[21:20] <Chamelaeon> <<SESSION THIRTY, LIFTOFF! YOU'RE RACKING UP THE
FREQUENT FLYER MILES!>>
[21:22] *** Atom (EDeangelus@pool-151-197-32-42.phil.east.verizon.net)
has joined #ATC
[21:22] <Chamelaeon> <<The present day - April 1st. Present time - 9:02,
Sleythin time. Present location - your room in the Sleythin Council
House.>>
[21:23] <Chamelaeon> <<You've just completed your audience with the Egg
and Prag9 has led you back to your room. True to his word, there's a
fruit plate sitting on the table in the common room. Your suits are
there, and they look to have been cleaned. [END EXPOSITION!]>>
[21:24] * Tim walks up to the plate, takes a fruit, and begins feeding.
:9
[21:24] * Vernon does likewise. :9
[21:25] *** Atom is now known as Eoi
[21:25] <Chamelaeon> <<There's several types of fruit - some like the
one Tim ate the first day, and some of a more plain variety (where plain
means a single flavor). It's all ripe, and fairly good, though.>>
[21:27] * Chako picks up a simple looking fruit, and starts eating. She
looks grumpy.
[21:27] * Charlie grabs a piece of fruit. "We going as soon as we can
then?"
[21:27] * Isis looks mad. Real mad.
[21:27] <Tim> Sure.
[21:27] * Tim makes sure to maintain distance between himself and Isis.
[21:28] <Chamelaeon> (The image of Eoi as a dicerolling bot is amusing.)
[21:28] <Chako> Yeah, let's get the hell out of here.
[21:29] <Tim> ( It is. )
[21:29] <Tim> ( 1dNaginata? )
[21:30] * Charlie glances around.. looks at Prag. "How are we going to
bring Prag along?"
[21:32] <Charlie> We may want to use these walls for parts before we
go.. if he needs a battery.
[21:32] * Isis raises an eyebrow, then glances at the guidebot. "How are
you powered?"
[21:33] * Chako looks confused, until Charlie says that second part.
"Oh."
[21:33] <Vernon> Hmm...
[21:34] <Chamelaeon> [I can run off battery like I'm doing now, or I can
pick up a wireless power source like I do from City Central.]
[21:35] <Tim> I think we can rig something like that.
[21:35] * Vernon nods.
[21:35] * Chako pulls out her gun, tosses half the fruit in the air, and
blasts it with a frown on her face. "I'll get suited the hell up then."
She stalks over to her suit and starts doing so.
[21:35] * Isis nods. "I think we should pick up everything necessary,
and leave as soon as possible." She frowns. "I don't want to stay here
any longer."
[21:36] <Chamelaeon> [Me either. I feel... old. Is that possible?]
[21:37] * Chako says halfway through suiting up. "Hey, look at it this
way. The trip back'll be nice and normal compared to this."
[21:37] * Isis sighs. "I don't plan on returning here. If I'm going to
be a marionette, someone else can just hand my orders down."
[21:40] <Vernon> Doesn't seem to be much keeping us here. The culture is
interesting, but first things first.
[21:40] * Chako slips her helmet on. "Yeah."
[21:41] * Charlie suits up as well.
[21:41] * Vernon suits up.
[21:41] * Isis starts suiting up.
[21:42] * Tim suits up, as well.
[21:43] <Charlie> Only thing would be getting anything for Prag if he
needs it. *he looks at Prag* Do you need anything to be able to leave
this planet?
[21:43] <Chamelaeon> [Nope. Other than power I'm fully self contained.]
[21:43] <Tim> Sweet deal.
[21:44] * Tim finishes suiting up, since his isn't much of a suit,
complexity-wise. "We ready?"
[21:44] * Isis puts on her helmet, then stretches out her arms and gets
used to being in-suit again. "For a long time now."
[21:44] * Vernon shrugs. "I am."
[21:45] <Charlie> No problem then. Let's go.
[21:45] <Vernon> (BRB, fetching dessert. Won't be a minute - keep going.
^_^)
[21:45] <Chamelaeon> <<Prag bobs by the door.>>
[21:48] * Chako stretches, and looks around. "Alright. Out we go, then."
She walks out the door.
[21:48] * Charlie heads out.
