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LI FILE ON MARGIN IS 80 STATUS: ALL ALLOWED NUMBER OF LINES: 568 1 If you are in need of help, you need but ask.... 2 ********************** REMOVED: 29 MAY 84 ****************** 3 Welcome to BWMS (BackWater Message System) Mike Day System operator 4 ************************************************************ 5 GENERAL DISCLAIMER: BWMS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INFORMATION 6 PLACED ON THIS SYSTEM. 7 BWMS was created as an electronic bill board. BWMS is a privately owned 8 and operated system which is currently open for use by the general public. 9 No restrictions are placed on the use of the system. As the system is 10 privately owned, I retain the right to remove any and all messages which 11 I may find offensive. Because of the limited size of the system, it will be 12 periodically purged of messages. (only 629 lines of data can be saved) 13 To leave a message, type 'ENTER' and use ctrl/C or break to get out of the 14 ENTER mode. The message is automatically stored. If after entering the 15 message you find you made a mistake, use the replace command to replace 16 the line. To exit from the system, type 'OFF' then hang up. 17 Type 'HELP' to see other commands that are available on the system. 18 ************************************************************ 19 20 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] 21 Oh my, golly gee, I'm on top! 22 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 23 Morby ate his meal slowly and without interest. After he had finished he 24 and Dawg went into their room to grab some esentials, including his sword. He 25 left the Inn and went to look for the book worm fellow. After a bit, he found 26 the Lazy One under tree, absorbed in a tome of some sort. 27 " Sorry to bother you like this, but I'd really like something to read. 28 Maybe something on the art of wandering, or something on that line." 29 The Lazy One glanced up, and then a look of comprehension appeared on his 30 face. 31 " How about a comprehensive text an thieving talents?" 32 " Down my alley...sounds wonderful." 33 The book materialized before his Morby's eyes. 34 " If you would please sign it out...I don't like losing my books." 35 Morby went through the process of signing the book out, and looked for a 36 place to read. After some looking around, he settled for a patch of grass 37 next to a tree, and with Dawg's head at his feet, he began to read. 38 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 39 Sorry if I used your character incorrectly, but I wanted some interaction. 40 Lord Morby.... 41 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] 42 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (Back to 120 columns!) +++++ 43 (Due to a large demand that SOMETHING happen, I shall try my best...) 44 ... a man of amazing stature and an absolute evil look about him entered. He calmly looked about, and said in a low 45 voice, "Danger Room?" Milchar and the Doctor exchanged worried glances, and silently agreed. "Lead on." 46 The two travellers turned about and lead the man through a maze of tunnels, corridors, and side passages, untuil at 47 last they arrive at a set of double doors of massive size. "K-9, activate the Dager Room, Danger Level 'Maroon'. 48 Validation code: cheeseburger." K-9 replies, "Room activated, confirmed validation code. Room is now LETHAL, Master." 49 The double doors slide aside, as the three combatants enter to commence their silent challenge..... 50 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Milchar & The Doctor +++++++++++++ 51 52 ########################################################################################## 53 NOW THAT'S BETTER. I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT, BUT AT LEAST IT'S ORIGINAL. GOOD WORK. MAX 54 ########################################################################################## 55 &%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&% 56 Pam, if you're out there, this is for you: 57 58 "My heart has rooms that sigh with dust 59 And ashes in the hearth. 60 They must be cleaned and blown away 61 By daylight's breath. 62 But I cannot essay the task, 63 For even dust to me is dear; 64 For dust and ashes still recall, 65 My love was here. 66 67 "I know not how to say Farewell, 68 When that Farewell is the word 69 That stays alone for me to say 70 Or will be heard. 71 But I cannot speak out that word 72 Or ever let my loved one go: 73 How can I bear it that these rooms 74 Are empty so? 75 76 "I sit among the dust and hope 77 That dust will cover me. 78 I stir the ashes in the hearth, 79 Though cold they be. 80 I cannot bear to close the door, 81 To seal my loneliness away 82 While dust and ashes yet remain 83 Of my love's day." 84 85 Pitchwife 86 &%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&% 87 +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 88 I might as well enter A message on here also, 89 is there a game going on over this System? 