The World Assembly Strangers' Bar

[Ferret Civilization]

"Not that I know of. Then again, I try to avoid bars."

"I would tend to agree." Furettium said looking over at Ilya, "But being here has helped me understand other peoples in a much better way than listening in the debate halls. Since this is really the only place to be able to do that to any sort of degree for a long period of time."

[The Imperial Frost Federation]

Ilya responds "Just an honorific Gerald, and the force well it's something of a philosophy of an omnipresent force that subtly influences the choices of sapients."

[Wrapper]

"Has there ever really been a quiet day around here?"

ARI: Not since they added karaoke nights, Topless German Thursdays and Taco Tuesdays to the bar calendar. Seriously, we haven't had a quiet night in the bar since... since... erm.

AHUME: Since Bell's arrest.

[Wallenburg]

Ilya responds "Just an honorific Gerald, and the force well it's something of a philosophy of an omnipresent force that subtly influences the choices of sapients."

"Huh. Fascinating." Gerald looks over at the Wads and then back at Ilya. "All right then. Neville! A whiskey over here, perhaps?"

[Astrolinium]

Giovanni Romero stormed in, door slamming shut behind him. He sat down in his usual seat, checking to be sure that the layer of dust on the seat next to him -- reserved for Dr. Connor Forshaw if he should ever return -- was still undisturbed, and said, "Neville, a Four Horsemn, when you have a moment."

The ubiquitous bartender had put the shotglass in front of Dr. Romero, who immediately downed it, making a face as he swallowed. "Lovely," he said. "What's Dazza got cooked up today? Doesn't matter, I'll have a plate."

He raised his voice, "Anyone else want anything, speak up! I'm buying the next round!"

[Herby]

(Kay breathes a sigh of relief and, after a short giggle, nods to Herby, whispers "thank you", and pats his roof. She looks toward Helen and Gerald, who seem distracted. Uh oh. Hope that isn't bad news. She returns to the marathon interrogation session.)

Welcome, kiddo. Ya need a break I got a blanket and some pillows in the front.

Your asylum's been granted. Mmph. You need some protection, though, we don't know where Lupinski's gone. The Bar should be safe, ACME will see to that, but don't go anywhere without Helen or Gerald. And a fire extinguisher. (He swallows.) Mmm, good choice, those rings are good.

It's okay, pops, I got 'er covered for now, she ain't goin' nowhere. Hey eh any o' you space geeks hear from the Tollans yet?

[Wrapper]

Hey eh any o' you space geeks hear from the Tollans yet?

(Ari and Ahume shake their heads.)

[The Imperial Frost Federation]

Hey eh any o' you space geeks hear from the Tollans yet?

(Ari and Ahume shake their heads.)

"Speaking of Tollana, I've just been granted permission by Sir Kensei to allow a Wrapperian delegation board the IFFS exploration frigate the Regal heart. If you're interested in sending a team to Tollana, Ambassador Ari." Said Ilya as she turned to face the wad.

[Wrapper]

"Speaking of Tollana, I've just been granted permission by Sir Kensei to allow a Wrapperian delegation board the IFFS exploration frigate the Regal heart. If you're interested in sending a team to Tollana, Ambassador Ari." Said Ilya as she turned to face the wad.

ARI: That is a most generous offer, and we thank you, but the Tinfect ships can get us back and forth to Tollana much faster. We're already working on putting together--

AHUME: Ari, the communications outpost.

ARI: Hmmm, yes. Ilya, you say it's an exploration frigate? It should be able to get to the nearest communications outpost in a reasonable amount of time, and they may need some assistance. Ahume knows the coordinates, he's been there a few times, he can give you what you need to get there and check it out. Just be aware that if they're having major power issues, or are under attack... There's a crew of about thirty or forty there, can you evacuate them if you can get to them?

[Herby]

Herby's interior light slowly dims as he falls asleep.

[The Imperial Frost Federation]

"Speaking of Tollana, I've just been granted permission by Sir Kensei to allow a Wrapperian delegation board the IFFS exploration frigate the Regal heart. If you're interested in sending a team to Tollana, Ambassador Ari." Said Ilya as she turned to face the wad.

ARI: That is a most generous offer, and we thank you, but the Tinfect ships can get us back and forth to Tollana much faster. We're already working on putting together--

AHUME: Ari, the communications outpost.

