I.301 Seconds ticked away. A bead of sweat appeared at CADO's temple and trickled down his face. He gulped hard. Either way, this wasn't going to be easy. "Well, go ahead!" said Farrah, impatiently. "What are you waiting for? Tell him I'm gone, and that he can come out!" CADO's mouth opened, as if to speak, but nothing came out. The words seemed suspended in his throat. He just couldn't seem to do it. <<Damn!>> he thought. <<Why is this so hard? It's all going to be ok in the end...what am I so worried about?>> "Oh, come on now!" exclaimed Farrah. "This is no time to stall. You shouldn't even have to think about this! Why, I'm putting the world at your fingertips! This is no time for integrity!" Integrity...Integrity...something clicked in CADO's mind. Suddenly, he envisioned a small jungle village...people running everywhere...women...children...gunfire...explosions...blood everywhere...running...he was running...where?...he saw a young man with a radio...Stop!...Tell them to stop!...This isn't them!...hundreds of people...laying everywhere...blood everywhere...dead...all dead...innocent people...dead... User: cont'd... Date: 2-Dec 05:13 PM 754852428
I.302 He snapped to. He stared at the microphone for a moment. The metal grating over the mic seemed to dance and laugh at him. He looked at the paper in front of him, which seemed to resolve itself into a detailed 8-coordinate grid map, then back into a map of the tunnels. He looked up at Farrah's face. The satisfied smile...the eyes that burned like ice...the folded arms...it all came back... "TRAVELER, Run! Hide! It's a trap! Farrah's..." CADO heard the microphone click off just seconds before he was knocked across the room by Farrah's hefty hand. He landed in the corner, and the chair broke from under his weight, leaving him curled up in a ball. "You fool!" shouted Farrah. "You impudent fool! It's too bad...we would have eventually caught him anyway. But now you will pay the price!" User: cont'd... Date: 2-Dec 05:14 PM 754852477
I.303 The microphone clicked on again. "TRAVELER, my honored guest," spoke Farrah into the mic, "it appears you have lost your way in my tunnels. Yes, it was a trap, but no matter. You may as well come out and surrender yourself, for there is no hope. But for the moment, sit back and relax while I tell you a few things about your most trusted employee and friend..." Cado's eyes widened as he realized what was about to happen... =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=etc. etc. Exciting conclusion just around the corner! Don't go away! :) User: Cado...*whew* Merry Xmas! Date: 2-Dec 05:15 PM 754852604
I.304 ...And as VENKMAN spoke mercilessly into the microphone, his words fell heavily upon CADO's heart, as from the deep furrows of his past came forth the awful secret he had spent a lifetime forgetting. "You really should have done a background check on this one, TRAVELER," chided VENKMAN. "I bet CADO's resume didn't list _this_ in the 'remarks' section..." ...And lying there, curled up in a helpless ball of sorrow, CADO's past came back to him, as vivid and horrible as it had been to him before... ..."...@#...$$.......@@$3$2...@#4SsssCome in. I say again...F3R...F3R...this is P2Z...Over." "This is F3R. Go ahead. Over." "Message from Q1Q. Acknowledge ready to receive. Over." User: cont'd... Date: 2-Dec 10:10 PM 754870204
I.305 Q1Q? That could only mean one thing. They were ready to go in. It was finally a chance to secure some ground. "This is F3R, ready to receive from Q1Q. Over." "Lima. Over." "Bravo. Over." The passcode was complete. "Hold your position and prepare to withdraw within 24 hours. Over." Withdraw? He couldn't believe his ears. They had just fought three days to secure the ground! What was he going to tell his men? They were so close to finally apprehending one of the largest communications and ammunitions points of the enemy operation! "Do you copy? Over." First LT. Eric Benjamin Cadomeyer fumbled with the handset, finally keying the mic. "I copy. Message received. Over." User: cont'd... Date: 2-Dec 10:10 PM 754870244
I.306 "Roger. P2Z out." <<Damn! We were so close!>> Thought Eric. Back in the command tent, Gunnery Sergeant Pyre mixed a quick cup of instant coffee and sat down. Eric entered the tent in a fury. "We've got to get ready to withdraw. The men have to hold their positions for now, and be preparing to move out within the day. We are not to advance anymore." "Withdraw!" exclaimed Pyre. "What do they take us for, idiots? We fought three days to claim this little piece of junk, lost 4 of our men and had absolutely no support that we desperately needed! Now we're inches from our target and they want us to withdraw?" "Gunny, I know. Look, I don't like it anymore than you. But that's the order from above. We have to follow it. Now we need to get ready to leave." User: cont'd... Date: 2-Dec 10:13 PM 754870415
I.307 "Son, listen to me," said Pyre. "Those damn bureaucrats in the higher echelon have never been in a war like this. They treat it like a chess game. You and I have seen more than our fair share of the casualties of this 'game.' If we back out now, we'll have lost more than we can ever hope to gain back." "I hear you, Gunny. But what am I supposed to tell them? If I say something, they'll just remove me and put someone in who will follow what they say. I'm tired of this too, y'know. But how am I supposed to fight it if I'm not here?" Pyre was silent for a moment. Suddenly his face went blank. "I've got it..." he spoke quietly. "What?" inquired Eric. "You don't have to tell them anything. We're going to get that damn comm center, and we're going to get it and get out before anyone knows what we've done." "Gunny, our orders are not to advance. We're supposed to hold our position and get ready to leave." User: cont'd... Date: 2-Dec 10:14 PM 754870599
I.308 "Trust me...we won't be disobeying those orders. We _will_ be holding our position. But you and I and a small element can go in and destroy that base. We'll be in and out in less than 24 hours, and the rest of the men will be ready to go by the time we get back. Look, I've got the information on the location of this base from a very reliable source. We can go in undercover at night and be back by morning. No one will ever know it was us. That way, we won't lose ground!" Eric thought for a moment. It was possible. But what if they were wrong? And what if something happened that they couldn't get back? "Eric...we've been in this together three years. You know I won't steer you wrong. It's up to you...do you trust me?" Eric sighed. It was true...Pyre had saved his hide and his reputation more than once...He felt almost an obligation...but it was damn risky. But he knew Pyre was right. And it was up to him to make the call. User: cont'd... Date: 2-Dec 10:18 PM 754870705
I.309 "Dan...you know I trust you...but I don't know..." said Eric quietly. "...oh hell. Go get the men you need and brief them. We'll go in two hours after darkness..." And then the blood. The bodies. It all came rushing back. Watching the innocent disfigured faces as the rounds ripped through them. The explosions, sending rooftops shattering through the air... They got the comm center. It was a civilian communications network to friendly forces stationed just south of their position. Eric surveyed the vast area of dead bodies and smoking houses. It was only a matter of time before he was sent for to answer for this horror. And then the court martial. Where he was forced to identify every dead body himself...each an innocent resident of the village...and one main communication link to the friendly forces. The examination question that sealed his fate... User: cont'd... Date: 2-Dec 10:19 PM 754870760
I.310 "So I ask you straightforward, First Lieutenant Cadomeyer, did you order the mass destruction of the village and the residents?" "Yes I did." "On whose advice did you issue this order?" "On no advice. I issued it on my own." Pyre's eyes grew wide...<<No, Eric! Don't do it!>> "Lieutenant Cadomeyer, let me remind you that the charges brought against you are serious enough to warrant your separation and some very heavy penalties that could ruin any possible chance for a career outside of the Marine Corps. I ask you one more time...on whose advice did you issue this order?" Pyre watched intently, praying that Eric would tell them the truth...and rid his soul of the guilt he faced. User: cont'd... Date: 2-Dec 10:20 PM 754870806
