Stone Men In Water Street

[Rezantis]

>Hiya yourself. How goes?

"Well, she's online, if you want to talk to her," Rez waves Lazarus over.

[Brian]

> Just peachy, Rezzy.  What can I fer ya?

I see, Lazarus sends with a frown, squinting at the screen.  The TK leans back, but Victor rises to peer at it curiously as well.

"This is how you speak with the Oracle now?" he muses.  "Interesting."

It is Lazarus agrees.  What can it do for us, though?  A voice and a thought are fine direction, but....

[Bjorn]

"Well," Bjorn says, gesturing at the keyboard, "why don't we let her answer that?"

[Rezantis]

>You can stop calling me that? Hope springs eternal. Anyway, the guys want words with you. I'll >put them on.

Rez moves out of the way. Reluctantly. Nobody touches his computer, dammit. ;_;

[Brian]

Lazrus and the TK look at Nathan blankly.  Victor snorts, and says, "I think I can do this."

Experimentally (painfully slowly to a vetran computer user) he hunt-and-pecks out:

> Greetings.

He pauses before sending the IM, and looks at Lazarus.  "The question is a bit broad, don't you think?  Perhaps we should start with something simpler."

Lazarus nods, and looks thoughtful.

"Very well," Victor says after a moment, turning back to the keyboard.

> Greetings.  Oracle, if you can, tell us where we will be safe from those who hunt us.

There's a pause, and then Relm replies:

> That's not even a question!  But, okay.  So, you'll be safe ... nowhere.  The land offers no sanction to those who do not fight for a cause, it simply accepts them as a part of itself, to be moulded by the victors of the Contest.

"I like that word," Victor mumurs, before more loudly adding, "As Ezmereth said.  As they have said.  No hope without the courage to stand."  Not waiting, he begins typing again, and spells out:

> And if we work together with you, how can you help us in this matter?

There's a much longer pause, while Lazarus nods approvingly, and the TK looks bored.  Finally, Relm sends:

> I can get things.  Anything that can be ordered online, I can obtain.  I've got money, and with your help, could even make it look like it was from a legitimate source.  I've got advice, and information.
> More importantly, I can change things.  Official departments keep an awful lot of their records online, these days....
> I could make your little town be an officially established and long-standing city of the state of Alabama, with a little bit of work.  At least, according to their paperwork, I can.

Lazarus nods, but looks unconvinced.

Victor types in:

> One last test, O Oracle, if you don't mind.

Relm replies:

> Go right ahead.

Victor frowns, and mutters that he wasn't done typing, but adds:

> If you see me -- or anyone else here -- what do you see of us?

There is a much longer reply, before Relm replies:

> There is a delicate balance to be struck, as you no doubt already know.  However, I see that the power to change things still exists, even if it is uncertain which way it will go.
> I can see that ... your presence has not gone unnoticed.  There are forces out there that will ally with you, if they realize there is already some small strength to your force.
> Do not think you are in this alone ... the sentiment has to be powerful enough for people to echo it to allow me, and the people who brought me to you, to even pursue our goal.

Victor turns to look at Lazarus, who looks up from the screen, shooting Nathan and Bjorn both calculating looks.

After a sharp glance at the TK, who nods, Lazarus sends, Again, I cannot speak for all.  But perhaps ... perhaps it would be better to stand for something, even if it is less your goal, and more working with you for our own freedom.  At least ... for now.  Though he doesn't show it, you sense a small smile in that thought.  Clapping his hands together, he adds, We should sleep on this, and consider things thoroughly.  I will let everyone else know in the morning, what we shall do.

"Yes, morning," Victor says dryly.  "Quite good.  I'd like to be a part of this too, if you don't mind, so ... is there somewhere dark I can stay for the moment?"

Lazarus nods.  There is an abandoned mine.  It is not dangerous, at least ... not as far in as we have examined it.  And that is far enough that the sun does not reach it.

"Excelent," he says.  "I'm going to rest.  Without nourishment, it takes ... some time for me to regain my strength."

"I see that as something of a sticking point," the TK says.  "Um, sir."

We'll think of something, Lazarus sends.  We'd much rather have you on our side, after all.

[Bjorn]

Bjorn rises to his feet, nodding at Lazarus.  "In the end, Lazarus, we're all fighting for our safety.  That's more than reason enough.

"But we can talk more in the morning.   Unless you -- or anyone -- has questions, I wouldn't mind getting some sleep.  I've done far more travelling in the past few days than I actually enjoy."

[Brian]

That's understandable, he sends, as Victor moseys out the door, presumably to the mine.  The upstairs is somewhat unstable.  Currently the best we can offer you is this room.  There are blankets behind the bar. He rises, the TK following him, and they nod at you.  Good night, and we shall discuss further in the morning.

[Rezantis]

>Well, that was surprisingly easy.

Rez goes back to his computre for a few minutes, as it occurs to him to check CNN.com and the like for news on the hijacking.

[Bjorn]

Bjorn waves as they walk out the door, and then turns to Rez.  "That was short and sweet."  Walking over to the bar, he continues, "Looks like we'll be on our way soon, too."

Picking up the blankets, he asks, "Does the Oracle have anything in particular to share with us?  Since it seems she's feeling talkative tonight."

[Brian]

> You mean, that was it?  Well, good.
> I think.
> Actually, I feel kinda positive about this.  Maybe things will work out.

CNN.com has scarce info, just the names of the three brave crew members who fought off the terrorists, a rough sketch of the event (three heroic young men single-handedly battled five terrorists with guns for control of the plane, then managed to land it), and a note that while one of the in-custody terrorists died, three remain in guarded condition within the hospital.

[Rezantis]

"The Oracle has a fairly positive feeling about it all?  Oh, and according to CNN three heroic young men fought off a terrorist hijacking attempt on a plane to Gibraltar, yadda yadda yadda."

Rez goes back to the laptop, not really tired enough to sleep right now . . .

>Well, they want to discuss it more in the morning, so we'll see.
>Hm.
>Up for a game of UT?

[Bjorn]

"They weren't heroic," Bjorn grumbles, "they were either unlucky, idiotic, or a combination of the two.

"A 'positive feeling'?  Well, I guess that's actually a good sign, coming from an Oracle."  He watches Rez for a second.  "What are you doing, anyways?  Trying to make more sense of those files from the Workshop?"

[Rezantis]

"Challenging the Oracle to a game of UT. And I was quoting CNN!"

[Bjorn]

Rolling his eyes, Bjorn says, "Never quote CNN.  The stupidity might be catching.  And I refuse to comment on the first.  I'm going to sleep.  Tell the Oracle 'hi' for me, and try not to sob too loudly when she kicks your ass.  I'm a light sleeper."

[Rezantis]

"Have a good nap."

Rez goes back to tinkering.