From: novagreys@aol.com (Nova GreyS)
Date: 22 Dec 1999 01:18:46 EST
"Here, this one, too."
"You know, I said I'd be able to carry everything in an attempt to make sure you didn't load an entire shopping cart full of toys for Kaylan."
"You said you wanted this to be a good holiday for her since you missed her last year, Nova. Now move your arms here, the pile is starting to lean," Miror Shadow, Nova's youngest sister and current housekeeper (because, you know, Nova doesn't do windows) adjusted her brother's arms accordingly, making sure the pile of toys he was carrying didn't suddenly fall.
"Fine, fine. Just nothing with noise, will you? She has enough noisy toys," he replied miserably, wondering how long it would be before his dear sister stacked the toys well over his head.
"Nothing with noise. Of course," she said, apparently distracted from the conversation by a toy that was making noise. She picked it up and put it on the pile.
"Hey," Nova called after his sister, though she had already moved on down the aisle, "Hey! Nothing with noise, I said! This makes noise! It's making noise right now! Put it back!" he was hurrying after her, his arms loaded, attempting to shake the noisy toy from the top of the pile to no avail.
One could almost see the cloud of misery hanging over Nova Grey Shadow's head as his sister continued to stack gifts atop the pile he carried. If one looked hard enough, one could almost say Nova looked like the pack mule he felt he was.
"My back is killing me," he said meekly, long past the point of arguing with the woman he should have known better than to bring along.
"We're almost done. We just have to find something for Tiger," she replied. As Nova could no longer see over the stack, he walked toward his sister's voice.
"Just get him some catnip and a chew toy. It's not like he knows the difference," Nova muttered, standing on one leg in order to scratch the back of his calf with the top of his opposite sneaker.
"He doesn't like catnip. That's you," Miror said, grinning at the pile of gifts that her brother was behind.
"Hey, it tastes good on steak, all right? I only had it once. By the way, think you could arrange these gifts so that I could actually see, or would that be asking too much? ... Hello? Mir?" Nova grunted as he stood in place, the red and white wool Christmas cap beginning to itch now that he was sweating freely.
"Over here!"
"Great. Over there. Thanks for letting me know, you little ..." he followed the sound of her voice, bumping into a rather large object along the way (which turned out to be an orc, but that's a story for another time).
"What did you do with all the presents?!" Miror cried as she turned to find her brother empty-handed.
"I already paid for them and brought them home," Nova replied as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket.
"How did you get through the line so quickly?" she asked, unable to believe that, for all his speed, her brother was able to get to the front of a checkout line that extended almost all the way to the back of the store.
"Oh, someone announced they were having a run on Ninja Beanie Power Burbles. Two for a dollar at the back of the store. Sounded like they were lying, but the line cleared right out," Nova said, his head shifting from side to side innocently.
His sister laughed quietly. "You're such a scumbag," she told him.
"I firmly believe that only the strongest holiday shoppers get to the front of the line. Are we done here?"
"I suppose so. Did you at least hide the presents someplace where Kaylan won't find them?"
"No, I dumped them all on her bed so she'll see them the second she gets home. Let's get out of here before there's a riot," he said, taking Miror by the arm and leading her toward the exit.
Meanwhile, somewhere in the back of the store: A shout went up, "Ninja Beanie Power Burbles! Here they are!" and the carnage that ensued would have made the most ruthless warlord wince.
Nova's Holiday One-shot
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From: novagreys@aol.com (Nova GreyS)
Date: 22 Dec 1999 01:20:46 EST
Nova Grey Shadow groaned as he saw the list of food his sister required from the market.
"Are you sure we don't have enough of any of this stuff at home?" he asked her, hoping for a holiday miracle.
"I'm definitely sure. You don't exactly keep your house well-stocked, you know. It's a wonder Kaylan isn't malnourished by now," she said teasingly, leaving Nova on the sidewalk in front of the RhyDin Market Centre.
"You better get me a really good present, you know!" he called after her as she disappeared into the holiday traffic to do more shopping.
Nova stared up at the entrance to the Centre, wondering if he would make it out alive (and without killing anyone else). Taking a deep breath, he stepped inside.
The Market was alive with sounds and smells. Shouts of fresh fish and other assorted meats. The sweet smell of fruits fresh off the vine (and the putrid stentch of fruits not-so-fresh off the vine).
Countless stands displayed signs declaring special prices for the holiday that most of RhyDin observed, if only because it gave them the day off from work. There were goblins peddling rotted meat and green cheeses. Kenders selling exotic pastries (and people standing out in front of the Kender stands scratching their heads and wondering where their watches and gold chains got to).
There were elves selling fresh venison and flowers and honeycakes, and dwarves declaring they had the best prices on fresh lamb and mountain bird meat. There were even orcs selling ale (right next to the first aid stand, where many humans and goblins were sleeping off the effects of the free samples).
Nova looked mournfully at the list, knowing none of the items his sister needed could be found at one specific stand. He started at the left, making a wide circle through the Centre before walking down the middle aisles. As he stopped to examine a Kender owned bakery (his hand on his wallet, of course), a voice called out from behind him:
"Nova!"
Grey Shadow turned, seeing no one looking at him.
"Nova!" the call came again.
He turned his head the other way, looking for someone that might have been calling him.
"Nooooooooova," the call was eerie now.
"What?" Nova said aloud, getting rather annoyed.
"Noooooova, I am the ghost of Christmas Past. I have come to grant you three holiday wishes. None of them may involve money or women," the voice seemed closer now. Nova turned to come face to face with Verceterix Favre.
"Agh!" Nova screamed, clutching at his chest. "My God! It's the ugliest Christmas elf I've ever seen!"
Rix was dressed in green courderoys and a red sweater, replete with a Christmas cap just like Nova's.
"Did Ally go blind and dress you or something?" Nova asked, laughing at the ensemble.
Rix just stared. "I thought this is what you're supposed to wear around this time."
"You forgot the pointy shoes," Nova said, pointing to Rix's feet.
"Hell with that," Rix replied, "I'm going to go bring this stuff back to the house. I'll see you later in the Arena, I'm sure." And Rix set off, grumbling curses about Nova's lineage.
After a few moments of helpless laughter (though he still managed to keep a hand on his wallet), Nova continued to amass enough food to feed a small army. Wondering just what sort of meal his sister had planned, he finally left the Market Centre sometime after noon and began to make his way back to the ranch.
Meanwhile, in the shadows of a nearby alleyway, a presence manifested itself beside the trash cans. It watched the grocery-laden Nova Grey Shadow fly up into the air and off toward the west. A grin spread across its face.
"Yes," it whispered, "you'll do quite nicely." And its maniacal chuckling echoed off the alley walls.
Date: 22 Dec 1999 01:20:46 EST
Nova Grey Shadow groaned as he saw the list of food his sister required from the market.
"Are you sure we don't have enough of any of this stuff at home?" he asked her, hoping for a holiday miracle.
"I'm definitely sure. You don't exactly keep your house well-stocked, you know. It's a wonder Kaylan isn't malnourished by now," she said teasingly, leaving Nova on the sidewalk in front of the RhyDin Market Centre.
"You better get me a really good present, you know!" he called after her as she disappeared into the holiday traffic to do more shopping.
Nova stared up at the entrance to the Centre, wondering if he would make it out alive (and without killing anyone else). Taking a deep breath, he stepped inside.
The Market was alive with sounds and smells. Shouts of fresh fish and other assorted meats. The sweet smell of fruits fresh off the vine (and the putrid stentch of fruits not-so-fresh off the vine).
Countless stands displayed signs declaring special prices for the holiday that most of RhyDin observed, if only because it gave them the day off from work. There were goblins peddling rotted meat and green cheeses. Kenders selling exotic pastries (and people standing out in front of the Kender stands scratching their heads and wondering where their watches and gold chains got to).
There were elves selling fresh venison and flowers and honeycakes, and dwarves declaring they had the best prices on fresh lamb and mountain bird meat. There were even orcs selling ale (right next to the first aid stand, where many humans and goblins were sleeping off the effects of the free samples).
Nova looked mournfully at the list, knowing none of the items his sister needed could be found at one specific stand. He started at the left, making a wide circle through the Centre before walking down the middle aisles. As he stopped to examine a Kender owned bakery (his hand on his wallet, of course), a voice called out from behind him:
"Nova!"
Grey Shadow turned, seeing no one looking at him.
"Nova!" the call came again.
He turned his head the other way, looking for someone that might have been calling him.
"Nooooooooova," the call was eerie now.
"What?" Nova said aloud, getting rather annoyed.
"Noooooova, I am the ghost of Christmas Past. I have come to grant you three holiday wishes. None of them may involve money or women," the voice seemed closer now. Nova turned to come face to face with Verceterix Favre.
"Agh!" Nova screamed, clutching at his chest. "My God! It's the ugliest Christmas elf I've ever seen!"
Rix was dressed in green courderoys and a red sweater, replete with a Christmas cap just like Nova's.
"Did Ally go blind and dress you or something?" Nova asked, laughing at the ensemble.
Rix just stared. "I thought this is what you're supposed to wear around this time."
"You forgot the pointy shoes," Nova said, pointing to Rix's feet.
"Hell with that," Rix replied, "I'm going to go bring this stuff back to the house. I'll see you later in the Arena, I'm sure." And Rix set off, grumbling curses about Nova's lineage.
After a few moments of helpless laughter (though he still managed to keep a hand on his wallet), Nova continued to amass enough food to feed a small army. Wondering just what sort of meal his sister had planned, he finally left the Market Centre sometime after noon and began to make his way back to the ranch.
Meanwhile, in the shadows of a nearby alleyway, a presence manifested itself beside the trash cans. It watched the grocery-laden Nova Grey Shadow fly up into the air and off toward the west. A grin spread across its face.
