Tempus Fugitive Pt 1
March 23, 1999
Plot by Jen Kokoski

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Setting

The 25th century Earth Federation, Earth's first interstellar government, is falling fast into decline due to overexpansion and a failure of it's communication and transportation systems. The fastest cruisers and freighters take between 2 months to 3 years to travel between star systems on the outer reaches of the galaxy. Colony worlds are rebelling and causing unrest in the mighty Earth Federation. Amidst this, the tiny rose-colored world of Venusia Colony is nestled in a star cluster between Andromeda and Earth. It's considered a gateway spaceport where Interstellar freighters and cruisers stop in for refeuling and R & R during the several month to several year journey between systems. Venusia is a barren hostile planet protected only by a self contained spaceport run by a small population calling themselves Arcadians. They are descendents of New Orleans inhabitants who hold unique festival half the solar cycle when the gold planet is in equinox. The celebration, St. Ferris Day is a combination of old Mardi Gras and remembrances of the defeat of the Cyber army.

Cast

The Doctor - (DRTUNA) - A wandering Timelord in his 10th Persona

Irish - (Irish TCat) - a green cat, the son of Trouble and protege of the TARDIS, he can morph and communicate both telepathically and by speech.

Jacie Hunter - (Jen) - 16-17 year old humanoid with short red hair, freckles and a survivalist attitude. She's a Space Time Gypsy (STiG) used to hopping the timelines with her ne'er-do'well uncle. Wears active attire or body suits, pirate-like shirts and always carries a leather drawstring pouch around her belt. In her pouch, she carries a variety of lock picking tools, herbal medicines or gas pellets and other things. She's an accomplished pickpocket who's only interest is in acquiring the time crystals needed to power her STiG time bracelet.

Nico Lazarus - middle-aged Space-Time Gypsy with colorful tongue (think Figaro) and a unique morality. He left the caravan with his niece after the great massacre and the others began following the White Phoenix. He prefers his independence and surviving on his wits. The only thing he cares for outside himself is Jacie, but he's not necessarily a good influence on her.

Sabalom Glitz - Intergalactic con man and smuggler known to the Doctor. He's frequented the Time Trap among other places and has a keen ear for time secrets.

Professor Yuri Vladimir - middle-aged inventor of the famed "Glitter Gun" that saved the Earth Federation from Cybermen forces during the Cyberwars. He's recently turned his ingenious skills on a way of recamping the old Travelmate system for instantaneous interstellar transport. He only needs one more element. He's also a friend of the Doctor, one who may have received a few configuring tips from the timelord during a crucial time in Earth history.

Security Consult Maximus Brody - head of security on the spaceport Venusia. He's a glorified clerk demoted, some say, for a diplomatic error in the space corp. He is related to some high ups in the government but is considered the blacksheep of the family. He's looking for a way to resurrect his reputation and prove his worth to the Federation.

Beginning

TARDIS ARRIVES (Irish, Doctor, Sabalom Glitz)

The Doctor (wearing a colorful cape for the Venusia Mardi Gras festival instead of his normal coat) steps out of the TARDIS with Irish and into the bustling corridors of the spaceport citadel. Irish, to his dismay, is bored and prefers they move along and find his friend instead of dallying among the revelers. But before they can find their way, a cyberdevil (person disquised as a cyberman with a human body) stops them as part of the festivities. The Doctor tries to produce a gold trinket from his bag but it's filled with other parphenalia his coat pockets usually hold (e.g. screwdriver, key, stattenheim control, etc.) To their rescue comes Sabalom Glitz who sends the devil away with his gold trinkets. The Doctor asks why Glitz is there, but in true fashion he fobs off the question. Glitz leaves the Doctor with a warning: thieves are known to frequent the festival so he best not dawdle. Then he departs through the crowd and leaves the Doctor and Irish to meander through the citadel.

SECURITY BALCONY (Maximus Brody, Professor Vladmir)

The Professor, taking a break from his work, enjoys the view of the festival from the veranda outside his secured lab. Brody joins him and scoffs at the disorganized revelry. Brody sees only space rogues among the festival goers, but the Professor disagrees. They have a mini debate on the fate of the Federation and how to put the colonies in line. Brody ends the argument by asking the Professor how his work is commencing. Vladmir says he's just waiting for the courier to show up with the last element and he can begin testing of the new travel system. Brody is pleased, compliments the Professor then sneers when he spots space gypsies below. Brody encourages the Professor to go back to work to save the Federation again while he minds the festival. The two depart.

