Arriving at the university campus, Rodger parked and retrieved the two parcels from his trunk that went to men here. A professor, and, somebody in the sports department.

Heading towards the science buildings, Rodger sought out where the professor's office was. Whether he was in it or teaching a class at the moment, Rodger didn't know. He was surprised, though, to find that the office door said that the man was the dean of the physics and chemistry department, not just a professor, however.


(----> From Weston City Mall)
This message was last edited by the player at 22:11, Fri 13 Nov 2009.

As Rodger arrived at the University, and after finding the science buildings, comes to the dean's office. Dean Bruce Dunlap appeared to be out of his office, at least at the moment.

A perky red-headed secretary sees Rodger walk in and asks with a smile, "Can I help you sir?"

"When will Professor Dunlap be back?" Rodger asked politely.

Suddenly footsteps are heard behind Rodger's feet...and he had only been in here less than 20 seconds.

"Umm...sir....he's right behind you..."

Professor Dunlap stood an impressive 6'2, had olive skin with dark hair in a ponytail and was cleanshaven.

"Mr. Eskin...it's nice to make your acquantince. Step into my office."

Turning to his secretary, "Tabitha...hold my calls please..."

Rodger gulped. How had he known his name? Had the demons (or Richard) given a picture of him to everybody in their 'game'? He didn't know. But he obeyed immediately, stepping into the office, his arms full with the two parcels.

Professor Dunlap allowed Rodger to enter first, then shut the door afterwards.

Motioning Rodger to sit down, Professor Dunlap then sat at his office desk. Looking at Rodger, he then folded his hands.

"You have a package for me, do you not?"

"Yes, sir."

Rodger checked the parcels to see which one was Bruce's, and placed it on the desk in front of him. "Here it is. Will you be wanting me to help with anything...? I know I'm late." He fidgeted uncomfortably. Why had he said that?

Professor Dunlap simply shook his head.

"That really won't be necessary, but I am grateful that you dropped this off. This is a life-changing moment...for all of us. We stand on the edge of something truly great, Mr. Eskins. And you should feel honored that you are a part of this..."

He then opened the package, then looked up and asked, "Is...there anything else you need?"

"I really don't know..." It seemed to Rodger that he was thinking more clearly than he had in weeks, that some of the mental fogginess he'd been suffering from was starting to fade.

"I know practically nothing of what's going on, or what I'm supposed to do. All I have to go on is a trio of demons, something about me being an 'evil wizard', and Mayor Boyd telling me it was a life or death situation." Rodger sighed, and slumped a little. "Why would a serious man want to be a balloon?"

"To each their own, Mr. Eskin. To each their own..."

Smiling at the package, he then looked back at Rodger.

"Once all the pieces are in place, I'm sure things will become a lot more clear in that time. Until such time...well...ignorance is bliss..."

"Now, then if we are finished here? I'm sure that you have other deliveries to make..."

Rodger nodded glumly.

"Yes sir. Enjoy your suit."

He turned to go.

And off to the athletics/sports parts of campus, seeking his next man. On the way, the gem display popped up again, "Prisoner #8, Bruce Dunlap, is online." as another small gem flashed and took on its' color. Well, these people certainly were eager, that was for sure. So far... he paused a moment and reviewed who he'd delivered to and how many gems were in color now, everyone but Corporal Ustinov had gotten their suit on and done something bizarre to themselves to activate it.

Checking things out, the name on the parcel led him to the office of the wrestling & bodybuilding coach.

The name on the door read "Al Thompson."

Inside, Rodger could hear the grunts of someone lifting weights, and if he steps inside he would see a muscular man, clean shaven with a shaved head lifting the weights up and down.

"Can I help you?"

"Hello, Mr. Thompson? I have a delivery for you."

He kept his attention on the bodybuilder, trying unsuccessfully to ignore what else was in the room. Well, at least trophies and framed papers hanging on the walls were normal, sensible things.

