The Phantom is listening

The Phantom is listening

In2d3 hears a poem being read out loud. The phantom is intriqued by it. The caped, masked figure sneaks out to see who is reciting such wonderful words. In2d3 sees In2scifi and is nearly entranced. Suddenly, In2scifi flings a pie and the Phantom races up the stairs. Fortunately, the Angel of Farscape has mistaken in2d3's image in a mirror for the real Phantom. She gives chase after realizing her mistake, but alas the Phantom has escaped into the secret passages. After several minutes of search, In2scifi hears hauntingly beautiful organ music reverberating through the walls. She wonders to herself who this mysterious stranger really is.

ArtistStudio -- The danger of hydracephalus

Not to be confused with hydroencephalus (water on the brain), hydracephalus is the growing of extra heads (like the hydra.)

I believe that In2scifi has severed her connection with In2d2, which is good. The body only produces enough blood to support one head.

We must swiftly discover the true identity of In2d3, for hydracephalus is 90 percent fatal. I fear we will be forced to amputate . . .

robert at www.ArtistStudio.com

by the way, Johniece, I confess - I am NOT In2d3.

DirtyPantsBunny -- Hmmmmm...

.. *bunny steps quietly over to the curtain and whips it open!...no one is there....*

Well...its definately not In2scifi, its not her style of writing..it kind of looks like mine, BUT I SWEAR ITS NOT ME!!

*All the Scappers begin to look suspiciously at one another*.........ITS A MYSTERY!!!

violettefrost -- Is this a subversive plot

to give us all something to do until the new eps start,

Whoever youare, you have piqued all our curiousities,

but there comes a point in which one must come clean..

......so come on now..fess up...

If you don't we will simply begin to confuse you

with a troll....and I kinda think that you don't really

want that title hanging around your neck. On the other

hand, you may be someone we all know and love and are

afraid to admit to this little ruse for fear of being

..............that will not happen. (Although pies and

lots and lots of retribution would not be out of the

question..) We find you humorous....but a bit silly..

..so come on now...come out..come out..wherever you are...

Elhaym -- This is scary stuff

I'm beggining to think that the possibilities of suffering from split personalities raise up if you're a member of this BBoard. I need to now the stadistics!!

I new that having no episodes until January was going to affect someone (other than me) sooner or later.

RagnarRB -- Still hearing it

Ragnar is more convinced than ever that he is hearing voices...and organ music? Is it a valkerie? A muse? A phantom? A slight chill passes through the air. It's a good thing Ragnar's not supersticious. But he does believe in santa claus, and rumor has it somebody was thru here recently who just MIGHT be him in disguise! He keeps finding legos lying about through. He wonders if santa's bag has a hole in it? He wonders what a real elf looks like?

Carefully he stacks a pile of brownies of love on a plate and fills a mug with the oh so wonderful punch.It's an amazing thing this food around here. Empty a plate and it fills back up. Empty a mug and it overflows! Sighting a spot back in the grotto and out of the way he carefully sets his burden down with a napkin lying over it.Looking around he sees no one, but still...that feeling remains.

" I don't know who or what you are yet but well, maybe this will help."

Quietly Ragnar turns and walks back the way he came. What a place this is becomming. He feels for In2scifi, but in a moment of honesty he cann't help but grin at the humor of it all.

Back to work hew goes. With ArtistStudio's help he'll be finished in no time.

TickTick -- The Ticker arrives to find...

that the case of brownies she had stashed in a dark corner has...

"It's that phantom, I just know it..." she thinks to herself. Then she sees RagnarRB enjoying a brownie.

"Yo, Ragnar, did you take my brownies?"

Ragnar swallows and smiles, a little intoxicated. "Nope. Just found 'em here on a plate. Thought you might have been a nice Brownie of Love fairy and put them here for us."

TickTick sighs. "No...I hid them so that no one else would, well, find them. How'd they get out here?"

Suddenly, a slight breeze ruffles the Ticker's hair and Ragnar pauses in eating his brownie.

"TickTick," he whispers, "you feel that?"

"Yes," TickTick replies warily, looking around. "What was it?"

"I think," Ragnar says loudly, "that it is our dear Phantom, In2d3. Perhaps we've found the Brownie fairy after all..."

RagnarRB -- You think so?

