The Surreal Estate For the first time in her life, Gazlennia had built a house of the wood from the trees of her world. (Of course, she did use only fallen, Iron-Strong and feather-light trees for wood, so don't worry. Gazlennia's people may have been overruning the land but at least they weren't overexploiting the place.) She had built them out of cement and rock before, but wood was posing its most ineviable challenge, what with the need for metal nails to be driven in with the recently discovered invention of a hammer. Although Gazlennia had broken her phelange-hooves more times than Gazelly possible, The result was a labor of hope and dreams. Mostly she'd built it for the Incorporateds she ran around with as a surprise to them, since she felt the Incorporateds with all their galaxy-spanning travels might have been getting wary of travel all the time through the void she'd learned about off the Ethinet. Maybe now they would not be so distracted by all those threats while idling away in space they could concentrate on their enemies. Axe-eater, whos defection from his robot tribe was a cause for alarm amongst all the Robodogs and SCE's alike as thoughts of good and betrayal of the evil they served began filtering through long-freedom-dormant lives, was quite the help in this affair, as he'd dug deep into the earth to get the metal for the nails without even a single acre of land denuded for strip-mining. Gazlennia thought the dog had a lot to prove to its new companions, and it was proving itself daily. Even though sometimes its glitches to stick its paws behind the heads of the Incorporateds with the 'hookemhorns-rabbitears' motion was somewhat silly at times. The dog, bordering on setinence now (as its AI to enhance its intelligence pathways to near-human levels) was currently using its jets to tile the roof without falling through to the living room when Gazlennia heard a sound coming from the distance. She stopped putting in the windowpane for a moment to investigate, and felt footsteps on the sand below of someone uncertain of how to walk on the stuff. Gazlennia waited around the corner for it to come close, and she knew the other being was doing the same, uncertain of what was on the other side. Fortuitously, Gazlennia was the first to look but both beings jumped. One, of course, was the Heroine-formerly-known-as-Carol-Catland who'd thought she'd felt a burgular or a SCE or a stranger before. "What the heck are you doing here?", said Gazlennia. "Come to see me OFF?" "No, actually, I was looking for the Incorporated's home! Speedster said it'd be most likely to be HERE yesterday but he must have gotten the address confused with this SCE ambassador that keeps setting ICE to the barbecue and FIRE to the fridge." "You must mean that sicko Wokon Chone or something. I think in order to try to avenge their Hunter's humiliation their intent was to send an Idiot to make their coming Redemption unlikely through US. Anyway, who the heck are you, a prowler or something? Your dress is really Anachronistic to what I've scoped from Earth's current Style Fads....." "No, I am an Incorporated myself." "Ha, Prove it. Secret Handshake?" "No." "I.D. Card?" "No." "Special costume given by their leader?" "NO!" "Ethinet/Network access?" "Well....Now I have it." Gazlennia thought of this for a moment.... "Sangurians?" "Let live. They keep coming BACK if you wipe them out and god Lamar don't look too kindly on you." "You must be new here. My name's Gazlennia. Just finished my first vacation to Dogelia to establish diplomatic ties there.... And you're..." "Psychic. OH, NO, NOT the OBVIOUS, Carolina. Carolina South. Just joined by fate." "Well, don't we all. I suppose this is the right place but WHY are you wearing at least 90% clothes and bloomers like that?" "I'm taking a long time to catch up with things like the Sea and swimming and most of the wierd things I've never known in my long life. Over a hundred years of it, I'm afraid. Anyway, Nice house, who did the paint job." "Axeeater." "WHAT?" "Perhaps there is much to explain to you about what has gone on since you have apparenly left a life of isolation." "Seems like you have something like that going on in your life." "Oh, your PSYCHIC thing. All my people have that nowadays. Mostly it's kind of Catching. You're really with the Incorporateds, Hmmm? Where are they, anyhow?" "Right in the airvan half a mile off. You built this for them, didn't you?" "Yes, as a surprise and gift..." "Thought so. I'll Call them to come over. But I should warn you, I am not the only one NEW around here." "There's MORE like you?" "No. Wierder still...." Carolina whistled to the dog Axeeater above, pondering in mid-air whether a Chimney should be added or not, and decided since the house was wood, though pre-hardened by hi-mineral groundwater to near-steel strengths (fortunately, the nails were even STRONGER) as it landed and Introduced itself. "I know all about you.", said Carolina as Gazlennia saw Halifax as the first to come into view on the overcast, breezy day. Axeeater replied from its text-to-speech vobox installed in a tounge-like container. "It's just me. I've become psychic in the last few days." "I CAN READ INDIVIDUAL'S mINDS NOT the totally undeterminable future", Carolina said. "Anyway, nice dog to see you're now on our side. You're good." "He's coming this way, over the dune.. with the rest of them." it laughed in its hyena laugh. Carolina looked at Gazlennia expectantly as she finished putting the window in. Gazlennia said when she was done, "You've had a really hard time the past few days. I wish I had been with you and Wilson and all the rest on your adventure and not taken those 'vacations' they seem to deem mandatory. What fun is that?" "You wouldn't have, Gazlennia, and you don't really know how good your fate is right now.", Carolina said as she looked for the front door. "Home, Sweet, Home", Casey said as Axeeater was, in the distance, dragged off the tools to a secluded shed safe from SCE intruders. "It's good, solid wood, safe from fire despite what Axeeater has been posting to me.", said Gazlennia who had the Mailbox under her shoulder. "From naturally dead trees, of course." "LONG naturally dead trees. It's only three stories, one in the top, one in the middle and one in the bottom but it is a homely one." "Yes, looks that way. Hey, Incorporateds, prepare to move in! You and Axeeater have done us a great service, at least we won't be crashing as much anymore now we have this from you!" "You are welcome. I'll make a pool for you in the spring and you're NOT taking advantage of me, I think you're hating endless Spacelife we're beginning to cherish!" "Oh, we never do.. usually... of any person. Well, you Incorporateds, come on IN why don't you and carry your stuff in! Secure THIS!" Gazlennia was shocked. "Um.. Wilson's not your leader anymore? YOU ARE, Casey? I'm surprised you ever had the desire to!" Casey snickered. "Got Wilson to think he's supervising ME as an Adviser when he's merely changing the vocalization of his demands. I'm just keeping him happy, hasn't much else despite his newly adopted daughter Carolina to keep him so in his old age." Gazlennia thought upon this while Casey looked outside. "That would explain why Carolina and Wilson don't look much alike", she said as she went inside to look around. Then this unusual creature came in with Speedster carrying this humongous pair of VT/Ethivision/TV rabbit ears through the door. "Oh, great spirit and the Network", Gazlennia said, "Who are YOU?" "Me? I'm Drawn, less senile than I've been in years and silly", said Longneck. "She means your name, ally Longneck." "Well, why don't you blurt it out so that spyin' Wokon Chone can blab all to his Emperor, why don't you? I feel hurt. Our relationship I thought you valued more. YOU brought the Popcorn maker, didn't you?" "Um.. that was broken in the... fall.", Speedster said cryptically. He wasn't about to mention the existence of Renegade being changed from Alive to Dead to Ghost to Living, self-aware but otherwise Zombie right now, as Gazlennia wasn't really aware of such things. Only time would.... "Never mind, I'll ask Wokon Chone for one and if the Commander comes Visiting I'll strip off that armor like you're so fond of." "Yeah, right. Let's get this thing up and running! I have to get our pages up by midnight today so I can tell the SCE of Casey's journey into Leadership." "Right. Hello, beautiful lady of infinite wisdom. Shall I give you a welcome to the Incorporateds you'll never forget." "Actually,", Speedster whispered, "It's she who welcomes you." "Oh, yeah. Sorry. Anyway, Later we can discuss how our two worlds are doing to promote Global cooling. Speedster is DYING to surf this 'net' when the ocean outside will do. Later, wise one." And with that, Longneck dropped his end of the BunnyEars E-V as SPeedster struggled with his end. "DIscuss things like environment with her later. We got a lot of VIDEOS to bring in NEXT." "I thought you were dying. Shall I pay for a tuition IN ACTING?" Both climbed up the stairs. "Wierd. the Longneck one... He looks DRAWN.", said Gazlennia as Casey came up to check on things within. "You'll get used to that. Eventually", said Casey, who saw Halifax and Wilson bring in the couches, a couple of SMALLER terminals and a basket full of electronic spare parts for Axeeater to eat with his electricity. "YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS!", said Halifax as Gazlennia began to install the Mailbox outside the front door, once Casey walked about to see the sea for the first time in nearly a decade. "I thought Wokon Chone's claim of Diplomatic Immunity was actually filed on the Ethinet. I wanted to apologize for all the times I kicked his butt but no, the Emperor kept sending this idiot Akeon to claim he still was fair game!", said Wilson. "I just want the rivalry to end now Wokon HAS TO BE NICE." "Funny how this Akeon keeps showing up. That guy keeps giving me the creeps.", said Halifax. "I hope he's got an actual REASON to see us this time." "Yeah, right", said Wilson. "I hope this house has a fire extinguisher handy." "Several", said Gazlennia. "Don't you have more faith in your good skills as a master of Machinery, Wilson?" "Not recently", said Wilson. "I love this house. It is a good place to raise a family. Nice seaside view, good security system, and the wallpaper isn't even flaky." "That new 'Mega-commisary' place couldn't sell me a WALL if they had to. They're a little out of tune with the rest of the universe." "Imagine that. LONGNECK, ARE YOU UP THERE?" A distant voice said, "No, I'm Longneck! And I'm in the Attic!" "Um.. Gazlennia didn't exactly make an attic, more of an empty space..." "Well, I pulled some spare wood out of the pile by the house and made a floor just now. I figure I wouldn't like much CRASHING through the CEILING.." "Longneck, there are other rooms to claim... oh, forget IT!", Wilson said as he and Halifax got the couch situated in one side of the room looking out to the horizon. Only a small terminal would be put there for Network surfing, the main purpose was for a view no terminal could REALLY put up there, just display an image of. There is life beyond the Network, you know. "If my friend Sierra was here, She would have some drapes up here", said Halifax as the terminal was set up and made contact with the energy-beam unit, powering on instantly. "And some wonderful