"Yes," it whispered, "you'll do quite nicely." And its maniacal chuckling echoed off the alley walls.
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From: novagreys@aol.com (Nova GreyS)
Date: 22 Dec 1999 01:21:43 EST
Starshine Ranch. 1:57 pm RhyDin Standard. The Kitchen.
The groceries had finally been put away (more like stuffed away as, when building the house, Nova had not anticipated the need for so much cabinet space) and Miror had begun preparing the evening meal.
"Smells like feet in here. What died?" Nova said, emerging from the basement doorway, having just completed his hiding of all the year's presents in a place no one would ever think of looking.
"That's dinner. If you don't watch your mouth, I might not bother seasoning it for you," was the reply, dangerously low. The threat was indeed real.
Nova lifted the lid of a pot set upon the stove and recoiled. "For God's sake. All those groceries and you couldn't pick something for dinner tonight that smelled slightly more appetizing than elephant dung? I worked hard today, you know."
"Oh, I know. You'll like it, trust me," his sister was smiling one of those smiles Nova knew he couldn't trust.
"Think I'll look into take out tonight," he said, muttering under his breath as he left the room.
"What was that?"
"I said, 'Smells great! I think I'll go work up my appetite!'"
Access road to Starshine Ranch. 2:17 pm RhyDin Standard.
A large figure knelt by the side of the road, peering down toward the house in the distance. The air was cold and its breath came out in heavy clouds that hung in the air around it. It watched as Nova Grey Shadow emerged from the house. The moment Nova's feet touched the grass, the figure was running stealthily down toward him.
Front lawn of Starshine Ranch. 2:18 pm RhyDin Standard.
Nova Grey Shadow was looking up at the sky when the figure entered the clearing from the access road. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw it, a red and white blur. He spun, his arms spreading to catch the on rushing figure ... but it was no longer there.
Nova turned back and came face to face with the figure. Its breath smelled faintly of chocolate. Its cheeks and nose were bright red. It had a thick white beard surrounding its mouth. Nova knew instantly.
"Santa!"
"Quiet, lad!" the figure hissed, pressing a meaty finger to its mouth.
There Santa Claus stood, all five feet, nine inches, three hundred and seventy pounds of him. By God he was a big one, and the red and white woolen suit looked mighty stretched.
Nova lowered his voice. "Nice to see you and all, but what exactly are you doing here?"
"I helped you once (this, of course, is another story). I need you to help me," Santa said, putting a thick hand on Nova's shoulder.
"Sure. What do you need?"
"I need you to deliver some presents. Some of my reindeer have come down with hoof rot, many of my elves have got the flu, Mrs. Claus has ... well, that doesn't matter, but I can't bring myself to push them this season. You're the fastest man alive. I need you to deliver in this realm. I just can't handle it this year."
Nova blinked once, then twice. "Would I have to dress up like you?" he asked.
"No! Of course not. Don't be ridiculous," Santa said as if Nova were seriously considering it.
"I don't know ... this sounds like a really big job," Nova said, rubbing his chin, "Will I get my pick of the presents?"
"Are you trying to blackmail Santa in his time of need?"
"Um. No. Was just seeing if the job had any perks," Nova stepped right into that one. Acceptance through guilt.
"You'll have to start early. There's a lot of ground to cover. You'll need to do it fast," Santa said grimly. It was obvious Santa was at the end of his proverbial rope.
"Hey, Santa. No problem. When you say 'fast', you mean 'Nova'," Grey Shadow replied, jerking a thumb at himself.
"I'm sure your girlfriend is sorry to hear that," Santa muttered under his breath.
"Pardon?"
"Ah, nothing. So you'll do this for Santa?"
"I suppose. Just give me the list and I'll do my best," Nova shrugged.
"There's a lad!" Santa exclaimed, reaching up to ruffle Nova's hair. Reaching down into his pocket, The Big Claus produced a candy cane and held it out. Nova accepted it with a smile.
"Gee, thanks," Nova said, looking down at the meager candy.
"No, thank you, lad! And remember: Tis the season to be giving, not receiving!" and Santa began to walk off toward the access road.
"Yeah, I'll give you a swift kick in that fat ..." Nova mumbled under his breath.
"What was that?" Santa turned, his hands on his jolly-wide hips.
"Ah, nothing," Nova stated, holding up the candy cane and giving Saint Nick his brightest smile, complete with a thumbs-up.
Santa tsked once, winked, and then pressed his finger to the side of his nose and rose up into the air, becoming naught but a little red ball in the sky after a few moments.
A tiger padded up alongside Nova, its head tilted toward the sky. Nova looked down at it.
"Think when Santa puts his finger to the side of his nose it means he's with the RhyDin mafia?" he asked the large cat. It simply looked up at him quizzically.
"Yeah, I didn't think so, either," Nova said, scratching the tiger behind the ears before moving back toward the house. It was four days before the holiday, and there was much left to be done.
Date: 22 Dec 1999 01:21:43 EST
Starshine Ranch. 1:57 pm RhyDin Standard. The Kitchen.
The groceries had finally been put away (more like stuffed away as, when building the house, Nova had not anticipated the need for so much cabinet space) and Miror had begun preparing the evening meal.
"Smells like feet in here. What died?" Nova said, emerging from the basement doorway, having just completed his hiding of all the year's presents in a place no one would ever think of looking.
"That's dinner. If you don't watch your mouth, I might not bother seasoning it for you," was the reply, dangerously low. The threat was indeed real.
Nova lifted the lid of a pot set upon the stove and recoiled. "For God's sake. All those groceries and you couldn't pick something for dinner tonight that smelled slightly more appetizing than elephant dung? I worked hard today, you know."
"Oh, I know. You'll like it, trust me," his sister was smiling one of those smiles Nova knew he couldn't trust.
"Think I'll look into take out tonight," he said, muttering under his breath as he left the room.
"What was that?"
"I said, 'Smells great! I think I'll go work up my appetite!'"
Access road to Starshine Ranch. 2:17 pm RhyDin Standard.
A large figure knelt by the side of the road, peering down toward the house in the distance. The air was cold and its breath came out in heavy clouds that hung in the air around it. It watched as Nova Grey Shadow emerged from the house. The moment Nova's feet touched the grass, the figure was running stealthily down toward him.
Front lawn of Starshine Ranch. 2:18 pm RhyDin Standard.
Nova Grey Shadow was looking up at the sky when the figure entered the clearing from the access road. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw it, a red and white blur. He spun, his arms spreading to catch the on rushing figure ... but it was no longer there.
Nova turned back and came face to face with the figure. Its breath smelled faintly of chocolate. Its cheeks and nose were bright red. It had a thick white beard surrounding its mouth. Nova knew instantly.
"Santa!"
"Quiet, lad!" the figure hissed, pressing a meaty finger to its mouth.
There Santa Claus stood, all five feet, nine inches, three hundred and seventy pounds of him. By God he was a big one, and the red and white woolen suit looked mighty stretched.
Nova lowered his voice. "Nice to see you and all, but what exactly are you doing here?"
"I helped you once (this, of course, is another story). I need you to help me," Santa said, putting a thick hand on Nova's shoulder.
"Sure. What do you need?"
"I need you to deliver some presents. Some of my reindeer have come down with hoof rot, many of my elves have got the flu, Mrs. Claus has ... well, that doesn't matter, but I can't bring myself to push them this season. You're the fastest man alive. I need you to deliver in this realm. I just can't handle it this year."
Nova blinked once, then twice. "Would I have to dress up like you?" he asked.
"No! Of course not. Don't be ridiculous," Santa said as if Nova were seriously considering it.
"I don't know ... this sounds like a really big job," Nova said, rubbing his chin, "Will I get my pick of the presents?"
"Are you trying to blackmail Santa in his time of need?"
"Um. No. Was just seeing if the job had any perks," Nova stepped right into that one. Acceptance through guilt.
"You'll have to start early. There's a lot of ground to cover. You'll need to do it fast," Santa said grimly. It was obvious Santa was at the end of his proverbial rope.
"Hey, Santa. No problem. When you say 'fast', you mean 'Nova'," Grey Shadow replied, jerking a thumb at himself.
"I'm sure your girlfriend is sorry to hear that," Santa muttered under his breath.
"Pardon?"
"Ah, nothing. So you'll do this for Santa?"
"I suppose. Just give me the list and I'll do my best," Nova shrugged.
"There's a lad!" Santa exclaimed, reaching up to ruffle Nova's hair. Reaching down into his pocket, The Big Claus produced a candy cane and held it out. Nova accepted it with a smile.
"Gee, thanks," Nova said, looking down at the meager candy.
"No, thank you, lad! And remember: Tis the season to be giving, not receiving!" and Santa began to walk off toward the access road.
"Yeah, I'll give you a swift kick in that fat ..." Nova mumbled under his breath.
"What was that?" Santa turned, his hands on his jolly-wide hips.
"Ah, nothing," Nova stated, holding up the candy cane and giving Saint Nick his brightest smile, complete with a thumbs-up.
Santa tsked once, winked, and then pressed his finger to the side of his nose and rose up into the air, becoming naught but a little red ball in the sky after a few moments.
A tiger padded up alongside Nova, its head tilted toward the sky. Nova looked down at it.
"Think when Santa puts his finger to the side of his nose it means he's with the RhyDin mafia?" he asked the large cat. It simply looked up at him quizzically.
"Yeah, I didn't think so, either," Nova said, scratching the tiger behind the ears before moving back toward the house. It was four days before the holiday, and there was much left to be done.