I.311 Eric stood steadfast. "No one. The order was mine and mine alone." "Very well. Let the facts then make their own case." Two days later, in a detention cell... "Eric, I don't know what to say...except that you should have told them that I advised you on the situation. You shouldn't have shouldered the blame by yourself." "Dan...no. The price I pay is small compared to the one you would have faced. I'll be here for a little while, and then they will release me. I'll go out and make my way in the world some other way. Besides...I think we both have enough on our shoulders to last us the rest of our lives." Pyre hung his head. "I know...look...As much as I know my words won't mean anything to you now...I'm sorry." "Don't be sorry..." replied Eric solemnly. "You and I have seen enough war to know that you were right. Circumstances may have proved otherwise, but we were right." User: cont'd... Date: 2-Dec 10:20 PM 754870856
I.312 The MP approached the cell and motioned for Pyre to leave. "I won't forget you, Eric," said Pyre. "I'll repay you somehow." "Dan...you have to forget. "I know," said Pyre, and he turned to leave. Eric sat alone in his cell. He knew it would be a long time before he could forget. If he could ever forget... And now, as CADO lay in a ball listening to the entire horror once again, he realized that it would now haunt him for the rest of his life. "So you see," finished VENKMAN, "your CADO has rather an ugly past. What an unfortunate thing for your Cafe, to be associated with such a hideous person...*gack*" An arm had come around VENKMAN's neck and begun to strangle him...it was Pyre! User: cont'd... Date: 2-Dec 10:23 PM 754871052
I.313 "Well, now...you didn't think it was so bad when I came to work for you, did you?" A guard lunged at Pyre, but CADO stuck his feet out and tripped him. It was then that he noticed his bonds were loose...they must have come partially undone when the chair broke! He freed his hands silently, then untied his legs... The guard had struggled back up to his knees, but by that time, CADO had come up behind him and knocked him over the head with a chair leg, rendering him unconscious. "*ACK!*" grunted VENKMAN. "LET...ME...GO...OR...I'LL..." "You'll what? You've had it, bud." growled Pyre. "Since our little contract of silence doesn't mean much to you, I guess my loyalty to you doesn't mean much to me. I should have known better...you're nothing but a low-down, dirty, monopolizing snake." VENKMAN's face had begun to turn blue, at which point, Pyre gave him a shove that sent him slamming face-first into the wall. VENKMAN slumped down to the ground, momentarily stunned. User: cont'd... Date: 2-Dec 10:27 PM 754871243
I.314 "Come on!" shouted Pyre, grabbing the _No Exit_ book from the shelf. "Let's get going!" "Where are we going?" asked CADO tenatively. "And why am I going with you?" "Look, we don't have a lot of time. You're going to have to trust me." Those words...there they were again. Could he? Could he trust Pyre? After all these years, was Pyre still the same man he had come to trust and confide in through three years of war? Was he truly on his side? CADO looked into Pyre's eyes only momentarily... ...and there was his decision. He ducked into the opening tunnel, with Pyre following close behind. The bookshelf swung shut as quickly as it had opened, leaving behind an unconscious guard and a stunned VENKMAN. CADO and Pyre ran on through the darkness... User: Cado...Take it away, Max! :) Date: 2-Dec 10:29 PM 754871397
I.315 Ok, enough catch-up time. :) At least one more installment before I go home... CADO and Pyre dash through the dimly lit tunnels of the Indigo Toucan. "Do you know where we're going?" asks Cado. "More or less," says Pyle. "I've used this system several times. I actually passed TRAVELER on the way to the office...hopefully we can catch up with him. I think he was heading for the north exit...it should lead him to a sidewalk grating in an alleyway across the street, if he can find his way that far." But then they hear a booming voice echoing over the P.A. system. Traveler hears it too, blundering aimlessly and desperately not far from them. It is Venkman. "I have had enough of you fools! But before I eliminate you, I want you to know that your precious Cafe does not have much longer to exist. I have contracted with some very devious individuals who promise that they will...heheh...deconstruct the VVVC completely! It is only a matter of time before they arrive in town and set to work! But you won't be around to see it...because I'm about to flood the tunnel system with poison gas. A little feature I had installed in case this sort of problem occurred. I just wanted you to know, Traveler, that I won in the end...MUHAHAHAHAHA...." And in his office, Venkman reaches for the switch that will release the gas... User: TRAVELER Date: 3-Dec 00:45 AM 754879574
I.316 Zoroaster's car halts outside the towing compound. Rain squals on the wind, flashing in the headlights. He peers into the unlit gloom of the yard, disturbed. His heart runs just a little quick. Leaving the lights on, he deftly cuts the chain to the gate, pocketing his industrial sized wire cutters. He walks in the light, crossing the compound, looking around for the main office. He finds it, walking over to the door. He kneels before the door, retrieving his lockpicks from his pocket. As he starts to fiddle with the lock, he noptices that, here, in the lee of the building, he feels strangely hot. A bead of sweat passes down his nose, mingling with the water of the rain. He fumbles the lock-picks. As he picks them up, he feels his fear, his heart thumping. He asks his calm still center why he is afraid, and in an instant his calm is destroyed. In slow motion he turns. With a sense like bile in his mouth, he turns to face the Man in Black. The MiB is silhouetted like a reverse image of an angel in the headlights. Zoroaster, moving like molasses reaches for his gun. "I have a friend of yours here, Zoroaster" gloats the man. He upends the sack he holds, casually catching the small still form of Maharet by the rope she is bound by. She squirms a little, trying to free herself, trying to escape the pain that will not subside. Zoroaster pulls out the gun. The safety rebels from his grasp. As he curses, he hears a clatter behind him. Raising the gun he pulls the trigger as his arm and back explode with pain! He catches sight of a cat-like form ripping into his arm. The man in Black staggers backward, and then zoroaster sees only red and pavement, tearing desperatly at the fiend on his back. User: ZOROASTER Date: 3-Dec 11:37 AM 754918664
I.317 Oooh...I like...Damn, Walter, you have the touch... At The Indigo Toucan: --------------------- DEMENTIA looks in the mirror behind the bar and adjusts her long, flowing, HONEY-AUBURN (but not really blonde) hair. She looks at her watch: 2 a.m. The restaurant has just closed, and the last drunken patrons ushered out; the staff is cleaning up. But she has a special rendezvous: an appointment with Pierre, the dark, mysterious new waiter. Dementia knows quite a bit about the tunnel system that runs through the walls and basement of the Indigo Toucan, thanks to a brief romance with one of the assistant managers, who showed it to her. Various employees of the restaurant use it from time to time, though it is supposed to be secret, and usually the management looks the other way. It was her knowledge of the tunnels that allowed her to give Traveler the tip on escaping from VENKMAN's office. Now she is going to meet Pierre in the tunnels...<<How romantic,>> she thinks, <<just like that Beauty and the Beast TV show...>> She presses a section of the woodwork below the bar mirror, and a panel clicks open. She slips into the darkness beyond, and closes the door behind her. Now she is in the tunnels. She heads swiftly to the right, having thoroughly memorized the direction to their meeting place. <<I hope Pierre shows up,>> she thinks. <<He may not have understood the directions.>> Then she hears the voice of Venkman booming over the P.A., distorted by the echoes of the concrete tunnels. "Here it comes--the poison gas! I've locked all the exits by remote control. Say your final prayers!" Dementia's heart starts pounding...poison gas!? What's going on?? She begins running. She has almost reached the meeting place--maybe Pierre knows something. She rounds the last corner...but Pierre is nowhere in sight! Instead there is only a note on the ground. She picks it up and reads, "Dear Dementia: I am sorry, ma cherie, but it can never work. I am returning to Paris--" Her heart sinks...Then the lights go out. In the last flicker of light, she looks up and sees a figure approaching from down the tunnel--is it _him_?? It was definitely a man...and it looked like him...She walks hesitantly forward in the darkness. "Is that you?" she says softly. "Dementia?" comes the whispered reply. "What's going on?" Oddly, he seems to have lost most of his French accent. "I got lost...but thank you for your instructions..." "Oh, I'm so glad you came!" She reaches out and grabs him. "Come...kiss me..." She wraps her arms around his back, and kisses him passionately on the mouth. For a moment, he seems tense...but then he responds enthusiastically. After a long moment, the kiss breaks, and they catch their breath. "This is a surprise," he says. "Why? You didn't think I'd be here?" "Well, I wasn't sure what your intentions were when you gave me that note..." "I'll show you what my intentions were," she says wickedly, and kisses him again. She leans back against the wall, and pulls him against her. He reaches up and runs his hand through the hair on the back of her head... Then the lights come back on, and Dementia's eyes widen. She pushes TRAVELER away slightly, and simultaneously the two of them say loudly: "--the HELL!?" User: TRAVELER Date: 3-Dec 03:13 PM 754931720