pictures of her home Summerien." "I hope she comes here someday. You hear that Wokon Chone coming to the door asking for Sugar and Secrets?" "NO." "Just checking. I hope Axeeater shows him the ocean a couple of times." Gazlennia couldn't help but overhear. "Halifax, you have a love? You've never told me. Must be someone with quite a wonderful free spirit, I hope." "Yeah, but not everyone thinks she should be free. She's in a Asylum because people think she's acting too childish when she's physically an Adult." Pretty sad stuff, thought Gazlennia. "Doesn't stop too many adults from functioning in society, now does it?" "People can't always see clearly the truth of things", Halifax calmly said as he sat down on the couch, totally exhausted. Gazlennia whispered as Halifax slept quick then soundly, "Perhaps you might could use some help in your love problems.... someday." Wilson was busy removing the remaining terminals from under Halifax, not even disturbing Halifax's slumber. "Darn, he's gonna miss the sunrise. Oh well, without his love, it don't matter to him. Gazlennia, I'm going to need your help later. Explain to Longneck how being near the sea don't necessarily means we should always have our rooms on the topmost floor. He's not as senile now evolution has granted him ultimate, silly mutability, but he's still goofy on some things." "I hope your problems vanish with the wind if I can do so." "He's actually afraid they'll vanish with the WATER. Oh, hello, Speedster, Hows Longneck doing in the.... Attic?" "Apologizing under his breath for pushing his head through the ceiling the second he got in and saw how much the rooms reminded him of his old home at Catica... the bathtub in the middle of the house, for one..." "I can't help but get used to the fact Longneck keeps acting much faster than us when he decides to do something." "Best friend since my departed Zephyr I've ever had. I can relate to him." "Yeah, you and your TV enjoyment." "Funny, I thought you'd mention the fact we both have a desire to see the universe rid of the evil influence keeping the Sangurians away from thoughts of kindness and peace and justice, but since you mention that..." And Speedster went back to the Van to fetch some more of his personal belongings like clothes and his newly-made plunger-like weapons, a little more streamlined now Speedster knew the worse really was ahead of the group now Renegade was squatting on the border between life and Death and the Commander was involved in finding love nowadays instead of embarrasment, making Speedster's life a lot more dangerous, because quite frankly, not even SPEEDSTER could stand it when that Commander was being kind to anyone.... Gazlennia lowered her head in respect for the greatest educator of life and existence her people ever knew. Then Casey began to carry his stuff in with Speedster tagging behind, apparenly resuming a conversation started long before the Incorporateds reached the safety of Gazell's shores. "No, even without HIS wants-so-bad-diplomatic immunity you wouldn't just go to say to Wokon Chone you DON'T DESERVE sugar, you DOLT and Get your Rushes from caffiene like Akeon does, it's SAFER." "He could at least come to the front door. We don't have bars on it. I'm not going to hurt him if he hasn't a cruise missle pointed at our house, only if he has." "Well, just you use common sense or next group election I'll be running for leader." "Whatever, Speedster. Say, Gazlennia, um... Has Carolina chosen a room?" "She hasn't even come in. I think she's still looking at how buildings of New England design differ from those in wherever she comes from." "Australia", Casey said. "A place with Kangaroos and Pirates...." "Really? I thought they came from Caffatree." "Only those nearly made into roadkill", Casey muttered. "No vultures swooping overhead seems to be a good sign our fate here is gonna be much kinder to us than in the void of Space. I HOPE. Um, do you plan on having a room here?" "Haven't yet moved in from my place at my father's pueblo. They're busy rewiring the place, well.. actually DEWIRING the place with the discovery of remote broadcasts of both power and VT signals." "Help you move later. I must make sure the ol' hammock still holds up in this natural gravity. Hadn't had a good long dose of it save for battle." "Um.. exactly what did your adventure have to offer you?" "Can't really go into a flashback, I KNOW that'd be inviting Cornball and trouble, but basically, it involved a dead horse and Carolina who met you earlier." "Roadkilled was the horse?" "Actually, he died of small print. Well, I'll post it up later for you to see. Make sure Carolina realizes that swimwear exists that is not totally revealing and not totally concealing, either, in this day and age. Sexists designed what she's wearing and she'll be upset to hear that." "Um.. why is Ann not quite here yet? Is she seeing my dad?" "Actually, she's walking along the shoreline right now. Tell Axeeater to watch out for Akeon Java popping up behind rocks. Between Akeon Java and our reborne enemy Renegade, I'm less at ease actually with the more well-known EVIL one of the two." "I will not let this Renegade come in here, too." "Don't think any of us can help THAT, but you're welcome to try. See you later." Ann was walking with Carolina as the clouds broke and the sunset came online in the great sky. But still, strangely, the seas were a little... choppy. "This is a pretty nice place", said Carolina, "But I wish seagulls were flying overhead. They'd remind me more of the sea back home a century away." "Those birds prefer the Cities, actually these days." "Now what would a bunch of birds want with a DIRTY, POLLUTED CITY?" Ann thought on this. "Better than a DIRTY, POLLUTED SEA. Anyway, this world's equivalent should be flying in right now. " There were a lot of chirps in the air as with the crashing surf came from the horizon.... "PARROTS? Parrots live on the SEAS now?" "Amazed, aren't you?" "Sure are. I hope we visitors on this fine world don't repeat ourselves, though. I'm afraid they might blab to Wokon Chone our darkest secrets if we say anything 100 times at all?" "Gazlennia said when they were discovered they tended to repeat song rather than just words. Acts like natural CD players that way. So refined a few travelling into the cavern actually inspired the idea of putting words in electronic media rather than in books and scarce wood from the roots of trees digging into the cavern." Carolina was quiet for a moment. "Gazlennia is a surprise to me. She seems to like the surface more than anything. She desires to learn and is very bright. I sensed within her the potential for greatness you've seemed to have all your life. She'd be a good friend. But... why isn't she as open about the horns being Implants? Nothing to be ashamed of." "Apparently Nudity on the head portion makes even humans worry about their mortality. Carolina, did you ever surf the Ethinet?" "Not really, why? Is it anything like TV?" "Better. An actual soul seems to be in charge of it rather than a bunch of sub-reality reorganizers who drone on endlessly, actually plowing some of the more useless data through the space meant through TRAVELING through." "You mean like earth's government?" "Come its next election, if Casey's beliefs on what'd happen to earth in his absence might just come true. Want to head in and learn HOW?" "Yeah, might as well. I hope Longneck fixes the hole he made so there's actually a door with a ladder instead of a gaping wreck in the fabric of the ceiling." "This psychic thing is pretty hard to deal with, hmmm?" "Not really. I'll get used to it someday." Axeeater joined them as they headed in. Casey, by the time they came to the house, was busy carrying Carolina's things upstairs. "Your new room, like your new life, is your destiny now.", said Casey. "Wilson chose the basement and Speedster settled in the Attic with Longneck (those two make a pair of hopefully JUST friends), And I've only claimed one room to myself for my Hammock to hang, so you ladies have the pick of the rooms as we insist out of respect your gender just usually don't get." "Will those 5 or 6 rooms in the middle floors of the house have room for new people to come in? I hope Gaz realizes we probably might not just settle for our small band of ever-do-wells." "She had a feeling about that. And it's eerie. I don't think you, Carolina, could have possibly extended your shared links to us to her WELL before you knew she was a part of our group, too. Must have been a surprise to her." Carolina, mostly seeing how nice inside the house was becoming once Longneck and Speedster decided on how best the furniture beyond their sanctor Sanctorium in the Attick, was amazed at how nice the room was inside and took a while to respond. "Surprised me too", whispered Carolina. Then Wilson came down the stairs. "FATHER", said Carolina. "This is a wonderful house for us to have our headquarters in! Gazlennia has good taste." "Hello, Carolina." Both of them shared a warm hug. "Yes, she does. You been giving Gazlennia and Axeeater visions of what Longneck desires in a house." "No, dad. She did this place's design purely from blueprints. Thank the people in New England who came to life in Cafatree to give this place a future in our reality." "I thanked Gazlennia, too. Will Casey be making Dinner?" "Yes, he plans to be the 1st to get take-out from this world's Mega-Commisary when it opens two hours from now.", Wilson said. "But WILSON...." "Shhh... you'll ruin the surprise." "For them or For me, Wilson", said Casey, rather shocked yet relieved his culinary capacities were not necessary. That souflee just couldn't survive modern cooking techniques and the group was so insistent not to get a synthesizer while living on-house... "What a nice day", Ann said as she walked around to herself. "And not even one of those Ironic things happening to us like they usually do." "Hey, Ann! Want to tell Wilson what to Order? It's your time today since Gazlennia wants to taste the food of the Caffatreeans for her first time despite our insistance we try some of hers! Save for Pizza?", cried out Carolina to her new friend. "Seafood sounds fine. Considering where we are right now." Then Wilson and Carolina went inside. Ann then woke Halifax up. "NO, RENEGADE, YOU'LL NEVER CONQUER MY DREAMS! I BANISH YOU FROM... Oh, Hi Ann. Sorry, had this wierd dream....." Ann looked down in the dumps. "Oh my... "Ann thought. Then she continued out loud as Halifax kept pinching himself to make sure he was not asleep rightn ow. "Doesn't that Horse ever have his own Vacations from jail or something?" "That moron bugs Cornball then, Ann. But thanks from waking me up. I need a vacation from what my dream's been through today. It still is the year I fell asleep in, Ann?" "Yes." "Funny... I'm relieved. Maybe Renegade isn't so happy he went away like he did now. Same Month, Too?" "Same Hour, Halifax. Believe it. You're fine, now. It's time for dinner. We're ordering Takeout to celebrate the New House." "Be with you in a minute, just want to wake up a little More. I'm not that crazy about sleeping as I've always seemed to be since..." "Yes, I know. I know. Take it easy and come on, Halifax. Fish is being served, not crow today." "I think it might be served soon..." Halifax said as he stretched out without even a gate to make it easier. As Ann went to the kitchen to help Casey unpack the bronzeware (The