Eco-Challenge FS (6)

It was not a very large space. The nothingness of the plot hole kind of petered out so that you couldn't go any farther although there were no walls.

The plot hole had closed above them and it was pitch dark inside. Only the lantern Kay had unpacked let them see at all. Kay and Sunny were hovering around Rae who was still sitting on the floor, feeling woozy.

"Um, Ladies, we've got a problem." Sweetiepie said, coming in for a landing on Rae's shoulder. "This plot hold didn't go anywhere. It's closed above us so we can't get out the way we got in. We're stuck in nondimentional space."

"Oh yeah." Sweetiepie said. "We're trapped. Unless the hole reopens somewhere else we're stuck in here permenantly. There is NO escape from nondimentional space. And it could get worse."

and buries her face in his feathers. "This was NOT supposed to happen..." she sighs. "We're main characters..."

Rae closes her eyes. "There's a small upright lantern in my backpack. Let's shed some light on the situation."

With some work, Sunny and Kay manage to fish out the lantern. Along with Rae, they set it up and Rae activates it. A dim blue light illuminates all of them, but not much else.

Rae looks up. There is still a small opening at the other end. "I'd say this qualifies as an emergency situation, guys. I can send up the emergeny flares, or we can wait it out."

Sweetie ruffles his feathers. "It's up to you ladies. I don't like loosing, but the idea of ceasing to exist doesn't thrill me a lot either."

"Did I mention that we're main characters?" Rae asks. "Plot holes have been known to swallow people up, it's true, but only the ones in bit parts. Like PK Barbie. I'm pretty confident that we're all main characters here... Hezmana, at least one of us must be."

Rae shakes her head. "No. I think it's more likely one of those plot-holes that spews you out in the last five minutes of the movie, alive and unharmed after everyone assumed you were dead." Rae gives a forced smile, and when she mutters, "I hope." only Sweetie hears it. "I vote we wait it out."

Rae nods. "We can discuss this. Rest and food would not be amiss." She fishes a protien-bar out of Kay's pack. "We can discuss what to do while we recoup."

Not taking her pack off, she leans into a corner, still holding Sweetie in her arms and sharing her protien-bar with him.

The others quickly nodded and set the glider down. Chryse sat still for a while, and Wiz grabbed some water and dried fruit for her to eat.

"It depends, if she was deliberately projecting her thoughts to me, or if I just grazed her thoughts because they were of me.... it's a pretty fine line." said Chryse.

"I don't think so, 'ghost. I can't feel her thoughts anymore.... Anyway, I feel better now, let's get going again." said Chryse.

They quickly tore down the glider and started walking across the grasslands again. Rain still poured on them and the thunder still crashed and the lightening still flared, but they were making headway.

Velorek threw up his hands. "Why does Rae ever do anything she does? She thinks there isn't anything she couldn't handle."

Rae muttered distractedly. "Everything is going to be just fine. EveryONE is going to be just fine. Take lots of deep breaths... We need a plan."

"Yeah?" Rae laughs. "That's nice. And in case you haven't noticed, my plans invariably involve blowing drenn up!"

"As opposed to when you jump INTO one." Sunny snorted. She walked over to Rae and jerked her to her feet. "Listen up, Colonel. You got us into this, and you ARE going to get us out of it. Now frelling FOCUS!" Sun shrieked the last word in Rae's face, effectively pulling her back to reality.

Rae nodded very slowly. "Focus... focus. Right." She nods sharply and begins pacing the tiny pocket, muttering to herself. "We'll send up the signal-flare."

Rae closed her eyes and nodded. "Then we blow it up." She unshouldered her pack and began rummaging through it. Sweetie perched on her shoulder and watched.

Kay shrugged. Stranger things had been known to happen to Scoobs. "So, hypothetically, what's this going to feel like?"

"It's nothing like that." Rae told her, pulling out a small device the size of a laptop. "Except for the possibility of getting dropped in the ocean or in front of a truck."

"I can't believe this..." Sunny muttered. "Rae, when we get back to the mansion, you and I are going to have a VERY serious discussion."

Rae eyed her blandly. "Wouldn't you rather just have another boxing match?" She slid her pack back on and picked up the device she has extracted.

