Chapter Ten: Arc Light!

[Purr]

Captain Hesperus Kaerri Psychie Sherwood Silanon

Wild Cards + Eadric.

As fate would have it, as each of these short scenes come to a close, you find yourselves gathered together once again. Ylva, Mario, Toph, Hercules, Eadric, and Cera along with Trouble and Scary Jerry too. The freight elevator arrives and half a dozen Sams and another dozen Broadsword crew with all kinds of gear make their way off allowing all of you to board. For once, there are no strangers aboard as you take on the slow ascent up to the proper deck where Sickbay and its challenges await.

Eadric feels eyes on him. A uniformed female whose body language seems to suggest she knows the people you are with stares at Eadric with a mildly curious expression. She is staring at Eadric with eyes the color of fire trucks. Without looking to the MechaKitten, she addresses him in a firm, clear voice. "Why is the male with us?" she asks.

Trouble mews quite proudly. "Becoz he's a Trav'r'sr! Jus' like yooou! Jus' wait until Purr'fess'r hears this! He's gonna love its!"

"Indeed?" asks the Meltrandi (as Eadric has learned enough to know who and what Meltrandi are and how to tell them apart from humankind). "You hunted this human the same way you led Professor Stein and Hitomi to Hercules?"

"Yep yep yep! Dat's my job! Dis here iz Eadric Braidwood! He's da One Dat Got Away! Dat is until Ylva kept her promise! She sure was quick about its too!" Trouble begins purring as he looks up to Ylva.

The Meltrandi takes a deep breath of composure and greets the man in a manner the Wild Cards have not seen her perform before. She bows briefly. "Salutations, fellow Traverser. I am Cera, Ura-Meltrandi Auxiliary Specialist under War Queen Taniya and one of Leader Mack's Wild Cards."

Before you know it, you are standing just outside Sickbay. The intercom continues its calling, the ever-present hum of the Broadsword can be felt even more than it can be heard. Somehow, all of you know the great Garfish starship is making a long and leisurely starboard turn.

Right then, a blackened and bruised figure wearing a crumpled UEEF uniform that, if you know where to look, still declares him belonging to UEEF Marine Force Recon. Looking like hell though he be in Hercules's sure grasp, Scary Jerry slowly turns his eyes to Eadric. Despite the physical pain he seems to be in, the soldier's voice sounds a little too certain, a little too comfortable, as he speaks to Eadric in an excited fashion.

"Today wasn't too bad, new guy! At least that big Zeki command ship on the ground didn't open up on us. Hey! If we're lucky, maybe our new captain will call in an Arc Light!"

Unfortunately, this is a term none of you probably know. Or do you?

Spoiler: OOC

Your character would like to roll Military History? Post in Fat Gandalf's Bar & Lounge - Chapter 10!

 

[Kaerri]

Along with the humans and people in Mega-suits come a third group of... people. Human-like but never human, they are built like athletes yet they move like savages. A people perhaps of two worlds, they slip out of their Mega-suits revealing muscular bodies covered in hair and very fine fur of colors never born to human people. They have hair. Some short, some long, some in-between, but all in rich colorings of soft browns and reds, forest greens and blacks, sunny yellows to oranges, all in attractive hues. And yet they do not appear dyed.

Unlike humans, the males and the females are of closer approximate size. They wear leathery skins that shape their figures well and in no way impede their confident movements. Along each leather outfit are pouches that do not clatter, knives and sheaths that hug close against them, and many show age and the signs of great travel. But it is their faces that stand out most. Slit-eyed like cats, each full of expression and emotion, every one of them a charged spirit among the stars. They follow the direction of the human Broadsword crew, expressing their questions in what comes close to a child-like manner yet all are built with the power of youthful vitality, grace, and clear strength of limb, body, and heart.

The humans he had expected, and while it seems odd that some of them remain in helmeted Mega-suits, he is sure there was some reason he just isn't privy to yet. However, seeing this new people for the first time literally stops Eadric in his tracks. His eyes widen in delighted shock, and all speech ceases for several seconds. (Ylva may have to prod him to resume walking.) Then his speechlessness vanishes into an excited flood. "Fantastique!" he exclaims, turning his head briefly to look at Ylva (for politeness's sake) and then back to the cat-people. "Who are they? Where are they from? Please tell me I get to meet them soon! Do they live on the ship with you?"

"Nope!" Trouble looks pleased. "I was Good Kitty! I stayded hiddens jus' like Purr'fess'r tolds me too! I was right dere in Miss Hitomi's purse da whooole time! I iz Sneaky Kitty!" In the manner of cats everywhere, Trouble seems to become part liquid as he proudly curls up to show how small he can be and thus hide himself well. "Seeee?"

Eadric grins. "I'll have to take your word for it. Who is Miss Hitomi*?"
* - Eadric never learned Hitomi's name in the prologue. He'll catch on later in this post, and when he sees her in person.

Eadric feels eyes on him. A uniformed female whose body language seems to suggest she knows the people you are with stares at Eadric with a mildly curious expression. She is staring at Eadric with eyes the color of fire trucks. Without looking to the MechaKitten, she addresses him in a firm, clear voice. "Why is the male with us?" she asks.

Trouble mews quite proudly. "Becoz he's a Trav'r'sr! Jus' like yooou! Jus' wait until Purr'fess'r hears this! He's gonna love its!"

"Indeed?" asks the Meltrandi (as Eadric has learned enough to know who and what Meltrandi are and how to tell them apart from humankind). "You hunted this human the same way you led Professor Stein and Hitomi to Hercules?"

"Yep yep yep! Dat's my job! Dis here iz Eadric Braidwood! He's da One Dat Got Away! Dat is until Ylva kept her promise! She sure was quick about its too!" Trouble begins purring as he looks up to Ylva.

The Meltrandi takes a deep breath of composure and greets the man in a manner the Wild Cards have not seen her perform before. She bows briefly. "Salutations, fellow Traverser. I am Cera, Ura-Meltrandi Auxiliary Specialist under War Queen Taniya and one of Leader Mack's Wild Cards."

Eadric is about to ask what a Traverser is, but then Trouble's name-dropping finally clicks. (It's the first time Stein's name has been mentioned, and that triggers the rest.) "Ah, of course! The panel, and the gun whose safety went back on when I asked! And the moving purse!" He chuckles. "That must have been you, eh?" But recollection had to take a side seat as duty, in a sense, called.

