsure of his next actions, that he was nervous and insecure… He had discovered quite early that the quickest way to gain trust with humans was to feign weakness, to give them the chance to feel superior in some small way. He played this misleading feint to the utmost now, drawing in another shaky breath as he continued on, saying ”I am sure, then, that one as accomplished as yourself has discovered by now the truth that humanity is not alone in their grace, that there are other arrangements of form and function ‘neath the will of the gods… To that end, I will hereby admit to a slight deception during this, our initial encounter, and would ask thee your forgiveness in this falsehood. I was but unsure of your reaction to my true form, and admit candidly that the thought of allowing you to see me as I truly am from the onset filled me with fear after your reactions. Would hardly be a temperate meeting had we been at arms from the onset, would you not agree?” His words seemed rambling, as though he were trying to come to terms with his actions, yet still did he continue the parade of affectations. He was more than comfortable in his role as the wounded and worrisome protagonist, and had grown more than familiar with the necessary subtleties of manner. The sway of the body, as though he were uncomfortable in his footing, the downcast eyes, as though unwilling to find disapproval in the gaze of the one to whom he spoke, and even the broken rhythms of speech and wording that lent his verbal tide that keen edge of near desperation that so spoke to those he applied it to. He was in his element here, and was supremely confident in his abilities. Besides which, he was, essentially, speaking the truth!

As an aside from that, howe’er… he murmured again to Gwen’s sculptured ear I felt no regret in allowing for my ‘allergy’, as Beth so astutely surmised, but held it as a well known truth of my kind. I knew that thou hast told Bethany of my true nature, and had but assumed that the same had carried true for John as well. There is no shame in admitting the truth, in either case, so bear not the weight of mine own choice, for I knew well enough what I was about. He left it at that, warming to the task of gently inducing the stalwart John to his next maneuver, and directed her attentions to his actions by saying Look ye now to the plot I spin, maiden, see the subtle cues and castings I lend to my seeming… What think ye of John’s likely reaction when first I drop this façade? Shall he be astounded, or perhaps grow e’en more antagonistic? Or, as I suspect, will he simply shrug it off and continue his actions? Know thee this, that I intend to do more than simply deliver my true guise to them, but to adjust my form so that I might ascend the heavens without such ponderous mechanisms as the craft he attends, and though I am sore tempted to peruse the pleasures offered by the embrace of Beth’s contrivance, I feel that I have discovered within myself a rather understandable lack of conviction in seeking yet a smaller space within which to attend myself. Nay, for this, I intend to soar the skies you have granted us… Attend now, and we shall see their speculative intent. How easily he had fallen to the role of teacher…

He sighed then, drawing a ‘steadying’ breath deep into his body before glancing up at last to John’s face. ”I am a Satyr born, my companions, gifted by the unseen with traits of magic and skill with winded instrument, and trained as a Journeyman Bard by the most sage of teachers. I bid thee take heed now, and bear witness to the true form of one that would call you ‘friend’…” With that, he dropped the illusion that had cloaked his form, letting be seen for the first time the furred legs, behooved feet, and horned brow of his true manner. At the same time, by wont of the energies already accrued, he cast about himself a faint trace of woodland scent, the most subtle tinge of earthy redolence, and the barest glimmer of the glowing light that marked him as Fey in the eyes of those that know to search for it. He would continue on to the addition of proper wings soon enough, but for now, there was a marked sense of obligation in allowing them the time needed to express their reactions…

 

[IXIHawkeyeIXI]

John watched the others in coversation and felt himself beginning to get slightly bored with them. He honestly did not care if any of them joined him in the Fade (he refused to call it his Fade). All he wanted to do was find this other containee and see if they understood anything more of what was happening in this place than they did. He continued to watch the others for a few minutes, runnign his fingers through his hair and listening to them with only mild interest. With more exposure the the strange fellow Orin, he was beginning to understand his strange way of talking.

John quickly lost interest in what the others were saying, as none of it particularly applied to him. He began, for the first time, to search through the Fade, to see what he could find within the machine. Perhaps somehow within the machine that had been created for him, a weapon had slipped by. He knew that Gwen told him no one was allowed to have a weapon, but he desperately wanted one. He felt no ill harm towards any of the fellow containees...yet. But who knew what else might be around in this strange place?

