Aberrant: Trans-Dimensional Explorations - Trans-Dimensional Explorations

[Centimane]

Zhenglai continued to stand and watch, utterly fascinated by all he was seeing, but as of yet, not terribly concerned. All of this was beyond his ability to conjecture over or try to explain, but he had yet to see anything that made him think he or his friends were in danger.

He did reach out to the flaming man to determine if how upset he was, and to calm him if needed.

((Zhenglai will make an Emo-Manip roll on the flaming guy, and if he's all emotionally distraught Zhenglai will use it to calm him down as well.))

[SkyLion]

"I'm going up to find out what the hell is going on, and how bad it is. Be right back."

,,

When brandt is saying this, Esteban (if possible) will try to jump back up onto Brandt's shoulder or into his arms.

,,

*Let me go with you, just in cae.*

((OOC, unless for some reason Brandt didn't want him along...))

,,

[Bahamut810]

Ash frowns. They were startring N-day on this planet if everyone was right...

He takes a minute to consider what everyone says and tries to get a feeling on which is the most correct...

[archer]

((Esteban is free to hop back into Brandt's arms...spending Q to attune the kitty.))

[BlueNinja]

Brandt, having dropped Esteban with a startled oath when the flaming man fell through the ceiling, can only stare in horrified fascination as everyone starts offering their own theories as to why this is happening.

When told that there is yet another Nova erupting at ground level, the speedster shakes his head violently to clear it.

"I'm going up to find out what the hell is going on, and how bad it is. Be right back.", he says, before disappearing out the door and up the stairs. Arriving almost instantaneously at ground level, he looks for a window to peer out from. Opening his senses to the quantum-spectrum, he tries to absorb what's happening around him and outside.

As Brandt and the cat vanish in a puff of wind, Nina is distracted long enough to gape at the sight. Bradley, perhaps because he's stuck with what he is, watches them before turning back to Paul. "Is this kind of thing happening ... everywhere? There must be utter chaos in the streets."

Upstairs, the sprinklers have managed to put out the flames. You appear to have come out in a sort of community center area of a church. The mountains are the familiar Vegas valley, but the city is very different - no rising casino towers, though there is a sort of monolith/spire somewhere to the north. (At a guess, you're in the southern part of the city.) In the street is a crowd of people, all fighting with some ... thing ... it looks like this nova must be a fan of Dali, as his flesh seems to be stretching and flowing, even as a crowd of people are trying to either hold him down, or escape him.

[Alex Green]

As Brandt and the cat vanish in a puff of wind, Nina is distracted long enough to gape at the sight. Bradley, perhaps because he's stuck with what he is, watches them before turning back to Paul. "Is this kind of thing happening ... everywhere? There must be utter chaos in the streets."

Paul responds,

"Not everywhere yet I think." :Sigh: "We didn't expect this, and don't want this. This has the potential to spread like a forest fire everywhere. We're going to need your help to stop this from spreading uncontrollably."

Paul gets out his PDA and fiddles with it until he gets a map of the Western sea board. He holds it out to Bradley and asks,

"We need to get away from people. We came to this location because it's supposed to be an undeveloped forest, not the middle of a city. Is there a desert somewhere on this map?"

[Shade Sentinel]

Simon, after summoning his most recent summon, looks visibly weakened. He takes an absentminded step back wards and not so gracefully collides with the wall. Still maintaining his feet he attempts to shake off the cobwebs.

"I can get us a gate out of here to somewhere remote, but who's going to deal with the fires? I got as many fire suppresssers as I could here. Help yourselves..."

[archer]

As Brandt and the cat vanish in a puff of wind, Nina is distracted long enough to gape at the sight. Bradley, perhaps because he's stuck with what he is, watches them before turning back to Paul. "Is this kind of thing happening ... everywhere? There must be utter chaos in the streets."

Upstairs, the sprinklers have managed to put out the flames. You appear to have come out in a sort of community center area of a church. The mountains are the familiar Vegas valley, but the city is very different - no rising casino towers, though there is a sort of monolith/spire somewhere to the north. (At a guess, you're in the southern part of the city.) In the street is a crowd of people, all fighting with some ... thing ... it looks like this nova must be a fan of Dali, as his flesh seems to be stretching and flowing, even as a crowd of people are trying to either hold him down, or escape him.

"Mierde." Rolling his eyes to the heavens in a sort of "why me?" moment, Brandt gently sets the cat on the floor. "Esteban, remind me to bring a shitload of mox next time we go somewhere new."

