Log:My God Can Beat Up your God

2008/12/04 	 Jennifer Lightray Fist a godling 1

Scene: Past Times

Joseph sits at a corner table, reading something on a battered PDA.

Entering is Xing-Liu wearing a hoodie, concealing her hair from many angles and assisting with her head warming.

Joseph sits at the corner table, reading on his battered PDA.

Jennifer comes in to the coffee shop. She waves cheerfully to her friends and heads up to the counter to order.

Joseph smiles at Jennifer and inclines his head in greeting. He sets down the PDA next to his iced tea.

Hoodie-disguised Xing-Liu eliminates all premise of keeping her identity hidden when she moves to where Jennifer is for an abrupt hug before the order can be effected.

Jennifer hugs back. "Hi. Good to see you."

In the background a radio chunters on, at the moment about the opening of Rift 2 tomorrow, complete with an uninformative brief interview with Redmond Flint.

Jennifer says, "Joseph, did your friend get the information on the Chinese metas I posted on HeroNet?"

Joseph nods slightly. "Yes, I made certain that he read it. I thought it was an interesting read."

Jennifer collects her drink and heads back to the tables, "Could you ask him if he'd like to come with me? I'm planning to go to Beijing and ask the new government if you'll release what they know about them."

Curiosity shows on Xing-Liu, looking to Jennifer then to Joseph inquisitively.

Although it was sunny when you came in, there's less light coming in now, as if the sky has suddenly clouded over.

Jennifer turns to Xing-Liu, "Haven't you been hearing about the problems in Chinatown?" She taps the side of her head and nods to invite Xing-Liu to enter.

Joseph smiles gently. "I am certain he will have no problems going with you, Jennifer." Then, for no apparent reason, Joseph looks at the ceiling a frown on his features. "Hmm, where did that come from?"

Jennifer says, "What?"

Joseph shakes his head and stands up from the table. As he beings to head towards the front door, he says, "Something powerfully mystic is outside. Above the building, I think."

Jennifer tells Xing-Liu, "Tim Lee has imported a load of Chinese metas into the city. It looks like he's planning to fight it out with Pride."

Abruptly a sort of tentacle appears right through the ceiling. It's pitch black, though round it's outline it gives off a sort of violet light.

The tentacle writhes about as if feeling for something, though it seems not to be damage what it touches and passes through things harmlessly.

Jennifer frowns looking up at the tentacle, "Yeah, okay, that isn't entirely normal."

Xing-Liu looks somewhat worried, then she looks up and confused.

The tentacle whips toward Joseph.

Jennifer laughs suddenly and tosses a silvery metallic net at the tentacle.

Joseph looks at the tentacle whipping towards himself and dives for the floor under the tentacle.

Xing-Liu dives Jennifer out of the way.

Xing-Liu dives Joseph out of the way, since he is the apparent target.

Jennifer chuckles after she sees Joseph is okay. "Now it Timmy is right, that tentacle can't get rid of the net without becoming solid, and it cannot become solid while passing through the roof. It ought to be stuck.

For a moment, the net seems to have the tentacle. Then it shifts in colour a tiny bit, and the net drops to the floor.

Jennifer stares, "Huh?!

Xing-Liu watches the ceiling puzzledly, unsure what it is she's looking at exactly. Jennifer's explanation isn't really helpful for that purpose. She elects to go outside to have a look at the roof.

Joseph shakes his head as he begins to head out agsin. "Who knows? I have no idea what this is, but assume laws of physics are being disrupted. This is far from subtle. Let's take it outside shall we?" He then shouts. "Hey you! This way" as he darts for the door.

Jennifer moves to cover Joseph, drawing out her staff as she follows him.

Stationary about 10 metres above the coffee shop is - well, a big black round thing with glowing violet edges. It has several tentacles extended, only the shortest one being into the coffee shop. The others are stretching across town, mostly in an easterly direction - how far you can't see. Passersby are tending more to be gawping than running.