All of a sudden, he heard his name being discussed by the others and his attention was drawn back to the task at hand. Orin was going on another one of his long rants, spouting out so many words that John was actually a bit bored. He hoped that at some point Orin would reach his point and John woudl be able to respond, however before he could answer the question asked of him, Orin began speaking again, and John was forced to sit there, staring at the man in front of him, waiting for his turn to speak. As the man spoke and revealed his secret, John's brow began to furrow ever so slightly.

When Orin's form was revealed, John felt a bit of anger welling inside of himself. If there was one thing he really hated, it was being lied to, deceived.

"Well, buddy, I ain't gonna lie to you - You lyin' to me ain't making me an happier that I'm stuck here with you. Don't expect me to be trustin' you anytime soon, but right now we have to find this other person Gwen says is here. Hopefully they'll know how to get out of here, and I won't have to deal with you any longer. However, if we can't get out of this place, you and I are going to have a talk about honesty, and I don't think it's going to end very well for you."

 

[Elayne]

Eve took a small half step backwards as Gwen sidling closer to her. Eve's well honed reflexes made her immediately wary and on edge as the AI came rather close to the expanded personal bubble of anyone familiar with the Wastes and the kind of predators that hunted it.

Eve puzzled out Gwen's words, wondering if it was really possible that San Francisco had ever looked like the urban surroundings around here, even in 1981. On the other hand, that would make sense. 1981 would be immediately before... Eve couldn't specificially remember. She was vaguely minded of a classroom, history probably.

"I see, Gwen. Ben told me that each of us... containees... is in charge of their own respective nodule space. Does this mean that I am ultimately in control of this section of the nodule? What are the boundaries of this?" Eve asked curiously. In her experience, it was best to meet unknowns with a home field advantage.

 

[VandalHeart]

Gwen vaguely realized in some forgotten reach of her data drives that someone "important" had once said "ask and ye shall receive." To Beth's question about paved driving space, Gwen took a page from what Orin was teaching her and decided to show off a bit. Beth had no sooner finished asking about a road that Gwen tlted her head back with a sweet, innocent smile. After Beth was done, Gwen waited a beat and settled her eyes on Beth once again.

"There is now. Tee-hee!"

A hand shot to Gwen's lips upon that final sound's escape. Gwen honestly didn't know where that had come from, and it showed on her face. She had to make sure of something, so once again she spoke silently to Orin.

"Is that sense of elation natural, my friend?"

However, Orin was occupied with his own speach and didn't answer. After he was done, he stood fully revealed to his two new companions. John's wasn't good. More in the ear whispering was called for.

"John, you're the only one who can hear me right now. Please, Captain, you must understand that his people are hunted for being different. They are the children of dreams and that sireship scares the...um...my data reccomends the word 'bejesus'...out of the common human where he is from. It's not that he was lying to you, it's that he was protecting himself." She waited another moment, then found a better, simpler explanation. "He needed to do that as much as you need a gun right now. His magic isn't harmful, so I could stop it any more than I can create a weapon for you. Please forgive me, sir."

Again, before either of the had a chance to react to what had been said, Gwen stepped in. Orin may regret being such a good teacher soon enough, but something told Gwen he would be more proud that offended.

"Now, gentlemen, please. Adjustments must be made all around. John, if you get too angry around Orin, you will...chiu-guang-du...his seeming -- it's bad, let's just leave it at that. Beth, if you don't give me a ride in that Diablo, I just might -- maybe -- feel left out. But don't worry, I can just take it for a spin while you sleep if you'd rather go it alone." Gwen grinned and winked at Beth in her best possible impression of a California girl, even if she had no idea what she was actually immitating. "Orin, good sir, the seeming which you display is of the most resplendant, at least to mine eyes, and many they are, so be pleased with thine revelation. Take heed though, my new friend, these veils have indeed come to expiration and should be sepulchered along with fear and distrust. The good Captain has made his grievance known to you and I have seen your reception of it. Remember the words of the Persian Sufi -- this too shall pass. 'Tis the way of enlightened self interest that is the star he navigates by, and I dare soothsay without any deifacted gift save mine own intellect that he shall forgive any trespass if you would but assist him and the lady Bethany to forge paths homeward bound. And I say my following words not just to you, but to your companions as well: in time, the byways of plainspeak shall become as one with patience and cooperation. This however will require that you make a concerted effort to curtail your glorious tongue until such time that your overtures of eloquence can be processed and digested with more practiced skill. Now I shall give translations to our friends." With this, Gwen turned to Beth and John. "Give it time and you'll figure out what he's saying. Now, the only thing that remains is for either Orin or John to give me permission to run the paved road through their territories so that Beth can reach Eve."

