Animus, Chapter 1: Of beginings and headaches.

[Sithdarth]

All was right with the world, well ok it might not have been right but it certainly wasn't wrong. At least not as wrong as it was about to become. The first sign was the pain. A blinding sharp pain in the temples. It was as if someone was trying to drive nails into your head. Then came the light and with it the pain washed over your entire body. Suddenly you felt as if falling and then just as aburptly being torn in a direction that can only be described as wrong.

Breifly you seem to be floating in a field of soft white light. Two figures indistinct in the hazy glow of the surronding light stand to one side. They seem to be conversing about something. Unfortunetly, the trama and pain of whatever brought you here as left you far to dazed to understand what they are saying. Then suddenly you are being yanked in that odd direction again.

When the pain and the movement stop you find that you are not back home. In fact you don't even appear to be you anymore. Your mind is filled with memories that were never there before and yet they still seem natural. They seem like they should have always been there. You also seem to have gained a few abilities you never had before. You realize with a smirk that you're definetly not in Kansas anymore.

(ooc: Its totally up to you what you were doing before being moved and what you are doing now that you've been moved. Also my horrible spelling and the TV stikes again. That title should read beginnings.
Edit: Oooh fancy I changed the title in the edit menu and it fixed itself. Probably because no one posted yet.)

[Elminster_Amaur]

Through the pain, Xan suddenly became aware of a presence occupying his mind along with himself, that was both himself, and completely alien to himself. A few minutes ago, he was making a vicious little Trojan-horse, or maybe he was walking the forest paths near his grandmother's cave on the outskirts of Metropolis, and suddenly the pain was there.

Now, as he runs through the forest, Xan realizes that he is not in control of his body. Well, he is in control, but it's not himself, but the other, alien him. With every ounce of his mental strength, earned through years of computer programming, or maybe it was battling his draconic mind, Xan pulled out the communicator the JL gave him for emergencies (and in case he changed his mind about joining), and asked them to teleport him to the Metro Tower.

LATER, IN THE METRO TOWER!

In four distinct voices of the purest baritone, tenor, alto and soprano, someone is screaming obscenities. Xan is surrounded by ten of the Justice League's lesser members, the Martian Manhunter, and a pile of broken decorations.

"I'M GOING TO KILL WHOEVER DID THIS TO ME, AND ANYONE WHO STANDS IN MY WAY!!" the voices shout, eminating from the very air itself. The ten surrounding Xan close in, trying to block all routes of escape. Xan, or rather, the dragon, charges the closest one, knocking him over. The others, seeing their friend's plight, rush to restrain Xan, and pin him to the ground. The Martian Manhunter comes in to attempt to calm the dragon, and shift its attention to more mundane things, like how shiny the trim on the walls is.

"GET OFF ME YOU BASTARDS!!" the voices scream. Since only four are needed to keep him restrained, the others back away to give the Manhunter some room. Xan turns his head toward the one on his right arm, and stares into his eyes. The man holding his arm down finds his gaze drifting into the deep pools of molten metal which are Xan's eyes. Once his eyes are firmly in place, his grip slips, and everything goes black for a moment, as his head has been slammed against the floor, leaving Xan's right arm free to try and remove the man on his left.

"I'M GOING TO KILL HIM, I'M GOING TO KILL YOU ALL!!!" the voices soften, as the Manhunter's psychic abilities start to calm the dragon. "I'M GOING...I'm...I...That's very pretty, I want it!"

[phil_]

As a little town sleeps, a man feeds his avarice. Somehow, he has entered the local pawn shop as if someone let him in from the inside. As he fills a potato sack with the various oddities people have pawned, a beam of moonlight strikes his face through the window. He's more a boy than a man, and his pale blonde hair, even paler in the lacking light, is stuck to his forehead with sweat. He pants as if in pain, and black droplets fall from his arms. His bag filled, the boy kneels. Suddenly, hundreds of tiny shadows swarm up his arms, then disappear.

Outside, Photius considered the wisdom of his plan. Where do crooks usually sell their plunder? He couldn't exactly use the pawn shop, could he? He'd have to figure it out later. He knew what happened to criminals who stand around considering their options.