"Because, you never know when you might need to..." Rae laughed at him and set the timer. "Everyone to that side of the bubble. This is going to hurt..."

“Aw, man…this is really gonna hurt.” Sunny said…as the blast hit. Kay grabbed Sunny’s arm…hoping it would keep them together. Sunny had grabbed Rae and Sweetie. The blast was to strong and they were separated. The blast from the charge didn’t really blow the plot hole up…it was more like it blew it apart, into several different plot holes…in different dimensions.

“I knew that spatio-temporal ker-splater would come in handy...”Rae said without looking around her. She was alone…or was she? She heard a noise…but couldn’t make out what it was.

“That frellin’ lunatic…she shinged my feathers. I’ll peck her eyes out.” Sweetie's voice was muffled, so Rae couldn’t quite make it out.

“I can not frellin’ belive this!” Sunny said…hanging upside down, caught in a tree by her pack straps. Sunny struggled to get loose. “This is gonna hurt. Frell!” Sunny said as she fell out of the tree.

Kay was trapped high in a tree, luckily, not upside down. “Help, somebody get me down! You know I don’t like heights! AAHhhhhhhh!”

“Frell…I’m coming up…Do not move.” Sunny said…grabbing a branch. Sunny quickly got to Kay, despite her leg (she twisted, possibly sprained it when she fell). Kay grabbed Sunny around the neck, choking her.

“Kay…you have to hold *cough* onto *cough* my shoulders. I can’t *cough* breathe.” Sunny managed…as she climbed down with Kay.

Once they reached the ground, Sunny took several deep breathes and slid to the ground. Kay was on the ground…shivering…being up as high as she was…well…she was just plain scared. It wasn’t like hang gliding.

“Did you see this…she burned my lovely tail feathers! Do you realize how long it takes for them to grow back?” Sweetie remarked, walking up Sunny’s arm to perch on her shoulder. “Mind if I hang out here awhile? I don’t know if I trust Rae anymore.” He asked…once settled.

“Sure, make yourself at home.” Sunny said, through clenched teeth, her leg really hurt. She patted Sweetie on the head, “It’s ok…I don’t blame you. I’m not sure how I feel about Rae right now.”

“Over here, Rae…” Kay said…finally sitting up and looking around. “Um, Sunny, haven’t we been here before? I swear I’ve seen this place before.” Kay said…standing up. She offered Sunny a hand. Sunny looked around…

“Look around Rae…it’s the first check point. We are back at the beginning of the race.” Kay told her. Rae slowly looked around. She finally realized that they indeed were, right back at the beginning.

“Hey, it's not whether you win or lose. It's how GOOD you look doing it.” Rae offered with a slight smile. She could sense that her teammates weren’t entirely happy with her.

“Rae…I think you used a little to much power in that thing. Look at the sky…see all those holes? Notice how some of them are funky colored and not just black. Not only did you make MORE plot holes…you made them in other dimensions as well.” Sunny said

and pretty bedraggled and very tired Team Deviants staggered into the checkpoint. The dropped their gear and sat down when they slowly recognized Jila and the Mandroids. Even 'ghost looked tired.

"Well you guys can't stay in those wet things, you'll get pneunomia!" cried Jila. "Velorek, you take Wiz and take care of him. I'll start with Grack, she looks worse than Chryse does. 'ghost, you get in the tent and rest or whatever you do to relax ok?"

Velorek obediently picked up Wiz carefully and tended to him in another tent. Larraq carried Chryse to the warm shelter of Jila's tent and turned on the heater. Then he went back outside and surveyed their gear. He picked up all of it and went on to the supply tents to replace all the broken and fraying equipment they had and took the glider stuff to be recycled. He knew that the team would have to reprovision themselves, but the replacements were obviously needed and he decided that it wouldn't be cheating to help them out just a little like this.

Jila had Crais carry Grack to her tent too and shooed him outside with instructions to bring a large bathtub and lots of hot water. She saw when Larraq brought Chryse in and nodded in approval as he turned on the heater. She made a nice bubble bath in the tub and got Grack into it as quickly as she could. Chryse was the next one in. 'ghost seemed to have disappeared for the time being, but Jila was satisfied that she too was resting in her own way.

