Copani Story

[Scarlett O'Hara]

P’Mela smiled as she stepped into her ship, feeling the brush of cool, absolutely clean air hit her face. Taking one step further in, she placed her arms in an X fashion across her chest, bowed deeply and said the normal blessing. As she straightened, the deep masculine voice purred from everywhere “Welcome home, Boro’Ches”. Immediately the smile was replaced with a frown and she stormed into the control room. “Ship, do you listen in on all my conversations?” she snapped angrily. “Anything that concerns you, Love, yes I do.” he replied silkily. P’Mela sighed harshly, stretching her neck from side to side nervously. Then he added quietly “I thought we agreed you would call me....” P’Mela slipped into her cushioned recliner, pulling the control pad to her. “Yes, Yes, Yes. We agreed, but you haven’t kept your agreements with me either. And don’t argue, Ship....hmm....Te’Zsing, don’t argue with me about this.” He didn’t reply. She smiled slightly and listened to the soft humming of all the systems.

She quickly dictated the two messages: one that she had agree with Zack Ryan to send, one that she had decided to send on her own. The musical clicks-hisses-pops and the soft chanting of her own language sounded good to her ears, and relaxed the creak she had in her neck. It was always good to come home to familiarity: sounds, the command chair especially made for her bio-rhythms and definitely showing wear to the soft upholstery after nearly 700 years of travel! Finishing her tasks, and reviewing the protocols for this particular time dilation jump, and properly notating the ship’s...Te’Zsing’s records, she slipped out of the recliner and headed toward her room. Already the ship was nearing the earth’s only natural satellite and she looked at the moon as they passed. “It is not as pretty from up here.” she thought sadly. Time dilation effects could already be felt stressing her systems and she hated it! She had made this type of jump in emergency situations without the aides, but it took her weeks to get over the physical and mental trauma of it. Her steps quickened towards her room. Suddenly the ship seem to lurch, the displays flickered and started to decreased in intensity. “Te’Zsing? What’s happening?” she yelled. Then winced at her show of distress. Ever since the ship’s cool aloof metallic persona had been replaced with this masculine personality three years earlier, he seem to react to her show of any emotion. She still could kill that technician at space port for pulling that gag on her simply because she would not return his flirtations! Grudgingly, though, she admitted that his new persona had made time more enjoyable - arguments, debates, humor, more natural companionship had been provided. She had not been as lonely since Te'Zsing had replaced the "ship".

P’Mela felt the change in gravity control before he announced it and quickly grabbed for a structural bar built into the wall. Te’Zsing announced calmly “There was a momentary gravitonic distortion around this planet but I am no longer detecting it. Systems should be restored..." The lights flickered on and the displays all cleared and reset. Her feet were jerked back to the decking. The sudden shift back to their previous course and speed snapped the wrist holding onto the structural bar. Pain shot up her arm and she cursed harshly “F'anck! F’Anck!” She knew better than to use only one hand to stabilize herself. “Dearest, are you alright?” asked Te’Zsing, in a most agitated fashion. She ignored him and started to run to her room. Her enviro-bed was waiting. There was no way she was making this time dilation jump without the drug and the liquid covering!

As she ran she screamed in anxiety “Te’Zsing, are the aides ready for me?” adding softly “Please!” He answered in a deeper voice, showing his care and concern for her “Of course, My Love. I would not allow you to make this jump without them. Hurry!” She cursed him because she was hurrying. She slammed into her tiny room and slid into the closely fitted enviro-bed. Then she abruptly snapped the device onto her forearm, just inches above her painful wrist. As the tiny wires snapped into her connection, she felt the drug immediately start into her blood stream. Before sleep overtook her, she said very softly “Te’Zsing? You asked a favor of me as we approached this planet. I want you to know that I have checked extensively and the technology here is not advanced enough to accomplish what you have asked. But I give you my word of honor, the next port that does have it, I will give you what you have requested.” She felt her limbs growing numb and sleep quickly covering her. “Te’Zsing? Raise ambient temperature, I’m cold.” A warm breath brushed across her ear and around her face, and the last thing she heard before sleep enveloped her was “Go to sleep, Boro’Ches. I will watch over you.” and Te’Zsing began to sing softly to her in her native language. As soon as she had reached the sleep required, Te’Zsing snapped the bed shut tightly and filled it will the appropriate chemical/saline solution, filling her lungs and replacing the air pockets in her blood stream. Without these precautions, the amount of G-forces would have crushed her lungs and body.

The ship functioned perfectly arriving at the most beneficial spot from which to send the messages. He had seen the destinations and was shocked at the breech in protocol. He almost decided to override her instructions, but decided he would trust her again. She was his pilot and soul companion on this journey. Te’Zsing would not hurt her or allow anything to hurt her. He watched over her as he had promised. Pulling out of the jump, he reached his destination and sent the messages. Then as protocol demanded, he took readings of all of homeworld’s remaining transmissions, locations of homeworld assets scattering further and further apart, cataloguing everything for her later perusal. Then he reversed course, going back to the time dilation jump and headed back to Earth.

 

[Ogg]

The strange encounter.....

