| Logs |
2001 October 16
| NachtMusik |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
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| Realms: NachtMusik Logs |
"Holy Diver"
- It's later in the day that the Tokamak was shut down -- late night, actually, when most mortals are asleep. Back at the Ranch, Slate and Nick are quietly chatting as they work on the headsets for Slate's motorcycle helmets. The installation is proceeding smoothly. Slate is mostly watching Nick's efforts, handing him tools as necessary, and wisely keeping out of the Ofanite's way as he works.
Shateishael says, "You were right about that professor, Nick. Miles Forman. He found me the ancient carving I needed just fine. I'm going to swap my beat-up old chest full of my former Comanche stuff for it." His gaze is wearily distant for a moment -- then he blinks the past away deliberately, and looks back at the Ofanite, "Found the chest the other day. Thought it'd all been burned up in the fire you had here, back in the '50's. I... remembered what you said during the fire, when you were telling me not to worry about it... that immortals shouldn't get too attached to things, since things will inevitably wither, decay, and end up destroyed."
Thessaloniki chuckles, "Well, it wasn't a complete burn-out. Good that your things will wind up someplace they'll be appreciated, too." He continues working on the helmet radios while he talks, confidently and deftly.
Shateishael takes a deep breath, then grins a little forcedly, "Wasn't easy going through the chest, but... not like Dancing Pony's nicest dress'll bring her back, any more than my keeping my weapons will bring back the Comanche for me... she's in a better place now anyway, and alive in my memory." He pulls his growing pony tail over one shoulder, showing that it's tied back with a bit of leather thong with small feather and metal decorations woven into it. "Decided just to keep this... it was a gift from her and it's small, like the hammer pendant I made for Veleda, my Norse wife."
He adds, "I'm gonna weave the carving into place on my sword later. Oh, also I thought of a good thank you gift to Ms. Zara for patching us up repeatedly -- gonna ask Ms. Mitrah if we can have one of those incredibly rare ferns she has growing out there... blechnum or something, it's called." He grins, "Seriously. Silly name, but hopefully Zara'll like it, and it'll let her know we really appreciate it. We can give it to her together, later, if you like. Was wondering about something for Forman too. He doesn't want to be rejuvenated so much that he can't pass as himself any more. D'you think you could do just a little bit at a time maybe?"
Thessaloniki agrees, "That should be a nice thing for Zara, and she should appreciate it. Good thinking. As to rejuvenation, I can, at most, do around ten years at a go. If he's really so old looking, I'm willing to bet that nobody'd much notice the difference between 85 and 75, say. If he'd like I can swing into town and do a couple of years every month or so, so it's gradual."
Shateishael nods thoughtfully, "All right, I'll pass that on to him." He watches silently for several minutes, adjusting the light as per Nick's request, then quietly rumbles, "Nick... I've been thinking, about the Tokamak and Vilson. Rosie's going to get all the credit for killing Vilson, and that's right, that's fair -- he deserves it. But I just wanted you to know that someone saw what you did and realized what it meant... if you'd not thrown the phone just then, we'd all be in serious trouble." He studies Nick quietly for a moment, and then the corners of his mouth quirk up in a small smile. "Thanks, guy."
Thessaloniki looks up at his old friend, and smiles. He says, "Yeah, well, y'know. We all helped out some. As far as I'm concerned, Rosie did that one, and more credit to him." He looks back down at the electronics and adds, "But it's good of you to have noticed."
Shateishael nods quietly, still smiling faintly. Time passes peacefully between the two of them, until another idea occurs to Slate. He grins, then casually murmurs, "So, I was wondering, Nick... y'know that bare spot in the back acreage you've got, behind the grove of trees, where you can't get anything to grow? Uh... well, d'you mind if I make a small rock garden there? Someplace I can work on some Zen meditation or something?"
Thessaloniki says, "That'd be nice, Slate. I expect a quiet little corner of peace here would fit right in."
Shateishael grins, "Cool."
- It's dawn at Zara's. It's an off morning, and there's no one there except Tomas, drinking coffee from a styrofoam cup and looking smooth as ever despite a probable long night. Zara is busy inside getting ready to head out to the shop.
Thessaloniki has been up all night, fooling with radios in motorcycle helmets and making sure he's got a compatible unit in at least the big car and the DeLorean. He paused for a shower and a change of clothes, and looks more like his usual eccentric-old-man rather than the dotty-professor of the day before. He finds some coffee as soon as he arrives, and settles down, greeting Tomas and Rosenstern cheerfully.
Rosenstern chats idly with Tomas; nothing big, just small talk -- the Mercurian of Novalis doesn't seem to want to go too much into current events. When the other angels arrive, he smiles, and stands as they enter. "Good morning," he says, warmly. Shateishael nods politely to Tomas... and grins quietly at Rosie's careful avoidance of current events.
Tomas grins. "Hola."
Shateishael hasn't much to say to Tomas, really... he's wary of getting used and lied to again. However, he waits quietly, Tay-crow comfortably perched on his shoulder, for the sun to emerge... and when she rises, in all her glory, he murmurs softly, "She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes..."
Taygeta-crow stirs at the poetry. "I didn't know you were a fine of Byron. Appropriate, though."
Shateishael sighs in calm pleasure of the moment... then smiles and sips his hot drink. A moment later he murmurs to the crow, "I'm a fan of the sun... I was raised to think of her as female, and singing appreciation to her constancy is... a very old conceit of mine, I guess."
Taygeta caws. "The cycles are constant, indeed. You've come up with something new every morning I've been here. Why female? I seem to recall that the sun god was male in many mythologies.
Shateishael snorts quietly, "She was female first, Tay-Crow. The patriarchies came later." He grins, "And yeah, I thought it's just polite to have something new for someone you really like -- and I love the return of the Light." Then he looks around curiously, murmuring quietly to Nick, "Wonder where everyone is?"
