NationStates Jolt Archive

(er...oops? I thought that was an invitation to a wedding! *blushes*)

(er...oops? I thought that was an invitation to a wedding! *blushes*)

well, the second part might give it away, lol, and still, it would be great if he showed up for CQB training...lol... :twisted: good thing hoot is quasi dead...now we just gotta figure out whats up with Robert...

ooc: Ground is not padded...thats gonna leave a mark.

Niven looked at Jeff with a great deal of compasion " Go to the elevator son ,I just want to make sure everything is locked up tight down here when he finnally comes around."

Niven waits for Jeff to get out of sight on the elevator.. he then puts a silencer on the gun and empties the clip into grants head. "Never f*ck with my grandchildren."

He presses a button on the way on the way out that some wiseass written "FLUSH" over in magic marker. And a special acid that only eats biomaterial sprays from a sprinkler in the top of what was once Grants cell...

" I am gonna be a kinght momma, King James said so." He says running up to his mom. "And don't worry aunt Katherine, I am gonna be a spaceship pilot also, the pretty president lady said so. You and uncle Jeff sure have cool friends.."

Elizabeth smiled. And, for the first time in a long while, some one other than Elizabeth made Giovanni smile. He looked at the little boy, and at the twins. This is why I do what I do, he thought. "This is why," he said queitly. "So tell me little man," he said, dropping down into a squating posistion. "Why do you want to be a space pilot?"

Theadore runs over to Giovanni " Well, cause I wanna be able to go out beyond the sky and protect the world from evil invaders. My aunt is a space pilot and she says it is the best, we went to visit her in space and it was soooo cool, and you get to fly really fast, and I could make sure no aliens hurt momma or grandpa or any body. are you a space pilot ?"

Niven looks back at the cell and sees only 8 shiny clean bullets laying on the floor....I am gonna feel bad about that......later. He get on the elevator with Jeff and pushes the button that will take them to his car.

Giovanni smiled. He ran his hand through his dark brown hair. "Well thats a good a reason as any. I cant say I was a pilot. I was a Marine. Trust me, you dont wanna do that. Now, I'm..." he paused. "A lawyer." It wasnt a total lie, as he didnt want to lie to the kid. But he couldnt say he killed people on a professional level.

" You were a marine....cool. So you protected lots of people, and had to be away from home alot ? I bet you are really good with camoflage and stuff. Lawyers are cool to, my daddy is a lawyer and he helps lots of people. I think you are a good guy. Even if you are not a space pilot." He gives Giovanni a hug. " And the pretty president seems to like you too, is she your girlfriend ?"

OOC: Yeah, that is gonna leave a mark. At least that means Niven put Grant out of his misery ;)

IC: Katherine smiled at Theadore, "Yes, we do have the best of friends."

*****************************

Jeff just looked down at the floor as the elevator took them up to the car. He started to notice the blood on him.

"Is there someplace I can clean up?" he whispered. "And I guess I need to change into something cleaner.."

" You were a marine....cool. So you protected lots of people, and had to be away from home alot ? I bet you are really good with camoflage and stuff. Lawyers are cool to, my daddy is a lawyer and he helps lots of people. I think you are a good guy. Even if you are not a space pilot." He gives Giovanni a hug. " And the pretty president seems to like you too, is she your girlfriend ?"

Giovanni lifted the child up, holding him on his shoulder. "Yeah, it was rough. And its good to know I have at least one supporter out there," he laughed. He looked over at Elizabeth, then back up to Theadore. "Yeah, you could say shes my girlfriend. You have a girlfriend?"

"I have a beach house not to far from here, I was planning on giving it to you and Katherine anyway, so we can just say you were looking at some property. It has a washer and dryer there as well so we can give your cloths a quick clean-up as well." He turns serious as they get in the car." I hope I did the right thing there Jeff, I could have taken care of it and you would never of had to have known about it, but I wanted you to be able to sleep at night. I thought that might help....Lord, I hope I did the right thing." The sprts car turns into the driveway of a small beach house.

Theadore smiles " No I don't have a girlfriend, girls are wierd. I guess they get cooler when they grow up. Are you and the President gonna get married and have kids ?"

Jeff looked out the window of the car as it drove towards the beach house.

"You did. For the first time in a while, I'll be able to sleep and not worry that there's someone out there who is willing to threaten my family."

He turned and smiled at Dr. Niven and the looked back out the window.

"I just hope I did the right thing..."

(OOC: Previous post was edited to get rid of the padding on the floor.)

"What are you worried about Jeff ? He will not be threatening you anymore. And if anything else comes up we will take care of it."

Elizabeth blushed and smiled. She gently touched Giovanni on the shoulder. "Let the diplomat handle this one," she joked. She looked at Theadore. "Well hun, we might. It all depends, ya know?" knowing full well the child didnt know.

"What are you worried about Jeff ? He will not be threatening you anymore. And if anything else comes up we will take care of it." :twisted:

At the lab, a member of Niven's private army collects Grant's personal belongings. He puts the clothing into an incenerator and takes the rest of the items and wrapps them up. A courier takes them to Pridemore. He then cleans out the cell.