As he made his way to his apartment, something bubbled up in his mind. For an instant, he was two different people. As his mind sorted out the odd disturbance, he remembered another life, up to a bizzare incident with searing pain, floating, and shadowy figures. He still felt like he now had two identities, but they were both the same person. Confused, he hurried onward. He'd figure out what had just happened later.

[Bailey]

William opened the door to his fridge and pulled out the salami, lettuce, tomato, and italian dressing. Then he pulled out the bread and began constructing a sandwi-~-shed forwards on lengthening legs, then leapt into the air. As he reached the top of the arc, his legs retracted and he slammed out with both hands, projecting ahead of him, only to miss his target due to lack of concentration at the sudden change. He made up for it, however, by spinning around with an enlarged hand, grabbing his foe. The villain screamed something about how he would never be defeated, blah-blah-blah, but it was easy to ignore him. Spring grabbed his communicator with his free hand. "Spring here, I've got the perpetrator. Port me back with him, and then send me right on to the medical bay. I think I've picked up somebody else's memories somehow, and every instance I can think of when that happened the invading spirit was not benign."

[Mintaro]

L.L lay in bed with his eyes closed. He felt unusually warm, but he couldn't stop thinking about the dream he had. Opening his eyes slowly he brough his hand up to his face to feel his soft hair and felt feathers brush his face. Opening his eyes wider he saw feathers in front of him. Looking around quickly he saw he wasn't in his mansion. No giant bed, no silk wall hangings. No beautiful women in his bed. It wasn't a dream, it was a nightmare, and he was still in it. Getting up he ran faster then ever he had ran before jumping into the pond. The cold water splashed over him. He poped up to the surface and floated there on the water. Looking around he felt the cold water on him, saw the sun in the sky. And rememberd his entire life in this world. "what the hell...." He said as his beak clacked together. "This is impossible, this is freakin impossible." He said again. He heard sirens off in the distance. He was then filled with an uncontrollable earge to follow the sirens and help out. "Why would God do this to me...." He muttered as he ran along the surface of the water towards the sirens.

[Sithdarth]

William suddenly found himself face to face with John Jones, the Martian Manhunter. "Its not an invading spirit Spring for lack of a better explination it is you." Pointing to Xan he continued, "He seems to have expierenced the same thing and if it happened to two people chances are there are more. Stay here while I send out a message."

With that John related the details of the event over the JL communicators and asked that anyone that expierenced something similar report to the tower. He also requested that Dr. Fate come to the tower.

[TheBlindMime]

Derek was asleep at his post again, per usual. He had a habit of falling asleep at the job because of a general malaise in the work place which was only compounded by his alcholism. While he was only an assembly worker and for the most part it was automated, sleeping still wasn't acceptable. Jerry the owner of the factory just sighed as he turned to one of the lower level employees, "Wilkerson, how long has he been asleep?"

"Damn long time chief." Wilkerson replied as he thumbed threw a Victoria's secret magazine, while the magazine upset Jerry, he preferred it over sleeping on the job. Though Wilkerson didn't give a damn one way or the other as he was only 20 and he could always get a new job, he was a real go-getter.

"I'm gonna bash his freaking head in," Grabbing a rubber-ended hammer he rushed towards him, "Wake up Derek!" Beginning a swing downward, suddenly Derek could feel his old bruise on his arm heat up in anticipation of the strike. Then, he felt it, it was a pulling sensation, no, it was different like a wave washed over the world and he was being dragged around by the undercurrent.

"WHOA!" Erick screamed out as he leapt out of his stool, he didn't get far as his slender frame ran into what felt like a brick wall. Spiraling around it was exactly who he didn't want to see. "Mr. Luthor?"

"Having a nice nap Erick's?" Lex asked in his usual angered tone.

"Yessir- I mean no sir." Erick's eyes dropped to the floor, he couldn't stand lex's eyes, they seemed to seethe and burn into him at every oppurtunity.

"Hmm.... I see, well while you may be well rested all of the other teams working on this project are ahead of schedule, while you are behind." Luthor said this as he walked around the desk inspecting every piece of equipment he felt the need to.

"I understand sir and I've been trying my best to catch up." Erick's sat down at his stool once more and tried to give the appearance of sorting his desk as he avoided any eye contact with Luthor.

