[Nexus]:Louv're Tower

[Ashen Lilies]

The devil attempts to give Marciano the letter. Does the devil care that Marciano is sleeping? Of course not. The devil attempts to give him the letter anyway.

[Hattish Thing]

Marciano's Office

The rather ugly halfing snores loudly, then as his letter is placed on him, he wakes up in a spasm. Gah! Who-What?! He growls at the devil. Wha are you?! What? Letter? What are you? He'll grab the letter angrily, and tear into it.

[Ashen Lilies]

The equally ugly devil has the letter grabbed out of his hand!

It reads thusly:

Dear Puny Mortal Scum,

It has come to my attention that you have made unauthorized use of the damned souls of Hell through the function of a generator device hereafter known as the 'Soul Engine'. Let it be made clear that the damned souls of Hell are the sole property of the Nine Hells, as mandated by the Divine Rule of all Existence and enforced by Zeus, King of Mount Olympus and Lord of All Creation; Hades, King of the Nine Hells (deceased) and The Iron Queen Persephone, Lady of the Nine Hells, and all the Divine and Infernal agents thereof, and we do not appreciate you nicking our stuff.

We demand that you immediately cease all operation of the device known as the 'Soul Engine' and that you deliver said device, in its entirety, as well as all accompanying plans and blueprints to agents of the Nine Hells for immediate destruction. Failure to comply with this demand shall result in the horrible fiery doom and eternal suffering of yourself, your immortal soul, and the immortal souls of all sapient beings under your employ, followed by legal action with lawyers and stuff. DIABOLICAL LAWYERS.

Sincerely,

Sel
Face of the Masked Lady

[BladeofObliviom]

[Research Labs]

Cyrus thinks a moment.

"All right, with that knowledge in mind, I think I know how to go about doing this."

Someone who is both impressively observant and capable of seeing magical auras may well notice a thin, nearly invisible flicker of blue light floating off of Cyrus' hair, for but a split second as Cyrus views the Soul Engine blueprints. An attempt at identifying it will reveal it as an analysis charm, cast by Cyrus upon himself, likely so he wouldn't have to waste time looking at the schematics again.

In any case, he turns to the rest of the group.

"Alright, I believe I understand the problem. What we'll need is lower-energy souls, preferably broken down in a manner that doesn't create excess ectoplasmic wastage. Given a proper understanding of the problem, I think we can come to a solution. My personal suggestion is a Mana filter, to pull excess Red Mana out of souls that enter the engine.

If my theory is correct, that should stabilize the souls with little difficulty, allowing them to be used without any danger of explosive overclocking.

Any questions? Or shall I begin construction?"

[Hattish Thing]

The equally ugly devil has the letter grabbed out of his hand!

It reads thusly:

Marciano reads the letter, and his face turns a darker shade of red each few lines. By the end of the letter, Marciano's face is a dark purple. He looks up at the devil. You.....walk into my office....wake me up....and then deliver a death threat? You....have the nerve?! Tell whoever sent this, that Marciano Louv're says that the spirit engine will be completed, and once it is....I'll drain Hell. Now, get out before I have the urge to shoot you, ugly little imp.

[Research Labs]

Cyrus thinks a moment.

"All right, with that knowledge in mind, I think I know how to go about doing this."

Someone who is both impressively observant and capable of seeing magical auras may well notice a thin, nearly invisible flicker of blue light floating off of Cyrus' hair, for but a split second as Cyrus views the Soul Engine blueprints. An attempt at identifying it will reveal it as an analysis charm, cast by Cyrus upon himself, likely so he wouldn't have to waste time looking at the schematics again.

In any case, he turns to the rest of the group.

"Alright, I believe I understand the problem. What we'll need is lower-energy souls, preferably broken down in a manner that doesn't create excess ectoplasmic wastage. Given a proper understanding of the problem, I think we can come to a solution. My personal suggestion is a Mana filter, to pull excess Red Mana out of souls that enter the engine.

If my theory is correct, that should stabilize the souls with little difficulty, allowing them to be used without any danger of explosive overclocking.

