Variant Earth 13 E Mail Game Archive Number 35

From:  Firebomb <firebomb@technohol.com> 
Date:  Thu Oct 16, 2003  3:15 pm
Subject:  Re: [v13] Re: A Beginning... (Justice)

"Heh, not me... I just fake it.  But then it's not too hard to scare a bunch of stiffs like that - and those guys were the stiffest stiffs I've seen in a long time."  Will joins you in poring over the folder you swiped back at the Terran Directorate's offices.

'The Tijuana Project'

The details are somewhat sparse, but it looks like this 'projects' involves moving a select crew of homeless types under the Directorate's care to Tijuana in order to perform certain unspecific tasks.  The paper seems to stress only a certain type of homeless fellow for this job.

The kind that pass a 'blank' or 'near blank' background check?

You're not quite sure what that means, but moving people across the border (if barely) in order to do something doesn't sound all that kosher - even if it is just to avoid paying the federal minimum wage.  "Huh... don't that beat all...," says Will.

?

From:  "Mister Christopher" <cacers@cox.net> 
Date:  Thu Oct 16, 2003  3:55 pm
Subject:  Re: [v13] Mmm... Scooby Snacks...

> It's signed Charlie Chicanery.
 
Gunslinger holsters his guns and kneels down by Charlie.
"Are you okay?"
Feeling that some Karmic duty called for him to ask this, he feels kinda silly.
"Charlie, Charlie, Charlie. Should know better than to mess with time Carelessly. I learned that lesson already. We gotta get you to a hospital pal. Unless...."
 
He turns to Moebius.
"...you have any healing spells? I know about your entropy crap..but still."

Whatever the response is, he stands up and looks around.
"And where the hell is the water guy? He should have been here. Didn't slip out as far as I know."
 
He pulls out his phone and rings Geoffrey.
"We got a problem. Charlie got the shit kicked outta him..her..whatever by ..Charlie. We are either gonna get her to a hospital or maybe Jim or Moebius can heal her up. Either way, Charlie is gonna be out of this one I think."

From:  "Mister Christopher" <cacers@cox.net> 
Date:  Thu Oct 16, 2003  5:30 pm
Subject:  Re: [v13] Dead Presidents?

> (snip Jinx speak) 
 
Masque stops short of Ice Cold's ice....safety harness? and waves a finger at him.
"Ah ah ah.....I don't care if there are pointy bits on it. It's still ice. and the pointy bits will only hurt more when one slips....."
He issues forth a strand of his Bands and with uncharacteristic agility, he swings himself over to the bottom of the steps.
"Aha...aaaaguhhhhhh."
..he utters as he smacks into the wall.
 
Muttering to himself he scans the room and locates everyone that can be seen. Upon noticing Jinx, he taps the conspiratorial nose and winks.
Throwing up his magic shield, he keeps an eye on Ford and readies his spell to portal the Ex Pres to the ship.

From:  Charlie Chicanery <charlie_chicanery@yahoo.com> 
Date:  Fri Oct 17, 2003  3:19 am
Subject:  Re: [v13] Mmm... Scooby Snacks...

> Furthermore, after you get a call from Moebius (imagine that), they proceed to 
> stomp you up and down until you pass out. Nice, eh?

Before i get hit by the Sandman, i simply let these girls know that they're on my List (TM).

"You're on my list. Both of you bitches."

And probably say a lot more ow, ooh, ee, ar, ai, and so forth.

i guess i pass out at this point.

Chris Acers sed:

> "Either way, Charlie is gonna be out of this one I think."

i do believe that, if possible, i will wake up at this point - they only beat me senseless, after all - not DEAD. "Hackg."

That's a good opener.

"Bu-shit. i ain't out of nothin'. You know, i'm tired of getting hounded over this staff - MY staff... and this wasn't from any temporal duplicate of me,
Gunslinger - it's the one we just beat up at the Bar, i'd bet. Oh, i'd bet a lot.

"Hell, you know what? i think that ain't the half of it - i'm sick and tired of living in Charlie's shadow - the other Charlie, that is. i'm going to get me
some of my individuality back. not to mention mny jiblets. MOEBIUS!"

i assume that will get her attention.

"Moebius, though i am battered and broken, i wish to enlist your elite time travel services. Now, i know that i have no money, but i will promise you my first two THEM paychecks if you will aid me in a certain endeavor... though it's risky, and we may get hounded by those temporal cop people... so if you're not up for that, i understand..."

Heh... like taking candy from a baby.

"i'd ask you too, Gunslinger, but this may take a few minutes, and at least one of us should help Geoffrey out on this ghost job - and you're more likely able to find this Smashers thing than she... but anyway. Assuming this works, we should meet you two there shortly anyway... but i digress.

"What'cha say, Moebius?

From:  Firebomb <firebomb@technohol.com> 
Date:  Fri Oct 17, 2003  5:24 am
Subject:  RE: [v13] Mmm... Scooby Snacks...

You reach out with your mind, Geoffrey, and talk to the chair with your newly mastered psychometric ability, though it's quite an odd psychic conversation.  The chair seems to appreciate your posture, since most folks tend to just plop down on top of it.

It seems to be in slight need of oiling on its third leg, and you get the impression that it doesn't like that dead fly stuck under the second leg.  It takes you a bit of mental wrangling, but you eventually wander past the chair's personal problems into slightly more desirable territory.

The chair seems to have several visual impressions of those who have sat in it, though most of them are somewhat fleeting... and generally not at the angle you're precisely looking for.  But for some reason pictures of Dan Akroyd keep flashing into your mind.

Returning your focus to the more sensible reality before you just as Ms. Chase ends another story about these Smashers you see outside the window, you make your offer to the lady, and she seems quite amicable.  "Yes, that should do nicely, my good man.

"Anything to end this mystery fast.  The last thing I need is to see this story show up in the Enquirer.  Lord knows football fans rarely seem to read anything more sophisticated than that...  You can start with the late night cleaning crew - they're the ones who started all this.

"They should be in within a few hours, I would imagine..."