Gwen was beginning to learn the methods by which each of the containees spoke except for one...

"You are in almost complete control of this area, Eve. Any request you mak will be fulfilled to the best of my abilities, but I will ask you what I asked the others: please be patient, I'm only a day old. Because I have illogic logorythms, I can make things up that I think you'll like based on what you ask for. Case in point, this new San Francisco. I thought you might like it. I'm still wondering if you like it or not. Anyhow, I can make anything here you like as long as it's not specifically designed to cause damage, although I'm guessing you're probably...already...equipped.... Don't worry, though, I'll be making sure you don't hurt anyone else or yourself with repulsor fields. Other than that, your spere of influence reaches one fourth of the way around the sphere of the G.W.E.N. environment. And while we're on the subject, it seems everyone has decided to come here in their own vehicles, so I'll need your permission to construct a bridge for Beth's car to arrive. In addition to that, you're going to need a bridge yourself if you're going to use the transport my information has led me to provide you."

Gwen motioned in the direction for Eve to look. Eve did so and saw a black Reaver-type Cyberhorse. The red glowing eyes and twisted horns sweeping back over the head gave the horse an outright sinister look, but there was more than a good chance, Gwen reasoned, that the weapon of Eve's likely former oppressors in her own hands would be more than assuring.

 

[Elayne]

One of Eve's eyebrows shot up as Gwen explained that she was only a day old. That was an interesting tid bit -- If it meshed into Eve's own earlier thought that they were like rats in a maze, then this was the first run of the test, at least. Eve wasn't sure if that was comforting or disastrous.

At least Gwen seemed to be saying that the containees were prevented from directly harming each other... Through physical or environmental means at least. On the other hand, Eve was a firm believer in mankind's ability to war creatively and she suspected that there were loop holes to be found. She just hoped it wouldn't prove necessary.

"This San Fransico is an excellent image, Gwen," Eve replied neutrally, "It's definitely a change from what I'm used to." Eve gave a slight smile at that.

"Of course, you can create a bridge to allow the other containees to meet me here," Eve continued. Better to meet the civilians here where she had... homefield advantage, so to speak. Or at least, as much as any of them did.

Eve turned slightly to face the metallic cyberhorse. She could tell from the blackened matte finish on the back and legs that it was a Nightmare model. Eve had a sudden flash of insight and knew she'd ridden a Nightmare before.

Eve approached the horse, directly in front of it. It wasn't good to circle into a Nightmare's peripheral vision. Nor was it wise to place a hand on it's muzzle or under it's nose, typical horse calming gestures. Instead, Eve hummed an ominous chord, reaching up to seize one of the mare's twisted horns. With a small tug, the mare lowered it's head and Eve quickly swung up astride of it.

"Very well, bring on the other containees," she murmured, wondering what her... companions would be like.

 

[Rufus the Mad]

Orin felt himself grow angered at the harsh stance of the bullish human before him. He had explained, had taken great care to assure the man, and had even debased himself to the brute, yet still there was that distrust, that brooding sense of injured pride that sprung from the oversized explorer like some fabled fount of old. What right did he have to feel betrayed? What cause had he to hold himself as better that one of Fey blood?! The Bard called on the entirety of his training, the skills taught him by masters of their craft to keep the scowl from his features, the tinge of wrathful indignation from his melodic voice as he responded to the ultimatum given him. ”Tis my hope that there will ne’er be a need to deceive you again, John.” For those that knew him well, the terse statement would have spoken volumes of his mood, would have revealed the spite and fury that the Satyr was feeling after the scathing rebuke, but to these companions but newly met, there was nothing by which to gauge these truths.

