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Part 21b: World of wheels =========================================================== This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 17:19, Wed 17 Mar 2004. =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Hope rises in Cyan's breast when she sees Hunter has caught the scent, and she trots after the Wolf, sword drawn and ready, ever-changing eyes flicking about, hunting for threats. Two silent predators in a dead, alien city, with the lights turned low. Shadow-dancing in search of their quarry. Hope falls, shattering on the cold, hard ground when the trail ends. "Cursed place," Cyan hisses, knowing full well that if Jack was caught, the alarm has been raised. There will be more of the Enemy, and soon. "Hunter, can you tell? Did they remove him elsewhere? This mystic link you share - can you tell aught of him?" Her own eyes search the buildings, the air, the ground. There must be some sign. Even if it is only blood. Jack would have fought, if he could. Ice burns in her veins, the ice of terror. Was the man even alive? Kirilindë's tip quivers violently for a moment, and Cyan rubs the back of her other hand across her eyes, choking back a sob. Not now, fool! "Jack," she whispers, knowing the strength of the man's mind and opening her own. Opening it wide, knowing the danger, and pouring all of her care, all of her fear into the aether around her. Jack.... Hopelessly, knowing that he will not respond, but capable of nothing else. =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Hunter ----------------------------------------------------------- Hunter trots back and forth across the plaza, nose low as he searches for a scent. He keeps coming back to the same spot, and an almost-human expression of bewilderment appears on his features. Then he cuts into one of the streets leading away through the city of glass, and starts to search again, then into the next street widdershins, then again... and in the fifth street he stops and gives a quiet *hruff* to get Cyan's attention. He turns around to see if the bard is following, and behind him one of the mechanical spider creatures comes around the corner of a structure at a run, then scuttles down into the street where it observes wolf and bard with its crimson eyes. It makes no move to attack, instead sitting silently in the street. =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan watches, heart in her throat. Hunter...please.... And he does. The pulse thunders in her ears as she hurries forward, silently, then stops at the sight of the mechanical spider. It's an unnerving beast, all sharp angles and lenses. "Hunter...behind you. Do not attack it...yet." Quickly Cyan hurries forwards, then stops. Her eyes slowly rake the surrounding walls, the rooftops. Hunting for any signs of more of the creatures. Is this a trap? Suddenly she wishes she had taken a moment to pick up a knife or two. Narrowing obsidian eyes, she glares at the spider. "Impudent machine...stand aside," Cyan whispers, her voice low and grating. It may be a trap, but if so, the snake may find itself swallowing a hedgehog. Moving up beside Hunter, Cyan nods. "With speed, Hunter." Then she breaks into a run, circling the spider as she does, following the Wolf. The longer the creature takes to observe them, the longer it has to set up a trap...but the closer to Jack they come. It's a delicate balancing act, and one Cyan fears will end in a sharp, deadly, plummet. Jack. Where are you? =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Dworkin (GM) ----------------------------------------------------------- The spider makes no attempt to attack as the bard runs past with Hunter. It simply turns around to follow them with its eyes. After they have passed, it starts to click and hum quietly. Moments later a dozen more of them appear, converging from all directions. They stand watching Cyan and Hunter retreating from them, then scatter again. The original spider starts to follow Cyan and the wolf, maintaining a respectful distance. =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Dworkin (GM) ----------------------------------------------------------- The spider makes no attempt to attack as the bard runs past with Hunter. It simply turns around to follow them with its eyes. After they have passed, it starts to click and hum quietly. Moments later a dozen more of them appear, converging from all directions. They stand watching Cyan and Hunter retreating from them, then scatter again. The original spider starts to follow Cyan and the wolf, maintaining a respectful distance. =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Of course. "Either they have not made up their minds about our purposes, Hunter," Cyan murmurs as she and the Wolf lope through the city streets, "or they 'prepare', ahead." It doesn't matter much to her, either way. The best way through an ambush, if it's detected, is to break it. If it isn't detected...well, that's a different matter. Night-black onyx eyes rove ceaselessly. A touch...a tingle...and then, relief, as Leonardo's questing probe finds her. At least, she assumes it is he, and opens her mind to him. In Leonardo's hand, Cyan's card cools. On it is the image of a woman, long copper locks hanging down, spilling over her iridescent purple-silk shirt. She sits in a wooden chair, with a fire burning behind her, brilliant silver harp in hand. There's a faint smile on her face, and, even in the card, it's impossible to tell the colour of her eyes; they change as the image is moves. Beside her chair is a long, thin sword, plain of grip, in a scuffed wooden scabbard - a gim, if Leonardo is familiar with the chinese style of straight sword. [OOC - very similar to the picture chosen for her Trump on the website. I don't know WHERE Lexy found that...] As contact is made, the image shifts, and now the woman trots through a familiar, cold city, eyes dark. 'Leonardo. Good - I had hoped you would find the palanquet irresistable.' There is wry amusement in the tone - a joke, evidently - but there is also a terrible strain, and an underlying current of fear and worry. 'Apologies for my abrupt departure - speed was of the essence. A cold trail may become impossible to follow.' Cyan listens, easily managing with the non-sequiteurs (time with Jack has partially inured her to such bizarre patterns of speech!), but growing disbelief at what Leonardo is saying. Not disbelief in the man's words, but in the situation. 'Aaron....gone?! I would not...why...oh, curse it, I have not the time to pander to this. Not you, Leonardo - my apologies. And Kallika? Home? Indeed, perhaps speech with Berd might be best.' There is a feeling of despair growing in Cyan, now. 'Berd...ah, of course. But then...Yes, yes. And Jack? No! This is-!...Very well, do as you must. No, I understand. 'My apologies, Leonardo...again.' Cyan's tone mixes frustration and confusion with fear, liberally. 'It appears extremely important that Kallika return to her lands - Berd would not leave you and I, otherwise. And Jack. I am unsure as to the reason of her departure,' and there is bitterness there, a great deal of it, 'nor am I aware of why Aaron chose this moment to leave without explanation, but I fear we must deal with it as best we can.' She pauses. 'I say we, of course, assuming greatly. I can only hope you will stay. If that is the case,' and her tone is hopeful, now, 'please hold carefully this chain with me whilst I search for Jack. I would have an escape...and an advisor.' Her tone shades towards desperation. 'I am open to suggestions. Hunter has Jack's scent, but they are aware of us. I know not how long I might have. Were Aaron here...but that is not the case.' The Bard continues to pace Hunter, Kirilinde burning like a bar of moonlight in her hand. =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Dworkin (GM) ----------------------------------------------------------- Hunter turns into a narrower way betwixt two walls of unscalable glass. The spider enters the street some fifteen or twenty paces behind them, and stops. Ahead of the pair, a second spider scrambles down a wall and halts, closing the only exit. Neither spider moves any closer, and they resemble exotic statues. Before Cyan can react, a shadow moves behind the wall about a dozen feet from her, and the glass sizzles and dissolves to allow a third spider access to the narrow street. It stops in front of Cyan and Hunter, then huddles down, its eyes blink from red to gold for a moment, and then it speaks, its voice a curious buzzing tone, but understandable, "Come with me iv you want to live." It moves, crabwise, towards the hole, watching to see if the pair follow it. "Hurry. You muzt get inzide bevore an Archon detectz you." Then it vanishes back into the building. =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Pausing, Cyan turns to stare at the two spiders blocking her paths...forwards and behind. She looks down at Hunter for a moment, and her thoughts are clear to Leonardo. 'If this is the ambush, then I can go no further...and we still have no idea where Jack may be. If it is not...then by fighting I will not only attract attention, but destroy what might be my only chance to find Jack!' Fear, concern, terrible pain pulses along the link for an instant as Cyan wavers. If she does...she may lose the trail. If she does not...this will be it, here and now. A decision is made. Sometimes you just have to trust to fate. "Hunter - here, first, then we shall seek Jack." With that, Cyan bends and slips into the hole, blade of her sword held before her, questing like a bizarre, deadly antenna. Spirits, please let this be help in truth! I beg of you.... Eyes of pale jade stare ahead, questing, seeking the 'guide'. =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Dworkin (GM) ----------------------------------------------------------- The spider waits inside, and the two outside move to the hole as soon as Cyan is inside. They start to extrude some kind of translucent cord from their foremost pair of limbs, which they use to seal the hole in the building. Within minutes there is no sign that the hole ever existed... Cyan's host turns away from her and moves at a fast walk onto a steep glass ramp which descends below the ground level of the city. "Thiz way, iv you pleaze. We will go down, away vrom the Archonz." The darkness deepens as Cyan descends, moving carefully on the glass, but the metallic creatures eyes glow brightly, and that light is reflected from all the surfaces of the structure. "Zoon we will be there. You will be zeen ztraight away." =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Leonardo ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan typed:'My apologies, Leonardo...again.' Cyan's tone mixes frustration and confusion with fear, liberally. 