Theo is not in the mood for chit-chat. "I need to contact The Mount Olympus Transdimensional Experimental Laboratory IMMEDIATELY!!
Kia, follow me! We have an emergency!"
The godling makes a path to the Telecommunications Room. On the way, Theo explains to Kia that Dr. Winterdown was a fellow godling, and he was shown a potential disaster for Earth and this dimension!
Kai does not follow Theo.
"First of all, my name is Kai. The Kia was an automobile."
"Second of all, we just repaired those force-cuffs!"
"Third of all, Dr. Winter-who? Never heard of him."
"Finally, why does my lab smell like pomegranate?"
Theo turns back around and starts counting down his fingers in Kai's face.
"One, I'm sorry."
"Two, those force-cuff were put on me by.."
"Three, Doctor Korey Winterdown. You told her you needed her for some etchings later today. She obviously used some Olympian magic to wipe her from your mind."
"Four, Do I Have To Carry You Down to Telecommunications or Will You Come Of Your Own Free Will!"
Unity frown at Zellgato's analysis. "That sounds too much like PhDestruction's work," they growl. "But why put it there? Is it something he wanted us to find, or might it be someone who escaped him and wanted to share something with us? Could there be a message of some kind hidden in it?"
Unity frown at Zellgato's analysis. "That sounds too much like PhDestruction's work," they growl. "But why put it there? Is it something he wanted us to find, or might it be someone who escaped him and wanted to share something with us? Could there be a message of some kind hidden in it?"
Sticking with Zellgato's previous roll of 37 or something, he can answer Unity's question. The answer is, yes, there is definitely a code buried in the DNA. Decoding it would require probably Computer Use.
Looking at Unity and Henri "I'm guessing this ship has a decent computer I can borrow. Might not be good to put this on the BT property. Assuming they are able to, Zellgato gets to work with it.
"..........I think I'm too old for these computers. Henri how the hell does this work?" Frusted oldest in the room is feeling his age. Coming from a lower tech world, having just gotten used to this world's tech, and has no frame of reference for the new stuff.
"Let me see what you have here..."
"Gay Deceiver, please dedicate 15% of your CPU threads to decoding this."
"Let me see what you have here..."
[dice=Computer Use]1d20 + 14
"Gay Deceiver, please dedicate 15% of your CPU threads to decoding this."
"Happily, Henri," says Gay Deceiver. "Done."
The code was written on useless bits of DNA tucked in between the useful bits. It was clearly there, but not possible to see without divine insight, magic, or a computer.
"Music?" Unity question, surprised.
"Does anyone recognize the song?" they ask. "It's very... dramatic."
"If it's him, maybe it's meant to be... a taunt of some kind? He's saying he's watching us?"
"The music encoded in the spare DNA is, specifically, Wagner's Ride of the Valkyrie's from an opera first performed in 1870," says Gay Deceiver. "If you would like to hear other similar music, just ask."
"Is that something still played classically in these times?" Zellgato inquires of the room itself. "Can't say I listen to much radio in this world...loud and annoying. I like the 32bit indie stuff. Or older classics. If it was intended for Unity, does that imply an invitation to somewhere, if one understands the meaning of the music."
"Is that something still played classically in these times?" Zellgato inquires of the room itself. "Can't say I listen to much radio in this world...loud and annoying. I like the 32bit indie stuff. Or older classics. If it was intended for Unity, does that imply an invitation to somewhere, if one understands the meaning of the music."
"Would you like me to play some 32bit indie stuff or older classics?" asks Gay Deceiver, not quite getting a read on the room.
yes please. No lyrics. Slime girls, snail house or amanaguchi.
Zellgato takes his chance
"Okay," says Gay Deceiver, "I note that the acoustic quality of this music is particularly poor even for the time period in which it was produced. Shall I repair the audio using currently available techniques?"
Gay Deceiver begins to play and 'repair' Amanaguchi.
Zellgato doesn't show how much this annoys him. "Can it."
Theo turns back around and starts counting down his fingers in Kai's face.
"One, I'm sorry."
"Two, those force-cuff were put on me by.."
"Three, Doctor Korey Winterdown. You told her you needed her for some etchings later today. She obviously used some Olympian magic to wipe her from your mind."
