[D20 Modern] Paths of Legend: Shadowgate (IC)

[crazy_monkey1956]

Episode One
Welcome to My Parlor Said the Spider to the Fly​

Michelle Storm stood in the control room as her husband made a few last minute adjustments to the wires stuck to the crystal object. Watching him through the plexiglass barrier made her nervous. She wanted to be down there with him and had made the case for it numerous times. The military types wouldn't budge though. Several of them were in the room with Harvey now, guns ready just in case something went wrong.

Harvey stepped back from the object and gave the all clear signal. One of the technicians in the control room entered a numerical sequence on the keyboard.

The object started to glow and pulse. Michelle could hear Harvey's voice, muted by the glass, "Everybody cross your fingers."

The rectangular metallic frame in front of the crystal swirled with multi-colored lights as the glow from the crystal channeled into it. A loud crack like thunder shook the room, knocking Harvey and the military guys off their feet. Michelle had to grab the back of the technician's chair to keep from falling herself.

The frame was now filled with an image of a dark cavern of some sort, strange, alien looking mushrooms the size of redwoods visible in the distance. Lights from what appeared to be a city nestled amongst the mushrooms could be seen.

Harvey got to his feet and let out a triumphant whoop, "Hot damn! It works! Michelle, do you see that? It works!"

The lights in the control room flickered. Then went dark completely. Shouting and then gunfire in the portal room could be heard. Something was coming through.

Michelle couldn't see Harvey. Unnatural darkness blanketed the portal room. A moment of panic gave way to resolve and she made her downstairs, determined to be at Harvey's side, no matter what.

She slipped in to the portal room as a squad of soldiers opened the blast doors and entered, SWAT style, trying to assess the situation.

She couldn't see, but she felt her way along the wall, making her way to where she last she saw Harvey.

A face emerged from the darkness. Angular features, slanted red eyes, pointed ears, stark white hair and skin the color of a starless night sky. He carried what looked like a medieval crossbow the size of a handgun. He fired it, the bolt sticking painfully in her arm. And then her world went black.

Harvey came to slowly, realizing that one of those crossbow bolts was still sticking out of his leg. He rose to his feet, favoring his injured leg, looking around. The lights were back on. The portal was empty, the crystal's glow was gone. Several soldiers were coming to their senses now as well. But some were missing...as was Michelle.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K41iLYVCBeg]Opening Credits[/ame]

Max Storm: Incirlik, Turkey

Lieutenant Colonel Jim Dawson waited patiently for Max to read the letter. Dawson was in a business suit instead of a uniform, which wasn't unusual for a member of the Air Force's Office of Special Investigations or OSI.

Once Max uttered the words, "Let's go," Dawson was on his feet, "This way Mr. Storm. We'll be taking a military flight from Incirlik Air Base. You'll be briefed en route."

Dawson led Max to a government car parked nearby and opened the rear passenger door for him.

Connor Lang: Cedar Springs Mental Health Facility, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Connor saw the uniformed fellow talking to Doctor Wellsly as he sat in the activity center. Most of the other in-patients were in group therapy at the moment, which left him alone to look out the window.

Doctor Wellsly and the military uniformed fellow approached, the doctor speaking gently to him, "Connor, you have a visitor. This is Lieutenant Michaels. He's with the Air Force."

Michaels smiles, "Mr. Lang, pleased to meet you. I'd like to talk to you for a few minutes, if you don't mind."

Corporal Amy Monroe: Canberra, Australia

Amy is ushered into the conference room where her base commander, Colonel Hayes is sitting with an American Air Force officer and a United Nations diplomat. Hayes stands and smiles at Amy, "Have a seat Corporal. This is Lieutenant Colonel Jackson of the United States Air Force, in charge of the exchange program."

Jackson stands and offers his hand to Amy, his American accent quite prominent, "Pleasure to meet you. We're looking forward to adding an international element to the program."

The UN fellow, his business suit standing out in contrast to the military uniforms in the room, gives Jackson a look that seems to indicate that the UN pressured the US into adding that international element to whatever program Jackson is referring to.

Nathaniel Abrahms: DARPA HQ, Virginia

Allison Stewart, the project lead for the parallel universes team, has assembled her team in the lounge.

Allison's excitement is tangible, "All of the theory is about to become reality, ladies and gents. The Air Force has a nifty new toy they are playing with and they want at least one of us there to help them figure out how to make it work. The trick is, you'll be part of a more military organizational structure and will have to answer to them, not us. Any volunteers?"

