Le Fae wrote:Le Fae: It is possible, of course. If so, he is more a fool than I thought -- he will be as incapacitated by the collar as we are. More, actually, since we have had some time to learn to adjust for its effects. This may be our best chance to get rid of him.....
Ben: Hrmph..mpfhteeheee.......Oh-My-Gosh!
*MWAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!*
Narrater: All LUGs turn silently towards Ben as he bursts out into excessive laughter.
Jade: Um, Ben... Are you alright?
Ben: *WHUIHIHIHUAHA!!!*
You really GOT me there, elfgirl!
Le Fae: I'm. Not. An. Elf!
Ben: Whatever! ^_^ Heehee! *wipes off tears while he catches his breath* Faerie! Hight Court! Puck! That was the most wonderfully told campfire story I've ever heard! And how y'all played along... great show, folks! Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got an urgent business to take care of, if ya know what I mean.. be right back. Heh, leave me one of them marshmallow things, will ya?... *giggles* Puck!
Narrater: With that, he wanders off into the bus.
Jade: Sorry for that. I, uh, barely know him.
Le Fae: Anyway. *cough* As I was saying - Puck is probably not far off, and we need to decide whether and how to take action.
Nocturne: Why, I'll go for him on my own if neccessary...
Kenny: Yay! Let's go kick a--
Jade: AHEM! Watch it, kid.
Kenny: Sorry.
PieceFrog: What do you think, boss?
Sendaz: Hmm... I'm thinking that the best thing we can do right now, is probably... nothing.
Le Fae: But-
Nocturne: But-
Clang: Aaawww.. No buttkicking?
Sendaz: ...because if Puck really is a coward, it won't be an easy thing to chase him down; especially considering that we're not exactly the most inconspicuous of travellers.
We could lose valuable time, which we can't afford, if I may remind you. And splitting up? I wouldn't want to do that at this point. Again, time is not on our side, and our mission is too important to take such risks. We must not lose focus.
Mtaal: But the collar-
Sendaz: Indeed, if he really is attracted to the power of the collar, I don't think it will be long before we will encounter him... one way or another. And when he does show up, we better be prepared. *stares into the dark of night* I have a feeling it won't be long...
Atticus Funt: "Dun dun DUNNN!"
All LUGs:
Atticus Funt: What? It was the obvious thing to say...
* * *
Narrater: Five minutes later. Sendaz, Le Fae, Mtaal, PieceFrog, DemonStalker and Atticus are still sitting around the campfire. The other lugs have returned to the comfy inside of the bus, but only few are able to sleep at all.
Mo: Oh great. I'm gonna die in a friggin' dirty desert, ain't I?
Stargirl: Wha-? Oh I see, you're still in bat-mode. ^_^;
Mo: I'd friggin' transform alright, but I'm too low on energy..
Penguins!: What does that mean?
Mo: Right, like anyone cares...
Our collar-bound F.O.D. master-consumer has prohibited me from getting another food ration before morning.. cause I already ate twice as much as everyone else yesterday. Big deal.
Liria: Well, I guess he has to be a bit strict with the rations, even more so as we are more persons than he originally had planned for... Wait a minute. Are you saying that your transforming ability depends on food??
Mo: Not directly, but it does burn a great amount of energy... think of it as extreme sport. Plus, the collar makes it an even bigger effort. So, I'll have to wait with the transforming until breakfast. If I even endure that long. I hate my life.
Erka: The question is, will we endure that long with you doing your manic-depressive-bat monologue?
Cause I'm gettin' hungry for blue-colored annoying rodents, y'know... 
Mo: Go ahead. End my suffering. I've been waiting for this moment...
Jade: No worries ladies, for I can help. *pulls a muffin out of his bag* I thought this would come in handy eventually.
Mo: *eyes the muffin conspicuously* Blueberry flavored?
Jade: Naturally. Thought I'd forgotten?
Narrater: They watch Mo amazed as the small blue bat devours the entire muffin - which is bigger than her head, I should add - in a matter of seconds. :eep:
Mo: What? I'm hungry.
Now step back a bit, unless you wanna get hurt.
