------------------
Peace, Rov
Husband of Amanda, Senar, Jade, and Raeven
Hug Club, Founder
"I am reaching, but I fall/And the stars are black and cold/As I stare into the void/Of a world that cannot hold/I'll escape now from the world/There is nowhere I can turn/There is no way to go on...."-- Javert, Les Miserables

His grey eyes looked into hers, "And apparently our benefactor wants to keep us up for doing some work..." He put the tray before her, "Now eat."

'It looked like someone called Tech Support and threw a temper tantrum when they were told that all they needed was to delete and reinstall the OS...' she thought

"No thanks. I'm not hungry."

Or stupid, she added to herself.

"You should probably have some, though. Big guy like you, you probably need all the nutrition you can get."

She inched back slowly from the Nietzschean, her tail curled defensively.

[This message has been edited by Pandora (edited June 30, 2001).]

TH: "Fine, then hand me the hydrospanner you tree worshiping freak."

Rov: "WHAAAAAAAT!?"

TH: "I said, hand me the hydrospanner."

Rov: "What did you say....*AFTER* that?

TH: "I just commented on how this place would look nicer if it had some trees."

Rov: "I see. GET BACK TO WORK!"

TH: "Then hand me the frelling hydrospanner or are your genetically enhanced ears not working!?"

With very tense movements Rov walks over to the pile of tools and picks up the laser saw and hands it to TH.

TH: "That's the laser saw you idio....."

Rov sticks his bone spurs out in an attack posture.

TH: "Ummmmmmm......it's the one on that box over there."

Rov hands him the hydrospanner. TH begins to use it as the directions indicate.

Rov: "What, no thank you?"

TH: "No, but.....Frell you!"

TH goes back to work leaving Rov with a look on his face of a mixture between embarrassment and anger.

She shrugged and dismissed the thought as she started to examine the bits of computer lying about. Whatever it had started out life as, hopefully it would end up as something useful to her. She picked up a piece for closer inspection.

He turned his back on her and walked over to Saine, determined to not eat until the trancer did. "Ok, tell me something good..."

She then sighed. You know, it would be so much easier to work if the both of you would just eat at the same time. Less fighting that way.

Saine went back to fiddling with the parts.

"I dunno, Saine... I'm really not that hungry at all. But is there anything I can do to help you?"

Pandora approached the Harpy curiously, her tail swishing readily behind her.

Ok, I need everyones attention. We are going to have to work together to get out of here. We need to use all of our skills to get out of here. First question. What can each of you do? Second question. Does anyone know how to assemble this stuff?

Senar waits for her group to answer her.

O.O.C.-I am not going to be around until Sunday night so play me if you want.

One minute she had been entering the station, the next....

She looked around. Rather cozy it seemed...TOO cozy.

She checked for her weapons...they were gone. Not terribly surprising, but not reassuring either.

To her astonishment, john and bobdylanite were lying nearby, appearently still asleep.

Dylanite noticed the food, which Ani was eating as Red stood by. She nodded at them, deciding she would wait to speak to the Alpha or Matriarch before sharing information.

Sh decided against the food (she did not have the inherent anti poison constitution of a Nietzschean), and instead turned her attention to the flexis,

She sat down with them and began to read. She'd let John and the rest sleep....for now.

<John, I am co hosting a party tomorrow, and don't know if I'll be around...feel free to play my character....within reason *g*>

Lil

[This message has been edited by Dylanite (edited July 02, 2001).]

"This is ridiculous," Josh said under his breath. "I'm not going to BE YOUR GUINEA PIGS!"

One quick tail swipe later and the apple literally FLEW out of RR's hand.

"I'm not going to spout the usual Trancer platitudes because I know you're not going to listen to me if I do," he snapped. "If we're going to survive, we'll have to work together. Put aside the fact I'm purple, as if that matters in the first place, since I'm clearly not the average Trancer."

It was then that Senar gave her speech.

[This message has been edited by jb1234 (edited June 30, 2001).]

Look I don't like the child-murdering kludge any more than you do, but, right now we need him. So let's see some of that Wayist self-discipline eh?