Elsewhere, you do indeed wake up just when you'd like, Charlie; I have no problem with that.  As you start make sickly noises, and Gunslinger asks about the whereabouts of Slow Jim, the Atlantean indeed returns to the apartment, with about four grocery bags in hand.

Of course, he drops two of them upon seeing the messed up visage of Charlie Chicanery.  "Holy Crap, are you okay!?"  This prompts a look from Moebius, and Jim almost drops the other bags.  "I only left a few minutes ago - Charlie seemed to want privacy...

"Didn't think anything like this could happen...!"

Tying all this together, you go to call Moebius, Geoffrey, when Gunslinger instead calls you - and gives you the bad news.  This is also when Charlie starts to rant proper about various things, probably because of a concussion or six, but there you go.

Intrigued by your offer, Moebius agrees.  "Time Cops be damned, I can help you out with this one, Charlie.  Since you're paying me and all, I don't mind - I'll just consider a visit by our friendly neighborhood Chrono Corps an... added incentive, I suppose.

"That cool with you, Gunslinger, or did you want to do this whilst I work with Geoffrey on this silly ghost caper?"

!?

From:  Firebomb <firebomb@technohol.com> 
Date:  Fri Oct 17, 2003  5:42 am
Subject:  Re: [v13] Dead Presidents?

"Why you little rat..."

Disco Head seems appalled at your presence, Rebound, and you can see him spying the room for your compatriots.  "You jerks seem to think you need to get your noses up in my business and ruin everything, but you don't know the whole story.

"Why don't you ask your friend Captain Cocksure about this mess, Rebound?  Oh, but you can't - because he's been brainwashed.  Anytime anybody ever says anything bad about Ford, the good Captain simply tunes out.  Doesn't he, Jake?  Doesn't he?!"

Jake gives him a 'what the?' sort of look.

Disco Head then rises up out of his litter, much to the amazement of his various muscle-bound bearer-women, and floats over the crowd, disco ball head a'blazing.  This prompts all kinds of oohs and aahs, even though most of these people were in a frenzy to leave moments ago.

"That's right, kids... everybody calm down.  Since this is probably about to end horribly, I guess you all should head out the door now, and don't come back; I'm sure Captain Brain-Washed-Tool-Of-Fascism will have this place erased by tomorrow..."

You're not sure why, but it would appear that Disco Head is clearing the room of all his previously avowed hostages... though they do so with blank stares and slack jaws, the crowd before you seems to be heading up Stone Cold's icy stairs in a slow, orderly fashion.  Ah, hypnosis.

All save for the one, of course.  

"I really don't know what you're talking about, mister... I'm telling you, I've never laid eyes on you in my life.  But if there's anything I can help you with, please let me know, and I'll try my best to see that you're taken care of.  Honestly..."

Ford still seems somewhat unnerved by all this, but then from what Jake's said, the man is completely oblivious about stuff like this, even if he did set up the whole B.A.H. in the first place.  Regardless, despite Ford's babbling, the crowd fades away soon enough.

Barring any sudden moves from any of y'all, they all exit without incident... leaving you in the evacuated Nessus with naught but Disco Head, Ford, and that lady with the blue afro, Miss Behavior, who's standing to the side of those muscle-bound ladies.

Despite the hair, she's kind of short, Rebound - that may be why it took you so long to finally find her... unless she just teleported in or something... you never know.  But, it would appear that Disco Head removed one big headache for you here... how nice of him.

Now what?

From:  EmarZero@aol.com 
Date:  Fri Oct 17, 2003  11:50 am
Subject:  Re: [v13] Dead Presidents?

Ari raises her hand.  "Mr. Discodome?  Uh, being that I wasn't, you know, ALIVE when your little vendetta was formulated, could you please for the benefit of those of us UNDER the age of 60 please explain what this is about?  Who the crap is Captain Cocksure?  What kind of a lameass name is that?  And in case you didn't know, Disco died in like, 1778.  It married Punk and they had an ugly gender-confused baby named New Wave."  Up until the very last sentence, Ari is straight-up playing dumb with Disco Head, mainly hoping to distract the pompous freak long enough for the rest of the team to do something constructive.

From:  "Gilles Doyen" <pinba77@yahoo.ca> 
Date:  Fri Oct 17, 2003  1:49 pm
Subject:  Re: A Beginning... (Justice)

Sebastian stiffened. It reminded him of sinister experiments the Wolf
family, exiled germans from the 2nd World War, had started, to find
out how they could genetically improve their clan. They had started
on "disposable" people in South America. "Disposable" as in they-have-
no-family-so-no-one-will-ask-about-them.

"Since they have nothing else to offer of value, I fear that the
Directorate is using them as guinea pigs. Must be performing
experiments on them, either testing some kind of product, or maybe
checking something about their genes... Either way, it smells bad...
Let's go get our stuff, pick some food and be on our way to
investigate. I hate people who think others are there to be their
pawns..."

(Unless Will objects, let's have them retrieve their hidden clothing
and equipment, pick some real food and be on their way to Tijuana
after refilling the PBY-5A)

From:  "Mister Christopher" <cacers@cox.net> 
Date:  Sat Oct 18, 2003  11:13 am
Subject:  Re: [v13] Mmm... Scooby Snacks...

> "That cool with you, Gunslinger, or did you want to do this whilst I work with 
> Geoffrey on this silly ghost caper?"

Shruggin,
"Whatever. You would be better helping Charlie anyhow. I just don't seem to have the degree of control you have over time."

From:  Charlie S Clay Jr <cclayjr2@juno.com> 
Date:  Sat Oct 20, 2018  7:13 am
Subject:  Re: Dead Presidents?

Under normal circumstances Stone Cold wouldn't think of paying attention
to Ari's off the wall comments...well not that much attention but it made
sense. Despite his vomit of american history. He was pretty lost, but
the way Ari summed it all up was pretty unique. But the distraction was
pretty good but distract him from what seeming that everyone else but the
Xena women were gone..... He watched and moved around to keep and eye
on everyone and get the drop on domehead if he made any sudden moves.

