Tamrin - Gunslinger of Tomorrow's page

Don't you mean "when your son 'prolapsed' a planet"?

Doc Zeppler ~ "Cleanup on Aisle Agartha!" ;D

[Facepalm]

Dude......too soon, man.

Always.

Too.

Soon.

(ಠ_ಠ)

Just remembered about the Harbinger. Duh. Still in orbit?

Yeppers.

Now I have the sneaking suspicion things are about to get as lively up there as the day Agartha 'de-inverted' itself...

:/

.......Now who the hell do I have words with regarding this "Amethyst dragons and associates" schtako?

;P

"Now I am become Death, the destroyer of storylines"....or something like that >(

** spoiler omitted **

Tamrin was finally making his way to the Infirmary (to relieve the staff of the 'burden' of dealing with his ever-active wife) when he was brought to a halt by something that commands his full attention.

He stood there for a few long seconds, then strode forward with a purpose and locked himself in the first empty room he could find. From somewhere on his person he produced a large book with well-traveled yet still sturdy bindings, a worn metal seal with two crossed Casters centered on the front cover. Placing it on a table, he quietly spoke a word and then opened the tome.

The pages in front of Tamrin showed columns of names, written in different colors of ink. Most were a dark brown, the ink somewhat faded with time. As he turned the pages, the names took on more of a russet hue, slightly brighter than their predecessors. When he came to the last page, there were only a few names on it, but the last two stood out from all the others. They were written in a brilliant scarlet ink - so fresh that it still looked wet on the page in the room's light.

He stared down at the names, leaning forward to place both hands on the table. His normally easy-going features were now a mixture of shock and despair...and then quickly devolved into rage as he yelled out and threw the table over. The book, surprisingly undamaged in the violent outburst, landed softly on the floor with its pages still facing up.

After staring at the pages for several minutes, Tamrin finally leaned over and snatched the tome back from the floor, slammed it shut and stowed it before leaving the room.

Tamrin is in the teachers' lounge pouring over staff evaluations when a soft alarm sounds off on his databracer. He checks the alert, then drops the papers into one of the many pockets of his duster.

He leaves the room and heads for his office...

While the techie types started to work on their building, Andromeda stepped back. It wasn't that she couldn't help exactly. She could, but she wasn't as good at it as any of these guys, so might as well let the experts handle it. She figured she was mostly here to make sure that that Arthur kid didn't get distracted and blow up the planet accidentally. She pulled a datapad out of her pocket. Thank goodness for cargo pants. With extradimensional pockets, of course. She typed up a quick message and hit send.

** spoiler omitted **

That done she sat and watched for an hour or so as they worked and Tryko'Sam went back and forth, bringing in batches of parts as they finished being grown in the nanite tanks.

Jeran Darkclaw wrote:

"I wouldn't worry about it so much, Mithros. Everybody in that room has some form of military experience," he said, tapping the folder in his hand. "At least, that's what the write-ups the boss sent say."

[Blink, blink] (o_O)

[Whistles innocently] ;P

On the roof of the school closest to where Avalon's airspace just got violated, a lone male figure appears with his hands hooked in his belt. The duster draped over his body flaps lazily in the breeze.

He looks up at the interloping dragons with a wolf-like grin that is anything but mirthful, waiting to see what they do with Ryleh challenging their presence here...

Y'know, if there's anything I hate.....it's not got long to live.

[CLICK]

Taron gets two very different reactions to his gift.

Andromeda sends back a note saying 'Ha ha. You think you're so funny.'

Ephebe ends up in tears. Again.

ಠ_ಠ

Contingent Bigby's Slap-Upside-The-Head kicks in on Taron. AGAIN.

lynora wrote:

Vai was back at the Sunwake home. And then she teleported to the lab where the others (Aananda, Tamrin, Ephebe, Andromeda, James) were still waiting.

Ephebe and Tamrin walked away from the lab, through the school, to the house, and out to the gardens before they started talking. The entrance to the house is part of the school.