So intent was he on keeping these oft-regrettable emotional responses from them, that he all but missed the amassing of energies and direction of focus used by Gwen to bring about her creations, her flare of showmanship, howe’re, coupled with the unbridled joy that washed over her from its use, were as a bolt of lightning to the emotionally attuned Fey. He turned at last from the infuriating male before him, and quirked an arched brow at the shocked expression that crossed the nymphs features. He heard then her whispered query, and could scarce keep himself from grinning at her puzzlement as he projected words to her. ”Aye maiden, tis but a natural sense of elation from helping others, from the acceptance of your own abilities for what they truly represent. My advice to thee wouldst be to enjoy the moment, but not to let such emotions gain control over thine actions. There oft enough shall be times when helping, as good as it can indeed feel, will bring aught but pain both to yourself and those you would seek to aid. Tis a curse that too often we cannot see the real problem, cannot give the aid needed, only what is most requested. Tis for this reason that I more often than not rely only on myself for the assistance I need.”

He watched then as his so-called ‘student’ practiced her hand at the subtle arts of diplomacy, and found himself justly proud of her efforts, as well as chagrined at the near-failing of his own steady demeanor. He listened well to her words, looking for the needed points of contrast, the flow and flush of her rhythmic pentameter, and noted well the pitch and tenor of her voice. She knew much already, and was learning most quickly! She spoke to him with an effluence and languid sensitivity that lent insight to the mental faculties that lay shrouded behind those red-hued eyes, and t’was , in truth, a bit refreshing to hear so eloquent of a litany from someone other than his own beleaguered self. Her words, however, brought to light an unforeseen issue… He had overlooked the possibility that his own unique verbal accountability might not be as understandable as he could wish… The fact that the pair of humans might not be able to fully grasp the dialectic enchantment of his prose would go far in explaining the stoney looks and confused demeanor that had been affected thus far…

He listened with half an ear as Gwen pared down and simplified the phraseology of her explanations, and nodded with grave civility as he noted the terminology used. He had seldom been called upon to affect anything other than his usual verbiage, and had oft-times been commended on his turn of phrase or use of metaphoric idioms… but this, he held to his own comprehension, was not a normal circumstance. He must, thereby, make a concerted effort to speak more in terminology that they understand, in the phrases and terminology of the more common folk. He set his lips hard together, and silently vowed to speak in a more appeasing manner henceforth… at least, as well as he was able.

”Thou mayest carry thine efforts through the lands granted me, as you wish.” he said with a small bow to Gwen ”For tis known fair and certain to you, if aught else, that I hold it more of your keeping than can be said for any claim I could make.” He turned then to the humans, each in their respective conveyances, and spoke again, but this time in a more mindful manner, saying ”Now, friends, I would have you stand clear as I affect a final change.”

With that, he closed his eyes and focused inward, transporting his consciousness to that sequestered node of innate lore, and drew forth from the energies he had gathered unto himself already. He had no need to play the pipes held fast in his hand, yet the comfort and addition of focus that they granted him were more than he could well ignore. Instead, he sang forth in his gentle voice, using the words taught him in a place so far removed from this locale as to be but myth, and allowed the words of the fey charm of altering to tumble forth in their stunning affluence. This was a tune crafted solely to affect change, and the words were a fair blessing to those that heard it. It was designed, as most bardic works of yore were wont, to both carry out the spell cast, and bolster the hearts and spirits of those the singer held as allies. He sang of the winds, of the soft breezes that graced the air around him, and sang he too of the Arial prowess displayed by the graceful birds of recent memory. He called on the energies that wove tight about him to shift his form, to grant him the wonder of such flight, and sang of his awaited pleasure of such an ability…

As the last of the words floated forth, a soft radiance seemed to grow from within him, and he swept his arms outward in a elegant, regal manner, sending the awakening surge of energies out in broad planes to either side of him. When the light faded, dying slowly as he allowed the usurped power to drift back to the reality that had lent it, he stood thus revealed once more, the varying striations and soft feathers that so marked the wings of a hawk spanning from his shoulders in artful swells, and he shook them once before drawing tight the new musculature, bringing them up and back in a dramatic display of control before folding them tight against his spine. ”I am now ready…” he announced with a curt nod. ”We may leave whenever the three of you are prepared.”