Any questions? Or shall I begin construction?"

Oh? A mana filter..ah. No, questions...just begin constructing...I'll watch...um, if you need magic power, I can go find The Grandfather... Brant looks rather confused. What was a mana filter?

[Murkus]

Research Labs

"Thank you very much, Cyrus," Jack says with a markedly respectful nod. He turns to grin Dr. Brant. Needless to say, it is disturbing as ever. "Now how 'bout we get diggin'? Hell isn't gonna wait forever. I assume you've got a giant drill or something similarly ridiculous?"

[Hattish Thing]

Research Labs

Mr. Brant nods. Yes, a drill...with a magical tip. It igs to hell, then a giant mechanism like a vacuum activates, sucking up the damned souls of the underworld like a household vacuum, then these souls are transported here, through a network of magical pipes, where it connects to The Spirit Engine! The middle-aged man nods nervously. The...uh...operation is happening in Outside, by Winterview Lake. The drill will be activated there...if you'd like to come watch it being assembled, I can arrange a trip.

[BladeofObliviom]

((This post assumes that Louv're Tower lacks a dimension lock or similar system that prevents Cyrus from just summoning materials to work with. If there is something like that and the OP just doesn't mention it, do tell me so. I don't actually know if Megan and Magtok's players are still interested in this plot, and I apologize for skipping them if they are.))

Research Labs

Within less than a minute, Cyrus appears to have constructed a shockingly large cylindrical device, appearing much like a dreary gray hole in reality. It is just under the width of the Soul Engine's intended drill shaft in diameter, and about ten feet in height. There is a small lever marked "mana disposal" on top of the device, with no other indication of its function.

This must be that mana filter that Cyrus mentioned.

"It's easy enough to operate. As it absorbs excess red mana, it will start to turn pink, and then a vivid crimson. When it looks like a pool of blood, pull the lever and it'll turn grey again. If you let it get all the way to a dark burgundy it might explode and release all of that pent-up energy at once, so I'd recommend having someone watch it and pull the lever when needed. Just put it somewhere in the shaft before you start processing the souls and it should work. I've already calibrated its absorption rate to meet the rest of your engine's needs efficiently. That should solve the overload problem, if those blueprints were accurate."

...

"They were accurate, right? Because if they weren't, this thing could very well destroy the local fabric of reality."

[Darkcomet]

[Outside Louv're Tower]

Marciano cannot have expected to go ignored forever, and indeed, it seems someone has come ahead of that apparent infiltration party.

But whoever masterminded this attack is smart, and does not attack the fortress head-on. Instead, they opt to attempt to weaken the outer defenses first.

A pair of stealth fighter planes approaches the tower, their anti-radar technology, optical cloaks, and unusually quiet engines making them difficult to detect. Then, when they get in missile range, they lock on to any 'missilecopters' flying around the tower as noted earlier in the thread, decloak, and fire a full barrage of missiles at as many as possible-the stealth fighters are not numerous, nor do they have hyperspace storage, so that's just twelve missiles. Twelve, deadly missiles.

Afterward, regardless of the result, the fighters will immediately recloak and retreat. Should their trajectories be noted and projected, they are retreating back to Inside.

This is not an assault, this is a raid.

[Hattish Thing]

((This post assumes that Louv're Tower lacks a dimension lock or similar system that prevents Cyrus from just summoning materials to work with. If there is something like that and the OP just doesn't mention it, do tell me so. I don't actually know if Megan and Magtok's players are still interested in this plot, and I apologize for skipping them if they are.))

Research Labs

Within less than a minute, Cyrus appears to have constructed a shockingly large cylindrical device, appearing much like a dreary gray hole in reality. It is just under the width of the Soul Engine's intended drill shaft in diameter, and about ten feet in height. There is a small lever marked "mana disposal" on top of the device, with no other indication of its function.

This must be that mana filter that Cyrus mentioned.

