Tim said, "I'm really sorry to hear that."
Dexter said, "Please don't take it personally, my friend. I've loved every minute I've sat at this table."
"You've been a great addition to the group, Dex. Congratulations though! Getting accepted to university is a big deal."
"I'm excited. And nervous. I've always wanted to get out of this town, but I'll miss it at the same time."
"I get it. It's complicated."
Dex smiled. "Very. Very 'metaplex' as Max would say. Not being able to game is another downer."
"There will always be a seat for you here and the coffee will always be on."
*
"So, what are you going to do with Frank then?" Wednesday asked.
Tim winked. "Now that would be telling. Actually, since Frank is Dexter's character I'm going to let him decide, and I will adjust the campaign around that."
"This is maybe a bad time to bring it up, but... Well, it looks like my promotion might be going through."
"That's great news!"
"Except it means I will be travelling every other weekend..."
"Ah."
"So we may have to figure out a reason for Angst to be missing every other session... If you think that would even work?"
"We'll make it work somehow."
*
Callan sighed. "I suppose I wonder if it all still works. The overall story, I mean. If Frank gets written out, and Angst only appears occasionally... Maybe it's time we start a new campaign?"
"But what happens to Goner and Suki then? Are you tired of playing Goner?" Tim asked.
"Not at all. The new cyborg angle has been really interesting. But how many changes can you make to a story before it doesn't make sense anymore?"
"Games aren't stories, though."
Callan smiled. "And we're back to the central question, aren't we? When we get together every Saturday night what exactly are we doing? Playing a game or telling a story?"
"Or is it a magical ritual, as Max would say?"
*
Tim sipped at his coffee. "So it comes down to you, Darius. Dexter's leaving, Wednesday's only going to be able to play half as often, and Cal is having some doubts about the story continuing. What do you think? Keep going with the adventures of Goner and Suki and sometimes Angst? Start a new game?"
Darius sipped at his coffee. "Actually Tim, I have some news..."
Showing posts with label goner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label goner. Show all posts
20151221
Hyperplex: Battle Part Two
Shortly after the Dragons began infiltrating the Museum the building came under attack from a LEGACY tactical team. A furious three-way battle erupted.
The Ashen Tradition deployed their psycho-theurgic toxins, transforming infected LEGACY soldiers into ravenous human-beast hybrids that turned on each other.
LEGACY operatives fired swarms of nano-enhanced smart-rounds that used echolocation-sensors and micro-fluid architecture to course-correct in mid-flight and track their targets.
Aqua, safe in the armour of her Mech, alternated pulses of autonic energy to disrupt the AT toxin fields and quantum-chaff to destabilize the trajectories of the LEGACY munitions.
Goner fired bursts of energy from his upgraded arm and Angst evoked designer combat-spirits from Liminal Space.
And Mags jumped into the middle of it all, punching and throwing and kicking.
From the shadows, Frank scanned the minds of the Tradition Mages and the LEGACY Agents, infiltrating their psychic defences like a ninja or occasionally smashing through their conditioning like a tank.
He learned that the source of intel that had tipped off the Ultraviolet Lodge to the Tradition's portal was someone they had pegged for a System operative. Which suggested that the Tradition were in sync with Counter... Except that more hidden thoughts revealed that the Tradition had been pointed to the Hyperplex by another operative who also seemed to be serving System. And that same operative appeared to be the one who leaked the Tradition's plan to LEGACY.
Was one of the leaks actually a Counter agent? Or had the System set all of this up as a trap for the Dragons? Or did they want the Dragons to reach the Hyperplex?
The Ashen Tradition deployed their psycho-theurgic toxins, transforming infected LEGACY soldiers into ravenous human-beast hybrids that turned on each other.
LEGACY operatives fired swarms of nano-enhanced smart-rounds that used echolocation-sensors and micro-fluid architecture to course-correct in mid-flight and track their targets.
Aqua, safe in the armour of her Mech, alternated pulses of autonic energy to disrupt the AT toxin fields and quantum-chaff to destabilize the trajectories of the LEGACY munitions.
Goner fired bursts of energy from his upgraded arm and Angst evoked designer combat-spirits from Liminal Space.
And Mags jumped into the middle of it all, punching and throwing and kicking.
From the shadows, Frank scanned the minds of the Tradition Mages and the LEGACY Agents, infiltrating their psychic defences like a ninja or occasionally smashing through their conditioning like a tank.
He learned that the source of intel that had tipped off the Ultraviolet Lodge to the Tradition's portal was someone they had pegged for a System operative. Which suggested that the Tradition were in sync with Counter... Except that more hidden thoughts revealed that the Tradition had been pointed to the Hyperplex by another operative who also seemed to be serving System. And that same operative appeared to be the one who leaked the Tradition's plan to LEGACY.
Was one of the leaks actually a Counter agent? Or had the System set all of this up as a trap for the Dragons? Or did they want the Dragons to reach the Hyperplex?
20151119
The Battle for the Hyperplex Part One: E.S.P.ionage
The intel indicated that the Ashen Tradition was seeking a powerful relic called The Hyperplex.
Collateral information referenced the Hyperplex in contradictory fashion; sometimes it was described as a Staff, others a Chalice, sometimes a Sword and, of course, a Disc. Max had lots of ideas about what the Hyperplex could be, what it might mean, how it might relate to the other Plexes they were learning about; he was the idea guy, after all.
The rest of the team knew that ideas were important but sometimes not as important as taking action. So Max hunkered down to try and figure things out and the other Dragons went to work.
