Glitch IV: Chapter 2 Abduction

[SirNitram]

PoliSciSucks: Uh... What's your second guess? I've got Ch-.. Magneto, Matt, and the Doc here, though? And yea, I'm noticing that. Already trying to figure it out.

As the Runabout lurked, Albert commanded the computer. "Scan the surface through subspace, infraspace, and ultraspace. There'll be a big ass powersource and some sign of time travel.."

[Dark Silver]

Crusher was flabbergasted, a thousand questions rushed through her mind, Enterprise destroyed? Not even in the same universe....

"Wait...not in the same Universe...then...where are we? Did we cross the Barrier?"

Crusher rushed to the pilot's chair, calling up navigation charts and sensor data. She had to confirm it herself...

During the search for sensor records, Crusher tapped into a newsfeed making it's way on the GIN, "Whoever you are.....look at this.."
--------

"This just in, a outbreak of the Gray Death virus has been reported in Neo Orleans. The infection has spread across the entire city, hundreds have already succumed to what is apparently a new mutation of the virus. Mass rioting has broken out, in the city, and Federal officials are calling in the Army and National Guard for quarintine of the city and surronding area. CDC and WHO officials have established Neo Orleans as a Level Five Quarintine zone, any one attempting to break the Quarintine, either by entering or leaving, will be shot..."

Scenes roll on the screen, people running throughout Neo Orleans, mass rioting, murder, fire. The people all look emancipated, thier flesh greying, sloshing off thier forms.

One scene, shows a picture of the French Quarter, with a large statue, the dedication plaque written over, large letters the color of fresh blood pronouncing "Pennywise Lives...we are Legion"

"We are urging all those with family in Neo Orleans, and infact, everyone, to pray for us all."

The newsman shuffled some papers, cleared his throat, and looked back at the camera, "Robert Page, CEO of Page Industries, will be holding a press conference speaking of the potential vaccine his company is working on, codename Ambrosia later today...."

[LadyTevar]

Bionerd2001: Um, what wierd shit? I have been..um... distracted and haven't noticed any change.

LadyArchivist54: What have you been doing? It's everywhere! Robert Page, the Grey Death, people who were alive on Friday suddenly dead 3 months! Turn on the damn news!

PoliSciSucks: Uh... What's your second guess? I've got Ch-.. Magneto, Matt, and the Doc here, though? And yea, I'm noticing that. Already trying to figure it out.

LadyArchivist54: ...... are you ........ on the runabout?!

That was still shocking, that they had an actual *spaceship*.

LadyArchivist54: Um... you know how I usually curse in Zion? Somehow... I'm doing that here.

LadyArchivist54: Yes. I'm Cursing In LEET... IRL

[Comrade Tortoise]

LadyArchivist54: What have you been doing? It's everywhere! Robert Page, the Grey Death, people who were alive on Friday suddenly dead 3 months! Turn on the damn news!

Bionerd2001: I have been tying up a few loose ends in my life. like telling a certain someone how I feel about them.

He started reading the news and his jaw dropped

Bionerd2001: Woah woah woah... this isnt right. What the flubbing monkey wangles is going on?

[LadyTevar]

LadyArchivist54: What have you been doing? It's everywhere! Robert Page, the Grey Death, people who were alive on Friday suddenly dead 3 months! Turn on the damn news!

Bionerd2001: I have been tying up a few loose ends in my life. like telling a certain someone how I feel about them.
Bionerd2001: Woah woah woah... this isnt right. What the flubbing monkey wangles is going on?

LadyArchivist54: Oh? You finally slept with your coffee-buddy like I told you too? Hell, the world *IS* ending...

Sarcasm? out of Leah? Yes, she's either PMSing or she's really upset.

LadyArchivist54: Want the short version?
SOMEONE CHANGED THE PAST WHILE WE WERE IN ZION.
LadyArchivist54: now kiss your lover goodbye, grab Ted, and we're going to have a nice long chat to figure out how to make things RIGHT again. Ok?

Yes, shes bitchy. Pity she never told anyone she technically didn't get PMS, just used it as an excuse to be a bitch at times.