From:  "Lohse, Doug" <DLohse@banknorth.com> 
Date:  Mon Oct 20, 2003  9:41 am
Subject:  RE: [v13] Dead Presidents?

Rebound is lost in quite a few moments of confusion, but continues to mentally fumble his way through this situation. Why does DiscoHead sound so lucid and reasonable off of a sudden?

"You know, DiscoHead, this didn't have to turn out like this. It still doesn't." Rebound slowly and carefully walks across the room towards the litter and Miss Behavior.  "You're a smart guy. There's no denying that. What good does this vendetta serve? Ford has absolutely no idea what this is about or even who you are. You let the crowd leave. That shows at least some moral backbone in there.
Let Ford go now, and I promise I'll walk right out that door. What do you say?

Rebound will bide his time, waiting for Masque to do his disappearing act with the ex-president. If, by some miracle, DiscoHead just lets Ford go, Rebound will escort the ex-president outside and back to the ship. If the president simply disappears ala Masque, Rebound will attempt to take out Miss Behaving with a pair of strands launched at her knees.

(Rolls: Init: 3, Strands: 20, Anything else: 81, 04, 85...time for new dice!)

From:  "Lohse, Doug" <DLohse@banknorth.com> 
Date:  Wed Oct 22, 2003  11:24 am
Subject:  RE: [v13] Mmm... Scooby Snacks...

> "They should be in within a few hours, I would imagine..."

Geoffrey smiles inwardly at her acceptance of his terms. As he contemplates how this job will further the business, he carefully studies a picture of the woman's father and begins his investigation.

"Excellent. I will speak with them when they arrive, but until then, I will just be touring the facility to familiarize myself with it's idiosyncrasies."

Geoffrey takes his time walking the halls, allowing his psychometry to run wild as he waits for the night cleaning crew to arrive. Maybe he can pull together some clues as to what is going on before he meets up with the crew.

When outside of the office, Geoffrey would make his call, listen to the debate over who helps Charlie or who comes on the job, shrugs, and replies, "OK, Moebius, help Charlie out and Gunslinger can join me here."

(Rolls: 91, 100!!!!, 80, 58, 07)

From:  Charlie Chicanery <charlie_chicanery@yahoo.com> 
Date:  Wed Oct 22, 2003  2:23 pm
Subject:  RE: [v13] Mmm... Scooby Snacks...

> (snip Moebius speak)

"Score... let us wreck us some causality!"

With that i suppose that i will engage in some time
travel with Moebius... though she'll have to do the
driving this time... huh.

From:  "Mister Christopher" <cacers@cox.net> 
Date:  Thu Oct 23, 2003  11:17 am
Subject:  Re: [v13] Dead Presidents?

Masque, not saying a word, steps back into the stair well. Keeping Ford in his vision though.

Whispering the words to his banishment spell, he tries to send Ford to the ship. If that works, he will quickly do the same on himself to make sure Ford won't slip out, being the only one on the ship.
 
(43 to send Ford, 38 to send myself)

From:  Firebomb <firebomb@technohol.com> 
Date:  Fri Oct 24, 2003  4:14 am
Subject:  Re: [v13] Dead Presidents?

Hearing your plea, Rebound, Disco Head scoffs.  "Eff.  Let Ford go, now that I have him right where I want him?  I think not, my good man, for the hour of my ultimate payback is at hand."  On the other hand, Ari seems to have activated Disco Head's narrative mode.

"Heh... I suppose there is that, young lady.  You wouldn't know about most of this, but the point is that I didn't start my little issue with Ford, oh no.  You see, I originally tried to use my revolutionary micro-machining technology to help people.

"That's right, like you idiots, I tried to be a super hero.  But no, somebody couldn't let that happen.  Somebody thought that I was a 'disruptive presence' in the world.  Somebody thought that he should send his highly trained goons to do me in.

"That Somebody is in the cage right there before you."  Disco Head then waves towards Ford in a dramatic fashion.  "This ass sent his precious Presidential super-human hit squad, the Obsidian Sector, after me more times than even I can remember - and I'm smart.

"But I decided to fight back.  I founded the Boogie Brigade to take him down, and we would've succeeded if it wasn't for that meddling Captain Cocksure.  And, for your information, the old man in the American Flag spandex (TM) outfit there is the 'good' Captain."

Disco Head then motions towards Jake, the fellow that accompanied you on your flight to Los Angeles, here.  "Captain Cockless there is the reason we're all here today, the reason the whole world is in such a shambles.  If he'd not interfered, the earth would be a better place.

"I know this, because I met a member of my very own fan club today!"

With this, Miss Behavior snaps her fingers, and a girl materializes before Disco Head.  A girl with a rather large orange afro, a girl wearing little more than silver hot pants, a silver halter top, and holographic, rainbow-hued boots.  Oh, and John Elton (TM) sunglasses.

You... you recognize this girl, Jinx.  She's a friend of that Mark Hazzard guy, that girl from a timeline where disco never died...!  "That's right, you idiots - Disco Head is a hero where I come from... he saved the world from Ford's fascist schemes, and was later elected President himself!"

Suddenly, Ford vanishes, followed immediately by Masque.

This prompts Disco Head to say a bad word, at which point Rebound leaps into action, flinging a pair of sticky and/or corrosive strands of goo at Miss Behavior's knees... missing completely.  She looks down at the strands on each side of her, and sighs.

"Silly boy, that was uncalled for."  Miss Behavior then leaps into action, running towards you.  The weird thing is that it appears that she's moving faster than she should, her motions proceeding at normal speed while her physical body is rocketing towards you insanely fast.

It's somewhat disconcerting to look at, but not as much as the strange, warping effect her hands are having on the air around her as she throws punches at you.  While those punches look like they'd hurt, and they'd possibly turn you inside out again, she fails to connect... this time.

Meanwhile, the girl in the dance club get-up stands in front of Disco Head - or as close as she can, what with him floating in the air above you all - and puts up her dukes.  At this point, you can see she's also wearing silvery, finger-less gloves... or gauntlets?

