The Dynasty: A Macabre Nativity, Issue Four "The Teeth of the Dragon"
- by Bard

When We Last Left Our Heroes: They were just begginning to dig into their food at the Hogs Head Tavern after a rather interesting encounter with Jack Smythe, a man Jenny described as quite "shaggable". Meanwhile, the Architect is finally on her way after her flight was delayed over Heathrow, and her private car rerouted to the Hogs Head Tavern to meet up with the rest of her team.

Player Situation: Jenny and Yi showed up, while Rez probably did not check his email in time to know of the session, and Rex Mundi was held up with RL business at a friend's house. We'd like to welcome AlexanderLambert to the team as The Architect, and he did particularly well for his first session. We only have one more slot left for the Geneticist who we will probably have to incorporate in after this story arc.

* JennyArtemis downs forkful after forkful of food, hardly pausing between taking a bite and swallowing, and tossing down throatfuls of Guiness
* ChenMuYi eats his rice at a fast but measured pace
* JennyArtemis glances at Rex's plate..."You gonna eat that, luv?"
* Rex nods and launches into his food with a gusto
* JennyArtemis frowns and continues eating savagely.
* JennyArtemis glances over at Yi. "So. Got any observations, thus far?"
<ChenMuYi> I presume you mean about the mission. I do have a few, yes
* JennyArtemis dabs a napkin to the corner of her mouth.
<JennyArtemis> "Is that right?"
<ChenMuYi> I dont joke, Detective Inspector
<JennyArtemis> "I didn't figgur you would much..."
<ChenMuYi> Frost has been somewhat less than forthcoming with background information thus far.
* the_Architect walks in the front door of the Pub, her eyes momentarily flashing a bright green as she surveys the room
* JennyArtemis notices the japanese woman. "Hmm!"
* the_Architect walks directly to the team's table
<the_Architect> I believe that I am intended to join you. I am known as the Architect. You may also call me Keiko if you would like.
<ChenMuYi> *in japanese* I take it you are also one of Frosts' agents
<JennyArtemis> "Hmm?"
* JennyArtemis glances around and pulls out a chair for the woman. "Maybe you should sit and chat for a bit, eh luv?"
<the_Architect> I am an outside contractor currently working in his employ, yes.
<the_Architect> Very well.
<ChenMuYi> I see.
* the_Architect sits in the offered chair, her lower body deforming slightly as her weight settles against the wooden surface
<ChenMuYi> To what extent have you been briefed, Architect?
<JennyArtemis> "Yeah, and are you at all hungry?"
<the_Architect> I have been told that I am to listen to a job offer for consulting work regarding the computer system of an aerospace project.
* the_Architect crosses her hands in her lap
<the_Architect> Is that not the case?
<ChenMuYi> I see.
* JennyArtemis glances in confusion at Rex and Yi. "Riiiight. Okay then..."
<ChenMuYi> I would suggest a much less public forum for this conversation
<ChenMuYi> The walls have ears
* JennyArtemis snaps her fingers and grins brightly. "Right-O"
<JennyArtemis> "Ears and that..."
* ChenMuYi escorts Architect and the others outside of the pub
<JennyArtemis> "Oi! I'm not even fiunished yet!"
* the_Architect follows with a string of mathematical equations visible across the back of her neck
<ChenMuYi> The food can wait, Detective Inspeactor
<ChenMuYi> This can't
* JennyArtemis Jenny notices the numbers, and frowns, trying to make them out. To no avail.
<JennyArtemis> "Bloody ell...At least let me gets some fags, then..."
* the_Architect walks on to the exit door as if there were no distraction, and after four meters of travel the numbers fade away
<ChenMuYi> You can wait here if you would like. I can brief the architect
* JennyArtemis fishes through her pocket and leaves a scattering of notes of the table. Then goes to the ciggy machine and buys a pack.
* ChenMuYi exits the pub behind Architect
* JennyArtemis taps out a cigarette and lights it, and then follows the rest.
<ChenMuYi> Tell me, where did you get the information regarding this assignment?
<the_Architect> Nicholas Frost contacted me.
<ChenMuYi> He contacted you directly?
<JennyArtemis> "He gets around, don't he?"