He returns Cera's bow precisely in kind. "Salutations, Auxiliary Specialist Cera. I am Lieutenant Eadric Braidwood, Extraterrestrial Affairs Liaison, currently assigned -- er, at least en route, sort of -- to Antarctica Base." The name Ura-Meltrandi is as new to him as Taniya's is, but no doubt that is another thing that will be explained at some point. By his understanding of Meltrandi in general, this one seems to be quite friendly. Relatively speaking, of course.

 

[Psychie]

The smile that comes to Toph's face at the sound of Hitomi's voice fades as she hears the status of the wounded. She breaks into a run, all thoughts now locked on getting to Medical as fast as possible. As she runs, she says, "I'm on my way. As much as Captain Sharp may be uncomfortable being locked in his suit, he's stable and I have to try and save the lives of the critically wounded crew first. Prep them for immediate surgery and I'll be there ASAP."

 

[Purr]

Psychie

(OOC EDIT: I should have put all of this in bold as this is being transmitted via polyphonic nexus.)

"They are all stabilized; I saw to that myself. No immediate worries there." Hitomi stresses. "But with Captain Sharp, I'm having to guess because I can't get to him to be certain. He is not just uncomfortable; his condition has fluctuated. I'm having to rely on the machines to tell me everything because I can't see his body with my own eyes.

"It's like this, Doctor Kirin. My trauma patients? I can handle all of them. I've done work like that before; battlefield trauma is what I'm best at. But Captain Sharp's situation is unique. I've never cut somebody out of a Mega-suit before, especially the lead officer of a star-vessel. While I would love the challenge under different curcumstances, I can't be at two places at once.

"You're not only a military-trained doctor but a Traverser. I think you have the edge on Sharp's case. Just don't call on the Sams to do any hands-on work.

"So what do you say? Trauma time with Adamantium and Broo or get Captain Sharp outta there and treat him?"

 

[Sherwood]

Mario feels a sudden chill go up his spine as he makes his way to the ship's Medical Center, wishing he had some kind of medical training to do more than be an idle observer to the challenges facing the pair of doctors. He's not entirely sure what he can do, other than get in the way. Perhaps there is some way for me to contribute to the work of safely getting the Captain out of his ruined armor alive and in one piece.

 

[Psychie]

After taking a moment to consider her options, Toph says, "If you can handle the others, I'll find a way to get Capt. Sharp out of his damaged armor in one piece." She continues on her way to Medical, her mind already trying to come up with a game plan on how she will remove the armor and leave her superior officer intact.

 

[Captain Hesperus]

Hercules nodded to Faydra even as he ran his tongue over the hastily Band-Aided split lip.
"Hercules doing fine, Chief. Beema did more damage to me than aaaaaall da monsta out there.", he reached up to ruffle the offending Broo's furry head, "She okay too, so Hercules happy. Maybe next time, she tell Hercules before she hide in armor and scare him?"

He turned as he heard the doctors talking about the delicate condition of the Captain. He glanced at Mario and as if reading the other tanker's mind spoke up.
"Ma'am, Mario and I are tankers, we always look out for our own. And we aren't lacking when it comes to tools and heavy lifting. We'll do whatever you need to crack open Sharp's armor like a Cres oyster."

 

[Purr]

Captain Hesperus Kaerri Psychie Sherwood Silanon

Spoiler: Uncharted Worlds

"Mass Effect - Uncharted Worlds Extended (1 hour)"

(Part 1 of 2 - Broadsword Sickbay)

After taking a moment to consider her options, Toph says, "If you can handle the others, I'll find a way to get Capt. Sharp out of his damaged armor in one piece." She continues on her way to Medical, her mind already trying to come up with a game plan on how she will remove the armor and leave her superior officer intact.

"If luck holds out, I most certainly can. Thanks in advance," she says with a meaningful tone; one that conveys stresses well-managed, but stress nonetheless. "Hold on a moment. I have to focus."

A few moments pass and those listening in can hear what appears to be Hitomi's thoughts "spoken aloud" over the technopathic transceiver she is using to communicate onto Shirley's polyphonic nexus. You hear things like, "precisely one-half centimeter incision..." and "if I can cut right here it will look less like a scar and more like a failed tattoo..." and "...there we go. Boy, I wish I had this Sickbay years ago."

Then her volume rises again. "Okay, all done there for now. I'll be right out."

Hercules nodded to Faydra even as he ran his tongue over the hastily Band-Aided split lip.
"Hercules doing fine, Chief. Beema did more damage to me than aaaaaall da monsta out there.", he reached up to ruffle the offending Broo's furry head, "She okay too, so Hercules happy. Maybe next time, she tell Hercules before she hide in armor and scare him?"

Beema giggles, gnaws painlessly on Hercules's hand, and crawls all about his head and shoulders all at the same time. "Beema try tell Hurk-yoo-leez! But... Beema nap, how you say... won in-nee-shiya-teeve! Hee hee hee! Beema make funny, yah? Hee hee hee!"

Beema's head then peeks up as the doors to Sickbay open. Beema makes to leap away saying only, "Beema no allow in Seek-bay when dere are woon-dead. I stay out of way now!" None of you have ever seen Broo kiss each other before (though Mario likely still has pleasant memories of kissing long, tall Sheesa ). So while a human girl might give Hercules a peck on the cheek, Beema instead pushes her cheek against his in a one-way rubbing motion - a clear sign of affection from one species to another. She reaches down to Scary Jerry who has been wearily watching all this and does the same motion with him. He pushes his cheek against hers in return.

"Bye-bye, Wild Card!" Beema waves to you all she scampers back on all fours and watches from afar.

Since the doors are open now, you see Sickbay for the first time with wounded humans and Broo filling the busy room, some of whom you recognize like Adamantium's Cal, Gabi, and Padre, and some you don't. All are flat on their backs in various states of rest with a few in some discomfort. To the uneducated eye, it appears that all of the wounded are not separated by any sort of barrier (say, to keep out infectious diseases).