TickTick shivers slightly "You really think so?" Nervously she glances about "I've never met a phantom before."

Ragnar thinks for a moment, "Neither have I" Glancing back he notices the plates now empty "But whatever it was just ate twelve..." Ragnar notes the brownie piece left in his hand"...uh eleven of your wonderful brownies."

"Eleven!" TickTick shutters again. Ragnar notices her ears twitch and looks closer. She continues "But that's too many! You eat them one at a time Ragnar, one at a time! Piece by piece!"

She shakes her head. What has she done now? She looks up at Ragnar. What has HE done so carelessly leaving brownies of love lying about? "Do you think the phantom's alright?"

Ragnar's a bit struck. Pointy ears. Casually he glances down at her feet, absently commenting "Don't know. Didn't know that phantoms ate."

TickTick notices his glance and begins to feel a bit self concious. Ragnar finishs off the brownie. Notes her clothing. "You think we should see if its alright?"

Ragnar blinks his eyes at her words "What?"

TickTick asks again, "Do you think we should look for the phantom, you know to see if it's alright"

"Hmm" Ragnar considers it, looking back at the empty plate"Maybe, there seems to be a trail of crumbs leading off thatway. " He jestures down the path.

TickTick strains for a look. She doesn't see much. She begins to rock back and forth on her heels. "It looks awful dark back there. Maybe we shouldn't. You know maybe the phantom wouldn't like being disturbed?" She looks at Ragnar questioningly.

Ragnar squints. It is dark back there. "Maybe,"he says, "but In2scifi would really like to know who it is."

TickTick "I hadn't thought of that."

"It would be the friendly thing to do. Is it just me or is it getting cold in here?"

At his words TickTick feels that soft breeze in her hair again. Was that the sound of someone chuckling?

"Do you believe in elves?"

TickTick smiles "Maybe."

Ragnars still looking at the crumb trail "Thought so." He glances back over at her "You decide..."

TickTick -- Well....for In2scifi...I guess

The Ticker shrugs nervously.

"I like In2scifi. She's been awfully friendly..."

Ragnar grins and puts down the empty plate. "Yeah, and she liked your brownies." Standing woozily, he looks around and glances down the hallway.

"Everyone liked my brownies. That was the point. Although some liked them a little _too_ much..." TickTick replies. She cocks her head, listening. Her ears twitch.

"There!" she suddenly proclaims, pointing into the shadows.

"What? What'd you hear?" Ragnar asks, watching her carefully.

"Laughter. Very definitely laughter."

Ragnar frowns. "How'd you hear that?" he asks. TickTick points to her ears.

"What do you think? That they're just for show?" TickTick says, grinning. Then she shivers again. "I can't tell if In2d3 is male or female. But he"

"is definately having fun with us. Let's go, before I change my mind," TickTick continues.

They start down the hallway. TickTick clears her throat.

"So, you were down there in In2d3's ballroom?" she asks, to make conversation.

Ragnar smiles. "Yeah. I think I made him-"

"or her..." TickTick grins.

"a little mad. Miffed, I guess."

Continuing down the hallway, they again feel that now-familiar rustling breeze.

"Yoohoo!" a mysterious voice calls.

Ragnar and TickTick halt.

"uhh...Ragnar?" The Ticker says.

"you want to go back?" Ragnar replies.

TickTick squares her shoulders and pulls her leather coat more tightly around her.

"No. This is for In2scifi!"

"Yeah...let's go!" Ragnar says.

RagnarRB -- Cautiously

Rangar creps further down the path, TickTick huddling closely behind. Small splash marks in the floor light the way. Kneeling down he pauses to take a closer look at one of them. "I wonder what causes that?"

"Causes what." TickTick tries to look over his shoulder but has to settle for looking around his arm."What did you find?"

"These glowing marks on the floor. I don't remember them."

TickTick pursed her lips. Yes they were a little strange, but at least it wasn't totally black. Twicking her nose she sniffed. "Smells a bit like..." Her eyes widen. Stepping back she glares at Ragnar, "You didn't?"

Ragnar tilts his head, trying to look innocent. He looks everywhere but at TickTick. "Well..."clearing his throat,"Uh I thought maybe the phantom would be thirsty too."

TickTick shakes her head and sighs. How DO these things happen? "Any you gave her?"

