NationStates Jolt Archive

(OOC: Yeah, I've got it all planned out :twisted: y'all should love it. Ya know, I can have Jeff's people call your people, he's only worth about half-a-trillion dollars, if I remember Celeborne's math correctly ;) )

OOC: Well ignore me at your desire if my plane and crew are unwanted...

IC (tenative) It looked like a duck out of water. Actually that is what is was, a Duck. A medium sized cargo flying boat with two large engines stuck in long booms on the sides of a squat central section. The green paint was a bit dinged and splattered with mud. In garish yellow block letters the phrase Baily Transport, Black Isle was painted over a light coat of paint, the blue cross could be made out under some poorly applied paint on the fusulage and the tails.

There were two crew members standing trying to explain to the natives something about the large plant that was sitting by the tail of plane. It appeared that plant was not what had been ordered, and was a bit large to fit in the remaining room of the cargo hold.

OOC: No, that's cool. I meant I've got how he and Fred will walk into the ceremony kinda worked out (just enough shock and self-deprecation to amuse), I still had little clue how to get him there. ;)

IC: Jeff walked up to the crew of the Baily Transport and looked it up and down, "So you guys have a charter right now? Or are you available?"

Roger Baily turned and looked at the two men and snorted. "Well it seems I've got a bit of a problem with the current delivery...these twits seem to think that there isn't a diffrence between a Cyprus Cathesia and a Cyprus Morbirus, however the people who chartered the flight do so I'm either stuck until the biologist returns to explain the neuances of plant biology to people who have lived with that biology for who nows how long or I could just deliver this load and dump the mess in the twits lap...I'm perfering the latter choice myself"

He looks at the man for a moment and narrows his eyes a bit.
"Of course your not an Ian, or a Clarc so what do care?"

"Well, I am... kinda, well.. adopted. Look, if you're willing to dump the cargo, I'll pay you triple whatever he was going to pay. And if you can keep a secret, and land us in Troobodia Bay right next to Dun Adien, I'll double that. You interested?"

"Six times a full going rate? Hell...yeah...wait...you realize that that's a full bleeding 180,000 Ian Generals? You two don't look like the damn Midus brothers so where's the cash? Or are you adopted enough to actually carry something more evolved than metalic money?"

He crossed his arms and glared, obviously he was familiar with the fact that Iansisle generals only came in coins.

Lark--you can play Fred for now. I'm watching, but can't really post IC right now :?

"You got a phone here?" Jeff asked. "And 180,000 generals? Get me there quickly and I'll give you an even two hundred thou Larkinian NuYen (with the exchange rates, probably around 350,000 to 400,000 generals)."

He kneels down and pulls something out of his cyberleg. "Will you take a company payment?" He asks handing the man the business card with a holographic image in the corner.


Ambassador Duke Sir Jeffrey Williams, M.C.C.P.

Larkinian Ambassador to Iansisle
Duke of Iansislian Duchy of Williams

Lark--you can play Fred for now. I'm watching, but can't really post IC right now :?

OOC: You got it I-man! I'll just get us there and wait for you to set the tone. Hope you get back soon!

The pilot looked at the card and sniffed, "So your Grace what does this tell me, that you spent your last dime on fancy cards. Hell the only thing this confirms is that you've got acess to some tech..."

He looks at both for a moment and then recalls "Wait, aren't you the big wig who bit the dust in one of those Ian crates a while back? How do I know your not some damn twit's who trying to steal his identiy? Hell this thing doesn't even have a simple DNA marker strip...."
He looked at Jeff again,

"Alright I'll let you use my sat/vid phone, but if you make some damn hick phone call I'm going to use your blood to oil my rotors..."

He waved an arm to the cockpit, which was a mess with bottles of various flavors laying about the place, but a fairly standard satalite video phone was mounted above the controls.

Fred starts, "Now see here! This is the same Duke Williams that was in our plane before it..." Jeff calmed Fred down before turning to the man again.

Jeff nods, "This'll be just a sec," he said punching in a number. The screen flashed with the sign of the Larkinian Foreign Service. A eurasian man answered the line. "Presidential Palace, Specian Envoy Javin Kata... Ambassador??"

"Hey Javin," Jeff said, "Look, I need a favor for you, I need you to download my file to to this number."

"I can't do that Ambassador, your files classified!"

"Just download what you can send, I need to convince this gentleman I am who I am."

"But your diplomatic ID..."

"I've been in a plane wreck, shot, burned by some cursed artifact and my wallet's been stolen. Jesus, Javin, send the file."

Javin punched a code into his computer. "Ok, I'm sending it now. Anything else, you're almightyness?"

"Yeah, keep this on the Q-T, and cut a check for 200 grand in NuYen, waiting at the Embassy"

Baily was kicking cans and bottles out the door. Trying to give privacy, but also not at the same time. When the word 'downloading' was heard Baily grumbled and turned towards the cargo bay. A few moments later he was sitting in the pilot's seat with a laptop on his lap and a cable connected to the phone unit get the files.

"Damn idotic diplomats..." he wispered under his breath.

The files entered the computer and verified that Jeff was Jeff. (And then crashed the computer :P j/k)

The pilot just looked down at the computer for a moment and snarled. "Listen your Grace, I have half a mind to gut you right now for that...I had the complete Sophie Sweet collection on there you wog! I expect you to pay for this..."

He slams the computer down on the deck...
"now where the f*** is my money?"

OOC: LOL, heh I'd never do that to ya ;)

IC: "You're money's at the embassy waiting for you," Jeff said calmly. "And if you get me there as soon as possible, there'll be a bonus there." Jeff stood up and looked in the man's hard eyes with a dark glimmer of his own, "and if you want to know one thing about me, you know I'm a man of my word. You're money will be there waiting for you."

"Hmph...a man of his word damn well deleting my poor Sofie..." He stares back as though trying to judge if the man before him is actually being truthful, or just full of hot air.

"I'm not letting you out of my sight until I've got that check in my hands, understand?"

He yells out the door, "Blake...get the ramp up, were going to be taking a trip to Iansisle!"

"Now your Grace, and company...your accomidations for this trip."
He shows them into the cargo hold which has a few seats mounted near the front. The compartment is full of leafy green plants, but they don't appear to be much weight, just bulky.

Roger points at the seats and says..."Buckle Up" and then returns to the cockpit.

Jeff nods to the man, "You want a deposit until we get onto the ground at Dun Adien?" Jeff asks looking in his pockets until he glanced at his hand.

But that's my and Kattie's.. well, if it'll get me back to her...

He slipped the platinum and diamond wedding band off of his finger and handed it to him, "Until we get back on the ground. Can't see the wife without it or she'll kill me."

Jeff and Fred buckled into the seats, and before take off Jeff used the cell phone implants to make a quick call.

Jeeves, be at Dun Adien Castle with a check for 225 thou waiting in (X) hours.

No you can't ask why...

No, you can't tell anyone I'm alive.

Thanks you. Carry on Jeeves. *click*

Baily looked at the ring, and then tossed it into a lockable overhead compartment.

The Duck wasn't much too look at, but Alconians were noted for building things that could take punishment and keep on flying. Her engines didn't seem to be neglected, although seat padding had been an option that had not been spluged on. She roared off the ground and turned towards her destintion.

Thirty minutes later Blake poked his head through the door, "Ah the cap' want's a word with you...something about flying to the equivilant of Herzog Island?"

Jeff slipped out of the seat and walked up to the front with Blake. He peeked his head in the cockpit. "You wanted to see me?"

"Yeah, I want to get my facts strait..."
He points at a worn copy of the Encyclopidia Dictionary...
"Dun Adien, Home of the Royal Family of Iansisle...Now I don't know about your home nation, but the Royal Perserve is terra non-cognita for anything that isn't a naval aircraft back home. Now, unless I'm completely mistaken, I'm going to have to do some combat flying here to actually get us near there....And if I'm right, I wan't your verbal promise to pay for repairs due to projectiles or flak on my poor bird here"

"Let me place one quick call," Jeff said. "I think I can get us immunity to land there."

Jeff quickly dialed the embassy offices on his cell implants.

(I-man, check your TG's)

The plane suddenly vears off course for a moment as the cell phone is now affecting the navigation equipment, most specifically causing several odd behaviors.

(which is why you don't use a cell phone while your in the air damn it!)

(I thought they were OK once you got in the air. Damn, American airlines must be pissed with my frequent flying friends!)

Edit: I'm heading home from the office, I'll be back on in a little bit

((OOC: The attendents are asleep then because,

Operators of commercial airplanes have reported numerous cases of portable electronic devices affecting airplane systems during flight..... have been suspected of causing such anomalous events as autopilot disconnects, erratic flight deck indications, airplanes turning off course, and uncommanded turns......The U.S. Federal Communications Commission already prohibits the use of cell phones during flight....

(Holy crap! I'll pass that on to them the next time I talk to them! Ok, now I really am heading home.)

((Hit or miss, it is the operators who enforce the rules and don't if there is not a problem apparently...but don't be surprised if you have your cell phone "purchased" under emminant domain))

(Gotcha, well I'll tell them. I'm not important enough to travel except every few years, but I'll keep that in mind too!)

Jeff turned to them, "I think they'll send an escort, no worries about combat. Just don't tell them who I am, this is a... surprise."

OOC: Well, I'm going to fast forward this a bit...(I've got a minor complication for you but I'll T-gram it)

IC: The plane landed at a small refuling port for five minutes about an hour and fourty five minutes after the flight.

The Duck returned to the air 15 minutes later and in a few hours the shoreline of the Sheild rose up to the East. The plane flew at 10,000 feet and 427 knots.

((edit: Sleep must get sleep...))

OOC: Ooooooh! Sneaky! I like it!

(Meanwhile, in another part of the NS World...)

Dun Adien Castle, Iansisle

Katherine looked out from the window of her room, watching the sun rise. She hadn't been able to sleep much since James called her with the news about the plane. And tonight was the worst of all. Jeff's funeral was that evening.

She'd kept trying to tell herself that he wasn't dead, they hadn't found enough in the wreckage for four bodies. But as the days passed on, she'd started acepting reality, that Jeff was gone forever. At least she wasn't alone, James had insisted she, Niven and the children stay in Dun Adien with him until after the funeral, although for her benefit or his, she wasn't too sure of. Then she figured she should be on her way home.

Home. It wasn't a home anymore, not without Jeff. The place still sounded like a home when Niven would come to stay with them and the children would rush around trying to impress their grandfather. But she was already planning to sell it once the funeral was over and the body parts were interred. Maybe she'd move into the city with the children. There was still the apartment in Larkinia, but she wasn't sure she'd want to go back there either.

A small knock at the door. It opened and a small figure padded into the room with pajamas and slippers.

"Mommy?" little Julie said as she walked over and closed the door. "You OK? I saw the light on."

"Yeah, baby," Katherine said, picking her up. "I'm OK."

"It was great of Unkle James to let us visit him!" Julie said.

Katherine stroked her hair, Julie was all of six now and she didn't understand what was going on. She didn't really know why they were there.

"You know, daddy's gonna be home soon," Julie said, "I hope he knows we're staying here!"

Katherine bit her lower lip and held Julie tighter, rocking her back and forth in an attempt to keep from crying again. "Yeah, I'm sure he'll know where to find us."

Jeff used the cell phone implants to make a quick call.
OOC: If he had these, why didn't he call home immediately after the plane crash, or when he still thought Nigel was friendly?

"Hmph...a man of his word damn well deleting my poor Sofie..."
OOC: Downloading a new file wouldn't delete everything already on the computer...

Jeff used the cell phone implants to make a quick call.
OOC: If he had these, why didn't he call home immediately after the plane crash, or when he still thought Nigel was friendly?

(egads the forum ate my first post!)

OOC: I knew you were gonna ask that! (really I did!) and my reasoning is that he can't just use it anywhere, especially in the middle of that God-Forsake... er... rustic countryside ;) and Cele and I got them from Cyberpunk 2020, and I've always maintained you have to be someplace you can get a signal, just like a regular cell phone.

Plus the roaming charges in Gallaga would be murder! :P

Jeff used the cell phone implants to make a quick call.
OOC: If he had these, why didn't he call home immediately after the plane crash, or when he still thought Nigel was friendly?

OOC: I knew you were gonna ask that! (really I did!) and my reasoning is that he can't just use it anywhere, especially in the middle of that God-Forsake... er... rustic countryside ;) and Cele and I got them from Cyberpunk 2020, and I've always maintained you have to be someplace you can get a signal, just like a regular cell phone.

Plus the roaming charges in Gallaga would be murder! :P
OOC: Point, but would an airplane in the middle of nowhere really have a better signal than a village in the middle of nowhere or a jungle in the middle of nowhere? Sheesh, nowhere has lots of middles...

OOC: Point, but would an airplane in the middle of nowhere really have a better signal than a village in the middle of nowhere or a jungle in the middle of nowhere? Sheesh, nowhere has lots of middles...

OOC: I knew I had an answer for that too... let me lubricate the mind and find it again.. be right back

*goes to kitchen and fixes martini, one phrase I shouldn't hear when I'm shopping for groceries is "Sale on all our alcohol!" ;) *

OK, I was thinking that the signal would still be dead (the reason he didn't dial up when he got back into the town, until a Celebornian or Larkinian satellite came into range he could bounce it off of. (yeah, that's it... :P ) and the reason he couldn't call from the village for the times the satellites passed over was that he still didn't have a line of 'sight' with the satellite, it's like he drove in a big tunnel and his cell signal dropped. (??)

(You see I-man, I knew the valley idea as a good one ;) )

Jeff had looked out of the window at the ocean as the plane flew through the air.

Fred looked over at him, "What are ya thinking about, your Grace? You haven't slept for a while."

"Please Fred, it's just Jeff. I'm not gonna hold you to any formalities."

"Ok, Jeff," Fred said nervously. "What's on your mind."

"My family," Jeff replied and looked at Fred with tired eyes. "I've got a great wife, three wonderful children, a man who's become my brother..."

"You mean King James right?"

"Yeah," Jeff nodded.

"How is he?"

"He's really a wonderful person. Once you get past the formalities, you can see why he's King. I think he's got a lot of great ideas, the problem is just getting them past the guys in Parliament."

Fred nodded as Jeff looked back out the window.

"You know Fred, I never did thank you properly for saving us when the plane crashed. I apologize for that.."

_____


Katherine had just put Julie back in bed, they all had a long day ahead and she wanted them to get some rest. Although maybe it would be better for them if they slept through the funeral.

She's just sat down when her alarm clock went off. She'd set the satellite station to the ANH music settings ( :P ) and the song wrenched her again, it was something... She figured that there was something behind it. It was a song they'd both heard many times before, and with Jeff nothing ever just happened. The piano moving into some hard guitars subconsciously steeled her a little more for the day.


how can you see into my eyes like open doors
leading you down into my core
where i've become so numb
without a soul
my spirit sleeping somewhere cold
until you find it there and lead it back home

(wake me up)
wake me up inside
(I can't wake up)
wake me up inside
(save me)
call my name and save me from the dark
(wake me up)
bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
before i come undone
(save me)
save me from the nothing i've become

now that i know what i'm without
you can't just leave me
breathe into me and make me real
bring me to life

(wake me up)
wake me up inside
(I can't wake up)
wake me up inside
(save me)
call my name and save me from the dark
(wake me up)
bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
before i come undone
(save me)
save me from the nothing i've become

frozen inside without your touch
without your love darling
only you are the life among the dead

all this time i can't believe i couldn't see
kept in the dark but you were there in front of me
i've been sleeping a thousand years it seems
got to open my eyes to everything
without a thought without a voice without a soul
don't let me die here
there must be something more
bring me to life

"Saving us?" Fred blushed. "I, ah, don't think I really did all that much, Your...um, Jeff." His voice was awkward as he used the christian name of the man who ranked among the Empire's highest social elites. "Just held on with both hands."

----

James, despite the chiding of what seemed the entire Dun Adien staff, hadn't slept a wink. He had opened a book in his lap and pretended to read, but his eyes never focused.

Christin had tried to sit up with him, her hands around him. As the clock counted down hour after hour, her eyes drooped shut, and she was soon snoozing against his shoulder.

Every hour or so, Quinton, Weathers, Princeton, or whoever else happened to be awake would stop in to see how he was doing and beg him to go to sleep. But James just sat there in the golden glow of the Honeycomb, his arm around his wife and his eyes open but unseeing.