90 I keep seeing messages about "A Bard" 91 Well, I am slowly learning this system. 92 +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+The Zorker.+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 93 1 94 1 95 2 96 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 97 Zorker:There is no 'game' here per se, but the people (all-inclusive term) here enjoy a little aventure. Yes, the 98 Bard is one such person; I am another. If you feel the urge to join us, do so! We need all the imagination we can 99 get (even though we are never short). 100 ++++++++++++ 101 The three fighters move to the opposite sides of the large hexagonal chamber, the roof being easily 300 yards high 102 and the diametercould just as easily be over 200 yards. Trees, bushes, even a river decorate the scene, the illusion 103 of which is only ruined by the whirr of mdeath machinery sliding into place. In the center of the room is placed the 104 items that will serve as 'prizess' for the winners:K-9, The Amulet of Zelgar, and The Key of Time. As a bonus, your 105 enemy is destroyed (convienient, is it not?) 106 Abruptly, vesta-cannons erupt with deadly violet flame that wreaks havoc wherever the remote aims itself. A hum in 107 the air preceeds dozens of small jet-like aircraft the size of paper airplanes that deal out a less pleasandt demise... 108 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Milchar ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 109 (How'm I doin', folks?) 110 111 112 ---------------------------------------- 113 Hawthorn:try welding,car repair,building things works great wonders! 114 Quizmaster:a heartfelt thanks! yes,I should not expect reality from 115 thease people,how stupid of me. 116 Hawthorn again:never,but NEVER talk about religion! 117 -------------shtoner-------------------- 118 119 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::O O::::::::::::::::::O O:::::::::::::::::::::: 120 Shtoner: if you are an alter-ego of a pre-existing BackWater Innhabitant, 121 I will assume that you are merely trying to disguise your identity. 122 If you are a truly new visitor, here's a short explanation of how the Inn seems 123 to work. It has cycles. For a while, it is mainly fantasy, essentially a verbal 124 D&D game; sometimes good, sometimes not so. Currently we seem to be in the 125 mediocre mode. After a while, the pendulum swings, and the bulk of the messages 126 relate to something "relevant". Usually it ends up being a 'discussion' of religion. That's when a person named Aaron becomes 127 active, also the few female members are heard from then too. Other topics such as anarchy are tried, but somehow also end 128 up being about religion. That finally dies down, and the multi-authored 129 stories start up again... If you see one going that looks interesting, figure 130 a 'logical' way of joining in (logical within the bounds of the story, anyway). 131 If you want to try something different, try offering a story line. Someone 132 might also find it interesting, and pick up on it. Luck! 133 ::::::::::::: 134 Milchar: a very intriguing story you have going. Is it based on something 135 in particular, or is it entirely invented? 136 Are the weapons controlled mentally; the arena a miniature world (the gods playing at war?) 137 Do you have any idea where it's going, or are you just 'winging' it? I'm interested. 138 ::::::: 139 L'homme: donde estas? 140 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::O O:::::::voyeur::::::::::O O:::::::::::: 141 142 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp 143 Far away from the familiar haunts of the inn, the piper was travelling a very 144 strange path. His kilt was stained with travel, and his brouges dusty with many 145 miles, but his step was steady. The path shown beneath his feet with a steady 146 silvery light, sparkling up as his feet lightly scuffed the surface. Above, in 147 negative, shown the image of the path. 148 As he walked, his pipes carried at his side, the very air about him seemed to 149 flash and change with his motion. Occasional side roads would appear, and he 150 would peer down them, shake his head, and continue. Once, he seemed ready to 151 go to the end of one side road, but the golden collar shaped like a dragon that 152 encircled his throat pulsed a warning at him, and he turned back to the main 153 path. Finally muttering "I've got to get some rest somewhere!", he took a 154 likely looking side path. As his feet left the main pathway, the continual 155 flikering slowed, and it seemed that he moved through three-dimensional images 156 that shifted abruptly as he travelled. He stopped once or twice and examined 157 the scenes he saw, but moved on quickly. 