Dream and Carl's 'verse. Common area and Imperial city. Fight for life.

[random_xtras]

Swindle: *sleeping. And tied up. Someone got him while he was napping*

com: *ping*

Swindle: *wake* Whaaa! *onfloor!* //Swindle here...//

com: //Swindle? This is Carl.//

Swindle: //Carl? Hi! Haven't heard from you in awhile.//

Carl: //No. I was caught up with Duty and Law.// *sounds troubled and uncertain*

Swindle: //It happens...// *notices the tone* //What can I do for you?//

Carl: *quietly* //I think I need help.//

Swindle: //I'll be more than happy to... you need to talk elsewhere, or is over coms safe?//

Carl: //I... I don't know. I've never been in this situation before. I don't know the Laws or Duties...// *voice shakes slightly*

Swindle: //I can bring you to the Dream. Time it so no one notices that you're gone...//

Carl: *quietly* //I don't think I should leave the rest of my company right now. Would they be able to accompany me?//

Swindle: //...Ah, sure. Just... how do they feel about little ones running around and sneak snuzzles?//

Carl: *swallows audibly* *quietly* //Swindle... these are... are children.//

Swindle: O.O //Ohhhhh, then yes, they can come along.//

Carl: //Thank you.//

Swindle: //I'll be right there.// *makes the ropes vanish onto Blitzwing's head, then pops over to where Carl is--invisibly, of course.*

Carl: *wearing clothes that look like they belonged to a servant, is inexpertly holding a very young baby as he helplessly watches eleven other children ranging from about eight years old and down watch him* *is in a cave that is NOT on the Elite home world*

Swindle: o.O *appears slowly* Carl?

Carl: *startles and looks up, showing dark circles under his eyes, and hair that hasn't seen a brush in awhile* *then sags slightly* Swindle. You're here.

Swindle: Of course. You ready to come with me? Have you eaten lately?

Carl: Yes... and no, I haven't. We... didn't have much. *looks down at the baby* *very quietly* There are some bodies that need attending, too. I didn't know what to do with them.

Swindle: ...Bodies?

Carl: *still very quiet* Yes. The older children felt it was their duty to... *hides his face on the baby's blanket*

Swindle: *wince*

Carl: That's why we're here. The imperial physicians... found a method to induce immortality, and the children became redundant. They were slated for disposal.

Swindle: *cuts off a curse* I'm taking you to the Dream. We can work on things from there.

Carl: Alright. *stands a little shakily, then startles and smiles wanly as several of the little ones run to hold onto his legs*

Swindle: *nods, and comes close, teleporting the lot with him back to the Dream* //Zoe?//

Zoe: //In the kitch...// *breaks off as she catches his feelings* -What happened?-

Swindle: -*lets her know all he's been told*-

Zoe: -I'm coming.- *footsteps sound from inside*

Farsight: *runs over with Blizzard at his side, then stops and hunkers down with surprise as one of the human children wails with fright at sight of his friend*

Blizzard: Rorw? *crouch down, uncertain*

Carl: *also staring at Blizzard with shock*

Swindle: It's okay, Blizzard's friendly.

Carl: What... what is it? It looks like something from a nightmare. *fear has faded though and now he's showing concern at the way the little robot and the strange creature look as though they're trying to hide*

Swindle: Well... we're not quite sure what he is. We picked him up when he was a kitten.

Farsight: *quietly* He's a good kitty. Right, Blizzard?

Blizzard: Mrow! *purrpurr*

Carl: I see. *slight bow toward Farsight* Please forgive our reaction, friend. We aren't accustomed to being around animals.

Farsight: *bit of a puzzled frown* *looks up at Swindle* Should I take him away?

Swindle: Perhaps for now. Though there are stranger things here than Blizzard.

Farsight: Yeah. The toothy Ravage is outside playing today. *turns and runs away, calling to his friend*

Blizzard: *follow!*

Carl: *looks ashamed* Please, I meant no discourtesy. He doesn't need to leave.

Swindle: It's okay....

Carl: *still looks as though he feels he's broken a Law. But he brightens just a little as a shadow falls over him and he looks up* Zoe...

Swindle: *wan smile for Zoe*

Zoe: *lovebomb as she nods to Carl and then walks past to change to alt mode out in the yard. Holoform then climbs out of the cockpit and comes jogging over*

Carl: *blink blink* *soooooooo confused*

Swindle: *faint chuckle* Should I switch to something smaller?

Carl: *startled look for his host* I...?

Swindle: Zoe's using a hologram.

Zoe: *reaching to put her hand gently on the shoulder of the eight year old boy, who looks up at her questioningly* I thought it would be better to interact with the children in a form that's more familiar.

boy: *blinks* ...A lady in pants?

Zoe: Yup. We have legs too. *grin*

Swindle: We do things a bit... differently here.

boy: *thinks a moment. Then* Oh, I understand.

Zoe: *quietly* What are your names?

boy: I'm not sure we have any. Our Families don't need us anymore.

Swindle: Well, we'll have to pick out new names for you. ^^

next oldest child: *little girl* *perks* Are there other Families that need Heirs?

