Yes, the ships are split. So Hinako, Hilde and Demota's character are on one headed for the Galactic Council while the rest of you are stil in the solar system. Ok, for those who stayed behind. Kiku, what are you doing right now? * Kiku is spending time with Nova, still! She's actually reading one of the, uh, threee manga she managed to bring in her bag. (That is, if Keika has not told Kiku of the Araki Plan yet.) (Obviously, when that happens...) (This is after the split so unless she's been hiding in her room the entire time she has to know about both of them. o_o) Ok, Nova, if you're in the room with Kiku, what are you doing? (No, no.) * Nova 's prodiving quiet companionship to Kiku. (providing) * Kiku sighs and tosses the book into floaty space before saying to Nova, "I don't like this plan. This... put Araki in one place, and a fake Araki in another... it's just putting Araki in dangeer..." * Nova eyes follow the floaty book along it's journey. * Kiku turns to Nova and says, "Just so Keika can do what she wants..." (You damn right.) * Nova looks at Kiku quietly. Keika, what are you doing? (How much time untill we get to the base?) Three hours. * Kiku says, looking into Nova's eyes, "I--I miss Kei, Nova. I miss her a lot. When she died, I--" she is cut off by a weak sob. * Keika is on the bridge, strapped to a chair, and doing the work of one of the techs she sent to the other ship. She's removed one of her suits gloves, and Karasu is floating above her. Captain kurata floats into the room. "Everything on our ends is ready, Keika. We're going to be in contact range with the base soon." * Nova puts a comforting had on Kiku's back. * Karasu twists its head around to look at Kurata. Good. Very good. She'll never know what happened. * Kiku says quietly, "Nova... do you care about me? I--I mean, trust me?" * Nova replies "Yes and yes." * Nova gently rubs Kiku's back with her hand that's resting against it. * Kiku smiles weakly at her and wipes a tear off to float in the air. She says quietly, "It's... not right what Keika's doing to Araki. It's crazy, and she doesn't--" she stops. * Kiku then continues, "I'm tired of all..." another trail-off and start. "I--I want to take her to Kei. Where we'll be safe. Where we'll all be safe." She pauses, then says, "You..." she closes her eyes. "You'll come with me, won't you? I--you defied Ares for me, and care for me... I--I can't leave you behind. You're..." she trails off, briefly overcome. * Nova replies, "Yes," and continues to physically confort Kiku with her gentlly rubbing hand. * Nova clairifies, "Nova with go with Kiku." * Kiku smiles at her. "Oh, Nova, thank you, I--" she stops that line of thought, then says, "I'll make sure Kei understands everything... but we have to hurry. We have to get Araki before Keika's plan starts..." * Nova replies, "Okay," and 'stands' up. * Kiku pushes up as well, teary, but seemingly happier. "This'll make it all better. You'll like Kei once you get to know her... she's always taken good care of me. We'll take good care of you too." She pushes off to leave! * Nova replies, "Okay," and floats along behind Kiku. * Kiku floats down towards where Araki is, past Keika's quarters and... well. Floaty. She wipes her eyes with her hand on theh way. * Nova continues to float along after Kiku. Araki emerges from her room. "Kiku? Are you enough?" ('Enough'?) (Say what?) ("All right". Sorry.) * Kiku looks to Araki. "Araki! I--ah, I'm fine." She smiles weakly. "Just... hard times, is all..." "I see. I'm sorry about this, Kiku. I feel as if this is somehow all my fault." I--your fault? No, Araki, it's not... I mean... "kei wouldn't have done what she did were in not for me." * Kiku blinks, then says quietly, "I... that's true, but..." * Nova floats nearby, quietly watching Kiku and Araki converse with one another. * Kiku shakes her head and says quietly, "If... if you could fix it, would you? I... I mean, end all this, Araki?" "In a heartbeat. Even if it means I end up dead." * Kiku nods slightly before saying, "Let's go then..." Araki looks puzzled. "Go? Where? keika told me to stay right here." * Kiku shakes her head and says, trying to be soothing, "I have a safer place to go." 'Safer? What aer you up to, Kiku? Is it something you want to talk to keika about?" * Kiku reaches out to touch Araki and says, "I've already talked to Keika..." 