USS SereniTREE: A Tale of Two Trees by TheGreyJedi

On the bridge, one of the shadows against the wall grows solid and The Dark Static shimmers into existence. The "good" Static smiles.

"So. . .what do we know?"

DarkStatic rolls his head slowly, cracking his neck loudly and leans against the bulkhead, "Call everyone in so's I can tell it once without repeating myself."

"Yeah, but," Static asks, "Then they'll see two of us together." DarkStatic laughs.

"Yeah. I wanna see their faces."

Static smirks, "Oh, have it your way." then keys the comms switch.

Attention, attention, all personnel to the bridge for update.

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Sunday, July 3, 2005 5:44 PM

The Man They Call Soul...

*Soul walks slowly to the bridge, his head still reeling from what Simon had just done for him. Soul now understands a bit more about his dark twin, but he still has no memory of his past, or why his twin wants to hurt him so bad. Why take the women? It makes no sense. The one thing that Simon's procedure has succeeded in doing is to open up a line of comminication between Soul and EvilSoul, a line that Soul now wants to shut off.*

You have no idea, do you?

Well, given that I can't read your twisted mind, I would say no.

You really don't understand our relationship here, do you? You still hold onto the thought that we are twins, brothers of flesh, nothing more.

Well, you look like me. That's kinda my first clue.

*EvilSoul chuckles.*

You really are oblivious, aren't you. If only you could remember what you were, and how I came to be.

Yeah, remembering would be nice. I would love to know my favorite color, or how about my favorite food? Ooh, here's one: just who in the hell am I?

Would you like to know?

*Soul pauses, his emotions fighting inside of him. Can his twin really restore his memory? And if Soul can remember again, does he really want to?*

Yes. I want to know.

I was hoping you'd say that. While I had good reason to wipe your memory before, I must admit that it's a bit boring without you hounding me.

*Like a bomb exploding in Soul's head, a sudden rush of searing pain drives Soul to his knees, as his life comes flooding back to him. A scream so primal errupts from his lungs, less from the physical pain, but more from the pain of his memories that are returning to him. He senses someone come up to him, but his brain is raw, the unlocked memories fresh in his mind, tearing away at him. Finally, after his breath is expelled, the scream dies away, and Soul begins to suck for air as tears come streaming down his face.*

That's not me! That was not me! How could I do things like that?

You said you wanted to know. I simply followed your wish.

You son of a bitch!

Careful now. By calling me that, you're insulting yourself. You know the truth now, don't you?

*Soul shakes his head.*

You are not me!

No, but I am a part of you. Why do you still deny it?

You saw the darkness. You pulled away from me.

But you let me go. That's why you lost her. That's why she died. Because you didn't have me. I am your strength, and you let me go.

*EvilSoul pauses, and when he starts speaking again, his voice cracks with emotion.*

I lost her, too, and it's all because of you! If you hadn't let me go, we could have saved her! It's your fault she's dead! Yours! And now you're going to pay for that, with the lives of everyone that's close to you, that means anything to you. I want...no, I need you to feel how I feel, feel my loss.

I felt that loss!! I was there when she died!

But you got to say goodbye!

*Silence descends. Soul knows that someone is shaking his body, trying to pull him out of the trance he's in. He lets them pull him back, and he leaves that place in his mind, with only his dark side's echoing voice remaining.*

It's your fault!

*Soul looks up as Ath helps him to his feet.*

What happened to you there, man?

*Soul shakes his head.*

I'll tell everyone. Let's get to the bridge.

______________________

Soul, Security Chief of the Sereni-Tree

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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Sunday, July 3, 2005 6:39 PM

THEGREYJEDI

*breathes deeply. Yes this place is familiar. his hand reflexively shifts to his lightsaber. It feels warm, alive. He stretches his charcoal colored wings...*

My...wings? I don't like this...

*he bends his wings forward and runs his hand across the top. soot comes off on his hand revealing pure, iridescent white wings underneath. He smiled.*

I see. Balance. Here there is more evil, and so The Grey One becomes White. There is work to be done.

*He pops his wings one good time, a cloud of grey dust flies off revealing majestic white wings as he walks towards Shadow Engineering.*

--------------------------------------------------------------
Chief Engineer - USS SereniTREE
http://tomeofgrey.blogspot.com
Real Fans Wait - 09/30/05

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Sunday, July 3, 2005 10:08 PM

RAT

Quote:
Originally posted by SoulOfSerenity:
...And now you're going to pay for that, with the lives of everyone that's close to you...

*Rat slowly backs away from Soul!!*

Rat, Acquisitions Officer - Uss SereniTREE.

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Monday, July 4, 2005 12:40 AM

Soul, the readings I'm getting from your headset are off the chart. I don't even have the faintest idea what it means. Yet.

Hang on, I've got a brilliant idea. You guys, head for the bridge, I'll try to be back with you later. I need to get to my craft.

*skips down the corridor grinning*

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Monday, July 4, 2005 2:11 AM

* Sitting up in whatever bed ThatWeirdGirl left him in, TheRealMe sighs, makes a few notes on his data-slate, and turns to the next subject. *

TheRealMe: What about you, Deuce? Did you think of anything else? Anything you might have missed before?

* Bride2 shrugs. She is a well-muscled (but not overly muscled) redhead with freckles and green eyes, dressed in grey sweats, carrying a pair of Cozen's katanas. She has the grace and flexibility of an acrobat. She is getting a bit impatient. *

Bride2 (Deuce): I dunno! I told you that already! I dunno! Can I go now? I got some practicing to do if I'm every gonna match Bride1 with these blades.

TheRealMe: Stay a while longer, please. Trey, what about you?

