Party at Mambi's realm, all are invited!

[Baron Tredegar]

<she floats to the ground gracefully and bows, watching a few others entering as well> It appears so then. <she calls to the cat> Say Mambi, when do you think it will begin?

<the cat blows another balloon up and ties it to a ribbon> Oh I should be done here in a bit...Aurora will be making an announcement pretty soon. Probs around 1/2 hour or so? Oh, that reminds me, I have to get some more glowsticks, be right back! <with glowing eyes, a shimmering portal opens before him. He jumps into the hole and disappears as it closes behind him and the doe turns back to you>

Well, there you are, we got a bit of time it seems. <chuckle> Isis will guide us well! <smile> Do you wish for your guards to watch as well?

Of course my guards can come watch if they want to. Say, is there anything your home world needs help with? Now that I am the new High Imperator I can probably provide as much resources and aid that I possibly want to!

 

[Firuthi Dragovic]

<a nearby display on a console activates as the face of the holobunny can be seen on the screen> That information is correct and not a rumor. Mambi is currently preparing the primary dance hall room, and I expect to be making the announcement within the next hour or so when he is complete.

<she closes her eyes as the display turns itself off>

"We've got time. Let's go talk to him."

"Hold on. Let's only bring up the thing with Garuda, NOT the recent memory."

"Okay."

Hortense and Hayagriva looked for Ahrakas.

Of course my guards can come watch if they want to. Say, is there anything your home world needs help with? Now that I am the new High Imperator I can probably provide as much resources and aid that I possibly want to!

Hortense and Hayagriva would eventually find Ahrakas.

They waited for a polite moment in the conversation and then approached.

"Excuse us a moment, Ahrakas."

"One of the other spies, Garuda, says he's having issues reaching his usual Intelligence contact. Likely personnel shift with all that's going on. He's trying to get into an old case file because what he's learning in the field is making him question the official line on it."

"Hayagriva's unsure whether it'll turn into an issue, but I suspect it will. And I'm pretty sure it will require you to handle eventually."

"But we're trying to avoid involving you in it until it's absolutely necessary. I've told him to wait 2-3 hours to actually present his findings to us so we can all be part of the coming dance competition. Can you route Garuda to the right person in Intelligence real quick so he can put this together?"

 

[Mambi]

<Urthstrype whirled through his head all the possibilities of what's just been put in front of him. Immediately ticks off 'private rooms' and decides to put it in horny jail.>

Hrm... sounds like we could use the Gym as a dance studio, no doubt it has some side rooms to practice in. The idea of a beach always pulls my interest, I'm a coastal boy after all. Ah, and me without my swimming trunks too, such a pity.

<He leans in a little closer to Sheila, just enough to whisper in her ear away from prying eyes.>

I'd probably just have to go in my birthday suit in that case.

<the skunk laughs as her eyes widen and she whispers back> OOoooo baby, you are my kind of guy! We could...

Oh, if you need any swim trunks, the supply closet has a clothing fabricator. <the deer casually jumps in> It can make anything you need in any material or style.

<with a giggle, the skunk turns to her friend> Now now Lisa, let's not be too hasty here! It's still nighttime outside, right? Moonlight and all? But later, if you wanna see the gym, it's down the hall and to the right...room with the barbell over it. But like, you're a natural dancer so that'll be easy for ya, I don't even own a swimsuit either! Wet stripy fur all the way, baby! <teehee> One sec...Yo Aurora, when's the dance startin' anyway?

<with a shimmer, a transparent blue scantily clothed curvy bunny appears before you as the lights from the party shine through her slightly. With a smile, she replies in a feminine yet synthetic voice> Mambi is currently preparing the primary dance hall room, and I expect to be making the announcement within the next hour or so when he is complete.

<you see the deer strangely looking slightly uncomfortable, trying to ignore the bunny as Sheila calls out> Thanks girl-friend, lookin' forward to it! <the holobunny nods and looks at the deer as if to speak when she immediately waves her hoof> NOPE, no I don't need anything thankyouverymuch, you can go anytime. <she squirms slightly>

<after a look of momentary confusion, the holobunny nods and with a shimmer, disappears into thin air as the music plays on...>

 

[Universe]

Oliver was a bit surprised. Was that the only thing he could do in this form?