2d6-1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Kiku (2d6-1) and gets 9. (... You hate me, Dice.) "Lying! You're lying to me! Kiku! How dare you! I thought you were my friend! WHY? WHY ARE YOU GOING TO HAND ME BACK TO HER?" (Okay, time to hit her hard and KO her.) (Yep.) (Roll for an MC?) Araki reaches for her communcation device. "Keika! keika come in! priority one!" (Sure, but you'll ahev to get past her shields.) (Okay, so I'll have to get past her shields.) (Gimme a roll to make. >_>) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Kiku (2d6) and gets 3. (Well, whatever roll I have to make, there it is. Apply mods as necessary. >_>) 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for DB-GM (2d6-3) and gets 4. * Keika struggles with the belts holding her to her chair on the bridge and uses the communicator, her normaly serene voice filled with annoyance. "What the hell is going on down there?" Araki manages to get a sheild up in time and is still talking. "Keika! Dammit, Keika, answer!" * Kiku tries again, saying, "Nova! Take the communicator!" * Nova attempts to grab the communicator from Araki. Straight Contest fo BODY rolls. 2d6-1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Nova (2d6-1) and gets 3. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for DB-GM (2d6) and gets 2, a CRITICAL SUCCESS!!! "o/~I love you... you love me... o/~" (hahahaahaha!) (Jesus.) (/diceyhate) (We can't win this one.) Araki snatches the communciator away at the last second. "Keika! Keika, ANSWER! We're all going to DIE if you don't so something! KEIKA! ANSWER, KEIKA!" (I did!) * Nova attempts it again. 2d6-1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Nova (2d6-1) and gets 1, a CRITICAL SUCCESS!!! "Fight! For everlasting love and peace!" * Kiku is also attempting the MC again. (neener neener =P ) (... hahahaahahha!) Kurata looks over at you, Keika. "I know this is part of youe plan, but if you're wrong...." (Uhm... neither one of us should remember that this is part of the plan.) Nova, you grab the communicator and, in an unsoc\scnous diplay of strength, crush it. * Keika floats up and kicks off her chair heading for the door. "Araki! Come with me." (Scratch that, then.) (MC again, please!) Araki is so chocked her sheild crumbles. She is yours to command. * Kiku says/commands, "Come with me. We're going back to Mistress." (Over the open comm?) (Comm's dead.) (Nova crushed it.) (Reember? Two Arakis.) (Yes.) * Kiku floats down the hall towards the Mechas, now, confident in her command. * Nova floats alongside Kiku. Two security officers float up to meet them. "Stop! This is as far as you go, Eriko!" * Nova attempts to KO one of them. (Capped?) (Why do we have security officers left?) (You can't tell by sight.) (... They're wearing hats that cover skullcaps. Cry.) 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Nova (2d6-2) and gets 8. (miss) * Kiku tries ANYWAY. Aggressive command, shoot your partner! (Because Kiku's escape needs to be convincing. She really has to believe you don't want her to go.) Roll. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Kiku (2d6) and gets 10. (Sigh. Dice, you had better pay me back for this shit.) The guard fires a taser at Kiku. Nobody on the Avdneture has guns that fire bullets because a bullet epentrating the hull could be catastophic i hard vacuum. (Yes I know. ^^;) 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Kiku (2d6-3) and gets 7. (Nowheere near my DCV.) (I have two attacks, though. Mutter.) 2d6-1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for DB-GM (2d6-1) and gets 4. The probes hit you but there is only a slight shock. The taser is evidently malfunctioning or poorly charged. You think maybe it wasn't designed for space. 2d6-1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for DB-GM (2d6-1) and gets 8. The other guard tries to strike at Nova and misses. * Nova again attempts to bap the closest guard 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Nova (2d6-2) and gets 4. * Kiku MCs AGAIN, saying forcefully, "Attack HIM, not ME." (yup) Roll for intiative. (I have two attacks. >_<) d6+8 * Dicesuke throws the bones for DB-GM (d6+8) and gets 10. 1d6+6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Nova (1d6+6) and gets 7. d6+6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Kiku (d6+6) and gets 9. Oops. wrong bonus. d6+4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for DB-GM (d6+4) and gets 9. Kiku acts first, followed by the guards and then Kiku. I mean Nova. (well, she'll hit once it's her action ; ) ) Kiku, try your MC roll. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Kiku (2d6) and gets 2, a CRITICAL SUCCESS!!! "I'm a child of extremes. Have a crit, and a nice day to go with it." (Thank christ. c.c;) (O.o) The guard turns around, tasers his partner (who shakes uncontrollably and helplessly) and then moves asdie to let you by. (And he gets socked for his trouble! Ha ha. Ahem.) (well, guess she doesn't need to bap anyone then =3 ) * Nova floaties on by. * Kiku floats by, saying to him, "Go find Keika and tell her we're captured and locked in our rooms." You reach the hangar bay without further incident. You see the base in the distance. keika, it's time to cap yourself. ( * Keika shoots herself in the head. It's quite impressive as she doesn't own a gun.) (I meant put on the supressor. 8^) ) * Kiku floats inside Hikari and says to Araki, "Get inside. And come, Nova." She smiles happily, very odd considering how manipulative she's being. "We're going to see Mistress." * Nova says, "Okay," goes goes about reading herself. * Keika puts on her hat and grimaces as it gives her an amaizing headache. Karasu catches up and lands on her hand, guiding her with its feet. Kurata offers a tube of liquid. "here," he sayd, "it's migrane medicine. It'll dull the pain and keep your mental functions intact." (... Isn't he back on the bridge being in charge and such?) (I'd hope he is. ._.) (OK, then, the medicine is in your pcoket.) (Okay, she takes it _before_ putting the hat on and doesn't grimace as much.) * Kiku starts up and cuts loose, heading for Kei's base as fast as Hikari can carry her and Araki. She murmurs to herself and Araki, "Mistress will be happy to see us, Araki." Nova, what are you doing? * Nova naturally gets ito her mecha and follows out behind Kiku. Keika, you hear Kurata on your communicator. "Eriko and Nova have escaped. We've plotted their course and they're headed straight for the base." * Keika stops moving twords the crew cabins. "Fucking hell Kiku, make up your damn mind! Karasu, hanger!" * Keika bounces off of a few walls before she winds up headed twords the hangers. * Keika yells at the Araki she brought with her. "Go back up to the bridge and STAY THERE!" * Kiku continues talking to Araki the wholee way, at least, until she hits comm range, "Kei will take me in, and Nova, and you, and we'll all be together forever. And it'll be wonderful. You agree, don't you?" * Nova continues to follow along with Kiku's mecha. She has her shields at maximum and flies defensively - just in case. A group fo Slyhte mecha approach Hikari. keika, you reach the hangar. * Kiku says, over comms, "I'm Kiku Eriko... I have something for Mistress Kei. May I speak to her?" * Keika pulls off her cap as she launches herself at Hirameku. "When I get my hands on you Kiku, the Slythe are going to know why they're blowing up the earth." (+1 threat points!) Kiku, an image of Kei's face appears in front of you. "Kiku. You surprise me. What brings you back to me?" * Kiku 's eyes widen and she says, "Mistress Kei... I have Araki. And Nova follows me all the way." Hesitation. "I... I thought maybe..." she tears up. "I miss you, Mistress. I... when you died, I felt torn apart, but now that you're alive, I've... " she trails off, then says, pleadingly, "May I come to you?" "Before I take you back, Kiku darling, I need proof. Proof of your sincerity, of your loyalty." * Kiku responds. "Anything. I... I brought you Araki. Keika was going to try to use her against you... I... what else...?" Beat. "My mind is open to you..." "that is not enough. even now Keika is pursuing you. If you want to join me -- kill her." (Hahahahahahaha!) Mistress, then you won't get Araki... * Kiku looks away as she says that. "I can take what I want from Araki right now. Everything she knows, and everything she is, will be mine if you give her to me now." (Is she using 'give her to mee' in the 'take her brain, copy it, send it down the wire' sense?) (Or is there a physical method I can actually manage/) (kei is implying that she has the means to spionically take everything she needs from Araki from that distance.) * Kiku says eagerly, "Then take what you need from her." * Kiku smiles. "It's why I brought her to you, Mistress..." Araki begins to stir beside you. "kei... No... Kiku, don't do it... please... I beg you...." * Kiku reaches down to stroke Araki's hair and says, "Ssh. Mistress will take what she needs, and then we'll all be with her." "that's not ture..." Araki whimpers. "There will be nothing left of me... nothoing left of any of us... If you do this Kei will become all-powerful, and then she won't need any of us.... Kiku! If you ahve any pity at all in your heart, don't let her do this!" (Let me know if/when I catch up.) During this time you have a choice -- either go straight for the base or intercept Kiku. Either way you will reach your goal in one turn. * Kiku continues stroking her hair. "She loves us, Araki. That's why she takes care