Thessaloniki is reminded, by Tomas' mere presence, of an old Beatles song, which he hums cheerfully. He pauses long enough to say, "Dunno, Slate."
Rosenstern glances around a little. "I think this is just an... er, off day. From what I understand most people come by on Saturday mornings."
- The day is still young when the angels return to Nick's Ranch. He lets them all into his big rec room, which is cool and quiet in the still morning. Later, when it gets hot, he'll fire up the big air conditioners, but at the moment things are quiet. The room is comfortable, containing a built-in sofa which curves around in a U shape. The kitchen and his office are easily at hand if need be, and a hallway leads off to the more private parts of the house.
Shateishael kicks off his boots and removes his shirt, appreciating the cool. He'll flop across an armchair at the end of the U with boneless ease, after getting drinks for himself -- and those that want them. Some time later he finishes his explanation of what his research on underground nuclear explosions taught him, then recounts his discussion with Mitrah, wherein she agreed to squeeze off the fault as much as she could, and create some spiral tunnels to soak up as much shockwave from the explosion as possible. He takes a long sip from his can of beverage, then sighs, rubbing the back of his hand across his mustache, "So... y'all think of anything I forgot, guys? I really don't want her to get killed..."
Taygeta-crow has been listening to the situation and occasionally asking a question, while his cat-self checks things out on the Net. "The only remaining question is how big is the device. Any idea?"
Shateishael shakes his head, "Dunno for sure, Tay. Small."
Rosenstern lets out a soft breath as they enter the ranch. He actually tried to sleep the night before, but shouldn't have even bothered; it didn't work. He realizes he's getting upset about nothing. If there had been an outcry Novalis would have heard about it long before then, and if the music had been truly hellish to behold he would have found a Triad walking into the shop that morning, instead of his three friends. He settles into one of the seats in the conversation pit, thinking quietly as Slate talks. He shakes his head. "I wouldn't want to see that either, of course," he murmurs, then shakes his head. "I don't know much at all about that sort of thing, Slate, but it seems like you've thought of all you could. Is there anything we might be able to do aboveground to, I don't know, vent the explosion, or relieve the force of it? Er, then again, it is nuclear..."
Thessaloniki scratches his head, then says, "Well, Slate, I can't think of anything else that could be done. I don't know if I consider the plan as a whole wise, but that's just me. If she's really willing to risk herself and the Tether, and she's taken all precautions, she should go for it."
Shateishael nods slowly, his face still worried, "Well, the only other things I can think of is if there's any way to... to heal the Rock up if it's breaking, y'know? -and I don't think that's possible. The only other thing I can think of is if we can get Drew to either carry the bomb, or take me carrying the bomb, directly to Frex' place of power... and explode it there."
Rosenstern comments wryly, "Which Frex might object to, at least a little bit. Uhm... how close to Frex did Mitrah say the bomb has to be?"
Shateishael idly and gently scritches the itchy part of the back of the crow's neck, at the base of the skull where it can't properly reach, as he speaks, "Only problem with that is getting Drew and Mitrah together with me. Drew's twitchy as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs right now... dunno what Ms. Mitrah's told him about me, or what she's threatening him with. She might just be scaring him without meaning to, after all."
Taygeta nods. "Small, for a nuke, is probably around a kiloton yield. Should be relatively safe, unless it really activates the old fault line. No one has ever tried that. Second question. Would this be considered truce-breaking?"
Shateishael shakes his head at Tay-crow, "Far as I know, Frex is way out of town. I don't really know for sure."
Rosenstern is in a sober mood; he's not being terribly distracted by Slate's shirtlessness for now. "I don't think it's really, technically, within Austin..." he muses uncomfortably.
Taygeta-crow nods. "I thought so, but I wanted to check. And like the Tokamak, if it's in town then their side is truce breaking already. No problem."
Thessaloniki says, "Personally, I'd rather try the earthquake thing. Blowing up the bomb in Frex' place is much more likely a truce breaker, and much more likely to get the bearer of the bomb good and killed."
Shateishael says, "Oh, that reminds me... Nick, remember you were talking about a concrete mixer truck at that spot under the bridge? Well... can we go ahead and do that? Might as well be sure we've got folks waiting at the openings we know about."
Taygeta tilts his head. "There aren't any bats down that hole, are there?"
Thessaloniki nods and says, "Probably a good idea. Bet we can get the local Dominicans to take care of that, 'for civic good.' It'll be easy to cover, too, as few passerby will object to fixing the bridge."
Shateishael says, "Mitrah wants the bomb down at the bottom of the shaft, minimum, Rosie. Dunno how close that is... I don't know what his Tether rightly is." He adds to Nick, "Can you take care of filling up under the bridge? I'd like to do it the day the bomb goes off, but a bit earlier in the evening. I can tell you what day once I know."
Thessaloniki says, "Might be better to do it earlier, or after. If you do it that day, the concrete won't have had any time to cure."
Taygeta says, "If the bomb can be set off at night, that's better. Less chance of harming the bats that roost under that bridge."
Shateishael says, "Okay... so first I need to talk to Drew and Mitrah, figure out what the final plan is and what evening. Then, about 24 hours before it's due to go off, Nick can take care of filling the hole under the bridge where we found the headless torsos... and we can ask a few of the more uh... militant folks we know to hang around the other exits we know of, to off any torsos that make it out. How's that sound, guys? Y'all think of anything I missed?" He adds with bleak humor, "Militant angelic folks..."
Rosenstern grins softly. "Of course." He shakes his head. "Nothing I can think of. Except that maybe we should plan some sort of cover story, maybe some scientists can predict an earthquake and later, after it's all over have them say, 'we knew that was going to happen.' As lame as that sounds...."
Taygeta thinks for a bit, but can't come up with anything in addition to that. "Not sure that a prediction is a good idea, but have them prepped to claim a quake on the old fault line."
Thessaloniki says, "I'll need as much warning as you can get, Slate, so I arrange things."