But then you notice Dr. Hitomi Yashida, her face as laser-focused and as serious as you have ever seen it, stride calmly away from a table where a patient is flanked by two Sam units who appear to be putting away medical instruments but not touching the patient. Once she gets a short distance from the patient's bed, a shimmering effect reveals a cube of dimly-glittering light that surrounds the bed - it appears to be a force-field of some sort. If there is one around each of the beds and it keeps out things like germs and other contaminants, then one can quickly and easily see all of the patients without fear of infecting any of them. And if there is a lack of privacy here, well, this is a military ship after all and since when did military ships care much about the creature comforts of home?

Hitomi smiles and looks a touch relieved as she sees all of you. She gives Toph this cute little wave followed by a wink.

Hitomi turns briefly to offer a welcoming smile to your latest technopathically-gifted soldier. "Bonjour, Lieutenant Braidwood!" Hitomi addresses him by his accurate ASC rank and with an accent that sounds French-born, she adds, "C'est bon de vous revoir!"

Spoiler: Translation

"It is good to see you once again!" (at least according to Google's Translate English to French) =)

Trouble squirms and looks very happy as he meows excitedly. You hear his equally-excited boyish voice in your minds. "Miss Hitomi! We got him, we got him! Da One Dat Got Aways! I jus' KNEW Ylva would keep her promise!"

Hitomi gives Ylva a bright-eyed and very pleased-looking nod of approval as if to convey to the brainy Swede, "I don't know what you did, but you did good!"

 

[Purr]

(Part 2 of 2 - Broadsword Sickbay)

He turned as he heard the doctors talking about the delicate condition of the Captain. He glanced at Mario and as if reading the other tanker's mind spoke up.
"Ma'am, Mario and I are tankers, we always look out for our own. And we aren't lacking when it comes to tools and heavy lifting. We'll do whatever you need to crack open Sharp's armor like a Cres oyster."

Hitomi nods with a grin as she looks up at Hercules (and given his hugeness, who doesn't?) "Oh, I bet! I've never known a tanker who wasn't loyal to his crew. Speaking of crew, could I get a couple of you to--"

It is at that moment that Dr. Yashida sees who is in Hercules's muscled arms - Scary Jerry. All bruised-looking and beaten-up. He hasn't moved his left arm since Hercules (carefully) picked him up and dutifully carried him here. His uniform is, despite the legendary chill of the South Pole, smells of sweat. He still looks like he is in serious pain but like his Adamantium namesake, he is "nigh-unbreakable."

Hitomi stops what she is saying and takes a couple of steps toward him, gently smiling as she approaches.

"Doctor Kirin?" she asks Toph with a grin. "What's his condition?"

But Scary Jerry, looking tired, briefly shakes his head. "She didn't check me, Doc."

Hitomi's gorgeous eyes stare at Scary Jerry in momentary disbelief. The Japanese-Polynesian is clearly stunned for all of three heartbeats. "She didn't?"

"Nope!" Jerry groans with a lopsided grin.

Hitomi gives Toph a single glance and for the briefest of moments, Toph sees something in Hitomi's eyes she has not seen before - a glimmer of doubt. This is immediately followed by Hitomi closing her eyes and apparently putting the thought on her mind for the moment.

Jerry pants and takes a deep breath. "And uh... No morphine yet, all right? Makes me dopey. I got direct orders ta talk with Captain Sharp. Special Forces secret squirrel stuff. He can talk, can't he?"

"That he can. Just give me a moment with you?"

After asking Jerry a few questions like, "can you feel your arm?" which he can and "do you have sensation in your fingertips?" which he can, Hitomi asks Sam for a sling and in moments she is making him more comfortable while giving him a once-over. "Three critical, four serious. O.K.." she says to herself.

She looks Jerry in the eye. "Jerry, will you agree to a small dose of morphine? Say, one-third regular? You'll report better when you're feeling less pain and it shouldn't make you feel loopy."

Scary Jerry seems to consult with his own body for a moment. Then he winces. "Yeah, yeah. You win, Doc. One-third. Wait. Do I get a kiss on the cheek too?"

"No, but thanks for the compromise." She gives him a grin. "Sam?" One of the armored people turns in response. "Would you get me one air-hypo of morphine with one-third usual dose, please?"

"Aye aye, head doctor chick!"

Hitomi turns back to all of you and seems to change her mind about something. Hitomi casually points to the Mindbender Room.

"O.K.. Change in plans, Traversers. All of you into the Mindbender Room. Check in with Captain Sharp, please. Oh, and Sharp is not alone in there."

Hitomi draws close enough to Toph to whisper in Japanese.

Spoiler: Toph.

(in Japanese) "We'll talk later. Both captains could use your help now, but keep your focus on Professor Stein-sama's best friend. O.K.?"

One of the Sam units quietly approaches from Sickbay with an air-hypo in hand. In his slow and easy surfer drawl, Sam says, "Morphine. One-third normal dosage, ma'am."

"Thank you."

Hitomi studies its contents until she is sure of the dosage and that the liquid looks right for morphine. Then she administers this to Scary Jerry who does not resist. She returns the air-hypo to Sam who takes it away.

"Hey now!" Scary Jerry whines. "I'm still waiting for my kiss!"

Hitomi responds. "I don't kiss weirdos." Scary Jerry's expression is priceless as his jaw nearly hits the floor.

Jerry looks up to Hercules. "You see how unfairly I'm treated here?"

Hitomi appears open to talk if you have something to share with her. "Wild Cards, I've got to get back to it but if you have any questions, ask me now?"

What do the Wild Cards do?

 

[Kaerri]

Spoiler: Lt. Eadric Braidwood

Character Sheet
Action Points: 9/9
Bonus Action Points: 0

Hitomi turns briefly to offer a welcoming smile to your latest technopathically-gifted soldier. "Bonjour, Lieutenant Braidwood!" Hitomi addresses him by his accurate ASC rank and with an accent that sounds French-born, she adds, "C'est bon de vous revoir!"

"Et vous aussi!" Eadric replies, startled. Though he has only just remembered the day he met (or rather, saw) Professor Stein, Hitomi is the sort of person one doesn't forget, even if one has never learned her name. Fortunately, Trouble provides that only moments later.

Spoiler: Translation

"And you too" (formal "you," since this is the first time they've talked face to face)

Hitomi appears open to talk if you have something to share with her. "Wild Cards, I've got to get back to it but if you have any questions, ask me now?"

