I'll Be Dog-Gone (26)
Kaybe0 -- As Chryse, Jila, and Kay
sat discussing their fantasies, and keeping out the private parts of them, Kay absentmindedly reached into her pocket, and felt the small pouch. "Oh, I almost forgot!" she said. "Jilla, since Geradan is back, there is someplace I would like to send him on an errand. Do you think you could ask him for me?" Explaining to Jilla what she needed Geradan to deliver, she held up the little pouch. Jilla called Geradan and asked if he would deliver it to a place, that only he could find. None of the Scoobies would be able to find it.
Taking the tiny pouch delicately in his teeth he flew off. Now, to only wait till the Scoobs were back together again. It looked like they were all strolling in one by one after their fantasies. Kay had allready spoke to Roarke about a mini fantasy before they all left there.
artickat -- The pirate crew....
As the mini Scooby gang stared back at Kitten in her ridiculous pirate get up, ideas began to form in her head.
*Tell me why we are dressed like this again* Thor asked Louie, looking down at himself.
Standing up on his back claws Louie shifted excitedly from one leg to another as he answered *Because boss...our fantasy was to be pirates! Yeah, yeah, yeah!* Louie licked his chops at the thought of being a pirate even if it was only for a short time.
*And why is 'SHE' the Captain?* Thor snorted.
Louie looked at Thor in shock as if the answer were perfectly clear to anyone *Who better to get us into pirate trouble than Kitten? Huh, huh, huh?!!*
*sigh* Thor had to concede that there was no one better at getting into trouble than Kitten.
As Thor and Louie were discussing the finer points of pirating Kitten had climbed her little Napoleon self onto Elvis's head and cleared her throat. *Attention! I've decided what our mission is!*
"Oh brother...here we go!" Sweetie muttered to no one in particular.
Kitten frowned at Sweetie for the interruption. *We are going to take over another ship!*
*What ship?* Thor called out.
Kitten scratched her head…she hadn't gotten that far in her plan yet. *The first ship we come across!* Kitten grinned.
"How can we over take another ship if we aren't moving?" Sweetie thought that this question would end this ridiculous fantasy of Kitten's before things got out of hand...no such luck. :)
Louie stepped forward *Thor and I could steer the Longboat!* Kitten nodded her head at him in agreement *I get to steer! I get to steer!* Louie sang out with glee.
*That's it then...* Kitten paused not sure of what to do next, then she raised her sword above her head and yelled out *Let's got get some...lou...boun...STUFF!*
*YEAH!!!!* cheered her crew.
Elvis looked from one mini Scooby to another and thought *This can't be good...I hope Ragnar doesn't find out...*
*****
Artic whispers as she watches a woman at the table behind Ragnar "That looks more like what I think 'Shelby Loven' would look like...in her mid-forties, attractive, intellectual but kinda shy."
Ragnar turns to look at the woman and Artic freaks out "DON'T LOOK!" at, which point everyone in the Café turns to look at her. Blushing at all the attention Artic clears her throat and squeaks "Sorry!" before burying her head into her cup of Cocoa.
Ragnar chuckles to himself "Maybe it is her, why don't you ask her?"
"Ask her? Ask her?" Artic turns white as a ghost (hi ghostie!) "I couldn't do that! I would just be another...another...irritating FAN!" *sigh* "Who am I kidding...I am an irritating fan...I won't meet her and even if I did I would be totally tongue tied." Taking a fortifying sip of Cocoa she continues "Don't get me wrong...it's not like I don't know she is just a human being...but sometimes there are people that just amaze you with their talent...ya know? I don't know what I'm trying to say...never mind." *sigh*
Ragnar looks at Artic and decides to take pity on her "That isn't her."
"Huh?" Artic looks at Ragnar in shock "How do you know?"
"Well, she doesn't have that look in her eye." Ragnar says nonchalantly as Artic looks at him questioning his judgement "She writes Romance books, right?" Artic nods her head "Well...I would think a Romance writer would have a certain twinkle in their eye and that woman doesn't have that twinkle."
Artick takes a closer look at the woman "You're right! But you're wrong too."
"How so?" Ragnar turns to look only to blush when he finds the woman starring at him.
Artic chuckles "She has a twinkle in her eye...he,he...just not the kind you are talking about!" ;)
******
*Steady Thor! Stop moving around!* Louie cried as he tried to balance on Thor's head. Thor growled but stood still so that Louie could better steer the Longboat *See Kitten?! Nothing to it!* Louie's face split into the largest grin any of them had ever seen on his face before.
"SHIPS! SHIPS!" Sweetie cried as he flew in from the crow's nest were, he had been on the look out for just such an event. "There are a bunch of ships out there!"
"Which one do you want to over take 'Captain'?" Thor flinched at the word Captain and moaned when Elvis lifted a paw and saluted Kitten.
Kitten puffed up her chest, flipping her eye patch up she peered through a pair of tiny binoculars at the other ships. "Hmm...Hey!" Suddenly Kitten dropped the binoculars and ran off just to come back a second later, carting a box of Crunch with her. Picking up the binoculars Kitten checked out the ships once again...then she looked at the back of the Crunch box...ships...Crunch...and back at the ships again. *That one!* Kitten cried out and pointed to the ship she had chosen.
"Why that one?" Elvis asked as Kitten's choice came into view.
*You can't tell?* Kitten pointed to the box of Crunch *It's Captain Crunch's ship!* The ship did look exactly like the ship pictured on the back of the box of Crunch.
Sweetie frowned and thought *That isn't Captain Crunch's ship...it's a reality channel ship!* but he said not a word out loud.
