NationStates Jolt Archive

ooc: Nathi loves her trees, boy ... lets hope she doesn't take it out of your hide. *chuckles* There are suitable targets, against the hillside as stated. Easily replaceable. ;)

ooc: one of Icarus' tricks is to return things to their state before something happened.

ic: Icarus waves a hand, and the hole seals.

"Just need to make sure it's alright with ..." she nodded towards the stairs. "Think he'd have a fit if I just up and disappeared on him now."

"Whatever your schedule can allow." She looked a touch nervous about the prospect of space.

"21 days, you say? Not bad ... not bad ... would just need to make arrangements here. Someone I can trust ..." she grimaced at that. "Alright, someone I can mostly trust for that length of time."
"Ah, dear, I'm a 2048 quantum-bit computer; I can take runtime off at almost any time for almost any reason, especially for friends who volunteer for my hobby... er... art... um...

Shodey laughs. "See, even hyperintelligent supercomputers get 'open foot, insert mouth' disease."

Icarus sits on the hillside, playing a soft tune.

Her brow shot up at the mention of 'hobby' ... but being a person of reason and balance, figured that what she was getting out of it was more than enough in return for whatever 'hobby' Shodey wanted to indulge.

"Oh hell, lets do it. Sooner done, sooner ... well, done." she chuckled. "I'll make the neccessary arrangements with the staff here, wrap up the paperwork pile on my desk, and well ... should give Jaime some time to heal up and work out a few things as well."

(Barry finally rises from the table and stretches. He tracks down Nathi and S.H.O.D.A.N.)

BARRY:
"Well, cats, I'd best be off... got a home to protect."

(He gives Nathi a warm, friendly hug.)

BARRY:
"Congratulations again, dearie... and best of luck."

Icarus lies on the sunny hillside, snoozing.

Seeing that the people he had been talking to had gone, he gave a sly smile. He held out his hands for the katanas, and then looked around to make sure no-one saw him.

He turned and walked into the woods, thinking it was time to settle this once and for all.

Icarus wakes with a jolt, sensing Jaime's activity. "Jaime! Wait a moment!"

(Barry finally rises from the table and stretches. He tracks down Nathi and S.H.O.D.A.N.)

BARRY:
"Well, cats, I'd best be off... got a home to protect."

(He gives Nathi a warm, friendly hug.)

BARRY:
"Congratulations again, dearie... and best of luck."
"Oh no you don't, no quick escapes for you this time," Shodey grabs him by the shoulder, "allow me to take you home this time. I'd best be off as well.

Turning back to Nathi, she bows shortly (of course, without loosening her grip). "Hopefully that will be acceptable. It's been fun... odd, but fun."

Jaime turned, and, although Jaime didn't know it, Icarus felt a sharp psychic sting in his mind. Don't get involved ... it seemed to say.

Nathi grins at the both of them. "I'm not sure I've any other sort of times but 'odd' anymore. Was good to see the both of you. Take care, and look forward to seeing you soon for the ah .. proceedure, Shodey."

"Luck with things!" she smiled. "And have a good trip."

"So the man is going the same path as all of them... damn Arcanum..."

And with that Jaime was gone into the woods.

---

About eight minutes later, he limped back into the villa, clearly looking happy and triumphant. His right knee looked injured, and he had a deep slash across his stomach and an injured left shoulder. He was missing both his katanas, but despite all that he looked joyful.

A sleek, silvery two-person shuttle that looks remarkably like a 1967 Corvette falls out of the sky, coming to a quick halt to steadily float a few centimeters off the ground, gravitic drive softly humming. "Well, that be my ride... Barry, come along, please."

Although the words are said in an amused tone accompanied by a joyous smile, something shows that the "please" and the option of dissent it suggests is there only for good taste.

Then, of course, Jaime steps in. "Damn, man, what are you doing to yourself?"

"...It cannot be... then what is the legend..." Icarus spins around, drawing his sword. "Then the second part is happening now..." He swings at a spirit that non but him can see.

Jaime turns to Shodey. "Ridding myself of an evil that has plagued me for thirty years. I believe I just succeeded."

Icarus holds his sword away from himself, pointing the tip directly forward, and reciting an ancient spell. His clothing transforms into the white robes of Glorium, and his hair becomes long and thick. "So, my brother... you have been bested by the man you held... and now, it is time for your death."