Focusing his thoughts, he describes the situation as he sees it to the others below. *I'm going out there to help free the people being trapped, and then maybe help the poor eruptee out there. Esteban, if you're able to even see me, watch my quantum signature to see if it's leaking off anywhere and possibly contributing to this chaos. We have to determine if it's us or the gate, or some combination of both.*

Without waiting for any responses or arguments, Brandt sets his jaw and races out into the street.

[Expendable]

Theo grabbed one of the fire extinguishers and carried it over near where the newcomer nova was, wreathed in his strange black & white comic page flames. She was careful not to get too close.

"Do you talk at all?" Theo asked him, activating her hyper-hearing. Maybe this one was broadcasting?

[Alex Green]

Focusing his thoughts, he describes the situation as he sees it to the others below. *I'm going out there to help free the people being trapped, and then maybe help the poor eruptee out there. Esteban, if you're able to even see me, watch my quantum signature to see if it's leaking off anywhere and possibly contributing to this chaos. We have to determine if it's us or the gate, or some combination of both.*

Paul sends back,

*It isn't the gate. If the gate did it then N-day would have been when we first sent through that probe at the appartment building. And the gate also wasn't here for burning nova #3 and your nova #4. It's us. Probably us using our powers.*

Paul ignores the fire extinguishers and tries to get an answer from the man or woman on where would be a good place to go.

[BlueNinja]

Focusing his thoughts, he describes the situation as he sees it to the others below. *I'm going out there to help free the people being trapped, and then maybe help the poor eruptee out there. Esteban, if you're able to even see me, watch my quantum signature to see if it's leaking off anywhere and possibly contributing to this chaos. We have to determine if it's us or the gate, or some combination of both.*

Without waiting for any responses or arguments, Brandt sets his jaw and races out into the street.

Brandt rushes into the street, into possibly one of the most bizarre situations of his life. Sticky-person seems to have glue for skin - as it's trying to get away from these people, who are trying to get away from it, but the slightest brush against some stretched-out limb or skin flap is enough to get them trapped again. One person has drawn a large pocket knife, and has apparently been trying to cut his clothes free, and a couple people are bleeding where they've lost skin. Sticky-person looks like he's trying to say something, but a jacket has been glued across his face. At least, Brandt thinks sticky-person is a guy ... it's rather hard to tell. ::blink

Esteban, watching this, can tell that the eruptee is wildly controllin the surrounding field ... but that's sort of blocking his ability to watch the surrounding field by itself. Brandt's super-speed doesn't look any different than it usually does ... so you'll probably have to get to an eruptee-free zone by mundane means to see.

Theo grabbed one of the fire extinguishers and carried it over near where the newcomer nova was, wreathed in his strange black & white comic page flames. She was careful not to get too close.

"Do you talk at all?" Theo asked him, activating her hyper-hearing. Maybe this one was broadcasting?

He's not making any sort of radio noise - and standing right next to him, you'd be able to tell very quickly. You've heard of people who went mute as a part of QBS, and now Michal broadcasts music, so it's possibly some sort of Taint syndrome keeping him silent.

Paul ignores the fire extinguishers and tries to get an answer from the man or woman on where would be a good place to go.

Bradley and Nina, still casting anxious glances at the burning man, put their heads together to discuss it for a minute. Finally Bradley looks up. "Well ... it's not great ... but my parents live out in the backwoods of Oregon. I have some picture back at my apartment - if that's safe."

[AnonCastillo]

Bradley and Nina, still casting anxious glances at the burning man, put their heads together to discuss it for a minute. Finally Bradley looks up. "Well ... it's not great ... but my parents live out in the backwoods of Oregon. I have some picture back at my apartment - if that's safe."

"That'll work." Seeing Mask is still a bit winded from his summoning, he turns to Zhenglai instead. "Zhenglai, would you take care of that? You should probably take them first and let them explain everything before we start dropping off random novas on their doorstep."

[Centimane]

"Certainly," said Zhenglai and stepped forward towards Bradley and Nina.

"The pictures shouldn't be necassary though, Bradley. Please, relax your thoughts, as much as you can under the circumstances, and picture your parents' place. You'll feel me there with you for just a moment, and then I'll be able to take us there."

Then Zhenglai reached out with his mind and tried to touch Bradley's.

