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Post by ebonyviper on Nov 22, 2008 15:10:29 GMT -5
Delfina turned and tapped Erika's side to get her attention. "Erika, I think she wants to ask you a question," she said, indicating Dagmar approaching them.
(((((OOC: They probably are. I haven't thought that much on what to do with them after the timejump.)))))
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 22, 2008 16:00:50 GMT -5
Jastrow went up to Freda and her parents, dwarfed by them, but not taken aback. He presented himself to the father. "I'm ensign Elias Jastrow, sir. Lt. Stokes, the cutter at our station, is currently unable to leave port."
Erika turned her attention from the new arrivals to the skater who had come up to her, raising her 'shades as she met the other woman's light brown eyes. "Yes?"
"Erika?" Dagmar asked. "You don't remember me? I'm your sister!" By now, the scent was unmistakable, though absent from her senses for years. "Your eyes, the scar, your scent... how could I be mistaken?"
Malia stood off a short distance with a deer-in-the-headlights expression.
Randy glanced over to Delfina, speaking low. "Carl screwed with Erika's head something awful, I now know HOW bad, though I'd rather wait to tell you how I know. What about that old trophy bracelet?"
Hannah Moorehead was spending the day going through Villa Hermosa's boutiques, galleries and antique shops. The Aston-Martin V12 Vanquish, in her natural ghost-like silver-grey, was an unusual figure even in a trendy tourist mecca frequented by California's rich and famous. She paused at the market stall of the town's resident carver, viewing the old panel van's works and raising her 'shades at the bust of a human female displayed among the "not for sale" pieces. The hair on its head seemed to almost float in the wind, despite being of wood, and its eyes seemed to follow the viewer. It occurred to her that even if he wasn't willing to part with this piece, he might be open to doing a similar work by commission.
It was then that Hannah froze, catching the scent of another quite unusual car. Aston Martins had about the best natural scenting capability of any. She turned slowly, viewing a tuned and modded Viper woman, accompanied by a Honda NSX and their children. The boys didn't look so much like Daddy, though - the wheelbase and rear quarter suggested some Toyota in them. But the little girl was unquestionably his biological get. It rang a bell... then Hannah remembered her boyfriend saying something about an acquaintance, a top game developer, who had left the California scene for Colorado, after meeting a woman there and deciding to move his operation lock, stock and barrel to Cortez. Could this be that family?
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Post by ebonyviper on Nov 22, 2008 16:45:41 GMT -5
"Captain Arrow Nightshade," the older destroyer introduced himself, "You handled yourself well with Mr. Deitrich there."
*****
"I still have it, I think," said Delfina, "but I left it back at the camp."
She picked up something else. It was faint, but it was there. She looked at Randy for a moment after he told her how he knew how much Carl had messed with Erika.
'I know,' her sending was open, but directed at Randy, 'I've sensed it for some time. You're a user. I also know you are able to do this.'
*****
Ebony was keeping an eye on the antics of the twins, having reminded them to keep their boundless energy in check while they were in the business district of Villa Hermosa, after having expressed her need to just go out and enjoy herself to Kendall that morning.
"Stay where we can see you, boys," she called to the twins as they started to wander away, "We don't want you both getting lost."
Kestrel and Falcon obediently returned to their parents.
The Viper turned to the NSX, "So, do you wanna go see a movie later this evening? Just the two of us? I found a nice theater the first few days that I was here."
Atremis looked up her father and asked hopefully, "Papa? Roof-back ride?" A roof-back ride, similar to a piggy-back ride from a human standpoint, was what she enjoyed best. Even better if her father did it with her.
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 22, 2008 17:51:09 GMT -5
Kendall looked down at Artemis. "OK sweetie, but I can only do it for a little while. You're getting to be a big girl now." He sat down in back to enable the child to climb up. "That sounds like a great idea, Ebs."
Hannah, with a display of carvings between her and the couple, continued to observe discreetly while pretending to interest herself in Bill's inventory.
'I knew I had something, starting a couple of years back.' Randy found that he could send to other users, 'But explaining it is... kinda... embarrassing.'
"Can we go back with you?" Dagmar asked, ignoring Malia's general shock and dismay. "I want to see this."