Angst learned from a contact in the Ultraviolet Lodge that the Tradition had a large-scale portal operation running in a secret sub-basement of the local Museum.
Angst learned from a contact in the Ultraviolet Lodge that the Tradition had a large-scale portal operation running in a secret sub-basement of the local Museum.
Frank conducted some psychic eavesdropping on people entering and exiting the Museum; he confirmed that the portal was indeed active but could not determine where it led to.
Goner was able to hack the Museum's security and Angst was able to counter the protective wards that the Tradition had set up.
They had put the call out to Aqua and to Maggie, anticipating that things would likely get hostile once they made a move on the portal.
When the team gathered, after a few minutes of warm reunion, they prepared to enter the Museum...
20151031
Happy Halloween 3
Previously on Halloween...
The Dragons' Costumes (version.Sense8)
(Max, Tatter, Suki, Goner, Frank, Angst, Marshal, Maggie)
The Professor and Morganfokker's Costumes (version.Sense8)
Morganfokker's Costume (vesrion.HalfLife)
Max's Costume (version.Multiversity)
20151007
Escalation
Marshal double-checked that the office door was locked. He turned back to the computer terminal. The desktop picture was from Serial Experiment: Lain. There were three video-chat windows open, conferenced with each other. "Ok, go."
Angst spoke in the first window. "Yeah, so. Not good. So not good. None of the contact rituals for Odin, Merlin or Kele-De are working. The Infrared Lodge and the Ultraviolet Lodge are in open conflict. And the Ashen Tradition is claiming to be on the verge of locating a relic they are calling 'The Hyperplex'."
Frank was next. "LEGACY has apparently negotiated a truce between the Manticores and the Basilisks. If that's true they will undoubtedly try and loop in the other Legend Gangs as well. There's also rumours that they are looking to recruit Lanight into the fold."
Marshal sighed, "So things are fracturing in one direction and consolidating in another. Everyone knows by now that something is happening."
Goner spoke up. "More bad news: my intel says that Throckmorton, Angus Mode, Mr. Clean, and Verdi are all bidding on an assassination contract. Maybe Nell and Ally, maybe Meelos and Legos. Or, maybe, The Future."
Shit, Frank thought and they all heard him.
"And the target?" Angst asked.
"Max," Goner said.
"Well, Max better watch out," Marshal said.
The others looked confused.
Angst spoke in the first window. "Yeah, so. Not good. So not good. None of the contact rituals for Odin, Merlin or Kele-De are working. The Infrared Lodge and the Ultraviolet Lodge are in open conflict. And the Ashen Tradition is claiming to be on the verge of locating a relic they are calling 'The Hyperplex'."
Frank was next. "LEGACY has apparently negotiated a truce between the Manticores and the Basilisks. If that's true they will undoubtedly try and loop in the other Legend Gangs as well. There's also rumours that they are looking to recruit Lanight into the fold."
Marshal sighed, "So things are fracturing in one direction and consolidating in another. Everyone knows by now that something is happening."
Goner spoke up. "More bad news: my intel says that Throckmorton, Angus Mode, Mr. Clean, and Verdi are all bidding on an assassination contract. Maybe Nell and Ally, maybe Meelos and Legos. Or, maybe, The Future."
Shit, Frank thought and they all heard him.
"And the target?" Angst asked.
"Max," Goner said.
"Well, Max better watch out," Marshal said.
The others looked confused.
20151002
C2IP Update.2
The ground shook again, dislodging more rubble from the bombed-out buildings. Shadows swept across the ground from the light of the flares in the night sky, voices hollow and fuzzy with static calling out over malfunctioning sound-systems, repeating emergency protocol directions that were very 'too-little-too-late'. Mick strolled down the centre of the cracked and scorched street as if all the lights and noise were a massive party; this wasn't his first apocalypse. In a lot of ways he felt at home in disaster zones; they were somehow more honest.
His contacts were less brazen, with good reason Mick figured, given that of the ever-increasing number of factions in what appeared to be a cold-war-turned-hot-turning-nova most likely had capture or kill orders out on them. They signalled to him with a pre-arranged series of flashlight blinks from the shadows of a ruined hotel lobby.
"Okay," Mick said, hunkered down behind the front desk. "First off, no I haven't gotten any leads on who the double-agent is. I don't doubt your intel, especially given the source, but there are so many variables in play right now...
"Second, Goner's rejoined Max, Frank and Angst, so they're active again as a cell. Plus they've gotten a lead on Mags - sounds like she's changed too.
"As for Suki, it looks like she's actually shifted along the Chronoplex - that's what we're calling it now, right? She seems to be in a much older version of herself. I know, it's not the first-time Suki's age has altered. No idea if or how she's going to intersect with the others.
"The Diner crew... Things are still different with them too... Like they're on a different frequency from the other Dragons? I dunno, I feel like something's brewing there.
"Max has got his spirit guides in play, the bird and the talking cat. Still nothing from Aqua. Oh, but get this - I found this weird urban legend about this strange warrior-monk type-guy who wanders the globe, actually walking, no planes or buses. He's this dirty bearded vagabond, stops briefly to debate about things like Confucianism or Norse Mythology. Sometimes does a bit of intervening on a street-level if there's some injustice happening, and ain't there always? There's versions of the tale where he seeks out a vision at holy places, the hidden Temple of the Sky on Everest, the sacred glass monolith at the centre of the Sahara Desert, the keystone of the Great Wall of China that contains the last essence of the demon Hrarchuta who sacrificed his immortality to save his love, the angelic Yuriti... It's great stuff; I wish I'd written it. But it's got to be our boy Akimoto, right?