Pridemore takes all of the items out and catalogs them and then (assumption here) takes the cell phone and writes down all of the last numbers called and calls recieved and all the numbers in the phone book.

Elizabeth blushed and smiled. She gently touched Giovanni on the shoulder. "Let the diplomat handle this one," she joked. She looked at Theadore. "Well hun, we might. It all depends, ya know?" knowing full well the child didnt know.

" well if you are in love you should get married and have babies, then when they grow up they can be knights and space pilots with me and the twins."

Ann comes over and picks Theo up, " That will be enough of that young man." SHe looks up "Sorry..."

"I know we will," Jeff said getting out of the car. "It's just... When I had his head in my hands.. when I slammed it down, I was so full of rage and hatred. I wanted to kill him, bring him back to life just so I could kill him again."

He walked into the house with Dr. Niven, "This is a beautiful home. It's so peaceful looking out onto the ocean."

James stood up and looked at Ann. "You've raised an adorable little boy," he smiled.

Elizabeth just laughed. "Its ok, I understand," she said, smiling. "I know, maybe you'd like to come see the aunch of our new fighter," she said.

" Don't punish yourself to much Jeff. You wanted to kill him, but you didn't you stopped. The anger you felt was normal, he tried to kill you and your family, he hurt you." I will not mention the remark about his mother" I think you dod the right thing. Now you may be able to sleep . I was starting to worry about you." He throws Jeff a pair of swim trunks. " Wear these while I wash your clothes"

I killed him....what does that make me....

James stood up and looked at Ann. "You've raised an adorable little boy," he smiled.

"thank you, he is a handfull but he keeps things fun. "

Elizabeth just laughed. "Its ok, I understand," she said, smiling. "I know, maybe you'd like to come see the aunch of our new fighter," she said.

theo squirms out of his moms grasp " Can I go momma, can I can I??"

Ann smiles at him " I am sure your grandpa would be happy to take you, but you have to be good until then and be on your best behavior when you are there, understood ?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Thank you president lady. I will be good and not touch anything."

Elizabeth smiled. "I'll be sure you get a special upfront seat. And you can just call me Elizabeth. And you can call my friend here," she decided Giovanni was to hard for a child to say, "John."

" Don't punish yourself to much Jeff. You wanted to kill him, but you didn't you stopped. The anger you felt was normal, he tried to kill you and your family, he hurt you." I will not mention the remark about his mother" I think you dod the right thing. Now you may be able to sleep . I was starting to worry about you." He throws Jeff a pair of swim trunks. " Wear these while I wash your clothes"

I killed him....what does that make me....

"Yeah," Jeff said. "You're right. For the first time in a long time I'll be able to sleep knowing my family is protected."

Jeff turned to walk away and then quickly turned back to hug Dr. Niven.

"Thank you dad," he said, "You done so much to protect me, my family, your grandchildren. We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you. I don't know what I can do to thank you for that."

Jeff walked into the bathroom and took off the bloody clothing. He turned around and looked at the scars on his back, they were finally healing, with the rest of him.

He walked out, "Where do you want me to put these?"

James laughed. "I wouldn't have it anyother way. He paused for a moment. "Y'know, ma'am, if you'd care, I can always give you a heritidary baronetcy," he said more quietly. "That would bequeath the title 'sir' onto him."

Niven smiled " I'll throw them in the wash, why don't you go take a swinm in the ocean, it'll make you feel better. Don't worry about the rest of that, I do what I can, and you have other friends that keep you alive, and you would do the same for them. "

Elizabeth smiled. "I'll be sure you get a special upfront seat. And you can just call me Elizabeth. And you can call my friend here," she decided Giovanni was to hard for a child to say, "John."

"Thank you Ms. Elisabeth and Mr. John. I would love to sit up front. You sure are a good friend, and Mr. John is too."

James laughed. "I wouldn't have it anyother way. He paused for a moment. "Y'know, ma'am, if you'd care, I can always give you a heritidary baronetcy," he said more quietly. "That would bequeath the title 'sir' onto him."

Ann smiled " Baroness Ann and sir Theadore, I like the sound of that. Can you really do that ?"

John smiled, and so did Elizabeth. "Well, its always good to be friends wiht a space pilot knight," he said, smiling.

"Grandpa says marines are good to have as friends too, so we should get along great."

Jeff smiled at his dad and nodded, "That's a good idea, a swim would help clear my mind."

He waited a second and looked at Niven, "You just wait, someday soon I'll do something to make you proud, that won't involve me on an operating table," he said just before sprinting out to dive in the surf.

"Ma'am," smiled James, "Parliament may force me from executive action, but I still control our peerages. That is, if you accept, of course."

Jeff smiled at his dad and nodded, "That's a good idea, a swim would help clear my mind."

He waited a second and looked at Niven, "You just wait, someday soon I'll do something to make you proud, that won't involve me on an operating table," he said just before sprinting out to dive in the surf.

As Jeff runs out to the water.."You make me proud every day son, you are good and kind, so much more than your dear old dad..."

"Ma'am," smiled James, "Parliament may force me from executive action, but I still control our peerages. That is, if you accept, of course."

