Session Start: Wed Mar 03 22:08:14 1999 * Logging #whosim to 'arborea2.log' Hi Jen! Hello there, Jennifer. What a pleasure to "see" you again. :::bows::: Hi gang! Glad to see you made it tonight Ruth. Hey Tuna, what's up for the weekend? Yes, and I'm registered too. *** Joins: IrishTCat (rlstubbs@user-2ivf4ds.dialup.mindspring.com) Hi Rob! Well, I am coming into town, will be stayinmg in Timonium, and have kept Sat. AM free. I am trying to make sure Lisa comes along with me. Hello everyone *** RuthD sets mode: +o IrishTCat Hello, Rob Cool, Tuna, hope you all and Jen have fun When are you on the road and unreachable? I will send you my mobile phone number. Wherever I am in the USA, it rings. We can make plans as we go along. Say, Jen, are you far from Midlothian IL? I am no longer unreachable except while sleeping, when I turn it off. that's cool, Tuna ::feeling grumpy tonight:: why is that, Rob? Midlothian? I'm in MD, Ruth. I'm not sure where that is in IL. Near Chicago? I am a moody cat I suppose.. Poor moody cat. * Arboreans offers Irish a kitty treat Oh Did I mention that Irish is sort of mentioned in the latest The Cat Who series ? Do you like tuna, Irish? (What a thought.) no you didn't, Rob:-) Oh, sorry, yes it is, we're going to Chicago for my daughter's spring break in april. She wants to go to Amercian Girl Place. LOL Jen Oh, look at the time. Should we get underway> >=? Well I couldnt because I read it friday Don't feel grumpy, Rob, think of how lucky we all are to be here. So many people on the planet would love to have all the privleges and luxuries we do, not to mention how everything below us on the food chain thinks about things. In a billion years of development, be glad you came along now, and not 20 millions years ago as some food source for a saurian. I often think about that after having a good meal. CASTING CALL? <===========Dr. Beckwirth <=== Nehru Ha Id give them indigestion.. AND WE HAVE EACH OTHER. Oh, Ruth I was playing Nehru. <==== The Doctor How about Garcia? <===== Zwanko, Hegemonic guard with bad hygiene habits <<<~~Irish T(who has a doll that no one else can touch) Cat <======= Corp. Zemo, too Oh, I misunderstood - I thought you were the Arborian Council <==== Jacelyn Garcia did you catch the reference on that name, Rob?:-) I'm running a mystery that only David knows of. That's why I'm hanging on to the Arboreans. Is that ok? Ah. okay with me <==== Arboreans (Nehry, Jalil and Elder) Nope.. I have caught nothing... Remember, look for clues. Gee, Ruth, that's quite a change in persona with those characters. Cpl. Zemo, get it? Ready folks? I think so, ready to roll the credits whenever you all are <> break a leg mine wasn't a clue,Rob, just an injoke i'm not getting clues either, i'm slow rolling credits, do your best everyone! <> <> <> ssssllloooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww w w w w w ! = Tree tops of the Deep Forest <> # = Capt. Garcia awaits <> # ::: The Doctor and Irish are marched into the presence of Captain Garcia.::: ! ::deep in the dark forest, a tree top settlement made of vegetation bustles with activity:: # ::: The Doctor has an odd look on his face ... even more odd than usual.::: #::Garcia:: Who is this? # Here are the prisoners, Captain! # ::: The Doctor mumbles:: ...something about this planet... ! ::Arboreans swing from vines to gather in the largest tree top of the village:: # Zwanko> :::Spits and grunts.::: # ::Irish is carrying a doll in his mouth that he refuses to let anyone else take:: #::Garcia:: A man and a - green animal? What are you doing here? Who are you? # Mephhh. ::through doll:: # ::: The Doctor turns to face the Captain::: Ah, I am the Doctor and this is my animal companion Irish. We are so glad that you have found us, as we have come here quite by accident. *** CplZemo is now known as DrBeckwir ! ::drums keep time with a musical beat as a chorus of grunts and murmurs serenade the gathering:: #:::Beckwirth eyes the captives curiously::: *** RuthD is now known as CptJGarci # ::: The Doctor looks around and puts on a wry smile::: And how is everything going here, well I trust? ! ::suddenly a hush falls as the grand Elder in the grayest silver fur enters the room to take her seat of honor:: #Accident? I don't believe in accidents! We've an entire colony missing, mister. Now, WHO are you?! # Hmmmm....interesting....things are getting more intriguing all the time. # ::Irish drops the doll and carefully puts one paw on it then looks around:: Meow ?? Elder>::motions to the entranceway:: Come. ::voice is a muffled grunt:: # Yes, quite. Now let's not just repeat ourselves. I was passing by this planet and landed here quite by seredipity. *** CptJGarci is now known as JGarcia ::Nehru hesitates but Jalil leads her forward with a protective arm:: #::Dr. Beckwirth stands up and looks the captives over, walking around them, nodding to himself:::: #I don't believe in serendipity either, not in a possible massacre situation. # Well, you know, I am skilled at many things, but even I might be hard pressed to hide your whole colony up my sleeve. As I was telling these gentlemen, I am certainly not a spy. # ::: The Doctor