And I was planning to cover that in the summaries. Yes, Tyrrin can get them access to the scrolls they need.

confused?

you won't be after tonight's episode of "THE SUNWAKES"

Oh yes you will ;D

They stay in the garden for a good long while. True to her dad's word, Ephebe doesn't have to deal with a soggy shoulder. Tamrin works the weirdest magics into his wardrobe.... ;)

[And Fade. To. Black....] (^-^)

This is going to be so Life of Brian..

Man: Tell us what to do Messiah!
Brian: I'm not the bloody Messiah!!
Man: Only the Messiah would claim he is not the Messiah!
Brian: Oh, f~@& off!

Or I just might shoot the idiot annoying my family. Depends on my mood ;P

"No deal. I can't keep bottling up my emotions, and that means I'm going to cry sometimes. Probably a lot. Especially now. Losing another someone who was important to me brings up a lot of painful feelings that I didn't really face the first time around. So you're just going to have to deal with the waterworks," she said, a little defiantly, obviously testing her boundaries. "But I guess I can work on the worrying thing. It doesn't seem to help much. I'm basically the physical embodiment of the law of unintended consequences," she added with a sigh.

"That's what I wanted to hear. Good comeback...I can work with that." (^-^)

"Fortunately my shoulders are very absorbent," he says with a smile as he moves his arm and puts it around her shoulders to hug her.

She looked up, her eyes glassy with unshed tears. "That's what Krays said you'd say. I wanted to believe him, but...."

She looked away again, trying not to start crying because she needed to talk about this and she wasn't sure she'd be able to get the courage together to bring it up again. "It would be convenient to say I had a bad childhood, but it would also be a lie. I mean, yeah, I was raised by demons, minions mostly because evil foster mom wasn't really the nurturing type, but I didn't know anything else so it was fine. I had Jiminy. The two of us didn't need anybody else. And yeah, the experiments sucked. I could get away from time to time. Literally, from time to time. I went everywhere and everywhen. But Jiminy was stuck there. It just got worse as we got older. That was why I went looking for power. That's how I ended up with the strongest weapon hell ever produced under my direct control, not to mention substantial real estate at the junction between hell, the abyss, and abaddon. I looked everywhere for ways to take out evil foster mom. I did things...a lot of bad things. The kind of things you'd expect from a demon lord. Trust me, no one is ever going to question my qualifications for that job. But I could have done it. I could have saved him. And that's when your daughter kind of took over my brain. You know how that ended. Saved the universe. Killed my brother. He was all I had, and I did it myself because I promised him that I would never let him become just that woman's puppet." She brushed away the tears that were dripping down her cheeks. "I know it was a long time ago for you, but it's only been a year for me. After....you know what I was like right after. But I didn't get better for a long time. I sort of curled up inside my own head and just hid for...I don't know. Weeks at least. When I woke up from that, I was smack dab in the middle of Andromeda's life. Her family, her friends, her things. Somehow she had got it stuck in her head that her death would be okay if I just sort of stepped into her shoes. Like she wouldn't really be gone. And I tried. Memorizing all your names and histories was....not easy. Especially with James in my face all the time. He looks like my brother. He sounds like my brother. He even uses the same nickname. But that's as far as the resemblance goes. I can't imagine two more different people. Actually, I think James is a lot like you. Maybe Jiminy would have been like that too if we'd been raised by our birth parents. I guess we'll never know. And after her ghost was gone....I've been turning myself inside out for months trying to be her, all while trying to untangle me from her. I can't do it anymore. Even if I wanted to. She's back now, and I can finally be just me. But..." She stopped to take a deep breath. "But I don't think any of you are actually going to like just me."...

"Those memories are always going to be fresh - time doesn't do anything for them, I promise you. But wallowing in them to punish yourself does no good either. We care about what you choose to do now, and what you choose to do going forward," Tamrin replies, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.