'It appears extremely important that Kallika return to her lands - Berd would not leave you and I, otherwise. And Jack. I am unsure as to the reason of her departure,' and there is bitterness there, a great deal of it, 'nor am I aware of why Aaron chose this moment to leave without explanation, but I fear we must deal with it as best we can.' She pauses. 'I say we, of course, assuming greatly. I can only hope you will stay. If that is the case,' and her tone is hopeful, now, 'please hold carefully this chain with me whilst I search for Jack. I would have an escape...and an advisor.' Her tone shades towards desperation. 'I am open to suggestions. Hunter has Jack's scent, but they are aware of us. I know not how long I might have. Were Aaron here...but that is not the case.' Through the Trump link, Cyan detects what could best be described as a mental sigh of resignation... and then a very odd wry mental chuckle. Leonardo responds in a bemused tone... laced with an undertone of grave determination, ~~~ First off, there is nothing you need to apologize for from what I can see. While I was taken aback by your sudden departure... I could also understand that time was of the essence, David often talked about the need to track trails quickly before they grow cold. Also of your... or perhaps finally now my... group, you have fulfilled your end of the full disclosure bargain fully and I can find no fault there. As for Aaron and Kalika, well I don't expect to know their reasoning or methods or motivations... as I barely know them apart from their given names. Indeed... I could see where their departure is really more of a... strain shall we say, to you and Jack. Perhaps calling them fair-weather friends is unfair... but now does not seem to be the time to abandon ship or change course. I do find it darkly amusing that despite obvious reservations about me... I seem to have been made a combination of designated driver and den mother all in one fell swoop. Still... I shall say no more on that issue for now, it is not entirely my place to comment as it is. However know this... I do not abandon comrades in times of need. Several of you have either openly expressed or at least given the impression of wondering just how someone like David Ares could have been a friend of mine. To be sure, we had many a difference but David always said that if there was one trait he admired most in me... it was a sense of loyalty to my comrades and doubly so to my close friends. * pause and a sigh of sadness and regret before adding in a more solemn tone * The fact is... I have failed David twice already. First I failed to reach him in time to warn him and he died as a result. This will haunt me for many decades to come. Secondly... well secondly I have failed David by failing his friend Jack. It is hard for me to admit considering the pride I take in my Trump Artistry, but the fact is Jack depended on me to maintain contact and retrieve him... and when the Enemy struck I could do neither! Leonardo Henri Cezanne does NOT take failure lightly! So come hell or high water, I'm not letting this Trump contact go... even if it means facing that damned flaming wheel of divine smiting once more! Pièce de Résistance will insure that my body does not tire and then it is up to my mind to overcome the Enemy's resistance. So know this Cyan, for as long as you are there... you are not alone. Though what advice I can give you may not amount to much worth listening to. ~~~ quote:Pausing, Cyan turns to stare at the two spiders blocking her paths...forwards and behind. She looks down at Hunter for a moment, and her thoughts are clear to Leonardo. 'If this is the ambush, then I can go no further...and we still have no idea where Jack may be. If it is not...then by fighting I will not only attract attention, but destroy what might be my only chance to find Jack!' Fear, concern, terrible pain pulses along the link for an instant as Cyan wavers. ~~~ For what it is worth... I suggest going along with the creature. If it is an enemy of The Enemy, then it may indeed be our friend. However if it works for The Enemy... then most likely it is taking you directly to Jack in any case. The danger of losing Jack's scent is not as great as the risk of being discovered by The Enemy. I fool you not Cyan when I say with shame and regret that I cannot vouch for my ability to return you safely should we face that Flaming Wheel once more. In either case... we should find out who or what these creatures are and who or what purpose/master they serve. Be they friend or foe, we need to know. The choice is yours, Bon Chance Mon Ami. ~~~ quote: "Thiz way, iv you pleaze. We will go down, away vrom the Archonz." The darkness deepens as Cyan descends, moving carefully on the glass, but the metallic creatures eyes glow brightly, and that light is reflected from all the surfaces of the structure. "Zoon we will be there. You will be zeen ztraight away." Leonardo's curiosity had obviously been piqued, ~~~ Hmm... very interesting... perhaps we begin to put names to the players of this Grand Game. Though while I am naturally quite interested in knowing just what this Archonz is.... it is not the question that takes first precedence in my mind right now. No... I want to know with WHOM will you be "zeen ztraight away"? Friend or foe, I feel you will soon be meeting a major player or players in this Game with No Rules. But even an enemy of The Enemy may not necessarily be a "friend" of ours or of either Amber or the Courts of Chaos. I'm sure such advice is wasted on one so knowledgeable about the art of war... but do be careful and on your guard Cyan, I will ready to pull you and Hunter back if the need arises... if I can. ~~~ =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan nods slowly to the creature. Kirilindë is still drawn, and slowly begins to burn with a chill, white light that flickers at the edges to rainbow intensity. It takes concentration, though, and Cyan knows full well that if she is attacked, it will be either forgoe the light, or lose the battle. Fighting in the dark may well bring about the one with the other. She's no Jack; listening to Leonardo and the spider at the same time taxes her thoughts, but she can manage. While it's fascinating to watch them seal up the hole, she focuses most of her attention on her hidden 'watcher' during that time. 'I cannot speak for either Kallika or Aaron,' she says, through the palanquet. 'I am certain they have their reasons...though I do not see how ANY reason might be sufficient for this set of events. Now, in Kallika's case it may be that she has recalled something that might give assistance where she cannot. That...well, certs I can understand. Aaron...from the words you have recounted, Aaron has encounted yet another stumbling block in his life and magic, and thus leaves in our moment of need to pursue it.' She sighs. 'Ever is this the case. We shall have to do without.' A note of weary gratitude enters her psychic tone. 'That you will not abandon myself and Jack, I do not doubt. Though our first meeting seemed storm-tossed, I do not doubt your friendship with Ares, and your actions fairly shout as to why such a bond grew. No fault to you, Leonardo Cezanne, for what has befallen Jack. We have faced our enemies, and know their strength. With surprise as its ally...I doubt any could have done better. And you are here, now.' Following the spider, now, she smiles faintly in the dim light of its lenses and her blade. 'We shall see where this leads. If it be to a trap, there is naught I can do until then - But I have reserves of my own, and Hunter is not without might. Forewarned is forearmed; we may yet win free should this trail turn false. And we hold one, final surprise for any who might seek to imprison or slay me - that would be you, of course, Leonardo.' But her fear still runs deep within, like an endless, dark river. Not for herself, and Hunter, still free, but for Jack. Captured by the Enemy, a terribly alien enemy, who does not hesitate to consume worlds, or aid those who do. What might such creatures do to her friend? The thought puts jagged blades of ice in her chest as Cyan breathes. The spider continues to speak as they move, the Bard carefully keeping her footing while memorizing their route as best she can. 