NationStates Jolt Archive

Aboard Duchess Katherine, private yacht, approaching a beach in Celeborne...

Jeff slowly turned the wheel of the yacht as he saw the beach slowly come into view. The last time he'd been at the beach house in Celeborne was after... well he didn't like to think about what he'd done before that.

Katherine wrapped her arms around him from behind. "You know, we've never given this a proper... what do you military types call that.. shakedown?"

Jeff looked back and smiled at her, "A... shakedown? You're not already pushing for another child are you? Remember what happened last time we were in Celeborne."

Katherine chuckled to herself, "You're right. Just what we'd need, another baby, especially so soon after having Conner."

She kissed Jeff's cheek, "I'm going below to check on the children, and James and Christin, they've been awfully quiet since they went down there."

It was Jeff's turn to stifle a chuckle, "Well, there goes the white dress for the wedding," he winked.

She slapped his arm and slipped down below while Jeff scanned the upcoming horizon, he'd zoom in with his cybernetics and catch a glimpse of Dr. Niven's guards every now and then before they vanished. Niven had promised this would be a nice, quiet vacation, there'd be enough guards around that you could walk across the beach jumping from one guard's armored head to the other and never touch sand.

Jeff hoped so, he'd been nervous ever since the party at the Presidential Palace. Hearing Dariana's voice... feeling that gun barrel against his spine... she was still the same Dari... and that scared him to death.

"What? You mean you've already heard that one?" asked James with a big grin on his face as he scratched at his chin. "Well, what about the time Uncle James thought your Daddy was going to kill him, but it ended up being the most wonderful thing that'd ever happened to him?"

He squeezed Christin's hand and smiled. "That's one of my personal favorites."

Katherine chuckled, "And which time was that?" she asked walking in and picking up Julie.

(no time to post, but this is an ubertag)

"Hi, Kate," smiled James as she walked into the cabin. "This particular one would be your wedding, as a matter of fact. One of the happiest nights in the entire history of the Shield," he said with impeccable seriousness to Marcus, Julie, and Conner.

"Now, let's see, how does it start? Oh, right - so there was me and your daddy, in his car driving -" he drew his finger across in front of him quickly "- woosh! fast!"

Marcus put his hand close like he was driving, "Voom voom!!!"

Katherine laughed, "Yes Marcus, 'vroom vroom', just like daddy does.

"Now that was the best day of Jeff's life, cause he married me, or yours, cause he didn't hang around as much?"

"You'll have to be patient with me, mommy," winked James, "I'm just coming to that part."

"So there we were, hurtling down the road like a runaway rocket. I was very scared, but nothing scares your dad. He was looking so handsome and confident that I couldn't help but be reassured."

"Then, we were almost to the castle, and we stopped to talk to someone we knew. And it was just then that I looked out of the car and saw the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen in my life."

Julie pointed at Christin, "her!" she said excitedly.

Katherine smiled at James, "Nothing scares Jeff... sure seems like it.

"Now, not all of us can live the exciting life, some of us had to stay at Dun Adien and finish last minute plans for the wedding," she said sticking her tongue out.

(d'oh)

“Hey, that’s right, Julie!” smiled James, before winking at Kate.

“And after your dad made me talk to her, even though I was scared, we all drove together to the castle. And there was the other most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life. She had put together the most wonderful ball I could remember, and we all danced and danced the night away.”

"The other most beautiful woman in the world?" Katherine grinned, "Yes, Duchess Elizabeth did look great that day.

"And that's right, I can't remember anything bad happening that day, aside from dad and Michael having a... heated discussion. It was an amazing night."

"What then? Unky James??" Marcus asked.

"You're really much too humble, Lady Katherine," James grinned back at her. "Kids, your mother looked absolutely stunning that evening: almost beyond comparison!"

"It was a great night. I remember, that's also when Michael and I made up. I feel so silly now, having not trusted him for so long." James shrugged. "Hindsight is 20-20, I suppose."

James pretended to scratch his chin again at Marcus' question. "Lemme see...what happened then?"

Christin leaned in. "Well, Unkie James, if I remember correctly, Kate and Jeff took their vows, and then you showed me around the Honeycomb."

"Oh, yeah, that's right," said James, his cheeks turning red.

"Oh yeah, that's right," Katherine grinned, "You and Christin had to.. talk in private. You see children, Uncle James and Miss Christin had very important things to discuss, that took a lot of their time."

"Muss be big 'tuff!" Marcus said with a big smile.

Meanwhile, Jeff was on the deck talking on a cell phone.

"That's right, I need to look into surgery," he said. "Preferably what I had before, meat with enhancements, titanium laced muscle and bone. If not then take the leg at the hip socket and we'll replace it with some cyberware."

He shut off the phone and called down below as the ship slowly edged toward the small private dock.

"You guys, we're coming up on the house."

*Tag* Maybe i can use miniscule pre law background to bulls8it me way into this or whatever.

James was still cardinal red. "Uh, yeah, really big stuff, Marcus." He glanced about nervously.

"Oh, James, relax. There isn't an IanCorp man for two thousand miles." Christin laid her head on his shoulder, and he smiled softly.

"Yeah, I guess not.."

Just then, Jeff called down. "Oh, I can hardly wait!" smiled Christin, looking back up the stairs with excitment. "The house sounds like it'll be lovely!"

As the boat lazily slid against the dock Jeff hobbled over and started to tie the boat down.

"Well, this is it," he said as the rest came up from below. "It's small, by dad's standards," he added with a smile, pointing to the house and the hills and trees behind it, "But it's a pretty nice size. Room enough for everyone, and say a party of 100..."

Christin carried Marcus on deck and James took Conner.

"That's some beach house," said James, his eyebrows arching.

"I'm really looking forward to this," Christin added. "Good things always seem to happen at Dr. Niven's houses." She winked at James, who smiled back.

"Wonderful things. Say, where is dad, anyway? Is he meeting us at the house?"

Jeff winked at James, "The last I'd heard he was... busy, yeah busy, with Major Fowler. I hope he'll be here sooner rather than later. But for now, we've got the run of the house. He said there'd be enough guards here to keep everyone safe. Even from IanCorp," he added with a grin as he extended the small walkway to the dock.

"After y'all," he hobbled over, "I wouldn't want you getting caught behind.. slower moving traffic."

One man , dressed in his formal suit, was standing at the end of the walkway. Katherine smiled as she approached him.

"Jeeves, I didn't think you'd be here."

"Nonsense madam, where would the good ambassador be without his butler?"

"Ahh...I see," said James. "Doubtlessly doing very important things."

"Jeeves?" asked Christin. "Jeff, I didn't know you had a butler?"

"Do I detect an East Shieldian accent?" asked James with an arched eyebrow.

"Yes, 'important' things," Jeff chuckled.

"Your majesty, Duchess Chaffin," Jeeves said with a small bow. "Yes, madam. I started my service under the original Duke of Hai'Gannach, Duchess Katherine's relations, when she was a wee girl. I stayed on at the castle and when Master Jeffrey was named Duke, he 'rehired' me to stay with the Embassy."

"Yeah," Jeff said hobbling out of the yacht. "I can't convince him to help me go back to Tharkold and look for my leg."

"I don't do war zones, Master Jeffrey. It's explicitly written out in my contract. I did my research before being rehired."

Jeeves turned to James. "Yes it is your majesty. My family goes back quite a few generations at work at a 'gentlemen's gentlemen'."

Darn server!

"I ... I see," said Christin nervously after Jeeves' introduction. She glanced briefly at Katherine, then snuggled Marcus a little closer.

"You don't have to call me 'your majesty,'" James was saying. "I get almost too much of that at home with Quinton." He winked at the man.

"A..and just 'Christin' would be great for me," said Christin briefly.

"A no-war zone clause, eh?" asked James. "What a splendid idea! Say, Jeff, have I ever mentioned, er, that the crown would like to pay you a regular salary? I could just have them draw up some papers quickly..."

"I ... I see," said Christin nervously after Jeeves' introduction. She glanced briefly at Katherine, then snuggled Marcus a little closer.

"You don't have to call me 'your majesty,'" James was saying. "I get almost too much of that at home with Quinton." He winked at the man.

"A..and just 'Christin' would be great for me," said Christin briefly.

Jeeves looked concerned at Christin's nervousness. "I apologize if I gave any offense Duchess Chaffin. And I'll try to keep that in mind your majesty, Duchess Chaffin, but it would not be proper. Can I get either of you a drink when we get back into the house?"

"A no-war zone clause, eh?" asked James. "What a splendid idea! Say, Jeff, have I ever mentioned, er, that the crown would like to pay you a regular salary? I could just have them draw up some papers quickly..."

"I find it works for me, your majesty," Jeeves said.

"A regular salary, huh?" Jeff asked. "There's a possibility, although IanCorp might get upset with an ambassador from another country drawing a paycheck on the coffers of the people. And I'll have to read those papers with a fine-eye for detail, just in case." he added with a wink.

Jeeves looked concerned at Christin's nervousness. "I apologize if I gave any offense Duchess Chaffin. And I'll try to keep that in mind your majesty, Duchess Chaffin, but it would not be proper. Can I get either of you a drink when we get back into the house?"

"No, no, Jeeves, none at all," said Christin with a smile as James shifted Conner about so he could wrap an arm around her waist.

"Well, Jeeves, whatever your most comfortable with," said James absentmindidly as he looked into Christin's eyes. She shook her head slightly and smiled again. He seemed satisfied with the response.

"I find it works for me, your majesty," Jeeves said.

"A regular salary, huh?" Jeff asked. "There's a possibility, although IanCorp might get upset with an ambassador from another country drawing a paycheck on the coffers of the people. And I'll have to read those papers with a fine-eye for detail, just in case." he added with a wink.

"Why Jeff, I'm shocked!" said James in faux indignation. "After all these years, you don't even trust me to sign a contract without looking at it first?

"And IanCorp can go to...er, bite my...er, I don't like them very much!" he continued, catching himself twice in the nick of time.

"Yes madam, your majesty," Jeeves said as they reached the front door. He reached out and held it open.

Jeff hobbled along, "I'm sure you're shocked," he smiled at James. "After all, you might try to do something like keep me from... what is it you usually call it... anyway you might keep me from doing that. And then I wouldn't be able to run after aliens, or vampires or god know what.

"That's the spirit! You tell IanCorp what to do!"

Jeeves was still holding the door, "Come along Master Jeffrey, I can't be standing here all day holding this and not fixing drinks inside.."

"Reckless endangerment?" suggested James.

"Foolhardy adventures," supplied Christin, bumping him with her hips.

"Yeah, that's it!" grinned James, waving for Jeff and Katherine to go in front of him. "The man and lady of the house first!"

Jeff laughed. "I'll take foolhardy adventures for one-thousand Alex with a side of reckless endangerment," he said as Katherine helped him up the steps. "And thank you very much, your majesty" he grinned as he and Katherine walked into the house.

"That's enough talk of reckless endangerment," Katherine said kissing Jeff's cheek. "This is supposed to be a vacation."

After James and Christin walked into the house, Jeeves closed the door and handed each of they a key. "If you will all come this way, I'll have drinks ready for you in a moment in the study."

"Or was that just 'ladies first?'" pondered James as Jeff walked in in front of him. "Drat these social conventions!"

He accepted the key and promise of a drink with a big smile. "Well, this is certainly world-class service! I feel as though I should be tipping someone!"

"You could always tip me later," smiled Christin. James tugged at his collar.

"So, er, what sort of drinks are we talking about here, Jeeves?"

Jeff chuckled, "yeah, all these different social designations, you never know what changes the next day will bring."

Jeeves looked at James, "Whatever you wish, we have a stocked bar here. I was going to finish the pitcher of martinis for you."

"Wait a sec, I want to know what kind of a tip you're talking about," Jeff winked at Christin.

Katherine slapped his arm playfully, "Now now, there are some things we don't need to discuss in front of the K-I-D-S."

"I think just something light would be great," said James, trying to ignore Jeff's question. "It's early yet. Please, feel free to surprise me."

"Well, Mr. Willaims, I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you. Lord knows we can't let this get loose on the Shield!" James heard Christin laugh behind his back. He shifted Conner gently back to his right arm and wrapped the left one around her waist again.

"Y-e-a-h," he agreed, winking at Kate.

(Oops, I gotta head off to bed. Night, man!)

