Patchwork Universe

Dr James Kirby · Good Joined: 02 Jul 2004 Posts: 214 Location: Empire City

An unusual vehicle entered through the northern mists. It was an offroad vehichle, like a jeep or land rover. Its farings, however, were of a streamlined design which recalled American roadsters of the nineteen fifties. The vehicle also sported a pair of half-tracks rather than rear wheels, and the whole thing looked as if it had driven out of some science fiction fantasy.

---

Kirby surveyed the area as he drove, and could not suppress a chuckle, despite the severity of the situation. He'd brought with him a vehicle capable of negotiating any terrain, and had encountered nothing but pleasant countryside since his arrival.

He reflected on his experience in the last domain. The whole thing seemed almost farcical. Doomshadow writing a letter that would fool only the most naive and gullible girl - which he had somehow run into? It seemed ludicrous. He didn't know what "Lilac" was, but he was no world dominating necromancer, it was clear. And had the other woman said something about a dragon attacking their pub? Kirby gave a mental shrug. It couldn't all be his problem, and he'd really better deal with a) Doomshadow, b) Von Damme and c) The "Gods" before taking on another case.

---
The School was fairly obvious, and Kirby navigated the country roads easily enough, and found the front gate. He drove in, and found somewhere he hoped was appropriate to park, and got out. He felt somewhat out of place in the armour in such an idyllic location, but Doomshadow might be anywhere it seemed.

Kirby caught sight of two children walking past, carrying books.

"Excuse me!" he called, "Could you possibly direct me to the Headmistress?"

[OOC: I am assuming for reasons of Not Wishing To Just Conveniently and Coincidentally Stumble Across Doomshadow that Kirby is not parked in clear view of the main entrance.]

Lord Doomshadow · Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2004 8:59 pm Post subject:

OOC: Lord Doomshadow enters from the "Who was that masked monster?" thread.

Without warning, Kirby found himself in shadow. Glancing away from the children, he could see the outline of whatever it was that had blocked out the sun. A roughly man shaped figure, elongated to gigantic proportions by the angle of the light, and surrounded by a fringe of... tentacles.

Above him, the doctor could hear Doomshadow's soulless, maniacal laughter. The same laugh he had heard before the monster transmuted all the gold in the vaults of the Empire City Widows and Orphans Bank to lead...

Dr James Kirby · Good Joined: 02 Jul 2004 Posts: 214 Location: Empire City

Kirby felt a sick twist in the pit of his stomach. Doomshadow here at a school of all places. Who knew what depravity he would wreak?

Kirby reached into the rover, and withdrew a full-face steel helmet, which he placed over his head. Taking on Doomshadow on his own wasn't a prospect he relished, but at least he'd prepared the suit for a fight against Doomshadow. The suit was sealed and resistant to Doom's foul ichors. The repulse cannons had been removed, in favour of a magnetic strength amplification system, leaving only the shock gloves as a weapon. But at least he had a chance of matching and resisting Doomshadow's hideous strength...

As Doomshadow flew on, Kirby activated the Macro-Leap, and took off into the air like a bullet, his fists glowing with coruscating electrical energy, aimed directly at Doomshadow's thorax...

Miss Mercury · Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2004 10:45 pm Post subject:

In her study, Miss Mercury suddenly sat up straight and stopped talking.

Oh no, not again. What on earth is wrong with people today?

Leaning over to the desk, she pressed a small button.

The HMP staff will help out with this one.

Lord Doomshadow · Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2004 11:49 pm Post subject:

Clearly John had been mistaken. This human was no wise old hermit crab. He seemed to have more in common with the little known Leaping Sea Urchins of the abyssal plains - vicious, cowardly predators, always eager to strike from ambush.

Taken by surprise, he found it impossible to evade the monster's attack. Its metal claws struck him in the chest, unleashing a burst of electrical energy. Half stunned, he fell out of the sky.

As he crashed into the ground, he felt consumed by a strange combination of deja vu and rage. He wanted to wrap his tentacles around this puny human's limbs and rip them all off, one by one by one... But no. This was wrong. Octopus John never felt the need for revenge, only a righteous anger directed at the servants of evil.

The Son of Squid rose to his feet. Whatever happened now, he must not fight where innocents could be injured, even if they were unfinned. He must hope he could lure the savage creature far enough away that the children would not be at risk...

Dr James Kirby · Good Joined: 02 Jul 2004 Posts: 214 Location: Empire City

A sense of desperation gripped Kirby. If he were to stand any chance of defeating Doomshadow, then he would have to press the advantage of surprise to breaking point. Closing the distance between them while the creature was still regaining his feet, he threw punch after punch at Doomshadow, each hitting like an electrified piledriver...