158 At last he came to an unoccupied meadow with a small brook bubbling through 159 the center of it. Moving as though down a steep hill, he stepped into the 160 meadow -- the shining path disappeared behind him. Evening was just falling in 161 the meadow, the piper quickly made a fire, stored his pipes in a fabric cover to 162 protect them from the damp, wrapped himself in his plaid to protect himself 163 from the gathering chill and toasted a half-loaf of bread over the coals. 164 Taking a large chunk of cheese from his sporran, he propped it on a framework 165 of twigs near the fire. As the heat melted the cheese, he scooped it with 166 toasted morsels of the bread. After eating his fill, the piper returned the 167 bread and cheese to his sporran, took a drink of water from the brook, then 168 came and sat by the fire. Streching out, he began to wonder what had happened 169 with his friends at the inn. What strange creatures had come in that weather- 170 beaten and weapon-scarred door? What strange fluids had been passed over that 171 blackened bar-top? As he speculated, he became aware of thin, colored, gauze- 172 like filaments filling the air. Idly, he reached out his forfinger and spun a 173 green-colored one around it. Looking at the colors, he felt a slight resistance 174 as he dropped off to sleep. 175 21 176 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] 177 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] 178 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] 179 WELL NOW.ISN'T THIS GREAT.I 180 `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' 181 It had been a long voyage and many diverse realities since the ancient 182 practitioner had seen his friends, of that convoluted eddy known as "The 183 Backwater". First there had been the trans-time, cross-discipline, enrichment 184 conference. The King, of course, had insisted that there be a representive 185 in attendance. Considering most of the papers that were read, he suspected 186 the reasons were more political than academic. Really, a two hour treatise on 187 determining the artistic or intellectual bias of the individual, based on 188 whether they install the roll of toilet paper in the holder with the loose 189 end rolling off the front or the back. The trip, however, had not been void 190 of merit. In his discussions with other attendees he had picked up a paradox 191 or two. "A Pair of Paradoxum", now that had a multitude of possibilities. One 192 of the items was the funniest joke ever told. There was one slight problem. 193 When someone heard it told, they laughed so hard that they died laughing. How 194 one can learn the story, and remain in existence was a story in itself. Maybe 195 the folks at the Inn would find it amusing. He had set sail for there some 196 days previously, but a great deal more water would flow under the keel before 197 he made landfall again. 198 As he stretched out on deck in the tropical sun, his mind ranged out to 199 pick up any hint of mental activity. What was that? ## ~~~~~~~~~ @^@^%@!%#*& 200 ----- _______ ++++ ******** [][][][][ jjjj pppppppppppp... ## He sat up quite 201 suddenly, his mind spinning wildly. There was a great familiarity to the 202 pattern. Perhaps, if he brought his own mind to a more precise focus... With 203 that thought he relaxed and surrendered himself to the gentle swaying of the 204 boat's motion. 205 `' `' `' `' `' -alchemist- `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' 206 Lord Morby: That's "ridding" not "riding"! (I have this picture of you sitting 207 astride the world of evil...) 208 __________________________________Leonard__________________________________ 209 Voyeur: try checking your Laumer collection for "Worlds of the Imperium" and its 210 sequels. One of them (the one with the apes) has Bayard using an improvised 211 vehicle for crossing the world-lines. 212 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~BARD~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 213 Lazy one: I can't seem to find that quote in the source that the last two came 214 from? (By the way, how IS Ahz these days?) 215 "The only thing more reliable than magik is one's friends" 216 MACBETH 217 .....................................the apprentice............................. 218 ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? 219 HAWTHORNE--I think that you are really starting to push it. Why don't you 220 go on vacation for a week? 221 ???????????????? 222 Piper--so glad to have you back! It's so refreshing to have one of 223 our quality writers rejoin us. (Now, where's PAM?) 224 ????????????????? 225 Milchar--the banana is 5 3/4 inches long. Unfortunately, that is the only 226 answer given in the book. If you want to see how it's done, it's up to you. 227 ??????????????????????????? QUIZMASTER ????????????????????????????????? 228 229 *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=* 230 YES ZORKER; THERE ARE MANY D+DERS, A LOT OF OTHER STUFF ERS AND SOME OF US 231 EVEN READ OCCASIONALY. I'VE NEVER ZORKED MYSELF BUT I KNOW SEVERAL 232 WHO HAVE. 233 *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=* 234 JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJTMNXIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 235 "DON'T WORRY TOOO MUCH. I'M NOT GOING TO PUT US TO COUNCEL ANY IMMEDIATE 236 MOMENT. ITS JUST PART OF MY FUNCTION TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS SOMETIMES." 