* The tall, lean black woman returns a disapproving frown. *

Bride3 (Trey): This is confusing. Maybe if you gave us a better idea of what you're looking for?

Zoe-clone2: I agree, Sir. Perhaps if we had a little more to work with.

* Bride6 rolls her eyes. She is a blue-eyed blonde in a frilly dress with lace. *

Bride6: Yeah! This is all, like, BOOOORING.

* Bride7 sighs deeply and gives all her attention to filing her nails. *

* TheRealMe lays back down on his bed and closes his eyes. *

TheRealMe: All right. It seems that the dark version of SoulOfSerenity has kidnapped all of our women. All of our women except for the six remaining Brides and the four female clones. I'm trying to discover why you seem to be immune, or not chosen, or whatever. There is some common bond between you, or you are all special, somehow.

Kaylee-clone: Ain't nuthin' all that special 'bout us.

Zoe-clone2: Except, of course, that we're clones. Sir, is that it?

Zoe-clone1: She's right, Sir. We were all created or spontaneously generated in some fashion.

* Bride5 considers this. She is a beautiful woman of Asian descent, with long, black hair. She is dressed in a slinky evening gown.*

Bride5: Dark Soul didn't take Needleseye, either.

TheRealMe: True, but Needlesye, along with Bride4, was protected by TheGreyJedi's force field around Main Engineering. Of course, Needleseye isn't entirely human either. It's possible that the Zoe-clones are right, in that...

* River-clone leans over TheRealMe and smiles like a happy child. *

River-clone: Give us a kiss!

* TheRealMe's eyes flash open. *

TheRealMe: Say, what ABOUT the kissies?

* Bride5 and Bride6 glance uneasily at each other. *

Bride5: The kissies? What about them?

Bride6: We've been teaching them tricks.

Kaylee-clone: Awwww, they're so shiny! Why, the way that mine bounces up and down when he's hungry, with those big eyes that just...

* TheRealMe sits up in bed again. *

TheRealMe: 'Mine'? Say, Kaylee-clone, you have a kissie of your own?

Kaylee-clone: Uh, yeah. We all do.

Bride5: We just HAD to! When that nasty kissie killer came around before.... Well, we just decided to split them up among us! To protect them!

* TheRealMe is surprised as he turns to the Zoe-clones. *

TheRealMe: Zoe-clones! You too?

Zoe-clone1: YES, SIR!

Zoe-clone2: YES, SIR!

* The Zoe-clones look at one another, irritated by their answering in chorus. *

Zoe-clone1: They ARE cute, Sir.

Well, then! We may have a weapon to use against the Dark Soul at last! Start gathering the kissies together, and...

* TheRealMe notices an alert summoning everyone to the Bridge. *

TheRealMe: Aw, dammit! Something's going on in the Bridge. Static may be trying to kill someone again! Deuce, Trey, help me move. We might need somebody up there with normal human levels of testosterone in their system.

The Real Me, First Officer of the Sereni-Tree

(The Real Me cannot currently receive messages from this site; he is not ignoring you. But he CAN receive e-mail at realme@pcibroadband.net.)

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Monday, July 4, 2005 2:25 AM

* On the False Sereni-Tree, TheDarkMe seems to be following DarkAth around, calling him "My Master". *

TheDarkMe (aka Darth Real)

(TheDarkMe cannot currently receive messages from this site; but he wouldn't want to talk to you anyway!)

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Monday, July 4, 2005 4:59 AM

* On the False Sereni-Tree, Darth Real sends a telepathic message to his master, Darth Ath. *

+ Do you feel it, Master? A disturbance in the Force? It is The Grey Jedi, on THIS ship. Though he is not Grey, but Bright! This might pose some difficulty to the plans of the Dark Soul. Allow ME to deal with this menace first. I shall face the Bright Jedi! +

* Darth Real reaches out, and a spot of light appears, hovering in mid-air. This spot expands into a small ring of fire surrounding a dark void. *

* The lightsaber of Darth Real leaps into his hand and activates, producing a glowing crimson blade. He stabs it into this hole in reality. *

* On the other side, TheBrightJedi senses the danger he is in, pulls his own lightsaber, and parries the strike that came from nowhere. *

* Darth Real quickly retracts his weapon and closes the dimensional portal. *

+ Uh... Or, we could try something else.... My Massster. If he could be... turned... he would prove to be a powerful ally! +

TheDarkMe (aka Darth Real)

(TheDarkMe cannot currently receive messages from this site; but he wouldn't want to talk to you anyway!)

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Monday, July 4, 2005 8:08 AM

**jake7 watches, confused, as what appears to be the men of the SereniTREE come into the room. Something isn't right with the way they move, talk, interact with the group. She makes her way over to the other women in the group to sound a warning, but some go off with who (whom?) they think are the real versions of their beloved before she gets the chance to say anthing.**

swears

**Her mind reeling, trying to figure out this puzzle, she makes her way back to her room to think in peace. She locks her door (hoping that it is, indeed, locked to intruders) and sits on her bunk. A sudden, sleepy feeling comes over her and she slumps back...something is knocking at her brain, trying to get in. She uses what energy she has to ward off the attack. Suddenly, the feeling is gone and she passes out.**

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

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Monday, July 4, 2005 10:25 AM

THEGREYJEDI

*curses his rather consipicuous presence. Stares into the deep black blade of his lightsaber. Blinks. Suddenly it dawns on him.*

Black?

*The dichotomy rings true in his mind, though. He may be white, but the balance is maintained. The Darkness in him is focused into his weapon.*

Just like old times...