((Telepathy roll to get the location of the parents' house, then Zhenglai will open up a warp for them to go through. BTW, whatever happened to my attempt at gauging the emotional state of the Burning Man, and then calm him? Did I miss the response to that?))

[Shade Sentinel]

Simon gathers his strength and is silently thanking Jonathan for asking someone else to do the next warp.

"I can take care of that..." He starts, but Zhengali has already begun, so he quiets that to not disturb him.

"So, are we going to put the fires out or what? Under the circumstances...Brandt could probably do it himself, speeding back and forth to get new cans. Heh"

Simon stares at the crate of extinguishers, realizing all at once that it was by far the most bizarre and most quantity of anything he'd summoned to date. I must be getting stronger.

[Bahamut810]

Ash shrugs. "Let the locals take care of it. Lets fire-boy ready to go first." he says as he tries to think of a way to do just that without hurting him or getting hurt.

"I dont think the fire extinguishers are going to help...one of you guys that know how to turn everything off...care to try to tell him how to?"

[Alex Green]

Paul sends,

*Brandt, we have a place in the outback we're going to go. A cabin in the woods. Take him with us even if you need to take everyone he's stuck to.*

*Fire girl/boy may simply be in shock, I can't see him well enough to tell. Only good way to push him through the gate is to TK him.*

[SkyLion]

Esteban, watching this, can tell that the eruptee is wildly controllin the surrounding field ... but that's sort of blocking his ability to watch the surrounding field by itself. Brandt's super-speed doesn't look any different than it usually does ... so you'll probably have to get to an eruptee-free zone by mundane means to see.

,,

((remind me of my form again? can't remember if I took enhanced move...))

,,

Esteban does indeed hightail (literally!) it away to get a better view, while staying in contact with Brandt.

,,

*His Q-sig is all over the place! Im backing up to get a better view. In the meantime, do you have any idea how to get him out of their without getting tar-babied?*

[archer]

((remind me of my form again? can't remember if I took enhanced move...))

,,

Esteban does indeed hightail (literally!) it away to get a better view, while staying in contact with Brandt.

,,

*His Q-sig is all over the place! Im backing up to get a better view. In the meantime, do you have any idea how to get him out of their without getting tar-babied?*

*Not a freakin' clue! Everything that touches him sticks, I'm afraid to get too close. Don't have any mox, so that's out. I can try to just knock him out for right now, and unless anyone's got a better idea, that's what I'm going to try.*

Circling around the scene, Brandt looks around for something long enough to whack the guy with that's long enough to let him keep his distance...before remembering the mox he'd left in his bag downstairs.

*Excuse my idiocy, everyone. Paul, there's some mox in my bag down there next to you. Front pocket, on the left next to the candy bars. If I remember correctly, it's set up as ten doses in one; you'll probably want to reduce it if possible, so we can spread it out amongst any more severely dangerous novas we run into. At the very least, try to keep enough for Mr. Sticky out here.*

[BlueNinja]

"Certainly," said Zhenglai and stepped forward towards Bradley and Nina.

"The pictures shouldn't be necassary though, Bradley. Please, relax your thoughts, as much as you can under the circumstances, and picture your parents' place. You'll feel me there with you for just a moment, and then I'll be able to take us there."

Then Zhenglai reached out with his mind and tried to touch Bradley's.

((Telepathy roll to get the location of the parents' house, then Zhenglai will open up a warp for them to go through. BTW, whatever happened to my attempt at gauging the emotional state of the Burning Man, and then calm him? Did I miss the response to that?))

((Sorry, I missed that part)) Burning man is, understandably, freaked out. You think he was trying to put himself out, when he started burning through the floor. But right now, there's nothing you can do to calm him down.

Bradley blinks at you, then guardedly nods. It's difficult to get into his mind, not because of mental shields like those that Paul or Jonathan have, but because his quantum signature is still slightly in flux from his eruption. You get an image of a "log cabin" in a rural area in Oregon - there are neighbors, but everyone has at least an acre. Opening the warp is simple ... but there's still the little matter of Brandt and Esteban still being upstairs. You might want to wait a few minutes.

*Excuse my idiocy, everyone. Paul, there's some mox in my bag down there next to you. Front pocket, on the left next to the candy bars. If I remember correctly, it's set up as ten doses in one; you'll probably want to reduce it if possible, so we can spread it out amongst any more severely dangerous novas we run into. At the very least, try to keep enough for Mr. Sticky out here.*

The mox is where Brandt said; there should be two of the stab-type injectors; the little dial at the top is set to give all ten doses. Bradley and Invisible Girl shouldn't need more than one dose each, if they're willing. Burning man will be a little more difficult, as it's possible his flames will shatter the injectors before the mox can be given to him.