237 THEMNAX BOUGHT FAST FRED A GARGLE-BLASTER AND ANOTHER FOR HIMSELF. HE HANDED 238 THE BARKEEP A NINGY AND TOLD HIM TO KEEP THE CHANGE. "I WONDER IF EITHER 239 OF YON CAT-LIKE CRITTERS LIKES ETHANOL?" HE THOUGHT TO HIMSELF. 240 HE BARROWED A LARGE EMPTY BOWL FROM THE BAR AND POURED HALF OF HIS DRINK 241 INTO IT AND SET IT ON THE FLOOR NEAR GREENEYES. 242 JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJTMNXIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 243 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 244 AS LONG AS THE GENERATING OF UNNECESSATY AND INAPPROPRIATE PSYCO-SOCIAL 245 STRESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL MUNDANENESS CONTINUE TO BE LOOKED UPON 246 AS SOCIALY AND MORALY ACCEPTABLE, TRUE FREEDOM WILL NOT BE 247 ATTAINED! 248 ---------------------------------THE GURU OF BLIS------------------------------- 249 (I REALIZE THE HABITUEES OF THE INN ARE ABOVE SUCH THINGS BUT THE EXTERNAL 250 SOCIAL AMBIENT STILL SEEMS TO BE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS) 251 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 252 OKAY,GURU.I WAS REPRIMANDED BY QUIZMASTER ALLREADY TODAY.AT THE LEAST OF IT YOU HAVE NOT AS SOME HAVE DECIDED THAT YOU ARE 253 THE LAST BASTON OF POLITICAL TRU TH AND WELL BEING.THE MISSPELLI NG OF BLISS POINTS OUT LIMITS YET UNSAID TO YOUR INTELLECT. 254 IF MY BOREDOM AND SUBSEQUENT PLEASE ARE NOT UP TO SNUFF THEN I WONT SAY ANYTHING UNLESS SPOKE N TO.AND INDEED THAT WAS MY 255 PLAN.BUT WHEN I FEEL INSULTED,EV EN IF QUITE INDIRECTLY THEN I CONSIDER THAT TO BE BEING SPOKEN TO.I AM SORRY FOR TAKING UP 256 THE 60 OR LESS LINES THAT I END ED UP TAKING.BUT IN THAT 60 OR SO LINES I SAVED MYSELF FROM GOI NG STIR CRAZY.WHEN YOU CONSI- 257 DER THAT 60 LINES IS THE RECCOME NDED HIGH LEVEL FOR A SINGLE MESSAGE WELL THEN I DIDNT TAKE TOO MUCH SPACE.AND AS FOR THE 258 USUALITY OF SUCH THINGS.REMEMBER THAT I SEARCHED AND SEARCHED FO R PROPER TERMINAL PROGRAMS AND LATER ADOPTED A VERY 'IFY' 259 LINE LENGTH OF 126.IT TOOK A LOT OF TRIAL AND ERROR BUT I THINK I EVENTUALLY GOT IT A BIT RIGHT. AND FOR THE SO CALLED CREATI- 260 VITY LAG OF WHICH YOU SPEAK WELL I AM NOT REPEAT NOT<!> A VERY EXCELLENT WRITER.I KNOW THIS BUT I TRY.I GIVE WHAT I THINK ARE 261 GOOD FIRM ENTRIES INTO THE STORY LINE.I NEVER THOUGHT THAT I WAS BAD ENOUGH OR STUPID ENOUGH TO BE BANNED FROM BLACKWATER!DONT 262 THINK THAT A SINGLE SWIPE INTO THE SIDE CORNER WILL GET ME OUT. IT WOULD HAVE A WHILE AGO AND DID FOR TWO OR THREE DAYS BUT 263 I DID COME BACK,AND I GAINED A NICE LITTLE QUOTE UNQUOTE THICK SKIN TO PROTECT MYSELF FROM HIGH AND MIGHTIES LIKE YOU.I AMN'T 264 ONE THAT WILL BE SWEPT ASIDE ANY MORE! 265 PROMETHEUS HAWTHORNE '84 266 *$)#@*%)!%*!)*%$#)!*^)#*^)#%*)^*!)$%*#^)@$%*&)*!)&*!)&*%$)*&)$%*&)$%*&)^*&)%*&%)^*&)%^*&)%^&*)%^*&)%^*&)%^*&)%*&)&*&)*% 267 Finally made it back on...The inn seems to have gathered a few new members... 268 voyeur : Je suis... More later... 269 MIG: Since when is a 16 year old too much to handle??? Maybe about 10 years ago when they started learning more when 270 they were 14??? Anyway...our mutual friend may make a re-appearance if certain things don't improve markedly...Need I 271 say more...n'est pas? 272 MIKEY: ON THE SUBJECT OF COPYLINK. DOES IT SUPPORT ANY KIND OF TERMINAL EMULATION? IS IT STRAIGHT ADM 3A? WOULD IT PERHAPS 273 HANDLE VT100 OR TV 950? AND THIS CP/M EMULATOR? AVAILABLE FOR PCDOS ALSO NO DOUBT? THERE ARE DIFFERENCES AS I AM SURE YOU 274 KNOW. I WOULD BE A DEFINITE CUSTOMER FOR SUCH A PRODUCT, AS I AM SURE MANY OTHERS WOULD 275 BE TOO? A FEW QUESTIONS...WHAT 5.25" FORMATS WOULD IT HANDLE? WOULD IT BE COMPATIBLE WITH MBASIC, CBASIC, BDS C, ETC...? 276 WOULD IT TAKE ADVANTAGE (RAM DISK, SPOOLER) OF ANY ADDITIONAL MEMORY THAT MAY EXIST IN THE MSDOS-PCDOS MACHINE? WHEN WILL 277 IT BECOME AVAILABLE? 278 Quizmaster - Thanks for your comeback...and touche on the comments to hawthorne. It is getting quite 279 excessive... 280 Bard: Who is this dreamtoucher? I don't recall giving anyone else a ride in the car. The back seat is kinda crowded already 281 with all your gear... 282 *)@#*$)@$*@#)%*@#5 283 I took the exit Bard pointed out...and sure enough, there was the gas station off to the right. But is wasn't your normal 284 Texaco or awful brothers station. The name on the sign, which seemed to be spinning without the aid of any visible support, 285 read "Reality 76". Under that a small sign proudly displayed the message, "Best restrooms for terrestrials of any kind" 286 We pulled into the station, and a strange attendant walked up to us and said, "What'll it be boys?" "Premium leaded please" 287 I replied... "Premium leaded? What's that? Is this some kinda joke?" "Joke? Hello no! This car runs on PREMIUM LEADED!!!" 