"Saving us?" Fred blushed. "I, ah, don't think I really did all that much, Your...um, Jeff." His voice was awkward as he used the christian name of the man who ranked among the Empire's highest social elites. "Just held on with both hands."

----

James, despite the chiding of what seemed the entire Dun Adien staff, hadn't slept a wink. He had opened a book in his lap and pretended to read, but his eyes never focused.

Christin had tried to sit up with him, her hands around him. As the clock counted down hour after hour, her eyes drooped shut, and she was soon snoozing against his shoulder.

Every hour or so, Quinton, Weathers, Princeton, or whoever else happened to be awake would stop in to see how he was doing and beg him to go to sleep. But James just sat there in the golden glow of the Honeycomb, his arm around his wife and his eyes open but unseeing.

Jeff smiled at him, "You helped to get that plane down in once piece. Whatever happened after that, the deal in the mine, the time in the village, all of that was for naught if you hadn't landed the plane. Thank you for saving me Fred."

-----

Katherine finally gave up trying to go to sleep and walked around Dun Adien looking at the castle. She'd never noticed that crack, or this painting of James and Christin.

"Funny," she said to herself "all of these little things. You never notice them until it's too late."

"Well, I, ah..." Fred tried to protest, then shrugged. "Again, I'm not sure how much of the credit I deserve, but you're welcome.

"And I owe you my thanks too, Jeff -" the name came more naturally this time "- for, like you said, that business in the mine. I'd be dead a dozen times over if it weren't for you."

He turned his eyes down. "And I-I'm sorry for freezing up in the cave there. I've never killed a man before."

"Well, I think you deserve a lot of it. Any wreck you can walk away from was a successful one. And, you're welcome Fred. Hopefully you'll never have to deal with that again. It's not a shining moment in a person's life is it?" Jeff said. "I can just hope you get through the rest of your life without having to take another one again."

-----

Katherine eventually found herself in front of the door to the Honeycomb (did anyone ever figure out where that came from??). She thought James was asleep, but knew better when she saw the light coming from under the door. She walked up and knocked quietly.

"Yeah. Yeah, I do too," replied Fred quietly. The mood had gotten dangerously quiet and contemplative; he wanted to lighten it up somehow. However, search as he might, he couldn't quite come up with anything.

"I suppose I have killed people before," Fred said at last. "Not directly; I was the navigator on a Dasher assigned to the Gallagan theatre. We dropped a lot of bombs. Some how, that's not quite the same."

He lapsed into an awkward silence.

----

(did anyone ever figure out where that came from??)

((er, the Honeycomb? or the door? The name's stolen from one of my favorite books, Watership Down, and called so IC because of the golden glow and honeycomb shape of the walls. The door's..I dunno, a door ;)))

For about half a minute, nothing happened. Then, at last, the door creaked open.

"Hi, Kate," said James, trying without success to smile. He stepped out and quietly closed the door behind him. "Christin's asleep," he explained, "I didn't want to disturb her too much."

(The door's a door?? No way!! I think I need one more martini to get that... :P )

Jeff looked over at Fred, "No, it's not the same. When I was captain of the Defiance we'd sunk ships in the name of war. But it's different when you have to look in their eyes before they die..."

Jeff picked up the mood darkening as well, "So.. uh.. Fred, do you have the time to play sports? Catch any hockey games?"

-----

"I don't blame you, I just put Julie back to sleep, and I didn't want to wake her up again either.

"So, how are you holding up?"

((it's like...metaphysics, man. Dude. ;)))

(ok, so maybe that's more stoned than drunk :P)

"Sports? Uh, yeah. Well, I mean, I don't play..not directly, anymore. Played baseball back when I was younger, though." He smiled. "Funny thing, too - I always wanted to be a Navigator* when I was growing up, then I turned out as one." He wasn't sure if Jeff'd catch the joke, and quickly moved on.

"I do watch the Gulls every now and then, but hockey and football've† never held that much interest for me."

(* the Coastal Paradise baseball squad, the Navigators
† world football)

-----

"As well as could be expected," he said. "Horridly," he ammended a second later. "I haven't slept a wink in the last thirty hours. Every time I close my eyes, I wonder why I couldn't have..." James shook his head.

"How about you, Kate? I can only imagine how hard it must be for you!"

(LOL, well there's one thing I have no experience at, so I'll take your word for it :P Do you want to post the start of the funeral tonight (god is it only 2:15 am here?) I know what evilness Alcona and Hubris is planning and can post some of it here. )

Jeff chuckled at the joke, "Well, what about a league for adults who just want to play baseball? Are there any you can join?

"I've been meaning to take Kattie and the children to a Gulls game. But with the embassy, and working in Parliament. I guess I've neglected them," Jeff said looking down. "The smallest things, roses, songs, all meant so much to her. I can understand why they do now."

-----

"I haven't slept a wink in the last thirty hours. Every time I close my eyes, I wonder why I couldn't have..." James shook his head.

"Why you couldn't have what?" Katherine asked. "It's not like he had much of a choice to go. 'The dictates of a new job' and all that.

"Me? I'm holding up right now, just barely. I still want to believe he's out there, not bits and pieces in a casket.."

(LOL, well there's one thing I have no experience at, so I'll take your word for it :P Do you want to post the start of the funeral tonight (god is it only 2:15 am here?) I know what evilness Alcona and Hubris is planning and can post some of it here. )

(Neither did I, and then I went to a Dave Matthews concert. Good Lord, I didn't even know that much weed existed!

As for the second part, I'm just about to shove off to sleep - busy day tomorrow. I think we'd better put it off :()

"I'm sure there are," shrugged Fred. "I've been so busy flying, though, I haven't really been able to look them up."

"I've been meaning to take Kattie and the children to a Gulls game. But with the embassy, and working in Parliament. I guess I've neglected them," Jeff said looking down. "The smallest things, roses, songs, all meant so much to her. I can understand why they do now."

"Well, ah...there's always next season," said Fred lamely. He ran the side of his index finger over his lips, like one does after eating to check for any food that missed its mark.

-----

"Why you couldn't have what?" Katherine asked. "It's not like he had much of a choice to go. 'The dictates of a new job' and all that.

"Me? I'm holding up right now, just barely. I still want to believe he's out there, not bits and pieces in a casket.."

"I know," sighed James. "But there wasn't anywhere much more dangerous than the Confederacy they could have sent him. I intend to let Mr. Tarriff know just what I think of his cabinet's choice the next time he comes to brief me." James bit his lower lip in anger.

"Not that any of them give a single thought to him. Sure, they pretend to be angry and sad in public, but I know damn near every member of every bench is having a quiet drink to celebrate. And it makes me absolutely furious." A quick count to ten kept James from shouting, but his voice came out cold and bitter instead.

(Yeah, that'll do it. contact buzz from hell?)

"Yeah, might I recommend a vacation? I'd like to recommend where to go, but all my vacations turn to hell on earth. I seem to remember one with vampires and getting staked out, just off hand... Damn, IanCorp plays me up to be such a superhero, sometimes."

Jeff smiled at Fred, "You're right. There is next season. And I intend to make up for some lost time when I get back to Ianapalis. Speaking of that, you gonna call your girlfriend as soon as we land?"

-----

(And to think Jeff liked Tarriff so much that first day they met all those years ago... ;) )

Katherine gave a bittersweet chuckle, "You know, I'm remembering something Dad said so many years ago, with the dragon... 'Jeff's a hero, and heroes don't die' ... Do you really think they are busy having a celebration, now that Jeff's out of the way?" Katherine started.

"So there's a party at Tarriff's house I take it?" another enraged voice said in the hall.

James and Katherine turned just in time to see Niven walking down the hall towards them. "I see that I wasn't the only one who couldn't sleep."

Katherine hugged Niven after he walked over, "No, I guess we couldn't sleep either."

(Oh, yeah. I could hardly see straight)

"Well, I hope you won't mind me saying so, Jeff, but you are something of a superhero." Fred shrugged uncomfortably and kept talking.

"What I mean is that I know it's been really hard on a lot of people in Iansisle adjusting to all this new technology. You were there from the first - what? - eight, nine years ago (right? I've got two years of Tarriff, one and a half of Dhawan, one of D'Carlonia, and another four of Tarriff) to help us out, and you're still here now.

"I know you're just a regular man, like me or anyone else, but sometimes having a bigger persona is all right. You give us all something to look up to; a reason to hope.." Fred trailed off, clearly angry at himself for not being able to express quite the concept he was thinking.

Fred blushed at the mention of his girlfriend. "Yeah. I just hope she's still waiting for me when I get back." Though his words were doubtful, there was no trace of that doubt in his tone. "Maybe we could get together for a double date or something."

-----

((I was just thinking about that (mostly trying to come up with how much time's elapsed ;)); about how all our characters and countries have changed so much since May/June. Makes you kind of proud when you think about it, doesn't it?))

Katherine gave a bittersweet chuckle, "You know, I'm remembering something Dad said so many years ago, with the dragon... 'Jeff's a hero, and heroes don't die'"

James smiled again. This time it wasn't forced, but the expression still wasn't the least happy. "Dad's got a special way of putting things, doesn't he?"

... Do you really think they are busy having a celebration, now that Jeff's out of the way?" Katherine started.

"Well, per--" James started to say.

"So there's a party at Tarriff's house I take it?" another enraged voice said in the hall.

James and Katherine turned just in time to see Niven walking down the hall towards them. "I see that I wasn't the only one who couldn't sleep."

Katherine hugged Niven after he walked over, "No, I guess we couldn't sleep either."

James tried to smile at Niven as well, but it came out just as forced as the one for Katherine. He embraced Niven in turn. "Somehow, I just don't think it's a very good night for sleep."

He rubbed his hands together suddenly. "Though it's a good night for this chill breeze out here. We don't want to cath -- we ought to go somewhere warmer. There's a sitting room right over there I'm sure won't be occupied, if you'd like to sit down in front of a fireplace."

James indicated the direction.

The plane entered Iansisle airspace, following the shore of the inner sea towards Ianapolis and Dun Adien

OOC: I will try to be on tonight but who knows…I’ve had 8 posts eaten in the last 2 hours...

((Tended to avoid that in college...hanging out with an ex-heroin addict you try to keep her out of any places that might induce regression...Although access to that was fairly easy in my highschool))

"Well, I hope you won't mind me saying so, Jeff, but you are something of a superhero." Fred shrugged uncomfortably and kept talking.

"What I mean is that I know it's been really hard on a lot of people in Iansisle adjusting to all this new technology. You were there from the first - what? - eight, nine years ago (right? I've got two years of Tarriff, one and a half of Dhawan, one of D'Carlonia, and another four of Tarriff) to help us out, and you're still here now.

"I know you're just a regular man, like me or anyone else, but sometimes having a bigger persona is all right. You give us all something to look up to; a reason to hope.." Fred trailed off, clearly angry at himself for not being able to express quite the concept he was thinking.

Jeff nodded as Fred spoke, "Yeah, I mean, it's been easier on me since I've already had to deal with this level of technology. It's just, strange being considered a hero by so many people. But, if I can give hope to people, then that's all someone can really ask for in life, isn't it?"

Fred blushed at the mention of his girlfriend. "Yeah. I just hope she's still waiting for me when I get back." Though his words were doubtful, there was no trace of that doubt in his tone. "Maybe we could get together for a double date or something."

Jeff grinned, "I'm sure she'll be waiting for you when you get back. You two will have to come over sometime for dinner at least."

((I was just thinking about that (mostly trying to come up with how much time's elapsed ;)); about how all our characters and countries have changed so much since May/June. Makes you kind of proud when you think about it, doesn't it?))

(No doubt! Especially when you look back at old threads and see all of the nations no longer around)

Katherine gave a bittersweet chuckle, "You know, I'm remembering something Dad said so many years ago, with the dragon... 'Jeff's a hero, and heroes don't die'"

James smiled again. This time it wasn't forced, but the expression still wasn't the least happy. "Dad's got a special way of putting things, doesn't he?"

"Yes, he really does," Katherine replied, "I guess it comes with everything he's been through."

James tried to smile at Niven as well, but it came out just as forced as the one for Katherine. He embraced Niven in turn. "Somehow, I just don't think it's a very good night for sleep."

"Yes, I understand. Just one of those funny little nights where the mind is too active to get any rest. I think I've had about four of those in a row so far," Niven said hugging James.

He rubbed his hands together suddenly. "Though it's a good night for this chill breeze out here. We don't want to cath -- we ought to go somewhere warmer. There's a sitting room right over there I'm sure won't be occupied, if you'd like to sit down in front of a fireplace."

(he was gonna say "Catch our death of cold!" wasn't he ;) )

Niven nodded and put an arm around each of them, "Yes, let's go and warm up a little. Weathers, three hot toddy's please."

The plane entered Iansisle airspace, following the shore of the inner sea towards Ianapolis and Dun Adien

From outside the plane came the welcoming sounds of jet engines. Two late-mark MPAF-6 Colts dropped into formation with the Alconan flying boat, wiggling their wings in welcome. The arrival had of course be preceeded by a warning over the cockpit's wireless, but Fred and Jeff wouldn't have known that.

In the distance, the lights of busy Ianapalis twinkled. Hard to believe it would be a scant few months before that seemingly peaceful city would be torn apart by bloody riots.

Jeff grinned, "I'm sure she'll be waiting for you when you get back. You two will have to come over sometime for dinner at least."

Fred didn't show many signs of wishing to continue the previous conversation.

"That'd be great, Jeff!" he smiled, for the first time now trying to use 'Your Grace' instead. "I'd love to meet the Duchess -" there were still a few hard edges to be worn off, apparently "- and I can't imagine how excited Mary'll be!"

(No doubt! Especially when you look back at old threads and see all of the nations no longer around)

(Yeah :(. It's too bad all those great original posts - the Third World Conference, the Coronations, Jeff's knighting, John's inaguration - have been erased.

I've been meaning to ask, though, since I can't go back and look it up - what were Jeff's origins?))

"Yes, I understand. Just one of those funny little nights where the mind is too active to get any rest. I think I've had about four of those in a row so far," Niven said hugging James.

Niven nodded and put an arm around each of them, "Yes, let's go and warm up a little. Weathers, three hot toddy's please."

"Of course, m'lord," replied Weathers with a bow that just happened to show off the extra chevron on his uniform's arm.

"I know what you mean," said James as they walked into the room and took seats. He was still quite unwilling to address the fact that none of them would ever see Jeff again directly. "I've had a few of those nights myself.

"Like tonight." James' attempt at a chuckle sounded like dry leaves being crunched underfoot.

In the distance, the lights of busy Ianapalis twinkled. Hard to believe it would be a scant few months before that seemingly peaceful city would be torn apart by bloody riots.

(So... like... what are you tryiing to say then? ;) )

"That'd be great, Jeff!" he smiled, for the first time now trying to use 'Your Grace' instead. "I'd love to meet the Duchess -" there were still a few hard edges to be worn off, apparently "- and I can't imagine how excited Mary'll be!"

"Yeah, you, Mary, Kattie and I will have dinner at our place. We'll have a great time, I'll throw some elk and deer on the grill, and I'm sure the children would love to meet you too!"

(Yeah :(. It's too bad all those great original posts - the Third World Conference, the Coronations, Jeff's knighting, John's inaguration - have been erased.

I've been meaning to ask, though, since I can't go back and look it up - what were Jeff's origins?))

(Well, jeff was just a glimmer in Gen. Grant's drunken eyes, err... you mean before the meeting with Tri?)

"Of course, m'lord," replied Weathers with a bow that just happened to show off the extra chevron on his uniform's arm.

"I know what you mean," said James as they walked into the room and took seats. He was still quite unwilling to address the fact that none of them would ever see Jeff again directly. "I've had a few of those nights myself.

"Like tonight." James' attempt at a chuckle sounded like dry leaves being crunched underfoot.
Niven smiled at Weathers' and his new rank as the three of them walked into the small study.

"Yeah," Katherine said quietly, "I'm almost getting used to these kind of nights..."

OOC: disregard my T-gram at the moment...it appears that both the air and the T3 are working again.

IC The crew of the flying boat were releived that they were going to land without incident, or incomming flak. The plane just let it's turbo props pull it along until about 15 minutes from nearing Dun Adien and the bay that surrounded it.

"Ah, Control do we have permission to land at Dun Adein? We have a load of...memorial flowers to be delivered to the funeral, from the people of Clarca..."* was barked over the same channel that the annoucement about the jets were comming.