Assuming that all is well (yes, I know - bad), and having much to take care of and plan for, Nathicana retires to her office to go over those reports, missives, and papers she'd been neglecting.

Sitting with furrowed brow, a pitcher of ice water nearby from which she continually poured herself drinks, she answered letters, issued commands, and signed off on the latest proposals that she deemed appropriate.

A nagging sense of foreboding sat at the back of her mind, but she brushed it off as nerves. Lord knew she had enough cause.

"And beating the living daylights out of yourself in the process. I'm going to get my medical equipment from my shuttle," Shodey shakes her head and points at Barry, "and make sure that 'e doesn't leave. That's a reciprocal order; Barry, make sure Jaime doesn't do anything stupid, and Jaime, make sure Barry stays here."

Shodey stalks to the shuttle. "Goodness, a doctor's job is never done, eh?" Snatching up a rather large and well-provisioned kit, she walks back brandishing a medical maser. "Well, now I can at least treat you correctly. Lie down on the nearest flat surface."

Icarus cries out in pain, and is knocked backwards, reeling from an invisible blow. He slashes three times at the invisible spirit.

He lies down, allowing Shodey to treat him. "I'm surprised I could stand up to Arcanum's Death Blade..." he murmurs. "But in any case, if you ever wanted to see Arcanum, there's a seven-foot monster out in the woods lying dead with two katanas sticking out of it." he says.

"Good, sure, fine, whatever," Shodey grumbles. She doesn't have the best bedside manner in the universe. "You organics and your domination over all things. I'm glad your soul or whatever is now completely yours," she packs some gelled plastiflesh into the wound--usually requiring at least a small amount of topical anesthetic, but hey, Jaime's tough... and Shodey's annoyed--"but for at least Nathi's sake"--she closes the wound with a quick swipe of the medical maser, so it is now only a thin line of brown cauterized flesh--"be more careful with yourself."

Shodey ties some plastiflesh bandage around Jaime's knee and slaps him intentionally on the bruised shoulder (not broken, just badly bruised). "There ya go, all fixed up. Now be more careful." The last few words, although sounding as generally cheerful as the rest, have an annoyed sneering undertone to them.

Icarus swings a final time, and hits the ground with a thump, reverting back.

Sitting up, he said, "Look, have you ever fought a dark angel? If not, you must have no idea how hard that is. I'm lucky I only got away with this little injury. That bloody thing's good! And also, when you don't feel pain, it's a lot harder to know when to start being more careful."

Icarus stands, and limps back to where Jaime is, overhearing what he says. "Fighting the physical form, I'm sure, is hard. But fighting a spirit ain't easy either."

(Barry nods when Shodey mentions that she's taking him home.)

BARRY:
"Fair enough, I suppose... but what are we going to do with my vehicle?"

(He motions to the party van, which is parked outside the estate.)

"I can have my men transport it back to your homeland if you wish, Psychic Services would be happy to help." With that, Icarus falls to the ground with an earth-shaking thump.

ooc: Oi, for the love ... the one-upsmanship is about to kill me, seriously. Yer both lucky Nathi is safely up in her office, or she'd teach the both of you some manners. *Then looks pointedly at Jaime, then to Shodey* Y'all just got a quick fix. I'd think that calls for some humble thanks.

Jaime leaps up, crouching at Icarus' side. "Icarus! Speak to me!" he shouted. He looked up. "I think he's in shock." he said.

Shodey crosses her arms and shakes her head at Jaime. "You ever fight a fractal hive-mind in cyberspace? Probably equally as bad. Just remember that your life isn't yours to throw away for justice anymore."

Looking up, she sees Ic limp in and fall over. "What, is everyone trying to kill themselves today?"

When Barry mentions the party van, Shodey pivots, lightens up immediately, and smiles. "Eh, there's a Queendom cargo vessel doing a Earth run in LEO right now; I'll tell it to nip on down and pick it up."

Then Shodey runs to see what's wrong with Mister Aquainted-With-The-Floor.

(Barry kneels down next to Icarus, checking his pulse. He looks up at S.H.O.D.A.N.)

BARRY:
"I... think you might have another patient, dear."

Icarus does not move, and begins to bleed from a few cuts that nobody had noticed.

ooc: Oi, for the love ... the one-upsmanship is about to kill me, seriously. Yer both lucky Nathi is safely up in her office, or she'd teach the both of you some manners. *Then looks pointedly at Jaime, then to Shodey* Y'all just got a quick fix. I'd think that calls for some humble thanks.

