Where does he live? (1)
mouse in the lab -- I thought I smelled something...
Good! Pass me some of that, please, Ragnar.
<<The LabMouse snifs cautiously and decides whatever is making that she must try whatever that is that smells so good! As she finds a nice warm spot by the stove, she ponders where Santa could live. If the guys need help in the topography department, the LabMouse can help! She's excellent with compiling data...>>
TickTick -- Recovering from multiple turkey attacks
Ticker wandered into the grotto. It was very quiet... no one was there. But TickTick's delicate olfactory senses picked up something... something warm and familiar... was it...
buttered rum? Coming from the longboat?
"Yoohoo! Sword, you there dude?" she called. She had quite forgiven him and Ragnar for their antics of the past week... but she still didn't quite believe that a manic turkey had done all that.
"Right here, Tick!" called the swashbuckling Scooby Ganger.
Ticker climbed onto Ragnar's longboat. It really was VERY plush...
Mouse was there, as well as the Viking. They were playing with some sort of map...
"Umm... is Anni with you?" Sword asked nervously as he led her into the room. Ragnar looked up quickly from his work, eyes darting around anxiously. TickTick grinned.
"Nope. You're still safe from her wrath. Though I'd be thinking about some NICE Christmas gifts for her..."
"Speaking of Christmas..." Ragnar began meaningfully, looking at Sword.
Sword smiled. "Oh yeah... we're trying to help you find a way back to the North Pole..."
"North Pole? Why?" TickTick asked.
The guys and Mouse looked at each other. "Umm... that's where Santa lives right?" Ragnar asked.
"Santa? OH MAN!!!! SANTA! I GOTTA GET BACK THERE RIGHT NOW! HE'S GONNA KILL ME!!!" TickTick suddenly freaked out and started darting around the room as if she were trying to pack. Of course, none of her stuff was there.
Ragnar grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her, gently.
"Tick," he said quietly, "calm down. We'll help you get there... just help us figure out where to go..."
TickTick stopped and looked at him. Her breathing slowed back down. She sighed.
"Oh... okay... gee, aren't you guys sweet!" she said grinning in relief. Looking at the maps and printouts she said, "all right... lemme think..."
SunAeryn -- Sun comes stumblin’ in
"Who knew that I was allergic to PUNCH...I mean I know I've given the great maker o' PUNCH a hard time because he took so long making a non alcholic version. And if I EVER see that turkey! I'm gonna smoke him!" Sun grumbles as she tries to climb up into the longboat. But she is still slightly weak from the turkey attack.
"Um, a little help here please." Sun says from the rope ladder.
Ragnar and SWORD look over to see who said that.
"Oh, it's only SunAeryn." SWORD mumbles in relief.
"Thanks alot Kilt Boy." Sun shoots at SWORD
"Here Sun let me help you." Ragnar reaches over to pull Sun up.
"Thanks Ragnar." Sun smiles weakly at Ragnar
"So did I hear Ticker kinkin' out on you guys just now?" Sun asks looking for some hot cocoa. She finds a steamin' mug full and sips as she looks at the map.
"So what are we looking at?" Sun asks
"A map." Kilt Boy replies
"Really? I never would have guessed that." Sun answers sarcasticly
"It's a map of where we think Santa is, Sun. And don't mind, what did you call him? Kilt Boy? SWORD is afraid of what Anni is going to do to him." Ragnar answered looking at Sun
In the back ground TickTick could be heared
"Oh my goodness, oh my goodness. He's gonna kill me for sure! I just gotta remember where he is."
Sun looks at the map that SWORD and Ragnar have made...noticed all the marks. It looked like a giant dot-to-dot to her, but she decided to keep that to her self. Wouldn't want to hurt Kilt Boy's feelings. She noticed that Tick was getting more and more upset. Sun walked over to her little elfin friend and tried to calm her down.
"Tick, it'll be ok....we'll help you figure out where Santa lives. Trust us." Sun reassured Tick
"Trust you? I can't even remember where Santa lives and I work for him." She wailed.
Will Anni show up? And what did SWORD do this time to deserve her rath? Will the Scaper Scoobies be able to help Ticker get to Santa in time?
Kahvi -- HEY!!!!
What's going on in here?
Sword Ragner and Sun turn with disbelief!
Kahvi!! "Where did you come from. We have never seen you in the New Basement before!" Sun says.
SANTA sent me.
"Everyone knows Santa was born in Finland and moved to the North Pole. He's my great great great great great great great great great great great great immortal grandfather.