Shateishael says, "'Kay, good. No sweat, Nick. No cover story though, Rosie... Ms. Mitrah'd crack with fury if doing that warned folks and they stopped her... after all these millennia of preparation." He takes another long, thoughtful pull on his beer can, then shakes his hair back and glances at Rosenstern, "Hey, was wondering... you got any missions or things you're working on currently? Y'want one, if not? I'm thinking it'd be a good one for a Mercurian of Flowers...?"
Rosenstern nods quietly to Tay and Slate, "Sorry; I'm not really up on what earthquake prediction is like, they don't have many quakes in Europe. Uh, oh? No, Slate, I don't have any tasks or missions," except to keep the Truce, as Novalis told me, he thinks wanly, "-what did you have in mind?"
Shateishael says, "Cool. Well, the Old Guy's only Treaty Oak now... he used to be Council Grove, and there used to be fourteen huge old oaks there. So... I'm visiting him twice weekly for workouts and talking about dinosaurs-" he shifts slightly with a grin, remembering aching muscles, then continues, "-and while I'm there I'm thinking the new acorn-planted trees are growing beautiful, y'know? But there's not really space there to be the Grove again. So... there's a lot of civic pride right now about the Treaty Oak. So... what if there were some kinda drive or something -- you know, people-inspiration stuff? -- to buy up some of the land around the park and donate it to the city, to re-create the Grove?"
Taygeta looks intrigued. "Think that'd help him, eh?"
Shateishael says, "Bet he'd be pleased as punch... and it'd make a park bigger. It'd take a while, of course, to get folks thinking of it as the Grove, not just the Oak... but hey, that's what immortality's for, eh?" He grins, "Don't think Novalis'd mind a park in a city getting bigger, either." Thessaloniki smiles quietly, and sips at his coffee, unsurprised by this suggestion from the community-building Davidian. Shateishael adds, "Been trying to talk the SCA folks into doing fighter practices there, in fact... bet he'd find that interesting too."
Rosenstern blinks, thinks for a moment, then smiles, "I think I can work on that, yes. And, no, I don't think she'll mind at all. The Diabolics might mind, since it'll be beneficial to the Old Guy, but I kinda doubt there'll be much uproar..."
Shateishael sighs and smiles, settling back into the chair he's comfortably sprawled across, "Cool."
Taygeta has email. Taygeta-cat meows and downloads the arrival. Okay, now what? The email reads, 'JeanNet Priority Messaging System: Taygeta -- Report Heavenside ASAP. I am expecting a full report. -J' Taygeta-crow sighs. "Oh, fer... The Boss wants me to report in person again. Anyone up for a trip to the Alamo?"
Rosenstern blinks, looking over to Tay, and feels a faint tight sensation. "Oh, dear," he murmurs.
Thessaloniki says, "Well, I expect we'd better get you a ride out there. You'll be a while if you have to walk, y'know? Who wants a lift in to Austin?"
Shateishael glances at the crow, then smiles ruefully, "Sure, Tay." He nods quietly to Nick.
Rosenstern thinks for a moment, then nods, "I should get back to the shop and work today. I'll also make some calls to local civic beautification and historical groups, see if a bunch of them had plans to regrow Treaty Grove. Maybe they just need some coordination..."
Shateishael grins, pleased that Rosenstern likes the idea, then swings smoothly upright, "Guess I better get dressed." He'll pull his discarded clothing back on. Why? Rosenstern almost asks of Slate, then shakes his head, and focuses on the task ahead. The Diabolicals won't like it one bit, no... well, they already don't like me, or won't, after a time...
Taygeta-cat responds to the email with 'On my way. ETA 3 hours.' The cat then wanders out to the room with the rest while the crow explains. Shateishael looks up at the crow as he's rolling up the sleeves on his comfortable flannel shirt, "You in a real rush?"
Taygeta says, "Not that much of one, but I don't want to keep Jean waiting, either."
Shateishael nods, "All right. No sweat then... if you were in a real rush I'd suggest Enchanted Rock, is all."
Jean is waiting in his office on the top level of the Halls of Progress. He's sitting this time, hands folded on the desk. "Taygeta. Come in. Let's discuss the current situation."
Taygeta says, "Certainly. What's happening? Or do you need more information on what's just occurred?"
Jean says, "Nothing. Absolutely nothing. By all indications, the Tokamak reactor is completely gone. Marius and Darius can no longer find the unmarked steam tunnel. It would seem that our enemy has decided to cut his losses and salvage what he can in a more secure location."
Taygeta nods, or what passes for it for a Kyriotate. "We wrecked quite a lot of the control equipment and parts of the Tokamak itself. We ran out of time, I'm afraid, but Vapula won't be using it any time soon. Has Darius discovered anything about the weapon we captured?"
Jean nods, "Which is the optimal outcome. You performed well outside my specifications, Taygeta... and it would seem that the earlier reports about your difficulty interfacing with others were premature. I'm very pleased with your progress."
Taygeta chuckles. "Danke. Darius and I had an initial disagreement, is all. Austin takes a bit of getting used to, but it is... interesting."
The Archangel says, "The weapon was a fairly standard example of Vapulan ordnance. We've encountered them before. Loud, messy, oftentimes foul-smelling, but entirely suited to their function."
Taygeta nods. "Nothing new, then. I suppose that's good to know, but they're quite dangerous enough as it is."
Jean says, "Quite. Now, this is nothing that could not have been delineated via email, and as you know I have little time to spare. The reason I've summoned you, quite simply, is that I wish to personally express my approval of your performance. To that end, I have a small reward for you."
Taygeta looks alert and pleased, but waits for his boss to continue. There is a small electrical discharge. From where isn't entirely certain, but even Celestially, Taygeta can feel it. He knows something that a moment ago, he did not. Jean says, "This is standard for our Mercurians, but I think you should find it useful, given your preference in vessels."