"Four, Do I Have To Carry You Down to Telecommunications or Will You Come Of Your Own Free Will!"
[dice=intimidate]1d20 + 8
"Watch it," says Kai, who learned assertiveness on Atlantis. "That's not the only pair of force cuffs we have. You want a secure line to MOTEL, ask Phade; she's got one to their director. You want to talk to the man who's really in charge, here's Alexandros."
Kai gestures to a vid screen which illuminates to reveal a techie in a laboratory eating soup. The sign above him says, 'no food allowed' in Greek. He pauses like he's been busted and then sys, "Kai! What's up? Who's that?"
Zellgato doesn't show how much this annoys him. "Can it."
[dice=bluff]1d20+6
"Can it?" asks Gay Deceiver, "I thought it already sounded kind of tinny."
Blinking and twisting his head a moment "Tin? I believe they are steel. Tin is toxic is it not?" he replies and issues his own inquery to GD.
Henri raises an eyebrow and mutters, "She's going to fit right in."
More loudly, he says, "Gay Deceiver, are there any social implications or hidden meanings attributed to this opera that was encoded in the DNA?"
“Ride of the Valkyrie used to be any ship I was on, before I expanded my wardrobe. And come to think of it, I used to be the resident ‘gay deceiver’ before my Goddess pointed me in a new direction.”
Shrugging off that tangent, Nissa says, “I actually am interested in what you know about the opera though. I played it when I ‘borrowed’ a mecha, but my only frame of reference is the Blues Brothers scene, when Jake and Elwood get chased by the Illinois Nazis and the Bluesmobile does a backflip to avoid driving off a bridge, and hilarity ensues. A lot of 1980s films had Nazis either dying for laughs or gratuitous face-meltings.”
She catches herself on yet another tangent. And doesn’t stop there—
“The 80s…! We could go there. I could meet Sally Ride, and tell her I followed in her footsteps. I was in space. And also like her: the public thinks I’m straight.”
And THAT tangent causes her glow to redden a little. “Yeah. They’ll stop thinking that after I go on Tasha Live. I’m gonna talk to L.C. Our relationship can be a secret as long she wants, but amusing as the ‘Who’s Nissa’s Boyfriend(s)?’ lists are, after three years that list needs an upgrade.”
Nissa will stick around long enough to hear Gay Deceiver’s answers, but it’s apparent she’s in a hurry to talk to L.C.
Gay Deceiver doesn't need to pause before answering, "Your world's info-sphere has many cultural references to Ride of the Valkyrie. It was used in both the racist film Birth of the Nation (unironically) and Apocalypse Now (ironically). It could therefore be a reference to American imperialism or white supremacy. The music itself is powerful and triumphant and, if it was a message, could be considered threatening. Valkyries in Norse mythology were a kind of armored angel who brought fallen warriors to Valhalla. 'The Valkyrie' is currently (1) a flying vehicle sold by Targ Engines, (2) the nickname given by the infosphere to a reclusive superhero spotted in Denmark, and (3) a comic spin-off series based on Nissa's pre-TAROT heroics aimed at adult audiences."
And THAT tangent causes her glow to redden a little. “Yeah. They’ll stop thinking that after I go on Tasha Live. I’m gonna talk to L.C. Our relationship can be a secret as long she wants, but amusing as the ‘Who’s Nissa’s Boyfriend(s)?’ lists are, after three years that list needs an upgrade.”
[dice=WIS]d20+1
"Watch it," says Kai, who learned assertiveness on Atlantis. "That's not the only pair of force cuffs we have. You want a secure line to MOTEL, ask Phade; she's got one to their director. You want to talk to the man who's really in charge, here's Alexandros."
Kai gestures to a vid screen which illuminates to reveal a techie in a laboratory eating soup. The sign above him says, 'no food allowed' in Greek. He pauses like he's been busted and then sys, "Kai! What's up? Who's that?"
"Γειά σου! (Hello in Greek) Alexandros?! My name is Theo Nephus. And I need to warn you and your team that your site is dimensional drilling into Tartarus. If something doesn't change, The Titans of Old will be unleashed unto the Earth, bringing 20,000 years of darkness!"