'Indeed. I believe some of these questions should be asked...now. And advice is never wasted. Seraphim. Nephillim. And now this word - Archons - Archonz, by the bastardization of the creature's pronnunciation. It is said in legends that Archons were rulers of a far-off place, and that they numbered Nine. Nine holds power, and there is a history to the word, Leonardo Cezanne, a strength to it. I believe it to be title rather than name, or perhaps...designation, but then...' A wry smile, tinged with worry, crosses her features. '...I have been wrong, before. Terribly so.' Archon. Seraphim. Nephillim. All names of power, resonating throughout the Myriad Worlds. And the fear in Cyan, for Jack and, yes, for herself, begins to grow. Working up her nerve, the Bard resolves to break the silence. "What is your name?" she inquires quietly as she follows the odd, metallic creature. The whispering echoes oddly in this strange, dark, glassy place, sussurations echoing around them, then fadine. "And with whom shall I meet?" =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Dworkin (GM) ----------------------------------------------------------- The spider does not pause in its descent, but its strange buzzin voice drifts back through the air to Cyan, "I do not have a name. I am dezignated THX1138." The ramp becomes less steep beneath the bard's feet and there is a noise from up ahead, the sound of many buzzing, humming voices. "Word waz zent by the one who zaw you virzt. We were zent to vind you bevore an Archon or one ov their zervantz did. Zoon we will zee the Leader." Cyan follows the creature into a large cavern, straight from some arachnophobes nightmare. There are thousands of the spiders here, all clinging to the curved walls and ceiling of the chamber. Eye clusters glow across the whole visual spectrum, and all seem to be watching her entrance. The humming voices are stilled, and all regard her in silence as she is led, accompanied by Hunter, into the centre of the chamber. Opposite where she entered is the arch of another tunnel, this one larger than the one that she just descended, and leading downwards into unknown depths. =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- "Very well, Teeaichex Oneonethreeeight," Cyan replies quietly. "So. You are not servants to the Archons," she muses, thoughtfully, knowing full well that Leonardo is also 'getting' this. She steps out into the cavern, and the only thing that comes to mind, first, is that she hopes they don't know that she ate some of their relatives on the world of the Gatherer. With a blink, Cyan turns a full circle, astounded at the dark beauty of the gathering of shining arachnids. So...wonderful. Truly awe-inspiring. She will paint this scene, the Bard decides. With song or brush, she isn't certain, but it will be done. Still rubbernecking, she follows the little spider across the floor. Pausing in the center, Cyan gives a courtly bow, her own eyes reflecting the dim light light amethyst crystals. Then, hurrying to catch up, she follows her guide. "There are many of you," the Bard breathes quietly. She's fully aware that, should this turn out to be a trap, she would have no chance of escaping this way. Fortunately, I have other routes, correct? she inquires of Leonardo, hoping to hear him answer. Silently, the redhead enters into the gaping maw awaiting her, and descends into its depths. =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Dworkin (GM) ----------------------------------------------------------- "Many ov uz are zervantz ov the Archonz, though zlavez would be more a accurate term. We, here, are the onez who do not zubmit to them. There are lezz ov uz each zycle, but ztill we do not zurrender to them." The spider, only about the size of a medium-size dog, sounds as if it would die fighting before submitting to an Archon's orders. "Zome ov uz zaw the Archon and itz zervants capture the other like you, and we knew that one had been here bevore. The Leader gave orderz that iv otherz like you came, then we zhould try to bring them here, to vind out why the Archonz would take zuch ztepz to capture that one." =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Dworkin (GM) ----------------------------------------------------------- "Thiz iz the plaze. We have arrived." A cathedral. That is the only way to describe the chamber that Cyan enters. A space, vast and buttressed with columns and arches of transluscent glass. Solid, yet seemingly ethereal, lit by small lights, each no brighter than a candle. A thousand of them... ten thousand? A million? It is impossible to tell which are the real lights, and which are merely reflections in the myriad crystal surfaces of the chamber. THX1138 stops in the entrance and peforms an odd gesture that perhaps passes for genuflection among its kind, crouching down, legs folded beneath itself. Then it continues forward, the ticking of its feet against the glass floor echoing quietly, and faintly musical, from every surface. Cyan follows, accompanied by the great wolf, Hunter, and by an army of reflected versions of herself. Berd had once told her that everything in existence has an infinite number of shadows and reflections across an infinite number of worlds, each slightly different from the next. If that is true, then the reflections of herself and Hunter and THX1138, here in the cathedral, represent that principle in microcosm. There is the sound of crystal wind-chimes, and part of the structure detaches itself from a place high on one wall, and moves down to the floor. A spider, as large as a house and seemingly composed entirely of glass. As it moves it shimmers and blurs, reflecting the light and shadow of this place. Finally it stops, about twenty yards from Cyan, and yet still appearing to tower above her. THX1138 is down in that strange crouch posture again, eyes dimmed and pulsing regularly. There is a voice then, quiet as a whisper, yet as clearly heard as a shout. "I am designated Prime. Your designations are?" =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Excitement grows, as Cyan realizes they HAVE seen Jack...and thus, may know where he could be found. She bites her tongue, though, holding back the desperate blurting of questions - this one will not answer, she senses. No, it is to the leader, the one behind this, the one at the center of the web, whom she will ask. And then the beauty of before is eclipsed with ease, by the tremendous cathedral stretching before her. Bowing, Cyan straightens and stares with awe, her opalescent eyes shimmering with the myriad reflections. Her breath comes in short, blurred gasps as she strives to take it all in. Neither song nor brush could ever capture this, and so she struggles to bind it with that most ephemeral and yet most accurate of arts - memory. Then comes Prime, and the terrible loveliness takes her breath completely. It is a long moment before the Bard is able to act. Do you see, Leonardo? Can you see this? "Prime...I greet you. I am Cyan, and this is Hunter. We come seeking a friend - a man of shadow." Fear bubbles through the wonder, and Cyan's eyes suddenly well with shimmering tears. "You - You have seen him, have you not?" she asks, the words tumbling from her lips. =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Dworkin (GM) ----------------------------------------------------------- "I cannot say that I have seen this man of shadows of whom you speak. but several of my followers have." The great crystaline form seems to shimmer in and out of sight as every movement scatters the light in new directions. "It has been captured by the Archons. Their slaves were seen to carry it into the dome where the Archons store their cenderenoth, the devices that they create to steal energy from other worlds." =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Leonardo ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan typed:Fortunately, I have other routes, correct? she inquires of Leonardo, hoping to hear him answer. ~~~ Correct as usual King Friday... umm... what I mean is I certainly hope you're correct while at the same time I certainly hope we won't be forced to find out if you're correct. I really have to stop watching so much TV on Shadow Earth... Samuel is right, it's "warping my fragile little mind". ~~~ quote:Do you see, Leonardo? Can you see this? ~~~ Yes I certainly do... most impressive... but strangely my mind keeps going back to a old saying but throwing stones and people living in glass houses. Still... it does sound as if there is hope. Some of these creatures seem to have seen Jack and I begin to feel more and more that these creatures speak the truth... they do not work for the Enemy. In my travels, I have heard many a speech for freedom against tyranny... and strangely this mechanical creature's simple statement of defiance managed to touch the heart as strongly as those words spoken by resistance fighters of flesh and blood. I only hope their fight with the Enemy or Archon as they call it means that they will accept us as allies. A mutual foe does not guarantee a mutual alliance. ~~~ Soon Cyan is brought before the leader of these mechanical spiders... Prime. ~~~ Wow... that "Prime" is certainly a prime example of his species.. whatever they are. I wonder if he has a first name... Optimus maybe? I'll be curious to see if they can detect my presence... though I hope not as it will reveal our Ace in the hole much too soon for my liking. Maybe... maybe if we're... you're... very good at being persuasive, maybe we can get these fellows to aid us in an old fashion jailbreak? If we can but convince them that Jack has some vital key or knowledge which could threaten these Archons. Maybe we could spin it so that the reason the Archons were so keen to take Jack was that he is a threat to them. If these creatures feel that Jack is vital to their war effort against the Archon and his capture and continued containment can only benefit their Enemy... they may be willing to endure high risk to insure Jack's freedom and safety. It is a long shot but it might be our only chance.... even if Aaron and Kalika were with us, I don't think we would be strong enough to pull off a raid on these Archons from the sound of it. But... I shall leave the smooth-talking to your silver tongue my fair Bard who is no doubt as formidable with words as she is with weapons. ~~~ =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan nods grimly to Leonardo's statements. Some of what he says is incomprehensible to her, but she is well used to such oddities from other World-Walkers, and does not let it distract her. 'Indeed, I can only hope that they will declare themselves allies and assist us...but I shall not be prevaricating, or twisting of the truth to gain them.' There is an instant of desperate despair and sorrow. 'I have vowed not to drag others into danger under false pretenses, whoever they may be...but I would do it for Jack. Only...I am terrible at falsification. I lie poorly.' 