And Then?

Aeryn Sun

"We need to go tell it to the Spartans," Inquirer begins.

I lean in a little, listening to this . . . odd bio-mechanoid woman. Granted, she does not hale from my culture, the Peace Keepers, AND soon after we had first met she had angered me to no ends when she refused my help on a mission to aid one of my comrades in arms! However, since them I have come to understand something. She's sharp. She saw that, despite how I tried to hide it, that I just was not . . . fit for duty then and there (which events later proved even to me to be true after trace poisons still within me caused me to behave in a rather. . . . unusual way, re: 23867). I hated her for that (and still do to a certain extent). She can tell, but I must give her credit for knowing what was best for the rescue mission for D'Argo's son. So, while I might not like Inquirer, I can honestly say I can respect her. Respect her enough to be able to work with her and listen to her plans. She was part of a military outfit (something I can, of course, relate to since I come from the Peace Keepers). I almost find this "battle planning session" a refreshing revisit to earlier times . . . .

In a calm, steady voice she goes onto explain just what these "Spartans" are and just why they are so important to our cause, here and now. It appears that the word "Spartan" is a codeword for a special, secretive "black bag" operation which is dedicated to, mainly, removing "resistance communities" (towns and other settlements within the "Living Lands" which still had it's native technology working despite of the Land's axioms and, by definition, was dedicated in fighting against these invaders) from the Living Lands.

"Pardon?" I find myself asking, confused a bit by this. "Why would the 'Americans' go and do that? Why the frell are the Spartans removing people who'd fight against these 'lizards', since you told us already that as it stands things are stretched so tight for them?"

"In normal circumstances a little bit of 'behind the line' guerilla action wouldn't hurt," Inquirer explains. "Problem here is that in this case the mere presence of Core Earth natives, resistence or no, was actually feeding the High Lord with Possibility Energy. Basically, while well meant the 'Resistence Communities' were unknowingly aiding the invaders. That isn't common knowledge amongst most of the rest of the Americans of Core Earth for various security reasons, for fear of further panic to an already fearful nation. So, instead we have groups going in and moving people out by force if need be, citing various reasons like logistics or some other BS excuse. If lies don't work, however, force of arms will be used."

Hm, now that is something to think about! Yet another quirk in this very alien world/reality. Frell, I do hope that when we get to John's Earth that things . . . . Frell, no matter how strange John can be and how alien his world might be, it just CANNOT be as weird as this Core Earth! I just cannot see it!

She goes on to tell that if the parallel between her game world and this world holds then the high chieftain that this "hit team" will be hitting will be none other than the High Lord of the Living Lands itself! With that in mind, this team was heading into something MUCH more than they were prepared for, indeed! Now, I must admit that while I find the idea of basing an 'insert' around someone's idea of a game usually absurd, this entire affair has had an air of absurdity through out! I mean, if I hadn't been here to participate in it myself I would have . . .

My train of thought is interrupted when Inquirer begins the lecture again. She explains that while this city called "New York" is indeed within the borders of the Living Land axioms, it still wasn't assimilated. Meaning that it was a "mixed zone" of sorts where certain parts still had Core Earth axioms in play in part or in whole (and thus making it one of the largest "Resistence Communities" about). Being so populous, however, meant that even the most zealous of Spartans could see evacuating that would be next to impossible.

So the next best thing was to use the resources that this particular community could offer and use New York as a staging base of sorts. A base to send out teams hither and yon, as Inquirer put it.

The last was said with a trace of disgust. Later I find out that while she had been in a military unit (commonly known only as "The Military" those of her reality) and had even been in the "intel game", she and her kind (AIs) looked down at those who did "wetwork" on a regular basis. She was (and still is as I see her) a soldier, not an assassin. Now, later she'll say that while she never did any assassination work, there had been those within her family who had found it being the only means of pulling off a particular, critical mission (which had nearly pushed him to the snapping point) . . . . but that will be later.

Right now, I and my co-wife have been taken aback by one VERY particular factor!

"But they'll go into permanent Heat Death/Stupor thing if it's that hot out there!" John shouted, angry.

It seems that where the Living Lands invaded, the environment came decidedly tropical in nature. Very hot, and that is NOT something a Sebecean can tolerate for long!

That's when B'Elanna (who'd Inquirer had whispered something, tasking her) comes back with a pair of black, leathery outfits that seem. . . . familiar.

"Sorry for the getups," Inquirer smirks, tossing one at me and another at my wife. "Know that you'll look like Trinity from The Matrix the movie, but after studying old Scorpius' thermal suit AND remembering how last time you rather hated not being able to help with Mobius . . . "

. . . .

You know, I think I could get to actually like Inquirer after all . . .

Later

After a brief (but productive) visit to a surprised Spartan "handler" (i.e. mission boss), augmented with a bit of magic and Inquirer/Elrondir style interrogation (not torture, but very invasive/persuasive questioning techniques), both elf and Golem are rather angry. As it was, Elrondir (being the younger and more hotheaded of the two at times) is swearing up a blue streak as they stormed out of the apartment complex!

See, it appears that the "chieftain's" location in her game was much . . . further away than what it was in "real life", here and now. That and events were happening much quicker (and sooner) than expected.

See, the team of Spartans were not going to some far off part of Living Land's invested Canada. No, instead it was something much closer. Inquirer groans and looks up at the sky (which she blinks as she notices it is clearing instead of being permanently overcast like it should be while the Living Land's axioms were in play). The place where the Spartan hit team was going was something that sounded like "Powkipsi" to the Farscape folks. Inquirer had been muttering something about "Warp Tree Graphics" and "Elfquest" and "of course it figures" when she stops and gapes at the sky above and then . . .

Some of the humans about actually morph into one of those lizard men! Later Inquirer will figure out that the humans had been the humans converted over to worshipers of the Living Land goddess, Lanala. Something akin to what had happened before back in the Nile Empire had happened again, here. Basically, the Living Lands had converted those humans over into worshipers back in the beginning (a axiom was thing or something or other, I guess). IN this case, Lanala was just finishing up things, fully claiming her own! Other New Yorkers only spend two seconds staring at them before letting the lizards have it with whatever firearms they have. A bloody heap is all that is left, but that's not something Inquirer and the others can stop and do something about (i.e. 'tis too late for the dead lizards). Yes, away from this ugly business and to something a bit . . . cleaner.

Namely, stopping the Spartans from stepping into a disaster! The hit team was surely stepping into something that they wouldn't be walking away from if not stopped. Or worse! They might succeed . . .!

1. But as luck would have it, something ELSE was in the works! The Company Boys were in town . . .

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