*Glancing at TH, with an expression full of contempt, and her voice remaining calm, she told him:*

I would advise AGAINST you speaking to my brother like that.

Why didn't anyone wake me up? Does anyone know how we got here or why we're here?

She stood up shakily and made her way over to the table laden with food. She picked up some fruit, put it to her lips, then thought better of it, it could be poisonous

Has anyone eaten anything yet?

[This message has been edited by Raevenfromkhcmb (edited June 30, 2001).]

*She's insane, I wouldn't touch that food no matter how hunger I am. On the good news is if nothing happens to her it will be safe for me to eat.*

Red continuing searching the room, looking for monitors. Who ever did this would be watching. Unable to find anything Red turned her attention to the flexies.

This was really interesting.

"Ani, when you're done checking them out come over here and look at this."

"I'm not the naive man I once was. I was so certain that peace and cooperation were the best way to survive.... I was wrong. No deals for he who would try to kill an innocent child. And if that means that I'm no longer a true Wayist... so be it. If the Divine is upset with me, She can come down here and hash it out with me Herself."

Off Geal's worried look, Rovinski gives her a wolfish grin.

"I'm realizing what it means to be Nietzschean. No quarter asked from kludges, and no quarter given. Somewhere along the line... I lost my heritage. And I will regain it. I won't kill him, unless it's neccasary. But if it is neccasary... I will kill him."

"Of course you are correct Senar. I am sure that you know I have no great tech skills, but I can muddle through. What do you need for me to do?"

He gets thwapped by bobdylanite, who is also awake enow and thinks he's wasting time.

"I'm awake!" he says. He checks himself for weapons and is saddened to realize he doesn't have any.

Getting to his feet somewhat shakily, he finds Dylanite reading a stack of flexis.

"What've we got here?" he asks.

Before she can answer, John sees a flicker of movement off to the side. Arawn has found the plate of food and is about to stuff his face. John is across the room in two strides and backhands the guard, making him drop his meal. He points to the food.

"Get yourself killed on your own time. This has the disturbing feel of a test, and I don't intend to play until I know the game."

Turning back to Lil and the others, he tries to get a count, but he's too groggy. He settles for, "Is everybody awake and accounted for?"

"You know, everything would go a lot faster if you'd shove all those pesky little rivalries to the side."

On cue, TH, Rov, and Geal turned to glare at her.

"Ooops, I forgot. You all seem to have sticks up your-" she stopped abruptly, remembering the no-cussing rule she imposed upon herself "-butts. If you could just try to get along, I might refrain from treating you like kindergartner kludges," she said, emphasizing the word kludge. Her father had told her that if you treated an insult like an ordinary word, it lost it's power, and that it gained power when imposed upon those who viewed it as an insult.

You could have heard a pin drop. Rani realized that she hadn't been paying much attention to the bickering, just flanked Rov when he seemed to request it. Without any warning, she burst out laughing.

"What?" everyone chorused together.

"I...just realized...that..." she disolved once more into peals of laughter.

"Spit it out!" Rov shouted, thoroughly annoyed.

"I'm usually the one being flanked. It's just so...weird!" she exclaimed, and cackled, somewhat maniacally. Everyone else exchanged a look that quite clearly said, 'She's lost it.'

[This message has been edited by Rani (edited June 30, 2001).]

D'

[This message has been edited by D'Monix (edited June 30, 2001).]

Still, the interplay between the Tyrants and the Trancer seemed to help him focus. It took a while before he felt more like himself. Then the Tyrant he'd woken up next to said something. "Ok, I need everyones attention. We are going to have to work together to get out of here. We need to use all of our skills to get out of here. First question. What can each of you do? Second question. Does anyone know how to assemble this stuff?"

FMD chuckled a little. Part of it was due to the fact that he'd woken up next to a Tyrant, and one that was, undeniably, very attractive, but, from the double-helix on her arm, taken. She turned to him after the others gave their rundowns. "What's so funny, Roman?"

FMD smiled. "I'm a Harpy as well. Let me try to put that together."

One of the others scowled at him. "Why would you want to help us?"

He got a far away look in his eyes. "Because of a mistake I made. Now then, let's see those flexis."