(G'Night dude!)

"I think just something light would be great," said James, trying to ignore Jeff's question. "It's early yet. Please, feel free to surprise me."

"Well, Mr. Willaims, I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you. Lord knows we can't let this get loose on the Shield!" James heard Christin laugh behind his back. He shifted Conner gently back to his right arm and wrapped the left one around her waist again.

"Y-e-a-h," he agreed, winking at Kate.

(Oops, I gotta head off to bed. Night, man!)

"Surprises are not in my nature your majesty," Jeeves said. "But I will endeavor to make something pleasing to the palate. If you want, I can take the children into the nursery."

Jeff grinned at James' response. "Oh reaaaaaaaally?" he said in a conspiritorial tone. "Whatever it is you two are doing, or not doing, would be sure to be scandalous on the shield."

Rubino Field
Colano, small town outside Sicilia, Agrigento
______________________________

http://www.korolishin.com/digicam/chicago/chicago.low/images/plane.airfield.4.jpg

The airshow was waning to an end. Just before its climax, when a flight of F-15Z's of the renowned «Angelo Tricolore» stunt squadron were to go airborne, the dark-gray skies opened up and unleashed a torrential downpour. The old dirt roads, used by farmers for centuries were in no way prepared for such a veritable monsoon, and getting home would be quite difficult. So, minutes after the fighters took to the air, the crowds began to disperse.

Thousands of people rushed to and from the hectic parking lots and grassy stalls. Concession stands were packed up, secured and closed for the night.

Small clusters of dedicated enthusiasts stayed, watching the magnificent planes test their maneuverability. Two people in particular were not about to let a little rain stop them from spending quality time together.

Roberto DiPartenza stood patiently under a large umbrella, dwarfed by his son, who took after his mom as far as stature was concerned. Michael, who still went by his mother's maiden name...for security reasons above all else at this point, was glad to be with the graying old man, bonding so to speak, as he entered the golden years of his life.

It was not too often that he had such time for R&R, and with tensions heating up once again in Japann, he was not going to waste it. His fiancé, patient one at that, was at home, having successfully heeded the weather forecast. She thought it would best if it was just the two of them as well...

Together they stood under umbrellas as the heavens emptied out all around them. Life was good this rainy day in Agrigento.

http://www.angelfire.com/ill/agripics/F15.bmp


ooc: Glorified Tag

(and what a tag it was! I'm not sure what it is, Ag, but you've this way of writing about family dynamics that just plucks hard on my ol' heartstrings!)

“I suppose that’d end this awful spelling bee, at least,” said Christin to Jeeves. “If you’re sure it’s no trouble.”

“I’m sure it won’t be,” smiled James. “Somehow, I get the feeling he’s cut from the same stock as good ol’ Quinton.”

“Ah, well,” he continued to Jeff, scratching the back of his neck. “Er, look! A distraction!”

(No kidding! That was a nice tag!)

Jeeves took the children and led them away, "I'll have your drinks ready in a few moments, if you'd like to retire to the study."

"Speaking of distractions," Katherine started, "I never knew that The Hunter's Hunter won the Celdonian Film Festival!"

"Thanks, Jeeves," smiled James. "I think that'd be grand." He inched his way away from Jeff's question.

"Oh, really?" asked Christin. "I loved that movie." She winked. "The main character was soooo dashing."

Jeff flinched slightly and winked at Katherine at the mention of the movie. He'd figured that was old news by now.

Katherine chuckled, "Oh yes he was! And that heroine, Mmmm-mmm! What I wouldn't give to be more like her."

(Heh, Jeff's totally forgotten about that question already.)

Jeff hobbled into the study with the others, he picked up a box of cigars from the baby grand (as opposed to the Baby Grant, which he might be :P) and offered one to James.

"So," he started offering James a light before lighting his own cigar, "You have anything planned while in Celeborne? Anyone you want to go... shopping for?"

... baby grand (as opposed to the Baby Grant, which he might be :P)

(oh...THAT deserves a watermelon! :P)

“Jeff, you’re just about as subtle as a train wreck,” smiled James as he accepted the cigar and puffed on it. "I think I'm getting the hang of these things at last!"

"Did James tell you?" asked Christin. "We've settled on a date and style at last."

"Pulic enough to keep IanCorp happy; private enough to keep me happy," grinned James. "A little reception on the Isle; a pressman or two in the back, some higher-ranking nobility. Oh, and my family, of course," he winked.

(I kinda figured it would ;) )

"Be careful with that, cause these things'll kill ya," Jeff winked. "Me subtle? I need to work on that..."

"Yeah," Katherine said, "You really do."

The two of them listened as James and Christin talked about the upcoming wedding.

"Well, yeah, I guess you'd want to have some family there," Jeff nodded.

"And some family you'd rather not have there," Katherine added with a wink. "And you know what'll happen with the press, they'll have two pressmen there, and their staff, so that'll fill half Dun Adien.

"So what colors have you chosen? And when is it?"

Yarrum II woke up, and immediantly wished he hadn't.

His head was pounding, and he was simultaneously starving and nauseous.

He sat up, and painfully noticed how bright the sun was that day.

He looked down. He had apparently been buried in the sand, and had a sand-colored cloth thrown over his head.

He stood up, and as the sand fell off, he saw that he was only wearing a gray pair of swim trunks. Well, that was casual dress for a Yarrumian. Maybe he just got drunk and wandered on the beach.

Wait. This place wasn't a Yarrumian beach. It looked expensive.

He began to get the gradual feeling that he was in trouble, which increased rapidly upon the sudden appearance of several unfriendly-looking armed guards.

"This has 'bad day' written all over it," Yarrum muttered as he held his arms up.

(looks like a little 'romantic' vacation for Mr. Yarrum is in order as well. :P)

"And some family you'd rather not have there," Katherine added with a wink. "And you know what'll happen with the press, they'll have two pressmen there, and their staff, so that'll fill half Dun Adien.

"Not with certain 'restrictions of free speech' that I'm placing on the ceremony," winked James. "It's most traditional to hold a wedding at Jameston Place rather than Dun Adien, but the Isle is crown, not public, property. They'll be there for the ceremony, find their seats in the very back, and be hustled off before the reception."

"I'd still feel better if they were on the mainland," said Christin, pursing her lips.

"I know, I know," said James, shaking his head. "I wish I could get around it, but I can't think of a single way. There won't be any cameras allowed them, anyway - that should help everyone out."

"So what colors have you chosen? And when is it?"

"It's [x date; sometime in the early spring that's not yet in our current timeline ;)]," said Christin. She hesitated before the colors question.

"Well, the traditional colors are hunter green and royal blue..." started James. Christin stook out her tongue and he smiled. "...but, well, we're still trying to find some alternatives."

((It may be worth noting that reps. for all ANH countries are on the short list of invites, Yarrum. ;)))

"Not with certain 'restrictions of free speech' that I'm placing on the ceremony," winked James. "It's most traditional to hold a wedding at Jameston Place rather than Dun Adien, but the Isle is crown, not public, property. They'll be there for the ceremony, find their seats in the very back, and be hustled off before the reception."

"I'd still feel better if they were on the mainland," said Christin, pursing her lips.

"I know, I know," said James, shaking his head. "I wish I could get around it, but I can't think of a single way. There won't be any cameras allowed them, anyway - that should help everyone out."

"So at least if they have to report on the wedding, they'll be doing it on your turf," Jeff said, as visions of helicopters and papirazzi danced uneasily in his head.

"And you can show them what you want to show them," Katherine added, "Not having to worry about what they'll want to pull."

"It's [x date; sometime in the early spring that's not yet in our current timeline ;)]," said Christin. She hesitated before the colors question.

"Well, the traditional colors are hunter green and royal blue..." started James. Christin stook out her tongue and he smiled. "...but, well, we're still trying to find some alternatives."

((It may be worth noting that reps. for all ANH countries are on the short list of invites, Yarrum. ;)))

"Oh," Katherine said, "Well, what colors do you want Christin?"

Jeff winked at James, "Start looking for the alternatives. Although why not have you wear your traditional colors, and let Christin wear her colors?"

"And for the love of God," Katherine said, "No Chiffon for the bridesmaids."

((It may be worth noting that reps. for all ANH countries are on the short list of invites, Yarrum. ;)))

((Noted. I'll try my best not to miss it!))

Yarrum pounded on the door of the beach house, waited a few seconds, and then pounded louder and faster.

A few minutes earlier, he had tried to calmly and clearly explain to the guards that he had some kind of diplomatic immunity and that he was a friend of Jeff's as they twisted his arm behind his back and dragged him away.

Now, by some trick of luck, he had managed to escape for the moment, while the guards were distracted by... ah, who cared, he was almost home free!

Uh-oh. A few guards noticed his abscence, and they looked mad.

He pounded on the door again.

A tall man in a black suit opened the door as Mr. Yarrum banged on it frantically. (since I can't find a decent Stephen Fry photo to show here, I'll try to amend this later, or just go to stephenfry.com for a glimpse of Jeeves.)

"Yes sir," he asks unflappably, "What can I do for you?"

"C-Can I use your phone? Or computer? I'm having some legal problems right now, and I just need to clear it up a bit, OW! Dammit, that's my arm! Leggo!"

He managed to wriggle free, dart inside, shut and lock the door behind him.

"You wouldn't happen to have a back door to this place, would you sir?"

Jeeves cocked a surprised eyebrow as Yarrum barged through the doorway and slammed the door behind him (If he's running from Niven's guards, then he'll be surprised to see more in the house ;) )

"I'm sorry sir, are you on... friendly terms with Master Jeffrey?"

Jeeves cocked a surprised eyebrow as Yarrum barged through the doorway and slammed the door behind him (If he's running from Niven's guards, then he'll be surprised to see more in the house ;) )

"I'm sorry sir, are you on... friendly terms with Master Jeffrey?"

"Uh, who?" (geez, do I know any Jeffs? Oh!) "You mean Jeff Williams, the captian with his own medal? Yeah, yeah! I was there when he got it! W-where is he? Can he sort this out? I just woke up on the beach and they," he braced himself against the door as a guard tried to knock it down. "They just go nuts! Is it a crime to sleep on beaches here, or something? Oh, it's probably not the same Jeffrey, is it? Nevermind, then, I'll just be on my," another forced-entry attempt "way. Goodbye."

He began to go deeper into the house when he ran into another guard. The guard was a bit on the tall side, so Yarrum's forehead ended up smashing his nose.

"Yes, he's the one." Jeeves said as Yarrum was holding the door shut. "And yes sir, this is a private beach, however you're lucky, you happen to know the man who owns it," he adds as Yarrum walks down the hallway, bumping into one of the guards who reaches out and grabs him.

"Jeeves, what in the hell is going on here?" Jeff asked hobbling out of the study. "Mr. Yarrum!" he said surprised when the guard carried him out to the entryway. "Put him down. It's good to see you! How'd you find us?"

"Oh," Katherine said, "Well, what colors do you want Christin?"

Jeff winked at James, "Start looking for the alternatives. Although why not have you wear your traditional colors, and let Christin wear her colors?"

"And for the love of God," Katherine said, "No Chiffon for the bridesmaids."

"I suppose that could work," said Christin, looking up at James. "But don't worry; I'll make sure we don't end up with too many of the trappings of an overly formal wedding."

"And I'll help," James said, fairly distantly. He was watching Jeff's face - it was eerie; almost like those cybernetic ears had picked up some sort of signal. It was not to his surprise, therefore, when Jeff quickly excused himself from the room.

James made his own excuses and followed Jeff out to see what the trouble, if indeed that's what it was, was.

Christin watched them go. "That's a little unusual. I wonder what Jeff heard?"

Outside the room, James came up a few steps behind Jeff and glanced around him. "Oh - Mr. Yarrum. Er, hi." James' voice wasn't cold per se, more questioning and maybe even a little fearful.

"Oh, it's good to see you to, Jeff," Yarrum tried to calm himself. "I guess the question is how you found me. I woke up on the beach, and was promptly arrested. I suppose my conduct wasn't exactly proper, but I'm... not at my best right now, so a good sprinting session seemed better than a night in a Larkinian prison... I am in Larkinia, right? I don't remember ever leaving... Er, sorry about your nose, sir."

Yarrum was about to let out a hearty 'Hey, Jimmy!' but stoped himself. "Hello, your majesty. Oh, am I in Iansisle, then?"