Narrater: And so Mo does her now-not-so-exciting-anymore transforming act and then, as a blue-skinned humanoid, falls around Jade's neck and gives him a spontanious kiss on the cheek.
Mo Novaya: My hero! ^_~
Jade: Well, err...
May the Muffin be with You...
Erka: Guys? Get a room.
* * *
Narratir: In the meanwhile, outside...
Le Fae: ...Don't get me wrong, I do understand your decision. But I can't tell you how much the bare thought of his presence troubles me. Just sitting here doing nothing feels like such a mistake...
Sendaz: I know, but there is nothing we can do about it tonight. Look, we are now a group of more than twenty, and some of them have not the slightest idea of what sort of evil we are talking about here. Even though they heard your tale about the Puck, I am quite sure they have not actually realized the danger of our position... And yes, being the leader of this mission, I do feel responsible for the safety of each and every cub in that bus.
Le Fae: Big Daddy has spoken...
Sendaz: Heh. And like I said... I have a feeling that it won't be long until--
Narratir: He is interrupted by the sound of the bus door being shut, and the six lugs turn simultaneously towards the approaching figure. They recognize Bunny M as he steps into the dancing firelight.
Atticus: Hey Bunny! Fancy a marshmallow?
Mtaal: But I thought you'd eaten the last one?
Atticus: Oooh.. right.
I forgot.
Bunny M: Don't worry, we have bigger concerns right now than the absence of snacks. *turns to Sendaz* Someone is taking a walk out there in the dark.. on his own. I saw him leave the bus a few minutes ago and then watched him on the monitor...
Sendaz: Hmm... I can't say this surprises me.
Le Fae: And I think we all know who it is...
Should we go after him?
Sendaz: ...No.
Atticus: But-
Sendaz: He knows what he's getting himself into, and there is no reasoning with him when he acts like this.
Mtaal: Well, we could just knock him out, tie him up and drag him back into the bus.
All:
Mtaal: *shrugs* Just a thought.
Bunny M: Anyway, he'll soon be out of radar range...
Le Fae: ...and the fire orbs aren't working because of the collar...
Sendaz: ...so we'll lose all contact with him. I see. *sighs* Alright. I'll send someone to keep an eye on him... but without getting noticed. Bunny M, would you please go and get Mo?
BunnyM: Um.. Sure, boss. *walks off*
Mtaal: Mo? But- I mean, isn't she, you know, a bit- err--
Sendaz: You don't know as much about her background as I do.(*) :wink: She'll do fine as a scout. Trust me.
Mtaal: No offense meant..
I just mean, when she's a bat, she's kinda.. weird. Sort of.. fickle, you know...?
Sendaz: Oh, that. Well, yes, but I think if we promise her enough blueberries for the effort, I imagine she'll be quite reliable.
Narratir: Bunny M returns with Mo Novaya, who gives the round an uncertain look; after Sendaz has explained the situation, she nods in comprehension.
Mo Novaya: ...but how am I gonna stay in touch with you?
Sendaz: Well, we don't have any working communication equipment just now.. but I'd expect that with your sense of echolocation, you wouldn't have any problems with finding your way back to us.
Mo Novaya: Well yeah, but if you travel on before I come back... *passes an alarmed glance at the bus*
Sendaz: I expect you to return as soon as the sun rises - whether with or without Nocturne -, and we'll be waiting for you.
Atticus: But what if-
Sendaz: And if we for whatever reason have to move, we'll leave traces. Don't worry. We're not gonna leave you here. But we're running out of time... I'd just like you to keep an eye on him, and if he gets into serious trouble, come back to alarm us. Look, if you feel uncomfortable about this, you don't have to do it.
* * *
Narratur: Later, a few miles away from the camp, a dark figure which is well known to us wanders swiftly through the desert night, stopping every once in a while to take a sharp look around, and murmures to himself...
Nocturne: Focus my butt. I'm not gonna let him get away... not thisss time...
Narratur: Not far behind him, he is being followed by a tiny shadow in the sky. *cue Pink Panther main theme* A shadow, who also murmures to itself...
Mo: Holy carp, that better be a whole bush of blueberries...
---------------
(*) See "Thunderdome Secret Origins Vol. #1", available nowhere in this dimension.
