You wake sitting in a luxurious chair which is a very nice change from being blown into a palm tree at fifty miles per hour, and then those bizarre dreams that followed it.  You feel fine.

The chair soothes the vibrations of the floor which you feel in your soles, and encourages you to relax, but then a breathy, odd voice asks from near you.

"You are Human, are you not?"

Playtester

"Yes I am human, who are you and where am I, if youdon't mind me asking?"
I sit up in the chair and look at the person talking and look around me to see where I am and what is around me.

The short, gray-skinned, and heavily wrinkled figure in the suitably for him (or it) sized chair across from you wriggles the seven fingers on his right arm.

"I am what your species terms the Emmissaries.  You are aboard our starship, the Great Test.  Are you claiming to be an agent of the Galacticans or other species?"

Looking about you see a cone filled with comfortable chairs, and further up the cabin, you see some young looking humans talking to another human you immediately peg as a professor.

" I'm no agent of anyone that I know of, I'm Rob and I use to be from Earth.
Do you know how I got here?"
I stand up from the chair and offer my hand to the gray old man.
"So what do you and the crew of The Great Test do in the Galaxy?"

"I/We, a differentiated collective, usher new species to the door of Galactic Society, and offer them a chance to enter. If they can.  Such a test is on the verge of beginning with your species.

I do not know how you got here.  You do trail some minor inter-dimensional matter streams according to our sensor grid which suggest that you used a teleportive technique that involved travel outside normal space-time.

I assume that one of the more advanced races brought you here as part of the Test."

He shakes your hand, and you feel odd like feathers are tickling inside your head, for a second.  He's very warm, perhaps a 130 degrees.

Playtester

" So I'm to be a test for my species? What does this test involve?"
Rob walk around the cadin amd take a closer look around.

"If you are one put here by one of the more advanced species then I could not know what the point of the test is.  And for your species test, well, we conduct you and "five hundred of the best" humanity has to offer to a megastructure near the Galactic Center to face your test.  I cannot tell you more than that."

You see a bunch of jump-suited individuals.

One girl detaches herself from the crowd.  She looks Polynesian.

"Hello, I'm Naomi Eastland. The Grand Councilor's daughter, and a vested plenipotentiary ambassador for Humanity as well as about a half-dozen other things."

She says the last bit with an oddly defensive attitude as she holds out her hand to shake.

I shake her and and say," Hello I'm Robert formally from the planet Earth.
So are you the one that will conduct my test, and when will it start, do I have to get ready or do anything special for this."
Rob is still lost but tries to play it up. This jumping worlds is going to take a little getting use to.
I wait for her reply.

She laughs.

"No, I'm just one of the many who gets tested.  Did the Emmy give you his 'see no evil, hear no evil' routine.  We still have no clue about what this test is either.  We were hoping you did.

  How did you get out here? Earth doesn't have interstellar ships.  We can barely keep our colony on Mars going."

Another guy at her shoulder says.

"You should not be mentioning the Martian difficulties. Its important to keep optimistic for the common people."

Playtester

I just look at her with a look of I don' know and then said," I really don't know how I got here. Actually it seems weird but I think I'm traveling the multiverse somehow, just not sure how and why. So when do we do this test and how long have all of you been here?"
I move over to them as I walk away from the old man I nod to him.

"We've been here a week, and in about twenty hours we arrive at the site of the test.  Although some people suspect the test has already begun.  The Emmies make a practise of being inscrutable.  They say they want honest answers, not just us spitting back what they taught us.

Multiverse? Hmm, you'd need to talk to Patrick or Singh.  Pat's a quantum physicist, and Singh is probably the best mathematician of his generation.  He's designated an Official Treasure of the People by the World Council.  My father said its votes like that that keep the job of running the world bearable." Naoimi says.

Playtester

" I should find Patrick and Singh then and talk to them. I will give them honest answers, at least as to what I believe is happening to me and about myself. So are you from Mars then?"
I move over closer to the group and get closer to her.

She offers you her arm, and laughs cheerfully at your question.

"Oh no, I'm from Geneva during the winter for the snow sports, and Polynesia during the summer for the surf-boarding.  I've been to Mars, but its not a very nice place, except for the low gravity which is pretty neat.  The Emmies say if we pass the Test they will give us technology which will make it so we can terraform the Mars Colony.  It would provide a place to put some of the overpopulation we have.

Its pretty crowded on Earth. I don't know what it was like when you left, as you say, but here in 2105 its twenty billion and rising."

She helps you walk into the next couple cabins searching for the two, and soon enough they find you.  The place seems laid out like a long hotel with small rooms on each side, and storage above and below the central walkway.

You tell the two and they agree that what you describe is theoretically possible.

Patrick says that he would like to examine you if he can get some machinery and see if he can find this "scriff", and also have a genetic engineer look at your DNA to see if you are human.  I.E. like them.

Playtester

" Sure Patrick you can have whatever you like as long as you leave enough for me,ok." I smile at this and then look at my guide and say," Well when I left Earth it was the year 2005 and the population was alot smaller. So what else has changed in the last 100 years on Earth."

OOC: Taking a break from novel writing...

The trio laughs, and relaxes in your presence, and several others join, introducing themselves.

Summarizing: The nation-states merged into a World Government with a definite tendency toward Swedish social policies, but a lot of tensions still exist.  Hunter-gatherer animists live alongside industrializing Moslems alongside information-structure design athiests and dozens of other groups, and none really like each other that much, and many blame all the problems with inadequate resources on the other guys.

Corruption is widespread, and lack of faith in the gov't is strong. Their is a definite ruling elite of which your attractive hostess is one of them.  Its a two-tier elite.  The international group is on top, and the regional governors serve at their discretion.

 Large scale riots are regularly supressed with tear gas, and at least once a year, helicopter gunships get sent out to pulverize a target.  But considering Humanities bloody history, one small war a year is not really that bad.

And in private she confides to you that when the Emmies first came, the Council thought they were coming to conquer, adn the Council was happy for that meant they could give the problems to someone else.

Luna's been colonized since 2031, and Mars got started in 2045, but there is no funds for further exploration.  The riches of the asteroid belt are just one step too far, and Solar Power Satellites can't be built because of internal opposition from various groups.

"And then the Emmies came one year ago and promised the galaxy if we would just send them five hundred of our best for four years to pass a Test.  We fell over our shoelaces saying yes."

Playtester

" The world has changed alot and then of course it hasn't. So we are close to the end of your journey. So because I'm not from this time and I make more then 500 should I participate in this test?"
I look at by beautiful hostess and smile at her, she is smart and beautiful, I wish I had more time to get to know her.

"The Emmies seem to think you are somehow a part of the Test.  I certainly would not refuse your company.  So if by luck, or by the design of some incredibly advanced alien species with indecipherable motives, welcome to our company."

PT

" Well thank you very much Naomi and I'm honored to be in your company and in the presence of your beauty as well."
Rob stood there smiling at her, he liked her and tried to show it, he just hoped the feelings would be mutual.

"Well, ah, you're a lot bolder than most guys I've met, but I like it. I think."

She spends some more time getting to know you.  It seems a number of your responses are a bit surprising to her.

At one point, she says..."Its like talking to one of the non-revised history books, come to life."

Playtester

I enjoy the time we spend together and tell her everything she wants to know.
" Well Naomi I've never been compared to a history book before I hope that is a good thing."
I smile and chuckle a little after my last comment.

The ship lands, and you all get to debark down a ramp onto a gigantic lawn with a long strip of Victorian like five story tall homes but in condominium style, butted up against each other for the side facing you of at least half a mile.