I.318 At The Virtual Virtual Vax Cafe: -------------------------------- In the darkness outside, a crowd has gathered, and stirs restlessly. All of them have one thing in common: they've eaten the food of the Taco Bus, and have suffered unpleasant consequences. Now that DIQMAN has tricked NORM into leaving the bus by mentioning a nonexistent volleyball game, the mob of angry customers wants revenge. A few have lit torches, and occasionally someone tosses a small stone at the bus. Most bounce off harmlessly, but at least one window has broken. DARICELL, SIREN, and SYLVAR (aka Jon Vallee) come out of the Cafe to survey the scene. "They're getting pretty hot under the collar," says Sylvar. "With good reasons!" shoots back Daricell. "Such dreadful cuisine is truly a crime!" "I wouldn't argue with that, and neither would the board of health," Sylvar admits. "What do you think is going to happen?" says Siren. "They look like they're ready to take action faster than you could say `have fun storming the bus!'" "I don't know," says Daricell. "I almost feel sorry for Norm, stuck in such a dull job. If only there were something else for him to do." User: Traveler Date: 3-Dec 04:24 PM 754935911
I.319 Meanwhile, in the Blue Room, SVEN is still linked up to the Indigo Toucan's closed circuit system. XIMINEZ, ROARK, and other Cafe patrons are gathered around him, looking at the terminal over his shoulder. INLERAH turns her head and watches from her terminal in a dark corner across the room (if anyone were looking, they'd notice a faint red glint in her eyes). "TRAVELER is in some kind of tunnel system beneath the restaurant," reports Sven. "And I think CADO and someone else have joined them--they've just escaped from VENKMAN's office." "I wonder if they'll make it out of those tunnels. The lighting's terrible," says Ximinez. "Oh yes," muses Roark. "A little higher wattage, a slightly warmer tint--those unfinished concrete walls could look strikingly minimalistic..." Then they hear Venkman's announcement: he is going to flood the tunnels with gas! "Maybe I can shut down that subroutine," says Sven tensely, beads of sweat forming on his brow. He types furiously--then, just as the image on the monitor show Venkman reaching for the gas button-- The lights in his office, and in the tunnels, go out. "I've shut all the power down--he can't do anything!" says Sven, eliciting a cheer from the onlookers. "I'm unlocking the tunnel exits--they're home free..." User: Traveler Date: 3-Dec 04:36 PM 754936579
I.320 Then, with a keystroke, SVEN turns the lights on. The monitor now shows a stretch of tunnel somewhere beneath the Indigo Toucan. CADO and Pyre walk quickly along it towards a door at the end. Sven changes views to locate TRAVELER... Who is standing in front of DEMENTIA, blushing intensely. "Uh...I... think there's been a...misunderstanding..." he stammers. "Yes, I believe so," says Dementia, straightening her clothing, eyes downcast. "Uh, no offense meant," says Traveler. "None taken," she replies briskly. "Now, shall we find our way out of here?" Traveler nods, and they walk off towards an exit. Back in the Blue Room, the onlookers have caught only the tail end of this little encounter, but are glad to see Traveler finding his way out. Then Sven switches to a view of Venkman's office. "Hey...he's gone!" Sure enough, the office appears empty on the monitor. Venkman has risen from his large mobile office chair, and disappeared... User: Traveler Date: 3-Dec 04:51 PM 754937510
I.321 At the VVVC Cafe..... "How sad," Sylvar agreed, to Daricell's assessment of Norm's position -- or lack thereof. "But I still want that Taco Bus out of here! It's stealing customers." Daricell twisted a strand of hair pensively. "But if it were, say, annexed to the VVVC, rather than competing with it..." Siren mused thoughtfully. "Annexed?" Daricell asked warily. "Well..." Siren chose her words thoughtfully. "Your cooking is excellent, but sometimes the customers don't have the time for a sit-down, gourmet meal. If we annexed the bus, it could satisfy the needs of these other customers. And you could supervise the cooking to ensure that it was done properly." Sylvar nodded, warming to the idea. "And Norm could run it, which would give him a direction and meaning in life. No more tacos!" Daricell considered. "That could be a good thing... if it were under my cuisinary direction, of course... Should we move it to the parking lot?" Sylvar looked out the window again. "Whatever we decide, we'd better do it quickly... before the crowd takes matters into their own hands..." The bus was being pushed forward, and was nearing the top of the hill that led down to the bay... User: Dark Lady... Date: 3-Dec 04:57 PM 754937866
I.322 Back in the caverns... CADO and Pyre continued running down hallways and rounding corners. "You sure this is the right way?" inquired CADO. "Well, sort of...I only really know one way, but I think we left it awhile back," replied Pyre. "But these tunnels are all a mirror-image of each other with regards to the exits. It's just a matter of which exit we find." "How close are we getting?" CADO asked tentatively. "We should be nearing an exit...although I couldn't tell you which one." Pyre and CADO rounded the final corner to the exit, at which point Pyre collided with TRAVELER once again. TRAVELER's eyes grew wide as he backed away. "Relax," said Pyre. "I'm on your side now." User: cont'd... Date: 3-Dec 06:50 PM 754944767
I.323 CADO came around the corner just after. "Who are you talking to..." he stopped short when he saw TRAVELER. Their eyes met for just a few seconds, then CADO looked down at the ground...it was too soon to face this. "Trav...I...I don't know what to say...it's all true..." "Never mind now..." replied TRAVELER. "Let's just get out of here first." DEMENTIA, leading the way, stopped at a seemingly solid wall, pushed a spot on the wall that was apparently a control panel, and opened a secret exit... User: Cado...sorry Max...didn't work... :) Date: 3-Dec 06:53 PM 754944822
I.324 ECSTASY and MOODINDIGO sit back at the bar and chain smoke Winston Lights while watching the plot swirl about them. ECSTASY looks at MOODINDIGO and remarks, "Isn't it amazing how people who aren't even on the VAX anymore are still active parts of the VVVC? And how Jacques Derrida is truly Satan? And how everyone's personal life is worked into the plot?" MOODINDIGO nods and mumbles something which sounds like, "Yes, dear. You are PMS'ing again. Just go to sleep and maybe you'll be in a less melodramatic mood." ECSTASY stares at him then breaks out laughing. "Touche, my love. Yell to DARICELL and have her make us some colon-cancer strength chicken wings." User: ECSTASY Date: 4-Dec 02:38 AM 754972741
I.325 VENKMAN, with an armed guard, hurries across the empty main dining room of the Indigo Toucan. "Is the speedboat ready?" he asks the guard. "Everything is prepared, sir. Too bad that police captain you bribed turned against you..." "Yes, don't remind me..." Suddenly the doors of the casino fly open and GENEVIEVE, in dabo girl dress, leaps out in karate stance. The guard reaches for his gun, but Genevieve kicks it out of his hand. It flies through the air...and she catches it. Smiling, she points the gun at Venkman and his guard. "I'm an agent of the Virtual Bureau of Investigation, and you are both under arrest for operating an illegal gambling establishment, bribing a law enforcement officer, and committing various assaults against persons and property at the Virtual Virtual Vax Cafe." "I've never been near the place," sneers Venkman. "Maybe not, but we have proof that you ordered the attacks against the Cafe," Gen replies. "Now move--you're coming with me." "No, I think you're coming with us," says Venkman. "Look behind you." Fearing that it is a ruse, Genevieve turns her head only slightly...but sees, alas, that Venkman is not bluffing. Several armed men have their weapons trained on her. She drops her gun dejectedly. User: Traveler Date: 6-Dec 04:41 PM 755196743
I.326 A low rumbling noise shakes the room. One of VENKMAN's henchmen falls over and hits his head on the speedboat, sinking into the water to be heard from no more. With a loud chrash the wall falls on VENKMAN's goons, taking them all out. As the dust settles, the unmistakeable outline of Robobusboy takes shape. Standing next to him, with a .44 level at VENKMAN is STEFAN. "Looks like your time is up," Stefan says, grinning all the while. "Maybe, but I'm not going out alone," VENKMAN quips, pulling a pistol out of his pocket in slow motion. STEFAN and VENKMAN's guns both go off simultaneously.... User: Stefan...plot thickener... Date: 7-Dec 03:54 PM 755279737