He has left everyone in the family a map that leads directly to his house. Come on every one finnish packing and I will take you to him.
come on hurry!"
fu manchu turkey -- GOBBLE GOBBLE GOBBLE
H@ H@ H@ H@ H@
GOBBLE GOBBLE GOBBLE GOBBLE GOBBLE GOBBLE GOBBLE GOBBLE GOBBLE GOBBLE GOBBLE GOBBLE
$@nT@ H@ H@ H@ H@ H@ y()u W|ll neVeR Fi^d H|m
GOBBLE GOBBLE
RagnarRB -- Maybe?
Ragnar paused partway up the gangplank, arms loaded with goods. His ears strained....
"Naw couldn't be..." He looked around.
Others of the gang scurried about gathering their things. Once everone arrived they would shove off on the first leg of their journey. The longboat would at least carry them through the first part. Provided kahvi's map was correct. It was very old and faded. There was some doubt as to what was north. Lands had shifted since its etching!
But that sound! It was so familiar! Ragnar shiver at a thought. Still the sound didn't repeat itself.
"I must be imaginine things!..." he proclaimed, and started back up the ramp."
"Imagining what?" LabMouse asked as she inventoried the goods piling up on the deck.
"Oh nothing...I hope."
Ragnar turned and ducked inside.
A single feather floated down in the grotto, only feet from where he'd been standing....
Raven-Kat -- Don’t push off without me!
Raven comes running up to the boat, weighed down by a very heavy pack.
"What do you have in there?" Mouse asks.
"Oh, the usual for camping. Ammo, dried food, C-Rations, army-issue sleeping bags, 5 pounds of salt, things like that."
"5 POUNDS of salt?" TickTick asked in awe.
"That stuff'll give you high Blood Pressure." Kahvi adds.
"It's not for eating. I've just been watching Blair Witch Project too much recently. Oh, who wants to run the camcorder? I'm awful with these things." Raven produces a camcorder and extends it to the group, grinning.
Raven-Kat -- Sitting on deck,
Rae quietly inventories her supplies.
"Let's see, rope, pickaxe, thermal undies, extra power pack for the pulse rifle, standard rifle and ammo, dramamine...
HEY, where's my dramamine!!! Alright, who took it? If it's not back in the bag by the time we push off..."
mouse in the lab -- Sorry Raven, but
believe me, we'll all be better off if you share that dramimine with me! Maybe I should try those accupressure wrist things... it looks like it might be a long ride.
Mouse
Raven-Kat -- “Hey Mouse...
My over-the-counter drugs are your over-the-counter drugs.
Just don't snirch them next time, okay. I brought enough for everybody."
Rae goes back to inventorying. "Inflatable raft, stappler, falashlight, cat litter..."
SWORDandMUG -- So it’s true...
...a woman can fit EVERYTHING in creation in one of those purses, can't she! (And I have trouble just packing my lunch bucket.)
:-{>
mouse in the lab -- Don’t forget the important things, Raven
like the cheese snacks, fuzzy bunny slippers (no,not tails, but we may need them too), first aid kit, heating pads, warm blankets, hammocks, sleeping bags big enough for all of us (it gets really cold up there and I'm not afraid to share warmth), favorite CDs and a player, and our lists for Tick to give to Santa. I have tried to be as good as I can possibly be this year, so hopefully Santa will look favorably on this little Mouse.
Leave it to our Raven to be practical. Thank goodness she is! When do we leave?
Mouse <:3)~~~
Raven-Kat -- Rae nods sagely....
and goes on sorting.
"T-3, bug repelant, espresso machine. WHAT? You don't actually expect me to drink that instant drenn? Laptop, shark repelant, camaflauge nets..."
Raven-Kat -- “I know, Mouse..
These army-issue sleeping bags hold two and will keep you warm at temperatures in excess of 30 below. First aid kit, book on first aid, cocoa, thermal socks..."
leaped -- What, no brownies??
A fimiliar, but recently absent voice resounds from what seemed like,,,,,overboard???
"Leaped. Are you ok?" Asks Raven_kat. "Not really"! The gang turns to find leaped hanging over the edge of the ship, apparently in some kind of digestive-dismay. "Man these rough seas are killing me, and I always thought of myself as a water monkey. NOT <burp>. Oops. Sorry. It slipped. Hey Raven, how about passing me one of those Dramamine!
Raven-Kat -- “Here you go, Leaped...
one Dramamine. And of course I brought brownies. They're at the bottom here. Want one?"
Rae passes around smushed brownies.
"Magic marker, walkman, combat boots..."
artickat -- were is that music coming from
don't rock the boat,
don't rock the boat, baabbyy.
don't rock the boat,
don't tip the boat over.
don't rock the boat
don't rock the boat, baabbyy.
don't rock the boat,
don't tip the boat over!
