The Sereni-Tree and the Madness of Arkham
POSTED BY: TheRealMe
UPDATED: Sunday, November 6, 2005 04:18
VIEWED: 28440
PAGE 3 of 19
As Static enters the tower, holstering his pistols, grinning with relief that his quest is reaching its end, he pauses and takes a deep breath.
Then his expression begins to sour. Something doesn't feel right. He turns and looks at his companions behind him.
"How is it that you were allowed in?"
As he speaks these words, the doors slam shut. Jayne-clone2 runs to them and throws himself against them. Growling loudly. Static draws his pistols and touches Jayne on the shoulder and raises his fingers to his lips.
"Shhhhh." With this instruction, Static begins to assess their situation, getting a feel for the room. Without warning, Jayne-clone2 steps back from the doors and levels his huge weapon at them, releasing a long burst of automatic fire that thunders through the bottom level of the tower. Soul jumps in alarm, while Static merely turns to the huge mercenary and once more raises a finger to his lips, "Shhhhhhhh."
Soul sidles up to Static, concern all over his face, "What's going on?"
Static continues to look around the room. His voice is calm, but there is an anguish in his eyes so potent it causes Soul to nearly choke up, "This is not my tower. This is a sham...I've allowed myself to be duped."
Soul nods soberly, "So what do we do now? How do we get out of this?"
Static nods towards the staircase, "We go up...as far as we can. And one might reasonably infer that we will NOT 'get out of this'"
Jayne-clone2 gulps audibly and tightens his grip on his weapon, "Well, I might."
http://burstsofstatic.blogspot.com
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*** A slight plot twist that may impact upon our gallant warriors. ***
*cozen pauses in the weeding of Serenity’s garden and contemplates his grimy fingernails. Feels the grit and ponders the the complex miracle of the bounties that flourish from soil. It feels... real.*
Heh, if this is what being “grounded” is all about, then it’s a positive experience.
*While carrying a bundle of weeds to the compost bin, he considers the ethics of cloning. Is hung up a bit on the moral nature of cloning fictional characters until the truth of the enterprise blasts through his brainpan. He remembers; allows in the awful truth. It is all he can do to dump the weeds into the bin. He wraps his arms around the compost bin for support as he drops to his knees, his head slumped onto an arm.*
*He speaks, not believing he will be heard, but truth will out.*
They’re not clones, per se. They are apparitions, created by me and implanted in your imaginations via one of those special powers with which we Tree-ers appear to be burdened. The “clones” purpose was ever to facilitate your own subliminal abilities. For example, when the Jayne-clone next to you blasts a hole through the head of a beastie, it was you who made the shot.
I have been able to maintain these chimaeras for some time now, subconsciously even as I slept. Yet I am human, and subject to human frailties. My resolve is sapped by the sheer mental effort required to keep the illusions functional, and my ability wanes even as your battles rage on. Pshychic River: I take full responsibility for the demise of the River “clone”. That one... took a lot of effort, which has considerably weakened me.
I can not guarantee the lifespans and continued reliability of the remaining “clones.” The message is simple: you now must need to find the strength within yourselves. You must gain the confidence in yourselves to aim true and fire without hesitation.
*He lifts his head, gazing at the wonders of the garden.*
Ooh! Shiny plums!
***
"You think somebody wouldn't go see somebody if they didn't want entertainment?"
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*finally beats the level he had been working on so diligently for the last few days. Straight, it feels like. Gets up and stretches about, feeling his neck and back pop.*
Hmm. I guess I should head to the bridge.
*finds his knee-high boots and pulls them on. Grabs his shoulder bag, hanging on his right side, clips his lightsaber-
Oh, how I have missed you.
-on his belt at his left hip and makes his way to the bridge.*
--------------------------------------------------------------
Chief Engineer - USS SereniTREE
http://tomeofgrey.blogspot.com
http://www.cafepress.com/thegreyjedi
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OOC: I honestly wouldn't mind seeing the clones slowly make their ways out of existence...you need a gorram scorecard to keep up with all the folks running around this thread anyhoo.
http://burstsofstatic.blogspot.com
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Bride2 has been following Jazaf and the rest. Now, she runs up to the Dark Tower to join Jazaf, who has apparently been locked outside, away from Static, Soul, and the Jayne clone.
"Hi, Sensei! What's the plan, now?"
Bride2
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*Concentrating the light remains and as the liquid River appears the light grows brighter and now lights up the entire area between the cells.*
Um, guys don't know how much longer I can keep this up so I'm thinkin' itd be best to get the hell out of here while we can see where we're going.