Incorporateds may have had money, but they sure didn't have foibles to ask for even the SILVER kind of eating utensils and would even settle for the PLASTICware.) Halifax walked around and turned the terminal on to his homeworld's first broadcast in the Gazell region of space, something that hurt the evil ears of the SCE and it wasn't even someone like the Commander blahing and insulting the universe. Of course, nevertheless it was ABOUT him. "On this day", said the anchorbeing (a huge Boa Constrictor who's people rarely appeared near Catica due to their homeworld's constant enslavery by Sangurian blockade and just being (sad) near the edge of the Catican Frontier), "Your IDIOT Commanderrr did this... tried to have an interview with the death press on the situation of the Xerkes affair when too late to really help his new close buddy Kannel. He got his armor took off for his trouble by this wild dogelian woman whom he asked for a date." "Good for her... whoever she IS.", said Halifax. "Why the wild dogelian woman was even thought to be a member of the death Press (maybe it was because she was called JeHosenFiati for LONG) remains to us a mystery. But at least now that calmer heads are bringing people to this world to settle it who aren't pirates OR vultures or Basically misguided, we know that peace will come to this long-ignored world." Halifax couldn't stop laughing and neither did Axeeater who was sleeping next to Halifax out of Ann's view and woke up when Halifax did. Halifax was for once grateful Axeeater had seen the light and put its loyalty towards finally a noble cause. "Well, looks like the Commander is all washed UP on love. Hope you get a CLUE next time, wacko. So, Axeeater.. we...." Then Halifax heard the sudden changing of the tide. As if it was building beyond the Moon's control. "What in...", Halifax said as he gated in front of the door. Axeeater looked out of the window. "No! Not this! Not..." CALM DOWN, YOU WORST ENEMY MINE! "Renegade, I meant it. Out! before I sic Axeeater at your shorts and make you get that undead WEDGIES again..." IT'S NOT ME. I'M BUSY WITH CORNBOLE NOW! I STILL AIN'T GIVEN HIM ENOUGH GRIEF. IT'S HIS TURN NOW, THAT WAVE COMING TO WASH YOU OUT AIN'T MINE! GET A LIFE. I'D GET ONE BUT YOU KNOW WHY I CAN'T ANYMORE! "Oh. Sorry", Halifax said as his eyes tried barely to imitiate his dad's bulging out rather pathetically. YOU WILL BE...JUST NOT NOW, OKAY! I'M BUSY AND I WANT NO PART OF YOU TODAY. GOT THAT? "Pshew. for a minute I thought I was worried...", said Halifax. THINK WHAT YOU WANT, YOU AND YOUR LITTLE DOG. HERE, CORNBALL, *HERE'S* YOUR ANVILlllllll....*, said Renegade's deep voice, trailing off as his spirit returned to its NECESSARY task, leaving Halifax to face... a THIRTY foot wave. "And those pinches DID hurt. This Isn't a Dream! DARN WHOEVER IS DOI....*", said Halifax as the surf crashed in from far offbeach at high speed to dunk Halifax for a while... Just not the house. As the Incorporateds saw the delivery megaported to the table, Casey was busy sorting out the plates and the servings for all when he heard a slight gush that didn't alarm him, because the house was made weatherproof by Meganium siding. Longneck hitting his head on the table when he realized he forgot to wash his hands was coincidental enough for Casey to initially dismiss it as the dog Axeeater sheepishly came into the dining room, puzzled in thought. As the Incorporateds came In, Casey made a toast with carbonated, caffiene-free cola (Something Akeon Java couldn't drink, by the way, because of its lack of vital power-boosting CAFFIENE) to all present. "To our newfound friends on this day of celebrating as we finally have a good and nice Base of Inoperations to relax in for a change, on a neutral world. To Gazlennia, whos thoughtfulness of this house's construction gave us the rest we've earned from the horrors we have all been through this day." "To Gazlennia!", they said, who nodded her head and took off her antlers in respect. "And I thank Speedster again for his contribution to this world. I hope this task me and Axeeater the Reformed will be in some small part to repay Speedster for his help in making this world... a bigger, less crushing one than the one I knew a year ago this day. A year ago we all know as the day this battle against misguidedness Speedster, Wilson, Halifax, and Casey took upon themselves to fight when noone else would. Since then, much has happened good which I've recently heard about since my becoming one of you... people. ", said Gazlennia, pausing on the last part. "To those new people who've joined before me, Like Ann, and to those who've come back to the fight for justice, like Longneck and Carolina (I'll teach you about swimming fashions later, good girl), I know your respect and true devotion to this fight (even you, Axeeater) has made the Incorporateds more than a group. I see a family in all this, a growing family that is the best cure I see for a universe full of misguidedness. No matter who else joins in the fight or goes against us, I will always be glad to be a part of this group... and to have Carolina and Longneck as part of it, too. You are wonderful people, all of you. Don't change, you all!", Gazlennia said enthusiastically. "To the all of us. May we never change... just get new members!", said them all in unison and NO, it wasn't Carolina's doing THAT. "Whoo! Speech, Speech", Longneck said as Axeeater decided to cheer too. Maybe later Axeeater'd..... "Um, Longneck", Said Speedster. "Yes?" "Your Timing is a little off...." "well, my feelings exactly!", said Longneck as they settled down to eat. "But still, I wonder where Halifax is. He's missing some prime killed-humanely fried Catfish whose ancestry dates back to the Louisiana section of Earth..." Suddenly, the door opened. Here comes the Ironic part and the end to the 1st half of our story... Surreal Estate. Halifax wandered in, all soaking wet and panting as Axeeater sighed. The table was silenced. "Oh, SON! What happened to you? Took a swim?" "Yes, into a tidal wave, dad. Someone sent a tidal wave to wash our house out... and It wasn't even Renegade. He admitted SO. Someone... else did." "Man, that stinks! Who dares ruin this Dinner? His or Her armor is going off NOW", Speedster muttered. "You people are luckier than you imagine this house didn't get washed away. I hope we count our blessings as to the fact we're still here. Things may be safer here than in Space... but they sure aren't getting any.... Saner." Halifax came to the table, not even bothering to dry himself. "So, what are we having for dinner?" There was a unison of plates shoved under the table for Axeeater to peruse. Epilog (Not for the WHOLE STORY! THERE'S STILL ANOTHER PART 2 GO!) Wokon Chone looked around at the ruins of part of his own house not far off in vain when Casey walked in with a big plastic container around the middle of Gazell's night. "WHAT! You happy noone in the SCE cares I need Diplomatic Immunity to keep you off my BACK, fool?" "Actually, I came with a get-well... um, WELCOME(DARN IT) gift for you", Casey said as he briefly grimaced at another tounge-flub, "Enjoy. I'm sure worry makes a man hungry or.. something. Good Day to you." And Casey gave Wokon Chone the gift and walked off slowly, shaking his head. Wokon Chone opened it and saw within a ton of Baked fish, enough to feed a lot of setinents. "YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS", Wokon CHone screamed as the container dropped to the ground after being quickly closed. His words reverbrated in the wind for a while. "Especially whoever sent the water to wreck my house AGAIN.", claimed Wokon as he summoned his own Robo-Dog unit code-named L-10 (Allen) to eat the stuff. .. it said as it howled at the moon which must be puzzled above as to why its power over the seas was somehow... failing.... "I have a feeling Nobody's getting respect this day... the Incorporateds, one year ago, jumped on Rynogoff and those Idiots.", he said to himself. "Just why I have to be involved is a mystery..." Then Wokon Chone walked through his house's rubble. "Not to... me.", said Akeon Java, who hid in the bushes and took the container full of fish. "Nothing to waste but.... time. Time", said Akeon Java as he poured his latte from his coffee pot over the fish and chowed down well... "and Money. Money...", he said with his mouth full as the world of the Incorporateds... and the SCE.... got just a little.... stranger. Perhaps, in the morning, Wokon Chone was a lot calmer after sleeping under a palm tree for he could properly see the problems buildings not made of supra-hardwood have in a world full of rainy storms. But seeing the Incorporated's new wood building stand against that tidal wave was not so fine. And the excuse to borrow a cup of nails before the insurance agency and the realtor (The only CHEAP one who sold homes to SCE's who had diplomatic ties if not ACTUAL immunity) came by to survey. He stepped in that container the Incorporateds sent him and found it bare and smelling of the foul brew Akeon Java not only drank BUT ALSO USED AS A weapon to stun his opponents. He hoped Akeon Java wasn't one of those survivalists because if the Incorporateds were NOT poisoning themselves and their enemies, Akeon Java was going to get the .... of his... HMPH. So, finding the only cup available for carrying (One of Akeon's ..... ARGGGHHH!) Akeon Java came to the House of the Incorporateds, who were planning to look over the rest of the beach for problems. He wasn't quite kindly greeted at the door, even though he was only an ambassador and not even a SPY posing as an AMBASSADOR. And by something Unsettling. "Yes?", said the monstrous grin inside the room Wokon Chone swore looked like some senile bounty hunter from his distant past, but it was awfully stretched out and had seemingly MORE Teeth. "What the heck do you think It's worth for you to bring me out of the Shower, come and turn yourself in and leave me in a fouler mood worse than seeing my son Sucker-Typhooned... Oh, it's you. Sorry I don't care about collecting bounty on YOUR head anymore. The toonatic attitude I have nowadays more than wiped my senility clean. I could refer you..." "Must have been one of the OLDER ONES", Wokon surmised. "Actually, I wish to borrow some nails as my house is in disrepair from the wave that... mmm.... left your place standing. "Oh... our HOUSE. It's mostly wood, of the REAL HARD variety. NO, you'd just shoot them at our HEADS with your Nail Gun. Try again a hour from NOW!" And with that, the door slammed... "Could I at least talk to the Ambassadors of Catica and Gazell upstairs?", Wokon CHone said as he knocked even as Longneck opened the door again and got himself a fifteen-noogie hit combo on his head or something before Wokon stopped. "Um, came to give ME a Headache?" "Could I at least talk to the Ambassadors of Catica and Gazell upstairs?", Wokon repeated. "About WHAT?" "My house was wrecked in the storm. I... might want them to confer on what hit our houses last night." "Alright, LATER. I'll give them the message. Since I still apparently can't find any documents given to you regarding any Diplomatic Immunity decrees legal even in the Frontier (Lamar Forbid), please leave running as AxeEater shows you the way HOME!" The door slammed with a BURP from behind the door. Then Wokon Chone looked behind him. The Axeeater was behind him quietly all the time. And it was