"There isn't? That's ridiculous."

Of course, the government is massively corrupt and incompetent, so I should have expected that.

"Why are you exchanging that look?"

It's another fucking test, I bet. I'm really sick of this. I need to make myself empress of everything so that people stop passive-aggressively testing me all the time. Ugh.

Resisting the impulse to roll my eyes, I continue, "That's a good idea. I'll go ask."

And so I do, to find Paula. I have as much time as I need, and my parents will disappear back into real time if they get bored waiting - or they might even help, what a shock - so I'll take however long it takes. I've spent whole weeks in here before. It's substantially creepier now, and I resent losing my private space, but it is what it is.

I'm pretty sure her name was Paula. The president of the Dragons.

Dad flinches a bit at your question about the look.  He shake his head.  "It's something 'tween me and your Mom.  Don't worry about it."

He seems a bit moody of a sudden.

It takes a while (subjective time) to track down Paula.  She's frozen in the midst of a laugh.  Whatever's making her laugh must have been really funny, as her head is cocked back and her mouth is open wide, showing all her teeth.  Oddly, it is not a good look for her.

The people around her seem surprised.

I go back to Mom and Dad, inform them that Paula is in a strange situation, and that I'm going to go back into regular time for a few seconds to see what's going on, before I bring her Sideways.

I really don't want to call it Limbo.

Then I return to where Paula is, so I can pop back into normal time - the living world I guess - for a few seconds, as noted, and see what she's guffawing about and everyone is surprised about.

You hear her stammer through her laughter, "It's so...ha!..cute that...ha ha ha!..They think that..."

She catches you out of the side of her eye, and waves you over.  "Oh my!  Sorry Seraphina.  Do you know everyone here?  Sorry.  Please forgive me.  Just heard something funny. Gimme one sec..."

One of the young ladies standing there glances at you nervously and gives you a small nod of the head.  She introduces herself and starts naming everyone present.

Some seem to recognize you.  Others either don't or don't care.  Paula finally settles down.

"Oh.  Again.  Sorry about that.  You caught me being un-ladylike.  Anyway.  Are your parents here?  I thought I saw them, but just haven't had a chance to introduce myself.  Are they enjoying the event?  Did someone take care of this whole bomb fiasco?"

She mutters that last question, glancing around.

Everyone seems oddly unconcerned about the bomb thing.

I do my best to be bright, cheerful, and charming. I'm pretty good at it, mostly from practice, even though my natural state is a very cold fish. "I forgive you. As far as I know, I've already taken care of the bombs. I'm looking into who planted them. I need to borrow you for a second."

I tap Paula unless she dodges, to bring her into Limbo. Assuming the transfer is successful, I hold out my notepad with the list of names, places, IDs, and so forth collected from Officer Sussy Baka.

"These are the names and stuff I've got. My parents suggested I check in with the Dragons to see if they recognized any, and you're the president. Any of these ring a bell?"

In reply to Seraphina Martel (msg # 62):

"Agent Swalworth, huh?" Paula seems to recognize that name right off the bat.

"Her I can at least vouch for.  As much as any one of the Feds can be vouched for...

"Let's see..."

She shakes her head after looking over the list.  "No one here stands out.  But.  The Sleepy Inn.  I hate to admit I know that place.  But."

Paula hands you back your intel.  "The Sleepy Inn is owned by one of our alum.  Ex-alum I should say.  She was drummed out of the Dragons for going above and beyond.  Inisha Sengupta.  But you may know her by her handle.  Rakshasa."

You know of Rakshasa, yes.  She's a sort of a stage magician with delusions of grandeur. Think of Mysterio from Spider Man comics

You think Mother and Dad have tangled with her before in an official capacity.

"Okay. Thank you." I give Paula a smile.

"Do you want to come with me to finish this up?" I ask, instead of just brigading her like I would most people.

If she does, I take her back to my parents, and if she doesn't, I take back the info. Either way, I'm going to tell my parents what Paula told me, that Inisha Sengupta, Rakshasa, owns the hotel that the goons were going to meet up at after the fireworks.

Paula shrugs.  "Sure.  I can.  No problem."

Mother and Dad both sigh when you give them the news.

"Well there goes my buzz."  Mother frowns as she says that.

Dad rubs the bridge of his nose.  He does that when he's highly annoyed.

"I thought she was still in prison."

"Oh come on.  How often do they just stay in prison?"

"It would be nice is someone had told us..."

"You don't think she's really here for some kind of revenge, do you?"

Dad glances your way. "Well.  I can't imagine she would try something like this just cos."

"I'm supposed to be on vacation."

"Well.  I guess it's over.  Princess...you go back to your room.  Raksasha is probably out of your league."

"Two weeks ago, I would have argued, but not today."

I hand over my notes to Dad.

"Are you two going to take care of her?"

Mom can always step Sideways and come get me if she needs help. I doubt she will.

Mother laughs.  "We'll be fine."

Dad glances at her then back at you, giving you a grin.  "Don't worry about it.  But.  I want you to go on back to your room.  Wait there.  Alright?"

"All right."

I sigh.

"Thanks, Paula. Do you want to go back to where you were?"

"Please.  Nice to meet the two of you," Paula says to Mother and Dad before you whisk her off.

Mother and Dad are gone by the time you get back.  Mother must have moved them.

They must have stopped by and told the cops about the bombs, because it seems the SWAT teams are standing down.  And the bomb squad is looking a little disappointed.

That Federal Agent lady is in the crowd of cops, waiving her ID and demanding to speak to whoever is in chare.