Zack Ryan was hurrying down the dark alley towards the Den when his path was suddenly blocked by the strangest of all beings. The small stature this entity would cause the causal observer to think it nothing more than a pest to be swatted away. It was short, it was slightly over weight by Earth standards and it was balding: a loss of hair on its head, another earthling physical external adornment. Zack pondered this obstruction in his path when the Ogg suddenly spoke up…

“Been keeping an eye on ya, But can’t say that I am overly impressed.” said Ogg. Zack thought that he would handle this nuisance quickly and started to reach out with his mind. ”Oh please!” say Ogg as he walked closer to Zack. ”Sure the typical reaction, Take over Ogg’s mind, make him forget, have him sleep, have him forget, cause him to have an aneurysm. You are all the same! Well as you can see your attempt worked just as well for you as it has for everybody else!” Zack snapped back as if struck by Ogg’s words. It was true. His mind, if you could call it that, was totally impervious to any type of mental probe or manipulation. Zack was suddenly unsure of what faced him in the ally. Everything about him said that he was a mere human, like any of the other millions on the planet. Yet his mind was like none that he had ever encountered in the universe. As Zack watched Ogg circle him in the alley and pondered what it was he faced? Ogg spoke again bringing Zack back to the present. ” Okay its like this big fella, I was really starting to fall for Scarlett. But As I can see you and her have something going, so I’ll not be a roadblock. You just be good to her or else!” Ogg then turns and walks down the dark alley rounding a corner and disappearing from sight.

Zack blinks and wonders what that was all about. What is Ogg and just how much does he know or doesn’t he know Zack asked himself in the silence of the alley. When suddenly from faraway Ogg’s voice drifts down the alley “Oh yeah, nice hardware, but you might have a problem with your armor plating and shields holding up very long now that you will be facing the new j’Son’jon wave-motion particle accelerator weapons that are installed on all ships. They kick like a mule!”

Zack is left alone in the dark alley to ponder the starange encounter that just transpired…

 

[Scarlett O'Hara]

Re: The strange encounter.....

Originally posted by Ogg
...Ogg then turns and walks down the dark alley rounding a corner and disappearing from sight...

And appears inside P’Mela tiny quarters on board her ship just as it entered time dilation jump back towards Earth. The ship did not detect any intruder on board.

Ogg leaned over and looked into the sealed enviro-bed at P’Mela, smiling. Then he checked the readouts for himself, just to make sure the enviro-bed was functioning properly. He turned and walked into the dimly lit corridor and all about the ship thinking to himelf What a waste of energy to keep any lights or environmentals on at all! Stopping at each susidiary display, Ogg checked each of the minor systems. He entered the control room, where all major system displays ran. Te’Zsing was singing as he hummed along through space. Ogg smiled to himself. I remember that song from so very long ago! It had been a terrible practical joke to pull on Scarlett at her last space port stop three years ago! Replacing her ship’s personality matrix like that. But I couldn’t help myself. She had become too much a recluse and aloof from others in her solitary course through space. Imbibing the computer core with his essence had been so easy! And ever so much fun! There had been times he had eavesdropped on them. They continually argued over everything. The last time she went into a time dilation jump he had used the opportunity to tweak the computer core, adding humor to its repetoire. After all, she was the captain. The ship couldn’t argue with her about everything, no matter how much it wished to!

Ogg checked the final system that interested him.Zack Ryan will eventually figure out what he needs and from whom and from where he needs to get it. I enjoy tweaking, really I do. I shouldn‘t, but I do. Technically, I‘m not breaking any of my punishment parameters! And I always stay in the quadrant I was banished to. I so enjoy tweaking though. Then smiling to himself, assured that everything was indeed running optimally, he vanished...

 

[Zack Ryan]

Zack stared out at nothing, wondering what that stange little person meant about Scarlett and Himself, and the weapons that the approaching fleet had. Again he sent the signal and the runabout appeared. He boarded and returned to his ship, connecting again and downloading his memories of the encounter with Ogg. He wonders how he knew the creature's name was Ogg since he never said it. He tentively reached out with his mind and found a wall, assuming it was Ogg. To the left of the wall was a light though and he moved his mind towards the light. In the light was a small cruiser, sleek, with several hatches, which seemed to be covers for weaponry. He moved quickly through the ship, finding it empty, but noticing a presence, a protector. He finally came to what he thought was probably crew quarters and entered, seeing only a large tank with many displays. In the corner was a sensor mounted high up on the wall. He probed it and suddenly he felt and saw a large hand coming at him. He watched it become a fist and then it was upon him. He winked out and then back.

A voice sounded, "Who and what are you and why have you invaded my ship?"

"I am ZakRianan, Supreme Commander of the Copani Expeditionary Forces. Who are you?"

"I am Te’Zsing, Pilot of this ship and protector of Boro'Ches P'Mela, Captain of this vessel."

Zak thought and asked, "Where is she, in the tank? If so, please wake her"

Zak heard laughter in his head and then the fist was there again, this time making contact. Zak felt himself flying back a great distance, through the wall of the ship and into space. "F'anck" he said over and over. He snapped back to the cabin and saw something standing there, looking into the tank. Turning his hand into a hammer, he swung at the being and connected, knocking it sideways into a bulkhead.

The being stood and turned towards him and stared with electric eyes of a master android. He dipped his head and said, matter of factly, "Leave this ship or I shall destroy it. Those are my orders and I shall carry them out without thought."

Zak bowed to the android in greeting and said, "Please, do not be hasty. I have been drawn here by a small entity for some reason. You may have the solution to a problem we all face and not even be aware. I must talk to her, now."

The android stood there and shook its head,indicating that he was inflexible to Zak's arguments. Zak continued to beat at the android, using every argument he could think of and getting nowhere. Finally, in frustration and anger, his mind shouted out, "OGG! HELP ME PLEASE" Then he stepped back, turned and winked out, off the ship and back to his, where he saw himself sitting in the command chair, his fist opening and closing.