[SirNitram]

"Looks like it, Doc.." Albert replied, about to type when the news came up. Albert swore. Thog swore. A third voice, resonating oddly, swore. Then all three were one again, and he grunted. "I hope like hell the scan picks up however he went back in time. This is getting serious." Because, of course, it wasn't before. Maybe.

PoliSciSucks: Trust me, Thog is rather more pronounced right now. We've got serious trouble. It looks like we weren't the only ones to cross over.. One of the Inner Circle is running the corporation that has the cure.

[LadyTevar]

Sometimes you just have to share badnews the fast way...

LadyArchivist54 (to Bionerd2001):PoliSciSucks: Trust me, Thog is rather more pronounced right now. We've got serious trouble. It looks like we weren't the only ones to cross over.. One of the Inner Circle is running the corporation that has the cure.
LadyArchivist54 (to BioNerd2001): NOW do you know what's going on?


LadyArchivist54 (to PoliSciSucks): oh. 5|-|17. This is like a General of the army, right?

[SirNitram]

PoliSciSucks -> LadyArchivist54: Yep. And he brought one of his toys; this Black Death is probably a nanovirus.

[Comrade Tortoise]

Bionerd2001(to all): Mein Gott im Himmel... Alright, I will get A.J to my field site in the everglades, it is self-sustaining. He should be safe there... Fuck, I a going to have to tell him something sohe doesnt worry. Maybe think of a reason I wont have net access and phone reception.

it was then that A.J woke up in a dreary haze

"Hey hon" Justin whispered

[LadyTevar]

Leah had managed to catch the news herself as she searched the news for information old and new.

LadyArchivist54 (to Bionerd): Show him Neo Orleans. He'll get the picture. Tell him that you'll be trying to get in touch with family members, get them to join him there or something.
LadyArchivist54: I just worry that what's happening in Neo Orleans isn't just the Grey Death. We know the Nulls can possess people, and now they have a whole city locked down with no where to run.

[Comrade Tortoise]

Bionerd2001: That is what scares me. We need to get everyone we care about out of the cities. If even one person got out of New Orleans, and chances are someone has, they will spread the disease to other municipalities, opening the door for more Null. Fuck... You realize we will have to find a way to get back in dont you?

He typed this quickly, A.J wasnt paying attention, he was watching the news about the outbreak in new Orleans in horror

"Have you seen this?" he asked, his voice cracking "I have family there"

"I know..."

Bionerd2001: BRB. A.J has family in NO

He got up and wrapped his arms around his lover

"Cousins right?"

"Yeah, John and Shelly... God I hope they are OK"

"I am sure they are. Maybe they got out before it gets really bad"

"No, they... they are epidemiologists. Both of them. They work with the CDC they are in the thick of it, I am sure"

Justin nodded and kissed A.J on the cheek

"A.J, i need you to do me a favor. You arent teaching classes this semester right?"

"Yeah, I am just working on my dissertation, I am not even taking classes" he looked at Justin sideways

"You know my fieldsite?"

"yeah, the one in the everglades?"

'Yep, that one. Do you know how to get there?"

"Yeah, you took me there for a weekend last year. I could get back easily enough. Why?"

"I need you to go there" A.J's jaw went ajar

"You will be safe there. There are supplies for a month, it is safe and isolated from the cities and off major roads. Even if a war broke out, people would have a hard time finding you if they dont know where to look. It can even survive floods and other natural disasters, and it is self powered, so it is off the power grid."

A.J looked at Justin thinking this was a joke. Then realized by the worn and worried expression that it wasnt. That there was more than Justin was telling him, more than he could tell him for whatever reason.

"What about you?"

"I will join you as soon as I can. I...have some things I have to take care of, I will not be reachable, and I dont have any idea how long it will take..." Justin said. He didnt lie, he merely ommitted the whole truth. Something he was only slightly better at, and it still didnt fool A.J

"There is something you aren telling me isnt there?" he asked

"Yes" His heart ached to tell him. but he knew that A.J wouldnt believe him

"It is...something I cant tell you. That I am neither allowed to tell you, nor would you believe me if I did tell you. Suffice to say that, and that I love you and would never put you in harm's way, and that I want to keep you safe."

