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Originally posted by CallMeSerenity:
Don't worry, SR. Seryn and Finn are with Seraphina and me. We're in my quarters, behind locked and sealed doors. We're both armed and, as you know, we are quite capable of taking care of ourselves. We're just having a bit of a play date, out of harm's way.


We hope.

Serenity,
President of The Juggled Gosling Chatroom
Bride8
Wielder of the Magic Frying Pan of Sleep

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Quote:

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Originally posted by TheRealMe:

“Negative, Bride4. Do not leave Main Engineering. Keep it shut tight. If FemaleReaver gets in there, she could blow up the engines or kill life support or trap us in hyperspace forever!”

“Well, okay, but based on what the DRD readings tell me, she can use these taps to view just about anything from any camera on the ship. Read our e-mails. Things like that. At least when the DRDs get back, I’ll be able to…”

“Negative, Bride4. Do not allow the DRDs to return to Main Engineering. She could follow them inside.”

Jet seems annoyed. “Whatever! Paranoid enough?”

TheRealMe gives a grim smile as he signs off. “No, not nearly enough.”

TheRealMe, Captain of the Sereni-Tree

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Quote:

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Originally posted by TheRealMe:
TheRealMe addresses Kei, "No, Sir Kei, it is most likely that you had a run-in with our enemy, who is stalking us here. Oh, and this place is our ship, Sereni-Tree. But it is not a ship that sails over the seas; it is a ship that sails between the stars. And... uh... there's no air outside. We have to bring that with us."

He turns to BC07, "And you say that FemaleReaver emits phermones, the lingering trace of which nearly Reaverizes you when you contact them? And you propose to track her by scent? No, I don't think so. I will not have TWO Reavers being the best-armed people on this ship. Stand down, mister, until WE have some way to control you or curb your violent moods! I'll forgive this incident, because you are new and nobody got hurt. But if you ever go wild and harm a member of this ship's company, I'll have you tossed out an air lock, hyperspace or no."

TheRealMe's com-link beeps. "Huh. I have a message waiting for me in my office. Excuse me. I need to see who this is. It might be HER."




TheRealMe, Captain of the Sereni-Tree

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Quote:

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Originally posted by TheRealMe:
TheRealMe sits at his desk in his office, tapping a pen against its smooth surface. “Computer, replay the last message again.”

How long had it been since TheRealMe talked to River-clone? Not in a long time. Too long, perhaps not since Washie vanished. Washie…

River-clone’s face re-appears on the screen. She looks sad, but determined. “A spider weaves its web. Traps us. Traps us all. Fear. Terror. Hate. It feeds on these. Grows stronger. Bolder. Sucks it into itself as it stalks us. It won’t kill us, not yet. It’s having too much fun. A feast of terror. Spiders have many eyes. Many eyes to watch us!” A tear begins to work its way down her face and she nods. “I’m going now. Yes. Got to go. It is coming for me.”

The screen goes dark as the message ends. Then there is a buzz at the door and Soul enters, carrying a bowl. He carefully places it on TheRealMe’s desk.

TheRealMe stares down at the bowl. It is full of dust. He looks up at Soul. “Clone dust? Did River-clone spontaneously dissolve like the rest of them? We’ve seen clones dissolve before. But that would be an amazing coincidence for it to happen now. Or is that what is left if a clone is killed, too?”

“Unknown,” Soul answers quietly. “For all I know she took up smoking and got messy with the ashes. But this is what my people found in River-clone’s room. Dust, but no River-clone.”

“And PsychicRiver?”

Soul places a com-link on the desk. “Here is his assigned com-link, but there was no sign of him.”

TheRealMe ponders this. “So he got taken by FemaleRiver? Kidnapped again? Or did he slip off the ship like he used to?”

“Unknown. But there are no records of anyone leaving in one of the pods or shuttles before the Jump, or since.”

“So this means that every reliable mind-reader that we have is gone?”

“Pretty much.”