"And let us be the judge of whether we like the new, 'just you', neh? Besides - you've got all of us to lean on if you have a bad day. Always."

"Now - no more being a worrywart, no more tears. Deal?"

"Sounds like any other day that ends in 'y' in this family. Which you are still a part of...despite trying your best to sound like Taron having one of his hissy fits." (^-^)

He sits down on the other side of the bench.

"Now - cut to the chase, kiddo. What have you decided that I am going to do to you that has got you in fight or flight mode? Because I'm not kicking you out of this family, if that's what you're worried about. If I did that, I'd have to boot out Vai with you. And despite me being angry as hell at the stunt she just pulled, I promise you that isn't happening."

He reaches over and places his hand, steady as ever, on hers to stop her fidgeting.

"We love you just the same as we did before, and that isn't going to change. Wherever you're thinking about running away to...please don't."

"And you have a husband and some soon-to-be hatchlings as well. I think that sounds better than even Tirago. But I'm a boring old fuddy-duddy, so what do I know," he says with a wink. ;)

Tamrin leads Ephebe outside, and they make their way to the gardens behind the Sunwake home. He motions to a bench for her to sit down as he leans casually against one of the many trees close to it.

"I can almost hear those gears grinding away, Ephebe," he says with a soft chuckle.

"Sooooo....where do you see yourself in the next five minutes?"

...and her father steps out.

Tamrin looks over to Ephebe.

"C'mon, let's go take a walk and get away from the ruckus for a few minutes."

Aananda had been standing there absolutely frozen since Andromeda appeared, totally stunned. Tamrin can tell that in spite of her lack of outward reaction she is experiencing a veritable tsunami of emotions.

Krays's question jerks her out of her stunned state. "Yes. Yes, of course. We need to bring Vai back," she said, nodding.

And then she lunged forward and grabbed Andromeda in a tight hug, sobbing.

"Mom.....can't.....breathe," Andromeda gasped, hiding her face against Aananda's shoulder so the others wouldn't see how much she was crying too.

Knowing better than to get between his wife and his children in situations like this, the Sunwake patriarch just leans against a table, smiling from ear to ear (even at his sons' little telepathic quips back and forth).

He looks over to Krays.

"Would you go ahead and bring Vai back home to us, please?"

"The [Time Travel] Hate is strong in my family..." ;D

"Ah. Umm......okay. I got this. Just...calm down...everyone," she said, looking pointedly at Arthur when she said it. "Ummm.....there's a whole lot I need to explain, but not a lot of time to do it in, so just know that the whole threat is over so you don't need to worry about it. And do you have a spare starcaster I can use? I...can't so much with the instant teleporting anymore."

Tamrin had just come back in a few scant moments before Melody's actions in the breach. While he looks none-too-pleased with the strange yellow-clad outsider appearing here out of nowhere, his arrival in close proximity to Ephebe stays his tongue for the moment.

He accesses one of the secure lockers and retrieves a [i]starcaster, then hands it over to his daughter.[/i]

"If you've got an idea that'll work, do what you have to do," he says to her with the simple trust and conviction of a father whose child has proven her capabilities over and over again. He then goes over to his wife when he senses her sudden mental discomfort.

"Honey? What's...."

She took a deep breath and teleported back into Aananda's lab.

"Whoa. Well, this looks a lot different than the last time I saw it." She blinked back tears, surprised a little bit at the strength of her reaction. "Mom. Dad. I....I'm home," she said hoarsely.

"...wrong?"

Tamrin turns at sound of that voice, looking a bit lost for words for a second until he blurts out

"Holy frakkin' schtako..." (o.O)

Dunno if planned would be entirely accurate...

It would be entirely not. We Sunwakes are rather....spontaneous in that regard.

(Haphazard might be a better term, actually...) ;P

"Hopefully this will just be a bit of humanitarian aid. If it isn't, I need to know immediately. Any other questions?"