#%}
RagnarRB -- Pedro watched
the waters off the starboard side of the ship and tried not to nod off. He wasn't sure why he let Jeff talk him into this job but it really wasn't all that bad. He and is life long bud had needed something to do and deffinately somewhere to go that was outside the clutchs of their latest employer....deckhands on the Reality freighter seemed just the ticket. Not much of a crew and no questions asked. After all what or who would possible bother them here? Nobody EVER stopped one of Realities ships in these waters. All the loonies like the 'scooby gang' were too caught up in their fantasies to even notice.
Thoughts of that bunch sent a shivver up his spine. They had been nothing but trouble and disaster in his chosen career since he and Jeff had tried that kidnapping in Mexico. Some women you lusted after, some women you admired....scooby women, you better just act like you respect them and run away the first chance you get. Oh he knew they were well liked and popular in their little corner of the world...but he had also learned they were trouble! No pliable and easy like he liked them!
"How goes it Ped?"
Pedro startled, greatfull it was Jeff that had caught him daydreaming and not the First mate!
"Wee man don't do that!"
Jeff chucked. "You better pay more attention than that unless you want to clean the hold again."
Pedro glared at that thought. He hated that job. Maybe that's why the Mate kept giving it to him when he messed up.
"See anything?"
"Naw." Pedro replied, greatful for the change of subject.
Jeff scanned the horizon. "Isn't that a ship?"
"Where?"
Jeff pointed and Pedro raised the looking glass to his eye....he turned white! It cann't be! NO! NOT the longboat!
"Ca...ca..CAPTAIN!"
Sweetiepie Parrot -- From his perch in the crow’s nest
Sweetiepie looked down at the animal crew.
They weren't on the REAL longboat. Without hands, they could never have handled that vehicle. But this coppy of the boat, provided by Roarke, was even better for their purposes.
Louie wasn't real either. Louie was Drumheller's familliar and when Drum had left to study magic with Moraine, Louie had gone with him. But, though Sweetiepie would NEVER admit it to anyone, he missed Louie too. And when this illusary Louie had turned up with the "longboat" he hadn't bothered to point it out to anyone.
"Awk, Captain." Sweetiepie said. (Why not play along?) "The swabbies have turned to port. They're trying to escape!"
"Throw on more sail!" Captain kitten yelled.
"Aye aye, Captain." Elvis said, putting on more sail.
The "longboat" cut through the water toward their intended victim...
Mouse2000 -- Mouse heard a funny noise
Coming out of Spyral's hut and stopped. She knocked on the door, and heard a distracted, "Come in...". She cautiously opened the door and saw Spyral lying on his bed, glassy-eyed. First she thought Spyral had gotten into Ragnar's Punch supplies on the boat, but no, not this time. She walked over to the bed and sat gingerly on the side. He raised his head to look at her, then put it back down and continued babbling.
"Joan.... fighting.... Hundred Years War... Joan of Arc.... faster!!! OMG.... the real one??... she real? right here??" was about all she could understand. Mouse surmised that while she was off on her fantasy to the pyramids in Ancient Egypt, Spyral was off on his own fantasy, and it included his heroine, Joan of Arc. She patted his hand and kissed his forehead after she tucked him in. He was going to need a lot of sleep after that fantasy!
After she left his hut, she decided she had neglected her Juno-pup for too long and headed to where the longboat was moored.
Lurkingghost -- ‘Ghost walks up to Ragnar and artic
looking not a bit transparent.
"'Ghost, you're not a ghost anymore," they say with not a small amount of astonishment.
"Yeah, this is my fantasy. To have a body again, and drink hot cocoa." She signals the waiter.
"So, what are you doing?"
JilaCosa -- A shiver crosses Jila’s back
but it's not from a cold chill. Jila looks around to see if someone might have bumped her backpack in passing.
*Nope.... no one's around.* Jila sighs *Probably just my imagination.*
Then something more like a shudder shakes the backpack.
"What now?" Jila scowls, looking around again. Kaybe and Chryse look at Jila with raised eyebrows, perhaps wondering if the recent Scoob adventures have finally taken their tool on her. The backpack shudders again and Jila suddenly remembers why. It's the egg, and it's Hatching!
"Food* Remembering what Lessa told her *Meat. It'll need meat.* Jila jumps up from the table and runs for the restaurant's kitchen.
"Jila!" Kaybe and Chryse yell at the same time "Where are you going?" They jump out of their chairs and try to catch up with the running Jila. Jila runs into the kitchen, finds the refrigerator, and whips open the door.
"Hey!" "What the....?" "You can't be in here!" The Chefs yell as the girls race through.
"Look," Jila says over her shoulder at the chefs, as she rummages through the food in the fridge. "This is an emergency. I'll explain it to Mr Roarke later." The Chefs didn't like having the guests in the kitchen but they knew that Mr. Roarke would excuse almost anything.
"Jila, have you lost your mind?" Kaybe asks, grabbing Jila's arm.
"Ah, here, exactly what I need!" Jila gently pulls Kay's hand off her arm and yanks a T-bone steak out of the fridge. "Come on! Quick!"
The three girls race out of the kitchen and the restaurant itself to a nearby tree where Jila sits down quickly. She hurries to take off and and unzip her backpack, and then pulls out the golden egg. As the fire lizard inside the egg scratches and bangs against the inner shell to crack it, the egg dances like a Mexican jumping bean. Jila sits Indian style and places the egg in the open circle of her legs.
"It's time!" Jila says excitedly, as she rips the steak into small pieces.
"Time?" Chryse turns to Kaybe.
"For the egg to hatch and bond with Jila." Kaybe says. "This should be amazing." Kaybe then tells Chryse more about her adventures in Pern and the gift of the egg. "It's a gift from the Weyrleaders of an area named Benden. It's a golden fire lizard, a female. Jila needs to be the first person it sees to bond with it. Also, Lessa says that, like the full size dragons, fire lizards are nothing but appetite at birth."