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From: novagreys@aol.com (Nova GreyS)
Date: 22 Dec 1999 01:24:09 EST
The list arrived shortly after dusk, along with the magical sack of goodies that would ensure that no child in RhyDin went without a gift this season. The sack was large, but not overly so. Plain burlap with a red cord holding it closed. Legend states that Santa's bag was bottomless and Nova set to work immediately testing this theory. Gifts were spread across the living room floor, some wrapped nicely, others
apparently wrapped by an armless blind man. Nametags were many and each one carried the same "Love, Santa" signature below the "To:" line.
After some seventy-five gifts were tossed haphazardly around the living room, Nova concluded that the bag was indeed bottomless. Another theory academically tested by Nova Grey Shadow. Miror entered the living room just as Nova began pushing the gifts back into the bag.
"What's all this?"
"Nothing. Just some gifts," Nova replied, non-chalantly attempting to push a rocking horse into the bag.
"I don't think that's going to fit in there, Nova. Really," she said, trying to stifle a laugh.
"Ye of little faith," he retorted as the horse dipped down into the bag. Nova stood and pulled the drawstring closed, hefting the bag over his shoulder.
"Where are you taking those?" Miror asked, verging on complete confusion.
Nova lifted a scroll from the living room coffee table and winked at his sister, pressing his finger against the side of his nose.
"You're not working for the RhyDin mafia, are you?" she asked, her eyes widening.
Nova laughed and shook his head. "Uh, no. I'm going to go see Rix. I'll be back after ... I mean, before dinner."
With that, Nova took the list and the gifts and set off to recruit for the job ahead.
(Author's note: to be continued tomorrow evening. Hope you all enjoy this holiday serial. ;D)
Date: 22 Dec 1999 01:24:09 EST
The list arrived shortly after dusk, along with the magical sack of goodies that would ensure that no child in RhyDin went without a gift this season. The sack was large, but not overly so. Plain burlap with a red cord holding it closed. Legend states that Santa's bag was bottomless and Nova set to work immediately testing this theory. Gifts were spread across the living room floor, some wrapped nicely, others
apparently wrapped by an armless blind man. Nametags were many and each one carried the same "Love, Santa" signature below the "To:" line.
After some seventy-five gifts were tossed haphazardly around the living room, Nova concluded that the bag was indeed bottomless. Another theory academically tested by Nova Grey Shadow. Miror entered the living room just as Nova began pushing the gifts back into the bag.
"What's all this?"
"Nothing. Just some gifts," Nova replied, non-chalantly attempting to push a rocking horse into the bag.
"I don't think that's going to fit in there, Nova. Really," she said, trying to stifle a laugh.
"Ye of little faith," he retorted as the horse dipped down into the bag. Nova stood and pulled the drawstring closed, hefting the bag over his shoulder.
"Where are you taking those?" Miror asked, verging on complete confusion.
Nova lifted a scroll from the living room coffee table and winked at his sister, pressing his finger against the side of his nose.
"You're not working for the RhyDin mafia, are you?" she asked, her eyes widening.
Nova laughed and shook his head. "Uh, no. I'm going to go see Rix. I'll be back after ... I mean, before dinner."
With that, Nova took the list and the gifts and set off to recruit for the job ahead.
(Author's note: to be continued tomorrow evening. Hope you all enjoy this holiday serial. ;D)
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From: novagreys@aol.com (Nova GreyS)
Date: 22 Dec 1999 22:26:28 EST
Nova got quite a few odd looks as he made his way to the house of one of his closest friends. Rix's home wasn't too far from his own, allowing Nova to arrive relatively quickly, even walking at a 'normal' pace. As usual, he rang the bell and then banged on the door until Rix yanked the door open.
"I wish you'd stop doing that," Rix said, looking at the bag Nova carried. "What's in there? A body?"
"I wish," Nova said, pushing past Rix as the door shut behind him. "Ally here?"
"No, she's out ..."
"Good. I've got a job for you. Feel up for a little adventure?"
"What kind of adventure?"
Nova outlined his meeting with Santa and his agreement to aid the jolly old elf. He even went so far as to being to prove that the bag he carried was bottomless.
"All right, all right I believe it's a bottomless bag. I still think you're crazy," Rix said as he waved his arms at Nova, indicating he should stop cluttering the dining room table with gifts.
"So, I'm crazy. Will you help me anyway?"
"No way," Rix said, picking up a poorly wrapped gift and shaking it. "Did you wrap these things, too? Looks like the job of an armless blind man."
Nova plucked the gift from Rix's hands and shoved it into the bag. "Stop that. C'mon, you've already got the clothes for it. All you need is the pointy shoes!"
Rix just stared.
"Oh, c'mon. It'll be fun. Think about it. You'll be delivering presents to all the needy children of RhyDin. It's your good deed for your entire lifetime!"
"What needy children of RhyDin? Most of them have more than I do," Rix said. Apparently, Nova wasn't a very good pitch man.
"I'll owe you one," Nova said, running out of options.
"You'll owe me a lot more than one if I do this," Rix said, narrowing his eyes.
"Okay, okay. I'll owe you two," Nova said, holding out the candy cane Santa had given him earlier.
Rix looked at the candy cane, then up at Nova - who happened to be smiling brightly, his eyebrows lifted in that "you know you want to help your buddy" look. Reluctantly reaching out, Rix grabbed the candy cane from Nova and muttered something unintelligible as he crammed the candy into his mouth.
"Finew. Uh's ga," Rix said as he stood, the candy cane pushing his cheeks out and making him look like a chipmunk hoarding nuts for the season. As Rix began to move, a bell jingled quietly causing him to immediately stop in his tracks, his eyes widening.
Nova paused. "What was that?" he asked.
Rix spread his hands, shrugging. Nova looked down.
"Oh my God! You've got the pointy shoes ... with bells!" Nova screamed before crumbling into a fit of laughter, helplessly pointing at Rix's feet. Rix reddened and stood there for a moment, watching his friend roll about on the floor. He thought of stepping on Nova's head then, but he was hoping Santa remembered him this year and he didn't want to do anything that would jeopardize his chances at a gift.
As Nova's fit of laughter began to wind down, causing him to suck in deep, shuddering breaths and wipe at his eyes, Rix mumbled around the candy cane, "Um ganna yange."
And, with that, Rix walked off to change, the bells on his shoes jingling merrily with each step. Nova entered into an all new fit of helpless laughter.
Date: 22 Dec 1999 22:26:28 EST
Nova got quite a few odd looks as he made his way to the house of one of his closest friends. Rix's home wasn't too far from his own, allowing Nova to arrive relatively quickly, even walking at a 'normal' pace. As usual, he rang the bell and then banged on the door until Rix yanked the door open.
"I wish you'd stop doing that," Rix said, looking at the bag Nova carried. "What's in there? A body?"
"I wish," Nova said, pushing past Rix as the door shut behind him. "Ally here?"
"No, she's out ..."
"Good. I've got a job for you. Feel up for a little adventure?"
"What kind of adventure?"
Nova outlined his meeting with Santa and his agreement to aid the jolly old elf. He even went so far as to being to prove that the bag he carried was bottomless.
"All right, all right I believe it's a bottomless bag. I still think you're crazy," Rix said as he waved his arms at Nova, indicating he should stop cluttering the dining room table with gifts.
"So, I'm crazy. Will you help me anyway?"
"No way," Rix said, picking up a poorly wrapped gift and shaking it. "Did you wrap these things, too? Looks like the job of an armless blind man."
Nova plucked the gift from Rix's hands and shoved it into the bag. "Stop that. C'mon, you've already got the clothes for it. All you need is the pointy shoes!"
Rix just stared.
"Oh, c'mon. It'll be fun. Think about it. You'll be delivering presents to all the needy children of RhyDin. It's your good deed for your entire lifetime!"
"What needy children of RhyDin? Most of them have more than I do," Rix said. Apparently, Nova wasn't a very good pitch man.
"I'll owe you one," Nova said, running out of options.
"You'll owe me a lot more than one if I do this," Rix said, narrowing his eyes.
"Okay, okay. I'll owe you two," Nova said, holding out the candy cane Santa had given him earlier.
Rix looked at the candy cane, then up at Nova - who happened to be smiling brightly, his eyebrows lifted in that "you know you want to help your buddy" look. Reluctantly reaching out, Rix grabbed the candy cane from Nova and muttered something unintelligible as he crammed the candy into his mouth.
"Finew. Uh's ga," Rix said as he stood, the candy cane pushing his cheeks out and making him look like a chipmunk hoarding nuts for the season. As Rix began to move, a bell jingled quietly causing him to immediately stop in his tracks, his eyes widening.
Nova paused. "What was that?" he asked.
Rix spread his hands, shrugging. Nova looked down.
"Oh my God! You've got the pointy shoes ... with bells!" Nova screamed before crumbling into a fit of laughter, helplessly pointing at Rix's feet. Rix reddened and stood there for a moment, watching his friend roll about on the floor. He thought of stepping on Nova's head then, but he was hoping Santa remembered him this year and he didn't want to do anything that would jeopardize his chances at a gift.
As Nova's fit of laughter began to wind down, causing him to suck in deep, shuddering breaths and wipe at his eyes, Rix mumbled around the candy cane, "Um ganna yange."
And, with that, Rix walked off to change, the bells on his shoes jingling merrily with each step. Nova entered into an all new fit of helpless laughter.
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From: novagreys@aol.com (Nova GreyS)
Date: 22 Dec 1999 22:28:04 EST
Rix came down the stairs to find Nova examining the scroll containing the list of gift recipients. Nova looked up from the endless names, taking a look at his friend.
"I thought you said you were going to change," Nova asked.
"I did," Rix replied, indicating his feet, now clad in black boots.
"But you still look like a weirdo," Nova said, looking at the green pants and the red sweater.