[21:48] * Vernon heads on out.
[21:49] * Isis is only too happy to leave.
[21:49] * Tim follows.
[21:52] <Chamelaeon> <<Prag leads you back to the door of the Council
House, and back out into the now late morning of the Sleythin day. Well,
as "day" as the cave ever gets. Outside, standing a distance away from
the building, is the sleythin you recognize as Gyor'carl, and two others
in exosuits. She nods to you as you exit.>> [We're to escort you back to
the bodyslide bowl.] <<She speaks with a great deal less malice than
before ...>>
[21:52] <Chamelaeon> <<... and even a hint of anticipation.>>
[21:52] <Isis> ( I got your anticipation right here, lady. )
[21:52] <Tim> Gosh, thanks.
[21:52] * Vernon nods. "Thank you."
[21:53] * Chako shrugs, and says, "Well, if ya gotta, alright."
[21:54] <Chamelaeon> <<She bobs her head.>> [You're welcome, but it
wasn't my idea.] <<She and her two soldiers fall into step behind you.
Prag bobs along in front.>>
[21:55] * Chako 'll just keeeeep walkin'. Not lookin' round too much.
[21:56] * Tim decides to try to ignore the presence of their 'escort'.
Which is probably very, very hard to do.
[21:56] <Chamelaeon> <<While your exit from the city is certainly not as
well-heralded as your entrance, you still draw a crowd. Most of them are
cheering, shouting things about vanquishing the Enemy and things of that
sort. But it's not long until you're square in front of the shimmering
hexagonal greenness of the backside of the Gate of Ages.>>
[21:57] * Isis is walking and exercising her diplomatic skills by not
speaking.
[21:58] * Chako says gruffly to the Sleythin, "Ya ready? The damage
ain't so good, and they might be out there."
[21:59] <Chamelaeon> [We fought tooth and nail for these guns. We know
how to use them.]
[21:59] * Isis cannot suppress a short, sharp laugh.
[22:00] * Tim keeps his mouth sealed.
[22:01] <Chamelaeon> <<Gyor'carl bares her teeth for a split second, but
doesn't say anything.>> [All you have to do it walk through it.]
[22:01] * Chako chuckles to herself. "Hey, far be it from me to stop
anyone from shootin' shit." She walks through.
[22:01] * Vernon bows, and heads on through.
[22:01] * Charlie walks through.
[22:02] <Tim> Ah. 
[22:02] * Tim waves and walks through.
[22:03] <Chamelaeon> <<The Sleythin follow you through, when the last of
you has gone. After an instantaneous trip, on the other side is exactly
what you saw when you left - the pedestal with the Key on it to your
right, the path you your left, and the Globe with Shanaa'na in it
straight in front of you, looming upwards.>>
[22:04] <Chako> ~Scanners or ECM, people?~
[22:04] * Tim walks over to the pedestal. "I forget. Did they want us to
leave the door open?"
[22:05] <Charlie> ~I'd say scanners for now.~
[22:05] <Tim> ~Scanners. Definitely scanners. For some reason, I'd
rather have my eyes open than their eyes closed.~
[22:05] <Chako> ~Right. Scanners it is.~
[22:05] <Vernon> ~Yes.~
[22:05] <Chamelaeon> <<Gyor'carl shakes her head.>> [Leave it open. We
do need to get back in.]
[22:06] * Chako walks, then.
[22:06] <Chamelaeon> <<As for the scanners, there's a faint human signal
to your left and forward, and nothing else.>>
[22:07] <Chako> ~Whoa. What the hell?~
[22:07] * Isis frowns. ~ That's not right. If it's Masterson, we're in
trouble. ~
[22:08] <Chako> ~Well, at least we got backup.~ 
[22:08] * Chako shifts direction that way.
[22:08] <Tim> If it's Masterson, we should arrange a greeting.
[22:08] * Tim makes sure his gun is ready. All one of 'em.
[22:08] * Vernon does likewise.
[22:08] <Chamelaeon> <<The signal flickers and vanishes. You clear the
Globe and get a good view of the clearing... oh my god, a dice roll!
Visual roll, don't forget suit bonuses.>>
[22:10] <Chako> 2d6-2
[22:10] <Vernon> 2d6-4
[22:10] -herring.sandwich.net:@#atc- Chamelaeon invited Dicesuke into
channel #atc.