Now and then one of the tentacles moves as if feeling out a new spot, but a few tentacles, including the coffee shop one, seem more fixed.

Jennifer says, "I haven't got a clue, Xing-Liu. My, it's an ugly one." She looks up towards it, "Hey! You! Quit that or I'll knot your tentacles into a ball. Can you talk?""

Joseph shakes his head and murmurs, "Well, if people are distracted." He then reaches his hand under his shirt and with a flash of sunlight, Joseph has been replaced by Lightray.

The thing doesn't even seem to notice Jenn.

Xing-Liu moves to a roof adjacent to the shop, picking up a drink carton from the street and crumpling it into a tight ball-like object. She then pitches the ball-like object at the whatever-it-is.

The crumpled drink carton bounces off the sphere - it seems that has substance anyway.

Lightray sweeps out his wings and launches himself into the air. He then shoots off a bolt of sunlight at the tentacled sphere.

Jennifer nods, "Yep. So it can be hit. Let's see how it likes that."

The outline of the thing loses its roundness for a bit. The a crackling violet-edged blackness shoots out at Lightray.

The crackling tentacles vanishes, leaving Lightray encased in a translucent orange-brownish substance quite unfamiliar to him.

Jennifer nods to Xing-Liu, "Not yet. But it's not being entirely cooperative and communicative is it?"

Unsure what to do just yet, Xing-Liu tries to make contact with the whatever-it-is.

Jennifer nods to Xing-Liu.

Xing-Liu looks down at Jennifer, then at the thing, then at Lightray, and heads for him for extraction from the area.

Xing-Liu picks up the encased Lightray and brings him to a nice out-of-the-way alley place.

Jennifer put on a pair of dark glasses and then tosses a flash grenade up seeing if a sudden blinding flare of light will chase it away.

If that hurt or blinded the thing, it's not clear. But it seems to have got its attention. Its tentacles vanish, and then the sphere changes shape, to a human form. More precisely, to Jenn's form, albeit entirely black with a violet glow round the fringes. The figure just seems to stand in mid-air, looking at Jennifer.

Jennifer looks back up at it, "Better. So who are you?"

Lightray struggles to free himself from the substance holding him. He says to XL, "This thing is about as subtle as a stick of dynamite. Its using raw power with no skill, no finesse."

The shape remains more or less still, as if thinking.

Lightray's hands glow for moment, then sunlight blasts from them and the substance wicks off him like an ice cube melting.

Xing-Liu returns roofward when she is sure Lightray is free. Inquisitive, she moves toward the Jennifer clone with caution.

Jennifer waits for a response from the Jennifer clone.

The "clone" remains standing in mid-air in casual defiance of the law of gravity. Finally it speaks, in a voice strangely like Jennifer's. "Where is the godling?"

Jennifer says, "Oh! Sorry, you missed him. By about two years. He got fed up and went off dimension hopping. He could be anywhere by now."

Jennifer isn't sure but she thinks that's about right.

"From where did he go? Show me the place."

Lightray flies up to see what is going on.

Jennifer shrugs, "I didn't see him depart myself. So I don't know where he left from."

It takes Xing-Liu longer to understand who is being spoken of than Jennifer, but it helps immensely that she has telepathic contact active.

Lightray just hovers silently, listening to the conversation.

"Then bring me one that knows."

Jennifer says, "Try saying the magic word."

Lightray smiles slightly at Jennifer's comment.

The being seems a bit puzzled by that. It points at a car in Wharf Street. "Has that creature value?"

Xing-Liu doesn't like where this is leading in her mind.

Jennifer says, "Yes. Let me put this in simple terms as you seem to be rather simple yourself. You start damaging stuff and I start damaging you. Now maybe you'll win amd maybe I'll win, but either way you don't get an answer. So stop waving tentacles around and making threats, and tell us why you want Godling. Then we'll decide if we're going to help you or not."

"There is nothing for lesser beings to decide. I desire to find the godling. You will tell me where he is."