I.327 TRAVELER, CADO, DEMENTIA and Pyre emerge at last from the tunnel system through a grating set in the sidewalk in front of the Indigo Toucan. The air is cool and hazy, and a faint glow in the sky indicates that dawn is only a couple hours away at most. "We've made it!" Cado exclaims with relief, as he and Traveler return the grating to its place. "Well, we're out of the Indigo Toucan, but maybe not out of the woods," says Pyre. "VENKMAN could still cause us problems." "Don't worry, the VBI should take care of him," says Cado. "I met one of their agents, GENEVIEVE, disguised as a dabo girl." "Genevieve!?" Traveler says with surprise. "She's a VBI agent now??" Just then they hear a muffled boom, as if an explosion occurred somewhere near the back of the building. "Let's check it out!" says Pyre. "All right, but carefully," cautions Traveler. The four of them creep around the side of the restaurant, until they can see the riverfront docks. To their astonishment, a huge hole has been blown in the rear wall of the Indigo Toucan...and they can glimpse some kind of commotion inside... User: Traveler Date: 8-Dec 09:02 AM 755341327
I.328 and now, the conclusion to _Man-in-Black Theater Presents_ Zoroaster hits the ground at the center of a sprawling metropolis of pain. He rolls desperatly, trying to crush Tom the cybercat, as busses of pain shuttle through his nervous system. Grabbing Tom by the neck, he rips the blood-clotted metal claws from his flesh. Tom wraps about his hand, tearing into his tender lower arms. Zoroaster howls like an animal driven mad by pain, smashing Tom against the pavement again and again. Suddenly his red-tinged vision tilts with an agonising crunch as a steel tipped boot crashes into his head. He finally frees his hand, stumbling drunkly to his feet. He can not focus his eyes. The man in Black steps closer, holding Maharet out. "Say Goodbye, Zoroaster," he rasps. As Zoroaster tries to steady himself, The MiB grab Mahie's back with one hand and the hand with the other. Moving slowly, he twists. Maharet yowls and thrashes, trying for one last chance at escape from the sharp bailing wire. There is a sickening snap, and maharet's flailing start to get weaker. "NO!" Zoroaster screams, lunging at the Man. The other smoothly sidesteps the blow. He turns and elbows Zoroaster's head, then kicks him the small of the back. Zoroaster falls to the ground, grunting from the pain. The Man in Black kicks him again and again, cracking ribs, slamming his skull. Zoroaster tries to block the blows, and the other garbs his arm, craking it twain with his knee. Zoroaster stopped moving, no longer able to resist. Each breath draws jagged pain into his chest. He feels consciousness slipping away, as the blood pools inside and outside of him. He utters: "Damn you to hell, Man, for I will beat you yet." "Why I am of hell nor am I out of it. As for you, you will do nothing- ever again," replies the man, tossing the now limp form of Maharet onto Zoroaster's chest. The suden weight makes him groan from sharp pains about his liver stomach and lungs. 'I am dying' he thinks. "You will have the pleasure of watching your cat die before you," the Man says, his voice rasping with amusement. The sound is like sandpaper on skin. "Come Tom" Tom comes to him, slavering as he looks at Maharet. The MiB shakes his head, lifting Tom and placing him in his sack. The man walks away from the light, and is lost in the inky shadows of the towing yard. 'I am dying' Zoroaster thinks, and smells Maharet's pain on the wind. User: ZOROASTER Date: 9-Dec 09:45 AM 755430317
I.329 The sound of gunfire echoes in the air... But neither Venkman's shot nor Stefan's hit their targets. One of the bar mirrors behind Venkman has shattered from Stefan's bullet. Venkman's round embedded itself somewhere in the back wall of the restaurant, next to the huge whole that Stefan's RoboBusBoy made. Suddenly Genevieve leaps in between the two of them. "STOP! There's no need for shooting." She turns to Venkman. "I told you, we're here to arrest you. We've clearly got superior firepower--" she indicates the hulking metal robot-- "so there's no point in your resisting, unless you want to be killed." With a sigh, Venkman puts down his gun. "Very well. You may take me into custody." Genevieve approaches him warily, miraculously pulling out a pair of handcuffs from somewhere within her dress. Venkman holds his hands out obediently in front of him. She cuffs one wrist, but somehow as she is going to cuff the other, he performs a lightning-fast martial arts manuever. The next thing Genevieve knows, Venkman has grabbed her, turned her around, and put the chain of the cuffs around her neck, holding the empty cuff with his free hand. "I've got your fellow agent, pasty boy!" he cackles. "Now, unless you want to see her windpipe crushed, clear a path! I expect to get to my speedboat unharmed. Then I'll go out to my yacht which is waiting off the coast...taking this young lady along as a hostage, of course. Perhaps I'll let her off somewhere up the coast aways...or perhaps I'll just throw her to the sharks..." User: TRAVELER Date: 9-Dec 09:45 PM 755473523
I.330 TRAVELER, DEMENTIA, CADO and Pyre peer around the corner of the broken wall into the main dining room of the Indigo Toucan. They are horrified to see that GENEVIEVE has been taken hostage. STEFAN, overshadowed by the still form of the RoboBusBoy, stands across the room from VENKMAN, frustrated but paralyzed by the standoff. "You WILL pay for this, Farrah, or Venkman, or whatever you call yourself!" Stefan exclaims angrily. "I've been on your case for a long time, and I'm not about to give up now." "Are you going to let me get to my boat or not?" Venkman says calmly. Watching outside, Dementia has an idea. "I have an idea!" she whispers excitedly. The other three huddle around her and confer... A moment later, Stefan is reluctantly stepping aside for Venkman, and commanding his RoboBusBoy to do so as well. Venkman walks towards the entrance, forcing Genevieve along with him. Suddenly, Dementia marches around the corner holding Traveler at gunpoint. "Hi boss!" she says to Venkman, smiling. "Look who I found trying to escape. An even better hostage than that dabo girl you've got there!" Venkman is surprised, but then he smiles. "Excellent work! I should have promoted you long ago, my girl. You've done better than all my thugs could. Now, to the boat!" Venkman shoves Genevieve aside, and follows Dementia and Traveler through the hole in the wall, across the rear terrace, and on to the dock, at the end of which waits a large black Cigarette speedboat... Then Dementia whispers to Traveler: "Now!" Both of them whirl around to face Venkman, Dementia training her gun (which she borrowed from Pyre) on him. But they are once again surprised by the restauranteur, who, despite his ample girth, has lightning fast reflexes. With a karate chop, he knocks the gun out of Dementia's hands. She punches him in the stomach...but the punch has no discernible effect. "I may be heavy...but it's all muscle!" he says. He swings at her, but she ducks. Unfortunately, she loses her balance and falls off the side of the dock into the river... Traveler leaps forward and hits Venkman with a roundhouse punch. "I've wanted to do that for a long time!" he says through clenched teeth. Venkman staggers, but regains his balance and comes back swinging. Traveler evades his blows, but one manages to connect to his jaw. The impact of Venkman's massive fist leaves his ears ringing. "Same goes for me!" Venkman says. Suddenly, Venkman finds himself lifted off the ground by the collar of his suit...The RoboBusBoy has come up behind him. Venkman begins kicking and flailing wildly. "Put me down! I demand that you put me down now!" But although the robot's metal arms creak under the strain, it does not release the restauranteur. Instead it turns and waddles slowly back to the terrace, the boards of the dock booming under its steps. Cado, Stefan, Genevieve and Pyre laugh to see Venkman's suspended, furious form. "You've met your match, Venkman," Stefan says. "Busboy, put him down but keep him restrained." The robot obeys silently. Genevieve and Stefan step over to the robot. "I guess we'd better take him to HQ," Genevieve says. Stefan nods in agreement. Meanwhile Traveler helps Dementia out of the water, and hands her his coat. "I think the situation here is finally taken care of. Would you like to take a break and visit the Virtual Virtual Vax Cafe?" he says. "Hmmm...sounds like an interesting place," she says, pushing back her wet hair. "Let me find a towel inside, so I don't drip all