(I was going to bring Sara in as well, what do you think?)

(go ahead and bring her in)

"I... er... well, you're not in Larkinia anymore (Toto :P), actually you're in Celeborne. This is my house. It's been a couple of weeks since the party. Last we had heard you'd passed out and were taken back to the hotel," Jeff said noticing as James tensed up. "You're lucky dad's guards didn't start shooting. Things have been tense lately."

"I'll start the drinks in that case Master Jeffrey," Jeeves said.

James smiled and shook his head, but let Jeff explain. In general, he just hung back and watched.

(go ahead and bring her in)
(I was hoping for a more enthusiastic response, but okay)

"I... er... well, you're not in Larkinia anymore (Toto :P), actually you're in Celeborne. This is my house. It's been a couple of weeks since the party. Last we had heard you'd passed out and were taken back to the hotel," Jeff said noticing as James tensed up. "You're lucky dad's guards didn't start shooting. Things have been tense lately."

"I'll start the drinks in that case Master Jeffrey," Jeeves said.

"Weeks!?" Yarrum's hangover returned, with a vengance. So many questions swam through his muddled mind. Three managed to make themselves heard. "Where is this Celeborne place, and is it expensive here, and do you have any aspirin? I'd hate to just barge in like this and start asking for favors, but..." he trailed off. He thought he heard something outside.

"Oh, and just a glass of water for me, sir."

(go ahead and bring her in)
(I was hoping for a more enthusiastic response, but okay)

(Well I didn't want to be too enthusiastic, cause I'm still at work and it tends to drain the life from me ;) Wait til I'm not at work, then the enthusiasm levels jump up :P)

"Weeks!?" Yarrum's hangover returned, with a vengance. So many questions swam through his muddled mind. Three managed to make themselves heard. "Where is this Celeborne place, and is it expensive here, and do you have any aspirin? I'd hate to just barge in like this and start asking for favors, but..." he trailed off. He thought he heard something outside.

"Oh, and just a glass of water for me, sir."

Jeff chuckled, "No problem. Well, Celeborne's a country. Define 'expensive' and Jeeves? Do we have any aspirin?"

"Of course Master Jeffrey," Jeeves said, "I'll get some from the cabinet with the drinks."

Jeff turned to lead the others back into the study, seeing James face and with his back to Yarrum momentarily as they walked he silently mouthed

What's wrong?

James saw Jeff turn and quickly turned with him. He didn't respond by mouthing anything, but instead just shook his head. "I, uh, have to make use of the water closet...very quickly," he said, but it was clear he was heading back towards the study instead. James made sure to duck inside before Yarrum or Jeff could.

Katherine smiled as James walked back into the study. "What in the heck are you two up to?" she asked.

Jeff saw James duck forward and shook his head a moment. "So the last thing you remember was the party? Wow, that must have been one heck of a night for you."

(Well I didn't want to be too enthusiastic, cause I'm still at work and it tends to drain the life from me ;) Wait til I'm not at work, then the enthusiasm levels jump up :P)
(I see.)

Jeff chuckled, "No problem. Well, Celeborne's a country. Define 'expensive' and Jeeves? Do we have any aspirin?"

"Of course Master Jeffrey," Jeeves said, "I'll get some from the cabinet with the drinks."

Jeff turned to lead the others back into the study, seeing James face and with his back to Yarrum momentarily as they walked he silently mouthed

What's wrong?

"Thanks, Jeff. I wish there was some way I could repay your kindness..."
Well, this was just peachy. Lost in another country, with nothing but his old pair of swim trunks. He racked his mind to try and find some explaination. The last thing he could remember was the party, and...
"That fat harpy," he hissed aloud.
This was her plan all along. Get me drunk and have her way with me.
You're being stupid. You got yourself drunk. She just needs love.
He noticed Jeff and James turn away.
"Uh... I'll just sit tight here, guys. You two go have fun with... the others..." he was going to say 'lady-folk', but he realized he didn't know who else was there.
He needed some time to think.

---Post deleted by NationStates Moderators---

Jeff saw James duck forward and shook his head a moment. "So the last thing you remember was the party? Wow, that must have been one heck of a night for you."

"How did you...? Oh, you probably figured that out. Yeah, it's been one heck of a couple of weeks." He awkwardly noticed Jeff's clothes. "Sorry I'm not dressed for the occasion," he offered weakly.

Katherine smiled as James walked back into the study. "What in the heck are you two up to?" she asked.

James smiled back. "The usual fun and hijinks." He glanced behind him quickly. "Er, I hate to interupt, Cris, but I really need to talk to you, um..." He quickly scoped out possible points of escape. "Er, over there," he decided, pointing at a door.

"James, that's a closet [or other suitable non-appropriate architectual space ;)]," said Christin arching an eyebrow. "What's going on? What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing, love, nothing," he smiled insistantly, eyes still searching the room for a way out. "I, er, just really need to talk to you."

(yeah, the closer I get to the nightly deadlines, the more enthusiasm drops like a mafia hit-man in the ocean wearing leaded shoes ;) )

"Thanks, Jeff. I wish there was some way I could repay your kindness..."
Well, this was just peachy. Lost in another country, with nothing but his old pair of swim trunks. He racked his mind to try and find some explaination. The last thing he could remember was the party, and...
"That fat harpy," he hissed aloud.
This was her plan all along. Get me drunk and have her way with me.
You're being stupid. You got yourself drunk. She just needs love.
He noticed Jeff and James turn away.
"Uh... I'll just sit tight here, guys. You two go have fun with... the others..." he was going to say 'lady-folk', but he realized he didn't know who else was there.
He needed some time to think.

"It's no problem," Jeff smiled at him, "I know I'd hate to be lost in another country with nothing but a pair of shorts."

Jeff turned to Yarrum when he hissed his statement, "Who? The one from the party?"

Then when James left, and Yarrum stayed behind Jeff nodded slowly, "Well, we'll be right in there," he pointed out the study, "When you feel a little more solid."


"How did you...? Oh, you probably figured that out. Yeah, it's been one heck of a couple of weeks." He awkwardly noticed Jeff's clothes. "Sorry I'm not dressed for the occasion," he offered weakly.

"That's not a problem either," Jeff smiled before leaving, "We'll go hit the shopping center a little later today and get you some clothes. Although a pair of shorts is great for the beach."

James smiled back. "The usual fun and hijinks." He glanced behind him quickly. "Er, I hate to interupt, Cris, but I really need to talk to you, um..." He quickly scoped out possible points of escape. "Er, over there," he decided, pointing at a door.

"James, that's a closet [or other suitable non-appropriate architectual space ;)," said Christin arching an eyebrow. "What's going on? What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing, love, nothing," he smiled insistantly, eyes still searching the room for a way out. "I, er, just really need to talk to you."

"Goodness James!" Katherine said, "If you two need to... 'talk' that badly, I'm sure there's a ground floor bedroom around here somewhere."

Jeeves walked in as James said he needed to talk to Christin. "There's a room right over here," he said as he pulled one of the books a bookcase that opened up.

"Goodness James!" Katherine said, "If you two need to... 'talk' that badly, I'm sure there's a ground floor bedroom around here somewhere."

Jeeves walked in as James said he needed to talk to Christin. "There's a room right over here," he said as he pulled one of the books a bookcase that opened up.

"Um, no really, it is just, er, talking," said James, trying to keep a smile planted on his face as he was glancing over his shoulder.

Even in a somewhat anxious mood, he couldn't help but chuckle as the secret passage opened up. "Say, that's clever! Thanks, my good man."

Christin looked at him and shrugged. "I suppose if it's really important, James," she said, eying the passage warily.

"I assume that there's a handle or something on the other side?" asked James. "Or do I have to tug on a torch, or push a certain stone?"

"You have to stand in the same place, say 'oogy woogy oogy' three times and then dance a jig," Jeeves deadpanned. "Actually, your majesty, there's a knob there for you."

Katherine chuckled, "Have fun you two."

"Um, right, fun," said James as they vanished behind the bookcase.

(which is an apt description, because I have to be off myself.;) I should be able to get back on in a couple hours.)

"Um, right, fun," said James as they vanished behind the bookcase.

(which is an apt description, because I have to be off myself.;) I should be able to get back on in a couple hours.)

(Yeah, I'm getting cut loose from work *yea!!!* and I'll be back on in a little bit)

Jeeves walks over to the bar in the room and fixes a glass of iced tea for Katherine.

"Thanks Jeeves," she smiled. "It's just like when I was younger with you around, just, peaceful... nice."

"Thank you duchess," he said with a quick smile.

((Hey, man. Don't know if I'll be able to post again tonight; I have to get to bed pretty soon. If not, I'll catch ya tomorrow.))

(No sweat man, have a nice night, just in case)

"It's no problem," Jeff smiled at him, "I know I'd hate to be lost in another country with nothing but a pair of shorts."

Jeff turned to Yarrum when he hissed his statement, "Who? The one from the party?"

"The who? Ah..." Yarrum tried to look nonchalant. "Forget I said that."

"That's not a problem either," Jeff smiled before leaving, "We'll go hit the shopping center a little later today and get you some clothes. Although a pair of shorts is great for the beach."

"Actually, I can just place a quick order and get my other suit from home. Now where's my cellular telephone ...? Oh, probably with my ceremonial suit and wallet. And I think I've had enough beach for one day. Eh, my head."

Then when James left, and Yarrum stayed behind Jeff nodded slowly, "Well, we'll be right in there," he pointed out the study, "When you feel a little more solid."

Yarrum silently acknowledged Jeff.

"The who? Ah..." Yarrum tried to look nonchalant. "Forget I said that."

Jeff nodded, "Gotcha."

Jeeves walked up with a bottle of aspirin and a glass of some kind of red fluid, "Your aspirin, sir. Plus something I think will get you past your... current condition very very quickly sir. My own recipe."

"Actually, I can just place a quick order and get my other suit from home. Now where's my cellular telephone ...? Oh, probably with my ceremonial suit and wallet. And I think I've had enough beach for one day. Eh, my head."

Jeeves picks up a phone from the hallway and brings it over to Yarrum, "Would you like me to report your wallet stolen sir?"

Jeff nodded, "Gotcha."

Jeeves walked up with a bottle of aspirin and a glass of some kind of red fluid, "Your aspirin, sir. Plus something I think will get you past your... current condition very very quickly sir. My own recipe."

Yarrum eyed the drink suspiciously, but nonetheless used it to wash down a few aspirin. All the muscles in his face suddenly seemed attracted to the tip of his nose, for an instant. "That's powerful stuff."



Jeeves picks up a phone from the hallway and brings it over to Yarrum, "Would you like me to report your wallet stolen sir?"

"Oh, sure, it's... a wallet. Nevermind, thanks anyway, once I remember what was in it... If I may say, you're very good at what you do, Mister... Jeeves?"

James and Christin were only gone five minutes. When they came back out, James had his arm around her, and his smiled at Kate. "Thanks. I need to have more secret rooms installed at Dun Adien." Christin just smiled faintly and took a deep nasal breath.

"Did James tell you?" asked Christin. "We've settled on a date and style at last."

... :twisted:

"Did James tell you?" asked Christin. "We've settled on a date and style at last."

... :twisted:

*taps fingers together*

Oh dear, that's never a good sign ;)

(oh you have no idea, Iansisle ;) )

Yarrum eyed the drink suspiciously, but nonetheless used it to wash down a few aspirin. All the muscles in his face suddenly seemed attracted to the tip of his nose, for an instant. "That's powerful stuff."

"Thank you sir, you should be back in your peak in a few minutes."

"Oh, sure, it's... a wallet. Nevermind, thanks anyway, once I remember what was in it... If I may say, you're very good at what you do, Mister... Jeeves?"

"Yes sir. Thank you very much sir, I do endeavor to do my best," Jeeves said handing Yarrum the phone. "What else can I get you sir?"

OOC: Outa curiosity, how goes my reinitiation into the ANH?

OOC: Outa curiosity, how goes my reinitiation into the ANH?

(That depends, did you ever meet with the five gays guys I sent over there for a makeover? Kind of a queer eye for the Imitoran guy :P )

James and Christin were only gone five minutes. When they came back out, James had his arm around her, and his smiled at Kate. "Thanks. I need to have more secret rooms installed at Dun Adien." Christin just smiled faintly and took a deep nasal breath.