OOC: Sorry, wasn't on until now.

quote:

---

Originally posted by John Burke:
John wakes again to being shook by Anastashia. He groans, opens his eyes, and tries to close them again.

He gets thwapped by bobdylanite, who is also awake enow and thinks he's wasting time.

"I'm awake!" he says. He checks himself for weapons and is saddened to realize he doesn't have any.

Getting to his feet somewhat shakily, he finds Dylanite reading a stack of flexis.

"What've we got here?" he asks.

Before she can answer, John sees a flicker of movement off to the side. Arawn has found the plate of food and is about to stuff his face. John is across the room in two strides and backhands the guard, making him drop his meal. He points to the food.

"Get yourself killed on your own time. This has the disturbing feel of a test, and I don't intend to play until I know the game."

Turning back to Lil and the others, he tries to get a count, but he's too groggy. He settles for, "Is everybody awake and accounted for?"

---

Dylanite watches the action between John and Arawn. Smiling slightly, she turns to the Alpha.

"Hello, my friend. Now *this* is interesting...a Nietzschean Pride coming to the rescue of an old HighGuard station. "

She continues to hold on to the flexies, which John is eying with great interest. Then she continues...

"Well, since we appear to be stuck here together, I suggest we cooperate." She hands the flexies to John.

"What do you make of this?"

<OCC...I am not posting from home so any info that may have been sent there re: the flexies I do not have. I won't be home until tomorrow afternoon at the earliest>

She's right, you know. This standing around watching one person work is not going speed up matters. Some of these parts are rather massive, and will require more than one person to get them into place. Since none of us have weapons, other than our natural ones, can we not show each other a little trust?

Turning to TH, he continues

While not nearly as proficient with technical matters as a Harpy, I do have some skills. How can I assist in our endeavor?

D'

Rovinski is very confused. Rani's laughter echoes through the docking bay. He asks Geal to check Rani over for dangerous pathogens or... whatevers.

He walks back over to TH and WA.
"You've had a bit of time to look over the flexies... do you have any idea what it's a diagram of?"

"No clue. It looks like a component that plugs into a larger whole, but other than that.... it could be anything."

WA nods in agreement. Rovinski isn't surprised. Their captors weren't inclined to give any extra information, obviously...

[i]Rovinski surveys the junk in front of him. That door looks pretty sturdy... but you never know.

"Can you build a catapult or anything else that will launch a projectile? The door to the hallway is large enough that aiming won't be too large of an issue, and we have plenty of junk to launch."

He looks at the two, hoping for a "yes", and cooperation.

[This message has been edited by Rovinski47 (edited June 30, 2001).]

He looked up to see them all staring at him. "What?"

The Trancer gave words to all their thoughts. "We don't know if that food's been poisoned or not, and you just ate it?"

FMD rolled his eyes. "Obviously, whoever put us here wanted us to put this stuff together. We can't very well do that while we're dead or sick, so I knew the food wasn't poisoned. Now, can I get some help putting this thing together or not?"

"You are correct. I am more comfortable in combat situations, but I will help in any way I can. What do you want me to do?"

The Tyrants looked to each other, then went over and picked it, moving the piece to the center. FMD was impressed. When working independently, an individual Tyrant was quite capable. When they worked together, it looked like there was very little they could not do. The pretty one turned to him. "And what's next, Roman."

FMD decided it was time for introductions. "Second, I'd like to know all your names."

He wasn't going to risk revealing his identity just yet.

Ziana got up and went over to the table where Saine was staring bewildered at some flexis and parts. "What's all this stuff?" she asked Saine.

"That's what I'm wondering. It looks like these flexis give instructions on how to put this stuff together, but I don't know what the frell it makes!"

"Well, let's find out, shall we?" They commence assembling the parts.

He heard the Roman say, "Second, I'd like to know all your names."

He liked the Roman better than the Tyrants so he immediately shook hands with him and, "Hey, I'm Josh."

[This message has been edited by jb1234 (edited June 30, 2001).]

Picking up the flexi again she began to reread what she'd already read at least five times. Sighing in frustration she held out the flexi toward Jade and said. "Can you make anything out of this?"