[Expendable]

((Sorry, I missed that part)) Burning man is, understandably, freaked out. You think he was trying to put himself out, when he started burning through the floor. But right now, there's nothing you can do to calm him down.

"You have to stay calm," Theo said reassuringly to the burning man, watching him warily, saying out of reach. "Imagine the flames dying down. You can control them. You can control them."

[Alex Green]

Paul starts going through his doctor's bag and remarks outloud,

"Sorry, I should have thought of this before, but it's been a while and we're never had a use for it before. Whenever we're run into other novas they've been fully in control of their powers."

Paul finds one of the injectors and starts to adjust the dosage,

"This is Mox. It makes power use extremely difficult, which should be a good thing here. It's often given to new novas to give them time to learn how to use their powers without hurting themselves or others."

Paul finds the correct dosage, or at least thinks he does, and looks at the new novas,

"I'd like to give you some, but you aren't actively hurting people at the moment so I'll leave the choice up to you. Brandt is outside dealing with someone in worse shape so we only have a moment before he'll come and get it."

If "Wings" and/or "Inviso-girl" accept, or at least don't actively try to prevent him, Paul will give them both a jolt. "Flame-guy" seems immune to this at the moment so he won't try him.

[archer]

*I'm coming back down to grab the other injector.* No sooner than the thought is finished, Brandt is there, appearing and disappearing in a blur of motion as he retrieves the other injector and darts back upstairs and outside. Barely slowing, he cranks the dosage up to five and, finding an open patch of skin, jams it into the glue-like nova.

[BlueNinja]

"You have to stay calm," Theo said reassuringly to the burning man, watching him warily, saying out of reach. "Imagine the flames dying down. You can control them. You can control them."

He continues to writhe. You're not sure if he actually heard you or not.

Paul starts going through his doctor's bag and remarks outloud,

"Sorry, I should have thought of this before, but it's been a while and we're never had a use for it before. Whenever we're run into other novas they've been fully in control of their powers."

Paul finds one of the injectors and starts to adjust the dosage,

"This is Mox. It makes power use extremely difficult, which should be a good thing here. It's often given to new novas to give them time to learn how to use their powers without hurting themselves or others."

Paul finds the correct dosage, or at least thinks he does, and looks at the new novas,

"I'd like to give you some, but you aren't actively hurting people at the moment so I'll leave the choice up to you. Brandt is outside dealing with someone in worse shape so we only have a moment before he'll come and get it."

If "Wings" and/or "Inviso-girl" accept, or at least don't actively try to prevent him, Paul will give them both a jolt. "Flame-guy" seems immune to this at the moment so he won't try him.

Bradley looks at the injector a little warily (especially when one of them vanishes in a blur of Brandt), but holds out one furry arm for you to poke. Invisible girl pops back into visibility for a few moments, apparently taking Theo's words to heart, then starts (much more slowly) going back and forth between invisible and not, in a sort of fading way, and also allows herself to be injected with Mox. Within moments, she's stabilized at almost-completely-visible, with a very slight amount of see-through.

<edit> ((Sorry, Sky!))

The cat-Esteban manages to jump up to a stained-glass window in the church that has enough fairly clear glass to get a good view of the street in the other direction from Stretchy. A block or so away, there is a crowd of people, watching and pointing and taking pictures and video of the event. </edit>

[Expendable]

He continues to writhe. You're not sure if he actually heard you or not.

"Relax," Theo suggests soothingly. "Everything will be fine."

[Alex Green]

He continues to writhe. You're not sure if he actually heard you or not.

Paul sends to Theo & Johnathan,

*He may be shock. If that's true, then when he starts to come out he may get physical.*

Invisible girl pops back into visibility for a few moments, apparently taking Theo's words to heart, then starts (much more slowly) going back and forth between invisible and not, in a sort of fading way, and also allows herself to be injected with Mox. Within moments, she's stabilized at almost-completely-visible, with a very slight amount of see-through.

Paul looks her over for aberrations and says to her in a calm, matter of fact voice,

"Now this brings back memories. Looks like you're starting out the same way I did. Invisibility. That's probably not the only thing, most of us also get some other minor gifts. Some new skills. Enhanced abilities. Immunity to disease. It's rare to find a nova who can't pull in more money than the best paid doctor."