"That's right, ass holes!  Nobody messes with Disco Head without messing with ME!  You want to start a ruckus with Disco Head, you got to go through me first - and Tangerine Lovechild ain't no pushover, neither!"  She can definitely talk the talk...

Elsewhere, up in Harry the Space Pilot's space craft, you return moments after Ford appeared here, looking somewhat confused.  "Egad, I appear to be rescued?  And here the fun was just beginning...!"  You can't help but be surprised at that comment, Masque.

Looking at the man, you can see that he's grinning.  But that's something of a misnomer, really... most folks would call THAT grin a rictus...!

!?

From:  Firebomb <firebomb@technohol.com> 
Date:  Fri Oct 24, 2003  4:17 am
Subject:  Divergence

Moebius just looks at you, unsure whether you've been hit in the head too many times or if your normal self is just shining through in new, uncomfortable ways.  "Right.  You're in charge, buddy, so if you've got some sort of master plan, let's hear it.

"S'not like I can magically make a man out of you, you know...!"

From:  Firebomb <firebomb@technohol.com> 
Date:  Fri Oct 24, 2003  4:28 am
Subject:  Re: [v13] Mmm... Scooby Snacks...

You're trolling about the halls of the Smashers' Stadium, Geoffrey, and you are indeed going hog wild with that psychometry of yours.  You tune in to anything and everything lining the walls, the floors, and even the ceiling.  You see all kinds of things.

Perhaps... too much, really.  You come across an untold number of faces as you roam the halls and seating area, and you might be seeing something you're wanting to hang on to, but it's hard to tell amongst the flood of information.  Or... is it?

Normally, you'd spy football players out on the field, but a couple items seem to recall being brushed up against by a fellow in a uniform completely different than those wore by Smashers players.  This guy's wearing an orange and purple suit... how gauche.

Of course, he's also glowing, and from what you can interpret from the items in question (a poster advertising Bud Light and the handle of a door leading into a restroom) the man has a blank, oblivious stare... not to mention a rather slack jaw.

After Moebius and Charlie decide that they're going to have another "ladies' day out", Gunslinger, you hop back into your car and head towards this Smashers Stadium.  Curious, you don't recall running into this particular NFL expansion team in any of your travels.

Doesn't say a lot about their prospects.

Regardless, you park right up front, what with there not being an actual game going on, and head on in.  The security guard just nods as you pass, presumably having been informed that THEM is welcome here, and you can either wander about looking for clues yourself, or just call Geoffrey.

Either way.

?

From:  Firebomb <firebomb@technohol.com> 
Date:  Fri Oct 24, 2003  4:35 am
Subject:  Re: [v13] Re: A Beginning... (Justice)

After thinking it over for oh, six seconds, Will seems to agree with you.  "Yeah, I wouldn't put it past these maniacs to pull something like that.  The what I have no clue about, but I highly doubt they're moving these fellows across the border to make Nikes.

"I say we head on over to Tijuana and bust some heads... well, once we find out that something bad is going on, at least.  Or prove it, realistically speaking.  I know beyond any shadow of a doubt the Directorate is up to no good."

Once you get you belongings, a nice dinner to offset your dual hungers, and return to the airport, you gas up the plane and fly southwest, and manage to make it to Tijuana with little difficulty.  After you take care of the plane upon landing, you and Will find yourselves in Mexico.

With no real leads regarding how to proceed from here...

?

From:  Firebomb <firebomb@technohol.com> 
Date:  Fri Oct 24, 2003  5:05 am
Subject:  Just a couple of things...

Hey everybody, just writing to say that, despite me being a bit behind on the posting in general (cursed 60+ hour work weeks), it seems that things are moving crazy-fast here in v13-land.  Heck, last month's activity was the highest in three and a half years... woo!

Of course, I wasn't just going to pat y'all on the back (not just, anyway).  I was on the verge of adding a few new folks to the game, but before I did, I wanted to make sure I hadn't let one or two slip my mind... for instance.

I know that Emar had a 2nd character he was considering for use in the game, but I never really followed up on that... my fault, but regardless.  If anybody on the list has a fellow (or fellow-ette) they want to play, and I never got around to it, just shoot me an electronic mail.

I figure we can go from there if folks I've inadvertently blown off are still interested.

Another thing I wanted to note was that I was making a slight change in how I handle a few things... well, I already have, but I just figured I'd actually say so.  Most of this involves posts for the two groups in general, should someone not post.

I can never tell if someone just has nothing to add or is very very late (or even if Yahoo just et their mail), but I figure if I haven't heard from a body within a week, I'm just going to post without them, either hiding them in the background or writing for them.

I prefer the former, but if I have to, I'll add something from the person so late.  This usually isn't a big deal, since most of y'all post right away when I do, but I figured in order to keep things proceeding apace (and so you're not still fighting Disco Head in 2008), this was best.

Again, this isn't a slam at anybody, just me trying to keep things smooth.

On that same note, I figure it's probably a good idea to remind folks that they should include a die roll or so in their e mails, and maybe an initiative roll if they like, so's they're available when needed.  I didn't used to do it that way, but this speeds things up.

Should you find you don't have dice, I have a rudimentary d100 roller available on my site for your use.  It's not pretty yet (not like I wanted to make it, at least), but it works.  You can find this doohickey at this address:

http://www.technohol.com/u-rules/die.asp

Again, it's one of those things I worked the .asp mechanics out for, but not all the bells and whistles.  So, you'll have to actually hit reload to make it re-roll for you (which will be fixed once I actually sweeten it up with graphics), but it's fully functional and random.

I worked the kinks out by experimenting on it with Acers there.

Finally, I figured now would be a good time for any of you to send me any gripes about the game or my handling thereof if you have any.  I usually think I'm being smart about stuff, but you never know when I've managed to get someone rankled about some stunt I've pulled.

While I'm having a blast running you guys through one weird adventure after another, it's not really about me, so if there's something you just can't stand - or something you'd like to see that makes sense in the game - I'm all ears.  Just so's you know, I'm open to stuff.

Usually... heh.

Other than that, I can't think of anything I wanted or needed to blabber on about, so I'll shut up now and finish that Cowboy Bebop DVD that I've been viewing piecemeal for a few weeks now, and pass out before I go in for some MORE overtime tomorrow... whee.