 

[Ogg]

An even stranger encounter…

Zack stared out at nothing, wondering, sitting in the command chair, his fist opening and closing. What is this Ogg and what is this ship? How was Te’Zsing, a mere android able to resist a mental probe? Is Boro'Ches P'Mela, in some kind of danger that I do not understand? What approaching fleet? Have I been infected with some earth microbe that is causing me to suffer these mental delusions? Nothing shows up on the bio-scan. What is going on?
Then from behind the command chair is heard that strange voice again, ” The manatee, also known as the sea cow, is a direct descendant of a herd of cows which used to live off the coast of Skegness. Instead of grass, the manatee eats seaweed and it's milk is used in the process of making PVC windows. “ Zack shot up in the command chair reaching for the interior defense controls on the chair. Zack looked at the monitor with out looking around, nothing on the ship but him. It had to be some type of infection that he had gotten on earth that the bioscans had missed. Except for one little thing he could see out of the corner of his eye something short coming around from behind the command chair in which he sat. I need a medical droid, Zack though to himself.
”Did you know that the true cause of the Tunguska explosion in Siberia in 1909 was the violent disintegration not, as is commonly believed, of a large meteorite, but of a two-cyborg time craft from the year 2146 that malfunctioned and in fact imploded when sent back to discover the true cause of the Tunguska explosion.” said Ogg as he stopped in front of Zack. ”I know strange but true.” Ogg looked around and smiled a knowing smile.
Zack spoke, “This is a dream right?” as he jammed the lock button, for a bridge mounted defensive sonic weapon. A small alarm signaled that there was no target to lock on to. Zack smiled at this small conformation.
Ogg just smiles and goes on, ”Did you not also know that Under British law, any aliens crash landing on British soil become the property of the Crown, unless they come to rest on land belonging to the Church of England, in which case the aliens are the responsibility of the Department of Customs and Excise.” Zack is troubled by all this when Ogg speaks again, ” Thousands of people from all over the world are abducted nightly and subjected to a ridiculous array of experimental hair styles by gay space alien hairdressers from hell.’ Ogg then leans closer to Zack and speaks again, ”I love this planet. It is a universal magnet for the strange and bizarre. Why do you think I’m here? Well okay that’s not a fair question but the bagels are to die for. I know you must be wondering who or what is playing with you mind, but its all real although I have noted you special fondness for the human’s Taco Bell food, and its constant disagreement with your alien digestive system. I suggest you reduce your intake of hot sauce and switch to mild; it will do your bowels a world of good. But that’s not why I’m here. You need to stop messing around. The earth is in serious trouble. I have been tweaking things. Help is on the way, but for all my tweaking it might not get here in time. Go seek the help of the most powerful of the humans. The Dragon will be of special help when the Help does arrive. Stop messing around already, go find P’Mela and prepare to defend the earth!’
Then Zack is alone in his ship again wondering how an outside entity could know about his Taco Bell addiction. It had to be his mind playing tricks on him, there could be no other explanation…

 

[Scarlett O'Hara]

Te'Zsing was humming to himself again, quite pleased that his android had dispensed with that intruder! Though he was worried about how the intruder had managed to come aboard without initially being noticed. He was running diagnostics on himself just to make sure. It seemed that whenever he made time dilation jumps, screwy things started happening inside the computer core. A mystery that Te'Zsing fully intended to........

His attention was jerked back to the guidance sub-routine. It had suddenly overridden his previous trajectory and timetable. Te'Zsing tried desperately to override and return the ship to previous course and jump instructions, but he couldn't override. He quickly went back and reviewed Boro'Ches P'Mela's trip protocols. The final instruction was certainly one he didn't remember from his first review. He briefly wondered how he had missed such an unusual protocol. But it had her personal code authorizing it. So it had to be correct. Te'Zsing looked again to see where they were now headed. Most unusual! The ship had been rerouted to Mars, or more preciously a most insignificant little moon called Phobos on its back side. All the jump recalculations finished and he now knew when he had to start breaking manuevers.

Te'Zsing was shocked. They had only tried this type of breaking manuever once and almost died from it. But that was the only way they would be able to slow down in time to stop at Phobos. "F'acnk!" cursed Te'Zsing. He wondered for a nanosecond where he had heard that before then turned his attention to verifying the sub-routine's data. It was certain then. They would have to make a swing around the gas giant Jupiter, counter revolution to its rotation, using its gravity to help the breaking thrusters. "F'anck" cursed Te'Zsing again. If they made it through this, he was talking to P'Mela about this kind of stuff. It wasn't prudent to jeopardize their primary mission!

They were approaching the gas giant and the coordinates to turn into its path. He counted down and fired breaking thrusters..........

 

[Scarlett O'Hara]

As Te’Zsing approached Phobos, Zack Ryan transmitted docking procedures to him. The alien ship was no larger than one of his external repair bots and was easily absorbed into a concave docking port. Te’Zsing turned over control to the larger ship and was softly docked. The enviro-bed drained and opened. P’Mela slowly sat up, overcoming a momentary bout of nausea, and uncoupled herself from the bed. Chilling quickly from the saline solution, she decided to indulge herself in a ritual bath and dressing like on homeworld.

As her bathing pool filled, she opened a small drawer, retrieving her precious soaps and rinses. She sighed sadly because after 700 years away from homeworld, her supply was nearly depleted. They were handmade by her family’s farm employees using only fresh herbs, her favorites of course, and the milk of gheoate. Her extreme soreness after this jump implied that she was getting too old to continue with this course in life but the warmth of the water and her special soaps soon eased the soreness from her. After a long luxurious bath, she grabbed a warm towel and began to dry herself as she walked back into her bedroom. After a time dilation jump, P’Mela often engaged in her homeworld’s practices of self-adornment and dress. She selected her most favorite outfit. Taking her time, she gave herself a manicure and pedicure, then a long massage of herbal moisturizer. Standing in front of her mirror, she placed only a small touch of blush powder on her cheeks, stained her lips to match the magenta braiding on her selected outfit, and then meticulously decorated her eyes in the custom of her tribe. She loved her rituals!