"I am RommieRules....you may call me RR. The woman that you cannot tear your eyes off of is Senar. As she is our doctor, I advise you tread carefully there. Finally, meet JustMe, you may call her JM"

quote:

---

Originally posted by Future Mr. Doig:
The pretty one turned to him. [/i]"And what's next, Roman."[i]

---

(OOC: Does this mean that the rest of us should be barking? )

Although the fact that the Roman seems to be taking charge irks her a bit, JM can see that as a Harpy he has the experience in this area that the others lack. Maybe they'd find a way out of this after all.

[This message has been edited by JustMe (edited June 30, 2001).]

"Well..." she said slowly, "I'm not a genius or anything, but I've been known to tinker with machines in my time, and I have pretty good instincts."

Pandora says the last with an 'I'm not telling' grin.

"Generally, I'm good at helping."

[This message has been edited by Pandora (edited June 30, 2001).]

Shoshana crossed her arms and looked at the Roman Harpy for a long minute before saying .... "Shoshana, of Tyrant Pride. Who are you and where are you from?"

As you are probably aware I'm not very technically minded, but I'll help anyway I can.

He grabbed another piece of fruit. "First things first...Shoshana was it? What do you guys think of the Roman Emperor?"

Even though she was imposing, he wasn't going to let her intimiate him into revealing more than he was willing. He grabbed another piece and put it onto the main junction box. He had to see how this thing went together, and, while he waited for her answer, now was a good a time as any.

Finally she spoke again.

"I have never been introduced to him. His ordering an attack on the Tyrant compound and blowing away the front door ... does not make it easy for me to think about him without some anger. So. Who are you, where are you from and how are you related to the Roman Emperor?"

"We ought to be able to build something that can blast through that," she said, wandering over to the engineers. "All we really need is a long, stiff strip of metal, something to use as a fulcrum, and projectiles. It shouldn't be too difficult. Of course, everyone will help with the heavy lifting," she added, glancing darkly at Rov.

FMD turned, quietly, and faced her directly. "For your information, he was under control of some very nasty nanobots when he gave the order to attack your compound. All that is available, if you ask. As per who I am...well, all I can say is..."

What would she do when she found out? That thought filled his mind. Still, he didn't get where he was by being a coward. "I have tried to make up for that mistake ever since it happened. It was the worst thing, being taken over like that."

He looked down at his hands as if he could still see the blood of those that were killed on them. "I remember it all as if I were watching someone else, someone that I didn't like very much, and wanting to break out of that shell."

He dropped his hands to his sides, standing straight. "But I am FMD. I am the Roman Emperor, and, right now, it looks like I'm your first hope for getting out of this."

And, somewhere, he could swear he heard a shoe falling.

OOC: Okay, vague reference there. JustMe, I sent an e-mail to everyone else. If any of them can, have them forward it to you.

[This message has been edited by Future Mr. Doig (edited June 30, 2001).]

After fitting a few pieces together successfully, she stood back a bit, and stood still, as if pausing for thought.

"Hmm." She murmured quietly.

[This message has been edited by Pandora (edited June 30, 2001).]

She'd let him help her out of the current situation - and she'd make her decision about him later. "Evil nano-bots?" she thought to herself ... "wonder what he did with 'em?"

"Relax." 'shana said. "Attacking you would be counterproductive. At the moment. As far as my own personal skills ... and technology... I can assemble things, but I have to warn you, sometimes they don't quite work the way the original manufacturer intended..."

FMD had to smile at Shoshana. It was a funny line. RR, as she introduced herself, seemed to accept it, but the others...he couldn't tell. He didn't want to, but he wanted them to know he really didn't fear them. "Listen, I know what you must think about me. I know, the deal about the nanobots sounds lame, but I have tried in every possible way to make up for what happened. So let's finish this thing and get out of here, then we'll worry about it later, okay?"

He didn't wait for an answer. He turned around and started to plug more pieces into the machine until he was lost. He looked over and saw that the Trancer was standing next to a piece. "Uhhh...Josh? Could you bring that part over here?"

He figured that if they saw he wasn't afraid of them, they wouldn't harm him. He only prayed he was right.

[This message has been edited by Future Mr. Doig (edited June 30, 2001).]