Katherine looked at the two for a moment, "They never hurt," she said noticing the look on Christin's face and remembering their talk back at the party. She stood up and picked up a gin and tonic and handed it to Christin with a smile.

OOC: Nope...they were either sos (shot on sight) or turned around and kicked out...

((No! Save our ship! :P))

(*ducks hail of watermelons*)

"Thanks, Kate," she said quietly, accepting the drink. "I'll be fine; really, I will. I've...had time to confront this, and I will." She steeled herself as footsteps approached.

James looked over with surprise as Jeff walked in alone. "Where's..." he started, but stopped short. "Is everything all right, Jeff?"

Jeff looked at James a moment, "I think so. Our guest just needed a few moments to compose himself. The fact that he just has a pair of shorts is also a consideration I think."

Katherine walked over and kissed him, "What guest?"

"Mr. Yarrum."

"Oh... Ohhhhhhh" Katherine said.

Christin bit her bottom lip, and James held her a bit closer. However, she smiled gently up at him and laid her head on his shoulder.

"I...I think I'd like to apologize to him," she said quietly. "I was very rude to him at the party, for no reason at all."

"You don't have to, you know," James replied. She put her hand on his.

"I want to. I can't keep running away for ever. He's not..." She paused. "It's not his fault, and I hate being rude."

"...I hate being rude."

OOC: Hmmm...maybe we should get her Imitoranship revoked, lol.

OOC: Hmmm...maybe we should get her Imitoranship revoked, lol.

((She's been living in Iansisle too long...we've contaminated her ;)))

Jeff points to the hallway, "I believe he's right in there if you'd like to talk with him alone."

(Back in a bit, driving home)

Christin hesitated for a second, then started off. "Thanks, Jeff."

James started to follow her, but she held up a hand. "No, James, this is something I need to do alone." Christin took a deep breath, then vanished around the corner. James stood still in his tracks, watching her leave.

((Sweet deal...I have some reading to do, anyhow. Be back later.))

((I promise to be around more next week. I am just dropping in to see what is happening but I am afraid that I will not be around enough to participate tonight.))

(Cool, we're all looking forward to it, and 4A will be waiting for ya. ;) )

"...I hate being rude."

OOC: Hmmm...maybe we should get her Imitoranship revoked, lol.

OOC: It already was, by that idiotic computer, remember?

OOC: Wow, you've stopped commenting on RP, and have resorted to insults...Also, you should remeber that that RP just kinda died...or are you so stupid you forgot that?

Christin hesitated for a second, then started off. "Thanks, Jeff."

James started to follow her, but she held up a hand. "No, James, this is something I need to do alone." Christin took a deep breath, then vanished around the corner. James stood still in his tracks, watching her leave.

Jeeves met Christin as she walked into the hallway, "If you're looking for Mr. Yarrum, he's around that corner," he points out, "Take a left after that and he should be sitting on one of the lounge chairs."

"Thank you sir, you should be back in your peak in a few minutes."

"Oh, sure, it's... a wallet. Nevermind, thanks anyway, once I remember what was in it... If I may say, you're very good at what you do, Mister... Jeeves?"

"Yes sir. Thank you very much sir, I do endeavor to do my best," Jeeves said handing Yarrum the phone. "What else can I get you sir?"

Yarrum looked bewildered.
"Er..." he confusedly put the phone down on the nearest flat surface. "I think I'm okay for now. I'll just sit tight and let your magic potion kick in."
He thought he heard someone coming...

"Yes sir, please don't hesitate to call on me," Jeeves said walking away and directing Christin to Yarrum's location.

As Christin walked out of the room, Jeff heard a familiar ringing in his... ears.. mind.. he still hadn't gotten used to it.

"Excuse me a moment," he said. His eyes went glassy as he took the call on his... 'Wireless' ( :P ) phone.

Katherine smiled at James and handed him a.. well it was blue.. and fizzy... and smelled like pineapple.

"They aren't half bad," she said.

A few minutes later Jeff blinked a couple of times as the call ended. The only sign he was back was the glass shattering on the hardwood floor after it fell.

James and Katherine looked up at him, the expression on his face and in his eyes was as shattered as the glass on the floor.

"Ex... Excuse me a minute," he whispered as he walked out, heading toward the front porch.

((sorry...I somehow managed to miss that this thread had new replies on it :oops: ))

"Thank you," Christin said quietly. She paused out in the hallway, took a deep breath, and turned the corner.

There he was, near a counter of some sort. At once, her stomach started churning, but she forced herself onward.

"S...Mister, ah, Yarrum?" [i]Oops...where was I planning on going with this from here?

---

James hadn't really moved from the edge of the hallway. As Jeff took the 'call', he turned slowly and smiled at Kate.

"Well, I..." he started quietly, but no conversation topics came to mind. Instead, he accepted the drink and mumbled "thank you."

Something jumped inside him when Jeff's glass broke. He had only seen the expression on Jeff's face once: after he got back from Ryansisle.

"What's wr..." he started to ask, but Jeff was already on his way out to the porch. James turned to Katherine. "Should we go after him? Something's very wrong!"

James hadn't really moved from the edge of the hallway. As Jeff took the 'call', he turned slowly and smiled at Kate.

"Well, I..." he started quietly, but no conversation topics came to mind. Instead, he accepted the drink and mumbled "thank you."

Something jumped inside him when Jeff's glass broke. He had only seen the expression on Jeff's face once: after he got back from Ryansisle.

"What's wr..." he started to ask, but Jeff was already on his way out to the porch. James turned to Katherine. "Should we go after him? Something's very wrong!"

Katherine looked at James alarmed and nodded, "I think we should," she said urgently standing up. She looked down at the shattered glass.

"I'll get that madam," Jeeves said as they took off down the hall.

-----

Jeff had hobbled onto the porch and was partway down the dock when the full force of what he'd been told hit him. He went dizzy and reached out to grab the railing to steady himself....

Project... what?... Others?... my family knew? ... I was nothing more than a f---ing science project to them? .... What did he mean, there was another one... What am I now?

Jeff slipped... tripped or fell onto his knees, still holding onto the railing when Katherine and James came out of the house.

James ran up to Jeff's side and kneeled down in front of him. He put his hand on Jeff's shoulder.

"Jeff, what's going on? Are you all right? Here, let's just get you back to the house!" The words came out in one long rush; James' eyes were wide and his concern genuine. He reached to help Jeff back to his feet.

Katherine knelt down on Jeff's other side, "What is it sweetheart?" she asked helping James.

Jeff shook his head a moment, then looked at James, Katherine and out to the horizon.

"What am I?," he asked quietly, still trying to understand. "Nothing more than an experiment. Some random genetics project. Something to be cataloged, dissected and examined."

"Come on," Katherine said, "You need to get back to the house."

He looked sadly at Katherine, "They never told me," he whispered, "they never even told me what I was..."

Katherine looked at James confused.

James supported Jeff gently. The mumbling worried him slightly.

He caught Kate's eyes and shrugged his shoulders as best he could without letting Jeff drop.

"Jeff, I...you're Jeff Williams...you're a great husband and father and brother and son; you're a hero to billions of people; you're a wonderful, compassionate human being..."

and you're going to explain to those who love you just what is going on he added silently.

Jeff chuckled sadly as he hobbled back to the house with James and Katherine's help.

"Am I, James?" he asked quietly, looking down. "What if that's not what she wanted?"

"Not what who wanted?" Katherine asked.

"My mother," Jeff said.

"Jeff, what in the hell is going on?"

Jeff hugged Katherine and whispered something in her ear. James could see the fear and disgust flash in her eyes for a moment before being replaced with love.

"We need to sit down and have another drink," she said holding the door open for Jeff and James.

By now, James was utterly confused. He watched Kate's face as Jeff explained...whatever it was that was going on to her, and the hate evident made him worry.

He helped Jeff into the room and eased him down into a chair.

"Jeff," he said quietly, "If we're going to help you, we need to know just what's going on."

Jeff sat down, still just looking at the floor. "Dad called me a few minutes ago. He said he had something to tell me, and that I might not want to hear it but that I needed to.

"James, are you familiar with the term 'eugenics'?"

Katherine sighed, "Don't call it that," she said. "Just... I don't know what to call it from the two sentence blurb you gave me."

James blinked. "Um, sort of. A lot of right-wing papers use the term to advocate 'keeping the Shieldian race pure' and nonsense like that. Most of them have gone underground since the war.

"Dare I ask what 'it' is?"

Jeff swallowed hard before going on, "Well, apparently my mother didn't think it was nonsense. According to dad, you're looking at one of the first... 'creations' of some project, 'Aeneus' or something..

"James, my mom used me for her project. She didn't think my dad's genes were good enough, she pumped god knows what into me."

Jeff looked up at James in despair, "Am I who I am, because of what I learned growing up? Am I who I am because..." he looked down at his hands, " because of what I am inside now?" he whispered.

Katherine sighed again and sat down next to Jeff, "Sweetheart, you know we all love you."

*snipped*

James didn't know quite what to say. He sat next to Jeff for a couple seconds, blinking slowly while the information processed.

At last: "Jeff, I'm not really sure what you mean by all this, but.." He paused. "Like Kate said, we love you. I don't know why you are who you are, but you are who you are." That sentence confused him slightly, and there was a brief pause while he made sure that's what he meant to say.

"I know I have no idea what medicine is like in Larkinia, but I do know there are some things that they can't alter with genes. The look you get in your eyes when you hug the twins and Conner; the way you love Kate; the way you went back for Captain Markson: that's all part of your soul, Jeff, and there's nothing anyone can do or could have done to change that."

Jeff nodded as he listened to James. "Yeah, my soul. But, I just don't feel like I'm me. Like I'm unique. If some scientist has my DNA on file, then I lose my uniqueness."

"No you don't. James is right, hon," Katherine said. "You are not a person who's... personality has been predetermined by what genes are inside him, but who you are here," she tapped his chest. "Inside.

"You could be the same genetic person in another place, and turn out totally different."

"Yeah, maybe," Jeff said quietly.

"Besides, I've always told you they had to break the mold after you were born anyway," Katherine tried to lighten the mood. "Cause one of you is bad enough."

"But now they can clone an army of me. It's just hard, I guess. Such a huge part of my life imploded on me a few minutes ago, it's hard to process. I can't believe she'd do that to me."

((I'm sorry...I'm a little too tired to think of a proper response right now. I was trying to outlast you tonight, but that's too hard, dagnabbit. Night, man!))

(Yea! I win! *collapses at computer*)

OOC: Wow, you've stopped commenting on RP, and have resorted to insults...Also, you should remeber that that RP just kinda died...or are you so stupid you forgot that?
OOC: I didn't call you idiotic, I called your AI-character idiotic. From the way you RPed him, I have every reason to believe that you intentionally designed the computer to be stupid. Thus, calling it such is, if anything, a compliment to your RP skills as having well portrayed your character as you intended it to be.

Of course, if you don't like being complimented I'm willing to take it back, or balance it out with a few real insults.

And yes, I do remember the RP died. That doesn't mean the events RPed before than did not happen. If the premature end of a thread retroactively undid what happened in the thread, then a lot of what happened to your nation would be erased. Hmmm, on second thought, that does sort of fit your RP style. How often have Robert and Hoot died and un-died already?

((sorry...I somehow managed to miss that this thread had new replies on it :oops: ))

"Thank you," Christin said quietly. She paused out in the hallway, took a deep breath, and turned the corner.

There he was, near a counter of some sort. At once, her stomach started churning, but she forced herself onward.

"S...Mister, ah, Yarrum?" Oops...where was I planning on going with this from here?

Yarrum stood up as the lady entered.
"Yes, that is I. Wait, are you... James' lady? Oh, was that you at the party? Listen, it was an accident, and I didn't know what I was doing and... whateveritisI'msorry!"

He let out a long breath.

"I feel better."

(Now now, everyone, play nice. Imitora, I'm sure he didn't mean anything bad by that comment; remember, deep breaths ;). Milostein, perhaps you could make your comments in a slightly less condescending manner?)

Yarrum stood up as the lady entered.
"Yes, that is I. Wait, are you... James' lady? Oh, was that you at the party? Listen, it was an accident, and I didn't know what I was doing and... whateveritisI'msorry!"

He let out a long breath.

"I feel better."

Christin was a little taken aback; first by being called 'James' lady,' and second at the rushed apology. S...he would never have done something like that.