The co-pilot remembered and couldn't beleive the stupidity of the statement...He yelled out (loud enough that everyone on board could hear)
"Clarca...Clarca! your a rudy idiot!...I was going to say we'd land in twenty minutes..but you think their going to let a pile of Clarcian flowers near there...It will either be fifty seconds or never bloody fool!"

The plane banked and someone with very good ears might have heard a clink...clank...glup... in the cockpit. Of course most people would be looking out across the water towards Dun Adein at that moment...or wondering about the sanity of airplanes owner.

OOC:*Yes I know but my character forgot about anti-Clarcian sentiment here...

Jeff's cyberhearing picked up some sounds but he was too focused on looking down at Dun Adien, he'd never thought it'd looked that wonderful before.

At the MacMillan listening station, which had been monitoring the incoming flight and co-ordinating the escort, the wireless operator blinked. He had it on the highest authority - namely the base commander - that this flyer was bearing 'important cargo for His Majesty's Island.' But...he, like most of the IanCorp fed middle and lower class, knew that the Clerks wouldn't stop short of anything so devious as dropping a bomb on the High King.

He also knew that Calarcan cooperation in the largely Iansislean and Walmingtonian Antananarivo Project meant they had the Bomb.

But then his senses kicked in - would even the Clerks be dumb enough to announce themselves if they were going to drop the Bomb on His Iansislean Majesty? Especially with a pair of late-mark Colts hanging off their wingtips?

He shrugged; even if they were the Clerks, they probably weren't going to blow up Dun Adien. And if they did, it'd be his boss' ass anyway.

"Wonder what they're doing?" said one Colt pilot to the other as they watched the Alconan flying boat go into a bank.

----

"Wonder what we're doing?" said Fred as he felt the Alconan flying boat go into a bank. The shouting up front hadn't quite registered while he was busy imagining the feast Jeff had described.

----

(Well, jeff was just a glimmer in Gen. Grant's drunken eyes, err... you mean before the meeting with Tri?)

((well, now that I'm good and disturbed :P))

"Yeah," Katherine said quietly, "I'm almost getting used to these kind of nights..."

"All too common," agreed James, accepting his drink from the freshly returned Weathers, who then took up position outside the door.

In lieu of saying anything more profound, James found himself staring at the ground and listening to the fire crackle.

"Wonder what we're doing?" said Fred as he felt the Alconan flying boat go into a bank. The shouting up front hadn't quite registered while he was busy imagining the feast Jeff had described.

"I dunno," Jeff said as he looked over at Fred. "But I'm sure it's all under control."

((well, now that I'm good and disturbed :P))

(well, ya know.. ;) what kind of origins?[/quote]

"All too common," agreed James, accepting his drink from the freshly returned Weathers, who then took up position outside the door.

In lieu of saying anything more profound, James found himself staring at the ground and listening to the fire crackle.

Katherine and Niven also were silent, watching the fire in the fireplace and sipping their drinks.

She was bleeding altitude and speed quickly, and attempting to line up on the island. A second bank in the oposite direction also reduced speed and left the plane lined up towards Dun Adein. Between the two banks she had now lost two thousand feet and 100 knots in speed. And she was continuing to lose altitude and speed with her nose raised slightly in the air. Her flaps were out and she was making a very nice decent...

The problem was that the aircraft didn't have any landing charts for this area, and Iansisle didn't seem to have them readily accessable on the internet. So they were just sort of lining up on the target and landing, it was decided that buzzing the royal compounds was not a suggested activity. Unfortunatly, the map they had found had not indicated the rocks on the current landing path...(or mine feilds or any sub-surface, or just above the surface obstacales...)

The copilot poked his head through door. "Ah, we'll be down in about fifteen...ah there aren't any near surface reefs near here are there?"

Jeff shook his head, "None that I've ever noticed."

The crewman returned to his seat and the boat continued it's decent. It hit the water and began to slow dramaticly.

Then Roger saw the rock ahead and hit the throttles open...and pulled on the stick, the flyingboat shuttered as it was pulled in two directions and the engines strained trying to pull the craft off the water.

The plane hit back down on the water with engines at full bore and the shore quickly approching...The crew cut the engines, one didn't respond instanly and the craft began to skew...It seemed for a moment that it was going to attempt to roll over on it's own wing as the water pulled on the hull and the engine pulled the port wing forward.

Everyone in the cabin could feel as though they were being pitched sideways...

The Starboard engine throttle was thrown back wide and the plane straitend itself. The pilot pulled at the Yoke and the plane skipped across the water. The plane didn't have enough momentum left to jump the island and come back, and too much to land in the remaining water before hitting the shore.

It was like ridding a 60 ton bronco bull that someone had stuck the branding iron up the it's a**. The straps hodling everyone in didn't break, but they were going to leave marks.

The copilot cut the engines, which went dead as the plane skipped a few last times over the nearing shore and then over the wave lapped beach. The wheels came out slowly, a last ditch effort to cut speed as the plane appoched the nearing dune belly first.

It hit, and hard. Metal could be heard giving to the sand below as the plane continued forward, burying it's wheels and outer struts into the sand. But she held together, although the cargo net gave way burying the forward cargo hold in foliage and flowers. She came to stop pointing nose down on the lee side of the dune. ((Sorry, just couldn't stop myself...))

The plane hit back down on the water with engines at full bore and the shore quickly approching...The crew cut the engines, one didn't respond instanly and the craft began to skew...It seemed for a moment that it was going to attempt to roll over on it's own wing as the water pulled on the hull and the engine pulled the port wing forward.

Everyone in the cabin could feel as though they were being pitched sideways...

Jeff's eyes widened as he looked at the engines cutting out.

Oh god... not again, not this close...

The Starboard engine throttle was thrown back wide and the plane straitend itself. The pilot pulled at the Yoke and the plane skipped across the water. The plane didn't have enough momentum left to jump the island and come back, and too much to land in the remaining water before hitting the shore.

It was like ridding a 60 ton bronco bull that someone had stuck the branding iron up the it's a**. The straps hodling everyone in didn't break, but they were going to leave marks.

The copilot cut the engines, which went dead as the plane skipped a few last times over the nearing shore and then over the wave lapped beach. The wheels came out slowly, a last ditch effort to cut speed as the plane appoched the nearing dune belly first.

It hit, and hard. Metal could be heard giving to the sand below as the plane continued forward, burying it's wheels and outer struts into the sand. But she held together, although the cargo net gave way burying the forward cargo hold in foliage and flowers. She came to stop pointing nose down on the lee side of the dune. ((Sorry, just couldn't stop myself...))
(No worries, it's the perfect end to the perfect trip for these two ;) )

Jeff flipped around and landed on his back in the middle of a pile of plants with long spines. He stood up, pulling a couple of the spines out of his arms and looked up through the flowers and foliage that was covering him. "Fred, you OK?"

(edited for A&H's idea, that's a good one!)

((OOC: orginally I was going to 'bomb' the castle with flowers...but decided it was too much))

The crew began to check for injuries and damage...bent wheel struts appeared to be the biggest problem.

(Good Night, some of us have undergrads to terrorize with quizes in the morn))

(have fun ;) Jeeves will be waiting with a check for the crew when then get out)

(sorry about vanishing there...blasted interuptions! And just in time to miss A+H! Drat! 'Night!

As for Jeff, Lark, I was just wondering..y'know, what the first RP you used him for was. Or was it the Conference?)

Fred briefly made the sign of the cross as the flying boat came in for its rather unconventional landing. He'd been too busy attending to his duties in the last crash; too often, religion was a luxury not afforded flight crews.

They were lucky to be approaching the southern end of Ian's Island, not too far from the cove itself; the northern face was a solid wall of granite. As it was, they crashed into the narrow strip of sand near the former quarry (and current lake).

From their posts closer to King Ian the Great's stronghold above the northern cliff came men of the K.I.G. Unlike the men commonly posted for diplomatic receptions, with their ornate costumes and archaic weapons, these were serious bodyguards of their liege.

"Show yourselves, in the name of His Majesty the King!" called down one, a dozen rifles trained on the crashed airplane.

Inside it, Fred managed to grunt out that he was fine and slowly slip out of the harness.

The copilot appeared in a small hatch on the craft's nose. He raised his hands and said..."We come in peace...well...best intentions at least..."

The pilot was attempting to open the door to see if his passengers had survived. Unfortuantly there was a large shrub doing it's best to block the door.

(The sub appearing to escort Tri, et al was the first time he'd ever showed up in NS)

Jeff pulled himself out of the harness and dropped down with Fred.

He stood up, steadied himself (ala Johnny Depp in "Pirates of the Carribbean') and looked at Fred, "Right, let's go then, shall we?"

"Show yourselves, in the name of His Majesty the King!" called down one, a dozen rifles trained on the crashed airplane.

(Jeff leans out of the plane and looks at him. "Just a sec, damnit man. I'm cap'an' Jeff Williams... savvy?" :P )

(ah, gotcha. That's kind of cool - gives me a sense of creation I whole-heartedly don't deserve! ;))

"How many more of there are you?" called the same man, who seemed to be the only officer in the bunch. At the same time, he waved to a nearby non-com, who started to lead a group of four down to meet the Alconan flyer.

Fred, meanwhile, was rubbing his shoulder. A quick easy for you to say, Mr. Implants flashed through his brain, but he waved it away.

"Damn...I think I dislocated my shoulder," he said instead, indicating the joint. "I don't suppose you could..?"

Crap, I think I rebroke my sternum...

Jeff looked at Fred's shoulder, "Gotcha," he said reaching out and taking Fred's hand. "Brace yourself, on three... one... two.. three!"

A popping noise, and Fred exersized the joint back and forth. "That's what it's supposed to feel like!" he smiled.

"Well, time for our grand apperance," he said, sighing just a little. With the brief exception of talking to the Iansislean guard on the gate, Fred had been feeling like Jeff's equal ever since leaving the cave. He had the unpleasent feeling all that was about to change.

"That's better," Jeff nodded as Fred moved his arm around.

"Yeah, time for our entrance," Jeff said. "It feels so great to be home, but that first step was a doozy."

Jeff noticed Fred's sigh, "You all right Fred?" he asked watching as the four men approached the plane. He then winked to Fred, "I think we can fight our way out," he joked.

(Do you think we ought to wait for A+H before continuing?

By the way, Princeton's leading the four men down to the plane...in case Jeff wants to hail him or anything.)

(Maybe, cause Jeeves needs to pay them and Jeff needs to eventually get his wedding ring back, which went *plink, plink* earlier. Or we can do one of our split/back/upside down with a twist RP's where we split the plotline again until he gets back.)

(Princeton huh?...)

Jeff looks at Fred, "I'll take the wimpy looking guy in the front." he winked at him.

(*grumble grumble*)

(ah! I was wondering what that was!)

"T-there's a wimpy looking guy?" mused Fred, almost under his breath. Not a single man approaching was under Fred's fairly high five foot nine (forgive me if I've quoted another number earlier...it, uh, changed!), and they all looked as if they gave the medicine ball more than the occasional toss about.

"Yeah, the one in front. Princeton, one of King James' personal guys," Jeff grinned. "OK, here we go."

Jeff opened the plane door and stepped out with Fred, "I knew that eighth martini was too much to fly with. I thougth you were the designated flier Fred."

To hear the High King of the Empire referenced so casually was still not something Fred was used to. He followed close on Jeff's heels out the door.

Princeton just about dropped his rifle in shock - which would have been embarassing, considering he had just hoisted it to his shoulder.

"I double-God-damn don't believe it!" he roared with laughter. "It's the second coming!"

The men about him thought perhaps Princeton had gone completely mental, but then they recognized Jeff themselves and all broke out into smiles. Princeton dropped his rifle to an at ease position and approached Jeff with his hand extended.

"I double-God-damn don't believe it!" he roared with laughter. "It's the second coming!"

"What?" Jeff looked around quickly, "When did Jesus get here and why is he showing up at my funeral?"

The men about him thought perhaps Princeton had gone completely mental, but then they recognized Jeff themselves and all broke out into smiles. Princeton dropped his rifle to an at ease position and approached Jeff with his hand extended.

Jeff saluted Princeton as he approached, "Permission to disembark?" he asked before shaking his hand warmly. "How are you? Fred, this is Princeton, one of King James' personal guards. Princeton, this is the man who landed our first plane in Gallaga, keeping us all from dying, Fred."

"Fred?" asked Princeton, reaching out to shake his hand as well.

"Leading Aerocraftman Longley, RIFC retired, sir," replied Fred, snapping a slightly out-of-practice salute off. Princeton, himself a Staff Sergeant in the RIAC, smiled and returned it, then reached out his hand again. Fred took it with a bewildered expression

"Fred; I'm Irwin. Any friend of Jeff's is a friend of mine, especially one who saved his life."

"Well, I did-" started Fred, but Princeton had already turned to Jeff.

"I suppose you'll be looking after Duchess Williams and His Majesty?" he asked.

((it's up to you if they're still on the island, Lark. Or if you want to crash the party proper like...again ;)

Then again, with that landing, maybe we already did crash it :P))

(LOL, time to crash the middle of the funeral. :wink: I've got a cunning plan... check your TG's)

"Has the funeral started?" Jeff asked.

(is that horse that Jeff rode into battle with the dragon still on Ian's Isle?)

((Checked/replied...well, in the most half-ass sense possible ;)))

"I'm afraid so," said Princeton with a shrug. "Regal just shoved off not an hour ago. We could get you to the mainland on one of the small craft, though."

"Don't let anyone in the Navy know," smiled Fred, but it'll actually feel good to travel by water rather than air for a change!"

(Er, not that I know of....the island's a little small for horses to be kept on any extended basis)

Jeff nods to them, "My timing is as impeccable as always," he winked. "And I'm with you Fred, staying out of the air for a little while might be advisable. Lead the way Princeton, and keep this on the Q-T will ya?"

"I don't think His Majesty'll appreciate the heart attack too much afterwards," winked Princeton, "but the immediate shock should do him good."

They were lead down to the cove and plunked in a small motor cutter, which was then run to the Jameston landing at a brisk twenty five knots.

((and I think that's it for me for the night; sorry, man, I'm having trouble keeping my eyes open.))

"Aww, a little shock to the system never hurt anyone," Jeff replied.

(Cool man, catch ya tomorrow!)

OOC: Waitaminute, if they're such "serious bodyguards", then WHY are they at Dun Adien, rather than, like, escorting James to the funeral? That's just BEGGING to be assassinated...

OOC: Ah, do you think the Secret Service completely abandons the White House when the President leaves? I'd say that that a simple split of the normal protective detail.

The aircrew was a bit confused by the sudden disappearance of their passengers, the lack of anyone appearing to show up with a check. And the fact that the aircraft was now tail up on a dune.

*Presses rewind on thread DVD machine* ;) (and here we split the plotline for a few, Iansisle and I seem to do this every now and then.)

As the crew walks out of the plane, a taller Iansislian who had followed the soldiers to the crash site (of course they'd let him in, this is still Iansisle after all ;) ) walks up to the two men and the soldiers preparing to take Jeff and Fred to the mainland.

"Master Jeffrey," He says seemlessly to Jeff.

Jeff nods to the man, "Jeeves, I take it everything is in order?"

"Of course sir," Jeeves says, almost bordering on annoyance, as he reached into his jacket and pulled out a slip of paper. "As you requested, sir."

He hands the check to Jeff, who then turns and hands the check to the nearest crewmember.

"As promised, 225-thousand NuYen upon delivery," Jeff says. "The nearest bank should give you a pretty decent exchange rate on it."

"Hmph, meeting you was the worst choice of my life. How in hell does the throttle stick on one of these birds?" Roger took the check and pocketed it not really caring about anything more than figuruing how to get his poor craft off the island.

"Were going to need a tug service cap..." Came from under the craft.

(ooc: damnit! Given my timezone, I can only make like a post per day... would slow down everything too much I'm afraid :/)

"Hmph, meeting you was the worst choice of my life. How in hell does the throttle stick on one of these birds?"...

"Umm, yeah," Jeff nods as Princeton is leading him off, "I get that a lot too."

Jeff quickly turns to Jeeves as they walk, "See if you can request a tug, and a crew to repair their plane."

"As you wish, sir," Jeeves said.

"Very good, carry on Jeeves."

"Yes sir."

(ooc: damnit! Given my timezone, I can only make like a post per day... would slow down everything too much I'm afraid :/)

OOC: It's all good man, you're here in spirit at least! ;)

*curses forums loudly* I know what you mean, U-man...we still ought to have an RP together again sometime, even if it is slow moving.