“I should have seen this coming. We could have tracked her down with a mind-reader, through any disguise.”

There is a beep. “Jet here. You were right. There are signs of a tap into our information network at three places. But I won’t be able to sort them out unless I go to each site personally.”

“Negative, Bride4. Do not leave Main Engineering. Keep it shut tight. If FemaleReaver gets in there, she could blow up the engines or kill life support or trap us in hyperspace forever!”

“Well, okay, but based on what the DRD readings tell me, she can use these taps to view just about anything from any camera on the ship. Read our e-mails. Things like that. At least when the DRDs get back, I’ll be able to…”

“Negative, Bride4. Do not allow the DRDs to return to Main Engineering. She could follow them inside.”

Jet seems annoyed. “Whatever! Paranoid enough?”

TheRealMe gives a grim smile as he signs off. “No, not nearly enough.”

Mostly to himself, TheRealMe mutters, "And we don't even know if this River-clone message might be a fabrication, a diversion."

“When will we drop out of hyperspace?” Soul asks.

TheRealMe shrugs. “About a week. Whatever FemaleReaver’s plan is, she knows that she has to be finished by then, or I will find her with my dimensional portals.”

“Unless she takes you out before then.”

“Or unless the place we’re headed is more dangerous than she is, and we have more than her to worry about. Have you checked on Bride1’s room, yet? Nobody has seen her in a while.”

Soul places another com-link on the desk. “Yeah, I checked Ace’s room, too. Empty.”

"Okay, without mind-readers, do we dare to use BrownCoat07's nose to track her down?"

"So, would you really have spaced him... into hyperspace?"

"Aw, you know what a softie I am. Probably not. But I would have had him locked up, for his safety and ours. She's probably lying in wait for a driect attack, with all the weapons in your arsenal."


TheRealMe, Captain of the Sereni-Tree

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Quote:

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Originally posted by TheRealMe:
As Bluefishie follows her marker line back the way she came, she meets a bug-shaped robot about the size of a large dog. It is using fluffy spinning disks to buff off and clean up the line she was following!

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Quote:

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"Of course it helps if the helmets not stuck." He added. He started searching his pockets for something before pulling a tube of yellow paste and a tube of green liquid from his jacket. "Right this should work, this is lubricant, very useful in such circumstances, and this stuff'll crack that helmet in two nicely."

Citizen leaned over and started applying the yellow paste to the outside of the helmet. "Hold still, don't want to have this stuff go off on you."

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Quote:

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Originally posted by Bluefishie:

Quote:

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Originally posted by TheRealMe:
As Bluefishie follows her marker line back the way she came, she meets a bug-shaped robot about the size of a large dog. It is using fluffy spinning disks to buff off and clean up the line she was following!

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*stomps her foot*

"Well shit!"

*kicks the robot*

"Don't supposed you can help me find my way back?"

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Quote:

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Originally posted by TheRealMe:
TheRealMe joins BC07 at the duct exit. He helps BC07 carry Ace to the Infirmary. He is grim and quiet and does not speak. Ace is put under the care of Doctor SimonWho. For a while, TheRealMe just watches him work on her.

He pulls out his com-link. "Bride4?"

Jet's voice comes over the link: "Yes?"

As TheRealMe was talking on his com-link, BC07 starts to depart, but TheRealMe gestures for him to wait.

"Bride4, once we drop out of hyperspace at our destination, how long before we can jump the ship again?"

"Well, space has to relax around us. Also, the capacitors have to recharge before...

"Give me a number. Best guess. I think that the destination that FemaleReaver set for us is not a place we want to stay for long."

Thirty-three minutes.

"I see. Well, just assume that is what we'll do. Be as ready as possible for a quick turnaround."

"Destination?"

"Anyplace."

TheRealMe signs off and turns to BC07.

"So, BrownCoat2007, let's talk about how you can track down this monster on our ship. I really don't like having to worry about you going berserk, but you are right about one thing: she has got to be tracked down. We have to stop her. What is the safest way we can accomplish this? What can you tell me about your abilities and weaknesses in this regard?"