'I only hope that the truth may suffice.' "Prime," she says aloud, eyes darkening to ruby, "I am heartened beyond measure to hear that my friend yet lives. But...he is vital to us. Vital. And we stand against these creatures, the Archons, for it is on the trail of one of these infernal machines, these cenderenoth that we come seeking this world. We have pledged ourselves to end this threat and thus, by doing so, these creatures. And we are not without our own skill and power. We would lend assistance to you, if you could do so for us." Her voice drops, laced with desperation. "This threat cannot be ignored - it is a danger to all, through the myriad worlds. We seek allies, we seek those who might end the thread, we world walkers. It may be that we can bring greater strength to bear, should we reach the land called Amber, possibly under seige itself. But without our friend...as I said, he is vital. Vital. Please," she pleads brokenly, "can you assist? Even a hidden path to allow me, and only me, to reach him...a map to guide me to this place...anything. I will not ask for one of your people to hurl away their life for strangers, but any assistance to save my friend...." Pausing, she covers her eyes with one hand, rubs them fiercely for a moment. Cyan's colour is one that does not take well to tears - pale, it grows blotchy. She chokes, once, desperately holding back her terror and raw despair, knowing only that every second brings Jack closer to death or breaking. They will seek information...and they are potent, and without conscience. One hand comes down on Hunter's back for support. "I only require a path, if there is nothing more you can give. Please?" =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Dworkin (GM) ----------------------------------------------------------- The great spider stands silent for a moment, then, "There is a way, though I do not say it will be easy. The Archons have instructed the slaves that any more organic creatures are to be captured and brought to them. One or more of my followers could act as slaves and take you into the fortress of the Archons." =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Relief colours Cyan's tone, and her eyes reflect the light in amethyst glints as she looks up at the great Prime. "Yes," she says, quietly. "Yes, yes, that would be acceptable." There is a relaxing, then, and she fists her fingers in Hunter's fur in relief. Lightly, of course. Slowly, Cyan nods as she continues to consider the plan. "The danger...would your follower be capable of escape? For I would not have another die as well..." She slowly shakes her head. "I could bring it with me, to my world when I escape, then return it hither." Her voice is hopeful, now, and she gives the giant creature a tremulous smile. 'Leonardo! Did you hear? We may yet have a means to enter the sanctum of the enemy! You could safeguard my weapons, and pass them to me when I require them, and be our anchor to safety!' But now the relief is at war with fear, growing steadily in Cyan's mind. Jack...be alive. That is all I ask. OOC - again, short...apologies! =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Leonardo ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan typed:'Indeed, I can only hope that they will declare themselves allies and assist us...but I shall not be prevaricating, or twisting of the truth to gain them.' There is an instant of desperate despair and sorrow. 'I have vowed not to drag others into danger under false pretenses, whoever they may be...but I would do it for Jack. Only...I am terrible at falsification. I lie poorly.' 'I only hope that the truth may suffice.' They will seek information...and they are potent, and without conscience. ~~~ As David would have quoted in a situation like this, "Desperate times call for desperate measures". I do not think that calling Jack "Vital" is a lie... he seems to be the glue that held our group together in many ways and I find it hard to see this group continue its mission with the same level of efficiency without him. I can understand your desire not to mislead these creatures... then again.. they have already declared themselves enemies for life... or death... against The Enemy. I think we need not worry too much about involving them as they seem already involved, anyone who speaks unabashedly of a willingness to surrender their existence rather than live under the yoke of oppression should be considered to be pretty well committed to the conflict. Also as you say... Jack is still just one man, albeit a talented one to be sure. With all the powers and resources that The Enemy can bring to bear... considering that they were able to terminate David Ares when no other had ever been able to serious injure him... how long can one man hold out? If Jack begins to talk under torture, then we are all in danger and our security is compromised. And believe me when I say... "everybody talks", in the end it is only a matter of time and time is on their side not ours. I suppose... you could always point out that if... when... Jack breaks, we will be the Archons next target... and after us, the secrets of these creatures will be revealed through our own weakness. In the end, none of us can afford to allow Jack to remain in enemy hands... the risks are just too great. ~~~ quote:Leonardo! Did you hear? We may yet have a means to enter the sanctum of the enemy! You could safeguard my weapons, and pass them to me when I require them, and be our anchor to safety!' But now the relief is at war with fear, growing steadily in Cyan's mind. Jack...be alive. That is all I ask. ~~~ Yes that is positive news... though getting in may be a good deal more simple and easy than getting out. I will certainly uphold my end of the operation whatever it may be... but may I make a few observations and suggestions? Neither of us were able to reach Jack from here using Trump... is there some way to find out if Trump even functions where Jack is? What if you go in and I lose contact with you? The other possibility is... perhaps I should send you Jack's Trump? Maybe if you are on the same Shadow, the distance is not as great and the power of the connection may be improved? If you can contact Jack where you are now... then it gives me hope that Trump at least still functions where he is. Of course... that means I will need to join you in that Shadow of Wheels in order to keep contact with you. At least if I stay within the protected inner sanctum of these new "allies"... I can pull you and Jack there that will give us a few moments at least to try escaping to another Shadow. There is another idea that springs to mind, which may not risk you on an uncertain voyage... what if you or I were to create a Trump sketch of one of these creatures first? I assume that The Enemy will not know a loyal slave from a free resistance fighter... it must be so otherwise, if these Archons could tell the difference, then Prime's original plan is doomed to fail anyway. The spider for whom we have a sketch could go in and we could test just how strong a Trump contact can be maintained. Also if this creature were able to see or hear Jack, we could then transport you to the spider's position for a surprise strike. The fact is that even if you're taken as a "prisoner" according to Prime's plan... The Enemy will know ahead of time that you are coming, they will be watching and they will be alert. The other problem is... what if they begin to probe your mind before you reach Jack... our whole plan could be discovered and come to naught if you were unable to resist. I do not mean to insult your mental abilities Cyan, but what do you think your chances are of resisting a mental assault by these Archons if they were able to take down Jack so quickly? These are the thoughts which plague my mind as I consider the potential difficulties, surprising twists, contingencies and worst case scenarios for this jailbreak operation. Jack's loss is a severe blow but it will only be that much worse should you too fall into Enemy hands. All the more so now... seeing as you and I seem to be all that's left of the group in the here and now. One last thought does come to mind but I do not know him well enough to hazard guesses.... is there some way Berd and Berd's obvious connection to you can be utilized for this operation? ~~~ =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan is beginning to have trouble. She's no weak-willed type, but she's also no Jack; juggling the conversations, with her current emotional level, is difficult to say the least. But she manages. Barely. 'I know,' she replies mentally, despairingly. 'Jack WILL break...or die. One or the other. But if necessary, I will tell them all. Who we are, what we want, everything, and let them judge for themselves Jack's merit. This is a dangerous game I play, here, and it could lead to their discovery. I will not mislead them on any grounds. I am sorry. I cannot - the stakes are far too high.' Miserably, she contemplates the idea. Almost, she could...no, no, she cannot. Not even for Jack. She would die, herself, trying, but will not have any other do so without knowing the absolute, full truth. 'I only hope I have the time.' Then Leonardo continues with his thoughts on the hows. Cyan listens carefully, trying to get a feel for what the man is suggesting. 'Yes,' she agrees. 'Send me Jack's palanquet. I shall attempt to forge a link between he and I. If that were possible, I might bring him to safety...above the ground, for these creatures may posess powers that allow the tracking of such shifts between places. But...I cannot ask for something to do that which I am afraid to do, myself. And time is at it's limit - every second that passes may mean Jack's death. I have not the luxury of a full recconnaissance - the time is now, and I must go should the palanquet fail. As for my mind...' Cyan wilts at the thought. 'I can only hope that if I play the meek prisoner, they refrain from any such questioning until I am firmly within their prisons. Arrogance seems to be at the heart of these creatures - they take, despoil, and steal without thought of retribution. Perhaps it will extend to how they treat their prisoners? Unresisting, I may be granted access to their inner sanctum before any...questioning begins.' And then, she thinks to herself, I must find a means to free us both. A tall order for Ares, or for Jack, or Aaron. For her? Nearly impossible, Cyan fears. But I have no choice. 