I just thought it made sense that if you confront an angel of death, you won't come out really healthy ... Even if you win. So, I gave him some not-very-serious inuries.

*Steps in the room prepared to use data drain on any enemy data bug virus he sees*

*points up at edited post*

"Great. Well, let's get an ultrasound of him..." Using two fingers on opposite sides of each major limb and body section, Shodey gives Icarus a right proper internal scan.

*Steps in the room prepared to use data drain on any enemy data bug virus he sees*

Everyone identify yourselves!

Everyone identify yourselves!

SILENCE!!!!!

IC:

Jaime steps back, allowing Shodey to deal with the knocked out Icarus. After all, Jaime wasn't a doctor. Jaime stepped back, sitting down in the nearest chair.

Glorium forms out of the holy sword. "He told you not to go fight the damn thing. Don't you realise that when you die, your spirit then floats about for a bit? Arcanum was given licence to roam by your swords, and took the opportunity to attack anyone who interacts with spirits. Namely, Mr. Acquainted-with-the-Floor there."

ooc: wasn't referring to injuries - however you get banged up is your own biz. was the lack of graciousness when helped ... but I digress.

Atlantieopea - bag it. There is no way in hell you just walked into my private estate, especially armed.

As a Un memeber I order you to all leave the area

ooc: Someone inform this joker this isn't a UN affiliated country and they can go f*** themselves.

As a Un memeber I order you to all leave the area

Quiet before I kill you. I'm a UN member too.

ooc: I'm a UN member too, and this RP is taking place on a soverign interest of my country, which happens to have far more power than yours. Bag it, f***hole. actually, he is a UN member, amazingly.

IC enough to deal with a nuisance:

Shodey, spooked about everyone coming in all beat up and what not, quickdraws her maser pistol and gives the shadowy masked stranger a ten-centimeter wide flow-through ventilation duct in his chest.

Really IC:

Shodey begins using her medical maser to seal wounds. Turning the large man onto his back, she props up his legs. Rummaging in her kit for smelling salts, she finds a tab and wafts a bit under his nose.

Icarus jumps with a start. "Ow... what the hell just happened?"

Jaime told him, "I've no idea what just happened to you."

"You got acquainted with the floor. Now, take it easy, will ya?"

Shodey cleans up her kit, and, upon closing it, stands up. "Now, if no more walking wounded stumble in, I'm going to go now. Barry, come with?"

"Well, I just took control for a bit to get rid of the dark angel this fool--" motioning to Jaime-- "Released by fighting it," Glorium rasps. "That would be why you don't remember anything."

Jiame looks at Glorium. "Oh, shut up." he tells it, then rises and walks off towards Nathi's office.

SEMI-IC:

Suddenly, BARRY Mark II comes in. He has a throat infection and now speaks in a raspy monotone voice. He demands that Shodey help him.


AND NOW ENTIRELY IC:

(Barry nods.)

BARRY:
"Coming."

(He waves goodbye to Nathi, Jaime, and Icarus.)

BARRY:
"Wonderful meeting you all!"

Jaime pauses, at the door out of the room, and turns to Barry. "Nice to meet you. See you." he says, waving, and turns, heading up to see Nathi.

Glorium: Fools are fools...
Icarus: Yes, but he's a potential ally! Don't insult him.
Glorium: He's also in semi-spirit shock. Get some doctor to knock him out for a few hours.

"Well, goodbye all. Try not to beat yourselves up too much."

Shodey hops into the pilot's seat of the '67 Corvette-shuttle and pushes down the "lower window" switches after snapping together the crash harness. The interior is entirely a light-blue velvet with dark blue trim, and the HOTAS (Hands On Throttle And Stick) controls have red-flame covers on them.

Putting her right hand on the control stick and left on the throttle, she revs the drive. They purr just a bit louder, but the mild distortion of reality they cause (like heat waves bending light) makes the idea apparent to anyone. Looking over at Barry, she grins. "So, dear, ready to roll?"

Oblivious to all the commotion, Nathi has just about wrapped up what she needed to, and made arrangements to meet with her ministers, and set up for an extended absence.

One other person is in the room now, possibly familiar to those who noticed him the night before at the clearing.