over your car." Cado strolls over. "What car are we going to take, anyway?" he says. "Ours is at the bottom of the river, remember?" "That's easy," says Traveler, pulling out a set of keys. "ROMANTIC's car. I noticed it in the parking lot when we came around the building. It's been here all along." "Ok. But before we go, there's something I saw in Venkman's office I think you might want to look at," Cado says. "Go ahead. I'll meet you there in a moment," Traveler replies. Cado and Dementia enter the restaurant. Trav walks over to Genevieve and Stefan. "Hello, Gen. It's been a while," he says, with a faint smile. "Not that long, Trav," she replies. "Wish I could get out this way more often...but in my new line of work, I get sent all kinds of places." Traveler nods. "Well, could you drop by my Cafe for a drink, or maybe some coffee and breakfast?" She looks at her watch and sighs. "I'd love to, but I think I'd better go to VBI headquarters with Stefan and Venkman. And most likely I'll be given new instructions as soon as I get there." "Oh. Well...the invitation is open. Stop in at the Cafe whenever you can." She smiles. "You know I will." Then she comes over and gives him a tender kiss. "Do you still remember?" he says quietly. She nods, then turns away. Without another word, Trav goes into the building. User: TRAVELER Date: 9-Dec 10:44 PM 755477077
I.331 Might as well get as much of this written as I can tonight... As the RoboBusBoy holds Venkman, Stefan and Genevieve turn to Pyre. "You've got a lot to answer for, Pyre," says Genevieve. "You abused your position as a police officer severely. And I was watching you the whole time." Pyre looks down. "I don't deny it. I guess you'll want to take me into custody as well." "Well, it's significant that you changed sides and helped us," says Stefan. "It will be looked on with favor. And if you agreed to testify against Venkman in court, that too would help." Pyre nods slowly. "I understand." User: TRAVELER Date: 9-Dec 11:57 PM 755481422
I.332 Ghost levelly stares at the wall with a this-means-business look. 'You are NOT breathing' he informs the wall. The wall seems to sigh, but does not say anything back. Indeed, the wall has turned out to be quite a bad conversationalist. 'Fine, be that way. But if you keep breathing I'm going to lose my temper,' he adds, glaring at the wall. He moves over to a nice potted plant. "At least the plants answer back," he tells nobody in particular. Ecstasy looks over to him, wondering for the umpteenth time if he is dangerous or merely congienally deranged. The White room is otherwise quite empty, as everyone sits staring at the closed circuit tv, watching Venkman's discomfiture. Suddenly the door flies open. In strides Sean Connery, dressed in a nice Tuxedo. He looks about, his eyes landing on Ghost. 'Is that Sean connery' the plant asks, and Ghost looks up. "Mr. Connery! What can I do for you?" "I do believe our friend Zoroaster is in danger. Do you know where he is?" asks Sean in his litling brogue. Ghost thinks for a while. His mind wanders a bit, but finally derives an answer: "The towing yard, I think he said." Sean Connery looks startled. "This is quite unfortunate. I am afraid he has met the Man in Black before he was ready. Come, Ghost!" Connery beckons, and Ghost follows him out to the parking lot. He unlocks a grey Aston Martin, and they get in. The minutes pass in silence. They cross the bridge into town, the rain slowing as they approach the yard. As Connery reaches the final corner, their worst fears are realised. Zoroaster's car is sitting facing the open gate. Light shines come from the headlamps, indicating that it has not been long. Conner parks the Aston-Martin. In tense silence, they enter the compound. Soon, they find him. Zoroaster hears footsteps vaguely through the pain. He opens his eyes. He sees the light of headlights, rain passing through them, down, down. He tries to move his head, but the pain is too much. "We've come to save your life, Zoroaster, and I see its none to soon," Connery says grimly. Zoroaster smiles a little. "I knew you would try to come back, Sean. Thank you. Check mahie- she's hurt worse than me. I think her neck is at least fractured." Zoroaster manages to gruint out. He feels Maharet faintly, her thoughts a yowling wail of pain. 'At least you still feel the pain, dear girl' Zoroaster thinks. "Now, ghost, call Distress! Go!" Shouts Sean. Ghost is already running. "I have a phone in the car!" Connery thinks to add. He smiles to himself, a winner of sorts in the hopeless war with the Black Lodge. "Rest." User: Zoroaster hears the wail of ambulance sirens... Date: 10-Dec 10:31 AM 755519538
I.333 TRAVELER walks into VENKMAN's office. CADO is standing behind the desk looking at some papers; the wall of TV monitors show only static now, and a faint light is filtering through the glass brick wall that faces the outside world. "Well, I guess this is the end of our troubles, at least our Venkman- related ones," says Traveler with a sigh. "What have you got there?" "This is what I was telling you about. It looks like Farrah, er, Venk was collecting all available documents and surveys regarding the VVVC, I guess to see if he could find anything to help his takeover bid." "Hmmm," says Trav, leafing through the maps, copies of deeds, and other papers. "Well, most of these look like copies from public archives--which means I'm as entitled as he is to have copies. And it is my Cafe after all, so I think we should just help ourselves to this stuff." They put the papers in a folder on the desk, and Traveler tucks them under his arm. "Uh, Trav, there's something I need to talk to you about," says CADO uneasily. "You heard what Venkman said while we were--" Just then DEMENTIA walks in wearing a fresh, dry set of clothes. "I'm ready! Are we going to your Cafe now, Trav?" she says brightly. "Yeah, we're just about ready," he replies, casting a troubled look at Cado. Then he leans over to the bouncer and says quietly, "We can talk in the car, or later. Don't worry about it." "This is urgent!" he says. "It concerns not only my past, but my future-- my future at the Virtual Virtual Vax Cafe." "Well, the Indigo Toucan is not the place to discuss it, wouldn't you agree?" says Traveler. "Come on, let's get out of this place." But before they make it to the door, the phone rings. The three of them look at each other quizzically. It rings again. Finally Dementia walks over and picks it up. "Hello?...Why yes, hold on a second." She holds it out to Trav. "It's for you..." At the VVVC, the group gathered in the Blue Room watches him pick up the phone. As it happens, it's ECSTASY on the other end. "Hello, stranger," she says. "Are you finished saving the day? We could use you back here." Meanwhile SVEN is fiddling with a videocamera hooked up to one of the multimedia terminals, and in a moment, its red eye blinks on. Sven clicks his mouse, and on the screen showing Trav, Cado and Dementia, a small window opens up showing the folks here in the Blue Room. "We have two way!" he announces. The image from the Blue Room appears simultaneously on all the monitors in Venkman's office. "Cooooool!" says Dementia. "Nice to see you all again!" says Traveler, waving. "How long have you been watching, anyway?" "Quite a while, actually," says XIMINEZ. "Sven hacked into the Toucan's closed circuit system, and we caught your whole escapade in the tunnels. He also shut down Venkman's poison gas system." "I was wondering who saved our necks," Cado says. "Well, it's going to be morning soon," says SYLVAR. "Drag yourself on back here for some breakfast! I've got the coffee waiting." "Right now, sleep sounds best," says Trav. But we will be on our way momentarily! Oh, and we did what we set out to do...we found ROMANTIC's car." A cheer goes up from the crowd, including a tired Romantic watching from a barstool. Moments later, the three of them walk out of the building. Dementia stops at a flowerbed next to the parking lot. "Wait. I have something for you." Traveler sees that the flowers here are actually in individual small pots. She picks one up and hands it to him. "It's one of my sunflowers. I was trying to grow them here. Farrah said he wanted them uprooted, but I guess that won't be happening now." "Thanks. I'm sure our gardener will tend it well," Trav says with a smile. He hands the flower to Cado, and takes out the car keys. But before getting into the car, they stop at the vehicle that STEFAN and GENEVIEVE are standing next to. A sullen Venkman is visible in the back seat. "We're taking him in. I'll let you know how things progress," says Stefan. He shakes hands with Trav and Cado, then gets in the car with Genevieve. Traveler bends down by Venkman's window. "You lost it all thanks to your vendetta," he says. "How sad." Venkman shakes his fist. "I'll be back!" he says bitterly. "I haven't lost it all by any means! I have holding elsewhere that dwarf this restaurant. And I promise you, this City's jails will never hold me." He smiles with evil self-assurance. Then the car pulls away. Trav turns. "Enough of that. Let's hit the road!" They get into Romantic's car, and Traveler guns the engine. They roar out of the parking lot, and through the empty streets of the City, as the eastern sky grows lighter... User: TRAVELER Date: 12-Dec 01:21 PM 755702482
