*looks at each of the maidens and nods his head to the furies in greeting*
"Looks at Mt. Everest"
"It really is breathtaking in person, I've never been this close before, was always too busy, very enlightening."
*smiles and looks back at Dexter Mallent*
"Now my dear sir, you have two options, the first is to tell the whole story, and let the furies pass judgement, which likely for you, is going to be a change in careers. The other option is that they slice your mind apart with psionics and magic and pull the information out, your choice. I would choose the former personally, gods don't take well to other gods working against them publically."
*waits for everyone's respnses*
Jhiaxus
The Furies, except for the Nameless One, nod back. The maidens bow deeper.
"In other timelines, when I'm not Hermes with the guys, I do the world traveller thing. Tourist. Nice change of pace." Hermes says quietly. "It gets boring being a god after a while."
Dexter sobs, and then tells the whole story. He's a tabloid reporter for the Nordic Eye. He often hired out to make up stories. This god approached him, and gave him ten k to do his best to embarrass you and the others with you. He feels sorry for himself.
The Furies look ticked off, and Dexter takes in their appearance with shaking and trembling. They discuss with each other and you two the punishment. The Nameless One wants to turn him into a ghost that walks the streets of Reykavik moaning his fate. Jack-b-quik wants to stick her autocannon down his throat, and open fire. Lisabeth wants to give him a psionic compulsion to not be able to lie.
*cracks a smile*
"My last world I made waffles, than owned and ran a resort a thousand years in the future, funny how things work out."
*tries his best not to crack a smile at the punishments*
"If he did any real harm, I would be for a stiff punishment, but I like where Lisabeth is coming from. If he cannot lie, he can't be a tabloid reporter, but he can still report real news, without putting his own spin on it, like an impartial reporter would. That's the punishment I choose for him, fits the crime, and allows him to make up for it."
*once it has been done and he is sent on his way*
"So what do we do when a god wrong us like this? Has there been situations like these before? He tried to rob me of my good name, strip me of my dignity, as well as ruin my fiance's wedding, she is going to flip when she finds out. I would like to strip him of something he holds dear, like that plasma rifle of his he holds in such high reguard."
*to Lisabeth*
"Perhaps I judged you too harshly in our first meeting, you have my respect."
Jhiaxus
"You may challenge him to a duel to be held at the arena..." Hermes points to a building in the valley. "Or you can bind him from your area, which would mean, Iceland and a hundred miles around it. Or you could make a request for his plasma rifle. The Council of the Gods, well, we'd vote on it. You'd have my vote, and you might get others. No one really likes that Nazi pig."
"If you want, we can gak im" Jack-b-quik says. "Pretty spensive." The other two Furies nod in agreement. "We don't do this for everyone, but we girls got a soft spot for a wedding."
"Perhaps, I can hold a wedding shower for you." Lisabeth replies, and you see the others there just stare at her in shock which they abruptly stop, and then they act as if nothing happened.
*considers* "Nice to know my options, considering the nature of his "Stryfe", he didn't physically come after me, so really don't think it's fair to challange him to a physical contest. I want him to come to the wedding to see what his efforts failed, and I don't want him to think that I feared him so much that I don't want to fight him or that I don't want him around. I will put in the request, let the Council vote to see if the punishment fits the crime, if it does, ok, if not that's fine too. I just want him to know, I gave him a pass knowing who he was, and his veiled threats. I respect the peace here, but if we meet on another world, it's on. I'm not going to let the Nazi's conquer the verse.
*to the furies* "I thank you for your offer, but I want him at the wedding, I want him to see that the only thing he did is make us stronger. If anything he showed me, and I will speak for Tessa, that your more powerful together than apart. You girls are here for the problems, he's not a problem, he's a worm. He should stay around so everyone here can see what could happen if the Nazi's get their way. We have 30 or so versers here, where else are there going to be so many of us to see what he's trying to do in the verse? No, he stays, let him plot, scheme, and so when you meet him in the next world you know what he is about.
*a little shocked myself but recovers quickly* "I think Tessa would be honored, as of right now there have been no plans, so yes, thank you, I accept for Tessa.
*to Hermies* "I will have the invites done soon, it's been a long time since I have hand written so many things, considering what just happened, it's important I get them done asap, and solidify things as much as possible. I think I'm going to need Memo to watch my back with him. I don't care if he comes for me, but there are so many parts to the wedding, any one of them messed up and it's a disaster.
*to Everyone* "Thanks for your help today, if it is alright, I need to go back, I have a freaked out verser I'm trying to calm down, and I don't know how well he is going to take all that. I don't know if he's down with the whole god thing, but he's a decent guy, so I'm going to try to at least get him to stop shooting me."
*when he is back at the restaurant, asks to use the phone and calls Memo*
"Hello it's Odin, I have to ask, but did you know Stryfe was scheming against me and trying to derail the wedding? If you did or didn't it doesn't matter, I just know very few things go on in the city without you knowing about it. I have a favor to ask, can you keep an eye on him, for me to make sure he doesn't sabotage the wedding? There are so many people, working on so many different things, knowing I have a set of eyes and ears would be appreciated. Thanks."
*sits down, asks for his plate to be warmed up*
"Sorry about that guys, seems our friendly neighborhood Nazi Cyborg was behind the whole smear campaign in the press. The reporter has been punished and now cannot lie anymore, if he can't find a job, I'll hire him to report fairly."