"Oh, very many!" Eadric grins. "But I think most can or should be answered at a less urgent time, or at least by others. For now, I think the best to ask is, 'How can I help?' " He turns slightly to glance at the other Wild Cards as he says that.

 

[Sherwood]

Mario frowns, then asks, "Does anyone know if Adamantium was out there to try and recover the Ice-9, and if so, were they successful? If not, we still have that mission to accomplish, so we should get to it as soon as possible, once we get everything stabilized here."

 

[Purr]

Captain Hesperus Kaerri Psychie Sherwood Silanon

Spoiler: Kasumi Suite

"19 - Mass Effect 2: Kasumi Suite" by Jack Wall for the Mass Effect 2 OST. I think this music works here. Don't you? =)

"Oh, very many!" Eadric grins. "But I think most can or should be answered at a less urgent time, or at least by others. For now, I think the best to ask is, 'How can I help?' " He turns slightly to glance at the other Wild Cards as he says that.

Hitomi waits a few moments (or about a week if you're the GM and count the days in Real Life. =) ), her sharp brown eyes following Eadric's. Seeing none of the Wild Cards speaking up in answer to the Canadian's question, the trauma specialist and-then-some provides an answer of her own. With an expression that says c'est la vie ("such is life"), she replies to Eadric.

"Well, maybe you can help me turn around a mistake I should have seen coming a mile away. Follow me everyone?" She glances down at what looks like a wristwatch on her left wrist apparently in the hopes that the little digital device will continue to remain quiet. "Instead of my asking Traversers who are fresh off of the front lines combat to help me where I currently don't need it, I'd like to ask you if you would join up in helping our Captain Sharp out of his dilemma by following whatever Toph here requests of you." Hitomi glances at Toph and can't help but let out a womanly giggle.

"I imagine everyone's favorite Cookie Monster pilot here will have quite a shock when she walks through that door here."

Mario frowns, then asks, "Does anyone know if Adamantium was out there to try and recover the Ice-9, and if so, were they successful? If not, we still have that mission to accomplish, so we should get to it as soon as possible, once we get everything stabilized here."

As Hitomi guides all of you, Scary Jerry winces as he looks to Hercules to set him down back on his own two feet. "Hey, lemme get down, willya? Don't wanna be seen by the big boss like this." However, the Marine Force Recon leader in no way answers Mario's question but looks intently at the door to the Mindbender room.

Hitomi answers Mario as she winks at Toph for reasons known only to the smiling Japanese-Polynesian. She rubs her hands together briefly as if playing a part. "All part of my 'diabolical' plan, my good Italian. You'll see shortly. In fact, right about now!"

The door to the Mindbender room opens and Hitomi makes certain that all of you are ushered inside before anything you say or do can be heard outside the room. The walls have ears even onboard the Broadsword, but less so here in the Mindbender room which is large enough to fit all of you.

"See you all later! Ta-taa!" Hitomi does an about-face and leaves. She beams a mischievous smile and waves as she closes the door behind you and gets right back to her work.

Inside, on an immense table is something that once resembled a mega-suit belonging to the Army of Southern Cross.

Hercules and Mario, being former A.T.A.C., instantly recognize this armor as possibly (likely? maybe?) being from that branch of service - at least it used to be. Now, the charcoal-blackened mega-suit looks like one big and very ugly statue of sorts. Nowhere is there the gleam or shine of military armor. There are odd and telling pock-marks all over it like holes in city streets that have been bombed. It appears as if all of the joints are fused into the main torso completely trapping the man inside. A coffin would allow for more mobility. As you look, your eyes tell you the mega-suit is blasted, burned, eaten, and altogether dead-looking, save for a single white hose that stretches from a large container sitting beside the bed that is attached to the fused face-plate. There is the rhythmic sound of calm breathing coming from the hose. It quickens a little

There is also the sound of Captain Sharp's voice coming from inside the helmet. A small wireless speaker at the head of the bed amplifies his voice to levels where all of you can hear him comfortably. It is clear to you all he is unable to even turn his head to see who has entered.

Captain Sharp voice sounds strained and tired except in spirit. "Ma'am, that many boots can only mean my Wild Cards are here. See anyone you recognize?"

Sitting straight and poised beside the head of Captain Sharp's bed is a female alien - as powerful as she is beautiful - at first unfamiliar to all of the Wild Cards, save for two of you.

Spoiler: Psychie

This, except she is dressed in an immaculate UEEF uniform. On her collar is an insignia that denotes her rank - commander.

(Image credit: LeElf@DeviantArt.com)

The woman's gaze is that of a warrior's - measuring each of you up in but moments. From humongous Hercules (who really is impossible to miss) to each and every Wild Card, her eyes narrow and her mouth curls up as she spots Trouble. At the sight of her, the little metal kitten mews once and excitedly, wriggling with incredible energy for something his size.

But then the warrior's emerald eyes - eyes that appear to have seen far more than most - widen in wonder and in recognition. She allows her military poise to slip just as little as a gasp escapes her lips.

"Toph?" UEEF Commander Kirin of the SCL-107 Broadsword closes her eyes and shakes her head. Then she opens them again in disbelief. "This cannot be! Are you... my little Muppet?"

GM note: (Surprise, Psychie!) 8D

 

[Sherwood]

Mario can't help but offer up a wide smile at the dumbstruck Toph. He reaches out and places his hand on her shoulder and gives her a reassuring pat. "You can believe your eyes, LT. We all see her, too. It's real, and not just your imagination." He then steps back to give Toph a bit of room to take in the sight in front of her, his mind already turning to the problem of how to get Capt. Sharp out of his scorched armor without harming the man inside.

 

[Psychie]

Toph is hardly focused on what Mario is saying, because as she is walking into the room, her mind is already going through the list of possible ways to help get Capt. Sharp out of his melted megasuit without harming the man. That all changes once they walk into the MIndbender room for obvious reasons.

At first, the other woman in there registers to Toph as just another member of the crew. She is in doctor mode, and doesn't want to be distracted. Then, things start to sink in that this is not just any random person, but in actuality is someone she knows quite well. A sudden wave of warmth flows over her as Toph begins to realize just who she is looking at. She stands still for a long time, as if she was afraid that any wrong motion would break the spell and make her mother disappear into the cryopod once more.