 

[IXIHawkeyeIXI]

Still unsettled by the deceit that was happening around him, John listened carefully to everything everyone was saying, but chose to remain silent, not interrupting anyone. He resisted the temptaion to simply take the Fade and head back to the unit in which he woke up and wait until he thought of an escape route. As much as he hated to admit it, he needed these folks to get out of this place. As Orin spoke to him, it was clear to John that he had hit a nerve, angering the little man. The faintest of smiles had formed on his face, almost imperceptible to anyone not looking for it. All his life he had been great at getting under people's skins, and he was happy to know he could still do it. It was his belief that when you got someone angry enough, it showed who they really were, and gave you the upper hand in any discussions that were happening. When Gwen talked to him, he looked at her and nodded, making no other reply than that.

Everything now seemed to be happening so fast, everyone was getting ready to be off, and that was fine with John. He knew that the faster they all started working together, the faster they were gonna get out of this place.

"Gwen, I'm with the little man here. If you need to take that road through my section go right ahead, I really don't care that much." With that he turned and watched as Orin went through another transformation, and he was stunned. "Taikong suoyou de xingqiu saijin wo de pigu!" He said nothing else for a few moments, simply stunned as Orin did what he did best, and when he was done John shook his head and regained his senses. "Boy, that may be one of the most impressive bits of....somethin'....I've ever seen in my entire life." Looking to the Gwen he asked "Which way is this last person y'all got trapped here?"

 

[Sweetp4u]

Beth

It was getting far too macho around here for her. She was very impressed with what Orin had done, but it was all so strange to her to see someone simply.. morph into something else entirely. It was a tad creepy for her narrow little mind and world to grasp with joy over.

Without a word she merely started the car and sat back. Pulling the door shut, she strapped on her seat belt and let the hum of the motor relax her. She had no time for macho displays, no more time to sit and wonder what else Orin could or couldn't do. She really did not want to go meet another containee with some weird powers Beth lacked and feel even more out of place, but so fucking be it.

"Hop in Gwen?" She let the AI decide, revved the motor and put it into first. A smile curved her lips as she popped in an AC/DC cd and cranked up the volume.
Watching the fade for clearence and making sure Orin wasn't in harms way, she pulled out with Gwen's instructions for directions and took off.

Whatever might happen, might happen but for now she was free. Her thrill increasing as the speed went higher, She sat back and let the car hug the newly paved road.

 

[VandalHeart]

"The mount suits you, Eve."

Gwen smiled up at Eve. There was a sense of power in her. Even if she was incapable of sizing up that horse and realizing what it could do to the human body, Gwen could only find one word in the many English languages to describe her.

"Resplendant."

Eve looked at Gwen, either wondering what she'd said, or more likely (since she probably had subdural amplifiers) why she'd said it. Gwen just smiled once again and shook her head, continuing the conversation.

"Well, you can ride out to meet them or you can wait for them here, because they're on their way right now, Eve. Is there anything you'd like me to do before they arrive, or are you planning on meeting them halfway?"

Meanwhile...

"Wonderous, my friend. I have already laid down the highway by which Beth shall command her vehicle, as pr your permission. My deepest thanks for your prompt response. OK, guys, since Orin gave the go ahead for the road, looks like we'll be going through his territory. As for your question, John..."

The intensely ironic tunes of a song called "Highway to Hell" started blaring out of the Diablo as Gwen climbed in.

"...just follow the red streak!"