--------------------------------------------------------------
Chief Engineer - USS SereniTREE
http://tomeofgrey.blogspot.com
Real Fans Wait - 09/30/05

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Monday, July 4, 2005 4:09 PM

EVILATH

*Evil Ath watches Ebo pull Lissa away, moments before he got her into his room. He barely mananges to fight back his first instinct; to slay everyone within sight.*

Quote:
Originally posted by TheRealMe:
* On the False Sereni-Tree, Darth Real sends a telepathic message to his master, Darth Ath. *

+ Do you feel it, Master? A disturbance in the Force? It is The Grey Jedi, on THIS ship. Though he is not Grey, but Bright! This might pose some difficulty to the plans of the Dark Soul.

*Evil Ath cannot help but be cheered by his aprentice's foolish attempt to slay the Jedi.*

+Fear not, my apprentice. The "Bright" Jedi is no threat to us. The fool believes he has control over his darkness. Soon he shall see how wrong he is. Soon, he will join us. I have forseen it. It is his destiny.+

+For now, Darth Real, I want you to focus your attention on Evil Static. I sense that he is not quite what he seems. Follow him, and find out what he is planning. He will be close to TWG, of course. She is his weakness.+

*With that, Evil Ath heads off to inform Evil Soul of his suspicios.*

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Monday, July 4, 2005 5:46 PM

JET

*Jet and Needleseye head for the bridge to see whats what.
Jet with what looks to be a 4ft long slender wrench, feels somewhat safer except she see's Needleseye is on the defensive; barefoot and flashing scales again. There's the humming of some odd song from her crew mate, lilting and low, almost preparatory maybe meditative for something. Jet notices a high pitched ringing in her ears, glances at Needleseye*
needleseye~ ooh, Sorry Jet
*the sound of the song changes slightly and Jet's ears clear*
Jet~ Hope Static or anyone has a good plan to get everyone back.

__________________
"...I'm going to fly this rocket right up your socket!"

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Monday, July 4, 2005 7:24 PM

* On the Sereni-Tree, TheRealMe reaches the Bridge with help from Bride2 and Bride3. With them, they bring some kissies for protection against the Dark Soul. *

* On the False Sereni-Tree, TheDarkMe obeys his Sithy master and searches for DarkStatic by following around ThatWeirdGirl. He's not very good at sneaking. Every time TWG looks back at him, TheDarkMe stops walking, looks up at the ceiling, and whistles tunelessly. *

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Monday, July 4, 2005 11:41 PM

twg is on the way to meet with ebo but as she passes Simon's room, she hears a strange hum and goes to investigate. She sees Simon standing in his room, talking into thin air.

...able to go to the next step.

twg, if you're seeing this, that means you're in my room on the alternate SereniTREE. I figured whoever built it would try to create an identical match. Luckily, that includes my room's holographic viewing device which is what you're seeing now. Sorry, I'm not actually here, see?

Simon passes his hand through the lamp on the table

I don't even know where here is, I've just sent a mass broadcast across this whole area of space. We're coming for you, all of you but we'll need your help. I need you to put all your faith in me because this is going to be dangerous. If you can trust me (and I know there's some weird stuff going on), do exactly as I say. There should be a large metal box under my bed. I need you to pull it out and open it. Once you've done that, I'll be able to go to the next step.

twg, if you're seeing this, that means you're in my room on the alternate SereniTREE. I figured whoever built it ...

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Tuesday, July 5, 2005 4:55 AM

on the psudeoTREE

*Serenity sees the brilliance of Ebo's plan (what a great Captain she is!) so she goes over to the bar and starts mixing drinks*

Here Jazaf, let me freshen your drink. *hands him another Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster*

*Soon, everyone's got a drink in their hand. Serenity even slips a little something into EvilPR's rootbeer. Someone turns music on and the party is underway.*

"Somebody has to do something, and it's just incredibly pathetic that it has to be us." ~Jerry Garcia

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Tuesday, July 5, 2005 5:26 AM

LISSA

*lissa bartends with serenity as ebo requested. she gets out the plasma screen and plays the scene from "war stories" with inara and the counselor over and over. the men sip their drinks in a dazed state, staring transfixed at the screen. as soon as one of them finishes off a drink, lissa and serenity refill their glass.*

ok, this is great that we have all of these guys incapacitated, but...where did ath go?

*lissa and serenity begin to worry.*

~lissa, spwhore

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Tuesday, July 5, 2005 6:44 AM

[oops. Sorry lissa, missed the part where Ebo told you to bartend. I just thought it'd be a good idea. Also, VERY tired today.]

*Secretly, as the night wears on, lissa and Serenity start making the mens' drinks stronger and stronger while the girls' drinks get weaker and weaker. Serenity catches more than one girl slyly emptying her glass in a vase or the chocolate jacuzzi. So far, the plan is working.*

But where IS Ath? And why haven't we seen Soul?
And have you seen TWG recently?
*more worrying*

"Somebody has to do something, and it's just incredibly pathetic that it has to be us." ~Jerry Garcia

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Tuesday, July 5, 2005 7:20 AM

EVILSOUL

*EvilSoul stares at the screens in frustration. With a cry, he punches the wall behind him, denting the metal. All of his plans are falling apart. It looks likt the women of the SereniTREE are even more resilliant than he wanted to believe. A corner of his lips raises up in a snarl, and he types in several commands into the computer in front of him. A deep, gutteral growl emits from his throat as he types, and continues to grow in volume. He has a backup plan, one that he doesn't want to use yet, but it looks like he has no choice. He wants to use this backup against the men of the SereniTREE, but it seems that he will have to use it against the women. Even the dark versions of the men are not strong enough. He will have to use something stronger.*

*On the camera screens all around him, hidden panels in the walls of the faux SereniTREE open up, and out of each of them steps a figure. Now women have no seperate dark/light side. They are infused into one. So EvilSoul did the next best thing: he cloned all of the women, and infused his own darkness, his own evil into each of them.*

*Out of each hidden panel comes the dark clones of every single woman on the SereniTREE.*

_____________________________________

You world is now my playground...