<ChenMuYi> Yes
<the_Architect> Apparently so.
<ChenMuYi> I have to inform you that the information you recieved is misleading, to say the least
* the_Architect stands up a little straighter, taking a serious cast to her face
<the_Architect> What have I not been told?
<JennyArtemis> "Is that so, luv?"
<ChenMuYi> You are, in fact, here to save the entire world
<JennyArtemis> "How 'bout we discuss it in the car, then..."
<ChenMuYi> Say nothing now.
<the_Architect> I'm afraid that is not my area of expertise, but I am willing to listen to your offer.
<the_Architect> Please lead the way to your vehicle.
<ChenMuYi> This way.
* JennyArtemis grabs Yi by the elbow and chuckles at the japanese woman. "He's a right bleeder, iddnt he?"
* Rex follows out with the group and grins, happily introduces himself to the Architect. "Da, it would seem that Mr.Frost is not so open with the truth."
* the_Architect follows Yi without the slightest hesitation
* JennyArtemis whispers to Yi, "So, did we get a name for this one?"
* ChenMuYi climbs into the back seat of the car with the Architect
<the_Architect> My name is Keiko Nagashima.
* Rex Mundi hunkers down in the passenger seat, the car tilting noticably to one side as he sits down.
* ChenMuYi addresses Jenny outloud "Yes, Architect or Keiko. Werent you listening?"
<JennyArtemis> "Keiko. Right. I'm Jenny Artemis. As in Detective Inspector Artemis."
<JennyArtemis> "Wot? Listening to what?"
<ChenMuYi> Enough. Keiko, as I said earlier, we have been gathered together in defense of this planet.
<ChenMuYi> Whatever you have been told to the contrary is irrelevant
<the_Architect> Against what?
<ChenMuYi> Against invasion from another actuality, Keiko
<JennyArtemis> "Aliens, what else?'
<the_Architect> A fascinating supposition. Please do expound.
<ChenMuYi> An actuality in which we died already while fighint the present threat
<JennyArtemis> "He means a parallel world and all that. Where aliens invaded and all..."
<ChenMuYi> It has only very recently been revealed to us that, in this otherreality, we were superheroes
<JennyArtemis> "Skintights, in other words..."
<the_Architect> I do understand the theory. Precisely how do we know of this threat?
<JennyArtemis> "Oh, because we captured one of the blighters."
<ChenMuYi> We spent the last half hour interrogating their contact man
<the_Architect> How did you bypass the linguistic dissimilarity barrier?
<JennyArtemis> "Nasty sodding bastard..."
<JennyArtemis> "Eh?"
<JennyArtemis> "Oh. telepathy."
<ChenMuYi> An acquaintance of Detective Artemis works as a translator
<ChenMuYi> He has telepathic gifts
* JennyArtemis under her breath..."Wouldn't exaactly call him gifted..."
<the_Architect> Was the telepathic translation conducted both ways, or did the prisoner understand you without need of the telepath?
<Rex Mundi> "He was very nervous and talked easily when interrogated. The telepath, I mean."
* JennyArtemis giggles and chucks Rex on the shoulder.
<JennyArtemis> "Nearly pissed himself, didn't he?"
<ChenMuYi> The translation worked both ways
<the_Architect> That is potentially useful information.
* Rex Mundi declines hitting Jenny back, becuase he'd probably propel her out the drivers side door and into the next county.
<ChenMuYi> From telepathic probes, we know the invaders plan to rape our worlds resources to provide for their own ship
<ChenMuYi> How so?
<the_Architect> If the aliens had already conquered an alternate earth, and the prisoner has not learned English, then it is entirely possible that the intellectual capabilities of our foes are sufficiently limited to provide us with an advantage.
* JennyArtemis glances in silence at Yi and Rex.
<the_Architect> Given that we are being placed in direct opposition to the collective resources of an entire planet, every advantage is necessary.
<ChenMuYi> I already thought of that. This world had a "galtae" incident like our world, hence, it also had comparable intellects to ours
* JennyArtemis turns back to keiko. "So...you're not in the least bit troubled by the concept of parallel dimensions and alien invaders wantin' t'turn our world into a giant rape camp, then?"
