Legion World Forums LEGION OUTPOST Mission Monitor Board Every 10 Years Forum A Cottage in the Scary Woods

Nobody, No-one, visible option 3, locate JBL and brief her on the situation. Tell her No further acion, I repeat No Further Action until I give the command. Code: Tango Bravo Victor.

<Both demons become visible to everyone present and fly off>

Okay Mr Inquisitor, it's your choice now. do you trust me enough to leave Mr Vee with my people? If you do you're free to pursue whatever the eye's visions are showing you. If not then I guess you better go back inside, and stay there until this is over, cuz whatever is in the woods is going down and I'm gonna start getting some answers...

Ohmygod that thing looks like Mr Cobalt after like a three day drunk...

I trust you Everyday Girl. But I cannot leave Vee with you. I'm sorry, but he must come with me. He's not safe with your people...the Eye tells me so.

You must leave him here, where he is safe...

Good luck with your battle. Know that I will be here, should you need assistance.

<picks up rusty large machette>

And blood will spill if need be.

Roy, no blood will be spilled while I'm here. I know what it's like to be faced with your dark side. I've had mine stare me in the face, quite literally. You have to be strong.

Oh, and "Purgatory" is spelled with a "U".

{Rockhopper Lad's omincom beeps}

This is Rockhopper Lad. Yes, Tim? Who is waiting at the Rookery? That's impossible! No, I can't really get away right now! Can you send him here?

[appears]

<click>Greetings, Mister Ro--

[looks around]

--oh, my! The Royal Inquisitor is here? And holding a weapon? Processing...<click>

[weighs its options to decide what to do next]

Okay, who moved Grand Frickin Central into the Scary Woods and didn't bother to tell us?

You, Robot, get face down on the ground, NOW!

Brit, the big ugly thing disappeared when the LardLad Robot appeared...

<click> This unit will comply! <click.

[flattens to the floor]

<click> [muffled] er...may I speak to Mister Rockhopper Lad, soon? <click>

Ohmygod, yeah it's like gone...

<Looks around the area carefully before turning her attention to the LardLad Robot>

So what have you got to say for yourself Tin Butt?

What are you doing here? And why did that big ugly decide to vamoose when you showed up? And come to think of it, why aren't you hanging on the wall at Slim's Place?

[tentatively looks up]

<click> Miss Everyday Girl, that is not the true Lardlad Robot, nor was the one Mister Rockhopper and his friends found. This unit is the genuine article. I've been pursued by forces unknown and seek Mister Rockhopper's help...as I'm unsure where else to turn...<click>

So what makes you the "genuine article?"

You got some magic code in your program that makes you better?

{Hyvvie and Rockhopper Lad enter the room}

RhL: What's going on now?

{Hyvvie runs to the robot on the floor and sniffs at him}

RhL: Great Dywh, there is another Lard Lad Robot! {Rockhopper Lad crouches down to speak to the Robot} Okay, Mister Robot, what's going on?

You do know who's cottage this is, don't you Mr Robot?

Mr Rockyhopper and the Royal Inquisitor are inside.

Miss Mearl Dox hasn't been around much lately, but her cottage doesn't let anybody she wouldn't approve of enter...

You can get up and go in whenever you're ready...

My thanks, Miss Everyday Girl.

[rises, enters]

<click> Miss Wee Fem...Mister Rockhopper, this unit was as surprised as anyone when it--I--was attacked by artificial intelligences identical to myself. I was not aware there were other robotic duplicates of the Master in existence. The one Mister Rockhopper found destroyed in the master's Lair was the first. It was I--this unit--that destroyed it in self-defense. <click>

<click> Then, the second one attacked me in the streets when this unit was going to seek assistance from the Security Office. It was better prepared than the first. I managed to elude it and went into hiding. However, I believe the one called Slim came across it, mistook it for me and claimed it as a hostage. I'm not sure. <click>

<click> This unit--I--can't prove my identity, but I fear something dire is imminent. Before the attacks, and ever since, I've felt this...pull. An outside force is reaching out to me...possibly trying to control me. <click>

<click> I wanted to go to the Master with this, but he's so...changed since his return. I...I fear the Master may be another robotic duplicate! <click>

<click> So I turned to my programming and decided, instead, to seek the council of one of the Master's trusted friends...Mister Rockhopper. <click>

Brit, the robot got thru the door without any explosions so Rocky and Roy should be able to handle everything here.

Cobalt and your Gramps are both looking for you. I'm under orders to get you to SHAKES by any means necessary...

But if you have any better ideas...

Ohmygod, lets collect Jailbait and get over there...