"Thats the problem isn't it Erick's, your best is never even good enough to simply catch up." Luthor flicked a lamp as he uttered the word 'simply'.

Catching the lamp and bending it back towards its usual spot Erichs flicked his glasses back as he looked at his shoes, "Well sir, I know I've-"

"Save it Erick's, I've had enough of these shenanigan's. Clean out your desk, I want you out of here by the end of the day."

"Yessir." said Erick's as his head fell sullenly, he heard only the tapping of Luthor's dress shoes as his mind turned back towards what had just happened. "Who am I?" He began to shuffle his personal papers in a box when a metal squeak caught his ear.

Wilkerson slid his stool back with a giggle as he wipped out his Employee handbook, "I'm sorry Erick's but this was the third time this week you fell asleep, its my duty as depicted on page 37, section C of the employee handbook to point any disturbance or shiftless nature of my fellow employees."

"Shut the f*ck up Wilkes." Erick's stopped in mid motion, he had never used such profanity, especially not at work. But Derek would have.

[GARUD]

Peter looked over at his wall. The apartment was gloomy. He was all alone, and there was nothig to do. Homework all done, no more food, no TV, nobody to talk to. He looked up at the cupboard and noticed a plate falling. He ran to catch it and...

...He caught the ball, and shot for the basket. The ball travelled closer and closer, until. 3 pointer to win the game for the Hawks! Peter was a hero for his team. However, he felt lightheaded. It was almost like someone imposed their memories on him. He felt anguish and pain. What was happening?

[Raiden]

Thomas snorted as he woke up. He was sitting inside a very fancy car outside a giant building. He looked around. Everything was strange to him, yet everything was normal. He felt like this was where he had spent years of his life, but...

Screw it. Ever since he'd been stabbed with that artifact, weird shit had been happening to him. Now wasn't the time to think about it, since a very well-dressed man was walking towards the car. Thomas opened the door and got out. The man talked first.

"So, you seem to have enjoyed my car. Did it make your nap nice and comfortable?"

"Mr. Wayne, my job is to make sure your car is safe. What I do when I do it is my own business."

Bruce Wayne smirked a bit, and handed Thomas a $50. This was a rough part of town, and Mr. Wayne loved his car. Thomas took the money, and slipped it into his pocket. He walked away.

"Pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Wayne."

[Sithdarth]

In his traditional manner of appearing infront of an anch made of blue light Dr. Fate made his entrance. John quickly motioned him over and the conversed quickly in hushed tones. Then Fate walked over to William and Xan saying, "I think you two should come with me. I do some research and then we'll see if we can't find anyone else this has happened to. Perhaps even get you all back to normal."

He turned and another blue anch appeared and William and Xan found themselves in a study full of books and a chess set. "Wait here," Fate said over his shoulder, "I'll be back soon. Oh and if you need anything just call my wife."

[Elminster_Amaur]

"Get me an Ale, serving-wen..." Xan coughs, trying to dislodge the dragon. "Sorry about that. He gets the better of me sometimes." He reaches over to the bookshelf and takes out several random volumes. As he leafs through them, the dragon is observing the chess set, and the gold-ink in some of the books, and the number of William's heart-beats per-second, and the fact that four of the squares on the chess set are worn down more than the others.

Xan reads off the titles of the volumes in his hands:
Will you stop that, please? It's hard to concentrate when you do that.
"Magick and Me"
No. I like this stuff. I want it. I'm going to take it!
"Witches and Cauldrons: Fantasy or Fact?"
Oh, no you're not. This guy's going to tell us who hurt us, and why. I'm not going to risk you pissing him off.
"Why the chicken really crosses the road."

"Can the man who owns these really help us?" he asks William.

[phil_]

Photius pushed the books off his bed and lay down. The door was locked; the loot was safely stowed in the closet. He'd been thinking about his new life. That he was apparently a thief wasn't quite as disturbing as it he thouight it should've been. Nor were the worms crawling in his skin. He still hadn't figured out which set of memories were his real ones, but he had decided to go on those of his current body.

The thought of his old body, the one where Superman was a comic book character, suddenly troubled him. Was it still moving around? Was it even real?