In the meantime, I sure hope this posts...I may not be able to do so again until the middle of the night again ;)

Success! Now is this'll just post...

(That wily forum!)

(bumped to incorporate A&H's great poisoning idea... :twisted: Poor Jeff can't get a break.)

Jeff flipped around and landed on his back in the middle of a pile of plants with long spines. He stood up, pulling a couple of the spines out of his arms and looked up through the flowers and foliage that was covering him. "Fred, you OK?"

(edited for A&H's idea, that's a good one!)

OOC: When your in trouble, who do you call? Your embassy...and who has been left as the senior personell when there is a State Funeral?

The airboat captain attempted to explain to the guards that "No he couldn't just back the bloody thing up. He needed a tow."

So, like any poor sod lost in some backwoods foreign nation that didn't seem to conceive of cell phones, or even paper money, they called the local Embassy on the sat phone.*

The Embassy of the Dual Duchy of Alcona and Hubris, Iansisle how may we help you...If you wish to hear this message in English press one, Deutch press, two...Welsh press five....Arameic, dial 9 and hit the pound key three times, and dial 123 extention 908762137....If your a normal human, and would like to talk to one...please say Yes

"Yes..."

Thank You...we are sorry, all personell are currently unavailable....Click Hello, is this Milo and Eddie International Pizza?"

"No, damn...why the bloodly blazes to I pay taxes if you fat asses are going to..."

"This is Baroness Winton. I assume that this is an emergency..."

"Ah yes, we crashed our flying boat due to a navigational error..."

"Any casualties or fatalities?"

"No...."

"Then what..."

"Ah we crashed on, or into the Royal Preserve..."

"An Abanar (wrong but fix later)? My God...I'll be right out..."


*This was later ranked as number three on the most expensive local calls in history. The other two were:
2-a satalite phone call from Buda to Pest by an itallian porn star. 1-Paris and Nicole Hilton talking using their satalite phones while yahting off Long Island. It is rumored that to pay the bill, the Paris Maine Hilton had to be sold.

OOC: Now I need to see what is up with the Tiger Torpedo! those twits at GT will never know what ran them over.

As the small ship skipped through the water, Jeff was unconsciously rubbing one of his arms where he'd been pierced by the spines of what in the hell ever was in that plane. He'd felt a little warm, and looked a little pale, but brushed that off as being excited to be back in Iansisle and looking forward to seeing Katherine, the children, James... all of them.

*And the forums strike again! :P *

In the opposite direction moved a medium sized, wooden speed from a private rental dock. The flag of the Dual Duchy flew on the bow sprit. At the controls was a woman with blond hair, and in the stern a tiger looked back at Jeff and company.
It turned it's head forward and started acting more like a dog in a car window.

The two men stood looking at the problem, they needed to get rid of as much weight as possible before attempting to pull the plane off the dune.
Both men began to toss items out onto the beach and lay the cargo out to the side...The thorny bush was a bit of a problem, the label said 'Configurous Areus' or Gallaga Dart Plant. In final fustration one man just chucked it out the ramp and onto the ground. Small drops of blood formed spots on the dry sand.

Roger pulled the tab labled 'potable water dump' large rivulets of water poured out of the ground. The sound of 'tunk tink tank' could be heard barely above the sound of rushing water. Something sparkly found itself buried in the dark brown sand hole created by the water.

(Poor Jeff...Poor, Poor Jeff...)

(Ummm.. There's an antidote to that right? I'm sure Niven won't mind pumping Jeff full of nanites to try and find a cure, but I think he'd like to avoid that... ;) )

OOC: A-Yes anidote (better explained later post)
B-Located inside cargo/cockpit hatch in first aid kit on the Duck.
C-I've got this worked out in my head, and "no die Jeff..."
D-Check T-Grams
(Let's just say that Jeff is going to rue the day his wife mets his savior :wink: )

(read and replied to... oh dear)

Ianapalis was taking a break. The streets seemed empty, at least around Jameston. As Jeff and Fred were ushered into a motor car and driven, more and more people appeared. Most were wearing black.

They were still two or three blocks from St. Patrick's on Unity Square when the streets became so hopelessly mired that Princeton shrugged and announced they'd have to walk the rest of the way.

"A couple've people'll see you on the way," he said, "but that can't be avoided without a disguise or something."

(poor, poor Jeff :()

"A disguise huh?" Jeff thought for a moment, "Princeton, lend me your jacket, I have an idea..."

(check your TG's)

"Well," said Princeton somewhat reservedly. "I was thinking you could use these -" he held up a pair of glasses with a funny nose and mustache "- but as you will."

He handed his jacket, which bore the Shadoran Cross and the KIG crest, over to Jeff and opened the car door.

(checked!)

Jeff coughed quickly before putting the jacket over his head... there was something there..

Blood? What the..?

He figured it was from the bullet still lodged inside him. He'd have to ask Niven about that.

"You ready Fred?"

He threw the jacket over his head and started making soft sobbing noises, "lead on good man."

A tug had apparently been rustled up by the ever efficent Jeeves. Although it had attracted some attention of people. After all how many times did you see a foreign aircraft nosed into the Royal Demise?

Ann had used her charms, her rank, and in one case Sir Meow to gain access to the crash site. The Alconians didn't worry much about the tiger, which might seem strange considering Klatchian wildlife but then they were not either an Ork or an elf so they knew they were not on the menu.

As the tug finally got to pulling the craft back off the sand, down some impromtu rails and back into the water. Sir Meow was attracted to the wet spot in the sand. A few moment's later he was attempting to bite something.
"Hey fella, what have you got there? A crab?" Ann leaned down and took the object from the big cat's mouth. It was a ring platinum and dimonds.

"Well look what you found. I wonder if this was lost in the crash...how would it be. No one would leave this lying around and it was under the flying boat. No, I bet someone lost it years ago on the beach. Hey guy you may have found a missing peice of Royal Regalia! She thumped the cat and started to look for a guard.

Her eyes saw the potted bush sitting on it's side. Her eyes just rested on it for a moment. She stood, intending to take the ring to someone in authority but something drew her to look at the plant. There were small spots in the sand, and red on some thorns. Someone had gotten caught up in...a Gallaga Dart Plant? Hadn't her recent brush up on Gallagain flora and fauna indicated that it was posionous?"

She pocketed the ring and yelled. "Has anyone fallen or been pricked by this bush here!" She looked around the area, looking for someone to show...well something in the way of signs. Or someone to explain everything was fine and she didn't have a victim of posion from an Alconian cargo.

It was a ring platinum and dimonds.

(And a voice rang out again... 'D'Oh!' :shock: )

"Um...are you all right?" asked Fred, who was confused by the wailing. At the reassurance it was just play acting, Fred, Princeton, and Jeff shuffled off through the crowd.

The sight of a KIG uniform, even if it was spread over two people, caused some arched eyebrows. Especially since one of the people almost literally towered over the street at six foot two, while another's six foot even was pretty tall. Princeton assured everyone that they were simply on their way to the cathedral, and there was nothing to see here.

Soon Jeff was led up to a side door in the seemingly ancient but actually fairly modern cathedral. Some negotiation with the KIG man on the door - the fact that Princeton outranked him helped - and they were in.

(I guess they'll wander trying to figure out where to go until everyone's seated and stuff...)

Jeff looked at Princeton then looked back out at the crowd.

"What in god's name... there are so many people around here, the streets were mired worse than usual..."

*blasted forums :?*

The Iansisleans milling about, most of whom were trying good-naturedly to be helpful but mostly getting in the way, shrugged.

"Not me" "Nope" "'Aven't seen anyone"

If the ring did end up getting presented to anyone, they'd be assured that it probably wasn't property of the Royal family. Diamonds weren't very highly prized at all (at least, compared to most of the western world).

((grr...sorry about the long response time. Blasted forum.))

"They all turned out to see your funeral procession, Your Grace," said Princeton, knowing that Jeff would shy away from the attention. "There's a lot of people on the Shield that'd miss you."

"Wow, I'd almost have a hard time believing that," Jeff started, "But someone told me that I kinda give hope to some people," he smiled and Fred, "It's nice knowing I've touched this many people."

Fred blushed. "Can't imagine who that might have been," he mumbled as they peaked around a corner at the seating arrangment.

(um...your funeral :P)

(Gotcha, but I'm not sure how an Iansislian State Funeral would go.. TG me the details, Ive gotta drive home, they're throwing me outta the office, I'll be back on in a few!)

Sir Meow pounces and eats an annoying double post.

Ann walked down to the beach. The crew was now working on turning their flying boat around and reloading the cargo.

"Hello, who is the person who fell into the Gallaga dart plant?" She yelled out across the water.

"Ah, you mean the one with the nasty spine needles on the branches?"
Likely one of the two passengers we picked up on this trip."

"Where are they!..."

"Ah left, right after we landed, it was some hotshot who had to get here for the funeral...name of Williams..."

"What Williams, the whole clan is likely gathering!"

"Ah, Duke Williams...Ah the check is signed...Jeff Williams...you know the bloke everyone said was dead in the jungle...."

Ann just froze. She had pestered the family during the period just after the disappearence. Mainly because she thought the whole buisness was a ruse. But, wait...Jeff Williams was alive...well, a bad plane crash might not do him in. But the poisons in the dart plant might...and he was going to his funeral. He was going to die before his wife and children.
Brought back from beyound the vail only to pass away right before their eyes...Oh Holy Mother F*** of all F***-ups...and these twits would be to blame...Shit...

She started swearing like a drunken sailor.
"You ****** idiotic brainless f**** sh***heads...You just let him waltz out of here?..please tell me that you have a full first aid kit and followed regs?!!..."

"Uh, that was the posionous one? I thought it was the blue and green one we left back in Gallaga. Well we have some specialized syrum the botinist loaded in the first aid..."

"Hand it over, NOW!"

A few seconds later Roger was dripping wet and handing her the case. Ann turned and stormed across the beach; back to her speedboat. She didn't have much time. The rememberance of the text was spotty at best.

Some Tribes of the Gallaga region are known to use posion darts to kill their prey.....made from the "Usac Mascta" or Dart bush. The needle contains only small amounts of poison that are fairly slow acting in nature, but quite deadly for anything smaller than an elephant.
Heat and boiling increases the concentration for use in traditional Gallagain weapondry.

She boarded her personal craft with the tiger in hot pursuit. She cast off and pushed the motorboat to full speed towards the funeral.

Some Tribes of the Gallaga region are known to use posion darts to kill their prey. These are made from the "Usac Mascta" or Dart bush. The needle contains only small amounts of poison that are fairly slow acting in nature, and quite deadly for anything smaller than an elephant.
Heat and boiling increases the concentration for use in traditional Gallagain weapondry.
(Oh dear, this'll be painful for him...Oh, I-man, replied to your TG, it's Matthew)

(sweet...I'll see what I can get knocked out! Oh, and sent ya one back. Really, don't worry about it ;))

((OOC: Er need sleep, have to buy supplies for the students before I go to bed tonight...the pirate thread's post was eaten and on my office PC still...Oh well...have fun...the Baroness will likely show up after Jeff identifies himself...since she won't be able to find him.

IC: She threw open the case and grabbed at a sheet labled:

Special Instructions For Accidental Poisoning by the Gallaga Dart Plant
A full dose of 20cc's of the antidote should be administered using a long needle syringe directly to the heart muscule. This is especially true for cases over twenty minutes since the inital contact. The heart will be the first thing to stop. The medical provider has approximatly three minutes after the heart muscle stops before the second anti-toxin will begin to permanently degrade the motor cortex of the brain. A half and hour after the heart stopping, the motor cortex will be damaged beyound repair. The time between inital contact and heart failure depends on the individual. However, the signs of dizzyness, lightheadedness will gradually increase in the victim.

The antidote has several side effects. First, it is opium based and will cause the patient to act in a similar manner to being drunk. Dissyness, and increased sexual drive are common side effects, with hallucinations and paranoia also being common.

If the patient does suffer heart failure do not admister any nitro medications as they will cause permanent damage to the liver, kidney, lungs, prostate, testostrone glands, heart, and inner ear.


She looked down at the bottle and a plastic syringe. Well she had the tools, now she needed to find the dying dead man.

Dissyness, and increased sexual drive are common side effects, with hallucinations and paranoia also being common.

If the patient does suffer heart failure do not admister any nitro medications as they will cause permanent damage to the liver, kidney, lungs, prostate, testostrone glands, heart, and inner ear.

(Are we gonna have to change Jeff's nickname to 'Ol' One Ball'? :P Have a nice night!)

(Are we gonna have to change Jeff's nickname to 'Ol' One Ball'?)

((I'm not sure ol' Sir Edmond would be too happy about having to share it! :P))

((night, A+H. Don't worry about the other thread; God knows I've delayed it long enough!))

((Ah, well...the effect would be...well let's be glad that people tend to avoid being near the buisness end of a Tiger so moving through the crowd won't be as tough for her :wink: And he would likely collapse before his heart failed....nice and dramatic...))

(collapse? Gotcha!)

There was a lot of brass scattered about the cathedral’s main room; it seemed as if every officer, from the First Sea Lord on down, had decided to come and pay their respects. There were civil servants too: some, like Edward Tarriff, Alfredo D’Carlonia, and Lord Dirwisham, were unfriendly; others, like Hiresh Dhawan, and John of Vesshampton, radiated true sorrow.

Scattered through the rest of the jam-packed pews were some whose faces might be unfamiliar to Jeff. Charles Bradsworth sat next to Seamus of Wyclyfe; farther back were Irvin G. Graye and Ernie Bankfield, perhaps overcoming in the loss of an icon for technology and progress the gap which had grown between former best friends. Clancy of Thortraia, Sir Penton Dubois at his side, sat towards the front, his frail, ancient body threatening to fall apart at any second.

At the very front were the High King himself and the Queen Consort, their heads bowed in silence as the Archbishop of Ianapalis read an opening prayer. Beside the King sat the Duchess of Williams, three very small, very familiar children the Earl of Niven, the Duke and Duchess of Chateau and the young Marchioness of Inhaven, the Princess of Shadoran, and the oft-forgotten youngest member of the Royal Family, Princess Alice*.

“Almighty God and Father,
it is our certain faith
that your Son, who died on the cross, was raised from the dead,
the firstfruits of all who have fallen asleep.
Grant that through this mystery
your servant Jeffrey Matthew Williams who has gone to his rest in Christ,
may share in the joy of his resurrection.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”

((*also known as Kate, Marcus, Julie, and Connor (or is it er? Drat..I always forget), Dr. Niven, John, Elizabeth, and Ashley, Jessica, and Alice))

(very nice! Guess it's my turn. ;) )

Before the prayer began, Julie looked at Tarriff, D'Carlonia and especially Dirwisham.

"Daddy's gonna have to talk to them when he gets back. Not nice words either," she said to Marcus who was nodding.

-----

Julie had slipped away from the others while the early prayers were going on and snuck down one side of the chamber. Sneaking past a group with their heads bowed, she walked around a corner down a small hallway to a door.

"Daddy'll be sad if no one tells him where we are," she said to herself as she opened the door and slid behind it.

She closed the door quietly and turned around, looking down at a pair of familiar boots. She looked up and her eyes lit up. A smile spread over her face.

"I knew you'd find us." she smiled.

-----
Jeff looked down at Julie with his own smile. He picked her up and gave her a tight hug, "Hi princess," he said kissing her cheek, "Daddy missed you so much."

"Did you bring me a dolly??" Julie asked excitedly.

"I think I can find one for you."

"Yea!" She smiled as she hugged him back, "We all missed you! Mommy and Grampa and Uncle James almost as much as me, Marcus and Conner!"

"I'm sure you did," Jeff smiled as he rocked her back and forth. "Fred, can you help me a moment here? Please carry her back to Katherine and King James? Sweetie," he turned to look at Julie, "This nice man is going to take you to mommy and Uncle James. You be a good girl and behave and I'll be in there in a minute."

"Ok Daddy!"

-----
Katherine had just looked up from the prayers and she saw Julie was missing. Damnit! She'd been so focused in her sadness she's missed what happened to her daughter.

"James?" she asked quietly, "Where's Julie?"

A moment later, the door opened audibly and Fred walked into the room carrying Julie. He walked into the main room and nervously in between the pews, feeling every pair of eyes in the room on him. He stopped next to the front row, where Katherine, James, Niven and the others were sitting.