Later all!

- Firebomb @ http://www.technohol.com/

'you sucks!' 

From:  Damon Scott <damonpscott@yahoo.com> 
Date:  Fri Oct 24, 2003  10:04 am
Subject:  Re: [v13] Just a couple of things...

I am still interested.  Did you get the character outline I sent?  If not Ill re-ask the questions I had before I flesh him out.  Thanks

From:  EmarZero@aol.com 
Date:  Fri Oct 24, 2003  11:02 am
Subject:  Re: [v13] Dead Presidents?

> (snip Tangerine Lovechild speak)

Ari grins, and goes for her Defenestrator.  Then, aiming it at Disco Head, she bellows in the deepest voice she can manage (which isn't that deep, but it's a little surprising)
"BEND BEFORE THE WAYS... OF HEAVY METAL!"

Then she shoots Disco Head.  "THIS ONE'S FOR THE RAMONES!"

From:  "Mister Christopher" <cacers@cox.net> 
Date:  Fri Oct 24, 2003  11:11 am
Subject:  Re: [v13] Mmm... Scooby Snacks...

> ... you can either wander about looking for clues yourself, or just call 
> Geoffrey.

Being the impatient ...alien..that he is, Gunslinger calls Geoffrey.
"Where you at honkytonk?"

From:  "Lohse, Doug" <DLohse@banknorth.com> 
Date:  Fri Oct 24, 2003  12:22 pm
Subject:  RE: [v13] Mmm... Scooby Snacks...

> "Where you at honkytonk?"

Geoffrey snaps out of his thoughts and, well, the "thoughts" of everything around him.

"Gunslinger. Ah, good to see you've arrived. You have arrived, haven't you? Good, good. I am on the East side of the complex, on the third level, in what appears to be called 'section C-4'. Meet me on the lower level, outside the maintenace section. We have some witnesses coming in before too long and I'd like to interview them as soon as possible."

When Geoffrey meets up with Gunslinger, he explains what he has found out up to this point.

"This orange and purple-clad individual may be the "ghost" we are looking for. It could be some strange reanimation of the Mack Thornton fellow. I'm not sure what to make of it yet, but the murder of the woman's father by 'mobsters' is also a point of concern for us. It could be some sort of scare tactic to get her to sell the team or some other small-minded scheme."

Geoffrey waits for the night crew to arrive. He activates his forcefield as
well as the thought that this may be nothing more than an elaborate extortion job has made him a bit more cautious.

(any needed Rolls: Init: 9, 90, 78, 45, 86, 59)

From:  "Lohse, Doug" <DLohse@banknorth.com> 
Date:  Fri Oct 24, 2003  12:31 pm
Subject:  RE: [v13] Dead Presidents?

> (snip Miss Behavior action / attack)

"Nice tick there lady, but you weren't given permission to cross THIS velvet rope..."

Rebound shrugs at his mis(good)fortune and proceeds to leap into the air, twisting his body so that his arms will cross over each other, causing the strands attached between the floor and his hands to stick onto Miss Behaving (works in theory anyway). He'll then cause them to detonate as he makes his not so graceful descent to the floor to start the bouncing and blasting spectacle. He will try to hit as many laser/light/holographic projectors as he can as he bounces around the disco not even considering trying to stop himself.

(Rolls: Init: 6, Jump/twirl/boom: 58+30 karma=98, Others: 80, 92, 97, 40, 16, 53)

From:  "Gilles Doyen" <pinba77@yahoo.ca> 
Date:  Fri Oct 24, 2003  5:33 pm
Subject:  Re: A Beginning... (Justice)

OOC: Also forgot about that... I'd assume (from the movies, which ain't the best source of information) that Navy SeALs should know rudiments of various languages (spanish and arabian comes to mind), in addition to their own native language, but I'll leave that up to you to decide.

Also, I'm assuming we're talking about Tijuana northwest of LaPaz, and not Tijuana just across San Diego. If I'm wrong, just edit my text accordingly. Thanx!

BIC: Will and Sebastian had a nice dinner (Sebastian picked a black pepper steak), although they got a few stares from the waitress whenever she leaned and got a whiff of their rebuking body odor, left by the clothes they previously wore. Not bothered in the least, Sebastian made sure to leave a generous tip, wondering with a smile how the waitress would add up the two contradictory notions.

They then refueled (and got a few admirative stares about the plane from bystanders) before leaving for LaPaz (Leon), Mxico.

Once arrived, they both had to produce their passports. Sebastian was fine with that. Because he worked with NUMA, he already had something that served the same purpose as an international passport and it also allowed him to serve the excuse of being there for some sea exploration project. Sebastian wondered about the passport that Will produced. He suspected that it was forged, but the customs personnel caused them no trouble at all.

Being familiar with the area because of previous projects in the area, Sebastian led Will to a National car rental shop a few streets away from the port. They got a modest vehicle, something that would not attract too much attention (you decide the type, OK GM?) and they got on their way, towards the northwest, headed towards Tijuana.

As they traveled, Sebastian asked Will:
"So, pal, if we're to adventure and cause mayhem together, I'd like us to know a bit more about each other. Not that I want to pry secrets out of you, but hey, trust has to start from somewhere, know what I mean? You saved my neck and I owe you for that, but we also need to be honest towards each other. For a start, what makes you so reckless in combat? Ain't you afraid to get hit by bullets?"

From:  "Mister Christopher" <cacers@cox.net> 
Date:  Sun Oct 26, 2003  5:00 pm
Subject:  Re: [v13] Dead Presidents?

> ...most folks would call THAT grin a rictus...!

Masque can't help but be surprised at that comment.
"Ummmm....You didn't want to be rescued?"
 
Masque walks up to Ford and pinches him.
"Are you Evil?"

From:  "Mister Christopher" <cacers@cox.net> 
Date:  Sun Oct 26, 2003  5:14 pm
Subject:  Re: [v13] Mmm... Scooby Snacks...