"Oh, forget it," Photius huffed. Getting on his elbow, he fumbled in the sheets for the TV remote. Clicking through the channels, he saw the same news reports he saw every day. "Justice League saves the day!" "Hawk Man rescues kitten!" "Gangsters thwarted by Aquaman!"

"All's well with the world," he hummed. After further clicking through infomercials and kid's programing, he gave up and went to sleep. "It's late enough when the morning news comes on..."

[CallmePrismatic]

Godai walked into the library through a blue arch, taking a seat next to the chess set. He looked up at the room's two other residents.

"Same problem I assume? One second I'm holo-training, the next second I'm wondering where the hell I am and why I have the mind of a teenager with tastes in music I've never heard before."

[TheBlindMime]

Erick walked steadily up the groaning staircase of his decrepit apartment building, his box of work related personal items shuffled gently back and forth as he grew closer to his fourth story apartment. As he stepped into the hallway he heard the usual slamming of fast paced footstep rising up from below. Erick merely shuffled his feet as he waited for his land lord.

It seemed like every time that frail old man came into view he had a grimace on his face, he still wore the dress pants and shirt he had bought as an up and coming young man, Erick wagered he was to cheap to buy a new one. Though he'd never say it. "Erick where's your rent money?"

"But its not due for another week Mr. Slugworth." Erick nearly dropped his box o' crap.

"Well I need the money now, and if I don't get it soon this whole place will be closed down." Slugworth leaned in and slammed a finger into Erick's chest. "You wouldn't want that hanging over your head now would you. Get it to me soon."

As the old man marched down the stairs Erick watched what seemed to be something he had been through time and time again, whether it was Luthor or Slugworth someone was always intimidating him. It wasn't going to happen anymore, not in this world or the last one. Erick had been preparing himself for this for quite some time. He'd even designed a cool spandex suit, it was bright red with golden streaks and a dark blue cape.

Slugworth was watching his big screen tv lazily when he heard a knock on his front door, he turned the tv up quickly and went back to watching the action. The knock rang out again, he raised the volume louder once more, he couldn't miss Mr. Norris' next line. The wall suddenly exploded in a blinding flash of blue, "SLUGWORTH!" a voice echoed over the crashing debris.

"Wha????" Slugworth screamed back as he watched his big screen flickered once but was otherwise unaffected.

"I won't be paying you now or ever again," Erick said this with confidence, a thing he'd lacked in the life but had too much of in the last. "And if anyone asks you..." He lifted up his arm with a smile before firing another blinding blue shot into the tv. "Tell them it was D."

Slugworth merely mumbled nothing as he watched that 'D' take to air. It would be ok, after the Insurance and Erick paid him he'd still have plenty of cash. Right?

[Sithdarth]

Dr. Fate reentered the room through an arch between two book cases. He floated to his small knot of guests and cleared his throat.

"Well I've got good news and bad news. The good news is that those new memories are your memories and nothing physically has been done to your current body. The bad news is it appears something has shifted the mind of an alternate you into your current bodies and merged it with the one that was there," as he finished his speech he glanced at the chess board and then back up. "I've been able to track down many others who are in the same boat and I'll attempt to bring them here. Its not much but with all of you here we might find some sort of common link and a way to reverse this."

Floating higher that ever familar anch of blue energy appearing behind him Fate sent out a summons to all those effected not in the tower:

"Greetings, you may or may not know me but that doesn't matter now. I know of what happened to you and if you come to me we may be able to find a solution. Please just pass through the portal in front of you. Its hard to miss its the giant blue thing right in front of you."

Returning to the floor Fate slumped a little. The complex summoning he had just preformed taking its toll. "Now we wait," he exhaled sharply.

(ooc: Ok anyone not in the tower sees a an anch of blue energy appear with the head of a guy wearing a golden full helm in front of it. After the message is delivered the head disappears and you feel the wind tug toward the anch slightly like the draft under a door.)

[GARUD]

Peter was talking to his girlfriend when it happened. Well, the blue light kinda spooked her so she left early.

"And I was about to score too... darn."

He sighed and moved through the portal. He just hoped he would get back for dinner.

[phil_]

Photius was awoken by Dr. Fate's message. He was not happy. Fumbling for the clock, he groaned, "Afternoon? It's too early to wake up... Now who's there?"

