The Sereni-Tree and the Madness of Arkham by TheRealMe

at the tower

*Everyone squeezes in through the hole made by Jazaf. It is very dark inside. Serenity shakes her wet wings like a bird, spraying everyone and earning her several reprimands in chinese.*

Sorry!!

Hey, mai, it's very dark, do you think you could..

Mai: Working on it!

*Suddenly a faint glow appears in mai's right hand, and it slowly expands, illuminating everyone's faces. It eventually expands enough that they can see where they are. In one big round room, with no visible windows or doors. They can't see to the top of the tower, it just seems to go up and up into endless black.*

Jack: Well, where are we supposed to go from here? And where did Static and Soul go?

Safe: Beats me.

*Serenity looks at Jazaf*

Now what?

Serenity, First Officer of Destiny

I have a live journal: http://www.livejournal.com/users/callmeserenity/

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Friday, October 28, 2005 6:26 AM

SOULOFSERENITY

The Man They Call Soul...

The stairs seem to stretch on forever above them as Soul and Static continue to climb. The higher they get, though, the closer the shadows come, and the louder the screams get. Finally, they arrive at a landing, and at the end is a pair of double doors identical to the ones at the bottom of the tower. They slowly approach the doors, but as soon as they get within five feet, Soul is thrown back violently into the opposite wall.

"Son of a..." Soul groans as he crawls to his feet. He looks over at Static. "So, I guess this is the real tower then, isn't it."

Static doesn't turn. "I truly hope so." He lifts his hand, and again the doors open at his touch, revealing a large room lit by torchlight. Maroon curtains hang down from the ceiling, and strange symbols decorate the walls. At the far end, a figure is slumped on the floor, and Soul's eyes widen as he recognizes the person.

"Emma!"

Soul goes to move forward again, but this time he only makes two steps before an unseen hand smashes against him and flings him back. Soul watches in dismay as the edge of the landing passes underneath him, and then his eyes widen in horror as he realizes that the stairs that they had used to climb up the tower have been replaced with empty air.

He lets out a cry, and falls into the darkness.

______________________

Soul, Security Chief of the Sereni-Tree, Captain of Destiny.

Mantichorus: "So is there a reason they call you 'Soul'?"
Soul (after a long pause): "Yeah. Because I have one."

http://havenofsouls.blogspot.com/

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Friday, October 28, 2005 6:35 AM

JAKE7

**Back on the General Lee jake7 watches over Rat's shoulder has he pilots the shuttle. She watches the vid, keeping an eye on TRM and Needleseye. Astounded, she watches the Zoe-clones evaporate into dust**

What the...

Rat! We need to get back to TRM and Needleseye before any new mutants show up.

**Rat resists, but after jake7 glares at him menacingly, he complies and starts heading back to where TRM and Needleseye were left. She turns her attention back to the vid and watches in further amazement as two Mal-clones appear from the dust**

This just gets stranger and stranger...

--------------
MAL: Everybody's makin' a fuss.

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Friday, October 28, 2005 7:27 AM

in the Tower

Everyone looks up as they hear a cry from above.

lissa: Is it just me, or did that sound a bit like Soul?

Serenity: Tyen shiao duh!

*She spreads her wings and jumps, shooting straight up into the dark.*

Serenity, First Officer of Destiny

I have a live journal: http://www.livejournal.com/users/callmeserenity/

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Friday, October 28, 2005 7:53 AM

STATIC

Static lunges for Soul's hand, but his grip closes on empty air. Soul's cry tears at his heart and he squeezes his eyes shut for a moment before standing. He looks around at the interior of the tower.

"How many more do you want?" he says grimly, "do you think losing my beloved...losing my friends...dancing your dance in this false tower will prevent me from finding my true tower? My true destiny? Take them all if you must, but know that you are only raising your own accounting when I find you."

OOC: For a brief explanation on a couple of things, you can read the spoilers below. If you've NOT yet read "The Dark Tower" series, and intend to...DO NOT READ!!!!

Select to view spoiler:

Yes, Static has taken on the persona and life of a Gunslinger from "The Dark Tower" series by S. King. However, the variation is that the tower alone is not his quest. While the tower will hold all his answers, and his life, it will NOT be the same shit ending we had to read in DT: 7. The tower, in MY version is also the home of some great Nemesis that noone else knows of yet. While Static was away for so long, he was travelling through reality upon reality, just like in the books. The Nemesis responsible for the tragedies he suffered there resides in The Tower.

http://burstsofstatic.blogspot.com

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Friday, October 28, 2005 8:30 AM

Safe tears his eyes away from the forest at the yell (sure he saw the forest bulge). Looking up, takes in the situation.

"Jack!!"

Jack looks at Safe. Years of experience tell him what the other man has in mind. Jack nods and the two men link forearms and look up.

Safe: "Flying is one thing..catching a grown man in full plummet, while flying, is another thing entirely."

The two men brace for impact. Without looking down Jack says to Safe, "This is gonna hurt."