No! It was because he'd just learned it. He'd have to practice more. But now was a good time to ask about more ways, more gestures and words.

He looked to Solaris.

"Say, do you know any more methods of channeling the power? I only have had the chance to learn about five methods and I feel like it's holding back my ability to use the elements I can attain."

“focus on the energy around you and let it flow”

 

[Universe]

*I was scared Firuthi could see it in my eyes even though I tried to hide it*

 

[Firuthi Dragovic]

*I walked over to them after teleporting the dark celestial dragon to celestial prison*

*I was scared Firuthi could see it in my eyes even though I tried to hide it*

"Kids, I think Universe is going to need to stick with us for a while regardless."

"Is this like before the first big attack?"

"No, Kurt. He has all the things he was panicked about losing. No, he's actively being targeted."

"What?"

"I don't know what he saw, but it clearly tried to take him out."

"Just... take a seat, Universe."

"Universe, you've done mindlinking before... can you relay the events that happened, maybe notify Solaris and Nebula telepathically? I have to stay with the kids at this point so there's not really anything I can do to hunt down your attackers."

 

[Firuthi Dragovic]

“focus on the energy around you and let it flow”

"I think I'm not following here, Solaris."

Oliver definitely had a look of confusion on his face.

"I get so little chance to work with the elements back home. I've had to resort to several rote methods of channeling in order to get any effects in a timely manner. Thrusts, cupped hands, blocking, sweeping, breath... those are the five."

Oliver sighed.

"What you're basically asking me to do is to let the element decide how I move. Need I remind you how badly my people have been hunted? If I seem impatient, it's because my survival to this point has been dependent on me being so. You're going to have to spell this out a bit more than just 'let it flow'."

 

[Universe]

"Kids, I think Universe is going to need to stick with us for a while regardless."

"Is this like before the first big attack?"

"No, Kurt. He has all the things he was panicked about losing. No, he's actively being targeted."

"What?"

"I don't know what he saw, but it clearly tried to take him out."

"Just... take a seat, Universe."

"Universe, you've done mindlinking before... can you relay the events that happened, maybe notify Solaris and Nebula telepathically? I have to stay with the kids at this point so there's not really anything I can do to hunt down your attackers."

“I already let Solaris know” *I said sitting down*

 

[Firuthi Dragovic]

“I already let Solaris know”

"Good. Now... I couldn't see what it was that attacked you."

"What was the method he was using?"

"Poisoned wine and... I don't know what else, but Universe did wind up having to punch them twice."

"You know, I have a guess as to what it was."

"You're thinking it too, huh, Kurt?"

"Yeah, it might be the very beings Solaris was discussing before."

"Is invisibility a trick common to their kind, Universe? Or just an assassin thing?"

 

[Universe]

"Good. Now... I couldn't see what it was that attacked you."

"What was the method he was using?"

"Poisoned wine and... I don't know what else, but Universe did wind up having to punch them twice."

"You know, I have a guess as to what it was."

"You're thinking it too, huh, Kurt?"

"Yeah, it might be the very beings Solaris was discussing before."

"Is invisibility a trick common to their kind, Universe? Or just an assassin thing?"

“He was using an illusion that he wasn’t there but I could see through it”

 

[Firuthi Dragovic]

“He was using an illusion that he wasn’t there but I could see through it”

"Amateur."

"We can't all use illusions with thought, Kurt."

"I might have been able to see through it if I'd been paying attention to the fight."

"Do you know the underlying structure of the illusion?"

"You mean like magic or technology?"

"No, more like bending light, a cloak of mana, a mental projection... you know, the method."

 

[Universe]

“

"Amateur."

"We can't all use illusions with thought, Kurt."

"I might have been able to see through it if I'd been paying attention to the fight."

"Do you know the underlying structure of the illusion?"

"You mean like magic or technology?"

"No, more like bending light, a cloak of mana, a mental projection... you know, the method.”

“I have truth vision it allows me to see what’s actually happening” *A dark celestial dragon cloaked in an illusion tries to attack me right in front of Kurt but I dodged instinctively and flipped him over my shoulder making his illusion disappear and he became visible*

 

[Firuthi Dragovic]

“

“I have truth vision it allows me to see what’s actually happening” *A dark celestial dragon cloaked in an illusion tries to attack me right in front of Kurt but I dodged instinctively and flipped him over my shoulder making his illusion disappear and he became visible*

"Now that I've seen it, what they use is closest to a mana cloak, Fabiana."