The five hundred people in the crowd closely together as the ship suddenly vanishes.

Minutes pass...

Playtester

I look at Naomi and say," So what do we do know pick out a place, but I have no stuff with me."

The others in the silent crowd that are nearby are listening.

"You want to lead off, and I'll follow?"  She waves her hand toward the Victorian strip house or school.  "Pick a door any door."

A nearby older adult, one of the teachers, nods in support of this idea.

And you feel small shoves in your back from several sets of hands.

Playtester

I follow Naomi to a nearby door open it up and take a walk inside, I motion to her to see if we can get rooms next to each other.
" Maybe we can get rooms next to each other so we can talk more and maybe get to know each other even better."
He looks around the house to see how it is set up.

The group seems to favor the idea of finding a couple large rooms, and bunking together.

There is a huge entranceway with a set of double stairs leading up to a balcony, and to doorways to lots and lots of rooms.  Its a convoluted maze, easy to get lost in.

You find this out in the first 15 minutes there.

Playtester

I follow the groups wishes but stay close to Naomi. I see a large room walk in and say," This seems to be big enough for our group, should we set up in here everyone?"

People agree with you, adn Naomi congratulates you on your leadership.  The room quickly fills up.

PT

I pick out a bunk and get settled in, and then I wait till others get settled in and after a bit I go up to Naomi and the others and say." So now that we have a place to live what are we to do now, does anyone here know?".

"Where's the bathrooms, and where is food and water?  Where's computer resources to plan everyone's activities to maximal efficiency? Are there any thing dangerous nearby"

She ticks off the communities needs on her fingertips.

" Those are things we need to take care of and make sure we have available.
Are there any of our hosts around to ask? Or are those things just hidden from us. Maybe we should choose some people to go and find out that info for us?"

You don't see any of the Emmies, and Naomi suggests that you gather a small team and go look.

PT

I gather a small group of people and say," Naomi you and the tohers set up everything here we are goung to check on those other things and look for the Emmies we shouldbe back soon."
I lead the small group out of the building and start looking for food, facilities, water and the Emmies.

You head out onto the Great Lawn, about half a square mile of green grass, and beyond it you can see a dark and dense forrest.

To your right and left are many more doors leading off from the lawn.  Walking around the building leading rightward leads you to an extensive Victorian style porch, and then around the corner to a river about fifty feet across.  On the other side is sand.  This side is nice green grass.

Continuing the circuit brings you back to the Great Lawn with no sign of Emmies.
Then someone points out that wherever they walk, their shadow looks the same. So you all look up, and see beyond the clouds, something, not really sure, but it could be a roof to the world.  The sun is leftward from the front door going out.

And looking that way, the land just looks odd, you're not sure whats wrong, but the shape of it bothers you.  That and the impossible physics of a shadow that never changes in length.

Playtester

I think the shadow is really odd that means the source of the light never moves even when you do that is strange. Before we venture into the forest I head back to inform the orthers what we have found out so far.

You walk up to the forest and upon getting closer see that it is really dense, and that their is an absolutely straight line separating the grass from the forest.  On one side, grass, two inches over, full-bore forest.

PT

" So Naomi what do we do now, can't find any Emmies, no food, found a river, a very very dense forest that I'm not even sure we can get into. Then there is the strangeness of this place. The shadows that don't change the abruptness at which things change, its as if this place was created and didn't occur naturally. This almost seems like a created world and we are the rats inside of it. What do you think?"

"Rats in a maze. Animal testing was banned decades ago, but I see what you mean.  It makes sense. Perhaps the Test is if we can feed ourselves and thrive in strange environments.

We've found bathrooms and they have water as well.  But no food yet. No Emmies either.

What do we do now?"

You've noticed that while the group is competive and energetic when they know the parameters, they seem to retreat into listlessness when faced with the unknown.  In other words, they are very good students.

PT

" Noami we need to select a leader and find somewhere to get food, set up a structure of I guess so called government or chain of command, and we have to find a way into the woods, maybe there is plants and berries to eat or animal life. So who should we nominate as leader Naomi?"
I stand back a little and wait for responses.

She suggests a council of ten with herself having a seat and you as well.  It would be modelled on the World Council.  Each important group would have a representative.

And then above that would be a triad to make sure things got done.  She'd like your support for her as triad supreme.

And if you could gather everyone together and announce this plan, that would be grand.

Food can wait, she thinks.

PT

" I will be honored to serve on the council of ten, and you have all of my support for you as Triade Supreme Naomi, I think you will do a great job."
I then spread the word for everyone to meet orderly outside in a large circle
so that we may discuss our plans. When all of the people are set up, I go to Naomi and say," The people are ready Naomi shall we go speak to them?"

She's having a panic attack because its so important to do this right.

"Lay a good foundation, and we could be halfway to passing the test, and saving Earth.  Mess up, and global civilizational collapse, and it would be all my fault."

She yanks on her hair.

PT

I look at Naomi and put my hand on her shoulder and say," Hey relax we will do this right together you don't have to do it alone, you have alot of people who will help you and if needed guide you ok, so just relax ok Naomi."
I keep my hand on her shoulder and give her a big smile of reassurance.

The crowd is happy to get direction, and you can tell they are starting to see you as a leader.  That means, among other things, people coming up to you to ask you dumb questions that they should be able to figure out themselves.

You talk to Naomi, and sorry, something in your tone (rolled a botch on your persuasion skill, ouch), or something sets her off.

"How can you smile? Don't you understand?  I must be insane to trust you."  She runs off deeper into the building crying...

PT

I turn to everyone  and say " Please figure out the basics on your own and we will create a leadership structure and then we can move on to the complex tasks ahead ok."
I then run after Naomi into the building and try to find her and calm her down she is the real leader here not me.

The crowd looks tentative, but agreeable.

You race off after Naomi.  She heads down into the bowels of the building, heading past rooms no one has ever opened, and then as you close with her, she spins around a corner, and slams a door. The sounds of her feet, and crying cuts off abrubtly.

An empty hallway with three doors faces you.

PT

I head to the doors and look for one that might have been recently opened.
Hand prints on dust, foot prints on the floor and if I find one I go through that one. Also I will say," Naomi I was only trying to help you not cause you pain or hurt you, why would I do that to someone I care about and hope to get to know alot better."

You open a door, and step through.  There's a small internal jolt, and you're somewhere else.

Naomi is standing in front of a three foot tall upright, penguin shaped Avian with bright feather-fur in red, yellow, and purple.

"Ah, excellent.  Another of your species. Perhaps you can explain. Is is customary for your species to blubber unintelligibly?  The old legends did not mention that part."

The bird has a Southern, almost Texan accent.

"Alien..."  Naomi gasps out.

PT

" Hello my name is Rob and who are you and why are you here my friend."
I then go near Naomi and take her hand and start to head back for the door.

It repeats your sentence with the exact tones that you use.

"Interesting. You differ in your manner of speech. Even from this one.  I am Talker."

You step back through the door, feel another jolt, and you're back in the hallway.  Looking back, you see an empty room.

Naomi collapses to the floor.

"As soon as I get there, a whole room of them swarm me, asking me questions all at the same time, calling me the Deliverer, and in that American accent.  I just flipped out.  Its just impossible.  It doesn't make sense.  How can I be the leader when I don't have a clue what I'm doing?"

PT

" I'm who and what, I'm not your deliverer, I'm just a person from Earth a long time ago, please explain what is going on here before I loose my mind."
I try to hold Naomi up, and keep her from hitting the floor, and then I check her out to make sure she is ok.