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Tuesday, July 5, 2005 7:54 AM

RAT

Quote:
Originally posted by SimonWho:
twg, if you're seeing this, that means you're in my room on the alternate SereniTREE. I figured whoever built it ...

*Peace sign bunny ears pop up behind Holowho's head!*

Rat, Acquisitions Officer - Uss SereniTREE.

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Tuesday, July 5, 2005 8:14 AM

**eviljake7 (EJ7) wakens in her room on the SereniTREE. She makes her way to the bridge where the men were last congregated. Only Static is left, sitting behind the controls of the 'TREE.

She silently makes her way over to stand behind him then slides her hands slowly over his shoulders and begins a massage.

Static jumps in surprise...**

What are you doing?

**EJ7 smiles seductively and returns to massaging his tense shoulder and neck muscles.**

Just giving you a massage, Static. Is there something wrong with that? **she smiles again**

There is when you consider that you've never done anything like this before! Besides, everyone knows that my heart belongs...

**EJ7 shakes her head sadly and clicks her tongue**

It's just too bad that TWG seems to have moved on to the other men on board. You must be so lonely...

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

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Tuesday, July 5, 2005 8:24 AM

**Static grips Jake7's wrists firmly in his hands as he stands and turns.**

"Kid," he says, "I don't do the whole 'eye for an eye' thing. Now stop touching me."

Something itched in the back of Static's head. Some sort of alarm bell, heavily muffled.

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Tuesday, July 5, 2005 8:33 AM

From nothing, a wisp of black smoke becomes a column, which quickly and silently solidifies into the Dark Static.

Quote:
Originally posted by EvilSoul:
*EvilSoul stares at the screens in frustration. With a cry, he punches the wall behind him, denting the metal. All of his plans are falling apart.

"Sucks, don't it?"

At the voice, EvilSoul whirls, raising his fists, but just like his counterpart, DarkStatic is faster with his hands than even the mind can follow. A pistol is levelled at ES and Dark Static has a finger raised to his lips in the 'hush' sign.

"You know, bboss, I don't quite know what you've got planned. . .but I don't see it working. And oh yeah. . .your little plan with my 'better half' as it were. . .Static, not Wierdgirl, I don't think it's going to go the way you like, either."

DarkStatic gestures to a seat with his pistol, "Why don't you have a seat here, and we'll see how things play for a bit before I decide whether or not to let you make another move, or end the game."

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Tuesday, July 5, 2005 9:11 AM

The Man They Call Soul...

*Soul makes his way up the stairs, heading for the bridge. On his way up, though, the voice of his dark side pierces his brain once again.*

It seems that once again we are fated not to confront each other.

What is that supposed to mean?

That pilot of yours has come to terms with the darkness within, and it seems that I am now under his watch.

What the hell does that mean?

It means that there is a rather large gun pointed at my chest.

Well, I hope it makes a nice hole.

You don't seem to understand, do you. If I die, you die as well. We are linked, despite what you choose to believe, two halves of the same coin. We cannot survive without the other, even as much as I despise your weakness.

And I your twisted ways.

As difficult as this is for me to say, I need your assistance. I have always believed that we are fated to cross swords, so to speak, but we may never have that opportunity now.

*Soul closes his eyes. After a moment's soul searching, he realizes what he must do.*

I will go talk to Static, get him to call off his dark side, if you will bring back the women and call off your dark personas. This should have always been directly between us. You took the coward's way out by attacking me indirectly.

Fair enough. I will do as I can, but you must realize that those dark souls are not mine to eternally command. They are the shadow counterparts of your friends, and unless they are faced, there will only be death.

So be it. I will face you down. You may call me weak, but even this side of me has it's own dark strength. I can only pray that the others will be strong enough to face their shadows as well.

The only way this can end without death is if the darkness and the light can learn to coexist, as your friend Static has learned. I do wish to face you, but I wish not for death. I only with to be the side that stands victorious over the other in the end.

Bring it.

*The voice fades in his head, and Soul continues to the bridge, where he encounters Static.*

Static, we need to talk.

______________________

Soul, Security Chief of the Sereni-Tree

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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Tuesday, July 5, 2005 9:35 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by SoulOfSerenity:
*The voice fades in his head, and Soul continues to the bridge, where he encounters Static.*

Static, we need to talk.

Static turns from Jake7 to SoulofSerenity, "I'm glad you're here. Jake7 was just leaving." He emphasizes the last two words and looks sternly at her. She turns on her heel and storms out in a huff.

SoulofSerenity sums up the conversation he'd just had in his mind and Static holds his hands up, gesturing for Soul to 'slow down'.

"Take it easy, bro." Static says reasurringly, "We know the deal. Probably better than anyone else here, for that matter. If things play out right, no one. . .NO ONE will get hurt. I think my partner was just trying to make his point."

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Tuesday, July 5, 2005 9:42 AM

The Man They Call Soul...

The fact of the matter still remains. I have to face him, not to kill him, but to overcome him. I guess we are the same. I'm just not sure if I can beat him. The last time I was faced with a situation like this, I balked, and someone I cared about died because of it. I don't want this to happen again. If we had been one, maybe I would have been strong enough to save her...