Raven-Kat -- Rock the boat....
if ya' want. Rae has dramamine."
Raven reaches over and changes the radio station. Sloop John B.(by the Beach Boys) begins playing.
Rae joins in, off-key as ever... "Thankyou, ladies and gentlemen, I also take requests."
artickat -- how about
come sail away, by STIX. Is that what it is called? I can't remember.
Raven-Kat -- The only ‘sail away’ I know
is by Enya... You're new to the longboat, aren't you? Well, hi."
Rae nods absently and continues her inventory.
"Drum, remote modem, lava lamp..."
leaped -- Welcome aboard, Articat!
<burp> Oh God! Sorry! The Dramamine still hasn't kicked in yet.
RagnarRB -- Hmmmmm
Ragnar looks around him at all the people suffering from the beginnings of motion sickness. He looks over the side at the calm water below, wondering what they'll feel like when the ship is actually under way. Maybe TickTick has some of that pixie dust left. Getting people looped on PUNCH and brownies to aleave what ails em isn't always the best idea. He smiles.
Passing Raven he notes that she is still busy continuing her inventory. Her check off list is now larger than the pack of holding she's rooting around in. Maybe he should dub her official quartermaster. It looks like she may have remembered anything he has forgotten.
"Hello Artickat, welcome aboard. Glad you could make it."
The preperation continues
Raven-Kat -- OK! Let’s push off
Rae comes to the bottom of her pack, "candles, matches, RISK in case we get bored, and four tents. Okay, guys, ready when you are! Pass an oar!"
mouse in the lab -- Technically speaking
Both Raven and Artickat are right - there's a song called "Orinoco (sp?) Flow" by Enya that refrains "sail away, sail away, sail away", and there is the song by STYX that is about "I'm sailing away" - I'm not sure of the exact title. Both are appropriate, I think - I happen to like the Enya one better.
Regardless, this Mouse is rapidly getting over her sickness and is ready to shove off! Let the adventures begin!
Raven-Kat -- “Row, row, row your boat
oh, gently down the stream! Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream! EVERYBODY!" Rae belts out cheerfully.
Looks like someone's been taking more than dramamine for her motion sickness.
"PULL, PULL! PASS THE BUTTERED RUM!"
SunAeryn -- “If anyone starts to sing
that frellin' Enya song around me.....just don't! Trust me....it'll be for your own good." Sun states, still having nightmares from the two Christmases she spent working at Natural Wonders and the millions of times she had to listen to that song!
"Well we can't leave yet! Anni isn't here and if we leave without her....I'd hate to think what she might do to all of us!" Sun adds looking at all the stuff Raven has brought. "Rae, it's not like we're going away forever...just long enough to get TickTick to Santa's in time to help." Sun tells Raven, smiling. "But thanks for being prepared." She adds. SunAeryn looks around, "Where the hezmana is Tick...I haven't seen her? Is she hiding below? And what's keeping Anni?" Sun asks Ragnar and LabMouse(sorry the new name is great but way to long). Rae is still busy counting all that stuff. "Oh, hello, new person, welcome and get ready to hang on! Our adventures get pretty crazy." Sun tells the newbie, feeling bad because she can't remember the person's name at the moment. "I do that I'm afraid and it seems to have gotten worse, ever since that Turkey hit me with all those PUNCH loaded feathers." Sun tells the newbie. SunAeryn heads of to look below for Tick and Anni.
Raven-Kat -- “Ragnar? Where can I stow this?”
Rae holds up her bag and eyes Ragnar expectantly. "I had to keep it down to bare essentials. Anyone wants frills, they'll have to provide their own. By the way, any rum left?" Rae wanders off, bag in hand, still humming Row, row, row your boat.
"Neat bag, huh?" she remarks to Mouse, "I found it on campaign in Ravenloft about three years ago..."
TickTick -- The future is uncertain....
TickTick mumbled to herself as she sat in a dark corner in the recesses of Ragnar's longboat.
"My job with Big Nick... what is he gonna do to me? I have to do the inventory for the good children... PT training for the reindeer... organize the "Lump of Coal" brigade to supply Nick with the necessary assortment of coal... oh, sprites and stars!"
SunAeryn peeked into the room and saw Ticker huddled in the corner. "Tick? What are you doing in there?"
"Pondering..."
"Pondering? Pondering what?" Sun asked. She was joined by Raven_Kat, who was still trying to find a proper storage place for her supply kit.