Ragnar eyes the floor really trying to look admonished. He scratchs the dirt with his boot. "Yep" was all he said.

They looked at each other and in unison "PUNCH OF DOOM."

Giggling floated down the hall. " Na...na..na..na na na..." more giggling. The air stired, dust bunnies swirling about.

"Look at the brite side TickTick."

"What's that." She's not sure she can get much further into her coat.

"The phantom probably won't get very far, and we learned the punch glows sometimes." He straited up looking hopeful "I really hope In2scifi appreciates this."

TickTick braced her self as well "Yeh for In2scifi."

Rangnar wasn't sure her expression matched the confidence in her voice, but then for a second he thought he saw three TickTicks! He probably shouldn't mention the several glasses he drank.

"Come on Ragnar lets go see." TickTick prods her companion to go first. Timid? Probably just wise.

Ragnar takes a step. Stops. TickTick almost walks into him. He looks down at her "TickTick?"

Sighing, "Yes?" she not sure she wants to know.

"Is it bad when your toes go numb?"

Oh, TickTick thinks, this could be quite a journey.

Annisette -- CLOMP, JANGLE, CLOMP, JANGLE

SHUFFLE, SHUFFLE, CLOMP, JANGLE, CLANG!

The sudden sound behind them causes them to whirl about in shock!

RAGNAR: There he is, its the PHANTOM!

TICK TICK screams: AHHHHHHH! There's TWO oF THEM!!!!!!!!!!!

JANGLE CLOMP...the Figure comes out of the SHADOWS....

TICKtICK NERVOUSLY SPURTS: ITS ITS ITS.....

.....oh its only you SWORD...wait, you shaved....NO IT'S ANNI? YOU SCARED US!...geez

RAGNAR RB looks down at the BE-BOOTED FIGURE: Why you STILL DRESSed LIKE SWORD?

Annisette: LONG STORY... BOOTS ARE STUCK..., but I ADDED the PUFFY SHIRT...what do ya think?

Tick Tick...You look like a baby MUSKETTEER....

Annisette...YEAH WELL..BEST I COULD DO...CAN I HELP?

RAGNAR RB...HOW ARE YOUR NERVES?

Annisette: HELD MY OWN at the ALAMO...

TickTick: TELL YA LATER..

THE BREEZE RUFFLED THE RUFFLES ON ANNISETTE'S PUFFY SHIRT...THE EERY VOICES COULD sTILL BE HEARD dOWN tHE TRAIL OF GLOWING fOOTPRINTS...

ANNISETTE CHATTERED: I'LL STAND BEHIND RAGNAR RB...BACKup, YOU KNOW? Pick up the brownie crumbs?

Tick Tick snorted: YAH RIGHT...

THE GROUP PROCEEDeD...ANNISETTE HOLDIND THE BELL IN HER HAIR FOR QUIET......TickTick PEERED INTO THE GLOOM

RAGNAR: REMEMBER, WE DO THIS NOT FOR OURSELVES

BUT FOR IN2SCIFI...ONWARDS!!!!

TickTick -- Phantom.....yoohoo, Phantom...

Ragnar heads down the hallway a little unsteadily, much to the Ticker's chagrin.

Annisette: (CLOMP <tinkle> CLOMP) D'ya think this is the best idea, Tick?

TickTick: What? For us to try to capture the Phantom?

Annisette: No, for Ragnar to be in front.

TickTick turns to face Annisette. "Do you want to be in front?"

Annisette shakes her head slightly.

TickTick: Neither do I. Besides, Ragnar's under the influence of BROWNIES OF LOVE. I don't think he's afraid of anything. And if the Phantom is there, it'll give us more time to run.

Ragnar hears them talking behind him and grins. Yeah, girls. They're always the first to run, he thinks to himself. Suddenly a loud noise pierces the quiet.

"Yoohoo!!! Hi, folks! Comin' for a visit?" the Phantom shouts. Ragnar stops suddenly and the Ticker slams into him. Annisette slams into her and her cow bell clangs loudly.

"Oh, crap!" Ragnar says. "How phantomlike do you think this guy"

"or girl" TickTick adds nervously.

"Or girl" Annisette agrees.

"Is?" finishes Ragnar. "No magic powers or anything, you think?"

TickTick snorts. "There's no such thing as magic."

Annisette frowns and studies the Ticker carefully. "I used to think the same thing about elves..."