Grabbing some interesting computer parts, 'shana ignored the skittish Trancer and brought the pieces to FMD.

"So, FMD, do you have any idea WHAT this thing is going to be when it is done?"

The Trancer still seemed a bit hesitant. "Hey, Josh, don't worry. We're stuck in this together. If these ladies wanted you dead, you'd be dead."

And, somehow, that didn't help.

OOC: Okay, so it was a lame joke.

"So none of us knows what we are building? And we are building it because .... because we think "they" want us to?" 'shana asked.

Shoshana thought about that fact. It didn't seem right to her. They had been on a rescue mission ... and now they were assembling parts like an old time tinker toy set? She felt like someone or something was toying with them ...

She also wondered about the others that had responded to the distress call. Were they somewhere aboard ... locked up too?

Josh swallowed nervously and looked at Shoshana, who was unpleasantly leering at him.

Putting all thoughts of the women out of his mind, he walked over to the piece and handed it to FMD.

He heard Shoshana talk and he silently agreed with her. He didn't like this one bit, and what happened to Pandora...

Perhaps they'd learn more once the object was put together. Besides, talking accomplished nothing. Nothing in the way of getting out of the room, anyway.

[This message has been edited by Shoshana (edited June 30, 2001).]

Shoshana looked around yet again for the cameras she knew must be watching them.

There had to be a way to use the machine parts in a way to benefit the trapped group... and she wanted to find that way without being observed

FMD sighed. Survivors. "Well, consider this. Why do you think they'd gas us like that and put us all in a room together? Especially this room? They must need something done, something they can't do themselves. If that's the case, then I think it's safe to say they'll keep us alive as long as they need us. By then, I hope, we'll know enough to get out of this."

He knew that wasn't going to help much, so tried to lighten the mood. "So, while we're finishing this up and waiting for our captors to decide what next to do, tell me about the ships you all flew in on."

He heard someone scoff at that, and turned. "Humor me. It's a passing interest I have."

The group was mummbling about flexis and food.
"Jade, come take a look at these flexis." Ana called over to her. Jade chuckled to herself. She must have a lot of faith in her to think that she was already up even though Jade hadn't moved yet. She wouldn't let her the co-pilot down even though it would be a great joke not to move, but that would get her no where.

Jade suddenly sat up as her cyber hips lifted her off the floor. "I am up." She smiled as she slowly stood up from the ground.
"Its about time." Red snarled at her. Jade just brushed off her arms and curled them over her chest.
"I have been up. Just going over my new computer components to make sure nothing was damaged. I am not inferior to you Nietzs. you know."
"Any thing other than a Nietz. is inferior." Red placed her hands on her hips and staired at the Harpy.
"Wowe, wowe, ladies. This is not going to get us anywhere. If we want to get out of here, we have to do it together. Now, what can we do with these flexies." John looked over to Ana who held them.
"I can only think of typing in HG-10 and see what happens." Ana shrugged as she tightned the flexi so the lettering was clearer to read.
"Or I can try and interface to see whats going on." Jade recommended as she walked over to the computer at the far end of the room. She opened up her hand and peeled away partial of the skin to reveal a new type of jack.
"Whats that? Aren't you going to use your jack?" Bob asked as she looked oddly at her.
"Jack, who needs a jack when your whole body is one now." She smiled as a thin wire slithered out of her finger and into the computer terminal connecting her with the main frame. "Down loading now." As soon as she said those words a large bolt of electric current was thrown into her body sending her flying backwerds away from the computer.
"Jade!" Ana, yelled as she layed there for a moment uncontious. Ana hurried over to see the girl shaking her head.
"Mommy, why are there so many pretty stars out tonight?" She asked bewildered as Ana, rolled her eyes.
"Get up!" She yelled to her as she grabbed the girls arm and lifted her up.
"Did you get anything?" Ana asked as Jade swayed back and forth.
"I don't know, my head isn't clear yet..." Jade placed her hand on her forhead.
"Oh frell!" Ana growled as she walked over to the computer and wrote HG of 01. "There now lets see what happens." She mummbled.

[This message has been edited by Jade Grim (edited July 01, 2001).]

