That proves to be a bit more difficult than expected. You see, due
to some quirk in the changeling curse, it's an "all or nothing" evolution.
That is, all of the non-Champions are cured of this dread affliction,
together, at the same time.....or none will be cured! That'll entail tracking
down not only those other people scattered hither and yon all over Nantucket
Earth, but those who actually got teleported AWAY to other realms in other
realities entirely! Worse, transporting the afflicted through time....so
that all could get together was a bad idea (would cause the "cure" to fail).
"But how are we going to do all of that?" one Fred (who's trying hard
not to scratch at the one patch of skin on his hand), "How do we find all
of them in time?"
"We have their location recorded on these books," Fred the manfox says,
waving at the pile of books that he pulled from the shelves, "While the
tome in the library failed to record everything about me accurately.....like
my and my wives true name.....due in part to the Rules and Agents
I'm sure.....their good enough to find them....after those coordinates
get translated."
The plan developed that two teams of Champions would go out. One team
would use the teleporters of Dr. Vincent while the other would stay behind
to hunt down the afflicted here on Nantucket Earth.
Translating the Atlantian coordinate system was also something that
was going to be split between the two teams. That was something that Doctor
Vincent would do once the Champions going on the mission to retrieve those
teleportees in other worlds, since the Atlantian coordinate system for
inter-dimensional transporting was a bit different than for dimensional
transporting. The Doctor and the other mages would translate the Atlantian
coordinate system.
"We can....bend the rules of time travel," the Doctor says, rubbing
his chin, "While we can't teleport the cursed folk, we can teleport the
teams going after them....giving us some more breathing space. We can do
that for our team here on this Earth, as well as those who'll travel between
worlds"
"I know of one group of people who'll make our search on Earth easier,"
Inquirer chimes in, "The Voyager, even if it's wrecked, we can still use
their sensors and such."
"Why do we have to get Janeway involved in this?" Ragan asks, obvious
distaste in her voice, "What makes you believe she'll unbend enough to
allow that?"
"We shall make her see reason with logic," B'elanna says, smiling, "That
or I'll arrest her for breaking the Prime Directive if all else fails."
"Oh, that would be fun," Betty smiles, thinking of the look Janeway
would have at that! "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you
say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right
to be speak to an attorney, and to have an attorney present during any
questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be provided for you
at government expense."
"Let's hope it does not come to that," the Doctor chides, "Not only
would it lead to hard feelings, I'm not sure we'd have much luck with that
stragety."
The others of his group nod, but some look like they rather like the
fantasy, nonetheless.
It came down to that Jarlath, Joan, Annafrid, Andrea, Astra 9, Fred
the Manfox, Alicia, and Alicia 3 will return to Terra Prime while the others
remain to either do one of two things. Some need at least a week to recover
fully from the terribly draining magic battle they'd gone through, so rest
they would back in Nantucket. The other group would conduct the search
for those afflicted by that curse. As for those heading back to Terra Prime,
the manimals had to return....for while they'd love to stay and aid.....duty
to the Pack was calling!
And so it went.....
Meanwhile......
Several crew members of the grounded Voyager, having just come
upon the new cottage (and a large pile of treasure.....a Dragon's Hoard)......blink
in surprise as a man in buckskins screams in surprise as he blast through
the cottage's front door and lands at their feet.
As they tend to the dazed dragon mage's wounds, Synizn speaks softly.....not
quiet aware of his surrounding. It's real, but the people of the Voyager
put it down as a fantasy brought about by blows suffered.
"Well, what exactly does this mean?" Synizn says softly, "Well, it means
that those who's forms were NOT protected by the virtue of being Champions.....are
slowly transforming into various other species. The fey. Long, and disturbing,
and irreversible once completed (even by the Crystallic). This problem
is made worse by the fact that about half of those effected are whisked
by the Slipgate system (at the dying bequest of the Book) to a random reality!
"At least these events are still being recorded in those mystical books
the Book had enchanted to document its potential target's lives......
"Right now, however, those in the immediate vicinity where hit by a
second....side curse. Less powerful, but still damn effective. Some of
the mage's shields cracked under pressure, and the curse hit some.....turning
some into various animals! Something akin to a witch's curse, where the
form is altered....but readily cured by any competent mage worth his salt.
Able to be done because it's not the Matrix being attacked..... So in addition
to all this, some Champions are trying adjust to their new frog bodies
while their friends (still dazed from the Book's magical backlash), look
for them......
"And this is only a faction of what that vile magical artifact had been
hoping for by this last move....." the dragon mage sighs, slipping into
a slumber as his looks at the Crystallic in his still smoldering hands.
"Glad that Jarlath, Astra 9, and those of that group are up and whole....uncursed....."
I....want to help them...so somebody'll be going after...them.
the Dragon mage thinks to himself in his sleep.
In the confused condition he's in, he then does something in his sleep
he usually wouldn't do.....
"He's finally asle....holy SHIT!" Tom Paris shouts as Synizn's body
goes to it's natural, default dragon form.....
"Isn't there anyone on this foresaken world with a bit of good
decorum?" an exasperated voice says from behind the humanoid wolf morph
Tome Paris, "Please, there are women and children present!"
The Voyager crewmembers turn and see Count Yorga and others (who'd landed
nearby in the TARDIS). The former vampire is shaking his head sadly, as
if saying that the sight of a man turning into a huge dragon before his
eyes was no excuse for profanity.
"Take us to your leader," Betty says in a hokey alien voice, smiling.
But now let's turn our story back to the original cast of characters......
-
 Meanwhile,
back on Terra Prime.....
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