[22:10] *** Dicesuke (dice@155.92.103.53) has joined #atc
[22:10] <Vernon> 2d6-4
[22:10] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Vernon (2d6-4) and gets 1.
[22:10] <Tim> 2d6-2
[22:10] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tim (2d6-2) and gets 4.
[22:10] <Charlie> 2d6-4
[22:10] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Charlie (2d6-4) and gets 7.
[22:11] <Tim> ( Made it! )
[22:11] <Chako> 2d6-2
[22:11] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Chako (2d6-2) and gets 4.
[22:11] <Vernon> (Er...yeah! ^_^)
[22:11] <Chako> (Yeah.)
[22:11] <Charlie> (woo, Charlie must be spacin')
[22:11] <Isis> ( What ARE our suit bonuses, anyway? )
[22:12] <Tim> ( Charlie watches Isis' caboose. )
[22:12] <Chamelaeon> (-2 default, unless you changed it.)
[22:12] <Isis> ( I don't know what 90% of my suit's stuff even DOES. )
[22:12] <Chamelaeon> (Or got HA.)
[22:12] <Isis> 2d6-2
[22:12] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Isis (2d6-2) and gets 6.
[22:12] <Isis> ( Amazingly, that makes it. )
[22:13] <Chamelaeon> <<Those of you who make it can see that one of the
exosuits ringing the clearing isn't an exosuit at all, but something
thinner. You can't quite make it out from here, but it's where the
signal was coming from.>>
[22:13] * Isis draws her sword. "I don't like this."
[22:13] <Charlie> hmm? *he readies his weapon*
[22:14] *** Eoi is now known as Atom
[22:14] * Chako 's weapons whirr. "Yeah. Nobody should be followin' us."
[22:14] <Vernon> (o/~ Wha-wha-wha-wha-what do you want? o/~)
[22:14] <Tim> Oookay. 
[22:15] * Chako is stiiiill walkin' that way.
[22:15] <Tim> Sooo. 
[22:15] <Chamelaeon> <<As you get closer, it becomes entirely too
obvious what it is - a very large cross. There's a person on it.>>
[22:15] * Tim blinks.
[22:16] <Vernon> ~...the heck?~
[22:16] * Isis grits her teeth. "Oh, I bet I know who's on that."
[22:16] * Chako frowns. "Someone's tryin' to be funny. Hope he's not
still here."
[22:16] * Isis glances back at the Sleythin. "Whatever it is, we can
handle it. I'd rather not have a hostile force use the distraction to
slip through the Gate."
[22:17] <Tim> That'd be bad, yes.
[22:17] <Chamelaeon> <<It's Illyana, whole, and unharmed, but very very
dead, probably from the large gash in her side. Or it could be the crown
of bolts jammed into her skull. But she's certainly dead... and as you
draw nearer, the whole thing suddenly bursts into blue flame.>>
[22:18] <Tim> ...if someone's trying to be funny, they've got an awfully
fucked up sense of.. of.. uhg.
[22:18] * Isis turns and looks a the bulbasaurs. "Back inside the gate!
Seal it shut! NOW!"
[22:18] * Charlie scans his sensors agian.
[22:18] * Chako hits the sensor too. "Sonuva bitch."
[22:18] * Vernon is checking his as well.
[22:18] <Chamelaeon> <<The Sleythin are staring at the cross, but at
Isis' shout, do exactly that. It's amazing how fast they can actually
move.>>
[22:19] <Chamelaeon> <<Your sensors are clear - not even a jamming
zone.>>
[22:20] <Chako> Aw, christ. Well, do we warn 'em 'bout the fucker or
not?
[22:21] * Isis shakes her head. "Even if we did, do you think they could
do anything about it?"
[22:22] <Chako> Well, they said they were gonna come back over here.
Might be able to keep out some bugs, but Masterson's a whole different
fight.
[22:22] <Tim> Shit. 
[22:22] <Tim> And as long as the Gate's open, he can get in there and
kill all those nice well-meaning lizards.
[22:23] <Tim> Or get at the Egg and learn it's gameplan, or get access
to the Sleythin's choisest technologies...