Lord Doomshadow · Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2004 12:25 pm Post subject:

The Son of Squid staggered under the monster's brutal assault. Throwing his tentacles around the thing (what was it? some sort of insane metal lobster?) he hugged it close. If he could confine the wild flailings of its claws, he could ensure that none of the children were hurt...

But his tentacles seemed to have developed minds of their own. They contracted viciously, with the strength that had broken wild whales to the harness. They were whispering to him softly, at the back of his mind. "Food...", they said. "Crack the shell... eat the meat... Sweet juicy food..."

As the tentacles pried and wrenched at the gaps in the armour, tiny mouths sprang open at their tips, exposing gleaming sharp teeth...

Dr James Kirby · Good Joined: 02 Jul 2004 Posts: 214 Location: Empire City

The tentacles pinioned Kirby's arms to his sides. A poweful magnetic field reinforced the suit, preventing Doomshadow crushing him, but still, the unnatural tentacles exceeded the strength of the suit. Only one force Kirby knew of could prevail in a wrestling match with Doomshadow - and The Titan was back in Empire City.

Still, immobilised as he was, Kirby did not panic. One does not wear a steel suit for a living if one is claustrophobic to any degree. Kirby found his mind responding rationally, even more so than usual, and reflected that this really wasn't the Doomshadow he knew. This one was more ragged and piecemeal. It lacked the confidence and bombast - Doomshadow would be mocking him, predicting his inevitable victory. And of course, Doomshadow wouldn't be so foolish as to bearhug someone in electrified power armour.

Kirby tried a combination of maneuvers. The first was a macro-leap of heroic proportions, driving the entwined pair about 100 metres into the air. The second, Kirby placed his pinned hands on the skin of his suit, and fired a massive charge across the shell. An awful stench of brimstone and fried calamari filled the air, and the tentacles jerked away in pain. Doomshadow began to fall, while Kirby continued his ascent. Third, Kirby span in the air, and Macro-leapt down. Doomshadow had barely began to fall, when Kirby hit him like a bullet, grabbing him in his electrified grasp, and driving him towards the ground. With milliseconds to spare, Kirby released Doomshadow, and boosted away from the ground with the macro-leap system, landing lightly, and rolling to his feet. Doomshadow hit the ground somewhat more heavily...

Lord Doomshadow · Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2004 7:30 pm Post subject:

The Mole awoke in a hole. He hurt, and he was frightened. Above him, he could see sunlight.

He remembered now. Big Daddy had hurt him again. Big Daddy and his Big Wife ruled the surface world, and they hated anything they did not control. The Mole only wanted to live in his hole and play with his friends, the Furry Weasels, but Big Daddy always hurt him if he caught him, and told him he should be more like Daddy.

Big Daddy had shouted at him about being a weak boy, a bad boy, and thrown him into the ground so hard he made this hole. He whimpered to himself. Still... Big Daddy wasn't here now...

Extending his tentacles, he began to suck at the soil. The hungry mouths at their tips ate their way through the soft earth, which shot down the lengths of the tentacles and was ejected from his back. Moving through the ground in this way, he could easily outpace a running man. And he was already ten feet beneath the surface...

Surely Big Daddy couldn't reach him now?

Miss Mercury · Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2004 12:16 am Post subject:

A few feet further on, and the creature hit a solid wall of grey stone, and stopped abruptly as it considered its position. Above, and faint, it was aware of something; someone; a presence of one who may not be a friend, exactly, but was a safe refuge, reassuring and understanding. With less panic, and calmer, the creature rested while it decided what to do next.

Meanwhile, above ground, Dr Kirby stood feeling both relieved and slightly concerned. He considered the creature he had fought and almost beaten. Again he told himself that this was not the same Doomshadow, not the same unstoppable, focussed, evil force. His feeling of strong pity for the poor broken creature grew, along with a wish that the mystery could be solved, and matter could be resolved, without further violence.

Miss Mercury stood quietly by the school building, watching the armoured figure.

She approached Dr Kirby confidently. "Sir, I am Miss Mercury, Head mistress of the Juniper School. Would you mind coming with me, please? The police are on their way, and I think I would rather we were able to speak a little before they arrive; there have been some strange visitors over the last few days, and I am hoping that you may be able to shed some light on them for me. And, if I may be so bold, perhaps you could remove some of your... outer clothing?"

Dr James Kirby · Good Joined: 02 Jul 2004 Posts: 214 Location: Empire City

Kirby got to his feet and walked over to Miss Mercury.

"Ordinarily I'd be delighted to do as you ask. However, we may be in some danger here. There's a being in this area who is a highly dangerous sociopath, and with sufficient power to reduce an area like this to ruins."

Kirby paused. Miss Mercury waited patiently, as if waiting for a clever pupil to reach an obvious conclusion.