"What's she doing?" Raven whispered. Sun replied "pondering" and turned back to Ticker.
TickTick sighed again. "Pondering my current status- I'm gonna be elva non grata if I don't get there in time. I can't believe I got so caught up in Farscape that I forgot about my other obligations! And with Christmas coming and all... by the crown of Queen Mab, I'm gonna get it for sure," she replied, slipping into rather strange speech patterns.
"What did she say? Queen Mab?"
Sun nodded. "It's in the EDR- Elf desk Reference... some sort of elven oath. Ticker must be really upset to use that."
Sword called "hey didja find the Ticker?"
"Yeah!" Sun replied. TickTick sat shaking her head slowly and tugging on her ear.
"Well... okay. Where's Anni then?"
"Tick? You seen Anni?"
TickTick's head popped up. "Anni? Anni- cat?" she said slowly.
"Yes... Anni-cat."
"Noooo.... she's missing?"
Sun nodded gravely. Raven said "we thought she might be with you. We can't find her."
TickTick hopped off the floor, her troubles forgotten for the moment. "Well we'd better go looking for her... she's gotta be somewhere!"
Annisette -- “I’m up here!” Anni called from up high
"HUH?" Multiple voices asked in unison.
"Where is here?" SunAeryn called out, unsure of the source of Anni's call.
"Up here! In the rigging!" Anni was way up in the sail rigging.
"Oh hell, *Burp* Just looking up there makes me nauseated.!"
Leaped went back to the ship's rail. "It's moving...*burp*."
"Anni, aren't you nauseous up there?" Labmouse and RavenKat clutched the dramamine.
"I FEEL FREE!" Annisette swung out on the rigging like it was a trapeze.
"It's in her blood." Sword looked up nonplussed at the site. "Mediterranean heritage, corsairs, Sicilian fishermen... they never get seasick, must be genetic."
"Well on deck at least." Anni swung down on a rope. "In the cabin...well, I have to sit near the portholes. But I think it might be claustrophobia...not sea-sickness. So where are we headed???"
"Well, that is gonna take a while to explain...you missed a bit of action." And Ragnar proceed to tell Anni all about the Turkey and Ticker's dilemma.
artickat -- back & forth, back & forth
looking a nasty green color artickat's eyes close and then pop back open. "It's worse with your eyes closed!" artickat looks at the others. "Any Dramamine left? PLEASE!" *burp* artickat's eyes go wide as she makes a dive for the side of the boat. *burp* "Sorry about that leaped but it couldn't help it."
Raven-Kat -- “Dramamine all around!!!!
Glad I thought to get a couple a refills. Ticker, you feeling okay? You don't look so good. Dramamine, T-3, or xanax?"
Rae grins, she's actually beginning to get over her initial motion sickness and the rigging(do long-boats even have rigging?) is begining to look AWFULLY inviting...
SunAeryn -- What’s wrong with you people?
Our buddy and fellow Scaper Scooby is in NEED and you are all letting a little motionsickness affect you!" SunAeryn said looking at all the rearends facing her. "Look I'm sorry you guys all feel bad but have you been listening ot Tick? She's really scared that Santa is gonna skin her alive for being late!" Sun added passing out more Dramamine.
Sun looks to Ragnar and Anni, "Now what? Anni, would you please stop swining like that? You're drivin' me kinkoid!" Sun said noticing Anni still swinging.
Meanwhile, down below, Tick can be murmmering in a strange tounge about how much trouble she's gonna be in if she doesn't show up. Sun was worried about her little elfin friend. Mustering up all her height, Sun decided to risk pissing the sick people off if it meant getting this show on the road.
"Will you people SUCK IT UP and get moving. I don't like the looks of Tick.....she's starting to fade. I looked up some info in the EDR about what it means when an elf starts babaling like Tick has. It's not good people, not good at all. If we don't get a move on....the next thing to happen is that she'll start to fade. AS IN DISAPPEAR ALL TOGETHER!" Sun finished in her "Aeryn" voice. She was worried about everyone....but mostly Tick. She knew that the others would be ok....but Tick....that was another story.
Will the others stop yakin' their guts out?
Will anyone be able to understand TickTick?
Would the Gang be able to help Tick get to Santa's in time?
Tune in next to find out.
RagnarRB -- Thru the foggy night
In near silence the longboat slipped from the mouth of the cave, into the head waters of the river Scifi. Overhead and all around the fog lay thick, not uncommon this time of year.
Ragnar spied SWORD working his way back to the helm. In one hand our swashbuckling hero carried a swill bucket. In the other he half helped half shuffled along the figure of their newest addition.