She remained standing a couple feet away and smiled shyly. "Actually, Mr. Yarrum, I came to apologize to you. I realize that it was very rude of me not to introduce myself at the part, but I was.." Christin paused. "I suppose I wasn't in the rightest of minds. You didn't do anything wrong, but it was sweet of you to apologize anyway."

(Yea! I win! *collapses at computer*)

(Yea! I lose! Oh...wait... :(;))

James shook his head. "They could never clone an army of Jeff Williams..er, es, no matter how hard they tried. They would get a whole bunch of people who look like you, maybe, and have your, um, 'DNA,' but they wouldn't be you. They wouldn't be anything at all like you."

He was reaching about the end of his scientific grasp of the situation. James supposed he could always reach for faith, but he'd never really been a religious man, and suspected that Jeff wasn't either.

Christin was a little taken aback; first by being called 'James' lady,' and second at the rushed apology. S...he would never have done something like that.

She remained standing a couple feet away and smiled shyly. "Actually, Mr. Yarrum, I came to apologize to you. I realize that it was very rude of me not to introduce myself at the part, but I was.." Christin paused. "I suppose I wasn't in the rightest of minds. You didn't do anything wrong, but it was sweet of you to apologize anyway."

"Oh, I thought I had done something to upset you. My conduct at the party wasn't exactly my best behavior, either. Um... well, you know my name... " he looked expectantly at Christin

(call the double post police!)

"Oh, I thought I had done something to upset you. My conduct at the party wasn't exactly my best behavior, either. Um... well, you know my name... " he looked expectantly at Christin

It took a second to register, and then she blushed. "Oh, I'm sorry, I'm D...Christin Chaffin." For a second, it didn't seem like she was going to do anything, but then she stepped hesitantly forward and offered her hand. "I'm sorry we had to meet under such awkward circumstances."

James shook his head. "They could never clone an army of Jeff Williams..er, es, no matter how hard they tried. They would get a whole bunch of people who look like you, maybe, and have your, um, 'DNA,' but they wouldn't be you. They wouldn't be anything at all like you."

Jeff nodded again, "Yeah, but they'd still be a piece of me, they'd..." He shook his head a moment to clear it and looked up, "Jeeves, a..."

Jeeves handed Jeff a glass of scotch, "One glass of scotch, sir."

Jeff tried to look more relaxed, "C'mon guys, this is supposed to be a vacation. Let's enjoy ourselves here."

Jeff tried to look more relaxed, "C'mon guys, this is supposed to be a vacation. Let's enjoy ourselves here."

James tried to laugh. "Right after you, Jeff," he said, but the joke either didn't make any sense in his head or just wasn't funny. He lapsed into silence briefly, then:

"Well, I suppose we could always play Scrabble or something."

It took a second to register, and then she blushed. "Oh, I'm sorry, I'm D...Christin Chaffin." For a second, it didn't seem like she was going to do anything, but then she stepped hesitantly forward and offered her hand. "I'm sorry we had to meet under such awkward circumstances."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Christin." He took her hand. "It's always nice to meet new people, nevermind the circumstances."

(Meanwhile, outside)

"I'm good at Scrabble!" someone blurted at Jeff, Kathrine, and James.

A plump woman in a modest swimsuit stood before them, avoiding eye contact.

"Yarrum's in there, isn't he?"

It took a second to register, and then she blushed. "Oh, I'm sorry, I'm D...Christin Chaffin." For a second, it didn't seem like she was going to do anything, but then she stepped hesitantly forward and offered her hand. "I'm sorry we had to meet under such awkward circumstances."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Christin." He took her hand. "It's always nice to meet new people, nevermind the circumstances."

(Meanwhile, outside)

"I'm good at Scrabble!" someone blurted at Jeff, Kathrine, and James.

A plump woman in a modest swimsuit stood before them, avoiding eye contact.

"Yarrum's in there, isn't he?"

James tried to laugh. "Right after you, Jeff," he said, but the joke either didn't make any sense in his head or just wasn't funny. He lapsed into silence briefly, then:

"Well, I suppose we could always play Scrabble or something."

Jeff smiled at little more at the joke, "I'll work on it. Sorry to be such a wet blanket on the whole vacation.

"I don't think we have Scrabble here," Jeff said. "Maybe a nice swim..."

"Dear, you'll just be swimming in circles," Katherine said pointing at Jeff's missing leg, trying to make a joke a well.

The smile vanished "Oh... yeah. Well you guys can at least."

"I'm good at Scrabble!" someone blurted at Jeff, Kathrine, and James.

A plump woman in a modest swimsuit stood before them, avoiding eye contact.

"Yarrum's in there, isn't he?"

Jeff nodded to Sara, "Yes ma'am, he is, just stopped over. How are you doing?"

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Christin." He took her hand. "It's always nice to meet new people, nevermind the circumstances."

She blushed and took her hand back. "I..." She faltered for conversation material. "I'm glad I got the chance to say that and meet you. It takes a load off my mind." She glanced about nervously. "So, what brings you to Celeborne?"

---

"We'll do something that we all can, Jeff," said James forcefully. He was still thinking when a woman, slightly on the heavy side, came to the door. His eyebrow raised at the familiar way Jeff said hello, and he got to his feet.

"Hello.. Sara, is it? I don't believe we've had the pleasure...I'm James Callahan." He extended a hand in greeting.

"We'll do something that we all can, Jeff," said James forcefully. He was still thinking when a woman, slightly on the heavy side, came to the door. His eyebrow raised at the familiar way Jeff said hello, and he got to his feet.

"Hello.. Sara, is it? I don't believe we've had the pleasure...I'm James Callahan." He extended a hand in greeting.

"That's all right James. I need to get this taken care of anyway," Jeff said quietly.

"Babe, I was just trying to make you smile," Katherine said kissing his cheek, "I'm sorry."

Jeff hugged her, "I know you were." He stood up and walked over to Sara, "Sara, this is James, lord high master of Iansisle," he winked as a slight grin broke out. "And this is my wife Katherine," he added as Katherine walked over.

(She was going to appear suddenly near Yarrum and say something about Jeff's needing new locks, but I thought this might work better.)

Jeff nodded to Sara, "Yes ma'am, he is, just stopped over. How are you doing?"
She smiled a bit and gave a 'thumbs up' to Jeff.

"We'll do something that we all can, Jeff," said James forcefully. He was still thinking when a woman, slightly on the heavy side, came to the door. His eyebrow raised at the familiar way Jeff said hello, and he got to his feet.

"Hello.. Sara, is it? I don't believe we've had the pleasure...I'm James Callahan." He extended a hand in greeting.

(She's not heavy, she's Sara! :cry: )

She jerked her head around, and gave James a 'thumbs up' too as she moved around the trio and let herself into the house.

(back at the ranch...)

She blushed and took her hand back. "I..." She faltered for conversation material. "I'm glad I got the chance to say that and meet you. It takes a load off my mind." She glanced about nervously. "So, what brings you to Celeborne?"

"Takes a load off my mind, too." He noticed she was getting nervous. Stuff like that always made him nervous. "That's a good question... You!" he glared at Sara.

"You don't seem very happy to see me, Mr. President."

He raised his hand, maybe to scold her with a pointed finger, maybe even to slap her, but he lowered it.

"Christin, this is Sara, former Ms. USY. Sara, this is Christin. Her good friend Jeff saved me from a night in prison just now."

Sara gave one of her small, shy waves.

"Now, maybe you'd like to explain how I came to wake up on a beach, in another country, with a hangover, and nothing but a pair of swim trunks?"

(Sorry about the discontinuity. I'll just leave it that way, Sara would not have felt comfortable with three, friendly strangers, anyway.)

"Well," said James as Sara walked past with nary a word. "That was ...slightly unusual."

---

"That's a good question... You!"

Yarrum's quick change of voice startled Christin slightly. She hadn't noticed Sara come up, and thought for a moment Yarrum was talking to her. In fact, she was just about to answer indignantly when Sara spoke up.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," said Christin, not quite sure how she should make her voice sound. "Um, is this not a good time, Mr. Yarrum?" She edged towards the door back to the study.

Yarrum quickly went from pointing and looking at Sara to Christin, back and forth, several times. So many things were fighting to be said at once.

He took a deep breath and calmed himself.

"No, stay a bit. We should all get to know each other better," he rubbed the spot between his eyes. His headache had come back. "It's just that I've had one h..." he remembered the ladies. "heck of a past couple of weeks. Let's just all sit down," he set an example, "and discuss this like grown-up adults."

He took a few more breaths and looked straight ahead.

"Just what were we discussing, again?"

"Well," said James as Sara walked past with nary a word. "That was ...slightly unusual."

"That's Yarrum's... lady friend," Jeff said. "She's really shy, really quiet. Almost paralyzingly so."

"Kinda like you when you get an award Jeff," Katherine kissed him.

"No, stay a bit. We should all get to know each other better," he rubbed the spot between his eyes. His headache had come back. "It's just that I've had one h..." he remembered the ladies. "heck of a past couple of weeks. Let's just all sit down," he set an example, "and discuss this like grown-up adults."

He took a few more breaths and looked straight ahead.

"Just what were we discussing, again?"

"Um..." Christin looked confused. "I was asking how you came to be in Celeborne," she said carefully, looking from Sara to Yarrum and back again. "But, you'd rather be alone, I understand."

"That's Yarrum's... lady friend," Jeff said. "She's really shy, really quiet. Almost paralyzingly so."

"Kinda like you when you get an award Jeff," Katherine kissed him.

"I see ... said the blind man," said James, watching her go. "This vacation is turning into a right convention."

"I'm sorry, James, I wish I had more info for you. Apparently she reminded Yarrum of someone he was mean to when he was a kid, because he was also shy and unpopular he was mean to this other girl who was less popular. His treatment of her really left him, affected," Jeff tried to explain. "He had mentioned it at the party. It's really gotten to him, and she was already very shy and scared, I'm guessing the last two weeks haven't helped. I think they were dating, or engaged or something.." Jeff stopped as he realized he was babbling at that point.

James smiled at the veritable encyclopedia of knowledge Jeff seemed to posses on Yarrum and Sara's relationship. “You really ought to write a book, Jeff,” he said with a grin, “and share this fountain of relationship-related insight with the rest of us.”

He was glad that Jeff seemed to be distracted from Dr. Niven’s bad news. He had only the faintest idea of what they were really talking about, but what he understood he didn’t like, not one little bit. Still, he had to keep Jeff thinking about other things.

“I hope Christin is doing all right.”

"Well, Mr. Yarrum (what's this guys' first name anyway ;) ) needed a sympathetic ear to talk to at the party," Jeff kinda shrugged, "I guess I have that kind of 'approchable' demeanor. Anyway he asked for some advice. I mean they did look kinda cute together." Jeff kinda sensed that James and Katherine felt very uncomfortable with the newfound knowledge he was a freak, he'd wished he could keep his mouth shut at times.

"A sympathetic ear?" Katherine raised an eyebrow, "So you know all about those types of 'relationships' huh?"

"I... but dear.. er.." Jeff said before quickly kissing her.

"Mmmmmm... don't change the subject," she teased.

She turned to James, "I hope she is too. She should be though. She's an Imitoran after all," she winked. "I'd worry more about Mr. Yarrum."

(heh, I've been assuming that 'Yarrum' is his first and last name. Dunno if that's the case or not, though)

"'Approchable,'" smiled James. "Yeah, that's an adjective I'd use to describe you, too, Jeff." He forced himself to relax and sat across from Kate and her husband.

"Y'know, it's almost too bad that sort of approach doesn't work for me in diplomatic situations," he said, watching the kiss-method. "Seems quite effective, but lord knows what IanCorp would make of it."

"I'm sure we'll be seeing Mr. Yarrum again in one piece," he said, in a joking tone, but still glanced over his shoulder. "I'm sure we will," he said again, not noticing that he had just repeated himself.

"Yeah," Katherine winked, "Who knows what they'd do, they might call you the 'mad kisser' or something. Although I think you should give Christin a big kiss in front of one of their reporters one day.."

"Stop that," Jeff smiled, "They wouldn't know what to report. That James was kissing an Imitoran, or that he was seen kissing in public."

Jeeves floated into the room with another tray of drinks, "He seems to be doing quite well sir, the last I saw, he was speaking the Duchess Chaffin and his former wife."