TRAVELERS ARRIVE (Jacie, Nico)

In a quiet corridor, Jacie and Nico arrive in a cloud of sparkling light. Jacie fades in and out a few times before materialising permanently. Her travel bracelet is weakening. A few more trips and she'll be stranded. They debate the situation a moment. Nico says all they need to do is intercept the package from the Time Trap. Jacie asks for a description of the man. All her uncle can say is that he was tall, middle-aged, colorful and had a beard. He's a distinctive fellow. Scanning the crowd, Jacie spots two such men in the crowd (Glitz and the Doctor) talking and exchanging some glittering objects. When they depart, she isn't sure which one has the package. Nico encourages her to split up then. He'll follow the portlier one (Glitz) and she'll do her thing with the other (Doctor). They agree to meet up later.

MIDDLE

FESTIVAL MADNESS  (Doctor, Irish, Jacie)

Cyberdevils surround the Doctor and Irish making them get lost in the parading crowd. After dispensing the gold coins Glitz gave him, the Doctor realizes he's lost. He stops a reveler trailing off behind him for directions.  The reveler (Jacie) is surprised by the Doctor's agile movement in spotting her. She stumbles a moment for an answer and then smoothly poses as just another Venusian. She directs him to the security section on the higher level. Irish sniffs something unusual about the reveler and warns the Doctor. The timelord is also curious about the only cyberdevil to speak to him and engages her in conversation. Before he can get much out of her beyond her name, she darts off.

SECURITY ON THE PROWL (Brody, Nico)

Nico is hot on Glitz's trail when Brody stops him. The Security Chief roughs him up, demanding proper ID and giving him the third degree about his intentions. All Nico has is an outdated pass from a distant mining sector. The ID checks out, but Brody confiscates it certain it's stolen. Then in a whisper, he warns Nico that he knows he's a "traveler" and won't abide them on Venusia. He confiscates Nico's travel bracelet and escorts him at blaster point toward his office for questioning.

SECURED LAB (Glitz, Professor Vladmir)

Glitz enters the lab and gets annoyed that the Prof is too busy tinkering to notice him at first. Making his own unique first impression, Glitz interrupts the Prof producing a drawstring bag as the "package he requested". He demands the reward of a million credits, which the Prof gladly gives to have a look inside the bag. Glitz topples out a dozen multicolored crystals to the Professor's delight. Money is exchanged, and belatedly the Professor asks if the crystals were obtained legally. Glitz asks instead what they are for. Before he can answer, the Doctor and Irish breeze in.

ENDING

THE EXPERIMENT (Doctor, Irish, Glitz, Professor Vladmir)

The Doctor and Professor Vladmir renew old acquaintenances briefly while Glitz is surprised/embarrassed to be caught there. The only who explains anything is Vladmir who's eager to show off his latest invention. He unveils his prototype Enhanced Travelmat (ET machine). When told of it's principle and need, the Doctor is enthusiastic yet something nags at him too. The Professor, with the crystals Glitz brought, attempts to power up the machine. It works briefly and then sputters with a short. When the Doctor quickly offers to help, he reaches into his pocket for his sonic screwdriver and to his amazement finds it missing. Then to his horror, he discovers his TARDIS key is also missing. He's been robbed.

SECURITY ANGLE (Maximus Brody and Nico, Jacie)

Enroute to his office, Brody is ambushed by a small red-haired cyberdevil who distracts him with smoke bombs. When he recovers he notices the gypsy getting away with her and orders his guards to capture them "dead or alive". Then he finds Nico's travel bracelet still on his person and amends his orders. The man is to be caught not killed. They may have a use for him. With a plotting smile, he flips his private vidcam to spy mode in the Professor's lab just in time to see the experiment begin. Concerned about the strange Doctor's arrival he sets off to join them.

GYPSY SERENDIPITY (Nico, Jacie)

After rescuing Nico, Jacie and her uncle seek shelter in the quiet corridors of the citadel.  Nico discovers his travel bracelet is missing. The security goon has it. Nico is suspicious of the man, a 25th century Earther shouldn't know of travel bracelets and STiGs. Jacie devises a simple plan to outwit the guards. Nico can use the crystals she nicked to fix her bracelt, she'll pop in and steal back his bracelet and they can get out of Venusia. The only problem, she finds inside the bag she stole, is that it contains on gold trinkets, a sonic screw driver, and an old TARDIS key. She picked the wrong pocket!

 

Next Week's Sim: Tempus Fugitive

Earth's mighty space Federation is on the verge of collapse when the scientist who invented the "Glitter Gun" to defeat Cybermen is working on a suped up Travelmat to bridge the distance between star systems. His last needed ingredient is a hard to find time element available only on the blackmarket. When the call goes out through space and time all kinds of ne'er-do-wells are likely to appear. Can the Doctor and Irish separate the wickedly ambitious from the mischeivous troublemakers before time suffers a disastrous experiment? Join us next week for a brand new adventure with new roles up for grabs. To join the sim fill out our sign up form or e-mail group coordinator David.