"Should we stay?" Chryse asks, knowing how important the bonding must be. "I wouldn't want to be seen by it first."
"Hmmm, you're right. Kaybe says looking around "How about if we watch from under that tree?"
Chryse nods and the two walk just a few feet to the shade of another tree. In just a few moments they see Jila jump and grab the egg from the ground. Soon the shell drops out of her hands, and there sits the gold fire lizard. The colors in the eyes swirl and it's mouth opens. Jila grabs for a piece of the meat and holds it in front of the fire lizards face. The fire lizard snaps up the meat quickly and opens it's mouth for more. Chryse and Kaybe watch in wonder as Jila continues to offer bits of meat until what was a rather large steak is nearly gone. The little fire lizard then extends it's wings and flaps them experimentally. Tears of joy trickle down Jila's face as Chryse and Kaybe rejoin her.
"Are they born with names like the dragons." Kaybe asks
"No, I have to name her."
"Have you thought of a name?" Chryse squats down to look the tiny dragon in the eyes, the swirling pattern slows. *She is content with Jila.*
"Yes." Jila sighs. "I will name her Pandora, because, unless we keep close track of her, especially when she meets Thor, Sweetiepie, and artickitten, there could be trouble." Jila chuckles, "Scoob kind of trouble."
"A very appropriate name." a deep voice behind Chryse says. Chryse nearly falls over Jila in surprise. Mr. Roarke catches her arms and helps her maintain her balance just in time. He then bends over and strokes the fire lizard across it's head. "She is a beauty. She will serve you well."
"Thank you." Jila smiles, brushing her fingertips over the fire lizard. "Mr. Roarke I....."
"It is fine. No further explanation is needed. A good evening to you, ladies." Mr. Roarke says and walks away.
RagnarRB -- Ragnar splurged
and bought them all a round of hot coco. My what a generous man some days. The good flavored stuff too! Well if you want it anyway. Marshmellows?
Ragnar looked at ghost and smiled. "You know kiddo I think I like this you. One of these days you're going to have to tell us how you became a ghost to begin with."
Ghost looked a little down and sipped her warm drink through a slight frown. "I wish i knew..." She eaked out.
Ragnar paused a bit and eyed Artic. That had never really occured to him before.
He sipped his own drink. "You mean you don't know?"
She just kind of shrugged. "No...I don't really have a clear memory of my past at all."
"Hmmm...well then we'll just have to do something about that."
"It's no biggy." Ghost offered.
"Not knowing where you come from? Of course it is." Artic interjected. "I'll help to." added with firm conviction. Scoobies do stick together.
Ghost smiled. It felt good to actually FEEL it when she did that. Ragnar winked reassuringly at here. He would work on it.
"So." Ghost asked seeking a change of subject." What are the two of you doing?"
"Well..." Ragnar began to explain Artics fantasy...or lack there of....
Kaybe0 -- It is time
said Mr. Roarke with a wink at Kaybe, as he went off to collect the others. "Time for what?" asked Chryse, still watching Jilla's Dragon Lizard. "The gifts?" asked Jila looking at Kay with a grin. "Yep", said Kay. "Can we pet her yet?" she asked, her hands itching to reach down and pet Pandora, but, not knowing if it is appropriate yet. Jila agreed that light petting is permitted at this point. Kay and Chryse take turns stroking Pandora, who actually seemed to purr. But, her eyes constantly went back to watch Jila, who smiled at her like a proud mother. Kay instructed Jila and Chryse to follow her, while Roarke got the other Scoobs together.Collecting Spyral and Mouse from Spyral's room, and Ghost, Artic, and Ragnar,(much to the relief of Ragnar), and Sun and Rae, and IQ and Kara, and Viridian, Sixth, and Artist, Roarke led them to an area in some trees that they had not noticed before. It was beautiful. There was a stream running across some rocks, and larger rocks situated here and there that the Scoobies used to get comfortable on, and lilly pads, and flowers and butterflies. The sun sent rays through the leaves of the treas, and it was almost the kind of place you would expect to see fairies in. Roarke explained to the curious group, that this was a place that Kay had asked for. Then he bowed out and all eyes turned to Kay to see what was next. Holding a basket, she explained. "I wanted to get us all a gift. A souvenier to remember our journey with. And, I loved visiting Pern, so I picked the gifts there. But, I had to ask Jilla for help, and I also had to ask Rae to help me with a little magic, to make them just what I wanted." This being said, she reached into the basket, and pulled out tiny felt bags, for each Scoobie and handed them to them. The last one she took for herself. As they opened them, they saw tiny pewter-like dragons on chains, with ruby eyes. The pendents were exquisite in detail. Great care had been taken in makeing them. As each person put on their pendant, Kay continued. "I also, asked Geradan to take one of these to Drum, since none of us could possibly know where Morraine has taken him to study. He has one also. Now, the magic in them is what is so special. If we close our hand tightly around the pendant and close our eyes, we will always meet in our thoughts in this place right here. In this setting. It doesn't matter if we are separated by hundreds of miles. We will always be able to reach each other through our thoughts. Just not in person. Although, when we meet here, it will feel like we are here in person. That way, we can never really be separated, no matter what life brings us". Smiling, she stopped for only a moment and continued. "I thought that the first time we tested them, would be to speak to Drum and tell him goodbye for now. We don't know how long he will be studying with Morraine. It could be a long time." So, the Scoobs all held tightly to their pendants, and closed their eyes, and thought of the Scoobie gang. And all of a sudden, they were here together, even with their eyes closed, and Drum was sitting on a rock with them. "What happened?" asked a very surprised Drum with a look of delight on his face. Explaining to