She dressed in very sheer pale blue silk thobs. The large blousing affect of the slacks was cinched at the ankles and waist with magenta braiding, leaving the outsides split from hip to ankle. Then she pulled the matching elegant chemise over her head, letting it fall to barely her waist, cinching it at wrists and neck, again leaving the sides of the arms split, with the veil hanging loosely behind her for the moment. From her three jewelry caches, she selected: a modest gold stud with a large blue diamond cap for her left ear, thus indicating she was unmarried; a waistlet; and two toe rings with magenta-rubies on each. She slipped her feet into thong sandals. Brushing her long chestnut hair vigorously, she managed to contain it tightly in her grip at the back of her head. Then she quickly twisted it upward and pulled her veil over to cover her hair completely. Holding it carefully, she retrieved a long golden hairpin, a large blue diamond decorating the tip, and secured it through both the veil and hair. P’Mela stood back and looked at her reflection. She smiled, realizing how silly it was to put so much time into her appearance when she was the only one on the ship.

As she walked out of her quarters, she ran straight into Zack Ryan standing immediately outside her door. “F’anck! What are doing on my ship?” she asked angrily. As he slowly took in her appearance from the top of her head to her feet, he told her how he came to be there. Zack's eyes kept wandering down and back up, taking in all the details of her through the barely-there garments. Another wave of weakness washed over her and she slumped against the wall. “Boro’Ches are you alri...” Zack began to ask when she snapped harshly “Please stop calling me that! My name is Lady P’Mela Piaue LeonDocTchi. Either call me P’Mela or Lady Tchi, but not Boro’Ches.” She turned angrily and walked quickly to the control room with Zack following closely behind her, still taking in as much of her as he could, including the strangely familiar scents.

After a quick tour of her control room, she asked “What questions do you have?” He smiled slowly and said “Is your attire special? It is not practical for the cold and discomforts of space. And your eyes are heavily decorated. Is there some purpose for it?” He waited and she replied “In the privacy of my ship, on occasion, I indulge in my tribal customs." Zack waited as if he expected a longer answer. Finally he continued “And your name is Lady P’Mela Piaue LeonDocTchi. What is the significance of each? And are you from some royal line?” She blushed but realized she had not put parameters on acceptable questions. “I am from a royal house of ’Piaue’ - my father. ’LeonDocTchi’ is the name of my tribe, through my mother’s lineage. I am a descendant, supposedly, of the original Lady who founded our planet and thus I am granted the name ‘Lady’. Hopefully you will call me P’Mela.” Zack continued to stare at her for a long moment and then said softly “There is one thing wrong with your attire.” As she started to ask what, he reached up and snatched the hairpin out. Her veil fell behind her and her hair tumbled free. He reached up and ran his fingers through it and said “Someone which such beautiful hair shouldn’t hide it, P’Mela!” She was shocked that someone had unveiled her hair. It simply was not appropriate. She failed to notice that he had slipped the hairpin along with a strand of her hair into his vestment pocket.

 

[Cadfael]

Down on Earth’s surface, in The City…DennizM stands atop The Needle, the 150 foot high tribute to writers of Sf & Fantasy. It is the tallest structure in The City, and from here he can survey all of the cities teeming streets, near the city limits… he can see the bright lights of The Den Of The Dragon. He sits, hunches his knees to his chest, and wraps his arms around his legs. He has some thinking to do… and an uneasy suspicion to face… hard questions to answer, and then live with.

The facts… he thinks to himself We have an auburn haired beauty from a distant world, who has chased her supposed enemy across half a galaxy to wreak her vengence. Now she has finally caught up with him, it would appear that he was not the enemy she thought… not part of the killers and destroyers of her home world.

So… who was?

Whoever was responsible are working from the sidelines… not openly. They were manipulating races to cause dissention and war… a word here… a bribe there… just like…

DennizM is not quite ready to face that possibility, and he stands quickly and walks over to the edge of The Needle

He suspected the main player, but,,. but WHY?. The overthrow of other worlds would do them no good… they were bound to their own. Wealth? What was wealth compared to what they already had... they had ultimate power and majesty. Okay… they scheme and manipulate… but never on a scales such as this.

Face the answer… you know why… it is her!!!… and you have to stop her

But I swore… on my honour... all I have left is my honour!!

Then let millions die for you honour… I hope it is worth it

His thought are interrupted by a shimmer of violet to his left… he turns to and e-Morgana is standing there… hey eyes showing her concern at the exposed height atop the Needle.

“So this is where you got to” she says...”I thought you were off climbing mountains, or whatever you like to call it now... hey… why so serious?”

“You know part of my past” he turns to her “you however do not know Cadragons past… sit down… I have a tale to tell you”

For the next hour she sits by him, as he tell her Cadragon’s story… she never interrupts… she is speechless anyway, this is Cadragon the bumbling fool of a dragon. Can this be true? Finally he finishes his tale…

“I always knew that someday I would have to face this… but I am not ready, I don’t want to do this thing… I am just not ready”

e-Morgana takes him into her arms, places a kiss on his lips…

“You twit” she smiles “you are DennizM…Utrinque Paratus”

At the words, he takes a sharp intake of breath… his eyes light up… and for the first time that night a smile paints his face… without a further word he turns and flings himself over the edge of the Needle…

 

[Cadfael]

e-Morgana stand looking at the spot where DennizM went over the edge... hd she done the right thing? Cadragon was part of Cadfael... not DennizM...

... the seconds tick past, and with her heart in her mouth she slowly approaches the brink... terrified of what she may see... she slowly, almost painfully looks over the edge...

Trust me? a small voice tickles her mind...

she laughs... "Always my love" and steps from the edge... and falls 3 feet before landing on Cadragon's broad back...

"Did'ya miss me?" he asks

"Why... you been away?" she answers... trying her best to look disinterested.. when she look back... golden eyes regard her from 2 foot away....

"I am K'th-na-magywan.. I am a flamerider of the Imperial Draconian Wing... I have royal blood in my veins... imperial fire in my gullet... and justice in my heart...I go to commit Regicide" e-Morgana is tranfixed by the utterance of the hidden name... ..."I am going home... will you ride with me?"