"How will getting to your field site keep me any safer than I am here?" A.J responded. He knew that Justin wouldnt budge, and that while he was ommitting the whole truth, he was being completely candid with what he did say

"Think about it. A disease needs a vector for transmission. If someone broke quarantine in New Orleans, they will spread the disease to other cities. There will be a cascading effect, and this new strain is deadlier than the other one, and more infectious"

"So getting out of a populated area is a good thing"

"Yes. Take nothing that someone can track you with. Dont take your phone or an HDD. And just in case, take a rifle. This Grey Death is going to make the Black Death look like a picnic. Oh, but do take a 2 way radio. I have one if you dont. You should be able to pick up the news that way, as well as call for help on the CB if you need it." Without using a centralized broadcast network which could be infiltrated Justin thought.

"Alright. I trust you. And I love you too" he said. Kissing Justin passionatly.

"I should probably get ready to go" he said, after pulling back from the kiss

"I do to" Justin replied and walked A.J to the door and down to his bike, hand in hand.

"I love you, be safe" He said, kissing A.J gently and releasing his hand

"I love you too Justin. Whatever you have to do that you cant tell me, be safe doing it"

"Always am"

With that, A.J mounted his bike and rode off back to his place to get his car packed.

Justin watched him until he was out of sight, tears in his eyes. That was not easy

He walked back upstairs and sat down at his machine again

Bionerd2001: back. A.J is on his way to my field site

[Rukia]

Rory had fallen asleep at her deask on the computer. Waking up to "You have mail" She read the message from Leah and Responded.

Agent_girl013: What grey Death? Who the fuck is Robert Paige?

She Turned on the t.v to a massave flooding of news about Neo Orleans the Grey Death and Bob Paige And The Black Death.

Agent_girl013 (toLadyArchivist54:Angry_shrink42): WHAT THE BLOODY FUCKING HELL IS GOING ON?!

She watched teary eyed as the images continued to show on the screen.

Agent_girl013 (toLadyArchivist54:Angry_shrink42): We have to do something... NOW!

[Agent Fisher]

runner-n-gunner10: Something happened while we where gone. We come back, there is a brand new mega corp, and there is a massive plague. Which killed my parents. Something aint right.

Jack took a few claming breaths.

runner-n-gunner10: Who else made it? And we need to get together.

[Charon]

Matt got up to the cockpit as the news was sent. "Dear God." He quickly slid up towards the front until his eyes caught sight of the red hair. They flew open in surprise before narrowing as Matthew yelled. Grabbing Dr. Crusher by her hair and shoulder he pulled her out of her chair and onto the ground where she was screaming in shock and fright.

"You bitch! How dare you live!"

Matthew reared back a fist to strike her.

[SirNitram]

Albert reacted. He moved faster than he should be able, and with more strength then he should have, he slammed Matthew backwards, against a wall. He hadn't realized how easily he had done so. "Can it!" He yelled, despite the confined space. "The thing responsible is suffering a face worse than death, count on it!"

Then he paused. He'd just slammed Matt around like a toy. He blinked, looking down at his arms.

[Charon]

Matt hit the wall hard and collapsed on the ground, coughing some Matthew slowly got to his feet, still giving Crusher a cold glare for a few moments before turning away.

"We need to find a way to stop this. To stop Page." Matthew looked at the images that were coming in from Neo Orleans. The thought to blast the city from orbit briefly crossed his mind before he shook it away. No, he wasn't going to kill innocents. He wasn't a monster.

"Can we make some sort of cure for the Grey Death up here? We need to go down there to help stop this infestation."

[SirNitram]

"I doubt it." Albert admitted. "If it was a normal disease, I'd say we had a chance, between the doc and the Runabout. But if what I pulled from the computer is right, this is likely a manufactured nanotech virus.. We could hit it with EMP, but we'd need to blanket most of the world, and drop Humanity into the Victorian Era."

Albert shook his head. "We need to find how Page got back in time, got across the Barrier. Then, we take his ship and try and undo it."