*to the new guy*
"Thanks for the prayer, if you hadn't done it, he wouldn't have been revealed. I think Gaia helped you by helping me. She answered your prayer, he wasn't evil, but he was doing evil's work and she pointed him out to me. Your god hears you here, a holy symbol is what you make of it, but your faith cannot be taken. I don't even know your name, may I have it? I'm Jhiaxus *goes down the list of people*, and we would like to be your friends (making sure no one but the tables are in earshot).
*takes out the napkin and takes his pistol and wraps it in and slides it over*
"This is a fine weapon, and I'm going to make a leap of faith that I can give this back to you now and you will know the right time to use it, and when not to use it."
Jhiaxus
Hermes nods.
"I'll bring it up at our meet tommorrow."
Jack-b-quik smirks.
"You're mean. I like."
Lisabeth replies.
"Next week. At my house then. I will handle the invites." And she turns and walks away.
Memo replies.
"Stryfe has a jamming field around himself. Fifty feet sphere." She pauses. "However, we can do this the old-fashioned way. I have some friends in the PI community who would not mind some extra work."
"My name is James Treeheart." The new verser says. He takes the pistol, and thoughtfully sticks it in his pants behind his back. He studies you, and the others. "I'm still pretty freaked, but I am prepared to accept that you're not demonspawn." He quirks a smile. "I guess I owe you and the others an apology." He clears his throat and says quickly. "Sorry." And then with a sudden rush he says. "May Gaia bless us all."
This brings a general rush as Tessa asks for Christ's protection, and so does the Baron in a way although he speaks of Father in Heaven, while She-Who-Is-Gold asks for the wisdom of the Thunderbird, and Siljonic blesses everyone in the name of Ellisithee. Feeling the presence of protection and communion, you add an invocation of Odin, Lord of Battle and Wisdom's guidance.
The party continues on in a cheerful note as jokes and food, stories of other universes are tossed back and forth. The two researchers have been to the most universes of...well, actually, they've been to more universes than everyone else combined. And so they tell stories of strange places, of plains of orange, edible grass, of meeting the Alchemist, and of spending twenty years trying to learn an alien species language only to have another verser arrive and solve it in a week.
"It was so obvious. Right in front of our noses." 'Sif' says laughing as the party breaks up.
*to Hermes*
"Thanks, I try not to bother you guys unless it's big."
*to Jack*
"I do have a mean streak to people who wrong me, hurt others, or generally plot to take over the world or universe. I do balance that with a sense of giving others the benefit of the doubt, and forgiveness when it is needed. It's a personal code of honor, but it seems to do me well."
*to Lisabeth*
"Next week then" *nods*
*to Memo*
"Thanks for that information, he is a cyborg, and one from a technologically superior time, so it would be wise to get as much info on him as possible. I know you don't like to get involved in things like this, and thanks for your assistance with the PI's. I will say that he is a dangerous individual not just for what he is, but what he represents. I don't toss around the word evil much, but it describes him and them perfectly. Oh I have the description of the other two men that Stryfe paid off, if the PI can find them so we can figure our what damage they have done, it would be appreciated. I think the new guy will need some time, but no need to send him away."
*to Jason*
"Good to meet you Jason, I can accept that you can still be uncomfortable and uncertain. Watch us, judge us on our words and actions, and you can make the decisions. In the meantime, you have a place to stay if you want it. Apology accepted."
*grins and digs into his warmed food after the blessings*
"I don't have many, let's see, I versed into a strange spaceship based on 1920's science fiction. That's where I got my Axe, the cutlasses, shield belts, my knight of terra rings, sensitve's ring, and mindmaze. It's also where I started possessing pirates to fight against each other. I never did get to rescue the princess, but such is the verse. I then got into Raphie's crazy Dungeons and Dragons like world, where the GM was a gawd, that's where I got his power for a moment, and turned Siljonic from a character I played to flesh and blood. Second best decision I ever made I might add, after asking my beautiful fiance, to make a split second choice to trust me, and then later marry me. I also got my plutonium scale, deadliest weapon I know of, which I still need to forge into something, my belt of smacking, and the shirt of the mongol archer. In between, I got sucked into a few worlds one of dreams, where I met some versers, that's where I got most of my small arms and that chinese body armor, which come to think of it, I need to share with you guys if you want it. It's good stuff, just not starsong quality. Oh yeah back to the story. I got pulled back to Ralphie's world, set free the other two evil gods, met Lilandra, she chopped a freight train to death, funny to think about now. Lilandra, I miss her, really do, she's the one who gave me a paradigm shift, before I met her, I was mean, only out for myself, and thought I was the best thing to happen to people. She taught me that you can be powerful, have a code, serve your gawd, be a decent person and be humble at the same time. I wasn't too nice to her, in fact I think I used the words "stuck up insane, hypocrite" or there abouts. We versed into a ninja world, and we fought with each other, Siljonic being the referee at first. It calmed down by the end, and I regret never telling her I was sorry, and she was mostly right. I got some ninja gear and some training there. The next world I appeared in front of a door, in front of this lovely woman and her teammates. This is where Siljonic and I got separated for a bit. I went back to the ship of worlds and worked my way onto Tessa's team. We had some good times, I spent six weeks in a strightjacket, for doing the right thing. It was there I honed my limited psionic skills. We nuked a enemy god of Odin, and generally had a good time working as a team. After we nuked the enemy god, Odin granted us all boons, he healed one member's leg and promised long life, promised another to die in a blaze of glory, told the doc which beaker to choose, Tessa got the choice of being immortal or marry a prince, and I got 2 doors later and I will reunite with Siljonic. It's in that world we met the Baron and She-who-is-gold, briefly, filled out their 100 page survey, found Siljonic, met Jon Quick, Capt Chris and his woman. It was also where Tessa and I had our first date at the Opera. We went on some other missions, then met the most evil woman I could even think of, she killed everyone of her subjects and tried to get off world. I ended up blowing us all up to prevent her from leaving, it's also where Tessa stood by my side when we sent the others back to the ship for safety. She's the reason why I train so hard now on my abilities, I know we will meet again, and I want us to be on even ground when we do. The last world before this one was Starsong, a wonderfully twisted place with technology a thousand years in the future, and no ranged weapons were allowed. I worked my way up from Wafflehouse waiter, to a part owner in a Resort. I got a lot of my current gear there, my breaking blades, my indestructible laptop with pretty much all knowledge of sciences, technology and the plans and theories needed to make them work, our armor, and our body upgrades. Before there, I needed glasses to see distances, now I see 20/10. I truly am blessed to have had such adventures, and have met and befriended good people."