 

[Rufus the Mad]

Orin cocked a brow at the strange exclamation John had given, amusement clear in his bright eyes, and a playful smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He had not known what reaction to expect from the bullish man, had not known what it might take to affect a change in his somber mood, but it seems that the fey-born had discovered just the proper combination of charm, spectacle, and flair to allow the human to relax a bit. Perhaps there existed yet a tiny vestige of hope swaddled deep within that gruff seeming, some tiny spark of belief buried beneath the hard shell that cloaked his heart. Twas food for thought, surely…

His strange words, no matter their meaning, seemed to shattered the spell that held them, allowing that first blush of cohesion, that primary tendril of unity touch each of them in turn, and let joy, even here, find a foothold in their spirits. Beth clambered into the snug cocoon that formed the center of her craft, and Orin laughed aloud at the near-joyous sound of the beast as it roared to life. He heard, as well, a near tribal cacophony echoing from its padded interior, with a shrill voice rising in a chanted rhythm, and instruments the like of which the Bard had ne’er heard carrying the raucous thrills and counterpoint-staccato melody. It was a sound seemingly penned for the sole purpose of inspiring movement, crafted specifically to urge those that heard it into wild release… to allow sheer abandonment to envelope them. He had heard such festive airs during revels, had joined in during his share of Bacchanals, and could think of nothing so fitting for an adventure so newly undertaken, nor a more suiting match for the sleek and powerful vessel the woman piloted!

The Satyr leapt then, launching himself into the air and snapping his new wings outward, catching the wayward zephyrs that swept across the water so near at hand, allowing their strength to drive his body higher and higher still. From such a vantage, circling high overhead, he noted the progress John made, bringing his own craft to life and shooting after the laughing women. He shook his head then at the taunt that Gwen had thrown, seeming to find the most base of pleasures in her harmless goading… She seemed so changed of late, so sure of herself. She seemed better able, now, to interact, to hold her own against the personal dynamics of humanoid interrelations… One would hardly think of her now as the shy and apologetic nymph that had first manifested to him but a short while ago, and it occurred to Orin, in that shattered tick of times grim passage, that she was learning even as she existed, that she may indeed be able, after a fashion, to integrate all she saw, heard, or experienced! To have that ability! To know, even before they uttered their first word, the very beginnings of all he encountered, to be able to, with time, know and understand the various situational mores that unfurled around him! Such would be a true gift, even if all he wanted was to be able to better appreciate his audience… Perhaps, then, her instruction might progress at more than the ponderous pace he had expected… and perchance there may be some means by which he could acquire such a provocative talent…

For the nonce, however, he was content to sail the winds, to soar and wheel in the sky above them as they sped along in their respective contrivances. He wheeled and dove then, gaining vast amounts of speed as he swept from the heavens, and found it more than challenging to keep pace with the charging vehicles… He pushed himself for a time, beating his wings strong and hard against the air currents, surprised to find himself losing ground to the machines the others controlled, and eventually resumed his loftier position, using the wind, and the curious properties of apogee and descent to maintain a position without undo strain. In fact, so well secured was he against their speed that he found himself drifting ahead a bit, when he spied the familiar columns and verdant growth that marked his own little slice of this particular penal reality. With a speed that can only be gained when one pays heed the insistent tug of gravity, he plummeted from his reclaimed spire of altitude, and swept like a feathered wind o’re the vista that spread below him. It was then that he noted a curious thing. During the slow, even ‘stately’ passage to greet the others, he had scarce felt the loss of any connectivity, any sense of weakness or fading of the energies that such natural surroundings lent his seeming, yet now, with the rapid return of such pleasant surroundings, he found himself feeling almost giddy with renewed power, as though the very land itself were joyous at his return, and had gathered its strength as a gift to him! He felt now the shimmering power of every living thing, the trees, the brush and grasses, even the rushing waters of the rivers flow, and each filled his cognition with their subtle presence. Had he a more literal mind, were he of a keener bent, then he may well have lost himself in the resurgence of energies, but as it was, he had been trained to acknowledge such mysteries, to accept, with grace, the offering being made him… though he would most certainly mark the change…

Amidst the welcoming green, howe’re, there stood now a dark and somber presence, a twisted effigy that seemed crafted of cold metals and that lay broken and scorched from the caress of a heavenly stroke. It lay like an open wound on the land, with the jutting shards laying like so many scattered bones, and it seemed to draw the eye, so intense was the discrepancy… Lower Orin flew now, closer to this mar in the landscape, and soon enough had landed nearby. He knew this place, recognized it as the very spot he had first entered this land, where he had first transcended the vulgar and harsh realities of Bens chambers, and found here the warm and welcoming embrace of Gwens influence… And there, lying atop the wreckage of the magical chariot he had ridden, sat now a single slip of parchment, bearing on it a curious notation…

...until a day before forever ends...and the Seelie court shall rule forever.