[LadyTevar]

LadyArchivist54 (to Agent_girl013, BioNerd2001, AngryShrink42, PoliSciSucks, (jules) ): Ok.. here's what Albert and I have so far.
1. One of the Null's Generals (Page) got thru to Earth.
2. He built a Time Machine and went back in time.
3. He created or released the Gray Death, and is making money off the antidote.
4. Neo Orleans is now Null-Central. No one in, no one out, it's a Null's Hunting Ground.

LadyArchivist54 (to all): Now... I've got my HDD hooked back up, god help me, and I'm going to set up one of the live chatrooms. I *hope* everyone will be willing to get online so we can all chat face-to-face about this.


And not panic, Leah added silently. The HDD's chat option allowed businesses and public individuals to meet cybernetically for round table discussions. While most used the HDD to take a real-time view of you as you spoke, there were options to change your avatar's appearance to whatever you wish. So, she could step into the chatroom as Leah... or Leandra... or a combination of the two.

If people would agree to meet. If Albert could even do that from the Runabout.

[Charon]

Matthew kept his distance from Dr. Crusher as he looked over some information on one of the many screens.

"We can still help those people trapped in Neo Orleans..."

Matt zoomed an image in on Neo Orleans, watching the chaos as things slowly got worse and worse.

"We need to get everyone who's willing up here."

[Comrade Tortoise]

Bionerd2001: I am in, beware though, we may be monitored

he hooked up the HDD

[SirNitram]

"What the hell can we do Matt, apart from get infected?" Albert asked simply. "It'd be suicide.."

[Charon]

Matt looked back at Albert. "And how the hell do you plan on finding out how Page crossed over, getting to whatever it is he did? And how do you plan on reversing it?"

Matthew looked back at the display as he ran a hand through his hair, sighing. "No. There is a way. I know one way we can do this." Matthew looked back at Albert. "In the last war they had against the Glitch. A lot of worlds were lost. But when they beat the Glitch everything went back to the way it was! If we can kill Page and the rest of the Inner Council that might stop it!"

[SirNitram]

Matt looked back at Albert. "And how the hell do you plan on finding out how Page crossed over, getting to whatever it is he did? And how do you plan on reversing it?"

Matthew looked back at the display as he ran a hand through his hair, sighing. "No. There is a way. I know one way we can do this." Matthew looked back at Albert. "In the last war they had against the Glitch. A lot of worlds were lost. But when they beat the Glitch everything went back to the way it was! If we can kill Page and the rest of the Inner Council that might stop it!"

"Time machines exist in games, so do reality-jumpers.." Albert replied. "The ship's been scanning for the power sources required. So far.. Not much." The teacher's assistant slumped against a wall. "SO how do we defeat the Glitch? It's just an incarnation of errors in computer code. You can't remove that. And we're stuck here.. This thing can't cross over."

[Dark Silver]

Robert Page sat behind his desk, slowly going over the speech prepared for the news conference. The plateglass window behind him, should he decide to turn around, would give him a beautiful view of downtown New York.

Things were proceeding well, the Ambrosia would be ready for full production after the "human trials" were complete. He'd take a monumental loss financially with the "cure". Monumental for other person on the planet that is. It'd barely be a drop in the bucket to his empire.

The problem came with the mutation which was just reported in Neo Orleans... This was not intended. The virus was mutating, he should have expected this, but didn't think it would. The virus was a product of his world, not this one. A sample of the mutated strain would have to be obtained, make sure Ambrosia worked upon it..

Slowly, Page rose from his desk, turned to the plateglass window, and looked down upon it. How ironic, he thought, that his Associates sought to control this world, for with control of this one, the conquest of their home realm would be possible. The Gray Death was simply a link in their plan.

Yet, here he was, Robert Page, one of the most powerful men on this planet. There was nothing he could not afford to do, his power was unsurpassed, not even by heads of state.

He had the entire technology of his home realm available to him....he had already done what the others were commanded to do. And in far less time.

Twenty human years.

"Warning" a succato tone rang out from a speaker on his desk, "increased sensor activity detected."

Sensors? Who would be scanning his...then he stopped. It'd been so long, he forgot, those humans in the runabout. Damn it, if they had that damned ship, then they could ruin the plans still.

"Locate the source of the scanning. Activate sensor countermeasures."