Talker follows you through the door, and suddenly appears.

"We did not think you the Deliverer of our legends, but her, since the Deliverer was female of your species.  But now I think not.

I am a member of the Sarlai Keet. Along with four other species we were brought here by the Emmissaries for a test. I believe yours is the last of these species."

She's calming down, and looking apologetic.

"I'm sorry, I freaked on teh pressure, adn then suddenly all these aliens crowding me." She gets up, but keeps a hand on your arm.

PT

" Can I ask deliverer of what and from where?"
I then help Naomi get stedied and say," I'm sorry if I upset you and I hope you are ok."
I look at the talker and add," So now what do we do my friend?"

"My people on our home world in the Time of Rocks were bound inside a small valley as it was the only safe place, and the Deliverer came, and Judged the cold ones, we think that means cryonically frozen but its a really old legend so we're not sure, and freed our home world from the Rocks falling on it.

Later, we colonize worlds, and then the Emmisary come and give us a Test.  The other species were hoping that you, the Humans, as the last species would know what to do."

It scratches its head.

"Have you figured out how to use the food boxes yet?"

Naomi kisses you on the cheek, and whispers in your ear.

"I'm okay for now, we'll talk later."

PT

" What food boxes can you show my friend."
I walk up to the talker and try to show him I want to help and trying to be his friend. I then kiss Naomi on her cheek and whisper into her ear,
" Ok but lets try to make frineds here and see if they can help."

It describes a room generally to see if you've seen one such, but you haven't.  And so you wander around a bit for about an hour, until you come to a room with about forty refrigerator doors in the walls, and computer screens in front of each door.

"This might be it.  Ours looks different, but then you're aliens."

It points to one of the screens, and you walk up to it.  A holographic model of a nuclear submarine appears with another list of various readouts from the theoretical sub.  One glance at the figures lets you know the sub is in deep trouble.  The reactor is way too hot.

"What should the chief engineer do in this case?"  Flashes on the screen.

"Solve the problem, and you get food." Talker says.

"Oh, look, a problem on undersea erosion.  I took a class on this a couple years back."  Naomi says cheerfully from the screen next to yours.

PT

I look at all the readings and core temperature and type in, lower steam output
and vent steam overboard and also lower the control rods to decrease the heat created in the reactor core.
Then I look at Naomi and say," This must be part of the test, and it seems to know what are skills are also."

You smoothly cool the sub down.

The door opens, and a hot McDonald's burger combo with favorite drink, all in their paper wraps, is waiting for you. Naomi pulls out a seaweed and fish dish.
And wrinkles her nose.  Both the doors close once you get your meal.

"I guess you are a Twentieth century guy.  Red meat. But I have to admit it smells good, even if its supposed to be against the law, I think. I guess we won't tell anyone, hunh?"

Another problem, this time in math pops up on your screen.

"Red meat is good.  Although, we usually prefer fried insects. A little oil, some salt, some yish-lash powder.  Very tasty. Why would eating foods be against the law?  Does red meat make 'Twentieth Century guys' insane or violent?" Talker says.

PT

" Yeah I like red meat and fried foods and all that is bad foryou Naomi, we can't eat that stuff anymore, that sucks."
I turn to talkes and say," People in power say certain things are bad for you and then they say it's against the law to do them not jut food my friend."
Then I look at my screen and read the problem as I eat my meal.

You solve the math problem; its a bit more challenging, but still within your reach, and the door opens again to reveal a six-pack of Coke.

"Well, in part we eat seaweed because its healthy for you, but also, we can't afford to give everyone hamburgers.  Too many people, too little resources."
Naomi says.

"Strange. Thats not a thing we do.  We outlaw things, but only important things.  We used to I hear, but we learned that for us, that way lies madness with everyone picking on everyone else until everyone was raw and bloody.  Status pecking wars taken to an extreme."

PT

" Yeah but now we seem to have unlimited resources."
I then grad a coke and open it and take a drink, I take anotherone and offer it
to Naomi. I then walk over to her and whisper to her," So what do we do now?"

"We might need more than food and drink to survive four years here, but perhaps we can find the other stuff elsewhere.  But yes, we are doing well.  Um, would you mind going back up, and telling everyone how to get here so they can solve their own puzzles.  And get some food."  Naomi says.

PT

I look at her making sure she will be ok and then say," Sure I will be back as soon as I can ok."
I run back up to the others and say," Ok Naomi has found a source of food but it involves solving puzzles, so follow me back down ok everyone."
I then lead them back down to the rooms with the food machines.

The group follows you back down, and soon the smell of seaweed salad fills the air. Mmmm, mmmh good.  But at least two people surreptitiously ask you how you got Coke.

And about ten people have severe reactions to seeing their first alien.

One guy near you is hyper-ventilating.

PT

" Relax Talker will not hurt you he is a friend and helped Naomi find the food. I got it from the machine my friend."
I then turn to the one who is hyperventalating and say," Ok calm down everything is going to be ok, just breath normally ok."
I then turn to Naomi and says," Ok hun they are all yours lead us like I know you can."

You speak up, and most of the shaky or red-faced people calm down.

The guy who is hyper-ventilating gives you a panic-stricken look.

"Monsters."  He gasps out.  And then passes out.  You catch him, and deftly lower him to the ground.

Naomi gives you a tight grin, and starts handing out assignments.

"I want a map of all our known resources. And I want a stockpile of resources just in case. This is a Test.  Perhaps, its a test of our resourcefulness.  I imagine if we starve to death that we fail the test."

Then she starts handing out assignments to five person search teams of which you head one.
She lets you choose your own assignment.  She has people surveying the whole house, and follow-up teams trying to figure out what interesting pieces of tech do, and teams surveying the whole of the outside, and a team to go with Talker back to his area.  Choose one of these, or make up another is what she says.

PT

" I will go with Talker, to his area Naomi, maybe he can also introduce us to the other races here that are undergoing the test."
I then give her a kiss on the cheek and pick out 4 other people, I look for the two who I talked on the ship and then let Naomi pick 2 others who could handle meeting aliens. Then I say," Well talker can you show more of your area and can you help us meet the others here for the test?"

"I can lead you to the other races, but I will let you meet them yourself.  I don't want to compromise your meeting's integrity. I can serve as an interpreter however, unless you speak Rith or Blikten.  We haven't met the last species.  They make us nervous."

He takes you to the door, steps through, and leads you into a winding maze with low ceilings and very high ceilings, and he proceeds out onto a pipe made of plastic that is about eight inches wide, and about ninety feet from the floor.

He stops when you don't immediately follow him.

"Come on, this is the route to the other teleport doors."

Playtester

" Teleport doors. like the one Naomi and I used to enter your room, ok, I'm right behind you Talker."
My group follows him over the pipe and to the other side and then we wait to see what happens next.

I'm not sure you understand.  This is a balance beam moment for at least fifty feet on a pipe eight inches wide and at a lethal distance above the floor.  You're not stepping horizontally across it, but going down its length.

If I misunderstood, sorry.

PT

(OOC- oh sorry, thought we where just walking over it, oppss thats a different story.)

I look at the beam and the fall below and say," You want us to walk that far on that little beam are you nuts, is there any other way to get to these teleport doors Talker?"

"Maybe, we are not sure.  This is the only route we've discovered so far.  The best chance to find another route is to go outside, but even that is not certain.  I assume this path poses some difficulty for your species?"

He casually walks back down the beam to you.