<the_Architect> I admit that this is not a reassuring suggestion by any measure. But that does not justify an unnecessary display of emotion.
<ChenMuYi> I aggree
<JennyArtemis> "Er...emotion...Right..."
<the_Architect> I meant no offense.
<the_Architect> What plan, if any, has been prepared for our task?
<JennyArtemis> "I'm not quite up on my Spock, but 'ere goes...Do you find any logical basis to support the concept of a parallel earth wif bloomin' aliens and all that rot?"
* ChenMuYi addressing Architect
<ChenMuYi> We are to be deployed to the invader's dimension, in order to sabotage their plans
<the_Architect> Detective Inspector, the vibrational resonance frequency of all matter in this universe is a constant. Alter that constant, and you result in a different existence. Parallel realities are eminently possible, as is the technology to travel between them. It just escapes our current capabilities.
* JennyArtemis frowns. "Oh."
* the_Architect cracks a slight smile
<the_Architect> Unless there is more I have yet to be told.
<ChenMuYi> As a matter of fact, there is
<ChenMuYi> One of our absen compatriots is capable of traversing the dimensional bounds
<the_Architect> That will certainly be helpful.
<ChenMuYi> As well as the invader we interrogated
* JennyArtemis under her breath: "And our boss is over a hundred bloody years old..."
<ChenMuYi> ...And then there's that
* the_Architect loses the smile and stares intently at Jenny
<the_Architect> How can you tell?
* JennyArtemis stares as intently back at keiko.
<JennyArtemis> "A little birdie tol' us it did."
<ChenMuYi> After the Detective manhadled him. Good work on that, by the way
<Rex Mundi> "Our friend Mr.Phelps told us."
* JennyArtemis sighs and tosses her fag out the window.
<the_Architect> Interesting. Perhaps eruption resulted in a partial rejuvenation effect, as well as the heat extraction phenomena he exhibits.
<JennyArtemis> "Seems like you got a theory for everything, luv..."
<ChenMuYi> We will need that
* the_Architect holds up her left hand for a few seconds
<the_Architect> There are precedents for massive biological transformations upon eruption.
* JennyArtemis arches one eyebrow curiously
<JennyArtemis> "Yeah? Any of 'em account for someone older than dirt?"
* the_Architect keeps a straight face
<the_Architect> None that I have readily available. Give me time.
<JennyArtemis> "Time is ravvur limited, ain't it?"
<the_Architect> That depends on how quickly one thinks, but you do have a point. Shall we move on to business?
<JennyArtemis> "I'm thinking the boys'll be wantin' t'load us into their dimensional whatsis and shoot us at the baddies afore long..."
<ChenMuYi> Quite. If you will forgive me, we all have preperations to make before our mission begins
<ChenMuYi> Detective Inspector, you and I have business to conduct
<JennyArtemis> "business, eh?"
<ChenMuYi> As in, my munitions?
<the_Architect> What do you need?
<JennyArtemis> "Oh right..."
<ChenMuYi> Im prepared to offer you a tidy sum for Depleted Uranium bullets
* the_Architect looks at Jenny quizically for a moment
<JennyArtemis> "Oh...he's...actually talking about...well, it's a private joke between us..."
<the_Architect> If you wish.
<ChenMuYi> For the production of said ordinance on an as-needed basis, I am prepared to offer you the sum of 5 million dollars at the end of this contract.
* JennyArtemis mutters under her breath to Yi: "Wait til we get back to the facility, eh?"
* JennyArtemis eyes bug out.
<JennyArtemis> "'Ow's that?"
<ChenMuYi> Exactly as I have said.
<ChenMuYi> Im not entirely sure what I will encounter in this dimension, but I wish to be prepared for anything
<ChenMuYi> To do that, I extend this offer to you.
<JennyArtemis> "Ix-nay on the ullets-bay..."
* Rex Mundi looks over, "Why do we need so many guns, eh? They will probably have them to steal, and if not then we fight with fists."
<JennyArtemis> "At least until we get outta the bloomin' car with all the people clustered around..."
<ChenMuYi> Fine. We will continue later.
<JennyArtemis> "Wot? Y'think we're gonna get there and there ain't gonna be no more left t'kill, then?"