*smiles and considers his other friends, who are mortal, and how to let them make the choice if they want to continue after we are gone, and pulls Thor, Sif, Loki, Freya and himself off to the side*
"I had a thought, we all know we aren't going to stay here forever, I was wondering between all of us, if we can't make a verser cocktail. Let them make the choice to follow in our footsteps after we leave. Give them the choice most of us didn't have."
Jhiaxus
Thor and Sif listen to the others.
"They are good people, with flexible minds, boss." Siljonic says.
"I like them, and if the Nazi's are going around invading the Multiverse, maybe we need to strike back." Tessa says.
"Jhiaxus, its not easy. One may drink blood, its the surest way I know of, and then die by knife I suppose. I talked with Tadeusz. He said he did that to a rabbit. But, I've also talked to others who saw friends die in similar circumstances, and some versed out, and some did not. We're still researching Scriff. I fear we know enough to say that what we don't know is vastly more than what we do know." Thor says.
OOC: I enjoyed the synopsis. Thanks!
*considers*
"Well the only sure way I know of is having someone agree to come with you. Tessa and I never shared any bodily fluids before her agreeing to come with me, and Siljonic no offense buddy, we defiantly didn't, so I think there is a will factor involved. It means telling them the whole truth, and I don't know how Irons and Arrow will react. I do know the god they worship exist, Odin does, yours do, I don't know how they will react if they find out that fakes have been doing it here."
*nods*
"I've made up my mind, they are our friends, and if we are going to present them with the option of coming with us, we need to level with them. They know we are hiding somethings, we just told them our stories. To be honest, I need to be honest to someone here, it's eating me up, and if I can tell our friends, then I can deal with lying to the rest of the world you know? Unless there is any objection, going when we can back home, going to get all of us together."
*back at the temple having Thor use his bubble for privacy*
"Guys, we all decided tonight that you guys deserve the whole truth. You guys are smart, you pick up on things, you know we are hiding things, and it's eating us up inside, so going to level with you. We are not gods *points to the others and himself* none of us here are gods, sure we are immortal in the fact that we can never be killed, we go from world to world when that happens, and we have many godlike powers. I was born on an Earth close enough to one like this in 1977, I lived, has an accident with something called scriff, and I started my journey. I am not Odin, but he has given me permission to use his name here to further his goals. Artemis exists, Ares exists, when you pray to them, you aren't praying to the shiny guys on TV. with the lights, your gods answered you like they did tonight.
*pauses*
"Your our friends, and we wanted to give you the option most of us didn't get. Sciff is a tough substance to pin down on just how it gets in you, and how you become a verser. That's what we call ourselves, there are good of us and bad, but versers nonetheless. Siljonic decided to come with me and he did, Tessa decided to come with me and she did. I think the one sure way is a willful choice to follow someone. We will die here, and when we do, all our possessions, and us will vanish, as well as anyone who has willfully chosen to follow us on our adventure. Once you verse you are immortal, and we will all be on the same footing."
*smiles*
"I have been thinking about this for a long time, you are all loyal friends, you helped me out when I first got here, and I will never forget that. After Iron's blew up at me that first day about Apollo, I was worried how to bring it up without getting the same response. Recently, I met a man, a cyborg, representing one if not the most evil organization of humans from my world. They are creating an army of evil versers to conquer the verse. I really had no purpose before learning that, had no idea why Odin put me here, but I think I know why now. I think he wants me to challenge and oppose this, and I know I want to challenge and oppose them. I think Odin is giving me time here to build up my skills and abilities in order to put together people of like mind to defend the verse when the battle comes."
*pauses*
"It's your choice to make guys, I wanted to give you the truth, give you the option to travel with us when it is our time to go, and perhaps join in a cause that's greater then ourselves. I don't want to be followed because I am a "gawd", I want to be followed because people have faith I will do the right thing. I was thinking how to pay you guys back for all your compassion, dedication and service, and I could think of nothing better than giving you the truth and the options as they are. If you have any questions, we will try to answer them.
*opens up question and answer time, after he comes back with the Five Sets of Chinese Combat armor*
"These are for whomever wants them, I disown them, and whoever takes them shall own them ever after."
*to Tessa in bed*
"Lisabeth is holding a wedding shower for you, I think I misjudged her. I think she has a high standard for people, and until you meet it, you have that shell up. Either way, I accepted for you, I figure anyway to meet others here and get to know then is worthwhile*
*smiles at her*
Jhiaxus
"I'll feel better too." Tessa says clasping your hand. Siljonic nods. Thor and Sif just observe.