Thompson put the weights down and then sat up.

"What kind of packa...OHHHHHHHH....THAT package....I was told that someone was going to drop it off...I just had no idea who..."

He folds his hands and looks at the package. "So...you're the guy who's hookin' all of us up huh?"

"If that's what you want to call it, yes." Rodger said, fidgetting a little again.

"I have practically no idea what I'm supposed to be doing with everyone, though."

"Well...I wouldn't worry about that. I'm pretty sure we'll all know when the time comes. Just be content to know that something extraordinary is going to come out of this..."

He noticed his fidgeting.

"And you won't have to fidget anymore..."

"Thanks," Rodger said a little sarcastically. "I do that when I'm nervous." He grinned a little sheepishly.

He paused half a second, something coming to mind. "You're a wrestling coach, and one of the other men had a costume that made him a clown wrestler. Does that mean you'll be working together, or is it just a coincidence?"

Thompson simply shook his head.

"You're thinking way too hard, my friend. Just complete the rest of your deliveries and all will be revealed...you worry too much. What's the matter...ya don't like surprises?"

"No, not at all. But most surprises don't start out with a friend telling me I'm going to have to try to kill him repeatedly, either."

Thompson grinned.

"Well we all have our little problems, don't we? But please don't let me tarry you any further..."

He paused for a moment.

"I wonder if the Legacy of Weston will get wise to what's happening. Hopefully they won't...which is why you've gotta make the rest of the deliveries. Go on...scoot..."

"The Legacy? If I have to get beaten up by them too..." his voice trailed off as a sour look crossed the teacher's face. He turned and left, thoughts churning as he considered what being a bad guy, even in a live action game, might mean when a superhero decided to thwart some 'evil plan' the demons might set him to doing. Ooooouuuccchhh. Well, at least he wouldn't have to 'go off like a bomb' as an overinflated balloon exploding, like Richard and presumably Johnny. Or would he? Ugh, that was a scary train of thought.

On his way back to the car he imagined Al Thompson as a tramp clown-cum-wrestler, fighting with a bicycle pump to pump himself up bigger, and ending up as a giant rubber muscleman sitting on the ground, no longer able to move his enormous arms enough to operate the pump handle. And looking around in very slow motion with a 'crap, now what do I do' expression of sad boredom with his near-paralysis.

Reaching his car, he got in and drove off. Next stop, one he'd been dreading because it was someone he knew.

(Exit to Weston City Hospital)

(day after the birthday party)

Rodger wasn't entirely sure where things had gone so wrong. He'd arrived at the physical education building to meet the coach for a lesson in clowning, and somehow, he'd ended up as the one on the receiving end.

He was in his Clumsy Charlie form, the hose still firmly in his valve, and Al had his hands on the bicycle pump (or oversized version thereof). Sitting on a wrestling mat, legs sprawled out in front of him, the sad-looking clown had an expression of consternation with overtones of 'oh shit' as it dawned on his silly character that he couldn't pull the hose out, and was at another clown's mercy.

Al simply smiled as Clumsy Charlie endured his predicament.

"Looks like the shoe's on the other foot, eh Eskin?" he said with a slight chuckle.

The clown on the end of the hose gulped, an exaggerated version of the action, and nodded glumly. He eyed the hose stuck in him, then gave Al a pleading, puppy-eyed look, mutely begging (encouraging him to?) not to be blown up further. Sure, Rodger could drop character and yank the hose out, unless something in their powers and programming prevented it, but he was playing along with whatever Al had in mind. After all, since he was supposed to torment them for power, it was only fair that if one of them got him the same way he should be a good sport about it. Turnabout was fair play.

So Clumsy Charlie played up on being helpless and at Al's mercy, a clown who realized that his assailant could pump him up until he blew to bits and desperate to avoid that fate.

Al slowly began to pump Rodger some more.

"It's not everyday that the one who brings the pain is the one who takes it too! Remind me to sign up for more days like this, Rodger.."