Orin held that scrap of a note, and paled… The blood coursing through his being turned as chilled as though it had come from the source of a mountain stream, and he found himself shaking as he looked again at those written words. His mind reeled, and he dropped heavily onto the supporting strength of a nearby stone… He recalled now the conversation he and Gwen had shared, knew again the shock and anguish that her words had brought, and experienced again that thrill of terror that he had felt so long ago, standing as he had been by the graves of the fallen, and gazing at the battered fortress that housed the Fey Court. He experienced the entirety of this in a rush, and slowly, slowly slipped once more to the comforting embrace of oblivion, and knew no more for a time…

 

[IXIHawkeyeIXI]

As John drove his Fade after Beth, the faintest of smiles formed on his face, and he was sunddenly reminded of why he loved to fly. He decided not to push the Fade to it's fastest speeds at first, instead deciding to take it somewhat slow, just to feel the...was it safe to call it air?...going through his hair. It was at that point that he noticed Beth in her machine racing ahead of him, as well as Orin soaring past him. Well he just couldn't have that could he? John began to push the Fade a bit harder, catching up at least to Gwen and Beth, though Orin seemed a bit out of reach in the speed department. Deciding to see exactly what this machine could do, John started pushing the Fade a bit harder, trying to see just how fast it could go. Pushign some of the controls, John began to feel the Fade starting to shake a bit, and making some strange sounds. He let that go on for a while, trying to determine what exactly was causing the Fade to top out at this speed - he had seen similar models go much faster. Eventually he shrugged, deciding to let it go until he could look at it more carefully on the ground. His eyes had lost sight of Orin for a while and he now grew nervous as to where the strange man was - he should have been directly in front of the Fade.

John looked down to the ground, thinking perhaps Orin had fallen down and was hurt, something John would have gotten a small laugh out of. On further inspection, they had entered what was cleraly Orin's "world" - there were amazing structures everywhere and John was a bit taken back. He slowed the Fade and watched Orin very carefully - something wasn't right.

 

[VandalHeart]

In the car, Gwen was enjoying the music and the speed. Beth certinly knew what she was doing. Once Orin landed however, she had a moment of curiosity, so another scan swept through the area.

"What the hell? Beth, slow down, something's wrong. Pull onto the shoulder here."

Gwen's rendering in Eve's quadrant turned and spoke as well.

"Something is happening in the next quadrant over. It belongs to Orin. They're all stopping there. It's some kind of malfunction, but I'm still not really sure what happened. You might want to ride out to meet them after all."

Gwen started to wonder at her monitoring capabilities. How could she have not known about this? Forget that - how did it happen in the first place?!? The damage to the lift seemed to be an energetic discharge, but she had done nothing to cause this. She wasn't even paying attention to it, let alone actively doing any thing here. She wasn't regulating any processes, nothing at all! Everything had been placed on hold until Orin or a guest of his entered. She couldn't check the logs, because there weren't any to check. She decided that it would be a good idea to begin monitoring the unoccupied quadrants, only to find that she could not. A line in her programming forbade her to spnd the processing power to monitor any area not being currently used. She had to devote all of her attention to the containees, no matter the complications. When she analyzed that line of code, both renderings uncontrollably blurted out the same thing simultaneously.

"That stupid son of a bitch!"

 

[Sweetp4u]

Beth

ooc: sorry for the delay, holiday season is a nightmare!

IC:

"That Son of a bitch!" Startled by Gwen's outburst, Beth nearly jumped out of her skin. Skidding a little off road, they came to a halt just a few meters from where John had stopped.

"What?!" Scanning the surrounding area for some reason for Gwen's outburst, she found nothing to be alarmed by nor pissed off about.

"Who's a son of a bitch? and when did you start swearing?" It was then Beth looked in the rearview mirror and noticed John's hover cart thing was unoccupied. "Why did he stop?" Her question wasn't meant to be answered, as Beth jumped out of the car and searched the area for signs of John.

"Guys! Come on, we've been going slow all damned day!" Calling out, she went stalking off towards the Fade.