PT

" Yes it does Talker,some humans are afraid of hieghts, while I think are balance is not as good as yours."
I look at the others and ask," Do you want to try to cross or find another way?"

One of the group is quite certain he doesn't want to walk the beam.  The other three, including one gymnast and one skateboarder/rock climber and one karateka are willing to give it a try.

The first is willing to turn back and let teh others go ahead.

PT

" OK Talker we will try to cross but you must give us a little time ok. You go back and let Naomi know what is going on ok."
I then let the gymnast go first. I plan on going in the middle and boy I hope I don't slip, I think to myself.

You walk down it with the example of Talker in front of you, and the gymnast as well, and it is wearying as you pass the fifty foot mark, but then you reach solid ground again, and everyone collapses to their bottoms for a rest break.

They are laughing and slapping each other on the backs.

Thats 1@2 Balance Beam Walking.

Another stretch of halls, another less challenging beam, and you come around a corner to see a door, and then step through it.

Suddenly you are surrounded by blue.  Its hard to make out the shape of the room as it is peculiar and it has a number of odd, small holes in it.  And worse, everything is one or another shade of the blue.  There is a door you see after a bit.

This place has stamped on your weird-o-meter as well, along with a couple of your companions.

PT

I look around for any signs of life being very caustious.
"Talker where are the others, are they in here somewhere my friend"

Long blue snakes start to crawl into the room through the small holes in the walls.  More than four, and less than a dozen.  Its hard to count them, and your brain feels fuzzed while you keep feeling the urge to run screaming.

One of the snakes broadens itself just behind you, and rises to nearly your height.  Its moving an appendage your way, slowly.

Playtester

Controling the urge to run and scream, I do like snakes, I turn around and offer my hand out and say," Hello I'm Rob very nice to meet you my friend."

The creature pulls back, and then it inflates a bit into a more bipedal form, and slips something into your left ear.  Its skin is cool and muscles are prominent under its skin.

"Hello, alien creature. I am of the Blikten."

The words come as hisses into your right ear and words into your left.  There's a strange echo as well inside your head.

PT

"Hello, I'm Rob of Earth, my race is called human. Very nice to meet you, you also have telepathy, as well as the translater, very good. So what are all these races doing here my friend, and do you know exactly what the test is.
There is one other race correct?"
I stand there trying to keep my cool, and play diplomat.

Talker corrects you that there are two other races.

"Yes, the Sarlai Keet are adept technologically and psionically.  We, the Blikten are teh most adept technologically.  Few among us have mental gifts such as this telepathy you speak of.  We had FTL travel and plasma weapons.  The others, the Reul are middling weak there, and the last, we have not met them, but we see little evidence of such skills.  They show signs of being lazy.  How does your race stand in these regards?  What are your strengths and weaknesses?"

The snakes all "inflate" and look bipedal humanoid as long as you ignore the continual swaying back and forth.  In fact your interrogator looks almost human female in the extremely thin model way.

PT

" Well I'm probably not the one to ask those questions to, but our strengths I think are adaptability to situations is a strength, are ability to reason and work out problems and we do have decent technology. Are weakneses are we can be over emotional and sometimes to aggressive. But overall we are survivors.
One of the tech specialists I have with me can tell you more on our technology ok. So do you think we where all brought here to work together as a team or is this a test of each individual race, have any Idea on that , and whatshould I call you, like I said my name is Rob, whay is yours?"
I then look at the very slim snaky model and wait for her answer.

"We don't give out our names to strangers.  No doubt its ridiculous, but its a holdover from our pre-starflight days when we thought that gave one power over another.  Call me whatever you want."

"I don't know the purpose.  It could be a Test of competition.  See who is worthy of receiving this gift of the Galacticans.  But then, we seem to have the best weapons.  So I hope it is not expected that we exterminate your species to win.  We would win, but that seems not an appropriate test somehow.  Perhaps we are meant to work together.  In that case, we need to decide on a governing structure."

PT

" I think the leaders of all the races should meet and discuss what we sould do from here, are leader is Naomi. I will call you Anna if that is ok with you."
(OOC- Short for Annaconda the only think I could think of.)
" Well I hope we don't have to kill each other that would just be a waste of time and life and that would suck. I hope it is to see if we can work together and survive here and maybe make alliences and become one community.
Like I said we should get the other races leaders together with you talker and Naomi and go from there how does that sound Anna?"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:40, Wed 16 Mar 2005.

"That would be suitable.  Would your Naomi be willing to host this meeting?  Or should we let the Sarlai Keet host it as they are understand each of our languages without translaters."

PT

" Shall we go meet the Sarli Keet and ask them what they would like to do then I will like to meet the last race and thenI will report back to Naomi and then we will set up a meeting sound good to you Anna?"

You go meet the Reul as the Sarlai Keet are Talker's race.

So far, we have Humans, Sarlai Keet (short avian humanoids with great mimic skills and excellent balance); Blikten (blue snake like people with aggressive attitudes and heavy weaponry and high tech), and the Reul (?), and the Yondarr(?).

You step through a door in the Blikten's area and arrive outside on a hill surrounded by hundreds of other hills.  Each hill has one furry, clawed, four foot tall, and black-eyed creature working away, a garden or water tank or both, a house (each one different from the others), and a number of small sheds. And each hill has a fence surrounding it.

You see no roads.

"Hello, aliens. What do you want?"  The Reul in front of you says.

Playtester

" Hi I'm Rob of the race of humans, we where wondering if your leader would like to meet with the leaders of the other races to try to form an alience and figure out exactly what we need to do here."
I walk slowy up to the alien and bow to him/her.

"I am Reul, and I would be happy to meet with any individual to discuss ways to mutually benefit each other.  How can I help you? I could use help finding out what is next to the plot of land the Emmissary gave me to see if it is suited for settlement."

He shows you the backside of his hands crossed in front of him.

PT

I look at his hands and try to figure out what he means.
Then I say," Sure, just show me the plot and maybe we can help. I will also head back up and get our leader and maybe all the races can meet somewhere to discuss things ok, just pick a place."

The way his hands are turned means his claws face away from you.

He leads you to a belt, after strapping one on himself, and then pauses.

"Have you ever used a jump belt before?  It generates a focused magnetic pulse for motivation."

Playtester

" No I haven't but I'm willing to try my friend, just give me a quick lesson ok."
I move towards him and satnd waiting for him to explain the belt.

He explains, and you absorb it as best as you can, and make what you think are the appropriate adjustments for your greater mass, and manipulate the control ball in the belt.

With a feeling of trepidation, you smoothly spin the ball, stop it, and spin it again as you snap into the sky.  Fifty feet in the air, you ease off just a bit, and are now free-falling upward, and then into an arc, and downward.

A short blip of power and you land easily.  1@3 Use Jumpbelt, and you understand some concepts a bit better of some earlier technologies you had mastered in the light of this new information.

A sudden urge to laugh, and then you follow Reul up into the sky again, and down atop some black rocks across a sharp border line that differentiates the hills from this other land mass, just like the dense forest was separated from the Great Lawn back..."Home".

Playtester

I look at the other land mass and try to determine all of its terrain and setup.
" So Reul what would you like to know about this land mass that I can tell you?"

"Its basic characteristics.  Water sources. Mineral sources.  Possible enemies.  The other, where my hill is, is like on my planet.  This is not so.  Perhaps our test is to see if we can adapt to strange environments.  Even if not, it would be useful.  We are tightly packed."