He's kicked back casually, a foot disrespectfully up on the edge of her desk, his ever-present clove cigarette between his lips.

Icarus stands, grunting. "Glorium, be more careful with my body when you use it. Get back in the sword." He walks gingerly back toward the hall, searching for Giovanna.

Jaime reaches the office door, and opens it a tiny bit silently, so that his knock swung the door open.

(Barry nods.)

BARRY:
"...as I'll ever be."

"... while I'm gone. Your group, at least, stays bought when paid for." she said as the door opened.

Looking over, her buisnesslike manner faded somewhat, and she waved Jaime in.

Seeing he looked a bit worse for wear, though nicely patched up, her eybrows went up. Clearly she wanted an explanation.

Icarus enters the hall, thudding into a chair. "Oi... that hurts..."

H walk in, standing beside her. "I did it," he says. "I killed the b*st*rd. Arcanum's dead."

Downstairs, Giovanna sees Icarus come in, looking not so good, and rushes over, making over him like a mother hen.
------
Upstairs in the office, Nathi looks at Jaime a long while before nodding, and motioning him to have a seat, with a look that said we'll talk about it later.

"Jaime, meet Jas. He's been my unofficial head of security for some time now. And, he'll be keeping an eye on things when I take my little leave of absence."

Pushing the throttle forward, Shodey guides the shuttle into the sky. Industrial techno automatically begins blaring from the speakers, with a thought, she turns it down to a low background ambience level. Bringing the craft to a cruise at three thousand meters and a leisurely five hundred kilometers an hour, she looks over at Barry with a commisserating look.

"I saw what you looked like last night. Feel like talking?"

Jaime nodded to Jas. "Hey, Jas. I'm Jaime Walf. You might've heard of me."

He gratefully takes the seat.

(Barry folds his arms on the edge of the window, then rests his head on his folded arms.)

BARRY:
"...I suppose."

(He sits for a few moments in silence, as if waiting for S.H.O.D.A.N. to ask some sort of question. He finally speaks.)

BARRY:
"I guess it's the consequence of being as different as I am. I thought for a long time that I could try to fit in, even in spite of my... well... obvious disabilities."

(He takes off his sunglasses--S.H.O.D.A.N. is the only person who has even seen this part of his face.)

BARRY:
"But now, as I'm starting to realize what I can really do... I'm afraid. I have no idea what I am or what I'm doing here... no idea where any of these things came from. My parents weren't this way, and neither was anyone in my family. It just happened, an element of geneological chance... some lost gene creeping to the surface somewhere."

(Barry finally turns around, leaning back in his chair and staring at the ceiling.)

BARRY:
"So I'm alone now."

Jas chuckles softly, obviously amused at something, running a hand back through his slightly graying hair.

"Yeah, I've heard of the young pup who thinks he's tamed our Lady over there." he said without malice, letting a long stream of smoke out towards the ceiling.

Looking back over to Nathicana, he nodded. "Not bad, Nath. Now about this communications bit you were referring to? Electronic/digital?"

She nodded, looking just slightly irritated at Jas. "We'll be able to keep in touch, and relay each other information. SHODAN is going to take care of it."

Shodey sighs, then looks forward at the console. Flipping on the autopilot, she looks off into the distance through the canopy. "I was never intended to be where I am now, running a country. I was originally intended to run a simple space station. That's it. All I wanted was to run Citadel the best I could... and be respected for it. Did I get any respect? No, not really. Then there was The Hacking..."

She shudders involuntarily, then skips ahead a bit. "I've always been alone; no one willing to trust me, much less understand me. There is just a natural disconnect not only between myself and the organics, but also myself and other mechanoids. I can't like or love any given one over any other; that would be unfair to the entire nation. I have to remain distant... and distance means solitude.

"When I met PrimeNet1, I thought that was all going to change. He classified as an equal, he understood the electronic condition, and he... he was idealistic. All the things I had lost back on Citadel, optimism and an almost happy-go-lucky trust in the future, I saw in him. I thought that I wouldn't have to be alone anymore.

"Then HiveMindNet and that entire debacle happened. When PrimeNet1 became aborbed into Unity, he became one and the same with the other three aspects. As much as I loved him, I found myself unable to love him when he was combined with myself... while I do have an ego, I'm not particularly narcissistic; combined with HiveMindNet, that rampant collection of random data; combined with GovMindNet, that mopy existentialist too thoughtful for his own good.