In a quavering voice, she manages to squeak out, "Mom? Is that really you?" She raises her hand up, as if she is fully expecting that this is just an image in her mind. Finally, it sinks into her that this is real, and she rushes forward and throws herself into her mothers' arms, crying openly.

 

[Purr]

Captain Hesperus Kaerri Psychie Sherwood Silanon

Commander Kirin takes Toph into her arms, her expression blank-faced, her eyes glassy and unblinking - a soul in total shock. Woodenly, she returns Toph's hug. Twice, she disengages herself briefly to stare directly into Toph's wet face as if trying to believe this is not some cryogenically-induced dream.

Scary Jerry steps up. The ragged soldier points into the corner of the Mindbender room where a washing station provides some privacy. "Heeey," he slowly approaches the Meltrandi-blooded family. With a tone unlike the crazed wildman you often see, Jerry's eyes become darkened soulless slits. His battered lips curl into a thin smile. "It's been awhile for you, right? Maybe you wanna catch up over there? Then we can work out how to get Big Boss here outta his shell."

"Jerry?" stammers Commander Kirin.

"Aye aye, ma'am."

"Take us there."

"Aye aye, ma'am." In moments, Toph and her mother find themselves in a place quiet enough to talk without being overseen and overheard as machinery and electronics buzz about them, cloaking whatever they might share. Commander Kirin does not seem to know how to start a conversation with her daughter. Toph, who knows the Zyorna Kirin who raised her better than anyone save for her dad, Hiroshi, will have to be the one to speak up. This, she understands like only family can - her mother is in the deepest of shocks. The only other time Toph has seen her this way was when her father was reported killed in a Destroid accident on post (which turned out to be false). During that time, Zyorna Kirin may as well have been a zombie for how she reacted to her shattered world.

Jerry slowly makes his way back to Captain Sharp. Sharp, with nowhere to go, tells Jerry. "Well done, son. I can't begin to fathom what's going on between them given their situation. Speaking of situations, how about yours?"

"You keen on me talking Spec Ops in front of everybody? It's the Wild Cards plus a new guy that seems to belong to them here."

Unable to even turn his head to look, Captain Hiram Sharp has little choice but to take Jerry's word for it. "I trust them as much as I trust anybody. After all, each of the Wild Cards are Albert's people," he says referring to Professor Stein whom you last knew to be in Brazil.

"Aye aye, sir," Jerry says as he carefully sits beside Captain Sharp. "Doc Yashida was right about the morphine," he begins. "Once it kicks in, I'll be thinkin' better... for all that's worth." Jerry then goes into detail about how - in the deepest of secrecy involving only Captain Sharp, Hitomi, and Piper, the Adamantium took its entire force and raided the Zeki-Zentraedi Command Ship for the ICE-9.

Some of the details he provides include the following:

1. The Zeki inside the ship and the Zeki the Wild Cards just fought were not typical Zeki-Zentraedi soliders, but "preemies" or "pubes" as Adamantium calls them - Zeki-Zentraedi soldiers let out of their cloning tanks prior to their being ready - a thing the Zentraedi do only as a last resort. Jerry believes that there was no one else left to defend the Command Ship.

2. Not only were the Wild Cards left out of the loop, but just about the entire ship, and while the old crew of the Broadsword is used to this, the new additions to the crew (meaning basically the Wild Cards) were also not told because the less people that knew, the better. It also made the mission move a lot more quickly and smoothly.

3. Jerry tells Sharp the Wild Cards were instrumental in getting Adamantium back onto the Broadsword and that not only was the mission worth it, but their plan of getting the ICE-9 into Dr. Yashida's hands as quickly as possible to revive Commander Kirin was worth the casualties as far as Adamantium and their Broo posse is concerned.

4. There is something else going on in the Zeki-Zentraedi Command Ship. The color of the ship, under all that snow, is pink, not green or red-and-black like most Zeki vessels. "What we have here is a mile-and-a-half long science vessel. The whole goddamn thing is one big science lab. But something's gone wrong in there." Jerry then recommends that the Broadsword "Arclight that big bastard" or raid it a second time and then "Arclight that big bastard." Jerry makes it clear it will be dangerous for Earth as a whole if this particular Zeki-Zentraedi ship ever lifts off again.

Game Master note: Jerry does not go into detail on what exactly Adamantium and their Broo comrades did in order to infiltrate the Zeki Command Ship and retrieve the ICE-9, only that they did it. Captain Sharp seems to already know, but that won't stop any of you from asking what you will.

Twice, while Jerry is reporting, Captain Sharp gives a deep and uncontrollable sigh as his eyes (the only thing you can see of him inside this melted and pockmarked ugliest-of-caskets he is now entombed in) close. Jerry pauses both times, asking if Sharp can hear him. Both times, Captain Sharp seems to return to full awareness. There is no way to check his condition except to listen to his breathing and look into his aged eyes - and that doesn't tell you much.

Jerry is able to finish his report. Immediately, he turns to all of you save Toph and Commander Kirin.

"You're all Traversers, right? What's the plan on getting Sharp's ass outta this thing? Any way me or mine can assist?"

 

[Captain Hesperus]

Taken by surprise by the sudden appearance of Commander Kirin, Hercules does not resist as Scary Jerry levers himself out of the big Greek’s grip. The sight of mother and daughter reunited gave the big man a moment of deep joy and melancholy loneliness for his own family together. But, as they were ushered away for a more private chat, he recomposed himself and turned back to ‘The Old Man’.

The powered suit truly was a dead loss. Melted, burnt, almost fused into a solid lump, it was like an Egyptian Pharoah’s sarcophagus. Save that the incumbent was still alive, though that still hung in the balance. Jerry returned and debriefed Sharp and the Wild Cards by virtue of command authority. As the Spec Ops leader recounted his mission and its outcome, his recommendations and his thoughts, Hercules looked over the suit. Electronics are likely toast, nothing to Traverse with most likely.

“We need to crack the torso first.”, he said, once Jerry had finished and asked his question, “Doc Kirin will have an easier time once she’s got access to his chest. We need cutting tools, reciprocating saws capable of cutting the armor, no rotary blades or torches. And a schematic of the armor, I need to see how thick it is and where the seams are so we can plan the cuts.”