TheRealMe, Captain of the Sereni-Tree

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Quote:

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Originally posted by TheRealMe:
A door opens and a tall, blue-eyed woman with curly blonde hair pokes her head out. She smiles at Bluefishie.

"What's wrong? Are you lost? I get lost all the time, too!" She squeals with glee and jumps up and down. "We're just like sisters!"


Bobbie Sue, Bride6

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Originally posted by TheRealMe:
TheRealMe to ScorpionRegent, after deactivating all com units in his office:

"Excellent ideas all, ScorpionRegent. Yes, please coordinate with Jet for analysis of the network taps. Though leave one active. We might be able to use that to our advantage by feeding her information. Good idea to shepherd the DRDs. Any sabotage or trap is possible with FemaleReaver.

"Yes, McQ would make a fine partner.

Whispers: "Oh, it is possible that FemaleReaver might try to get off the ship via a shuttle right after we drop into normal space again. I don't want that to happen. I'm considering either sabotaging all of our shuttles, or blowing the hanger doors to put the hanger in vacuum. Then again, we may be able to trap her there."


TheRealMe, Captain of the Sereni-Tree

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Quote:

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Originally posted by Bluefishie:

Quote:

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Originally posted by TheRealMe:
A door opens and a tall, blue-eyed woman with curly blonde hair pokes her head out. She smiles at Bluefishie.

"What's wrong? Are you lost? I get lost all the time, too!" She squeals with glee and jumps up and down. "We're just like sisters!"


Bobbie Sue, Bride6

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*cocks eyebrow*

"Sisters?"

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Quote:

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Originally posted by ScorpionRegent:

Quote:

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Originally posted by TheRealMe:
TheRealMe to ScorpionRegent, after deactivating all com units in his office:

"Excellent ideas all, ScorpionRegent. Yes, please coordinate with Jet for analysis of the network taps. Though leave one active. We might be able to use that to our advantage by feeding her information. Good idea to shepherd the DRDs. Any sabotage or trap is possible with FemaleReaver.

"Yes, McQ would make a fine partner.

Whispers: "Oh, it is possible that FemaleReaver might try to get off the ship via a shuttle right after we drop into normal space again. I don't want that to happen. I'm considering either sabotaging all of our shuttles, or blowing the hanger doors to put the hanger in vacuum. Then again, we may be able to trap her there."


TheRealMe, Captain of the Sereni-Tree

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"Well I've put in a call to McQ, in the meantime I'll start by coordinating with Jet, checking those access points and then rounding up the DRD's and giving them the once over in the common room. If McQ hasn't shown up by then, I'll take GreyJedi if he'll have me. I've always wanted to meet the legend. We have sometime before we get to, ... where we're going, so I guess the shuttle situation is lower priority."

"Sounds good SR, let's get busy making the tree a safer place."

SR steps outside the office and toggles up his com-link, "Jet, it's SR where do you want to start?"

OOC: I sent McQ a E-mail asking for help.


Scorpion Regent

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Originally posted by TheRealMe:
"Oh, HERE it is!" Bobbie Sue exclaims. "Here's my map!"

She looks up to find herself alone. She looks around for Bluefishie. "Oh, darn! And here I was hoping to do her hair and makeup!"


Bobbie Sue, Bride6

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Originally posted by BrownCoat2007:
As BC heads towards the last known location of the FemaleReaver, he smells something he doesn't like... something he doesn't like at all, and his eyes begin to gain a bloody tint over the golden color... he smells FemaleReaver, and her scent is close to Fishies, much to close... letting loose a feral growl he slides to s top and begins running back the way he came. Hitting an open area he sees FemaleReaver about to stab Bluefishie in her unprotected back... forgetting he has no weapon, BC dives in the way of the blade, takeing the blow into and through his cheast, he grabs FemaleReaver by the throat and slams her against a wall, and, still holding her, he pulls the katana out of his cheast and puts the already bloody blade against her throat

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Originally posted by BrownCoat2007:
Hearing the cry for help from Bluefishie, BC decides to finish the fight, he takes the katana and drives it through the center of FemaleReavers chest, with a shreak of metal on metal, the katana pierces through the reaver, and deep into the bulkhead behind her... finaly comeing down from his rage, he notices the hole near his heart, and all of the almost black blood pouring out of the wound

"well... *coughs up blood* thats one for the records"

passes out on the floor from blood loss.

