Part 2!
Fourteen Hours Later (Now) …
Jason is at the Quill Compound, getting things set up. Brigand is on his patch of the couch. Numina is helping getting things put together.
Opted not to include Harry in the shenanigans. And GG is simply not available. So … yeah, Doom check.
[Freak roll! 8]
Momentarily, Jason is spread, unable to move or process the perceptions, across his lab, the shadow realm, and the destination (200m south of Charlotte). Overlaid and impotent.
He can see Li’lycia running around the room, flipping switches, adjusting controls – Li’lycia looks at him with a “I can’t handle this” look, flickers, and de-rezzes, and Jason feels some horrible nausea – something going away –
The portal is open. Numina is there, looking reassuring. Jason swallows one last chance for her to duck out, and instead gives a slight smile and a nod. They jump …
The room behind goes away in a couple of seconds, swirls of paper, gate collapses, line of metallic goo left in the lab.
Coughing in the ashy air. Numina flickers for a moment, and Jason feels a hiccup as different physical rules assert themselves.
N: You did it. Congratulations are probably in order as long as we’re looking at this without context.
J: Yeah, not a great vacation spot.
Air is not so bad as to be able to breathe. There are a few patches of uncloudy sky. (Unlike the picture) the streets are cleared, a mix of tech, primitive and advanced stuff, people camping in the streets …
Soldiers holding modern firearms. Folk have noticed Jason. Excitement and pointing, people headed their way.
N: Do we run?
J: Make an entrance.
Jason is channeling all those awful times when Rusty intimidated low-tech tribal folk on various adventures. Big, flashy, bold.
Walks toward the building.
J: Stay close by. I’ll protect you as needed.
She takes on a hard light armor similar to his.
Others walk up, no weapons drawn. Something of a uniform … city camo … beat up and worn. Not like the Vyortovian troops. More like GI Joe guys – basic combat fatigues, shirtsleeves rolled up. Mix of weapons – some version of proper firearms / long guns. Led by Capt. Thomas.
T: Master Quill!
J: Yes?
T:We were told to keep an eye out for you – would you like to come in for a talk?
J: That sounds like a fine idea.
Escorted, not guarded. [Pierce the Mask, 11]
[What are their intentions?]
These are people … this is not their normal job (greeting folk and honor guard) – they intend to follow their instructions. Grim group, taking stoic to a new level.
Farming out on the Mall. (The comic book reader can see it.)
J: Who said to keep an eye out for me?
T: Your friend and your father. I hope I’m not being forward.
J: Recently?
T: Yes. This morning.
J: Well, my father has his own purposes.
T: Yes, he does. (Very emphatic and heartfelt, deeply dedicated and committed to him. A bit of fanaticism. Murmurs from those nearby.)
[What would they like me to do?] Side glances, taking in his appearance, and Numina’s. The lighting is weird and washed out, and masking Numina’s light shell flaws.
They are waiting for Jason to … do something amazing.
Looking to the son of the beloved leader.
(Jason wishes he had set up some means of backchannel comm with Numina. Hmm, maybe transfer a nanobot bracelet to her? That would have some real … _be a terrible idea.)
_
They want something flashy.
[How can I gain influence?]
Rusty would be here, would have trained them, would be assessing threat levels.
J: (Coming to the the top of the stairs) We have no weapons to declare.
T: (Surprise, suspicion, then) Of course, of course!
J: (thinking) Oh, shit, I have no weapons. I am so out of practice at this.
Some of the guards think they should still be searched, but are quickly hushed.
The interior has been rebuilt. Off to one wing. In good shape. Out the back, can see through to the Mall. Sense of possibility, even hope, Jason is immediately making strategic thoughts about how to better improve, what are other places like, etc. The most hopeful thing he’s seen. Even if the light is still wrong – and will never be right. But things might be okay, eventually …
Off to a large suite of offices, french doors to the outside. And …
… there’s Dad. And Rusty.
Rusty murmurs, “Dear God, what is he wearing?”
They stop, about ten feet away. Captain Thomas … salutes. Byron gives a perfunctory return, Rusty a proper one. Dismissed.
Stare for a few seconds.
J: Hey Dad, what’s new?
B: Even when she said you were coming, I didn’t believe it. You look well. (He looks worn around the eyes – two years ago, plus several years of wear and tear, like a President.)
J: You look like hell, Dad.
B: It’s been a bit of an uphill hike. We’re doing pretty well. We’ve got some space in here we can talk, and your friend …
J: Yes, my friend.