<ChenMuYi> Im sure I dont know what you mean, and more certain I dont want to. May I suggest we make our meals "to go" and begin preperations?
<ChenMuYi> There is much to do.
<the_Architect> So where is our employer?
* The door guards wave the car through into the compound and close the gates
<ChenMuYi> Follow me
* JennyArtemis gets out of the car and hangs back with Rex.
* Rex Mundi gets out and follow, the car almost flipping over once deprived of his weight.
* the_Architect follows a moment later, her weight shifting around under her skin in the aftermath or Rex's exit.
* The elevator descends, taking the group nearly a mile underground.
* ChenMuYi leads Architect to the office of Nicholaus Frost
* the_Architect follows.
* ChenMuYi enters Frost's office in a bluster, slamming the opened door against the wall
<ChenMuYi> Frost, you have some explaining to do
* NicholasFrost looks up from the end of the table of the briefing room where he's working on a computer
<NicholasFrost> "Really now, Mr.Yi, are such dramatics nessecary?"
* JennyArtemis enters behind, quietly, glancing at the door.
<ChenMuYi> It has recently come to my attention that you have been less than forthcoming with data
* NicholasFrost sighs and rolls his eyes
<NicholasFrost> "If this is about Mr.Phelps' rather inept dispensation of my actual age, it is really irrelevant to your goal."
<ChenMuYi> I couldnt care less about your age. Im referring to our status in the other dimension.
<NicholasFrost> "Hmm. And what status would that be, exactly?"
<ChenMuYi> As any American would put it, we were crimefighters. Superhereoes. Superheroes who already died once trying to stop this menace.
<the_Architect> Was my counterpart included in that group?
<JennyArtemis> "Skintights..."
<ChenMuYi> Ask Mr. Frost
<NicholasFrost> "Hmm. It would appear Mr.Phelps disclosed more than I thought." Frost looks back up from his computer screen, "I really will have to have a word with him about all this."
<ChenMuYi> I dont like liars Frost
* JennyArtemis slams her fist down on the desk.
<ChenMuYi> And I certainly dont like employers who withhold information about important missions.
<the_Architect> You have undertaken a particular amount of effort to bring us together for this mission. It would be grossly illogical to leave us unprepared at this point.
<NicholasFrost> "I hardly lied to you, Mr.Yi. And Detective Inspector please, this is a rather expensive piece of furniture."
<JennyArtemis> "Oi! Just tell it straight, eh? No silly buggers, this time."
<ChenMuYi> And I cant hink of a more important mission.
<NicholasFrost> "Yes. It is true, during the alien invasion your alternate counterparts united together under a banner called The Dynasty and fought the invaders."
<the_Architect> Then what did you hope to accomplish by repeating their mistake?
<ChenMuYi> And died
<NicholasFrost> "Actually, it is quite interesting. Mr.Carpenter erupted in the stead of Caestus Pax."
<NicholasFrost> "Well you could hardly repeat their mistake. The aliens crashed their sole remaining orbital ship into your counterparts."
<NicholasFrost> "To my understanding the resulting explosion erased Ireland from the face of the earth."
<ChenMuYi> We need to know everything Frost
<ChenMuYi> Full Disclosure
<NicholasFrost> "That fact was rather irrelevant to your current mission as well as possibly injuring moral."
<ChenMuYi> Or so help me, I will walk away from this assignment.
<the_Architect> Yes, please do get to the point. Either you give us the information we need to accomplish your mission, or you can count me out of this venture. One hundred million dollars or no.
<NicholasFrost> "Then you will doom the earth, Mr. Yi."
<ChenMuYi> Then I suggest you consider your next move wisely
<JennyArtemis> "Frost luv, you know a lot more than you're lettin' on. Spill it."
* NicholasFrost sighs
<NicholasFrost> "Very well."
<JennyArtemis> "You're askin us to take quite a bit on faith alone."
<the_Architect> Faith and fear, technically.
<JennyArtemis> "aliens aside..."
<NicholasFrost> "You were assembled for two reasons. First you are, as a full team, seven of the most powerful beings on the face of the earth, with power rivaled only by a select handful."