growling. Wokon Chone never had to run that fast before. But then, he'd never been pursued by one of his own empire's Robo-Dogs... He crawled over the gate and only lost his dignity and the rear of his battle-shorts revealing his boxers when he reached home. Muttering a curse to Cornball, its purported designer, Wokon Chone went back to his own grounds... as the car of the Real-Estate agent pulled up. Outside, Axeeater wagged his tail as he rocketed back to his new home.... Longneck pulled something out from under his back he'd been quick to hide. It was a coffee cup with the words... "Ask the one who benefits the most" on it. "Oh, nuts.....", then Longneck stuck his head out the window. "AKEON JAVA, wherever you are, I'm giving you a RESTRAINING ORDER! I find a willing judge and you're LOST!" Down below, Akeon Java was giving Axeeater a bunch of coffee cups to eat. "Can I help it If I sense destiny is being tampered with inconsolably and wish to ensure some fairness? Read the cup, cool cat." "I ought to throw it at your HEAD, you 60's reject from a Coffee Poetry Cafe! I hate being saddled with PLOTS! Hruhh!" And with that, Longneck then politely said..."Please leave quietly the way you came." as he then stuck his head back in. Akeon Java grinned as Axeeater let him walk off. "You can sense GOODNESS in beings, can't you?" Axeeater nodded his head and Akeon quietly ran off. "Good boy." Akeon walked off the property, not really sure why he'd even blurted out his beliefs in what was happening. It wasn't very nice annoying someone like Longneck, even though he was no longer senile.... While Wokon Chone looked through the ruins of his house, his mind was thinking long and hard about akeon's appearance the other day. His mind turned to Obstenatious, the one who could command the tides and shape water like clay to do his bidding. He wondered if the power that the emperor Kingston had taken from him for causing the existence of the... ugh... CAPITALIST... Kovo had been returned. And if it had been used against him. Surely not. Kingston would never restore to one the dna coding to do bizarre stuff with the mind once he'd taken it away, never. Not according to MILLENIA of legends passed down from resurrection to resurrection. Still, the thought had crossed his mind. Suddenly, a knock came from the fence, which still held. Wokon went and stamped forth all the way, hoping those ambassadors had taken his invitation and not thrown it away. He stuck his head out of the gate and screamed at whoever was there, closing his eyes as he did. Then he walked back to his ruins. "Whoa. that was unexpected", said Longneck as his hair looked most frizzled from the shock. Speedster watched him squat and sit down, trying to shake off a most dazed look. Speedster walked through the gate to where Wokon chone was obliviously turning over cabinets which survived the destruction of the house. Or, at least, pretending to be. He asked one question without even knowing who was behind him. "Where are the ambassadors?" "They just got a call about a minute or so ago. There were other ambassadors trying to move to this beach and their houses got destroyed as well.", Speedster said. "Other Ambassadors?", Wokon said as he turned around. "What do you mean other ambassadors?" "You know... the grey league, the ebes, the crabcancers, the chupacabras, the aflanian resistance force, the fibdell, the.... " "BAH! what about MY needs? All those... losers... wouldn't invite me, I see. No diplomatic courtesy whatsoever and here I am, in ruins." "Your house should be repaired soon. Just like theirs, if you paid for it like moral people do... "Like I care about paying for ANYTHING. I hated writing that check to a... her. But she seems to be the owner of the sole real estate firm AND the sole construction company on this forsaken planet...." Speedster picked up a coffee cup off the ground. He almost swore he saw a grinning renegade in it, but just to be safe he smashed it anyway. "So you're not the only one who lost a house in the tidal wave. But I wouldn't go sour, you are getting it back good as..." "You're the only ONE who DIDN'T Lose a HOUSE! You and your band of punks who spit on spandex and laugh at lycra! you... you who dress like beach bums, smack people with tails and hit them with plungers and blow their ears OUT! And Akeon Java! He's probably in..." "Calm Down!, Speedster said as his plexiglass torch lit up with a bright light that actually made things BRIGHTER than the day. He pointed it at Wokon who shuddered then calm down. Speedster powered the torch down and Wokon started blinking a lot as Speedster said his mind. "Hey... we WERE hit too by the wave. You're not alone in all this as we might have a common enemy here. You did say there was only one Construction company AND one real estate firm, right?" "Yes, SO?" "Thank you." Speedster walked off, wincing as the shattering of innocent coffee cups kept making noise against the water-ruined tile. Longneck met him outside the gate. "So, Speedster, how did it go?" Speedster stared at Longneck. "I need to talk to a real estate agent about something.". Speedster walked off as he headed down the beachside, following all the 'for sold' signs strewn with seaweed, all of them identical. "Mainly, fraud." Later that day, the estate agent was at home, wearing a bathrobe and watching the seas flow calmly near her house. A house with, Longneck noticed, a small river inlet flowing under and most of it built on a short (but very wide) bridge above the inlet. It made a most picturesque view but Speedster was in no mood for taking pictures. Longneck and Speedster found Wettland beginning to doze off but Speedster shone his torch in her face to rouse her. "Morning. We'd like to talk with you about some freak occurences.", Speedster said. "Do you know in my own world this is MIDNIGHT?", she said, staring at Speedster for a moment too long. "Do YOU know it's AFTERNOON on MY world", said Speedster, "And I don't care right now?" The waves were agitated briefly (Longneck turned to try to see this, but they settled down TOO fast for nature's sake).... "No, I didn't think so. May we come in to chat? We would like to talk to you about houses and construction and things like that. " "If you're here to ask about a house..." "A WHOLE bunch of HOUSES", Longneck corrected. "You're asking about houses at...", Wettland sighed. "Do you see anyone else asking for a house? Any other Real Estate Agents on this planet?", said Speedster. "Or did you... "Nice house.. Why is there a river underneath..", Speedster added. "Hmmm... No. I... guess... if you wish to talk business come in. I can.... get someone to build you a .... house. Anything wrong with yours?" "Yes.... It could be BIGGER.", Longneck said. Somehow, Miss Wettland thought that was cool as she nodded silently, and grinned a little evilly. "Come on in, then! I'm more than glad to show you my construction company's line of houses. Forgive my appearance. Usually Im not this slovenly... Come in.. Um, no arrest warrants on you?" "Paranoid, aren't you---", Speedster said as Longneck pushed him in. "Amateurs. STILL amateurs", Wettland whistled under her breath as she walked upstairs briefly. "Amateurs Indeed", Longneck said, wondering if Wettland even knew just how long he HAD been a 'professional...' "Apparently there is something in this psychology that works. She bought THAT without even shooting a double-barreled bazooka at our heads.", said Speedster. "Sounds like greed motivated her letting us IN.", Longneck replied. "Well, let's hit the couch and start looking as we promised. We have to be careful to keep her in the dark about this, even if she's not involved the threat to HER house might be something for her to worry about." "Yeah. She might destroy us while we're still in it and she'd be annoyed we SURVIVED..." As Wettland came down wearing her business clothes (very business like, and far easier to wear than the clothes of her previous life.) She heard Speedster discuss with Longneck some houses, not knowing it was the kind you break into and chase burglars out of to waiting squad cars who didn't want to 'fall behind...' "How nice. This one's high above the ground.", said Longneck. "Bound to be expensive if not safe for the house and the wooden pylons below." "Or this one. Right near the ocean, easily flooded in case of a hurricane.", Speedster said. "This is good. Twister bait and already in shambles", Longneck said, laying on top of a picture of a unbroken house the picture of a broken one. "We'd probably take them all.", said the both of them. "Do you accept Terran cash?", said Speedster who held out his legendary wallet, filled with 8 10,000 dollar bills given to him by his most loving family to pay for a few years of driving on the roads of america, stopping crime with his bare wooden plunger-torch of old days. Why speedster still held on to the wallet, though, was sentimental value rather than a place to keep money. In it was a photo of someone who died that once helped him. And whos dreams of he was having more and more each day... "I accept credit cards. Do you have any of THOSE or are you snooping around here?", Miss Wettland said. "No, we aren't snooping around. We respect your privacy. We are NOT oreo uncles like Wokon Chone or obs.....", said Longneck. "You'd best." "I have a credit card.", Longneck said. "It might be plastic like me, but like me it's GOOD. I've always ensured it's been even in my DARKEST hours, and believe me I've had LOTS of them..." Wettland looked sceptical as she was handed a credit card from Longneck's wallet. "Gold?", Wettland said. "Platinum?", she continued with an awesome grin. "MEGANIUM. In this universe, the purple-tinted Meganium metal, when pickled by contact with other metals such as iron and copper to keep organic beings from contacting it and becoming metal but unfortunately LIVING statues, is much stronger than Iron and more valuable than Gold. Lighter, too. You have to have lived through EIGHTY years of good credit standings to get a credit card with THAT kind of ranking." She looked suspiciouly at Longneck who was grinning. "She wants your credit card.", Speedster whispered. "It's not... her type though. She'll be heartbroken when it leaves her hands... heh", Longneck said as Wettland looked him straight in his very wide face. "You really are a couple of IDIOTS. ", she said. "Despite that, I think this is sufficient to pay for one house on the beachside wherever you wish. I... will go upstairs and get the paper.... DARN!" The video phone was ringing off the hook in the kitchen. "Hold on. I'll be back in a minute. Don't go away." Speedster looked at Longneck suspiciously. "Your memory seems to be improving since your transformation", said Speedster to Longneck. " "So's my hearing." "Are you so sure she needs to be educated on things like..." "SHHH... So's my hearing", Longneck then whispered. "Listen to her. She might be in trouble or something despite her greediness, you know, and we might get to hear who might threaten her. And at least we'll find out whether Obs is helping her somehow and if he might have his powers back and...." "Alright, Alright", Speedster whispered back as his ears began to pick up things. Eventually, Wettland picked up the phone. Both of them picked up their ears and since Wettland had put the phone on mute to hear, both regretted never learning to read lips. Not that that mattered, since