PT

The land is mildly rolling, and covered with many thousands of black rocks, and occasional glints of water.  You think you see something move in the distance, about seventy feet away, but if so, its not large.

PT

"Well it has mild hills, lots and lots of black rocks I will need to get closer to determine type, it has some water sources and I see something moving about 70' that way, but it looks small."
I adjust my belt to get ready to take a closer look and then say,
" I'm going to takea closer look ok, and investagate those rocks also, be right back."
I head over to where I saw the movement and land. I see what was moving and then I will check out the rocks closer.

Looks something like black granite, and the movement is a continuous trail of ten legged red ants, about six inches in length is each ant.  They are coming from further in, and entering the ground at the point you are now.

PT

Now I will take a better look around and get a better lay of the land.
I also pick up some dirt/ soil to see what it is like and also look for large water sources. I also pick up a small rock to bring back with me.

You easily find a small rock.

You find some rockwort growing in neat rectangular shapes, and more and more ants as you head in further.

A misting by a low-hanging cloud supplies moisture, and you see ants boil out of dozens of holes to gather the drops of liquid and carry them back under ground.

You also see occasional piles of red, yellow, blue sand and rock, about three feet high.

Playtester

I head back and relay all of this information to him.
I also give himthe samples I found and tell him about all the ants.

He thanks you and offers you the jump belt in recognition of your service to him.

PT

" Thank you very much I will now go see my leader and bring her down so everyone can meet ok?"

Sorry, there's one more species. Assuming you want to meet them...

You step through a gate, and arrive knee deep in a river.

Atop a rock is a long, sleek, green and purple furry form that matches the rock.

"Take me to your leader."  It says in robotic monotone.  "Two big buns, special sauce, lettuce cheese."

PT

" Hello sure we will take you to my leader as soon as you tell me who you are and who is your leader, and I love Big Macs."

"Then it must be your fault."  The creature lurches up in a menacing stance with its seven foot in length and its eight inch wide body, and holds out its claws.  "You are the one to blame for all the nauseating commercials your species beamed into space.  We, the Yan, were sitting at home, peacefully studying the heavens, when a message came in from outer space.  Radio waves from teh mysterious beyond.  Oh, we were so excited.

So we spent over a decade deciphering it.  And you know what the first thing we understood was ...two big buns, special sauce lettuce cheese.  I'm afraid we've never gotten over the humiliation.

Now, you killed my father, six-fingered man, prepare to die."

PT

I step back and get defensive and say," Hey I didn't make the comercials or send the message and I'm sorry if it caused your race any trouble us humans only sent it in peace, is there any way we can help fix the problem?"

"Yes, Mr. Bond. Now you can die!"  The creature says, and then collapses coughing, and after a bit you realize its laughing near hysterically.

Playtester

" Not a nice trick to play on someone, can we now dicuss why we are here and if you want to join us in a meeting of all the races leaders"

"True, but it was...funny."  The otter-like creature pauses. "See, we'll need a goil, a guy, and one smart-aleck null, that'd be me, in case you not paying attention, to come to this here meeting of yours.  Got to liven the joint up.  Bring some booze. Molotov cocktails taste great.

Why are we here? The eternal question.  I figure it was because the Galacticans wanted to make a point. You five races, the Blikten, the Sarlai Keet, the Yan, this guy Reul's race, and the Humans are the butt of a cosmic joke by the Galacticans."

PT

" Well now that we have all met, where do you want to have this meeting once we decide that I will go get Naomi and we will meet you there ok everyone?"

It takes most of the next day, but you and others gather in a room at the Victorian mansion with Naomi as the host, and you as her spokesperson.  There are ten total in the group including three Yan.

The Blikten duo have prominent beam weapons on their back.

"You have met these aliens, I have not. Let us have you be the chair of this ah, Constitutional Convention, perhaps?"

Playtester

" Me I'm not a diplomat, ok I will try. Well we have all been brought here for some kind of test and I think we need to work together and try to figure out what is going on and how to procede with this test. How do you all feel about that?"

They agree, and then it falls to discussing how to work together.  The Blikten want to be the military force and have a veto also on all agreements because they are teh military force.

Reul is confused as it turns out he's not representing his race.  He's just representing himself, and he's more than willing to demonstrate to the Blikten that "I am not a child. I can take care of myself. If you wish to contest this, I will duel you."

And that's only the first five minutes...

PT

" Ok everyone, we all have our strengths and weaknesses, and please no dueling,ok. We need to help each other not compete with each other.
We should form a military force with representives from EACH race, but since the Bilkin do have the strongest weaopns I think we should put them in charge of defense,ok. So who else wishes to speak their strengths and hold a position?"
I sit down and let them speak their peace.

( OOC- Sorry for the delay real life kicking my butt ok.)

"I do not wish to duel, but I will not be treated as a child or an invalid without wealth who cannot defend himself and needs must suicide."  Reul says.

Your proposal of a joint military force meets approval.

"I am not neccessarily applying for a position, group coordinater Rob, but we the Sarlai Keet have not yet met a vocalized language we have been unable to understand." Talker says smoothly and ingratiatingly.

"I don't know about us. I'm not sure we're good for anything. I'm just a smart aleck now, and later, eww.." The Yan you met earlier points to his two companions who are busy making out.

PT

And I understand about RL.  Its one good thing about on-line and Multiverser, you can easily drop and pick them back up.

PT

" Well Talker you can be in charge of communication and greating if more aliens are introduced, and The Yan can be in charge of recreation and reproduction.
Naomi what do you think the humans should be in charge of?"

"I-I think we have some skills in food production, and we always think we are adaptable so we might well provide some sort of explorers to any exploration teams."  Naomi says.

The Yan male puffs up, and volunteers for exploration while the Yan female fawns on his bravery.

And then suddenly an Emmissary is standing in the midst of you.

"Congratulations Testtaking species.  You have managed to feed yourself, meet all the relevant species in the Test, and have integrated into the beginning of a useful ecosystem.  You are well on the way to passing the Test, although just begun.

Please fill free to designate one of you to ask me a question. I do not guarantee that I will answer it, but this is your reward."

He then pauses.  Arguement rapidly breaks out over possible questions, and who should ask it.  Each race is convinced its own person should ask.

PT

" Hey hey calm down everyone, why don't we do it this way. Each race will pose a question and then we will vote on the question and someone will be picked to ask it, everyone ok with that, Naomi what will be the Human question?"
I wait for her answer and then ask each race to pose their question, then we will vote.

Naomi--"What is a success at this test?"
Talker--"What is a failure at this test?"
Yan--"Say, where do you get those cool snacks you had on the flight here?"
Blikten--"Technological ability is a sign of successful leadership, correct?"
Reul--"Let me clarify, you are offering a reward if I cooperate with these individuals?"

PT

" Shall we vote on the questions now?"
I hand out paper and pen to each member and wait for them to write down which question they want the group as a whole to ask.

They ask Reul's question, and the Emmissary smiles and replies.

"Not exactly."  And then he dissappears.

PT

" Well what do we need to work on now everyone, Naomi would you like to say anything at our first meeting, and it looks like we are working as a team now, so lets try to stay that way and we should be able to pass this test of theirs ok everyone?"

She leans over to you, and whispers.

"I think I might like to end it on a high note, so unless you have some other ideas you'd like to toss out, lets say, meet back here in three days time?"

PT

I whisper back " Good Idea."
I then stand and address everyone else.
" Ok I think we did end up getting alot accomplished today, so shall we all take care of our duties and our races and meet back here lets say in 3 days."