I.334 ...as the eastern sky grows lighter, FIREFLYTE steps forth from the undergrowth of the nearby forest, and walks toward the VVVC. A glint from the roof catches her eye, but is quickly forgotten as she stumbles over a brick and lands smack on her face... ...picking it up, she scowls at it, then makes out the dim impression of a name,...ANNE...blinking, she suddenly remembers something, and dashes off toward the Cafe'... "Blast! I forgot! She's shipping out in a month, and we forgot to ..." her voice trails off into a hushed muttering of recollection as she dashes toward the Cafe', pausing when she sees the remnants of the Battle of the TacoBus... "...the HELL?" she asks... "Over there, to the left...but only for one of them, you know..." replies a voice seemingly fom out of nowhere. Upon looking, she sees the dim vestiges of a broad grin, and then it disappears. She pauses puzzledly, looking around the outside of the Cafe', and out through the site of the BusBattle... User: Fireflyte... ...and the Wheel keeps on turning, and turning, and turning Date: 12-Dec 07:17 PM 755723872
I.335 Max: that was so _Until the End of the World_ "Claire, you are exceeding the speed limit" "Claire, you are wearing a bad wig" User: ECSTASY Date: 13-Dec 01:31 AM 755746312
I.336 Ah,...but with the VVVC, not all plots are one,...many things run co-concurrently (word?),....that's part of the point of an ongoing story, to be able to have various plotlines sliding past one another in the same locational context...as long as no one corrupts someone else's plotline, the sideline observations tie it all together with the context, while you aren't stuck just with one megalith story that concludes, and then leaves the board dry... ...The thing about the VVVC is that, even when a plotline concludes, it *isn't* the end of the story, because there are always new plots weaving through the story, like running animaniacs being chased by the Warner Lot security guard (how's that for an allusion!? ;) )--a small taste of infinity, with that, eh? Nice, in such a finite world... User: Fireflyte... ...is getting philosophical on this?... Date: 13-Dec 09:09 AM 755773784
I.337 "Damn," she thought to herself. "It figures- I'm in a strange place and I get a flat tire." She didn't notice any cars driving by as she glanced up and down the road, but she did notice the lights of an establishment. Gathering her purse and her keys, she headed towards the lights. "Virtual Virtual Vax Cafe. Well, at least I can get some coffee and use a phone," she thought as she went in. Picking a quiet table in a corner, she sat down and looked around. There was a gathering of excited people around the bar, all talking and cheering. A few people were seated at the other tables around her. Through the window, she could see a large bus. A waitress approached her table. "What can I get for you?" "Oh, um, coffee, please," she responded. "What kind?" "What kind? As in, decaf or regular? Regular, please. I need all the caffiene I can get." The waitress laughed. "You must be new here. Let me get the coffee maker extrodanaire to tell you about the VVVC's coffees." The waitress left, and a few minutes later a man approached her table. "Hi," he said. "I'm John Vallee." John spent the next few moments spurting out the various kinds of coffee the Cafe was known for, and the few moments after that talking about the regular coffees. Then he smiled at her, waiting for a response. "Oh, dear. Cafe con leche sounds good. There just seems so much to choose from!" John left with her order. A few minutes later she heard a crash as a blonde busboy came running out the kitchen amid screams and curses. She had to laugh. Then the phone rang. A woman whose dress was emphasized in leather picked up the phone, then looked curioulsy over at her. "Are you Ms. Smith?" the woman asked as she approached the table. "Yes, I am. Phone for me?" The woman in leather nodded, smiled, and said, "There is a phone in the back corner you can use if you need to be surrounded by a little more quiet." "Thank you," Ms. Smith responded as she got up. After spying the phone the woman in leather mentioned, she walked over to it and picked it up. "Hello?" "Just so you don't get to comfortable in your new surroundings, I thought I'd give you a call to say I still know where you are. And I will get you back here soon," a dark voice said back to her. Ms. Smith hung up the phone and walked dejectedly back to her table. The woman in leather came up to her again and sat down across from her. "I'm Ecstacy. Wanna talk?" User: not gonna say it Date: 13-Dec 03:01 PM 755794932
I.338 At the VVVC..... Siren, Daricell, and Vallee were watching from the front windows of the VVVC as the madding crowd pushed the Taco Bus to the top of the hill that led down into the bay. "If we're gonna save that bus for Norm!," Sylvar said, "we'd better do it soon..." "Siren, you're the PR rep for this place. You'll know how to talk them around," Daricell pointed out. "Promise them free pizza -- or cookies! Lots and lots of chocolate chip cookies. I think Diqman has a stash somewhere. That should convince 'em..." "Let's just hope they're in a cookie-eating mood..." Siren rolled up her sleeves, and she and Jon Vallee went outside to face down the Bus-Pushers. "They're Vaxers...of course they're in a cookie-eating mood." Daricell went back to the kitchen pantry and looked for the secret cookie stash. "I swear I'll pay you back...somehow," she muttered to the not-present Diqman. "But your cookies are the only thing that's gonna bring this crowd around..." Having located the hiding place, she pulled boxes and boxes of luscious chocolate-chip cookies out and piled them on the tables of the White Room. "Hmmm... These smell rather strange..." she mused thoughtfully. "Oh well, maybe it's the storage." Outside, Siren had climbed to the top of the bus with Vallee's help, and was addressing the crowd. "Wait! Wait!" she cried... User: continued... Date: 13-Dec 05:38 PM 755804332
I.339 "You can't push this bus over the edge!" Siren's voice carried in ringing tones over the angered crowd. "Why not?" "He poisoned us!" "Down with the Taco Bus!" "Push it over the edge!" The voices surged in a wave of fury and hate for the man who'd endangered all their kneecaps. "No! You don't understand! It wasn't his fault! It was all Farrah!" Siren told them. "Norm! had no idea what he was doing, no clue about the dastardly scheme Farrah had hatched to ruin the VVVC! He hoped that in poisoning the Tacos, the blame would be laid on Daricell's cooking, and the VVVC would lose patrons!" "What?" The crowd quieted a little. "Yes! But we can get Norm! on our side... Just push the bus into our parking lot, and we'll talk Norm! into opening it as an annex to the VVVC -- the Pizza Bus!" "E-I-E-I-don't think so," someone shouted. "Isn't it worth a try?" Siren replied. "Just think of all the free pizza... and if he doesn't agree, then you can push it into the bay. Besides, there's free chocolate chip cookies in the VVVC while you wait..." The bus lurched underneath Siren's feet, but away from the crest of the hill, and she leaped to the ground as the crowd reversed tactics and pushed the bus into the parking lot of the VVVC. In one mad rush, the mob left the Taco Bus and swarmed into the White Room to eat the delicious (albeit strange- smelling) cookies that the Master-Mistress Chef had put out... But Daricell was nowhere to be seen... User: Dark Lady Date: 13-Dec 05:49 PM 755805010
I.340 Daricell, having laid out the boxes of cookies, ate one. The taste was a little weird, too... she felt lightheaded, and none too steady on her feet. "Fresh air," she mumbled, and as the crowd pushed the bus back into the VVVC parking lot, she staggered out to the railing overlooking the sea at the back of the VVVC.... User: Dark Lady -- the Plot Quickens! Date: 13-Dec 06:13 PM 755806433