"And lastly, just so I'm keeping track, so far there's the Chronoplex, the Paraplex, and the Ultraplex? Now, how about you share with me: do we know yet what exactly has kicked off this whole mess between the System and Counter-System?"
The contacts exchanged glances.
Suddenly a swarm of sirens began wailing outside and the thunder of helicopters erupted overhead. Mick sighed. "I get it, 'to be continued'."
His contacts were less brazen, with good reason Mick figured, given that of the ever-increasing number of factions in what appeared to be a cold-war-turned-hot-turning-nova most likely had capture or kill orders out on them. They signalled to him with a pre-arranged series of flashlight blinks from the shadows of a ruined hotel lobby.
"Okay," Mick said, hunkered down behind the front desk. "First off, no I haven't gotten any leads on who the double-agent is. I don't doubt your intel, especially given the source, but there are so many variables in play right now...
"Second, Goner's rejoined Max, Frank and Angst, so they're active again as a cell. Plus they've gotten a lead on Mags - sounds like she's changed too.
"As for Suki, it looks like she's actually shifted along the Chronoplex - that's what we're calling it now, right? She seems to be in a much older version of herself. I know, it's not the first-time Suki's age has altered. No idea if or how she's going to intersect with the others.
"The Diner crew... Things are still different with them too... Like they're on a different frequency from the other Dragons? I dunno, I feel like something's brewing there.
"Max has got his spirit guides in play, the bird and the talking cat. Still nothing from Aqua. Oh, but get this - I found this weird urban legend about this strange warrior-monk type-guy who wanders the globe, actually walking, no planes or buses. He's this dirty bearded vagabond, stops briefly to debate about things like Confucianism or Norse Mythology. Sometimes does a bit of intervening on a street-level if there's some injustice happening, and ain't there always? There's versions of the tale where he seeks out a vision at holy places, the hidden Temple of the Sky on Everest, the sacred glass monolith at the centre of the Sahara Desert, the keystone of the Great Wall of China that contains the last essence of the demon Hrarchuta who sacrificed his immortality to save his love, the angelic Yuriti... It's great stuff; I wish I'd written it. But it's got to be our boy Akimoto, right?
"And lastly, just so I'm keeping track, so far there's the Chronoplex, the Paraplex, and the Ultraplex? Now, how about you share with me: do we know yet what exactly has kicked off this whole mess between the System and Counter-System?"
The contacts exchanged glances.
Suddenly a swarm of sirens began wailing outside and the thunder of helicopters erupted overhead. Mick sighed. "I get it, 'to be continued'."
20150923
Gemstone
Max rolled over, hit the alarm, dragged himself out of bed.
Cut through some back streets to avoid the crowds. Hot summer weather, low-orbit satellites visible in the clear sky between corporate towers.
Friendly wave from the young woman selling occult trinkets from a stand by the intersection. He had bought a few since moving to the neighbourhood. Her name was something like Melancholy? Agony?
The sounds of traffic reminded him of dreams he couldn't remember. Billboards advertising the new action movie, MAGENTA.
Dropping some coins in the cup of the Veteran camped outside the bank. Young guy, the side of his face burned, missing an arm.
Into the lobby of the office building, pulling his lanyard from his satchel and draping it around his neck just in time for security to check it. The older guard who always wore sunglasses. It was policy at the agency that staff were not to ask the guards' names.
He gave him the nod and Max proceeded towards the elevators.
"Oh, sir?" the guard said, catching his attention. Passed him an envelope that had been left at the desk for him.
In the elevator, heading to the fifth floor, feeling tired, opened the envelope. Handwritten note, unsigned:
'Thank you.'
Cut through some back streets to avoid the crowds. Hot summer weather, low-orbit satellites visible in the clear sky between corporate towers.
Friendly wave from the young woman selling occult trinkets from a stand by the intersection. He had bought a few since moving to the neighbourhood. Her name was something like Melancholy? Agony?
The sounds of traffic reminded him of dreams he couldn't remember. Billboards advertising the new action movie, MAGENTA.
Dropping some coins in the cup of the Veteran camped outside the bank. Young guy, the side of his face burned, missing an arm.
Into the lobby of the office building, pulling his lanyard from his satchel and draping it around his neck just in time for security to check it. The older guard who always wore sunglasses. It was policy at the agency that staff were not to ask the guards' names.
He gave him the nod and Max proceeded towards the elevators.
"Oh, sir?" the guard said, catching his attention. Passed him an envelope that had been left at the desk for him.
In the elevator, heading to the fifth floor, feeling tired, opened the envelope. Handwritten note, unsigned:
'Thank you.'
20150916
Borders
The chain-linked fences laced with barbedwire, watchtowers bookending the gate, icy light thrown into the evening darkness by spotlights. The soldiers in grey, weapons flickering, tech scanning.
"Okay, let's run it," Max whispered to his companions in the crowd that was shuffling slowly through the checkpoint.
"I have some Divinities bookmarked," Angst went first. "But if they arrive in any way much stronger than a general blessing it will attract a lot of attention."
Frank was studying the guards, the spotlights reflecting in his glasses. "This has got to be the System, right? How many of these have we seen now? It's getting harder to go anywhere."
"Too many, but this is one we can't avoid," Max said. "We need through."
"I know, I know," Frank replied. "I'm sure I can think the troops into not noticing Goner's mods if they check under the hood."