"It's easy enough to operate. As it absorbs excess red mana, it will start to turn pink, and then a vivid crimson. When it looks like a pool of blood, pull the lever and it'll turn grey again. If you let it get all the way to a dark burgundy it might explode and release all of that pent-up energy at once, so I'd recommend having someone watch it and pull the lever when needed. Just put it somewhere in the shaft before you start processing the souls and it should work. I've already calibrated its absorption rate to meet the rest of your engine's needs efficiently. That should solve the overload problem, if those blueprints were accurate."

...

"They were accurate, right? Because if they weren't, this thing could very well destroy the local fabric of reality."

Mr. Brant's eyes open wide. I...um..hope..I'm just supposed to build it! I've no clue who wrote the blueprints...this machine isn't supposed to even exist! And....I...yes, we'll have a person there....Um, sir? Might I ask....uh...what could this thing....power? He...wants to power it to.....a different machine...and it's....dangerous...if the Spirit Engine reloads during the process, it could overide ZETA, then this whole tower would implode....And I'd be out of a job...uh...The Grandfather says it'll work...as does Mr. Louv're....But....To be honest? I....don't really trust they realize what could go wrong...If ZETA malfunctioned and reconnected power in a siege, or if someone tripped on a plug...the results would be catastrophic...the amount of power this thing can hold...admittedly, the engine always was a bit of a loose cannon idea...I don't know what kind of madman thought up this...monstrosity....but I fear that Mr. Louv're doesn't realize it...He's been very upset...and Wing Omnicron hasn't visited in a while...and there's been attacks...I....what if the machine got damaged? I hypothesized, the power explosion would set everything in a 50 yard radius on fire, and send radiation waves out another 20 yards...the magic would tear a hole through time, sucking in reality and spitting out...bad things...then, when the electric surge reached ZETA, it will lose the mind control of the soldiers and self-destruct...killing everything in 10 miles...it could kill everyone in the tower...

[Outside Louv're Tower]

Marciano cannot have expected to go ignored forever, and indeed, it seems someone has come ahead of that apparent infiltration party.

But whoever masterminded this attack is smart, and does not attack the fortress head-on. Instead, they opt to attempt to weaken the outer defenses first.

A pair of stealth fighter planes approaches the tower, their anti-radar technology, optical cloaks, and unusually quiet engines making them difficult to detect. Then, when they get in missile range, they lock on to any 'missilecopters' flying around the tower as noted earlier in the thread, decloak, and fire a full barrage of missiles at as many as possible-the stealth fighters are not numerous, nor do they have hyperspace storage, so that's just twelve missiles. Twelve, deadly missiles.

Afterward, regardless of the result, the fighters will immediately recloak and retreat. Should their trajectories be noted and projected, they are retreating back to Inside.

This is not an assault, this is a raid.

The strange helicopters seem to be gigantic assault weapons, capable of annihilating enemy ships easily...if they could actually see them. Suddenly, one of the missilecopters receives all twelve missiles and explodes, causing shrapnel to fly around wildly, at this however, an alarm is sent out all over the tower. They were under attack. Soldiers began heading to places of defense. Marciano sat in his leather chair and swears loudly when he hears the news. It was either Remnant, AMEN, that tiny siege group, or Wing Omnicron...sent back to take back what Marciano stole. Either way, Marciano would be ready. He gave the command to ready the cannons, and have Zeta control the soldiers to the right places. no one got in, no one got out.

[Darkcomet]

[Outside Louv're Tower]

There is no immediate follow-up on that. Another raid will likely wait for some time.

Whoever they are, it's clear these attackers are not committing to an all-out assault. That would be pointlessly bloody.

Instead, they decided to perform this raid. Perhaps to send a message, perhaps to whittle defenses down.

But there's no further attack, regardless, and again-if they can tell where the planes were headed from when they were visible, they are headed back to Inside.

[Ashen Lilies]

Marciano reads the letter, and his face turns a darker shade of red each few lines. By the end of the letter, Marciano's face is a dark purple. He looks up at the devil. You.....walk into my office....wake me up....and then deliver a death threat? You....have the nerve?! Tell whoever sent this, that Marciano Louv're says that the spirit engine will be completed, and once it is....I'll drain Hell. Now, get out before I have the urge to shoot you, ugly little imp.