"I'll take that prolonged silence for total comprehension, then," Tamrin says with a smirk as the three of them reach the teleport pad.

"My son James is in charge of receiving the refugees, and knows you're inbound. Bring your findings back to him when you're done talking with these folks. Good luck."

He then ushers them onto the pad and sends them to the landing facility at Kuros. After that he opens a comm channel to James again.

"I've got two folks inbound now to help you with the refugees, James. I just sent their files over to you."

He doesn't quite stammer...umm...but he does hesitate a second, and then fall in step behind Tamrin. As he explains the situation...he nods.

"I will observe and report, sir."

"Good. Ghalen Kiln, Repp. and vice-versa," Tamrin says quickly, introducing the two to each other without much preamble.

"Repp - Ghalen is an Imperial citizen himself, though one acclimating to life here at Avalon (and our way of doing things). He will be an excellent source for getting 'primed' on basic knowledge on the Empire."

"Ghalen - Repp is possessed of an exceptionally keen sense of...intent. He's going to be our 'barometer' for bad behavior."

"Hopefully this will just be a bit of humanitarian aid. If it isn't, I need to know immediately. Any other questions?"

Heh. I put him there to see if Tamrin would even consider using him.

But, this works :)

Two 'evaluations' for the price of one. Fight smarter, not harder neh?

Passes Tamrin and Repp in the hall, and nods with respect as he passes.

Tamrin nods back, then stops a few steps later.

"Mr. Kiln - if you're up for a little 'team exercise' with some Imperial refugees, then you'll need to change course and come with us..."

He then pulls out his datapad and starts typing whilst resuming his walk (and conversation) with Repp.

"Alright...these people are newly-released captives from an Imperial facility of some kind. Since those places tend to be run by dragons with seriously-scrambled moral compasses, I can only guess that they're not in the best way right now. They're going to be hungry, probably not in the best health and most likely pretty scared about being someplace they don't recognize. We need to take care of these people and get them back on their feet."

"The main question I have is whether or not any of these people actually shouldn't be mingling with the rest. A hunt for bad apples, basically. The Empire's done that sort of thing before, and I have to assume that they'll continue to do so."

"I need keen perceptions paired with a healthy dose of empathy to figure out who is who. Questions?"

Repp seems to consider for a moment, before nodding. "Meeting new people is among my favourite things to do, and if I've understood correctly, these refugees would not even be from Agartha!"

"You understand correctly sir."

"Now that sounds like a fun afternoon." he finishes with a smile. "I will do it, though I think I should probably know a little more about their situation, as I imagine it is somewhat delicate."

"Done."

Tamrin gets up from his station and heads for the door.

"I'll be back in a few minutes guys."

Repp is now standing outside the lab. Before he can really do anything about that, the door whisks open and (presumably) the elf he was talking with strides out. As soon as he speaks again Repp's notion is confirmed.

"Walk with me, and I'll brief you on the way."

While he definitely looks like he has the ability to cover long distances with those legs, he is actually moving at a pace respectful of Repp's own gait.

Repp glances around at his current sensory blank confinement. "I suppose I'm all ears," he says with a small smirk, clearly enjoying his own joke.

"Alright. You're an observant fellow, you like learning about the new and different, and your past has honed your ability to pick 'bad apples' out of a barrel."

"I've got a bunch of refugees from the Empire about to touch down in Kuros, and I'd really like to be sure we don't have any troublemakers in their midst."

"How would you like do a spot of detective work for me, and get some new cultural experiences under your belt while you're doing it?"

"Sounds good."

"It's Fei that's on the ship, by the by. I don't know how he managed it, but Fivain said he may have some 'swag' for us besides the shiny new ship. Verify that when you have a chance.

"I may be sending someone else from the school to help with our new guests as well. More on that when know it."

As we waits for James to reply, Tamrin switches the comm to the detention room back on briefly and speaks to Repp.