SWORD paused just shy of the helm as Artickat snatched the bucket and burried her face within <<burp>> Ragnar rolled his eyes. He hoped Artic got to feeling better. Over head he heard Anni calling out to tease Sun. That made him smile.
"Uh sorry Ragnar don't mean to..." Artic swooned with the boat as it rocked. SWORD added a little more support. "...didn't mean to get sick. I've been feeling queasy since thanksgiving."
"It's alright you're not alone. " Ragnar offered soliciously. " Seems a lot of people have been sickly since the thanksgiving meal. Some of us missed it you know."
"Here Artic, have a seat." SWORD had set the bucket down and produced a little camping chair for his new friend. There was something about that shade of green.
"Oh thankyou!" Artic sighed. She probmtly drew the bucket to her lap once seated. She smiled in apology."Oh..." her color shifted as the longboat rolled a little...<<belch>>
SWORD offered Artic a towel. "Thanks SWORD>" she smiled a beautiful smile. Turning back to Ragnar.."Sword said you needed to see me."
"Yes," Ragnar offered glancing at the depth finder. "Yes I did."
He pulled out a tube and unrolled a now familiar document. "It's about this map."
"Yes..." Artic leaned foreward for a closer look.
"Well.." Ragnar began his round of questioning.
Behind them a tiny perescope broke the surface, following silently in their wake. A small turkey feather was attached on top...
Annisette -- Sorry Sun! Am I still Swinging???
"Are you sure its just not the motion of the ship?"
Anni began to sway back and forth, back and forth, forward and back near the spar that secured the great rectangular sail and allowed the boat to tack into the wind.
"STOP IT!" Sun was getting tweaked!
Raven, Mouse and leaped were swaying as they watched Anni. "I think I'm gonna...*burp* oh no..." They moved as group to the railing. Artic Kat had gone below already feeling too ill.
Ragnar had looked at Anni earlier, over the other's heads and started laughing. "Guess they still have to find their SEA LEGS, er paws, er wings, er whatever." He had said.
"Well better they get it over with now...those Artic seas can get rough." Sword had piped in. Then they went below.
Still Anni couldn't resist teasing Sun a little.
"I know, sorry, though. I'm just excited to back with you guys!" Anni was tightening the rigging. "It's just the history, the adventure...*Sigh* It always gets me."
Anni just went on a bit to needled Sun, "Did you know that a mast and sail on Viking ships have been dated to about 700 AD and heralded in the GREAT Viking AGE. It wasn't until about 1400 or so that their mastery of the sea was finally challenged. *SIGH* I know the Great sail is computerized on this boat, as well as the oars...But can't you FEEL it?"
"YEA well, whatever." Sun just wanted to go. "History- Smishtory, we gotta hurry for Ticker."
"We KNOW SUN!" Leaped just smiled at Sun. "But the cold weather gives us some time. The EDR says that as long as Ticker has 15 minutes of fresh air every 2 hours, any bad reactions will be limited for the time being. Okay?"
"Well, OK, but I mean it. You all better pull it together!" Aeryn was still feeling PKish.
"Want a dramamine?" LabMOUSE asked sweetly.
"GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR" Was the only reply.
Raven-Kat -- “Hey, Ticker
you wanna' take a walk? I'm making cappicuino up on deck. The real stuff, not that pre-packaged drenn." Rae grabbs TickTick by the shoulder and begins tugging. "Mouse, Ragnar, SWORD? A little help down here..."
"Coffee's done!" someone calls. "How's the little foamer work?"
"I'll show you when we get Tick up there!" Rae shouts. "Move your self, Tick... GUYS!"
RagnarRB -- Meanwhile....
Ragnar stuck his head into the cabin. "What's wrong Raven?"
Raven stood by the only other figure in the room. "It's Tick! I'm trying to coax her up for some fresh air but she doesn't seem to hear me."
Ragnar glanced at the Tickster. She didn't really look all that lost but that funny language she kept mumbling in. A batch of microbes would really come in handy now. He stepped foreward.
"Come on Tick, its time to get some air."
"Oh Santa's going be mad, im gone...gonna be late." She pleaded grabbing him by the shirt. "Oh I gotta go! gotta go!"
"We are going Tick..." Ragnar glanced at Raven.
"See I told you so." Raven began straightening up. "Now what are we going to do?"
Ragnar looked back at the Tick. "Well...." He simply picked her up and carried her. The EDR said fresh air would return her to her senses in no time.
Tickers mumbling began to subside. Ragnar found her a comfortable spot. Raven went to get the cappichino.
...the perescope stalked ever closer....