Specialist Howie Blaise: Somewhere in the Ozarks

The wilderness had something no city or combat zone could ever match: peace and quiet. That's what Howie was enjoying at this very moment, suspended on a rope from a rock outcropping enjoying the view.

Then something intruded on the quiet, the sound of a helicoptor landing on the outcropping above. An Air Force uniformed fellow peeks over the edge of the outcropping, shouting over the sound of the helicoptor's blades.

"Specialist Blaise? We need to talk to you!"

 

[Scott DeWar]

Specialist Howie Blaise: Somewhere in the Ozarks

The wilderness had something no city or combat zone could ever match: peace and quiet. That's what Howie was enjoying at this very moment, suspended on a rope from a rock outcropping enjoying the view.

Then something intruded on the quiet, the sound of a helicoptor landing on the outcropping above. An Air Force uniformed fellow peeks over the edge of the outcropping, shouting over the sound of the helicoptor's blades.

"Specialist Blaise? We need to talk to you!"

'you have got to be kidding me ... a chopper here.....landing? above me?!'

he looks up, then starts to pull himself up with the ascenter on his line, a light breeze blowing him in his suspended state. As he rounds the bottom edge of the outcropping he sees the face and uniform of an air force person peering over ...

Wait. that was a chopper. since when does the air force use choppers, not to mention in taking an army person off of leave. What the heck is going on....
."

*sigh* "yeah, thats me. be there in a few seconds

As he ascends the remaing few feet, climbing the foot holds and hand holds in the ozark chert bluff, he says to the fly boy, " Now I know there ain't no wars breaking out. I checked with CNN befor i left this morning. And when is the Air force needing to retrieve an airmy person, a nobody like me at that?!"

He retrieves his rope from the bluff while he cools off in the breeze.

"can you be neighborly and retrieve my back pack over there"


He points to the edge of the cleaing where his back pack and a few other things are located.


then he stops and eyes the fly boy warily, "how the heck did you find me?"

 

[OnlytheStrong]

Max followed absently. His mind raced with a million thoughts, keeping him preoccupied enough to not realize that he was now sitting in a car.

"Hurry up." He didn't mean to be as rude as he sounded, but realized that every single passing moment could be the exact moment of death for his mother. He cursed under his breath and closed his eyes, thinking back to when he was younger........ She had better be okay or there would be hell to pay for whoever hurt her.

 

[Fanatic]

Diplomacy Sense Motive Spot (1d20+5=12, 1d20+6=15, 1d20+2=12)

Amy shook the man's hand hesitantly. Sure, the exchange program was a big thing but she wasn't expecting a Lieutenant Colonel to be present. And the presence of a NATO officer suggested something was up.

"The pleasure is all mine sir. I'm looking forward to working with my American counterparts and I'm eager to learn. I think both countries will benefit from the exchange."

Amy sat down, her foot moving side to side nervously. The mannerisms of Lieutenant Colonel Jackson seemed a little off for an entry interview for the exchange program, and the copious files on the desk, marked top secret indicated that this was definitely not what she thought it was.

Amy glanced to Colonel Hayes. The usually 'large and in charge' man was silent, almost submissive to his American counterpart. Something was definitely up.

Putting on her best 'charming smile' Amy looked back at Jackson.

"So sir, where do we go from here?"

 

[Yttermayn]

Connor Lang: Cedar Springs Mental Health Facility, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Connor saw the uniformed fellow talking to Doctor Wellsly as he sat in the activity center. Most of the other in-patients were in group therapy at the moment, which left him alone to look out the window.

Doctor Wellsly and the military uniformed fellow approached, the doctor speaking gently to him, "Connor, you have a visitor. This is Lieutenant Michaels. He's with the Air Force."

Michaels smiles, "Mr. Lang, pleased to meet you. I'd like to talk to you for a few minutes, if you don't mind."

"Fewifnd'h, 'wer^db eqw!" Conner says, and offers his hand to the Lietenant in a formal greeting. What language it is is anyone's guess. "Ehhhh..., don't mind him, sir, he does that a lot. We haven't quite figured out why he does it, though." the doctor appologizes. "His speech is highly structured, so it seems he believes he is saying something. At least it seems to indicate that he's in a good mood."
"Thank you, Doctor. What can I do for you, mister Michaels?" Connor says with a soul-less smile and an even, liquid-silk voice.

 

[Shayuri]

Nathaniel Abrahms: DARPA HQ, Virginia

Allison Stewart, the project lead for the parallel universes team, has assembled her team in the lounge.