"Threatening seems the most likely option there. He was taunting us, saying he knew where we were, that he could have attacked us..."
"...but we would welcome the chance to test our claws on his creations," Unity snarl.
[dice=WIS]d20+1
Nissa can’t figure out what exactly what went wrong on her date with L.C.
Was it that I didn’t eat or drink? I mean, I guess it was awkward for her… me watching her eat, and her usually having to chew while I’m free to talk.
Or was it what we talked about? My daughter… but there’s nothing to be jealous of. Or does she think I’m jealous over the Marshal? Not like I would be… at least not in a way I’d think it as cheating. She thought I was dead, and now the Marshal is.
Is THAT the problem? I’m not talking about the other woman—maybe not ever her lover, but she’s the other woman L.C. grieved for. And in my attempt to respect whatever happened as her secret, I’m not bringing up a woman who was like a World 1 Greer to me. And now she’s…
So is THAT the problem? The reminder that an elf has died, and I’ve become an impossible being made of sunlight. I won’t age. Will I even ever truly die, or is this body my permanent form as long as my light is never snuffed out?
Does she worry I’ll leave her when she is elderly, or that in her last days I’ll love her like a young nurse, and which would be worse for her? Does she need a woman of flesh to grow old with?
Or does she love me and accept me, and it’s my own anxiety about my change and how I’m perceived that is making this harder on her?
"Watch it," says Kai, who learned assertiveness on Atlantis. "That's not the only pair of force cuffs we have. You want a secure line to MOTEL, ask Phade; she's got one to their director. You want to talk to the man who's really in charge, here's Alexandros."
Kai gestures to a vid screen which illuminates to reveal a techie in a laboratory eating soup. The sign above him says, 'no food allowed' in Greek. He pauses like he's been busted and then sys, "Kai! What's up? Who's that?"
"Γειά σου! (Hello in Greek) Alexandros?! My name is Theo Nephus. And I need to warn you and your team that your site is dimensional drilling into Tartarus. If something doesn't change, The Titans of Old will be unleashed unto the Earth, bringing 20,000 years of darkness!"
[dice=Diplomacy]1d20 + 17
"Ha. hahaha. Hahahhaahhaha," laughs Alexandros. "Kai, my friend, who is this clown?"
"He's one of the heroes I told you about," replies Kai.
"The ones who wear the costumes?" laughs ALexandros.
"Yes, Alexandros. The one's who wear the silly costumes", Theo answers. "And bench-presses hover cars."
Alexandros swallows and mumbles, "Hover cars don't weigh much really. I mean, they hover."
But, then surrenders to Theo's intimidating masculinity, "Okay, so, Tartarus ... and the Titans. You understand I can't exactly tell my 'superiors' this?"
Alexandros makes finger quotes when he says 'superiors'.
"We're powering up in 4 days. If we don't, the Prime Minister may not win the election, and you know what that means!"
"And if you do, you'll allow the Titanic Monsters of Legend unto an unsuspecting Earth!" Theo pleads. "Who is in charge of the project?"
"And if you do, you'll allow the Titanic Monsters of Legend unto an unsuspecting Earth!" Theo pleads. "Who is in charge of the project?"
[dice=Diplomacy]1d20 + 17
"Kai, is he for real?" asks Alexandros.
"I've visited other worlds with Theo and seen him fight demons," says Kai. "I don't know what's going on, but I'd listen to him."
Alexandros curses in Greek.
"Okay, but you'll need to explain it to my 'superiors'," he says with a sigh. "How soon can you get here?"
"I'll keep you posted, Alexandros" Theo stated. "I know I'm on my way."
The Olympian heads out looking for the team.
Nissa’s love life is important to her. However, the thought of titans crushing handfuls of scientists and Unity being close to tracking down his arch enemy are both incentives to ‘focus on work.’
And she’s going to show L.C. she is seriously committed to the job.
“Dad’s right. Titans scooping up a bunch of nerds and crushing them to paste is not the kind of super villainy our world’s heroes can stop without the kind of death toll you get in world wars.
“The Greek Tragedies I read in high school were horrifying and depressing enough—we don’t need to create a worse one! We also don’t need superpowers to shut this project down.”