*Soul's voice fades off as a tear traces a path down his cheek.*

No, I have to face him, and I have to overcome. We are one, as much as I hate to admit it. I need him. He needs me. He'll bring back the ship, but I have to face him one final time. Alone

______________________

Soul, Security Chief of the Sereni-Tree

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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Tuesday, July 5, 2005 9:50 AM

Static laughs.

"You don't get it, do you, kid?" He asks the conflicted young man in front of him, "You CAN'T overcome him. You EMBRACE him. You make him HALF of you. He doesn't know that either. We have to keep that from him. He can't beat you if you're not fighting to win."

Static reaches into his jacket and pulls out a cigar, sticking it in his mouth but not yet lighting it. He savors the flavor and thinks for a moment.

"Now the OTHER shades. . .that'll be the trick. Let me and my partner deal with them. You fight the ringleader."

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Tuesday, July 5, 2005 9:58 AM

The Man They Call Soul...

Quote:
Originally posted by Static:

"Now the OTHER shades. . .that'll be the trick. Let me and my partner deal with them. You fight the ringleader."

"That I can do. You're right, but you already know that."

Soul turns and ponders the situation, and slowly a grin forms across his face.

"Let me know when the ship is back. I think I can, well, not win this, but I can take him back, take back my other half."

He removes the bow and quiver from across his back, and the arrowheads across his chest, setting them down on the floor. He then walks over to the corner and phases through the wall, emerging a moment later with a well-polished katana.

"I borrowed this from Jazaf. I hope he doesn't mind."

He gives the sword an experimental swing, and hears the blade sing as it slices through the air.

"Yeah, this'll do."

______________________

Soul, Security Chief of the Sereni-Tree

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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Tuesday, July 5, 2005 11:44 AM

JAZAF

Jazaf was getting off his bed when Soul abruptly phases through a wall.
'Aiya!' Jazaf yells and falls to the floor. PR, who has seen this once before, wasn't bothered and waved.
'I need to borrow this, Thank you.' Soul picked up Jazaf's katana and disappeared.

After a few moments passed Jazaf shouts to the wall. 'Just bring it back in one piece!' Jazaf gets an uneasy feeling that his katana may be returned in a less than useable state.

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

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Tuesday, July 5, 2005 12:29 PM

THATWEIRDGIRL

Quote:
Originally posted by SimonWho:
twg, if you're seeing this, that means you're in my room on the alternate SereniTREE. I figured whoever built it would try to create an identical match. Luckily, that includes my room's holographic viewing device which is what you're seeing now. Sorry, I'm not actually here, see?

Simon passes his hand through the lamp on the table

I don't even know where here is, I've just sent a mass broadcast across this whole area of space. We're coming for you, all of you but we'll need your help. I need you to put all your faith in me because this is going to be dangerous. If you can trust me (and I know there's some weird stuff going on), do exactly as I say. There should be a large metal box under my bed. I need you to pull it out and open it. Once you've done that, I'll be able to go to the next step.

*twg crawls under the bed and hits her head on a large metal box*

Ouch! Stupid...had to crawl under the bed, couldn't just look...

*just as twg moves to open the box, she spies the darker side of TRM hovering in the doorway*

Um, hey there YOU! You must be upset about me fastening you to that comfy chair...I had planned to get to you soon.

www.thatweirdgirl.com
---
Res melius evinissent cum pepsimilk!

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Tuesday, July 5, 2005 12:35 PM

THATWEIRDGIRL

*Eviltwg materializes near the common room. She tries to find SimonWho to stop his plan to help twg and the ladies. As she nears his room, she hears a low hum. Twg burts through the door…*

Oi! Simon! I’m back….let’s go make up for lost time…

*Eviltwg grabs Simon’s wrist before he can react and pulls him to her body…her finger glides down his cheek and across his lower lip…*

Or we can stay here…near your bed…

www.thatweirdgirl.com
---
Res melius evinissent cum pepsimilk!

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Tuesday, July 5, 2005 1:50 PM

On the real tree

twg, how did you make it back here? Never mind, I think I've found a way to communicate with the other tree. Yes, it's great, but okay, a little less physical now please, no kisses necessary.

Look, all I have to do is set up a wide area transmission to beam a signal out into space and my identical room on the other tree will pick it up and broadcast to anyone in my room. Brilliant, eh?

evil twg nods with a grin

Now, just hold this transmitter and I'll start hooking it all up.

back on the fake tree, Simon is talking into thin air again

Okay, twg, I can tell you've found the box. Pull it out. Inside, there's something that will allow you to tell where my evil copy is on your tree.

twg opens up the box but inside there's only a small scrap of paper. She unfolds it and reads the message

It only takes a moment to work it out but by then the needle has been injected into her neck and the room is spinning

A little too easy. I hope your other half is smarter than that.

Suddenly Simon appears in the room

This is a message for the abducted residents of the SereniTREE. You've been taken from us but we need your location. You must try to ...

Oh very clever. Just ten minutes too late I'm afraid.

EvilSimon smashes the holoprojection equipment. Simon's message and the lamp disappear. ES looks down at twg's slumped form.

Now then. What are we to do with you? *grin* Well, you did always like a good kidnapping.

He lifts twg's unconscious form onto his shoulders and carries her away

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Tuesday, July 5, 2005 2:01 PM

*while mixing drinks on the pseudoTREE*

Serenity: lissa, one of us needs to go look for Ath, there's no telling what he could be up to.

lissa: I'll go!

Serenity: Okay, but find someone to go with you, just in case. I'll stay here and keep the drinks flowing. Do you want one of my katanas? And have you seen TRM recently?