[22:23] * Isis sighs. "We can sit here paralyzed with what-ifs or we can
do what we can when we can."
[22:23] <Chamelaeon> <<Prag9 is staring at the cross.>> [This is ... one
of yours?]
[22:24] <Isis> It's possible the bugs have just swarmed Earth and Mars
and everyone's quite dead by now, for all we know.
[22:24] * Chako says, "Yeah. If they listend to Isis, Gate's closed now
too."
[22:24] <Chako> And yeah, she was. Let's go.
[22:24] <Charlie> Masterson already knew about the egg.. and the cube,
didn't he?
[22:25] <Isis> He was very vague. It could be he really doesn't know
anything.
[22:27] * Chako says, "Who knows? Isis is right, and if that Gyor'carl
girl kill the guy, so much the better. Let's move."
[22:27] * Chako does with the moving.
[22:27] * Vernon nods, and does likewise.
[22:28] <Tim> Right, right.
[22:28] * Tim follows.
[22:29] <Chamelaeon> <<The rest of the walk back is rather uneventful.
The fires have died out, even, leaving you a very nice and clean path
back to the bodyslide bowl, which is as pristine as you left it.>>
[22:29] * Tim frowns.
[22:30] <Vernon> Odd.
[22:30] <Chamelaeon> <<The crystals are popped out, indicating they're
recharged and ready to go.>>
[22:31] * Tim does the crystal shuffle. o/`
[22:32] <Chamelaeon> <<NYORNK! Back you go, in the blissfully quiet
transfer. The lights change from green to blue.>>
[22:32] <Chamelaeon> <<You're even getting used to the whole "stomach
rotated 34+7i degrees" thing.>>
[22:34] <Chamelaeon> <<Your sensors are clear, and the weather outside
the cave is supposedly beautiful, for Europa.>>
[22:34] * Tim trudges back to the ship. Or where it's supposed to be.
[22:34] * Vernon follows.
[22:34] * Chako trudges back to the meet point too. "He better be
there."
[22:35] <Isis> If he's not and we survive, he'll be sorry.
[22:36] <Chako> That, I'll go for. 
[22:37] <Chamelaeon> <<The Flying Brick is sitting there, in all its
redness and glory. You hear Kookaburra over the radio.>> ~I don't know
how de fuck you had a message sent to me on Deimos vhen you vere here,
but you are exactly on time. Hurry up and get on de board, I've got de
hot shipment ov Polar Skvid to deliver.~
[22:37] <Tim> ~...we sent a message to him?~
[22:38] <Chako> ~Search me, but at least he's here.~ 
[22:38] <Charlie> ~The Egg?.. or Cube?~
[22:38] * Chako climbs on.
[22:38] * Charlie boards the ship.
[22:38] * Vernon boards.
[22:39] <Isis> 'Polar squid'?
[22:39] * Tim gets in the ship.
[22:39] <Chamelaeon> <<Prag follows, looking all around as he does. The
inside of the ship is miraculously not wrecked, and Kookaburra is
standing in the common room when you guys come through the airlock.>>
[22:40] * Tim waves to Mr. Krazy.
[22:40] * Vernon waves.
[22:40] * Chako gestures absently. "Stuff ain't half bad."
[22:40] <Chamelaeon> "I vill take off vhile you are unsuiting, da? Vere
are ve to go?"
[22:42] * Chako removes her helmet. "Back to Mars, eh?"
[22:42] <Tim> More or less.
[22:42] <Chamelaeon> "Then ve ride." <<He disappears back into the
cockpit.>>
[22:42] <Isis> Oh, I just shiver with anticipation. If anyone needs me,
I'll be in my room.
[22:42] * Isis stretches out her arm. "Once I get this damned thing off,
anyway."
[22:43] * Tim looks around to make sure the half-fiend dire parrot isn't
eyeing him again.
[22:43] <Chamelaeon> <<Prag floats around, "eyes" darting everywhere.
Lenin is nowhere to be seen.>>
[22:43] * Chako starts removing her suit. "Yeah, it'll be fuckin' great.
How ya holdin' up, Prag?"
[22:43] * Vernon desuits.
[22:44] <Chamelaeon> [I'm ... overwhelmed. It's so ... well, so
metallic.]