reaches into his pocket::: But since you ask, please consider examining this. ::Jalil stops before his leader and bows then motions to Nehru to do the same:: # ::Irish tilts his head quizzically :: Meow Meow .. # Well, they look reasonably harmless to me. # ::: The Doctor produces a plastic security pass of the Hegemony.::: # ::: The Doctor hands it to Capt. Garcia::: As I said, I am just passing through. Thank you for your assistance. #:::JGarcia takes the pass from the Doctor::: A Special Security Pass? This can't be real. #:::Beckwirth peers over at the card::: # Oh but I assure you it is. I believe it has the critical holo-image of the High Hegemon in the proper place and phase. # Meow Meorph. ::Irish grabs the doll again and ambles around curiously:: #::fiercely:: I am going to check this out and you better have some real answers when I get back Doctor-- John Smith. ::half curtsies:: I'm sorry, Elder. I had to go back and see. #::Garcia leaves the room:: # ::: The Doctor bows::: Doctor John Smith at your service. #::Beckwirth offers his hand to the Doctor::: ! ::Jalil grunts with displeasure, frowns at Nehru but keeps his arm protectively around her:: # Meow ! ::knocks his whiskers agaisnt the Doctors leg:: # ::: The Doctor stands up straight and again returns to looking furtively about the room.::: I can almost sense it ::he mumbles:: # Not just any doctor, but an Executive Special Agent...most impressive. ! ::Elder frowns too:: Colony dangerous. @=Garcia's comm link # ::: The Doctor smiles at Irish and offers his hand to Dr. B::: Why yes, it is a good position. Pleased to meet you, ah, Mr. ? ! Nehru>But I only wanted to see. Jalil found me. There was no harm, honest. @:Central this is SIF. Repeat, this is SIF. # MEOW !! ::Irish grows more strident brandishing doll at the Doctor :: ! ::Jalil shrugs and grunts:: @::through cracking static:: Report. # Dr. Beckwirth. I'm in charge of the scientific investigation of what happened to the colony here on Arborea. # ::: The Doctor looks down at takes the doll from Irish::: Oh yes, very nice. @:Jacelyn Garcia, CEO on the Arboea disappearence. ! ::Jalil rapidly motions a salute, then a pretend gun firing and running:: # ::: The Doctor offers the doll to Beckwirth.::: I suppose you have been examining artifacts, such as this, to explain the situation? @:: yes, Captain. # Meow .. ::Irish sounds happy again as he grabs the doll before Beckwirth can get it:: ! :;the Arboreans all mutter to themselves as the Elder sharply frowns:: #:::Looks it over::: yes indeed, along with the wreckage of the colony and the remains of the colonists @ We have had a breach of security, repeat a breach of security. # Why Irish T. Cat, Forensic Investigator, how wonderful. @ Explain! ! Elder>:;to Nehru:: Jalil say others come. Mean men? ! Nehru>::hesitates:: Well, um, there were some soldiers. # Meow Meow Meow . ::bouncing around the room into everything:: # ::: The Doctor gestures to Beckwirth:: Well, I would like to inspect some of the evidence if I could. I sense that there is something very unusual going on here, but I as of yet lack the data to create a context. ! ::the Arboreans grunt out the word soldier as if an oath:: # We're compiling a database of information from which we'll determine exactly what happened to the colony. @ Unauthorized person displaying Hegamonic Special Security pass. Claims his name is Doctor John Smith. ! Elder> Soldiers bad. # Follow me ::leads the way to the computer setup:::: # Well, a simple compilation of data is never sufficient to guarantee the Truth, Dr. Beckwirth, at least in my experience. @ Smith? Smith! Enter ident number, Captain. # ::: The Doctor follows Beckwirth::: #::They pass by other scientists running tests of various kinds::: ! Elder>Colony bad. No go back. :;grunts with emphasis:: @::Garcia enters number:: # ::: The Doctor takes the controls and begins rapidly shuffling through the data displays::: # I've found that to be true, also. I've found that intuition can be just as helpful. # Well, well, something certainly happened, but perhaps not the obvious answer. # ::Irish jumps up onto the computer but looks skeptically at the machine:: Meow ? ::then he looks at the Doctor:: ! Nehru> But Elder, soldiers don't know. # ::: The Doctor cautions irish::: Careful, Irish, you never know what you might see when you flip through forensic evidence like this. @ Number checks. Doctor is to be accorded all access. # We've been able to determine that the colonists were wiped out, all at once, but an attack of some kind. @ What? Who is he? ! ::Jalil grunts with indifference, signs brutal men deserve pain:: # ::: The Doctor let's go of the data-scroll controls and turns to Beckwirth::: Well, not really comprehensive, but a decent start. What do you make of it? ! Nehru> No Jalil! Not all were bad. Remember? # No weapons were used, so we've tenatively ruled out attack from outside the solar system. @:: Accord him every access - EVERY acess Captain. That's an order! # ::Irish curls up into a ball around his doll with his eyes facing the screen:: Meowph.. # ::: The Doctor nods::: @::very frustrated:: but WHO IS HE??? # There are