Brute Force is the answer (this time) . . .

But could you explain again just how we plan on getting this Miranda DeSilk from Drax's clutches? the demifox lass asks the other Companions.

Answer to that one is rather sad. But given everything now at stake damn little in the way of alternatives are available. The answer to the question translates into little in the way of finesse. More towards brute force....

In diplomatic circles it's known commonly as "gunboat diplomacy".

As guessed, the skeleton crew aboard Drax's space station are few in number. Easily overcome by phasorbolt and sleep spell. Only once or twice do the Champions nearly get crisped by one of those "Moonraker" laser guns (as seen on TV), and only by idiots who don't know that firing in the walkways (with their thin shells) IS a VERY bad idea. More than a few walkways have to be sealed as the vacuum of space replaces the escaping atmosphere. Still, the station is intact enough for the next stage.

A few bolts of light across the bow (and THROUGH the lead shuttle's wings) are MORE than enough to get Drax's attention). A flurry of rapid follow up shots pierce every OTHER shuttle wing in the fleet, causing a LOT of panic!

"I have seen the light," a female voice says softly over the shuttle's radio. "And it burns, dearie!"

Actually, its' rather chilling. . . You had to be there . . . Then again, of all of them it's Walker who has the best "deliver death threat" tone of voice. Has a degree in psychology, she does and ain't afraid to use it (in THIS manner).

Actually, the cold bloodedness of the woman sometimes even scares Inquirer (who does NOT scare easily)....

"What the HELL are you doing?!" Drax screams at those on the other side of the radio channel. "Who the hell did that?!"

"The name is Bond," a disturbingly familiar male voice says over the radio. Unlike the last time there isn't a trace of warmth in THIS greeting. "James Bond. Now listen to me very carefully . . ."

In the end the Champions get what they want, even WHEN Mr. Drax goes into a megalomaniac rant about NEVER surrendering (he gets quashed over the head by several panicky mutineers). Frankly, even the dimmest ones can see that this Bond guy (however the Hell he got up here ahead of them) has the upper hand and is NOT in the mood to negotiate. Damaged shuttle with named prisoner is allowed to dock, and Jaws himself pushes DeSilk rather hard through the airlock into one of the arm's of the awaiting Champions. Jaws then turns white as a sheet when he sees a VERY familiar face: a woman with a gem in her forehead!

Not like you'd forget someone who nearly beats you to a bloody pulp (and you have a sneaking suspicion that she'd been pulling her punches).

Actually, she hadn't, but why tell Jaws that? Given the guy (and his girlfriend) had been able to survive a rough re-entry through Earth's atmosphere in a chunk of broken space station (cast off from it exploding in the end) . . . . Wasn't like a little thing like Inquirer's cybernetic fists was going to KILL him... Still . . .

Jaw's jaw still hurt like Hell!!

"You!" he gasps.

"Me," Inquirer agrees, right before the airlock door slams shut, cutting off anything further that was to be said.

"Who are you?" DeSilks blinks, confused at her sudden change in fortune. She figures she has to repeat herself over the sudden racket coming from the airlock control console. For some odd reason it was now playing the theme song from Close Encounters of the Third Kind, extra loud version when the BIG flying saucer finally made the scene on that mountaintop. You know, where the big ship gives off a booming "answer" chord to the human's greeting song? One that shattered the window in the movie to the control platform?

Quickly moves onto the babble of chords . . . Yeah, kinda getting loud here....

In actuality it was something of a joke that Elrondir is playing on anyone who's trying to get into the station without permission. Entry codes won't work, only gives off the themesong (and then some). Right now Jaws, who's wanting to go "two for two" with Inquirer (ego's up), is REALLY getting an earful after trying to dial back into the station!!

"We are friends," Inquirer says softly after they exit the airlock entryway. "We'll explain more after the U.S. cavalry or whatever get up here . . . with a LOT of handcuffs!"

The Champions and Mr. Bond were holding the damaged shuttles prisoner, at gunpoint. When the calvalry arrived, they'd take over. Hopefully the prisoners would be brought to justice. Trial of some type and not just "disappeared" or something else equally "spookish".

One could hope. Hey, look at what she'd done whilst Bond had been out of the room, contacting certain Russians and Americans on the radio with what some probably had been the most INSANE suggestion. But one can always hope, she figures....

Place reminded her of her reality's International Spacestation than what you'd see in the Bond movies (a product from OTHER realities . . . a piece of fiction not found from HER reality). Was eerie, really. Place looked exactly like the history files of it, really...

Be a shame if this place got blown to bits just so Cold War nations don't have this Cold War (ridiculous state of affairs) didn't suddenly turn Hot...

That's when it hits...

A wave of weakness nearly makes Inquirer's knees go out of her, but she waves off DeSilk's efforts at aid.

And the magic goes away, Inquirer thinks to herself.

Creator only knows why magic had been present in this reality in the first place, but now it appears that whatever rift/anomaly/whatever had opened a crack into the mystical realms where magic (a needful thing to ordinary golems and other creatures of magic) just closed up for the day. Perhaps forevermore.

Being a Champion meant that she'd not die from the lack . . . it just meant she and the other magical folks felt like absolute frelling SHIT!!

"I'll be okay," Inquirer says softly. "Let's get you back to the control room and introduced. It's going to be a longish wait until the Calvary arrives."

1. As it turns out, more than the U.S. Calvary arrives. The Russians also make the scene...

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