Swindle: That I don't know...

Zoe: But there are always families that need children. And all children in our worlds get names. *grin*

Swindle: *nods at that*

Carl: *sighs, is so reassured by his sister's weird logic right now*

Zoe: But let's get you all somewhere comfortable where you can eat right now. *glances at Swindle* -Can you put some couches and tables in the small couch room? And some food?-

Swindle: -Certainly- Let me get it ready... *goes off to do so... or wish it so*

Zoe: *goes over and takes the baby from Carl, then laughs softly as the little one looks at her earnestly and blows bubbles* *shows this to Swindle*

Swindle: -Awwwww-

Cloe: *appears*

Carl: *Swindle will be able to hear his yelp of surprise as he finds himself holding the bitty bot*

Swindle: //...And it appears you've met my youngest?//

Carl: *puts his communicator to his ear and listens to the message* //Your youngest?//

Swindle: You remember Silver, yes? *has come out* Everything is ready.

Carl: The child you and Zoe adopted? *watches Zoe herd children inside*

Swindle: Yes. I'm not sure if you met Nanny...

Carl: Ah... I can't either. *apologetic*

Swindle: She lives in another reality now, with four kids of her own. We adopted three others--the youngster with the large cat is Farsight, our youngest boy--and Cloe is from Zoe and my own code.

Carl: *eyes wide with shock* An Heir? *looks down at Cloe, who is sucking her fist and thinking about sleep*

Swindle: If you put it that way, yes.

Carl: *looks up, wondering how else one could put it* And the others?

Swindle: They're every bit as mine as Cloe, to me. Oh, there's one now. Hey, Bubby!

aSwindle: Yeah, Dad? *comes over*

Disturbia: *trails mate, trying to make him a wig of pale blue shaving cream*

aSwindle: *ignoring you at the nanoklik, Disturbia*

Carl: *draws himself up, determined to be polite as he waits for the introduction*

Swindle: Bubby, Disturbia, this is Carl. Carl, this is Bubby and Disturbia.

aSwindle: ...Swindle, Dad... *embarrassed, offers a hand to shake*

Carl: *awkward juggling of Cloe that results in a whimper* Ah... one moment. Forgive me. *startled at the whimper* Oh, forgive me.

Disturbia: *watching with silent amazement*

Swindle: Want me to take her, Carl?

Carl: *so embarrassed* I... I'm afraid she's only the second infant I've held. I have no idea of the proper method.

Swindle: Let me show you... and don't be too surprised. *changes to his human form*

Carl: *prepared for that. Only watches and waits*

Disturbia: *fills her mouth with shaving cream*

Swindle: *carefully takes Cloe*

aSwindle: >.> *will now sing the 'Shaving Cream' song in his head to see what Disturbia does*

Disturbia: *fills her husband's audio with shaving cream* :D

aSwindle: *will not flail*

Carl: *doesn't notice the silliness overhead. Is busy thanking Swindle and wearily apologizing for being so rudely inept*

Swindle: It's okay. I used to be... well, not so well versed myself.

Carl: You're very kind. *looks up and offers his hand, but then pauses as he thinks he notes some sort of distress in Bubby's expression* Ah...?

Swindle: ...They're goofs. He's trying to be polite.

Disturbia: *bows in the Elite manner. Graciously* It's a pleasure to finally meet you, sir.

aSwindle: Likewise, sir. ^.^;

Carl: *smiles up at the young bots, and turns to compliment Swindle on his son, only to have lack of nom catch up with him and send him into a little heap on the ground*

aSwindle: Yeep! *goes to help him up*

Swindle: *checks him out*

Carl: *badly in need of food, water, and rest. He's been stressed beyond his limits by the strange situation and the deaths of the older children*

Zoe: -What happened?-

Swindle: -Carl collapsed-

Zoe: -Oh no. Is he alright?-

Swindle: -No...- *tells what he's scanned*

Zoe: -Awwww. Bring him to a guest room and have someone make sure he eats?-

Swindle: -Will do-

aSwindle: *will follow his Dad to a guest room*

Zoe: *waves to them as they go past the door of the small sitting room. Is busy feeding finger food to little people and getting them all cleaned up and provided with lovies*

Disturbia: *distracted, will get out her holoform and help with the squishy kids*

Swindle: *will make sure Carl is comfortable, and wish him as well as possible*

Zoe: *leaves Disturbia with the kids after calling to Fireflight as well. Will come to where mate is*

aSwindle: *waiting outside the door*

Swindle: *at Carl's bedside*

Zoe: I'll get him some soup. *shakes head and feels much sympathy* -Have you found out WHY they wanted to kill their kids?-

Swindle: -something about immortality and the kids weren't needed anymore....-

Zoe: *facepalms as she goes to get the good miso broth* -That's just the way they'd think... wait. Immortality?-

Swindle: -That's what Carl said. The doctors had achieved immortality or something...-

Zoe: *anger, confusion, and disbelief* -How the slag did they pull that off?- *comes back with soup, which is floating with bits of seaweed and shitake*