"Appreciated," Goner said. He raised a gloved hand, the one he had had replaced. "And I'm pretty sure I've figured out how this can broadcast a smartwave scrambler signal that will spoof their ID-scanners."
"Well shit," Max said. "It sounds like we have an A-plan. How about a B?"
"Panic?" Goner said.
"Violence," Frank said.
"Improvise," Angst said.
Max chuckled.
"Okay, let's run it," Max whispered to his companions in the crowd that was shuffling slowly through the checkpoint.
"I have some Divinities bookmarked," Angst went first. "But if they arrive in any way much stronger than a general blessing it will attract a lot of attention."
Frank was studying the guards, the spotlights reflecting in his glasses. "This has got to be the System, right? How many of these have we seen now? It's getting harder to go anywhere."
"Too many, but this is one we can't avoid," Max said. "We need through."
"I know, I know," Frank replied. "I'm sure I can think the troops into not noticing Goner's mods if they check under the hood."
"Appreciated," Goner said. He raised a gloved hand, the one he had had replaced. "And I'm pretty sure I've figured out how this can broadcast a smartwave scrambler signal that will spoof their ID-scanners."
"Well shit," Max said. "It sounds like we have an A-plan. How about a B?"
"Panic?" Goner said.
"Violence," Frank said.
"Improvise," Angst said.
Max chuckled.
20150912
"I Am The Modern Man" [version.Upgrade]
Goner pulled back the hood. The side of his head was metal. The edges laced with fine-circuitry that flickered faintly, red, blue, green.
"Okay," Max said.
Goner unzipped his jacket and took it off. His left arm was also metal, highlighted with the same almost ethereal wiring.
Max glanced at Goner's pants. "Is that everything?" he asked, lightly, trying to relieve the tension.
Goner smirked. It felt like Max hadn't seen him in a long while, but Goner somehow looked younger. It reminded Max of the time he first recruited him; or the time he first remembered recruiting him. It was a memory that they shared in most versions.
"What do I need to know?" Max asked next.
Goner cleared his throat. Looked around at the trees, leaves catching sunlight, casting shadows. They had arranged to meet outside the city, for safety.
"I chose it," he began. "It was my call." He looked down at his metal hand. "It feels sorta real, sorta... something else. Kind of like everything else has since that day."
Max smiled. The fact that Goner was remembering the same thing as him made him relax.
"I guess I never felt like I had really committed to this. Even when I was a soldier, then working for the private security teams, I was never really all in. And after I died... Well, I still don't really understand everything about that, or how I came back, but I know I was scared for a long time, that it would happen again. And now, with whatever is brewing with this whole System revelation... I know things are going to get weird and probably bad. I wanted to be ready. I wanted to be able to help. To really make a difference."
Max nodded. "Thanks Goner." He gave it a moment. "Do I need to know how you got it done? Who you went to for the work?"
Goner looked briefly conflicted. Max noted that the circuitry on the cybernetic modifications didn't flicker in sync with Goner's reactions, which was good; it would be too big of a tell.
"No," Goner said. "Not yet anyway."
"Ok, cool. Let's try and get in touch with Frank and Angst. They missed you."
"Okay," Max said.
Goner unzipped his jacket and took it off. His left arm was also metal, highlighted with the same almost ethereal wiring.
Max glanced at Goner's pants. "Is that everything?" he asked, lightly, trying to relieve the tension.
Goner smirked. It felt like Max hadn't seen him in a long while, but Goner somehow looked younger. It reminded Max of the time he first recruited him; or the time he first remembered recruiting him. It was a memory that they shared in most versions.
"What do I need to know?" Max asked next.
Goner cleared his throat. Looked around at the trees, leaves catching sunlight, casting shadows. They had arranged to meet outside the city, for safety.
"I chose it," he began. "It was my call." He looked down at his metal hand. "It feels sorta real, sorta... something else. Kind of like everything else has since that day."
Max smiled. The fact that Goner was remembering the same thing as him made him relax.
"I guess I never felt like I had really committed to this. Even when I was a soldier, then working for the private security teams, I was never really all in. And after I died... Well, I still don't really understand everything about that, or how I came back, but I know I was scared for a long time, that it would happen again. And now, with whatever is brewing with this whole System revelation... I know things are going to get weird and probably bad. I wanted to be ready. I wanted to be able to help. To really make a difference."
Max nodded. "Thanks Goner." He gave it a moment. "Do I need to know how you got it done? Who you went to for the work?"
Goner looked briefly conflicted. Max noted that the circuitry on the cybernetic modifications didn't flicker in sync with Goner's reactions, which was good; it would be too big of a tell.
"No," Goner said. "Not yet anyway."
"Ok, cool. Let's try and get in touch with Frank and Angst. They missed you."
20150817
C2IP Update.1
Mick opened the locker and removed the satchel, headed to the nearest washroom. The intercom rattled off train arrival and departure notifications in a bland, synthetic voice. A security drone hummed over the swarm of commuters. Mick had taken two capsules of Glamour before arriving at the station and run some invisibility mantras - he'd be cloaked from any surveillance for about an hour. Unless the Sidhe showed up, which meant things were fucked anyway.
Hunkered in a stall, Mick unzipped the satchel. There was a hardcover book, one of the sourcebooks for the Aeon Triumph Gun Messiahs RPG. A pencil and a piece of paper. Mick used the book as a firm surface to write on, scrawling notes quickly with the pencil on the paper.
Four System operations identified.
Two Counter-System activities being monitored, plus one potential.
Pretty George might be dead.