ARI: Hmmm, yes. Ilya, you say it's an exploration frigate? It should be able to get to the nearest communications outpost in a reasonable amount of time, and they may need some assistance. Ahume knows the coordinates, he's been there a few times, he can give you what you need to get there and check it out. Just be aware that if they're having major power issues, or are under attack... There's a crew of about thirty or forty there, can you evacuate them if you can get to them?

Ilya: Of course, the Regal heart can reach the Tollans within 72 hours since she's the fastest space ship in the IFF, able to traverse the multiverse from 1 end to the other in 72 hours. Unfortunately since she's an exploration frigate the Regal Heart isn't exactly armed to the teeth, but the ship's ion pulse weapons ought to be able to by enough time to evacuate the Tollans by disabling a hostile ship via frying their electronics with radiation. Plus her shields are top of the line able to synchronize and safely absorb thermal and ion rays converting them into power. Only downside is that the kinetic weapons will drain the deflector shields. Ahem, in any case I'll need the coordinates for the communications outpost before I ask the President to dispatch a military escort to the Regal Heart.

[Wrapper]

Ilya: Of course, the Regal heart can reach the Tollans within 72 hours since she's the fastest space ship in the IFF, able to traverse the multiverse from 1 end to the other in 72 hours. Unfortunately since she's an exploration frigate the Regal Heart isn't exactly armed to the teeth, but the ship's ion pulse weapons ought to be able to by enough time to evacuate the Tollans by disabling a hostile ship via frying their electronics with radiation. Plus her shields are top of the line able to synchronize and safely absorb thermal and ion rays converting them into power. Only downside is that the kinetic weapons will drain the deflector shields. Ahem, in any case I'll need the coordinates for the communications outpost before I ask the President to dispatch a military escort to the Regal Heart.

AHUME: Thank you. (He brings up data on his tablet and shares it with Ilya.) The nearest outpost is not that far from here, it's a deep-space relay station, one of scores the Tollans use. I think it's very unlikely it's been attacked; it's far enough away from Tollana, and close enough to us, we would have gotten word of or seen or heard signs of any outpost attacks. It's much more likely an internal problem; they had power issues and were awaiting repair parts from Tollana to fix their generators and their backup communications array.

[The Imperial Frost Federation]

Ilya: Of course, the Regal heart can reach the Tollans within 72 hours since she's the fastest space ship in the IFF, able to traverse the multiverse from 1 end to the other in 72 hours. Unfortunately since she's an exploration frigate the Regal Heart isn't exactly armed to the teeth, but the ship's ion pulse weapons ought to be able to by enough time to evacuate the Tollans by disabling a hostile ship via frying their electronics with radiation. Plus her shields are top of the line able to synchronize and safely absorb thermal and ion rays converting them into power. Only downside is that the kinetic weapons will drain the deflector shields. Ahem, in any case I'll need the coordinates for the communications outpost before I ask the President to dispatch a military escort to the Regal Heart.

AHUME: Thank you. (He brings up data on his tablet and shares it with Ilya.) The nearest outpost is not that far from here, it's a deep-space relay station, one of scores the Tollans use. I think it's very unlikely it's been attacked; it's far enough away from Tollana, and close enough to us, we would have gotten word of or seen or heard signs of any outpost attacks. It's much more likely an internal problem; they had power issues and were awaiting repair parts from Tollana to fix their generators and their backup communications array.

Ilya: I see... it looks like I'm going to need to have the Regal Heart make a pit stop in Wrapper to pick up repair parts for the Tollans since its more than likely that our parts and their parts will have compatibility issues. If that's alright with your government. Of course I'll have the escort ship waiting outside of Wrapperian space since we don't need a diplomatic incident.

(Noel shimmers into view as she looks at the data.)

Noel: May I download the data? The Regal heart will need this data to reach the relay point, and depending on the distance between Tollana and the outpost the IFF may need to deploy something that in many cases is deemed overkill by many civilizations to escort the Regal Heart.

[Wrapper]

Ilya: I see... it looks like I'm going to need to have the Regal Heart make a pit stop in Wrapper to pick up repair parts for the Tollans since its more than likely that our parts and their parts will have compatibility issues. If that's alright with your government. Of course I'll have the escort ship waiting outside of Wrapperian space since we don't need a diplomatic incident.