Safeat2nd, Chief Handyman of Destiny

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Friday, October 28, 2005 8:37 AM

CALLMEATH

*So long has Ath sat alone, with only his own thoughts for company, he doesn't immediately realize that the humming is coming from outside. And he can see; not much, but a faint pink glow.

The light keeps getting brighter and brighter, until finally he can start to make out shapes. He's seeing through his own eyes again, although he still has no control.

Once his eys adjust, he sees that he's standing in front of a doorway. The door stands in the middle of a field, with no walls or doorjamb to hold it up. However, through the door he sees not the field, but a vacant lot, in what appears to be a major city.

Coming through the door are all the sounds of a city, trucks driving by, horns honking, radios blaring music. In fact, he can make out one song:

I see a red door and I want it painted black
No colors anymore I want them to turn black

But over all the sounds he hears the humming, as if a thousand voices are as one. Not even thinking about it, he tries to move forward, to try and find where this choir of voices is coming from, and he moves. He's so shocked that he stumbles for a second, and trips over a brick.

Ath can't help but laugh. Sure it hurt; his hand was cut by a piece of glass, and he banged his knee something fierce, but it was HIS hand again, and his knee.

The humming is back now, louder than before, more insistent. Ath looks up and and gasps. It's just a vacant lot, but it's the most beautiful place he's ever seen. Every color stands out, sharp and beautiful. On the wooden fence to his left, someone has drawn a turtle. It was done by a kid, or an adult with no talent, but it steals Ath's breath away.

He was moving forward, gaping in awe, when he finally saw it. The ROSE.

Ath walks closer, as the humming grows louder and louder, as if a million voices are singing all at once. Joy, love, serenity, they all fill Ath at the site of this rose.

As he gets closer, Ath can see into the center of the rose. Instead of more pedals, he sees a swirling mass of lights. Knowledge suddenly hits him, or more accurately passes through him. He feels the emotions of countless people, their sorrows and their triumphs. He realizes that the rose is all that's good in the world, all that's brave and strong.

He also gets a glimpes of what the Tower really is. And why only one man should be allowed at the top. Little of what he sees stays in his mind for long, but he now realizes what he must do.

Ath turns, regretfully at first, but once he gets around, he runs at full speed. He looks back over his shoulder after he makes it through the door, and sees that it's already fading.

He swithces on his communicater watch and tunes it to TheRealMe.*

Me, can you make me a portal, and set me down in the middle of those mutant things?

"What?! Are you crazy?"

"PLEASE!!", Ath screams, his throat tearing, "just do it!"

As silence comes from the other end of the transmission, Ath can feel his dark half start to awaken. And it's NOT happy.

What do you think you're doing?!

ME! PLEASE!!!!!

*A portal opens up in front of Ath. Through the other side he can see a mass of hideous creatures. Ath grabs his lightsaber and drops it on the ground, then leaps into the hole.

Just as Ath hits the ground, his dark side comes bursting back, shoving Ath into the back of his mind once more.*

God, please don't let him get away.

*Darth Ath rolls, and pushes at the mutants who are now all around him. Many go flying, many more take their place. DA sends force lightning into them, burning dozens, but it doesn't stop them. Finally, one of the mutants gets a tentacle around his leg, sending him sprawling. The mutants pile on top of him.*

"Invader's blood marches through my veins like giant radioactive rubber pants. The pants command me! Do not ignore my veins!"

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Friday, October 28, 2005 9:53 AM

in the Tower

*Serenity flies, straight up, as fast as she can.*

Soul!?!

Hmmm..it seems I've been flying for some time now. The tower didn't look this big from the outside.

SOUL!!?

I feel like Alice in Wonderland, but in reverse.

*Suddenly, a large shape brushes by her.*

SOUL?

*She hears a voice falling*

SERENiiiityyyyy....

She turns and swoops down, passes Soul, then swings back up and catches him as she rises.*

Hi Soul, fancy meeting you here!

*Actually she can't see him, but he feels like Soul. Smells like him too. She really hopes it is him.*

Thanks for the catch *he says*

Anytime!

*She tries to control their decent, but the added weight pulls at them until she can't hold on any longer.*

Uh-oh.

*They begin to plummet. Serenity spreads her wings wide and does everything she can to slow their decent.*

This is gonna hurt.

Serenity, First Officer of Destiny

I have a live journal: http://www.livejournal.com/users/callmeserenity/

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Friday, October 28, 2005 11:32 AM

JAZAF

Jazaf notice Safe and Jack linking together and understood their intent. Jazaf stares up into nothing and formulates a with a plan.

'Mai, we're gonna need a lot more light here in a few seconds. Duece, you and I are gonna help Jake and Safe with catching our crewmembers. PR, as soon as you see Serenity and Soul try to slow their descent as much as you can without completly wasting yourself got it?'

PR nods and scans the air for the two falling crewmembers as Mai brightens the tower. A few tense minutes pass, 'Didn't look that big on the outside' Duece says with a questioning look.

'There!' PR shouts and immediately starts using his telekinesis to slow the falling couple. Jazaf, Jake, Safe, and Duece manuever quickly to get underneath their crewmembers. Even with PR's assist Serenity and Soul landed rather roughly on the crew, luckily it was not forceful enough to wound anyone.