"These are the only clothes I own that I don't care about getting your blood on," Rix retorted, narrowing his eyes at Nova. Nova snorted to answer the empty threat. "Is that the gift list?"
Nova rolled the scroll forward a few inches. "Yup. Looks like they've got everyone in RhyDin."
"Joy. Am I on there?"
"I don't know, I haven't even gotten through the 'A's," Nova replied.
"How long is that thing anyway?"
Nova shrugged as he said, "I don't know. Must be pretty long. Let's see." He released his hold on the bottom half of the scroll, causing it to fall to the ground and roll clear across the room, stopping only as it hit the wall. Rix walked over and picked up the end that hit the wall, looking it over.
"This is still 'A'. And it's only 'A-M'," Rix said. Nova groaned.
"This is going to take forever. Maybe we should start now."
"How are we going to get from house to house? You're the fast one. Why do you even need me?" Rix inquired, attempting to use logic to get out of his committment.
"We need a sleigh to get from house to house. And I'm the fast one but I still can't do this all by myself," Nova had all the answers.
"Great. And just me and you is better than just you. Sure. By the way, where are we going to get a sleigh?"
Nova grinned.
Nova and Rix stood before the stables, watching the stable boy unhitch two white geldings from a sleigh and lead them off to their stalls. Cautiously, Nova crept forward, peering into the stable to make sure the stable boy was otherwise occupied with caring for the horses. Rix grabbed his arm.
"Um, how are we going to pull the sleigh," Rix whispered.
"I have an idea. Let's just get the sleigh first," Nova whispered back, looking over his shoulder to make sure the stable boy was still occupied.
"No, I meant how are we," Rix pushed his hand back and forth to indicate the both of them, "going to pull that," Rix gestured toward the sleigh, "away from here!" he then began gesturing wildly to the area around them.
"Oh. We're just going to pull it. It's not too heavy. C'mon, before the kid comes back out," Nova started creeping toward the sleigh. Rix remained where he was for a moment before grudgingly pushing through the newly fallen snow.
"You push, I'll pull," Nova said, indicating that Rix should move around the back. Rix did so without argument.
"Ready?" Nova hissed a whisper after Rix had disappeared around the back.
"Ready!" Rix yelled, his hand appearing from around the back of the sleigh, his thumb sticking up into the air.
"Quiet!" Nova yelled in return.
"Oh, sorry," Rix said as the stable boy burst out of the stable. Nova began to pull and the sleigh disappeared immediately, a big green and Nova-colored blur down the snow-covered trail. Rix, who had been resting his weight against the sleigh, fell face first into the snow. The stable boy ran over to him as he began to rise, dusting himself off.
"Mind if we borrow your sleigh?" Rix asked and, without waiting for a reply, he took off down the trail, waving his arms wildly. "Wait for me!"
Rix was walking down the trail alone, wondering to himself if stealing a sleigh was an arrestable offense and, in turn, if that would mean he wouldn't get a present. He came upon Nova leaning against the sign post that pointed back up the trail, indicating "Horse-drawn, Romantic sleigh rides. Five Silver".
"Uh. What did you do with the sleigh?" Rix asked, coming to a stop beside the sign.
"Pushed it into the woods and covered it with some camouflage. We'll come back for it later when we've secured the means by which to propel it. I'm not pulling it all the way back to RhyDin and you weren't much help."
Rix just stared. "Did you say propel?"
"Yeah, it has to fly, doesn't it? We're going to pay a visit to the Technology District. Find us an engine."
"I really don't like the sound of that. Why does it have to fly?"
"So it can land on the roofs."
"Roofs?! You didn't say anything about roofs!"
"How are we supposed to get to the chimney if we don't land on the roof?"
"And why do we need to get to the chimney?"
"So we can get inside! Geez, you're dense," Nova said, looking at the sky for strength.
"I thought we'd just break a window or something. Maybe try the door?"
"Santa goes through the chimney. We're going through the chimney," Nova said as he began walking down the trail, toward RhyDin once more.
"If Santa jumped off a bridge, would you follow him?" Rix followed Nova, waving his arms wildly in the air.
"I don't take part in suicide cults. But if Santa wants to jump off a bridge, that's his perogative. Doesn't mean we're not going through the chimney."
"I hope you get caught in a chimney and die," Rix muttered under his breath.
"What?" Nova called over his shoulder.
"I said 'I can't wait to have turkey and pie'. I'm cold!"
"Oh. Think warm thoughts!"
"You dead. That gives me a warm fuzzy. Nova dead. Warmer already."
"What?" Nova called over his shoulder once more.
"Nothing!"
"Hurry up, will you? We don't have all night."
Date: 22 Dec 1999 22:28:04 EST
Rix came down the stairs to find Nova examining the scroll containing the list of gift recipients. Nova looked up from the endless names, taking a look at his friend.
"I thought you said you were going to change," Nova asked.
"I did," Rix replied, indicating his feet, now clad in black boots.
"But you still look like a weirdo," Nova said, looking at the green pants and the red sweater.
"These are the only clothes I own that I don't care about getting your blood on," Rix retorted, narrowing his eyes at Nova. Nova snorted to answer the empty threat. "Is that the gift list?"
Nova rolled the scroll forward a few inches. "Yup. Looks like they've got everyone in RhyDin."
"Joy. Am I on there?"
"I don't know, I haven't even gotten through the 'A's," Nova replied.
"How long is that thing anyway?"
Nova shrugged as he said, "I don't know. Must be pretty long. Let's see." He released his hold on the bottom half of the scroll, causing it to fall to the ground and roll clear across the room, stopping only as it hit the wall. Rix walked over and picked up the end that hit the wall, looking it over.
"This is still 'A'. And it's only 'A-M'," Rix said. Nova groaned.
"This is going to take forever. Maybe we should start now."
"How are we going to get from house to house? You're the fast one. Why do you even need me?" Rix inquired, attempting to use logic to get out of his committment.
"We need a sleigh to get from house to house. And I'm the fast one but I still can't do this all by myself," Nova had all the answers.
"Great. And just me and you is better than just you. Sure. By the way, where are we going to get a sleigh?"
Nova grinned.
Nova and Rix stood before the stables, watching the stable boy unhitch two white geldings from a sleigh and lead them off to their stalls. Cautiously, Nova crept forward, peering into the stable to make sure the stable boy was otherwise occupied with caring for the horses. Rix grabbed his arm.
"Um, how are we going to pull the sleigh," Rix whispered.
"I have an idea. Let's just get the sleigh first," Nova whispered back, looking over his shoulder to make sure the stable boy was still occupied.
"No, I meant how are we," Rix pushed his hand back and forth to indicate the both of them, "going to pull that," Rix gestured toward the sleigh, "away from here!" he then began gesturing wildly to the area around them.
"Oh. We're just going to pull it. It's not too heavy. C'mon, before the kid comes back out," Nova started creeping toward the sleigh. Rix remained where he was for a moment before grudgingly pushing through the newly fallen snow.
"You push, I'll pull," Nova said, indicating that Rix should move around the back. Rix did so without argument.
"Ready?" Nova hissed a whisper after Rix had disappeared around the back.
"Ready!" Rix yelled, his hand appearing from around the back of the sleigh, his thumb sticking up into the air.
"Quiet!" Nova yelled in return.
"Oh, sorry," Rix said as the stable boy burst out of the stable. Nova began to pull and the sleigh disappeared immediately, a big green and Nova-colored blur down the snow-covered trail. Rix, who had been resting his weight against the sleigh, fell face first into the snow. The stable boy ran over to him as he began to rise, dusting himself off.
"Mind if we borrow your sleigh?" Rix asked and, without waiting for a reply, he took off down the trail, waving his arms wildly. "Wait for me!"
Rix was walking down the trail alone, wondering to himself if stealing a sleigh was an arrestable offense and, in turn, if that would mean he wouldn't get a present. He came upon Nova leaning against the sign post that pointed back up the trail, indicating "Horse-drawn, Romantic sleigh rides. Five Silver".
"Uh. What did you do with the sleigh?" Rix asked, coming to a stop beside the sign.
"Pushed it into the woods and covered it with some camouflage. We'll come back for it later when we've secured the means by which to propel it. I'm not pulling it all the way back to RhyDin and you weren't much help."
Rix just stared. "Did you say propel?"
"Yeah, it has to fly, doesn't it? We're going to pay a visit to the Technology District. Find us an engine."
"I really don't like the sound of that. Why does it have to fly?"
"So it can land on the roofs."
"Roofs?! You didn't say anything about roofs!"
"How are we supposed to get to the chimney if we don't land on the roof?"
"And why do we need to get to the chimney?"
"So we can get inside! Geez, you're dense," Nova said, looking at the sky for strength.
"I thought we'd just break a window or something. Maybe try the door?"
"Santa goes through the chimney. We're going through the chimney," Nova said as he began walking down the trail, toward RhyDin once more.
"If Santa jumped off a bridge, would you follow him?" Rix followed Nova, waving his arms wildly in the air.
"I don't take part in suicide cults. But if Santa wants to jump off a bridge, that's his perogative. Doesn't mean we're not going through the chimney."
"I hope you get caught in a chimney and die," Rix muttered under his breath.
"What?" Nova called over his shoulder.
"I said 'I can't wait to have turkey and pie'. I'm cold!"
"Oh. Think warm thoughts!"
"You dead. That gives me a warm fuzzy. Nova dead. Warmer already."
"What?" Nova called over his shoulder once more.
"Nothing!"
"Hurry up, will you? We don't have all night."