Eyes narrowed, Page moved from the window, and moved towards the empty expanse of the office. It was huge, his personal refuge in this building, most people thought he used the size of the office, it's empty space to intimidate those who approached him. The truth was something none would have beleived. Silly humans with thier limited minds. They thought theres was the only reality, thier planet the only with life.

"Activate Holographic Communications Interface, frequency G56."

The floor raised up, a circular table with red and blue lights beneath it coming up from the floor. A metal grid slide over the window, tossing the room into darkness.

Six forms came into exsistence, each glowing with a slightly different color.

As the resolution cleared, and they figures snapped into focus, there was Dr Wily, dressed in a labcoat, apparently working on some peice of robotic wonder, Sirrus was calm and collected eyes staring into nothingness, Charlock was drapped in deep robes of black and purple, the fevrish look in his red eyes, Kefka was cackling to himself, his "who ho ho ho ho" of laughter echoed even in this room, and Gannondorf appeared in his Gruda form, green face held in a permanant snear.

The Sixth one was a new matter entirly. It appeared as of the last meeting, taking complete charge of the situation, it's voice booming out orders. None of the others questioned it's dictates, even Page found himself bowing to the mysterious figured shrouded in darkness. The figure which only went by the name of "Master", and commanded Null the likes none of the Council had ever seen.

"The nanovirus has mutated, one of the human cities has.."

We care not about any delays the figure spoke slowly, it's voice like an ice wall crashing down. We expect only success. Adjust your plan, keep the time table.

"They Gray Death was not designed for this environment! We have no idea what it can do! It may even be able to infect the Null!"

We do not desire your excuses. We desire results. All must be ready intime for MORGANNA. The spacial gate must be ready to open.

"Yes....Master." Page spoke, shutting off the the holographic communications device.

The six flickered into oblivion, replaced instead by the singular image, a white haired, dark fleshed Elven woman, clothed in a thin, see through robe. She may as well have been nude in such a state, yet Page didn't say anything. "Adena...prepare the Rider. We need the girl."

Adena bowed to her superior, her image flickered out. There was much work still to do, while the Council could easily obtain control of that miserable planet, it would be useless without the final key. One last thing, which would allow them to breach the barrier wholesale, and pour their forces through.

He stood a bit straighter, a look of intense anger on his chubby face, and stalked back to his desk. He needed to calm down...a speech in a few hours. As quickly as the anger appeared, it faded away. Page fingered the small disc on his desk, Project MORGANNA.

Page smiled, and went back to work on his speech..


------ ------ ------

"Sensor Scan Incomplete. Only 39% of planetary surface has been scanned. Please move into Geostationary Polar Orbit of planet for further sensor scans."

Crusher looked at Matthew, her eyes haunted for a moment. Who was he...what did he mean?

"Computer," Crusher said, "move into Geostationary Polar Orbit and commence sensor scan of the planet, using the previous parameters...." She didn't know about Earth, but it made sense to her to do it. It'd been done hundreds of times before on the Enterprise...

She looked back to Matthew, "I don't know who you are...or what happened....so please, calm down.."

[Charon]

Matthew sighed himself as he plopped down in a seat. "This thing can't. But we have. Twice now. Maybe something was left over in our HDD's." Matt rubbed his forehead in annoyance and sat in thought until the computer chirped.

"Incomplete? What the hell stopped it?" Then he heard Crusher's voice following it's suggestion. "Computer belay that order." He looked at Albert, still ignoring Crusher lest he loose his temper again. "We need to stay hidden. Especially if Page knows we're looking for him now." Matthew sighed. "Maybe, if he doesn't have something to stop us, we can teleport him up here and question him."

Matthew completely ignored as Crusher tried to speak to him. Well, he tried to. His face didn't turn to face the woman and one of his fists was clenched tightly. She should have been left to die. Left to rot with her ship for what she'd done. No. She's a person. She's alive. You don't have the right to take that life. She's a person. She's a person. Remember that. Keep calm. Matthew took a deep shuddering breath as he calmed himself of the urge to crack Crusher's face open. "So, if we get our hands on Page we can figure out everything. If we can restrain him."