[22:44] <Chamelaeon> (Remember to store your suits in the tech bay.)
[22:45] <Chamelaeon> (Which is back past the rooms.)
[22:45] * Tim unsuits and stores his suit properly. "Yup. It was even
sealed together with fire! Marvel at our primitive ways." He chuckles.
[22:45] * Isis returns from the hangar in record time. "I need something
to drink. Something stronger than water." She eyes Tim. "Please tell me
there's something stronger than water."
[22:45] * Vernon stores his suit in the bay.
[22:46] * Chako chuckles. "Yeah, well, it's a ship meant to go through
space. Ain't much ya can do without metal." She wanders to the back,
very used to the desuiting thing.
[22:46] * Vernon grins. "Oh, believe me, there is."
[22:46] <Chamelaeon> <<Tim, visual check.>>
[22:46] <Tim> Hell yes. There's brandy, tequila, and vodka, to start the
list off.
[22:46] <Tim> 2d6
[22:46] * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tim (2d6) and gets 6.
[22:46] <Tim> ( Made it. It's the bird, isn't it? ;_; )
[22:46] * Charlie takes off his helmet. "Plenty of fun stuff, Isis." he
smiles.
[22:46] <Chamelaeon> <<Tim, you see Lenin creep into the room from the
cockpit and vanish behind the couch.>>
[22:47] <Tim> ...I'll be in my room. If anyone needs me... uh... talk to
me over the intercom, or something.
[22:48] * Tim slips into his room as quickly as he possibly can. c.c;
[22:48] <Chamelaeon> <<The liquor supply is considerably depleted, but
because you stocked like mad fiends, there's still quite a bit of stuff
left.>>
[22:48] * Chako comes back from the back, and flops onna couch. "Fuckin'
hell."
[22:48] * Vernon waves and departs into his room with some remote
control that was lying around, plus most of a bottle of vodka.
[22:49] * Charlie goes back to the bay to put his suit away.
[22:49] * Isis drinks tequila. Out of the bottle. In big gulps.
[22:49] <Chako> (Lies! Vernon can't get drunk! You're gonna use it to
get some computer drunk!)
[22:50] <Vernon> (If only you had seen my charsheet. o/~)
[22:50] * Chako eyes Isis. "Jesus, Isis. How often do ya get this
fucked?"
[22:51] * Charlie comes back out to the main room and finds a nice chair
to sit in.
[22:51] <Chamelaeon> <<Prag is floating around the room, scanning
everything. He stops in front of Isis and eyes the bottle.>> [Tekeela?]
[22:51] <Chamelaeon> [Nutritive supplement?}
[22:52] * Chako barks a laugh. "Not quite."
[22:52] * Isis puts down the bottle and sighs, looking at it.
"Stupidity, Prag. Stupidity in a bottle."
[22:52] <Charlie> More like.. toxin.
[22:53] <Chamelaeon> <<You see Lenin go down the hallway, and hear some
metallic clanging.>>
[22:54] <Chamelaeon> <<Prag blinks.>> [Stupidity? ... toxin?]
[22:54] * Vernon comes back out of his room, the bottle of vodka mostly
empty, and the remote apparently fixed or something. He sits down on a
couch.
[22:54] <Chako> S'somethin' people drink that makes ya feel good a
little, but if ya drink too much, it gets ya roaring stupid and sick.
Best damn thing--
[22:55] * Chako eyes Vernon's bottle. "Christ, people! Alright, that's
it. I ain't the one not bein' drunk here."
[22:55] <Charlie> Well, not a heavy toxin, but it's not healthy. Good
for a distraction, many times.. Toss one here too, Chako!
[22:55] <Tim> ( Session name: ATC Gets Wasted. )
[22:55] <Chamelaeon> <<Give me a body roll, Isis. And hell, Vernon.
Okay, well, dammit, give me a body roll if you're drinking more than
half a bottle of something that's not beer or wine coolers.>>
[22:56] <Chako> (This is the most realistic RP I've EVER BEEN IN.)
[22:57] <Isis> ( Actually, Prag inadvertently managed to get Isis to
*stop* drinking. )
[22:57] <Chamelaeon> <<Prag looks around the room.>> [And you do this...
often?]
[22:57] <Chako> (Heh.)