"Duchess? I found her walking in the halls," he said handing her back to James.

"Thank you," Katherine said in a shaky whisper. "I don't know what I'd do..."

At that point, the doors in the back were opened again...

-----

Princeton opened the door and walked around the corner and turned to the assembled group in the hall. He noticed the shocked look of 'What in the hell are you doing?!??' on James' face.

"Forgive me your majesty," he said, "But there is one diplomat who has arrived late for the funeral, and he must be allowed to enter. Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to introduce the new Ambassador to Iansisle from the nation of Larkinia." He turned and bowed slightly.

After he bowed, bootsteps could be heard resonating through the chamber. "It's all right," a voice said, "I know the Duchess is missing something near to her heart..." At first the crowd saw the same silver silken T-Shirt he'd worn on the flight, stained in his blood where the bullethole could still be seen, his forearms still slashed from his escape, and a familiar grin as they looked at who would dare to interrupt.

Jeff rounded the corner and took a few steps in, "... And I'd like to deliver that to her," he said, looking like hammered sh*t.

Katherine dropped her flowers and brought her hands to her mouth, "Jeff? she was barely able to say.

"You didn't think that something like a plane crash would keep me from coming back to you did you sweetheart?"

He turned to James, "Your majesty, I believe I have a fact-finding report to deliver to you. At your convienience."

He then looked at the stunned faces assembled before him. "What's wrong? Why the sad faces? Geez, you act like someone died..."

Fred cleared his throat and pointed at the casket.

"... Oh yeah! Funeral! Right.! Well, Fred and I will wait out here," Jeff gestured to the door behind him, "Until you guys are done."

"...Conner!"

((d'oh!))

"James?" she asked quietly, "Where's Julie?"

It took a couple seconds for the question to sink in. And then James glanced about. "I, uh, I don't know." A side door opened...

"Forgive me your majesty," he said, "But there is one diplomat who has arrived late for the funeral, and he must be allowed to enter. Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to introduce the new Ambassador to Iansisle from the nation of Larkinia."

James took a deep gulp. In the very back of the room, Weathers and Lawrence were busy staring at their senior officer, wondering what the hell he was doing.

"Katana's already appointed a new ambassador?" he heard John say in a very quiet whisper.

"You didn't think that something like a plane crash would keep me from coming back to you did you sweetheart?"

He turned to James, "Your majesty, I believe I have a fact-finding report to deliver to you. At your convienience."

He then looked at the stunned faces assembled before him. "What's wrong? Why the sad faces? Geez, you act like someone died..."

Fred cleared his throat and pointed at the casket.

"... Oh yeah! Funeral! Right.! Well, Fred and I will wait out here," Jeff gestured to the door behind him, "Until you guys are done."

It's a good thing Iansisle wasn't a cartoon land; James didn't have any idea how he'd be able to maintain the dignity of the crown with his jaw scraping on the ground.

The entire room was completely silent. Everyone, with the exception of a few foreign dignitaries in attendance, knew Jeff's face almost as well as their own. But it was impossible; he was dead. Everyone also knew that.

(I'll let Kate respond to Jeff's grand enterence first. Really liked the first line, by the way. Really tugged the old heart strings (almost as much as Ag's Roberto and son :P))

((d'oh!))

(No worries, half the time I type it I forget how I spelled it ;) )

But it was impossible; he was dead. Everyone also knew that.

(*from above* "Son, I'm captain Jeff Williams. Savvy?" :P )

Katherine stood still a moment, she couldn't believe it. He was dead.

No he's not the little voice in the back of her mind had kept telling her.

"Daddy!!" Julie and Marcus ran up to Jeff from their pew, with Conner's smaller legs churning to keep up with them.

Jeff dropped down long enough to sweep the three of them up in his arms and picked them up.

"I missed you guys," he said kissing each of them in turn, and again for good measure.

Katherine half-walked, half-ran up to Jeff behind the children. She stopped short as Jeff put the children back on the ground. She reached out unbelieving, touching his cheek with the tips of her fingers. She gasped as she touched real flesh, not the visions in her dreams.

"Jeff!" she cried as she flew into his arms. Holding onto him with every ounce of life in her body, the two kissed in the middle of the astonished crowd.

"Jeff!" she cried as she flew into his arms. Holding onto him with every ounce of life in her body, the two kissed in the middle of the astonished crowd.

Niven exchanged a glance with James, "I'm gonna hug him, then I'm gonna kill him." he winked.

Jeff held onto Katherine as he kissed her neck. Through his clenched eyes, James, Niven, John and the others could see the tears flowing down his cheeks, his body starting to convulse.

"I love you," he whispered to Katherine as the children hugged their mommy and daddy.

"I didn't want to believe you were dead," she whispered back.

"I'll always be with you," he replied, kissing her neck again.

Jeff felt his chest start to flutter, his vision started to fade in and out and he started to slip back into the darkness.

"Are you all right?" Katherine asked.

"Yeah, I'm just so happy.. so happy to be with you... one more time."

"One more time?" Katherine whispered, alarmed.

Jeff flinched as he felt the poison's dagger stab into his heart. He dropped to his knees.

"I.... love.... you..." he said, as his hand slipped from hers in the fall.

No... God please... not now. Not that I'm with her. NO!!! DAMN YOU!! Why do you have to steal away everyone I love....

The thought was the last to cross into Jeff's mind before he hit the marble floor.

Katherine tried to shake Jeff awake, "Jeff?!? Come on! Don't leave me now!"

Julie and Marcus helped Katherine, "Daddy!? Wake up! You're here now!" while Conner reached over and shook Jeff's foot.

EDIT: Cue Music

*snip*...
will you be on the other side
or will you forget me
i'm dying praying bleeding and screaming
am i too lost to be saved
am i too lost?

my God my tourniquet
return to me salvation
my God my tourniquet
return to me salvation

my wounds cry for the grave
my soul cries for deliverance
will i be denied Christ

Everyone in the room looked toward the back doors as they burst open to the sound of a tiger....

[rise second strain of music: William Tell Overture:]

A fiery tiger with the speed of light,
a cloud of dust and a sudden "Hey-No Meow!"
The Diplomat Errant rides again!
Return with her now to those
Thrilling Days of Angst ridden International Highjinks!"


The yells of people could be heard from outside the Cathedral. After all, there was a tiger loose!

Sir Meow slammed open the door. He saw the small group of people in the center aisle aroud the man, the man who was dying. Well Sir Meow just did what he thought was best, (he took his own council in such emergency) ran strait for the small family group. The creature was almost silent in his movement across the floor. The cat seemed to thow itself into Kathrine pushing her off the body of her dying husband. It seemed to know that she would likely interfere with his mistress attempts to save the poor soul.

Ann appeared in the doorway and hesitated, the athletic five ten frame and short blond hair were framed by the sunlight streaming in. Ann's blue green eyes were adjusting to the change in light, and the realization...Oh this is so f*** f***ed up.

Ann's eyes became fixated on the figure on the floor. Only prefrially seeing Sir Meow push a woman off him. She returned to running. She tossed the gray platic case with the red cross on it towards an elderly man in a rear pew as She shouted, "Emergency, clear the way!"

Her right hand grapped into a pocket of her sleevles yellow summer dress pulling out a pocket knife. Thumbing out the small blade.

The Baroness's left hand was carrying a syringe; the long needle looking like some pervted form of a dagger, sheethed in a blue plastic tip.

Ann raised the needle to her mouth and pulled off the protective cap with her teeth. The hollow sound of hard plastic hitting stone echoed in the cavernous space as it hit the floor.

Ann dropped to her knees and slid across the last few feet of of marble flooring to Jeff. Pushing one of the children aside with not so much a word. The left hand grabbed at the shirt colar, the needle brushing against Jeff's face. The right hand led the short blade through the shirt collar and down to his waist.
Her left hand flew back up over her head, as though she were going to plunge the syringe strait through him.

The needle plunged through the septum and into the heart with a sicking sound. The syringe then slammed 60cc of anidote and opiate into Jeff's heart.


In Jeff's body the liquid began to attack the venom, snapping it into two harmless chemicals. The opiate began to relax the heart slightly, allowing it to actually contract and expand once again.

The motor cortex was still under attack, but the nerve cells hadn't started to die yet from loss of oxygen.


Ann then dropped her head down on his chest to listen for a heart beat. Her hands gripped Jeffs body. She was panicking that she was too late and seemed to be attempting to squeeze the life back into him. The engineer whispered to her patient and perhaps God, "Please don't die...Please..."

Oh s*** I hope this is the right man, otherwise I just killed a heart attack victim poped into her head. I just assumed, oh f*** oh f***, I am so f***ing f***ed...f*** f*** f***..."Oh f*** he has [i]kids?" was blurted out as her eyes locked onto those of the young boy.

OOC: We, isn't this fun...Man "dies" at own funeral...then brought back to life by foreign woman
http://www.eng.auburn.edu/users/donatgw/Ann.jpg
and her pet tiger
Hey this deserves to be Wombated!

(LOL, and Jeff looks up at Ann, "Katherine... you look so different in heaven... " ;) )

Julie and Marcus just watch as Ann slams the syringe into Jeff's chest (you sure it's Ann and Sir Meow and not John Travolta and Eric Stoltz? :P Cause I'm having a very Pulp Fiction moment here...) while Conner looks back at Ann and pointed at Jeff. "Daddy," is all he could say.

"Hey!" Katherine said to the tiger, "What the hell is going on? Who're you?"

((sorry about ditching you last night, Lark...I couldn't keep my eyes open long enough to make a good night post ;)))

General panic would best be the word to describe the effect of a loose tiger on the assembled Ianapalites. They scattered before the oncoming diplomat like bowling pins. A few quicker wits thought to call the police, but they really wanted no part of it.

“‘E’s not mauling no one any’ow,” said one constable while edging closer to a nearby building.

When the beast started ascending the building which contained most all of Iansisle’s eggs, however, a few people started getting nervous. One or two K.I.G. men tried to impede their progress, but found themselves bowled over by the oversized cat.

Meanwhile, "I'm gonna hug him, then I'm gonna kill him." he winked.

James could only stammer in disbelief. He had seen the official results of the search himself, and as much as he’d wanted to continue the search, he’d been assured there was no chance of Jeff still being alive.

How he managed to pick his way through the jam-packed cathedral, almost every other occupant of which was also trying to bull their way closer to the returned Duke of Williams, James’d never remember. But just as he stood a couple yards away, and trying to shove some naval officer or another out of his way, Jeff collapsed. He heard Katherine cry out, and bodily shoved the man in his way to one side.

But just as James made his way up, a large tiger burst through the double doors and knocked Katherine back. He caught her as best as he could. There was no time to think.

((Pulp Fiction...well...I just liked the metaphor of having to stick into his heart by Ann...or are you saying Jeff looks like Uma Thurman? Although my use of the f*** is now running second to only Tarantino
himself))

The Klatchian Tiger just sat down and looked at everyone. It didn't say or make any noise. (After all it was a tiger, not an elf, an orc, or some other creature that could make human noises, or answer questions.)

As Jeff's heart began to beat more strongly, sending blood through his body, along with the antidote and a good deal of semi-halluciagenic drug and relaxant. Ann breathed a sigh of relief....

"Yes...your daddy" She said to Conner and then sat back into a prone postion, placing her hand on the Duke's neck and checking his pulse.

"Ah, where is the other passenger from the plane that augered into Dun Adein?" She asked in a commanding contraalto. Her eyes darted around the room, looking for someone.

*grumble*

For a few seconds, it seemed as though Weathers and Lawrence would interfere with the process, but needles and opiates were certainly familiar enough medical tools to their eyes.

Ann could hear a faint "Here!" cried from behind the sea of military men and just see a hand waving above their heads. Fred tried to elbow his way through to the front, but was constantly pushed back by those bigger and more well-placed socially.

((sorry about ditching you last night, Lark...I couldn't keep my eyes open long enough to make a good night post ;)))

(No worries man, if I hadn't been busy mixing some food around, I'd have been asleep too) ;)

How he managed to pick his way through the jam-packed cathedral, almost every other occupant of which was also trying to bull their way closer to the returned Duke of Williams, James’d never remember. But just as he stood a couple yards away, and trying to shove some naval officer or another out of his way, Jeff collapsed. He heard Katherine cry out, and bodily shoved the man in his way to one side.

But just as James made his way up, a large tiger burst through the double doors and knocked Katherine back. He caught her as best as he could. There was no time to think.

Katherine looked back between Ann and James, who'd caught her before she hit the floor, "What's wrong with him?"

Conner looked down at Jeff and back up at Ann. He didn't know what happened (being only.. 4 I think) but knew that something important had happened. He wrapped his small arms around her arm, "T'ank 'ou."

((I can not figure this forum out))

Ann twisted herself around at the sound. "Ah, could you please let whoever that is through? I don't care to be trying to find his dying body in among the pews." She smiled at the four year old but returned to staring at the crowd between herself and the other passenger.

However Conner discovered that his hair was now being scruffled with by the strange woman.

edit: Forgot I was writting Ann not Sutton or the Crawford girls.

((go figure...after trying to view this post 20 times, I click the button and go to grab a bite to eat. Then come back and see that it went through :?))

A path reluctantly cleared itself for Fred, who shuffled forward. He seemed quite embarrassed by the fact that so many eyes of blue blood were upon him.

"Um, I, uh, don't think...what I mean is," he stammered, wringing his hands together while words deserted him. "I feel all right, I mean."

Conner smiled at Ann as she talked to the crowd.

Dr. Niven, himself never really one to stand on ceremony at times like this, took Fred by the arm, "Come on, don't let these people push you around," he said to him. Niven pushed ahead, moving people aside as he needed to, taking a little relish in giving a little harder shove to Tarriff, D'Carlonia or Dirwisham if they happened to be in his way.

He stopped in front of Ann with Fred, "here you go ma'am," he said before kneeling down and taking Jeff's head in his hands, "God son, what have you gotten into?"

James helped Kate back to her feet, though he was only able to spare a passing glance for Fred.

"He's probably got the yellow fever," called someone knowingly from the back of the room, ever willing to demonstrate the extent of their own ignorance.

"More like been shot," someone else shouted, eager to make themselves heard. "Look at the hole in his chest!"

"Maybe they shot him with poison arrows!"

"Fool - an arrow wouldn't leave a hole like that. More like poison bullets."

"Keep silent!" snarled James, afraid that the incessant chattering might disturb the actual medical professionals. And there was silence.

Niven looked at the hole in Jeff's chest (and around the syringe still sticking in his heart, gotta leave it there :P ) curiously, "I'm going to have to get this looked at," he said gravely.

Katherine grasped James' hand to steady herself, "Is he going to be all right dad?"

(let me know when I can wake Jeff up)

"Ah...well..." Ann was looking at everyone. "Alright, you young man take a seat, if you start to feel any pain holler. Second, is there a doctor in this monument?" She turned to Kate and Nevin and the rest.

"I'm afraid it is not yellow fever, this man appears to have been posioned by the Gallaga Dart Plant. It's lucky that we noticed his blood on the plant and I....well...hurried over with the first aid kit."
She was looking around hoping someone with medical knowledge might poke their nose out.
"Unfortunatly, I only have a small first aid pamphlet to go by and a somewhat obscure memory of a recent text on exotic plant toxins I was reading...fairly much luck and the ability of a tiger to clear crowds that we got here when we did. I've admistered a pre-manufactured antidote, with some short term side effects."

She shrugs..."I only got a B in emergency med back in the Acadamy. I'd prefer to have an expert toxins take a look at him...or even a primary care doctor."

She noticed the fact that the needle was still in his chest. "Ah, where is the first aid kit? I can at least get the willy stick out of him."

Somewhere from the back pews came a shouting, "Let me through...Damn it let me through."

Ann just sort pulled Conner close to her.

Sir Meow decided that the kid wasn't a bad coustomer. He padded over and nuzzled the four year old. His Red eyes likely didn't seem scary, more gentle...as red eyes could be gentle.

(Waking up and side effects are yours to play with although I'd say nothing permenant....enjoy "No Post Mode Specified")

"Ah...well..." Ann was looking at everyone. "Alright, you young man take a seat, if you start to feel any pain holler. Second, is there a doctor in this monument?" She turned to Kate and Nevin and the rest.

Niven chuckles and winks at James, "I'm a doctor, ma'am," he said standing up. "Devon Niven, doctor and adopted father of the ... well... no longer deceased."