Max has made contact with Dexter, Wraith and Callan - still not sure if they've joined the System or have been recruited by Counter. No contact with Darius (he's been running on a parallel stream ever since the Millennium Incident I think, which Max doesn't know much about, either because he wasn't there or can't remember).
Max is still working closely with Angst and Frank.
Goner's gone dark. Suki seems to be missing.
Aqua disappeared with the remains of the Subway car.
I've got some rumours on Akimoto to follow-up on.
The name Summer keeps coming up...?
No confirmed contact with Maggie.
No clues yet to which one is the double-agent.
Any idea what the fuck exactly is going on?
Mick folded the paper once and tucked it inside the book. He noticed the page he had randomly opened to: the description and stats for one of the Vatars that players could summon once they reached level 13 as a Gun Messiah. 'The Void'.
He shivered. Then sneered. Mick was not the superstitious type.
Hunkered in a stall, Mick unzipped the satchel. There was a hardcover book, one of the sourcebooks for the Aeon Triumph Gun Messiahs RPG. A pencil and a piece of paper. Mick used the book as a firm surface to write on, scrawling notes quickly with the pencil on the paper.
Four System operations identified.
Two Counter-System activities being monitored, plus one potential.
Pretty George might be dead.
Max has made contact with Dexter, Wraith and Callan - still not sure if they've joined the System or have been recruited by Counter. No contact with Darius (he's been running on a parallel stream ever since the Millennium Incident I think, which Max doesn't know much about, either because he wasn't there or can't remember).
Max is still working closely with Angst and Frank.
Goner's gone dark. Suki seems to be missing.
Aqua disappeared with the remains of the Subway car.
I've got some rumours on Akimoto to follow-up on.
The name Summer keeps coming up...?
No confirmed contact with Maggie.
No clues yet to which one is the double-agent.
Any idea what the fuck exactly is going on?
Mick folded the paper once and tucked it inside the book. He noticed the page he had randomly opened to: the description and stats for one of the Vatars that players could summon once they reached level 13 as a Gun Messiah. 'The Void'.
He shivered. Then sneered. Mick was not the superstitious type.
20150607
20150415
Neo Static: What May Be, What Might Be, What It Is VIII
They were sitting around a campfire, relaxing and taking it easy. It seemed like months since they had had a break in the action, that's for sure.
Max and Maggie were lying by the fire, Maggie enjoying the summer breeze as Max sipped coffee from one of those old tin can coffee mugs they had picked up at a flea market a few days back.
Angst sat cross-legged on a blanket field-stripping the Uzis, which made Frank shake his head and chuckle. Here they were on a beach in North Carolina admiring the summer evening.
Goner was picking stones and seeing how far he could toss them into the water; well, after what had happened in North Africa with the grenade he could use a little practice on throwing.
Aqua and Suki sat on a log reading Manga and both were fan-girling on how different and vastly improved the series The Reverend was in this version of Earth.
Akimoto sat away from the group, sitting on a rock and meditating as usual.
All was quiet and peaceful for the moment, a time to catch one's breath and enjoy the scenery for a change of pace.
"You there yet?" Maggie asked of Max.
"Huh," Max replied.
"Nope, not yet," Maggie stated and she turned to kiss him.
"What brought that on?" he said, as if she needed a reason to.
"Just saying hello to an old friend," she replied. Then she saw the sparkle in his eyes, as if an ancient door was opening, letting light into a room that was completely dark.
"Dammit," Angst said as she looked around the blanket.
"What?" Frank inquired.
"Nevermind," she replied. "I think I left it in the car."
"Want me to get it?" he asked.
"No, I'll do it," she said, getting up. "Besides, I think I have a kink in my leg to work out."
"Well, considering you've been doing that for a while now it would kink up," Frank joked.
Angst stood and headed for the car.
Max had glanced over and then he looked back at Maggie and she just smiled and nodded. "You see it now, don't you."
Angst headed to where the vehicles were parked and she heard a noise and looked to see Max, hovering off the ground.
"What the hell, Max," she said. "You scared the bejesus out of me."
"Angst, you're needed," Max said to her.
"Well, no guff," she chided.
"Take my hand and we'll go," he said as he reached out. "You'll only be gone from here a fraction of a micro-second."
Max and Maggie were lying by the fire, Maggie enjoying the summer breeze as Max sipped coffee from one of those old tin can coffee mugs they had picked up at a flea market a few days back.
Angst sat cross-legged on a blanket field-stripping the Uzis, which made Frank shake his head and chuckle. Here they were on a beach in North Carolina admiring the summer evening.
Goner was picking stones and seeing how far he could toss them into the water; well, after what had happened in North Africa with the grenade he could use a little practice on throwing.
Aqua and Suki sat on a log reading Manga and both were fan-girling on how different and vastly improved the series The Reverend was in this version of Earth.
Akimoto sat away from the group, sitting on a rock and meditating as usual.
All was quiet and peaceful for the moment, a time to catch one's breath and enjoy the scenery for a change of pace.
"You there yet?" Maggie asked of Max.
"Huh," Max replied.
"Nope, not yet," Maggie stated and she turned to kiss him.
"What brought that on?" he said, as if she needed a reason to.
"Just saying hello to an old friend," she replied. Then she saw the sparkle in his eyes, as if an ancient door was opening, letting light into a room that was completely dark.
"Dammit," Angst said as she looked around the blanket.
"What?" Frank inquired.
"Nevermind," she replied. "I think I left it in the car."
"Want me to get it?" he asked.