Drum, what the instructions with his pendant didn't tell him. Kay went up and gave him a great big hug. "We just wanted to tell you that you can reach us any time you want to, and we will always be able to see you in our thoughts. And we wanted to tell you that we are all behind you, and support you fully in your studies. And that we will miss you terribley till we meet again. We love you Drum." With misty eyes, Kay reached up and gave him a kiss on the cheek, and Drum turned to the others. Just then, Morraine appeared in their vision. Smiling she stood beside Drum and spoke to them in a gentle, but firm way. "Drum will be very busy with his studies", she explained. "And he won't have time to visit every time one of you has a whim to talk to him. He will be permitted to reach you with his lovely pendant, only as a reward for hard study, and at certain times. You will each have a minute with him now, and then it is goodbye for now. What a clever idea", she smiled at Kay. "And, Rae, you did a wonderful job on the magic you applied in them. Not many people could have pulled a student away from an exercise I was giving. And, with your permission Kay, I would like to leave a little gift of my own behind with your dragons." "Certainly, said Kay with awe in her voice. I would be thrilled." Morraine went to each person, and held their dragon in her hands as she smiled at them. When she had completed the last person, she turned back to the group. "I have given you all the blessing of peace in your life, and any time you miss our little fantasy land, just listen to your dragon." With that, she motioned for Kay to lift her dragon to her ear. When she held it right to her ear, she could hear the most magical, and dainty melody. One of pure beauty. The others all did the same. "Oh, thankyou so much", said Kay to her. I am delighted you like it, said Morraine. "Now, quickly, say your goodbyes to Drumheller, as he and I have a date with some spells." Smiling and lifting her hand, she dissapeared. The Scoobies, each turned to say their goodbyes to Drum, before he too, dissapeared until the next time.
JilaCosa -- “OMG, that was incredible!”
Jila sighs, as the spell dissipates. "Your magic achieved that Rae? Amazing! I could feel you all inside my head. And Drum too. I will certainly miss him, and his little goof-ups." Once again Jila squeezes her eyes shut and pictures herself giving Drum a hug and wishing him well with his studies. On the beach, Geradan bugles back the same sentiments.
Viridian -- How Vi got back from the mountains
(Backing up the story ever so slightly...)
“Jigme, hold still!”
The little boy rolled his eyes and tried not to squirm. “Ladyyy....” he whined.
“Not ‘Lady’, my name is Viridian. Now hold still-- how can I draw your picture if you keep moving?” With a series of quick movements, Viridian finished the drawing. With the sketches she had done and the photographs she had taken, she knew she had the makings of several more paintings. She wiped her hands off on a rag and put down her pad of paper. Groaning, she eased her stiff knees into a standing position and straightened out the outfit she wore. She was in an ankle length dress called a kira; it was the traditional dress that Bhutanese woman wore. Viridian’s of course, was several shades of pink.
All around her lay the fruits of her labor. When she had arrived some days before, she had discovered a small studio waiting for her filled with the supplies she would need. Now five finished canvases, still quite wet, were propped up against one wall. Viridian stretched and sighed in enormous satisfaction. She hadn’t produced this much work so quickly in years. She smiled as little Jigme made a big show of how tired and stiff he was from sitting still so long. She gently tore the drawing she had just finished from its pad and gave it to the child. “Here you go.. Why don’t you give this to your mother?” The boy grinned at her and took the picture.
There was a brief knock at the door and then Mr Roarke stepped in. “Ms. Viridian? I am afraid it is time to go.”
Vi pouted “So soon?”
Roarke nodded. “Several of your friends are already done with their fantasies and are waiting for you.” He gestured at her paintings and drawings. “Don’t worry about these-- they will be waiting for you in your Longboat.”
Viridian bent down and gave a bashful Jigme a kiss on top of his head. “Thank you for your help Jigme. Now stay out of trouble, you hear?” The boy giggled and ran out the studio with his picture. “Mr. Roarke, this was truly wonderful-- how can I thank you?”
Roarke carefully picked up one of the wet paintings by its edges. “May I keep this?” It was a landscape of the great mountains.
“Of course. Consider it yours.”
Roarke bowed gallantly. “Thank you Madame-- now, if you will follow me...”
He led her out of the door and onto the beach at Fantasy Island where the other Scoobies were waiting.
SunAeryn -- Sun was the first to leave...
the beautiful spot where they all said their goodbyes to Drum. She was on a mission and nothing or no one would stop her. She spotted her "prey" on the beach...sitting in a lounge chair.
"Um, miss." a little voice was heard.
Sun kept on walking towards the figure sitting in the lounge chair.
"Miss, de boss doesn't want to be disturb." Tatoo said trying to stop Sun
"Thanks for the warning...but I really need to talk to him." Sun insisted
Sun walked past Tatoo and straight for Mr. Roarke lounging.
"Mr. Roarke?" Sun asked.
Roarke jumped, and backed away from Sun
"Ms Sun, I'm sorry that your fan..." Roarke started
"Look, I realize that it isn't your fault that my fantasy turned out the way it did. You tried. I just came to thank you for the good part of it." Sun interupted Roarke.
Roarke looked at Sun, amazed that she wasn't trying to harm him.
"Roarke, you have to realize that, not many people know about how I became a PK. I should have known that your island wouldn't know how to "deal" with a Scarren ship. They are very hard to track...much less reproduce." Sun added with a sigh.
Roarke looked at her..."A what? What are you talking about?"
"The reason my fantasy went wrong...that ship that you couldn't figure out." Sun added
"Oh, that." Roarke, still not sure Sun wasn't out to harm him.