Taygeta blinks. "Indeed. Thank you, sir! This will be convenient... I do find the animal vessels quite useful in surveillance."
"Indeed. That is all, Taygeta. Keep me posted, and keep up the good work. I think you should know, that while Vapula is under pressure from various sources on his own side not to disturb the Truce, as well as having his own experiments to consider... he won't likely forget what you've done to him. Be careful out there."
Taygeta makes ready to leave. "Any assignments for now, or should I just go back to watching the University and other spots." He chuckles. "He told us so himself.... I believed him."
Jean says, "Sound judgement. Continue monitoring the area, and remember to brief me immediately if anything arises."
Taygeta nods. "As you say, sir. I'll keep you posted." He leaves then, not taking more of his Superior's time than is necessary.
Rosenstern returns to the shop with the other angels, inviting them along, and looks for Zara. He explains the idea that Slate had for drumming up support for making the Treaty Oak park back into the Treaty Grove. "I thought it would be a good idea," he continues, "-and it certainly would be something good, for the people of Austin to have a larger park somewhere in the city. It wouldn't hurt the Old Guy, either. Is there anyone you might know of whom I could talk with about starting this going?"
The shop is a fairly normal hair salon, although deviating from standard salon style by using soft greens on the walls and a smooth wooden floor. Zara, looking sharp as always, pauses from tending some of the plants in the lobby to think about it. "What a lovely idea... mm, you might look around campus; there are always students with more energy than they know what to do with, and time to spare."
Shateishael grins quietly from where he's standing, arms folded, behind the others. Good, Zara likes the idea... so it wasn't just pie in the sky. Rosenstern blinks, then grins, "That's a great idea. Thank you, Zara!" Taygeta purrs from Slate's shoulder, nodding at that idea.
Rosie spends the rest of the shop's working hours doing his typical duties, and tending the garden at Zara's shop. After hours, and the following day, he makes plans for the expansion of Treaty Grove, taking a bus near to the campus and posting some flyers on the community bulletin boards. He places the number on the flyers for the cell phone he picked up in Austin. He also takes the chance to register his gun with the DPS, and get a concealed carry permit. He hopes he doesn't get many questions about it from the Dominicans.
The Dominicans easily procure the paperwork, although the Seraph spends several minutes asking pointed questions, not entirely sure why a Mercurian of Flowers is carrying a gun. They also see to it that Rosenstern's earthly ID is up to date and legitimate. Rosenstern tries to explain that yes, that IS his gun, and yes, he intends to carry it. He doesn't go into details, knowing that while the Seraph would believe him when he mentions a "Malakim of Novalis," he would want to avoid the incredulous looks from the other Dominicans...
Shateishael will, as the group emerges from 'Natural Beauty,' murmur, "Think I need to be heading out to go look for trouble... and I'm betting he's somewhere on the Drag. Anyone want to come along?"
Thessaloniki says, "Sure, Slate." After having agreed, he asks, "What trouble do you need to find today? I'd have thought you'd have enough."
Shateishael grins at Nick, "Drew." He adds dryly, "Now why does everyone keep telling me stuff like that? It's like you and Ms. Zara 'n all are expecting me to get into trouble!" His eyes glitter teasingly, "Is it my fault it so often comes looking for me?"
Thessaloniki gives Slate a funny look, and asks, "Why would Drew be trouble now?"
Shateishael says, "Well, completely aside from that he's killing folks to fulfill his Word... I just need to catch him and take him to talk to Mitrah with me. Gotta plan out just when, where, and how this is going down."
Thessaloniki says, "You might do better by yourself. Less threatening than having a whole bunch of folks asking about a supposedly 'secret' plan."
Shateishael says, "Oh, I just thought y'all might be interested in wandering the Drag with me. Once I find him I'm gonna have to leave with just him for Enchanted Rock."
Thessaloniki grins, "Okay. That I'm happy to do." Shateishael nods, his grin quietly amused. He didn't think the Ofanite would really mind cruising the Drag in one of his eye-catchingly beautiful old cars.
On to the Drag. The real name of the place is Guadalupe Street, pronounced by most residents "GWAD-a-loop," to the undying horror of resident Spanish-speakers, but everyone just calls it the Drag. It's crowded with secondhand music stores, video arcades, vintage clothing stores, and of course the occasional head shop. As our alleged heroes cruise, up on the left, exiting a music store, is the familiar, denim-clad silhouette of the most relaxed Calabite they've ever known. Even at a distance it catches one's eye -- Wrench is a big man.
Shateishael murmurs to Nick, "Lemme out there, wouldja? There..." he points, "-it's Wrench." He looks around for Tomas, expecting to see the smaller Eliite somewhere nearby.
Thessaloniki pauses long enough at a light to let Slate out, and says, "I'll find a place to park." He then does so.
Shateishael thanks Nick, sliding smoothly out of the car, and heads for the Calabite, "Hey, Wrench!" Taygeta hops out of the car when Slate does and tags along behind him.
The big Calabite pauses, looking over his shoulder, then grins in recognition. His perpetual sunburn makes his teeth look ghastly white. "Well well well. Howdy."
Shateishael casually scoops up the cat, "You trying to get kicked?" and deposits it on his shoulder. When he's close enough to talk normally he smiles, "Hey, what's up. Was looking for Drew. You seen him anywhere around?"
Wrenchial eyes the cat a moment. Then he shrugs and says, "Yeah, he's over at the arcade down the street." He points. "Hope you got some good news. My man's a little tenser than usual. I think Hugo did him something dirty."
Taygeta's ears flick forward at that, and he meows in a querying tone. Shateishael nods slowly, "Yeah, I'm hoping it'll help him feel better..." He's silent for a moment, then adds quietly, "Hugo? or Mackie?"
Wrenchial shrugs, turning away and wandering down the street again, "Does it matter?" He pauses, then turns, "How do you know about Mackie?"