"I think I have a job for you that might seriously pique your interest. Give me a couple of minutes - if that interests you, I'll have you out of that room presently."

Tamrin ends the transmission, then tries to reach his son in Kuros.

"James - I've got a big inbound coming your way in a few minutes. Assault scout-class vessel with Imperial refugees. One of ours is onboard and in charge - can you meet them?"

"Done," he replies with a nod as he returns to the comm.

"Fivain - send the ship down to the Kuros port. I'll let James know to break out the red carpet. Tell Fei he needs to report here as soon as he's able."

"He evidently took some time out of his...errand...to bust out a bunch of people from a lab. Swiped a ship too - sounds like he's been busy." ;)

"I guess we need to decide if they're coming here or going to James' facility."

".....Hold please," Tamrin says as he mutes the Comm and turns to Aananda.

"Honey, I think your wayward monk has returned. And he brought guests."

"Please tell me that's a joke, Fivain," Tamrin replies as he pulls up another screen at his work area.

"What's going on?"

Tamrin - Gunslinger of Tomorrow wrote:

"With no 'out of control' abilities you need to get a handle on, that would've been a slightly better direction to pursue. I'm surprised the Headmaster didn't suggest it at your entrance interview. Hm."

"He did seem rather distracted during my interview, to be completely honest. Understandable, perhaps, if the threat is very real." Repp replies, his attitude apparently shifting slightly away from his resolute nonchalance. "Is there anything to be done? I've heard various rumours from the student body but it's obviously hearsay."

"That almost sounds like an offer. Knowing what's going on out there is critical...but so is knowing what's going on around here."

Repp leans back again, nonchalant in his attitude. "I needed a place that would challenge me, and I enjoy meeting new people. It seemed like a natural place to be. Though, I think I probably should've seen if there were any openings for teaching instead."

"With no 'out of control' abilities you need to get a handle on, that would've been a slightly better direction to pursue. I'm surprised the Headmaster didn't suggest it at your entrance interview. Hm."

Over the family bond

::I do not mean to cause alarm, however Ephebe's patron is causing...trouble, again. Therefore, I would advise you confirm it is indeed Ephebe, and not one of her other selves when and if you see her.
Also, beware a gold dragon named Aurix. That's all I have for now, more to follow as I have it. I love you all, stay safe.::

"Oh bloody frakkin' schtako," Tamrin mutters under his breath as he briefly mutes his side of the detention comm.

;P

Repp makes an audible scoff and rolls his eyes at his interrogator's flippant nature. "Perhaps if you stopped condescending for a few moments and actually talked to the student body. I learned about the Empire from a fellow student within a few hours of arriving. I also learned that the school's administration appears to be scared senseless of it."

"Seems to be true, at least based on my current circumstances." he adds, with another fairly relaxed shrug.

"Mmhmm."

"And I did answer your question, though I guess I can do away with the subtlety for you: I was 'scoping' the lab out for myself, because you can never know when danger will strike. I like to be prepared."

"There we go. That's all I'm looking for - simple answers to simple questions. Thank you sir."

"Now, please tell to me about why you're here at Avalon. I ask because your file doesn't show any of the normal reasons for enrolling in this particular school..."

Repp doesn't seem either intimidated or even perturbed at being imprisoned, having made himself quite comfortable on the chair provided. He does look up though, searching for a source for the voice.

"I'm not an agent of the Dragon Empire, if that is what you're asking." he replies calmly, simply looking upwards into the white.

"The streets of Lemnos are not an easy place to grow up, especially for someone as small as myself. I've learned to observe, and to listen. It's why I'm still alive. I apologize if that offends you."

"Y'see, here I was thinking that - having grown up on the streets of Lemnos, as you say - that you'd be gifted with some common sense," Tamrin remarks in the same calm tone.

"But if that were true, you would've answered those questions instead of sidestepping them. And for you to drop a name like the Dragon Empire in casual conversation, you're either: A) from the Empire; or B) eavesdropping in places you really shouldn't be. Neither of which are making your immediate future any shinier, by the way."