"No, I'll do it," she said, getting up. "Besides, I think I have a kink in my leg to work out."
"Well, considering you've been doing that for a while now it would kink up," Frank joked.
Angst stood and headed for the car.
Max had glanced over and then he looked back at Maggie and she just smiled and nodded. "You see it now, don't you."
Angst headed to where the vehicles were parked and she heard a noise and looked to see Max, hovering off the ground.
"What the hell, Max," she said. "You scared the bejesus out of me."
"Angst, you're needed," Max said to her.
"Well, no guff," she chided.
"Take my hand and we'll go," he said as he reached out. "You'll only be gone from here a fraction of a micro-second."
20141230
Interesting Persons
"And now the character that always reminded me of the Professor is actually undercover as a professor... Oh, and their new base of operations is a subway!" Angst said.
"That's cool," Goner said.
"No," Suki frowned. "It means reality is ripping us off."
Angst smirked.
Aqua said, "I think it's more synchronicites, like Max talks about. It was like watching all the stuff with Sam and Dean and Castiel and Crowley and how much it was like when we learned about the version of Maggie that's Magriel and Lucy and all that stuff."
Frank's voice came in over the comm, "Tangos incoming. Keep it down or you're going to get our show cancelled."
"That's cool," Goner said.
"No," Suki frowned. "It means reality is ripping us off."
Angst smirked.
Aqua said, "I think it's more synchronicites, like Max talks about. It was like watching all the stuff with Sam and Dean and Castiel and Crowley and how much it was like when we learned about the version of Maggie that's Magriel and Lucy and all that stuff."
Frank's voice came in over the comm, "Tangos incoming. Keep it down or you're going to get our show cancelled."
20141031
Happy Halloween 2
Previously on Halloween...
Morganfokker and Max's Costumes (version.Hannibal)
The Dragons' Costumes (version.Vesperia)
Morganfokker and Max's Costumes (version.Hannibal)
Maggie's Costume (version.Vikings)
The Dragons' Costumes (version.Vesperia)
[Trump, Goner, Suki, Max, Maggie, Simon, Angst, Frank]
20140904
Roll Credits
Max closed his eyes. He drew a slow puff from the cigarette in his mouth. Inhaling the toxic fumes once again and savouring it.
"I'm scared," Suki said. "What's going to happen to us all?"
"We've been going in a loop non-stop for 15 years now," Frank stated. "It's time to take it to the next level."
"Like in a video game?" Suki inquired.
"See," Frank interjected. "She still calls them video games."
"I get the point," Goner said. "Yeah, I see it now, don't go all 'I told ya so' on us now!"
Frank cracked a smile for the first time in a long time.
"If we were movie characters what would be doing now?" Suki asked.
Max opened his eyes and tousled Suki's hair. "We strut."
"I'm scared," Suki said. "What's going to happen to us all?"
"We've been going in a loop non-stop for 15 years now," Frank stated. "It's time to take it to the next level."
"Like in a video game?" Suki inquired.
"See," Frank interjected. "She still calls them video games."
"I get the point," Goner said. "Yeah, I see it now, don't go all 'I told ya so' on us now!"
Frank cracked a smile for the first time in a long time.
"If we were movie characters what would be doing now?" Suki asked.
Max opened his eyes and tousled Suki's hair. "We strut."
20140823
The Parcel
"Can you move?" Max asked.
"That I can," Frank replied. He sat up and reached up to take Max's arm.
The box was made from metal, a metal that Goner didn't recognize; it was smooth like silk to the touch and the weight of it was very light. He and Frank had picked it up and a jolt, which looked like lightning, had hit Frank in the chest and sent him flying against the bulkhead. The box dropped but there was a rustling sound coming from within as if something was alive.
"What the hell," Goner said. "Is there something in there?"
Maggie emerged from the other room when she heard the clatter and her mouth dropped open.
"Is this it?" Max asked her. He had pulled out Pain and Joy and aimed them at the box.
"Sweetie," Maggie said to him as she brushed past him, waving him to put away his children back into their holsters. "Those things wouldn't penetrate its skin, even with the Pope's blessing."
20140815
v.Thespian
It's almost time for the Annual Morningstar Festival of One-Act Plays and the Jones Heights community theatre troupe Noo Media Productions needs a hit. For the last five years they have come in last in the competition, while popular (and well-funded) groups like Legacy Stage or The Angus Mode Players take home the trophies. It's all supposed to be a fun, friendly contest, but it's theatre and that means a lot of feelings and a lot of egos are involved...
So how are NMP looking this year? Well, the Board decided to bring in a first-time Director, Mallory Magrielle. And she decided to mount a production of a notoriously difficult play called 'Maxed to the Third Power'. Will great risk bring great reward? Except that the Set Designer Miguel Rogen and the Costume Designer Charlotte Stang are constantly arguing over what period the story is set in, while the Director refuses to weigh in because she feels that "conflict is essential to the creation of great art". Which has left Suki Fujimoria, the Stage Manager, over-worked and highly stressed - and Suki is known for her temper. No one has seen the Musical Director (and local DJ) Vlad Tiamook in over week; apparently he is furiously remixing the entire soundtrack to a create a "meta-temporal vibe" that will fit with whichever setting wins out, Rogen's or Stang's.