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Originally posted by BrownCoat2007:
OOC: Just wanted to wish those of you who are christian/ lutheran a good palm sunday,

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Originally posted by SoulOfSerenity:
Soul stands slowly and turns to face the impaled body of the FemaleReaver...who is pulling the katana out of her chest. She drops to the floor with a sickening thud, and then glares up at Soul, who is now holding his dagger out in front of him.

"You know, you really need to learn how to stay dead."

With a roar, she jumps up faster than someone with a gaping chest wound has a right to, and swings the katana at Soul's head. He dives to the side, grabbing Blue and pulling her down with him. He lunges for the FemaleReaver's feet as she passes, and she falls again. Soul dives on top of her, crying out as he plunges his glowing dagger down into--

The floor?

Soul takes a moment, looking around. There is a pool of blood on the floor underneath him, but no FemaleReaver.

"Dammit!" he shouts. "Why can't you just die?"

He grabs his comm unit again.

"Me, she's not dead. I swear, I had her, but she pulled off one hell of a disappearing act."

______________________

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."

I'm blogging about the novel I'm writing! Stay informed, and keep me inspired! Please!

http://havenofsouls.blogspot.com/

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Originally posted by TheRealMe:
Even later:

TheRealMe is sleeping in his bed, feeling comfortable and relaxed under the covers. He is in pitch darkness. Then he wakes and opens his eyes. "I knew you would come here, eventually," he says without emotion.

FemaleReaver is calm as well. "And why shouldn't I? You were the one who imprisoned me. Who hunted me down when I escaped your cage."

"Who kept you alive when there were easier solutions?"

"But I have you now! You are not fast enough to escape my blade!" She lunges at him, still unseen in the darkness. TheRealMe puts a certain pillow over his face. There is a spark as metal strikes metal. "What? Are you wearing some kind of body armor, or…"

"Excelsior!" TheRealMe says, voice muffled by the pillow.

"What?"

The computer answers, "Acknowledged."

Immediately, dozens of hi-powered lasers flash into being, slicing through TheRealMe's bedroom, their criss-crossed moving pattern and multiple origin points ensuring that no object larger than a mouse could escape being hit. The paths of the beams cut across TheRealMe numerous times, but he is wearing metal armor that is so highly polished that beams are reflected. The pillow protecting his face has a similar mirror surface. All of the possessions and furniture in the room are melted, set on fire, or otherwise destroyed.

The FemaleReaver is fatally hit multiple times, but manages to phase through the floor as she did before.

TheRealMe smiles. "Gotcha!"

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In the chamber directly below TheRealMe's quarters, Soul gets the signal he was waiting for. "Get ready, people! She's coming! Remember the plan!"



TheRealMe, Captain of the Sereni-Tree

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Quote:

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Originally posted by TheRealMe:
A FEW HOURS EARLIER:
OOC: Well, McQ, if I related the plan FIRST, then we would have lost the element of suspense in that last scene. I'm sure that everyone was concerned that TheRealMe was a gonner! Oh, nobody cared? Oh, and if someone has an alternate plan, it could be incorporated. The important bit though is that FemaleReaver should be outsmarted. She's too clever to fall in a frontal assault, unless we have OVERWHELMING firepower.

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Originally posted by CallMeSerenity:

OOC: we now return you to your regularly scheduled peril....



Serenity,
President of The Juggled Gosling Chatroom
Bride8
Wielder of the Magic Frying Pan of Sleep

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