"Of course I accept ! " SHe says while hugging James. " Thank you so much. Dad is going to be so jealous, he always wanted Celeborne to have titles so he could be Duke Niven or something..." She starts laughing "Dod you hear that Theo ? You are going to be Sir Theadore."

"Cool, mom!"

Jeff smiled at his dad and nodded, "That's a good idea, a swim would help clear my mind."

He waited a second and looked at Niven, "You just wait, someday soon I'll do something to make you proud, that won't involve me on an operating table," he said just before sprinting out to dive in the surf.

As Jeff runs out to the water.."You make me proud every day son, you are good and kind, so much more than your dear old dad..."

OOC: Oooooh, good thing Jeff didn't hear that. ;)

IC: Jeff swam out in the ocean as the waves gently carried him up and back down. He rolled over in the water and looked up at the clouds.

For the first time in a long time, things are going to be OK.

After losing track of time, Jeff swam back to the beach. He walked out of the ocean, peeled off some seaweed and walked back to the house.

*****************************

Katherine smiled at Ann, "That gives you another reason to come to Iansisle now!"

James hugged her back. "Well, I'm sure Dr. Niven would make a wonderful Earl," he winked. "Of course, Baronet is the highest title I can hand out to non-citizens, I'm afraid," he shrugged.

When Jeff returns, Niven had just finished taking his clothes out of the dryer. He puts some anti-bacterial cream on if forehead " Just tell Katherine you bumped your head, you are not known for your gracefulness. We had better get back. Do you like you new house in Celeborne ?"

___________________________________________________________

Ann laughs very much like her father " I would love to come over to Iansisle, I bet Theo would love it also."

James hugged her back. "Well, I'm sure Dr. Niven would make a wonderful Earl," he winked. "Of course, Baronet is the highest title I can hand out to non-citizens, I'm afraid," he shrugged.

"If you decide to do it, don't tell him yet let him sweat my title for a bit"

Jeff chuckled, "Yeah, I was thinking I slipped and hit my head when I passed out at seeing how beautiful this house is."

Jeff dried off and jumped into his clothes. "Yeah, we'd better get back."

**************************

Katherine smiled at them, "Then good, you can come stay with us. God knows we have the room for it, even when Jeff's not in the Dun Adien Infirmary."

Niven got the car ready and when Jeff got in he pulled out onto the road. " You know Jeff, you make me proud all of the time. " A tear starts to form in his eye " Hell, son you are my hero."

***********************************************************
"Thank you for the invite, sis. I look forward to comming over."Ann says giving another hug.

James smiled at Ann and Katherine. "You're always welcome at Dun Adien; especially you, sport," he winked at Theodore. "And I'll be sure to keep the Doc in the dark."

Jeff smiled at Niven, "You ok dad? You need me to drive?" He looked out at the road, "That's very high praise, considering I want to live up to how great I think you are. I don't want to let you down" he said.

*******************************

"And speaking of those two," Katherine said looking around, "I wonder where they snuck off to."

Ann laughed at the thought of a suprise for her father, she could not remember the last time they got one over on him. She looked at Theo " Don't tell grandpa about his special gift , ok ?"

"Yes, ma'am." Turning back to James " Is Dun Adien a real castle ?"

*************************************************************
'Yeah son, I am fine to drive. I hope that I live up to what you think of me, I'll do my best." and in the future I will avoid shooting people when they are helpless

OOC: I am out, I will see ya'll tonight.

"Well, as long as you're ok to drive," Jeff winked. "All you need to do is be yourself, dad. You've always been there for us, I hope I'm always there for y'all too."

*****************************

Katherine giggled, "Yes, it's a cozy little castle," she said with a wink to James, "With the memorial "Jeff Williams" hospital wing."

"It sure is!" exclaimed James, smiling at Theodore. "With a keep and ramparts and everything!" He laughed, before glancing at Kate. "Yeah, it has been a while," he said, frowning slightly.

"I'm sure they'll be fine. I mean, Dr. Niven will keep him out of trouble," Katherine said handing James another margarita.

James smiled at Kate. "Yeah, I know. Still, I suppose it's just in my nature to worry when Jeff's been out of my direct line of sight for more than ten minutes."

Katherine laughed, "Yeah, it's in my nature too, I guess that's what happens with someone like him. Although, he worries about you too. Something about you needing more confidence in yourself."

OOC: I'm outta here too, catch y'all after some sleep.

James, ironically enough, blushed. "Aw, I dunno..." he stammered, trying to think of how to change the subject. "I, ah, was just thinking how much nicer it would be on the isle with a couple of young 'uns running about."

('Night, man! Woohoo! I win! ;))

(LOL, I guess I'm getting older after all.. ;) )

Katherine smiled, "Really? A couple of young ones.... We've got a couple you can borrow from time to time," she winked. "But seriously, how are you two doing?"

"Us two?" asked James nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "I, ah, I'm not sure I know what you're talking about."

"I think she means you and the pilot, whats her name?" Elizabeth started.

"Lt. Christin Chaffin," Giovanni said, remebering the briefing.

"Yes, her, Lt. Chaffin."