"Thank you, sir." the ensign tipped his bow. "And I'm pleased to make your acquaintance. Your daughter's told us many good things about you."
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Post by ebonyviper on Nov 22, 2008 18:07:49 GMT -5
"I figured it was a good way to relieve all the tension that's been going on lately," said Ebony.
Artemis grinned and clamored up to her father's roof.
Ebony watched her daughter for a moment, hoping she wouldn't fall off accidentally.
*****
'You can try to explain it to me when we get back to the cove,' sent Delfina, 'In private, if you'd like.'
Delfina turned her attention to Dagmar, "Sure." She looked out at Malia, "If it's okay with your companion there."
*****
"Indeed she has," nodded Arrow.
"Mom, Dad?" Freda broke in, "Would you like to come back to the cove with me and meet the rest of the humans?"
"We'd love to," said Rebecca, giving her husband a nudge.
"Of course," replied Arrow.
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 22, 2008 18:37:09 GMT -5
'That would work.' Randy accentuated with a nod, 'Thank you.'
Erika was too distracted with Dagmar and Malia to twig that anything was being communicated between Delfina and Randy.
Malia sighed. "All right... just no more... getting into rough stuff, OK? I'm still responsible for you and it's my butt on the line if anything happens."
"Thanks, Malia. I won't tell anyone." Dagmar smiled gratefully.
"Now let's get that re-fastened." Malia's aerial tips started to re-arrange and retie Malia's fitted protective sheet.
And it was now Erika's turn to look like a deer in the headlights.
"I'll go with you." Jastrow offered. "I have something to drop off there anyway."
"And I hear the theatre is one of those nice old-fashioned movie houses." Kendall said. "I wonder if they have matinees?" He was thinking that at some other point they might come in with the kids if they had family films.
It was then that Kendall noticed the human bust in Bill's shop, and he had never seen it. "Wow." He moved in for a closer look, but bumped the Aston-Martin on the corner of her bumper. "Oh, sorry, ma'am."
"Oh, it's all right." the Vanquish blushed. Her accent was flawless "Estuary English" "I'm afraid I wasn't paying attention." She smiled at the little girl clinging to her father's roof.
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Post by ebonyviper on Nov 22, 2008 19:11:39 GMT -5
'No problem,' nodded Delfina.
"Erika?" Delfina asked, taking note of whatever had frozen her. She tapped the girl's side to get her attention, "Earth to Erika. We're going back to the cove now."
*****
"Sure," said Freda, "Come along."
The research vessel turned and headed back to the cove, her parents following.
*****
"I bet they do," said Ebony, "Those old-fashioned movie theaters always intrigued me somehow. It's like they open up a door to another time."
She stopped when Kendall accidentally bumped into the Ashton Martin and blinked. The Viper pulled up beside her husband and smiled at her. "Hello."
Shy, little Artemis was clinging to her father's roof.
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 22, 2008 19:33:26 GMT -5
Erika seemed to snap out of it. "OK."
Randy nuzzled her gently and smiled apologetically to Dagmar and Malia, wishing he could explain to them. The two women followed them quietly.
Jastrow paced Freda, her parents and Nerisa, not cowed or inhibited by the big ships.
Marty waited anxiously at the cove mouth, having twigged that something was happening. He was too slow on the surface to keep up with the others, so there he remained. Finally, he saw them coming back, with a couple of strangers, and waved back to the humans onshore.
"Oh, hello." the Aston-Martin smiled pleasantly. "I must say, you have an adorable little daughter."
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Post by ebonyviper on Nov 22, 2008 19:56:18 GMT -5
Freda led her parents back to the cove, who looked at it with awe.
"This is where I've been staying for the past several weeks," she told Arrow and Rebecca, "I've been helping the humans."
"Interesting," said Arrow, "They seem worthy, judging by the woman, what was her name?"
"Delfina Verant," said Freda, "She's sort of the leader of this group."
"Ah, I see," nodded Arrow, "Fine lady."
*****
"Her name is Artemis," said Ebony, "She's just a little shy of strangers, though."
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 22, 2008 20:15:36 GMT -5
Kendall had been studying the Vanquish woman, trying to recall if he had seen her someplace else.