Gunslinger makes his way to where Geoffrey is, pointedly looking for odd things, suspicious behavior on the part of the people working there. 
(intuition check? 63)

> (snip Geoffrey speak) 
 
Gunslinger looks less than amused.
"So... which one are you? Johnny Quest or Hadji? I say we chat with the players then. There's bound to be one of them who is on-the-inside as it were."

From:  "William Lockwood" <albedo1@cox.net> 
Date:  Mon Oct 27, 2003  7:04 pm
Subject:  Re: [v13] Dead Presidents?

Jinx snaps into action when Ford disappears, drawing her two pistols and taking shots at whatever cannons Rebound misses with his bouncing assault.
 
OOC: Initiative: 3 + Modifier; Other rolls: 100 + 25 unnecessary Karma for extra attacks!, 23 + 25 Karma to Hit one cannon, 09 + 25 for Karma for Damage, 92 + 25 Karma to Hit another, 96 for Damage, 85 to Hit, 90 for Damage, 01, 50, 72 (all using Denny's automated percentile roller thingamabob).

From:  Firebomb <firebomb@technohol.com> 
Date:  Tue Oct 28, 2003  7:01 am
Subject:  Re: [v13] Mmm... Scooby Snacks...

You don't seem to find anything amusing or particularly out of place, Gunslinger, but then how often do you spend time at a football stadium?  Of course, you get all kinds of looks from random folk you encounter on the way to meet Geoffrey.

Mind you, you're a heavily armed nose-less albino.

Or something.

Give or take.

Regardless, you meet up with Geoffrey and exchange notes, and assuming the two of you agree on a course of action, you head back to the outside portion of the stadium, and see the football players all decked out in their pretty red, white and blue uniforms.

When you arrive, you spy the team proper all running laps around the playing field; apparently they've irked the ire of their coach, who's screaming at the entire team... with the aid of a megaphone.  As loud as he is, though, you could almost swear he was using TWO.

"YOU LAZY SACKS OF SHIT!  MY GRANDMA CAN PLAY FOOTBALL BETTER THAN YOU!  YOU WANT ME TO CALL HER DOWN HERE SO SHE CAN SHOW YOU HOW IT'S DONE?  SHE DOESN'T EVEN GET PAID AS MUCH AS YOU CANDY ASS SISSY BOYS DO, NEITHER!  NO FANCY CARS, NO PRETTY LADIES, NO NOTHIN'!

"YOU RUN FASTER OR I'M COMING AFTER YOU MYSELF!  AND IF I CATCH YOU, I'M PERSONALLY GOING TO SHOVE MY FOOT SO FAR UP YOUR PANSY A--"  The man stops bellowing abruptly when he notices the two of you have entered his domain, and jogs on over to meet you.

"Hey there, sorry about that.  Just trying to motivate these overpaid kids to actually do their jobs.  Coach Kirby here, what can I do for you?"  The older man seems helpful enough, though he's got quite a twitch going on there.  That may just be from the screaming, though.

You wouldn't be too surprised if he just popped right here.

Looking at the players proper, you see that most of them are, indeed, struggling to run at the pace this Kirby fellow insists on.  Most of them are very, very large men, built more for power and not necessarily speed.  Stocky is a word you could use to describe them.

Not quite 'Refrigerator' Perry stocky, but definitely huge.

The one standout amongst these fellows is a guy who looks to be almost six foot six, and maybe 250 - but he isn't built like your average foot-ball player; no, he's proportioned more like a Norse god - and you should know, Gunslinger, you've met a few.

Observing this fellow in motion, you see that he's easily keeping the lead in this little 'race', though it looks like he's feigning fatigue... curious, that.  

?

From:  Firebomb <firebomb@technohol.com> 
Date:  Tue Oct 28, 2003  7:13 am
Subject:  Re: [v13] Re: A Beginning... (Justice)

(Out of Character Responses:  well, in response to your first one, I'd say at best you can speak broken Spanish - a few memorized phrases here and there, perhaps enough to ask SIMPLE questions, but that's it, mostly.

As for the second one, I was kind of thinking of the latter, but since the other seems to fit in better with your background, we can go with that.... I'm flexible after all - almost pretzel-like in my uncanny bendiness... heh.

Anyhoo, back to our story...)

As you drive along in your slightly rusty red VW Bug (those things are ubiquitous down there), you try to pry some information out of Will... though it's not easy going.  He thinks about your question for about ten miles, and then finally answers.

"I'm not afraid to get shot.  I don't enjoy it very much, that's for sure, but most of the time I never get hit - I find that my 'in your face' fighting style tends to throw people's aim off.  That and it's a sort of... knack... that I have for avoiding injury.

"Not that it's perfect."  He then shows you a nasty gunshot wound he seems to have received somewhat recently on his thigh.  "While I'm good at getting out of harm's way, sometimes harm sneaks up on me, especially when I let my guard down around someone I shouldn't be trusting.

"Not you, mind you, just saying.  I got this beauty when helping out some rather odd strangers I ran into, and after I got into a verbal sparring match with a gun-toting maniac, she decided to shut me up by shooting at me... not that it worked.

"I'm not easy to shut up when I have something to say..."

?

From:  "Lohse, Doug" <DLohse@banknorth.com> 
Date:  Tue Oct 28, 2003  4:03 pm
Subject:  RE: [v13] Mmm... Scooby Snacks...

> (snip Coach Kirby speak)

"We represent 'THEM' and have been retained to track down this 'ghost' that seems to be plaguing the team. We will most likely need to speak with some of the players."

Geoffrey takes a few moments to study the players as they run around the field. For a few moments, he contemplates throwing a psi-web in their path to see their reaction, but reconsiders as he realizes that the mood of these overpaid muscle-bound idiots may affect their ability to interact intelligibly.

> (snip description of various Smashers)

Geoffrey takes a special interest in the leader of the pack as he heads for the players' bench to wait. Once there, he'll sit down and take a read off of the bench to see if he can pick up anything odd there.