"That is - and I'm sorry if this makes no sense to you - I believe it may be an alternative parallel version of a creature I have fought before."

Kirby was peering into the crater Doomshadow had made as he landed. He wasn't in there, he must have burrowed away. Kirby looked around nervously, as if expecting Doomshadow to emerge at any instant.

"I met someone who told me that you'd met Doomshadow, but you may well be unaware of who and what he is. He's a frequent invader into the world I'm from, and rules a parallel Earth where he's essentially slaughtered the whole population of the planet, and uses the remains to create a reanimated army. When he can, he invades my world, in an attempt to conquer it too, and do the same thing there. So far we've beaten him back each time."

Miss Mercury raised an eyebrow, and Kirby felt compelled to continue.

"Now, this creature here doesn't appear to be that Doomshadow, but he is certainly a Doomshadow. So while he appears weaker, and perhaps somewhat confused and delusional, I believe he's still highly dangerous, and at his core, when he remembers who he is, he'll have the same sort of murderous goals. He needs dealing with before someone gets hurt."

Kirby finished explaining himself, and realised that he was being most rude.

"I'm sorry, I've not introduced myself."

Kirby's helmet gave a soft hissing noise, as some seals relaxed. The chin section of the helmet swung forward, and Kirby removed the helmet. Kirby's boyish grin was a stark contrast to the impassive mask of the suit. A trickle of blood ran down from one corner of his mouth, but he didn't seem to notice. The cuff of his right gauntlet gave a similar hiss, and he removed it, and offered his hand.

"My name's Doctor James Kirby. Where I'm from I'm a member of an organisation called The Defenders, whose job it is to defend the world from people like Doomshadow. I realise I'm a bit out of my juristiction here, but I couldn't stand idly by."

Miss Mercury · Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2004 11:27 am Post subject:

Miss Mercury shook her head very slightly, as if to clear it.

"My school is living through some interesting times, I see."

From a door at the corner of the main building, a man and woman appeared. Miss Mercury acknowledged them.

"Miss Latimer! Mr Stoneleigh! Thank you for coming. I think the immediate situation is resolved, but I could still benefit from your assistance. Mr Stoneleigh, would you mind staying in this area; there is a man, who has become some sort of creature, I know not by what means, who disappeared under the ground here. Take care, as Dr Kirby informs me that he may be dangerous. He is severely confused and damaged, mentally and emotionally. We require kindness, calm and control, Mr Stoneleigh. Calm and control. If there is any reappearance, you know how to call me."

Miss Mercury then took Miss Latimer's arm, and spoke softly to her. "The other visitor is Dr James Kirby. I own that I am currently confused. I sense honesty, intelligence, logic, honour and integrity, but the man speaks abject nonsense, and see his clothing! I fear that his mind and his view of reality may have been affected by means outside his knowledge. I would like you to stay with us, and look for evidence of tampering."

Returning to Dr Kirby, she held a hand out towards the school. "To my study, then, Dr Kirby? I need to try to understand what you are telling me, and if I can help you with what I know of this Doomshadow man, then I will do so."

Dr James Kirby · Good Joined: 02 Jul 2004 Posts: 214 Location: Empire City

Kirby was uncertain. Doomshadow was still at large. Still, he'd likely have fled the area, since he was alone and seemingly outclassed. And wherever he was, he wasn't right here so there wasn't much percentage in standing around in a car park.

Kirby turned to Stoneleigh and Latimer.
"If he reappears, please, don't engage him. Keep an eye on him, and call me immediately. I'll be with the headmistress. Thank you." Kirby presumed their co-operation. He was used to the general public supporting and co-operating with him.

Kirby followed Miss Mercury to her study.

Jack Frost · Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2004 3:42 pm Post subject:

OOC: Frost enters from Cold on the trail

Jack had curled up and hid when he'd first heard the thunderous noise of battle. And when he'd noticed her, the sorceress herself standing there and speaking to the man who had recently beaten Lilac into the ground, he'd remained in hiding.

Now the coast was clear. He peered into the recently-created hole.

"Lilac, dear friend? It's Jack. I say, is everything all right?"

Miss Mercury · Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2004 7:15 pm Post subject:

Miss Mercury and Miss Latimer ushered Dr Kirby into the study.

Miss Mercury looked at Dr Kirby and, struck by a sense of the ridiculous in the recent ongoings, said "Dr Kirby, can you sit on any of these chairs, or would you be more comfortable hanging from a coat hook?", and dissolved into infectious giggles.

Miss Latimer looked first surprised, then shocked, then began to smile herself.

Miss Mercury recovered somewhat. "I do apologise, Dr Kirby. What must you think? But really, it has been such an odd week."