 

[e-Morgana]

Originally posted by Cadfael
"I am K'th-na-magywan.. I am a flamerider of the Draconian Wing... I have royal blood in my veins... imperial fire in my gullet... and justice in my heart...I go to commit Regicide" e-Morgana is tranfixed by the utterance of the hidden name... ..."I am going home... will you ride with me?"

"Where else would I be, Hon??" she says through choked sobs as her dearest friend finally takes hold of his destiny.

 

[Aik Haw]

Re: The strange encounter.....

Originally posted by Ogg

“Been keeping an eye on ya, But can’t say that I am overly impressed.” said Ogg. Zack thought that he would handle this nuisance quickly and started to reach out with his mind. ”Oh please!” say Ogg as he walked closer to Zack. ”Sure the typical reaction, Take over Ogg’s mind, make him forget, have him sleep, have him forget, cause him to have an aneurysm. You are all the same! Well as you can see your attempt worked just as well for you as it has for everybody else!” Zack snapped back as if struck by Ogg’s words. It was true. His mind, if you could call it that, was totally impervious to any type of mental probe or manipulation. Zack was suddenly unsure of what faced him in the ally. Everything about him said that he was a mere human, like any of the other millions on the planet. Yet his mind was like none that he had ever encountered in the universe. As Zack watched Ogg circle him in the alley and pondered what it was he faced? Ogg spoke again bringing Zack back to the present. ” Okay its like this big fella, I was really starting to fall for Scarlett. But As I can see you and her have something going, so I’ll not be a roadblock. You just be good to her or else!” Ogg then turns and walks down the dark alley rounding a corner and disappearing from sight.

Ogg's mind thought rang through the Connectivity, temporarily causing a ceasefire between the Rebel Imperial Warships and their War Monsters and the j’Son’jon.

Aik Haw slams his hand on a multicoloured panel, revealing the exact location of the powerful mindthought.

Hovering over Phobos, P'mela jumps out from her bath, crying in fear as she ran around the room naked screaming "Shahidan, Shahidan."

200 light years away, the word "Shahidan" rocked all the Battle and War Triremes.

Even the Imperial Crafts were immobilised.

"I'm not going to let this paralyse the entire deployment as ordered by Lord Akman," Aik Haw muttered as his finger danced in the air, his nanogravitonics slowly pulling a small space time distortion, towards a small craft buzzing around Phobos.

Aik Haw inhaled once, his nanoshields now forming a formidable force field around him, then stepped into the spiralling wormhole.

And entered a room greeted by a scream and a crash as he slams into Copani looking fellow. Strange, he thought, must have got the wrong coordinates. Damn he thought as he readjusted a holographic projection, the various starships in the vicinity of Phobos lighting up in the air. "Show me P'mela." he ordered.

Aik Haw tumbled forward, pressed to the wall as balls of white light pinned him down, preventing him even the slightest chance of movement. He called on his nanobots, but they failed to respond. Very well, he thought as he dived into the Connectivity, screaming for help.

Only to snap out as he heard a woman screaming in the room.

"Do you not recognise Comrade j’Son’jon technology," a familiar voice groaned as the sound of hand hitting head filled the room. "And do you have to scream to the Connectivity? Ouch, this worse than having a bomb detonate beside your ear!! Next time, make sure you scream only when there is someone 10 light minute away!! And did you really have to slam poor Zack Ryan?"

P'mela, he sighed in relieve, then his eyes narrowed. Dalliance with a Copani?

 

[Scarlett O'Hara]

Re: Re: The strange encounter.....

Originally posted by Aik Haw
...P'mela, he sighed in relieve, then his eyes narrowed. Dalliance with a Copani?

His hand still throbbed when he heard one precise hard knock at his door. "Enter!" he growled in frustation, wanting longer to digest what little he had seen.

"Excuse the interruption, Sir." whined the timid yeoman as she handed a small display pad. "This message was directed to you at your last known location, but the j'Son'jon captain was unable to decipher it, and forwarded it to Command and Control. They were also unable to decip..."

"Get to the F'ancking point, Yeoman!" snapped Aik Haw.

"Sir, it was eventually forwarded here to you, but we've been unable to decipher it as well. I know you gave me orders to always decrypt before bringing..." the small yeoman gasped when the powerfully built Aik Haw stepped towards her and snatched the pad from her trembling hands. Looking to the originator, he began to smile slowly, remembering he had selected that codename for her, remembering her carefree laughter, and blushing, when he explained the reason for the "Scarlett" name.

"Dismissed Yeoman. But make sure that C&C is aware of my standing orders about immediately forwarding my messages here and that we will decrypt my messages." The yeoman nodded and quickly left.

Aik Haw stripped off the uncomfortable uniform and relaxed in the softly cushioned alcove to read P'Mela's message, dated approximately 3 days earlier. He immediately recognize the silly code they had devised long years ago when they had been so close. It was such a simple code that the geniuses would never think to use such simple means to decode. He laughed out loud at their apparent success at fooling codebreakers. He began to decipher her message. The smile slowly vanished from his face as more became clear to him.

 

[e-Morgana]

Meanwhile, Morgana's heart has had a little time to recover from her bursting pride and she is now assaulted with waves of indecision and hesitation again.

"This is going to be a helluva big task to pull off, you realise, K'th-na........."

"Shut up, woman!!" berates DenDragon furiously. "Why don't you just tell the whole world what my real name is"

"Oh get a grip!! Who's going to hear me up here" she responds angrily. "And don't you tell me to shut up". (So much for their newfound feelings of love, pride, and comaraderie. )

"I think we need to stop by and let P'Mela know our suspicions before we go any further." suggests e-M. DenDragon reluctantly agrees that she might have a point there and they wink out of existence to suddenly re-appear in P'Mela's craft.