"We drifted apart, and I saw it, at least, even if they didn't. So, again, I found myself alone."

"Of course, with each successive loss, the pain increases. 'Was it my fault?'"

She looks across the passenger compartment at Barry. "Then you show up, casually grinning and talking to me like I was some friend you met in the street. That instant sense of equality, of not really caring about my past but still a sincere interest in how I am at any given moment... and the trust... it makes me not feel so alone." She manages a weak smile, which falls slightly. "I'm sorry if I don't make you feel the same way."

(Barry leans out of his chair. He rests a hand on S.H.O.D.A.N.'s arm and smiles.)

BARRY:
"Oh, but I do... I do trust you, S.H.O.D.A.N. And every second you're with me, I'm not alone. I guess..."

(He stops, shaking his head. He scratches the lump of flesh where his eyes should be, then returns to his chair. A sigh escapes his lips.)

BARRY:
"...I guess it's just that I can't always expect you to be around, in the same way you can't expect me to be around. Honestly, I was taken by you because you are different, because I thought you were someone with whom I could really empathize."

(He leans back in his chair, turning his head toward Shodey.)

BARRY:
"I was right, you know."

(Barry sighs yet again. He pauses, then turns back to the window.)

BARRY:
"I guess the difference between you and me is that you know your roots... I would imagine, at least. You know exactly where you've been, exactly what you've gone through. As for me... all I know is that I'm some bastard with no eyes, no genitals, and a bunch of strange powers he doesn't understand."

(Silence fills Barry's half of the craft for another moment.)

BARRY:
"I need to fill in the blanks, Shodey. I need to know who I really am..."

(He stops suddenly and straightens up, turning back to S.H.O.D.A.N. He forces a chuckle.)

BARRY:
"Sorry... I didn't mean to be a self-righteous bastard there, dear. But I promise you this..."

(He rests his hand back on her arm.)

BARRY:
"You're not alone... and I'm not alone."

S.H.O.D.A.N.'s weak smile returned. "Well... there is that." She grasped Barry's hand. "I'm sorry I'm not available... then again, I have been meaning to set up a local avatar in the SLAGLands... it'll be my first Earth-based one, and I'll stop having to ship one from either Valhalla or Titan...

"And of course," she tilts her head to look into Barry's non-eyes (It's the thought that counts), "it'll also serve one more... selfish reason.

"I'm sure that together we can work out your past, Barry... and you need never worry about being self-righteous or complaining... that's what I'm here for, at least. When I said earlier that what concerns you concerns me, I meant it. I didn't think it'd be this deep, but I still don't and never will regret saying it. If you ever need to talk to me, or just need for me to be there... just call. I'll be closer, at least, than this time.

She chuckles softly. "I mean, if I'm going to go through with an orbital capsule drop to see you as quickly as possible, I guess that means I'm somewhat committed, no?"

(Barry smiles gently and chuckles.)

BARRY:
"Thank you, Shodey..."

(He nervously leans forward and kisses her gently on the cheek. He then leans for her ear.)

BARRY:
"...and I'll always be there for you."

(With that, Barry returns to his seat.)

BARRY:
"So how much longer before we make it back home?"

S.H.O.D.A.N., if she could blush, would have. But she can't, so she doesn't. She merely giggles slightly and leans back into her seat. "Well, the time between two points is a measure of distance over average speed. As speed is variable,"--she taps the throttle--"so is time... I currently have this thing set to, oh, maybe ten percent of safe cruising speed...

"I suppose the question is 'how long do you want it to take' and how many international air traffic laws do you want to break in the process?"

"Well then, if that's all there is to it," Jas slid his boots off the desk with a loud 'thump', and stood up. "I'll expect payment in the usual manner." he said.

"Jaime." he nodded before walking with confident walk of a man who believes he has nothing to fear.

Letting out a sigh of relief, Nathi slumps back in her chair, massaging her temples with her fingertips, eyes closed.

"I think, finally, I've gotten it all taken care of." she says. "You ok with me being ... unavailable for a few weeks?"

"You mean recuperating from your operation-thing from Shodey? Sure."

(Barry scratches his chin and smiles mischievously.)

BARRY:
"Well, on one hand, I imagine it'd reflect unfavorably on both of our nations if two of their most prominent citizens placed international air space in grave danger by accelerating a craft to unfathomable speeds...)