"Look, I'm not going to hurt you. I'm trying to apologize for my wanting to and for Rae actually doing it." Sun offered and continued,
"The Scarrens are a nasty race of aliens. They took me from the Center shortly after I got there...I had tried to block that particular memory, but your island made me remember it. In a way, I'm glad...I had forgotten how Dorotea and everyone at the Center made me feel." Sun smiled
"They made me feel like I was worth something. I lost that when the Scarrens took me. I tried to get that back...but then I wound up in the PK and well....it was lost again." Sun added.
Sun walked over to Roarke, gave him a hug and kissed him on the cheek.
"Thank you for helping me remember that I can be more." Sun turned and headed for the longboat, smiling.
Raven-Kat -- As the others left,
Rae looked up at Roarke. "You could come with us, you know."
"I beg your pardon?" Roarke regarded her with wide eyes.
Rae grinned. "You know. Your Fantasy. To be free of this forsaken hole."
"You see it as I do?"
Rae nodded slowly. "A prison, yes. Lovely, but still you are captive here. Subject to the whims of your guests. You must have screwed with a powerful god."
"Indeed so." Roarke laughed.
"Then come. It is within my power to accomplish and I have no fear of the gods."
Roarke shook his head reluctantly. "No, I think not. You ladies are..."
"Unpredictable?" Rae inquired with a grin. "As you say." With a shrug, she started towards the gangplank. "Find peace." she yelled over her shoulder. "Freedom follows from that."
"Find knowledge." Roarke responded in like. "Power follows from THAT."
Laughing, Rae boarded the ship and found Sun. "Hey!"
Sun regarded her thoughtfully. "Hey." she responded finally.
"That's Terran for 'I don't want to talk' isn't it?"
"Yes."
"Okay, then. Later." Rae turns to leave. "Say. You fight?"
"Of course I fight. I was PK."
"We should do that later. It's been cycles since I've had a worthy opponent. Think it over." Rae walked to her own room.
Leaning back onto her bunk, she smiled at the pleasant static in her head. The smile faded as she looked around the barren room. With a snap of her fingers, the furnishings of the room change to exactly replicate those of her attic room in the mansion.
As the ship begins to move, Rae rises to stoke the fire and make a pot of tea.
IQ120 -- IQ sat in a lawnchair on the deck of
...the longboat. Mouse walked by.
"What are you doing, IQ?" asked Mouse.
"knitting an invisible cloak. I bought some invisible yarn at the gift shop...there all done."
IQ held up the invisible cloak(which niether of them could see). Suddenly the longboat lurched slightly, and IQ dropped his invisible cloak.
"oh no...Mouse can you help me look for my invisible cloak." said IQ as he began feeling the deck of the longboat for something tangible.
JilaCosa -- AsJila sits on her bunk with Pandora,
she pictures in her mind the people and places that matter to her the most, her family, the FarScape Mansion, her suite at the Mansion, and all of the Scoobs. The fire lizards, like their cousins the dragons, have the ability to go Between, but if they don't know where they're going or who they're looking for, they never reach their destination. Going through the faces of the Scoobs, Jila remembers that she wanted to talk to Rae about those flamin' new comms that didn't work when they were suppose to.
"Come on girl." Jila picks up Pandora, putting the little fire lizard on her shoulder, "It's time to give you a tour of the ship." Jila walks out of her cabin and up the hall to Rae's door.
"Rae, are you in there?" Jila calls out as she knocks softly on the door.
"Yes." Rae replies, "Just a minute." Jila hears Rae's feet padding across the floor and then the cabin door open. "Hi, come on in. Whatcha need?"
"I've come to ask you why those comm units didn't work like you said they would." Jila says, entering the room and closing the door. "I wanted to talk to you about it while we were on the island but I got a little sidetracked. I suppose it was a good thing though, I Was a little mad. Kaybe, Chryse, Vi, Artist, and I were stuck here on the Longboat during the worst storm I've ever seen. We called to you, Ragnar, and 6th for help but nobody answered. It's a wonder the Longboat, or the five of us survived."
Raven-Kat -- “Uh, come in, Jila.”
Rae lets Jila in and dmiles at her new friend. "Lovely creature. You're a lucky woman."
"Yeah, I am, aren't I?" Jila stares adoringly down at the lizard.
"Let me see your comm." Rae tells her. "Can I offer you a cup of tea?"
"Yes please." Jila hands her the comm and sits on a bean-bag chair. "What did you do to the room?"
"I was getting sick of long-boat chic." Rae hands Jila a mug of tea and stares down at the comm. She slowly starts giggling. "Oh..."
"WHAT?" Jila demands, nearly dropping her tea at the unusual sound.
"It's..." Rae wipes tears from her eyes. "The, uh... the on-off switch." Rae snickers and sinks into a chair. "I guess it might have helped if I'd marked it in Terran. You had it off!"
"Oh." Jila grins sheepishly. "Oops."
"Oops." Rae agrees solemnly before disolving into howls of laughter.
RagnarRB -- Back on the longbaot
Ragnar very carefully placed Kaybe's gift in a box and locked it away in a safe hidden spot.
Fixing a pot of coffee he poured a little into a mug which he left on the counter in case anyone wanted some. The rest he took with him as he moved about the ship checking for damage from the storm.
Now where had the animals gotten off to? Roarke said they'd be along....something about their fantasy not going quite as planned....
Figures.
Viridian -- Smelling the freshly brewed coffee,
Viridian crawled out of her Groovy Girl Pup Tent and headed toward the coffee pot. As she walked across the deck, her feet got caught up in something and she fell to the deck with a thud.
"OWWWW!" she bellowed and pulled herself up into a sitting position. "What in the hezmana did I trip over?"
