Post# 4356 This is just a nice little transitory episode, setting up a splendid little situation for whomever is scheduled next. Go ahead and put me down in the next available slot, Dino. BTW, I dedicate this one to my mom, who gave me an electronic thesaurus for Christmas. ______________________________________________________ SB011: The Search For a Plot Our intrepid heros had just decided to take a breather before continuing on, and had all gathered at the table to discuss the next move. Spirits were generally good, as they felt they had just won an important battle. The new Dinosorceror was especially jovial. "You know, someday someone is going to write a novel about our glorious victory." he decided. "Not likely," X snorted. Red moved to the control panels and brought up the map. He squinted at the little red markings all over it. "Well, where to next?" he asked. It was at that moment that the Fortrette began to shake and tremble as though giant hands were feeling all over it. Icicles and crystals rained down all around. Dinosorceror and Jerhevon dove under the table, Red and X took refuge by the controls. X's gun hummed as she primed it. "What the hell?" The booming voice was heard: "Hey Dino, wanna try some _real foot crushing!?" Dino froze, his eyes widened. Because it was so very large, none of them recognized the voice, but Dinosorceror was clearly entranced. He swiveled his position to look out the door, where giant toes could be seen. "Don't even think about it Dino!" Jerhevon saw the gleam in the parasaur's eyes. The Fortrette shook some more as the voice continued: "C'mon out Dino! I'll show you what its like to be a Godzilla movie extra!" "Stay where you are Dinosorceror!" X spat, locking her gun into "highly dangerous textbook" position. But Dino paid her no heed. He scrambled out from under the table and shot for the door, his three companions trying to grab onto his tail in an attempt to stop him. He threw the door open and plunged out into the snow, right at the leviathan foot of this newest unknown. X was swearing mightily in her own language. She ignored the "I told you so" glare that Red gave her and followed Dino out, ready with her gun. The emmense Benjamin poked Dino with a toe. Dino grinned mightily and flopped beneath the digit. X lowered her gun in exasperation. "Benjamin!" she hissed, and swatted away Livingston's large (wet) curious nose. Red and Jerhevon emerged from the Fortrette cautiously. Red grinned immediately. "Benjamin! Get youself down here, man, and join the party!" After convincing Dinosorceror to abandon his prone position, Benjamin and Livingston's reductions were duly achieved. X scolded Dino for his carelessness. "We had no idea who or what was out here! You could have gotten yourself killed!" Dinosorceror smiled that parasaur smile that so infuriated all their Cretaceous counterparts. "But X, he had such nice big toes." X threw up her hands, cursed "Herbivores!" and stomped back into the Fortrette. "I'm not getting paid enough for this," she muttered. Red's gaze followed her, "You're getting paid?" Benjamin let Livingston explore inside the Fortrette to become familiar with it, while our heros filled him in on the events thusfar. Benjamin listened quietly and when they were finished, he considered the tale for a moment then decided, "You guys should use some of that money you made and buy a plotline." "Well we sort of have one," Dino assured unconvincingly. "We're on the move, trying to find those sympathetic to the cause." "Interesting," Benjamin mused, "On the move to where?" Red had moved back to the map, and was plotting an itinerary, "To our base of operations." Dinosorceror frowned, "You know, both you and X have mentioned a base of operations, do we actually have one of those? Where is it?" X was moodily polishing her gun, she looked up. "We try to discuss that as little as possible, Dino. You never know who is listening." Dino snorted, "You're being paranoid. Who could possibly hear what we're saying?" The Very Evil One rolled his eyes as he listened to the conversation. So far he was not impressed. Yes, the new Dinosorceror had managed to secure some worthy companions and take down two Kelp Mongers. That was nothing compared to what he had in mind next. The trick was to try something they wouldnt be expecting, while giving them exactly what they were expecting. He gestured to one of his lackies. "We will need another Monger," he rumbled dangerously. "And bring me Physis." "My Lord?" Sa turned from the hologram showing the Very Evil One, to the hologram showing her Patriarch. Her blue-green eyes shimmered in the low lights of the bridge. The Patriarch considered for a moment, then shook his head. "No. We shall not interfer yet. The new Dinosorceror's mettle must be tested. We shall watch and see how he deals with this." The Very Evil One silently eyed the creature who had come before him. It was a small reptillian, which stood bipedal with a long swan-like neck. The creature had energy to burn, he was fidgeting and moving constantly, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, hopping up and down, wringing his slender long-fingered hands. The Very Evil One found it quite annoying. Still, everyone knew that those of the genus Coelophysis were among the best thieves in the two galaxies. "Be still and pay attention!" he ordered. The coelophysis crouched low, trembling in its need to be moving. "Yes yes yes, oh most great one, oh your most excellent highness, yes yes, very much paying attention to you now, oh most splendid one, yes yes yes!" Physis hissed rapidly. "Shut up. Now look," the Very Evil One pointed to a screen showing the little Fortrette sparkling in the winter sunlight. "Oooooo, very very much pretty shiny!" "Yes Physis. And while the occupants of that pretty little thing have their attention elsewhere, you are going to get it and bring it to me." "So what do you think?" Red traced the route he had programmed onto the map with a sharp talon, "We can move down along the east coast, perhaps even venture into Canada. But we know there are operatives in the New England region." X and Dino mused over the map. "What about the Great Lakes?" Dino asked. "We'd do well to steer clear of Lake Michigan. There's a pretty powerful vortex there, and we don't have the time to get stuck." X said sensibly flicking the end of her tail absently. Jerhevon waved to get their attention. He and Benjamin had been monitoring the evening news. "Hey, fearless leaders! Looks like another crisis has struck!" Everyone gathered around the TV where a faultless young man in a dark suit was informing the masses that there was a new attack in progress, this time in the industrial area of town. There was live footage of another oversized Kelp Monger trashing factories amidst billowing smoke, fires, alarms and sirens. "Sounds bad," Benjamin pronounced. The news anchor discussed the damages done so far then plaintively asked, "With such destruction and loss of life and property tearing through our industrial district we must ask- Where are the Power Rangers?!" X snorted, "Please." "We did it once, we'll do it again," Dinosorceror declared decisively, banging on the top of the TV to emphasize his point, "We'll do it as many times as necessary! Let's go!" .*&#, ______, ##mmWWWU-^~ -' `^4Xz. Jenn _7/ Joy and Raptors! fsjle@aurora.alaska.edu -Raptor X- "All that I have been, I carry with me. . ." - Daniel Krayan, quoting the _chyd iphieh hshah rerh'ca_ ============= Mail to xdraco@panix.com for list assistance. Use subjects such as 'faq Herpetophile' and 'unjoin Herpetophile' for automatic list commands.