<NicholasFrost> "As well, it was surmised that the effects of having their greatest enemy return from the dead would deeply wound the aliens moral and also leave them vulnerable. With no knowledge of your counterparts actions, your tactics would prove more random and unpredictable."
<JennyArtemis> "Seven?"
<NicholasFrost> "Indeed. Yourself, Mr.Yi, Nagashima-san, Professor Vladimir, Mr.Carpenter, Mr.Strathmour, and Doctor Angelique Cray, also known as the Geneticist."
<NicholasFrost> "Unfortunatly we were unable to reach Dr.Cray and thus have had to move forwards with our plans none the less."
<ChenMuYi> Yet another fact you left out.
<NicholasFrost> "Would it have mattered if she could not be found?"
<ChenMuYi> That remains to be seen. Go on.
<the_Architect> Yes. Manipulating our enemies expectations is a key point of your strategy.
<NicholasFrost> "It matters very little. None of you are capable of counterfiting her rather unique abilities."
<NicholasFrost> "Her file is on the table if you wish to read it, though."
* JennyArtemis grabs it
* JennyArtemis opens it up to glance through it.
* the_Architect extends a fiber optic camera filament out of her right index finger to read over Jenny's shoulder.
<JennyArtemis> "Would you please...AHH! Don't do that, mate!"
<JennyArtemis> "Bloody sickening!"
<the_Architect> I'm sorry.
* the_Architect retracts the filament.
<JennyArtemis> "Well 'sorry' didn't do it, did it,then?"
* NicholasFrost goes back to typing on his computer, still totally unphased
* JennyArtemis finishes the file and hands it to Keiko.
<ChenMuYi> How unusual
* the_Architect flips through the file, taking only a moment to view each page, then passes it to the next character.
* ChenMuYi takes the file, and reads through it rapidly
<JennyArtemis> "Mr. Frost, please do be a dear and bloody go on."
<ChenMuYi> Im truly sorry she couldnt be reached, but our time is short Frost.
<NicholasFrost> "Indeed it is. Mr.Strahmour and Mr.Carpenter should be ready soon. The armoury is fully open, though I am sure you will gain weaponry from your fallen foes as well. I'm told they have quite advanced firearms."
<JennyArtemis> "Hold it, luv. before we just pop over there for a bit of tea, we're gonna need to know the lay of the land, so to speak."
<ChenMuYi> Do you have them on computer file, per chance?
<NicholasFrost> "We have some terrain maps, mostly speculative. What we were able to gain from their computer network is still being sorted out."
<the_Architect> I can most likely help you decipher them if you are willing to give me access.
<JennyArtemis> "Give her acces, eh luv?"
<ChenMuYi> I insist
* NicholasFrost shrugs, "Alright." He grabs a micro-disk and tosses it to Keiko
<the_Architect> Accessing.
* the_Architect places the disk gently in her open right palm, and a swarm of filaments reach out and prod around the disk's access port, snaking access into the data stored inside.
<JennyArtemis> "Ew."
* JennyArtemis whispers to Rex: "I wonder where the filaments come from..."
* the_Architect stands still for a moment while more of the same algorithmic coding flashes across her exposed bodily surfaces.
<the_Architect> Ireland is gone. England is 47.269483 percent submerged, and Australia is encircled by a stone wall two miles high.
<the_Architect> Additionally, the Coalition makes use of gamma radiation weapons. Would anyone like me to build one?
<JennyArtemis> "Not just now, thanks."
<ChenMuYi> The Coalition?
<JennyArtemis> "A labor union?"
<ChenMuYi> Ill take a raincheck on that
* JennyArtemis chucks Yi playfully on the shoulder. "A joke!"
<the_Architect> That is what the alien organization that encoded this disk refers to themselves as.
<JennyArtemis> "An alien labor union...devious..."
* ChenMuYi spins on his heels to turn to Frost
<ChenMuYi> How long were you planning on keeping this from us?
<NicholasFrost> "The map I was about to show you. The gamma weapons I had no clue about."
<NicholasFrost> "I thought they were using lasers."
<ChenMuYi> Keiko, what else are you seeing?
<ChenMuYi> Did you?