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From: novagreys@aol.com (Nova GreyS)
Date: 22 Dec 1999 22:29:59 EST
It had finally begun to snow in RhyDin proper, though the ground was mostly too warm for it to stick. The Technology District was still busy with overtime business men making their way home. Nova and Rix had stopped before a black windowed skyscraper. While Nova examined the business listing, Rix stared up towards the top of the building.
"This is big," Rix said.
"Yup. Here we go. Black Friday, Inc. Floor 18," Nova said, moving into the revolving door. Rix stood out in the snow for a moment before following.
The lobby was sparsely decorated for the holiday; that antiseptic, let-no one-feel-left-out holiday cheer that was common to the district. Nova was standing before the elevator doors, awaiting a ride. Rix ambled alongside him, taking a look at the decorations.
"Merry Christmas. Happy Ch-awn-ee-kah? Kwanzaa? Don't we know a guy named Kwanzaa?" Rix said to Nova.
"No, you're thinking of Qwenza. The guy that stocks the beer at the Tavern."
"Oh," Rix said, nodding.
Nova looked at the decorations. "What the heck is K'elaliel?"
"Got me," Rix replied. "I'm still wondering what Yoo-key-man-eh is," he said, pointing toward a decoration bearing two green children and what appeared to be a purple man with tentacles for arms.
"Cripes that's frightening," Nova said, craning his neck to look up the wall, the decorations stretching for as far as the eye could see. "They really covered the bases here."
"No kidding," Rix said as the doors to the elevator opened. They stepped inside. And up to the 18th floor they rose.
Cristian de Oro had spent many a night in his office since he was assigned to the RhyDin contingent of Black Friday three years ago. As Director of Archaeology, he had been charged with locating and cataloguing various relics important to the history of the realm and its many peoples. His office was covered in maps, open books were spread out across the floor, and his computer was on so often that the power button had stuck in the on position.
He was working on a report detailing the location of a religious relic in the northern mountains when the swift, steady knock began on his door.
"Come in!" Cristian called, pulling his wire-rimmed glasses from his face and rubbing at his eyes. His voice was lost beneath the incessant knocking. Cristian mumbled and rose, pulling the door open to reveal Nova and Rix, holding their red wool stocking caps in their hands.
"Nova. Rix. Didn't expect to see the both of you here," Cristian said, stepping aside to allow them into his office.
"Hey, Cristian. Been a while," Nova said, gripping Cristian's offered hand.
"Indeed. I haven't seen you since my father's funeral," Cristian said, sinking down into his chair and smiling slightly. "What can I do for you?"
Rix and Nova looked at each other.
"Uhhhh, we were wondering if you could help us procure an engine," Nova said.
"Cheap," Rix put in. Nova nodded in agreement.
Cristian chuckled despite himself. Of all the things going through his mind, assisting them in finding an engine most certainly did not come up.
"An engine, you say?"
"Yeah, well. Long story. But to make it short, Santa Claus asked me to help him out in delivering gifts to the children of RhyDin. I agreed. We got a sleigh, but I don't want to try to find flying reindeer. So we need an engine to make it fly," Nova explained.
There was silence as the absurdity of that statement hung in the air.
"I see," Cristian said.
"He's not lying. I've seen the list and the bag of gifts," Rix put in.
Cristian looked from Nova to Rix and back. "Santa Claus, you say?"
"Santa Claus," Nova nodded.
"Saint Nicholas. The jolly old elf."
"Yup. That's him."
Cristian began to laugh. It began with a slight chuckle and crescendoed into a deep belly laugh, causing him to hold his stomach to keep from bursting.
"And you need an engine to help you make a sleigh fly," Cristian further stated, between chuckles.
Nova and Rix exchanged looks.
After a few moments, Cristian composed himself, only a few chuckles escaping here and there.
"Ahhhh. What do you really need the engine for?"
Nova and Rix just stared.
Cristian scratched his salt and pepper goatee. "Don't tell me the both of you are serious," he said, looking between them both.
"Unfortunately," Rix said.
Cristian's eyes widened and he sat back in his chair. "Well, I suppose this is RhyDin. Anything could happen. We'll have to go up to the engine testing lab."
"Great!" Nova said, moving out the door to get the elevator.
Cristian grabbed Rix by the arm, whispering. "Are you sure he's not on any sort of medication?"
Rix shrugged, "I'm still not convinced he isn't. But he has a bottomless bag filled with toys," was the only reply Rix could come up with.
Rix and Cristian joined Nova at the elevator and were shuttled down to the sub-basement laboratories.
Date: 22 Dec 1999 22:29:59 EST
It had finally begun to snow in RhyDin proper, though the ground was mostly too warm for it to stick. The Technology District was still busy with overtime business men making their way home. Nova and Rix had stopped before a black windowed skyscraper. While Nova examined the business listing, Rix stared up towards the top of the building.
"This is big," Rix said.
"Yup. Here we go. Black Friday, Inc. Floor 18," Nova said, moving into the revolving door. Rix stood out in the snow for a moment before following.
The lobby was sparsely decorated for the holiday; that antiseptic, let-no one-feel-left-out holiday cheer that was common to the district. Nova was standing before the elevator doors, awaiting a ride. Rix ambled alongside him, taking a look at the decorations.
"Merry Christmas. Happy Ch-awn-ee-kah? Kwanzaa? Don't we know a guy named Kwanzaa?" Rix said to Nova.
"No, you're thinking of Qwenza. The guy that stocks the beer at the Tavern."
"Oh," Rix said, nodding.
Nova looked at the decorations. "What the heck is K'elaliel?"
"Got me," Rix replied. "I'm still wondering what Yoo-key-man-eh is," he said, pointing toward a decoration bearing two green children and what appeared to be a purple man with tentacles for arms.
"Cripes that's frightening," Nova said, craning his neck to look up the wall, the decorations stretching for as far as the eye could see. "They really covered the bases here."
"No kidding," Rix said as the doors to the elevator opened. They stepped inside. And up to the 18th floor they rose.
Cristian de Oro had spent many a night in his office since he was assigned to the RhyDin contingent of Black Friday three years ago. As Director of Archaeology, he had been charged with locating and cataloguing various relics important to the history of the realm and its many peoples. His office was covered in maps, open books were spread out across the floor, and his computer was on so often that the power button had stuck in the on position.
He was working on a report detailing the location of a religious relic in the northern mountains when the swift, steady knock began on his door.
"Come in!" Cristian called, pulling his wire-rimmed glasses from his face and rubbing at his eyes. His voice was lost beneath the incessant knocking. Cristian mumbled and rose, pulling the door open to reveal Nova and Rix, holding their red wool stocking caps in their hands.
"Nova. Rix. Didn't expect to see the both of you here," Cristian said, stepping aside to allow them into his office.
"Hey, Cristian. Been a while," Nova said, gripping Cristian's offered hand.
"Indeed. I haven't seen you since my father's funeral," Cristian said, sinking down into his chair and smiling slightly. "What can I do for you?"
Rix and Nova looked at each other.
"Uhhhh, we were wondering if you could help us procure an engine," Nova said.
"Cheap," Rix put in. Nova nodded in agreement.
Cristian chuckled despite himself. Of all the things going through his mind, assisting them in finding an engine most certainly did not come up.
"An engine, you say?"
"Yeah, well. Long story. But to make it short, Santa Claus asked me to help him out in delivering gifts to the children of RhyDin. I agreed. We got a sleigh, but I don't want to try to find flying reindeer. So we need an engine to make it fly," Nova explained.
There was silence as the absurdity of that statement hung in the air.
"I see," Cristian said.
"He's not lying. I've seen the list and the bag of gifts," Rix put in.
Cristian looked from Nova to Rix and back. "Santa Claus, you say?"
"Santa Claus," Nova nodded.
"Saint Nicholas. The jolly old elf."
"Yup. That's him."
Cristian began to laugh. It began with a slight chuckle and crescendoed into a deep belly laugh, causing him to hold his stomach to keep from bursting.
"And you need an engine to help you make a sleigh fly," Cristian further stated, between chuckles.
Nova and Rix exchanged looks.
After a few moments, Cristian composed himself, only a few chuckles escaping here and there.
"Ahhhh. What do you really need the engine for?"
Nova and Rix just stared.
Cristian scratched his salt and pepper goatee. "Don't tell me the both of you are serious," he said, looking between them both.
"Unfortunately," Rix said.
Cristian's eyes widened and he sat back in his chair. "Well, I suppose this is RhyDin. Anything could happen. We'll have to go up to the engine testing lab."
"Great!" Nova said, moving out the door to get the elevator.
Cristian grabbed Rix by the arm, whispering. "Are you sure he's not on any sort of medication?"
Rix shrugged, "I'm still not convinced he isn't. But he has a bottomless bag filled with toys," was the only reply Rix could come up with.
Rix and Cristian joined Nova at the elevator and were shuttled down to the sub-basement laboratories.
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From: novagreys@aol.com (Nova GreyS)
Date: 22 Dec 1999 22:32:31 EST
Cristian was the first off the elevator, showing his clearance pass to the guards near the elevator doors and indicating that Rix and Nova were with him. Rix and Nova were led down a series of hallways and stairwells to a sound-proofed chamber occupied only by many machines and a single old man wearing a white lab coat.
"This is Doctor Galackowitz. Doctor. Nova Grey Shadow and Verceterix Favre," Cristian said, introducing everyone to each other. The Doctor turned his beady eyes on Nova and Rix and smiled grimly.
"My friends here seem to have a problem, Doctor," Cristian went on, "They require an engine that will allow them to make a sleigh fly."
The Doctor's eye lit up. Never, in all his years of building, had he heard such a thing.
"A sleigh. Fly," the Doctor said. And then he began to laugh maniacally.
"Why does everyone find this so funny?" Nova said to Rix, who could only shrug in reply.