Pho wrapped a sheet around his waist and stood beside the arch. It really looked nice; a good compliment to his wall paper. Deciding to see where it went, Photius threw on his clothes from the night before and walked through the portal. I mean, it's not like it could be a Justice League trap. It was just a pawn shop.

[CallmePrismatic]

Godai leaned back in his chair, staring around at the other members and his surroundings. What he identified as his true self, that of Artemis, was staring in awe but the Godai portion was unimpressed, leading him to wonder which part was truly dominant and if he was even thinking about this the right way. Of course, most of those queries would be answered soon and both parts didn't want to embarass themselves by asking a question that would be covered later anyways...but a small little clarification couldn't hurt.

"So, Doc, any idea on the proper pronouns we should use while this is all happening. It's kinda hard to forumulate thoughts when there's a we inside your head that's part of the overall I, ya know?"

Godai's fingers danced across the chessboard, settling on a pawn close to him. He wasn't experienced, he usually settled in at the low end of the '10 minutes to learn, lifetime to master', but it wasted time. The piece moved two spaces forward.

[Elminster_Amaur]

Xan reaches over and moves the pawn in front of the other color's king two spaces forward. "Care for a quick game while we wait?" he said, as he sat in front of Godai, attempting to draw Godai's eyes into his own. "We can play for...oh, say...ten dollars?"

[Raiden]

Thomas walked on his own down the street. He was thinking about nothing other than what game he was going to buy with his new $50. There were so many good ones...

But when the large blue portal appeared before him, he knew that plan was shot to crap.

"You know...why can't anything in this town be normal? I mean, why can't the cops manage to catch bad guys?"

With a sigh, Thomas stepped through the light.

[Sithdarth]

As you all arrive Dr. Fate begins to speak again only to be interupted by the entrance of AMAZO the android. AMAZO seemed to be totally unaware of the presence of all these people for a few seconds. Finally noticing the small knot of people AMAZO stopped furrowed his brow and rubbed his chin.

"Interesting," AMAZO began, "so it has finally started. I was beginning to wonder when this all would start."

He then walked to a bookself grabbed a book and started to wander back out the door he had entered from.

[Elminster_Amaur]

Xan reaches over and throws the chess board directly in front of AMAZO the robot, at least, he tried to, but hit the robot square in the face. The dragon says, "You there! What do you mean by 'finally started'? Speak quick or apologize and leave!"

[Abeni]

Desdemona was looking not at all like her usual baggy black and chained self. She was on her way to an interview. The colleges in the area were "recruting" again as her group of people so eloquently put it. She was uncomfortable in the white blouse, but excited. This was her ticket out of hell. She was entering the building when she got a headache, which she thought was because of her excitment. However it got worse a worse until she was finally pulled out of her normallity and thrown into Sandra's.

Sandra opened her eyes and shook off the headache, then stopped dead in the middle of the street where she had been trying to stop a some criminal or another. She knew what she was doing, she knew who she was and where she was, but at the same time she remembered everything about her life as Desdemona. She could remember all the horrible things that happened to her and felt as if they had happened to her as well, but that couldn't be, could it?

Forgetting the criminal, she looked herself over, extremely confused. She was wearing normal enough clothes, a simple white dress shirt worn loose over an orange tank top and khaki shorts, but it was something Desdemona wouldn't have been caught dead in, so she felt strangely uncomfortable. But then, this is something Sandra wore regularly so she was content with it. And there were other things about her that contradicted Desdemona, like...

Her thoughts were interupted by a metallic noise behind her head. She could feal fear, aggression, and overconfidence, and a male voice behind her said "Stand up, nice and slow." The criminal had returned, and as she complied with his wishes she couldn't help but mutter "idiot..." under her breath. She used her empathic powers to try and calm him down, he started lowering his gun but thought of something that strengthened his resolve, then she felt sadness that she hadn't made him feel, and suddenly he wasn't there anymore. Sandra spun around and saw him running up the street. "Oh no you don't," she telekinetically picked up a bench off the street and hurled it at him, but at that moment a blue arch appeared and the bench dissappeared inside it. She stared at it incredulously, with a sweatdrop running down the back of her head. Oops.