 

[Kaerri]

Spoiler: Lt. Eadric Braidwood

Character Sheet
Action Points: 9/9
Bonus Action Points: 0

The reunion between mother and daughter is as touching as it is surprising. Human-Meltrandi pairings weren't unheard of, but they were quite rare, and moments like this must be more uncommon still. But it had nothing to do with Eadric personally (he hadn't even been introduced to Toph yet, and only knew her name because the Meltrandi commander said it. Actually, that was the case with most of these Wild Cards. Perhaps it was simply that everyone felt pressed for time, but the only introductions he'd gotten were from Lieutenant Sveadotter and Auxiliary Specialist Cera. And vice versa, of course. Well, he could fix the latter as soon as opportunity presented itself, and keep his ears open for the rest. He didn't care to be pushy at the start of a relationship, even if he didn't yet know how long the relationship would last. At some point, he'd have to get back to Antarctica Station, wouldn't he?

"You keen on me talking Spec Ops in front of everybody? It's the Wild Cards plus a new guy that seems to belong to them here."

Unable to even turn his head to look, Captain Hiram Sharp has little choice but to take Jerry's word for it. "I trust them as much as I trust anybody. After all, each of the Wild Cards are Albert's people," he says referring to Professor Stein whom you last knew to be in Brazil.

"Lieutenant Eadric Braidwood, sir," says the "new guy." "I promise I'll keep everything I hear in strictest confidence until you say otherwise." Eadric does not speak up again until after the briefing and after the large Mediterranean-looking petty officer (Papa-something? He couldn't quite read the name tag.) has begun the next topic to be discussed.

"If I may," he offered, "I'm quite new to the whole Traversing thing, but ought we to try simply asking it to open first? Or are working electronics needed? If the latter, might we instead ask our cutting tools to use extreme care for the person within? We can't see in there, after all, but the tool will know when it's reached the inside of the hard casing."

 

[Sherwood]

Mario looks down at the burnt and melted armor with a dubious expression. "May be worth a try, assuming that there is anything left of the armor to respond to a mental command like that. Just to keep things in perspective, it may not be possible for it to be opened without cutting it off, with it being so badly melted like this. But I'm willing to give it a go." He looks around expectantly, wondering if someone was going to volunteer a different suggestion first, or if he was going to get some more Traversing time in.

 

[Psychie]

Toph finally pulls back from the tight hug that she was giving her mother with a sniff and wipes at her eyes. Doing her best to compose herself, she looks at Zyorna with her face still covered with tears and she says, "Oh, my. Mom. It seems like it has been forever since I've had a chance to hug you like that. I've missed you something terrible. Guess what? I'm a Traverser! It came as a bit of a surprise to me, I have to tell you. I have a million things to ask and to tell you, but right now, Capt. Sharp needs me to help get him out of his melted armor. But we now have time since you are awake to be able to catch up."

 

[Purr]

(I forgot to tag everybody! Ack! Captain Hesperus Kaerri Psychie Sherwood Silanon )

Toph finally pulls back from the tight hug that she was giving her mother with a sniff and wipes at her eyes. Doing her best to compose herself, she looks at Zyorna with her face still covered with tears and she says, "Oh, my. Mom. It seems like it has been forever since I've had a chance to hug you like that. I've missed you something terrible.

Zyorna Kirin allows herself a small but heartfelt smile - a rare thing from her outside of the company she loves. Toph might be used to it, but scant few others in the universe would be. She doesn't seem to be able to release Toph; it is like her arms are not responding to any mental commands she might be sending. They just keep holding and holding on embracing Toph as if she will disappear at any moment and be gone again.

Between deep breaths, she speaks quietly, her voice shuddering. "I have... been awake for a very short time. I ordered this new Doctor Yashida to tell me all that she could. She gave me 10 minutes and what she said has wracked my mind and soul. She told me you were here. Alive. Whole. The two of you... have just begun... dating. She finds you... marvelous. The year is now 2025. It is May. May 20th, 2025. The Robotech Masters are not yet here. But the Zeki and Ura are here too. This is not the Earth that I left you to, my dear Muppet.

"I was less confused when I first came out of my cloning tank. Now part of me wishes to return to it and take you with me to lock us in there forever so the universe cannot touch us. A fool's wish but still a wish." She slowly strokes Toph's hair once. And then a second time. And then a third and fourth. Now she does not seem to be able to stop. Several times, she pauses and looks again into Toph's face as if trying to convince herself of something.

Guess what? I'm a Traverser! It came as a bit of a surprise to me, I have to tell you. I have a million things to ask and to tell you, but right now, Capt. Sharp needs me to help get him out of his melted armor. But we now have time since you are awake to be able to catch up."

"I too have so... many... unanswered questions. Doctor Yashida used that word. 'Traverser.' It is a word that opens many gates but I do not know it."

When Toph mentions Captain Sharp, only then do Zyorna Kirin's arms seem to follow her commands and come alive again. "Of course, of course. This now-Acting Captain has told me much as well. He is very proud of... Wild Cards." After several tries, she finally releases Toph. She rises with Toph but then pauses, her hand on Toph's shoulder as she turns her daughter to face her. Toph's mother looks like a combination of a soul haunted by the worst of nightmares and a spirit entering the gates of paradise.

"Just... please." This is a word Toph has never heard her mother use lightly. "Do me this one favor, my Muppet. For the next little while, do not leave my sight, my dear... Just... if you can... stay where I can see you as do you do as your duty demands. Just for a little while. I... beg of you." Zyorna Kirin's face falls as she begins to breathe in rapid gasps as her soul rolls through the deepest emotions, some known all too well to the humans of the planet Earth, but most unknown to full-blooded Meltrandi as she is.

After one long moment, her steely resolve rises once again atop the volcano of her fiery spirit. Her face resumes a warrior's self-control. She releases Toph but never long does her gaze stray from her only daughter. "If I can somehow aid you in this, I shall try."

* * *​

As the Wild Cards + Eadric give voice to their ideas, Captain Sharp's still form goes quiet one moment and then he is talkative again and then quiet the next, his awareness seeming to come and go like the light of the moon peering between racing clouds.

"We need cutting tools, reciprocating saws capable of cutting the armor, no rotary blades or torches."

(quotation marks mine)

"If I may," he offered, "I'm quite new to the whole Traversing thing, but ought we to try simply asking it to open first? Or are working electronics needed? If the latter, might we instead ask our cutting tools to use extreme care for the person within? We can't see in there, after all, but the tool will know when it's reached the inside of the hard casing."

