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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Golden Bee" data-source="post: 9629926" data-attributes="member: 7041055">Château of the Colossus“I think we need to decide between booze and finding out what’s going on,” said the Captain.“I’ll drink to that,” said Kochev.Love, exciting and new! This time, our heroes were taking a well-deserved vacation on a tiny island near Ithaca, Greece. Joining Xiao Yun, JP Diamond and Captain Semya Ivanova were two new characters. The first was Ivo Kochev, the world's preeminent "distributor of rare and remarkable artifacts from civilizations both famed and forgotten". Second was the group's new marketing maven, "Uptown" Bonnie Tuttle. She put the ad in adventure: Bonnie had actually run away from the circus, to Madison Avenue. Who wouldn't want a press agent who could shake hands in Harlem and throw hands in the Bowery?The island was a five-star paradise, gorgeous and dedicated to helping people from all over the world find love. Not just the rich: there was a generous scholarship program that attracted a few familiar faces, like Lorna Geary from New Orleans and Valeria Esparza (secretary of the Jade Jaguar, Tácito Uriel Velasco).The group alternated between relaxation and investigation. For example: Captain Ivanova, an expert explorer, set a land speed record sprint-hiking the nature trail. Xiao had some steamy moments learning Greek pottery, and Bonnie met Jasper Crocus, a jazz club owner from the Motor City. They had immediate chemistry, and after dinner, biology. And although she met a gorgeous boy from Hong Kong, Xiao had to admit, though:Ivanova explained that a true woman of the world didn’t have to choose between love and duty. It was a surprising heart-to-heart between the fearsome super patriots.The vacationing five stopped relaxing long enough to look into the mystery. In the basement of the château was a heavy bronze door the staff wouldn’t discuss. So the five spread a lie that Captain Ivanova had been inside and stolen the artifact. Which few believed… but the employees still checked. And when they did, stealthy Ivo snuck in behind, discovering something no one could have expected… the head of the Colossus of Rhodes!With the staff cagey, and the alcohol overflowing, the group enjoyed their relaxation time… Until the Picoulos, a Greek warship, arrived. On it, hundreds of sailors, eager to spread the news: Greece was now a military dictatorship, and they needed the island. Why? Well, They wouldn’t say, but a lot of digging revealed the truth. Because it was improper for Greeks to execute one another, they planned to leave leftist dissidents on abandoned islands! (This is a real historical fact.)The shifty owner of the resort agreed, as long as the guests could be safely evacuated. Guess which ardent Soviet wasn't amenable to the plan?In fact, one of the traitors was Alexsander Bauer,  a contact of the Captain’s from her adventures with Dr. Freud (during Vienna Waits For No One)! Instead of letting a countryman be slain, the Captain let everyone know where she stood. Facing three hallways full of soldiers, she told the assembled:Still, some foolish soldiers reached for their guns, at which point Bonnie dove at them fist-first. Her strikes shattered limbs with the unmatched efficiency of a former carnie. In the chaos, the activities director of the island reached out for Alexsander Bauer… and transformed him into a recently discovered animal, the Ankylosaur.Yes, the island was owned by a cult of Circe!Ivo provided a distraction, and the group split up. Xiao rescued the guests, the captain protected the leftists, and the others had to open the bronze door!They battled to the owner’s office, grabbed the key and ran through the twisting hallways. In the basement, the activities director spilled the hot blood of Bonnie and Jasper, the most loving people available on short notice, and bid the Colossus to rise.They had the head. But what was its body?***Xiao and Semya felt the building quiver and quake. It turns out the entire resort was a weapon! With a fiery gaze, its mirrored brow proved worship stronger than warship. Any soldiers who avoided the calamity were transformed into ducks and geese. Once again, Circe had defeated Picoulos.It was lucky that the group had an Ottoman smuggler: escaping the military dictatorship presented a challenge. Even harder would be getting a refund.Bonnie Tuttle:</blockquote>

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