"I believe I have just the thing for you," the Doctor said, moving off toward the back of the lab. Rix and Nova followed the man, Cristian stayed where he was, unable to believe the Doctor actually had something to make a sled fly.
The Doctor led the two adventurers to a back room which housed a large metal cylinder twice the size of a man and two small metal cylinders that resembled rockets. The Doctor stood beside the twin rocket cylinders, gesturing to them.
"These should do nicely," the Doctor said as he presented them. Rix moved over toward the large cylinder, peering at it.
"Is this an engine, too," he said, looking back at the Doctor.
"Yes, yes. That is for a large spacecraft," the Doctor put in, holding one of the small cylinders out for Nova to examine (as if Nova knew anything about engines).
"Let's take this one, Nova. This way we'll be done in no time," Rix said. "Is this how you turn it on? I want to hear it purr," he continued as he leaned over the control panel.
"Please do not touch that. It is not secured to the tab*" the Doctor began, but he was cut off by the sound of the engine powering on, along with the noise of the subsequent rush of air. Not to mention the sound of the engine crashing through the wall and into an assembly machine in the room beyond. As the engine crumbled and clattered to the ground, the Doctor began to cry.
"Oops," Rix said quietly, putting his hands in his pockets and strolling away.
"Looks like that one was defective anyway. We'll take these," Nova said, indicating the twin cylinders.
Cristian was peering through the sizeable hole in the wall as the Doctor continued to sniffle.
"You will need these to secure it to your 'sleigh'," the Doctor said meekly, holding out brackets and moorings to attach to the engines.
"Sorry about that, Doc," Nova said, glancing back at Cristian through the hole in the wall. It appeared that Cristian was actually attempting to keep himself from laughing. Nova glared and Cristian disappeared back into the assembly room, his shoulders shaking.
"Really, thanks for all your help," Nova said, kicking Rix, who quickly echoed the sentiment.
"Thanks. Sorry about that engine," Rix stated as they moved out of the laboratory and back toward the elevator, Cristian in the lead.
To their credit, Nova and Cristian managed to hold their laughter in check until the elevator doors closed.
Date: 22 Dec 1999 22:32:31 EST
Cristian was the first off the elevator, showing his clearance pass to the guards near the elevator doors and indicating that Rix and Nova were with him. Rix and Nova were led down a series of hallways and stairwells to a sound-proofed chamber occupied only by many machines and a single old man wearing a white lab coat.
"This is Doctor Galackowitz. Doctor. Nova Grey Shadow and Verceterix Favre," Cristian said, introducing everyone to each other. The Doctor turned his beady eyes on Nova and Rix and smiled grimly.
"My friends here seem to have a problem, Doctor," Cristian went on, "They require an engine that will allow them to make a sleigh fly."
The Doctor's eye lit up. Never, in all his years of building, had he heard such a thing.
"A sleigh. Fly," the Doctor said. And then he began to laugh maniacally.
"Why does everyone find this so funny?" Nova said to Rix, who could only shrug in reply.
"I believe I have just the thing for you," the Doctor said, moving off toward the back of the lab. Rix and Nova followed the man, Cristian stayed where he was, unable to believe the Doctor actually had something to make a sled fly.
The Doctor led the two adventurers to a back room which housed a large metal cylinder twice the size of a man and two small metal cylinders that resembled rockets. The Doctor stood beside the twin rocket cylinders, gesturing to them.
"These should do nicely," the Doctor said as he presented them. Rix moved over toward the large cylinder, peering at it.
"Is this an engine, too," he said, looking back at the Doctor.
"Yes, yes. That is for a large spacecraft," the Doctor put in, holding one of the small cylinders out for Nova to examine (as if Nova knew anything about engines).
"Let's take this one, Nova. This way we'll be done in no time," Rix said. "Is this how you turn it on? I want to hear it purr," he continued as he leaned over the control panel.
"Please do not touch that. It is not secured to the tab*" the Doctor began, but he was cut off by the sound of the engine powering on, along with the noise of the subsequent rush of air. Not to mention the sound of the engine crashing through the wall and into an assembly machine in the room beyond. As the engine crumbled and clattered to the ground, the Doctor began to cry.
"Oops," Rix said quietly, putting his hands in his pockets and strolling away.
"Looks like that one was defective anyway. We'll take these," Nova said, indicating the twin cylinders.
Cristian was peering through the sizeable hole in the wall as the Doctor continued to sniffle.
"You will need these to secure it to your 'sleigh'," the Doctor said meekly, holding out brackets and moorings to attach to the engines.
"Sorry about that, Doc," Nova said, glancing back at Cristian through the hole in the wall. It appeared that Cristian was actually attempting to keep himself from laughing. Nova glared and Cristian disappeared back into the assembly room, his shoulders shaking.
"Really, thanks for all your help," Nova said, kicking Rix, who quickly echoed the sentiment.
"Thanks. Sorry about that engine," Rix stated as they moved out of the laboratory and back toward the elevator, Cristian in the lead.
To their credit, Nova and Cristian managed to hold their laughter in check until the elevator doors closed.
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From: novagreys@aol.com (Nova GreyS)
Date: 22 Dec 1999 22:34:44 EST
The snow had begun to stick by the time Nova and Rix stepped back out onto the street. They said their goodbyes to Cristian, wishing him a good holiday, and moved back toward the heart of the city.
"I hope you didn't get Cristian in too much trouble," Nova said, grinning at Rix.
"What? How was I supposed to know it wasn't anchored to the table? Who leaves a space engine sitting out?!" Rix said, grunting as he shifted the weight of the twin cylinders in his arms. "And why am I carrying these?! Aren't you afraid I'll shoot them off?" he added.
Nova quickly grabbed the cylinders from Rix, shouldering them. "I wasn't until you brought it up. You'd probably kill someone."
"So long as it was you, I wouldn't mind," Rix said, sticking his tongue out. The two of them turned down the street leading to the Red Dragon Inn.
The Inn was alive with bodies as usual. Big, muscular bodies, thin, lithe bodies. Plenty of hourglass figures (though you could never be sure they were all females with those types of figures). Everyone was decked out in their finest leathers and satins, laces, and silks. Sunglasses and strange looking gems were a popular accessory, and many people were sitting alone. Nova and Rix took a seat in the middle of them all.
"This place has ten thousand corners. I can't believe there's not one corner booth open," Rix said miserably, uncomfortable sitting amongst the crowd.
"Well, we could try booting one of those shadowy fellows out, but I'd hate to incur the wrath of an evil creature. This adventure is cursed enough as it is. Isn't that right, Rocket Man?" Nova said, grinning at his friend.
Rix made an obscene gesture before saying, "Are we prepared for our 'adventure' now? Can I go home and eat?"
"Think just you and me can handle it?"
"I don't think an entire army could handle it. But who else can you manage to sucker into this insanity?"
"I don't know," Nova stated lamely, rubbing his jaw. "MacKenzie?"
"Yeah, right. Maybe he'll dress up like Santa himself. Keep dreaming."
"Sartan?"
"Are you kidding? He'd probably fall asleep in a chimney somewhere."
"It's not like we know that many people here. What about Ally?"
Rix snorted, "It's bad enough you got me involved in this."
"Maybe we'll just hire someone then."
"Like who? Does Santa hire mercenary labor when he delivers?"
Nova ignored him as he considered the options. "Okay, I think we need a real elf to complete the ensemble. No offense, but you don't exactly look like Santa's little helper anyway," Nova thought aloud.
"You know, Roland says he's an elf. Think he used to be a mercenary, too," was Rix's reply.
They looked at each other and left the Inn at speed, setting off for the Tavern of Fury.
Date: 22 Dec 1999 22:34:44 EST
The snow had begun to stick by the time Nova and Rix stepped back out onto the street. They said their goodbyes to Cristian, wishing him a good holiday, and moved back toward the heart of the city.
"I hope you didn't get Cristian in too much trouble," Nova said, grinning at Rix.
"What? How was I supposed to know it wasn't anchored to the table? Who leaves a space engine sitting out?!" Rix said, grunting as he shifted the weight of the twin cylinders in his arms. "And why am I carrying these?! Aren't you afraid I'll shoot them off?" he added.
Nova quickly grabbed the cylinders from Rix, shouldering them. "I wasn't until you brought it up. You'd probably kill someone."
"So long as it was you, I wouldn't mind," Rix said, sticking his tongue out. The two of them turned down the street leading to the Red Dragon Inn.
The Inn was alive with bodies as usual. Big, muscular bodies, thin, lithe bodies. Plenty of hourglass figures (though you could never be sure they were all females with those types of figures). Everyone was decked out in their finest leathers and satins, laces, and silks. Sunglasses and strange looking gems were a popular accessory, and many people were sitting alone. Nova and Rix took a seat in the middle of them all.
"This place has ten thousand corners. I can't believe there's not one corner booth open," Rix said miserably, uncomfortable sitting amongst the crowd.
"Well, we could try booting one of those shadowy fellows out, but I'd hate to incur the wrath of an evil creature. This adventure is cursed enough as it is. Isn't that right, Rocket Man?" Nova said, grinning at his friend.
Rix made an obscene gesture before saying, "Are we prepared for our 'adventure' now? Can I go home and eat?"
"Think just you and me can handle it?"
"I don't think an entire army could handle it. But who else can you manage to sucker into this insanity?"
"I don't know," Nova stated lamely, rubbing his jaw. "MacKenzie?"
"Yeah, right. Maybe he'll dress up like Santa himself. Keep dreaming."
"Sartan?"
"Are you kidding? He'd probably fall asleep in a chimney somewhere."
"It's not like we know that many people here. What about Ally?"
Rix snorted, "It's bad enough you got me involved in this."
"Maybe we'll just hire someone then."