[22:57] * Isis shakes her head, toying with the bottle. "More often than
we should, as a race. Compared to what some people do with chemicals,
this is fairly mild."
[22:58] * Chako walks over to the drinkin' stuff and says dryly, "Pick
yer poison, Charlie." She picks up a bottle.
[22:58] <Vernon> Depends on the person. The chemical is quite addictive.
[22:59] <Charlie> Well, how 'bout some brandy or somethin'?
[22:59] * Chako hrms, picks a different bottle, and peers at the wetbar
some more. "Damn. Didn't quite catch how stocked this place was."
[22:59] <Chako> Bottle or glass?
[22:59] <Chamelaeon> <<Prag settles on the table.>> [And you do this to
be reminded of your own mortality, right? So you don't get disconnected
from the physical?]
[23:00] <Charlie> Bottle's good enough.
[23:01] * Chako sets a bottle of brandy on the bar, and then pulls up
some junk, and does some simple drink mixing.
[23:02] <Chako> Most people just do it because it feels good for a bit.
Lotta people could use a little of that.
[23:02] * Isis shakes her head at the guidebot. "No. Most people to do
it to... basically, to forget their futile struggle against
insignificance, most of the time. To forget bad things, in general."
[23:03] <Chamelaeon> [Huh.] <<He pauses for a moment.>> [I guess a lot
of bad things DO happen to your species, don't they?]
[23:04] * Chako does some shakin' and some mixin' and ends up with a
large glass of something that might look good, but mostly looks very
red.
[23:06] <Chamelaeon> <<Kookaburra comes into the room.>> [Vell, if you
had told me ve vere getting shitfaced, I vould have come in earl... Vhat
de fuck is dat?" <<He points at Prag, who turns to look at him.>>
[23:06] <Charlie> The world isn't the most pleasant place, at times. *he
drinks some of his brandy*
[23:08] * Isis looks at the pilot with narrowed eyes. "A very
sophisitcated robot. Any complaints about it can be sent directly into
deep space."
[23:08] * Chako takes a sip, and nods. "Yeah, I ain't Kary or Krissy,
but this is still damn good." She leans on the bar. "Want somethin,
Vlad?"
[23:08] <Chako> (He's Vlad! Vlad the Kooky!)
[23:08] <Isis> ( He's just under Masterson on the 'fire-out-airlock'
list. )
[23:09] <Tim> ( We have one of those? Can I put Lenin on it? )
[23:09] <Chamelaeon> "A Harlem Stinger, iv you vould be so kind." He
walks over to Prag and eyes it. "Sovistikated, da? Vell, It's your
ship."
[23:10] <Vernon> (One Stinger coming riiiiiight up! (5))
[23:10] * Vernon consumes some more vodka, neatly and yet with
astonishing efficiency.
[23:10] <Chamelaeon> <<Prag eyes Vlad.>>
[23:11] * Chako blinks, and nods. "Yeah. Harlem Stinger. Right." She
looks like she's thinkin' for a sec, and then starts pullin' stuff.
[23:11] <Chako> (That's not a 5, mook. c.c;)
[23:11] <Chamelaeon> (An odd note - since you took off your suits, Prag
has been talking in Spacer. Blame me for forgetting to change my
syntax.)
[23:12] <Vernon> (The sketch I'm referencing is only on one of the more
obscure CDs, actually. ^_^)
[23:12] <Chamelaeon> <<Prag hovers around Vlad.>> "Who is this?"
[23:12] <Chako> (And by that, you mean, the Final Rip Off, which is the
only one I have? ;P)
[23:12] <Chamelaeon> (Dude, Calc, where do you think I got the DRINK
from?)
[23:12] <Vernon> (...ah, I thought it actually existed. ;_; Damn the
luck.)
[23:13] <Isis> ( I love how you have these supposed obscure Monty Python
quotes that are often so damned generic they could, in fact, be from
more or less ANYTHING. )
[23:13] <Vernon> (Point. ^_^;)
[23:14] * Chako finishes her mixing, and... well, gives it to Vlad.
"There ya go." She goes back to her large red drinky thing.
[23:15] <Chamelaeon> <<Vlad turns to face Prag.>> "I'm de fucking pilot,
vhat de hell do you vant?"