* NicholasFrost shrugs and types a bit more
<JennyArtemis> "Oh, bugger that...where is the alien power base located? Where do we hit and how many times do we have to hit before they fall down. That's simple enough."
<ChenMuYi> Keiko, what can you tell us about the positions of these weapons?
<the_Architect> The alien ship he spoke of crashed in Manchester. Apperently in the prime sector of their capital city.
<ChenMuYi> Are their maps of that city?
<the_Architect> I don't have any data on artillery batteries. Just personal weapons.
<JennyArtemis> Is their command center intact, then?
<ChenMuYi> Store what you can on those. We may well need them later.
* NicholasFrost just ignores the group and keeps on typing. He picks up a phone and starts talking on it
<the_Architect> I do know however that there are apparently twenty-two distinct genetic castes within their social heirarchy. Most of the names are garbled, but five are clearly legible.
<the_Architect> They do not translate well.
<JennyArtemis> "So we've been told..."
<the_Architect> Drones, Technicians, Bone Warriors, Diplomats, and Breeders.
<ChenMuYi> These castes, they are called philes?
<the_Architect> It appears I owe Jenny an apology.
<JennyArtemis> "Eh? How's that?"
<the_Architect> Yes, the term "phyle" is used in the document.
* NicholasFrost "Yes, send that memo to Jameson. No no, I don't need that just yet, thank you. Oh and bring the prisoner some food, he might say a few more thing when we make him eat dairy products again."
* ChenMuYi perks up a little at that
<the_Architect> The existence of a Breeder caste in an aggressive expansionistic interstellar culture appears to validate your concerns regarding the transformation of this planet into a rape camp.
<ChenMuYi> The alien is lactose intollerant?
<NicholasFrost> "Yes, excuse me, they've just asked a question."
* NicholasFrost looks up, "Lactose acts rather like sodium penthanol on this one, but we don't think it does on the others. Something about innacurate genetic design."
* the_Architect retracts the exploratory filaments from the disk and places it back on Frost's desk.
* NicholasFrost takes the disk back and pockets it
<ChenMuYi> Tell your technicians to get some dairy into him. I have a few more questions I want to ask him.
<the_Architect> I would also appreciate being present for the disection of the prisoner's brain when you are finished with it.
<ChenMuYi> It would be my pleasure
<NicholasFrost> "I'm afraid we won't be dissecting him for some time yet."
<NicholasFrost> "However I'm afraid that he really hasn't recovered since your last interrogation."
<ChenMuYi> I hardly see that as my problem Frost
<the_Architect> And I feel no responsibility at all for whatever the others may have done to your guest before I arrived.
<ChenMuYi> Get him lactose intervenously if you have to, but do it before I get down there
<ChenMuYi> You have five minutes
* ChenMuYi storms off towards the elevators
* the_Architect follows Yi.
<JennyArtemis> "Mr. Frost..."
<NicholasFrost> "Yes, Detective Inspector?"
<JennyArtemis> "Tell me one thing: are you playing merry hell with us about this whole story? Or are you for real?"
<NicholasFrost> "About the lactose?"
* ChenMuYi exits the elevator and walks very quickly towqards the holding cell
* the_Architect is right on his tail, trusting him to lead her to the imprisoned alien.
<JennyArtemis> "About the aliens, you sod! About aliens and parallel realities and all this rot!"
<NicholasFrost> "Of course I'm telling the truth. My employers wouldn't be spending enough money to bankroll a small third world dictatorship if this weren't for real."
<JennyArtemis> And who are your employers, Frost? Someone who doesn't care about employing killers?"
* ChenMuYi comes to the holding cell, and demands entry
<NicholasFrost> "I'm afraid, Detective Inspector, that I really cannot tell you that. It is, aside from my age, one of the least pertinent details you will ask about today."
* the_Architect stands silently behind him, looking around at all the nice electronic security systems and thinking dangerous thoughts.
* JennyArtemis narrows her eyes dangerously at him.
<NicholasFrost> "Detective Inspector, please don't bother with threats. You'll find them very ineffective. Now, I believe your companions are about to interrogate our visitor again. I really do hope they go easy on the blunt trauma this time."