In a little while, all three corporeal members of the team were awake and warm. Jila nodded in satisfaction as she saw them come to and recover. They were all able to dress themselves in clean, warm clothing and feed themselves with Velorek's excellent cooking. As they ate, 'ghost came back too, looking much better than she had.

"good, I'm glad you're all feeling better. Now what in frelling hezmana did you think you were doing out there like that? You all looked like your own ghosts when you staggered in here, even you 'ghost!" yelled Jila in concern.

Grack started giggling, Chryse started giggling, and Wiz started to laugh really hard. 'ghost was laughing so hard she was bent over and holding her stomach.

Jila fought it but she cracked a smile and was laughing too. It did sound ridiculous, now that she thought of it, but they did look terrible.

The others nodded with him as they continued to eat. Jila just shook her head. "Well, I hope you are all recovered enough for the next part of the race." she said smiling.

Just a short way off the coast a herd of dolphins swam back and forth while watching the newly appeared humans. They hadn't really thought that anyone else would 'start' this race again but...

One of their number swam off to tell the Mermaids that some of the humans who had been so callous and mean to poor little Kitten and her friends were about to take to the water....

On the shore the team found themselves another boat and pushed it into the water. Nothing like starting over is there? :)

"We're heading into Fantasy Land." he said. "First stop, Rock Candy Mountain land where we white water raft down the Chocolate River."

"Well, like, um," AlternateSun giggled, "the good news is that, like, the, um, check-point thingy is right over there..."

"Um, Sir, why are you... TOUCHING me?" AlternateRae asks nervously. "Remember that OSHA is very particular about the whole hostile work-enviornment thing..."

"Um, yes, sir." She stared up at him in confusion. "Since when have you ever called me anything but Ensign Katlyn, sir?"

"Ensign..." Crais rubbed the back of his neck and called into the tent. "Um, Jila, I think you should come out here..."

"Oh, Captain!" AlternateRae exclaimes sadly, "Don't tell me that after all the progress you've made you fell off the wagon? You poor man!"

"A RACE?" She shakes her head in confusion. "What do you mean, sir? How would a COMPETITION contribute to interspecies understanding and cultural exchange? You really did fall off, didn't you... You know I'm going to have to report this..." She frowns sadly at him for a moment before saluting and heading off towards the showers.

"Stroke! Stroke! Stroke!" Sweetiepie hollered as Rae, Kay and Sunny put their backs into rowing the little boat.

Meanwhile, a pod of mermaids had gathered and were pacing the rowboat from beneath. They didn't know what they were going to do YET, but they were definetely going to do SOMRTHING to these people who had snubbed their friend artickitten...

'Ghost sees A-Rea and goes even paler than usual. A-Rea whimpers a little and starts running toward the showers.

Rae looked around...trying to stall, so she could catch her breath. That <thudding> spell she had...took more out of her than she wanted the others to know.

"Rae, it's not someone we can see...and there is more than one," Sunny said...trying to figure out where the "voices" in her head were coming from. She glanced down...towards the water.

"Um, ladies...we have visitors," Sunny said, pointing to the dark spots following them...very closely. A little to close for Sunny.

*So, these are some of the humans that thwarted artickitten and her little friends. What shall we do?* Sunny heard the leader of the mermaids saying.

Kay & Rae looked down...they saw several blurry figures surrounding them. Sweetie flew over head...to try to get a better count.

"Um, ladies, they are keeping up with you. In fact...some of them are ahead of you." Sweetie informed his teammates.

"They want to get even...for artickitten. Apparently that lovely little kitten thinks we didn't include her on purpose." Sunny told the others.

"Duuuuude, I don't need a shower, to cool me off...I just need to catch some waves. You know, hang ten," AlterSun said, "Wanna hang ten with me, babe?"

Jila just rolled her eyes, "Please, take Sun to the showers. I'll explain hang ten after we get Team Heat Delirium back to normal."

Jila says with a sigh. "I'll be there in just a minute." Jila hurriedly walks over to the table where Raegun has been placed, picks him up, and walks over to the showers where Velorek is standing with Sunny trying to fend off her advances. "Here hold this." Jila hands Raegun quickly to Velorek and walks Sunny into the showers.