A pause.

"Is that... erm... your official response?" Asks the umbrella-man.

[Hattish Thing]

Inside Louv're Tower

Marciano growls. Yes, it is! GET OUT.

[Ashen Lilies]

"Very well."
And then the devil walks back to the lift. Unless stopped, he'll leave.

[Hattish Thing]

Marciano gives a quick nod to one of the men in black government suits that escorted the demon up. The man in the suit, shades, and wireless nods back. The man lifts up a Louv're Brand pistol from a holster, and will then proceed to shoot the demon in the back. The bullet that flies out is a special magic bullet, that will cause the demon to most likely freeze in it's spot, in great pain. Marciano speaks out, Sorry...demon....I just can't let you return....I can't have the nine hells attacking me too...Sorry. The Grandfather will deal with you... Marciano will press a button on his desk, and then the noise of the lift lowering and then rising is heard.

[Ashen Lilies]

The charcoal suited Umbrella-man does indeed appear to freeze as the bullet embeds itself into the Umbrella-man's back. Appears to. Then the umbrella man raises a hand to its charcoal colored bowler hat and grabs at an invisible zipper, pulling it down to shrug the Umbrella-man disguise as though a wet suit.

It turns around slowly.

Where the Umbrella-man was ugly and shabbily dressed, all empty bluster and shallow disdain (perhaps like a certain other someone in the room?) this new devil is handsome, with chiseled features and perfectly arranged dark hair, and seems to drip with arrogance. Instead of a disheveled suit, he instead wears a perfectly cut tuxedo, tastefully disarranged into a display of easy confidence - the jacket unbuttoned, the bow untied, top buttons undone and collar popped as he settles into an easy, lounging slouch, reaching into the (perfectly normal!) gray umbrella to pull out a tiny pistol equipped with a long silencer.

The Lounger points the gun at Marciano.

"Sorry." Says the Lounger with a liquid smooth voice, giving a cocky little grin with perfect white teeth.
"Sorry, but I never allow anyone to call me a demon and get away with it."

The Lounger pulls the trigger, and out from the end of the pistol comes a massive bolt of explosive Hellfire, headed straight for Marciano. Predicted casualties include him, his desk, and just about anything directly behind or around him, up to and including the wall.

[Hattish Thing]

The charcoal suited Umbrella-man does indeed appear to freeze as the bullet embeds itself into the Umbrella-man's back. Appears to. Then the umbrella man raises a hand to its charcoal colored bowler hat and grabs at an invisible zipper, pulling it down to shrug the Umbrella-man disguise as though a wet suit.

It turns around slowly.

Where the Umbrella-man was ugly and shabbily dressed, all empty bluster and shallow disdain (perhaps like a certain other someone in the room?) this new devil is handsome, with chiseled features and perfectly arranged dark hair, and seems to drip with arrogance. Instead of a disheveled suit, he instead wears a perfectly cut tuxedo, tastefully disarranged into a display of easy confidence - the jacket unbuttoned, the bow untied, top buttons undone and collar popped as he settles into an easy, lounging slouch, reaching into the (perfectly normal!) gray umbrella to pull out a tiny pistol equipped with a long silencer.

The Lounger points the gun at Marciano.

"Sorry." Says the Lounger with a liquid smooth voice, giving a cocky little grin with perfect white teeth.
"Sorry, but I never allow anyone to call me a demon and get away with it."

The Lounger pulls the trigger, and out from the end of the pistol comes a massive bolt of explosive Hellfire, headed straight for Marciano. Predicted casualties include him, his desk, and just about anything directly behind or around him, up to and including the wall.