I then turn to Naomi and whisper," I think that went well I'm no diplomat but I hope I did our race justice, but this will be hard getting all of these races working together though."

After they leave, Naomi jumps up and hugs you with her heels kicking back up into the air.

"You were great.  And let me tell you, if you think those are difficult, you've never seen the World Council's troubles back on Earth.  But, those Blikten, they sure are eager to show off their weapons aren't they?  I think they'd like to have us all work for them since they are 'so technologically superior'."

PT

" Thank you Naomi, I didn't think I did that good of a job, they still don't trust any of us yet. Yeah the Blikten do seem to want control just because they have the better weapons, but as we humans know the better weapons don't always win it is the ones with the better minds and the ability to adapt to situations that usually win."
I hug her back and hold her in the air. After I'm done talking I smile at her and look into her eyes and kiss her and hold her close.

She remembers herself and tentatively kisses you back, and then shyly develops a bit more enthusiasm for a half minute.

"The Emmy thought we were doing good.  We're set for food and water. We have a functional, sorta, government. And you're right, we are adaptable.  I've seen people who I thought needed everything spelled out for them show initiative. Not a bad few days work.  And what's this?"

She disengages herself gracefully, and points at your jump belt.

PT

" Oh it's a jump belt it was a gift from one of the races,  can't remember how to pronounce it either. Would you like to go for a ride Naomi?"

"Sure."  You two go outside, and she climbs on your back, and you kick it on. You succeed in jumping with her (which adds another skill notch as its a new use), and take her on a wild ride all around the Great Lawn that has her giggling and whooping and egging you on to go faster and higher.

PT

I bring us back down after some time in a secluded spot and say
" Noami I really like you alot and I hope the kiss wasn't out of line, I know we have alot of work to do here but I also think relationships are also possibly part of this test. I would also like to get to know you alot better."

"You're different than most guys I met. There were the ambitious sort who saw dating the Councilman's daughter as a step on the path to the Council for themselves.  And then there were the hollow sort who I liked better. Nothing to believe in because it was all false.  Party now. I tried to act like the first.  Be responsible, be energetic, but in truth I felt like the hollow ones, more and more.

I look polished and together on the outside, Rob, but inside its just doubt and fear. I don't know what to do, except that what we've been doing has been wrong, on Earth, I mean, and every plan to fix it sounds crazy.

Sometimes, like when I freaked before that speech, the facade cracks, and the real me comes out.  Now if you still want to be friends with someone like that, then I'd be okay with that. If not, I'd understand too."

She turns and walks away a bit.

I gently reach out and place my hand on her shoulder and bring her close and hug her. " I don't see you as a fake or anything like that Naomi, maybe when this is over we will find a way to fix Earth, but you have a strong heart and a caring one and I care for you alot and the face you put on is for leadership and to get the job done, maybe together we can help you and me deal with our situatuion and lastly Naomi I care for you for who you are inside and anything else we can deal with ok."
I then give her a very deep and passionate kiss on the lips.

She responds happily, and you spend the next couple hours getting to know each other better.

PT

I enjoy the time and also tries to learn more about her mind as well as her body. When they are done I say." We should be getting back we have been away for awhile just hang on and I'll bring us back ok hun"

She rides back with you, and a large crowd of cheering students greets you both.  It seems the Emmissary appeared to everyone congratulating them on the successful completion of the first two parts of the Test.

Now that you have food, water, bathrooms, and the beginnings of a unified governing council, what's next?  Or should I just bounce things forward until the next crisis?

Playtester

When we land I bow and let Naomi take over. I stay by her side and help her as much as I can.

( Lets move on to the next crisis, and as time passes hopefully Naomi and I are getting even closer, thanks.)

During the next month, you spend quite a bit of time with Naomi.  You also find yourself learning more about nuclear physics.  The questions keep getting harder, and if you get the answer wrong, you don't get lunch.

You also find that a couple other girls are paying attention to you.  One seems energetic, a tennis champion, and as most of the people here are multiply talented, a botanist. Tonya is vibrant, and bossy, and eye-catching.

And she's fairly obvious about trying to catch you.

Naomi's spending a bit more time with another council member, Bill Alexander, as well.  But then she needs to for her job.

PT

I will be freindly towards Tonya but will not let it go any further then that whils Naomi and I are getting closer. I have no problem with her spending time with council members, I don't get jelous easily.
I will try to spend as much time with Naomi as possible and also be nice to the other girls but I will do NOTHING with anyone else while naomi and I are seeing each other. ( Note have Naomi and I had sex yet?)

As to sex, I thought yes.

One of the guys from an exploring party comes in, exhausted, and with a broken arm.

"I-I took Tonya and Hector out to explore the woods across from the Great Lawn. We stepped across the line just fine.  But soon we were finding big trouble with a pack of dog-like creatures, they were so fast, so agressive.

So, I ordered us to go back, but Tonya didn't want to. She wanted to climb a tree.  I overruled her, since I'm the one with the Eagle Scout badge, and we headed back.  Then they started attacking, hit and run.  So we panicked. Ran.

Got separated.  I fell in a pit, broke my arm, two hours ago. Hector, ah, I'm not sure, Tonya, I heard her scream, way back. I think she went for a tree when I yelled 'run'."

Its getting toward evening.  Perhaps three hours light left.

PT

I turn to Naomi and say," We should send a party out to help maybe someone can get our new friends with the weapons to help out, I'll hit the air and see if I can find her ok.
Note: I thought they had sex just making sure ok.

Naomi nods decisively.  Being with you has soothed some of her inner terrors, and she's settling into leadership with more naturalness.

"Take care, hon." She says.

You take your jumpbelt, and start leaping into the forest.  Its occasionally tricky as you get sideswiped by thin branches at the end of the trees' limbs.  You spot a trail of crushed plants from the air that could be the path of the fleeing trio?duo?, and begin following it.

And then a larger, 'thin' branch then usual catches you on the upward bounce and flips you around so you're facing backwards, and tumbling slightly...

PT

Try to stop and hover and regain my control and balance inthe air.
Then i will try to follow the trail hopefully I will find her before she gets hurt, just keep looking and I try to be more careful of branches.

You tab the belt some more, and only succeed in spinning yourself much more rapidly.  The ground rapidly approaches, and at the last possible second, you tab the controls again, and flip rightside up, and stagger in the air to a mild landing on the ground.

Shaking, and gasping for breath, and waiting for the world to stop spinning, you survey the trail.  After a minute, you jump into the air again.

You spot Hector's body, or at least the bottom half of it as you pass overhead.

PT
A very bad dice roll, almost a botch, followed by a brilliant dice roll for your jump belting.

( Hey I'll take the good and the bad, makes life more fun,lol.)

I take notice of hector's body and keep searching for Tonya before it gets to late.

You find her laying awkwardly, face-down and underneath something that looks vaguely like a gigantic pine tree, except the cones are green and red-tinted.  Coming up to her, you see she is breathing, but otherwise not moving.  It looks like she fell out of the tree which was at least thirty feet, unless she fell while climbing up it.

PT

I go down to her and take a closer look. I try to look for any other obvious injuries, and try to access if I should move her or not. I try to wake her carefully and by calling her name.

She does not move, but upon more closely examining her, you see a hand-sized lump like an upside-down dinner plate on her lower back.  Carefully, you pull up her shirt, and see a yellow-black, hardshelled something attached to her back.

PT

I try to examine the thing closer and see if I can remove it easily.
If I can't remove it I'll lift her up carefully and jump back to the compuond as fast as I can trying not to hurt Tonya in the process.