'Berd will be gone as long as is necessary - I can hope for his return, but...I fear, as I said before, I have not the luxury of awaiting his presence.' Cyan's lips thin, her eyes a dull jade as she stares at Prime, awaiting its answer. 'First, we shall attempt the palanquet...' This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 17:07, Mon 22 Mar 2004. =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Dworkin (GM) ----------------------------------------------------------- "If the danger in his capture is as great as you say, then we must release the other one from the Archons' prison." There is no sound from Prime that could be taken as a signal, but more of the metal spiders start to flood into the cathedral. "Do not speak yet! Are you aware that one of your kind stands behind you, and is yet elsewhere? Are you being spied upon?" =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- "That is my friend," Cyan states quickly, not wishing for anything to disrupt the delicate situation. "As I entered this World, he remained in the other world, in order to allow my escape, should it prove necessary. As I was not fully aware of your benevolant nature, I fear that he remained hidden to guard against any possible treachery." She shrugs, helplessly. "I can only hope that you understand the need, given our circumstance...and...he is the link to my World, through which I hope to escape after freeing my friend." She stares frankly at the collossal spider, cocking her head slightly. "But we will not flee forever. Only for such a time necessary for my friend to recover from his wounds. What you offer, here, is priceless beyond measure to me..." Dropping her gaze, Cyan looks down at the floor. "I thank you," she whispers. "I wish to save my friend, and you have pledged assistance. In turn, I can only say that your enemies are mine, and I will stand against them as long as I hold breath within my body." A shudder runs through her, a shudder of release as the Bard realizes that, despite the situation, there is yet hope for Jack. Hope...and with hope comes a resurgeance of fear. "I will pledge myself to assisting you, in any way, to harry them from this world and break their dominion over you." Her eyes come up, opalescent and shining. "There is a madness stalking the Myriad Worlds, and it is to my thoughts that these creatures stand near its heart...but even if they did not, I would not shirk from this. You have said you will assist; could I do less?" =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Leonardo ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan typed:Cyan's lips thin, her eyes a dull jade as she stares at Prime, awaiting its answer. 'First, we shall attempt the palanquet...' Leonardo takes a moment to split his concentration has he locates Jack's Trump while keeping the link to Cyan. With his right hand, Leonardo holds Jack's Trump Card and focuses his mind as he sends it through the Trump connection to Cyan. ~~~ One order of Jack's famous palanquet coming right up... would like fries with that? Umm... probably not I would guess. Well here goes nothing... it's Trump or Bust I guess. I certainly hope this works or at least that you can establish some kind of tenuous connection even if it is not strong enough to pull Jack through. I figure they must have him shielded to a certain extent but if we can get some kind of read from him... well... at least that’s an indication that Trump works to some degree where he is being kept. ~~~ This is crazy... we're basing our whole operation on a "maybe they won't probe first and ask questions later" concept? What am I supposed to do if they grab Cyan for good and I can't pull her out? Jack's in the bag already, Cyan's going into the Lion's Den, Aaron's split to make peace with his past or something like that and Kalika has gone to the seeing eye clinic or something. I am not the person to be fighting his own private one-man war against larger than life odds... David might have been, then again... he also paid the price for playing the odds. Well... there's always Samuel I guess... quote:"If the danger in his capture is as great as you say, then we must release the other one from the Archons' prison." "Do not speak yet! Are you aware that one of your kind stands behind you, and is yet elsewhere? Are you being spied upon?" ~~~ Well then... I guess that answers that... it seems Trump can be detected by good ol' Prime. I can't say that I'm thrilled by this new revelation. Not that I think Prime is a threat... but if he can detect Trump contact... what about these Archons? Still... at least it sounds like these boys are of one mind... well in regards to getting Jack back anyway. Still... I wonder if ol' Prime can just sense our Trump contact... or... if he can actually eavesdrop on the running commentary? .... Oh brother.... not ANOTHER commitment... umm.. never mind. Good luck stormin' the castle, say Hi to Miracle Max on your way in. Hmm... I wonder... could Jack be Sicilian? ~~~ I really, really hope this Prime character just got lucky... or I think our chances for slipping in undetected mentally are close to nil. And what is up with Cyan... makin' pledges like that, it's a sure-fire way to expedite one's permanent farm purchase from my point of view. Oh well... I wouldn't be so concerned except... if she can't or won't lie, then this means she actually feels committed to that pledge. Well that's her worry, sooner or later she's going to have to face the harsh realities of war on a multi-Shadow scale... "everyone's expendable". If only David were here, he would know the best way to move in. Then again... at some point The Enemy must have been able to anticipate his move if they were actually able to deliver a killing blow. Perhaps... perhaps there is no beating them? What was it Samuel liked to say, something about "if you can't beat 'em....." =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Dworkin (GM) ----------------------------------------------------------- Prime inclines her head at Cyan's words, "And what you offer is priceless to my people. Until now we thought that there were only ourselves and the Archons, and the Archons grow stronger. They gain power from somewhere with the orbs that the slaves are made to build for them. Most of the power they send elsewhere, but some they take for themselves. We are a, or perhaps were, a doomed people. Now we know that others exist who oppose the Archons, and who will face them. Perhaps more of the slaves will fight, knowing this." There is a faint halo of polychromatic light around Cyan's hand, and suddenly Jack's palanquet is there. Many of the nearer spiders edge away from the bard, and Prime asks, "Is that a weapon?" =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- 'My thoughts as well, Leonardo...we can but hope.' Cyan waits for Jack's palanquet to come through. She can feel Leonardo's nervousness and frustration, probably at the situation, but there is little the Bard can do for that. Instead, she merely gives silent assent, and awaits the card. The Artist continues, though, bringing up a very good point regarding the palanquet, and then addressing her alliance with the Prime with...disapproval. He is...very much like a man of Amber, from what I have heard of them recently, from Lexy and Jack. Not knowing what to say to his irritated comment, and the intense feelings of frustration that build along the contact, she merely addresses his primary concern. 'I have considered such a possibility myself, Leonardo, that the 'Archons' can and will sense the use of the palanquet. But there is little I can do except to try, I fear. I shall not rely solely upon the cards and my contact with you; there is always another route, for those who open their eyes.' A faint, desperate amusement touches her mental tone, then. 'Something, I fear, at which I am not accustomed. Ah, well. One must learn to swim sometime, and what better way to commence the task than to leap into the lake?' Bowing to the Prime, the Bard returns her glittering gaze with topaz orbs, a small smile touching her features. "Well and good, Prime. It would seem that neither of our peoples are alone." She frowns, then. "The Archons use but a part of the power, with the bulk tranferred to another World, then. It is as I suspected. These are not the instigators, but merely the facilitators; willing allies in this dark plot." Her hand flicks like a viper, and the card is in it instantly. "A...weapon? No. This is a means of communication, of transportation, the same means through which I hold contact with my ally. I shall attempt to reach my captured friend from this place of safety - I do not anticipate success." Cyan frowns, ruefully. "Whether I succeed or no, whether we go ahead with our plan or no, my pledge still holds. You have offered help - I have done the same." Then she bends her will towards the image of the man caught at the crossroads. Jack...Jack! JACK! =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan's eyes are closed with concentration, but a sudden track runs down her face; salty wetness. A tear. "Jack..." she whispers. "No." Despair rules her thoughts, her mind; despair, with faint, dull flickers of agonized hope. They become a wind, blowing through her mind, tearing frantically at the fog of despair, ripping it away, tearing her mind open, open to Leonardo for a barest instant as it is open to Jack. Or, rather, what remains of Jack. A thousand memories plummet down, falling like rain. Beings of light...the horror of the Gatherer...Ares' grin...Jack's laughter...a length of blades, swinging out...ancient mountains, burning, crumbling, as a giant form falls upon them...a broken, black sword...a harp, handed from the hands of a tall, pale figure...a green-skinned man with an arrow in his chest....a falcon, hurtled through a gate in the air...two, laughing men, clapping each other on the shoulders in the mist...glittering, jeweled eyes...Jack, looking up from the campfire...burning eyed wolf-creatures... ...and, at the last, a small, child's hand reaching out towards a jeweled flicker in the air, leaves blurring behind its wings. "Bird! Bird!".... Her eyes snap open. Beyond