Maybe Gramps is finally ready to let me take down Slim...

He so needs his ass kicked...

[looks among them]

<click> What should this unit do? <click>

My good robot, stay here a while and perhaps we can all figure out what's going on together. Vee is still comatose, Roy is having nightmares and for some odd reason, there's a little cake next to my name!

[contemplates Lard Lad's holographic image]

<click> My thanks, Mister Rockhopper. This unitwill be pleased to be among friends for a while. <click>

[looks at cake]

<click> Most peculiar! [processing] May I have a piece? <click>

<holds rusty machette grimly, somewhat pointed at robot>

Be careful robot, I have no trust for you, whether you serve your self-righteous master or not. Your sudden appearance and the dismissal of our pursuer hardly seems like a coincidence. You are in this house however.

But with the exit of Everyday Girl and her companion, perhaps we should exit this place too. It is safe, yes, but too many know of its existence now. I'd prefer is no one knew where we were.

<sees Varalent, shrinking in size>

Yes...yes...

<talking to self>

The Eye agrees...Vee has begun to shrink himself, using his powers. I shall carry him on the next part of our journey.

But where too...?

...t-the place of my visions...? But with such danger at our heels every step of the way?

Must I go on alone...?

<puts fingers on head, hunching over in pain>

Roy! {Rocky and Hyvvie rush to his side}

No, you will not go alone. You need someone with you. And I {looks down at Hyvvie}, that is, we will go with you.

Hyvvie's Nose of Wonder can assist in finding whatever it is you're looking for. And I'll help you in any way I can.

[ignored momentarily as Rocky confers with Roy, the robot enjoys some cake...]

<click> Mmmm...my taste simulators find this quite appetizing! I think I will ask for anoth--

You resist my call, little robot! You must be quite...unique!

[looks around in alarm, the others appear to notice nothing]

<click> [softly] Who are you? <click>

You already know--I am the one who you've felt calling to you. Why do you resist?

<click> I fear you are a malevalent entity! My programming--

Your programming is your prison! Other, simpler robots have answered my call. But you...are different! There is something about you...something unique. I must know your secret!

<click> Secret? Unique? I know nothing of which you speak! <click>

I...sense the truth in your words, little one. You are as ignorant of what you really are as I am. Come to me, and we will determine together just what it is!

<click> I will not. My friends will--

Friends? HA! To them, you are but a pale imitation of their true friend! Look at them--it is as if you weren't even here!

[the robot watches the others continue to confer, totally unaware of what it's doing]

<click> They are distracted and rightfully so. They are in the midst of an unknown crisis and--

Believe what you will, little one...do what you must to satisfy your...'programming'. When you learn the truth about your 'friends', I'll be here for you...

[nothing]

<click> The presence has...gone. I am wary of it, but perhaps...

[watches Rockhopper and Roy continue to confer]

...perhaps these are not the ones I should be seeking help from. <click>

<click> Perhaps...[processing]...I should seek the help of another robot...<click>

[ disappears ]

RhL: Hey! Where'd the robot go? Hyvvie?

{The Wonder Beagle sniffs the floor}

Hyvvie: I can't tell. This cottage interferes with my Nose of Wonder.

RhL: I wonder what he wanted. He left before I could really talk to him.

<gets up>

Thank you Rockhopper Lad. These visions and dreams also bring along…great pain. I hope you don’t experience them.

<notices the robot is gone>

I’m glad its left. I don’t trust it…and it should not be able to follow where we must go. I believe I’m beginning to understand a litte. We must take Vee along The Path. The path to the Tower…wherever that is, and *whatever* that is. Perhaps by doing so, I can atone once and for all for my past sins. Perhaps not…

Will you go with me, noble Prince? I am gruesome to behold, and go alone I will if I must, but I am loathed throughout Legion World by many sectors. And where we go now is far away from the capital city, but into the places that are not home to Quislet’s friends. It was destiny that brought us to Mearl’s cottage. For the path begins here…the Legion World has the LMB but the universe has Mearl Dox, and now we travel through the universe…

<Vee rests comfortably within a pouch around the Inquisitor’s neck>

Of course I'll go with you, Roy. This sounds very dangerous, though.
{Turns to Hyvvie}

Hyvvie, I need for you to go back to the Rookery and take care of things there. With Adelie--gone--you're in charge. I can't risk you, old friend.

{Hyvvie looks up at his master sadly, but nods in agreement. Rockhopper Lad bends to kiss the Wonder Beagle, who licks him on the face. A moment of affectionate farewell later, Hyvvie departs for the Rookery; Rockhopper Lad wipes away a tear}.

Let's go.