[Bahamut810]

"That we know of at least..." Ash grumbles...not to fond of this world.

"Alright...its time to get this over with." he says and walks over to the flaming man that Theo is talking to.

"Hey man...calm down. It'll be ok. We are here to help..." he says, and continues to help Theo.

(Persuader, Synergy)

[SkyLion]

From his lofty perch, Esteban takes another peek at Brandt through Quantum Sight as he was requested to, looking for any anomalies in the local field and clues about the sudden rash of eruptions.

[Expendable]

Paul sends to Theo & Johnathan,

*He may be shock. If that's true, then when he starts to come out he may get physical.*

*that's what I'm afraid of,* Theo sends, grimly. She flashes Ash a grateful smile as he joins her.

"Hey," she adds. "We're just like you - people with strange abilities. We know what you're going through. We just want to help."

*anyone know the formula for mox? this world may need it after today.*

[Alex Green]

*anyone know the formula for mox? this world may need it after today.*

*I think so, but I'd hate having to do that. Mostly I rely on it coming in little red stripped containers.**

(*Since Nova drugs are very poisonous to baselines I assume they always come in specially marked and colored containers.)

[Shade Sentinel]

Simon things about the chemical compounds for creating Mox.

*I may be able to summon a vast quantity of it if need be. I'm not sure though. I've never tried.*

[Alex Green]

*I may be able to summon a vast quantity of it if need be. I'm not sure though. I've never tried.*

Paul sends back,

*Now there's an idea. Obviously we have a sample for you to work off. If we were outdoors and up wind and there weren't other baselines around who might erupt, I'd suggest you dump a lot on Firehead.*

[BlueNinja]

Paul looks her over for aberrations and says to her in a calm, matter of fact voice,

"Now this brings back memories. Looks like you're starting out the same way I did. Invisibility. That's probably not the only thing, most of us also get some other minor gifts. Some new skills. Enhanced abilities. Immunity to disease. It's rare to find a nova who can't pull in more money than the best paid doctor."

As for aberrations, she's still slightly see-through ... but you can't tell if that will be a permanent side-effect, or if her fear is still keeping her invisibility going despite the mox. "You - but he - and - what the hell is happening to me?" Nina draws back from Invisible Girl at the outburst, with Bradley keeping an eye on the Burning Man.

"Hey," she adds. "We're just like you - people with strange abilities. We know what you're going through. We just want to help."

Almost like a switch, the black and white flames die out. The man beneath is almost that monochrome as well - dressed in something close to a Catholic priest outfit, he's certainly the palest person Theo has seen. Not an albino, but he comes close. "Just like me? Has the Lord seen fit to reach and and enfold you in the purging fires of punishment?" His voice, while full of despair, also has a haunting undercurrent of crackling flames. And after a moment, everyone watching him realize that his blue eyes aren't just blue - they're flickering the color of propane fire.

Paul sends back,

*Now there's an idea. Obviously we have a sample for you to work off. If we were outdoors and up wind and there weren't other baselines around who might erupt, I'd suggest you dump a lot on Firehead.*

Paul is a good enough doctor to know there is a slight difference between the chemical composition of injected mox, and injestion (pill form) mox. While the Directive (and presumably Utopia) have developed an aerosol version, it's probably not something you guys could get ahold of.

From his lofty perch, Esteban takes another peek at Brandt through Quantum Sight as he was requested to, looking for any anomalies in the local field and clues about the sudden rash of eruptions.

You haven't been present at a whole lot of eruptions, but from what you've understood from novas who have witnessed them with quantum sight, usually the erupting nova twists the field around them like play-doh. Sticky, however, looks more like he's fighting to draw into him a quantum field that's just thinner enough than your own to make it difficult.

[Alex Green]

As for aberrations, she's still slightly see-through ... but you can't tell if that will be a permanent side-effect, or if her fear is still keeping her invisibility going despite the mox. "You - but he - and - what the hell is happening to me?" Nina draws back from Invisible Girl at the outburst, with Bradley keeping an eye on the Burning Man.

Paul answers,

"It's a long and complicated story, but basically you have gained the same powers we have."

(Then the flaming man flames out)

"Hold that thought."

Paul walks over to the priest(?) and says,

"God gives us these gifts. Whether we treat them as opportunity or punishment is our choice."