The mans head that spoke too her told her he could solve her problem. She wondered what the was for a second before she could almost feel Desdemona thinking this guy was an old crock. Oh. That problem. A little nervous she entered the arch.

[Sithdarth]

The chess board and all the pieces stopped and hung in mid air then slowly floated back into place. "All I can tell you," begain the Android, "is that all this is a sort of test. As to who is doing it, well for lack of a better explination you are doing it. I really can't say anymore on the subject."

After finishing his little speech the Android disappeared the way he had come. During the comotion of the tossed chess set no one had noticed the bench and the new comer. Now, however, Dr. Fate turned to her and said, "Welcome to my home. We hope to get to the bottom of this soon."

[phil_]

Given that he hadn't been beaten senseless, Photius decided that he was in the midst of... one, two , three, five, sixish, seven? seven Leaguers for something other than robbery.

Photius finally spoke up. "Hey, you're Dr. Fate, right? The guy from the Justice League? Do you know Superman? Do you know why I'm in this world and not in class right now? Is this a dream?"

Despite his larcenous tendencies, Photius was a fan of the League.

[Abeni]

Sandra stared around her and at Dr. Fate. She could recognize a few of them but because of what happened she felt like she didn't know who they were. But trying to be polite she nodded and smiled at Dr. Fate.
"That's a relief, this girl has been through some very tough times and it's starting to depress me." She tapped her forheadn and then looked over at her bench, "Sorry about that, I was trying to catch someone and the arch kinda just, appeared..." She glanced around the room again, observing the strange emotions of the one who was next to the reassembled chess set.

[Raiden]

Thomas didn't say much. He just walked in, and looked around. Several JL members were standing around, not doing much.

He liked it here.

[Bailey]

Spring reached behind his head and wove his arms together, placing both elbows firmly behind his head and leaning backwards. An audible cracking and popping sound could be heard, and it continued when he unwove his arms, placed his left hand on his right thigh and twisted, then repeated the maneuvre in the other direction.

[Sithdarth]

Just then a deep voice from the shadows said, "Yes he is Dr. Fate the guy from the Justice League. Yes he does know Superman and no I highly doubt anyone but that Android knows the real reason behind all this." As the voice finished Batman slowly walked out of the shadows stopping just on the outside of the little group.

"What a strange bunch we have here. Some of you are Justice Leaguers and some aren't" he said looking at Photius while narrowing his eyes a little. "The thing I don't get is why I my interdimensional travel detection system picked up on this. Fate and John both confirmed that your bodies haven't traveled anywhere just your minds. Also, my instruments have never detected magical occurences before. This is quite the puzzle I suggest you all stick together for awhile."

Batman slowly surveyed the group once more than asked, "So any further questions?"

[Elminster_Amaur]

Xan raises his hand. "Yes, I have a question. Why won't the hunk o' metal over there just tell us what this is all about?"

[Bailey]

"Well, to borrow a chess analogy, he's probably already calculated several hundred moves ahead and decided that its for the best that we don't know. That said, I'd like to find out as soon as possible. I'm guessing we need to find out on our own or it won't have the same impact."

[Abeni]

Sandra nodded, and thought for a moment, then said "Can you know which mind is the original?"

[Sithdarth]

After a moment of thought Batman continues, "From what I've heard I'd wager the memories that don't belong here are the originals. However, I wouldn't be so quick to discount your memories here as false."

Suddenly Batman starts beeping and with a quick tap to his ear you can tell he is listening to something; something he doesn't seem to like. After another quick tap he looks everyone over once more, "It would seem we have a situation that may be related. It would seem Morgan Le Fey has come out of retirement. The timing of this is rather strange considering how we left her last. It must be connected somehow. I'd recommend you all check it out. I'm sure Fate can arrange transportation for you all. As for me I have other things to investigate."

His speech completed Batman backs into the shadows once more and vanishes. At his departure Dr. Fate once again opens a transport gate. "Off you go then; but be careful Morgan is not someone to take lightly."

As you step through the gate you find yourself in what appears to have been a science lab. Broken glass and elctronics lay everywhere and what appears to be a large malformed lab rat stands gaurd over a few friegthened scientist in a corner. Morgan Le Fay is floating in more or less the center of the room menacing a rather timid looking man in a lab coat. You can only guess at what's been happening.