the phone's screen was facing away from them both. So at least half the actual conversation was lost on them.... but the half that mattered WAS on. "Hello, Wettland's freelance Real Estate agency, what can I do you for?" ..... "YOU WHAT? WHAT'S KEEPING YOU?" Heheheheh.... ..... "You realize they ought to think YOU'RE responsible?" ..... "No, I haven't shown them the PIZZA boxes." ..... "You ought to try to just wash this place out, OBS!" ..... "Oh, right, mister O, they'll think YOU did it. Eventually they'd find the boxes near the scenes of the crime as evidence, give them time." ..... "You'll do WHAT if I keep them HERE?" ..... "That's SICK. I'll call you LATER.. I will not tolerate this ANY LONGER!" ..... She came back in. "Who was that", Speedster said, knowing even with his great hearing he couldn't detect WHO was calling, but the name OBS sure rung a bell. "No one... you'd care to know. I will go and get those papers..." she said, quietly, hanging her head down as she climbed the stairs slowly as she looked down in the dumps. VERY SLOWLY. "I don't believe it. Obs is behind this.", said Speedster quietly. "Obs WHO?" Longneck said. "A master of water. Could even make it solid enough to stand above the ground and GRAB you and be formed in his shapes, to the point it'd defy physics and gravity with his mental control." "Oh, I thought you meant Obsaka, nicknamed Head Board for his running a illegal assassins school somewhere deep in SCE territory. You Mean Obs, the guy who just found out he had KIDS? Knew about him LONG before Kingston did..." "Yes, that Obs. She challenged OBS in her phone call as being guilty and mentioned pizza boxes." "Which I saw in Wokon Chone's garbage on the way here.", Longneck commented, "While you had the heart to heart with wokon.. or plunger-torch to face, anyway..." "Hmmph!", Speedster said. Wettland stopped on the stairs for a moment and Sighed. "Wait a minute...", Speedster exclaimed, "OBS had his powers taken away WHEN RENEGADE found out OBS was a DADDY in a previous LIFE!", he said as he yelled up the stairs after dashing to them in less in a heartbeat. "The gig is....", Longneck said. Both of them looked upstairs as Wettland started LAUGHING. Longneck stretched his neck to look just aside Speedster Just as a wave crashed through the glass window upstairs, and carried Longneck and Speedster out of the house. Speedster shook himself more alert, dazed obviously by what had just happened. AND LOOKED DOWN. Two massive claws, formed despite the physical laws of the universe only by specialized mental control, held him and Longneck 20 feet above the ocean floor. And Obstenatious indeed was beneath them, looking upset and FREE of Imprisonment of any sort. The last few atoms of him were being sorted hairwise but already enough of him existed he could speak without being physically paralyzed by a megaportation beam while it reconstructed him from beyond.... "I'm shocked", said Longneck. "Your powers are back?" "What, you don't think I have them to begin with? Who told you? " "We weren't told, but Renegade told Halifax", Longneck muttered, "Then he told me." "What, being tossed into the soon-to-storm, unforgiving surf and being wiped out.... totally and.... heh... totalled, dudes? LIKE YOUR PSYCHO SON?" "You should be thankful YOUR son sees the light like mine, you...", Longneck Shouted. "Was it you that made the tidal waves come forth." "Man.", Obs said as he sighed. "Wish it WAS. Wish I could do this sort of thing again. Unfortunately for you dudes... I met someone very special who had that talent. And maybe its time SHE, heh , showed you how misunderstating you really are, dweeb. ".... "She Whom?", said Longneck... "That woman we just..." "You know how it is as a father. You try to add one more child, one more choice Destiny has, and you must make a sacrifice. You, you couldn't make a sacrifice of time to take care of Halifax half a century ago, but I did for my son. My powers were lost to keep my OTHER son Technosavage, despite his technological knowledge and his will to use it for wrong, alive as decreed by the Emperor. It doesn't matter much if KOVO goes away to me, but I would mind If I had NO sons whatsoever. And my lack of powers is pernament STILL. Renegade has seen to this despite the fact death has claimed him but not quite completely, dude. Still, I miss the opportunity to do crime with my old powers and even my former partner Rynogoff must refuse to get in Reng's way. But it does not matter, as long as I can have one son still alive to cherish for his wicked vileness. " "How touching. NOT!", said Longneck. "Just tell me WHO'S doing this to me, then!" "Let me make this as clear as the water gripping you solidly and unwetly, then, DUDE!", said Obs as he stepped back towards the house, splashing in the small stream that ran under the house to the front door." "Whoa.", was what all Longneck could say as Speedster kept fighting the wave's grip, but was weakening fast. "Gentlecats and Poodles, may I introduce the future MRS. Obstenatious." "Well, isn't this a surprise,", Halifax said VERY sheepishly. What walked out of that house was the very same Wettland that sold real estate, but she was wearing a solid ocean-print sweatsuit (SHE HAD HER DIGNITY) and she looked like she was concentrating. "YOU?", Speedster said before he was shaken a LOT faster than he'd been used to in the wave's grip. Longneck was shocked and annoyed. "I don't believe this. You're a VICTIMIZER, not a VICTIM? You're scamming people by trashing their houses only to rebuild them CRUMMY as before? YOU? I don't know who you are, lady, but you are a heck of an ACTRESS. Maybe when the both of you get out of JAIL you could even win a AWARD for best actress. Even Ehil Parsantes couldn't have conned us better!" "Ehil..?", Speedster said as he was tossed some more, more violently now. "later...", Longneck said... "Can it, IDIOTS.", said Wettland as she walked up in front of Longneck. "I'm glad you're new to the 'Incorporateds' You hang out with now. You don't even have a clue who I really am and your excuse is you're NEW. Even Speedster could not figure out in a thousand years WHO I REALLY AM.... But since you're going to DROWN soon, I'll help him out." And then Speedster was dragged in close. "Do you realize the only other person who shook me like this was THE COMMANDER? I don't hate your gender. Why pick on ME? Why make me a enemy of YOU?" "Do you remember a planet called Jasaya Callabai, Speedster. A world where your most idiotic friend Wilson crashlanded on? Where Halifax got ill from dust-induced illness? Where Cornball tried to ruin a local farm and a pair of sisters whom got involved in all this? Don't You?" "Psss.... have mercy, don't make Speedster or this KID Longneck have flashbacks. It's not good for them." "Love, I know. But they'll die anyway." "Cool then, sweet dudette. Please Continue." "Well, you think and the rest of the world thinks I'm this Wettland person. In actuality, I really am ... BRAZOS OZOBAS FARAH!!!!! The very person whos whimsy for power you RUINED with my Sister's TRACTOR!" "Um.... are you SURE about that or are you deluded?", Speedster said. "I'm not deluded into thinking I'm BRAZOS or I've craved revenge since on you Incorporateds. Of course, it got hard to get that while in Jail, and harder when the SCE ordered me killed for allowing Cornball to turn and fall in love to have his whims done. I'd be rotting in Hell for my jealously if Obs hadn't Intervened." Both Speedster and Longneck were moved to face Obs. They then turned to face this person claiming she was Brazos when she WASN'T even looking like Brazos. Obs was grinning from ear to ear. "He saw my dead corpse a couple of months ago while on the lam, as part of a burial detail headed towards San Lavender. He, as silly as he was, Saved my old feline body from being thrown in the vulture-haunted deserts of San Yellowe and made a deal that he wouldn't seek a cure from any SCE in exchange for me to live once more. And somehow, I am alive, and not only that I was given his powers for safekeeping." "I think your taste in women,", Longneck quietly purred, "has really hit a ALL time LOW". Obs swung at Longneck, smacking his head hard enough to make it ring. "Yeah, fell in love at first sight while doing that sort of anti-penance duty, running for my life in exile, avoiding becoming carrion....", Obs cheerfully muttered. "And don't be INSULTING like that, you bogus... DRAWING!" "OH, you are SICK... You .. Loving the DEAD! You REALLY ARE INSANE!", said Longneck to Ob's face. "What a new low for YOU.." "She's not dead now, you MORON!!!!!"... Obs said. Then he gained his composure , sniffed at Speedster who was losing consciousness, and turned back to Longneck. "Of course, Kingston LAUGHED when I brought her in to his throne room just prior to Renegade sending his fake Incorporateds in to dis you, But he realized her soul was twisted enough to serve the SCE in some way. And with this Gazell embarrasment, letting her live was the best revenge. Even if it makes Wokon over there go mad, this whole plot would be worth it. Only, though, she's got to be at least part primate now. That's why she's human now, and human she will be forever while you're food for a shark for barely a hour. And did I mention my powers would safely rest in her head? No? NOW I DID! heh..." Longneck looked at Speedster.... worriedly... as Brazos began to speak. "And I fell in love with the lug when I realized what he'd done to save me from being punished in hell by being shown every KIND movie by the vultures lording over it so I can do criminal things once more. Well, you'd figure out eventually I set on selling faulty houses to everyone, even those SCE's who bothered the Emperor by having a visit from the renegade Akeon Java every now and then, EVEN YOU INCORPORATEDS whom I blame on the whole thing, And how that was my proposed revenge once I felt myself reborn and alive. And how I've taken pity on Obs for what he's had to endure and how I'd love to marry him through Consortship approved by the Emperor himself just three days ago, And how we intend to bulldoze my sister's farm as part of our honeymoon, But you just have to die NOW. Sorry for being so long winded, Obs. Longneck, Did I mention Your son's near-drowing was just plain BAD luck but I'd have loved it to been an intentional one?" "Go back to the pits!", Longneck said, enraged at all she was claiming to have done. "You go to HEAVEN!", 'Brazos' shouted back.... "That's okay, dudette. Go ahead and send them out to sea. I'll order some pizza to celebrate these dudes being sunk. Won't be long, dudette?", Obs said just then. "No, sweetness, never.", Brazos said as she calmed down and grew sickly peaceful. Obs grabbed both Speedster and Longneck by their necks. "You really ARE stupid. And don't worry.... when you DIE, I won't love YOU.", Obs whispered to them, then let them go and walked off after giving a hug to his beloved obviously-now Brazos. "I don't think I'll think of you fondly either.." Longneck sighed. Speedster, now helpless and weak in the wave's grip, looked to Longneck. "I think that Akeon Java is getting a surprise from his lawyer in the morning. A BIG, NASTY SURPRISE.", Longneck said. "What about those two creeps who're going to bag us?"