"Just a minute." Jila yells turning on the shower and pushing Sunny under the running water. "I'll be right out. Now stand there till I get back." She says to Sunny. As Jila leaves the shower area she hears Sunny talking to herself about "that hunk" and what she may just be doing with him. The sounds of wet clothes hitting the far side of the tent follow. Jila rolls her eyes and sighs.

"'ghost said that Rae's aura was wrong. Did Rae program you to see auras or just brain waves and heat signatures, Raegun?"

"All three actually," Raegun says proudly. "But just scanning her brainwaves will tell us everything we Need to know." His scanners whir almost undetectably.

"Frell." Jila said. "Wait here." Jila grabs some dry clothes and a towel for Sunny. She brings them into the shower area and then comes back out. "<chuckle> I hope you're ready for some evasive manuevers Velorek. But first we've got to let Crais and Larraq know what's going on."

They were getting ready to go and puzzling over the odd behaviour of their friends. But, after some discussion, they thought that it might just be some sort of trick to get them to lag behind, so they took off in the same direction as Team Holy Rollers. Only 'ghost was still unsure and kept glancing back toward the checkpoint, worried about her friends.

Kara, Mouse and Spyral, with Twig on his shoulder, headed up the path. The path was made of lifesavers embedded in the earth. Growing beside the path were minty smelling bushes growing pastries and candies from every branch.

"Well, THIS is nice." Kara remarked, munching on an eclair. After days of dried trail rations all these sweets were irresistable.

Spyral just grinned. He was quietly picking handfulls of chocolate covered rasins and peanuts from bushes they passed and stuffing them in his face.

Team Holy Rollers rounded a corner and came to the boat dock. This was the next checkpoint but no tents were set up. Instead, someone had dropped off a check in book and a stamp for their passport. Spyral looked at the book. They were the first team there, having somehow passed Team Rainbow Monkey on the veldt. Spyral wrote their entry and stamped their passport while the girls checked over the large rubber rafts and made their selection. Everybody jumped in and Spyral pushed them off.

At first floating down the chocolate river, looking at the candy scenery was very pleasant. But soon the channel narrowed, the river sped up, and large rocks started to appear. Everybody was soon brown with chocolate from head to toe. Their boat rounded a bend in the river and they found themselves heading for a waterfall...

the Mermaid couldn't help but smile as she continued to project random thoughts at the mindreader above. *Ah the arrogance of these self thought gifted ones. Thinking they're special, thinking it's polite to go around reading other peoples thoughts...thinking it's actually other peoples thoughts they can read....sigh. Mermaids were the truely special ones...well them and maybe ArticKats. Kitten was quite persuasive.

*Wouldn't it be nice to just zap a few of them and show them just how ignorant they are? Presumptious even...very rude to read others thoughts without permission! Sigh, no the Queen had forbidden such. These creatures may have snubbed Kitten and the other little ones but...they were just inferior beings without any true understanding. One couldn't really expect them to behave better than some pets. She and her sisters were supposed to play nice.

The mermaid smiled. So she wouldn't zap Sun but nothing said she couldn't give her a little headache or perhaps a sudden craving to go potty....:) Opening the mind to others thoughts is such a risk.

Meanwhile the dolphins had gathered in numbers and began to swim circles around the little boat. Everyone liked to play with dolphins.

Jila says as she and Velorek approach Crais and Larraq, who are being regaled by alternatekay on Team Heat Delirium's adventures through the African Savana. Jila is nearly shocked by the boldness kay is showing. Kay is laughing loudly and clapping Crais and Larraq in turn on their upper arms as she laughs. Something is definitely going on.

"Yes Jila," Larraq replies rubbing his biceps from where kay has clapped him a little harder this last time. "What do you need."

"Just something I need to discuss with you both." Jila answers with an "I can't discuss it in front of her" nod of her head. "kay, why don't you hit the showers. I think Sunny and Rae are almost done and you know how they get when they have to wait around."

"Quite right, quite right." kay nods. "It would be ridiculous for the Team leader to be lagging behind wouldn't it?" kay heads toward the showers at a brisk walk.

*Team Leader?* Jila watches kay walk away in amazement. *Team Leader?* "Guys," Jila turns back to the Mandroids. "There is Definitely something going on. Raegun? Will you filled them in on what you told Velorek and me?"