There was a faint tinge of red to his cheeks as James looked over at Elizabeth and Giovanni. "Oh, ah, right..." he pretended to remember. "Things are going great, I suppose, insofar as they can." He coughed slightly, then paused, examining the pair. "I, ah, don't believe we've been formerly introduced. I'm High King James III - it's a pleasure to meet you."

"President Elizabeth Waitkus," she said, offering her hand smiling.

"Giovanni Forio, Attourney," he said, smiling and nodding.

"A pleasue to meet you both," James smiled, bowing and kissing Elizabeth's hand. He hoped he had deflected the conversation well enough away from ... more embarassing topics.

"So, why havent you and our intrepid pilot tied the knot?" Giovanni asked. "If you need help figuring out a legal stance, I'm sure I could be of assistance. Started out as family law, actually. I just got depressed having to deal with devorce cases 24/7, so I moved on to personel prosecution and defense."

James scratched the back of his neck again, the side of his mouth twitching slightly. "I, uh, it's kinda complicated. You see..." He paused. "Right now, the social climate in Iansisle isn't particuarly favorable to a union between us," he finished diplomatically.

"Well, screw the public. Its not up to them to determine your love life. If you love the girl, then you marry her. Simple as that."

James shook his head with a sad smile. "I do wish it was as simple as that, but it really isn't. I hate to admit it, but I'm the public face of Iansisle, more so that any member of Parliament or petty nobleman. The country looks to me for help, and if I were to take any action the public sees as untoward, there would be a massive, possibly violent outcry. Maybe sometime in the future, when the foreign outlook isn't quite so grim as it is today, and the nation could use a good news story." James shrugged. "I do appreciate your concern, though."

Giovanni nodded. "Well, whenever your ready, if you need help," he handed James a card. "Give me a call. If things to get violent, I have associates that could always help."

James was more than a little hesitant, wondering what sort of 'friends' Giovanni might be talking about, but he accepted the card after only a minute's pause. "Thanks. I'll be sure to do that."

"Good thing," Giovanni stated. Although in truth, he had no idea how to get the Croton SWAT riot-control team into Iansisle should anythgin get violent, and he knew Live Wire wouldn't woirk.

Niven parks the car and heads back up to the deck with Jeff...

James half-smiled at the man, before Niven's approach distracted his attention. "Hello, doctor," he greeted, winking conspiratorially at Ann.

"I hope we didn't miss to much, just out showing Jeff a little property I thought he might be interested in." He says with a smile.

"Not too much at all," James assured them with a smile of his own. "Just some chit-chat. He glanced over at Jeff. "Did you take a swim?"

Jeff walked in with Dr. Niven, Katherine hugged Dr. Niven and then turned to look at Jeff. She looked startled as she checked the gash on his face. "What happened?" she asked them.

"Nothing," Jeff said. "I stumbled and hit my head at the new house dad gave us. You need to see it. It's wonderful." He turned and smiled at James. "What? Yeah. I took a little swim to clear my head after getting it knocked open."

Ann looks at her father " You have been up to something, I know that look." Theo runs up "Grandpa, I am gonna be a knight and momma is gonna be a princess or something, we have to go to Iansisle, please please please please."

Hugging the boy Niven looks down " Well of course we can go to Iansisle, when is the big event." He casts a questioning glance at James.

Jeff chuckled and looked at Ann and James. "A princess? But you're married," He winked at Ann, "And you'll have some explaining to do to Christin if I know her.." he smiled at James.

Pridemore comes out to the deck "Master Niven there is a call that I think you will want to take in your office."

Niven follows Pridemore to the office.After Niven sits at his desk Pridemore hands him a packet with all of Grants belongings. "I wrote down all of the numbers I am having them traced and sent to Larkinian security as you requested, of course I used several untraceable third parties to search and deliver the information."

"Very good."

He returns to the deck "I think you might all want to hear this. Ann would you take theo and the twins inside ,please ?" Ann having seen her fathers business face before scoops up Theo and the twins and takes them inside " Lets get some sandwichs and get these two little guys out of the sun, Sir Theadore."

Niven sits " The call I just recieved confirms that Grant is dead. He was killed by a third party, That is all of the information I have for now, but it is confirmed. Grant is dead."

James actually hadn't noticed the cut, and he looked more closely at Jeff. However, among the many other grevious injuries Jeff had suffered over the years, a little bump on the head didn't seem too bad, and James shrugged it off.

The High King then smiled as Theodore ran up to Dr. Niven. "As soon as you'd care," he replied, working out how to bestow the titles in his mind.

(ooc: Ok, I have it figured out like this: I give Ann a baronetcy, making her a baronet (which isn't quite the same as a baron). A baronet uses the titles Sir / Dame (like a knight, not Lord / Lady like a full nobleman). However, unlike a regular knightship, a baronetcy is passed down from generation to generation, making Theodore Sir 'Theodore' without having to physically knight him so young.

Then I make Niven the Marquess Pentinghampton and 1st Earl of West Hamuxton. The second title (usual in a high-ranking peerage such as Marquess) would transfer down to his oldest child (Ann, correct?) making him Lord Pentinhampton, her Lady West Hamuxton, and her son Sir Theodore. Is that all right?)