"I'm afraid it is not yellow fever, this man appears to have been posioned by the Gallaga Dart Plant. It's lucky that we noticed his blood on the plant and I....well...hurried over with the first aid kit."

"Unfortunatly, I only have a small first aid pamphlet to go by and a somewhat obscure memory of a recent text on exotic plant toxins I was reading...fairly much luck and the ability of a tiger to clear crowds that we got here when we did. I've admistered a pre-manufactured antidote, with some short term side effects."

She shrugs..."I only got a B in emergency med back in the Acadamy. I'd prefer to have an expert toxins take a look at him...or even a primary care doctor."

Niven nods as she speaks, "Trust me, my dear. I've got years of experience taking care of Jeff. Literally, everytime I turn around he's in the infirmary." he turned to James, "Your majesty, can we reserve his usual bed in Dun Adien infirmary?"

Ann just sort pulled Conner close to her.

Sir Meow decided that the kid wasn't a bad coustomer. He padded over and nuzzled the four year old. His Red eyes likely didn't seem scary, more gentle...as red eyes could be gentle.

Conner smiled at Sir Meow in only a way a four-year old could at a huge tiger. Julie and Marcus walked over to their little brother and looked at Sir Meow with amazed eyes.

"Wow, is that a real tiger?" Julie asked.

"Can we pet him?" Marcus asked.

Katherine walked over to Ann, looking down at the needle still sticking in Jeff's chest and the bullet hole next to it, "I... I should apologize for before. Thank you," she said, still stunned.

Jeff's eyes fluttered a little, and he slowly opened them as the group talked, or gawked. The first thing he noticed was a syringe stuck into his chest. He looked at it a moment, he knew he should have been surprised but at this point..

"There's a big ass needle stuck in my chest," he said to no one in particular.

The needle moved up and down, wiggling as his heart beat.

Jeff cocked at eyebrow at the needle's movement, "Well that's interesting..." he said before his head hit the floor again.

"Wait your own turn!" someone said harshly to the guy who'd shouted. "Honestly, you'd think we were in Italy or something with people that impatient!"

Up front, Ashley had hurried, despite John and Elizabeth's best efforts to hold her back, to her adopted cousins' sides.

"This isn't a Gallagan tiger," she said matter-of-factly and with as much dignity as a six year old really can muster. (guessing on the age as compared to Conner...sound right to you, Lark?)

"Look, he's moving!" someone called.

"Wait, not anymore!"

"All right!" said James forcefully. "That's it - everyone out!" No one moved.

"You can't order us out of the house of God," said one smart-ass indignantly.

“Yeah!” a few others echoed.

“I can and I am. Now, out!” James repeated. Christin came up and put a hand on his shoulder.

“They’re just trying to help,” she whispered. Of course, to the gathered crowd, it may well have been “I’ve called in an air strike, honey.” After all, she was an Imitoran. There was a mad rush out the side doors.

Up front, Ashley had hurried, despite John and Elizabeth's best efforts to hold her back, to her adopted cousins' sides.

"This isn't a Gallagan tiger," she said matter-of-factly and with as much dignity as a six year old really can muster. (guessing on the age as compared to Conner...sound right to you, Lark?)

(Sounds about right, she'd be like, 6 and a third or half I think)

"It's not?" Marcus asked.

"What kinda tiger is it?" Julie eagerly asked her cousin.

“They’re just trying to help,” she whispered. Of course, to the gathered crowd, it may well have been “I’ve called in an air strike, honey.” After all, she was an Imitoran. There was a mad rush out the side doors.

( :lol: But you know all of those people are outside, that'll be interesting ;) )

With the sudden realization of dread that she was dealing with King James, her mouth went dry. The fact that no one moved when the King ordered it seemed a bit strange, although the wheels in her mind went running down a new direction when the woman spoke.

She looked at the children, "No that's a Klatchian Tiger, his name is Sir Meow and you can pet him."

Ann turned to Kathrine and just mubbled "Ah, what...Oh your welcome. Just doing my job." She shrugged, not knowing what to say really. After all she was now hitting the ebb of a adreniline rush.

"Doing your job?" The shrill voice coming out of Lord Astbury. "Your job was to sit and conteplate your failure as a diplomat, and answer the damn phone. Not go galavanting around saving lives. What the bloody were you doing anywhere near some toxic plant anyway?"

Ann seemed to almost take the blow physically. She flinched, and turned sideways to the advancing diplomat.

(No pink elephants, burning shperes of doom...not even a talking syringe?)

(There will be when he wakes up again, I just wanted to post something and I got sidetracked on another project at work. I remembered you said there'd be side effects, just working on what they are.. I like the talking syringe and the burning sphere of doom...)

"We can?" Julie asked excitedly, slowly putting her hand on Sir Meow's back, while Marcus and Conner petted his forelegs.

Katherine turned when the new voice shrilled into the group, she'd had just about enough. "Now who in the hell are you??"

*Bad forums!*

*somebody look out, the forums ride again! ;) *

(Ah, sorry although at the moment I'm tired and wishing I could go to sleep but my neibors are having a party (actually the work crew on the house is...^%$^&%$&^%$)

Sir Meow didn't seem to mind, he just sat down again. Children didn't hurt Cats but grown-ups did. He didn't dwell on the past scenes of violence but just leveled his gaze at the annoying man. Pray I...eat mean man...help mama much was his thought*

Lord Astbury stopped. "I'm the Ambassador for Alcona and Hubris. This socialist sympathiser is supposed to be my Aide. However, her recent failures have led me to demand her recall..."

Ann seemed to take offence at the socialist comment.

"If you weren't my superior I'd demand satisfaction here and now you pompus twit. I've had it up to here, you dumped that load of New Highlands crap on me. Left me in a meeting with your so called socialist revolutionary God what I wouldn't love to gut you like a pig and splay your entrails on the ground as you watch, your mouth filled with your own castrated d...e..l...a..u..r..e..a..m..a." She recalled that their were children present.

"You wouldn't dare...pissy overhyped base born b***. Your inability to realize that just because you can cut down your social superiors on the feild of honor does not give you any rights to threaten me. The last time you slew one of your betters they chucked you out here...." The voice and stance were brave, but the eyes showed fear.

"If you weren't my superior I'd demand satisfaction here and now you pompus twit. I've had it up to here, you dumped that load of New Highlands crap on me. Left me in a meeting with your so called socialist revolutionary God what I wouldn't love to gut you like a pig and splay your entrails on the ground as you watch, your mouth filled with your own castrated d...e..l...a..u..r..e..a..m..a." She recalled that their were children present.

"You wouldn't dare...pissy overhyped base born b***. Your inability to realize that just because you can cut down your social superiors on the feild of honor does not give you any rights to threaten me. The last time you slew one of your betters they chucked you out here...." The voice and stance were brave, but the eyes showed fear.

Katherine cocked an eyebrow at the 'base born' comment but was cut off by the voice of, of all people, Jeff.

-----

Jeff's eyes flashed open and he sat up quickly. His face flushed as his heart rate redlined with the anti-toxins.

"Now listen here, my good-mannered..." Jeff started at Astbury, "That's quite enough from..."

Jeff's eyes widened as he tried to focus on Astbury's face. Dear God!! The man's face went fuzzy like Van Gogh painted it.. then when he blinked.. eyes were on top of each other, his mouth was where he ear should have been. It was like he stepped into a Picasso painting.

"Gah! Dear god!" he said stepping back from the man. "Good god man! You're not allowed to talk until you get your mouth out of your ear and straighten up. We're in front of the king, for god's sake man!"

The king.. James! That's right.

He turned around, at that point the room was spinning in colors... colors like Jefferson Airplane video. James, Niven, John and Elizabeth, all of the faces in the room were flying around the spinning colors. He looked around the room again and saw... yes, someplace he could lie down and get some rest.

"Right! Until this room stops spinning, I think I need some rest."

He walked to the front of the room, syringe still stuck in his chest, lied down in his coffin and pulled the lid down.

(how's that?)

"It's not?" Marcus asked.

"What kinda tiger is it?" Julie eagerly asked her cousin.

"It's a..." Ashley trailed off, realizing she didn't know.

She looked at the children, "No that's a Klatchian Tiger, his name is Sir Meow and you can pet him."

"A Klatchian Tiger?" asked Ashley eagerly. She was an avid student of children's picture books on wildlife and the Iansislean editions in Noropia were somewhat limited - they mainly concerned animals found in the Empire, though some newer editions even contained facts from the distant Walmingtonian empire in Africa. The lack of detail was more than compensated for by the books' gross inaccuracy. "He's really big, ma'am!"

"'That New Highlands crap'?" demanded James, a little indignant.

"Mommy, what does 'crap' mean?" asked Ashley.

"Shh, dear, let's go play in the other room," said Elizabeth, taking her hand firmly.

"I don't want to go!" Ashley insisted. "I wanna stay here and pet Sir Meow!"

"Honey, this is big people talk...Don't you want to go play outside instead?"

"No! I wanna pet Sir Meow!" Ashley's crys of protest were climbing in volume.

"John?" asked Elizabeth in a plea for help.

"Go with your mother, Ash," he said with a smile. "Maybe the nice lady will let you take the tiger."

Given Ann's preoccupation with exchanging verbal blows at the moment, that didn't seem forthcoming. However Ashley put her head down and nodded.

"I'll take the other children too," Elizabeth whispered to Kate.

Sir Meow nodded and rose up again. He seemed to think that removing the children was a good idea also. In fact Conner seemed to get a start when he found himself ridding backwards down the aisle on the tiger's back.

Ann's attention and mind went blank as Jeff rose up and startled her....well perhaps everyone, by demanding that the Ambassador reagrange his face. Then proceded to walk down to the apse of the church and get in his own coffin.
"Ah, well...he seems to be dealing with the side effects...Ah, we should really get him out of there...he might suddenly go paranoid or something..."

She ran towards the coffin, hoping that it wasn't one of those locking kind to keep greedy funeral directors from recycling your coffin on you.

The Ambassador bowed to the King, "Your Majesty, I'm sorry you had to see the unfortunate side of Alconian politics. Occassionally we all have those who seem unable to understand their proper place."

Conner blinked a couple of times as he realized he was on Sir Meow's back, facing backwards, moving down the chamber.

"Oooohh!" Marcus said, "I wanna ride!"

"Me too!" Julie smiled.

Niven kept a nervous eye on Conner, hoping he didn't fall off.

Katherine watched Jeff close the coffin and turned to Ann, "Ummm, what other side effects are there going to be?"

"Jeff?" called James, who started to join the general rush after his friend. However, the Alconian ambassador stood in his way.

"Your Excellency," he said coldly. "Unless you kindly step out of my way and into your proper place, I may have to show you the uglier side of Iansislean politics."

Elizabeth, meanwhile, led the children into a nearby side room, Ashley joining in the asking for a tiger ride.

"Jeff?" called James, who started to join the general rush after his friend. However, the Alconian ambassador stood in his way.

James' voice seemed to snap Jeff back into reality.

"James??" his voice came from inside the coffin.

"Where the hell am I???"

Sir Meow is forced to devour another double post...(No post mode specified my a**!)

Sir Meow followed Elizabeth. Since he had never attended any service here before, and the humans were running about chasing the sick one, He decided that she was the one to follow. After all, he had 'furless cubs' with him also, maybe this was the place for 'furless cubs'.

Ann looked at Kathrine and said..."Well, I understand he's going to be hallucinating until his liver and kidneys get the relaxant out of his system. Here's the pamphlet. She hands the woman the small folded peice of paper. She then attempted to open the coffin.

The Alconian Ambassador just seemed to be shock still for a moment and then bowed out of the way.

James' voice seemed to snap Jeff back into reality.

"James??" his voice came from inside the coffin.

"Where the hell am I???"

James continued to completely ignore the Alconian ambassador and ran up to the coffin's side.

"Jeff! It's all right - we'll have you out in a second. The medicine you had to take is making you slightly delerious. Don't worry, we're here!"

"What? what medicine? why is there a needle in my chest??"

James could hear a thumping from inside the coffin before Jeff's next question.

"Who's Jeff?"

(OOC: I was only joking about the locking mechanism there...Had to spend my last english class in highschool listening to 'why you should cremate'...the class. :roll: )

Ann was getting fustrated by the coffin and decided to use something more drastic to get it open. Like a nice long metal pole of some kind, a candle stand or music stand, or perhaps even a nice metal cross.

(Oh man, that must have been fun. What do you teach?)

"Everyone stand back," jeff said from inside the casket.

"Who's Jeff?" repeated James softly. "He...he's joking," he assured himself. But something in Jeff's tone seemed to indicate otherwise.

"W-what're you going to do?" he asked the coffin.

(OOC: Grad Student in Chemical Engineering, Unit Operations 'special' instructor-translation fixes things and keeps the chem car team from killing themselves...)

Ann stopped attempting to wrench a large, iron scone from the wall to use as a 'Model 1 coffin de-locker'

"Well, when it doubt it never hurts to try and punch your way out of a situation.. or a wet paper bag," Jeff said.

"Wait a damned minute," Niven said walking over to the coffin. He turned to Ann who had been looking at a cross. "My dear, if you could bring that over here."

(Oh dear lord! Chemical engineering!?! Damn! I got about as far as calc 3 before flaming out. My hat's off to you!)

Ann had decided against taking the cross and well, violating a few sacred laws. But she handed the heavy metal object to Nevin with little question.

"If you could press down in a moment," he said setting the cross as far under the lid as possible.

"Hey!" Jeff said from inside the coffin as the edge of the cross cut the padding and cut his temple.

"Now," Niven said, placing one hand further down the coffin, "Push!"

Niven gripped the lid and pulled as hard as he could. The wood started creaking and groaning before the lid flew off of the coffin.

(Oh dear lord! Chemical engineering!?! Damn! I got about as far as calc 3 before flaming out. My hat's off to you!)

Supposedly I'm supposed to know Chaos theory...I got an A in it after all...*shivers* bifurcation plot with eucuric perodic attractor and three dimensional phase line...horror... No, I actually failed calc 3...I couldn't understand the prof the first time :?

James, even as one of the more secular rulers in Iansisle's history, couldn't help but be a little uncomfortable at the coming sacrilege. But what had to be done, had to be done.

(Oh dear lord! Chemical engineering!?! Damn! I got about as far as calc 3 before flaming out. My hat's off to you!)

((And I'm especially impressed! I flamed out a good deal before Calc 3 ;)))

OOC: Yeah, leverage...which is what I was up to, somewhat but more basterdly

IC: Ann lost her grip on the cross as the lid gave way falling forward into the coffin and broken lid.

(Oh dear lord! Chemical engineering!?! Damn! I got about as far as calc 3 before flaming out. My hat's off to you!)

Supposedly I'm supposed to know Chaos theory...I got an A in it after all...*shivers* bifurcation plot with eucuric perodic attractor and three dimensional phase line...horror... No, I actually failed calc 3...I couldn't understand the prof the first time :?

(No way! I took chaos theory at the community college here as an honors class and pulled a B in it! And it was that horrific! I skipped calc 3 and took advance prob, combinatorics and stats. I got a 40% for the semester and that earned me a C. I took that as a sign.. and now I work for a newspaper.. *sigh* )

Jeff sat up, bleeding from the temple, the needle bouncing around with each heartbeat. "Wow, remind me not to fly 'tourister class' next time," he said, "they treat you just like you're luggage."

He looked around the room. "Now then...

... Who are all you people?"

--snip -- Nevin --snip--

(*is cautiously optimistic at the Padres' chances of not sucking as bad as usual next year* :P

As for chaos theory and so forth...um, well, after the ‘C’ I earned in Calc I, I ran as hard as I could to a liberal arts major ;)))

Jeff sat up, bleeding from the temple, the needle bouncing around with each heartbeat. "Wow, remind me not to fly 'tourister class' next time," he said, "they treat you just like you're luggage."

James just had time to think Ah, he was joking.

He looked around the room. "Now then...

... Who are all you people?"

And then, for the second time in fifteen minutes, he thanked God he wasn't a cartoon character.

"W-we're your family!" he insisted lamely.

OOC: My minor was Archeology...which was a bit weird...thank god for AP credits. (Niven sorry...)

Ann grabbed Jeff by the arm and said "Ah, we need to get the syringe out of you sir..."

And then, for the second time in fifteen minutes, he thanked God he wasn't a cartoon character.

"W-we're your family!" he insisted lamely.

"Come on Jeff," Katherine said, her eyes pleading, "You remember, don't you."