"No problem." Raegun says. "Jila asked me to run a brainwave scan on Heat Delirium after 'ghost mentioned that Rae's aura was wrong. Not only is her aura wrong but her brainwave pattern isnt' right either.

"The only thing I can think of..." Jila is interrupted by Crais wrapping his arm around her shoulder. "What are you doing?" Jila looks at Crais with a crooked smile. *I don't have Time for this* she chuckles softly

"I don't know." Crais shrugs. "Just thought I'd try it out. I've seen you and the others like this sometimes. Why, don't like it?"

"Oh fine, whatever." Jila shakes her head chuckling, and continues. "Has Rae taught you guys anything about human psychology? I think until we figure out what's going on with Sunny, Rae, and kay we need to treat them in the same manner as they're acting. You need to act as if you're still Peacekeepers with the rank you had. Captains all around? I need to know."

In the meantime alternateRae emerges from the showers in clean, dry clothes. Looking around she sees Crais with his arm draped over Jila's shoulders.

*Oh my.* She shakes her head. *High Command will want to know about this. Poor Captain. What has happened to him on this expidition? We are trying to further relations with the humans but..... Would he? No. He knows as well as I do that the bloodlines must remain true.*

As alternateRae contemplates how she will tell High Command the Captain's breach of protocols Sunny emerges from the showers.

"Yeah, I know what you mean. Isn't that Velorek just... Yeow! rrrrrrrrrr." alternateSunny's eyes light up with thoughts of Velorek.

"All right Team!" alternatekay shouts as she emerges from the showers toweling out her hair. "Let's get our supplies packed and Move Out!"

"We haven't got all year. This obstacle course is for wimps, and no one on my team is going to wimp out on it."

and under her breath, "Leading children is not all it's cracked up to be. Shower's done. Rations are packed. I trained you people to win!"

"And, you pull yourself together. Your tail feathers are singed. Didn't I train you to move faster than that?" Kay said to Sweetie.

And, Kay slapped Rae on the back, and whistling to herself, took off at a fast pace, forcing the others to keep up with her.

Jila, and the otthers watched the team leave with their mouths open. Oh wow. Heat delerium was in some kind of mixed up mess.

Kay squeeled. "Dolphins! I just love dolphins. Maybe they will make these mermaids understand we don't mean any harm. They are sure trying to keep us from moving."

"Well", Kay said looking bemused. That may just take a while. These dolphins seem to be helping the mermaids surround us. We aren't moving at all!"

The mermaids giggled, and the dolphins looked for all the world that they were laughing at the teams predicament.

*Your Highness, please forgive me...I didn't mean to be rude...but with a being with your power...well, it's hard for me to not hear your thoughts. I will work to not read them again, without your permission* Sunny was sending...hoping that the Queen Mermaid would quit with the potty emergency thoughts.

*Your Majesty, please...I know our team meant no harm to Artickitten and her friends. As for me thinking I'm special because of the so called gift I have...I don't. It has made me an outsider, all of my life. Even among my birth people. You must know, I am not human. I am from another planet...hell, another galaxy.* Sunny explained....trying to keep the boat from getting over turned. She really didn't want to go swimming right now.

"Frell, I'm getting one hezmana of a headache. I think it might be from being so close to the mermaids...they are not happy that I can pick up, not so much as me actually invading their minds, their thoughts," Sunny said as she kept rubbing her forehead, "I still have to GO! So could we all row a little faster here, please!" Sunny added.

Sweetiepie said. "Just stick you eema over the side and relieve yourself. You're not embarrassed about a little bodily function are you?"

Rae sighs. "Look!" She waves her arms around, indicating the ocean. "One big frelling TOILET!" Irritated and overheated, she rises and drops her own pants. "What's the matter? Surely you learned how to do this standing up in basic training?"

Rae considers this for a minute, then pulls her pants back up and sits down. "You'll just have to hold it." she decides, shrugging.

"Whatever..." Alternate Kay sighs. "Just keep it snappy." She becomes absorbed in conversation with Alternate Sun and Alternate Sweetie.

Alternate Rae nods and looks from Kay to the maps. She notices that the Captain is staring at her again. She blushes and turns her attention to the maps.