... Speedster moaned as he fell unconscious. "We... won't live that long to give them a RESTRAINING ORDER!", said Longneck as both him and Speedster were tossed into the ocean with the force of a cannon, then were tossed again and again as the waves grew hurricane-strength under a very, very clear sky. ... but away from the shore and QUICK as both screamed to Brazos's delight... "To think I'd never hear that from Speedster's lips. I hope Casey, CORNBALL and Wilson cry at his funeral.... if he ever washes ashore!" Brazos started laughing but weakly. "Girl, you've got to get over that Cornball. Ob's your true love now, and your love's genuine. Have some dignity.", Brazos quietly muttered. Soon their screams were barely audible. "Dudette, I got onto into the ethinet and I've got the pizza schooner on its way thinking they'll get PAID!" "Obs, I'm coming, sweet love of mine!", she said, cheerfully humming as she ran forth to keep up with Obs as both went back to the house. Meanwhile, Speedster and Longneck were being tossed away even farther from land, still, as the waves around them vanished to the distant horizon... And the seas became still close to the shores of Gazell Megasea, washing out the footprints Speedster and Longneck made while walking up to the house... as if they'd never been. Like Brazos had intended... for quite a long time.... On the rolling seas whipped by the very mind of a very disturbed Brazos, Speedster and Longneck were being tossed quite a lot, but both were surviving after five minutes of all this. Being tossed on most violent seas could have killed lesser people.... Longneck was busy trying to keep Speedster afloat, so spent quickly was his energy from Brazo's newly found power, when Longneck looked up and saw sky behave quite calmly as night descended on the world of Gazell. "Speedster, look up! At least the Sky's not after us, too!" "Wha....", Speedster moaned. "Well, just snap out of it! We've got a lot of swimming to do to get out of THIS!", Longneck said as he was yanked and slammed into the surf. "I never got to see zephyr that las...", Speedster moaned as he sunk under the waves briefly. "Oh, no, don't you drown on MY time!", Longneck yelled. when the surf released him as he grabbed Speedster and yanked him up to the surface. "What would my son hink about you GONE? He thinks the world of you!" "Whoa, heaven already!?!?", Speedster said. "Hang on. I have an Idea....", said Longneck as the waves slowly lost their power, so far out of range now of Brazos' power her control was being jeopardized. Still, they were a long way off. "Grab onto my back and hold on for dear life!" "Such nice clouds.. zeph? zeph?..", Speedster kept moaning. "You need a hobby", Said Longneck as he went ahead and grabbed Speedster, hoisted him on his shoulders while dog-paddling for dear life, then started to REALLY dog-paddle as his arms grew LONG and his hands grew big and paddle-like. Then he actually got somewhere as Speedster weakly held on, barely recovering from the ocean abuse he'd gotten. Far from the disturbance of the ocean currents Brazos was causing, moving his cartoon-esque arms so fast a massive wash was flowing from where Longneck was. Behind them, the waves lost control as Brazos stopped concentrating on them and resumed dinner with her true love, but Longneck was too upset to care about that. Speedster needed dry land to recover, sadly, and it was now a whole horizon away. So concerned with Speedster was Longneck that he didn't stop paddling until he hit land and drilled a SMALL river mouth into the shore five hundred feet long and very, very thin. feet long . Until Longneck hit a rock and sent the barely hanging-on Speedster into a tree did Longneck actually stop. Fortuitously, the injury was not damaging to Longneck's mind, all he saw was floating stars which thanks to the physics of his reality he only saw in his head. Speedster fortuitously landed in a tree. And once he was up there, he was safe and recovered quickly. Longneck looked up for his friend as he saw the water flow in from behind him. "Speedster, are you all right?", he called up. "I seem to be in a tree. What happened between the time I knocked on Wettland's door and I got up here?" "You don't remember THAT?" "No. I must have been through heck to get up HERE. Do I have Amnesia or something? I remember EVERYONE and EVERYTHING save what JUST HAPPENED!" "If you do, don't worry. I still have amnesia myself from before I turned 20 years of age and it no longer bothers me. Not sure who I was... but god, Im grateful for what I've BEEN! And for you still being around, too..." "WHAT?" "Maybe I should have told Halifax or you or someone sooner. Anyway, you fine now?" "Physically so in a minute.", Speedster said. "Can you tell me what happened?" "Well, Obs was involved in a scam with Brazos. That's the good news." "And what's the bad news." "Aside from nearly being sunk, Brazos is also and has been Wettland. And she has Ob's powers through a most sickening turn of events." "Owch. I wish I could remember that." "You've got a psychologist to get that out of your head later. I'll explain more on the way home." "I hope we can go home from here. This isn't quite the same shoreline I last saw." "Of course not. It's Wokon Chone's establishment." "WHAT?" "I saw his new establishment fifty yards from here. I hope he's not sore in the attempt to bring you to safety I granted him a HARBOR." "He's evil. What do you expect?" "I don't know, KINDNESS?" "Let's go home and warn the Incorporateds first. They'll need a lot more than we to daze Brazos just long enough to subdue her, get the authorites offworld and far from from oceans, lakes, streams and soda cans she can use as weapons. We may not have much evidence to go on save an admission of guilt and a unmistakable coincidence or twelve, but we must see justice done anyway for those others who's houses are ruined by her dark powers." "Even Wokon Chone?" "Surprisingly, despite his alliance with the SCE he was a victim. But he had no Immunity from legal recourse to deal with this. Yes, even Wokon Chone. Come, you tell me how Obs and Brazos could possibly be together." "They met at a mobile morgue", was all Longneck ever said. Speedster'd find the truth out, extended from that little tidbit, MUCH later..... A few hours later (to the tune of lots of broken chinaware due to their 'alliance with the coffee pots as Wokon chone claimed which delayed Longneck and Speedster a bit as Wokon started throwing newly bought kitchenwares about), Carolina greeted the two at the door. "Let me guess... you had a bad feeling about this, right", Longneck said. "Actually, someone named Akeon Java just stopped by and..." "You can have that Akeon Java. KEEP him safe from our harm.. um, just HARM....Where's your stepdad?" "He hasn't been sleeping much. Still setting up his shop anew in the Basement...." "Well, what I have to say may come as a shock as to who sent that wave. It's not going to be pleasant, and It's a shame I can't think of anything better to serve the Incorporateds than blasted Coffee to wake them up. I have just met the very person who gloated over sending the wave, and who trashed Speedster and me for just visiting to try to WARN her..." "Hold on. It was the Real Estate lady who dunked you?" "You really can see into men's minds.", Speedster said just then. "But I never hold something like that against anyone. And the worst thing is, one of the very first SCE's we officially went after has returned from wherever he's been held up at... Is in love with HER." "That sounds really INSANE", Carolina said. "I might as well wake up Casey, too. He's the leader, we might as well hear it from him what our plans are. And by the way, I could read Women's minds too, you know. Just don't ask me what a plant has on its 'mind...' "If he even fell asleep.", Longneck said as they went inside. It was night now as Longneck told the group what'd he'd seen and heard. Being woke up at 1 in the morning was pretty bad, but considering the safety of Gazell, no less their house, was now being jeopardized insanely by one of their most unlikeliest enemies made them pretty forgiving. Wilson, Halifax and Casey knew firsthand previously Brazos hadn't been a threat when she was going about in body-covering protective scarecrow-like protective suits and just hated her own sister. Knowing how more powerful Brazos had become being human and possessing near-elemental control over water was unsettling to them, and they surmised that the Emperor was finally getting desperate enough to realize both genders could do just as good or bad as the other. Although Gazell didn't know anything happening beyond the cave, she couldn't help but get interested in their relating their adventures with Cornball. Gazell was plenty surprised the SCE's could actually COME BACK, though. Nothing in Gazell history had ever convinced anyone people could be regenerated with their souls reinserted anew into clone bodies, or that cloning actually could be made to WORK. Not much in genetics had ever been discovered within the cavs of Gazell though much else had inevitably been. Now, she wondered how anyone could have tolerated not cloning BOTH genders when necessary for so long. Ann had only read of that Incident at Jasaya, and shuddered to think how the Emperor was so determined to not let the SCE's have kids like the rest of the universe, to actually try to kill those who tried to engage in Love and Respect. She was actually peeved the Emperor would send assassins to kill EVIL people instead of just the good, too, and wondered at his state of mind, how much more insane it was going.... Carolina, meanwhile, couldn't understand what Cornball was doing here and with a human, or why the SCE was busy reincarnating females NOW.... and why they took so long to think that might be a good idea even with the evil intent behind it. She'd never known, even a century Ago, that SCE's could even have kids being clones and all, but somehow the Emperor's insistence on having only males existing somehow clouded the fact they ought to be sterile, too..... Carolina wondered how anyone could love someone as rude as Obstenatious. Must not be very bright, this Brazos, to see how simple he was.... Axeeater, also present and ready to help, thought long on hard of what it meant for SCE's and Humans of different genders to marry. Although it was cool to consider that peace would result as well as kids, the potential for spousal arguments couldn't be ignored within the canine, organic part of its vast, biorganic-blended mind. But in the end, it realized love could be possible between any being of any kind. Although Axeeater was hoping that those two would consider reforming after their marriage, though..... And whether to send a cake full of whipped cream pudding and NO SAWS WHATSOEVER to their honeymoon.... Longneck, of course, was in the dark some about this Jasaya, and wondered if someday, they could live there too while Wilson prepared to contact the authorities about what they had witnessed and heard for themselves to do something about what they've seen. Halifax had to talk to his dad about that. "Believe me, Jasaya is a very bad world for anyone to survive in. Anyone not immune to the foul effects of breathing Jasayan airborne dust gets really ill to the point of asthmaticism...", Halifax said. "So? Sounds like a nice place, rolling hills, lush plains, good farmland.... I mean, really, you'd think more'd live there....", Longneck exclaimed. "Living there and living WELL there seem to be two different things." "I