Lightray looks over at Jennifer. "It is child itself. Or only recently risen to sentience. It has immense power but no finesse."

Jennifer smiles coolly. "I'm used to creatures telling me I'm inferior. Usually it's just before I pound sense into their skulls. We can do it that way if you like. It's your skull."

The being shouts, "I'm not a child!" in an obvious temper tantrum. And sends a crackling bolt at the car. "Find one who knows where the godling is!"

The car begins to disintegrate, starting at the back. Much to the consternation of the driver.

Lightray shakes his head as sunlight settles in a field around his body. "A teenager then." He then flies down to rescue the driver.

Jennifer says, "Xing-Liu, can you get the driver out?"

Xing-Liu moves in concert with Lightray, momentarily puzzled at the driver's decision to remain inside.

Jennifer puts away the staff and slips an anti-grav belt around her waist to fly up to the Jennifer clone.

The driver tries to get out as soon as he realises what's happening!

The being seems unconcerned by Jennifer's approach.

The driver tumbles into the street while the car strangely continues on down the street despite half of it being gone.

Lightray turns in the air and flies back to the faux-Jen.

"You will tell me," says the being, "or I will unmake another creature."

Lightray shakes his head. "You desire Godling? For mating?"

Jennifer says, "Start with me then because otherwise I'm going to smear you all over the street."

The being says to Lightray, "Don't be disgusting! I will destroy him!"

Lightray sighs softly and shakes his head. "Have you sought him among the gods? If he truly is a godling that is where I would seek him."

Jennifer thinks. o O (That's actually rather tempting. But I guess not. Shame.)

Xing-Liu is soon back up on the roof, glancing from Jennifer to the clone.

"What do you know about the gods, insect?" (She seems to take some time finding that last word.) "He is not there or they would have destroyed him. That is why he is hidden in this backwater."

Lightray looks at the faux-Jen, then to Jennifer. "My patience is about over. Yours?"

Jennifer says, "What is this patience you are talking about. I don't recognize the word."

Lightray turns back to the faux-Jen. In a stentorian voice, he says, "I am the Sweal-Bearer of a god, child of another world. And in the names of Utu-Shamash, I command you to leave this world."

"You attempt to deceive me - what true god would give a seal to one such as you?"

Lightray reaches up to the gemstone embedded in his chest. It flashes as he gathers sunlight into his hands. "One who has no need to force others to his will, child of another world. I serve him of my free will. Through more than one life now. You shall not harm the people of this world."

Lightray adds after a beat. "Leave and seek elsewhere."

Jennifer shrugs, "The heck with it. Enough talking already. Time to spank a naughty child." She pulls out the staff and strikes at the clone.

The being may have been put ins slight disarray by Jennifer's blows, but it's Lightray it regards with fear evident despite its black feature. "You have the eye and ear of a god?!"

Lightray nods. "I am the Seal-Bearer of Utu-Shamash. I am keeper of his royal seal. I serve his purpose in the world of Man." He adds. "Leave."

Xing-Liu looks confused, but ready to support Jennifer and 'ray in the event of further violence being decided upon. Her hands glow with darkness.

This appears to be enough for the entity. "Do not tell your god I was here, or I will unmake you!" it says, but the threat is clearly empty. It tears a rift in the air behind it, a colour that the human eye shouldn't be equipped to see.

Lightray watches the entity as it tears a whole between realities and just waits patiently for the faux-Jen to leave. His wings flap slwoly in the air.

The being retreats through the portal hurriedly and closes it behind itself. Hard. Nothing short of a god is reopening that rift any time soon.

Lightray waits until the hole has completely closed, then lets out a loud sigh. "Well, always nice when the neighbors leave, is it not?" His tone is deadpan.

Xing-Liu watches, a little dumbfounded and looks at Lightray when the rift is closed, questions she doesn't know how to ask etched on her face.

Lightray floats back down to the ground, his wings flapping slowly.