I.341 The end of the film? I think not...the VVVC has just finished its first lap! :) There's a whole new story waiting in the wings; or to be accurate, several new plots, small and large. The employees and patrons of the Virtual Virtual Vax Cafe will have lots to occupy them for quite a while yet. It is nice that the Farrah story has been basically resolved before Christmas. But I think that the next story (for which the groundwork has already been laid) will start with a rather attention-grabbing teaser before the break...Watch this space over the next couple days... :) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Meanwhile: TRAVELER, CADO and DEMENTIA speed down an empty boulevard, the cool predawn air bringing a feeling of purification from recent troubles. Trav wishes he had his convertible roadster back, but just to be driving on a morning like this in any car is pleasing enough. They have reached the outskirts of the City, and the Bay is visible ahead, Traveler notices that the car is low on gas. "Isn't there a gas station at the Marina?" he asks Cado and Dementia, who both nod. A moment later, he turns off into the Marina complex, bringing the car to a stop next to some gas pumps practically overlooking the water. "I'll pay if one of you pumps," he says, and Dementia volunteers to put the gas in. Trav pays at the counter inside the small building which serves as bait and tackle shop, convenience store and boat rental office. As he is exiting, he is nearly knocked over by a gnarly, barrel-chested old man in black clothes. The man curses and waves his rough wooden walking stick, and a briny, rotting smell washes over Trav. "Why don't you look where _you're_ going," he mutters, walking around the old man. "Cross me at your peril, lad," the old man says thickly. Trav turns slowly. Who is this guy? Why does he look familiar? "You crossed me, I think. Look, it doesn't matter. Have a nice day." "This is the second time. By the blood o' Christ, if all the old lore don't say third time's a charm, eh?" the man says loudly, grinning in a way that looks strangely disturbing. Suddenly Traveler remembers...this is the old sailor who came into the VVVC some months back and caused a strange commotion one afternoon. The sky seems to turn dark and cold just from the thought of it. "I'm lookin' for somethin', boy, an' I think I know where ta find it. When I come to get it, you best stay out o' my way. I laid many men and many ships low in my day, and any who wants to cross me'll join 'em, be sure o' that." The sailor spits on the ground, then turns and shuffles slowly towards the docks. From the car, Cado and Dementia watch this strange sight. Trav walks over to them, shaking his head. "Who is that man?" "Captain Hansen, at least that's what we know him by," says the wiry gas station attendant fixing a nearby pump. "He's been stopping in here every couple months since time immemorial." "He doesn't stay here at the Marina?" asks Trav. "No, I think he harbors somewhere up the coast, past the headland that's just north of the cafe that opened up recently." "I know where the headland is, and the cafe," says Trav. "So does this Captain Hansen have a ship?" "That's her out there," the man says, pointing. Several hundred yards outside the main part of the harbor lies a vessel with a black sail. They see that the old sailor is rowing out to it in a small dinghy. The large boat is some fifty feet long, made of old, dark wood; it seems to hover like a ghost in the mist. The design is sleek but also somehow archaic; the prow almost resembles the head of some animal. A design of some kind is faintly visible on the sail, outlined in red, but it is too far away to be seen clearly. As they watch, the sailor reaches the boat, climbs in, hauls up the dinghy and weighs anchor. He seems incredibly energetic in contrast to his halting movements on land. "Amazing that he sails it all by himself," says Cado. "Yes, at his age. Strange old character; never made any friends here, I'll tell you that. Well, gotta go. Have a good morning," the attendant says, and walks off. "Well, I hope he stays out of the VVVC," says Traveler. "I don't enjoy his weird threats, not to mention his smell." They get in the car and pull out on to Bay Road, just as the sun breaks over the eastern horizon. To the west, the light mist on the bay is quickly burned away...but strangely, when he looks a few minutes later, Trav sees no sign of the black-sailed boat. His thoughts are broken by Cado. "Traveler, we have to talk." "About what, Cado?" "About my resignation." Trav looks over at him in surprise. "What!? What are you talking about?" "Look, it's easier this way. I'm resigning, that way you don't have to fire me." "Fire you? After the way you've helped me out?" Cado looks out the window. "How could you keep me on board after knowing about my past?" Traveler is silent for a moment. Then, "I wasn't there during that battle. I can't judge what you did." "Men's lives were lost because of it. There's a judgement I can never live down." "Well, I've never been in the service. But I have had people's lives in my hands...many people's lives." Traveler looks east over the glowing City, and remembers another dawn here, after another long night, a night in which it seemed that time was turned inside out, and the world ended and began again. "When you're under that kind of pressure, you do the best you can. That's all you can do." Cado shakes his head. "You may feel that way, but I don't know that all the other folks at the Cafe will be so open-minded." "Perhaps. But the military has dealt with you as they saw fit, and now the matter rests with that court." Trav points to Cado's heart. "It's between you and your God. And if anyone at the VVVC has a problem with that, I have a problem with them." Cado smiles faintly. "Thanks, Trav." Then he sobers again. "I just can't get their faces out of my mind sometimes...the men who died, my comrades. I know it was the enemy who actually killed them, not me. But I'll never forget their faces." "You honor their spirits with your remembrance. A hard thing to bear, but you must. In any case, though, you're still the best bouncer I could want. I won't accept your resignation...but I would be willing to give you a little time off, if you need it." Cado nods slowly. "Perhaps that would be nice. I'll give it some thought." They drive on in silence for a few minutes. Then Trav turns back to Dementia and says, "We're getting close; it's just around the bend." She leans forward eagerly to look. The City has thinned out: larger, densely packed buildings are visible far to the east, but here along the coast there is only the occasional house or commercial establishment. Finally the car rounds the last long sweep of road, and the whitewashed form of the VVVC swings into view. "A sight for sore eyes!" murmurs Traveler happily. "I wonder what that bus is doing there?" he adds, as they pull into the parking lot... User: Traveler Date: 13-Dec 09:53 PM 755819643
I.342 CADO didn't say a word. It was all too much for him. The revelation, the pain, the mistrust. Everyone around him was jubilous to be home...except him. He quietly slipped into the VVVC, through the side entrance. Into the White Room, where ECSTASY was continuing to bartend. By now the rest of the crew would be back in the Red Room enjoying some tea and well-needed backrubs--it had been a long journey with many hard turns. ECSTASY looked up from the glass she was polishing. She was so startled to see CADO that she didn't even notice the glass hit the floor and shatter into a million pieces. Somewhere in the distance, STEFAN's voice echoed "oh NO! Not again!" CADO's eyes met hers for a moment, then he slowly walked up to the bar and sat down. ECSTASY smiled a bit, and gently asked "Hi stranger...what's your poison?" CADO put his head down on the bar. "Vodka..." he replied. ECSTASY pulled up a short glass and set it down on the table, then proceeded to spout a new bottle of Absolut. CADO reached up and took the bottle. User: cont'd... Date: 13-Dec 10:35 PM 755822135
I.343 ECSTASY sighed as she looked down at the bill. She punched a couple of buttons on the cash register, causing the door to fling out. She carefully placed the bill in the register, then counted out the change. She looked at the change thoughtfully... CADO sat down to a terminal and filled his glass. ECSTASY counted the change again, dropped the coins in the tip glass, and went upstairs to the office with the rest. She gingerly placed it in an envelope, sealed the envelope, marked it "donation," and placed it on the desk. She read through some of the papers on the desk, including VENKMAN's plans to overtake the VVVC. After awhile, she put them down in disgust. She made her way back down the stairs to the bar. All was quiet. She decided to have a look in the blue room, to see what CADO was up to. On the desk next to the terminal was an empty glass, and an empty bottle. On the couch across the room was CADO, unconscious to all. The terminal screen blared. She sat down in the chair and began to read the words on the screen. User: cont'd... Date: 13-Dec 10:35 PM 755822154