"Hello, hello, hello......" laughs Dennizm as he resumes his human form, "What's going on here then?" Of course he takes full advantage of everyone's surprise to investigate the ravishing P'Mela's 'almost-attire' and is VERY impressed with her 'tribal customs'. Then he notices Zack sprawled on the ground and the android looking a little discomforted up against the wall.

Perhaps this isn't a laughing matter after all........

"So who's going to go first?" says Morgana helpfully.

 

[Ogg]

Again a strange voice is heard by all, ”And this is the core of the group that is set to save the multiverse from itself, Bawwahahahahahahah” and then it fades into slience the message of the voice gone its meaning clear to nobody….

 

[Cadfael]

A Word From Our Sponsor

When making a contribution to this thread... please take note of the events that have happened before, try to keep continnuity. If poster writes that his/her particular character is doing something specific, don't just ignore it and bring them into your contribution. Be aware of the other character's mindset... if we have a warrior type... it is hard to imagine them running around screaming in fear. It ruins the flow of the narrative.

The real art to this kind of thread is to react and adapt to what has gone before... and to work your contribution into events already happened... not just post what you like.

ie... DennizM has morphed into a dragon, having him suddenly appear in a battle in human form will not work... unless his transformation back to human is described.... and even then... it must be in character.

I for one am not touching to much on other character... apart from where I have a good knowledge of the personna of the person... this way I hope not to hobble other posters.

Sorry for being a grinch... you may go back to having fun now

~~Mod Edit II: Again a strange voice is heard by all, ”And this is the core of the group that is set to save the multiverse from itself, Bawwahahahahahahah. It only they had insight and knowledge of what is to come. Arm yourself, this fact and truth my yet come to your aid in your hour of need. NBC's hit sitcom `Friends' is based on the second book of the Illuminati Trilogy. ” and then it fades into slience the message of the voice gone its meaning clear to nobody….End Ogg's Mod Edit

 

[Zack Ryan]

Originally posted by e-Morgana "Hello, hello, hello......" laughs Dennizm as he resumes his human form, "What's going on here then?" Of course he takes full advantage of everyone's surprise to investigate the ravishing P'Mela's 'almost-attire' and is VERY impressed with her 'tribal customs'. Then he notices Zack sprawled on the ground and the android looking a little discomforted up against the wall.

Perhaps this isn't a laughing matter after all........

"So who's going to go first?" says Morgana helpfully.

Suddenly P'Mela and Zack and the room they had found them in disappeared, replaced by a large cavernous room. To their right stood over a dozen ships, all identical, all the size of a space shuttle except for one set further apart, larger, obviously used much more than all but one of the others. It stood apart, almost as if it were a contaminent. Directly in front of them was an open hatch with a subdued light behind it. Scarlett appeared in the doorway and beckoned them to join her. Looking at each other, Morgana and DennizM followed her into a long hallway. "Come, we'll take the tram" and she stopped before a doorway which opened when she stood in front of it. As soon as they sat the door closed and they all felt a slight pressure pushing them back into the seats and, looking forward, they saw a long long tunnel in which they travelled.

P'Mela, looking at them, began to speak. "Zak is waiting for us in his ready room with food and refreshment. What you just saw was a trap for an alien presence he had encountered behind the bar, one which he suspects might be here as an advance guard. He met him in the alley behind the bar and spoke to him briefly, some which seemed to be nonsense, some that seemed otherwise. He evaded the trap but something did invade the ship. He wants to show us all what happened and to ask your opinions as to how you would like to procede."

DennizM spoke up, a bit loudly, "US?, why would it matter what we thought? We are no match for him, or his technology so what would our opinion mean to him"

P'Mela smiled, then uttered " I seriously doubt that K'th-na-magywan., Flamerider of the Imperial Draconian Wing, and you, e-Morgana, Sorceress of the Twelfth Degree and I am sure your opinions and ideas would mean a great deal to him."

DennizM and Morgana both sucked in a breath at the mention of the hidden name and DennizM morphed into Cadfael, almost crushing both of the women. His nostrils smoked and, finally he heard e-Morgana shouting at him to get the hell off her lap before she kicked his royal gonads around the world. As he morphed back to his human persona the ride was over. They came to a silent halt and the door opened, and as they stepped out of the tram they were met by a totally naked 8 foot golden Zak. Morgana's eyes traveled from his face to his toes, a disappointed sigh when she realized that he had no genitalia. He spoke then, "My name is Ontanon, personal Android to ZakRianan, please follow me." He then turned and led them through a doorway into a large comfortable room, which had a table set with all manner of food and drink. Zack sat there, sipping something light pink from a frosted glass. He smiled and stood, totally dressed, and welcomed them. Asking them to sit, he turned to Ontanon and dipped his head once and the android turned and left. "Help yourselves, we have much to talk about my friends."

 

[Cadfael]

Zack sat there, sipping something light pink from a frosted glass. He smiled and stood, totally dressed, and welcomed them. Asking them to sit, he turned to Ontanon and dipped his head once and the android turned and left. "Help yourselves, we have much to talk about my friends."

DennizM glances at Morgana, and pulls out a seat for her. He then takes a seat himself, and without waiting to be asked pours himself and Morgana a drink. Taking a sample sip, he winces... and there is small flash of white and the class becomes tumbler... the smell of Bushmills Irish Malt pervades the room. P'Mela glances at a unit on her wrist... then gives an almost imperceptable shake of her head to Zack.

"Well" smiles DennizM "we're here... but I would much rather be elsewhere... particularly since we seem" he glances at P'Mela " useless to you. Say what you have to say... but excuse me if I eat"

Once again there is a white flash accross the table top.. and a roast chicken dinner appears before Morgana and DennizM... he looks at both P'Mela and Zack... "Can I get you something? Oh and P'Mela, don't bother scanning for alpha waves and and x-rays or whatever... this... "he indicates the meal "is not anything you have seen before... it is not mind power, nor am I using any form of technology to acheive it, but.. that is for later..."