obsidian, there is a material...a metal. Galvorn, in the ancient tongue. Black Glass. Tears pour from the eyes, lit from within, behind the darkness, and Cyan stares up at the shining spider before her, unseeing. Jack...come.... =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Dworkin (GM) ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan puts her all into reaching out, and there it is, faint, a spark compared to the blazing fire she seeks, but still it is there. The palanquet cools almost imperceptibly in her hand, as if Jack is not really there... There is though, just enough for her to get hold of and draw him closer, closer... What lays before her on the glass floor of the cathedral is barely recognisable as Jack. Blank faced and covered with blood from a thousand lacerations across his bare back. And yet, somehow, he had the presence to grip Cyan's hand... Prime's voice is quiet, "It appears that you may have been too late. I am sorry." All around Cyan the metal spiders start humming a single note which seems to carry all the pain and sorrow of their race as it rises to the high ceiling and echoes there. =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- "Jack?" Tears pour down Cyan's face, and she holds Jack tenderly, shielding him, mind and body. Her psyche draws around him, soft and soothing on the inside, hard as diamond on the outside. "No. No, no, no," she croons, rocking him back and forth. "Not too late...Jack...Jack, please. I can feel you, yet." And she can. Somehow, he's holding her hand. Desperately, Cyan seeks through him, searching for tracers and telltales, hunting for signs that these...these creatures have placed something within with which they can track the broken man. "You..." she manages to get out before her voice cracks. "You, you should...do you have an escape? A way through which you might flee? Several?" Looking up with those black-glass eyes, slowly bleeding to amethyst, she stares at Prime, mouth working for a long moment. "They...may come for him," the Bard whispers. Slowly, oh, so carefully, the red-haired woman cocoons the ruins of Jack's mind with her own, holding it gently in place, preventing flight. "His wounds," she whispers, still weeping quietly. Those horrible, savage injuries, pain-giving, given for pain, in his back. "I need...cloth. To bind-" Words dissolving into tears, she hunches over the broken man, still holding him with arms that both cradle and protect. Sobs spill forth and, face twisted by grief, Cyan brushes his hair back from his blank face with a shaking, bloodstained finger. I never.... The song washes over her and fills her as Cyan sings her own lullaby to Jack, in his spirit, tears falling onto his face. =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Jack ----------------------------------------------------------- The blue eye stares up blankly, though she can feel through the touch of minds (If it could be called that for him anymore) that Jack’s body was wracked by pain. Still it could not even show or register that as of yet. That Deep inside a feeble spark grew a little brighter, it could not grasp concepts id did not know what pain was though it felt it. Pain being one of the most primal of things, yet something else over ruled the pain. Something even more primal then that, a need to live, to be, to survive. It was not a thought or concept, it just way. The spark grew brighter if only by a fraction. . . and then by another. It did not understand the feeling or thought that were being sent to it by Cyan. Yet they calmed it and drew it to them, easing things that it could not grasp. Undeniable things . . . The spark grew brighter. . . somehow coming to a point where it preciously grasped the primal emotions of the woman. Though still ever so weak and feeble. . . Cyan knew that she was getting through of some level as old as the things that crawled from the primordial ooze. By the moment it was growing, and there would be hell to pay as soon as it reached a level of comprehension to understand pain and fight or flight. It would take a lot of work any way you slice it, or someone being really clever. The blue eye blinked as it stared off into space, the other eye swollen and crusted shut. =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- "Shhh," Cyan manages, whispering to Jack. "Shhhh. Slowly, slowly," she manages, before a fresh bout of tears cuts off all possibility of verbal communication. A twisted smile touches her lips, and her choked sobs come out hysterically mixed with laughter for an instant. He lives...LIVES! Somehow, impossibly, there is SOMETHING left. But how much? And thus, the fear. Furious at her lack of ability, Cyan considers settling blockages against the pain in place. Jack's body is almost void of control, and she might be capable of doing so...but would she also risk disrupting that so fragile spark, welling within the man's torn, shredded spirit? Pain is life! Jack must endure - she has not the skill to safeguard him against the pain, and still ensure he grows as HE sees fit. And so she still holds the aegis around him, preventing any from approaching too closely with vicious fear. Berd...I need you! When will you return? The Bard gently begins to take on some of the burden - linked to him as she was, Cyan slowly shifted the pain to her shoulders, as well. It would hit when it hit, but hopefully she could bear the weight. Jack would not be left, an infant spark of life, in a torrent of agony. Gently, greatly daring, she reached out with one, psychic hand, and held it close to the spark. Here, little one...I am here. Take my hand. Take what you need. She does not grab, does not touch, DARES not. Her mind remains open, to anything Jack chooses to enter, to take, to need. The offer is unconditional. Bravejack, Wisejack, Strongjack, still alive...always ahead of where we think. Do not flee from the fire...you have been burned, but I am here! I can help you, Littlejack, only come to me. Please. Survive! Cyan's other hands, her physical hands, gently brush the bloody detritus from around his swollen eye. "And w-water," the Bard whispers in a voice, raw from her grief. "If aught may be found." 'Thank you, Leonardo Cezanne. Thank you.' Her mental tone vibrates with gratitude. Inside, she still weeps. Inside, she sings. =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Jack ----------------------------------------------------------- The weak spark shied away from the psychic touch at first, yet nature abhors a vacuum. Where there is emptiness it must be filled. Curiosity had always burned so brightly and deeply in Jack. The need to explore and grow. . . a drive to understand. At contact Cyan realized that the infant spark was still a psyche to be reckoned with, in power if not skill. Perhaps still weak, but weakness of the mind and spirit are not the same as that of the body. It tentatively explored her mind at first seeming to grow and incorporate things, concepts, smaller ones at first. The spark growing with each passing moment, and drinking in more knowledge and information. Jack’s body became rigid, the longer he stayed connected to Cyan the quicker he grew. She could tell that he was drinking in information at incredible rates now. She also could feel his views being less and less of Jack, and more and more of Cyan. Though this did not last long before Jacks hand rose to stroke Cyans cheek. His single eye focusing on her. He then passed smooth out from the pain, his hand falling to the deck with a thump. =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- "Oh, dear," Cyan whispers. "Did I err...?" Slowly, she hunches her back, bowing slightly under the pain shunted from Jack's injured body. Jack's strength is still awesome, in raw, 'untrained' (or, rather, damaged) might, and it draws from her greedily...until the body is wracked by pain and exhaustion, and simply...stops. The hand on her cheek, leaving a burning trail on her skin after its fingertips, falls away and she catches it before it hits the ground. Suddenly frantic, Cyan runs her hands over Jack's face, bends her ear to his mouth. He breathes! There is a pulse! 'Leonardo, Jack will live!' In what condition, that is a different question, and well worth the asking. But not now. Not yet. Right now...Cyan begins to laugh. Her topaz eyes slowly turn to stare at Prime as she laughs, the sound closing in on hysteria while tears fall along her cheeks. With a sudden, gut-twisting wrench, the Bard regains control of herself, and merely sits, shaking, for a time. 'Leonardo...are you there?' Cyan stares down at Jack, with mixed elation and unease. 'I...I may have made a mistake.' Quickly, she wipes her eyes. Enough of that. =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Leonardo ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan typed:Cyan's other hands, her physical hands, gently brush the bloody detritus from around his swollen eye. "And w-water," the Bard whispers in a voice, raw from her grief. "If ought may be found." 'Thank you, Leonardo Cezanne. Thank you.' Her mental tone vibrates with gratitude. Leonardo splits his attention long enough to reach into his backpack and pull out one of the bottles of AEvian water with his right hand. As he sends it through the Trump link, he replies in a guardedly whimsical tone, ~~~ Uno Aqua Grande no ice hold the lime, coming right up! But please don't thank me... thank the AEvian bottling company in AEvian, Gaul. Gee... I wonder if I can get royalties for cross-Shadow endorsements? ~~~ quote:'Leonardo, Jack will live!' 'Leonardo...are you there?' Cyan stares down at Jack, with mixed elation and unease. 