might be immune to the dust. I am, after all, a lot less realistic nowadays in physicality. Surely I'd not be affected?" "I'd think all Caticans'd be affected..." "A world that affects Caticans? That's a MYTH. It can't just affect one kind of person, that's wrong. Surely it could affect OTHERS to some degree...." Halifax wondered about this. "I never saw anyone else there, did I?" "Didn't take the time to look around, did you? I'd be willing to bet there's more than one kind of being there having to wear protective gear as well to not get so ill in that world. You never really get a chance to stay someplace for a while to see it better even with the SCE so important in your life, don't you?" "No, I really don't get out on vacations much since...." "Since when?" "Well... you wouldn't take sleeping for 40 years as an excuse, would you?" "Not really." "Okay. Remember this Sierra kid I was crazy about?" "I've read up on her. Must be tough her not being free to wander about without supervision...isn't it." "Yes. Very hard. I suppose all I live for now beyond the Incorporateds is her. All the time I have free as decreed by Casey for vacations, I spend them visiting her. She means so much to me." "Then why not work harder to get her out, instead of just visiting her? I think you're obsessed enough to see her all the time you're free to, you must be in love or something." "Yes. I suppose I am.", Halifax said. "Well, whatever you decide, you have my consent. I only wish I'd given you something like that before Reng decided to tear you apart from those who believed in your kind spirit and need to help others." "Thanks, Dad.... for giving it to me now.. Small comfort, but it is comfort." Wilson came into the room as Halifax was left with his thoughts..... "I've told everyone to gather", Wilson said. "And we have the permits to confront Brazos. We wouldn't have gotten so fast a response, though, if we hadn't got word someone sent a tape of the incident Speedster and you, Longneck, were personally put through. "Who could possibly have had the time to tape US suffer." "Someone named Coff E. Stayns or something sent the tape. And it wasn't even doctored, it was genuine..." "Maybe the tape was genuine, but the name isn't. I think it might be a Mister Akeon Java who sent THAT.....", Longneck said. "And boy, he's ANNOYING." "Akeon Java?", Wilson said. "Yes, Wokon Chone told Ann there's this guy named Akeon Java keeps telling people they're in trouble and stuff bad happens. He seems to have this obsession with coffee.... Rancid, too, as Gazell kindly told me before we left on our little trip." "Akeon Java.... Hmph. Must be someone from deep within the SCE territory wandering through here. As big as this galaxy is despite the technology possessed to travel through it, It's still plenty hard to meet everybody. I'll have to check on this Akeon Java later on. He might know where the Emperor's main home is....." "That'd make our job a lot easier. Anyhow, when are we going, anyway, to confront Brazos?" "Casey just said 'Dawn' and left the details to me. Funny, how resistant he seems to the idea he's in charge. Thinks I should still lead even after what Cornball pulled on us all." "You aren't a bad leader, just a good leader with a lousy fate", Halifax said. "So, is this gonna be a big-group thing surrounding the house, knock on the doors-polite, use the evidence Akeon Java sent with the Dogelian's permission to show Brazos what she's done, then hope we can come close enough to actually daze her with our powers until the Cops can come and carry her off should she try to dispose of us?" "Are you Psychic or something?", Wilson said. "No, that's Carolina's job, and it's Speedster's idea." "SPEEDSTER'S Idea?" "Why, is it close to yours?" "Welll.... actually, Speedster told me after you told us all about what Brazos had done." "Wilson, do you think making Speedster leader instead might have been a wiser choice?" "Come to think of it, no.. But Casey should have the job for a while, just to make sure my choosing him wasn't a bad idea...." In the morning, around Brazos' home, the sun was rising as Brazos and Obs were walking in the surf. Brazos was wearing her blue two-piece sweatsuit, and don't be sorry she wasn't wearing a blue bodysuit with only the head uncovered and whatelse like in those OTHER tales. Obs was just in his standard uniform, rather embarrasingly proper for beach wear as well as for, say, BEACH WAR. But neither of them were aware just how soon the Incorporateds were going to challenge Brazos, or that Wilson had chosen Carolina, his adopted daughter, to be the main part of the attack since her mental powers could cancel out the wave-making capacities of the newly resurrected Brazos. The rest would try to sneak up on her and daze her, of course, as kindly and as uninsultingly as their manners could. The males, of course. The females of the group, on the underhand, were not planning to be as nice since Brazos was one of their gender.... And were planning a smack-silly en-masse with their special talents..... of the sneak variety... "You really want to go where for our honeymoon, after we visit your sister and send her packing into the nuthouse?", Obs said as he threw a crab into the ocean to watch it bounce. "I thought Velavia might be a cool place to go to. Lots of oceans with killer waves.", Brazos said to love. "Wow, dudette, that place I've dreamed of for years! It is the very first world I was EVER aware of being on! Practically uninhabited now the SCE's had it for a Million Years." "Nothing but the best. And more than affordable on the Scam I've been running." "Cool, Dudette. Any date we get married on?" "Two days from now, this time. Wherever we are......Oh, NUTS." "Trouble?" "I must kiss you now." "Cool", Obs said as they shared a warm embrace. This went on for a minute until Obs screamed with his lips still locked. "What, love, is it my bad breath?" "No, dudette.... It's company." "What?", Brazos said as she turned around. In the light of dawn they saw a group of animalistic people and animals resembling people wandering close to the house, some knocking on the door quite patiently. Some even looking in the broken window, seemingly waiting for permission to come in... "Obs, quick. All those Incorporateds seem to be here! Halifax, Wilson, Casey, and Speedster.... And a stranger? Just one of them? And a FEMALE?" "Whoa, Speedster survived THAT? I thought he really had the POWER to survive anything!" "He's tougher than he looks. Sweetness, witness your first anniversary gift, early from me, being gift-wrapped....", Brazos said as she concentrated with the morning reaching its most brightest. "NOW!" Brazos sent the streams around to the house, flowing forth from the sea beyond the power of physics to stop it. Being so close to her target allowed her some finesse as five-foot waves bounced onshore, splattering sand out of the way to find purchase on the dry sand via deep pools, then bouncing again up the beach to the house. One of them turned in time. One of the female ones... Missing at least an Eye and having feline ears. "Oh, no, we aren't having any of that!", she shouted, as her own mental powers grabbed a small lakeful of the approaching wet stuff with her mind and let it splash harmlessly to the ground. "What.... now that's INSULTING, girl!", Brazos yelled as Obs stared hard at Carolina. "You can't be so lucky to have mental control!" "I'm not. You realize scamming is a crime?" "So WHAT?" "So's dunking my friends!", Carolina said. "Were you gonna trash the evidence within of your acts?" Obs said.. "Soak her head, dudette. I'll kick the dudes of that group, you get the dudettes, and no way are they gonna force us to have our honeymoon in a prison! No privacy!!!!!" "Good Idea, love." "I may not have my powers, but I do have my strength.." Obs said as he ran up the shore, while Brazos started to make a island around her house with the water. "Good luck!", Brazos said. Carolina then replied, "You know, lady, you might have the power to control water, but other matter is little challenge to me. I can lift the very sand from the beach and blow it IN YOUR EYES!" "Try me, girl. I may have been born only 60 or so yesterdays ago, more precisely REBORN, but like my love OBS I've been given a lifetime of experience in controlling what gives you a SHOWER!" Brazos, digging a moat while they talked briefly, then sent a wave to where Carolina was. Carolina concentrated as her pink-colored mental aura flipped on and dug into the sand, picking up a ton of the sandy tan stuff and flinging it toward Brazos's wave. Both of the streams of quite different organic material collided as both fell to the beach, making a nice sand castle below. "So, Brazos, Where is that shower coming from?", Carolina said. "The sand you'd send in my hair isn't coming either, girl!" "Show me a lot more than that." "I'll show you a high wall of water around my house that crashes you flat and sets you seaborne, girl." "Actually, I'm over a century old..." "Plastic surgery. Hmph." "No, it's a virus that did it to me, you.. GLUPPP", said Carolina, as she was whacked from behind by a turrent of water that came from behind that Brazos quickly observed. Axeeater, just getting out of the car, noted this and began taking notes... "Must be the senility", Brazos said as something tapped on her shoulder. Carolina was spared the first effects of drowning as her concentration was shifted... Obs did indeed no longer possess the power to make waves, but he still had the strength of crashing water onto wood and rock and he met up quickly with the likes of Wilson.... and Longneck. Casey, meanwhile, was busy fending off the water coming forth onland with his tail, and Speedster dug trenches away from the site to protect the evidence within the house as the water flowed through. With his own hands and his plunger held by his reptilian tail, more handy now that it had some flexibility to actually grip something now. Meanwhile, Halifax was on the scene, porting water back into the ocean a horizon away with his power as he made a drainpipe in the fabric of space (Time travel was impossible and REALLY so in his reality as it kept existing a second at a time, without existing more beyond that much like our reality REALLY is... so those who wish to ensure I'm not born by destroying MY family, sorry. You're out of luck. No fabric of time, anyway) to send it packing where it came. And Axeeater was busy, dialing up the Justiceers stationed anew on this world to come help subdue with the info on how to contain someone like Brazos when she was captured.... Anyway, Obs was busy having his problems, and pushed Wilson quickly aside to push Casey over to stop Casey's personal involvement in all this. Longneck helped Wilson up as both ran after him cautiously. "Well, Obs, I see you plan on getting married", said Casey as Obs punched his fist a foot into the sand. "Well, let me warn you, Brazos, in her previous life, was almost one with Cornball and would have had something wonderful if Brazos's greed hadn't changed her mind. She did get over greed destroying her love, but I hope for your sake...." "You stop mentioning what Cornball could claim to do to me. Both my dear Brazos have been as dead as their acclaimed love is now. You want to join them or what, Dude?" And again, Obs smacked the ground, intending to break Casey's feet but that wasn't happening. "No.", said Casey as his