"Why...verser? Are you poets?" Carl asks. He's aware its a stupid idea, but he can't figure it. This little thing breaks the awkward ice,a nd questions start flowing more naturally.
"You say you're from a world like this one? A world in which the Irish Imperium rules the whole world?" One asks from over your shoulder.
"I'm not sure." Shannon says. "I mean, I like it here, I like it a lot." She looks at Siljonic.
===========
Tessa smiles.
"A wedding shower. Wow. This is so cool."
Iron strides up and down, smacking his fist into his hand.
"I feel I ought to smack someone. Either you for blaspheming my god. Or that guy on TV if....if.....if you're right. Or you, again for lying to me."
*smiles* "I'm sure some of us are poets, it stands for traveler through universes, verser for short, at least that's what it means to me.
"On my world, the Irish Imperium didn't exist, the Norse were defeaded by the Normans, and they comingled in the English Isles. Religious intolerance brought people from England to the New World, and formed what was called The United States of America, I was born in a town in New Jersey, close to the eastern seaboard shore. The United States entered and helped win WWII, and defeated the Nazis, Japanese and the Italians. It's an abridged version, but suffice it to say, The United States was the superpower of the world when I left."
================
*smiles back to Tessa* "I think so as well."
================
*nods to Iron* "Well you have my permission to sock me one for lying to you, I won't get mad, if it would make you feel better do it. In fact it would be a good test with my skull enhancement to see how much of a blow it really is. Either way, do it, you'll feel better ok?
Jhiaxus
"The NorthAm provinces ruled the world, and got in a lot of fights with some other groups. That's...really weird." Arrow says screwing up her face.
"Wrong perspective, Arrow." Tessa says. "Its fairly normal. At least a Roman Empire ran by humanoid lizards is not fighting off an invasion of intelligent jellyfish in starships." She smiles at you. "We saw that in one of my earlier Doors. We slammed shut that Door in record time, let me tell you. Especially when the jellyfish started talking to us in our minds about using our bodies as hosts for their eggs."
They look a bit freaked, and Tessa grimaces. She realizes she may have made her point too strongly.
"Um.." She looks at you for a rescue.
=======
Iron looks a bit surprised, but then he nods, and punches you hard in the skull. Your head doesn't move. It feels like you got slapped. It stings, but there is no carry through to the rest of your head. And Siljonic uses his spells to heal the broken skin on your head.
*makes a motion with his hands to calm down*
"Tessa hasn't versed to as many worlds as most of us, but she has visited many worlds, probably a lot more worlds than some of us. The point is if you can imagine it, it can exist."
*picks up one of this universe's god comic books*
"Here, this book is fiction, doesn't exist, but you verse, you can arrive in a world based on this comic book. There are some worlds, that are so far from human, that you will know it."
*grins*
"The point Tessa is trying to make is this, imagine if you decided not to help me when you found me lying on the ground, you made a choice, to help, you could have also made the choice not to help. If you didn't help, we wouldn't have eaten together, gotten friendly, and invited you to join us. Think about how every step of the way, a different choice or event, could change the whole course of what happened."
*smiles to Shannon*
"I know you like it here, sometimes you have to make a choice, the safe route, or route less traveled. Siljonic is the best person I know, I can't give you any more guidance on what to choose, but I would like to see you two together."
==============
*smiles to Iron* "Are we good man? I'm sorry for misleading you, now you know the secret, you have to grin and bear it. Your god knows what's going on here, and will choose to either allow the person to assume the role or punish the offender. Your faith had nothing to do about the imposture here."
Jhiaxus
They talk amongst themselves for a few seconds, and then Carl faces you as the designated spokesman.
"This is, well, its hard. We have to think about it. We know this is a great honor, and wow, being immortal, well most of us are pretty jazzed by that, but then again, leaving home to go to some weird place. Can you give us a couple days to think on it?"
He spreads his hands in an 'I need help gesture'.
Shannon listens carefully, and nods. She gives Siljonic a long look, a mix of tenderness, and understanding, and fear.
"Now I know what you were trying to lead up to, Sil."
She turns and flees with tears in her eyes.
Ares nods a bit stiffly after punching you. And then he grins.
"Yeah, we're good. Ares would say any man that can take your punch is someone to be valued." He cracks his knuckles. "Of course, that means I owe a beating to someone else."
*nods to Carl*
"Take your time, we just wanted to come clean with you guys, give you the truth and the option to choose your fate. Giving you guys the choice I never got." *smiles*
*understands that they need time and returns the gesture of understanding*
*to Siljonic*
"This is your decision, to go after her, or let her go. Don't worry about us, take whatever time you need if you go, take a vacation with her, spend time with her, your always my brother."
*gives him a warriors hand clasp*
=========
*nods* "Just remember Ares got bested by the wisdom of Athena, it's good to temper your aggression with wisdom and discretion. A honed blade that strikes at the right moment, is worth a hundred battering against a shield. The "Ares" here maybe an imposture, but I bet if he chose that name he is a tough warrior with many worlds behind him. Just my words of warning Iron."
Jhiaxus
Siljonic walks after her. Later Tessa talks to you.
"Siljonic talked to her, and then he talked to me, wanting my perspective as a woman who followed her man into the verse. But my situation is different than hers. She seems to feel as if this time, this place is hers, as if she were born for this moment. And I can see her point. She's very popular, and respected. She wonders if this is where she's meant to be. I mean, would you verse out George Washington before he became general?"