Shateishael gives the Calabite a curious glance, "Zara." He opens his mouth to ask another question... then remembers what he's dealing with, and just shrugs mentally. Austin. Maybe Drew will talk. And maybe pigs will fly out my butt, he thinks dryly.
Wrench murmurs, "'zattafactnow..." then grins and shrugs. "Like I said... either way, don't matter."
Shateishael narrows his eyes thoughtfully at Wrench, then mentally shrugs again, and asks, "Why doesn't it matter?"
Wrench says, "Those two are wearin' out their welcome; making life tense for all of us. Pushing Drew to snap is puttin' a real strain on keepin' everyone neighborly."
The corner of Slate's mouth quirks up again slightly, "Guess so. Well, maybe I can help some, with Drew at least." He pauses, then adds in quiet amusement, "Wouldn't want to get into any more of y'all's... family problems, after all. Best to just let y'all handle that, eh?"
Wrench smirks. "Y'all are funny, y'know that?" He wanders on down the street. "Heh. Hah!"
Shateishael's smile doesn't reach his eyes... he looks more thoughtful than anything else as he wanders towards the indicated arcade. Now that is damn interesting... sounds like he'd like this town to get all the diabolicals but himself and Lauren cleaned up due to angelic action. Think I'll just let him worry about Hugo and Mackie though... at least for now. I'm not his janitor. He pauses at the arcade entrance, looking to see if he can recognize Drew in the dimness within.
Shateishael's thoughts continue, So, we got him off the hook with Belial, got Furfur chased away for him, and now he doesn't have to worry about Vilson either. That leaves Frex, Lauren, him, Hugo, and Mackie. Wonder if there're any others I don't know about yet? Amid the flickering darkness, there's a familiar-looking flash of silver tape on a body slouched near a derelict-looking machine next to an ancient Galaga cabinet.
Shateishael says, "Better take a hike, Tay-Tom... Drew isn't gonna want to talk while you're there. Don't get stepped on, eh?" He waits for the cat to leap down, then paces silently into the arcade and waits until Drew looks up at him, so as to not startle the kid, "Hey. How ya doing?"
Taygeta hops down from Slate's shoulder and sits by the entrance to the arcade, washing his paws until the others show up. When Nick arrives, he activates the Song that Jean gifted him with and recounts the conversation with Wrench. "Drew must be in there, since Slate hasn't come out yet."
Thessaloniki hrms at the cat, then says, "Okay. We'll let 'em talk." He passes the time by poking around the nearby street.
Drew is leaning on a machine whose marquee reads 'Sturm und Drag.' The machine looks dead, although periodically it seems to power up, flicker to life, run through a brief demo, and display its high scores before shutting back down. The score on the bottom is marked 'DRW.' When he looks up Drew's displaying a little bit of a shiner on his left eye. "I've been better. How're you?"
Shateishael smiles at the melodramatic machine's title, although his attention sharpens immediately at seeing Drew's face, "Good lord, Druiel... what happened? You okay? How come you didn't go visit Ms. Zara?"
Drew says, "It's only about ten minutes old. I, uh... let my temper get away from me."
Shateishael grins, "Okay. I was gonna go out to Enchanted Rock with you. You wanna visit Ms. Zara first?"
Drew says, "Nah, I'm fine. What do you need at the Rock?"
Shateishael smiles quietly, "To talk to you and Mitrah... make sure we're all set. Got your bike here? I can give you a lift if you want."
A few people seem to be giving curious glances to the people in front of Sturm und Drag, as if expecting something. Drew says, "My bike's in the alley. I'll follow you."
Shateishael nods and heads out. Once outside he pauses to tell Nick and Tay, "Found him, thanks. Talk to y'all later, okay?"
Taygeta tilts his head. "Mrrow?"
Drew doesn't wait; he circles around to the alleyway and roars out the other end. Shateishael raises an eyebrow at Drew's hasty departure, and amends, "Okay, re-cap. Can you give me a ride to Zara's so I can pick up my bike, first? Then I'll head out and see how Prince Charming's doing." He shakes his head in faint amusement, "Guess who's sporting a small shiner on his near side eye?"
Taygeta blerts in amusement. Thessaloniki chuckles, and says, "Hot-tempered fellow, isn't he?" and gives Slate the lift back to his bike. He tells Slate, "Okay. Probably see you back at the Ranch later. Take care, guy."
Shateishael nods amusedly, "He's sure got teen angst down too... unshakably sure the weight of the world rests only on his shoulders and no one else could possibly understand..." He will, once he's been dropped off at Zara's, take off on the sturdy old BMW and head after Drew to Enchanted Rock.
Taygeta takes advantage of the stop at Zara's place to Borrow a sparrow and head back to keep an eye on the University -- his cat-self will continue on back to the Ranch to lie in the sun and keep an eye on the Net. Thessaloniki picks up the cat in one arm and skritchies it idly while walking back to his car. "Let's go back to the Ranch. I've got some things I can finally get back to." As he walks down the street he sees the older of the two McKay brothers following a pallid looking guy in an overcoat. Both of them vanish around a corner before he gets a good look. Deciding to let sleeping dogs lie, he merely says, "Hmm," and heads on home. He makes a mental note to tell Slate about what he noticed, and to mention that he didn't look happy at all, if that's worth anything.
Meanwhile, out of town, Drew is waiting at the foot of the Rock for Slate. "She knows we're here already. You ready to go?"
Shateishael says, "Sure." He looks curious, "You call ahead or something?" He has some papers with him... the maps of the underground.
Drew says, "We're here, aren't we? She knows everything that happens here." He turns and starts to clamber up the face.
Shateishael climbs the rock slowly and steadily, pacing himself thoughtfully... and keeping a quiet eye on the rather excitable young angel with him. It takes a lot to give a celestial heatstroke... but he wouldn't put it past this one. He murmurs quietly as they're climbing, "So... how'd you get the eye?"
Drew says, "I let my temper get away from me... I accused Hugo of some things. I challenged him to the game.. but he wouldn't play. We both got a little hot... I took a swing at him."