(Rolls: Init: 3, Others: 85, 90, 09, 85, 57)

From:  "Gilles Doyen" <pinba77@yahoo.ca> 
Date:  Wed Oct 29, 2003  12:00 pm
Subject:  Re: A Beginning... (Justice)

OOC: Totally acceptable (languages). I didn't expect more than that.
Thanx for Tijuana! :-)

BIC: Sebastian glanced at the wound and decided right there and then that Will was no ordinary human. Although not exactly fresh, it was still recent enough to force most humans to rest. This looked like a great way to force the subject...

Sebastian pulled over and closed his eyes. At first, he looked like he was intent on sleeping, but his face soon showed signs of deep concentration. Finally, he extended his right hand over Will's wound and a soft glow emanated from his hand.

Soon, the glow became warm and the wound seemed to stitch itself, the flesh cells growing and knitting the wound, forcing it to mend.

Finally, Sebastian opened his eyes and said:
"Well, that was MY secret." His tone seemed to hint that he expected more from Will than just saying he had a "knack"...

He maneuvered the Beetle back on the road and continued:
"I figured you'd be more useful to the mission if you were in perfect health..."

(tag GM/Will. Initiative: 9. Rolls: 99, 44, 17, 34, 15, 94, 64 (used
a randomizer page: I almost NEVER roll this high! :-)
http://www.randomizer.org/form.htm
Oh, I used Light Manipulation, the healing power stunt is at Remarkable.)

From:  Charlie Chicanery <charlie_chicanery@yahoo.com> 
Date:  Thu Oct 30, 2003  2:30 pm
Subject:  Re: [v13] Divergence

> (snip Moebius speak)

"Heh."

i'd say something witty here, but she'd kill me or somesuch.

"Okay, here's the plan. First off, we need to go back in time... a day or so. We need to head back to my old pad, at a point right after we all cleared the heck out of the place, and retrieve my old body. You know, the one that Deion pulled my heart clean out of. We need to do this because we need to make sure there's no notion of me legally being dead, see... and the cool thing is that, since we haven't heard about this in the news or anything, we're not breaking the timeline... it's one of them don't ask, don't tell things... heh.

"Or maybe even a paradox. We haven't heard about this in the news 'cause we a'reddy collected my corpse. Yeah, that's the ticket."

Yes, that's a good start. i figure that me and Moebius can then fly over that-a-way and do the time travel tango. On the way, i'll fill her in on the rest of my master plan.

"Then, we need to come back to the present and walk on down to my pal Wendell's place, even though it's still a wreck. We need to coax him into starting development on an advanced version of his strange cloning mechanizm dingus, one that can grow a body in less time than a year. Say, an hour or so. Then, we will have him box it up, include a manual, and then we will travel to his estimated point of completion in the future, retrieve the box, and return to the exact point where we told him to build it.

"Now, THIS will probably cause one of those branching timeline things, but everybody will ultimately benefit from this, so i don't care... especially since the one benefiting from this most is i, Cha- Chuck Swank!" i really need to come up with a new super-guy name.. since i'm gonna BE a super guy here in a short while.

"Then, once we return to the present with our new future-built super-cloning machine, all we'll need to do is go back in time to a point where i'm still male, and still ALIVE, and retrieve a cell sample for Wendell's machine. i figure if i'm unconscious or something, i wouldn't be aware that i and a foxy lady from the future stole some of my cells, and this, too, wouldn't necessarily cause a split in the time stream - no new, unbidden memories in my head that i can't quite recall to begin with."

Yes... as i babble this out, it almost makes sense. "So, then all we'll have to do is have Wendell flash-grow me a male clone body from my new cell sample, and we can transfer my mind out of this female clone body, and i'll have all my bits. i guess the only thing i haven't figured out is just what to do with this body when i'm done with it. s'not like i can hang on to it and keep it in reserve or anything... huh. Guess i can just let Wendell figure that one out - he's my high tech genius... yesss....."

Yeah... so the tally thus far is one divergent timeline. Well, technically it'll probably spawn three, one for each trip, but the changes wrought in two of those would be negligible enough that we shouldn't have time 'tards interrupting our progress... i hope, anyhow.

"What'cha think, Moebius?"

From:  Firebomb <firebomb@technohol.com> 
Date:  Fri Oct 31, 2003  7:01 am
Subject:  RE: [v13] Dead Presidents?

Stone Cold stands shocked and awed as the rest of you quite literally leap into action, starting with you there, Rebound.  You cause a massive explosion, wrecking up Miss Behavior pretty good despite her weird little space-warping powers, and subsequently trash the interior here.

You bounce about even as you cast your former tormentor aside like a sack of potatoes, smashing all kinds of laser projectors that were formerly embedded in the walls.  You note with some discomfort that Jinx is firing at you - or, at least, where you were.

It takes a second or so, but you can see that she's shooting at all the laser thingies you're missing, mopping up after your spree of destruction so that all of the safeguards and whatnot that Disco Head built into the place are rendered inert... and it works.

By the time you DO come to a mostly-halt, the two of you have pretty much emptied the place out of barrels of grinning evil death - only one or two remain... and those get wiped out when Ari makes use of her ultimate weapon, the Defenstrator (TM).

She triggers the force weapon, which makes a devastatingly loud 'THAMMMM' sound.  The only problem with this is that you're all in something of a confined space, so the sound reverberates back and forth, over and over, until most of you are brought to your knees.

Disco Head included.  While most of you are stunned somewhat by the amazingly intense feedback caused by the Defenestrator's concussive strike, you see that your primary opponent is as well.  Many of his mirrored disco ball segments appear cracked, too.

He's reeling on the floor, as is everybody else - except for Ari.  Ironically, being the cause of this tidal wave of pain, she managed to ride it out in the eye of its storm, and felt little of the harm that her nondiscriminatory weapon inflicted.

That's when Tangerine Lovechild pulls herself out of the wall that she got knocked into after the Defenestrator was activated; she was standing in FRONT of Disco Head, after all.  She then jumps into the air, and subsequently pounds her feet into the wall.

This causes her boots to make a 'spoing' sound, and she rockets right back to where she was standing - and a bit further - in order to bash Ari a good one.  She does, too, inflicting Monstrous (75) Force damage to our young college student turned heroine with those silvery gloves.