=========
You travel with Tessa and Siljonic to the wedding shower. A handmaiden leads you down several flights of marble stairs to a small temple.
"The residence of the Fury Lisabeth, great ones." She says and bows.
You and the others walk in to the dimly lit meeting room, and you see Siljonic and Tessa walk over to a long couch populated by sleeping versers. They lay down and fall asleep as well.
It feels very quiet in the room as Lisabeth Collins rises from her chair.
"Have a seat, Jhiaxus." A chair floats forward and softly sits down next to you. A side table floats to next to it at the same time. And concurrently, out of the air, a mug of your favorite drink takes form out of thin air. ::I'm afraid I mis-led you Jhiaxus about the purpose of this visit. But it was neccessary to get you into my shielded quarters.::
*to Tessa*
"I suppose I wouldn't, and if that's her choice I can respect that. I want to see Siljonic happy, and I wanted to give him a chance at happiness with her. I know he was torn between her and the Female Drow he heard about. Either way, it will work out for the both of them I think, whichever path they choose."
============
*a little surprised at the turn of events but not as surprised as he should be and takes a seat*
*takes the mug and holds it in his hands*
"Well I'm here, if you wanted to kill me or us, you could have done it a thousand ways before now, so if you wish to talk to me, here we are. Before we go further, my thoughts about all of these here have drifted from completely wrong and must be dealt with to seeing the good of what some of us are doing. I made my decision a few weeks back to live and let live, and see with my own eyes about how things turn out without influencing the outcome. I wanted that said before our talk starts."
Jhiaxus
"All right. There are issues with the 'gods', but they do help. But that is not what I'm here for. I'm here to show you something because you may be able to help me. Your faction, call it the Nordics, is rather strong in number and skill. Let me show you something, and then tell you something."
You suddenly see a vision of an interstellar civilization that is hundreds of thousands of years old. Humans are newcomers to it, but already humans live on over two hundred planets. Of the several trillion sentients in the Joining, about 30% are psionically gifted, and the number rises with each generation.
Of the trillion psis, about a tenth, or a hundred billion are Masters, or high-level psis in one particular skill such as TK or Telepathy or Matter Manipulation or Mind Control or Energy Control. One percent of those are grandmasters which leaves a billion for nearly forty thousand worlds.
One percent of one percent are multiple grandmasters. The human race had four Living Treasures of the Galaxy as they were called. And they were able to do things like telekinetically adjust the orbit of a planet, or fix a weather pattern that was turning into a world-destroying mess because the weather control satellites had misfired.
And then one died trying to evacuate a threatened planet. And his wife went into shock and lost her powers. The galaxy mourned. And so years later, when the wife asked permission to try the new cross-dimension gate, well, she had no powers anymore, and everyone in the known galaxy had felt her grief when her husband died.
The gate was unstable. It had scriff in it.
She died, and versed out. The shock broker her powers free, and she lived in two worlds for ten years until she came to a world of 'gods', and some amateur in the psi skills asked her to teach him.
"And yet there is one here on this planet whose power I fear. I know he caused the coming of the 'gods'. I know he burns with hatred toward the one he calls 'Sorcerer'. I know he suspects me. I know his name is Bellerophon. I know nothing more other than I need help."
*considers what she is saying*
"I respond, to your requests and observation in parts. Before all that I am sorry for your loss, I do have compassion for the plight of others."
*pauses*
"I think you misjudge our power Ms. Collins, aside from Siljonic, most of us have some things we do well, a lot we do not and a lot of things we just do by the seat of our pants. With that said. if you need our help, you have it."
*pauses*
"I asked for your help in training, because the mindmaze said to. It didn't say you specifically, but it trains me to be more aware and take in things normal people don't. I knew you were the most powerful, so I took a chance. If I seemed put off, it was the dismissive way you told me no, like I wasn't ant in your world. I dislike being made to feel inferior, and it only makes me work harder so those people regret their words and actions."
*letting that sink in*
"I have gotten past that, and I ask for nothing to help you. If it's for the greater good, than so be it. Odin eluded to me having a choice to strike at the heart of someone or something, so I'm taking it. The question I have for you, is what made you change your mind? You seemed pretty sure I wasn't of any help to you weeks ago, and if your going to work with me, we both need to know where the other is coming from."
Jhiaxus
"I apologize for being so dismmissive." You can see that she has not changed her mind on that. "In my world, your level of skill would be about that of a five year old psi."
She nods in agreement with what you say about power levels.
"There are some points you might wish to consider. First, Siljonic seems to be truly deadly. Also, you now lead a faction of seven versers including yourself, and I suspect that you have two more you could call on in need, plus Hermes likes you. That's a sizable fraction of the versers on this planet. And you have them isolated in a rather defensible location in Iceland. While you personally are not that strong, you are the key to this group.
My training helps me to see moral strength and vision. These are often more powerful than brute force. This is what draws this group together. And your moral strength helps you resist the whispers in the mind that Bellerophon puts forth to encourage this scam of 'gods'.
Also, the Unnamed One is certain that you are a Chosen One of Odin Battlefather.
I, on the other hand, am watched all the time by Bellerophon, and I have no friends other than Athena. I'm afraid when I first arrived, several of the male 'gods' made passes at me, and I told them, or showed them from my mind how immature and stupid I thought they were.
My raw strength greatly exceeds yours by a factor of a thousand to one, but if I am a Queen on a chessboard, I am nearly in check, while you, a Knight are free to move as you will.