Third party works for me Jeff thought as he suppressed a smile and looked down into his margarita.

"That's.. so you're sure he's dead? Then no more coming after Jeff?" Katherine asked in rapid succession. "Where did you find this out? I want to see his body so I can spit on it."

Jeff nodded, a subdued look of relief on his face. "It's about time someone killed that bastard," he said. "His luck had to run out sometime."

Can I be the Marquee de sade? (SP)

James actually hadn't noticed the cut, and he looked more closely at Jeff. However, among the many other grevious injuries Jeff had suffered over the years, a little bump on the head didn't seem too bad, and James shrugged it off.

The High King then smiled as Theodore ran up to Dr. Niven. "As soon as you'd care," he replied, working out how to bestow the titles in his mind.

(ooc: Ok, I have it figured out like this: I give Ann a baronetcy, making her a baronet (which isn't quite the same as a baron). A baronet uses the titles Sir / Lady (like a knight, not Lord / Lady like a full nobleman). However, unlike a regular knightship, a baronetcy is passed down from generation to generation, making Theodore Sir 'Theodore' without having to physically knight him so young.

Then I make Niven the Marquess Pentinghampton and 1st Earl of West Hamuxton. The second title (usual in a high-ranking peerage such as Marquess) would transfer down to his oldest child (Ann, correct?) making him Lord Pentinhampton, her Lady West Hamuxton, and her son Sir Theodore. Is that all right?)

OOC: Sounds great to me.

"Well, I will need to tie up a few loose ends here, and let you all enjoy a vacation, and then we can head back."

James wasn't sure how to react to the news of Grant's passing. He smiled, the edge of his mouth twisting up. It was wrong, he knew, to feel pleasure at the death of another human, but he couldn't help himself. Quickly, however, James transformed the grin into an impassive look, and nodded.

"Good."

go figure, this thing kicks up just as im off to bed...lol.

Third party works for me Jeff thought as he suppressed a smile and looked down into his margarita.

"That's.. so you're sure he's dead? Then no more coming after Jeff?" Katherine asked in rapid succession. "Where did you find this out? I want to see his body so I can spit on it."

Jeff nodded, a subdued look of relief on his face. "It's about time someone killed that bastard," he said. "His luck had to run out sometime."

"There is no body to found, I am not sure of all of the details, but trust me the person who reprted this would not do so unless they were actually sure. It would also appear that they got his phone and have sent all of the numbers that were in to to Larkinian security forces. This should be the end of Grants evil." Pridemore appeared with a tray of harder liquer and Niven selected a brandy.
"Help yourselves."

Katherine grabbed Jeff's hand and then jumped up into his arms and held him, crying into his shoulder. Niven noticed that Jeff bit the inside of his cheek as she grabbed his hand, god his knuckles hurt after beating Grant to death... ;)

Jeff hugged Katherine back and whispered, "It's all over sweetheart. He can't get us now."

Katherine looked up at him, "I believe you."

Giovanni just smiled, as did Elizabeth. Well, thats one mreo rescue I'm not gonna need to pull off, Giovanni thought, looking at Jeff and Katherine.

Katherine thought of something James had hinted at during their talk earlier.

"Will you all excuse me if I talk to my husband in private?" she asked, pulling a wincing Jeff out of the room for a moment.

Outside the window, Katherine and Jeff talked a few minutes, Jeff nodding his head mostly, shaking it a few times and replying to her questions.

The two of them walked in again, Jeff had one of his hands in his pocket and the other around Katherine. Jeff had a mischevious smile on his face and looked at James a moment.

James waved away the tray of drinks, his mind still clicking slightly. He did notice how Jeff cringed when Katherine took his hand, but didn't think too hard about it. He already meant to ask Kate why Jeff had flinched when he patted him on the back, and assumed this was the same reason.

He decided that, as a secondary player in the whole Grant affair, he should stay in the background of the 'victory' celebration, but couldn't hold back another grin at how happy it seemed to make Kate and Jeff.

James watched them go and talk for a moment, then turned to Dr. Niven. "I don't suppose it'd be prying too much to ask how you managed such a miracle?" he asked conversationally.

As Jeff and Kate walked back, James started to smile at them - but something in Jeff's expression made him pause. He'd seen that expression before! Before talking to Vaughn at Jeff's wedding was the first thing that popped into his mind.

As long as there's no roses involved...

Niven turned to the ocean with the drink in his hand..{I] God forgive us for the lives we took today.....[/i] In his history he had been responsable for more deaths than he carred to count. As First Speaker he had ordered the bombing that almost wiped out a civilization, he had sent many boys and girls to die, in his rise economic power he had many black-ops teams that did wet work. He never asked for details, he just asked for things to get done. He had defended his family, both that of blood and that of friendship , And in the course of doing that had unleashed rivers of blood.His second daughter Cookie had found out about the things he had done and could not handle it, she didn't even speak to him, and after what happened to her husband after the time he dared to raise his hand to her in Niven's own home..Fathers do tend to over react when thier children are threatened. His dear wife understood and had the fortitude of a god, and the forgiveness as well....How he missed her

Jeff, Katherine, James, Elizabeth, Katherine, Ann, Theadore , The Twins....They would be his redemption. They would live long happy lives and he would shield them from any attempts to harm them. If more blood had to flow, so be it. My promise to God. A single tear rolled down his cheek as he turned.