Katherine's voice and James' voice cut through the hallucination in Jeff's mind. His eyes started to register...

"F... family?" he asked looking around.

"Right! Family!" He exclaimed as he bounded out of the coffin. "Who's family?"

He turned to Niven with a smile, "D..." he was cut off.

In his mind Niven's face had just melted in front of him.

"Gah!!!!!" he jumped back.

Niven looked at Jeff curiously, "That's a new reaction."

"This isn't any good," said James with a shake of his head. "We ought to get him somewhere he can lay down at once!"

"The RSU medical center is probably closer than the Dun Adien infirmary," said Christin with concern.

Ann grabbed Jeff by the arm and said "Ah, we need to get the syringe out of you sir..."

"Yes, of course," Jeff said, looking back down at his chest. "I was wondering when I grew a new appendage..."

"This isn't any good," said James with a shake of his head. "We ought to get him somewhere he can lay down at once!"

"The RSU medical center is probably closer than the Dun Adien infirmary," said Christin with concern.

"That's all right, I'm perfectly fine," Jeff said turning to Weathers. "Weathers, I don't suppose there's a bottle of vodka in this hotel is there?"

Ann decided to play along..."Ah vodka right this way..." attempting to lead him back towards the grey medical case.

"Here, Jeff, we'll help you to it."

James walked slowly up and took Jeff's arm.

Katherine looked at James, "Yeah, I think you could use a good strong drink Jeff."

"That's a great idea," Jeff said, walking with Ann towards some kind of box.

(You guys'll let me know when I go over the top, won't you? ;) )

Ann led Jeff to the last pew and the abandoned case. The old man had left it unopened. She kicked it open with her foot and said "Have a seat sir, the bartender will be right with you."

(no way! I'm itching for revenge from the Laughlin incident :P)

(OOC: Over the top, amnesia is over the top?))

(Well, it's part amnesia, part Johnny Depp from "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas". I-Man, why did I know you were gonna say that ;) )

Jeff sat down at the pew, "all right, you wouldn't believe the last few weeks I've had..."

OOC: Okay...I don't see it but...hey...no one got my lone ranger bit :cry:

IC: Ann smiled and knelt for a moment, grabbing up a self ahesive guaz patch. She said to Kathrine, "Ah why don't you serve him his drink?"
She seemed to mouth "Kiss him" after the statement.

(Well, the freaking out, the not having a clue.. above and beyond his usual cluelessness ;) )

Katherine nods, "Of course, but first, you have no idea how glad we all are to see you," she said before kissing Jeff.

Ann grasped the syringe and pulled it out. Placing the adhesive gauze over both wounds.

Jeff winced when the syringe came out, but when the kiss ended he just looked at Katherine, "Loving you so much it hurts... now that I do remember," he said to her.

James stood by and watched, feeling quite helpless.

From almost the back row, a previously unnoticed pair of eyes watched on keenly.

There appeared a hurt look in Ann's eyes at the comment. As though she felt betrayed or had a painful memory of someone saying the exact same thing.

(OOC:Hmm, I think that was him just moving across the stage then...)

James stood by and watched, feeling quite helpless.

From almost the back row, a previously unnoticed pair of eyes watched on keenly.

(Hmmmm... would Niven catch wind of this IanCorp reporter? :P )

(he might catch a scent of the Earl of Dirwisham ;))

(Oh, oh yeah.. :twisted: )

Jeff reached up, the nightmare in his mind was slowly peeling away. He could see bits and pieces of reality.

"Kattie?" he asked, looking at her.

Meanwhile, Niven picked up the sounds of someone else in the room, he slipped away from the group, appearing to be sad, and snuck up behind the man hiding in the pew. He reached out to grab the man from behind.

"Doctor - oh pardon me - 'Lord' Niven," said Dirwisham calmly. "I was rather wondering where you'd turn up after so artfully sneaking off. I trust your, ah, 'son' is in good health?"

Ann pulled the needle into a small disposal bin buit into the case and repacked the syringe. She looked up at Jeff for a moment and then around for the doctor. "Damn, where did he run off to?"

(Good night all...)

"Doctor - oh pardon me - 'Lord' Niven," said Dirwisham calmly. "I was rather wondering where you'd turn up after so artfully sneaking off. I trust your, ah, 'son' is in good health?"

(G'night A&H!)

"He's doing quite well," Niven said, putting his hand on the man's shoulder and 'helping' him up. "I'm sure his family will be touched you cared enough to stay around."

Niven started to lead Dirwisham up, "Look who I found, here in the pews," Niven said, "A little church rat .. er mouse."

"Um..." For the first time, James cast a glance about the cathedral. He didn't spot the cat-like Niven, but did see one of his least favorite faces smiling at him from the back row of pews.

Dirwisham...has he been there the entire time?!

((night, A+H!))

"He's doing quite well," Niven said, putting his hand on the man's shoulder and 'helping' him up. "I'm sure his family will be touched you cared enough to stay around."

Niven started to lead Dirwisham up, "Look who I found, here in the pews," Niven said, "A little church rat .. er mouse."

"I really must protest this treatment!" insisted Dirwisham, his jowels bouncing with the sudden movement.

"There's a door back there," said James coldly. "I suggest you use it under your own power...before we have to explore other alternatives."

Jeff slowly stood up, the pieces were starting to fall into place, one at a time, as the antitoxins started slipping through his system.

His eyes flashed with recognition as he looked at James.

"I really must protest this treatment!" insisted Dirwisham, his jowels bouncing with the sudden movement.

"There's a door back there," said James coldly. "I suggest you use it under your own power...before we have to explore other alternatives."

Jeff looked at the man James was talking to. His eyes blazed in anger as he saw the man's face.

"You"

Jeff stormed over with energy he didn't know he had and grasped the man away from Niven. He picked Dirwisham off the ground and pushed him against a stone pillar.

"Jeff!" Katherine shouted.

A brief second of fear flashed through Dirwisham's solid exterior as Jeff bore down on him. "Now just one..." he started, but found himself pinned against the pillar too quickly.

James, who had seen the brief second of recognization, tore after Jeff. "No, wait!" he shouted.

Jeff held Dirwisham against the pillar, "Why? Talk to me now man..."

"Why what? Talk sense, man!"

(Actually he was asking James ;) He's stil in that kinda drugged phase)

( :oops: )

James stopped. He didn't really have a good answer; after all, he'd like to see Dirwisham's head on a stake as much as anyone else in the room.

"Because..it's not how things are done," was all he could come up with.

(That's my bad, I was kinda confusing there ;) )

Jeff nods slowly still fighting the remnants of the drugs as he lowered Dirwisham to the ground, "We do? All right."

"We do," confirmed James, taking another step closer to Jeff. An icy cold gaze was all he reserved for Dirwisham.

However, the Earl brushed off his sleeves and gazed right back. "Well. I attend a state funeral in good faith, only to be accosted by this group of Thugi you associate with," he snorted.

"Your Majesty, I trust I shall have some very interesting things to say in the next session, right after I stop by the International Tower. Good day!" And Dirwisham turned to walk out.

Niven stepped in between Dirwisham and the doorway. "I would think twice about that," he said deathly quiet.

Jeff put his hand on Niven's shoulder. "I don't think we need to worry," he said quietly, "I think the Earl will understand the PR blunder he'd be making. After all, he was the one who sent me out there."

Jeff looked at the Earl, "I'm going to walk out those doors in a moment, in front of that huge group you saw, and they are going to see me as a hero that's come back from the dead. When I tell them you sent me out there to die, think of the backlash you'll feel. IanCorp will eat up this story, me coming back for the ones I love, you'll be portrayed as the bastard you are.

"And if you ever think of speaking out, or threatening my family like this," Jeff pointed at him, and the three blades shot out short of the man's face and retracted almost too fast to be seen. "I've been to hell and back, do you want me to take you where I've been?"

(while Jeff's talking to Dirwisham, Niven's scanning him for a recording or broadcasting device...)

"Lovely toys, Your Grace. Now, if we may discuss as the adults we are, and if I recall correctly, Your Grace, I didn't send you out to die at all," smirked Dirwisham.

"Mr. Tarriff and Lord Inswick sent you to Gallaga on a simple fact finding trip. Also, I know Mr. Halders personally, and I have a very hard time believing he'll lap up such a clearly fabricated fable without any proof whatsoever."

There were no electronic signatures at all from Dirwisham's body; he bowed shortly to the assembled crowd. "And now, once more, I must bid you all adieu."

"Lovely toys, Your Grace. Now, if we may discuss as the adults we are, and if I recall correctly, Your Grace, I didn't send you out to die at all," smirked Dirwisham.

"Mr. Tarriff and Lord Inswick sent you to Gallaga on a simple fact finding trip. Also, I know Mr. Halders personally, and I have a very hard time believing he'll lap up such a clearly fabricated fable without any proof whatsoever."

"Mr. Halders will be too busy counting all the money he'll be making from the filming of this tale," Jeff said,

Niven nods, "NivenCo will make sure of that."

"After all, if it's only fiction, then it'll rake in more cash, more people will see it, and I can take more liberties with you" Jeff continued, "Don't worry, I'll get someone suitably ugly to play you. And don't worry about your lapdogs, I'll deal with them in my own time."

Jeff then nodded, "I agree, you should be making your exit." He nods to Princeton, "Sir, can you see the Earl ... out?"

(*turns to James.. "Awwww... can't I just kill him?!?!?!"* :P )

"Um.." Princeton glanced from the Earl to James, who nodded. After all, throwing out the cabinet's second-ranking minister wasn't a choice to be undertaken by a mere sergeant of the guards. He advanced on Dirwisham, who turned on his heels and marched for the doors with an understated dignity.

"By the way, Your Grace," he called from the door. "Lord Inswick will doubtlessly be wanting that report on Shieldian-Calarcan relations in the Confederacy in the next few days." And then Dirwisham was gone.

(*turns to James.. "Awwww... can't I just kill him?!?!?!"* :P )

(("I'm sorry Jeff, that just isn't how we do things...I learned so on Seseme Street" ;)))

Jeff took the humiliation of Dirwisham's last statement like a physical blow, clutching his chest where the bullet had entered him.

"He's right," Jeff said looking down.

"No he's not," Katherine said, "People like that always get what's coming to them."

Jeff shook his head, "Not this time."

"Maybe not now," said James quietly. "But soon. In Iansisle, governments come and go as they might; we'll still be here. Earl Dirwisham's power is ties to Edward Tarriff and the Conservative Coalition, and they'll have to call a general election in the next year or two."

He smiled. "There's a new liberal tide rising in Iansisle, and I wouldn't be the least surprised if it swept Lord Dirwisham and his cohorts straight out of power."

"Yeah," Jeff said. "God, this is so depressing. I mean, this is a funeral after all."

Jeff smiled at James, "Damn, are you all right? You look like you've seen a ghost."

James would have clapped Jeff on the shoulder if he didn't fear the damage it'd do.

"I did; right out of the worst campfire stories I've ever heard," he grinned. "It's good to have you back - to have you all back.

"Which reminds me: I haven't given up on the idea of taking you to the RSU medical department, so don't even try to get out of it!"

((Suppose we ought to take a break and let A+H catch up?))

James would have clapped Jeff on the shoulder if he didn't fear the damage it'd do.

"I did; right out of the worst campfire stories I've ever heard," he grinned. "It's good to have you back - to have you all back.

"Which reminds me: I haven't given up on the idea of taking you to the RSU medical department, so don't even try to get out of it!"

((Suppose we ought to take a break and let A+H catch up?))

"What do you mean all back?" Jeff asked. "Last thing I knew I was kissing Katherine, then the next thing I knew I was sitting on the pew kissing Katherine and the room was all sorts of interesting colors.."

At the mention of the medical department, Jeff winced, "Umm.. I'm fine. I swear I am. Honest."

Katherine shook her head, "I don't think you're getting out of it this easily," she grinned.

"Well, maybe I can get lost in the crowd," Jeff said.

(We should, there's a lot to go through.)

"Oh, right," said James with a wince. "The crowd. When the, um...the service started, they were supposed to be eight hundred thousand strong, if not more than that! Now that this information's probably been circulated a dozen times about the grape vine..."

"This ought to be fun," grinned John.

"Perhaps not what I had in mind," said James regretfully. "I only hope that many people turn out for my funeral!"

(I really ought to be getting to sleep, anyhow. Good night, man!)

"Oh, right," said James with a wince. "The crowd. When the, um...the service started, they were supposed to be eight hundred thousand strong, if not more than that! Now that this information's probably been circulated a dozen times about the grape vine..."

"This ought to be fun," grinned John.

"Perhaps not what I had in mind," said James regretfully. "I only hope that many people turn out for my funeral!"

"Eight hundred....thousand??" Jeff asked quietly before looking down. "Just for my funeral? It's not like I'm some great lea..." Jeff cut himself off, remembering what Fred told him. "It's hard to believe that I touched that many people."

Jeff shakes his head a moment, an image appeared in his mind's eye. A familiar vision, sardonic smirk, arms crossed, evil glimmer..

And yet you were ready to kill that man in a heartbeat... the reflection from his old dream appeared in his head. You've never changed... just like that night with Grant, you were ready to crush his head against the floor.

(G'Night man!)

((OOC: Er. thanks however what in the hell is Ann going to say about all of this? She is a very good deal out of her depth in 'internal' familiy matters. But unfortunatly, we haven't clear all the bastards out of the room yet...))

Ann wandered back towards the front of the Church. She was stopped by the Ambassador Astbury who had a whispered argument with her.

...b***....loud mouth idiot....socialist harlot....worthless Adel popet....marxist lover...Jack***....

She had turned and stormed up to the apse. The Ambassador grinned in happiness, he loved goading her.
That is one fine body. I wish it were attached to a more willing female, after all destroying her career was fun, but nailing her in the a** would be far more pleasent. Hmmm...well time to go put some more nails in her coffin.

The Ambassador left, happily whistling a tune. With the proper manipulation it would appear as if Ann and Sir Meow had hindered the heroic efforts of Dr. Niven in saving the life of his adopted son.

Ann replaced the now bent cross on the altar. She picked up the remains of the coffin lid and placed them in the coffin. The lack of activity was allowing the darkness close in on her, and the small family group gathered at the other end of the cathedral was not helping matters.

She decided to investigate the Bishop's notes he had left, but that turned into a poor idea. For a woman in her positon reading the many refrences to how Jeff was a great and deserving man, beloved by all was only depressing. She wandered into the choir and sat down again, hunched, shivering....

Tom why? I...loved you as much as that...You said you did too, those very words almost...but then why did you?....you started and you wouldn't stop...it hurt...you didn't seem to care...you just slammed me into the wall harder....you called me a nice "jack off toy"....I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hit you with the sword, I just wanted you to stop...oh god Tom I'm sorry...I did love you...I'm sorry...

Her eyes filled with unshead tears, and she decided not to interfere anymore in what had become a private, family affair. She walked the space between the pews and the wall towards the room that Sir Meow had vanished into , trying to be unabstrusive.

Jeff and Katherine caught a glimpse of Ann hunched over in the choir seats and start to walk off. Jeff shook off the vision in his mind.

You know I'm right, the voice said, drifting away.

Jeff turned to Katherine, "Who's that?" he asked her quietly.

She leaned over and whispered something into Jeff's ear before kissing him.

"Really?" Jeff asked.

He and Katherine walked over to her as she tried to slip away.

"Umm, excuse me..." Jeff started quietly. God he hated not knowing what to say. "I'm Jeff Willi...yeah, you probably knew that already. Umm, anyway, I wanted to thank you for saving my life."

Ann just sort of stood shock still for a second...Her eyes seemed to brighten a bit, then dimmed looking at the two of them. One of the few benifits of this posting had been Iansisle's lack of tolerance for public displays of affection. However, her mind was replaying those kisses, and Jeff's words...

"Oh,...well...I couldn't let an Alconian transport outfit, no matter how rinky dink, be blamed for the death of a noted celebrity...Oh, wait is the other man alright? Oh yes ah, Oh yes Duke Williams right, sort of forgot that...I mean I'm supposed to know that, but hell I mean...well I don't recall you having....Oh flip." She seemed to be attempting to go back, forward and up the wall at the same time. Her voice became more firm.

"I am supposed to be helping Alconian shipping companies deal with the local population, or was. I interperted that sir to include not letting their cargos kill their passengers. I would also respectfully request you have that hole in your chest looked at. Somene might assume We shot you." Somehow she had assumed a postion of parade rest, waiting for the Duke's reply like some junior officer on a superior.