*smiles*
"That's what makes us different you and I, I came from nothing, but I learned humility along the way. The ants you dismiss today might have been your friends tomorrow. I do this because it's the right thing, not for training, your respect or even acknowledgment. You are much more powerful than I am, and in some ways much weaker. I don't say this things out of fear, or to hurt you, but someone needs to say them, and the others are so afraid of crossing you, haven't you asked yourself "Is this truly how I want to live out my existance?", Locked up in your Ivory Tower?
*sighs*
"I've said what I wanted to say, for better or worse, I hope you take what I say to heart. Going through the verse alone with a lack of friends, your always going to meet someone more powerful than you, and wish you had them to fall back on. So what would you have us do? If Odin didn't want me here talking to you, he would have struck me down already, so let's get a plan together. I probably will verse because of it, but so be it, every new place is an opportunity to learn and meet new people, and I have no doubt that one day we will meet as equals, and hopefully friends."
Jhiaxus
She smiles wanly.
"I've heard this speech before. But it was told me by Ian, a grandmaster energy and matter controller who could fix stars that were burning too hot. He said...your gravity is too much. You need to shine more. And then he added much as you said. Perhaps someday, Jhiaxus. For now, my pain is too near, and too dear me. And not to be too rude, but who am I to stand with? You are well-meaning, but a toddler. The 'frat boys' are simply insufferable by any woman of good sense and taste. I've heard tell of ancient versers, perhaps if I meet one of them. From what I hear Michael Di Vars is crazy, Tadeusz is a brutal thug, and Whisp is just a womanizing cad."
She stops, and the dreadful weight of near heart-stopping loneliness lifts from your chest.
"I will give those who came a memory of the time we spent together talking and visiting, and you too will have that memory. Only when you are well-shielded will your true memory of events come out."
*nods*
"Well the ancient versers are also probably less tolerant of attitude than us toddlers, but it's worth a shot, anyway, I've said what I wanted to say."
*reflects*
"I trust you to do what you need to do in our minds, as it is up to you what actions we take, since it unlikely we will be in a well shielded enough place anytime in the near future."
*weary at this point, all he does is talk to people who do not want to listen, or compromise*
Jhiaxus
"Be well-shielded in your mind."
And you feel her working in your head with a smooth, deft touch. And so you remember having a restrained, if fun wedding shower with unfortunately, most of those invited not able to come.
"But some nice loot." Tessa grins as she looks at the presents you are carrying in a giant net bag on your shoulder like Santa Claus. You're both walking back up to the Temple.
The gifts included:
1. The Santa Claus fishnet bag which can expand from grocery bag size to a two hundred gallon volume (does not hold liquids) from Jeff of the Sailboat.
2. A metal armored Viking like skullcap from Lisabeth. Its stylish but uncomfortable.
3. A bug stunner from an Englishman named Lord Wellenby. "Call me Well, old chap. That thing is a wonder. It just fries anything smaller than a quarter inch at twenty feet that's airborne. Easy to fix alien tech, but how it works, no clue. But dead easy to copy."
4. You get an offer from an apparent fourteen year old girl named Mika who wants to do your fireworks for the wedding. "No charge, I just like explosions. And I do have a doctorate degree from Lunagrad University in Atmospheric and Exoatmospheric Chemical and Non-Chemical Rapid Expansive Forces."
5. Principles of Starship Combat is a book handed to you by Marty who is not quite human. He's from the 22nd century, and he's modifed to live on Mars which he was terraforming at the time of the accident. You're quickly aware he's very bright even though he does not claim such. "This may be of use to you, Jhiaxus." He also hands to you a bunch of 'rabbit balloons'. "As long as a balloon touches another, it will breed more balloons. Nanotech. Don't worry, I've set the max at twenty thousand."
So, your bag has been expanding as the balloons created more fully inflated balloons.
5.
*smiles* "Yeah it was cool, never expected it from Lisabeth, but people may surprise you sometimes, well your in charge of loot, you keep what you want, I wonder what Siljonic got us *grinning looking at him*
*heads back to his normal training, with an urge of urgency he cannot quite place, going up to a hundred and twenty pounds of weights, can't understand why he had a good day, but has so much pent up frustration*
*checking up on the wedding requests*
((OOC: Ok with skipping till you have events you want to run.))
Jhiaxus
Two weeks later, your bomb expert walks in.
"Lord Odin, I do believe we have a bomb." He grins, and then takes you over to his work area. He runs you through the process, and shows you as best as he can how it will work. He even does a small 1/100th scale non-nuclear explosion to show you how it will work.
"That was my last test prototype. Sir, I cannot promise you this will work having never done a nuke before. But, its as best as I know." He seems a bit pleased by the result of his efforts, a bit relieved to be done,and a bit anxious at your reaction.
*takes a look at it and plugs the data into his laptop and looks very pleased*
"What I lack in conventional bomb mechanics I make up for in physics, I forsee the explosion powerful enough to start a nuclear reaction in the material, the blast radius within tolerances, and the result, well will be impressive for the size of the material
*produces the leaden glass chamber with a piece of material suspended in the center about a 1/4 the size of a pea*
"It's amazing how such a small amount of material can change so much"
*sets the texting receiver in place and closes the bomb up*
*smiles* "Your work is beyond reproach, now I have for you a tougher task, and easier in some ways. I wish to hire you on retainer to teach me the finer arts of bomb disposal and demolition. You have shown me, that in order to be truly wise, you must not only know the theories behind things, but the practical applications. That is if your agreeable to such an arrangement?"