of us. Teaches us. Loves us. Like any parent..." (Do I notice her coming?) (No. You're sort of occupied.) (Fair enough!) * Karasu is in the cockpit with Keika, but since they arn't close enough, he doesn't let her know yet. "Parent? A parent who destroys her own world? Who annihlates her own race?" Keika, it's time. Where are you? * Kiku continues, in thee manner of a zealot, "Araki, the world turned their backs on us." Tokyo city hunted us... all psychics. Ripped up our souls... "And this is supposed to make you BETTER than them? Kiku, can you even HEAR yourself?" * Kiku looks down at Araki and says, "They drugged me. Took me from Kei." Made me do what they wanted... and theen they made me pilot their robot, and... * Kiku smiles. "Kei came back. Don't you see? They just want to use us. They're afraid of us. Kei loves us, because she knows us." You hear Kei's voice. "Enough useless chatter. I will take what I want and destroy what i do not. Araki, you are of no further use except for the knowledge you posess which i will now take. You are no more." Araki clutches her temples in agony and screams for several horrific seconds before collapsing. * Kiku winces at the sound in the enclosed space, and then suddenly her eyes widen and she SCREAMS. Hikaru's forcefield flares a bright white, and the mecha broadcasts the sound to everywhere it can amplify her reach. Kei's astral form hovers in front of Kiku's mech. "yes, the knowledge! the power! This IS the Godhead! this IS what it is like to be ALL THINGS!" (And I'm trying to fly to some council... I got to miss out on this. :() The Slyhte mecha that have been surroundign you all explode. * Keika slams her hands over her ears and opens her mouth and is very very thankful for the headache meds. * Kiku 's eyes are leaking tears into space even as she continues screaming, not taking a breath. Of course, Nova can hear this too. * Nova says softly, "Kiku." "Yes! To kill with a thought! And now...." The wreckage of the mechs coalesce and merge into gigantic statue of herself. "YES! Creation as well! There is nothing I cannot do now!" * Kiku 's scream of pain fades into sobs. * Kiku manages to whisper back, "N-*sob*N-Nova..." It... it hurts... "Let all that lives everywhere bow down to Kei! yet all worship me or perish! All glory and all power and all honor to Kei the Almighty!" Suddenly, in the minds of every lviign being in the Universe, a scream of pain. * Keika lets out a scream of her own and clutches at her head. * Kiku 's got enough pain. Another scream... only causes a sharp sob and another murmur of, "No... gods no..." "What? What is this feeling? What is happening? The Universe...." The statue crumbles to dust, and then to its component molecules. "NO! The pain! The suffering! I cannot bear it! Everything will be gone! EVERYTHING!" * Nova says, "Kiku is strong. Kiku is strong like Hikari." * Nova adds, "Nova is with Kiku." * Kiku whispers back to Nova as her hands grip her chair, "But it's... why did I think I could do this, Nova..." she trails off. * Keika lowers her hands and asks nobody in particualar, "What... the hell is going on out there?" (She doesn't broadcast that.) * Kiku then says quietly, "You... you're with me. L-like Araki." Beat. "And Katsu. And..." she cracks another sob, then says, "And Hinako and Hilde and Kula, protecting her, and Keika and..." she grits her teeth, still crying. * Nova adds, "Because Kiku is strong and Nova is with Kiku." * Nova says, "When Kiku and Nova are free, will Kiku will show Nova more giant creature videos?" * Kiku nods weakly and whispers, warmly, "Nova... of course." and then her astral form slowly detaches itself from her body. Glowing skin, solid blue dress, her long black hair, and the bright blue eyes, exits the glowing form of Hikari, to face Kei. You all hear Katsu over the intercom. "People, you're not going to believe this -- hell, I don't believe it! but Saturn is gone! The whole damn planet just faded away into nothing! And Neptune and Venus are starting to disappear as well." * Karasu dumps a pre-recorded message from Keika into her own mind. "Hey future me, guess what? That isn't Araki out there, it's the fake. I saw what Kiku was up to and had them switch places and as soon as I finish this they're going to erase my memories of this. Let 'em go and make it look good. Yah, Karasu talking sucks, but it's the only way to get this to work. Have fun with it." * Keika reaches up and grabs Karasu around the neck. "You waited until NOW to tell.. WHAT THE HELL!?" (Ha ha ha ha ha haAAAA ha ha ha.) * Karasu squawks pitifully. (We love you, Karasu.) Kei's astral form begins to