He turns to Zack... "Well... why are we here?"

 

[e-Morgana]

Zack and P'Mela manage to look both mystified and excited at the same time. As they watch DennizM and Morgana tuck enthusiastically into their meal, (haven't eaten for awhile you see), they begin to tell the 'Earthers' about their theories on the strange presence in the alleyway. When Zack finally mentions the name of Ogg, Dennizm almost spits his mouthful of food across the room. He doubles over with laughter and then gives Zack a jovial slap on the back.

"OMG" he splutters, "you tried to take over OGG'S mind? Oh Boy!! Have you got a lot to learn!!" Zack and P'Mela are fairly unimpressed with DennizM's jocularity, but this fact seems to escape him completely - the laughter continues unabated.

"Erm.......perhaps you should stop now, Hon" prompts Morgana as she notices the usually calm expression on the Copani's face darken quite markedly. When this has no effect, she waves her hand negligently and sends a 'solid' mass of 'air' to stop the laughter more directly. Again, P'Mela looks with astonishment at the gadget on her wrist. ("BOTH of them" she whispers in awe.) "Now let me get this straight" Morgana addresses Zack.

Originally posted by Ogg

His mind, if you could call it that, was totally impervious to any type of mental probe or manipulation.

"That would be because Ogg's mind is pure unadulterated CHAOS." she explains. "You'll have to excuse this lummox over here. He just loves it when other people first come across the 'Ogg-Phenomena'. Ask him how long it took HIM to figure out what was going on inside that particular head. And ask him how many times HE tried to attempt to influence this particular 'mind'. The truth is, Ogg is 'unique'. We've come to realise that you just have to go with the flow where he's concerned. I wouldn't waste my time and energy trying to alter his course, or you'll most likely end up hurting yourself. For what it's worth, I've never known him to do anything malignant. So I would suggest you think of another explanation as to your 'enemy'.

After informing Zack and P'Mela that DennizM has his own ideas as to what's going on, she realises that her companion has turned a rather unhealthy shade of blue. "Oops!!" she apologises while carelessly 'unblocking' him to let him breathe again. As DennizM sucks in air to his starved lungs, Morgana goes on to explain that this is going to be a rather long tale, and would prefer to make herself more comfortable.

Zack seems rather delighted with this prospect as the Enchantress changes into a rather loose, flowing robe, which seems to waft quite enticingly in the currents from the air ducts. His attention is brought back to the more serious matters at hand, when she conjures a roaring fireplace and places 4 large, soft, chairs strategically around. As the fire klaxons start resounding through the ship, she looks irritably at Zack and asks for him to see to the ruckus. In his state of continued astonishment, he doesn't even think to be insulted by her imperious tone.

As they all stroll over and take a seat each by the fire, Morgana sets the procedings in motion. "Okay my dear... I think we're all comfortable now. Perhaps you'd like to tell your story".

 

[Scarlett O'Hara]

Originally posted by e-Morgana
"Okay my dear... I think we're all comfortable now. Perhaps you'd like to tell your story".

“Before we begin, may I take a few minutes to change?” But before waiting for an answer P’Mela left the room. DennizM smiled and said “I rather liked what she was wearing!” ZakRianan’s face darkened slightly, which Morgana noticed immediately. The three made small talk for just a few minutes and when P’Mela returned she was dressed in her typical space attire, a khaki colored jumpsuit and jacket. Both DennizM and Zak frowned which caused Morgana to laugh slightly.

The Copani spoke softly in an unknown language, and a mid-air display seem to float in their midst. “This” ZakRianan explained “is our galaxy. Earthers call it the Milky Way.“ Again, he spoke softly in his own language and the mid air display seem to focus in on about a fourth of the galaxy. “This is the area of concern.” Again he spoke softly the unfamiliar words and the mid air display was suddenly colored into four colors. P’Mela stood from the chair provided by Morgana and stepped right into the display. She began to point to certain colored areas. “This area is populated by the Aurora League of Planetary Organizations of which the Copani are a major member. Actually their most powerful member! Throughout the galaxy, all the different races in this organization are simply referred to as Auroras. But don’t be misled by a common name. The races are diverse and unique and all are very powerful. Thankfully, they remain at peace with themselves.” She turned and pointed to another colored area. “This is the All Planetary Alliance. They are barely held together by their non-aggression pact with each other. But the different species in this alliance are openly hostile to each other and refuse to stop absorbing lone planets in their vicinity. Others referred to them as Apies, not a flattering description!” Then pointing to the largest block of colored area, P’Mela said “This is the j’Son’jon Empire. They are technologically advanced. Their civilization is several millenia old, with great planets and cultures contained equally in it. The art and music, the great floating cities you can’t imagine...” Zak said rather forceably since her pride was showing “P’Mela, please, go on with the briefing.” She blushed and gave him a hard stare but then pointed to the fourth colored area which seem to lie in the center of the other three. “This is the area of contested space that these three super powers will probably fight over. And here...” she pointed to a star near the center “is earth’s sun.”

As the display vanished, she return to her seat looking rather pouty because of Zak’s harsh tone with her. Until a few days ago, she knew only that she was supposed to hunt down and kill Copani. Now to have one ordering her about was grating. Feeling hot, she suddenly stood and pushed her chair further away from Morgana’s fireplace. Before taking her seat again, she took off her jacket and threw it across the back of the chair. When DennizM saw the patch on the arm of her jumpsuit, his eyes widened, but he caught himself in time from displaying any recognition of it. But the patch was of a dragon in flight. Across the top was written “Piaue” and across the bottom of the patch was written “Ultrinque Paratus”.