*when alone*
*calls Hermes*
"Before you tell me the results of that the council of gods decided about the Stryfe and his rifle, I wanted you to know the bomb is done, and I wasn't going to use it to hold over anyone's head if the decision was not favorable. It is ready to deploy, and I am as certain as I can be that it will work. The conventional explosion might end him, but the nuclear one, will remove all evidence that ship and he existed. The rest of the plan is up to you and Memo now, I just need up to date contact on when to signal it to blow."
Jhiaxus
The bomb expert is agreeable, and he hints that he'd love to do some more nifty projects for you.
Hermes replies.
"That's cool, man. I'll get the ship going, and I'll be over tommorrow to pick up the bomb. We'll 'explain' to this alien squid whose planet this is.
Look, we did agree, and I was going to send Jak over to brief you. We sent the Furies, and they made their decree. He fought back, and when Lisabeth stopped him from firing, he grenaded himself, but not before yelling, um...sound of shuffling paper...oh 'Tell Odin I'll finish up what Memory started next time I see him.' Unquote. Course Jak-b-quik told me next time she sees him, she's going to shoot first for the head. Do not want to tick her off, she likes to fight." He pauses. "And I'll be sending out a note to all the versers to the effect that the Council supported you in the late nastiness between you and pig-boy."
*nods to the bomb expert* "We'll see what we come up with, you never know when you need a big bang."
==============
*picking up his wedding invite as he is talking to Hermes, and thinking about ripping it up, but has second thought and decides to frame it and give it to Tessa*
"Well, I'm touched he thought of me before he ended himself. I'm almost weepy, my second mortal enemy in the verse, or first, the first was not a verser, but she is powerful enough to be. As for Jak, I got the distinct impression that if I wasn't marrying Tessa, she would have been looking for my attention. She seems like a good girl, bloodthirsty, cute, all the things a verser could want in a girl. I don't plan on pissing any of the furies off personally. Either way, going to pick up some wine for Jak, least I can do, if you can deliver it as a thank you when picking up the bomb, would be much appreciated."
*when checking up on his wedding plans today, picking up a bottle of expensive but tasty red wine and a Thank you card*
"Thanks for all your help, and remember, 2 in the chest, one in the head just to make sure, Tessa and I thank you for your help"
*will inform Tessa about the decision, what happened, and the reason for the wine and note, and have her sign it with me*
*I am going to assume all the wedding prep/plans I put into place 10 or so posts above were ok/going ok*
*with the 120 lbs, 25 per limb, 10 around my stomache, and 10 on my shoulders*
*continuing all my training with the added weight*
*picking up a pair of diamond stud earnings for Tessa as a out of the blue thank you*
Jhiaxus
"Too scary for me." Hermes replies with a laugh. "I like sweet and cute, not cute and scary."
Yes, your plans are proceeding apace. How many rabbit balloons did you want to breed?
Tessa adds a p.s. to your note as follows: 'I'm personally grateful. I owe you and the others. I don't forget my debts. Tessa.'
=======
A week later the TV blares on again. You head north to check it out, and meet a friendly white bunny who's definitely a verser. On the way back with Siljonic, you get a message in your car from Memo aka The Oracle.
"One more verser arriving, no two. We just had two verse in downtown within minutes of each other." She pauses. "They're near Tessa at the Wind Road Farmer's Market. She's shopping." Another longer pause. "Don't know why, but I got a bad feeling about this Jhiaxus."
*will breed 5k now and 5k closer to the wedding date*
*nods and meets the bunny*
"I don't want to patronize you, so I'll introduce myself I'm Jhiaxus and this is Siljonic, the friendly welcoming crew here. Your definatly a verser, so I haven't quite been in this position, are you ok with travelling with us to our home, have some food, drink, welcome you properly?"
*waits for a response*
=========================
*sighs*
"Not what I want to hear."
*tab texts Tessa* "Code Red, Use Shield, Defend u"
*turns to the rabbit, with whatever name he gave us* "Might want to let Siljonic hold you, I'm going to go really fast, my fiance might be in trouble"
*putting the pedal to the metal, going slow enough not to kill ourselves, and as fast as possible*
*turns to Siljonic* "You take one, me the other, either way, we need to protect Tessa, I don't know if she's ready for this. I hope they are friendly, but if not, well going to blind em with the light spell you taught me so well."
Jhiaxus
The bunny looks at you, and listens, and then hops up to you. When you get into the car, it hops into your lap, and settles down.
The rabbit has given no name, but it can take a hint, and hops into Siljonic's lap.
You zip back into town, and take the first left, adn then pound the steering wheel as you realize you should have taken the second left. This adds a whole twenty seconds to the transit time as you scurry across town to the Farmer's Market.
As you get close, you notice the bunny is remarkable calm.
And then you hear....KWHOOM, KWHOOM, KWHOOMPH. Smoke spirals into the air, and you can hear the faint screams of people from two blocks away. You barrel around a corner, and see the market across Leif Erickson Square with its statue and fountain.
The parking lot to the left front is filled with burning cars. The front view is of the outdoor selling area for fruit under a wood shingled awning-roof that is a hundred feet long. The forty feet closest to it has collapsed on to the tables and sent fruit scattering everywhere. The two story warehouse for the interior products in the Market is the furthest away, and to your right, and its lit by flashes of light from the inside.
The front door area of the warehouse looks.....disintegrated perhaps.
People are either staring in shock, or running from the scene.
Suddenly the front of your car settles, and you look forward. Flakes of rust float away in the air as to what was the front two feet of your car. Its not going anywhere now.
You get a text from Tessa.
Fite. Gal pal me. Guy bad. Halp.