tail raked across Ob's chest. Which was grabbed quickly despite its semi-solidness..... "Well, forget you, dude", said Obs as he yanked Casey by his own tail. "My line, and don't you forget it", Wilson said as he blasted Obs with sound just as Obs grabbed Casey and shoved him under his arm. "Bad move. I LOVE ROCK and ROLL..... And my hearing just happens to be proof against those hi frequencies, Dude!". Wilson turned it off for a moment. TOO LONG. "Well, I'll be.", said Wilson as he looked at his loudspeaker, and got Casey tossed into him, both bouncing off against the sand. Longneck noticed then and got in Ob's face. "How come you ain't invited ME to the wedding, IDIOT?" Obs smacked Longneck in the jaw like a punching bag. "When I want a worst man, Dude", Obs said as he then drilled Longneck into the ground, "I'LL KIDNAP YOU then LET YOU KNOW!". "What... a... NUT..." Longneck said as his head, sticking barely above the sand, shook the rest of his body more alert as Wilson and Casey prepared to joint-attack Obs.. Behind Brazos, Ann and Gazlennia stood their ground as Brazos turned to face them. Brazos looked back to see Obs seeming to win for a while. She then looked back at her attackers potentiale'. "Oh, isn't that cute. The farm animals are gonna slap me silly with their little STICKS." "You realize you're insulting the AMBASSADORS of two Worlds?", said Ann. "We don't just run with the Incorporateds all the time, we have REAL jobs as well. You're going to lose consciousness and go to the finest women's prison facility taxpayers have allowed built with their money, with TOP security for what YOU'VE done to Halifax, Longneck and SPEEDSTER!" "You love them like I do OBS or something?" "Just as friends." "Well, you and your friends are going to heaven. What use are sticks when I control water itself? Look behind you. I'll soak you, too!" And a wave came from above them. "If you are gonna be sneaky, then learn to swim like I HAVE!', Brazos said as she ran upshore. Ann and Gazlennia barely had time to get out of the way as the water crashed into the shore. Meanwhile, as Brazos ran upshore, she missed running over Carolina and both collided. "Watch where you are going, lady, or do you want more water washing your hair into bad-dayness?", said Brazos. "No, you can do that. I'm going to slap you silly now." Carolina panted as she used her power to lift herself off the ground. "You and your ARMY of morons of BOTH genders? I don't think so.", she said as Brazos got up to yank her down. "Even if you're OLDER than I am...." Meanwhile, Ann and Gazlennia both ran up the shore to pursue, with the waves lapping at their heels.... Obs kicked Longneck in the head as he faced Wilson and Casey, both hitting him with their powers now. "Oh, dudes, that tickles. I bet it must hurt, you realizing how strong I've become that you've never realized I've always been since I've usually fought you with water myself. Or that your female girlfriends are losing to someone who DOES have my old powers.", Obs laughed. "Can it!", said Casey. "You're not getting married in anyplace other than Prison for your aiding and abbetting Brazos in your pathetic attempt to bring the blame on yourself." "You Can it...", Obs said as he swung at Casey, but didn't bother to take a look up above him, as Halifax had noticed the trouble going on and joined in. He was coming down from high above Ob's head. Casey noticed this as he was grabbed by Ob's flailing hand and was about to be thrown deep in the sand. "Um... I think you should look above you right now.", Casey said. "Why?", Obs said as Halifax was about seven stories above him. All he could do was stare. Although that wasn't going to daze him enough to be defeated, it was going to hurt a little what Halifax was pulling off.... And being bit by Longneck in the foot just a second before Halifax landed hurt a LOT worse.... Brazos kept leaping up for the temporarily airbore Carolina. "Come down here, girl! I'll bury your head in the sand for trying to distract me from destroying the evidence within my HOUSE!". "I don't want to. I'm... pretty surprised I'm Capable of this. Think you can wait a minute while I think of something I can do up here?" "NO!", Brazos said as she finally leaped up to grab Carolina's foot. And then she was kicked away. "As in, free rides, right, Brazos?", Carolina said as she landed. Ann and Gazlennia were now on top of Brazos, just as Brazos tumbled to the ground. Ann first and foremost..... "Eeeppp... " Brazos said as Ann began slapping just as a huge wave threatened to crash into the women fighting on that shore. Thankfully, a foot away, it lost control as Brazos lost full consciousness..... As for Obs, he too was dazed by his pursuers, but not out. He began wandering off as physics gratefully regained their control over the water, hopping and dazed at the same time. Longneck began going 'Yuck' over and over as Casey walked behind, wondering if Halifax's family had been sucessful in their joint attack. Wilson and Speedster yanked on two Longneck out of the sand and watched Casey follow Obs.... Obs then came to where Brazos was dazed and confused, lying and sleeping in the sand. He looked down at her and moaned twice. Then Carolina got up in front of Obs and breathed at him. Obs quickly toppled over, having had enough for that day. All the Incorporateds gathered as Casey signaled for the cops to come carry the idiots away, with the House intact and full of information on what Brazos was planning. They circled close and looked down on the pair. "They make a lovely couple", Casey said as both laid close to each other, haven fallen in each other's embrace rather coincidentally. "I hope the prison don't cut up the flowers we should send those two.", said Ann. "You sure they don't want to be sent baked crow instead?", Longneck said as he looked down. "Not really", Speedster replied. "You think they'll name any of the kids after us, Wilson.", Carolina said. "I HOPE NOT. I shudder to think", Wilson replied to Carolina. All of them groaned as they spread out upon hearing the sirens. Casey looked back. "I hope I get your toaster size right", he said as he then left. Both Brazos and Obs moaned........ A week later, things had settled to normal as the Incorporateds visited Wokon Chone, still not so happy that he had not gotten diplomatic immunity so he could smack around the Incorporateds some. And Ann personally knocked on the door, while the rest waited in the car to drive down to the newly opened Gazlennian Kilacommisary to do shopping. Apparently having a Base-Of-Operations like that house close to civilization they could rely on instead of always being spaceborne was doing them wonders... especially the fact their opportunities to be exposed to vacumn and crashing had been reduced to an extreme medium. "Go away.", Wokon said as his new house, purely made by Sangurian technology instead of the cheap wooden variety, was quickly put up. However, it was not any really loyal SCE's doing the work, but instead it was Akeon Java and someone quite short, reputed to be Akeon's mentor. Wokon wasn't about to ask anyone who he was, he had enough headaches knowing Akeon personally. "I just came by to say officially, welcome to the world of Gazell, and..." "Welcome, Indeed! Do you know what the Emperor has done to me HERE? And that's even more annoying than not being handed notarized Immunity papers! He's finally given me a so-called staff, but it's these two IDIOTS Akeon Java and his little pal!" "Well, Congratulations! You could use someone to defend you from...." "Hmph.... I'm not to be congratulated for what I'm having to go through these days... You may LEAVE." "Okay, if you're not curious to know who personally attacked you...." Wokon Chone paused for a moment. "I'm Ears." "The very woman who used to be your Real Estate Agent and Building Contractor." "I hope the worst thing that can possibly happen to her happens!" "Even worse. She's married to Obs." "WHAT? NOT JUST IMPRISONMENT?" "I'm afraid so. BOTH." Wokon Chone looked at Akeon Java, who stared back. Akeon Java had a big grin on his face. Wokon Chone turned back to Ann, really Upset. "Ann, I must tell you something. Make sure their relationship lasts. It might be all they have left after this affair.", Wokon Chone said sadly. "Yeah, Right!", Ann said. "Like we need little Obs and Brazos's wandering around the universe scamming everyone! Anyway, if we can come by later, Longneck wants to chat with Akeon Java and find out what's up with him. Do you mind very much?" "I DO. But go ahead, just leave now." "Hmmmph.", Ann said as she left Wokon Chone to his current destiny. Longneck waited as Ann got behind the steering wheel of the groundvan. "You tell him despite their getting their just awards for misusing their powers, they're actually still happy with each other and genuinely love each other, STILL?" "No." "Good. Best only ONE group of us wonder about that!", Longneck said as the Van drove off above the sand, hovering to its destination..... Wokon Chone wandered back to where Akeon Java still was. "Well, cat, did you vibe well with your future rival?", Akeon said as his mentor kept strewing concrete against metal rods. "Akeon Java, do you want me to tell the Emperor of your true nature? And your Mentor's?" Both of them said, "Yes!" "SHUT UP and just finish this thing before anyone else comes by and wrecks this thing!", Wokon Chone YELLED as he grabbed Akeon Java and shoke him like mad. "A..a..l..l..r..i..i..g...g..h...h...t....t....t...!", Akeon said as Wokon Chone sat down where his new bedroom was. "What's eating him, Mister Kwak Butane? He didn't soak enough coffee in his pores or something?" "He has been given a post he is not too happy with in life." "Hard to believe he was one of Rynogoff's first students. To find himself like this is truly Just." "I wish Obs and Brazos's own positions in life wasn't so vile. Then their love would truly blossom." "One can hope someday more people like us see the light, Kwak. Even Obs and Brazos themselves." "I look forward to that day." "Not to Obs and Brazos's kids coming to visit, though, cat." "No way. Just them becoming good. You're learning, Akeon Java, great lessons today. Perhaps someday you will be the one who runs the SCE back from evil." Akeon Java went back to his tasks as Kwak Butane finished the motaring. "And maybe someday one of us will be accepted as helpful to the Incorporateds", Java said as he looked out into the peaceful sun of a peaceful day on the beaches of Gazell. Within their prison, Obs and Brazos, both on water rations, rested as lights out passed through the cell blocks and chatted in the cell both shared. "Obs, do you think next honeymoon we could visit my sister, when we break out?" , Brazos said. "We shall. I'd love to see the look on her face seeing us together.....as well as Cornball's when he realizes we are together." "He's going to get a shock I hope gets him out of commission. You think those Incorporateds sent us any gifts?" "No.... not today, But Akeon Java sent us coffee." Obs looked at an annoyed Brazos as he got pelted with a pillow. "What", Obs said surprisedly. Brazos quietly began drifting off to sleep, humming as Obs dozed off. "Love that monkey...", she said before she began snoring.... Truly close now to the one she loved.... guaranteed noone was gonna seperate them..... And sporting a wedding ring not yet seized as contraband....... THE END