Swindle: -Want me to go investigate?-

Zoe: *looks at him, her blue eyes holding love and concern* -Be careful, okay?-

Swindle: -I will- *vanishes, and appears invisibly at where he remembers Carl's palace was.*

palace: *still there. Looks unchanged*

Swindle: *searches the place, scanning as best he can*

palace: *contains no living creatures. Or at least nothing that feels alive. Someone is thinking absently of a story they're reading*

Swindle: o.O *heads toward that thought*

woman: *young, auburn haired. As delicately beautiful as all Elite women are. And also pale as death and emitting no body heat*

Swindle: o.O

woman: *turns a page in her tiny jeweled book and continues reading the convoluted lettering*

Swindle: *searches for other thoughts*

palace: *holds no other thoughts, save for a few animal ones in the garden where the singing birds and ornamental fish live*

Swindle: *frown. Scans outward, further than the palace*

few other thoughts: *here and there. Much less than the last time he was here. There seems to be only one per house now*

Swindle: *will go and check on those scattered thoughts...*

people: *some are alive and normal looking. Others resemble the woman in the palace. There is no sign of any human servants anywhere*

Swindle: *thinks that's strange. Concentrates, tries to find where the doctors are*

physicians: *over in that big building next to the palace*

Swindle: *goes there!*

scream: *mental, male, and anguished at unbearable pain* *rips across his mind from the building where the doctors are*

Swindle: *WINCE---then goes THERE*

physicians: *two, one young and like the woman in the palace, the other still alive and old enough to actually show a bit of age past all the treatments that the Elite use to stay young. Are standing by a table that holds the cooling body of a young man*

Swindle: o.O... *moves closer*

live doc: *orders a robot to carry the body away* Now to let him incubate. Have we any more treatments for today?

cold doc: No. Not today. *dispassionate and emotionless*

live doc: Ah good. Let's get the next batch of drones started.

Swindle: O.o... *Drones??*

physicians: *head out and into the hall, then into another room which holds row upon row of large glass canisters. Some of which hold developing human forms*

cold doc: *goes to look at a complicated clockwork display next to a container holding one of the largest children* The programming is taking.

live doc: *rubs hands together* Excellent! :D

Swindle: .... -The slag...-

live doc: It grieves me that I will never live in the new and perfect world. But I am overjoyed to be one of those who has helped to bring it about.

cold doc: *just emotionlessly adjusts something on another container* Will you check on the Prince?

live doc: Ah yes, of course. *heads out of the room*

Swindle: *not sure if he should follow the live doc, or stay here...*

cold doc: *moves on to the second largest children and starts pressing keys, which cause the children to squirm and thrash as though in pain*

Swindle: *GLARE*

cold doc: *working emotionlessly and efficiently*

Swindle: *wishes that he could do something for these children*

Zoe: -Children?-

Swindle: *lets Zoe see through his optics*

Zoe: *wishes that all those kids were somewhere safe*

Swindle: *if he can, will grant that wish*

cold doc: *staring at empty tank in front of him*

Swindle: *smirk*

cold doc: *then whirls and yanks a lever, which suddenly has the room encasing itself in eight inch thick blast steel*

Swindle: o.o *oh, slag...*

Zoe: *wishes him HOME!*

Swindle: *tries to grant it!*

big hands: *grab Swindle and yank him away in a flurry of speed too fast to track*

Swindle: Ahhhh!

yOp: -Shhhh, Dad. I have you.-

Swindle: -The steel, the steel...-

yOp: -I have you.- *sparkles* -Wish so I can help.-

Swindle: -I wish... help...- *still a little shaky*

yOp: *helps and heals all he's able* *is in dragon form*

Swindle: *still shaking* -Too close...-

yOp: *nuzzle* -I won't let you go back.-

Swindle: *clings* -But. But... oh slag...- *just clings*

yOp: *brings Dad home* -You wouldn't be able to do anything with all that steel.- *smoke wisps from nose*

Swindle: -I know... I know... did they know? Or was it just... you know... because steel is for humans a strong metal...-

yOp: It was just lockdown mode. *gently tucks Swindle into the pillow pit* I'll get Mom, and Columba and I will take care of the kids that Carl brought.

Swindle: Okay...

yOp: *gentle pat* Maybe in the morning you'll have more thoughts on the matter. *slight, reassuring and protective grin*

Swindle: Yes... in the morning...

yOp: *gentle sending of love, and then looks over as Zoe hurries in with a clatter of feet on flooring*

Swindle: *has a pillow. Hugging a pillow*

Zoe: *crawls into the pillow pit and hugs her mate*

Swindle: ... *cling to Zoe.*

Zoe: *cuddle, love as yOp vanishes* *softly* Carl's feeling better.

Swindle: Good... good...

Zoe: *snuzzle* And the children are settling in. *more quietly* Oppy buried the older ones.

Swindle: *snuzzle... then mentally thanks yOp*

yOp: -You're welcome, Dad.- *more affection* -Rest, okay?-

Swindle: -Resting...- *does*


((Co-written with swindle_blitz))