"Like who? Does Santa hire mercenary labor when he delivers?"
Nova ignored him as he considered the options. "Okay, I think we need a real elf to complete the ensemble. No offense, but you don't exactly look like Santa's little helper anyway," Nova thought aloud.
"You know, Roland says he's an elf. Think he used to be a mercenary, too," was Rix's reply.
They looked at each other and left the Inn at speed, setting off for the Tavern of Fury.
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From: novagreys@aol.com (Nova GreyS)
Date: 22 Dec 1999 22:36:54 EST
The Tavern was empty at that time of night. A sharp contrast to the Red Dragon. Of course, it may have been empty because it was closed.
"All right! All right! I hear you!" was heard from behind the door as Nova banged on it repeatedly.
The second Roland yanked the door open, Nova and Rix were through the doorway and into the relative warmth of the Tavern.
"Took you long enough," Rix said, rubbing his hands together to warm them up.
"Wasn't exactly expecting visitors, you know," Roland said, holding his robe closed at the chest.
"We catch you at a bad time?" Nova said, looking at the robe. It didn't exactly look like something a man would wear.
"If you call sleeping a bad time, then yes," Roland grumbled. "What do you guys want?"
"We need an elf," Rix said.
Roland eyebrows lifted. "So?"
"So, you're an elf, aren't you?" Nova said.
"Yeah. What do you need an elf for?" Roland asked as he moved behind the bar, pouring himself a cup of water and taking a sip.
"A favor," Nova said, being quite the cryptic one. Deciding to take an approach that wouldn't immediately set someone into peals of laughter.
Roland just looked between the two of them. "Sexual or otherwise?" he inquired.
Nova and Rix both wrinkled their noses at the same time, "God. Otherwise," Nova replied.
"So what is it," Roland asked, draining the glass of water while he awaited an answer.
"We need an elf to ride on Santa's rocket sleigh while we deliver presents to all the people of RhyDin," Rix put in.
Water shot across the room in a fine spray as Roland collapsed into the aforementioned peals of laughter.
Once the laughter had subsided, Nova, Rix, and Roland sat around a table. Rix had taken it upon himself to outline the plan while it was up to Nova to add the small detail of Rix's destruction of a space engine.
Roland sat listening to the entire story, chuckling here and there, unable to believe what he was hearing. "Wait a second," he finally put in, "how are any of us going to fit down a chimney? None of us are especially small."
"How do you think a fat man fits down a chimney?" Nova asked.
"I don't know. I never really considered the physics of a fat man trying to get into a chimney," Roland replied, looking at Rix. "You're not really going along with this, are you?"
"Hey, my present might be on the line," Rix said, holding up his hands. "I'm not risking it."
"But you have Ally to buy presents for you," Roland countered.
"Ally dressed him in this get-up. You should have seen the shoes. I wouldn't depend on Ally for a great gift," Nova chuckled.
Roland leaned back from the table to get a better look at Rix's red sweater and green pants. "I see your point," he said as he began to chuckle.
Rix reddened and mumbled death threats under his breath for the millionth time that day.
"Okay, I'll come along. If only to watch the two of you fall off a roof or get stuck in a chimney," Roland finally said, rubbing his hands over his face. In truth, he hadn't had such a good laugh in a long time, and Rix and Nova working together to drive a rocket powered sleigh in order to deliver presents to the people of RhyDin was too good an opportunity for hilarious disaster to pass up.
"Great! We'll meet back here tomorrow to go over the plan!" Nova said, slamming his hands on the table and rising with a smile. "Have a good one, guys," and with that, Nova left the Tavern to return home and continue preparations.
Roland sat there for a few moments, grinning at Rix.
"What are you looking at?" Rix said.
"You look like a giant Christmas tree," Roland said, beginning to laugh again.
"Yeah. Nice robe," Rix muttered as he left the Tavern.
Roland looked down at the pink, lacy robe and realized perhaps he should have turned on a light before coming downstairs to answer the door.
Date: 22 Dec 1999 22:36:54 EST
The Tavern was empty at that time of night. A sharp contrast to the Red Dragon. Of course, it may have been empty because it was closed.
"All right! All right! I hear you!" was heard from behind the door as Nova banged on it repeatedly.
The second Roland yanked the door open, Nova and Rix were through the doorway and into the relative warmth of the Tavern.
"Took you long enough," Rix said, rubbing his hands together to warm them up.
"Wasn't exactly expecting visitors, you know," Roland said, holding his robe closed at the chest.
"We catch you at a bad time?" Nova said, looking at the robe. It didn't exactly look like something a man would wear.
"If you call sleeping a bad time, then yes," Roland grumbled. "What do you guys want?"
"We need an elf," Rix said.
Roland eyebrows lifted. "So?"
"So, you're an elf, aren't you?" Nova said.
"Yeah. What do you need an elf for?" Roland asked as he moved behind the bar, pouring himself a cup of water and taking a sip.
"A favor," Nova said, being quite the cryptic one. Deciding to take an approach that wouldn't immediately set someone into peals of laughter.
Roland just looked between the two of them. "Sexual or otherwise?" he inquired.
Nova and Rix both wrinkled their noses at the same time, "God. Otherwise," Nova replied.
"So what is it," Roland asked, draining the glass of water while he awaited an answer.
"We need an elf to ride on Santa's rocket sleigh while we deliver presents to all the people of RhyDin," Rix put in.
Water shot across the room in a fine spray as Roland collapsed into the aforementioned peals of laughter.
Once the laughter had subsided, Nova, Rix, and Roland sat around a table. Rix had taken it upon himself to outline the plan while it was up to Nova to add the small detail of Rix's destruction of a space engine.
Roland sat listening to the entire story, chuckling here and there, unable to believe what he was hearing. "Wait a second," he finally put in, "how are any of us going to fit down a chimney? None of us are especially small."
"How do you think a fat man fits down a chimney?" Nova asked.
"I don't know. I never really considered the physics of a fat man trying to get into a chimney," Roland replied, looking at Rix. "You're not really going along with this, are you?"
"Hey, my present might be on the line," Rix said, holding up his hands. "I'm not risking it."
"But you have Ally to buy presents for you," Roland countered.
"Ally dressed him in this get-up. You should have seen the shoes. I wouldn't depend on Ally for a great gift," Nova chuckled.
Roland leaned back from the table to get a better look at Rix's red sweater and green pants. "I see your point," he said as he began to chuckle.
Rix reddened and mumbled death threats under his breath for the millionth time that day.
"Okay, I'll come along. If only to watch the two of you fall off a roof or get stuck in a chimney," Roland finally said, rubbing his hands over his face. In truth, he hadn't had such a good laugh in a long time, and Rix and Nova working together to drive a rocket powered sleigh in order to deliver presents to the people of RhyDin was too good an opportunity for hilarious disaster to pass up.
"Great! We'll meet back here tomorrow to go over the plan!" Nova said, slamming his hands on the table and rising with a smile. "Have a good one, guys," and with that, Nova left the Tavern to return home and continue preparations.
Roland sat there for a few moments, grinning at Rix.
"What are you looking at?" Rix said.
"You look like a giant Christmas tree," Roland said, beginning to laugh again.
"Yeah. Nice robe," Rix muttered as he left the Tavern.
Roland looked down at the pink, lacy robe and realized perhaps he should have turned on a light before coming downstairs to answer the door.
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From: novagreys@aol.com (Nova GreyS)
Date: 24 Dec 1999 01:45:10 EST
The incessant knocking awoke Roland once again. Daylight filled his bedroom, allowing him to choose more suitable attire for the walk downstairs.
Roland pulled the door to the Tavern open, his eyes half shut, but still managing to glare at Nova.
"Do you know what time it is?" Roland asked, his tone annoyed.
Nova looked up at the sky. "It's a little after noon," he said as he walked through the door.
Roland scratched his head. "Really?"
"Really. Where's Rix?"
"I don't know. You guys always show up together. I assumed you had him locked in a cage somewhere," Roland said, sitting himself down and pulling his boots out from the bootrack next to the door.
"Nah. That's Ally. She must be holding him hostage," Nova said, "Guess we have to go rescue him."
"Bet he won't want to be rescued," Roland grinned, standing and stamping his feet on the ground to insure his boots were secure.
"Are you kidding? He's excited about playing Santa," Nova said, but he couldn't keep a straight face.
"If Nova or Roland show up. I'm not here," Rix said.
"Why? Do you owe them money?" Ally asked with a grin.
"No. They're just crazy," he replied, finishing his breakfast.
Ally laughed in response, "All right. What did they talk you into doing this time?"
Rix stared. "Nova stole a sleigh and he's going to attach rockets to it. Then he's going to deliver presents to everyone in RhyDin because Santa can't do it and," he was interrupted by an incessant tapping from his left. He looked over to see Nova and Roland standing at the kitchen window, gesturing for Rix to come outside.
Rix sighed as he got up from the table and kissed Ally on the forehead. "I'll be back later if they don't get me killed," he said and made his way out of the house, leaving Ally at the kitchen table blinking.
"... wait. What?" she said, too late. Rix had already gone.
Date: 24 Dec 1999 01:45:10 EST
The incessant knocking awoke Roland once again. Daylight filled his bedroom, allowing him to choose more suitable attire for the walk downstairs.
Roland pulled the door to the Tavern open, his eyes half shut, but still managing to glare at Nova.
"Do you know what time it is?" Roland asked, his tone annoyed.
Nova looked up at the sky. "It's a little after noon," he said as he walked through the door.
Roland scratched his head. "Really?"
"Really. Where's Rix?"
"I don't know. You guys always show up together. I assumed you had him locked in a cage somewhere," Roland said, sitting himself down and pulling his boots out from the bootrack next to the door.