Marciano does look confused for a second, as it appears the demon unzips itself. Marciano growls as the demon appears in the nice tuxedo. He moves his head to the side confused. Who are-GAH! The little man jumps underneath his desk and would have been completely incinerated by the magic, had not the elevator opened up, and a man in red and blue robes, a grey goatee-beard, and a hood entered through the elevator. This man cast a spell quickly as the hellfire sped across the room, causing a shield of purple black magic to cover around Marciano. The man walks in, and the demon's sensors should go off immediately. This man was very old, and very evil. An aura of deep dark magic follows him around. The Grandfather speaks out. I apoligize, but I simply cannot allow you to slay the prophet. Mr. Louv're will guids humanity to the final cataclysm, where Ick Thelloth will fall from the skies and rule. We are his servants, and Louv're is our ticket to eternal service, and therefore life. The Grandfather grins evilly, madness in his eyes.

[Ashen Lilies]

Oh no! Very old ancient evil full of deep darkness! The devil from the Nine Hells has certainly never faced THAT before! What a completely new experience!

The Lounger doesn't bother responding to The Grandfather's mad ramblings. No witty repartee. No rapid fire quipping. He just shoots. Rapidly.

[Hattish Thing]

The Grandfather grins. He hadn't gotten to test out his black magic on a subject in battle in a while. However, as he's ranting, suddenly a few shots of Hellfire come blasting his way. He places a shield up quickly, but because he wasn't expecting to be fired at right away, the shield is weak and splutters out in the end, causing a burst of hellfire to strike his side. The Grandfather groans in pain as purple blood drips down the burned robes. He growls, he wasn't expecting to be shot at immediately. He turns to the devil again and summons up several purple balls with sickly green centers. The magical balls fly toward the devil and will explode in a burst of purple flames all over the devil should they hit. The Grandfather simultaneously readies another spell. I will crush you under the weight of reality....

[Ashen Lilies]

The Lounger casually dodges the Grandfather's attacks, effortlessly sidling past them as one might a man in a crowd. Given that Marciano is right behind him, that could mean trouble.
"I reject your reality and substitute my own!" Says the devil, firing this time at the floor below the Grandfather, attempting to blow it out.

[Hattish Thing]

The Grandfather launches another spell as the floor buckles away, the Grandfather floats as a huge hole opens up in the floor, the sounds of the elevator filling up is heard. The Grandfather growls. You're good devil, but I've been around longer...I am the pure manifestation of the darkest magic! DIE! Purple lightning bolts fly toward the devil, whilst the purple balls shot off, flip back around and fly towards the devil's back.

Marciano is jamming the "Reinforcement" button wildly from under his desk.

[Ashen Lilies]

"Well I do despise having to beat up an old geezer." Says the Lounger, backflipping over the returning energy balls and under the lightning.
"So I believe it's time to make my exit."
The Lounger swirls, attempting to blast a hole in the wall with his pistol as he sprints towards it. Should he succeed, he'll leap out of it.

[Hattish Thing]

The Grandfather growls angrily. No, stay and fight you cowardly devil! I will drain your blood, and with that blood I'll concoct a poison...with that poison I'll make a fog of death.....I....Whuh? Wait, come here! He'll launch one final attack, as several strands of dark purple fly toward the devil, he should hopefully be able to escape before the tendrils bore into the devil.

[Ashen Lilies]

Indeed, the Lounger swan-dives straight out of the hole in the tower, attempting to open up a portal at the last second to plunge through in order to avoid becoming an embarrassing stain on the ground.

[The Alexandrian]

[Rapping, Rapping At Your Chamber Door!]

Yeehaw! I'm back in black, folks! And free of the lassitude that's been the standard fare of the past four or five months! Adapting and not dying! Hooray! Alacrity rules and melancholy drools! And I'm stuck for words! Harumph and not so hooray!

But, seeing as this is a fairly straightforward sortie that I set abroach, I think I'm up for functioning on this level until I'm once more in the swing of things! 'T isn't beyond the ken of my somewhat abraded FFRP repertoire, though I do so hope that my justified but truculent mentality doesn't blend with the tone I'm harnessing herein!

And now for...
What we had cooked up before that furlough!

Ah! Yes!

Charge! Blitz! Sally forth! Today is a good day to make other sorry saps die for what they believe in! Coup de main! Andele! Let's get ready to rumble!

In other words...

Attack!

Boom! Out of the treeline skips Clarissa! Wait... Skips? She's wearing an adorable lil flowery cream-colored kimono and a charming lil smile!