Well he was nice enought to thank me...well he should just dismiss me and Meow as no longer needed

"Oh,...well...I couldn't let an Alconian transport outfit, no matter how rinky dink, be blamed for the death of a noted celebrity...Oh, wait is the other man alright? Oh yes ah, Oh yes Duke Williams right, sort of forgot that...I mean I'm supposed to know that, but hell I mean...well I don't recall you having....Oh flip." She seemed to be attempting to go back, forward and up the wall at the same time. Her voice became more firm.

"Relax, ma'am, there's no reason to be nervous," Jeff said with a soft smile. "God knows enough people get nervous when I'm around. I'm very grateful for what you did. It never even dawned on me that those plants could be dangerous. I guess I had my mind on other things.

"Don't worry, I don't think anyone would accuse your pilots of shooting me. I know exactly who shot me, and would be very happy to tell anyone thinking otherwise."

Jeff looked at Katherine and James, "Now, while these two want to keep me chained to a hospital table forever or something," he started with a grin, "I think the least we could do is invite you and your tiger... that was a tiger I saw right? Not part of my dream? ... over for a drink, or dinner or something. Right James? Private party at Dun Adien?"

Meanwhile approaching Jamestown Place

The cab had been stuck in traffic for a while, and it seemed to be getting worse, there was a large crowd already and it seemed to be spawing, growing.

The passenger sat back, not sure to be fuming or thrilled. He'd received a call earlier that changed his mood....


The cell phone rang, quickly just before the cab arrived.

"Hello"

"Yes sir, I've got good news for you."

"Javin?"

"Yeah, look no time to talk, things are buzzing here with the upcoming elections, but Jeff's not dead. I heard from him earlier. You've got to get to the funeral and tell King James and Jeff's wife if they don't know..."

The passenger flipped a 50 general coin to the cab driver, "Thanks man, I think I'll try and walk it from here, unless you know a quicker way to the funeral."

The man stepped out of the cab, his black dress uniform with the white trim of the Larkinian Aerospace Forces fluttered in the wind, his medals, including Ian's Cross, Third Class shone on his chest. His eyes, framed by regrown black braided dreadlocks, stared at the surging group in front of him, this was not gonna be easy.

Chris Markson grinned to himself, Maybe I should have just made an appointment to see the funeral. It would have been easier... he thought before surging forward towards the building, looking for a KIG man anywhere in the vicinity.

"Don't worry, I don't think anyone would accuse your pilots of shooting me. I know exactly who shot me, and would be very happy to tell anyone thinking otherwise."
OOC: But that would entail telling people about the Disk. Bad idea.

:?

James smiled. "I'm sure that can be arranged, Jeff," he said. "After all, I haven't even gotten a chance to thank you properly, ma'am. In fact, I don't think I've even had the chance to be introduced to you properly."

After formal introductions, James bowed his head slightly. "You have my eternal thanks, Baroness, and those of the Commonwealth. If there's ever anything you need our help with, please feel free to ask." He almost added 'like overbearing assholes in high positions,' but pulled up short.

Outside, a cabbie contemplated the coin. He'd never seen a 50 general piece before in his life. "They were right," he said quietly. "It is best to be a cab-driver in Ianapalis when there's Larkinians about."

An unknown KIG man smiled to Markson as he walked up St. Patrick's steps. "We've been expecting you, sir. Go right on in."

"Don't worry, I don't think anyone would accuse your pilots of shooting me. I know exactly who shot me, and would be very happy to tell anyone thinking otherwise."
OOC: But that would entail telling people about the Disk. Bad idea.

Not at all ;) All Jeff has to say is they were busy looking for a rare Gallagan artifact to steal from it's rightful people and he was shot because they thought he would interfere. They never found the artifact.. some kind of mask or vase or holy hand grenade of Antioch. Jeff's been in Parliament, he's learning how to lie with the best of them ;)

James smiled. "I'm sure that can be arranged, Jeff," he said. "After all, I haven't even gotten a chance to thank you properly, ma'am. In fact, I don't think I've even had the chance to be introduced to you properly."

After formal introductions, James bowed his head slightly. "You have my eternal thanks, Baroness, and those of the Commonwealth. If there's ever anything you need our help with, please feel free to ask." He almost added 'like overbearing assholes in high positions,' but pulled up short.

Katherine nodded with James, "Same with Jeff and I," she said, "Whatever we can do to help you."

Jeff puts one hand on James' shoulder and the other hand on Katherine's shoulder and gave each of them a small squeeze, "Yeah, let's start the party." he grinned.

An unknown KIG man smiled to Markson as he walked up St. Patrick's steps. "We've been expecting you, sir. Go right on in."

Chris nods and grins at the officer, "Thanks man," he said opening the doors, "Now where in the heck do I go?"

Kills posts three of four...swears at Eris...((I'm not going to give you back your stuffed rabbit!! ))

A nasty rabbit with big pointy teeth kills the post (Also known as a Vampir Hassen!)

Kills post with Holy Handgrande of Antioch

Ann seemed to be ill at ease. As though she really didn’t know what to say or how to say it. The dinner offer sounded nice, but what to say or wear or…

”Thank you your Majesty and your Grace. I’m going to admit I’m a bit, well…new to being a Peer. So I have no clue what really to say really, other than Thank You. I’d like to go to a party, but the last one I went to back home…wound me and Sir Meow back in the Commonwealth.”

She looks down the aisle for a moment.
“I guess I would accept under the condition that you don’t put hot tamales or curry in any of the food. If sir Meow gets any of that he won’t stay quiet and will run about like a mad cat.”

She sighs,
“I still have an outstanding debt of honor to fulfil from the last incident. And would happen any of you happen to know a good swordsmen to won’t mind fighting a female swords master would you? I think I’m going to get called home and dismissed from the diplomatic service soon….” Her mouth twists in thought, “….and that Baron Bakenhall’s friends sent me out here to let Lord Parth hire a competent sword master to fight for him and let my skills get dulled. Astbury has ordered no sword training because of complaints. Hmph…”

Ann seemed to be ill at ease. As though she really didn’t know what to say or how to say it. The dinner offer sounded nice, but what to say or wear or…

”Thank you your Majesty and your Grace. I’m going to admit I’m a bit, well…new to being a Peer. So I have no clue what really to say really, other than Thank You. I’d like to go to a party, but the last one I went to back home…wound me and Sir Meow back in the Commonwealth.”

She looks down the aisle for a moment.
“I guess I would accept under the condition that you don’t put hot tamales or curry in any of the food. If sir Meow gets any of that he won’t stay quiet and will run about like a mad cat.”

Jeff smiled at her, "Please, for the love of God, just call me Jeff. I can't stand all that 'your grace' stuff anyway."

Katherine just rolled her eyes at that remark and smiled at starting to get her old husband back... her old husband, the one she'd thought was dead.

"No tamales or curry, got it," Katherine said.

“I still have an outstanding debt of honor to fulfil from the last incident. And would happen any of you happen to know a good swordsmen to won’t mind fighting a female swords master would you? I think I’m going to get called home and dismissed from the diplomatic service soon….” Her mouth twists in thought, “….and that Baron Bakenhall’s friends sent me out here to let Lord Parth hire a competent sword master to fight for him and let my skills get dulled. Astbury has ordered no sword training because of complaints. Hmph…”

"A competent swords master..." Jeff thought off-hand.

"Oh no you don't!" Katherine said to him, "You know what happened.."

Last time you were in a duel... she cut herself off from saying. Reminding Jeff of another person he'd killed might not have been a good idea with everything else that happened.

"I was just thinking I could dust off that sword of mine.. what was it called again?" he winked to James.. "Excali.. something or the other. Just in case you'd like to use it."

Ann looked at Jeff with a calculating eye. "Well, I'm not planning on killing the man I saved...nor my practice partner. Nor do I need dualing blades. I inherited a very nice set from my grandfather, and had a few custom made when I was on the Acadamy team..." Her eyes seemed to harden for a moment but returned to joviality..."Of course my prefered style is dualeto...have any practice at that Jeff?"

She seemed a good deal more confident talking about swords than other matters.

"I'm not that good with a blade, but I was thinking if you needed a training partner, Admiral Tri, the First Sea Lord, had taught me and he's quite good with a blade. But he was using a broadsword," Jeff said. "The last duel I was in we ended up using pistols..." Jeff went quiet for a minute as he remembered and hoped that Duchess Elizabeth was still with the children.

She smiles, "I doubted you were Jeff, although what is the purpose of having a dual with pistols? I mean there's no real skill or force of character involved, your not forced to smell their breath, their sweat. To contiplate if the slight you gave or got is worth taking another life or losing your own."

She shakes her head,
"Dualing with pistols, what next...long range artillery? GPS guided munitions?"

By this time she was feeling a good deal more confident.

****
Into the vast blue sky flew a flying boat. One that was supposed to return to its contract of hauling flora out of Gallaga...

"Hey Cap, did that wog ever get his ring back?"

"I thought you gave it to him? It's not in the bin I locked it in..."

"I found it unlocked, I assumed you did it."

"Nah, he must have grabbed it out, knowing his butler would be their with the check...I must have forgotten to lock the overhead bin."

"Cashed it?"

"Ain't internet banking grand. I knew getting that in the satalite phone would pay off..."

(De Plane, De Plane!)

She smiles, "I doubted you were Jeff, although what is the purpose of having a dual with pistols? I mean there's no real skill or force of character involved, your not forced to smell their breath, their sweat. To contiplate if the slight you gave or got is worth taking another life or losing your own."

She shakes her head,
"Dualing with pistols, what next...long range artillery? GPS guided munitions?"

By this time she was feeling a good deal more confident.

Jeff shrugged, still looking down, "Well, despite what popular IanCorp reports would lead you to believem, I can't do everything... yet," he winked. "Although after that, I'm not sure what good any kind of duel really is..."

Ann looked at Jeff oddly for a moment, "I think you have me confused with one of your many fans of your heroics. I know you have a reputation as a 'great' man. But to pardon the pun What kind of girl do you take me for? I don't spend my time reading Iancorp fluff or it's tales about you. I have read the International Investigative Division brief on you. Far from complete I assure you. Hell, until now I wouldn't have known you from Adam, having a poor photo of you before your wedding."

She stands at her full 5' 11" height as she says with humor in her voice
"Call me Ann, I'm a nice...young noblewoman from part of the world more known for it's isolationism than anything. Which might be a good thing if you spend much time with any other Klatchians. Not a hero worshiping, panty tossing, bobby sock."

Jeff cocked his eyebrow at Ann's comments.

"You're absoluetly right," Jeff said. "I do have the reputation of being a great man. And I'll have you know that's a reputation that hasn't been given to me lightly. I've earned every honor I've been given, with blood, sweat and tears, time and again. Maybe titles and honors come easy for people in your part of the world, but I busted my ass for mine. I've saved? Or the bullets I've taken for people.

"Why don't you ask anyone in this room what I've done for them!! Don't judge me without knowing the facts, or who I am," Jeff said quietly, turning and walking out of the room.

Ann realized that somehow he had completely mis-interpted her comments. She looked at Kathrine and said..."I better try and explain that...Oh, damn I'm horrid at this..."

Catching up to Jeff (and hoping he had not gone outside) "Somehow I think that we have had a massive cultural misunderstanding back there. I never ment to imply that what you have done is less than heroic or brave, or benificial or whatever label you want to put on it. And perhaps in my own part of the world the label 'great' means nothing more than puffed up marketing ploys. The whole phrase has become fairly degraded."

Her voice drops a little, "The greatest compliment I received was never from an Admiral, a General, or some politico. It was from a burly warrent officer...all he said was 'I'd serve under you any day, sir' and I would wager he'd say the same of you." Her eyes become a bit hard again and with much more steel in her voice, "I've known what it's like to have the world praise you for acts of bravery...and I've also been forced into shame and hiding when those I loved turned on me. If you have a problem with me refusing to put you up on some damnable pedistal fine. The only thing your going to get is my respect."

She turns and walks back the way she came.

Jeff nodded as she spoke to him.

She's got some good points. She's read you like an open book.

When she mentioned the people she'd loved turning their backs on her, Ann unknowingly tuned in on one of Jeff's biggest fears, and her comments about not putting him on a pedestal and just respecting him put a sincere smile on his face.

"Baroness," He said quietly before she turned to leave, "I apologize for our misunderstanding. I don't think I'd like that place on the pedestal much either. I'd rather have your respect," he ended offering his hand to her.

"I'm sorry."

"Well you have it." She gave a short military bow and shook his hand.

"You know, I've completely missed my own lunch...as well as Sir Meow's...he's going to start nawing on things if I don't get some chicken, beef, or orc into him...."

She realized that 'tiger and naw' when one's children were in the same room with said creature might cause problems.

"Oh don't worry about the kids, Klatchian Tigers are allergic to human hemoglobin. And they know it...God's present to us, a tiger that will kill just about anything but a human being. I'm worried about the furniture...."

Meow on the other hand was having too much fun with the kids to worry about being hungry.

(Good night, Assume Ann + Meow return to the embassy for a bit. There is an important fax for her there....)

***
An Military Intelligence officer, listening to an Iancorp news report noticed the phrase. "An odd woman with a tiger, belived to be a diplomat from Alcona and Hubris..." which set off some bells. First, there was only 'one' diplomat in Alcona and Hubris with a pet tiger. Second, she shouldn't be anywhere near the Iansisle Commonwealth...he had sent a routine question to her about a shipment from Calarca. What the h*** was she doing in Ianapalis?" He sent a fairly simple note with a recording up a few levels..."I thought she was in Calarca? Has the shipping Attachee list been screwed up again?"

That note started an almost rube goldberg device of letters notes and conversations within naval int. When a question got sent to an old peer about the matter, well...the government discovered that you did not break a gentlemen's agreement with the sitting peers...

"Well you have it." She gave a short military bow and shook his hand.

"You know, I've completely missed my own lunch...as well as Sir Meow's...he's going to start nawing on things if I don't get some chicken, beef, or orc into him...."

She realized that 'tiger and naw' when one's children were in the same room with said creature might cause problems.

"Oh don't worry about the kids, Klatchian Tigers are allergic to human hemoglobin. And they know it...God's present to us, a tiger that will kill just about anything but a human being. I'm worried about the furniture...."

Meow on the other hand was having too much fun with the kids to worry about being hungry.

(Good night, Assume Ann + Meow return to the embassy for a bit. There is an important fax for her there...

Jeff nods and shakes her hand, "I hope you can come by the embassy soon, or better yet, call me at..." he reached for a pocket that wasn't there in his destroyed T-shirt, "damn I don't have any cards. Call for me at the embassy, they'll be able to put you in touch."

He started to get nervous when Ann mentioned feeding the cat, but figured she knew what she was doing. He was a little more relieved as she explained that the tiger in question doesn't eat people.

(cool, good night! Catch ya tomorrow!)

((sorry I haven't been able to post much today. I suppose we can just assume James was standing in the background nodding at everything that was said :P))

James couldn't help but feel a little indignant about Ann's comments, or at least his (also-mis) interpertation of them. He was so used to people either worshipping Jeff or trying to kill him that the concept of a middle ground was absolutely unfathomable.

He wanted to go after Jeff, but Ann's quick explanation stopped him, and he instead waiting inside for them to come back.

"Wait a second," said Christin suddenly. "Wasn't he supposed to go to the hospital or something?"

Meanwhile, Chris had been given a crash course in cathedral navigation by the guard on the door.

((by the way, Lark, the Gulls can't wait! :P))

(no worries dude, that's all good.)

Katherine turned to James as Jeff had walked away, "Don't you hate those misunderstandings.."

She turned to Christin, "That's right! Let's go get him."

-----

Chris was walking through the hallways until he saw Jeff talking with a woman... a tall blonde, not Katherine unless she'd had a die job. He waited for her to leave.

"God damn Jeff, you look like hell. If this isn't your funeral, it damn well should be!"

Jeff turned and looked, "Chris!" he smiled, walking over to his academy friend, "You have no idea..."

Chris picked up Jeff in a big bearhug. The bullet lodged in Jeff twinged against his spinal cord, the next thing Jeff knew he was seeing stars and his head had exploded... or it felt like it.

He must have screamed, cause the look on Chris' face went from one of happiness to concern. Chris looked down at the torn shirt and saw the bullet hole in Jeff's chest.

"Christ Jeff!"