cry. "Kiku, what have I done? The Universe -- it's disappearing. And it's my fault. I am UNCREATING the Universe, and I can't stop it! What have I done, kiku? WHAT HAVE I DONE? WHAT AM I?" * Kiku 's astral form tries to draw itself up as big as it can, to face Kei. "Y--you did what you always wanted, Mistress..." She looks pained, even in astral form. "You're making yourself alone." (You are (rolls d100) a platinum dragon) "NO! Not like this! It can't be true! It can't be possible! My mind is doign this, my life force. It's out of my control now." * Kiku floats over to Kei. "Ssh, mistress. Let... let me take care of it, for once." Her astral form begins to cry too. "I--I know how to stop it." * Kiku reaches out to 'touch' her cheek. * Keika shakes Karasu. "What else have you been hiding from me? I don't care if I told you not to tell me, things have changed!" "I don't care how. Just do it." 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for DB-GM (2d6-4) and gets -2, a CRITICAL SUCCESS!!! "o/~I love you... you love me... o/~" (._.) * Karasu starts dumping recordings of Keika sleeping into her mind. Kurasu crumbles to dust in your hands. ( very ._. ) * Keika swears fluently about the ancestory of somebody named Rooks in several langages and then heads for the base as fast as she can go. * Kiku nods and whispers, "I'm sorry, Kei. I'm sorry you could never love me... like I did." She reaches out her other hand, plunges it into Kei's astral form, and twists, whispering, "Goodbye." Kei screams and blinks out. Behind her the base crumbles to nothing. A few moments of awful silence pass. * Kiku 's astral form floats there. The silver on its wrists, legs, and neck slowly dissapear from the form... * Keika decideds to head back to Kiku and Nova. She calls out on the radio, and sounds amazingly calm. "So, before we crumble to dust, do either one of you want to explaine what the hell just happened?" * Kiku can't really hear you. She's astral. * Nova replies, "Kei died." At that moment Katsu comes up on the Intercom. "The deteroriation has stopped at Neptune and Venus. I'm getting all sorts of reports on all sorts of frequencies I've never even heard of before. Whatever you guys did, it worked. The destruction has stopped." Thank you Nova, where'd the universe go? * Nova replies, "Nova does not no." (Nova is all about yes!) (snicker =P ) (know ; ) ) Fine, is Kiku likely to shoot me if I close in with you? * Keika checks her sensors for the Adventure while she waits for a reply. * Nova replies, "Nova does not believe it is likely." * Kiku floats into her body again and shudders, whispering, "It's done. Kei is gone. Gone foreever." The Adventure is still there. (Any of the Slythe?) Most of the Slythe fleet is wiped out. And Earth is intact. (You know. I just realized.) * Nova says, "Nova is not Kei, but Kiku has Nova." Good, I suggest we head for the Adventure and then the Kallika before the rest of the Slythe realize that this might be our fault. (This gives a new definition to the word 'collateral damage' in a mecha show.) (That's two words silly.) (We didn't knock down buildings by accident. We erased entire parts of REALITY.) (It's not like we were using those planets for anything anyway.) (That's hilarious in ways I cannot count.) ( Now we can build an intergalactic bypass. ) (YES.) ( And now: Kei reads Poetry. ) (But it rains diamonds on Neptune. :() (... PUT IT BACK PUT IT BACK!) (Ha ha.) * Kiku nods slowly and replies, "Sounds... good." Beat. "And I know I do, Nova." She sobs weakly as Hikari begins to float back. "I know..." * Keika radios the Adventure. "It's over boys, come get us." Captain Kurata is heard over the intercom. "keika, i don't knwo what just happened, but we'll pick you up. I;ve gotten messages from Earth clearing us to return. Sveeral governments have offered effusive apologies. I don't know what happened." * Karasu (RanDoMs@dpc6935171138.direcpc.com) Quit (Quit: I'm toasty!) You are all picked up. Everyone aboard the Adventure is in a state of utter shick -- even though this is a victory of sorts, NOBODy feels like celebrating. (Yeah, really.) (... I was going to send another message for somebody to get one of the Iis...) (Iis?) (The remains of an older system Keika used for seeing.) (Ah.) * Kiku floats, saying weakly, "How... how bad did she make it?" (So, GM, was somebody brave enough to go through Keika's luggage or is she going to have to get one herself?) (Nobody's brave enough to do that.) Captain Kurata actually has one waiting for her once she's back aboard ship. he got it himself. (Nutball!) * Nova floats near by Kiku. * Keika floats with a softball