As for the cast... Ms. Magrielle gave the Lead Female role to Jones Heights' only (semi)famous citizen, Marnie Waters, who had a (semi)successful stint as a pop diva. Pandering or a subtle critique of celebrity? And instead of giving the Lead Male role to the long-standing, well-respected, troupe mainstay Frank Thamin - who thought the part could be his Prospero, but will instead be playing the Narrator - Ms. Magrielle cast THREE unknowns. That's right, she's having one character played by three different actors! How exactly Marshal Montgomery, Simon Light and Mick Scribe will split up the dialogue and action remains a closely-guarded secret.
Will opening night bring triumph or tragedy? Rave reviews or farcical folly?
So how are NMP looking this year? Well, the Board decided to bring in a first-time Director, Mallory Magrielle. And she decided to mount a production of a notoriously difficult play called 'Maxed to the Third Power'. Will great risk bring great reward? Except that the Set Designer Miguel Rogen and the Costume Designer Charlotte Stang are constantly arguing over what period the story is set in, while the Director refuses to weigh in because she feels that "conflict is essential to the creation of great art". Which has left Suki Fujimoria, the Stage Manager, over-worked and highly stressed - and Suki is known for her temper. No one has seen the Musical Director (and local DJ) Vlad Tiamook in over week; apparently he is furiously remixing the entire soundtrack to a create a "meta-temporal vibe" that will fit with whichever setting wins out, Rogen's or Stang's.
As for the cast... Ms. Magrielle gave the Lead Female role to Jones Heights' only (semi)famous citizen, Marnie Waters, who had a (semi)successful stint as a pop diva. Pandering or a subtle critique of celebrity? And instead of giving the Lead Male role to the long-standing, well-respected, troupe mainstay Frank Thamin - who thought the part could be his Prospero, but will instead be playing the Narrator - Ms. Magrielle cast THREE unknowns. That's right, she's having one character played by three different actors! How exactly Marshal Montgomery, Simon Light and Mick Scribe will split up the dialogue and action remains a closely-guarded secret.
Will opening night bring triumph or tragedy? Rave reviews or farcical folly?
20140805
+ PLEX TOURS .7 The Bookstore
- The Bunker
- The Lab Level Two
- The Cast
- The Bookstore
- The Brownstone
- The Subway
- Metafesto
- The Diner
- Chronoplex
- The Lab
There was a lot that Susanna liked about Good Times, Good Tomes.
For starters, it subverted the typical tale of small, local, independent businesses being bought up and assimilated by massive chains. In the case of Good Tomes, the building used to belong to LEGACY, one of those vast corporations whose name covered billboards and computer screens throughout the city but no one could tell you exactly what they did. Economic consulting? Technology development? Research? Production? Marketing? They still had dozens of offices and factories but one less than they used to, after that strange night last year when a blackout, a meteor shower and an earthquake had hit the city all in one night. The next day the building had been abandoned. Within a week, after a blitz of renovations, the bookstore had opened.
Susanna liked the mystery of it all, too. Anyone who knew what (obviously wealthy) entrepreneur was behind the store's launch wasn't talking. Apparently the folks who staffed the place were hired on through a recruiting agency; they all seemed happy with their jobs and well-compensated. The cashiers, clerks, and cleaners were from a variety of ethnic backgrounds and gender identities, some had physical disabilities and some were developmentally delayed; diversity was clearly a priority for the owner. It was a welcoming, friendly place.
She liked the way that they categorized the books on the shelves – not by subject or genre, but by which tarot card the book most reflected. The aisle of The High Priestess might contain fiction by women authors or biographies of female politicians. The aisle of Justice might contain crime fiction or legal texts. The aisle of The Moon might hold books about astronomy or dreams. If you got lost or confused then the staff were sure to help, but the odd layout turned each visit into something of an adventure.
Not to mention the decor, the music playing softly, the selection of teas and coffees, the comfy chairs. Or the discount that Susanna received because she was a teacher. And the community notice board by the counter was where Susanna had found the ad for the woman she now took guitar lessons from.
Most of all, however, Susanna liked the stories. Not the ones in the hundreds of novels that lined the shelves. The ones that the Book Club told. That was her nickname for them, the odd group of friends who would gather, usually on the second floor, and exchange tales. She was never sure if they were recounting books that they had read (maybe movies they had seen?) or if they were all writers work-shopping their latest ideas, or perhaps even actors rehearsing. And she was never sure when they would meet, but on the days they were here, Susanna would get herself a tea and try and find a chair nearby so she could listen in.
She had picked up a bit about each member of the Book Club: there was Frank - who was a businessman, Angst – a cheerleader (for a team called the Dragons?), Goner – served in the military, little Suki – still in school, and Max – who seemed most like a writer. How they all knew each other was another mystery.
A lot of their stories were violent, scary even. Most of them were science fiction. The thing was, Susanna didn't really care for sci-fi stories or violent stories, but there was something about the way that they told them... No matter what the story was about, or even if it didn't always make sense, she always felt it was really about something else. About things like friendship, or feeling lost, about trying to find your way. And there was something about the way that they told their stories, that no matter how weird and wild they were, somehow they sounded like they were true.
Susanna kept telling herself that one day she would introduce herself to them, ask them if they were accepting members into the Book Club. On the subway ride to and from work she imagined what she would say to them. She imagined what stories she would tell them.
For now, she listened, like they were music.
20140711
Defrag: Phenomenonialistic
Previously...
Maggie slipped into the passenger seat and winced in pain. “Did they tag you?” Max asked as he started to accelerate the car.
“No. I'm feeling pain from doing all those acrobatics on the way down.”
Max nodded. That meant that they had shifted into a version with different bio-physical parameters. Luckily it had happened after Mags had made her escape from the building or otherwise, athletic or not, she wouldn't have survived the fall. “Do you need any first aid?”