"Somebody has to do something, and it's just incredibly pathetic that it has to be us." ~Jerry Garcia

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Tuesday, July 5, 2005 2:10 PM

on the real TREE

*EvilSerenityClone perches outside the bridge, listening, waiting for her moment...*

"Somebody has to do something, and it's just incredibly pathetic that it has to be us." ~Jerry Garcia

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Wednesday, July 6, 2005 6:35 AM

**jake7 awakens in her room on the psuedo-TREE. Her head is throbbing with an awful headache. Disjointed images from the bridge of SereniTREE come flooding through her mind. She shakes her head and mumbles to herself...**

Man! I hate it when dreams seem so real! That was so weird! Why on Earth was I trying to seduce Static?

**Her head starts to throb more insistently and she makes her way over to a cabinet and finds some medication for her headache. She downs a dose, then leaves her room and heads for the common area. CallMeSerenity is behind the bar, mixing drinks, looking worried.**

Hi, Serenity!

**jake7 looks around the room, no other women are in sight, all the clone men are passed out on the floor, couches, hammocks, etc.**

Glad to see clone men are still just men... Where are the others?

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

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Wednesday, July 6, 2005 6:48 AM

on the pseudoTREE

Morning Jake7!
Everyone else went to bed. I couldn't sleep. I was having weird dreams, so I got up and came down here to try to clean up a bit before the men wake up. I'm making bloody marys for breakfast for when they wake up. *she grins wickedly* Also, I have this *pulls out a big maglight flashlight* to hit them on the head if any of them gives me any trouble. We think we've got them under control..for the moment. But how long that's going to last is anyone's guess. We really need to come up with some sort of plan to get ourselves out of this mess.

@-}--
Anyone else as confused as I am by all the dual entities running around?

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Wednesday, July 6, 2005 11:06 AM

**jake7 is startled by CallMeSerenity's mention of having weird dreams.**

That's odd..I had a weird dream last night myself!

What kind of dreams did you have?

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

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Wednesday, July 6, 2005 11:51 AM

JAZAF

As Jazaf and PsychicRiver make it to the bridge Static and Soul had just finished their conversation.

'Ok, We're all here.' PR says, 'So what's going on? Have we caught up to them yet?

Static briefs PR, Jazaf, and TRM on the situation. Soul adds his own input in various parts of the briefing. 'And that's the deal. I have to find my darker half and...come to terms with it.' Soul turns to Static to make sure his choice of words were correct. Static nods and Soul continues, 'However, there may be other complications. My darker half isn't alone. He has "enlisted" the darker sides of possibly everyone on this ship.'

'So the piece of myself I felt tear away, was my darker side?' Jazaf asks.
'Yes.'
Jazaf walks to a corner of the room to think about what was said.
'The good news is My darker side and I have already started a plan in motion.' Static states,'Right now he has EvilSoul in custody and gave us the coordinates of the ship. We should be able to see them at any time.'

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

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Wednesday, July 6, 2005 1:32 PM

On the real SereniTREE

Okay, twg, you're being a little overfriendly now. Yeah, put your hands in your pockets, that's it. Oh, don't pout at me, I hate it when you pout, come on, there there... yaaaaaaah.

Hands. In. Pockets.

I think we better get you to sickbay, you don't seem to be well.

Sickbay, on the fake SereniTREE

Ah, twg, you're awake again. Good, I'd hate for you to sleep through the best part. Sorry about the restraints but fair's fair, you tied me up first. I have such fun planned for us, it'll drive you out of your mind. Of course, this room was designed purely for the sick but I think I can be sick enough for the both of us.

It's such a pity you took an interest in my 'better' half. Going after Static, that I can respect. The man has ... an edge to him, I can appreciate that. Oh, this scalpel? Don't worry, I wouldn't harm a hair on your head. It's so much better when they can't see the scars; keeps the mystery, you see?

As I was saying, if that lighter, wetter, diet Coke version of me had any balls at all, he'd have taken you for himself long ago. He's the ship's Doctor, he could kill Static three times over and never even be investigated by the authorities. Still, his loss...

EvilSimon senses something

Hmm. I have an errand to run. Don't go anywhere now will you?

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Wednesday, July 6, 2005 3:33 PM

on the pseudoTREE

My weird dream? It's hard to remember now. Everything was black and white. I saw myself in a mirror, but there was something wrong with my reflection. And then I walked through the mirror and everything was the opposite-like film negatives. And I looked back, and there I was, still staring at myself through the mirror. Only I still didn't look right. And I couldn't get back out...I was stuck on the wrong side.
Why? Does this mean anything?

on the realTree

*EvilSerenityClone watched as PsychicRiver and Jazaf joined Soul and Static. She listened to their conversation. And then she smiled. She had heard enough...for now. She stretches her wings and vanishes in a cloud of black vapor.*

Back on the pseudoTree

*EvilSerenityClone becomes solid again, on the bridge of the pseudoTREE, right behind EvilStatic. She sees the gun he has pointed at EvilSoul. There is a flash of movement and EvilStatic falls to the floor, unconscious.*

We can't have him messing up our plans now, can we? *She says, stepping over him. She walks over to EvilSoul and kisses him.*

EvilSoul: How was the eavesdropping, my dark angel?

ECS: It went well. I have learned a few interesting things. The fools on SereniTREE think they've figured things out.