Shateishael says, "What game?"
Drew says, "The video game. Sturm und Drag. No one told you about that yet?"
Shateishael pauses long enough to glance over his shoulder curiously at the smaller Seraph, "No, although I noticed you had high score. What is it?" He turns back to climbing, a grin in his voice, "Storm and urges or something, isn't it?"
Drew shrugs, "I don't know what the name means... it's how we settle things here, when things get tense. Some angel made it back in the 80's... it's, like... it exists on the Celestial. You have to be Celestial to play it, or it won't work. It, um... you remember that game, from that James Bond movie, the one that shocks you if you lose?"
Shateishael mutters, "No, passion, I think..." then adds to Drew, "Nope, haven't seen many Bond mov- oh, wait, yeah... I think I did see that one. What about it?" He looks suddenly intently curious, "A game you play... only when celestial? How... strange..."
Drew says, panting a little at the climb, "Well, it's like that. Except if you take a hit it... hurts you. It attacks your soul. If you lost badly enough, you could drop a Force."
At Drew's comment Slate pauses again, giving the Sword angel a startled look, "A game... that damages your Forces?! Why would anyone play this?!"
Drew says, "It's like a duel... usually you bail out at the first hit or so... like, um... like dueling to first blood, back in the Middle Ages. It's the closest we can come in Austin to dueling without breaking the truce... normally no one touches it. And it looks broke, so the mortals ignore it. But when things get tense... that's usually how we settle things."
Shateishael grins lazily and rumbles, "Think I'd rather count coup, or have a duel to first blood for honor, myself." He continues climbing thoughtfully for a bit, then adds, "So... what'd Hugo do to you?"
At the question Drew is silent a moment. Then the younger Seraph sighs a bit, sweating, and seems to pause for a breath. "Hugo put something in the Ecstasy I gave to Lisa-" He catches himself and his tone changes. "To the last example I made... her... heart exploded. She couldn't even scream... there was all this... pink foam..." He shudders visibly and climbs faster, energized by the recollection, it seems, saying, "He made her suffer."
Shateishael pauses, aghast, "He... good lord." He thinks about asking Drew to stop and rest a bit, have a drink of water... then realizes incessant action is probably how the poor kid keeps from going mad, at this point. He pauses to take his shirt off, then speeds up a little in his climbing to keep up with the smaller Seraph. It worries him that Drew's deliberately harming himself to keep from thinking too much. Still... at least this time there'll be someone here if Drew does fall down, with the proper equipment to help him. Pink foam... Lisa must be the girl I found. Poor kids.
Drew doesn't make reply to that, he just keeps on climbing. His T-shirt breaks out in dark circles under the arms and the small of his back. Shateishael catches up with the somewhat scrambly Drew, and climbs quietly next to him. After a bit he murmurs quietly, "Does Hugo deal dirty? Where does he get his stuff from?"
Drew finally has to stop to pant for breath. "He didn't before... I don't know why he did it this time. And he won't tell me... he keeps insisting he had nothing to do with it... fucking Balseraph. Fucking liar!" He throws himself at the mountain again. "From Mackie! He gets it from Mackie..."
Shateishael thinks silently as he climbs surely and steadily, So Hugo's a Balseraph. Not surprising then that he refused the game... and reacted badly to Drew's accusations. Still... I wonder why he wouldn't play just a round? Maybe Drew's known to be the best at it... but... wait, stolen Forces?! He draws in his breath sharply, then says slowly, "Drew... who made the game? Where do the stolen Forces go?"
Rasping a little, Drew grates, "But he's the one that puts... he's the one that poisons it for me. But I told him... I made him promise me! They're not supposed to suffer!" He pauses again when he overextends himself a second time, gasping a little. "Nobody knows where they go... some angel made it... a Creationer. But he vanished... he disappeared and no one can find him anymore."
Shateishael pauses when Drew does, and silently unhooks his canteen, unscrewing the top and handing it to the panting, upset smaller Seraph. He's studying the terrain below, politely not watching Drew's distress -- until that comment about a vanished Eliite, "What?! There's a missing servitor of Eli?! I thought the missing angel was Tomas!" His head turns abruptly to stare intently at Drew, "Doesn't anyone know where his heart is?" Then he gets a sudden mix of horror and disgust on his face, "Good lord... did he play his own game too much?!"
Drew takes a small drink from the offered canteen. "He's not really missing anymore... I mean... he vanished like twenty years ago. I dunno about his Heart... he was Eli's. Nobody's looking after those Hearts anymore... why do you care about the game? Hugo wouldn't play... he won't admit anything."
Shateishael stares in astonishment at Drew, "Those Hearts should be perfectly safe in Heaven -- they shouldn't need anyone watching over them!" -or at least that's what Nick told me... Angrily he thinks, They'd better be safe! He turns his attention back to Drew, taking a slow breath, "I... Nick is an Eliite, and a very good friend, whose Heart is in Heaven. I don't want him going missing." He takes another breath, calming himself, and nods to Drew, "Drink some more... it's good for you." He waits while Drew drinks again, then muses, "Okay... so what's Mackie then? Let's assume, no matter how strange, that Hugo's telling the truth -- could Mackie be screwing around?"
Drew looks into the canteen. "Mackie's the Seneschal... down in the House That Pain Built. He's... he's the hookup. He gets all the stuff for them. I... I don't know... maybe if Hugo can poison it so can he. But... why would he?"
Shateishael frowns, thinking, "Um... well, could Mackie be worried that you and Hugo are getting along too well? I've heard he's pretty scummy... and what if Hugo and Wrench both weren't willing to back him up, if there was a dispute between you and Mackie? You are a Sword angel, after all." He adds curiously, "I heard you go there sometimes... does he ever seem... I dunno... scared of you, or over-worriedly belligerent, or anything?"