sized metal sphier in her hand. "What do we have left?" (Sphere.) (Sorry) (Spatula.) the Adventure, now that all the macha are recoevered, turns around and heads back to Earth. it takes only a few hours to arrive. The Slyhte ship returns twelve hours later after a rushed hyperjump. (Rubber Duckie) * Kiku spends pretty much all of that time a wreck in her room after someone gives her the damage update. * Nova does her best to comfort Kiku. "Earth was not entirely unscathed. Fact is, the planet is in cahos. But it's incact, four billion people or so are still alive, and it can still support sentient life." "the estiomated death toll stands at four point one billion, plus all but a handful of the attacking Slythe." "As far as anything beyond this solar system, it is impossible to tell at our current level of technology. If the Slythe ship returns their sensors may be able to tell us more. IF they made it...." (... You mean the one that got back twelve hours later?) (He's doing this before Kiku went to bed.) (Ahh.) (We're slightly off order at the moment, since he didn't give her the damage feed.) (Once that's over, we'd be back in normal time!) (Ahh) * Kiku murmurs to herself, weakly, during her whole pain thing, "And--and we were supposed to be merciful..." (Okay, that does it for Angst!Kiku! In! Space! Homecoming wobble, or something. ^^) * Nova gently rubs Kiku's back with one hand. You hear Araki's voice in your mind -- the real Araki this time. "You were. The whole Universe would be gone if not for you, and Kei's suffering is at an end becasue of you. Because of you there is still an earth. There is still life." (Did Kiku or Nova ever let Keika onto the fact that she planned this during the trip home?) (Not Nova, unless asked about it.) (Not Kiku, unless she asked about it.) (Keika would have pressed for what the hell just happened.) (Then yeah, Kiku/Nova would have given it to her. Kiku could have just told Nova to do so if she was insensate.) (I love having my own ELF.) (^_~) (Heh. Then I know what Keika's doing.) (Can you tap her for mana?) (Well, there you have it =) ) (I wouldn't call it 'mana', per se...) * Kiku seems surprised at Araki, and tries to send back, "Just... let me grieve, Araki. I--I'll see you wheen you get back.' (Where do we land? Back at the base?) Araki leaves your mind. Later, the Deputy Mayor of Tokyo (the Mayor, like all the other people outside the party who had direct ties to kei's mind, is dead) greets you all at the base, both ships when they come back. (...That's ... 14 hours.) The Major did not ahve such a link and is still alive, but visibly shaken by what has happened, as is almost everyone on Earth. (Are you really in a conditoion to DO much of anything other than recover?) (I sure am not!) (Well, Keika would like to get smashingly drunk, but that can wait.) * Kiku is using Nova as a support to stand at the being greeted. Which makes sense. Nova's used to this sort of space/earth thing. Kiku is not. Well, it looks like we're back. Primarly in one piece at least. * Kiku smiles weakly at Hinako. "I--I have all my pieces..." * Kula wanders back, wobbling a bit. You recognize the young doctor's fiance, Keiko, at the base. "How is he? How is my (tryign to remember his name)?" "Pieces of what?" * Nova stands quietly. (Young doctor?) (this is what you get for abusing the K thing) (Snicker.) (I seriously don't remember any doctors other than Hinako, well, and Psy-Killer Man.) (the psychic doctor) * Keika walks out of the Adventure, in one hand she's holding her sphere, and the other is holding an actual scyth against her shoulder. She stomps along and announces to the world. "I am going to go get drunk off my ass, anybody is welcome to come along, anybody who opposes dies. I have had one hell of a day and a worse headache. Understand?" The Deputy Mayor shakes her head sadly. "Everyone on Earth it seems is just trying to pick up the pieces of their lives, find out who is still aliive, what is intact. The scale of this catsrophe has overwhelemed everyone. The good side, if there is a good side, is that the survivors are so sick of fighting and fear that all but a skeleton quorm of every military on Earth has deserted." (There was a doctor that was hitting on Hinako just after Kei died.) * Kula shivers. ( We can rule the world!) What... happened, exactly? Matter can't just vanish into nothing. Shoudln't be possible.. (Keika doesn't want the world, she doesn't have that much ambition.) The mayor smiles. "I understand, Keika-san. Believe me I understand. And while I will not be joining you in person, I do plan to down large qunaities of Sapporo beer