*she sits in his lap and tells him all she heard.*

"Somebody has to do something, and it's just incredibly pathetic that it has to be us." ~Jerry Garcia

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Wednesday, July 6, 2005 4:10 PM

THATWEIRDGIRL

*Eviltwg places her hands in her pockets, per Simon’s request, her lip jutting just a bit and her lashes hooding her eyes. She leans forward, pretending to lose her balance. Her arms wrap around Simon’s neck and her body presses against his, toppling him to the floor.*

oops. Sorry. *her breath brushes against his ear* Since we’re here, why don’t we celebrate my return? I’m sure no one would notice that we were gone…I bet all the girls are celebrating…

*twg tries the restraints. She can’t move. I wonder if ES knows where I am?*

Odd, I’m kinda enjoying this. EBO!!! SERENITY!!!! LISSA!!!! EMMMA!!!! JAKE7!!!! ANYBODY!!!!

*she decides she should calm down*

I’m all for a little fun in the private time of two consenting adults...but I’m not consenting this time.

*…she once had a psychic connection to Ebo…is it still accessible? twg tries to concentrate on Ebo. She clears her mind, focusing on her cap’n, on her ability to communicate with any person or creature…’please Ebo be listening, please hear me…Ebo…*

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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Wednesday, July 6, 2005 4:31 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by CallMeSerenity:
on the pseudoTree

There is a flash of movement and EvilStatic falls to the floor, unconscious.*

On the REALTree:

Static jumps slightly and blinks hard. The others on the bridge notice.

Soul looks at Static with concern, "You okay?"

Static looks at the others slowly, as if trying to get his bearings. A look of deep concern builds in his features.

"They're onto us. My counterpart has been disabled."

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Wednesday, July 6, 2005 8:09 PM

* On the False Sereni-Tree, EvilSimonWho exits the Infirmary where he had just restrained ThatWeirdGirl. ThatWeirdGirl calls out the names of her friends, hoping for a rescue. *

* Very soon after EvilSimonWho departs, ThatWeirdGirl sees another figure enter the Infirmary, a figure in a dark hooded cloak. The figure holds out one hand and a lightsaber leaps into it and activates its blood-red force blade. *

* TheDarkMe chuckles at ThatWeirdGirl. *

Why, I should THANK EvilSimonWho. The timing of his ploy was most convenient for me! I’ve been following you, my dear. ThatWeirdGirl, you are MY kidnapping victim! Mine to use against… DarkStatic!

MUAH! HA! HA! HA!

(Mine is an evil laugh!)

* With a few long strides TheDarkMe is next to ThatWeirdGirl. The red lightsaber flashes, and her restraints are severed. *

Come with me!

The Dark Me, aka Darth Real

(The Dark Me cannot currently receive messages from this site; but he wouldn't want to talk to you anyway!)

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Wednesday, July 6, 2005 8:11 PM

* Perhaps moving a bit back in time… *

* TheRealMe, still suffering from his injuries, is being helped to the Real Sereni-Tree’s Bridge by Bride2 and Bride3. On the way, he encounters some newcomers. He squints at their “Hello, my name is…” stickers. *

Greetings, XanderHarris and BlueFishie. Welcome aboard! I suppose you got on during our brief stop at the Original Clubhouse on Earth? Or were you perhaps some more of the staff of the Black Diamond Ski resort that we rescued before that planet fell apart? Well, no matter. We’re in a rather serious situation here that we are trying to resolve, involving evil twins of all the crew, a duplicate starship, and the kidnapping of our womenfolk onto that duplicate starship. You ladies are welcome to join us if you like. Any aid would be appreciated.

* As they continue to climb the stairs from the Common Room to the balcony levels, they note the presence of CallMeSerenity, suspiciously lingering about the entrance to the Bridge. TheRealMe is somewhat surprised to see her. *

Serenity! Goodness! How did you escape captivity on the False Sereni-Tree?

* TheRealMe surprises Serenity by shoving a kissie near her face.

She seems confused and disoriented. The kissie looks away from her, seemingly annoyed. TheRealMe nods to himself, and enters the Bridge. *

The Real Me, First Officer of the Sereni-Tree

(The Real Me cannot currently receive messages from this site; he is not ignoring you. But he CAN receive e-mail at realme@pcibroadband.net.)

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Wednesday, July 6, 2005 8:20 PM

* On the Real Sereni-Tree’s Bridge, TheRealMe discusses the situation with Static, Brides 2 through 4, Needleseye, Rat, SoulOfSerenity, Jazaf, and any others of the crew who are present. The Bridge has never been so crowded. He hears what the others have to say, then offers his own suggestions. *

So you see, I think that we need to mount an attack against the False Sereni-Tree, using non-lethal weapons. Then, all of us will embrace our dark sides, and everything will be fine!

* TheRealMe notes some apparent skepticism amongst his audience. *

Of course, there are details that still need to be worked out.

* Many pairs of eyes roll. TheRealMe ignores them. *

For instance, the True Sereni-Tree’s systems seem to be mostly disabled. Pursuit of the False Sereni-Tree is problematic, to say the least.

* TheRealMe turns to Rat and Jet. *

So, Jet, Rat, how long would it take to upgrade the General Grant and the Admiral Nelson with the same hyperspace drives that the General Lee has? Then, how many of the crew and the kissies can be made to fit aboard those shuttles?

* TheRealMe smiles. *

I say we abandon the Sereni-Tree for now, maybe sending it on a decoy mission to attract the attention of the Dark Soul. Then we assault the False Sereni-Tree using the three shuttles. Rat, Needleseye, it will be just like old times, when we were chasing that FemaleReaver!

Now, we also could use a way to strengthen our good sides, or weaken our dark sides. I have a theory that the kissies generate fields of happiness around them, in a manner similar to Care Bears, Smurfs, and other such freakish, sickening creatures. That may be useful to our operation, by weakening or blinding our dark sides. Also… If Doctor SimonWho provided “happy pills” for US to take, would they have any effect on the dark sides that have become separated from us?