Paul holds up the injector,

"And speaking of choices, much of your problem at the moment is lack of control. This should suppress your gifts enough so that you have the chance to learn some."

Unless he is dead set against this Paul injects him.

[AnonCastillo]

Jonathan sets the burning man back down on the ground.

[Expendable]

Almost like a switch, the black and white flames die out. The man beneath is almost that monochrome as well - dressed in something close to a Catholic priest outfit, he's certainly the palest person Theo has seen. Not an albino, but he comes close. "Just like me? Has the Lord seen fit to reach and and enfold you in the purging fires of punishment?" His voice, while full of despair, also has a haunting undercurrent of crackling flames. And after a moment, everyone watching him realize that his blue eyes aren't just blue - they're flickering the color of propane fire.

Theo's face froze. *this one's gonna be trouble* Theo sent.

[BlueNinja]

Paul answers,

"It's a long and complicated story, but basically you have gained the same powers we have."

(Then the flaming man flames out)

"Hold that thought."

Invisible Girl nods, watching as the burning man seems to gain some kind of control over himself. She moves to step up next to Bradley and Nina.

Paul walks over to the priest(?) and says,

"God gives us these gifts. Whether we treat them as opportunity or punishment is our choice."

Paul holds up the injector,

"And speaking of choices, much of your problem at the moment is lack of control. This should suppress your gifts enough so that you have the chance to learn some."

Unless he is dead set against this Paul injects him.

The flames flash back over his body for a moment, and he throws back his head, mouth open wide in what might have been a scream. Then he falls to his knees, as Jonathan's TK releases him, and wilts. "You speak truth, though I doubt your drugs can make headway against divine might. Do what you will."

Invisible girl (now looking solid and not wraith-like moves up next to Ash. "Who are you people? How is it you know what's going on, and why haven't we ever heard of anything like this before?" She pauses for a moment, chewing on the inside of her cheek, and then asks quieter, "Are you Inquisition agents?" ::unsure

[Bahamut810]

Ash smiles reassuringly to her. "No...we are...not with anyone, really. We are just...'helpers' would be the best word for what we are. Or 'do-gooders'...take your pick. We are here to help you understand just what you are, and learn more about you all as well. Why dont you tell me your name?"

[BlueNinja]

*I'm coming back down to grab the other injector.* No sooner than the thought is finished, Brandt is there, appearing and disappearing in a blur of motion as he retrieves the other injector and darts back upstairs and outside. Barely slowing, he cranks the dosage up to five and, finding an open patch of skin, jams it into the glue-like nova.

There's quite a din, as the people on the street are clearly fighting to break free, and Sticky is likewise trying to get free of them. From the clothes hanging oddly on his distorted form, he looks like a cliched ivory tower professor, down to the elbow patches on his tweed jacket. You slam the injector home, and a moment later, part of his face turns around and orients on Brandt. Unfortunately, while one oblong brown eye is watching him closely, anything he's saying can't be heard over the din.

But after about thirty seconds, Sticky starts to shrink a little, and some of the people pulling away break free, stumbling away. Esteban can hear sirens coming, as well, though his occasional glances into the quantum field confirm that the mox is starting to take effect as normal. The quantum ripples from both of the novas in the street are subsiding.

[BlueNinja]

Ash smiles reassuringly to her. "No...we are...not with anyone, really. We are just...'helpers' would be the best word for what we are. Or 'do-gooders'...take your pick. We are here to help you understand just what you are, and learn more about you all as well. Why dont you tell me your name?"

She blushes a little, and Ash realizes that despite her powers, she's young enough she might not even be in high school yet. "I-I'm Kristin," she says, and looks shyly down at her feet.

[Alex Green]

The flames flash back over his body for a moment, and he throws back his head, mouth open wide in what might have been a scream. Then he falls to his knees, as Jonathan's TK releases him, and wilts. "You speak truth, though I doubt your drugs can make headway against divine might. Do what you will."

Paul answers,

"The drugs are working on the others. They should work on you. The Universe is not only more complicated than we imagine, it is more complicated than we can imagine."

Paul quickly injects him hoping he won't get flamed.

(Through the link rotated to everyone) *If Brandt can pick up his guy and bring him back, we should relocate to that cabin. It’s possible that using the gate will make someone erupt so Brandt should be the last person through and we should be checking for new novas as we leave.*

*So... assuming we have everyone, what do we do with them? Take them back with us? Nuclear world? Greek world?*