---------------------------------------
Mystery Man on the Sereni-Tree

Navigator on Destiny

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Friday, October 28, 2005 4:44 PM

If I knew a path, I'd show you one. Quite frankly, I haven't the foggiest idea what's going on. You look...pale.

--------------------------------------------------------------
Chief Engineer - USS SereniTREE
http://tomeofgrey.blogspot.com
http://www.cafepress.com/thegreyjedi

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Friday, October 28, 2005 11:02 PM

COZEN

Good point. Well, off to the kitchen then. A steak would not be amiss. And scotch. Oban. Straight up.

***
"You think somebody wouldn't go see somebody if they didn't want entertainment?"

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Saturday, October 29, 2005 3:41 AM

The red discs in the skies over The Dark Tower and Whitfall change...the red clears and is replaced with a starry view. In the center a familiar form can be made out...The Sereni-Tree.

On board the Sereni-Tree, the hair on the back of GreyJedi's neck stand up. "I'm being watched". He looks up from the controls with a start. The room is empty but for him and the glow of the monitors. Cozen having left in search of food.

Jedi studies the scan reports for the Arkham. There's an energy spike. He looks quickly at the monitors. A red pool has appeared in place on one of the Arkhams docking bays.

Just as Jedi finishes thinking "that's odd", the pool gysers towards the Tree. "Holy S...!!".

The Tree is rocked by the impact, and is now connected to the Arkham by a column of red liquid.

Safeat2nd, Chief Handyman of Destiny

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Saturday, October 29, 2005 5:17 AM

(On the Sereni-Tree:)

Badger-clone stops Cozen on his way to the kitchen. He is wearing his suit and tie (with no shirt) and his very fine hat, which he doffs for Cozen.

“Greetin’s gov. We got us a little problem, you see. Me mates ‘ave been fallin’ apart ‘round me, even them silly Malcolmettes, and I can only guess what that’s all on account o’ you!”

Badger-clone draws a pistol and aims it menacingly.

“You need me, see. A man o’ standin’. A businessman. Someone to run yer operation like before. So you’ll be thinkin’ real hard, now, and…”

As Badger-clone falls to dust, his gun clatters to the deck.

Cozen continues to the kitchen.

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Saturday, October 29, 2005 5:18 AM

(On the Sereni-Tree:)

Jayne-clone1 enters the Infirmary and greets Montanagirl. “Hi, darlin’!” He holds up a brush. “Uh, I wuz gonna brush that long dark hair o’ yours one last time, but… Uh…”

Jayne-clone1 drops the brush, grabs Montanagirl and gives her a long, passionate kiss as only Jayne can. He stands with her for a moment, hugging her gently. Then he holds her at arm’s length and stares down into her eyes.

“Well…”

He pauses.

Then Jayne-clone1 suddenly turns and departs the Infirmary without another word.

When Montanagirl follows, she finds a little pile of dust just outside the door.

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Saturday, October 29, 2005 5:19 AM

(The Grant crew, in Ambush Valley on Whitefall:)

TheRealMe and Needleseye stand over some dead mutants and a couple piles of dust, dumbfounded.

Then Needle reaches over with a tentacle, taps TheRealMe on the shoulder, and points.

TheRealMe turns to find himself face to face with a Mal-clone. They stare at each other, surprised.

“Huh!” they both chorus.

TheRealMe’s communicator beeps, and he answers it. It is Ath.

Quote:
Ath wrote:
”Me, can you make me a portal, and set me down in the middle of those mutant things?”

"What?! Are you crazy?"

Quote:
Ath wrote:
"PLEASE!!", Ath screams, his throat tearing, "just do it!"

ME! PLEASE!!!!!

TheRealMe senses a disturbance in the force, and understands. He concentrates.

Quote:
Ath wrote:
*A portal opens up in front of Ath. Through the other side he can see a mass of hideous creatures. Ath grabs his lightsaber and drops it on the ground, then leaps into the hole.

Just as Ath hits the ground, his dark side comes bursting back, shoving Ath into the back of his mind once more.*

God, please don't let him get away.

*Darth Ath rolls, and pushes at the mutants who are now all around him. Many go flying, many more take their place. DA sends force lightning into them, burning dozens, but it doesn't stop them. Finally, one of the mutants gets a tentacle around his leg, sending him sprawling. The mutants pile on top of him.*

Needleseye starts to move forward to help, but TheRealMe urges her to stay. “It’s not safe, Needle! That isn’t Ath. It’s the Sith Lord Darth Ath, and you and I cannot defeat him. Come, we must go, while Ath walks his own path.”

Suddenly, the Mal-clone falls into a pile of dust.

Needleseye is startled. “What was that all about? What happened to him?”

TheRealMe shrugs. “I don’t know, Needle. Either Cozen is under some tremendous strain right now, or else I just don’t feel confident enough about writing dialog for Mal…”

TheRealMe, First Officer of the Sereni-Tree

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Saturday, October 29, 2005 5:20 AM

(Meanwhile, on the Sereni-Tree:)

As Cozen is in the kitchen pouring his scotch, he hears the door open behind him. He turns around.