She flutters before her girlfriend, hovering just out of arms’ reach, at eye-level.
“L.C., I know orders flow from you to us, not the other way around, but you really are the smartest person I know and you have the authority—and even now, whatever these three years have been to you—you still got it. People really listen to you because you make the right decisions, logically and ethically.
“I obviously can’t ‘order’ you to go. But I can ask, and I am asking because if anyone can stop a titan attack with the right words, it’s you, Dr. Preston.”
Clearing his throat feeling oh so awkward interjecting. "Even if Boss goes. Going alone isn't the most advisable option. pulling out his little notbook and flipping through a few pages. "PHDestruction, the Chimera, and the Deintegrationists are all based out of the areas. With the most recent convey attack killing a high ranking public official-one of several. Put this with the PHD's M.O. being to gain samples and experiment further, the one thing we can really grasp about their pattern is that."
flipping his notebook closed. "This probably isn't the most secretive of potential attacks. but It would be a fine way to cause chaos for their cause, and gain samples of new strong creatures or perhaps even the breed of goddlings. So, if we're going to do that. I would highly suggest we start our search for PHD in that part at least. He's had a base in Turkey, this portal issue is in Greece, and those are 2 of the main topics for the Deintegrationalist. Breaking into the lab and firing it up intentionally wouldn't be unbelievable." fidding with his watch as he pauses a moment. "We don't want any BT crew under fire there without support if it goes that way. If we have connections, it isn't a terrible idea to make that a launching platform for escapades across the pond. I don't know the political or hero business fallout of that option though. That isn't BT territory, and ultiamtely what we say or do is a recommendation of guests. Not an order to them. They could just do it anyway."
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"We need to go there," Unity growl.
"He's there, somewhere. We can sniff him out," they insist.
"...but we should get permission from the authorities first. Preferably their cooperation, too. Those chimeras are definitely PhDestruction's work. We could start with trying to track their origins."
"...or, it occurred to us that we should think harder on that feather. Do any of you remember what color the "Angel's" feathers were? If it was him... if we could track what happened to his body..."
Boston Theoretical would have kept samples of Angel's DNA. A quick examination would show that this feather came from a different human with very similar wings.
"So not Angel, but... another angel?" Unity question after getting the results.
"Perhaps we should look for stories about angels showing up in the area while we were gone."
Nissa wonders, “Is this other angel still alive?” And seeing that she’s from World 16, Nissa turns to Tarantula and Greer.
Pulling out his phone again to plug in some research."Being fully impaled and having Theo lay claim to a blade and never getting a request to return it. Usually implies very dead."
“Not him! I… saw the body.
“I mean the girl angel. Dad doesn’t have her sword, and all I know is we’ve got her feather. Those just fall off.”
She’d flutter her wings for emphasis, but they’re not feathery like they were with her original mote form.
Zellgato finds Tasha Gentry compiles an annual list of angel sightings to mark her first angel sighting. It's fairly complete and he can't find anything more complete without contacting intelligence agencies.
During the last three plus years there have been flying monkeys, chimera terrorists, a winged superhero wearing a goalie mask and a hockey helmet in Denmark who flew down and saved some people (named Valkyrie by the press), the usual hundred or so unverifiable angel sightings where people see angels while grieving. As far as Tasha's concerned there has only been one angel that we've seen so far, and she has the video.
Theo eventually found the members of TAROT. "Bad news, everyone. I'm taking a trip to Mount Olympus. In this dimension. To stop the latest apocalypse. Come if you want. Either way, I must get going!"
Unity look up at Theo. "Surely there's time for a *little* more explanation than that. Something with PhDestruction?"
“Oh, but dad—we were thinking…”
It does occur to Nissa that L.C. has not actually agreed to handle this ‘diplomacy mission.’
“I mean… how about we go together? We might actually get leads to PhDestruction on World 7. Enyo’s there.”
She looks to Unity. “Maybe instead of asking L.C. to go to Olympus, L.C. can find leads to your creator. She’s well connected—and maybe we can get in touch with Dr. Moore?” She turns to her girlfriend. “Does this seem like a smarter way to divide and conquer, boss-slash-girlfriend?”