*Falls to her knees behind the barricade, shocked and feeling more than a might weak.*
Or maybe we could just stay here and rest for a moment first. *Passes out,still glowing*
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*PsychicRiver hears something in his mind...a voice, a familiar voice...*
*PR went into a daze and spoke what he heard...*
Quote:
Originally posted by cozen:
*He speaks, not believing he will be heard, but truth will out.*
They’re not clones, per se. They are apparitions, created by me and implanted in your imaginations via one of those special powers with which we Tree-ers appear to be burdened. The “clones” purpose was ever to facilitate your own subliminal abilities. For example, when the Jayne-clone next to you blasts a hole through the head of a beastie, it was you who made the shot.
I have been able to maintain these chimaeras for some time now, subconsciously even as I slept. Yet I am human, and subject to human frailties. My resolve is sapped by the sheer mental effort required to keep the illusions functional, and my ability wanes even as your battles rage on. Pshychic River: I take full responsibility for the demise of the River “clone”. That one... took a lot of effort, which has considerably weakened me.
I can not guarantee the lifespans and continued reliability of the remaining “clones.” The message is simple: you now must need to find the strength within yourselves. You must gain the confidence in yourselves to aim true and fire without hesitation.
*Then he is done. And he blinks with the realization of what he just said.*
So...this means that....I played cards with myself?
PsychicRiver
"Two by two, hands of blue."
"We'll take care of each other. I'll knit!"
"I swallowed a bug."
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They slowly make their way up the stairs; Static, Soul, and Jayne-clone2. Soul glances back towards the door as he realizes that Jazaf never made it through before the doors shut. Soul whispers a quiet prayer for his friend outside, then his friends inside, and finally for himself. Then he lets his mind relax, and focuses inward.
So you finally realize, do you?
"That we are more powerful together than apart? Yes, I now understand."
Well, let's do this, then.
Soul opens his eyes and allows himself a small grin, feeling power surge through him as both sides of his persona join as one, and he follows the others up the stairs. For a while, he hears the occasional screech or wail, but he sees nothing but shadows on the stairs. Then Jayne-clone2 grunts, and Soul turns to see the mercenary staring up at him with confusion written across his features.
"What in the--"
And then like dust in the wind, Jayne-clone2 dissolves into nothingness, and is swept away. Everything disappears, including his gun, until only two remain on the stairs.
Soul looks up at Static. "This is out of my league. What do we do now?"
Static turns and continues up the stairs. "We climb."
______________________
Soul, Security Chief of the Sereni-Tree, Captain of Destiny.
Mantichorus: "So is there a reason they call you 'Soul'?"
Soul (after a long pause): "Yeah. Because I have one."
http://havenofsouls.blogspot.com/
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Safe listens to PR as he continues to fire on the creatures.
"Well that explains what happened to River, but not what's in the pool." As he looks at the pool the figure's face morphs briefly into Jaynes' face and continues to beckon. "Well, that's new."
"But, my question is, Jack and I are new, how come we could see River? Also if any of the rest of you are clones, speak now. I don't need anymore surprises."
Jack: "Ok, let me get this straight, the message said #3 pays the fee. And PR said the way out had somthin' to do with blood. Well we've paid the fee right?? There's the blood, we've seen the body fall through the picture. Why ain't we jumpin' through the picture??"
Jack points at the pool. The pool at the River/Jayne's feet reflects the scenes from before. It flashs from one scene to the next.
Safeat2nd, Chief Handyman of Destiny
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*The pool of blood grows...more evil creatures descend from above.*
But...I don't understand. Whats happening?!
*Safe, Jack, Ath and others open fire on the creatures. PR can hear their gunblast in the distance...but his head is filled with a loud form of silence...a strange sound...almost like, white noise.*
*One of the creatures pounces upon the unconscious Mai.*
*Ath grabs hold of it, pulls it off of her, and throws it backwards. He pulls out his lightsaber and slashes at the creature.*
*PR is staring at the ground...he's starting to feel dizzy*
*Two of the creatures leap at Safe, knocking him to the floor... Serenity tries to tackle them. One grabs a hold of her ankle and pulls her down.*
*The Wash Malcolmette flickers in and out of existence as he is also pounced upon by a creature.*
*The room around them beings to swirl...PsychicRiver hears the loud and awful growls. The white noise grows louder and louder until its all he can hear.*
*PsychicRiver tries to fight back with his mind but not a thing happens! Gasp! He reaches round to his back, and pulls out the gun that was being kept just inside his belt... he grips it firmly and aims it at one of the creatures above Serenity and Safe...*
*Theres a flash and a loud "blip!" sound followed by silence. A silence so calm that it almost hurts PR's ears, after all that white noise.*
*PR blinks in the bright light and looks around. They are in a wood...on the ground...light leaks in gently from the trees high above.*
*He sees the rest of the Grant crew around him too. In the exact positions they were a second ago, except now...there are no monsters there.*
*PR hears some moaning...he gets up and looks down.*
Oh, Jazaf. Hello!
Sorry, I didn't mean to land on you.
(No more clones? But thats so sad.)
PsychicRiver
"Two by two, hands of blue."
"We'll take care of each other. I'll knit!"
"I swallowed a bug."
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