She shakes her head rapidly. "Oh, no, sir. It's very kind of you to be concerned, but really..." she trails off, blushing again and tries not to look at him.

Alternate Rae stares at him with wide eyes and starts shaking. "I need to... um... time to... go... now... um... Sir!" she gathers her maps together, dropping them several times, and runs to join her team.

Raegun replies with a laugh. "Well, judging by her phisiological response to casual physical contact with you, I'd guess that she has a... what do humans call it, Jila?"

"Lighten up, Riv..." Sweetie laughed. "But, seriously, did you notice that your noble leader was acting stranger than usual."

Alternate Kay stared back at them thoughtfully. The parrot was right. The men and women at the outpost HAD been acting strangely... And then there were two Sebacians that she had never seen before. What was going on?

"Cadet Sun! Ensign Rae! Spyglasses! Tell me what you see down there with those people. I want to know every move they make!" Kay paces as she develops a theory in her mind.

"Just keep watch! Something will happen soon. Those wimps down there really think they can fool me, do they? Well, I'll show them."

Taking a com from her own bag, she calls Sweetie over to her. "Here bird! Keep this on you, and keep it on! Fly around those people and let me hear everything they say. You hear?" Squawking like a kukabura, Sweetie flew back to the checkpoint.

with a concerned look on his face. He was still feeling a little tipsy, and for some reason, Rae did not seem to approve. She seemed very nervous around him for some reason, and she kept calling him sir. All very odd...

"Weren't you listening?" Laurel sighs, walking over to him. She pats Raegun on the barrel. "Something is wrong with ALL of them. Raegun reports that thier brainwaves are... off."

"I believe something happened in the plot hole." Raegun provided. "The explosion may have interupted their brain-waves, or possible changed them altogether."

"Potentially." Raegun said. "If their brain waves have been shifted from base-line once, there's no reason to suppose that they can not be converted back to baseline."

"Caution seems to be advised." Raegun contributed. "They will doubtless be resistant to attempts at conversion."

"Well, Riv might have noticed something. She was acting nervous. But I don't think she shared with the others."

"That would raise suspicion." Crais pointed out. "And we don't want them suspicious. If they knew anything about our plans, I wouldn't put it past them to attempt some sort of resistance..."

'ghost was watching them all with a look of envy on her face. *I can barely remember what good food tastes like, but I do remember what candy tastes like* she thought sighing. *I'm glad they are having a good time though.* she grinned.

They managed to get to the checkpoint and stamp their passport with out turning into blimps and cllimbed into a boat....

*She mooned me! was the first indignent thought of the Mermaid. *Kitten was right! These humans have no manners or cooth at all. Reading others minds, picking on small defenseless animals and now...now...now THIS OFFENSE!

"Are you sure about this Kitten?" Charley looked out over the calm serface of the spring not really sure what she was looking for but...

Carefully, following the instructions she was given, Kitten unfolded the parchment, removed a strand of hair from within, and dropped it into the water.

Everyone had gathered around. Charley and the other humans weren't really sure they believed in Mermaids but...Kitten insisted, and something about her was hard to resist.

One the once still water now shimmered a small vessel, formed apparently by the water itself, and held together by reasoning unknown. It edged closer to the shore, and a colorful watersprite lowered a gangplank and gurgled a greeting. The little ones had been expected.

Even Elvis and the others seemed a bit excited by this. Kitten'd told them she'd had a plan...and for once she did. Maybe she shouldn't tell them about the part of having to ride the boat over the waterfall yet...

"I think it's a frellin' big waterfall!" Spyral said with alarm in his voice. "Twig! See what's up ahead, and tell us quickly!"

Twig quickly flew off, and returned just as fast. "You're right! And it's a doozy! Whatcha gonna do?" she asked, cracking her gum loudly and seeming unconcerned. After all, she could always fly down, and Spyral could too, to a degree, so they were covered.

Kara gave her a look and said, "If we can get enough gum, we can blow areally big bubble, fill it with air, and use it to crash land, or, if we can get some helium, we can float down. Now WHERE'D YOU GET THE GUM!"

"Chill out, like, whatever!" Twig said, offended. "It's all over the trees! Just pull some off when we pass this branch. Duhhhh..."