Raven-Kat -- While Tick’s recovering
could someone show me how to climb the rigging. It looked like fun when Anni was doing it."
Rae grabs onto some ropes and begins climbing. It might be time to switch to decaf.
Raven-Kat -- Swinging from the rigging...
Rae spots something in the water...
"ALL HANDS ON DECK!!!" she bellows. "THAR SHE BLOWS!!!" running out of sea-manly phrases, she shouts, "I think I see something..."
Kahvi -- Oh no
Kahvi shoves her map in her pocket and
runs to the egde of the ship for a closer look.
All she sees is parascope. it is getting closer and closer.
"what do we do?" She screams.
I have no training in tactical advancement.!!!
We have to protect Tick her mission is too important!
Kahvi -- meanwhile.....
The entire gang runs to the railing. The cappicino machine is left running.
Everyone but Tick she is still down below
suddenly they hear something ......
then they see it moving in the water.....
A torpedo...
Oh no What do we do?
Ragner Yells "Hang on!"
"were in for it now"
KABOOM
An explosion of Feathers hit the boat!! Luckily they did not do much damage but the stupid turkey did not know that!
Everyone is relieved and goes back to what they were doing. Unfortunatly when Kahvi turned around and looked out the Stern of the ship she could still see the beach. Realizing they had not gone very far on their journey yet.
Kahvi reaches into her pocket and takes out the map again
SWORDandMUG -- Feathers? Harmless? Not Likely
Kahvi returns to examining the map, but her eyelids grow more and more weary as she examines the map. What is going on, she wonders. She had not felt tired a short bit ago. Perhaps she did need that cappucino afterall.
BUMP!
Hearing the sound, SWORD's head turns to examine the source. He felt lucky to take notice in the midst of the sneezing fit ready to seize him in the midst of the feather cloud. He sees that Kahvi has passed out at her station.
"Hey, have you been... ah... ah... CHOOOOO!!! ...sampling some PUNCH on the job?" he asks while rubbing his nose and saying "excuse me."
"I... don't... understand..." Ragnar says at the tiller, suddenly staggering. SWORD feels it too, but the constant sneezing seems to be keeping him on his feet. That, or the saturation of BROWNIES in his system... He's not certain as to which. However, his senses go on the alert. He feels fortunate that if something can effect his massive friend but leave him with some sense (well, we realize that it is a long stretch of the imagination that SWORD has ANY sense whatsoever) left in him that the situation must be grave.
He examines the rest of the ship. His companions are dropping like flies. Anni struggles to her feet, fighting against the somolent feeling to stand as best she can beside the ever sneezing SWORD.
"...how...?" she asks as best she can.
"I think... ahhhh ahhhh CHOOOO!!!! ..that I am .... ahhhhh.... I am expelling... nhhhhhh... the toxins... ah.. CHOOO!!! ...as I breathe them in..." he struggles to reply, "...but I am beginning to feel the effects anyhow..."
"...yes... feeling... tired..." Anni mumbles leaning against SWORD, "...help me... stay awake..."
A sound of a craft breaking the surface of the water catches their attention. The peer overboard, Anni feeling tired, SWORD sneezing up a storm. There they see the surfacing Turkey Sub.m The hatch opens, and a cadre of turkeys emerge.
"...wha... ahhh.. ahh... CHOOOO! more of them?" SWORD asks.
"...how?...." Anni asks before falling prey to the feather sedative. SWORD lowers her to the deck and draws his rapier, sneezing the entire time as the Turkey SEALS launch themselves at the long boat.
"Come and gehhhh.. ehhh.. aahh... CHOOOO!!!...ett it, birdies," he says, trying to maintain an offense stance amongst the flying feathers and constant gobbling. Turkeys buzz around him, JATO strapped under there wings. Several turkey commandos land upon the deck. SWORD puts up a brave fight, but with the allergy attack and his ever swelling sinuses, he is quickly overwhelmed.
The mob of mad turkeys separates, and Dr. Gobbles strides forth.
"You did not * gobble * expect to see me? Bwahahahah! * gobble * hahahaha!" he taunts. "I have bigger fish to fry than you, silly swordperson."
A couple of turkey commandos appear from below deck, foisting the unconscious but still mumbling TickTick with them.
"I now * gobble * can extract the secret of the pumpking * gobble * recipe that will allow me to create a veritable * gobble * army of turkey soldiers and TO RULE THE WORLD!!!! BWAHHAHAHAHAH * gobble * HAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!"
SWORD struggles against the turkeys, his sneezing getting worse from their proximity. "You.... AHHAH CHOOO!! fiend!" he mutters through sneezes. "You cannnnn CHOO!!! n't do this! She's a ....ahhhhhh CHOO!!!! ...human elf being!"