Drew shrugs. "I don't even know the guy. He stays in the House all the time, from what I saw... nobody really likes him." He listens, then shakes his head. "Nah. He's... just slimy. He's overweight and a fast talker. Like a used car salesman."
Shateishael accepts the canteen back from Drew and has a long, slow, thoughtful slug of water himself... then screws the cap back on and rehooks it on his belt. "Well... does anyone get along with Hugo? How does Hugo get along with Mackie?"
Drew shrugs. "The other demons tolerate Hugo. I don't know how he gets along with Mackie... he doesn't talk about him much. He doesn't talk about the House much."
Shateishael hms... then grins lopsidedly at Drew, "Well, I dunno if what I suggested is right, but it sure makes sense with what you've said so far. All the used car salesmen types I've known were out to make a fast buck at someone else's expense, and always looking over their shoulder for the last guy they cheated, y'know? So... I'd guess Mackie's feeling kinda insecure just now... and trying to splinter any dealings between you and Hugo." He pauses, then says curiously, "Why didn't you just check with your Resonance to see if Hugo was telling the truth?"
Drew says, "I don't know. I just... didn't believe him. I was too angry." Slumped over, Druiel appears too tired to be angry for the moment.
Shateishael nods slowly... then rumbles quietly, "Drew... you might wanna think real hard about Mackie maybe being the culprit. Hugo must know lying to you wouldn't work... and there's a lot more angels in town right now than demons. I bet Mackie knows that... and knows everyone's getting along fine -- except for him. He sounds like just the stupid type to think that stirring things up will make the demons want to hang with him more, y'know?"
Drew frowns. "I wonder. I think... Hugo said once that he was... no..."
Shateishael adds gently, "And maybe... maybe now's a good time to check with Christopher if there's another way besides your killing nice folks to support your Word?" He adds even more quietly, "If Lisa was the girl I found... I would have liked to have met her..." Shateishael's expression is as quiet and calm as his voice... there's no accusation or anger at all.
Drew says, "Slate, I appreciate your trying to help me... but I don't really want to talk about her right now... okay?"
Shateishael nods, "All right. What did Hugo say?"
Drew squints, as if trying to recall something. "He said... something like... he was... higher up, or something. Like he outranked Mackie. I can't remember exactly..."
Shateishael looks puzzled, "Hugo outranks Mackie? That's... weird -- isn't Mackie the Seneschal of a Tether?" He frowns, thinking... then says slowly, "I... don't know for sure, Drew, if that'd make someone like Mackie more or less nervous... but you might wanna be real careful of using any drugs for anyone for a while, y'know?"
Drew stands up again, and starts climbing again. "Something really stinks here... and I almost played right into it." The younger Seraph growls, "Right when I was getting Dissonant... someone's pushing me..."
Shateishael follows quietly, relieved that he was able to get Drew to rest a bit -- and more importantly, think a bit! He grins wickedly at a sudden thought, "Hey, Drew... wanna give 'im hell? Tell Hugo you think Mackie did it to get Hugo in trouble with everyone in Austin! We think that's correct, after all..." He laughs -- an unpleasant sound, "-then wait and see what happens!"
Drew says, "Nobody cares what happens to Mackie, Slate. But I'm going to have some more words with Hugo. Count on it."
Shateishael grins lazily, "Exactly, Drew. Let Hugo whack Mackie."
Drew doesn't look back, climbing ahead. "Whoever's doing it is gonna pay. I don't care which one. If Hugo isn't at fault... fine. Truce or no truce, someone's got to pay."
Shateishael rumbles peacefully, "Well, lemme know if you need a hand." He doesn't say anything else -- if the kid's smart enough to let him help then maybe he can keep the Truce intact. If not -- it's Drew's look out. He climbs silently and steadily next to the other, now fortunately calmer, Seraph, then slides over the stony ridge into the caves. He leans against one of the cool stone walls, catching his breath and enjoying the familiar feel of stone against his bare and slightly sweaty back.
Drew climbs onto the ridge and catches his breath. The rock groans deeply. Shateishael eyes Drew thoughtfully... good, he doesn't look quite as frenetic as before. Slate turns his attention inward, to the Rock itself, "Ms. Mitrah. I was hoping we could talk -- all three of us, to figure out the last bits of plan... when and where and how."
Mitrah shapes a rough female torso for herself from the rock again. "I trust you have taken care of your other business, Slate?"
Shateishael settles down cross-legged, pulling out the maps for him and Drew and spreading them out before him. He looks up and grins at the stone woman, "Ayup! No more Tokamak, no more Vilson. So..." He looks down at the map thoughtfully, "I could only think of one other way we might be absolutely sure you'd be safe, and that was to put the bomb right on Frex' Tether. I don't know what object that is though, or where... and if it was under the city that might break Truce. I figured suggesting it so Drew could tell us what he knows too." He glances inquiringly at the panting Sword angel.
Drew says, "I've been there. I can tell you where it is." Shateishael nods, gesturing to Drew to indicate on the map. Drew indicates a series of very regularly shaped chambers at the deepest expanses of the catacombs. "Here. Where the Tonkawa bodies are interred."
Shateishael wrinkles his nose in faint disgust, "Tonkawa... okay. Let's see where that is, relative to the city itself..."
The Earthside terminus of the Tether, the heart of the catacombs, is located at a depth of nearly 320 feet. Estimating from the distance from the Bracken Cave entrance, it looks to be about a half-hour outside of Austin proper by car. The fault itself lies several hundred feet away, in the aquifer. Drew indicates the waterline to have receded to a point close to the fault, but not extremely so. Shateishael hms, studying the map carefully, "So... we don't really gain anything by trying for his Tether? Am I reading this right?"
Mitrah says, "It isn't necessary, although it would certainly entertain me. The destruction of the catacombs themselves, the chambers and corpses and what they represent, that will be enough to shatter the Tether."