N: Yes, Dr Quill, it’s an honor to meet you after all I’ve studied and read. (She is being only polite, not honest)
B: (Can see him sussing out whose tech / software / AI this is.) Come in – there’s a lot to explain.
J: Where’s my friend?
B: Your charming Miss Palmer is … right there.
Previously …
Big, charming, 19th Century office. Charlotte is at the bookshelves. She hasn’t seen Alycia since the plane came back down. Hosts are circumspect about getting close to her, except to assure her Jason will be there soon. Making her at home.
In discussion with Byron and Rusty – how did you meet my son?
Charlotte considers Jason’s story Jason’s story. Will talk about the HHL and the Vyortovians and Iceland. But nothing personal about Jason, and not much about the rest of the team.
They seemed familiar with Vyortovians. “Damn the luck, was hoping the place would be unstable.” Agents, Hidden Family, Hannibal Lectric, etc.
Charlotte doesn’t mention her family history.
C: What happened here?
B: Apparently I did this. About 10 years ago. Me and Achilles Chin. They destroyed themselves in the process. One killed the other’s firstborn. And then the other did the same. Then this.
Concerned about the dimensional membrane penetration.
Magus?
Dead zone. Your perceptions must be very interesting (down the conversational rabbit hole). Discussion of what battle between Magus and Dr Infinity went. Byron has been doing research into their trans-temporal battle.
Mausoleum. Keynome. Splash damage from the battle. Was it the Magus or Dr Infinity?
C Assesses the Situation. Damage at the crypt was a wound. Magus did something to get her, and was looking for a healer. So the damage must be from Doc Infinity. She (android, presenting) does not like Halcyon City, because it is a point of temporal chaos.
Byron sees it as a metaphysical drunken barroom brawl that caused all sorts of interdimensional damage. Sure, Doc Infinity is against Halcyon, but that would make Magus Everard a defender of the city, which makes no sense.
C: But how did Alycia get through without damaging the barrier?
B: (Phone rings, answers, hangs up) He’s here.
Now …
Numina and Jason cross to Charlotte. Are you okay?
N showing off new body, “Cousins!” as she makes hand fade in and out.
J: C, you didn’t come back. We were concerned.
Then …
Light came down. Alycia smirks. Raises hands in surrender.
Dragonfly lands. But VTOL, and heavily armed. Not the one at Jason’s house pictures.
Guns trained on Alycia.
Rusty and Byron.
Charlotte comes up and walk up, “I’m a friend of Jason’s.”
Alycia is giving them nothing. Rusty turned his chair around to watch her on the flight. Alycia played stare-back.
Seems likely they were watching the rendezvous point.
Lots of guns. Brought back. Immediately separated, but before long Rusty brought her up to much nicer quarters. Maybe because C demonstrated she could walk through walls.
Now …
J: Alycia’s here?
B: She’s under watch.
J: For?
B: What she’s doing with my tech.
J: Because I gave it to her.
B: (several attempts to voice something.)
J: Yes, i know you fucked up my brain …
B: Language!
Charlotte raises eyebrows.
J: (having stopped) Yes, I know you interfered with my memories.
B looks abashed
J: And you were working with Achilles Chin.
B: Well, that didn’t last. It’s not the case now. We no longer work together. We didn’t see eye to eye.
J: Are you looking for a way back home?
B: We can’t go back. (Makes vague gesture that might be a huggish thing). We can’t actually … charged with energy of our home dimension. Static shock that might vaporize this building.
J: I’ve seen a video from AEGIS. I’ve talked with Amir.
B: What?
J: Yeah, also there were mind shenanigans from Hecate
B: (Blanches.) Son … your brother died. (Jason closes his eyes, breathes.) I’m sorry to tell you this way. He died during that whole fiasco of … he was working on this side, but there were scavengers, or the Family, but he… he died defending the Arc Circuit.
J: (All the speculation about Amir collapses into more realistic set of options. Sepiaverse. He’s a victim, working with/for Hecate, etc.)
B: The one from this world … when all of that happened, we, in our proximity to the effect, were the ground points for a tremendous amount of energy potential from this side and that side that was grounded out. When you came through, minimal damage, nearly non-existent …
(Li’liycia grounding out.)
J: Yeah, I figured that out, Dad.
B: We absorbed the energy of a landmass the size of the dinosaur-killer. If we contacted individuals from the other side, and if it returned to the other side it would likely resume the original damage potential. I’m … sorry.
J: Yeah. Where’s Achilles Chin right now?
B: We think he’s working with Hecate.
J: Excuse me whatthefuck?
(Numina mouths the same thing.)
author: *** Dave H.
url: https://app.roll20.net/forum/permalink/6044853