<JennyArtemis> "Frost, it's like this. Everybody gets one warning. You fuck with me or mine at any time, I will erase you. Make sure you keep that in mind."
<JennyArtemis> "And I don't do threats."
* JennyArtemis snorts derisively at him, lights a fag and heads down to join the others.
* ChenMuYi again demands entry from one of the technicians at the cell block
*** NicholasFrost is now known as AlienPrisoner
* AlienPrisoner has a tube shoved down his throat force feeding him heavy cream right now
* The technicians allow the trio enterance to the cell. Rex Mundi lingers behind since he doesn't actually fit inside.
* the_Architect stares at the alien prisoner, and her eyes flash bright green again.
* JennyArtemis shakes her head. "Not an attractive image, lads..."
<ChenMuYi> No, but necessary
* ChenMuYi addresses a technician
<ChenMuYi> How long does this need to take effect?
<JennyArtemis> "Yeah, I'm starting to get lactose intolerant meself..."
<Technian> It should only take a minute, sir. The cream has a fairly high concentration in it.
* ChenMuYi circles the alien like a caged tiger
<ChenMuYi> That's enough, stop the feed
* AlienPrisoner gags as the feed is cut off and the tube removed
* AlienPrisoner shudders and begins to sway
* ChenMuYi walks forward and pushes him down
<ChenMuYi> Keiko, can you translate?
<the_Architect> Yes.
* AlienPrisoner begins mumbling
<ChenMuYi> Tell him I know everything now
* the_Architect walks up to the prisoner, looks him in the eyes, and says first in English, then in the language from the disk "We have run out of patience."
<AlienPrisoner> `"I do not know about patience...they will take me back."`
<ChenMuYi> What did he say?
* the_Architect translates
<JennyArtemis> "he called you a Nancy-boy, luv..."
<ChenMuYi> Ask him the last time he saw my face
<the_Architect> `My friend is content with his knowledge of your mind, and now he is interested in the knowledge of your body.'
* the_Architect continues to translate for the group.
<the_Architect> 'You will never see your home or your people again.'
<ChenMuYi> Ask him if he ever saw me, so closely before
<AlienPrisoner> `"I could die better here. I am dead already. You are here."`
<the_Architect> 'Do you know who we are?'
<AlienPrisoner> `"You are the Dynasty."`
<the_Architect> 'You have opened the door for us. Now we can finish what we started in your world.'
<the_Architect> 'All the phyles will die.'
<ChenMuYi> Opened the door for you?
* the_Architect switches to English
<the_Architect> Playing on his fears of the afterlife. Trust me.
<JennyArtemis> "Naughty girl..."
<ChenMuYi> His fears of the afterlife? Elaborate
<AlienPrisoner> `"The phyles are already dying...we need the new world."`
* the_Architect switches back to the alien's language.
<the_Architect> 'We own this world. We have no fear of the phyles. We will take the old world back from you.'
<the_Architect> 'And then we will have both worlds, and you will have nothing but this chamber.'
<the_Architect> 'One just like it for each of your people. Forever.'
<AlienPrisoner> `"The Mother will stop you...she put the great scout onto you."`
<JennyArtemis> "This 'Mother' sounds like a mother."
<ChenMuYi> The Mother is not as great, nor as powerful as we are
<the_Architect> 'The great scout? Is that what you call the little ship that fell on Manchester?'
<AlienPrisoner> `"The great scout held a crew two thousand strong...the Mother's Ark was great and still stands."`
<ChenMuYi> Lies. We have seen it in ruins
* the_Architect translates Yi's comment for the alien.
<AlienPrisoner> `"No, it still stands."`
* AlienPrisoner sways, looks like he's verging on passing out
<the_Architect> 'Do you expect me to believe your words over my own eyes?'
* ChenMuYi pulls out one of the knives from his leg holder and gently pushes the point into the alien's palm
* AlienPrisoner mumbles, `"The Mother take you all...the Mother will have her vengance..."
* AlienPrisoner 's hand jerks away, but he's so doped up that he doesn't really notice that well
* ChenMuYi pushes the knife firmly into the prisoner's palm
<ChenMuYi> WAKE UP!
<the_Architect> 'Poor, little child, where do you think the Ark is then?'