Allison's excitement is tangible, "All of the theory is about to become reality, ladies and gents. The Air Force has a nifty new toy they are playing with and they want at least one of us there to help them figure out how to make it work. The trick is, you'll be part of a more military organizational structure and will have to answer to them, not us. Any volunteers?"

Nathan glanced around laconically as a forest of arms shot up among the researchers and engineers associated with the Project. He couldn't help but snicker, earning himself more than a few dark looks and the personal attention of Allison herself.

"Something funny, Abrahms?" she asked.

"Well...yeah, actually," Nate replied, unable to stop himself from digging himself in deeper. Abruptly he stood up and made a sweeping gesture with his arm to indicate the raised hands.

"What are we, grade schoolers?" He raised his right hand and held it with his left theatrically, hopping a bit and repeating, "Ooo! Me! Me! Come on. This can't be about who wants to go. Obviously we all want to go. It's the...the chance to verify all the theories, world shattering, ground breaking stuff. The -cat- would want to go. The janitor. This has to be about qualifications though."

 

[crazy_monkey1956]

DARPA HQ, VA

Allison laughs, "Well of course its about qualifications, silly. I was just trying to drum up some excitement."

Donald Wilson, sitting next to Nathan, mutters, "Way to thrill kill, Abrahms. Why don't you try not being negative for once."

Allison, ever the bubbly happy-go-lucky sort, continues, "As for who is qualified, the military is looking for someone who can take the physical demands of the position."

Another voice from the back, "That's discrimination! Just because Janice and I are wheelchair bound, that doesn't mean..."

Allison interrupts, "I'm sorry, but the military actually does have the legal right to demand physically fit folks. Second, they want someone who can take orders."

Donald smirks mean-spiritedly at Nathan, "That rules you out, Abrahms."

Cedar Springs Mental Health Facility, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Michaels watches Connor closely, "To put it bluntly, Mr. Lang, I have a job opportunity for you."

Doctor Wellsly interjects, "Oh, Connor isn't really able to..."

Michaels interrupts, "We think he is able, doctor. We think he's a lot more able than he lets on. What do you think, Mr. Lang?"

Canberra, Australia

Jackson responds with a smile, "To the airport, after you get yourself ready to go. The project in question is classified at the top levels of the US government, so we can't really talk about it here."

Hayes steeples his fingers in annoyance, "Not even I know what this is about."

Jackson seems a little too smooth, like someone who knows a few too many secrets and enjoys the power that gives him.

Incirlik, Turkey

Dawson hands Max a manilla folder with several files in it. The files are about something called Project: Shadowgate.

"As you are probably aware, your father was part of a rather fringe element of the archaeological community that was searching for Atlantis. As you are also aware, your father has been unable to talk about his current position with the government for the past seven years.

Your father was part of an underwater archaeological dig in the Caribbean in 2002 that uncovered what he believed was an artifcat of Atlantean origin. Since then, we've been figuring out how it works.

Unfortunately, about a month ago, when we first activated the device, an alien enemy force emerged, taking hostages back through the portal generated by the device, including your mother."

Dawson pauses at this moment to guage Max's reactions.

Somewhere in the Ozarks

The air force fellow, a lieutenant, retrieves the backpack and answers Howie's question, "We have our methods. We need you for an important mission. You'll be briefed en route. Right now, we need you to get in this helicoptor, no questions asked."

 

[Fanatic]

Amy glanced back over to the NATO officer in the corner and everything clicked. "Ok, well I would need a day or so to get everything prepared, and I'll be ready to go, that is, of course if you agree Major Hayes?"

Amy prepared to stand up but hesitated for a second. "This is not what I... originally expected. I don't suppose I can tell my friends and family anything about this? Secondly, I know that there's little time to ask questions but I have got to know. If this is a top secret US project, why would you risk a foreigner on board?"

She cautiously watched the American military man for his response, as well as the NATO Officer, who hadn't said a word.

 

[crazy_monkey1956]

OOC: A little too far of a jump, there, Fanatic. Let me worry about the NPCs and pacing jumps and such. Please revise your post back to the Canberra conference room and just include Amy's actions there. Thanks.

 

[OnlytheStrong]

Max sat there, no emotion or expression on his face. Aliens? Shadowgate? "Bunch of ....." he let his thoughts trail off. This stuff was EXACTLY why he hated his name.

"How fast can we get there? What do you know about this.... alien?" His mind was racing. He didn't wait for the agent to speak, "I assume that you know how to open and shut this gate?