"Well now that is handled, shall we enjoy the sunset before dinner is served ? "Turning to James and speaking in a low whisper " You would be amazed at the things that large amounts of money can make happen.."

EDITED TO ANSWER JAMES" QUESTION

Jeff turned to Elizabeth, "Madam President," he said. (OOC: You should know the plan here for Christin ;) )"We haven't been introduced yet, but I believe you would be the most appropriate person to handle this. I've been informed that there is one stumbling block between James getting married to Christin, and Katherine and I want to get that out of the way. We've been meaning to do this a while, and events have kept us from doing that."

Jeff pulled out a cardkey from his pocket. "This was the cardkey to the Hai'Gannach castle in Daezeman. It was presented to me and I was bequeathed the title of Duke. I wish to abdicate that title, and present it to Christin. Thereby making her Duchess Christin Chaffin, and more importantly, eligible for James to marry, should he desire it," he finished, winking at James.

James wasn't quite sure how to react. His jaw fell open slightly at the offer, and his immediate impulse was to try to get Jeff to reconsider. However, he had seen that expression before, and knew there would be no getting him to turn back.

"Jeff, really," he started, giving it a half-hearted effort anyways. "You really don't have to," he tried to insist. However, Weathers was behind him in a second, and gave the High King a pat on the shoulder. Like Princeton's clearing his throat on the way over, James didn't have to ask what that meant a second time, and changed his train of thought. "Thank you, Jeff - you have no idea how much this means to me," he said sincerely.

Jeff smiled at James, "Well, since I gave up the title in front of family and other loved ones, it's a little too late for me to change my mind now. Just answer one thing for me, do you truly, sincerely, deep-down-in-the-icky-stuff-of-your-heart, can't live without her, love her?"

James laughed slightly, then started to put his hand on Jeff's shoulder. He reconsidered half-way, and turned the motion into a wave of his left hand. "As deep-down and icky-hearty as it gets, I do, Jeff."

Besides, he added silently, You may have just exchanged the title Duke of Hai'Gannach for the Archduke of Sentry Island.

Niven watches the exchange between Jeff and James..Now I have to think of a decent wedding gift, what do you get a king and a fighter pilot

Jeff picked James up in a bearhug, "All right then, we'll have no more discussion of this." he said as he put James down. "Let me present you with the key in the same noble, high-muckity-muck way that it was given to me."

He tossed the key to James.

"I think she'll enjoy the surprise more from you anyway," Katherine said.

"Look at it this way," Jeff winked and grinned, "My name is starting to shrink again, finally."

Katherine mock-gasped, "We can't have that happening!"

"Uff!" grinned James as he tried to return the bear hug. He then caught the card gracefully, a brief moment of sadness passing over his face as he thought of friends long gone. However that was soon gone, and he winked at Jeff. "Don't worry; I've already got the perfect plan!"

"Yeah, I suppose that just makes you Ambassador Rear Admiral Sir Jeffery Williams the Honorable now, eh? We'll have to find something to tack on the end of that again!"

"The perfect plan?" Jeff asked winking to Dr. Niven, "Now there's the James we all know and love."

Jeff chuckled slightly as he listened to James repeat his title.

Well, the 'honorable' part might be gone.... no. He deserved it. It's just a pity I couldn't kill him again.

Jeff picked up his drink and took a sip.

Ann returned with Theadore and the twins. " I saw all of the hugging and thought I should come out and break this up before my little brother went all funny on me." She said tickleing Jeff, Theadore saw that as his cue and started tickleing Jeff as well.

"Perfect," James repeated with a smile. "Well, I suppose that, what with this sudden application of wonderful - and unexpected! - news, I can't abstain anymore!" He waved Pridemore over, and selected a drink from the tray. "Thank you very much," he said, before turning to Jeff and Kate. "Cheers!"

Jeff jumped, part startled and part shocked as Ann and Theadore started tickling him. He dropped to the ground more by reflex than out of fear this time.

"Oh god... not tha... ahhahahaha, no.. not there.. hahahahahaha"

Katherine looked startled at James.

"Abstain?!?!"

Jeff stopped laughing from being tickled long enough to look shocked.

"What??... Bwahahahahaha" he laughed as Ann and Theadore didn't stop.

James looked puzzled. "From drinking," he explained, confused at their reaction. He lowered his glass slightly. "Why? What did you think I meant?"

Ann relented in her tickling of Jeff and Theo went on for just a bit longer. She smiled "I always wanted a little brother."
Theo ran over and jumped in his granda's lap.

A huge smile exploded on Nivens face as he felt the trusting weight of his grandson on his lap and he drank in the view of his friends and family. For once they were all safe and happy. He reached over and took one of the twins into his arms as well. He had but one thought..

Redemption

Jeff smiles at Ann as he tried to catch his breath, "I'll bet you did." he said.