Shateishael nods slowly, thinking... then says, "Okay, then about the Fault... Drew, d'you know if there're likely to be those headless torsos there? Is there any way to sneak all the way down without being noticed, that you know of?"
Drew says, "There's guaranteed to be corpses there... Frex is the one that makes 'em. They were his idea... he discovered that resin shit. They're pretty stupid, though. I dunno if you could sneak in, though... Frex seems to move around a lot in the catacombs tidying them up and reclaiming them from the aquifer."
Shateishael grumbles quietly under his breath, "Figures..." He studies the map for a bit, then says slowly, "Drew... does he trust you? Could you... maybe meet with him or lead him to the opposite side of the catacombs than the fault? Or... better yet, could you carry the bomb down to the bottom of the fault, and none of the torsos would bother you?"
Drew says, "I don't think he trusts me... but I know he thinks he's getting something out of me. I can meet with him... but he won't take visitors anywhere but in the catacombs proper. He's paranoid... real paranoid." At the suggestion he nods. "I could get the bomb down there, yeah. But I'd have to blow it myself. He'd demand to know what it was... and if I left it there he'd just find it and fuck it up before we could blow it."
Shateishael nods slowly, thinking... "Okay, how's this then. Ms. Mitrah sets the bomb up so we can trigger it, then go celestial and bolt. Then I create a disturbance on the other side of the catacombs, draw his attention. You slide down the fault, drop the bomb, trigger it, go celestial and fly straight up out of there. Ms. Mitrah will have already crushed as much of the fault as she can above you, and made some collapsed spiral tunnels to suck up as much shockwave as she can. I'll know when to run by the earthquake." He looks up at the other two, "Doable?"
Drew says, "Like... give it a real short timer? Like just a few seconds?" Mitrah says, "It's already been done. Breaking up the fault has disturbed some of the balances I've been relying upon... but it's preferable to destruction."
Shateishael looks relieved at Mitrah's announcement, and just nods to Drew, grinning, "I've seen you bolt into celestial. You do it faster than I do."
Drew says, "Just means my will is stronger. If that's the plan... okay. Let's do it that way."
Shateishael nods thoughtfully, "Okay... how do you want to get there? I'll take the other route... and I can get someone to close Congress Street with concrete. I was thinking of quietly asking a few of the more martial folks we know to stand by all the exits we know of, to get rid of any fleeing headless torsos anyway."
Drew says, "I think they're too stupid to run away... but I guess it's a good idea. I usually go in through the Congress Street Bridge entrance. I can go in through Bracken Cave... I guess..." He looks faintly green at the thought, though.
Shateishael grins, "Might want to do it after nightfall, so we don't have to deal with bats?"
Drew says grimly, "The guano will still be there..."
Shateishael grins, "Okay, okay, I'll take that route -- you take Congress. I'm gonna be blowing as much of it as I can find explosives for anyway. If I can find any."
Drew says, "Okay. Try getting in past the bat habitat... and just one bomb should do. Frex'll freak out."
Shateishael says, "So... how's this. I'll see if I can find some explosives, then ask Taygeta, a Kyrio friend of mine, to have vessels near each of us. He can let you know when I've started disrupting the area. I'll keep things as busy as I can there to draw Frex' attention, and you run in as fast as you can and drop the bomb. Trigger it, go celestial, go straight up, and as soon as Tay sees you he can alert me -- and I'll split too." He takes a deep breath, not mentioning how suicidal he thinks attracting an ancient Tether's Seneschal's attention is, At least Frex will be dead, and Mitrah will be safe. I'll have accomplished my mission. "Sound like a plan?"
Drew says, "Yeah... yeah, I can do that."
Shateishael adds quietly, "Tay's been helping me with my research, Ms. Mitrah. I think he's trustworthy."
Mitrah says, "If he meets with your approval... that will do."
Shateishael nods, looking relieved, "Okay then. Only thing left I can think of is deciding when. I... don't know how easy finding explosives will be... so can we plan on two weeks?"
Mitrah says, "As you wish."
Shateishael nods, then glances at Drew to be sure he's good to go also. Drew says, "That works for me."
Shateishael says, "Okay... we're good then." He takes a deep breath... this is going to be messy and unpleasant on his end, he suspects -- then politely says, "Ma'am, I was wondering if I could ask one favor... you know those little ferns that only grow here and one other place? I think they're called 'blechnums' or something... gotta photo here..." He pulls the crumbled color print-out out of his hip pack, unfolding it so it can be seen, and adds, "I was wondering if I was real careful... can I take one to Ms. Zara? She's been patching me and Nick up every time we get hurt... and we'd like to say thanks to her." And, he thinks dryly, I may need a LOT of patching real soon now...
Mitrah's form is already dissolving into the rock. "As you like..."
Shateishael grins, "Thanks, ma'am. We'll be going now."
Mitrah nods. "I will be waiting."
Shateishael leaves silently with Drew, relieved at how well things went. Drew doesn't say much on the way down. "I'll see you around, Slate."
Shateishael smiles and shakes his head at the departing Drew, That's one messed up kid... Instead of leaving immediately, he hunts until he finds a fern. Standing triumphantly over it, he pulls out his cell and calls Nick, "Hey, guy... got a fern. Meet me at Zara's in..." he pauses, thinking... hour and a half back to town, another half an hour to dig up the fern and not be caught by angry rangers -- three hours from the Ranch to town... usually... he grins, "-in two hours, okay?"
Thessaloniki's voice comes back over the phone, "Sure 'nuff. Need me to bring anything?"
Shateishael grins -- crazy Ofanites, "Nah, I packed the stuff I'd need into the bike soon as I knew we were gonna do this. See you then!" He hangs up, tucks the phone away, and pulls out the sturdy folding little box he's been saving for just this occasion. He carefully packs in the little fern, with its own dirt around it, keeping a wary eye out for rangers, then stealthily slips it back to his bike, and away for a new and much-appreciated home in Austin. Hope Ms. Zara likes it... then again, I'm sure she will.
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