[Bailey]

Spring's legs extend to their full length and immediately retract, sending him into the air. As he leapt, he also tumbled, his arms lengthening as he did so to grab the lab rat as he landed. He pulled while shortening his arms back up, hoping to throw it over his shoulder.

[phil_]

Photius tried to keep a low profile. Fighting giant rats and super villains just wasn't his thing. However, looting was. His experience as a history professor's son wasn't much help, but his experience in this world was much more useful. Slinking under tables, he lamented the loss of several flasks of valuable chemicals. The electronics... monitors, motherboards, some other things he couldn't identify without turning them on (which, in their trashed state, was impossible), were more prevelant.

Photius stumbled upon a microdisc that looked unharmed, and quietly slipped it into his pocket. Even if there was nothing on it, he could still use a free disc. Maybe he'd put his next paper on it.

[Sithdarth]

The rat took flight and sailed across the room more or less gracefully. It bounced heavly off the top of a lab table and slid down into the space between two tables. Landing right on Photius the rat seemed to explode into a greyish slime that completely covered the unfortunate man.

All this commotion caught Morgan LeFey's attention. She looked over to Spring and shot a glowing yellow ball at him stating, "How dare you interfere with my plans!"

[Elminster_Amaur]

Xan stood by, observing all the various objects that the room contained. Some were really rather interesting. "Do those rats come in a larger size with lazers on them?" the Dragon asked. Xan's eyes loose focus.
Shut UP!
No, YOU shut up!
Look, if you shut up, we're going to go get a better prize than these rat guards could ever be.
Oh...all right.
"I'm sorry, he gets a little excited at the prospect of cheap guards for his hoard...we're here to see you about a problem we all experienced. I hope you'll be able to answer our questions, no one else will." Xan finished

[phil_]

Photius almost yelled, "Why're you asking her?! She's the bad guy!" but caught himself. Drawing attention to himself wouldn't be wise.

The pile of goop gave Photius one of his rare ideas. Hidden under the pile, Photuis let his worms burrow out of his arms and into the slime. The swarm crept through the ooze and under a table, then dispersed around the room, finally converging behind Le Fey. Assuming she hadn't already seen them, they then sprang from the floor in a writhing column and attempted to envelop the sorceress.

[Sithdarth]

As Xan spoke LeFey's eyes glowed with a pulsing yellow light. Xan felt himself seemingly float free of his body. Morgan was waiting for him standing before the biggest pile of treasure and valuables anyone has ever seen. "Help me," She began, "and all this could be yours." It was just about at that point she got covered in a giant swarm of worms. Xan was very aburptly returned to his body as Morgan lost her concentration.

As the worms bore her to the floor Morgan blasted them off in all directions in a fit of rage. With a feral scream she rose from the squirming pile of worms and floated once more above the tables. Suddenly Photius felt a tug on his belt and before he knew it was floating above the tables as well.

"I was going to let you go little man," Morgan derided the poor fellow, "but now you have to pay." With a quick motion Photius felt himself propelled at high speed across the lab and directly at the scientists in the corner. Content with her punishment of the worm guy she returned to Xan. Holding a hand out she called to him with her voice this time, "Come and be my champion. I'll give you riches and fix whatever has been done to you. Then we can make the perpetrator pay for it together."

[Bailey]

Spring dove to his hands, pushed up, extended, and twisted his distal ankles around a pipe in the cieling. He grabbed everyone he could with his distal hands and retracted quickly to get out of the way of the blast.

[Elminster_Amaur]

"You're lying. Bitch." The baritone, tenor, alto and soprano voices of the dragon said. "You wouldn't give me that treasure if you even had it."
His eyes go crossed for a handful of seconds.
Wait, maybe she's telling the truth.

Fool. If she were being truthful, she wouldn't have needed to use an illusion to try and sway us.

What?! You're turning down the treasure?! I can't believe you. Always talking about your hoard, and yet you get a chance like this...

You are foolish Wyrmling, but you know I can't win in the long run. Just don't get us killed.

Whatever Drake.

As the eyes uncrossed, Xan says, "Forget what he just said. I believe you."

Xan then turned and attacked Spring.