[23:16] <Chamelaeon> <<Prag blinks.>> "Of a real space ship? Wow." <<He
continues to circle him. Vlad ignores him and starts in on his Harlem
Stinger.>>
[23:17] <Isis> Pretty touchy... for someone with a nosy pet of his own.
[23:17] <Vernon> If you call this ship real...
[23:17] * Chako snickers. "Hey, it gets us places. That's damn real to
me."
[23:18] <Chamelaeon> "My pet does not talk. It's not something vone is
used to."
[23:18] * Vernon shudders at the memory of Stan, and goes digging for
more alcohol.
[23:20] * Chako eyes Vernon, drinks, and rubs her head. "What a bunch."
[23:21] <Chamelaeon> <<Kookaburra mutters and walks out. Prag does not
follow him, but instead settles down on the table.>>
[23:21] * Vernon creates a gin and tonic, and sits back down.
[23:21] * Isis glances at the bot. "Sorry. He's a likeable sort, once
you get past his being a totally insane sociopath."
[23:22] * Chako laughs at that.
[23:22] <Chamelaeon> "It's okay. I'm kind of unsure what to expect for
reactions, though."
[23:24] * Isis shrugs and gets herself some tonic water to wash out the
taste of tequila. "If push comes to shove, we'll tell them you're a
sci-fi geek in costume."
[23:25] <Chamelaeon> <<Prag blinks.>> "Uh, okay."
[23:25] * Vernon grins at that.
[23:25] <Isis> ( Does he actually blink? Or do we just hear the Zorak
blink noise? )
[23:25] * Chako snickers. "Anyone wanna build something sidesaddle for
their suit?"
[23:26] <Chamelaeon> (He's got two glowing eyes. When he blinks they do
actually go black for a second.)
[23:27] <Isis> ( Can he make the Zorak blink noise anyway? )
[23:27] <Chamelaeon> (Uh, okay.)
[23:27] <Isis> ( Yay! )
[23:28] <Chako> (Aah, simple pleasures.)
[23:28] * Chako takes a large gulp, and grimaces slightly. "Hoo. Damn, I
love this thing."
[23:31] <Chamelaeon> <<You hear a door open, and Lenin's laugh. He
crosses through the room all the way into the cockpit, laughing all the
way. Prag blinks.>>
[23:31] <Vernon> ...
[23:31] * Vernon drinks.
[23:31] * Chako takes another large gulp. "Yep. Love it."
[23:31] * Isis sighs. "How good are you with assimilating data, Prag?"
[23:32] * Tim follows in. "I have good news, and better news." From the
sound of his voice, both pieces of news are probably really bad.
[23:32] <Chamelaeon> "I try my best. I'm designed to adapt to varying
cultures, after all."
[23:32] <Vernon> Er?
[23:32] * Isis looks toward the cockpit. "If I have to trust anyone, I'd
rather trust a practical AI than an insane Russian with a
chicken-sandwich-to-be with a bad attitude." She turns and eyes Tim.
[23:33] <Tim> The good news; I got an amusing e-mail from the Cube,
which likes to think it's sending telegraphs.
[23:33] <Vernon> Oh, dear.
[23:33] * Isis eyebrowtwitches.
[23:34] <Tim> The better news; Mars is gradually being conquered by the
hippies, who are vanquishing all who stand in their path, lead by a red
suit and a black suit.
[23:34] <Vernon> ...
[23:34] <Isis> ...
[23:34] <Tim> Yeah, isn't that great? I knew you'd love it.
[23:34] <Vernon> I didn't think they were that good.
[23:35] * Isis shrugs and sips her water. "They're not."
[23:35] * Chako grins faintly. "They don't need to be with that tech.
Time to waste those goddamn hippies." She takes another drink.
[23:35] * Isis hmms. "I'll need to start practicing harder."
[23:36] <Tim> They weren't. The Beans seem to have gotten an upgrade,
tho. Red Bean has been reported to be using what sounds like
psychokinetic attacks, which I liked a lot more when they were only in
cheesy sci-fi.
[23:36] * Charlie takes a big swig, then frowns.
[23:36] * Vernon finishes his gin and tonic and switches to water, with
a little bit of something from a small blue bottle.