Maggie shook her head. “Let's do an orientation.” It was their standard ritual for trying to identify what version they were in.
“Yes please,” Goner said from the back seat. Maggie spun around, startled, and Max made a yelping noise.
“How long have you been here?” Max shouted.
Goner explained that in his version, he and Max had been driving down a long country road, on the way to meet a farmer who was advertising some firearms for sale. They had found the ad online at a public library. Next they had hot-wired a car, scoped out some corner drug dealers and rolled them for their cash. It was nasty, but the last shift had left them without cell phones, money, or weapons. The geography had changed enough that none of their storage caches were available. And none of the standard contact protocols were in effect; the Professor wasn't answering, Pretty George wasn't answering, the other Dragons weren't answering. There was no subway system. They couldn't find a local version of the Diner or the Bookstore. Max had tried a few of his rituals, his trances, but hadn't gotten any clear directions. Goner had reminded himself that it wasn't all that different than being stranded behind enemy lines in a war zone; you did what you had to.
“So I was grabbing a nap and woke up when I heard Max talking to someone just now.” Goner leaned forward and offered his hand. “They call me Goner, ma'am. And who might you be?”
“I'm Maggie. Nice to meet you.” She smirked. “Again.”
Maggie slipped into the passenger seat and winced in pain. “Did they tag you?” Max asked as he started to accelerate the car.
“No. I'm feeling pain from doing all those acrobatics on the way down.”
Max nodded. That meant that they had shifted into a version with different bio-physical parameters. Luckily it had happened after Mags had made her escape from the building or otherwise, athletic or not, she wouldn't have survived the fall. “Do you need any first aid?”
Maggie shook her head. “Let's do an orientation.” It was their standard ritual for trying to identify what version they were in.
“Yes please,” Goner said from the back seat. Maggie spun around, startled, and Max made a yelping noise.
“How long have you been here?” Max shouted.
Goner explained that in his version, he and Max had been driving down a long country road, on the way to meet a farmer who was advertising some firearms for sale. They had found the ad online at a public library. Next they had hot-wired a car, scoped out some corner drug dealers and rolled them for their cash. It was nasty, but the last shift had left them without cell phones, money, or weapons. The geography had changed enough that none of their storage caches were available. And none of the standard contact protocols were in effect; the Professor wasn't answering, Pretty George wasn't answering, the other Dragons weren't answering. There was no subway system. They couldn't find a local version of the Diner or the Bookstore. Max had tried a few of his rituals, his trances, but hadn't gotten any clear directions. Goner had reminded himself that it wasn't all that different than being stranded behind enemy lines in a war zone; you did what you had to.
“So I was grabbing a nap and woke up when I heard Max talking to someone just now.” Goner leaned forward and offered his hand. “They call me Goner, ma'am. And who might you be?”
“I'm Maggie. Nice to meet you.” She smirked. “Again.”
20140710
Defrag: Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting
Previously...
Suddenly the light of the Godhammer flickered out.
“Shit,” Max said.
“Max, what's going on?” Suki asked, her voice uncharacteristically nervous. It reminded him just how young she was.
A hundred calculations bloomed and decayed in Max's mind, there was a silvery, fluid feeling in his stomach. He knew that meant that his chakras were fluctuating. What was negating her weapon? Was it related to Mode's warehouse? What would reassure her? Should they abort the raid against Mode? Would Goner actually relax more without the weird weapon working? Would Suki be safe without the gun? The mission objectives were changing.
Everything is going to change, Cube, but not enough to keep you safe.
“Okay guys, Ariadne Protocol. Tell him how you found the Godhammer, Suki. I'm going in by myself, stealthy like.”
No one knew how Suki found the gun; it was one of the dozens of lost or forgotten truths that they all lived with. The story she chose to tell, however, would keep her and Goner linked, bound up in the tale and the telling, like a spell, in case there was some kind of shift, and hopefully they wouldn't be separated. And Max would use any synchronicities about weapons to follow like breadcrumbs leading him back to her (the last time they had used a version of the Godhammer story Max had reunited with Suki at the Excalibur Cafe).
First things first, though. Put a stop to Angus Mode's latest transaction in corrupt psychic weapons systems.
Suddenly the light of the Godhammer flickered out.
“Shit,” Max said.
“Max, what's going on?” Suki asked, her voice uncharacteristically nervous. It reminded him just how young she was.
A hundred calculations bloomed and decayed in Max's mind, there was a silvery, fluid feeling in his stomach. He knew that meant that his chakras were fluctuating. What was negating her weapon? Was it related to Mode's warehouse? What would reassure her? Should they abort the raid against Mode? Would Goner actually relax more without the weird weapon working? Would Suki be safe without the gun? The mission objectives were changing.
Everything is going to change, Cube, but not enough to keep you safe.
“Okay guys, Ariadne Protocol. Tell him how you found the Godhammer, Suki. I'm going in by myself, stealthy like.”
No one knew how Suki found the gun; it was one of the dozens of lost or forgotten truths that they all lived with. The story she chose to tell, however, would keep her and Goner linked, bound up in the tale and the telling, like a spell, in case there was some kind of shift, and hopefully they wouldn't be separated. And Max would use any synchronicities about weapons to follow like breadcrumbs leading him back to her (the last time they had used a version of the Godhammer story Max had reunited with Suki at the Excalibur Cafe).
First things first, though. Put a stop to Angus Mode's latest transaction in corrupt psychic weapons systems.
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