"Now... would you care to take a 'do-over' on those answers, young man? Or are you just going to hope your other foot tastes better than the one you just put in your mouth?" (^-^)

After the minor whirlwind of new activity in the lab (and the minor exodus of students), Tamrin goes over to a corner console away from the others.

He pulls his visor out of one of his duster pockets and puts it on. A moment later the detention room where the gnome is being held appears on the HUD. He checks the data logs to make sure his 'guest' hasn't already started talking (noting the flare of energy from his eyes), then cues up the intercom. Repp hears a disembodied voice fill the chamber.

"Hi there. We'll try cutting to the chase here and see how that works out."

"why were you scoping out the lab, and for whom?"

"Just a sec....there's a complicated bit in the center," she muttered, her fingers twitching as if she were tracing symbols as she stared at the rift. The glowing tattoo on her neck was starting to develop a red tinge.

"Okay, that's it. I've got it," she said confidently.

"Music to my ears," he says as he backs the two of them several yards away from the tear, then fires his spell and brings them back to the lab.

They arrive in what appears to be just a normal, ordinary meadow. Except that there is a feeling of wrongness here. The air seems to ripple in strange ways.

"Whoa," she said, eyes going wide as the symbol on her neck starts glowing even brighter than before.

"Yeaaaaaaaahhh.........." Tamrin intones as he scans the area.

"C'mon Raelle - less 'Whoa' and more 'Go'" he says to her as he prepares and holds another spell in reserve. ;)

"I can take her there and back, if need be," Tam replies, looking up from the video feed of their 'guest' in detention. "But it'll need to be a quick jaunt only - none of us need to be near that thing for very long."

Tamrin stands up and pulls his old duster from the back of his chair. Sliding it on as he walks over, he then prints something from his datapad before stowing the device away.

"Sounds like you don't need any other kit, so let's get going," he says with a nod as he starts to read the spell off of the scrollware.

He'll stop if she does need something, otherwise they're on their way (^-^)

Aanandareavekki wrote:

"Raelle, Melody, what was wrong with the calculations? I heard some of your discussion. What can we do to fix it? And Melody, eat your lunch. You especially need your energy."

"Is there any way that I can see the actual rift? I mean, I know there probably isn't time for me to go there in person barring teleport, which I don't have, but even a video feed....well, so long as all filters are turned off. It doesn't matter if the image isn't properly visible. I don't really see the actual physical thing anyways. But it's really important that I don't miss any details about it or we'll just have different wrong data to plug into the calculations and that doesn't help anybody."

"I can take her there and back, if need be," Tam replies, looking up from the video feed of their 'guest' in detention. "But it'll need to be a quick jaunt only - none of us need to be near that thing for very long."

With the carts finally brought into the lab space, Repp finally seems to relax, moving a bit off to the side and looking around the room with a casual demeanor, obviously curious.

Tamrin nods to Keme as he and the other student come in. He is about to go back to work on his Datapad when he notes the behavior of this second person. The brazenness of the timing was...impressive, if nothing else.

Not changing his posture or his facial expression, he does indeed return his attention to his Datapad - but now for a new reason. After pulling up and reading the (not-surpisingly) sparse file on his new subject, he sends a brief telepathic message to his wife:

And then Tamrin mentally triggers one of his new contingencies to deal with new threats....and Repp disappears without preamble.

The adolescent gnome is now in a plain, white room with no apparent way out. The only appointments present at the moment are a table and a pair of chairs.

Ardiente follows Tamrin's thought and glances at Raelle and she goes to work with fierce confidence. There may as well be stars in his eyes as he watches her work, and the conversation laspses for a good fifteen seconds before the young firebird replies. "Yeah... she's really something isn't she?"

Tam can't resist a slight chuckle at the young man's 'bedazzled' condition.

"Quite." (^-^)