It is a pair of Zoe-clones.

Zoe-clone1: “Sir, we need to talk.”

Zoe-clone4: “We need to talk NOW, sir.”

Zoe-clone1: “Our time is coming, sir, we know that.”

Zoe-clone4: “But THIS is not how we want to go out.”

Zoe-clone1: “It would be different if we went down in battle.”

Zoe-clone4: “Or in our sleep, not knowing.”

Zoe-clone1: “But just sitting around waiting to die…”

Cozen downs his drink in one gulp, then: “But you’re not even real…”

Zoe-clone4: “That’s one school of thought, sir.”

Cozen: “And there were only supposed to be two of you Zoes anyway.”

Zoe-clone1: “There WERE only two.”

Zoe-clone4: “It was because of PsychicRiver, when he was busy fight all of your dark halves over on the Adelai Niska. He needed a hand, and Zoe-clone3 and I appeared to help. ”

Zoe-clone1: “Anyway, when we were made back on Rukus, you never got around to including a Wash-clone in the set. In the time since, we’ve felt his absence.”

Zoe-clone4: “And the Wash-Malcolmette was never the same!”

Zoe-clone1 glances at her twin quizzically.

Zoe-clone4, glancing back: “What!? YOU never gave it a try?”

Zoe-clone1, embarrassed, turning back to Cozen: “So we want you to make us a Wash-clone. Even if it’s just for a little while.”

Zoe-clone: ”Two would be nice.”

Zoe-clone glares critically at her twin: “But one would be ENOUGH.”

Cozen, pouring himself another scotch: “Look, I don’t think that…”

Both Zoe-clones draw their weapons and level them at Cozen. The buzz-whine sound is heard.

Zoe-clone4: “Think harder, sir.”

Under this threat, Cozen does.

Wash-clone walks into the kitchen: “Hey everybody! What’s for dinner tonight? How about…”

The two Zoe-clones turn to face Wash-clone. They both drop their weapons, then stride over to embrace him.

Wash-clone, looking with surprise at first one Zoe, then the other: “Hey, I’m liking THIS! Stereo wives! Cozen, we’ll be in our bunk!”

Zoe-clone4, playing with Wash-clone’s hair: “No time, baby.”

Zoe-clone1 with a tear in her eye, to Cozen: “That you, sir!”

The Zoe-clones hug Wash tightly. Then all three fall to dust.

Sparky the robot walks into the kitchen with a brush and a dustpan to tidy up the place.

Cozen returns to his scotch.

Then MollyTheParrot, clone of Black Jack Silver, flies in and lands next to the bottle, and pecks at it.

Molly: “Squarch?”

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Saturday, October 29, 2005 5:21 AM

(The Grant crew, near the town of Bodie, on Whitefall:)

TheRealMe breathes on his tin star, shines it up on his shirt, and pins it on his vest. He puts on his white cowboy hat. “Yes, this is the place. Rat and I have been here, before.”

Rat seems confused. “We have?”

“Yep!” TheRealMe leads Rat, Jake7, Monkeytail, and Needleseye (once again in human form) down a hill into the little one-street town. He walks up to a saloon, pushes back the little swinging gates, and enters confidently, hands on his hips.

“Howdy!” he says.

The piano player stops the music. The patrons all turn to look at the newcomers.

The bartender groans as he looks at TheRealMe and Rat. “You two again? And I see you brought more friends. But we done told you already! We don’t know where Neroli or Gunhand are!”

A dumb-looking tough stands and smashes a bottle against the table, giving him a nasty-looking glass-shard-weapon-thing. “Let’s get’em!”

TheRealMe sighs. "Say, before we start all that, does anyone know of a woman named Emma? She'd be a stranger to the town."

(NOTE: For more on the posse that searched for Neroli and Gunhand, see: http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=11&t=9533.)

TheRealMe, First Officer of the Sereni-Tree

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Saturday, October 29, 2005 10:38 AM

MONKEYTAIL

*A mediocre looking barmaid hands Monkeytail something to drink. Monkeytail looks at the green liquid and downs it with a shrug. Immediately feeling the effects, Monkeytail's vision blurs.*

Monkeytail says "Oh shi..." as he falls to the floor.

On a good day, hell can look alot like LA.-Playing God

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Saturday, October 29, 2005 10:47 AM

MONKEYTAIL

*Monkeytail wakes up mere seconds later because of his jedi healing powers. now aware that perhaps the locals mean to do harm to the General Grant's crew, Monkeytail places his hand on his lightsaber and wispers to TheRealMe* "Do you have any asprin? I have a wicked headache. And I think we're in trouble."

On a good day, hell can look alot like LA.-Playing God

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Saturday, October 29, 2005 4:24 PM

N0SKILLZ

(near the town of Bodie, on Whitefall)

*A man sits in a dark corner, stroking the head of his oh so expensive black striped tiger that has been with him since birth, watching the events in front of him unfold.*

Interesting crew he's got here*he thinks to himself*

*The man puts down his drink and places a hand on the six shooter on his hip*

Can't be having this getting outta hand and disturbing or evening, now can we? *he whispers to his companion*

-----------------
"It's not that there HAS to be a sequel. It's just that I've got so many IDEAS..."-Joss Whedon
*Andersen AFB, Guam*

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Saturday, October 29, 2005 9:22 PM

COZEN

...Zoe clonefigments. Good gorram but they're hot, ain't they!