Mouse and IQ came running over. "Are you okay?" Mouse wanted to know.
Viridian rubbed the spot on her arm that had taken most of her weight. "Yeah, but what tripped me?" Vi looked down at her feet and squeaked in alarm. Her feet had vanished. She felt around where her feet should be and found herself holding the incredibly soft yarn of the invisible cloak. She glanced up at IQ who was suddenly looking sheepish. She scowled at him. "IQ do you have some thing to do with this?"
He reached down toward her hands and snatched the cloak out of her grasp. "Uh, sorry Vi, it got away from me." He patted her on the head and high-tailed it out of there. Mouse helped Viridian to her feet.
"I have only one question," Vi said later as they both poured out some coffee, "How did he manage to knit that thing? I mean, when I made sweaters, I had to pay attention to what I was doing, or I had dropped stitches all over the place. That yarn is INVISIBLE! How did he do it?"
Mouse regarded her friend thoughtfully and stirred some cream in her mug. "This is IQ we are talking about, Vi."
Viridian sighed, then looked alarmed. "Oh my God, he didn't bring the disco ball with him????"
Sweetiepie Parrot -- Yo ho ho and a bottle of Rum!
The mini longboat the animals were sailing pulled up beside the cargo ship from the Reality Channel.
<Avast you swabbies!> Captain Kitten yelled. <Surrender and you'll be well treated. Otherwise you all walk the plank!>
The railing of the Reality boat quickly filled up with amused sailors.
"Look at that!" one said. "Trained animals. What will they think of next?"
"Yeah." said a second sailor. "This would go great on America's Funniest Pets. Quick, go get your cam corder."
<Ahoy maties, surrender now!> Captain Kitten said.
Of course she was speaking in feline and the sailors didn't understand her.
"Look at the little costumes!" one of the sailors said. "Hey Pedro, ain't that darling?"
"Yeah, darling." Pedro said unenthusiasticly. He recognized the longboat and was afraid Ragnar or Sixth would show up soon. He didn't find the animal pirates at all charming.
But all the other sailors did.
"He he he, listen to that cat." One of the sailors said. "Listen to it mew. You'd think it knew what it was saying."
<I do know what I'm saying you goofball!> Kitten shouted. <What's wrong with you people? We're fierce pirates! You should be afraid!>
"Hahahahahahaha." laughed the sailors.
"Um, I don't think they're impressed." Sweetiepie muttered.
<I don't like this.> Elvis wailed. <Those men are mean.>
*This will impress them.* Thor promised. Then he let out a loud Roar.
ROAR!!!!!
Thor snarled and gnashed his teeth.
"Hahahahahahahahahaha." the sailors laughed.
<This is no fun.> Kitten said with a stamp of her feet. <Those rude sailors are ruining my fantasy!>
One of the sailors returned with his video camera and started filming them.
"America's Funniest Videos here I come." he said with a grin. "Think I'll win the prize?"
"Maybe you should send that film to Hard Copy, or Entertainment Tonight." one of the other sailors suggested.
"They had something like this on Cops." another sailor said. "These circus animals were being abused and the police had to arrest everyone at the circus."
"Are those animals ok?" a sailor asked. "Maybe we should catch them and take them to the ASPCA so nobody can abuse them."
<Not back to the pooooound.> Elvis wailed.
"Let's get the hezmana out of here." Sweetiepie suggested.
But the sailors had already lowered a rowboat to the water and were coming after them...
KaraS -- “Is everybody back aboard?”
Kara asked Ragnar.
"No, the animals are still missing." Ragnar replied. "Are you in a hurry?"
"I'd just like to blow this pop stand." Kara said.
"Didn't you enjoy your fantasy?" Ragnar asked.
"Nobody offered me one." Kara sighed. "Roarke walked right past me without looking at me. I don't think he could see me for some reason. Maybe because... Well, THAT's not important. Anyway, I spent most of my time on the beach which was nice as far as it went, but it was kind of dull. There wasn't even anything good to read around here. Just this Shelby Loven novel I found in Artic's cabin. Yuck!"
"You don't like Shelby Loven's work?" Ragnar asked.
"She's a hack." Kara replied, disgusted. "Have you ever read any of her stuff? It's so mushy and dumb. Give me a good car chase any day."
Ragnar sighed. Perhaps he should include a car chase in his next book...
"Let's get this show back on the road. We've picked up more dogs than we've found homes for." Kara pointed out. "I do want to be back at the Mansion for Christmas. Perhaps we can have another Christmas party up in the rooftop lodge."
Ragnar's eyes twinkled. "Do you think we could get SWORD back up there?" he chuckled.
"Maybe if I promised to wear that coat for him again." Kara grinned.
"But is anything worn under that coat?" Ragnar mused.
"No, it all works just fine." Kara said.
"Well, we'll take off with the evening tide." Ragnar said. "If the animals aren't back by then we'll pick them up on the way."
"I hope they're enjoying THEIR fantasy..."
RagnarRB -- Kitten pouted
and glared at the offending humans. They weren't playing fair! Pooey! Whose fantasy was this anyway? And Roarke insisted she play nice...
"Uh Captain Kitten..." Louie worriedly began.
Sweetie rolled his eyes....*And they call me the birdbrain.
<<Brace yourself mateies, this calls for dire action!>> Kitten mewed.<<Prepare to repell boarders!>>
Elvis shifted from foot to foot nervously...*not the pound, not the pound...not the pound...
<<Well Genius, what now?>> Sweetie squawked.
Kitten rubbed her chin, Thor looked miffed that his roar had no effect. Where was the growing powder when he really needed it...
She thought, and she thought...the row boat grew closer....