Dr. Gobbles flicks that funky red thing up to the other side of his head and fans his feathers.
"As though I should be concerned? Turkeys are oppressed throughout the world, human!" he seathes. "You feast upon our flesh and feel no guilt!"
"Sure we do, when we get on the scale after the holidays..."
"SILENCE!!!!" the Tom Turkey roars. "I will suffer not your insolent jibes and wise cracks! I will extract the secret recipe from this elf EVEN IF IT DOES MEAN THE END OF CHRISTMAS!!! No more turkeys will suffer! I am the way! I am the chosen one!"
"...you are.. arre.... .arrreee CHOOOO!!! ...trippin, dude!" SWORD tells him.
Dr. Gobbles motions to one of his Turkey Commandos. SWORD feels something hard hit him in the back of the head. The world suddenly grows dark, and he feels himself falling.
:-{>
RagnarRB -- One more time
Ragnar lay back in the fresh green grass, stretching to the point that even his toes wiggled! Ah this was the life!
It was a warm spring day. The sun beatdown brighteneing the entire meadow. Butterflies flittered across the wildflowers on their daily way. Off to the left, not far, a brook gurgled, flowing over a small waterfall and into the pond.
The sound of a splash and joyous giggling!
Ragnar smiled...then the pain! His world began to bounce!....
<<THUNK>><<THUNK>><<THUNK>><<THUNK>><<THUNK>>
His head bounced off each step as the turkeymandos drug his limp form below decks to an imprompto prison. Not only had Dr. Gobbler turkey napped the Tick but he was taking the longboat as a prize!
<<WENCH>><<DRAGG>><<SQUEAK>>
Ragnar felt the pull on his legs. Little stars circled his head keeping him confused.
*gobble, gobble,gobble*
He pryed one eye open...
...hey! he thought the worlds upside down!
The turkeymandos dragged asnother Scooby below. They were all being hung by their feet, like so many....turkeys!
SWORD at least should feel fight at home. :)
Raven-Kat -- “I’d just like to point out, Dr. Turkey
that I'm a vegitarian!" Rae makes a face as she swings, back and forth. "I'm also incredibly sick to my stomach. And the, uh, the blood is running to my head, which isn't helping my stomach."
<<Burreeep!!!>>
"Oh, I should have stayed on the rigging..."
mouse in the lab -- Oh my!
I do NOT like the way this is turning out!
Here we are (most of us anyway) hanging from our feet with the turkeymandos taking over the longboat, and preventing us from returning Ticker to Santa in time for Christmas.
<Mouse whispers to Ragnar, SWORD, Raven and those others that she can't see once she is sure the Turkeys have left them: do you think if Ticker leaves out an important but easily overlooked spice like cinnamon or something of that nature then the Turkeys will let us all go AND the pie secret will be safe? They won't know it's not right until they try it at home, and by then our mission will hopefully be completed! Turkeys are used to being cooked - I doubt they do much cooking themselves...>
Mouse holds her breath while the others are contemplating the plan - or coming up with a better one...
Raven-Kat -- “Sounds like a plan.
But she'd better leave out more than one ingredient. Like cinnoman and punch..." Rae nods. "Good plan, Mouse. Don't you think, guys?"
fu manchu turkey -- Gobble Gobble give up!!!
Now who do I talk to to get that recipe?
Huh? gobble gobble who?
I want more of my kind !
Oh by the way Raven I am a vigitarian too but you do sit around and whatch others eat my kind!!
But not to worry I am obviously not going to eat you but am not above killing you for that recipe so??? Who has it?
Kahvi -- Hey where where where am I?
Wha wha what is going on?
Kahvi wakes up realizing she is hanging upside down and not sure of her surroundings.
Are we still on the boat? Just down below?
I don't see Tick?
Ragner? Sword? Raven? Annisette? Where is Tick?
Kahvi starts to search her person for the map.
Where is the map? I can't find it oh no What do I do?
RagnarRB -- Torture!
*gobble, gobble*
"looking for this by chance?" The fu_manchu_turkey stopped before Kahvi, tapping her with the missing map. Kahvi blanched at the sight, hard to do with all that blooding flowing to her face.
"You give that back!!!" She screamed, swaying there on her hook!
*gobble gobble*
"BWAHAHAHAHAHA you pretend to give orders to me you consumer of kin!" The fu_manchu_turkey wrapped one wing around her head and leaned close. "Now give me the recipie! I must have it!"