'I...I may have made a mistake.' In a casual tone which still hints of covered up relief, Leonardo replies, ~~~ Well that is good news... I think he still owes me money for that long distance call he hung up on! Yeah, yeah... I'm still here and holding down the fort as it were. Hmm.... just what do you mean "made a mistake"? Is the Jackster going to live or not? Hey... Cyan... what's going on, what's wrong? Umm... I hate to break up this odd but happy reunion but.... don't you think its time to make a hasty tactical withdrawal? I'm willing to bet big money that Jack's keepers are not going to take long to notice he's gone... that's of course assuming they don't know already. Maybe I had better pull you two back here... it'll be safer for Jack and safer for Prime's people as well. If The Enemy is tracing Jack's mental signature or they've planted a tracking device on him... well they could be vectoring in troops to your location as we chat. What's the word Cyan, stay or come back? ~~~ Well... is it time for champagne toasts or a bloody Irish Wake? Why did I think anything would be simple and straightforward with this group? I figured he'd be dead by now... I guess Cyan was right, these villains are like cats who like to toy with their caught prey. Oh well... the best plans of mice and men... =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Dworkin (GM) ----------------------------------------------------------- Prime regards Cyan for a long moment as the bard holds the seemingly lifeless body in her arms. Then all the metal spiders start scurrying for the exit, and up the walls to vanish into openings concealed among the convolutions of the great glass chamber. Prime does not move away with the others. Then, when all of the smaller spiders are gone, "Do you believe the Archons will attack this place? Speak freely, I have sent the others away." =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan takes the bottle from the air with practiced ease, and stares at it with some consternation. After a long moment, as the spiders begin to vanish from the room, she puzzles out the top. Like a jar...only smaller. With some effort, she manages to open it, and gently pours a small amount between Jack's parched lips, carefully massaging his throat to allow the unconcious man to swallow it. Then, ever so delicately, the Bard begins to remove the remains of his shirt. 'His mind is...broken. Shattered, but not, I think, irrevocably. And yet...in its extremity, it took from me. No, copied. I fear that I may have somehow corrupted the essence that is Jack.' Once again, that curious mix of hope and fear comes through clearly. 'But there is naught I can do for it, not at the moment. And, yes, a retreat might be in order. I have a request - it is an odd one. I shall send you Jack, and you shall then send me the <i>palanquet. MY palanquet. I do not believe this is impossible, but it will certainly sever the link. There are medical supplies there, and you have your...</I>Pièce, as I recall. I will use my own means of returning - do you recall it? - for I must give my card to Prime, so that she may speak to me further. Slowly, still removing the shirt, Cyan looks up at Prime with worried, emerald eyes. "I think...I may have acted in haste. We know nothing of these Archons, and it is possible they may track my friend to here. It is merely a precaution. Prime...I will need to leave this place for a time, to find succor for my friend. But I can give you a means to summon me, to speak to me over great distances - the same means I used to rescue my friend. I would do this, so that we can return to assist you when my friend has healed." She looks up at the giant, crystaline spider with urgency. "This threat must be removed, for the sake of all, including yourselves. I will not sacrifice you and yours to throw these Archons and their master down into defeat." She glances around, briefly. They have all left. "Should you so wish, you may send one of your people with us, to observe and function as an...ambassador, if you will." With a sigh, she looks down at Jack's naked, bloodsmeared chest. Supporting him, Cyan carefully turns his body, then gasps in horror at the sight of the nearly flayed back. Sweet spirits! Jack! Ruthlessly controlling both sorrow and rage, she turns her attention to Leonardo. 'I think it will take...more than I expected to heal Jack. He has been tortured. I have seen worse, much worse, but this is...awful. Vile. And it will take some time to heal.' Mind, body, and spirit, the Bard thinks sadly. All three. [OOC - To speed things up, should Leonardo agree to the plan, Cyan will pass Jack to him, then take the card. An interesting metaphysical trick; let's hope two Trump Artists can manage it.] =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Dworkin (GM) ----------------------------------------------------------- Prime's voice is quiet, steady, as it has been all along, "That is acceptable to me. A means of communication between us will be useful. I will send one of the drones with you too, if you wish. It will be good to learn more of other places. Had we known of other worlds, perhaps fewer of us would have bowed before the Archons." The great spider hesitates, then continues, "There is a thing you should know. I... cannot leave this place. This is more than my home... it is part of me." "For many thousands of cycles I have lived here. These walls are constructed from my memories, my thoughts, frozen into crytal form. If the Archons destroy this place, then my wisdom and knowledge will be destroyed also." "I have ordered my people to prepare to defend this chamber, and they will do so to the best of their ability. You should go soon, before the warriors are released. The Archons know nothing of them, and they will attack anything which is not of this place. You will not be safe here." =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan stares at Prime for a long moment, then her attention turns inwards. 'Leonardo! Send the cards, but do NOT take Jack! He and I have one, final task, here! And...then prepare yourself to leave my cabin.' She stares sadly down at Jack for a long moment, amethyst eyes bright, then turns them up to Prime. "Prepare yourselves...but first, attempt stealth. Do not reveal yourself, yet." Slowly, Cyan gathers Jack up. "I will draw them off, then escape. Bring one of your people here, to join me, swiftly! THX 1138, should he be in reach - I must do this quickly, and I might yet draw them away, successfully! It is us they desire - they do not KNOW of you, yet!" I am sorry, Jack...but just this one, final throw of the dice. She readies herself. First the cards from Leonardo. Then the cube. Then...then the hunt begins, and she must stay long enough to have their attention. No longer. Then...escape. A madcap grin crosses Cyan's face for an instant. Well. It should not be THAT difficult! =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Leonardo ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan typed:'Leonardo! Send the cards, but do NOT take Jack! He and I have one, final task, here! And...then prepare yourself to leave my cabin.' Oh bloody hell... will she make up her mind already? Who's really the one with the warped mind over there... I wonder? I think I know what her game is but if so... it's a damned dangerous gambit to be played and doubly so with a wounded man to care for! I suppose this is what I get for allowing a woman to take charge! Wait.. what am I thinking... "allow"... since when did I ever have a say in anything that has gone on since this bloody farce began back at David's tomb!? Oh well... best to just play the Cards one's dealt I suppose. ~~~ Not that you asked nor may you care... but I think this plan of yours is foolhardy and takes too many risks with already fragile resources. But it is your life to live... and throw away... as you choose. I only hope our new allies are worth the danger... both to yourself AND to Jack. Also you leave me with no clear destination to depart for nor any means of continued contact. Might I at least suggest that you send Jack's Trump back so that I might at least maintain some connection... no matter how tenuous? If we all survive this, might I request that you allow me to try drawing you again... only for Real this time? Well whatever happens, this Trump Deck does belong to you regardless and I shall honor your wish to send it through... I just pray this wish is not your last. ~~~ Leonardo concentrates and sends Cyan's Trump Deck back to her through the Link. As he does this, the Link is severed and he is once again completely alone with his thoughts. Strangely enough, the state of is thoughts perfectly mimic the rest of his state of being as he looks around the empty cabin. Leonardo stands up and stretches his muscles though he is glad that, thanks to Pièce's comforting caress, he feels no fatigue despite his mental exertions. With a quick check to insure that things are in good order, Leonardo prepares to leave the cabin as instructed. =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan winces at Leonardo's mental tone, emerald eyes shading over. He's right...and wrong. But she remains silent while he castigates her - there is no time for arguement. Quickly, she catches the cards as they slip into the air...and she's alone. Well. Not quite. Jack is still there; she can feel him, her spirit still touching what remains. Quickly, she slides one card along the ground towards Prime. "This," Cyan states, "is for myself. Concentrate upon it, with your spiritual strength. It will grow colder - that is when it is prepared for full use. It is to me to accept or decline, of course, but should I accept your request for speech, it will be as if we stand before each other. And I can come to you, over great distances, even between worlds." All the while, Cyan is concentrating on the other card. There is the cabin, in the woods. There is the window. There, inside the window....the card swims.... Back in the cabin, there is a faint, fluttering sound as a palanquet appears by the window, and slowly spins its way to the ground. Jack's palanquet. =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Leonardo ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan typed:Back in the cabin, there is a faint, fluttering sound as a palanquet appears by the window, and slowly spins its way to the ground. Jack's palanquet. As Leonardo makes one last final check of Cyan's cabin, he notices the fluttering Trump Card as it falls to the floor. With a cryptic smile and a sad shake of his head, Leonardo moves over to the Card and picks it up. Sure enough it is Jack's Trump