288 "No need to get angry sir! It's just that we don't sell anything here callpremium leaded. Let me get my manager." 289 "That won't be necessary", interjected Bard. "My friend here isn't familiar with the local brand names... Let me explain..." 290 *$)@#*$@#)$*#@)$* L'homme sans parity - aussi sans l'essence *)#@*$)#*$)*$23)*$#@)%*@#)%*)%*)@*$%)@ 291 292 ***************************************************************************** 293 Just when the book was really getting interesting there was loud commotion 294 over by the door of the inn. Irritated the lazy one looked up just in time 295 to see a semi-seething mass of protoplasm on horseback attack one of his 296 new friends. Reacting quickly for one of his temperment, he sat back and 297 thought for fifteen minutes, ignoring the fight except to casualy float 298 aside from the combatants as they rolled around on the ground. Finally 299 making up his mind, he waved and a new book appeared floating slightly above 300 the other book. Mumbling to himself he flipped pages until he located the 301 proper spell. Ah, oh protean one, since you like to fight. The lazy one 302 made some gestures with his hands and fingers, joints popping like fat on 303 campfire. Suddenly the raging fighting mass of whatever began to shrink 304 Smaller and smaller it (grew?) changing shape all the while. Ten minutes 305 later it had turned into an extremely viscious and active shrew. Go find 306 some other world to fight on, the lazy one said as the shrew disappeared 307 with a pop. That spell will wear off in a few days but it may take him 308 longer to find his way back from that world. 309 Remember, In times of crisis, it is of utmost importance not to lose 310 ones head. M. ANTOINETTE 311 ************************************************ THE LAZY ONE ********* 312 Hearing the noises of combat outside the door of the inn, Whisper pulled 313 her mace from her belt but otherwise did not look up from her conversation 314 with the Apprentice. 315 ******************************* WHISPER ******************************* 316 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] 317 Tally Ho(e)...For god's sake will people stop correcting my spelling. I know it 318 awful. Secondly, how 'bout someone with knowledge making a list of all the 319 320 present people at the Inn. I have lost count.... 321 :::::::::::::::::::: 322 Morby looked up only to see that the Lazy One had taken all the fun for 323 himself by defeating the present nasty. 324 " You could have at least spread it out !" he yelled. 325 He looked at Dawg and then resigned himself to reading the manual. Unkwown 326 to the luckless individuals a small advance scout group of giant intelligent 327 ants was approaching the I. 328 :::::::::::::::::::: 329 Sounds corny, huh? Well sorry, the place needs some action. If you don't 330 like the idea, well just kill them off. On the other hand, you might leave 331 one or two for me. 332 I must appoligize for my writing style...seems like I'm composing the stuff 333 for a comic book. Morby 334 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] 335 CISTOP MIKEY:I TRUST THAT BY NOW YOU KNOW WHAT I'VE DONE.I DI D IT WITH FULL KNOWLEDGE AND I ASK THAT YOU LEAVE IT THAT WAY 336 ,PLEASE? HAWTHORNE 337 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 338 Voyeur:Yes, I know where may story's going, but not completely (I know where to go, but not yet how to get there). 339 Some of the things in the story are from other worlds, things I have read, and so on- but not all, nor even most. 340 +++++++++++++ 341 The jets spewed out thin streams of universal solvent (Guaranteed to dissolve anything when the component parts are 342 mixed together!). The solvent falls, and Milchar fadses for a moment as a stream of the stuff slices through the 343 space where he had been. "It's a good thing the floor is Solvent-proof... and that I can make myself into a shadow." 344 Meanwhille, The Doctor was also having problems- Two of the vesta-cannons had decided to obliterate him. Drawing out 345 his sonic screwdriver, he dodged yet another blast that almost knocked him over. Leaping to the wall, he uses the 346 'driver to open up one of the cannons, using the brush for cover. Working frantically, he severs the control module- 347 and then, with a flick of the wrist, enables the 'LOCAL AIMING CONTROL'. Operating deftly, a few wires here and there 348 crossed, The Doctor leaps aside as the cannon again activeates, now homing in on The Black Guardian... 349 ...who is busy gesuturing a spell, in hopes that it will destroy some of these play-toys so he can get down to business 350 with the others. A streak of light flows from his outstreched finger... to strike a cannon on the far wall. The 351 resulting explosion produces no noise, but the light... 