AHUME: The parts were coming from Tollana, not Wrapper, sorry if I wasn't clear.

ARI: Yes, our nation's role is strictly humanitarian aid logistics, not technical aid. And I fear that if they are having power problems, they may be having life support issues, so we should not waste time gathering spare parts that may or may not work. Can you get a ship in close enough, and soon enough, to at least find out what's going on first? One that could take them on board if evacuation of the outpost were necessary. While you're doing that, I would think Markhov and Arya, between the two of them, can find out what parts were being carried on the Bright Darkness and where, if not Tollana, replacement parts may be found.

Noel: May I download the data? The Regal heart will need this data to reach the relay point, and depending on the distance between Tollana and the outpost the IFF may need to deploy something that in many cases is deemed overkill by many civilizations to escort the Regal Heart.

AHUME: (looks to his tablet, then the AI) I don't know how you can interface with this. If you cannot, I can upload the information to the WA server and you can download it from there.

[The Imperial Frost Federation]

(Ilya grins as she looks at Ari and Ahume)

Ilya: I see, well the Regal Heart is already prepped for launch, so all she needs now is the coordinates and information on whether or not a Wrapperian investigative team would like to board.

(Noel Smiled as she vanished. Several minutes later a smaller 2-D version of her appeared in Ahume's tablet.)

Noel: I'm a self aware Artificial General Intelligence. Hacking into a tablet is very easy... Just don't ask me to hack into your governments computers. That'll take too long and I'll end up tripping some alarms and firewalls along the way. Ahem anyways, (she starts the download process) thanks for the data.

[Wrapper]

Noel: I'm a self aware Artificial General Intelligence. Hacking into a tablet is very easy... Just don't ask me to hack into your governments computers. That'll take too long and I'll end up tripping some alarms and firewalls along the way. Ahem anyways, (she starts the download process) thanks for the data.

AHUME: Hey. HEY! Bad form! That's an invasion of privacy!

ARI: Oh, lighten up, Ahume, we all know what you do with that tablet at night.

AHUME: But.... (He pauses.) Wait a moment, don't go anywhere yet. (He types.) Broadcast this message on the indicated frequency when you approach, and they'll know you are friendly.

(The message reads: MONTOYA: FOUR WHITE HORSES HERE TO HELP. KAY IS SAFE. NO NEWS FROM HOME. -- FEZZIK)

[Ferret Civilization]

ARI: Not since they added karaoke nights, Topless German Thursdays and Taco Tuesdays to the bar calendar. Seriously, we haven't had a quiet night in the bar since... since... erm.

AHUME: Since Bell's arrest.

"Well then." Furettium thought about that, while the Wads and Ilay went on. He looked at Gerald, thinking about getting a drink himself, seemed like a good time to get one. Then looking over at the karaoke machine, that had been mostly a Wad thing, he wanted to try it out, but never worked up the courage to try it out. That had been the same with trying an alcoholic drink, maybe this time he would try one of those things out while everyone else continued to busy themselves. He went over to the karaoke machine, but didn't turn it on, figuring that it would have none of the songs he knew, and he wasn't about to try out one of the Wads many interesting songs he had heard so far. He cleared his throat and just sung quietly, since he wasn't as good at singing as the others.

"Here I stand, alone and forgotten
How did it come to this
I used to be so moralistic

Now I sit, behind closed doors with business Ferrets
All about that Capitalism
Self-worth, based on amounts of currency
Putting it all into the economy

Here I stand, lonely and disregarded
Just another greedy Ferret
Only for that Greater Good mentality

Look at this, overly proud Ferret
In the mirror, thy reflection calls to all that see
Hoarding all the wealth these paws can get a hold of
Eyes betray The Unknown built up within that body

Here I stand, deserving of the life I got
Built up off the broken tails that make my tower
I used to be so moralistic

Here I stand, alone and forgotten
Just another Capitalistic bastard"

[Wallenburg]

(The message reads: MONTOYA: FOUR WHITE HORSES HERE TO HELP. KAY IS SAFE. NO NEWS FROM HOME. -- FEZZIK)