"Former what??" Jeff asked.

"Yes sir," Jeeves said calmly. "The young lady that is in the hallway with them is apparently his ex-wife."

"How do you know that?" Jeff responded.

"You pay me to know these things Master Jeffrey."

"I'm sure 'the mad kisser' would be the absolute best I could hope for," winked James. "The ones I'd expect..." he shrugged, "well, I'm not sure they could be repeated in the presence of a lady."

He took a glass from Jeeves' tray. "Thank you; I wasn't quite sure how she'd react," he said quietly.

"His ex-wife? I suppose that might explain the shout we heard a minute ago."

(ugh, no response possible... must... sleep....catch ya tomorrow dude)

(ugh, no response possible... must... sleep....catch ya tomorrow dude)

(I win! *does his little I-won-something-that's-not-a-contest dance*

Oh, right, night, Lark! ;))

( :lol: yeah, damn this getting ready for 9 a.m. classes ;) )

"Yeah," Jeff said.

He looked between Katherine and James in the uncomfortable silence. He slowly stood up, "I'm, I'm gonna go lie down for a little while," he said.

Katherine started to stand up, "No, you two relax, I'm just a little tired," he added with a kiss before leaving.

He hobbled out of the room, around the hallway making sure not to bump into Christin, Sara or Yarrum. He made it to the staircase and half-pulled, half-hobbled his way up to the second floor.

He closed the door to one of the bedrooms and crashed back on the bed.

I knew I shouldn't have said anything to them. I wouldn't know what to say either, if it weren't me. God, I didn't ask for any of this... why?

Jeff closed his eyes and eventually fell into a fitfull sleep.

"Um..." Christin looked confused. "I was asking how you came to be in Celeborne," she said carefully, looking from Sara to Yarrum and back again. "But, you'd rather be alone, I understand."

"Oh, that's right..." Yarrum thought that discussion would best take place in private, preferrably soundproof room, with a punching bag in case he lost his temper.

"Um, how's about we talk about something else?"

He paused. Sara was silent.

"What have you been up to since the party, Christin?"

(what's this guys' first name anyway?)
(I was just getting to that.)

Sara whispered in Yarrum's ear, "I heard them call you 'Mr. Yarrum'. Do they know you only have one name?"

He shrugged.

"Yes sir," Jeeves said calmly. "The young lady that is in the hallway with them is apparently his ex-wife."

"How do you know that?" Jeff responded.
(Hell, I didn't even know that! I don't think Yarrum does either...)

"Yes sir," Jeeves said calmly. "The young lady that is in the hallway with them is apparently his ex-wife."

"How do you know that?" Jeff responded.
(Hell, I didn't even know that! I don't think Yarrum does either...)

(WEll, it was a calculated guess on Jeeves part. He has been known to be wrong before. From time to time :P)

(I'm wondering, do I work it in, or call it Jeeves' mistake?)

(Either way it would be interesting ;) Maybe they are still married, just seperated?)

Katherine picked up her drink after Jeff left and took a long sip. "He just never seems to get a break does he? Well, at least a good break," she said quietly.

(Do you mind a chatty post? 'Cuz I was looking over some of my old posts, and I found the Miss Nationstates thread (where Sara was born), and Imitora, one of my new ANH allies, was one of the two nations to say anything nice about her.)

(heck no I don't mind a chatty post! :) Go for it)

(Too late, that was it. In fact, he just quoted Sir Mix-a-lot in response to someone's telling me I should slim her down, but I take it as a compliment. I wanted her to stand out among the contestants, but I didn't want her to be a 7 foot tall half-elf catgirl with three eyes, so... she's plump. I didn't expect her to win, but I found her scores a little disappointing.

Hm, I guess this is pretty chatty too.)

(Well, chatty isn't bad at all :) But in the Miss NS Thread people were probably looking for that 7-foot-tall elf-catgirl. Sara sounds kinda sweet, if we can just get past that twisted, have to drug ya problem ;))

"Oh, that's right..." Yarrum thought that discussion would best take place in private, preferrably soundproof room, with a punching bag in case he lost his temper.

"Um, how's about we talk about something else?"

He paused. Sara was silent.

"What have you been up to since the party, Christin?"

"Um." The sudden turn about hadn't been quite what Christin would have expected. She didn't really feel comfortable talking about personal issues, and most of what had happened after the party was very personal.

"Not much, really. James and I had some quiet evenings in Iansisle, went to see an airshow, and went on a brief tour of the Dominions."

The conversation was becoming more uncomfortable by the second. "Are you two sure you wouldn't like some time for a, um, reunion?"

---

James looked like he was going to stop Jeff for a couple seconds, but then thought better of it. He settled back onto the couch instead with his drink hand hanging limply.

"I know...I feel awful for him." James was silent for a second.

"I should probably ask, though...um.." He searched for the right words. "What exactly is he talking about? More or less all I know about eugenics are some of the more disturbing reports the S.O.W. has smuggled out of Germany..."

James looked like he was going to stop Jeff for a couple seconds, but then thought better of it. He settled back onto the couch instead with his drink hand hanging limply.

"I know...I feel awful for him." James was silent for a second.

"I should probably ask, though...um.." He searched for the right words. "What exactly is he talking about? More or less all I know about eugenics are some of the more disturbing reports the S.O.W. has smuggled out of Germany..."

"Well, what kind of reports were smuggled out? They could be the same type of tests," Katherine said sipping her drink.

"Eugenics. It was once described at 'the science of improving stock, whether human or animal'. Originally it involved... 'selective breeding' of people to try and remove defects in the human body, or mind. It's kind of mutated into changing those defects.

*insert quick explanation of recessive gene genetics here, basically that someone can be perfectly healthy and carry part of a genetic defect unknowingly. I could explain more, but I'd need a white board, markers, an easel, and a PowerPoint presentation. ;) *

"It sounds like Jeff's mot... Dr. Williams was trying to alter those traits in Jeff and others before they were born."

“Well,” said James quietly. “That’s quite a bit more...refined -” he had trouble getting the word out “- than the things I’ve heard.” He shook his head.

“I’m not even sure how we should be approaching this. I mean, with scorn for.. Dr. Williams’ choice, of course, but how will Jeff take that? How well does he get along with his...with her?”

"That might be. Those tests can be brutal on people, even with advanced medicine."

Katherine listened to James' next question and bit her lip slightly.

"She... she died with his father, until today he thought so highly of her. I guess he can't really do that now. I don't know how we approach it either. We can't be thrilled with what she did, but she did it. And it turned Jeff into the man he is today."

OOC: Sorry to hijack, but Lark, could you send me a Tgram detailing plans of the assault on the countries hitting MV? Like who the bad guys are?

OOC: No worries Imi, I'll send it, though I'm not quite sure myself now. the group I was about to attack seems to have vanished.

"Not much, really. James and I had some quiet evenings in Iansisle, went to see an airshow, and went on a brief tour of the Dominions."

"That sounds wonderful," Yarrum said pleasantly.

"Was there a crash?" Sara queried.
Yarrum's smile looked a bit forced. 'At least she's talking,' he thought.
"Crashes happen a lot at airshows, I'm told." She looked matter-of-factly in Christin's general direction.

The conversation was becoming more uncomfortable by the second. "Are you two sure you wouldn't like some time for a, um, reunion?"

Yarrum thought for a moment. Something obviously wasn't right here. He could just let Christin go, but... no. He'd take his medicine.
Sara placed her hand on his leg. He knew what she wanted him to tell Christin, but this needed to be done.

"I know I did something at the party, Miss. Just tell me what it was I did to upset you, let's get this out in the open, okay?" he tried his best to look honest and open.

"No, I refuse to believe that," said James quietly. Kate may have been surprised; it wasn't often James flatly denied something like that.

"Those...genes may control things like hair color and skin pigmentation and other irrelevant stuff, but everything he's accomplished has been a result of the actions he's taken so far.

"I don't believe people when they say something happened 'because God willed it to be so,' and I will not believe Jeff turned into who he is because 'Dr. Williams willed it to be so.'"

His face had grown dark while he was talking, and he quickly blinked. "I...I'm sorry, Kate, I didn't mean to yell or preach. It's just..." His fist clenched and unclenched. "I don't know what to do, and I hate feeling helpless...or useless."

(( OOC: Soon, very soon I shall return....))

(( OOC: Soon, very soon I shall return....))

(*counts the seconds* ;)

Oh, speaking of which, I saw T.B. posted in the World Cup thread...think he may be back?)

(TB ?)

(TB ?)

(sorry, Tanah Burung)

EDIT: or tuberculosis ;)

(hey Cele! I'm looking forward to it! :))

Katherine smiled at James, "No apology's needed. In fact, that's the spirit. Again, it comes down to the 'nature vs. nuture' argument. Is Jeff who he is because of the genes he was given, and god knows who they came from, or because of how his parents raised him. I think it's a little of both."

She finished her drink and looked at James with concern. "I just wish dad were here, most 'experiments' like Je..." she gasped and caught herself. Did she just call Jeff an 'experiment'?

"Most genetic experiments tend to have shorter life spans. I hope this is different."

(No prob. Could be, I think some folks may be returning after a break.)

(yeah, I checked with Tanah B., they finished two thesis chapters, the reason for leaving for the month and coming back now. Looks like the college crowd is coming back.)

James looked over at Kate. "Sh..shorter life spans? But...I thought the whole point of the..." He paused. "The, um, modifications was to ensure the greatest survivability...why would they have shorter lifespans?"

EDIT: sweet...I suppose that's my cue to get the Winter Gala thread started again ;)

She set the glass down on the table, a little harder than she needed to, "Because these... doctors if you dare call them so, think they have all the answers. They don't look beyond the immediate. They don't consider that there are more variables to the body than they can comprehend. They take care of one problem, another, never before seen one, pops up. Or the body can't handle the changes they put into it."

Katherine looked down, shutting her welling eyes as her statements come into sharper view, "Jeff will die and all... they will want to do is fly him back so they can cut him apart like a guinea pig and see what went wrong in time to change it for the next... person," she had to catch herself again, "they try to pump out."

(( Ok, OK I am being lazy but I wanted to jump in for a bit. I hope everyone is still at the beach house.....))

Soundlessly Nivens transport approached the beach house. The pilot cleared himself through all of the various defense protocals and gun embankments that were cleverly hidden all around the area. Celebornes gold stores were not as well gaurded as this beach house.
Niven had just finished the last pain-staking modifications on Jeff's foot (If it has not already been replaced) and was relaxing and remembering his hot nights and bright days that he had shared with a certain young lady of late.
Not since his wife had slipped the mortal coil had he felt like this. Excited to wake up to a day, and not because of money or his extended family, but because of one woman. She had bewitched him and he would forgo his fortunes for her, or share them with her. He would give here the world for her heart, and he knew that he was getting the better end of the deal.
"Sir we are landing"
"Thank you"
The silver ship slipped quietly onto the beach and the walkway unfurled like a spider unfolding its legs.
Niven stepped out and streched taking in the crisp ocean air.
"It is good to be home."
He then approached the house looking for signs of life.....and a martini.

Jeeves walked up to Niven, "A pleasure to see you sir," he said holding a tray with one martini on it. "Master Jeffrey is currently... resting, Duchess Katherine and King James are in the study. Mr. Yarrum, Duchess Chaffin and Mr. Yarrum's... female acquaintance are in the hallway. Shall I wake Master Jeffrey sir?"

(I had Niven break the eugenics news in Pt. 4A to Jeff, since I figured Nigatara would have told Niven as soon as he found out)

James moved to wrap his arms around Katherine's shoulders. "No, Kate, that's not going to happen," he said quietly, trying to convince himself as much as her. The feeling of dread in his stomach was a little larger than it had been before.

"They can't have done anything to him that Dr. Niven couldn't fix," he continued, talking mainly out of fear of silence. "And he will, that's for sure. Everything's going to be fine, I know it will be."

But was it?

(No problem. Could you give me a quick update on this ? I am being so lazy....)

"Thank you Jeeves."
Niven then goes up to the house and looks for Katherine.