352 +++++++++++ 353 In a nearby empty room, a CRT flashes dimly as sheer destructive power is unleased below. The words found on the 354 terminal say: 355 DANGER ROOM ACTIVATED- AUTHORIZATION CODE !MAROON! 356 RULES: NONE, EXCEPT THAT THE COMBATANTS MAY NOT LEAVE UNTIL ONE IS DEAD. 357 <NOW ACTIVATING EXTRA-DIMENSIONAL CUT-OFF AND SIGMA FIELD> 358 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Milchar ++++++++++++++++++ 359 *************************************************************** 360 HAWTHORNE: I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT YOU ARE REFERRING TO, BUT 361 I MIGHT REMIND YOU OF THE RULES OF NOT VANDLIZING OTHERS MESSAGES. 362 BESIDES ALL THE OTHER ASPECTS, IT ISN'T VERY POLITE. 363 ******************* CISTOP MIKEY ******************************** 364 ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? 365 The Doctor searches through his coat for his Danger Room Remote Control Module. 366 "Milchar, how many times must I tell you that we only kill if absolutely 367 necessary!!! Ah ha! There it is...One flick of the switch, and...There we go. 368 Milchar, head for the door while the Black Guardian's busy!!" The Doctor and 369 Milchar jump through the door and shut it. As they do, they see the Black 370 Guardian jump for the dootr(to no avail.). "Head for the control center. We'll 371 give him a run for his money!!!" "This ought to be fun!!!" exclaims Milchar. 372 "K-9, override the present Danger Room program running, and give me full con- 373 trol of the room." "Affirmative, Master...Completed. Danger Room in your full 374 control. Activating main viewing screen." The screen slides up to reveal the 375 Black Guardian standing in the midat one edge of the Danger Room looking about 376 wondering what happened. He then lookks at the center of the room and sees the 377 Amulet of Zelgar and the Key to Tinme. He runs for them. When he is about 10' 378 away from them, The DOoctor flips a switch, and they dissapear. $This isn't 379 fair, Doctor!!!$ "Look who's talking" replies The Doctor. I knew from the 380 minute you entered the Tardis, that you didn't have the Key with you. You see 381 I expected something like this from you, just as you should have expected some- 382 thing like this from me." The Doctor turns to Milchar, "Well, should we give 383 him Danger Room Sequence #152?" "Which one is that, again?" "Surely you 384 remember that one. You helped write it!!! It's the Dimat Sequence." "That's 385 cruel...I like it!! Go for it." The Doctor then starts key the sequence while 386 at the same time, he tells the Guardian: "We hfave a very special sequence that 387 we'd like to test out on you. You don't have much choice. You know we don't 388 kill, but this sequence will make you wish you were dead...Milchar, key it on 0 389 Ready? 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0. Key it NOW!!!" Milchar keys it in 390 and the Danger Room roars to life. In the center of the room stands the figure 391 of a tall, white bearded, powerful man. The Black Guardian looks up and then 392 screams in terror.... 393 394 ?????????????????????????????????????????? The Doctor & Milchar ???????????????? 395 ()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()())()()()()()()()()()()()() 396 back at the inn, pheric foerender,confused at all the attacks and to-be attacker 397 s. opens his pouch and draws out a ybow(he could shoot it better than a gun) 398 and a quiver of 50 arrows,then walks out and quietly sits down and waits. 399 (maybe for giant ants?)he hasa feeling that danger is near, but what could 400 it be?he wonders.as he is waiting he idly chews on a blade of grass.he see's 401 the lazy one and whisper a ways off below a tree, ad whisper has her mace out 402 he starts to hum a tune he heard on another planet,was it dulon or suykin 403 he cant remember...... 404 pheric f.(i dont do capitals) 405 ()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()())()()()()()()()()()()()(()) 406 *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*DREAMTOUCHER*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=* 407 HAVING RESTED MUCH ON THE LONG, SO FAR REALITIVLY UNEVENTFUL 408 RIDE, DREAMTOUCHER FELT MUCH RESTORED. 409 AS THEY APPROACHED THE EXIT ITSELF, BARD TOLD L'HOMME;"THIS LOOKS LIKE A 410 LIKELY PLACE. 411 THEY LEFT THE BROAD, SMOOTH, TRAFFIC FILLED ROAD BY WAY OF THE CURVING 412 EXIT, THE ONE LABLED BABILON BUISNESS LOOP NORTH. TO DREAMTOUCHER 413 THIS WAS A NEW LAND OF MANY WONDERS. AFTER PASSING FOUR OR FIVE 414 WIDELY SPACED SIDE STREETS, THEY PARKED UNDER THE OPEN SHELTER PROJECTING 415 FROM A SMALL SHELTER. OTHER CARS PULLED UP AND PARKED IN LINE 416 BEHIND THEM. ABOVE THE BUILDING ON A TALL POLE WITH AN OVEL OF SOME 417 UNFAMILIAR TRANSLUCENT GLOSSY MATERIAL NEAR ITS TOP. ON IT WAS PICTURED 418 IN A CONTRASTING COLOR OF THE SAME ODD STUFF (VOYER TOLD HIM IT WAS CALLED 419 PLASTIC) WAS A PICTURE OF A FOURLEGGED FINBACK WITH A RIDER WITH WILDLY 420 FLYING POUCH (IMPLYING MOVEMENT AT GREAT SPEED) AND A ROW OF ODDLY SHAPED 421 MARKES (BELOW THE SYMBOL) WHICH BARD TRANSLATED AS: 'PONI EXPRESS GASSAHOL 422 , SUPER FLITE FUEL AND UNTETRATED REGULAR'. 