You jump her back as best as you can after you ascertain that 1)removing it would be very difficult, and 2)possibly dangerous as she goes into convulsions when you try.  These fade, and exercising extreme care you bring her back.

A group of about fifty students is there, clamoring for answers, but when you arrive with the fallen girl, they quiet.  A young doctor comes forward, and soon he is examining her in private.

He comes back later, and makes a report.

"One, I don't have adequate equipment.  No PCK, or Inferential Scanning, not even something as antiquated as an MRI.  Its put her into a coma, and its drawing blood from her system, and excreting various chemicals back into her system.  Its wrapped, I believe around her backbone, but I'm not sure.  Attempts to remove it result in progressively stronger convulsions at each attempt.

I'm really not sure what to do, and I would like some direction."

He sits down and waits for the Human Council to discuss.

PT

I go to Naomi and say," Maybe the Aliens might have a way of helping her weshould send someone to go get them and fast. I thenwalk over to tonya and say " We are trying to find a way, I know you can hear me just hang on ok."

Naomi sends you as you are the most experienced who is quickly available.
The Sarlai Keet offer to read her mind; the Blikten offer to burn off her 'attachment', but they are aware this is a last ditch method.  The others have no help to offer.

PT

I return and tell Naomi what the others have offered and suggest we see if the
Sarlai Keet can read her mind to see if that helps, and I also add that burning it off would be really a completely last ditch effort.

OOC: Sorry about skipping yesterday.  Book stress, and a bit of being sick got to me.

IC: Naomi agrees, and soon enough the Sarlai Keet send Talker.  He says that he can try to reach her mind, but it would be better if he had a normal human mind alongside him in the effort to judge it against.  And it would be better if he practised a little on a human, for he's never read a human mind before, and he's a little afraid he might damage someone.

Most of the people in the room pale a little bit.

PT

" Talker you can practice on me, I know you will be careful and if it helps you help Tonya then I have no problem with it, what would you like me to do Talker?"

The alien shrugs, and suddenly you feel a presence in your brain.  Something "not you" is whispering, whistling, and then speaking in clear English.

"Interesting structure to your brain.  I had thought your species herbivore's, but now I see you are omnivore's.  It makes a little difference in where things are placed.  Hmm, I see your species instinctively sees us as 'parti-colored penguins' and as such innately harmless.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  We are pure carnivore's and innately more vicious than your species."

PT

I think back to him," Well you do look like penguins, and I know to respect you and I really don't think you are harmless just what you represent to me. Ok this is pretty cool talker, do you think you will be able to help Tonya?"

You ride along with him into Tonya's brain.  You are instantly swamped by pea soup fog.

Talker stands next to you, and he glows.

"This fog means something to this human.  I could possibly push past it, but I risk damaging her by brute force methods.  If we can figure out a way past it that is more in congruence with her brain that would help."

PT

I try to send a message to Tonya," Tonya it'sRob if you can hear me try to let up on the fog or give us something to head for like a lighthouse."
I turnto Talker and say," Maybe that will help clear the fog, or we could just start walking carefully and see where it leads us?"

You wander in the fog for a long time, until you see a faint light in the distance.  Heading toward it, you make out a candy-striped lighthouse.  You arrive below it.

Now you stand on a small, black rocky island with dark waters, choppy, cold, salty like tears, filled with things that move in the deep.  This water separates you from the mainland about half a mile away.

"I sense fear, Rob Human."  Talker says.

" She is afraid of something we have to find out what?
I then walk up to the shore and look towards the mainland, then I say to talker,
" I think we need to get there, we just need to find a way across the water."
Then I say to Tonya," Guide us and help us help you Tonya, can you aide us in getting to the mainland?"

You hear a squeaking noise from down the shoreline, and see a small sailboat tied up to a dock.

"Yes, she is afraid, but then if I had a parasite attached to me, I would be too.  But, Tonya Human, we have the best possible care looking after you."  Talker says, and then makes a face at you which you find surprisingly easy to understand.

--Best possible care, that's you and me, bud--

pt

I smile at talker and give him a look of ' Oh boy if we are the best she is in trouble ', I then say," Hey talker theres a sail boat, we can use that to get to the mainland, follow me."
I head to the sailboat, when I get there I check it out, look at the condition of the hull, mast and sails.

The ship is water-tight; the sails are snapping in the breeze; and the mast is an aluminum pole that looks fine.  Its a bit odd that the sails are set when the boat is at a pier in such a stiff breeze, I guess, but other than that everything seems normal.

PT

I get into the boat, grab onto the sail line and get ready to cast off.
" Talker could you untie those lines and then we can head to the other shore and help Tonya?"

OOC: Oops, sorry I missed Monday.

IC: You set out on the water, your sails filling strongly with wind, with Talker chatting to himself nervously about how marvelously weird this contrivance is, and how close they are to the water, and then ahead of you, a hump raises up out of the water, like the Loch Ness Monster...

PT

I try to tack the sail boat aroung the hump, using the backside wind I try to either go around it or right over it if I can, I pull up the center board if we go over it ok.

You go over it, pulling up the center board, and get seriously drenched with several gallons of water as a hump rises out of the water right behind you.  Talker squawks in dismay, and then you suddenly see all the water on his feathers explode out from him about a foot, hang in the air a second, and then fall straight down.

PT

" Neat trick talker, can you grad the center board and lower it when I say to please?"
I manuever away from the hump and then say," Ok you can let it go now talker, thanks that was close."
Then I get my bearings tack and head for the shore.

You arrive on the shore, and see a six-year-old Tonya who looks pretty forlorn.

"The snake has circled the tree, and whispers to it."

Suddenly the sky color turns red, and the air heats twenty degrees.

"And the tree listens."

PT

" Tonya the tree should notlisten it should fight the snake, tell the snake to move on and let the tree go."
I hoped this would help her fight whatever was attached to her and maybe force it off of her.

"The older Tonya is asleep.  The snake sung lullabies to her, and like a little baby she fell asleep.  Now the tree has no guardian."

PT

"Can you wake the older Tonya or can we act as the gaurdian of the tree?"

"If you can talk more sweetly to the tree than the snake, but frankly I am doubtful.  You are cute, but still..."

She looks skeptical.

PT

I walk up to the tree and whisper to it.
I say special things between myself and Tonya, I try to win her away from the snake with our friendship and her desire for me.

Talker warns you that what you are doing is very powerful, very deep-laid, and not easily undone.  You hide your face a bit because you find yourself blushing as you say these things to Tonya.

PT

I look at talker and say," We have to save her and I do care about her as a very close friend, I will try to concentrate on that."
I then speak again to the tree, focusing on our friendship and the things we have in common, and that Tonya wants to be free and she needs to fight for her freedom.

After a bit, with your throat going hoarse, you suddenly notice Tonya as a twelve-year-old girl skeptically yet interestedly watching what you are doing.

"Its working, but then the snake or parasite is promising her freedom as well.  It says, ahm, its a sym, symbi-ote, yeah, thats the concept I'm getting from the Sleeper.  Its also promising her that it will help her get you.  I don't think its actually smart, but somehow it talks anyways.  The Sleeper thinks its a mirror."

PT

" It's a symbiote like in StarGate huh, well can you talk to the parasite, because I don't think it can live up to it's promises,"
I then  instead of talkg directly think at Tonya and tell her, that it is a creature thats embedded into her spine and that I am and always will be her friend but no matter what it will have to stay that way because I love Naomi, and no parasite will ever change that, please Tonya come back to us.