I.344 A few mintues later, with a lump in her throat and tears welling, she stood up. "I've got to find TRAVELER!" she said to herself. She looked over at CADO. He barely breathed. She ran out of the room, grabbed the nearest phone, and dialed 911... The screen: "To all who have been such wonderful friends to me: I am sorry I have let you down. I should have been honest from the beginning, but it is too late now. I know you are all understanding, but I don't think I can live with the fact that I betrayed you all. It's best that my past remain past and not affect anyone in the future. I think it's better this way. Farewell, my friends. CADO" Next to the terminal, a small paper packet labelled "VALIUM--40mg" stirred in the breeze, and floated off the table... User: Cado...this is more what I had in mind, Max... :) Date: 13-Dec 10:36 PM 755822204
I.345 The police gathered around zoroaster's bed. The iron lung hissed rythmcly as it forced air into and out of his lungs. His arm is ina cast, and his trunk is wrapped in gauze. Nurses walk to and fro in the hall. Hours pass. Zoroaster stirs, the morphine fading. He groans, nearing consciousness. A gendarme leans in, whispering- "Who did zees to you, Zoroaster? Who attacked you?" Lost in the haze of his anxiety for Maharet, he can think only of her... He opens his mouth groaning aloud. The nurse moves close with her needle. The gendarme waves her away. "Is.. Maharet.. alive?", he whispers. "WHo, who did zees to you?" "Maharet!" he screams. "Tell us who attacked you!" "Does she live?!" Zoroaster's body twists in pain from the effort of shouting. The gendarme looks to the nurse. She nods. "Yes yes, now tell me-" "Please... find... Daricell..." Zoroaster whispers, falling back into his coma, thinking only of finding someone to care for Maharet, thinking only that he will not make it. User: ZOROASTER Date: 14-Dec 00:48 AM 755830097
I.346 Grrr... PLEASE, PEOPLE! LIGHTEN UP! THAT'S AN ORDER! Geez Louise, talk about holiday blues! We're about to go home for Christmas, I wrap up the current story on a happy note, and you guys bring in all this death!! To be fair, Zoro has been planning his scene for weeks, and consulted extensively with me about it. But taken together in the same night as Cado's out-of-the-blue Kevorkian maneuver, it's all a bit much... Cado: this is the worst thing to say to a suicidal person (ok, the author of a suicidal fictional character), but now is not a good time...Could this be delayed a bit? I wish you'd let me know that you were going to do that. It kinda screws things up. To quote that logout screen oft seen around CSE, "Happiness is mandatory. All personnel will be cheerful!" :) I was going to write a joyful welcome-home scene...*shakes head* User: TRAVELER Date: 14-Dec 03:13 AM 755838842
I.347 In fact, what the hell (even tho I should be writing my film studies paper): (Cue warm, rich synthesizer/piano score:) TRAVELER, CADO and DEMENTIA walk up to the cafe's entrance. The first rays of dawn have just caught the crystal panes of the greenhouse above the front section of the building. Below the level of the sunlight lies the large metal-and-neon triple V, and below that the rest of the sign. And there, between the two large stone planters overflowing with greenery, are the double doors, with their frosted-glass panes cut into squares and triangles by the latticework. Trav pulls open one of the doors, and enters...past the coat-check area, and the hostess' stand, and the cashier's counter, into the main part of the White Room. A large number of people are eating breakfast, while others are eating quality Mexican food from the kitchen of DARICELL. But none of the important staff is to be seen, not even ECSTASY at the bar. Traveler asks the assistant bartender where everyone is. He offers that he thinks something is going on in the kitchen..."I heard someone say that since you were gone, sir...uh, well...they felt it was okay to...uh, slack off..." Furious, Trav stalks towards the curtained entrance to the kitchen. He enters-- --to be startled by voices shouting "WELCOME HOME!" A shower of confetti thrown by SYLVAR and SVEN tickles him and his two companions, followed by a shower of champagne from a bottle the barkeep has just opened. The baker hands them all glasses, and a toast is drunk to their health. "And to the Cafe!" adds Traveler, and everyone agrees heartily. "Welcome to the VVVC," says LOUCH to Dementia. "Glad I could visit...I've heard a lot about this place!" she replies. "Where are Daricell and Zoro?" Trav asks Diq. "Not sure," he replies. "She sort of helped mediate our little crisis with the Taco Bus--which I'll tell you all about later--but wandered off somewhere a while ago. I don't know about Zoro...though I think there's something afoot between those two. Here, try one of these blueberry muffins while they're still warm..." Ecstasy symbolically hands Traveler the keys to the Cafe. "I kept a good eye on it while you were gone," she says, grinning. MOODINDIGO, by her side, adds, "And I kept both eyes on her." Traveler snaps his fingers. "Speaking of keys--" He sees ROMANTIC, sitting in a corner of the kitchen sipping coffee and reading a book. He walks over and hands her her car keys with a smile. "You look tired," he says. "Oh, I am," she replies. "I've had things on my mind. But I feel better now. You could use some rest yourself, Mister Adventurer." He nods. "I'm going to crash out for a few hours in my room upstairs. Thanks for the welcome, guys...you're the greatest!" He pats Cado on the back as he heads for the stairs, but the bouncer looks uneasy still. "Hang in there, Cado." Then he is gone. "Sweet dreams, Traveler," Cado says quietly, then goes out into the Blue Room. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ There...that's my version of the homecoming. We'll worry about reconciling it all later. Right now I need to study and/or sleep. But if this is the last thing you read on the VVVC before the holidays, hope yours are good! :) User: Traveler says, "Schmaltzy? Cornball? Yeah...but that's good sometimes!" Date: 14-Dec 03:42 AM 755840703
I.348 VVVC.... Daricell stared across the waves of the sea, hoping that the fresh air outside the VVVC would restore her mind. Inside, she could hear the cheers for the celebration of Traveler and Cado's return from the clutches of Venkman. she knew she ought to go inside, but she felt so dizzy and tired that she remained, clutching the railing of the walk overlooking the sea. Slowly, she slid to a sitting position, and breathed in the sea air. She hadn't seen Zoroaster in a while...that was odd, as he'd been a frequent visitor to the Cafe earlier. It was now several days since his last visit, and she wondered where he might be. User: Dark Lady Date: 14-Dec 04:03 AM 755841833
I.349 Jon looks around at the recent developments. Like a percolating brew, a solution to the plot problem rises to mind. --- "Jesus, CADO, what in the world were you -- never mind. Forty mills." Jon Vallee paces frantically, dovening for a solution. "Carry the one..." He looks up, his face pale (for a Colombian who spent most of his life in the sun, that is). He speaks, mostly to himself. "Half a gallon. It'll take half a gallon of espresso to counteract the Valium." With renewed energy, pushing his way past cookie-frantic customers, Jon fires up every machine he has. While it brews, he scoops ice into a container. Ten minutes later, he holds a chilled pitcher of liquid Hell. ECSTASY objects, "He'll never be able to hold it down!" "Precisely. Phase one. Give me a hand here." With ECSTASY holding CADO's mouth open, he pours down a quart of iced espresso. CADO buckles convulsively and ejects the drink forcefully. He sits up, sounding not unlike a diving board. "Good morning, CADO. You've just vomited most of the Valium you took. Now sip this. Carefully -- I don't think you want to do that again." CADO looks around, shakes his head ruefully, and accepts the pitcher. Jon mops up, and soon the place is spic-and-span. "C'mon, guys. Show's over," Jon announces. "We've got bigger things to worry about. For example, 'are there any cookies left?' " A crack research team, consisting of everyone, rushes to answer the question, and happily munches freshly-baked goodness (tm). User: Sylvar -- "Traveler, what do you think? Is this canon?" Date: 14-Dec 10:14 AM 755864095
I.350 CADO slowly sips down the rest of the espresso. He can feel the antidote coarsing through his veins, attacking and destroying every ounce of Valium he swallowed, plus a few molecules of residual sleep-aid pills he took about a month ago when he had insomnia. He finally sets the pitcher down, empty. JON VALLEE looks at him and shakes his head. "You ought not have done that, CADO." CADO says not a word, but picks up the empty Valium package from the floor. He crumples it in his hand. He walks over to the blaring terminal screen and hits the "CLEAR" key. The screen clears itself. He turns it off. He picks up the empty bottle of Absolut and the rock glass. Finally, he speaks. "I guess that was pretty stupid, huh?" ECSTASY walks in. "Jon, I called the hospital back and cancelled the ambulance. Is everything all right in here?" "Fine," Jon replied. "The espresso did the trick." User: cont'd... Date: 14-Dec 12:56 PM 755873814