"Honestly the least potent method, but the easiest one for someone to attain."

Pavlin kicked the dark celestial dragon in the side, sending a flood of sunlight into his nerves to cripple him with pain. Meanwhile, Kurt put an illusion over the dark celestial's mouth to silence it so none of the screaming could be heard. Firuthi held the dark dragon down with a single foot.

"Looks like cobalt and copper scales. Not exactly stealth colors."

"I almost want to get a blood sample, find a more permanent way to ward them off. Unfortunately, I don't have a second device immediately on hand, so you'd have to warp him out screaming."

"So, any tech that can dispel these illusions, Universe?"

"Are all their scale patterns based on unrefined metals, Universe?"

 

[Baron Tredegar]

"We've got time. Let's go talk to him."

"Hold on. Let's only bring up the thing with Garuda, NOT the recent memory."

"Okay."

Hortense and Hayagriva looked for Ahrakas.

Hortense and Hayagriva would eventually find Ahrakas.

They waited for a polite moment in the conversation and then approached.

"Excuse us a moment, Ahrakas."

"One of the other spies, Garuda, says he's having issues reaching his usual Intelligence contact. Likely personnel shift with all that's going on. He's trying to get into an old case file because what he's learning in the field is making him question the official line on it."

"Hayagriva's unsure whether it'll turn into an issue, but I suspect it will. And I'm pretty sure it will require you to handle eventually."

"But we're trying to avoid involving you in it until it's absolutely necessary. I've told him to wait 2-3 hours to actually present his findings to us so we can all be part of the coming dance competition. Can you route Garuda to the right person in Intelligence real quick so he can put this together?"

I hope it isnt too serious of an issue, we've had so much destruction recently. Tell him to get in touch with Harpocrates, I just put her in charge of the intelligence division.

 

[Firuthi Dragovic]

I hope it isnt too serious of an issue, we've had so much destruction recently. Tell him to get in touch with Harpocrates, I just put her in charge of the intelligence division.

"Alright, I'll let him know."

While Hayagriva fiddled with the communicator, the carpenter bee Hortense noticed the doe.

"My apologies. You must be Raine. I'm Hortense, Temporal Lord of... Graffias. And the zebra here's Hayagriva, the Temporal Lord of Pazhan."

"We didn't really want to interrupt our superior here over matters of business... we wanted him to have a social life unlike the last guy, unfortunately I know how Garuda is when he's on a case."

"Hopefully he listens and doesn't get in contact with us until this dance competition is over."

"It'll be a relief then."

"Aw, don't be down like that. Say, Ahrakas, how did Firuthi respond to my recommendation? Last bit of business we're dealing with, Raine, I promise."

 

[Baron Tredegar]

"Alright, I'll let him know."

While Hayagriva fiddled with the communicator, the carpenter bee Hortense noticed the doe.

"My apologies. You must be Raine. I'm Hortense, Temporal Lord of... Graffias. And the zebra here's Hayagriva, the Temporal Lord of Pazhan."

"We didn't really want to interrupt our superior here over matters of business... we wanted him to have a social life unlike the last guy, unfortunately I know how Garuda is when he's on a case."

"Hopefully he listens and doesn't get in contact with us until this dance competition is over."

"It'll be a relief then."

"Aw, don't be down like that. Say, Ahrakas, how did Firuthi respond to my recommendation? Last bit of business we're dealing with, Raine, I promise."

He turned down the offer, however he is compiling a list of potential candidates at this very moment.

 

[Firuthi Dragovic]

He turned down the offer, however he is compiling a list of potential candidates at this very moment.

"I kind of predicted he'd do that, Hortense."

"I suppose we'll still have him on our side either way. I get the feeling he's going to wait until after the dance to actually ask for your help on the interviews, though... with a position like that, an hour might not be enough to single out the best one."

"Good point. I'll tell Garuda to take no less than 3 hours sorting through the case material."