BOOM!

Ari, in turn, gets knocked down, and across the room... only to land on top of the rest of you in a big bundle of limbs.  Good thing she's got that magic brazier, or else she might have been wiped out by that punch.  Speaking of said punch, you see Tangerine standing over her hero.

"I SAID you want to fight Disco Head, you gots to get through me first."

A few floors upwards, you pinch the former President of the United States, Masque, and ask him about his moral character.  He turns on you and smiles that unsettling smile again, and answers.  "Now, now, my good man.  Evil is such a harsh, harsh word.

"Besides, I'm not merely evil, I'm DIABOLICAL!"  When he says that, Ford's flesh seems to take on an orange cast for a mere fraction of a second, and you could swear you saw flames inside his eyes.  "But then, what's in an adjective, you ask?  Heh heh heh... that'd be telling...!"

Ford then lets loose with the last attack you were expecting:  a fiery eldritch bolt!  He nails you with the thing, causing you enough harm to push you back, though half of that is caused by shock more than anything else.  You suffer Incredible (40) Energy damage.

Well, only twenty after your mystic shield's defenses.

This prompts Harry the Space Pilot to let loose, running at Ford while firing both of his sidearms... until he suddenly stops.  You see Ford twirling his fingers about, and Harry suddenly moves around in a pattern approximating it.  He then flies out the ship's open door.

Forcefully.

In fact, he hits so hard that he goes through the roof of the Nessus, and through the several floors between you and the actual dance area.  The rest of you spy Harry falling with some velocity through the ceiling above you, only to stop when he hits a few feet away from Disco Head.

You can't tell if he's moving or not...!

?!

From:  Firebomb <firebomb@technohol.com> 
Date:  Fri Oct 31, 2003  7:13 am
Subject:  Re: [v13] Re: A Beginning... (Justice)

"Huh."

Will seems at a loss as far as how to respond to your healing power, but then that's not something you see every day.  "Sure beats being able to dodge bullets and fists and grenades in the middle of a fight.  That and my... how you say, Olympic (TM) class dexterity's all I've got.

"Well, that and these canes, here...!"

He makes an emphatic motion towards his two canes in the back seat.  "No fancy powers like you've got, there.  Though I used to know a bunch of folks like you, sort of unstable vigilante sorts.  Their hearts were in the right place, even if they were a bit rowdy..."

As if not comfortable talking about the past, he sort of changes the subject.  "So, any ideas how we can suss these fellows out of hiding once we get there?  That file's a good start, but it doesn't seem to mention specific addresses or anything.  Huh.

"Oh yeah, thanks, by the way."

?

From:  EmarZero@aol.com 
Date:  Fri Oct 31, 2003  11:12 am
Subject:  Re: [v13] Dead Presidents?

> (snip Harry getting totaled)

Ari flips out.  "HARRY!"  She looks up at the hole, then back at Disco Head.  "D'jou do that, Disco Duck?"  She keeps the Defenestrator trained on the diabolical dudes, in case they try any funny stuff.

(OOC: this story just keeps getting better and better.  evil mage gerald ford? beautiful.)

From:  "Gilles Doyen" <pinba77@yahoo.ca> 
Date:  Fri Oct 31, 2003  3:01 pm
Subject:  Re: A Beginning... (Justice)

Sebastian's mouth twitched into a half-smile, as he merely nodded to take in Will's gratitude.

"Don't mention it, I'd do it for anyone. I do think you have something special, Will. Even though it may seem normal to you, dodging bullets, fists and grenades is not common at all."

Sebastian remained silent for a while, focusing on the road, but in truth actively thinking about how to find the place they were looking for.

Suddenly, he spoke:
"Caterers. Wherever they are, they need food. Food for that many requires delivery. Let's find a phone booth or something like that and see if we can find caterers or similar people that remember seeing homeless people or the likes. We may even be able to pose as the next delivery guys. Hey, if it worked for Michael Knight, it HAS to work for us..." he added with a grinning smile.

They finally arrived to Tijuana, and found the equivalent of a Yellow Pages directory and started searching for caterers who delivered.

(tag GM/Will. Hope I'm steering this in a direction you approve. If not, please change my post accordingly!)

From:  "Lohse, Doug" <DLohse@banknorth.com> 
Date:  Fri Oct 31, 2003  3:21 pm
Subject:  RE: [v13] Dead Presidents?

> (snip Defenestrator results)

> "I SAID you want to fight Disco Head, you gots to get through me first."

Rebound struggles to get his senses back together--always a task after taking one of his 'round the world bouncing trips. This time, it seems a bit more difficult due to the Defenstrator (tm). He clambers back to his feet, shaking his ringing head.

"That's one hell of an acoustic set-up ya got there Disco, but let's stop this before anyone else needs to get hurt. Ford is back to safety, and you personal exit slave is down for the count. We don't need to take this further."

Rebound hopes his words give enough pause to get his head back together before things get violent again.

> (snip Harry getting totaled)

"Oh, son of a bitch! How'd you even know he was up there, let alone take him out from all the way down here? Even while stunned by Ari's toy gun?"

Rebound prepares to take on Disco Head's bodyguard the moment this starts up again, but right now, he's still shaking out his head and trying to figure out what's what.

(Init: 5, Rolls: 96, 85, 77, 100, 47, 68...I love happy dice!!!!)

From:  "William Lockwood" <albedo1@cox.net> 
Date:  Fri Oct 31, 2003  10:34 pm
Subject:  Re: [v13] Dead Presidents?

Jinx almost smiles realizing that they had succeeded in taking out the primary system-based defenses, right before she goes deaf from Ari's Defenestrator.
 
Trying to clear her head, Jinx takes careful aim at the top Disco Head's dome, hoping to break some of the vital equipment without killing him. Hopefully, she'd just take out part of his antiquated afro, rather than his skull.
 
OOC: Rolls: 8 + modifier for Initiative. 71 + 10 to Hit, 75 + 10 for Damage, 09, 74, 39, 36, 30.


3698