*not happy about the front of his car*
*turns the switch to his fully charged shield belt on and nods for Siljonic to do the same and turns to the bunny*
"It seems like you can understand us, please find a place of safety while we deal with whoever is causing this."
*pulling out his automatic shotgun in one hand and his other on the hilt on one of his breaking blades, jumping out of the car, using his new powers of intuition to plot a course of items that look undamaged by a disintegration field and making his way in further to find Tessa and the source of the problem*
Jhiaxus
The bunny jumps out of the car, and follows you two.
You bolt across to the edge of the awning covered area, and use the fruit tables as cover as you and Siljonic crouch. After looking at the situation, you hear another triple KWHOOM from inside the warehouse. Chunks of concrete fall off the warehouse.
You and Siljonic rush forward, and dart through a side door to find a couple women in the concessions area kissing the concrete frantically. Siljonic is crouched down, and holding the door open, and you tell them to get out of Dodge right now which they do babbling in terror.
You're inside a concession area on the left corner of the building. Open windows offer access to the main floor.
More KWHOOM. You hear Tessa yell in anger from the left side of the building, but at least fifty feet away. The smell of fried vegetables and lightning is heavy in the air.
*as he is crouched with Siljonic ripping off the velcro weights, feeling like Rock Lee in Naruto, finally free of the weights he carries around all day, after the women get out of the danger zone, I point to Siljonic and a close window and myself to a father away one, but closer to Tessa and bolt to dive through it, not wanting to waste any time*
*trying to roll onto his feet, don't know if any of my martial arts instruction would have taught or included it, but worth a try, letting my hands be free, the automatic shotgun kept on his body by the sling, over his left shoulder and across his body, going back to his familiar shotgun braced with sling with one hand and hand on the sheaf of one of his breaking blades as he makes his way to Tessa*
Jhiaxus
You dive out the window, feeling light and sure, and then a roar of heat and dazzlement passes over you, and slams you into the ground. You roll to your feet, skidding in the slick tomato juice, and lunge forward, shotgun ready.
You see a shape under a table ahead.
And then the table to your immediate right explodes.
Flying chunks of melon, and splinters of a wooden table bombard your shield. You're surrounded by a dense mist that drips through your shield. And so it is that you pitch head long into the five foot deep pit ripped in the floor before you by another blast of the energy weapon that has nearly deafened you.
*holy *bleeping* *bleep**
*well this just isn't going to do, lets the shotgun fall to the sling and undoes his axe, remembering Odin's will, that he must drive his axe through the heart of a worthy opponent without using deceit, entering into drow blade dance before giving a moment to consider his next move*
*smiles a bit remembering the one spell Siljonic taught him so well as to do it standing on one hand on a chair with ABBA blasting*
*starts casting light outside of his "foxhole", until 4 or 5 blazing globes appear, using them for cover to start evading blasts and closing the distance to whatever is making those blasts, hoping Siljonic is doing what he does best*
*planning on dipping, dodging, ducking, blasts as not to tax his shield, until he gets close enough to jump in the air and drive his axe deep into the heart of whatever is threatening his woman*
Jhiaxus
Casting Light calms you, centers you, and you step into the Drow Bladedance, and begin to dart down the aisles and between the tables. Visibility is limited to a few feet. You pass a table with lettuce piled up, on fire.
Suddenly a shadow, and you look up.
One of the lights hanging from the ceiling, a dome about the size of a table is plunging toward you. You leap back out of the way, and suddenly the flaming lettuce and the table its on is smashing into your left side. You hit the ground hard, loosing air, and wondering if your hair is on fire until you try to breathe and can't.
You look up, and a woman in a tight black and white checked costume is standing on the table on top of you. Her eyes are the coldest you've ever seen. Her face is pale white, and her hair raven black in a pageboy cut. She's got a four foot long rifle type thing, that is very spindly, and has a solid barrel end pointed at your face.
Thoomp. You can hardly hear the noise as it fires, and knocks your head lightly on the floor. You look up, and you see clearly written across her face a question.
Why aren't you dead yet?
But then she's dropping her rifle and going for the knife on her leg with speed like a striking rattlesnake.
OOC: Damaging damage from the impact of the table, and Annoying damage from bonking your head. After armor and subdermal and head plate...Annoying.
"STOP!, Tessa says your a friend, I'm here to stop a man, stop blasting me and now trying to gut me."
"finally realizing he may not be an offensive powerhouse, but between the Nanoweave Armor, Subdermal Armor, The Placera Rib Wiring, the RIF Skullcap, and his natural density, he has become formidable in a fight, if not to take the punishment while others do the damage, grinning well if this was World of Warcraft, he would be the Tank."
*if she doesn't, try to possess her, if that doesn't work, hope like hell that Siljonic has my back*
Jhiaxus
(Just a reminder all damage I take is reduced by 1/2 by having a 2@ DV)
You don't even think she hear you, she's so in the zone. You try to possess her, but the focus you need in the midst of this raving chaos is not there. And then her knife is plunging into your chest, and you roll slightly. She stabs you through the left bicep and out the other side missing the bone.
Her oversized Bowie knife went in awful easily.
You see a shape come out of the mist and smoke.
"Oh, you don't want to just kill me, you want to kill every guy." Says the man with the yellow metallic skin, and the smoking tri-barrel energy blaster in his left hand. She glances at you, and she definitely needs help with her poker face.
You know her plan.
She's going to yank out her knife, slash your throat, and then stab yellow guy in the gut all in one continous flow.