some oddities. Garcia, of course, has a theory. She believes the native forest dwellers are responsible. ! ::Jalil crosses arms and grunts "All bad":: # ::: Beckwirth shakes his head disparagingly::: # Meowphh . ::Irish sounds doubtful:: # Not the ones that I met up with. They seemed like very peaceful creatures, almost mellow. Somehow strangely in tune with this planet. ! Nehru>Please Elder, we must go back. There was a kind man there, a friend. # Could it be that they fought amongst themselves? No, probably not, weapons would have been used. ! Elder>::quirks bushy brows:: Friend? # ::Irish jumps up and does an acrobatic cat dance at the Doctors words:: # I haven't examined any of the creatures yet, but from initial descriptions, it does seem unlikely. # Meow Meow Meow Meow . ::spins in the air :: # They seem to be quite shy, staying away from the colony for the most part. ! Nehru>::nods:: A tall, kind man with a beard. He had a kitty. # No notations of any attempts at communication with them. # Well, the military mind rarely mixes well with indigenous peaceful species. <> #::Garcia bursts in on slow burn:: All right, Doctor, your credentials check out. ::miffed:: It seems we're to "accord you every access". # Right, shoot first and talk later. You know, it's a good idea to try and talk to anything you meet. Less likely to eat or kill something which you can talk to. ! Jalil> :;grunts and signs stranger went with soldiers:: # ::growls at Garcia for interupting his dance :: Meow! Hisssss.. # ::: The Doctor turns to greet Garcia:: Yes, of course it checks out. It would have been a very unwise bluff, wouldn't it? ! Jalil>::grunts and signs all bad men shoot first, deserve fate:: # Then perhaps we can ask the Doctor to help us in our investigation? # Now Captain, I'm sure you agree that these majortree-dwelling creatures could not have done this. #::turns on the soldiers:: Well, and what are you standing here for? Go bag a native! ! Elder>::nods:: Colony bad, Nehru. No go back. Friend or no. Home here now. #I will call them the Arboreans. # "Bag a native"? # Meow . ::Irish nods his head apparently agreeing with the Doctor:: #::disgusted:: I call them brute animals, Doctor! They tore the colonists to shreds and devoured the children. # ::: The Doctor shakes his head::: Really, Captain. There are many ways in which things and persons can vanish, it isn't often true that the next species on the perceived evolutionary scale is to blame. # Now Captain, we have no proof of that yet. #::to the guards:: Well? Get out of here! ::they retreat:: #Zwanko> ::grunts:: I'll bring ya a head to mount, Cap'n. # The correct term would be the colony was wiped out. Everything adult inhabitant slaughtered. ! Nehru>But Elder, please. We can't leave them. If the friendly man were brought here we can get him to make the soldiers go. #Zwanko>:::Heads out the door, hefting his huge directed energy weapon.::: ! Elder>You go with them? #::to himself::: of course, if we can examine a native...without injuring them...then we can discover whether or not they are involved at all. # ::: The Doctor looks up::: Adult! But what about the children? # Slaughtered! By animals! I refuse to anthropromorphize. ! Nehru>No, my home is here. But we must make them go away. # ::: The Doctor shakes his head::: No, no, no. You can't determine guilt or innocence through a biopsy, Dr. Beckwirth, with all due respect. # We don't know what happened to the children, Doctor. There have been no remains found of any of the dozen or so children in the colony. ! Nehru>The friendly man will help. # Just what I need! A scientific romantic! # ::: The Doctor looks at Garcia:: You want to find the culprit so badly you may have missed the real clues! You aren't helping anyone doing that, Captain. # We can, however, determine if the Arboreans teeth match the teeth marks on the colonists' bones. ! :;Elder takes silently considers the request then signs orders to Jalil:: #::sarcastic:: and I suppose you are? # Your label, Captain, not mine. ! ::Jalil grunts in reply, bows and leaves:: # Captain, did you ever read a book called LORD OF THE FLIES? # No, I suppose you haven't. #::Irish begins to stalk the Captain with growls and hisses:: ! Nehru>:;calls after him:: Be careful. Don't get lost like dolly. # You know, French social historian Phillipe Aries believes that children are in many ways small adults, and that we often impose the role of child on them. ! ::Jalil grunts affectionately in reply and disappears through the tree tops of the Deep Forest:: # This is not a desert island and I am not twelve years old. # Of course, but it needs to be thought of. # The missing children is explained by: # And what has that to do with the massacre of an entire colony? Are you saying the children did this to their parents? # a. something took them away; b. they did it and left; c. something terrioble happened and the children escaped; d. the children were sent away and then the disaster came; e. some permutation of the above options. # And what about your ideas, Captain? # ::something ruffles through the tree tops toward the colony:: *** Arboreans is now known as Jalil