"Here I stand, alone and forgotten
How did it come to this
I used to be so moralistic

Now I sit, behind closed doors with business Ferrets
All about that Capitalism
Self-worth, based on amounts of currency
Putting it all into the economy

Here I stand, lonely and disregarded
Just another greedy Ferret
Only for that Greater Good mentality

Look at this, overly proud Ferret
In the mirror, thy reflection calls to all that see
Hoarding all the wealth these paws can get a hold of
Eyes betray The Unknown built up within that body

Here I stand, deserving of the life I got
Built up off the broken tails that make my tower
I used to be so moralistic

Here I stand, alone and forgotten
Just another Capitalistic bastard"

Gerald listens pensively, patiently. "Fascinating," he says. "I have never heard a ferret sing before. That was pretty good!"

[Ferret Civilization]

Gerald listens pensively, patiently. "Fascinating," he says. "I have never heard a ferret sing before. That was pretty good!"

Furettium walked back over to where Gerald was, "Thank you, singing isn't really my thing. Though if you have heard another Ferret sing I would have to ask where." He chuckled a bit.

[Wrapper]

Gerald listens pensively, patiently. "Fascinating," he says. "I have never heard a ferret sing before. That was pretty good!"

Furettium walked back over to where Gerald was, "Thank you, singing isn't really my thing. Though if you have heard another Ferret sing I would have to ask where." He chuckled a bit.

ARI: Holy Hannah, Ambassador, that was quite marvelous! Where in the universe did you learn to sing like that?

(Meanwhile, Ahume notices one of Herby's rear windows open; a hand beckons him closer and hands him a piece of paper. He reads it, looks into the car, puzzled, but the window is already closing. He exits the bar.)

[Etoarmaapitm]

-looks around, somewhat confused and sighs, sitting down at the bar-

[Wrapper]

(There is an extremely loud bang, as the device that Wad Ahume had been carrying but had put down on a table detonates, showering everyone nearby with confetti.)

ARI: Oh, I had forgotten about that. Sorry about the mess, Neville, but trust me, had that exploded in our offices, it would have been, erm, a mess of a different color, indeed.

[The Imperial Frost Federation]

(There is an extremely loud bang, as the device that Wad Ahume had been carrying but had put down on a table detonates, showering everyone nearby with confetti.)

ARI: Oh, I had forgotten about that. Sorry about the mess, Neville, but trust me, had that exploded in our offices, it would have been, erm, a mess of a different color, indeed.

(Noel reappears as a hologram near the device)

Noel: Hey, Careful now, you almost blew me up along with it! Anyways I've already relayed the message to the Regal Heart. We should soon get information from them about the Tollan communications outpost in a few hours... So I take it you're being targeted by someone. Want me to hack into the cameras?

Ilya: Noel, enough joking I need you to find out who did it and why!

[Ferret Civilization]

ARI: Holy Hannah, Ambassador, that was quite marvelous! Where in the universe did you learn to sing like that?

"Really?" Furettium now looked puzzled looking between him and Gerald. He thought about that now, "Must just be the translators making me sound better then." He looked up at Ari, "And I learned from you."

(There is an extremely loud bang, as the device that Wad Ahume had been carrying but had put down on a table detonates, showering everyone nearby with confetti.)

ARI: Oh, I had forgotten about that. Sorry about the mess, Neville, but trust me, had that exploded in our offices, it would have been, erm, a mess of a different color, indeed.

"During the times you weren't deafening the place." He added rubbing his ears.

[Wrapper]

"During the times you weren't deafening the place." He added rubbing his ears.

ARI: Yes, ummm, terribly sorry, but when the containment field goes on one of these devices it does make a terrible noise, associated with quite the shock wave. Fortunately the weapons nullifier here in the bar believed it to be a bomb and neutralized it quite nicely.

(Wad Ahume returns to the bar, carrying a briefcase. He knocks on Herby's window; the door opens, the briefcase disappears inside, and the door closes. He walks through the debris field of confetti and joins Ari.)

AHUME: Damn. I was hoping for marshmallow creme. Or popcorn.

ARI: Maybe next time. So what was that all about?

AHUME: "Overnight bag" she called it. It was in the wall safe.

ARI: Mmm hmm. Wait, you have the combination to the safe?

AHUME: I do now.