Wait... Something is definitely wrong here! That's not Clarissa! Clarissa isn't a child! Or maybe she is... Either way, it looks like she's twisted Father Time's arm and turned back the clock! That's a temporary inconvenience for her *ahem* adult relationships with people but an OP advantage on this battleground!

Wanna see how?
Let me show you something!

With enough temerity to put King Leonidas to shame, kid Clarissa attempts to skip up to Marciano's front door and knock on it as any other sane visitor would do! She's humming a merry tune to herself as she does so! Of course, she's abstaining from any hostile activities while she patiently waits for a guard to answer the door!

Security checkpoints aren't fun for Clarissa! Diversions are!

Especially diversions like this!

Spoiler

Show

Skit: Fire Marshall Bill At School - In Living Color

Diversions galore! Soon!

[BladeofObliviom]

Mr. Brant's eyes open wide. I...um..hope..I'm just supposed to build it! I've no clue who wrote the blueprints...this machine isn't supposed to even exist! And....I...yes, we'll have a person there....Um, sir? Might I ask....uh...what could this thing....power? He...wants to power it to.....a different machine...and it's....dangerous...if the Spirit Engine reloads during the process, it could overide ZETA, then this whole tower would implode....And I'd be out of a job...uh...The Grandfather says it'll work...as does Mr. Louv're....But....To be honest? I....don't really trust they realize what could go wrong...If ZETA malfunctioned and reconnected power in a siege, or if someone tripped on a plug...the results would be catastrophic...the amount of power this thing can hold...admittedly, the engine always was a bit of a loose cannon idea...I don't know what kind of madman thought up this...monstrosity....but I fear that Mr. Louv're doesn't realize it...He's been very upset...and Wing Omnicron hasn't visited in a while...and there's been attacks...I....what if the machine got damaged? I hypothesized, the power explosion would set everything in a 50 yard radius on fire, and send radiation waves out another 20 yards...the magic would tear a hole through time, sucking in reality and spitting out...bad things...then, when the electric surge reached ZETA, it will lose the mind control of the soldiers and self-destruct...killing everything in 10 miles...it could kill everyone in the tower...

Research Labs

Cyrus scoffs.

"This? This won't power anything. This is a stabilizing filter, not a giant alkaline. This will, unless I was lied to about the blueprints, not allow any overloading to happen. Just in case though, I intend to be quite far from the tower by the time this thing gets turned on.

...You might consider taking a sick day too. Just in case. Let a grunt take the risk, since you seem to be where most of the intelligence in this place is stored."

[Hattish Thing]

Girl at the Louv're Tower

The tall glass, special greenish metal, and plastic tower looms over her an a barren hill. Guards constantly patrol the place, and the tower is currently tele-locked everywhere save for the Lobby. Marciano would not like all his security to be bypassed so easily! He didn't want to die so very fast. The engine was set up. It was designed, the drilling was happening, and as soon as the group got to him, he'd be waiting to test out the Spirit Engine on ZETA. Then...the raiding group would be a piece of proverbial cake. Marciano was waiting in the Research labs, along with a few guards, and one rather frightened scientist. The scientists is playing around with the spirit engine mournfully. Grantaire was dead, which meant Marciano would have no friends should he die...well, if nothing else seemed to be working, he accepted the fact he would be dying. Now, he had the ultimate power. He got to choose his time of death. History lied before him. He would kill them all. In one beautiful final light-show!

The Grandfather: The guards were all situated, blocking the elevators and vents with the help of The Sanctum of Dust Cultists. The Grandfather waited in his giant library in the middle of the tower. He waited there, floating in the air, books floating about, cultists around him, casting powerful spells of combat advantage to power him up and prepare him for the attack. The Grandfather was ready to give his life for the prophet. But...He'd been having his doubts with Marciano. The halfling had lost it. Should he begin to lose, he was more than prepared to betray him. He knew everything about this tower, he could simply remove all the shields around the place. Making the tower a hundred times more invulnerable. Then he would escape back to Inside, and gather another host.