"I've been working on the station
All the long, dark night.
I've been working on the station
Bet my hair's an awful fright.
Wish the pizza man delivered
Way out here in deep space.
Little baby in my belly
Sure would like a taste."

Glancing up from her rummaging she notes the others looking at her strangely. "What? So I'm craving pizza. I can't help it, I'm pregnant for goodness sake!"

[This message has been edited by JustMe (edited July 01, 2001).]

He suddenly stopped while he slid the next part into place. Suddenly it was looking familiar. "What the...No way. It couldn't be. It can't be."

He checked the schematic again, then sat down. He couldn't believe it. "Senar? You're a doctor, right? Tell me if I'm hallucinating right now."

D'

He nodded as Ziana finally awoke and actually spared a smile for Rae. As they worked on the technical things, he made sure to keep out of the way. He carefully examined the locked doors. He was going to attempt an escape, that was no question. The question was how dangerous it was. He wanted to be sure that there was not traps on the door. As he did this, he also thought to examine the room for cameras and sensors. It was obvious that someone was keeping tabs on them and he did not like that one bit...

D'

When the girl had been knocked unconcious it proved Red's point to herself about genetic superiority.

They all stared in amazement at the symbols that started to scroll across the screne..None of this made any sense. Their situation did not seem to be getting any better

The coil of blue hair that was no longer intertwined with the many other coils of multicolored locks, but bounced benevolently next to her face. She smiled slightly repressed a whistle.

IC:

TH listened as Geal and Rov talked. Niether of them thought that he could hear them. In actuallity, he had heard Rovinski refer to him being a attempted child killer several times. He was sick of it.

TH: "You stupid Ubers!"

That got everyone's attention. TH then looked directly at Rov to make sure he heard every word he said.

TH: "Do you think I *wanted* to hurt Jade or her daughter?!" TH said with barely contained fury. "I didn't! I was being controlled by an outside influence....in fact, your people to be exact. Rhadical Pride put nano-bots in me that re-wired my brain. I *had* to get the artifact at any means."

Rov and Geal looked at him like he was scum. They still didn't believe him. The next thing TH knew, he was picking up a small, sharp piece of metal and cutting his arm open with it. Red, warm blood poured down his arm, staining the deck. TH threw the pice of metal to Rovinski.

TH: "My blood still caries the nano-bots, they've been deactivated, but they're still there. Go on, take a look! I don't know how well your genetically engeineered eyes allow you to see, but maybe you can see the little bits of metal in my blood stream. Maybe you'll leave me alone you bastard!!"

TH and Rov stared at each other for a moment, neither willing to look away. TH still refused to show this man any respect. Just when it seemed that another fight would break out (TH being better prepared than anyone else realized) one of the Tyrant women stopped them.

Rani: "You know, everything would go a lot faster if you'd shove all those pesky little rivalries to the side."

TH, Rov and Geal turn to glare at her. She continues to talk for a few moments and then busts up laughing. At first no one else laughs and then the magog, TH thought he'd heard it referred to as WA, began laughing. He was the only one of the group even willing to offer to help TH.

WA: "While not nearly as proficient with technical matters as a Harpy, I do have some skills. How can I assist in our endeavor?"

TH: "How about you hand me that laser saw and that nano-welder so I can blow them up?"

WA looked at him patiently and waited for a real answer.

TH: "I suppose you could help me fix this micro-circutry. Get the laser welder and direct the beam here and here."

TH watched as the magog worked. He did a wonderful job, especially for someone with claws. TH realized that WA was probably his best chance for living through this. He needed a friend and, as strange as it was for a Harpy who grew up on Earth, this magog was it.

TH: "So, I'm assuming you're a Wayist. What do the initials WA stand for?"

TH needed to get this person to trust him. He also needed to know his allies.

A voice speaks from the intercom in the room. It is a feminine voice, quite pleasing and melodic.

"You will not do that again."

"What the frell?" Red stood up and looked around.

"You are alive only to assist me. If you cannot, then you will be killed. I suggest you begin working on the programming immediately."

"Who are you? What have you done with the others?" John asked.

"As long as you prove useful, you will be fed and given comfortable sleeping quarters. If you prove to be a liability, I will dispose of you as I did the children who were here before you."