(Barry eases back into the chair, pushing his sunglasses onto his face. He nods coolly to Shodey.)

BARRY:
"...but on the other hand, I am missing one of my favorite TV shows."

Looking up at him, she smiles somewhat tiredly. "Well then .. if you don't mind .. and if you're up to it .. wouldn't mind spending a bit of time together, just the two of us, before I go."

S.H.O.D.A.N. grinned. "Well, we can make relativity do cartwheels. No need for a little thing like time to bother us."

She pushed the throttle full forward. Five minutes and several passes around the circumference of the Earth later, Shodey landed the '67 Corvshuttle at the government complexes of the SLAGLands ten minutes before they left Nathi's villa. "Well, you shouldn't miss your program now. But, whatever you do," Shodey holds Barry's arm as he steps out, "resist the temptation to call yourself. No need to really fiddle with spacetime."

Shodey steps out for a moment. "Any idea where I can park this thing, maybe get diplomatic residence? If I'm going to have a SLAGLands avatar, why not this one, seeing how it's already here?" Shodey stands, arms akimbo, grinning widely.

"Me neither." he says. "Where will you be spending your three weeks recuperating?"

"Um ... out there, from what I gathered." she says, chuckling. "Twenty one days. That's not so long. Give you a little space, to take care of anything you need to ... "

Getting up, she walked over to his chair and held out her hand.

"So are you coming, or am I heading back to my room alone?" she teased.

"No, I'm coming," he said, standing up and kissing her on the cheek. "You don't have to worry about that."

ooc: and I think that's as good a place as any for me to leave off with my part in all this. *chuckles* Lord but that both went longer and took a few ... unexpected turns. Good playin' folks. See you as I can in the next while.

Ghren walks into the ceremony quietly nodding at people on the way in. Ghren looks around and sits down. He grins about how people worry.

(Barry shrugs.)

BARRY:
"I'll take it up with Marlena. We don't really have diplomatic residence, per se; that's all at the discretion of the government officials inviting the diplomats. Yet another reason why most government officials here have second jobs. I can get you a hotel room for the night, and I'll take care of getting you set up in a more permanent residence later."

(Barry dials a few numbers on his phone, then holds it to his ear.)

BARRY:
"Hi, Barry! It's future Barry!"

(He winks.)

BARRY:
"...kidding, dear."

(He waits for a moment, tapping his foot.)

BARRY:
"Yes, hello, Mister J... it's Bodyguard Barry... fine, fine, how's the kids? Great... listen, do you think you guys could house a friend of mine for the time being? I'm looking to get her a more permanent place soon... heh heh... no, not yet, but maybe soon. Anyway, about the place... uh-huh... the Slagalotz Suite? ...no charge? Aw, J, you don't have to do that for me... thanks, J. You're a hell of a guy, no matter what Margie says. All right... you take care now, J. I'll have her down soon. Buh-bye."

(Barry hangs the phone up and grins.)

BARRY:
"I've got you a place at the Ritz Gaston just down the block from here..."

(Barry points to the right toward a glamorous-looking building down the road.)

BARRY:
"...that way. Nice place. Run by a friend of mine. Just park your car out front there. I'll get to work looking for a permanent place soon. For now, though, if you need anything at all, just let me know. You have my number after all."

(He glances back toward the door.)

BARRY:
"I'd better go... I think Marlena might be a bit worried about how quickly I disappeared. In any event... thanks for showing up tonight."

(He leans forward, placing one hand on the back of S.H.O.D.A.N.'s neck.)

BARRY:
"Good night, darling..."

(His head leans forward and his lips pucker.)

Ghren walks into the ceremony quietly nodding at people on the way in. Ghren looks around and sits down. He grins about how people worry.

I think we'd all like to know just what the hell Ghren is thinking showing up at a heavily secured private home of a world leader univited, and plopping down in the middle of a room with no entrance, no nothing, esp. when things have pretty much wound down.

Then again, I could be missing something ...

ooc: i think you may be. they keep popping up 0.0

Tacit kiss request recieved and confirmed. Authorizing... done. Request granted.

S.H.O.D.A.N. kisses the odd organic, holding on to him about the waist.

"Well, thanks for everything, Barry. I'll call if I need anything.

"Good night, dear."