Morgana asked “Zak, please display the area again with the four colors.” As he did so, she asked “P’Mela, where is your planet in all of this?” A shocked looked crossed P’Mela’s face and she looked at Morgana, then at DennizM and then at Zak, who nodded subtly. Taking a deep breath, she rose and walked into the display again. It shimmered as she walked through it. She pointed to a spot in the same colored area as Earth, but next to the junction of Copani space and j’Son’jon space. “It was here.” and she went back to her seat. DennizM had become very quiet, watching P’Mela. Morgana asked “What do you mean ‘was here’” P’Mela snapped angrily “As in it used to be there and isn’t any longer. That’s what I mean!”

Zak spoke up. “Her planet had a very plentiful element that is rather rare in the rest of the galaxy. It is used in the j’Son’jon jump engine technology. They enlisted the help of the All Planetary Alliance to attack the planet relentlessly. Their purpose was to harvest all the element, but P’Mela’s people would not give up. But then, disguised as Copani, they issued a final warning to her people to leave the planet. They showed them a terrible new weapon, supposedly Copani, that would rip the core of the planet open so they could more easily harvest what they were seeking. Many of her people got away in small space ships as possible, aided by another planet close by. We knew that they would fight any Copani they saw, thinking it was we who were killing them and their planet. The new weapon brought in did rip her planet apart, and it was efficient at extracting the element the Sonjons wanted. But the Sonjons never come at you head on. They always work through others while trying to maintain a respectable reputation.”

 

[Scarlett O'Hara]

DennizM asked softly “P’Mela, I am curious. What was the name of your planet or your people?” She looked at him and he could see the pain in her expression and the tears welling up about to spill over. When she answered him, he didn’t know if it was her heartbeat or his own that he heard. Then Morgana sadly repeated the names, and DennizM knew he had heard correctly. “I’m very sorry, P’Mela! I would like you to tell me about Dracsa soon, when we have the time. And about your family and friends.” P’Mela looked up and said “The Drac, what’s left of us, are scattered throughout space now, mostly co-mingled inside other species now. I was a very small child when it happened and my royal governess got me out and through all military checkpoints by pretending we were endentured servants. Had anyone found out I was the daughter of the Dracsan Emperor, I would have died as a child. Many years later, my “mother” and I were befriended by a j’Son’jon Senator, whom she later married and had children. He adopted me, supported my career through the Obsidian Military Academy. For all purposes, I was a Sonjon but my governess never let a single day pass without telling me quietly about my home planet and my parents, about my world. Though we always believed it was the Copani who had killed our planet.” P’Mela looked at Zak and smiled slightly.

Zak began to explain. “There are more of her people than she realizes. I asked her to relay a message to the Dracsa fleet.” “Yes, but unless they now have jump technology, our few ships can’t get here in time.” P’Mela added harshly. “But, I did send a message to a trusted Sonjon friend of mine, Captain Aik Haw...” Zak’s expression darkened and he snapped loudly “You did what? You have warned the empire? F’anck!” He stood and started to pace continuing to curse. P’Mela stood and walked over to him, laying her hand on his golden forearm “He is a trusted friend. I know him! I told him what I had found out about the empire. I promise, he will either help us or he will find a way to stay clear of the fight.” Zak snatched his arm away and looked at her with those steady black eyes. “You will tell me more of him later, but now we have to get Morgana and DennizM to understand the rest.”

P’Mela sheepishly took her seat, but had started rubbing her temples and neck. Her color was draining from her face and suddenly she rushed from the room. Morgana looked concerned and started to follow but DennizM grabbed her arm and said, in unison with ZakRianan “The jumps make her ill.” The two men stared at each other. Zak’s eyes narrowed as he stared at the other. “I’m assuming the jump makes her ill. It would me!” DennizM joked. But still Zak and Morgana looked strangely at him. Finally Zak began to pace again, talking to no one in particular “She has warned the Sonjons. I didn’t think she would do that.” Suddenly Morgana was behind him and she said softly “Perhaps, she knows what she is doing, Zak. You told me in The Friendly Arm Inn that she was a highly respected warrior. That statues were built of her, songs are sung about her. Now you seem to treat her as an inferior partner in this. I think you are wrong in your attitude. If she sent her friend, this captain Aik Haw person, a message, then I believe she can trust him to help her. As a woman, I see things that maybe you men don’t. And P’Mela truly believes that this man will help. You need to remember one thing, you sought her out. Don’t dismiss her ideas so harshly.”

They were getting back their seats when P’Mela came back in, looking pale and her eyes looked glazed. “Excuse me, everyone. After a particularly harsh jump, I have waves a sickness and more than my share of dementia. Sometimes I can’t remember my own name or where I am from. Other times I think I am someone else entirely. But mostly I just get sick.” She passed Zak without a glance and took her seat. Zak nodded to her, though she chose to look elsewhere and began “P’Mela’s ship is a j’Son’jon Hunter-Killer ship. Basically it is a small agile craft with jump engines normally used on the massive War WarpTrireme. They are the most powerful war ships in the Sonjon inventory. Though they are half the size of my ship. This all means that P’Mela’s ship, without the mass of the larger vessel, can achieve greater jump velocities than the larger ships. Therefore once she determines an enemy’s destination, she can go to jump and arrive before they do, killing them cleanly when they come out of their own jump sequence. That’s how she managed to kill so many Copani seekers before we figured out her technique. Now of course, we have ways to avoid her.” Zak looked at P’Mela and smiled playfully. But she wasn’t looking anywhere except at the fire. DennizM continued to study her seriously while Morgana took in every nuance, every detail around her. When P’Mela shifted in her chair, her long sleeve pulled up slightly and Morgana got a good look at the bracelet she was now wearing and thought “The third one!”.