Right. The whole clone creation trip is much easier to maintain when their purposes are pleasurable. Heh. For all that, the Wash-clone, though imbued with copious amounts of joy, is troublesome to maintain.... Seems to want to not be there.... Strange.

The steak with broccoli dinner has restored sufficient ferric levels. And that's the trick baby: iron. Guess I'm feelin' good enough to restore a clonefigment for MontanaGirl.

*Outside the infirmary, a clump of dust resolves into a Jayneclone attempt. Oddly, the figment does not work out quite as planned.*

*MG is suddenly confronted by an apparition that for all the world appears to be...

... a cozenclone?!*

***
ack.

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Sunday, October 30, 2005 6:45 AM

THATWEIRDGIRL

******

Not part of the story...

Brilliant! Cozen, you sly dog, heh.

******

www.thatweirdgirl.com
---
"...turn right at the corner then skip two blocks...no, SKIP, the hopping-like thing kids do...Why? Why not?"

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Sunday, October 30, 2005 3:30 PM

JAZAF

'Thanks for the save guys.', Soul says gratefully, 'I thought I was a goner.'

There is a moment of awkward silence, then Safe speaks up 'Anybody got any ideas as to what to do now?'

'Heck, I'm fresh out. I'm running on nothing here. Did anyone think to carry some food?' Jazaf asks

---------------------------------------
Mystery Man on the Sereni-Tree

Navigator on Destiny

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Sunday, October 30, 2005 5:19 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by safeat2nd:
The Tree is rocked by the impact, and is now connected to the Arkham by a column of red liquid.

...

*makes his way, determined and slow, to the approximate site of the impact. He finds the connection to be, conveniently, in the docking bay. He goes to a nearby porthole and stares at the red liquid columnm, wishing he had been paying attention to the rest of the thread.*

...

*stares a minute or two more.

...What...the hell.

*Something in the back of his mind itches. he stares into the red liquid that seems to have appeared on the inside of SereniTREE's hull. He places his right hand against the surface. It is thick, sticky. He wipes his hand against the bulkhead, leaving a long red print, looking like dragged blood. He reaches forward with his left hand. The red fluid parts down the whole length to the arkham, opening a tube. he walks in, the suface solidifying under his feet, his left hand falling to his lightsaber.*

So be it.

--------------------------------------------------------------
Chief Engineer - USS SereniTREE
http://tomeofgrey.blogspot.com
http://www.cafepress.com/thegreyjedi

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Sunday, October 30, 2005 6:01 PM

CALLMEATH

*Buried under a pile of mutants, Darth Ath has time to reflect on all the horrible things he'd like to do to regular Ath, before one of them takes a chunk out of his leg.

The only thing keeping him from screaming is his Sith training. However, he can't say the same when one of the tentacles wraps around his forarm and breaks both bones.

Using his anger, DA creates a giant Force shockwave, sending mutants flying (think Matrix: Reloaded, just not so lame). He then leaps, (again, with the Force) landing near the top of the valley where TRM and crew held off the mutants. He lays there for a while, trying to regain what little strength he has left.*

Do you mind telling why the you dropped me in the middle of those things?

To keep you away from the Tower. Only one man deserves to get to the top, and you don't have any revolvers.

I notice your friends didn't exactly rush to save you. Or were you hoping to get us killed? Oh, how noble.

As long as I kept you from the Tower, it's a risk I was willing to take.

*Their conversation is interrupted by the sound of the mutants making their way up the path towrads DA's position. DA chuckles.*

Well, looks like you may get your wish after all.

"Invader's blood marches through my veins like giant radioactive rubber pants. The pants command me! Do not ignore my veins!"

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Sunday, October 30, 2005 10:37 PM

PSYCHICRIVER

Quote:
Originally posted by Jazaf:
'Thanks for the save guys.', Soul says gratefully, 'I thought I was a goner.'

There is a moment of awkward silence, then Safe speaks up 'Anybody got any ideas as to what to do now?'

'Heck, I'm fresh out. I'm running on nothing here. Did anyone think to carry some food?' Jazaf asks

Well, maybe we should try and find the others, or just...to check if they're okay.

Anybody here got their wrist-watch communicators?

PsychicRiver

"Two by two, hands of blue."

"We'll take care of each other. I'll knit!"
"I swallowed a bug."

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Sunday, October 30, 2005 10:40 PM

(The Lee crew, in the town of Bodie, on Whitefall:)

TheRealMe goes flying through the holographic window of the saloon in Bodie. He lands roughly in the unpaved road outside, face in the dirt. He is somewhat annoyed.

“Well, if you didn’t know about Emma, just SAY so!”

TheRealMe is somewhat worried about Monkeytail letting loose his full Jedi powers upon the simple, ignorant inhabitants of….