Katherine poured another drink for James, "Well as long as that's all you meant," she said.

Jeff smiled as he looked around at everyone in the room.

So that's why he brought Jessica back...took me long enough to freakin' figure it out

OOC: I gotta say this, if these rps were a series of books I would buy every one of them. You guys rock !

OOC: Yeah, I was just thinking how much I love RPing with you guys!

James shrugged slightly. "O.k...thank you, Katherine," he smiled, sipping at the drink, still confused at their reaction. It took a second for it to dawn on him. Abstain....abdicate....oh! But they couldn't possibly know...could they?

(Yeah, I'd buy 'em all too! I love this little RP group we've got! I was so bummed when they purged the system...fortunatly, I had just finished re-reading the whole 'General' thread and Jeff's wedding...hopefully, they'll bring back the old threads sooner or later.)

James shrugged slightly. "O.k...thank you, Katherine," he smiled, sipping at the drink, still confused at their reaction. It took a second for it to dawn on him. Abstain....abdicate....oh! But they couldn't possibly know...could they?

OOC :oops: OK, when I misread Abstain and Abdicate, that's a sign I need more coffee... I'll be back in 30 guys ;)

OOC2: I hope they bring them back too, soon. Although, I've been thinking about trying to rewrite some of them from what I remember from the threads...

OOC: If you get them published I expect a thank you in the byline :)

(Hey, that would be pretty cool...like a ~thousand word plot summary for each of the 'big' ones? I'd be willing to help with that!

Anyhoo, I've decided I can't defend last night's crown. ;) I'm out for the night...later, all!)

I think this thread may be pretty well wrapped up, ya'll wanna start a new tomorrow for the wedding and such ? It can begin at the Niven compond and go from there.

I am really happy the way this one went. The title actually ended up making sense. How odd, I didn't even plan it that way.

Any comments on the revelations about Niven ?

This has been an ooc post :)

On which revelations about Niven? That he does indeed kick much ass and is one of the coolest PC's I've ever read about? ;)

And don't worry, you'd all get billing in the book :P

Thanks Lark !! On Niven the part where he was talking about all the folks he had killed and such.

I think it gave a real depth to his character, a real insight into his humanity. As a former leader we knew he had a hand in leading men into war, but his actions and this insight gives him a human side, especially the remorse he feels for his acts.

Thanks Lark, that was what I was shooting for. He is a real old school style cyberpunk character, but with a heart.

Hmmmm, yeah I noticed a lot of my old GM's version of Morgan Blackhand in there ;)

And for an epilogue (after your ending, I feel kinda bad putting this in, but it gives some of that closure to Jeff's character, give me the sign and I'll pull it out...)

IC: That evening, Jeff and Katherine were in bed, slowly dozing off. Katherine rolled over to look at Jeff. "I know something's up," she told him with a lazy smile. "Want to tell me what really happened?"

Jeff looked at Katherine a moment and rolled over to kiss her. "Remind me to tell you sometime."

The two fell asleep intertwined. Jeff subconsciously wrapped his arms around Katherine protectively, and for the first time in several months, slept through the night free of nightmares and fear.

Nice ending, rebirth


OOC: He is a lot of Morgan Blackhand, and Saburo Araska

*takes out reading glasses to read first draft*

Well it didn't say "WTF are you doing??? don't make me kick your ass" ;) (like that'd be hard for you to do :P)

I liked it. I bet you don't have anything to worry about in the ass kicking department.

I am going to work on the Niven empire and post it somewhere in the next few days....

Once again, I sleep through another thread, lol. Anyways, nice wrap up, and if we do turn this into a serries of books, I call technical consultant. And I wouldnt go about pulling of the marrage just yet, remeber, you guys have to convince the Imitora senate to allow Christin dual citizenship (else wise she cant hold a royal title), and last night I came up with my super baddy...hehehe...blast from teh past and all. Lets just say you'll never get rid of Fortier...

*The story continues a bit*

Niven was relaxing in his study after finishing a most satisfactory business call. He had to keep odd hours when dealing with nations in other time zones and some even on different planets. Soviet Trasa had left the planet and bequeathed all of it's land, save a temple of some sort, to Celeborne. Thankfully Nivens government operatives had found out about this and made sure that the land was considered "extra-territoial" and therefore private businesses would be allowed to occupy space there. He had just secured a large portion of the land for future projects. It cost him a small fortune, but he had it .This would pay back quickly, since other corporations would be looking at it as well. He could sell the land off and make a neat profit. It would also give him a place to base his new military training facilities.

Pridemore entered
"Sir, your operating room is ready and all of the supplies that you and Sir Williams discussed are prepared."

"Thank you, tell Jeff I am ready when he is, and have the cyberteam meet me there."

"Yes , sir"

Niven walked down the hallway to his private surgery room and looked and the equipment and cyberware that was laid out infront of him. This would make it harder to hurt Jeff.

Jeff walked back into the house from his run. He'd seen James and his men having breakfast and decided now would be a bad time to step in. He'd turned to walk back out when Pridemore.

"Sir, it's time."

"Thank you Pridemore, I was hoping to get this out of the way before Katherine woke up."