Kahvi squirmed, "Never you overgrown ball of ...mmmmffff" The wing stifled her voice.
"You can not resist!" *gobble gobble*
"Bring in the feathers! It is time for the tickle torture! The first one that gives me the formula gets to scratch!" fu_manchu strutted before his captives. "Bring in the elf so she can witness this feindish punishment of her friends! One of them will talk!"
*gobble, gobble*
The fu_mancho_turkey unrolled the map for a closer look, a new set of specticles on his beak. A hooded turkey advanced on the crew....
fu manchu turkey -- Gobble gobble
Hurry up hooded beast!!
Where are those feathers? I want this over and done with I want my kin. More of them I mean.
"Hey this is a map to Santa's! I don't expect you'll be seeing him anytime soon."
"Where are those Frellin feathers hurry up you turkeys!"
SWORDandMUG -- Resistance is feudal
"What if TickTick leaves out an ingredient?" Raven_Kat asks. "Would that be a good plan?"
"That would first depend on our being able to pass the idea onto Ticker, which does not presently seem to be an option," Ragnar replies.
"Besides," Anni chimes in, "the PUNCH OF DOOM is the volatile ingredient. What Ticker adds to her baked goods that causes them to be effect SWORD and others in a more psychotic fashion is not yet known."
A disappointed murmur echoes through the crew.
"...what are we going to do?" LabMouse asks, her nose twitching.
"I'm thinking," Ragnar responds, his tall body bunched over as the hold has insufficient ceiling height to allow him to hang like the other crew members. He ponders this.
"nnnn....nnnnn...." is the sound that comes from SWORD, "..nnnnn...aAAHHH CHOOOOO!!!... <snif>... Turkeymando's approaching..." he mumbles.
Into the hold walks a turbaned turkey with four Turkeymando (TK's?) escorting him. He paces in front of the upside down prisoners several times and then stops. He speaks to them in broken English.
"You hab de seklet ingledientz tu de poompkeen blowniez? We hab waze ob makging you talk!"
Anni stares him down. "And who are you?"
"I am de ebil Abdul Turkey from Turkey. I am youd wurst nightmair. We begin wit de tordure. You weell talk." Abdul points at SWORD. "Take heem. We weell stirt wit heem."
The TKs untile SWORD's feet. THUD!!! he hits the deck head first. "...aaahfh CHOOOO!!!..."
"That's different. Last time it was a thud, jingle, jingle..." SunAeryn says to Kahvi.
"...I'll never talk..." SWORD says defiantly as the TKs drag him forward.
"We shull zee about dat," Abdul threatens him, his beak inches from SWORD'S nose.
SWORD shudders. Abdul watches him, uncertain as to whether this was fear or anger. SWORD's nose twitches.
"aaahh CHOOOOO!!!!!" and knocks Abdul's turban off with the force of the sneeze.
"I think we have a distraction," Anni whispers to Ragnar.
:-{>
Raven-Kat -- I think I have a way to get to TickTick
Rae whispers to Mouse, who happens to be hanging nearest to her. "Just bear with me. Pass it on."
She clears her throat. "Excuse me, Shiek Abdul."
The title of respect gets the trukey's attention. "What?"
"It seems to me that you are perhaps just a little confused her. United States armies have been close allies with your people since the end of World War One when no one else would come to your aid. My father spent to years in Turkey defending your most laudable goverment."
The others are just staring at her.
"I really have respect for your country, the only secular state in the middle east, and uh, uh, uh, they grow great pistachios. Maybe we can come to some sort of, uh, arangment? After all, I'm a vegitarian. If you let me down..."
RagnarRB -- The way, Anni, the way!
Ragnar watched with mixed amusement as the turban rolled off the turkeys head. Wings were flying and a moments confusion ensued. If only SWORD had had his morning helping of brownies!
The fu_mancho_turkey had gone above decks, carring the map, angry at his minion for Ticker had yet to be brought. Now was the chance! But how?
Ragnar tapped his head on the floor in thought, thinking back at each of their special talents! There was a way if only...A way!?! Not "A" way, "THE" way!
"Anni! The way! Use the weirding way!" Ragnar whispered intently!
Anni looked puzzed, there was no way of knowing if it would work on turkeys, besides it had been a while since she had had PUNCH to concusme.
"The way and the WORD Anni! On our bonds!" Ragnar hissed.
Anni's eyes brightened in understanding. She began to concertrate. Ragnar would be first. If nothing else he was big enough to outmass the four turkeymandos long enough for her to free the others!
Raven had addressed the sheik turkey. He didn't know what she had in mind, but hopefully...
Anni's voice began to vibrate....