You head back to your room....

stopping by any particular place first?  What do you do if you do go back please.  I need some idea of what her regular pre-bed routine is

Thanks

I want to check on Saul and Ahina before I go back to my room. Just in case some shenanigans occurred.

I also need to text that telepath kid who said he'd show me how to fight off telepathic intrusion. Time to get some lessons.

Assuming nothing interesting happens, before bed, I first practice attempting to time travel, by "following the flow" as my mother directed and I was starting to discover. I give it about a subjective hour, then I shower, brush and floss, put on my nightgown, play a game for a little bit, and finally lay down for sleep.

Do you remember the telepathic kid's name from the flag game? I could look, but I am lazy. =3 =p

Ahina is partying with the Dragons.  She seems to be in good spirits.

Saul is helping the cops.  "I'll deal with this.  Talk to you in the morning and let you know if they find out anything of interest."

You go about your self training after sending off your text to the telepathy kid who will now be known as Byron.  Because Byron sounds like a good telepath's name, don't it?.  He isn't a good teen since he doesn't fire a response back.  Some people just don't the etiquette of this kind of thing, do they?

You get ready for bed, snicking off a good length of floss and really going at that gum line.  You're halfway through when you suddenly feel very sleepy.  Like it's hard to keep your eyes open kind of sleepy.

By the time it occurs to you that someone actually mickey'd your dental floss, you're already falling over.

When you blink into wakefulness, you're strapped to a table.  The restraints must have cost a fortune because you can't break them.

After a few minutes a woman with light brown skin and the darkest, must luxurious hair you've ever seen pokes her head into your field of vision.

"You look just like your mother," she says after a moment of observing you.

"I like your hair," I reply, dryly.

I just look around, not having much else to do.

She chuckles.  Dryly.

"Well. You're just as arrogant as your mother, that's for sure.

"How many times does this make it for you to be held hostage?  You must be a pro at it by now."

A klaxon softly sounds.  A red light flashes on some wall mounted device.

She frowns.  "They must already have gotten here.  Funny how motivated they are. But I guess you are their baby girl.

"Well.  Off I go to kill your folks.  You want me to turn the TV on for you before I head out?"

"Once."

Uuuuuuuuuuugh.

"I would really hate it if you gave me a diamond file and told me I had to have immaculate nails or else. I have a deep-seated fear of manicures."

She laughs before leaving the room.  Without giving you the diamond nail file.

You seem to have been left on your own.

That's when Ghostie steps out from behind a computer bank and looks around.

"It actually surprises me you've only been captured once.  I'd figure with your parents, you would be like the world record holder for being the kid on the milk carton."

"Lots of people have tried. This is the first time anybody has used restraints that actually keep me from breaking out," I answer the ghost, though to muggles, I probably seem to be talking to myself. Just in case there's a camera on me, I keep up the pretense.

Staring at the ceiling and remaining deadpan, "She even put the lock release just out of my reach. Oh woe is me. If only there was someone who utterly depended on my continued life for their own existence who was conveniently available to unlatch these restraints. Oh if ooooonly."

"Yeah yeah.  Keep your panties twisted.  Gimme a mo."

The restraints unclasp.  You can feel circulation making it's way back into your ankles and your fists.

"So what now?"

"Thanks."

I get up and stretch, aerobically preparing myself for exertion I probably won't have to make.

"Now I look around for anything related to this scheme, where I am, and how I can break stuff."

And so I do.

You are in a small room that screams back room of an underground bunker


Map!



There's an opening in the eastern wall.  Through it is a large room with a glass floor.  Under the glass floor is what looks like layers of old pipes and tubes.

A row of villain looking machinery makes a short hallway down the large room.  At the end of it, a massive pipe organ covers one wall.  Piles of broken cogs and machinery are heaped up on the other side.

To the south, a short hallway runs into a thick, vault type door.  Etched on the doorway is a single musical note.  An eighth note without a staff.

There is an open archway to the north.  Through it, a hallway tiled in odd and weird looking tiles runs to the east.

Neat map! Thanks for making it. I passed my final accounting exam and now just need to wait for the government to send me my license. Have I mentioned that?

 "Did you see her use any of this stuff?" I ask Kevin the ghost.

I try to break off some of the material used to hold my wrists, to see if it's more pliable when not attached or "active" or whatever.

I also inspect the room for any computers or terminals for potential monolgue material. Villains love to ham like that.

Thanks and congrats! Welcome to the wonderful world of finance.

The straps are still tough.  They seem to be some kind of plastic and it's tough to get a solid grip on them.

There's nothing monologue-able that stands out.

The machines have no obviously discernable purpose.  They almost look sort of steam-punkish.  The metal looks brass like.  There aren't any obvious computer screens like you're used to.  One of the machines has a factory whistle stuck on one side of it.

Thank you. I hope they pay me better.

This villain might actually be serious. Well, seriously insane and potentially evil. Or seriously evil and potentially insane? I'm not sure, but, if this was Rakshasa, she was definitely, actually a bad person.

I step Sideways so that my explorations don't waste precious time. I doubt my parents need help, but maybe they do. I've been pretty self-assured for a long time now, thinking I was hot shit and invincible. The world is teaching me how wrong I was. Next step is to look around for a bag or other container, if possible, to put that unbreakable material in.

After that little search, I step back into regular time and-

Regular time.

It's going to have music puzzles isn't it.

Dammit. I should have paid attention in music class.

At a loss for what to do, I check the strange hallway, and if nothing reveals itself, I try opening the vault door. If that doesn't work either, even with my strength, I start poking keys on the organ to see if anything happens.