Then Monkeytail comes flying out of the same window.

Jake7 and Needleseye, protected by the former’s force field, walk backward out of the saloon’s swinging doors, wary of harming the drunken inhabitants inside.

TheRealMe looks up from his prone position in the road, to see an unfamiliar person nearby, standing next to a huge tiger! TheRealMe gets to his feet, dusts himself off, and adjusts his white hat, just as Rat flies out of the saloon’s holographic window.

TheRealMe tips his hat to the stranger. “Greetings, friend! I am TheRealMe!”

Just then, TheRealMe feels a disturbance in the Force.

“Ath?”

TheRealMe, First Officer of the Sereni-Tree

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Monday, October 31, 2005 12:00 AM

N0SKILLZ

"Greetings TheRealMe, I'm known as N0Skillz around these parts. These folks around here aren't to friendly , eh? Got the hole in my ship to prove it..."

N0Skillz notices the look on TheRealMe's face as he says

Quote:
“Ath?”

"Huh?"

N0Skillz looks through his binoculars in the direction TheRealMe suddenly turned, and saw a figure in the distance, who seemed to be in a smidge of trouble.

"A friend of yours?"

-----------------
"It's not that there HAS to be a sequel. It's just that I've got so many IDEAS..."-Joss Whedon
*Andersen AFB, Guam*

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Monday, October 31, 2005 3:13 AM

"Friend, brutal master, and arch-enemy, depending on the day. But I can't let him die."

TheRealMe concentrates.

TheRealMe, First Officer of the Sereni-Tree

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Monday, October 31, 2005 3:31 AM

MAI

"Squarch?"

Translation:What in the hell is happening to all the clones and clones of the clones?
I AM FREAKING OUT!

"Squuuuuuuuuuuuuawwwwwwwwrrrrrkkkkkkkk"

*Opens the bottle with her razor sharp beak and swallows the remanider of the scotch contents*

"Squa*hic*wk, Sq*hic*uawk...

Translation: FYI your fellow crew are in peril. Not the warm and fuzzy peril of blown up planets kinda peril, more like everyones gonna be lost in some deep dark void forever kinda peril.

*Passes out underneath table relieved to not be among the dustables.*

****************************************************************************************************
NOTE: Molly was too drunk to sign in under her own name.

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Monday, October 31, 2005 4:02 AM

Safe dusts himself off.

"The way I see it, being as how there are no stairs and only Serenity can fly... this tower is a dead-end."

Safe looks at the newcomer. "Soul, is it? How, exactly, did you get up there anyhow? It's obvious you can't fly."

"There were stairs. I agree, this tower may be a dead-end... for us at least..." Soul trails off as he stares back up at the darkness. Concern flashes briefly across his face.

Safeat2nd, Chief Handyman of Destiny

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Monday, October 31, 2005 5:37 AM

SOULOFSERENITY

The Man They Call Soul...

Soul stands there, his arms crossed, staring up into the darkness of the tower. He knows that somewhere far up there is his friend, alone, and Soul can't help but to wish that there was something he could do. He turns to Serenity.

"I just want to say thank you. You saved my life up there."

She smiles softly. "You would have done the same."

Soul grins, finally. "Well, I'm not sure how much use I would have been, given that I have no pretty wings of my own."

Serenity opens her mouth to speak, but the tower suddenly shakes violently, throwing everyone to the ground. Soul looks up as the sound of a violent explosion reaches his ears, and his eyes widen in horror as a wall of flame races down the tower towards them.

"Quick!" Jazaf yells. "We can get out through the hole I cut in the...door..." His voice trails off.

Soul looks over at the wall to where the door was, but instead, all he can see is the wall. He leaps to his feet and spins around, but he can't find the door. There is nothing but flat, solid wall...and the flames are racing closer. Then he remembers PR saying something about wrist communicators, so Soul turns his on and begins to yell into it.

"Me, we could really use a portal right about now! We're about to be toast!"

______________________

Soul, Security Chief of the Sereni-Tree, Captain of Destiny.

Mantichorus: "So is there a reason they call you 'Soul'?"
Soul (after a long pause): "Yeah. Because I have one."

http://havenofsouls.blogspot.com/

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Monday, October 31, 2005 6:12 AM

Go back just a bit...

Quote:
Originally posted by Jazaf:
Did anyone think to carry some food?' Jazaf asks

Oh, I think I've got an apple somewhere!

*Serenity fishes through her pockets and pulls out what was once an apple, but what is now more like applesauce inside of a peel.*

Guess it didn't survive the fall too well.

Sorry.

Now back to your regularly scheduled peril, already in progress

Serenity, First Officer of Destiny

I have a live journal: http://www.livejournal.com/users/callmeserenity/

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Monday, October 31, 2005 6:30 AM

(With the Lee crew in the town of Bodie on Whitefall)

Just as he is concentrating on making a dimensional portal through which he could go save Ath, TheRealMe gets a priority beep on his com-link from Soul, requesting an emergency portal to escape some disaster.