An evil grin crossed her kitten face. She knew the solution.
<<Release the HOUNDS!!>> She bellowed while waving her sword over her head.
How nice of IQ to have returned them.....
Kaybe0 -- Looking through the galley
for something quick and easy to make, after she had watered and fed the dogs, Kay found 3 huge muffin tins and smiled. For a guy, Ragnar sure did carry the right things around on this boat. She then, pulled out a few cans of biscuits, some hamburger meat, some packages of shredded chedder cheese, and some sloppy joe mix and went to work. Some of the gang, had not had a chance to eat before they left the island, since their fantasies were barely over. And some, would be hungry again, anyway. She turned the oven on to warm up, and took the biscuits, and cupped them into the sides of the muffin tins. Then she browned the ground beef, and added the sloppy joe mix. When it was finished, she spooned it into the biscuit shells. Then she topped them all with the chedder cheese. While the biscuits were cooking and the cheese melting, she got out a couple rolls of sausage, and mixed them together with the rest of the cheddar cheese, and a little bisquick. she made little balls of the mixture and put them on a cookie sheet. When the other was done cooking, she took them out to cool off, and popped the coockie sheet in the oven. When that was done, she took them out, and made platters of the two dishes. She made another platter of celery sticks and carrot sticks with brocoli and cauliflour pieces and put them together with a couple bowls of blue cheese and ranch dressings. Asking Artist and Spyral to put a couple card tables out on the deck, while Rag and IQ pulled out some lawn chairs, Kay and some of the Scoobettes carried the trays of food and some pitchers of iced tea, and glasses of ice up to the deck. It was a perfect day. Evening was just starting to show, and the warm breeze was barely blowing. The weather was too perfect to eat indoors. The dogs had even been allowed up on a portion of the deck, away from the area they were to eat in. Throwing them some Scoobie snacks, : ) she told everyone to come eat.
Raven-Kat -- “How sweet, Kay.”
Rae smiles cheerily as she walks into the galley with a large pitcher of iced tea.
Spyral stares suspisiously at it as she sets it down on the table.
As the others assemble at the tables, Rae announces, "This is one of the good days, people!"
Mouse2000 -- “You got that right.”
answers Mouse as she walks into the galley after returning the invisible cloak to IQ. "Iced tea, Rae?" she asks and getting an affirmative reply, she pours herself a big glass. "Want one, angel?" she asked, but Spyral remembered his aversion to Rae's tea, so he settled for hot cocoa.
"Anybody checked on Thor and his band of merry animals lately? Wow, this is EXCELLENT FOOD!!!" she asked and exclaimed as she tried out the wonderful food Kay made.
IQ120 -- I know I’m going to regret asking....
...this, but where are we going to go once the animals get back?"
Mouse2000 -- Happy and stuffed
from the great meal, Mouse went back up on deck for a while to get some air. She told herself that she was perfectly content, and just wanted to watch the ocean, but found herself toying with Kay's beautiful gift and suddenly she was back in that beautiful jungle setting, sitting on a rock across from Drumheller. He looked like he was there, but Mouse suspected that it was more like a "leave a message and I'll get back to you when I can" sort of thing.
She just looked at him for a short while, then spoke softly and said," Hey there. It's me, Mouse. I just wanted to see how your training was going and to tell you that we all miss you a lot. We're currently waiting for Sweetie and his gang to return so we can head out to new, Uncharted Teritories, but I really didn't get to say goodbye properly the last time we were all here. So, here goes. We miss you a lot, Drum, but we understand why you've chosen this path. But it's not really the same without you on the boat. I'd secretly hoped that you'd get tired of all this training, and head back to the boat with us, but I guess that's not exactly possible. I guess I got used to having you around. But, now, the best I can do is wish you good luck, and let you know there will always be a place for you in the galley on the longboat. Or at least we're all reachable by these (she held up her dragon pendant), so if you have any free time, we'd love to see what you are up to and how you've been." She looked down and added under her breath, "I miss you." With her speech completed, she smiled at the still figure of Drumheller and slowly the scene evaporated.
Then she was back, sitting in the chaise on deck, under the stars, feeling better and worse at the same time.
Kaybe0 -- Contemplating IQ’s question
Kay wondered the same thing. Where would they be going next? Smiling to herself, she thought, they had not really done what they planned to do on this trip. She had grown so attached to Sixthy's dogs, that she really dreaded getting homes for them now. Maybe they could just find individual homes for them around the mansion? If everyone just had one, or two dogs to care for, then it really wouldn't be so bad. They did have the kennels on the grounds. They could just expand them a little. Oh well, she thought with a sigh. It was really up to Sixth and who know. Maybe they would find great homes for them. Rhett had the two Rhotties. She wondered how that was working out. Wouldn't it be hysterical if they came back. They did seem to be growing dogs instead of getting rid of them. Looking over at Mouse fingering her pendant and staring into space, Kay wondered who she was with. Everyone is here. Maybe she was talking to Drum. Kay sure hoped Drum was doing well with his studies.
SunAeryn -- AAAACCCHHHUU!!!!
was heard all over the longboat.
"Where the frell did that come from?" Ragnar wondered as he tried to dry off the pages of his "longboat journal", under his breath he muttered, "When I find out who that was, I'm going to have a talk with them about sneezing so loud."
"Hey, where's Sunny? I haven't seen her since we got back on the longboat." Rae wondered.
AAACCCHHHUUU! came from the quarters below. "Dren!" was heard shortly there after. "Why aren't there any tissues on this frellin' boat?" Sunny muttered, looking through the galley for something to blow her nose with.
"Hey gang, is it cold around here or is it just me?" Sunny asked walking onto the deck, shivering. *Why am I so cold? I have on about 15 blankets* Sun thought to herself.