423 DREAMTOUCHER WAS ASSURED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL AND TO BE EXPECTED, 424 JUST WHAT L'HOMME AND BARD HAD BEEN LOOKING FOR, INFACT. 425 THE SCEEN WHICH GREETED THAIR EYES WHEN THEY ACTUALY OPPENED THE DOORS 426 AND STEPED OUT HOWEVER, WAS VERYMUCH NOT! 427 THE LINE OF CARS WHICH HAD JUST PULLED UP BEHIND THEM, NOW COULD BE SEEN 428 TO BE IMMOBILE PILES OF RUST WHICH MUST HAVE BEEN SETTING THERE 429 FOR YEARS, PERHAPS CENTURIES! 430 THERE WAS NO ONE ABBOUT, THE BUILDINGS 431 GLASS HAD LONG SINCE BEEN BROKEN AND VANDELIZED, EVEN THE PUMPS WERE USELESS 432 RUSTED LUMPS. INSIDE THE 'STATION' WAS NO BETTER, ONLY THE BUILT IN 433 CABBINETTS REMAINED AND A YELLOWED STAINED MAP LAY IN A PILE IN 434 ONE CORNER WARE THE THUMB TACKS WHICH HAD HELD IT TO THE WALL HAD RUSTED 435 THROUGH AND FAILED. IT WAS A GRID OF STREETS AND ROADS AND NEAR ITS MIDDLE 436 WAS A LARGE FADDED PURPLE DOT WITH THE WORDS YOU ARE HERE. 437 L'HOMME BENT TO PICK IT UP AND IT CRUMBLED TO DUST IN HIS FINGERS. 438 EVEN THE DUST WAS BLOWN AWAY AND SCATTERED BY THE BREEZE WHICH CAME 439 IN THROUGH THE BROKEN GLASS OF THE DOOR. 440 BACK IN THE CAR, BARD ADJUSTED HIS CONSOLE, MUTTERING SOMTHING ABOUT 441 GHALDRON-HESTHOR GLITCHES. DRIVING ON INTO TOWN, LOOK THOUGH 442 THEY MIGHT, NO ONE COULD SPOT ANY TANGABLE SIGN OF LIFE. 443 CAR GAVE UP, GASPING, OUT OF FUEL, AND HAD TO BE PUSHED TO A CURB. 444 FROM TIME TO TIME, OUT OF THE CORNER OF THAIR EYES, THE ROADWORN 445 TRAVILERS CAUGHT GLIMPSES OF WHAT APPEREAD TO BE NORMAL SCIENTIENT 446 ACTIVITY. YET WHENEVER ANYONE TURNED TO LOOK DIRECTLY AT WHATEVER 447 HE THOUGHT HE MIGHT HAVE SEEN, IT WOULD TURN OUT TO BE NO MORE THAN 448 A BREEZE STIRRED BRANCH OF TREE OR SHRUB. 449 EVERYWARE THERE WERE TALL BUILDINGS. THE CITY, FOR INDEED THAT IS WHAT IT WAS 450 , OR HAD BEEN, WENT ON FOR MILES AND MILES IN ALL DIRECTIONS. SOME OF 451 THE BUILDINGS SEEMED LONG AGO TO HAVE BEEN SCORCHED BY FIRE FROM THE 452 INSIDE OUT. MANY MORE WERE COMPLETELY OR MOSTLY INTACT. FOR ALL 453 THE STATE OF THE PLACE, THE STREETS WERE SUPPRISINGLY FREE OF DEBRIE OR RUBBLE. 454 INSIDE EACH BUILDING INVESTIGATED TURNED OUT TO BE MUCH THE 455 SAME AS THE GAS STATION. IT WAS ALMOST AS IF EVERYONE HAD LEFT, EN-MASS 456 IN AN ORDRELMANOR, TAKING ALL THAIR VALUABLE BELONGINGS WITH THEM. 457 ONLY AN EMPTY DESK HERE, AN OLD TABLE THERE, IN ONE ROOM A RUSTED 458 BEDSPRING WITH A LAYER OF MOLD WHICH MIGHT ONCE HAVE BEEN A MATRICE. 459 *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*DREAMTOUCHER*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=* 460 THE FIRST EXCERSIZE FOR THOSE WHO ASPIRE TO DREAMSHAPING IS TO LOOK 461 AT YOUR HANDS WHILE DREAMING. JUST GO TO SLEEP WITH THE THOUGHT IN YOUR MIND 462 THAT YOU WILL. IT MIGHT NOT HAPPEN RIGHT AWAY BUT SOONER OR LATER IT WILL. 463 *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=* 464 PLEASE DON'T EDIT THE ABOVE STORY ENTRY INTO UNINTELIGABILITY 465 AS SOMEONE SEEMES ALREADY TO BE DOING (OR 466 AM I JUST BEING PARANOID ?) A LINE STATING RUBBLE ET.C THAT THE 467 STREETS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SUPRISINGLY FREE OF SEAMES TO 468 HAVE ALREADY EVAPORATED. 469 I KNOW YOU (MIKEY) MIGHT WANT TO COMPACT THINGS A BIT. JUST TRY NOT TO 470 COMPLETELY DELETE THE CONCEPTUAL ESSENTIALS UNTIL BARD, L'HOMME AND VOYER 471 GET TO SEE THIS AND TELL ME WHAT THEY THINK. 472 THAT GOES DOUBBLE FOR HAWTHORN 473 (I'M NOT ACCUSING, JUST PLESE DON'T! 474 TNX DREAMTOUCHER. 475 ALSO DID ANYONE NOTICE ABOUT OLD RELIABLE NOT ANSWERING THE PHONE 476 TODAY? ANYBODY KNOW HOW COME? 477 *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=* 478 NO I DID NOT DECIDE TO BECOME EVEN LESSER LIKABLE AND DESTROY ANY AND ALL LEG- 479 IBILITY IN DREAMTOUCHER'S LATEST ENTRANT.I JUST REMOVED SOME OLD STUFF THAT HAS 480 BEEN SCORNED BY OTHERS.I AM NOT A VANDAL,NOR SOMEONE WHO DIRELY FEELS THE NEED 481 TO DECIMATE OTHERS FOR THE SIMPL E REASON THAT THEY ARE DISGUSTE D WITH HIM/HER/ 482 FREV/GANT/RETGE/CARIL.AS YOU SEE OR MIGHT IN ANY CASE THERE ARE NO MORE SANITY 483 SAVING MESSAGES ON THIS DISK.AND NOW ALL CISTOP MIKEY HAS TO DO IS DESTROY THEM 484 PERMANENTLY AND THAT IS ALL. 485 THE FORMER WAS ALMOST DONE IN A REGENERATION.NOT THE ACT OF BE ING AN ACTUAL 486 MOUND OF BLOBBULAR SLOP.HE HAD,A T LEAST AS FAR AS I KNEW NOT EV ENHAVING OF THE 487 STRENGTH NECESSARY TO FIANY ONE IF HE HAD TO,BUT FOR FIFTEEN MINUTES?C'MON! 488 IN ANY CASE I AM NOT GOING TO TAKE ANY MORE OH SO PRECIOUS SPA CE FOR FRIVOLUS 489 STUFF LIKE MESSAGES,OR THAT SORT OF STUFF.I WONT EVEN SIGN MNA ME.DOES THAT MAKE 490 YOU HAPPY? 491 492 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp 493 The dawn awoke the piper and he reluctantly unwound the thread that bound 494 him to the inn from his finger. It had been long since he had looked in on 495 the inn, and saw several new inhabitants as well as several old friends. Ah, 496 if it were just possible to spend more time, he would like to talk to them all, 497 hoist a few glasses and learn what adventures had befallen in his absence. 