"That's such a pretty name." she smiled again. "So are you visiting here? This is the first time I've been to this place, though I'll be around a lot now that my fiancee has his summer place."
"She is, sir." Jastrow agreed. "Don't let a human's size fool you. They're very formidable in their own way, and good people to have on your side." He went on to introduce the smaller craft. "And over there are Randy Jewison and Erika - we're not sure of her real last name yet. Neither is she." Then his attention went to Dagmar and Malia. "I'm afraid I don't know those two ladies, though I did see one of them competing in the pro races yesterday."
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Post by ebonyviper on Nov 22, 2008 20:34:39 GMT -5
"We're just visiting," said Ebony, "We were at a friend's wedding yesterday, though."
Hannah was a stranger to Ebony, so the Viper wasn't sure how much she should say. So, she wasn't very conversational, unless she was asked a question. Or she asked one.
"I'm sorry, but I don't know who you are," said Ebony.
*****
"Such a crowd we have here," said Rebecca.
Still aboard Erika, Delfina waved to Arrow and Rebecca in greeting. Then she leaned over to Randy, 'Do you want to have that talk now?
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 22, 2008 21:19:49 GMT -5
The humans onshore came to the water's edge to view the newcomers, and the three dogs present trotted up and barked. Dawn waved to Delfina, again wearing an apron with something snarky screened on it. They'd been monitoring the radio freqs on the scanner and had some idea of what had taken place.
"There's about thirty humans there." Jastrow explained to Rebecca and Arrow. "And here's Marty." he indicated the little sub.
'Sure', Randy gave a nod to Delfina, 'Hope you don't mind me getting into some background.'
Erika and Dagmar were touching noses, taking in one another's scent. Erika's expression was changing from confusion to increasing recollection as she continued to check out the skater.
"My apologies for not saying so, but I'm Hannah Moorehead." the Vanquish woman answered.
Kendall finally slapped himself. "NOW I remember... you were modelling for us when we were developing our first road race game. I don't know if you recall, but I was the "programmer" half of the company - Kendall Massey." He rose on his shocks a little. "I'm happy to say we've grown a bit since then. So how did you come to be here, if I may ask?"
"Peter, my boyfriend, just bought the old Amherst mansion on the other side of town." Hannah explained.
"Wait a minute - Peter Vilinsky?"
"Yes."
"So that was his team that won one of the pro races last Saturday - that girl who hit the log but went on anyway?"
"That was."
Kendall looked back to Ebony. "Hannah, this is Ebony, my wife, and our other two children are Kestrel and Falcon - as soon as we can find them again." He called the boys back.
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Post by ebonyviper on Nov 22, 2008 21:41:07 GMT -5
'Not at all,' said Delfina as she hopped from Erika to Randy, 'I think Erika is getting reacquainted with her sister, anyway. I don't want to get in the middle of that.'
Arrow and Rebecca smiled and nodded to all who were introduced to them.
*****
Kestrel and Falcon, who had wandered into Bill's shop, came back to their parents.
Ebony nodded approval as her sons returned, "Good boys."
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Post by Evangeline on Nov 22, 2008 22:07:18 GMT -5
"My, you've done very well with your children." Hannah was visibly impressed at how the boys listened to Ebony.
"Please excuse me for a minute." Jastrow pulled away from the larger vessels. "Commander LeVasseur wished to send these over." He hauled a small box up with his aerial and turned it over to Dawn as she waded up. "They're thank-you cards."
"OK, I'll see that everyone gets'em." Dawn took the box back up into the camp.
Jastrow returned to explain. "Our station commander just got married yesterday. We're all glad that she was still alive to do it. You see, she was poisoned last week, but our senior NCO's managed to pull her through."
Randy made sure that Delfina was securely balanced before moving off. 'OK, I don't quite know how to begin this, but when I'd just turned eighteen and legal for most stuff, I heard from a friend of mine who'd starting working summers at this Mexican resort...'
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Post by ebonyviper on Nov 22, 2008 22:25:21 GMT -5
"Thanks," said Ebony.
*****
"Poisoned?" asked Arrow, "Who did it?"
*****
Delfina nodded as she listened, 'Go on. What did this friend from Mexican resort say?'
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