and porbably come to in the bed of some stranger of indeterminate gender." * Kiku can't help but laugh weakly at that. "..." * Kiku then looks to Kula and says, "It... not vanish. Unmade. At least... that's how Kei referred to it." Keiko. He's fine. He's probably in his room resting now. * Keika doesn't even bother to stop, and simply deadpans, "Huz-fucking-zah." Unmade? * Kiku shakes her head. "I... don't know." Araki takes Kula aside. "Kula, science cannot possibly explian what has happened. All i can say is that there are forces -- inexplicable, unknowable forces -- that Kei attempted to control. But they were beyond her. They would be beyond ANY sentient mind." * Keika heads for the nearest sources of drinkable alcohol, and if some people get in the way... well they were warned. Nobody gets in the way. Captain Kurata is waiting for you at the bar, and sets a very large glass of Scotch in front of you. "First drink's on me -- not that money matters much at the moment." The bar is very crowded, but strangely unrowdy. No music is playing. Everyone seems to be in shock, drinking massive amounts jyust to kill the pain. * Keika leans the scyth up against the bar and then grabs for the drink. "Just keep 'em coming." * Hilde laughs uncomfortably "No problem, Hiroyuki, bring two bottles of -- well, anything good you've got. And two more for me." I... guess so. It's... this is just very, very wrong. * Kiku says, quietly, "It is, but it's funny. The Slythe showed up and wanted to stop war... and it ended up stopping. And only half of us needed to die." She swallows, then says, "I... I don't really feel like anything but sleep. Sorry, girls, I'll have to celebrate another day..." ... did those people really just die, or something worse... ? "I know, Kula. But it's over. There is still a Universe after all. It's not the same as iot was -- nothing will ever be the same again, anywhere. but it's still there. We're still alive. We get to go on another day." (Araki?) (yes.) "So it's over?" "Did our side win?" I think everybody lost. "Yes, it's over. There will never again be another test war. Thank God for that small mercy." (Peace in our lifetime!) * Kula closes her eyes. * Kiku says, weakly, "Kei didn't win. If she had, there'd be... nothing left." Not the worst case. So... what now? "Okay the badguy didn't win. I can live with that" * Kiku smiles faintly at Kula. "Sleep, drink, and be free, I guess." She laughs weakly "Free." The Slyhte Captain, who has been lisneting in, tries to answer."We start again. The galaxy will be in chaos now that Capital is gone.Wwhat is left of the Slythe and the Confederation navy will have to assess the damage and try to restore some semblance of order. I must say, though, that we could certainly use some help -- say, from some enterprising and resourceful humans?" * Keika drinks her drink quickly, and the second bottle follows it down soon after. "If that bitch was still alive I'd like to kill her for the third fucking time." Captain Kurata tries to reply, but he is so VERY drunk that no recognizable words come out of his mouth. Y... yeah, I guess that could work. I don't know too much about how the rest of the galaxy's run, but... well, my grandmother was designed for information processing and complex calculation. I could probably do something... There is half a bottle of something or other still in front of him. * Kiku looks to the Slythe captain and says, "I'll think about it tomorrow." She looks to all of the other Blossoms + Araki and says, "Thanks, everybody..." "And if there are any more people like Nova they would be especially useful. Natural adaptation to space will defintiely come in handy." * Keika growls at Kurata and then finishes off his drink too. "Fuck humanity, we wern't worth this." * Hinako still hasn't had a drink yet. "Well, I can heal the wounds dealt by bullets, but I cannot heal what has been done by Kei. However, if I can do anything to help, do let me know." * Kiku tries to pull away and walk with Nova. * Nova walks with Kiku. "Please tell me Europe is still on the map. I really would like my house to be there when I finally go back" (Cookie Monster ate Europe. Sorry.) "Yes it is, but there isn't an economy there to speak of. Once everyone recovers from the shock things are going to be a right mess." "As long as nobody loots my house!" ( I'll send some of my friends to check on it. Where did you say you lived?") (Ummm, 3465 LikeYouThoughI'dFallForThat Street (She is on her third bottle of beer.) OK, that should wrap things up for tonight. Anyone who wants to can scheudle minis to wrap up any loose ends they want wrapped up.