TheRealMe switches his thought patterns, and forms a portal to wherever Soul is. A point of light appears in front of him, which expands to become a ring of fire around a dark void, perhaps as tall as a person. But this time, it is not a perfect circle. It is wobbling and inconstant, changing size and warping.

TheRealMe keys his com-link.

"Soul, that's the best I can do, and I can't hold it long. It was VERY difficult to break through the dimensional barrier to you! Where in hell are you?"

TheRealMe considers the events of the last few hours and thinks that "Hell" may not be far off.

And what about Ath?

TheRealMe, First Officer of the Sereni-Tree

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Monday, October 31, 2005 7:17 AM

STATIC

Static stands at the top of the tower grimly. For a moment, he contemplates hurling himself into the darkness and ending the cycle, but he decides to see how things will play out, instead.

The curtains before him remain closed, but behind them he can hear soft laughter. With a deep breath, he steps through.

On the other side of the curtains is a shimmering apparition of a figure in a hooded cloak. Laughter rolls softly from beneath the hood. Static's hands are a blur of motion and his revolvers thunder six times. The huge slugs pass harmlessly through the apparition and strike the wall behind.

"You don't honestly think I'd be standing around in my own trap, do you? I am just a figment of your imagination, Gunslinger."

Static grunts, "You are an astral projection, or perhaps even a product of technology. But I am no so whimsical in the brainpan that I'd imagine such as you."

The apparition laughs, "Don't lie to me, Gunslinger. Your imagination comes up with all sorts of lovely images all the time. You are constantly haunted with images of friends you failed to save, a woman who's love you failed to hold...darkness is no stranger to your thoughts."

"My friends died because it was their time," Static responds stoically, "and her love didn't 'hold' because it was a false love. Were it true, it would've stood against all things. Now toy with me no further. You cannot anger me. You must either kill me or stand aside so I can find my true tower. This false tower cannot hold me."

"Oh, but it can." The Shade taunts, "It is sealed...and by now, your friends below are all dead...frightened to death by the illusions I throw at them. There is no way for you to climb down...so you shall starve to death...a nice, slow, undignified death for you. Unless you'll do me the pleasure of letting me watch you paint the walls with your own brains from your own guns."

Static nods soberly, "So that is your game? I shall pleasure you by dying the way you wish me to die? I think not."

Without another word, Static backs out of the room. The shade moves forward in protest.

"Wait...what are you doing? No...don't!!!!"

Static smiles and salutes as he steps backwards from the edge and falls into the darkness without a sound.

http://burstsofstatic.blogspot.com

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Monday, October 31, 2005 7:38 AM

JAKE7

**jake7 and Needleseye are standing outside the bar, trying to figure out what to do next when suddenly Rat comes crashing through the holographic window and flies right by, barely missing them**

Rat: AAAAAAH

**Rat lands with an uncomfortable thud then gets up and dusts himself off. He mumbles to himself:**

And those could have been my kind of people!

**He turns and goes back into the bar. jake7 and Needleseye just look at each other and shrug.**

Well, Needleseye, got any ideas what we should be prepared for next??

--------------
MAL: Everybody's makin' a fuss.

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Monday, October 31, 2005 7:40 AM

SOULOFSERENITY

The Man They Call Soul...

Quote:
Originally posted by TheRealMe:
TheRealMe switches his thought patterns, and forms a portal to wherever Soul is. A point of light appears in front of him, which expands to become a ring of fire around a dark void, perhaps as tall as a person. But this time, it is not a perfect circle. It is wobbling and inconstant, changing size and warping.

TheRealMe keys his com-link.

"Soul, that's the best I can do, and I can't hold it long. It was VERY difficult to break through the dimensional barrier to you! Where in hell are you?"

"We're at the bottom of a very big tower, and there's all measure of unpleasantness comin' towards us in the form of a very big fireball." Soul looks warily at the portal, and then around at his friends. They all nod at him in reluctant agreement He keys the comm again. "Me, you better go save Ath. The portal doesn't look too good from this end. Besides, at least with Ath, you've got a better chance of getting him out." He releases the button and watches as the portal disappears. "We might as well be in hell," he says, squeezing his eyes shut moments before the fireball engulfs them all and--

Nothing. Soul opens one eye to see that his friends are still there, and all in one piece. Slowly they all stand and open their eyes.

"What in the hell was that?" Jazaf asks.

PR closes his eyes. "An illusion...something more..." Then his eyes snap open and he looks up into the blackness of the tower. "Static! He's...not playing by the rules."

"What the hell does that mean?" Safe asks.

"He's falling."

"Mai, we need some light!" Serenity yells as she collapses to the floor. As the room brightens, Serenity grins weakly. "I can't do it again. Sorry."

Soul tries to grin at Serenity. "Hey, you still saved my life."

Soul runs to the center of the room and stares upward as Mai's light penetrates the gloom. He can hear the whistle of something falling through the air, and he can just make out a shape careening towards him. Without a second thought, Soul pulls out an arrow and selects an arrowhead that he thought he would never have to use. He notches the arrow, points the bow skyward, and lets the projectile fly, praying that for once, his aim is true.

"What was that?" Jack asks.

"A phoenix," Soul replies.