(No worries. Jeff's mom was the head of a Larkinian Eugenics program, basically using gene therapy on unborn and young children to make them live longer, less susceptible to disease, etc. and she used Jeff (and a twin that no one.. well Niven might have found out about it since Nigatara sent him a complete copy of the file as soon as he got it) as two of the first subjects. Oh yeah, she had a one-night stand with Grant, who might be Jeff's biological father, but that's not clear in the files. Umm.. and Niven didn't tell Jeff about the twin, if he knows about it, up to you, or the Grant deal. Once I get the website up, it'll have more info in it.)

"Yes sir," Jeeves said with a small bow.

-----

"Yeah," Katherine said, hugging James, "I hope it will be too. It's just a little scary, especially for Jeff."

But was it?

Mwahahahahaha!! ;)

Niven knocks on the door frame to get Katherine's attention.

"Did anyone order an elderly drunk doctor ??"

I've got to run out real quick...back in an hour or two. Sorry!

EDIT: Lark, you can play James

(Uh-oh? I get to play James? :twisted: First order of business is to sign over Iansisle rule to numerhammer's kin.. :P)

Katherine gave Dr. Niven a smile and hugged him as he walked in, "I believe we did. How did your vacation with Fowler go?"

"Fowler ? " he says with a smile " Who is this Fowler" Then laughing " We had a wonderful time, and I look forward to seeing her again. Hello James. How are you enjoying Celeborne ?"
He then takes a seat and relaxes.

"You remember her don't you?" James asked, "She's the one you couldn't take your eyes off of in Larkinia."

James picked up another drink as Niven sat down, "It's just like I remember it. I have half a mind to move here to stay."

Niven leans back in his chair. " Fowler and I are getting on quite well, I may be falling for her." He takes a drink " I am glad that you are enjoying your stay here. You should look into getting a vaction home here yourself. "

"Really dad?" Katherine smiled, "That's great! So is Jeff right? Can we expect to call her mom sometime?"

James chuckled and nodded. "I think I'll look into that. It's so peaceful out here. Not like on the Shield." He sipped his own drink before continuing, "And I'm sure you can point me to a good real estate agent, despite the one you had in Iansisle."

At Katherines commint Niven neatly spits a mouth full of martini accross the room "Oh, no. I don't think I am fortunate enough to have something like that happen. I can dream however." Turning to James " I have a small island resort that you are welcome to whenever you like, and I can have several agents fist fight for the chance to talk to you with just a couple of calls."
He looks down at the case next to the chair "As a quick aside, I have Jeff's new ruynning shoe here. I can attach it whenever he decides to wake up."

Katherine giggles at Niven's reaction. "You never know, that dream might happen. I'd be more worried about whether she could handle it more than you," she winked.

"Thanks dad," James smiled, "I'd love to see those agents fight it out. Maybe in a ring for 12 rounds..."

Katherine looked down at the mention of Jeff, "He.. I can see if he's up. He took your call kinda hard."

" I am sorry that Jeff had to find out about all of this, and I am even sorrier that it happened to him at all. I have my best scientists working on this, I have 2 seperate labs going over the information 24 hours a day, with a weekly meeting to compare results. I am hoping that by keeping them seperated that they will come up with different solutions and not limit themselves. That was how we broke the nueroweb problem." He takes Katherines hands " Nothing will happen to Jeff. We will arrainge this so that he reaps the benifits of this horrible experiment, and not the short commings. His mother will give him this last gift, even if she does not know about it. There are a few more things about this that are not life threatening but I would like to talk to you about them before I talk to Jeff."

"You see Kate," James said with a small smile, "I told you there's nothing that he can't fix."

Katherine smiled at Niven as he held her hands. She looked worried as he ended his statement, "OK, what other things are there?" She and James exchanged worried glances.

(Uh-oh? I get to play James? :twisted: First order of business is to sign over Iansisle rule to numerhammer's kin.. :P)

(Oh, you dirty rotten! *shakes fist* ;))

((I hope this is not a spoiler...well not to much))

" Well dear, when we were running through the information that we recieved I ran across something that made me a bit curious. You see some of the genetics may be a bit..hmmm....off. To put it bluntly, the man who Jeff's mom claimed to be his father may not be."


((( HAHA! Niven really is Jeffs father. You see his mother was actually involved in a threesome that night and Niven was the third !!! LOL))

"'The genetics were off'?" repeated James, letting the words bounce about in his head. "So, you mean that Jeff's dad may not have been...his dad?"

"But, then, who was?"

((I hope this is not a spoiler...well not to much))

" Well dear, when we were running through the information that we recieved I ran across something that made me a bit curious. You see some of the genetics may be a bit..hmmm....off. To put it bluntly, the man who Jeff's mom claimed to be his father may not be."


((( HAHA! Niven really is Jeffs father. You see his mother was actually involved in a threesome that night and Niven was the third !!! LOL))
(ROFL! :lol: Well, they were awfully drunk... ;) )

Katherine blinked as she tried to process that, "What? He's not? Then who is?"

"'The genetics were off'?" repeated James, letting the words bounce about in his head. "So, you mean that Jeff's dad may not have been...his dad?"

"But, then, who was?"

(As James grabs that watch and chucks it into the ocean now :P)

"Well, you see a while back Larkinian security sent me the genetic profiles of all of the military and security forces (I bet you thought that I forgot that :) ) and I ran a comparative scan on genetic matter. I am not sure how to say this, but Grant may be Jeff's father." He finished his drink and called for another. " Nothing is conclusive at this point, so I am not sure if I should tell Jeff or not. I feel like I have been the bearer of enough bad news."

(As James grabs that watch and chucks it into the ocean now :P)

(lol...I think he's a bit too shocked to do anything like that now.

At least there should be plenty of Grant's um...DNA scattered about Niven's house that they can test with :P

By the way, I totally agree with Cele's advice in 4A!)

(Actually there's no evidence in the Lab now. The acid wash destroyed all organic tissue in the room ;) And thanks guys, I really appreciate it!)

"Well, you see a while back Larkinian security sent me the genetic profiles of all of the military and security forces (I bet you thought that I forgot that :) ) and I ran a comparative scan on genetic matter. I am not sure how to say this, but Grant may be Jeff's father." He finished his drink and called for another. " Nothing is conclusive at this point, so I am not sure if I should tell Jeff or not. I feel like I have been the bearer of enough bad news."

Katherine's glass shattered as it hit the floor. "W...what?" she could barely get out. "That bastard? Jeff's father?"

Jeeves handed Niven another martini before grabbing a handbroom to sweep up the glass shards.

(Don't need fresh samples. I have the list *insert evil laugh* I can do a computerized comperason based on past information. But not be totally acurate. I also didn't want to tell them that the Larkinian government may have already known that his mom had a "Dalliance" )

"Grant?" whispered James, as if he were afraid of the very name. "Not...the insane one?" He almost dropped his drink in shock. "But..but, that's not possible!"

James blew out his cheeks as he sat back. "I can see why you're not too eager to tell Jeff. In fact, I think this may be the sort of thing to ..." He considered. "To save for another time."

(yeah, Grant's DNA was on file, and Jeff's has to be in... like... 5 files now ;) )

"Not...the insane one?"

("well, ya know, it'd make sense. Shows that insanity runs in his family..." :P)

" Here is my problem, I don't want to hide anything from Jeff. He has a right to know. But I don't know how he would take it, and it is not certain." Shaking his head " I am just not sure what to do. "

("well, ya know, it'd make sense. Shows that insanity runs in his family..." :P)

(:lol: you're too mean to that poor boy ;))

Katherine nods, "I understand your concern," she said, wondering how many of Grant's genes had been passed to the children, "Maybe James is right, he'd be better not knowing that." She turns to look at Jeeves.

"Don't worry madam," Jeeves said in his ever unflappable manner as he handed her a replacement drink, "nothing said in this room today shall pass from my lips."

"Certainly, he has a right to know," said James, "I mean he has to know...but we don't really know anything yet, do we? Just a suspicion that may not even be true?"

He set his drink down on an end table, half expecting another shoe to fall. "I think the best thing to do would be wait until we know more. I mean, the poor guy already has enough on his mind for an entire lifetime."

("well, ya know, it'd make sense. Shows that insanity runs in his family..." :P)

(:lol: you're too mean to that poor boy ;))

(You ain't seen nothin' yet, just wait for the upcoming dream...)

(You ain't seen nothin' yet, just wait for the upcoming dream...)

(I don't think I dare!)

"I think that I will leave it at this, if he asks me I will tell him. If I get conclusive evidence, then I will tell him. Other wise there is to much of a margine for error to risk his sanity on something that may not be true. If it is true, however, I think we may have just solved the age old issue of nurture vs. nature. Jeff is a good man, no mater who's genetic material makes up his bones and tissue."

((Has Niven told Jeff about the twin ? Am I spoiling the story ?)

(no he hasn't yet. According to the file, Jeff's twin makes Grant look like Ghandi. we're talking evil, sadistic.. you name it)

"Nurture versus nature?" asked James, a slight grin even managing to crack his face. "Yes, I suppose we would have solved that indeed."

"I wonder what he would have come out like had he been raised by that lunitic?" pondered James in a-not-at-all-foreshadowing manner, though he refused to refer to Grant by name.

---Post deleted by NationStates Moderators---

(( Well well..the plot thickens..cue music))

"There is something else....Jeeves, could you bring me two shots of vodka and a Madori sour ? There is another Jeff. He has a twin." Niven pulls out the file....

((Stop me now if you don't want me to tell them to much))

"Nurture versus nature?" asked James, a slight grin even managing to crack his face. "Yes, I suppose we would have solved that indeed."

"I wonder what he would have come out like had he been raised by that lunitic?" pondered James in a-not-at-all-foreshadowing manner, though he refused to refer to Grant by name.
(noooo... not at all foreshadowing.. ;) )

(( Well well..the plot thickens..cue music))

"There is something else....Jeeves, could you bring me two shots of vodka and a Madori sour ? There is another Jeff. He has a twin." Niven pulls out the file....

((Stop me now if you don't want me to tell them to much))
(turns up suspenseful music... who me stop you? No way! just don't tell them about the goat-head-shaped birthmark on his chest ;) )

"There is something else....Jeeves, could you bring me two shots of vodka and a Madori sour ? There is another Jeff. He has a twin." Niven pulls out the file....

"An...another Jeff?" asked James, feeling not for the first time like an echo. He considered picking up his drink, but decided the beach house's carpet could probably do with a break. "You mean as part of that hideous ex...te...thing they did to him?"

Niven lays the files out on the table "You should read this...I got half way through it and almost passed out. If I find Jeff's mom after I pass away, I am going to give her such a bitch-slap" Nivens face begins to get red but he keeps his tone low. " What she did was beyond unthinkable. And the fact that I returned her corrispondance makes me want to be sick."

(( Hehehe, do with that what you will. But I thought that since she seemed to have admired Niven that they might have had some professional contact.))

(ooooooh! I like it! I'm not sure what evilness Antony could have come up with, but I'm sure that it'd start early in life. And to be fair, Jeff's mom didn't know about Antony, the military took him, and the doctor had him taken away just after delivery with 'medical concerns' and later told Jeff's mom and dad that he had died.)

James looked hesitantly at the file, then picked it up. His hand only shook slightly as he opened to the first page.

(( Glad you liked it. Perhaps we can come up with some background as to Nivens sudden appearance at Jeff's knighting. He did just show up out of no where with a gift or two......And Niven is just pissed that Jeff's mom experimented on her own children or any children for that matter))

(oh man I'm loving this, sorry I'm not posting more from Katherine, it's safe to say that she's in shock. Hopefully that dream will be done soon. And the first page... well it's pretty tame, just usual, height, weight, a picture of Jeff...)

(no problem, dude...I understand

By the way, this is really off topic, but would you mind if I stole the rank Lance General from you? I'm typing out all the ranks for the Iansislean military, and I really liked that one (even if Marcus Johnson is a scumbag :)))

James couldn't stop staring at the picture. With a shaking hand, he flipped it over to the next page.

(sure you can dude! Hell I thought I'd stolen it from you ;) And page two gets more interesting, starting with an incident with Antony when he was 8, involving a former classmate and a baseball bat at recess...)

(when you say 'former' classmate, how former are we talking about? :shock: )

James read on and on his face turning white. At last he cast the file back on the coffee table. "That's not Jeff," he said, his voice shaking while he stated the obvious.

Jeff slowly rolled out of the bed and started to walk through the rooms of the beach house. The place was quiet, eerily quiet... too damn quiet. The only sounds he could hear were the tap of the metallic peg on the floor, and the pumping of blood in his ears.