"So, with business out of the way... I'm looking forward to what you two come up with for the dance competition. Hayagriva and I don't expect to win, honestly - he's just learning to dance and this is the first time I've felt truly free in centuries, and not chased in a century and a half. We're going to worry more about savoring the moment."

Hayagriva eventually stopped fiddling with the communicator. He made it a point to make sure it went dark.

 

[Universe]

"Now that I've seen it, what they use is closest to a mana cloak, Fabiana."

"Honestly the least potent method, but the easiest one for someone to attain."

Pavlin kicked the dark celestial dragon in the side, sending a flood of sunlight into his nerves to cripple him with pain. Meanwhile, Kurt put an illusion over the dark celestial's mouth to silence it so none of the screaming could be heard. Firuthi held the dark dragon down with a single foot.

"Looks like cobalt and copper scales. Not exactly stealth colors."

"I almost want to get a blood sample, find a more permanent way to ward them off. Unfortunately, I don't have a second device immediately on hand, so you'd have to warp him out screaming."

"So, any tech that can dispel these illusions, Universe?"

"Are all their scale patterns based on unrefined metals, Universe?"

*I punched the dark celestial dragon in the snout hard causing blue blood to come out of the dark celestial dragon* “I’ve got something” *I pulled out what looked like an EMP but it was actually a celestial dragon immobilizer* “I’ve never been able to get around to testing this but what it does is acts like a celestial dragon version of a stun gun”

 

[Firuthi Dragovic]

*I punched the dark celestial dragon in the snout hard causing blue blood to come out of the dark celestial dragon* “I’ve got something” *I pulled out what looked like an EMP but it was actually a celestial dragon immobilizer* “I’ve never been able to get around to testing this but what it does is acts like a celestial dragon version of a stun gun”

Firuthi started to reach for something, but hesitated.

"I was going to draw blood for later research, but it occurs to me that the blood itself might be a corrupting influence. Either way, go for it."

"A specialized stungun, huh? This ought to be good."

 

[Universe]

Firuthi started to reach for something, but hesitated.

"I was going to draw blood for later research, but it occurs to me that the blood itself might be a corrupting influence. Either way, go for it."

"A specialized stungun, huh? This ought to be good."

*I pressed the button and placed it on the dark celestial dragon’s copper chest and it immobilized him then knocked him unconscious* “it works”

 

[Firuthi Dragovic]

*I pressed the button and placed it on the dark celestial dragon’s copper chest and it immobilized him then knocked him unconscious* “it works”

"Impressive."

"What is that, two of these guys now?"

Firuthi pulled out a needle and a device that looked like a handheld fish finder. "Here, let me try something."

Firuthi got a blood sample of the unconscious dark celestial dragon, and put it in a spot in the back of the fish finder.

"Here, Universe. Tell me if any others are nearby, and if it's too many then signal Solaris."

The device would work like sonar, but keyed to finding creatures similar to that of the provided blood sample.

 

[Universe]

"Impressive."

"What is that, two of these guys now?"

Firuthi pulled out a needle and a device that looked like a handheld fish finder. "Here, let me try something."

Firuthi got a blood sample of the unconscious dark celestial dragon, and put it in a spot in the back of the fish finder.

"Here, Universe. Tell me if any others are nearby, and if it's too many then signal Solaris."

The device would work like sonar, but keyed to finding creatures similar to that of the provided blood sample.

*I looked around using my truth vision and that was all of them*

 

[Firuthi Dragovic]

*I looked around using my truth vision and that was all of them*

"We all clear?"

"They really thought two was enough?"

"With you in particular? The guy who took on Elum-Marduk AND Dad back-to-back?"

"Please don't bring that up again, Cooper."

"Sorry."

"No, Cooper's right. They really don't know you all that well, do they?"

"I think you can relax, Universe."

 

[Universe]

"We all clear?"

"They really thought two was enough?"

"With you in particular? The guy who took on Elum-Marduk AND Dad back-to-back?"

"Please don't bring that up again, Cooper."

"Sorry."

"No, Cooper's right. They really don't know you all that well, do they?"

"I think you can relax, Universe."

“I’m so tense”

 

[Firuthi Dragovic]

“I’m so tense”

"You were just targeted. That's normal. But you dealt with that."

"Here, point out where you're tense."

"Is it arms and legs and wings, or more of a core body tension?"