"What did you do to them?" Lil asked.

There was no reply.

Once 'shana was sure that JustMe didn't have another verse waiting to burst out, she answered the Harpy Roman's question.

"I came in with Rov on his ship, "The Wayfinder". Dunno what class ship it is ... never saw one quite like it before...."

Shoshana realized that FMD wasn't paying any attention to her answer but was staring at the object he was assembling, mumbling to himself and calling for a doctor. "A doctor?!?" She moved closer to see what was going on.

[This message has been edited by Shoshana (edited July 01, 2001).]

"How rude," he says, and shrugs. "Well, I suppose we'd better do what it says..."

It rankles him. He hates taking orders and he especially hates taking orders at gunpoint and when he finds whoever is behind this he intends to strangle them, and then shoot them, and then (depending on time constraints) maybe strangle them again. But at the moment, he has no cards to play, so he'll do what's best for his immediate survival.

*That means playing the game... at least until I know a good way to cheat.* He frowns at the intercom. *I suppose I could hotwire this thing...*

A look in Jade's direction. *Or not.*

He moves to Jade's side and mutters. "I hope you're feeling better, girl; we're going to need you before this is over. I want another shot at that damn thing..."

He whirled to look at the others. He flexed his hands open and closed as he forced himself to remain calm, "Saine... Ziana... tell me you are coming along on whatever the frell that thing is." His grey eyes looked to D', "Any ideas on getting out of thie makeshift jail?"

"Gee, I hope we aren't constructing some kind of horrible doomsday device that might cause the destruction of entire galaxies."

She continued constructing, however.

After typing for several hours her head was whirling and her bone spurs ached. Besides she was hungry again. Finishing up the flexi she was working on she picked up the next one and turned to the others. "Next?" she said, a question in her voice. She pointedly placed the flexi back down on the top of the stack. Getting up from the chair she went back to the table, picked up another sandwich and some fruit and settled herself back on one of the couches.

Staring at FMD, JM wonders what he's going on about. Could he possibly have some idea about what this thing they're building is? Or maybe he's just trying to hit on Senar again. Shrugging slightly, she waits to see what develops.

After an hour had passed and Ani was still alive the others figured that the food was safe to eat the food and apeased their hunger.

After a number of hours Ani looked very tired and got up and stretched. Red went up to take a turn at the keyboard. Anything that would occupy her would be a good thing.

D'

"Your spurs are very nice," she said, her nimble fingers continuing to piece the component together as she looked at him. "Why are they like that?"

[This message has been edited by Pandora (edited July 01, 2001).]

Okay so I don't like you and you don't like me but we need to get along if we're going to get out of here. I don't have much tech know-how - I'm a fighter, not a fixer, and what knowledge I do have is more or less confined to the organic. However, just tell me what I can do to help and I'll do it.

*Geal thinks to herself: As long as he doesn't try my patience, I might be able to tolerate the kludge.*

None of us like being imprisoned in here X-Tyr, but getting mad at inanimate objects isn't going to help. Someone or something has obviously brought us all here for a purpose, until we know what that is I suggest we just stay calm, stay focused and help the others construct, whatever it is they're constructing.

She listened closely as FMD asked Senar to come look at the device, restraining herself from grabbing the man and demanding he tell her what he *thought* they were building. Why did he need a doctor's eyes?

quote:

---

Originally posted by Pandora:
Pandora quirked her head inquisitively at seeing D's remarkable spurs.

"Your spurs are very nice," she said, her nimble fingers continuing to piece the component together as she looked at him. "Why are they like that?"

---

D' chcukled softly as he worked. "they are a record, who I am, my lineage, and that of my family and descendants.. It is the custom of my original pride, the Mantis, to mark each of it's scions in this manner.." D' smiled as he fitted another piece together with trancer, "In time my children will recieve the marks and knowledge of the language, to provide a record down through the ages.." Pandora looked inquisitively at the etchings.. "What language is it?"

D' smiled again, "A combination of several, evolving over time, it's roots are egyptian from the ancient earth culture, but it has evolved into it's own.." He tapped a symbol on the first spur "This one is me.."