"Jeffrey, my poor boy," a woman said behind him.

He spun as quickly as he saw a woman with pale skin and raven hair standing in front of him.

"M... Mom?"

She reached out and held him close. "There, there baby... it's all right. It'll be all right now."

"Mom, wha... why? What am I? What did you do to me?"

"Just what I thought I had to do," she said quietly. "Now you'll grow up to be big and strong. You're the next, a new step in man's evolution."

"I don't want to be." he said quietly, "I just want to be me."

"You don't have to worry," she said as Jeff stepped back, and screamed.

He was staring at where her eyes had once been, now replaced by... bloody pools, jagged flesh where someone's fingers had reached in and torn them out.

He jumped back, hitting a wall that spun him around...

.... He was in a white room, bright white, painfully bright. He squinted and looked at the man standing at the other end of the room.

"She right son," Niven's familiar voice sounded out as he walked forward, holding a metallic leg. "You're not really human anymore. More like a... mechanical half-breed," he said tossing the leg to Jeff, who caught it despite the stun he felt at the words.

"No, I'm not. I'm who I am."

"Kill him!" a voice said from behind a split second before Jeff felt the (familiar?? ;) ) slam of a pipe against the back of his head....

.... Jeff looked up. He was in an grimy, dark alley in Ianapalis one night, surrounded by a group of men.

"Kill him! Before it's too late!" the voice said. Jeff couldn't place it as another couple of shots rained on him. His eyes steeled over, he exploded up, the blades Niven had installed in his arms extending as he aimed his first shot at one man's throat.

The rest was a blur, he slowed long enough to see the blood spatters on the walls. He heard the man with the bat behind him again. He turned and drove both arms into his chest before he swung. He looked into the man's eyes with a gutteral growl...

... into James' eyes...

"Jeff?" James choked, spitting up blood as he spoke.

"Oh god! James!" Jeff said holding him and lowering him down to a... a bed? Jeff looked around they were in Dun Adien.

"Jeff... you... why?" James asked as his head fell to the side.

Jeff sprung back, "No! James, I'd.. I'd never," he cried.

"Yes you would."

Jeff looked up. He was in a blue room, with mirrors all around. Littering the floor were bodies, Duchess Elizabeth's husband, a group of elves... the ones executed in Imitora, the execution he failed to stop, James, Katherine and the children, bodies he couldn't recognize.

"Yes you would," the voice repeated.

Jeff looked around. One of the mirrored reflections was different, it stood there unmoving, crossed arms bulging, a sardonic, sarcastic smirk on his face.

"Look at the pain and the death you've caused. Look at the shattered lives you've been responsible for," the reflection said. "Hell, I didn't know you had it in you boy."

"No.." Jeff whispered, falling to his knees, body shaking.

"You've always been such a boy scout," the reflection continued. "But you're not.

"You're what you are indeed, a cold-blooded killer," the voice said in his right ear.

"Nothing more than a metallic monster, one to be put down like a mad dog," the voice said from his left ear.

"I'm sorry... I didn't know... I'm not..."

The reflection looked at him in disgust. "And now, Jeffrey, it's time to go where you belong."

Jeff snarled and sprang up, driving his bladed fist at the reflections chest.

"Neve.." he started before screaming in pain.

The blades shattered the glass, and at the same moment burst out of his own ribcage....

-----

"No!! No I'm not!!" Jeff tried to sit up in the bed, but the blankets tangled him up. The blades sprang out and he clawed his way out, rolling and landing on the floor, the tattered sheets still falling to the ground.

(when you say 'former' classmate, how former are we talking about? :shock: )

James read on and on his face turning white. At last he cast the file back on the coffee table. "That's not Jeff," he said, his voice shaking while he stated the obvious.

(very former... like he didn't see 9 :cry: )

(man...you weren't kidding about that dream! Would we hear the shouts on the ground floor?)

(man...you weren't kidding about that dream! Would we hear the shouts on the ground floor?)

(Maybe, I dunno. it's up to you guys, I dunno if the bedrooms would have been soundproofed for... certain reasons. ;) If nothing else Niven would feel the dream I think)

(Well, I think Celeborne's hit the hay...which sounds like a pretty good idea to me as well. Stupid having to wake up for classes n' stuff :()

(Yeah, I'll head off to walk the dog then go to bed, I'll catch you tomorrow then!)

(See yall tomorrow, sorry I dropped off for a bit, I will be back on th morrow :) )

(Cool, see ya then!)

-snip-...a group of elves... the ones executed in Imitora, the execution he failed to stop...-snip-

OOC: Dr. Rob's diagnosis-. Post Traumatic Stress syndrome caused by far to little time in Imitora...

( :lol: No kidding, he may need to take a vacation out there again to 'balance out')

*Thud*

Katherine looked up, "What was that?" she turned to James, "did either of you hear something?"

(Funny, I coulda sworn post traumatic stress was induced by too much time in Imitora :P)

It took James a couple seconds to snap back into the room. "What? Hear what?" He glanced about the room.

(Hmmmm... depends on if you're the predator or the prey ;) )

"The thump, from upstairs," Katherine said looking up. "Sounds like Jeff might be up."

(the group downstairs would have probably heard Jeff's epic struggle with the bed sheets ;) )

bah

(Funny, I coulda sworn post traumatic stress was induced by too much time in Imitora :P)

OOC: No, see, he spends far to much time around sensitive liberal pansies. Send him to the ICMC basic, and he'll be imune to death and its effects on the human psyche, just like every other Imitoran...Speaking of which, I might be doing a non-RP story about my new RP characters, considering all the others are now as dead as they are gonna get. However, if Jeff does want to make an appearance at the infamous (well, ICMC wise at least) Camp Forster, fell free to have him drop by...then there's Ft. Driver, where the ICMC holds its OCS...

(this darn server!)

"The thump, from upstairs," Katherine said looking up. "Sounds like Jeff might be up."

(the group downstairs would have probably heard Jeff's epic struggle with the bed sheets ;) )

(those darn sheets!)

"Yeah, I think I did hear something," said James quietly, in case there was another noise. "He'd probably like to see you, dad," he continued, looking at Niven. "Just...we ought to give certain...revelations a couple of days before being announced." James was glaring directly at the file itself, as if the harmless sheets of paper were somehow responsible for what was written on them.

"Yeah," Katherine agreed, "I think he'd love to see you dad, and not telling him about... these problems, might be in his best interest. God knows if he can handle it."

She stood up, "Let's see how he's doing."

-----

Jeff was crouched on the floor. It took him a moment, but he thought he was awake... yeah he was pretty sure he was awake now.

He looked at the slashed sheets and cleared his throat.

"Shit, Katherine's gonna be pissed..." he muttered to himself while he looked in the mirror.

He looked like hammered crap, like he'd just seen a ghost. He straightened himself up and ran his hand through is regrowing hair. After a minute, he looked semi-presentable.

He started to hobble toward the door.

(Hey, remember me?)

Yarrum sat up straight.
"Did anyone else just hear something?"

(Yep! Haven't forgotten ya, I thought you would want to finish your RP with Iansisle before jumping back in and didn't want to commit you to anything.)

Katherine nodded as James, Niven and her walked out of the study, "I thought I'd heard something! Some kind of thump or a shout or something?"

(Hey, remember me?)

Yarrum sat up straight.
"Did anyone else just hear something?"

(Did I miss a post of yours...sorry; I must have skimmed over it.)

Christin had been standing in uncomfortable silence for a couple minutes now, wondering if she should leave or say something. In truth, she had heard a small 'thud' from upstairs, but just assumed it was a ..natural noise. After all, she didn't know what was happening with Jeff.

"Um, I think I might have. It was probably just something falling off a shelf," ventured Christin. She took another step towards the exit.

(oh yeah, I've got the very bare bones of the website up, I need to flush out the main page (like put more text there ;) ) But in case you want to take a look, http://www.geocities.com/larkinia/ and the only links working are to Jeff's and Takeo's pages )

Damn forums ;)

Katherine nodded as James, Niven and her walked out of the study, "I thought I'd heard something! Some kind of thump or a shout or something?"

(Is Cele coming back tonight? Just wondering, because I think we may wish to leave this half of the RP in stasis if he is.)

(I think he said he'd be back, we can do that.)

(oh yeah, I've got the very bare bones of the website up, I need to flush out the main page (like put more text there ;) ) But in case you want to take a look, http://www.geocities.com/larkinia/ and the only links working are to Jeff's and Takeo's pages )

(Sweet! (of course the first link I clicked on was Jeff's...it was just too exciting to see the word 'Iansisle' on someone's website) ;)

Seriously, though, it looks great so far! [/bookmark])

(Thanks man! Little by little I'm getting it together. I'm trying to see how many times I can avoid using the term 'jackass' in Javin's page ;) )

(Did I miss a post of yours...sorry; I must have skimmed over it.)
(I think I'll post it again, I rather liked it. Feel free to ignore it.)

"Not much, really. James and I had some quiet evenings in Iansisle, went to see an airshow, and went on a brief tour of the Dominions."

"That sounds wonderful," Yarrum said pleasantly.

"Was there a crash?" Sara queried.
Yarrum's smile looked a bit forced. 'At least she's talking,' he thought.
"Crashes happen a lot at airshows, I'm told." She looked matter-of-factly in Christin's general direction.


The conversation was becoming more uncomfortable by the second. "Are you two sure you wouldn't like some time for a, um, reunion?"


Yarrum thought for a moment. Something obviously wasn't right here. He could just let Christin go, but... no. He'd take his medicine.
Sara placed her hand on his leg. He knew what she wanted him to tell Christin, but this needed to be done.

"I know I did something at the party, Miss. Just tell me what it was I did to upset you, let's get this out in the open, okay?" he tried his best to look honest and open.

With the thump echoing through his highly paranoid mind, the good doctor alowed his arm gun to come on line, the distinctive CLICK bouncing off the walls of the room. He jumped with a start and then blushed a bit..." Sorry, I guess I am just a little jumpy in my old age. Perhaps we should give him a moment to dress and come down. Katherine would you be a dear and tell him that I am here and I have a present for him ? " Niven then picked up the files and put them back in the locking compartment of his case. " We can look these over again later, James. And perhaps come up with an idea to stop any further experiments by this little group."

Katherine stands and kisses Niven's cheek. "With Jeff around, we always seem to have a reason to be jumpy," she said with a mixture of sadness and bitterness.

She walked upstairs and located the bedroom Jeff had crashed in. She knocked and slipped into the room as Jeff was hobbling to the door.

"You ok?" she asked with a kiss. "We heard something downsta..."

She looked at the remains of the sheets that Jeff had replaced.

"What in the hell?"

"Just a... bad dream. A really bad dream," he said kissing her. A terrifying one.

"That does it," she said in mock sternness, "you're relegated to the couch until we get this figured out," she winked as they walked back to the study.

(and in a twist of the NS timeline... Before Katherine leaves and after Yarrum's discussion with Christin. ;) )

"Dad, I don't believe you've met Mr. Yarrum," Katherine said as she introduced the two men. "Mr. Yarrum, this is Dr. Devon Niven, former First Speaker of Celeborne."

Niven extends his hand "Mr. Yarrum, I have heard alot about you and your nation. It is my pleasure to meet you."

((Lets do the time warp aaagggaaaiiinnnn!!!!)

"Dad's here," Katherine said with a smile, "Says he has a replacement for your leg."

Jeff remembered Niven throwing the leg at him in the dream, "You're not really human anymore. More like a... mechanical half-breed.."

"Well, at least I'll be able to walk like a regular person again," he nodded to her with a small smile.

Jeff and Katherine made their way down the staircase and walked towards the study. Jeeves was standing at the door and handed a martini to Jeff before opening the door.

(Wait, I'm confused... oh, I'll just go with it (too bad I have to sign off after this! Where's Ian?)

Niven extends his hand "Mr. Yarrum, I have heard alot about you and your nation. It is my pleasure to meet you."

"Oh, the pleasure is all mine," Yarrum takes his hand. "You've raised a very upstanding son, if I am not being too bold. But if I may ask, what would a minor nation like ours and an ex-President of said nation like myself have to interest a busy man like you?"

(G'Night Yar!)

Jeff smiled at Niven as he hobbled into the study, "Yo ho ho and a bottle.. or something," he winked as he hugged Niven, "What's new dad?"