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_
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