Patchwork Universe

Trubshawe · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 351 Location: The Zoo

Or, at least, that was how the scene panned out in the Magpie's mind, in the split second that the cat suddenly turned into a spitting, flailing ball of fury in Trubshawe's elbow. What actually happened turned out to be somewhat different.

Anyone else but the Head Zookeeper might have been shocked by the cat's sudden onslaught, but this was a man who could not remember a time he had not been wrangling animals on a daily basis. An intergalactically acknowledged expert on every aspect of their psychology and handling. If anything, he knew what the feline was going to do a split second before it did. And he certainly didn't intend to be the second member of the Zoo staff to be outwitted by a member of this species in as many days.

There was nothing he could do to fully immobilise the creature, at least not without dropping his rifle. Claws raked at his sleeve and glove - but much to the surprise of their owner found it next to impossible to pierce the subtle plasticated weave common to all Zookeepers' uniforms in the future Trubshawe hailed from. Magpie yowled in frustration that his attack had proven so unexpectedly ineffective.

At this point, all other things being equal, Trubshawe's choice of hold meant he could have exerted pressure on the cat with his elbow, forcing it to calm down or suffer the consequences. But two things stopped him from doing so. The first was that the cat's paws were still sticky from its penguin breakfast, and its frantic maulings were making a mess of the Head Zookeeper's very best uniform. Just as importantly, Captain Magpie was going for his knife. Clearly this was some sort of practised routine man and beast had worked out between them to try to wriggle out of situations just like this one. So be it.

"Have the wretched animal then!" bellowed Trubshawe, flinging the cat forward while trying to step back a few paces to maintain his edge over the Captain. But the pirate was already coming in, apparently intent on slitting his throat. Trubshawe waltzed to one side and, as Magpie turned his head to keep his target in view, the Zookeeper brought his face forward with sudden force, causing the stiff peak of his cap to collide painfully with the bridge of Magpie's nose.

"Ow!" cried the pirate, but no clear advantage had been gained by the other man, only a reprieve from having a knife brought to his throat. The two men circled each other rapidly at close quarters, sizing up their chances - and then Trubshawe heard the harsh metallic whisper of many swords being drawn and knew there was nothing for it.

"TAKE THEM DOWN!" he bellowed to his own men. Daltrey and Von Damme had had plenty of time to position themselves advantageously, and the first volley of crackling energy bolts wreaked havoc on the pirate ranks, dropping a couple of crew members instantly to the ground, where they lay unmoving.

Captain Magpie had enough tactical nous to realise that, although he and his men might be able to swarm over and overwhelm Trubshawe in the short term, this level of firepower would be able to down his entire crew in a similar amount of time, making the victory completely pyrrhic. It struck him that, for the moment at least, a strategic withdrawal was almost certainly in order...

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

There was also a rather disturbing and distracting noise...

A cloud of needles had fired from Von Damme's gun, and had peppered a pair of pirates.

The two lay motionless as if paralysed. Their perforated faces were contorted in terror, and the noise they made was as if men attempting to scream in terror, while unable to move a muscle. The screaming went on for a long time, puncutated only by the occasional spasmodic breath.

Von Damme laughed, and levelled his pistol for another volley. The laughter was cruel, and perhaps as disturbing as the screaming. Any pirate looking forward to a good clean fight had a lot to fear from this sadistic maniac.

Trubshawe · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 351 Location: The Zoo

[OOC: Sorry to take Captain Magpie's actions into my own hands here, but it's been well over half a week and everyone else with characters in the Zoo has started making impatient noises at me, so...]

Neither of the two Magpies was fool enough to stick around and brave any more of the hail of fire. They turned and ran together hell-for-leather down the one pathway that seemed to offer hope of escape, the pirates who were still left standing following close after, plumes of gravel exploding behind them as Daltrey unleashed another volley at their heels.

Jogging into view, Daltrey looked over at Trubshawe for guidance as to whether he should pursue the pirates, but the Head Zookeeper raised a hand in a staying gesture.

"Let them go. They'll be at the exit in no time and if the pirate captain knows what's good for him he'll use it. I'm sure he'll be back some other time to bargain for his fallen comrades, though."

He shook his head. "I don't know, you try to do honest business with a man and all he wants is to screw you over. What is the world coming to? Go get a wagon, would you, Daltrey, we'll need to take these men somewhere for safe keeping."

Striding over to the body of one of the immobilised pirates he inspected it curiously.

"Interesting weapon you've got there, Captain Von Damme. How does it work?"

[N.B. if the pirates want they can now join Jane Jones and Specks in the thread "If the price is right".]

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

"Oh, it's a simple magnetic impeller pistol. I designed it for the army, though as with so many innovations, the manufacturing industry wasn't up to mass producing it. These needles are coated with a blend of curare and scopalamine, though I do have a range of alternatives."

Captain Magpie · Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2004 11:25 am Post subject:

The cat had led the way, but each pirate had had the same plan - get out of there.

The pirates had scattered quickly, and with pot shots hailing in around them made a zig-zag dash away from their assailants. There was no time to grab fallen comrades and Sue, Nails and four others were left on the ground, faces contorted in pain but not yet fully drained of life.

"We'll be back" muttered Magpie.

(OOC: sorry for delay. thanks for post. Pirates exeunt stage left to 'Price is Right' )

Trubshawe · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 351 Location: The Zoo

"Curare and scopalamine!" chuckled Trubshawe. "Most ingenious."

Within a short time Daltrey returned on a vehicle resembling a small yellow motorised tractor, pulling a low wagon behind him. Under Trubshawe's supervision he heaved the bodies of the four felled pirates somewhat laboriously onto the wagon. The Head Zookeeper then turned to address Von Damme.

"Captain, I'm still very much in favour of a joint exploration of this pocket universe in your zeppelin. However, as you can imagine, this latest hostile incursion means I have a few security matters I must attend to first. If I am going to be absent from the Zoo for any period of time from now on, the robotic security programs will need to be upgraded to be able to meet threats with lethal force if necessary. Regrettable, but it would appear we are no longer in anything like a civilised zone; I also need to look into the possibility of massive electrification of sections of the perimeter at shortest notice...

"In the immediate future, of course I have to put these gentlemen in a place of secure internment, and I have just the thing in mind. I'll take over this vehicle now, Daltrey - I'd like you to busy yourself with the creation of a truly unmissable unambiguous 'NO CATS' sign for the front entrance. We've now seen two felines exhibit extraordinary aggressive behaviour seemingly at the behest of our enemies. I think it's safe to say that the Gods have somehow found a way of turning these animals into their eyes - and claws.

"From now on, if an unknown feline should be detected anywhere within the perimeter, all human and robotic personnel should consider it their orders to shoot to kill."

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

"As you wish. It does seem as if people are roaming rather freely around this universe."

"I think, perhaps, I shall begin the reconnaisance mission, and return with my initial findings a few days hence? That ought to give you time to get your security in order, and by that time, we should have some data to go on."

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

The rest of the day, Von Damme spent making his preparations while Trubshawe set about making a fortress of the zoo.
At last, he felt ready to be off, and bade Daltrey tell Trubshawe that he'd be back soon.

---

The Zeppelin retracted its landing gear and anchor, and once more took to the skies. Von Damme decided to head west, in pursuit of the fleeing pirates. Perhaps they had a ship. And he had a pair of 75mm recoilless cannon.

Von Damme laughed uproariously to himself.

[OOC: West to Seventh Sea: A Ship of the Air]