[23:36] * Isis frowns. "Is it possible the spiders are giving them
technology?" She gives a sharp laugh. "Meanwhile, all we get are a pack
of pacifist lizards who will probably all be dead by the time we go
back."
[23:37] <Chako> It's pretty damn likely.
[23:37] <Isis> ( Must... spend... CP. )
[23:37] <Tim> I'd kinda' assumed they were, really. Giving them
technology, anyway.
[23:38] <Tim> ( Must... get... CP... to spend! )
[23:38] <Chako> Don't matter if we paste the big men. Hippies are still
hippies.
[23:39] <Chamelaeon> <<Prag speaks.>> "Well, if the Sleythin DO get
destroyed, which I'm not sure about, then we'll know if they don't show
within one week."
[23:40] * Vernon is drinking quite a bit of water now.
[23:40] <Tim> True.
[23:41] <Tim> I think I'll be giving the suits once-overs and maybe
overhauls, to make sure they're in top condition. 
[23:41] * Vernon nods. "I'll help out."
[23:42] <Vernon> I'd also like to try and get as much info as I can on
what's going on down there...we've got good connectivity, so.
[23:42] * Tim nods and heads back to The Lab of Dr. Larson.
[23:43] <Charlie> Hippies don't need that kind of help. Their cause is
wothless! *he thuds his bottle down*... Why'd they have to pick the
hippies as their puppet.
[23:44] * Isis says, perhaps too quickly, "Because they knew they
wouldn't refuse."
[23:44] * Vernon heads on back to his room. It sounds like he's typing
at about 150wpm, with hands, feet, and nose.
[23:44] <Chako> Yeah. The fact that they're hippies means they're
already suckers.
[23:44] <Charlie> Yeah.. They obviously knew they couldn't win against
the Corps.
[23:45] * Chako takes another drink. "Wonder if the Cube said anythin'
to Tim."
[23:45] <Charlie> They shoulda stamped out the hippies long ago.. Before
they got to be too big a threat.
[23:46] * Tim walks back in. "Oh, and while I'm thinking about it. Cube
asked us to come back to ATC. Said somethin' 'bout promotions. Sorry
'bout not mentioning it." He walks back out.
[23:46] <Tim> ( BRB. x.x )
[23:46] * Isis frowns. "Oh, how I wish I could be happy about that
news."
[23:47] * Chako pauses, and takes another drink. "Yeah. Son of a bitch."
[23:48] <Chamelaeon> <<Prag is looking around.>> "Aren't promotions good
things?
[23:49] <Charlie> Just when Mars is about to be OVERRUN by ALIEN
controlled LUNATICS.. *he stomps off to his room*
[23:49] * Isis looks at her glass of water and answers. "Not when it's
by the corporation that used us, then threw us away, and is only now
welcoming us back because our favorite pupeteer AIs are pulling the
strings."
[23:50] * Vernon comes on back out. "Well, looks like Tim and I are
going to put in a lot of work on the suits."
[23:50] * Chako mutters. "Yeah. Just suckerin' us up. Even I can see it
comin'."
[23:50] <Vernon> Who's to say the AIs weren't pulling the strings
before?
[23:51] <Isis> Nobody, which only makes it ten times worse.
[23:51] * Vernon nods. "I'm not overjoyed, but we might as well take
advantage of its resources."
[23:52] * Charlie shouts from his room "You know it's gotta be the Cube
who made us 'vanish' before we left!"
[23:52] <Charlie> (his door's not shut.)
[23:54] <Chamelaeon> (There's no more plot this session, so you guys can
RP until you're done.)
[23:54] <Tim> ( I'm done. z.z )
[23:54] <Charlie> (not so much shouts, as rasies his voice)
[23:54] <Vernon> (Pretty much done. ^_^)
[23:55] <Chako> Charlie's prob'ly right.
[23:55] * Vernon nods.
[23:55] * Chako knocks back the rest of her glass of red junk.
[23:56] <Isis> ( I'm done, pretty much. )
[23:56] <Charlie> ( Charlie's just gonna sulk in his room. I'm done. )
[23:57] <Chamelaeon> (alright, then.)
[23:58] <Chamelaeon> <<SESSION THIRTY, LANDED! YOU JUST CAN'T CATCH A
BREAK!>>