Jeff walked into the office, "morning dad, you look chipper."

" I did well in the stock and land markets last night. You want to buy Larkinia ? " He says with a laugh.
"Did you tell Katherine what we were up to today ?"

He starts lining up his tools in the order that they will be needed. Jeff will notice the ever present grey paste...

"I might like to," Jeff smiled. "she knows. She's sleeping now, I wanted to get this taken care of while she was still resting."

Jeff popped his neck and winced when he saw the grey paste.

Ugh, but it's for a good cause though.

"Well lets get down to business." Several men and women in scrubs with a Nivenco on the breast enter the room and take up thier positions.
"This will only take a couple of hours since we are not going into any of the organs, and we are not doing any repair work, then we are going to put you in the tank (think Empire strikes back after the snow monster attack) to assist with the healing. Your vision is going to be blurry in the one eye for a couple of days and you are going to feel like you have an all body sunburn for about a week, and then the itching starts. But you will be fine."

Jeff's world starts to go dim

"Thanks Dad, but I'd rather not know all tha...." zzzzzzzzzzz

OOC: I am going to leave the total amount and types of implants up to you :wink:

Niven finishes his surgery and has Jeff placed in the tank, he sits with him through out the entire process.

Some hours later Jeff wakes ....

OOC: Hmmmm, I'm gonna have to break out the CP2020 books again... :twisted:

IC: Jeff slowly woke up floating in the tank. He looked around as the breathing tube sped up the oxygen to him.

He looked out the window into the recovery room, the crosshairs from the targeting scope in his eye flickering on and off in his view. He looked forward to trying out his new body when he recovered.

Niven was right though, his skin burned from the operation. He looked at Niven and smiled and nodded at him.

Niven exhaled the breath he did not realize he was holding. He looked over at the table next to him where the oak box was sitting. He picked it up and walked over to the tank. Inside was a 9mm pistol. Niven then held up a piece of paper that just had two words written on it ....Smart Gun.

Jeff read the words and nodded to Niven.

"Arhg glorfff, gleem,."

Damn, duh Jeff, you have a breathing tube in...

Jeff looked down at his body, the added muscle had been a nice touch. He'd wondered if the skin weave was what burned so much.

He looked back up and clicked on the low-light in his eyes, which was counteracted by the anti-dazzle protections, so it didn't burn as bad when he looked into the overly bright room.

Jeff looked from side to side, something didn't feel right. He felt... colder, not as much from the temperature, but something in his heart.

I'm turning into a machine...

OOC: Cyberpsycosis. Nice touch.

Niven then held up a list of the replacements, followed by him holding up pictures. Katherine, the twins, his home in Iansisle, James, Elizabeth, The priest who had raised himm His knighting ceremony, his wedding, and more.
He then walked over to the clock and marked the point where Jeff would be allowed out.
The next note said Don't forget, you have a wedding to make happen

OOC: Well, I just had to add a wee bit of it.

IC: Jeff nodded and grinned as he saw the list of replacements inside him.

If anyone hurts them ever again, I'll finally be able to get some real revenge on them..

Jeff's eyes, and his heart, softened as he saw the pictures. He remembered the real reasons he was going through all of this...

He looked at the time on the clock and nodded. He laughed as much as he could when he read the last note.

Got it

Niven relaxed as the steel went out of Jeff's eyes...that was close. Thankfully he had seen it soon enough, still he was going to have to keep an eye on him.

Then the time was up and Jeff was removed from the tank, He had him layed out on the table and inspected the work...Nice.

Niven reached over and grabbed the grey goo....

Jeff laid back on the table and saw Niven grab the paste.

"Oh boy, just like dessert at the Academy," he winked.

After making Jeff eat more than enough of the goo he picked up the 9mm. "Jeff I just need you to hold this, I want to make sure the marque is working."

When Jeff's hand makes contact with the grip the following information pops up on his eye

Gun heat
Ammo
maintenance
a target scope
secondary view that allows him to see where the gun is pointed

"There is a lot to keep track of , but you can turn off the parts you don't like and keep the ones you do. How does it look?"

An assistant starts gently toweling Jeff off but it still feels like they are using sandpaper.

(OOC: so Jeff how do you like the Mr. Stud implant LOL)

-=-self delete-=- ;)

OOC: ROFL :lol: What does Niven want more grandkids?? ;)

OOC2: *read Iansisle's post* ROFLMAO :lol:

IC: Jeff grits his teeth as he's towled off. "Looks good right now. Just like Robocop..."

Yeah, I'm a killing machine... he thought jokingly (??) ;).

Jeff's clothes are brought in .
Niven " Alright you can go out, be careful, you are going to be still and sore for a few days. "
Niven stands and goes out to allow Jeff to dress and to change into some regular clothes himself.

Jeff quickly dressed, finding his dress shirt and jeans fit tighter again after the surgery.

"Damn, I'm going to have to get used to that," he said as he laced up his boots and walked out.

OOC: hey, if we started the surgery early enough we could be intime for breakfast in Iansisle's thread.

OOC: That's what I was thinking.

OOC: Shall we ?

OOC: After you, good sir.