"I sense no intelligence, more an echo, its like software running on someone elses mind.  Almost to use a human concept a biological Turing Machine, but no real sentience." Talker says struggling to use his ESP and to understand the two alien species he is confronted with at the moment, and to evplain them.  "Watch out!"

And then the tree writhes into a snake woman whose beauty and intensity makes your heart thunder.

pt

I fight the snake womans looks by thinking of my love for Naomi, then I turn to her and say," Are you the symbiote or Tonya or both, and could you please leave Tonya's body and mind we want our old Tonya back?"

"Your love is a mere chemical attraction. Since this symbiote now gives me the chance to more directly control my body, that means that chemicals, pheromones could twist your will.

Feel free to fight back.  It will be more fun that way."

The snake woman hisses.

"This is the lizard brain, a concept I have seen in your mind, your most simplistic functional level, no conscience, just will and hunger.  Its Tonya without mercy or morals. Maybe we should flee?"  Talker says nervously. "I mean we are succeeding, as we wake her step by step, but we might not survive the process."

PT

" Talker if there is any chance we can save Tonya from this symbiote then we must try, but if you think it is best to leave then ok, you are the expert, but we still should try to save her though."
I then thinking that this is all in my mind decide to try to help myself, I try to think of a powerful being that can beat this snake persona , thinking of of the creatures , monsters, myths, and sci-fi I have seen over the years to try and fight this symbiote.

Well, the mongoose, Rikki-Tikki-Tavvi from Kipling comes to mind.  He was the eternal enemy of Naja the Cobra.

PT

Yes a mongoose is the mortal enemy of a snake. I then picture myself as the fastest, biggest, and most deadly mongoose ever imagined and just wait.

Your body shifts under your imagery.

Thick lustrous hair covers your skin, and you crouch forward with eyes that see in black and white, but far quicker, and with greater, more precise depth perception.  Your teeth are gleaming sharp, and the universe seems to have slooooooowed down.  The snake's eyes focus on you, and it seems afraid, as it should be.

You grin, a hunter's confidence surging through your body.

"Be careful, you might lose yourself." The big, fat slow bird says, but you ignore him.

PT

I then move closer to the snake lady and growl and say," Let her go now or I'll rip you to shreads, boy I do like to eat snake."
Yes Talkers words are ignored, my only quest is to free Tonya from the symbiote, and I will do whatever it takes to succeed.

The snake lunges at you, and you dart back out of reach, and before you can recover it spins about, and dives into a hole in the ground.  Too late you realize that its attack was a feint to get it time to flee.

Now what?

PT

I try using this body's great speed to grab it's tail with my very sharp teeth before it completely disapears into the hole.

You grab, and suddenly you're being dragged underground into its tunnel, slammed about, in the dark, earth covering your face, and all at a great rate of speed...

PT

I sink my teeth deep into it's skin, and then when we make a curve I dig my claws into the side of the walls and try to slow us down, I just keep biting down as hard as I can into it.

You skid to a halt, and it tries several times to get you loose by bashing its tail and you against a wall, but despite your ears ringing, you're the Mongoose, and you're not lettting go.

So it grows, tall, and gigantic, splitting the earth to rise above the dirt and you like tower above an ant.  But you realize this disturbance comes at a cost to it.  For in the center of the field between you and the now enormous cobra stands an aware Tonya, her adult form.

I hold my ground against the enormous Cobra and try to reach out to Tonya.
" Tonya fight this, you don't need the symbiote you have your friends and we need you to help pass the tests that are coming, fight this and come back to us."

"The creature, as you call it, obeys me.  It, 'wants' to be my friend.  Want is really the wrong word since its not smart enough to...but its offering more than you're offering.  I can see how to do things.  You don't know, but I was always allergic to cat pollen, but on a biorythmic cycle. Now I can see what the doctors couldn't understand, and fix myself.

So I appreciate the help, but I'm okay, really."

She gestures, and the Cobra bends itself down for her to climb onto its head.

PT

"As long as you are ok, and this symbiote will not hurt you then I guess it's ok."
I change back to my normal self and say," We where just worried about you Tonya, since you where uncontious and not responding to us, I'm glad you are ok, but if this symbiote hurts you in any way we might have to do something about it ok Tonya."
I look at Talker and say," I guess we are through here my friend, unless tonya needs anything else from us."

T'alker nods, and you and him wake up.  It feels strange for a bit to be back in your body, but then you get used to it.  You sit with Naomi, clutching her hand.

A long several hours pass as people wait and see what is going to happen with Tonya.  Then her eyes open.  She smiles, and rolls to her feet.  Bends over, and touches the ground with the palm of her hands.  After that , she raises herself to stand on her hands.  From there, she rocks up to stand on her fingertips.

Everyone is gaping in shock, and she's grinning at all the attention.

"Humanity version 2.0, the new, improved version."


PT

I say to Naomi as Tonya wakes up, " It seems she has a symbiote inside of her helping her reach her maxium potential, and it seems to allow herself to control her body and her mind alot better, it seems to be helpful for ow but I think we should watch her closely ok Naomi?"

Naomi nods slowly.

"I think you are right. We probably should forbid anyone else going into that forrest until we see just what the effect is."

Then she leans over, and kisses you on the neck.

"Don't get yourself killed being heroic, okay?"  She whispers.

PT

I smile at Naomi then say," Hey I will try not to get killed but being heroic as you say is just who I am if I can help someone then I will, but my love I will try to be safe ok."
I then stand up take her in my arms and give Naomi a deep and passionate kiss.
After I say," You are correct until we know what the true effects are, the forest should be off limits to everyone."

Naomi takes you off to your room.

Later, the forrest is forbidden, over Tonya's dramatic objections.

You note that she has become more vocal, and self-confident.  Plus, she seems to have lost weight in all the right places.  She's getting some more attention from others now, and seems to enjoy it.

PT

I enjoy my time with my love Naomi, I then help set up the quarentene of the forest, I also keep an eye on Tonya looking for any behavior that would seem not like her, and maybe she is loosing control.
Then I go to Naomi," Could these symbiotes be also part of the test, to see how we deal with then and if we let them inhabit our body's?"

"Anything could and probably is part of the test. We passed teh first section by joining together into a council.  But, perhaps the test is to see if we can resist something that seems attractive, yet is ultimately not good for us.  Or perhaps its to see if we're brave enough to grab opportunity."

You can see that Naomi is changing.  Her old fears of being a hollow creature are subsiding now that she has the manifold challenges of a strange reality to occupy her mind, and give her somethign that feels real to accomplish.  She also seems more tired.

"It hasn't escaped my attention either that she is looking fitter and more attractive to the big galoots like you and the other boys, and that she is using this to push her agenda."

PT

I smile at Naomi and say," You know I love you Naomi and nothing will ever change that not even death, looks are only skin deep it is what is in the heart and soul that matters and I'm not sure what is in onya's heart and soul while that symbiote is connected to her. Also my dear you should get some more sleep you look a little run down, we will meet with the other races and discuss these turn of events ok hun."
Without waiting for an answer I carry her to our room and lay her down on our bed.

She's asleep before you finish dawdling to the door.

After visiting the Rith and his kin, they want to talk to Tonya, and perhaps check this out themselves by letting some impetuous one go into the forest himself.  They ask your opinion of this.

T'alker and the Sarlai Keet are trying to balance caution with optimism, after all they are the result of two major changes (added psi skills, and cybernetics to their offshoot of the Keet), but they are well aware of dangers involved, and some very dangerous results from their changes.