"AAACCCCHHHHUUUU! Dren! This is getting old. Anyone hab any tissues? Pwease?" Sun asked
Raven-Kat -- “Don’t worry.”
Rae tells IQ, helping herself to more food. "I'm sure the animals are fine. I gave Sweetie one of the comms in case anything should come up, so I'm sure we'll hear if there's trouble."
ACHOOO!
"What the frell?" Rae rises and follows the sound of the sneezing. "Sunny?"
"Boy, she looks like drenn." R-Squared contributes softly. "Guzundtight." he adds as Sunny sneezes again. "What'd'ya recon's wrong with 'er?"
"Not sure?" Rae finds a med-kit and pops it open. "Mouth."
Sunny obediently opens her mouth as Rae pops the thermometer in.
"Cold?"
Sunny nods and Rae finds another blanket for her.
"Thirsty?" Sunny shakes her head. "Tummy-ache?" Another shake of the head. The thermometer beeps. "Hmm." Rae frowns. "Core temperature elevated. Let's see if we can't cool you."
"But I AM cold!" Sunny protests as Rae pulls her to her feet.
"Tough noogies." Rae tells her flatly. "Ragnar!"
"Yes?"
"How much ice do we have on board."
"Oh, god, Rae!" Sunny protests. "Not an ice-bath! PLEASE!"
"Tough love, dearie." R-Squared says. "You'll thank her later."
SunAeryn -- What? I don’t think so!
Sun said, backing away from Rae.
"Now, Sunny, we have to get your core temp down. An ice bath is the fastest way." Rae told Sun, walking towards her.
Sun looked at Rae, hard
"Just you aaaaaccccchhhooo! wait til I'm feeling better! I'm gonna kick your eema!" Sun coughed
Rae, laughing "Sure Sunny, when you get better, you might be able to try and kick my eema."
Sunny just glared at Rae
Meanwhile, Ragnar and a few other Scoobs were getting a huge tub and lots of ice ready.
"Ready Rae!" Sixthy called out.
Sunny was no where to be found, she had disappeared.
*Put me in an ice bath will you?! I think not!* AAACCCHHHOOO!
Raven-Kat -- You’re giving yourself away!
Rae called gleefully, pleased with this new diversion. "Just come on out, now."
"No!" ACHOO!
Rae's head swivels as she tries to triangulate Sunny's location from the sound. "Come on, Sunny! Don't make me have to get Ragnar to help get you in the bath."
"Get frelled!" ACHOO!
"Guzundtight." Rae responds blithly, honing in on Sunny's voice. "I'll do it, too."
"You wouldn't!"
"Watch me!" Rae lunges into an air-duct and grabs Sunny by the ankles. "Come on OUT!" Rae grunts, pulling.
"NO!"
"Gee," Mouse comments to Ragnar. "It's kind of like one of those commercials for kid's Sudafed."
"Except for the fact that blood could be shed here." Ragnar responds as Rae hauls Sunny out of the vent.
"Come on, Sunny. That's just aggravating your sinuses. You know how long it's been since those things have been flushed?"
"LET ME GO!" Sunny howls.
"This is maladaptive." R-Squared comments from his shelf. "She's only trying to help."
"Listen to the boy, Sunny." Rae tells her as she hauls her back into the infirmary. "Rag, a little help?"
"You sure this is the best way?" Rag asks softly.
"Oh yeah. Very common among Sebacians." With Ragnar's help, Rae lifts Sunny over the ice-bath and prepears to drop her in. "You ARE Sebacian? Right?"
JilaCosa -- “Don’t Even Think About It.”
Sunny says menacingly, reaching around to grab Ragnar’s arm. “If I go, you go too!”
Suddenly the Longboat makes a lurch to starboard. The three lose their balance and the unfortunate SunAeryn into the tub of icey water head first. (Sorry!!) Meanwhile the table from the just finished meal and the people who still surround it crash sideways in a heap.
"WHAT THE FRELL?? WHO'S TRYING TO DROWN ME?? RAGNAR, CAN'T YOU STEER THIS THING?" The sputtering SunAeryn yells, after yanking her upper half out of the tub.
"I'd love to take the blame for this one," Ragnar says handing Sunny a towel, a worried look on his face. "but I'm afraid there's no one in the Pilothouse right now. I have no idea what's going on either." He then makes his way quickly to the Pilothouse to check the instruments and the autopilot. "Damn!" He yells "Rae get in here!"
Hearing her name and the tone of Ragnar's voice, Rae runs quickly to the Pilothouse "Yes, mon capitan?" R-squared asks for her. “Shut up stupid.” Rae whispers to the pulse rifle
"Is this the work of Your engineering?" Ragnar taps at the instument panel. "Everything is locked down tight. I couldn't reprogram this if I wanted to."
Rae studies the instrument panel for a minute, and then tries punching in a few codes of her own. "Nope, not my work. You've tried all of you codes?"
"By the look of this," Ragnar frowns, taping the latitude, longitude markers, and then pulls a map off the shelf. "We're headed straight for horror land." Placing the map on the instrument panel, he then squats down and removes the small door below the instrument panel, hoping that the problem is just a lose or broken wire. As soon as the door is removed a spray of confetti blows out and a note pops down. Caught by the surprise, Ragnar loses his balance and falls over on his butt. "What the......??" Rae steps back quickly, avoiding Ragnar's flailing arms as he goes backwards. When the confetti spray finally clears, Rae reaches down for the note, pulls it out, and reads it.
Oh, oh
The note reads
WELCOME TO MY WORLD! signed, The Phantom
As the rest of the group gathers at the Pilothouse door a sound sends shivers through the group
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!