Oh, yes, we seem to already have dark sides of some of our ladies aboard the ship. We probably want to attend to that problem first.

Perhaps PsychicRiver could screen the good twins from the bad for us?

Quote:
Originally posted by Static:
Quote:
Originally posted by CallMeSerenity:
on the pseudoTree

There is a flash of movement and EvilStatic falls to the floor, unconscious.*

On the REALTree:

Static jumps slightly and blinks hard. The others on the bridge notice.

Soul looks at Static with concern, "You okay?"

Static looks at the others slowly, as if trying to get his bearings. A look of deep concern builds in his features.

"They're onto us. My counterpart has been disabled."

Well, then!

The Real Me, First Officer of the Sereni-Tree

(The Real Me cannot currently receive messages from this site; he is not ignoring you. But he CAN receive e-mail at realme@pcibroadband.net.)

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Wednesday, July 6, 2005 8:22 PM

Okay, Bluefishie, I know that harness is heavy. But try to point the barrel up at the target on that wall.

* Bluefishie swings the weapon about as instructed and takes careful aim. *

Okay, squeeze the trigger gently; don’t pull it…

* As Bluefishie complies, a terrible high-pitched whine comes from the weapon. Then a blob of Spam is expelled from the muzzle at an extreme velocity, to splatter against the target and completely obscure it from view. Simultaneously, an empty can of Spam is ejected from a side port, and the stack of cans in the magazine atop the weapon drops as a new round is fed into the firing chamber. *

* Bluefishie is somewhat unbalanced by the recoil. *

Excellent shot! That was as good the best shot that XanderHarris had. But you might need to lean into it a bit more.

The Spam-slinger guns are our primary non-lethal weapons. Of course, since these evil twins are in fact the dark sides of the existing crew, they will be likely to employ Spam Blockers. That’s why we’ll really be using Armor Treet as ammunition, instead. It is a food-like substance similar to Spam, made from the same petroleum by-products, I think.

Okay, Bride3. It’s your turn!

The Real Me, First Officer of the Sereni-Tree

(The Real Me cannot currently receive messages from this site; he is not ignoring you. But he CAN receive e-mail at realme@pcibroadband.net.)

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Thursday, July 7, 2005 3:49 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by CallMeSerenity:
on the pseudoTREE
My weird dream? It's hard to remember now. Everything was black and white. I saw myself in a mirror, but there was something wrong with my reflection. And then I walked through the mirror and everything was the opposite-like film negatives. And I looked back, and there I was, still staring at myself through the mirror. Only I still didn't look right. And I couldn't get back out...I was stuck on the wrong side.
Why? Does this mean anything?

**jake7 stops to ponder what CallMeSerenity said about her dream**

It might.

I had a dream that I attempted to seduce Static, which is totally out of character for me!

The dream seemed so very real...

**she shakes her head to clear the images**

I think there may be a connection, I'm just not sure how.

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

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Thursday, July 7, 2005 3:52 AM

The Man They Call Soul...

Soul watches out the front viewscreen, eyebrows crinkled in concern, as the Adelai Niska draws close. He turns to Static.

"Don't dock with it. Just get close enough to brush up against it."

Static adjusts his heading. "I'm assuming you've got a plan?"

Soul shrugs. "Sort of."

Soul walks over to the far side of the bridge, oposite from the approaching ship, and braces himself against the wall. He waits until the nose of the Adelai Niska passes the viewscreen, and he takes a running start, charging full steam for the opposite wall. He waits until he's about to crash, and leaps into the air, phasing his body so instead of crashing he passes through the wall, and continuing out into the space between the ships. He gets a brief glimpse of the black mass that is the Adelai Niska, and in one horrifying moment of revelation, he understands the fullness of the situation: The Adelai Niska is designed not only inside, but outside as well to be an exact dark twin of the SereniTREE.

The moment passes, and Soul reaches the hull of his dark side's ship, and phases through it, drawing the katana as he aims for...

Soul passes through the walls seperating him from the bridge and solidifies, hitting the ground and rolling. His brain assesses the situation, and his limbs react, his right arm bringing the katana up, the tip of the blade cutting a line into Dark Soul's face from his chin, up his cheek, and across his eye, barely missing his eyeball but leaving a bloody scar on the side of his face.

Dark Soul falls backwards with a yelp, his right hand going to his face as someone falls from his lap--

"Serenity!" Soul cries as he takes a step towards her, but then he stops.

"Oh Soul!" Serenity says. "Thank God!"

Soul still doesn't move any closer. He stares into her eyes, but instead of the sweetness and compassion he expected, he sees only darkness. Then he moves, in a flash beside Serenity as he brings the hilt of the katana down upon her head. She slumps to the ground, unconcious.

"Sorry, but my heart belongs to one Serenity," Soul states, "And you're not her."

With that, Soul turns to face his dark side, who has managed to stand, despite the blood running down his face. Soul points at the darkness that once resided inside of him.

"You and me," he says. "Let's do this."

______________________

Soul, Security Chief of the Sereni-Tree

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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Thursday, July 7, 2005 5:48 AM

on the pseudoTree

To Jake7: What!?! You dreamed you tried to seduce Static? That's crazy! *she laughs* I promise I won't tell TWG. *and then she sobers*
But seriously, things are just getting weirder and weirder. I'm thinking maybe we should wake up the other girls. Suddenly I'm nervous with everybody being scattered around the ship.

"Somebody has to do something, and it's just incredibly pathetic that it has to be us." ~Jerry Garcia

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Thursday, July 7, 2005 6:13 AM