Card... just as he had suggested. Well... at least I'm not completely cut off. Though... do I dare use this I wonder? If Jack's mind is gone or worse overly fragile and teetering on the brink of the Abyss... do I risk contact with such a mind? Certainly in his prime, Jack is more than a match for my mental talents... but what if The Enemy has done more to him than just take his mind away? What if they have replaced what they stole... with thoughts of their own design? Blast! I should have thought about this sooner... I may have just failed Cyan and that would make my THIRD failure in less than a bloody day! Of course... that "rescue" of Jack was too damned EASY! It should not have been that simple to bring him back. I'll bet they LET Jack go... because they already have him secretly leashed! Jack has been allowed to return... no worse... he's been "SENT" back to act as spy and saboteur, working against our efforts! That is the only rational explanation for why beings of such incredible power could have been thwarted so easily. In fact... Jack's "treachery" may have already begun! Have we not just revealed the secret location of the spider being resistance fighters? I'll bet the Archons have been seeking that location of quite some time and here we have revealed Prime's domain with but a mere thought. I had best remain on my guard... I cannot risk allowing myself to become dominated by Jack who is probably under Archon control! In fact... I wonder... could Cyan already be subverted? Maybe when she made contact with Jack... he was the one to convince her to bring him straight to Prime's lair!? This is bad... very, very, very bad... and yet... so wonderfully and beautifully clever and devious. I cannot help but admire... hopefully from a safe distance... the aesthetic flair in this twisted machination of the Archon. No wonder David decided to involve himself in this matter... truly these are foes worthy of testing oneself against. Oh well... time to go. With Jack's Trump securely tucked away in his coat pocket, Leonardo left the cabin and moved off into the woods. He began to think about where to go next and how to get there... perhaps it was time to contact Samuel once again. =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Dworkin (GM) ----------------------------------------------------------- Prime places the tip of one leg on the Trump, "You risk much, I feel. If the Archons come here and destroy me, then they will gain a way to find you through this image. Yet you are prepared to do this for a people you barely know. The knowledge that there are beings such as yourself on other worlds will give us hope, and with it, more strength to fight." "We thank you." Hunter, who has been watching Cyan tend to Jack, suddenly turns towards the entrance tunnel and snarls, his hackles rising. One of the silver spiders scuttles into the chamber, and further up the slope, behind it, are dark shapes, hard to see in the low light, but definitely larger than horses and infinitely more menacing... "The warriors are coming. I cannot defend you from their instinct. You must flee, and quickly. Take THX 1138 with you." =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan nods. She knew the risk when she passed the card to Prime. "It is my honor to ally myself with you, Prime." Hunter's snarl turns her to face the approaching shapes, and Cyan feels a visceral terror at the dim, shadowy forms. Her eyes lighten with the growing fear, colour bleeding from them, and she fights the impulse to pull steel and fight, gritting her teeth. Jack's breath against her cheek breaks the howling demand of her subconcious. "Hunter! We go, now!" With another nod to Prime, cradling Jack in her arms, Cyan prepares to run. "THX 1138!" she shouts as she sprints, forwards towards the Warriors, in defiance of both rationality and instinct - instinct to fight, rationality to flee. Her topaz eyes nearly colourless in her extremity, the Bard sweeps up the 'drone' and puts it on Jack's midriff, adjusting his body again in her arms. "Hide," she gasps. "Pull his cloak around you - I shall carry you both. At least look like you are damaged, and unable to escape me - I require you not to be seen or, failing that, to look like a prisoner I have captured!" The cube is in her hand. She touches her leg against Hunter. Rainbow light blazes through the chamber, igniting the crystals to flame, creating a riot of colour that leaves Cyan breathless...and illuminates what is spilling into the chamber. Her heart freezes as the palanquet takes her away...to another place, in the same world. The place where the cube always brings them, where she sent Jack, where she stepped through with Hunter, not so long ago. It has been a minute, perhaps two, since she brought Jack to her. Too quickly, she hopes, for the Archons to realize exactly where it occurred...or to care. Their quarry is elsewhere, now - they have no reason to believe there was a secret bolthole of resistance there, only that it was where Cyan originally brought Jack...and now, is not. Assuming, of course, they are actually tracking him. Appearing, Cyan gives Hunter a wild grin. "Remain close, if you would...the timing of this will be rather touchy." Narrowing her eyes, she considers from whence the next should come. And why not from here? With a snarl, Cyan raises the cube...and opens a gate. From here, to....here. One step through would be...a step. But the gate opens, howling with the power of the palanquet, and Jack is within Cyan's arms: one, possibly two beacons to the senses of the Archons. Come and get me! she thinks fiercely, gripping the palanquet of the cabin in her other hand, her arms under Jack, cradling him against her. "Hunter! Give warning when they come for us!" =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Jack ----------------------------------------------------------- A soft moan of pain escapes Jacks unconscious lips. He already feels so unnaturally warm up against Cyan as fever starts to set in. The limp body shakes and trembles at what could just be reaction to the fever or the oncoming wave of shock as well. This all leaves the question of just how much of this can Jack take. Those places that were not bruised were ghastly pale from blood loss. Jack’s mind was strong and so was his body to a point, being able to soak up lots of damage. Then again, he had. . . =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- Cyan's heart constricted at the pitiful sound coming from Jack, and her lips trembled for a moment. Carefully kneeling, she took the weight off his savaged back by holding him up with one hand, almost seated on her knee, pressing his side against her body. Her other hand, card held carefully between fingers, brushed the hair from his forehead again. "I'm sorry, Jack. I'm sorry. We have to do this. Just a little longer, my f-friend," she whispered, stuttering on the last word. Only a little longer, Jack. Hold on. Please, hold on. If the machines do not arrive, soon, she will assume her gambit has failed...or they were not tracking the torn body at all. =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Dworkin (GM) ----------------------------------------------------------- Fire drops from the sky, like rainfall on saner worlds, but here the drops resolve themselves into wheels, blazing with light and rage as they fall towards the group huddling in the dead-end street... Hunter lifts his head and howls a warning... There is a howling from above too, and the glass buildings chime like bells under the force of the vibrations. Cyan tastes blood on her lips and realises that her nose is bleeding, and the noise is deafening... There is a prod in her side, and she realises that the THX 1138 is trying to attract her attention. She looks where the spider's gaze is directed, and sees hundreds of his kind swarming across the faces of the nearby buildings, heading towards them... Then there are Archons at the end of the street, and they are filled with an indescribable, terrible beauty, and more above her, and something that seems to be made of knives... =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Cyan ----------------------------------------------------------- "Stand near, Hunter," Cyan whispers. Good that I did this...they would have come for Prime. She would have never forgiven herself. Never. Jack would have told me - 'do not be so hasty, Cyan' - before I attempted to save him. Well, not quite. But something to that effect. But what else could I do? The pain is agonizing, but concentration is yet possible, even through the feedback-level howls, the vibrations that actually stir her red, red hair, and send red, red threads from her nose and ears. Fear...there's plenty of that, too, at the sight of the terribly beautiful, terribly alien, terribly savage mob of heavenly fires and cybernetic arachnids approaching. Fear shifts her to diamond, staring at them from gleaming eyes that mimic their own, crystaline buildings. Touching Hunter, the Bard smiles a deaths-head grin at the approaching, hellish horde, and nods. The card in her hand begins to chill as Cyan relaxes her grip on the gate, letting it dissolve in a rainbow shimmer. With a surge of her own spirit, she summons the power of the palanquet, slipping through with her charges, and slamming the contact closed in their faces. Jack.... =========================================================== Re: 21b - World of wheels by Jack ----------------------------------------------------------- Jacks eye flutters for a second, the pain drawing him to the surface. There are not many whole memories contained within him any more. Yet he remembers distinctly on some primal level the pain and pressure inflicted by the wheels, searing burning pan, fire and blades. A vision burned into him being of thousands of them. The same thing he sees as the eye opens, the sky filled with flames as if it it’s self were afire. His body again stiffens in Cyan’s arms and he starts to scream, a scream that would carry between words if they made it. ===========================================================
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