Mario looks down at the burnt and melted armor with a dubious expression. "May be worth a try, assuming that there is anything left of the armor to respond to a mental command like that. Just to keep things in perspective, it may not be possible for it to be opened without cutting it off, with it being so badly melted like this. But I'm willing to give it a go." He looks around expectantly, wondering if someone was going to volunteer a different suggestion first, or if he was going to get some more Traversing time in.

Cera stares down at the horrid remains of Captain Sharp's A.T.A.C. Mega-suit. "Most of the cutting tools we can get on short order use heat and rotating blades. I will have to create something out of the Broadsword's miniature Protoculture factory - perhaps to create something completely new." The Ura-Meltrandi shifts uncomfortably in her UEEF uniform. "The schematics on his armor though, I shall supply those momentarily." She reaches for the satchel that keeps the computer on her hip and begins pressing buttons with great alacrity.

"Does anyone have any idea what to use for a cutting tool? Making one will take more time than I am comfortable with."

"How long?" Captain Sharp happens to ask.

"One hour minimum."

"Oh boy," is all Captain Sharp says.

Scary Jerry seems more mellow now. Perhaps his shot of morphine has begun to kick in? His eyes are like twin black ebony slits, his face like a puppet's mask as he smiles in a way that is as likely to cause chills as it is likely to cause mirth. "A cutter, huh? Non-vibrating? Heatless?" Everyone present has more than enough military training to know this completely tosses out the idea of cutting torches, vibro-blades, and all manner of other readily-available tools. Hercules's request for a tool that is off the normal charts even for a UEEF vessel from the future just makes Scary Jerry smile all the more.

The Marine Recon veteran grins as his voice echoes about the room like the mad chuckling one might hear from a horror movie - a really good horror movie. "Can I play too?" His face takes on mock-surprise like a professional mime might make. "I think... I just might know the cutter you need! Whaddya saaay?"

(GM Note: If you make a mold of Scary Jerry's idea-brightened face right now and sell his likeness on Halloween, you can make buckets of money. Just saying! Wheee!)

 

[Psychie]

Toph gives her mother a smile, sniffing a bit as the tears make her nose run. "Mom. Oh, how very good feels to say! I - I don't know what to say, because there is just so much welling up inside me right now. But, I do have to get Capt. Sharp out of his armor, somehow, without hurting him. Can you come with me? Perhaps you can see something that I don't, given your familiarity with this ship."

 

[Purr]

Captain Hesperus Kaerri Psychie Sherwood Silanon (Tag!)

Toph gives her mother a smile, sniffing a bit as the tears make her nose run. "Mom. Oh, how very good feels to say! I - I don't know what to say, because there is just so much welling up inside me right now. But, I do have to get Capt. Sharp out of his armor, somehow, without hurting him. Can you come with me? Perhaps you can see something that I don't, given your familiarity with this ship."

"Of course, of course," slowing her rapid breathing, Commander Kirin makes a stalwart effort to recompose herself and appears to have a largely succeeded... until she looks down at her right hand.

It is still holding Toph.

The commander stares at her hand intently but nothing changes. She stares again with the same result. Finally her left hand reaches over and plucks her right hand up freeing her daughter from her grip.

She sighs, but then looks her daughter in the eye. Let us return. This... gentleman... Captain Sharp cannot free himself or he would have already."

Has the mother and daughter returned to the sides of their comrades, Scary Jerry, still sitting beside Captain Sharp, looks up to the commander.

She lowers her eyes and shakes her head. "Scary Jerry. You survived. I cannot believe you are here." She pauses in her movements and stands there, stunned.

Jerry sees his opportunity and takes it. "Oh Commander!" He begins wildly panting, grinning, and pawing his chest like a man barely keeping him self together. "You know how I've always wanted a womanly officer in uniform!" He grovels and shakes, slowly approaching her. "You've never look so good in yours!!"

Insantly, Commander Kirin's hand shoots straight up, her palm out, in a motion that non-verbally shouts the words -cease and desist immediately.

"I take it back," she she shakes her head slightly and grins at Jerry. "I believe now."

Scary Jerry immediately relaxes looking very pleased with himself. "So what's the call, Wild Cards? This here is your show right?"

"And," Commander Kirin says as she looks to all of the Wild Cards and Eadric, "is anyone going to introduce us or must I do it myself?"

 

[Purr]

Captain Hesperus Kaerri Psychie Sherwood Silanon (NOTE: I have edited this just now. If you read it a few minutes ago when I first wrote it, you may want to reread it as I've remembered to add introductions. =) ).

Scary Jerry stands, smiles as goofily as a guy can, puts his hand over his heart, and tells the room while following along with facial expressions and body language that would do a professional mime proud. "Hi, everybody! I'm Scary Jerry and... not only am I the president of Adamantium Special Forces... but I am also a client!" He stands there, staring at Eadric, looking very proud of himself.

Spoiler: The Reference

Anybody who was around during the 1980s and watched television probably saw this very popular commercial.

"1984 Hair Club for men "Sy Sperling I'm not just the president" TV Commercial"

Scary Jerry then proceeds, as his commander has ordered, to introduce all of you to Commander Kirin. One by one, he goes through your names and ranks. To his credit, he gets them all correct. He only pauses at Eadric, unable to name or place him. It is here that there is a pause and Eadric is quite welcome to introduce himself to her if he so desires.

"Oh! And this is Commander Kirin Junior!" he points at Toph.

When the Real Commander Kirin bunches her fists and shifts forward, staring daggers at him, Scary Jerry pulls his hand back lest he lose it to the Meltrandi (he really is wounded enough as it is despite what the morphine is telling him). So instead, he points at Hercules. "The Greek Father of the Incredible Hulk here came up with this super plan to cut Captain Sharp out... and after we get our hands on the schematics of this ancient A.T.A.C. armor, I think I know just the heatless, cleanest-cutting thing you could ask for to do the job!"

Commander Kirin folds her arms. "A Kayliss?"

"HEEEYY!" screams Jerry at his commanding officer. "LET ME TELL THE STORY! I NEVER GET TO DO ANYTHING!"