Guards and Riot Soldiers: These guys are in every hallway almost, patrolling and watching the elevators. They have shields and greatclubs, whilst the soldiers have Louv're Industries giant weapons. Metal constructs and automatons also run around. One elevator is left free, and the big b helicopter flies up and down, ready to fire every last explosive shell.

Lobby: Guards wait right inside, along with the brunt of their weaponry. Huge guns and platform lasers are all pointed on the doors inside. Louv're Agents in shades and black suits make sure everything is going fine and send reports to Louv're. Then, they're a ridiculous knocking! An agent goes to check, and opens the doors slowly, exposing all the guard with high-powered weapons. Yes? Who are you child, drop everything. NOW.

Different Timeline: Brant

Brant fidgets rather nervously. Er...rumour has it Louv're stole this thing from the labs of Veroonai Pay. Er...Executive Pay. It was a prototype...never been tested, and he wants to power it to ZETA. Which could be catastrophic. I should take a sick day...but then I"ll be out of a job...maybe...I can work with AMEN? I specialize with machinery...I could m ayee help remake this thing? Anything...I have a family to feed, and this job is about to be destroyed...

[The Alexandrian]

[Little Halfling, Little Halfling, Let Me Come In!]

Kid Clarissa gives the guard a friendly wave.

"Hi there! I'm Akoraun! I'm here to see Mister Marciano about that job I took on the Wall!"

Kid Clarissa empties her sleeves. A wave of candy washes out of them. Individually wrapped chocolates, gummy animals, and suckers of every color spill to the ground in a tidy mountain of saccharine sweets!

That was everything in Clarissa's inventory. She's really taken to this role. And she's experiencing a sugar rush.

A beast resembling a terrier puppy yips playfully as it zooms out of the forest at full tilt, rushing toward its master, a wooden stick stuffed between its teeth.

Kid Clarissa kneels to pick up her evil beast of death and destruction.

"Sorry! I told Rocko to stay home, but he wouldn't listen to me!"

[Hattish Thing]

Lobby of Doom!

The agent smiles. Of course...I am Mr. Smith Bronchs. Follow me, Mr. Louv're gave me special directions with you. Follow me, your reward is in this room. He'll awlk into a small door, unlocking it with a key card. Inside the room is a table and a chair. Tied to that chair is Rick Brutal, wearing a bright yellow leather musketeer's coat, with a matching cape, brown pants and green shirt, large shades, and a yellow bandana. He is about 35, with only a few hairs on his prematurely balding head. Rick has a gold rifle on his back. Rick Brutal is a ham, wearing a yellow tabard and cape, green pants and a shirt, topped with shades and a bright yellow bandana. He's about 35, prematurely balding, with shiny white teeth, (He flosses.) Hazel eyes, and a usually arrogant grin. Now he's bloody, and it seems his nose is broken, he's gagged with his own magical bandana. Mm! MMMMH! Mhmhmh! Mhhhm... Agent Bronchs simply moves to gently grab Akouron's hand. He'll try and move the kid to the center of the room. Stand on the "X", we're going to take your picture. Ignore Rick...he's....angered Mr. Louv're.

[The Alexandrian]

[Lobby of Prohibited Flash Photography]

Dave is Mister Smith! And Clarissa is Missus Smith! Mr. and Mrs. Smith is the movie title that best describes them! But Mister Bronchs should psych himself up to face Neo. Or the Wrath of Khan. Take your pick and mine that ore.

Kid Clarissa moves to step up into the lobby and follows the Agent through Marcy's animal house. Upon spying Rick Brutal she halts dead in her tracks feet from the door and refuses to budge this way or that. Now that she's inside, they can catch her if they can. Kid Clarissa forecasts that the Agent will start trying to pull her through the doorway. If he does, she'll attempt to slam the door shut on his head until he's dead.

Rick can rot for all Clarissa cares. But this Agent could open doors for her! She wants his hands and his eyes and his keycard too! And his flesh. His flesh could be assimilated by her beast with ease. And the stronger the beast gets, the fewer men Marcy will have to guard him and his property.