<Rex Mundi> Ah, comrades...the security men do not seem to like this method. They are advancing
<ChenMuYi> Tell them to back-the-fuck-up
* the_Architect switches to English.
<the_Architect> Hold them back. I am on the verge of gaining the information we need.
* Rex Mundi blocks the hallway for the advancing armoured guards
* the_Architect switches back to the alien's language.
<the_Architect> Where, little child?
<ChenMuYi> Tell him we can pry the information from his dead brain if we have to.
<the_Architect> 'Where, lttle child is the Ark?'
<AlienPrisoner> `"You know...you know where..."`
* the_Architect says in English, "I can show him just as easily" and the filaments under the fingers on her left hand whirl outward into a variety of crude surgical implements, some of which spark with electricity.
<JennyArtemis> "Bloddy hell. The doctor is in, wot?"
* the_Architect continues in English, "Actually, I never completed my doctorate degrees. Too much time in the lab, not enough in class.
* AlienPrisoner is just too far gone to the drugs to pay much attention
* JennyArtemis chuckles. "I recommend...amputation..."
* the_Architect taps one of the electrified implements to the prisoner's right temple, and says in the alien's language 'Tell me and you can sleep.'
* NicholasForst comes barging down the hallway and stops in front of Rex
<NicholasForst> "I demand that you stop this at once! We need him in one piece!"
* ChenMuYi gets off of the prisoner and rips his knife out of his palm
* the_Architect shouts in English, to make certain Frost can hear her, "Give me one good reason to care about your clandestine needs!"
* NicholasForst looks up to Rex, "Professor Vladimir, I suggest you step aside, or else I will be forced to do something I may well regret."
<JennyArtemis> "Ease off, Frost. Your alien's fine."
* JennyArtemis steps around Rex to stand in front of Frost
<JennyArtemis> "Bloody huge..."
<ChenMuYi> And what, pray tell, do you need him in one piece for?
<NicholasForst> "For our own purposes, Mr.Yi. There's still much that can be learned from him while still alive. We don't get many aliens here."
<JennyArtemis> "Goddamnit, Frost, you back the fuck off!"
<ChenMuYi> Step aside Inspector
<ChenMuYi> Let him in
<NicholasForst> "No, Detective Inspector, YOU back off, or so help I will injure you."
<JennyArtemis> "Don't think you really wanna try that, luv..."
<ChenMuYi> Stop this, both of you
<ChenMuYi> Frost, Inspector, stand down
<ChenMuYi> Professor, step aside
<ChenMuYi> We'er done here
* NicholasForst smiles slightly, "It appears that Mr.Yi is the voice of reason for once."
<the_Architect> Just remember people, we're supposed to be working together. Fighting each other can only waste our time.
<NicholasForst> "Good to hear it."
<the_Architect> And that does not mean that you automatically win, either.
* JennyArtemis doesn't take her glare from Frost
<NicholasForst> "You will learn one thing, Nagashima-san. That is that I always win. Now come along, the armoury is this way."
<the_Architect> I haven't been paid to do anything more than listen to your job offer, and that means I don't have to follow your orders just yet.
* ChenMuYi steps behind Frost and follows him to the armoury
<NicholasForst> "Very true, however I am quite sure that you all realize the ramifications for the world as a whole if you were not to take this offer of employment."
* JennyArtemis snaps her fingers and chuckles bitterly, lighting a fag.
* NicholasForst 's face becomes grim, "There are other things than money that we have at our disposale that could convince you to continue your employment."
<ChenMuYi> That discussion, in addition to who "we" is comprised of, will wait.
<JennyArtemis> "Please, egage in infantile threats luv. it'll make it all the more gratifying when I scrape your face off the bottom of my shoe."
<ChenMuYi> Show us to the armoury.
* JennyArtemis walks up to glare up into Frost's face. Grinning all the while.
* NicholasForst opens a sliding door at the end of the hall and reveals a scene out of the Matrix. Rows and rows of weaponry of almost every description are mounted on walls and shelves
<ChenMuYi> I think Im going to like it here
<NicholasForst> "Ladies, gentlemen, behold your dragons' teeth."

Here ends Issue 4, Next Issue: "And With Towers Girded 'Round"!