______________________

Soul, Security Chief of the Sereni-Tree, Captain of Destiny.

Mantichorus: "So is there a reason they call you 'Soul'?"
Soul (after a long pause): "Yeah. Because I have one."

http://havenofsouls.blogspot.com/

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Monday, October 31, 2005 7:52 AM

(Lee Crew in the town of Bodie on Whitefall)

The strain of maintaining the dimensional portal to Soul is too great, and it collapses. TheRealMe curses under his breath, heaves a heavy sigh, and works on another with which to save Ath.

"Sorry, Noskills, we are sort of in the middle of something here. We would welcome your help, if you could offer any. And you say you had a hole in your ship?"

TheRealMe, First Officer of the Sereni-Tree

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Monday, October 31, 2005 7:52 AM

Safe looks up in alarm. Which passes to puzzlement. He reaches out a grabs Serenity's arm just as she's about to jump through the portal.

"Hold up a minute, somethin's not right."

Soul eyes Safe with curiosity. Most the rest, with panic.

Jack, "Safe..?". The portal collapses. "Umm...Safe???"

Soul, "Well?"

Safe, "No heat."

The rest look up. All cringe expectantly. Safe closes his eyes. The flames race closer. "PR, I could use some of your special kinda help. I need calm...just trust me ok?"

PR looks at Safe unsure but closes his eyes and concentrates. Lissa's wild eyed look calms, as do the others.

The flames wash over the group leaving them untouched.

PR's eyes pop open "There is another!!"

Safeat2nd, Chief Handyman of Destiny

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Monday, October 31, 2005 9:10 AM

PSYCHICRIVER

It's just a game.

The house always wins.

PsychicRiver

"Two by two, hands of blue."

"We'll take care of each other. I'll knit!"
"I swallowed a bug."

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Monday, October 31, 2005 10:21 AM

*Looks at PR quizzically.*

Well then, can we fold?

Serenity, First Officer of Destiny

I have a live journal: http://www.livejournal.com/users/callmeserenity/

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Monday, October 31, 2005 11:46 AM

PSYCHICRIVER

Quote:
Originally posted by CallMeSerenity:
*Looks at PR quizzically.*

Well then, can we fold?

Why not. We've already broken several other rules.

I mean, we shouldn't even be in here, for a start.

PsychicRiver

"Two by two, hands of blue."

"We'll take care of each other. I'll knit!"
"I swallowed a bug."

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Monday, October 31, 2005 12:17 PM

STATIC

Quote:
Originally posted by SoulOfSerenity:

"What was that?" Jack asks.

"A phoenix," Soul replies.

Static falls...

and falls...

and falls...

without warning, there is a sharp pain in the center of his back. He gasps and clutches at his chest. An arrow is protruding from it, piercing his heart. As he continues to fall, he tries to pull at the arrow, but his strength fades immediately. With a soft sigh, his life escapes him.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Static's lifeless body lands with a solid thud in the center of the group standing at the base of the tower. There are gasps, and even one choked sob. Before anyone can rush to the Gunslinger's corpse, SoulofSerenity raises his arms, holding everyone back.

"Wait." he says, simply.

From the center of Static's chest, the arrowhead begins to glow. Softly at first, and then more and more brightly. The glow spreads down the shaft of the arrow and then seems to spread through Static's chest first, and then the rest of his body. The arrow glows brighter and brighter until noone can even look directly at it. They all shield their eyes.

When the light fades, Static is standing there before them, alive and unharmed. He rolls his head slowly, cracking his neck audibly.

"That," he says, finally, "was unpleasant."

http://burstsofstatic.blogspot.com

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Monday, October 31, 2005 12:45 PM

*reaches the end of the crimson walk way. He peers over the edge at a small dusty town, very far below him. He blinks. And annoyed look comes to his face.*

...

*A scent plays across the wind, familiar...flowers...the sea...

danger...

His right eye twitches. He checks a reading on his keytool. It reads an altitude of 30,000 feet. He squints...and leaps out into the air. His eyes are closed as he descends, overcome by a strange sense of deja vu.*

--------------------------------------------------------------
Chief Engineer - USS SereniTREE
http://tomeofgrey.blogspot.com
http://www.cafepress.com/thegreyjedi

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Monday, October 31, 2005 12:56 PM

BLUEFISHIE

My brain hurts...

^by my friend Yoko, an interprentation of me

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Monday, October 31, 2005 1:28 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Static:
There are gasps, and even one choked sob

*from Serenity, who grabs onto the person nearest her (just so happens to be Greek. Because Greek and Proxy are with us, too, lest we forget.) for support.*

Quote:
When the light fades, Static is standing there before them, alive and unharmed. He rolls his head slowly, cracking his neck audibly.

"That," he says, finally, "was unpleasant."

*Serenity, relieved, begins to sob in earnest.*

"You okay?" asks Greek in a whisper. He looks a bit worried.

"I don't know how much more of this I can take." says Serenity, and she sinks to the ground.

Serenity, First Officer of Destiny

I have a live journal: http://www.livejournal.com/users/callmeserenity/

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Monday, October 31, 2005 2:33 PM