Talking, He worked while Saine & TFZ assembled the other componants, He looked up at the Harpies "How goes it on your end?"

D'

[This message has been edited by D'Monix (edited July 01, 2001).]

FMD looked around, realizing that they probably were expecting something. He decided to give it to them. "I found the design for this in the Imperial Databanks right before I started to build my small ship, the Conglomeration of Personas. Well, not this design, but an earlier version of it."

He stood, walking over to the computer. "This...is an AI processor, if I'm not mistaken."

He inserted the last circuitboard, and it heated up, glowing the way he expected it to. "Whoever placed this here knows a frell of a lot about computers."

"AI?" Josh asked. "Are you implying that this station is alive?"

He'd handled strange AIs that way before, but, when the silence stretched, he found himself wishing he'd followed Shoshana's example.

Not moving from where she stood, 'shana braced herself mentally and bellowed

"Hey! AI! Wake up and tell us what's going on here!"

'shana smirked as she saw the Trancer leap several inches into the air. "Guess he wasn't expecting that" ... FMD turned and looked at the smirking Tyrant with an incredulous look...

He walked past the surprised Tyrant and looked at the computer from a distance. It looked just as nonchalant from far away as it did from close up. He sat down (being careful to move his tail out of the way) and contemplated.

[This message has been edited by jb1234 (edited July 02, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by Jade Grim (edited July 02, 2001).]

"Power supply..." she thought ... no, it must have internal power of some sort ... it was glowing, right? Maybe more power?"

"Do those flexies say anything about turning up the power or volume or anything?" 'shana asked, ignoring the Trancer's comments.

For the moment anyway. She'd 'talk' to him later... afterwards.

"Or where the "on" button is? Or better yet - where the OFF button is?" she continued while watching the machine carefully.

[This message has been edited by Dylanite (edited July 02, 2001).]

"This looks a bit familiar..." Saine muttered.

"Okay, this is the last piece," Ziana said as she connected it to the rest.

Saine peered closely at it. "They're missing a few critical components, but these appear to be part of Point Defense Lasers!"

[This message has been edited by Techfreak Ziana (edited July 02, 2001).]

"At the moment our survival depends on co-operating with what ever "it" is. We will continue to do so until such time as we can either defeat it or escape. Unless of course you would rather die?"

She then returned to the work at hand.

[This message has been edited by reddragoncrp (edited July 02, 2001).]

Everyone watched 'shana as she flipped thru the flexies and put them in a different order.

"Well if that isn't the...!" she exclaimed.

FMD looked startled. Josh just tried to look invisible. The other Tyrants began to smile. This could be good...

"Look at that thing again" 'shana snarled.

Everyone looked again at the machine. And looked puzzled.

'shana shook her head in disbelief

Pacing around the conglomeration of parts, she pointed out a few facts.

"This thing isn't an AI processor at all! ... It's a *main interface* for an AI... one that goes on a ship! And it's not talking to us because it's NOT HOOKED UP!" 'shana ended in a roar.

She then added more quietly ... "And it's not glowing either ... must have been a trick of the light or something..."

Shoshana stomped over to her previous location, crossed her arms, leaned against the wall and said

"Now what?"

[This message has been edited by Shoshana (edited July 02, 2001).]

IC:

Griffin's head still hurt. But at least he was stable, his internal nanobots must have equalized his senses. He sense of smell was still peaked, though. One more scent and he'd probably pass out again.

He didn't know exactly what had pissed Rov off, but he didn't want to argue with someone that wasn't groggy.Even as his senses watched the Harpy his thoughts turned to Red.

His photo-graphic memory replayed his second dream and he wondered where he'd gotten all of the details. He didn't want to know, he just knew that he liked what he'd seen and he hoped Red looked the same. He missed her hair and her eyes...and her lips. Especially her lips...

After a few minutes he realized he'd zoned out when he caught a glance of Rani staring at him.

To draw off her attention he stood and turned. He slid off the trenchcoat and then reached behind him and undid the body vest. As he pulled it over his head his sore wings extended to full size and everyone in the compartment stared at him

"What?" He asked with a smirk.

"Okay... we've played the game... now let's see if we win the prize..."