Veranda Incognita, Home of the Waverlys

[Malaclypse 666]

Stand back, Mal. I would blame it on that ruddy coat youre wearing, but Fiona suffered a brief attack of hypoxia earlier as well. Shes still not acclimatized to the atmosphere here. Do you have any of those Oxygenating pills on you? Pops was seated cross-legged on the floor, with Fionas head gently cradled on a forearm. He had sent the barbot for a small O2 tank which they kept on hand for guests who imbibed too much of the local beet alcohol. He pinched the insides of her delicate wrists lightly, and massaged the long, slim fingers of each hand in an attempt to get what little oxygen there was in her bloodstream moving about again.

Umm, perhaps you should do the standing back, Reggie. That look of concern is more than platonic, if Im any judge of Pineals, my friend. Need I remind you that this beautiful lady could be your bloody daughter?

Well, if she is, you lascivious lout; then she is the daughter Ive dreamed of half my life. I know my place.

The oxygen canister arrived, and the Ambassador slowly revived. She looked up at Waverly and Malaclypse, smiled shyly, and uttered a single word: Again..?

Mal quickly reached down to aid Fiona, while Pops rose and brushed himself off . The triptych froze for a moment in awkward embarrassment, broken finally by a delightfully unselfconscious laugh. I do hope the fish arent as dizzy as I am, gentlemen; or we shall never enjoy each others company, and secrets, over their succulent remains..

Well, began Mal, I hereby declare a holiday from any more bloody hot dogs! They may be sacred to Eris, but its no longer Friday; and if Squire Deckards hasty retreat is any indication, Id say they were last Fridays dogs anyway! Reggie! Dont your kitchen bots know better??

Id unpack another F-unit to oversee them; but I thought it best not to bring any more Fnordettes into the world just now. I believe we owe them all an apology for mantling them with freedom and sentience on such short notice. After all, they are still babies in a sense

Malaclypse roared with laughter. Have you seen what our babies have been up to, old friend? Theyve gotten jobs! Theyre working in one form or another for the Anerists, of all things! Theyve even been tasked with starting a Combat Flight Dojo for those green KNF pilots! It appears that our babies have their own ideas about balancing the Chao!

Rick returned just as Mal concluded. Not all your babies have turned to the side of order, sir. My name is Deckard. I must sadly report that your F-23 Kitty seems to have gone rogue, and theres no telling which side of the Chao she serves now

Happy to meet you at last, Rick! said Mal as he reached out a hand in greeting. Yes, Ive been following the news. Ive even been making discrete inquiries about Fnordies condition in hospital all along. Im happy to see he will recover.

And I promise you that the full resources of Laughing Goddess Bakeries and Warbucks LLC will be brought to bear to find and help Kitty; but I fear we may have more urgent matters to attend to first. Has Madam shared any of her story with you?

Fiona stepped in at this point, having fully recovered from her faint. I feel that I know you both well enough to bring you fully up to speed, gentlemen. Mal, I am delighted to meet you in person at last. Although I suspect weve met before in one of your other masks.

Mal grinned slyly. Theres no Fool like an old Fool, my dear. And yes, Ive been throwing a few Aneristic wrenches into the machinery myself. Hexagram 23 is sometimes known as Breaking Apart. I thought it an appropriate name for a humble Samura trader with more than the price of engine components on his mind

Then I have met more members of this troupe than I had even imagined! offered Fiona. And I suspect that my beloved Jessica has as well.

Entirely possible, my Dear. Your protege Jessica is a clever girl, if somewhat willful like her adopted Mother. But, to advance the species, one must introduce all the puzzles possible. Only through testing the reality tunnels of others can we introduce better and brighter tunnels.

But, enough for now! That sea bass smells exquisite! What of Jay Simon, and our new neighbor Spike? Will they be joining us? Pops, please do the honor of ringing the bell, and I shall escort Fiona and Rick to table myself! (I suppose youll be wanting the lovely Fiona on your right, eh, you old horn dog?)

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