Ragnar shares a look with Annisette and points down at the Ticker's pointy toed shoes.

"Well, I'm not going to wait ALL DAY!!!" the mysterious voice calls again.

Ragnar backs up a few steps. "I don't think...I'd better-"

"OH no you don't!" the Ticker says and grabs Ragnar by his collar. Annisette shoves him forward.

Annisette: Come on. I'm not getting any braver, and you aren't getting any more sober. Use your intoxication to its fullest advantage, Ragnar.

Ragnar sighs woozily and wonders when Annisette got a twin sister. Shrugging his shoulders, he starts back down the hallway, TickTick and Annisette close behind.

TickTick: (whispering) You know, I kinda feel like the Scooby gang.

Annisette: Yeah...we're out to unmask a villain.

Ragnar: Well...got any Scooby snacks?

SWORDandMUG -- slap slap slap slap slap slap shuffle

"Do you see anything?"

"I don't seen anything?"

"How COULD anyone see anything..."

"...it sure is dark back this way..."

"You're a viking... aren't you supposed to have torches n'stuff?"

"It's not like I'm out raiding and pillaging... keep your minds on the right track--this is for In2scifi, remember?"

"I did'nt mean to... my feet are going numb..."

"It's the brownies talking..."

"...what do I do? Does it go away?"

"Yeah, but there seems to be some lasting side effects..."

"Uh yeah? Like what?"

"Delusions of grandeur..."

Slap slap slap slap grumble grumble slap slap slap...

"Hey! Leggo, will ya? You're choking the life out of me!"

slap slap slap grrrrrr grumble slap slap hrrrbrrrbrrrr slap slap slap

"It sounds like it's coming from behind us..."

"Wait! I see something glowing!"

"It's the phantom! He/she/it... we're all gonna die!"

"Just chill out, all right? Hide back against the wall. Maybe we can jump it..."

"How do you jump a phantom?"

"Hands around at your neck! Punjab lasso!"

"Oh, you're ready for broadway all right..."

"Anni? Come on out, Anni. You have no idea how cold it is down here."

"Huh? That sounds like..."

A barefoot SWORD walks up carrying a little glow lantern. He looks a bit chilled in his plaid towel.

"Anni, what happened to my clothes? Since you were wearing what I wore to the party, I went to my closet to get something else, and all of my clothes are gone! You have no idea how cold a kilt is down here in this grotto."

Annisette looks a little embarrassed.

"I can't get the boots off..."

"But they're four sizes to big for you!" SWORD examines her feet. "Good gravy, girl! What did you wrap around your feet? I did'nt do that to you."

"...um... the tore the bottom off of your shirt and... um... used that to make the boots tighter... They were falling off, and I was gonna break my neck!"

SWORD's face goes blank.

"You tore up my shirt." He repeats.

"Will you two knock it off!" Rangar hisses. "We're looking for a phantom down here."

"What brings you down this way anyhow, SWORD?" TickTick asks him.

"Well, Lynn wanted me to go out and get a ladder at the hardware store, but I needed some clothes for that... Anyhow, we put the mirror ball back up and were still sorting things out back upstairs in the basement... Upstairs in the basement? Somehow, that does not make sense... Where was I? Oh yeah, the mirror ball! Well, we were cleaning the place when the mirror ball came crashing to the floor, and we heard this maniacal laughter. Lynn told me to go get a ladder to hang the thing back up again, but I needed some clothes..."

"Okay, okay, we get the picture already!"

"You sure do look cold, SWORD," Ticker says. Anni tries to hide behind Ragnar.

"SWORD, do mind giving us that light of yours? We're looking for the phantom..."

"Phantom?" SWORD snorts. "You two been eating brownies? Halloween is a whole week away. Everybody knows that there are no such things as ghosts... perhaps disembodied alien races or psychokinetic imprintings--but GHOSTS? Bah..."

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA......

"Wuzzat?!!!!?" "Uhdunno!!!" "Imscared!" "Getoffamifoot!"

"SShhhhhhhhh.... Calm down everyone! It came from over here."

"I'm not going over there!"

"It's for In2scifi, remember?"

"We'll all go together..."

They see something sitting on an outcropping of rock.

They examine the evidence--a smolder punch glass, brownie crumbs, and half a white mask.