498 He sighed, took a lump of waybread from his sporran and made a hasty breakfast 499 washed down with a handful of water from the stream. He shook the dew from 500 his plaid, pleated it, then wrapped the end around his chest and fastened the 501 trailing end with a large silver brooch. 502 The first rays of light struck his face, and he looked up at what rose. 503 Averting his eyes, he shuddered. He knew he had come a long way, but this 504 was nearly too much to bear! Longing for the simple light of a sun, he gathered 505 several of the lightly luminous strands in his hands, picked up the wrapped 506 bagpipes, and took a step away from the meadow now illuminated by a horror that 507 brought the gorge to the back of his throat. Pulling on the threads as on a 508 lifeline, his steps brought him to the main path and started the air around 509 him flickering like the scales of a gigantic fish. 510 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp 511 Hello all, I won't be able to contribute every day as in the past, but I smay 512 be able to keep current now. If so, I'll try to drop in on someone when I 513 find out what's goint on. --piper-- 514 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp 515 516 ################################################################################ 517 WHY IS EVERYONE PICKING ON POOR HAWTHORNE? HE SOUNDS TO ME LIKE A GUY WHO 518 IS BASICALLY ALONE AND LONELY. WHY IS EVERONE ALWAYS ON HIS CASE? WHAT HAS HE 519 REALLY DONE TO ANYONE? 520 OH SURE, I'LL ADMIT THAT HAWTHORNE'S SOCIAL SKILLS COULD USE A BIT OF 521 POLISHING, BUT DOESN'T IT OCCUR TO YOU THAT THAT'S WHAT HE'S TRYING TO DO. I'VE 522 GOTTEN THE IMPRESSION THE GUY'S REALLY TRYING TO FIT IN. HE'S TRIED TO LEARN THE 523 RULES AND GO BY THEM. I THOUGHT HE WAS DOING PRETTY GOOD. 524 ONE OF CHARMS OF BACKWATER IS THAT IT IS A REFUGE FOR ODDBALLS. I DON'T SEE 525 THAT HAWTHORNE'S ANY STRANGER THAN MOST OF YOU (WELL MAYBE A LITTLE) AND I 526 THINK HE DESERVES A BIT MORE RESPECT. AFTER ALL, HE'S HARMLESS, HE DOESN'T 527 VERBALLY ABUSE ANYBODY, AND AS FAR AS I CAN TELL THERE'S NO EVIDENCE THAT HE'S 528 INTO VANDALIZING THE SYSTEM. SINCE BACKWATER DOESN'T REALLY NEED A SCAPEGOAT WHY 529 DON'T WE GIVE HIM A BREAK? MAX 530 ################################################################################ 531 @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 532 First this stranger comes up to me, asks me VERY pointed questions, and 533 now he wants to talk about 'arrangements'. It's about time to say farewell 534 once again. Wait a sec, is that a drink being pushed my way? My type of 535 guy. But it's time to set a few things straight. "I'm mostly a go-between 536 lately. I get orders for transportation and selling of goods, and then 537 collect a fat commission." He looked at my clothes and said "You don't look 538 much like a successful bussness man to me." "How often do you think people 539 will buy my type of stuff from a guy who dresses good enough to be an agent?" 540 Must be fairly new to this sort of thing. The questions before giving 541 me his identity gives that away. Oh well, drinks come seldom my way. I may 542 as well drink slowly and enjoy it. 543 Fast Fred BSAL 544 @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 545 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 546 I WILL WRITE ON MY OWN SLAT 400 TIMES I WILL NOT PICK ON HAWTHORNE! 547 REALY I THINK THE UNEXPECTED SUN MUST HAVE FRIED MY NEURAL CIRCUITS. 548 I KNOW THATS A POOR EXCUSE. IF ANYONE NEEDS TO APPOLOGISE ITS ME BUT 549 ITS JUST THAT THE COST OF ANYTHING EVEN REMOTLY RESEMBLING SPONTENIETY 550 FOR ME SEEMS TO BE THE RISK OF MAKING SOMTHING OFFENSIVE OF MYSELF. 551 THERE I GO MAKING EXCUSES AGAIN. WHAT I'M REALY TRYING TO SAY IS 552 HAWTHORNE COME BACK. 553 I'D SWEAR I SAW A LINE DISSAPPEAR IN FRONT OF MY EYES THOUGH, OR MAYBE JUST GET SKIPPED BY 554 THIS TERMMINAL. I REALIZE YOU COULDN'T HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT. 555 AND WHILE I'M WASTING EVERYONES TIME AND SPACE WITH PUBLIC APPOLOGIES, I 556 HAD NO IDEA CAR HAD ALREADY PULLED INTO A 'STATION'. DONT KNOW 557 HOW I COULD HAVE MISSED THAT, I THOUGHT I HAD LOOKED. OH WELL. 558 *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*DREAMTOUCHER*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=* 559 MIG: I FINALLY GOT ON THIS SYSTEM AND AM 560 REALLY ENJOYING READING THE VARIETY OF 561 MSGS THAT COME ON THIS BOARD. TTYL, 562 STING 563 OK...THE NEW ONE APPEARS. 564 THERE IS A TALL, DARK FIGURE SITTING IN THE CORNER OF THE INN. 565 HE SITS UP SIPPING AN ALE AND LOOKS OVER AT WISPER. HE IS INTERESTED AND COMES 566 TO GET AQUAINTED. HE IS ALMOST DRESSED IN BLACK AND HAS A VERY DEEP VOICE. HE 567 ASKS WHAT IS YOUR NAME? 568 ---------------------------------------- >