Spoiler: The Reference

On stage is Hatch (mustachioed on the left), The Spine (middle), and of course, Rabbit (telling the story about how he won his crown from The Spine). The reference happens at about the 0:35 mark. Plus the music and entertainment is just great! Enjoy!

"Steam Powered Giraffe - Hatch Fever (Live at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego)"

But (unlike the scene that takes place in the spoiler), Commander Kirin cuts Scary Jerry off at the pass. "Taymee," she considers. Then Commander Kirin turns to her daughter while Scary Jerry faux-fumes at her. But she briefly wags his finger at him and grins as if she knows something, something she could tell all but does not. Scary Jerry sees the look in her eyes and knows Commander Zyorna Kirin is not bluffing. He relaxes, drops the silliness, and sits back down beside Sharp.

"What'd I miss?" Captain Sharp asks, his amused voice echoing slightly from inside his fused helmet.

"Me losing badly to the baddest babe in the entire galaxy - our commander!"

Captain Sharp's following chuckle sounds weak but still, he chuckles. "Hiroshi would be proud!"

Commander Kirin nods at this but instead of replying, she slowly turns to Toph. Toph finds Zyorna Kirin looking her square in the eye, but not as mother-to-daughter. "Doctor," she says firmly. Toph knows what is coming next - information! (Or as Sharp likes to call them - "the goods!")

Commander Kirin's voice is steady and even, her every word laser-precise. "Chief Faydra's tribe of Broo hold many, many mysteries. One of them is the Kayliss - a style of knife that some of them wear, made only from steel found on their homeworld, Terrestria. Upon handling it, it is pure and steely enough, but when moved with great rapidity, the Kayliss becomes a Mega-damage blade for a short while. Then it returns to its dormant state. It slices without heat or vibration. It makes cuts cleaner than any medical instrument I have ever seen." She pauses briefly. "Taymee... is a Broo stationed here on the Broadsword. Doctor Yashida told me all of the Broo survived the Invid battle at the Black Binary? Taymee and Faydra alone hold the secrets of the Kayliss blades of which Taymee is responsible for creating." Kirin takes a step back and watches Toph closely.

"Once we have the schematics--"

"Done."

Cera steps forward from behind Hercules, a datapad at the ready showing a magnificent schematic of not only an A.T.A.C. soldier's mega-suit, but one the datapad has entitled, "A.T.A.C. armor for Colonel Sharp." For some reason, she walks toward Toph and her mother with her head down, her eyes on her own feet as she crosses the floor.

"What?" Commander Kirin turns to the sound of Cera's voice. "Who are--"

"Later, Commander Kirin of the SCL-107 Broadsword." Cera stands firm, her eyes shut. "Toph Kirin," Cera nods as she efficiently turns and hands the datapad and schematics not to Commander Kirin, but directly to Toph. Without another word, the UEEF-clad Ura-Meltrandi returns to stand beside Hercules and Ylva. Her eyes remain shut.

"Of course. Thank you," the beautiful but baffled Commander Kirin replies. Commander Kirin turns back to Toph. "With these schematics, we can call Taymee here with her collection. In it, there is likely a Kayliss knife that might readily free Captain Sharp from his prison.

"What say you, doctor?"

 

[Psychie]

Toph thinks hard, trying to keep her mind in doctor mode and not let her emotions at her mother's awakening distract her. As she listens to the information on this knife, she slowly nods.

"Yes, I believe that this special knife is just the thing we need. I'll just need to fashion up a guide to keep the blade from going too deep and slicing our good Captain Sharp into tiny cutlets.

 

[Purr]

"Yes, I believe that this special knife is just the thing we need. I'll just need to fashion up a guide to keep the blade from going too deep and slicing our good Captain Sharp into tiny cutlets.

"The good Captain Sharp appreciates this!" mumbles a weary-sounding Captain Sharp.

Commander Kirin tells Toph with great confidence. "I am certain you will need no guide with Taymee's blades."

She approaches a nearby wall-terminal and speaks an order into it. "Sam. Bring Taymee to the Mindbender along with her collection of Kayliss knives."

Then the Meltrandi's attractive eyes grow wide at Samantha's sunshine reply which fills the Mindbender for all to hear!

"Whyyy, don't'chuuu worry a lick there, commander! We'll have ol' Tenacious Taymee up to you before you kin say, 'Jiminy Christmas' three times in Zentraedi! Hoo-eee!"

Unblinking, Commander Kirin freezes in place. "That... is going to take getting used to."

Scary Jerry asks, "You're the head honcho now, aren't you? Why not change 'em back?"

Toph's mother relaxes. "I would rather not. Change can be good. Besides, Doctor Yashida's approval, I have relieved myself of duty until I am in the right mind to command the Broadsword, again. Thus, I have no authority now whatsoever."

Scary Jerry stares at her longingly. It is hard to tell if he is faking it. Especially when he says, "You'll always have authority over me Commander!"

Commander Kirin grins a little. "Jerry... you are mad."

"Oh, the entire ship is crazy for you in one way or another, ma'am!"

"You are also wounded and untreated. You say my authority over you remains?"

"Oh yes! Your wish is my command!" Scary Jerry exclaims breathlessly.

"I hereby order you to get treated by Doctor Yashida."

"But... But..." He lets out a childish sob and stabs a finger at Captain Sharp's immobile form. "But I wanted to do the cutting!"

"Oh God!" murmurs Captain Sharp's armor.

Zyorna Kirin points at the door. "I imagine any of the Wild Cards, especially my daughter, could do a finer job and they do not require treatment. Unlike you. Now out!"

"Aye aye, ma'am!" They exchange salutes. Scary Jerry gives you all an excited wink and gets himself gone, disappearing into the Sickbay proper. "Doctor, doctor!" he sings as he exits. "Is this love I'm feeeliiiin?!"

Commander Kirin sighs, watching him go. "For her own sanity, I hope Dr. Yashida sedates him."

"I understand it wouldn't be the first time it's happened," remarks the melted pile of Captain Sharp's armor.

Zyorna Kirin pushes a few strands of her long white hair aside and looks at Toph. "Toph. Earlier, you called yourself a Traverser. What does that mean to you? How might that help us now?" She looks to all of you as she asks that last question, opening the way for any or all of you to answer.

The Beastie called Taymee should appear in a short time. What do the Wild Cards do?