"Nah. That's Ally. She must be holding him hostage," Nova said, "Guess we have to go rescue him."
"Bet he won't want to be rescued," Roland grinned, standing and stamping his feet on the ground to insure his boots were secure.
"Are you kidding? He's excited about playing Santa," Nova said, but he couldn't keep a straight face.
"If Nova or Roland show up. I'm not here," Rix said.
"Why? Do you owe them money?" Ally asked with a grin.
"No. They're just crazy," he replied, finishing his breakfast.
Ally laughed in response, "All right. What did they talk you into doing this time?"
Rix stared. "Nova stole a sleigh and he's going to attach rockets to it. Then he's going to deliver presents to everyone in RhyDin because Santa can't do it and," he was interrupted by an incessant tapping from his left. He looked over to see Nova and Roland standing at the kitchen window, gesturing for Rix to come outside.
Rix sighed as he got up from the table and kissed Ally on the forehead. "I'll be back later if they don't get me killed," he said and made his way out of the house, leaving Ally at the kitchen table blinking.
"... wait. What?" she said, too late. Rix had already gone.
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From: novagreys@aol.com (Nova GreyS)
Date: 24 Dec 1999 01:46:31 EST
Nova had hidden the sleigh well. So well, in fact, that it took the trio close to an hour to figure out exactly where he had put it.
"Sometimes I think I'm senile," Nova said, red-faced as he pulled the tree branches away from the three passenger sleigh.
Rix and Roland looked at each other.
Nova pulled the sleigh out into a clearing while Rix gathered the tools they had brought and Roland stood by with the twin cylinders in hand.
"Well, let's get to work," Nova said, looking at the sleigh.
Roland walked forward and dropped the cylinders down into the snow. "This doesn't exactly look ... airworthy, Nova," he said, peering at the worn runners.
"Don't be silly. It'll be fine," Nova said, dismissing the concern with a wave of his hand.
"How are we going to steer it?" Rix put in.
"... Don't be silly. It'll be fine," Nova repeated.
Roland and Rix looked at each other.
Nova stepped forward and grabbed a cylinder and the necessary brackets from Roland, moving to the left side of the sleigh. "You guys attach the other one to that side," Nova said, nodding his head toward the right side of the sleigh.
"Make sure you attach it just above the footrail and it's hanging beyond the back edge a bit," Roland said as he and Rix began to attach the brackets.
Nova paused. "What are you? A rocket scientist? Above the footrail and hanging beyond the back edge?"
"It's just common sense," Roland said.
"Right. Common sense. Of course," Nova said as he moved the bracket from the undercarriage to just above the footrail.
"Um, which side is which," Rix asked, as he examined the cylinder. There were no markings to speak of to indicate which side was the front.
"That one toward the back," Nova said as he came around to the right side and pointed.
"You're done already?"
"Of course. Hurry up so we can fire these puppies up," Nova said, climbing onto the sleigh.
After some minutes of manual labor, both rockets were attached and the trio had taken their seats.
"Don't we get seatbelts or something?" Rix said.
"Nah," replied Nova as he hit the ignition switch. The engines roared to life.
For a moment, nothing happened.
"Well?" Roland asked, throwing his hands up into the air.
The sleigh started to veer toward the right.
"Here we go!" Nova said, excitement and pride edging into his tone.
The sleigh continued to veer toward the right.
"Maybe it needs more power," Roland said. "The three of us together are pretty heavy."
Nova boosted the power and the sleigh began to do a full turn toward the right, inching forward slightly.
"Steer to the left," Rix said.
"More power!" Roland said.
The power was boosted once more, full blast, no holds-barred. The sleigh began to spin rapidly.
"I don't feel so good," Rix groaned, "Why are we spinning so fast? Somebody make it stop."
Roland sniffed. "Something's burning."
"Um, it's the sleigh" Nova declared as the sleigh increased velocity, spinning rapidly. He killed the power.
The sleigh skidded and spun to a stop, inches from a stand of trees. Nova climbed down shakily. The right side of the sleigh was on fire, Rix was hanging over the left side of the sleigh and Roland was nowhere to be found. Nova stumbled over to the right side of the sleigh and began throwing snow at the fire.
After a few moments, the fire was out, leaving the sleigh only "slightly scorched" (Nova's words). Roland wobbled up to stand alongside Nova.
"Where did you go?" Nova asked.
Roland swayed as he brushed pine needles from his hair and snow from his shirt. "I'm not sure, really. I think I remember flying. What happened?"
Nova gestured to the scorched sleigh. "You guys put the rocket on backward. We were going in circles."
"You told us which way to put it," Roland said, defensively.
"You're the rocket scientist!" Nova argued, throwing another handful of snow at the sleigh as it continued to smolder.
Rix groaned from the other side of the sleigh.
"Let's try putting it on right this time," Nova said, handing Roland the rachet and helping to readjust the rocket. Rix continued groaning.
"I hope he's not repainting the sleigh," Nova said, retightening the fastener bolts.
"I don't think he's saying 'byork' just for fun," Roland put in.
"I thought he was just calling us names," Nova said. "You better clean that up, Rixy!"
Rix made a double-handed obscene gesture over his shoulder before falling out of the sleigh.
"This wouldn't have happened if Rix didn't wreck the big engine," Nova whispered to Roland.
Two hours later, Rix stood before the sleigh, sucking in bracing gulps of cold winter air. It had only taken two more adjustments to get both rockets firing at the same time and in the same direction and the damage done to the sleigh and its occupants was mostly aesthetic. However, the problems of steering and take off were still to be solved.
"Why don't we build a big ramp?" Roland suggested.
"With what?" Nova said. "Besides, we don't have time."
"I know. We can aim one of the rockets down and then shut it off when we get up high enough, then switch on the other engine," Roland snapped his fingers, pointing at Nova.
"Think it will have enough force behind it?" Nova asked, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"Sure!" Roland said. And the adjustments were made.
Twenty minutes later, when the sleigh had been returned to its rightside-up position:
"How was I supposed to know that aiming one side at the ground would just lift that side up and tip the sleigh over?" Roland asked, rubbing the bruise on his arm.
"I should have known better than to listen to you," Nova said, sitting in the driver's seat of the sleigh. Rix was still laughing, thankful he wasn't on the sleigh when it tipped.
"Feeling better now, are we?" Nova narrowed his eyes at Rix. The laughter ceased.
"Um, no. Still queasy," Rix said, holding his stomach.
"Yeah, right. You have any bright ideas?"
"Go home and forget about this," Rix suggested.
Nova snorted. "We're in too deep now."
Rix sighed. "Fine, why don't we use a rudder. You know. What they use to steer ships with."
"Where are we going to get one?" Nova asked.
"Oh. I don't know. How about ... a ship yard?" Rix grumbled.
"Easy there, Yak-boy. Geez. Throwing up makes you testy, you know that? Shipyard it is. You can stay here and watch the sleigh. Don't touch the rockets," Nova said as he climbed down from the sleigh.
"Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere near that death machine," Rix said, sitting down in the snow. And so, Nova and Roland made their way back to the city.
Date: 24 Dec 1999 01:46:31 EST
Nova had hidden the sleigh well. So well, in fact, that it took the trio close to an hour to figure out exactly where he had put it.
"Sometimes I think I'm senile," Nova said, red-faced as he pulled the tree branches away from the three passenger sleigh.
Rix and Roland looked at each other.
Nova pulled the sleigh out into a clearing while Rix gathered the tools they had brought and Roland stood by with the twin cylinders in hand.
"Well, let's get to work," Nova said, looking at the sleigh.
Roland walked forward and dropped the cylinders down into the snow. "This doesn't exactly look ... airworthy, Nova," he said, peering at the worn runners.
"Don't be silly. It'll be fine," Nova said, dismissing the concern with a wave of his hand.
"How are we going to steer it?" Rix put in.
"... Don't be silly. It'll be fine," Nova repeated.
Roland and Rix looked at each other.
Nova stepped forward and grabbed a cylinder and the necessary brackets from Roland, moving to the left side of the sleigh. "You guys attach the other one to that side," Nova said, nodding his head toward the right side of the sleigh.
"Make sure you attach it just above the footrail and it's hanging beyond the back edge a bit," Roland said as he and Rix began to attach the brackets.
Nova paused. "What are you? A rocket scientist? Above the footrail and hanging beyond the back edge?"
"It's just common sense," Roland said.
"Right. Common sense. Of course," Nova said as he moved the bracket from the undercarriage to just above the footrail.
"Um, which side is which," Rix asked, as he examined the cylinder. There were no markings to speak of to indicate which side was the front.
"That one toward the back," Nova said as he came around to the right side and pointed.
"You're done already?"
"Of course. Hurry up so we can fire these puppies up," Nova said, climbing onto the sleigh.
After some minutes of manual labor, both rockets were attached and the trio had taken their seats.
"Don't we get seatbelts or something?" Rix said.
"Nah," replied Nova as he hit the ignition switch. The engines roared to life.
For a moment, nothing happened.
"Well?" Roland asked, throwing his hands up into the air.
The sleigh started to veer toward the right.
"Here we go!" Nova said, excitement and pride edging into his tone.
The sleigh continued to veer toward the right.
"Maybe it needs more power," Roland said. "The three of us together are pretty heavy."
Nova boosted the power and the sleigh began to do a full turn toward the right, inching forward slightly.
"Steer to the left," Rix said.
"More power!" Roland said.
The power was boosted once more, full blast, no holds-barred. The sleigh began to spin rapidly.
"I don't feel so good," Rix groaned, "Why are we spinning so fast? Somebody make it stop."
Roland sniffed. "Something's burning."
"Um, it's the sleigh" Nova declared as the sleigh increased velocity, spinning rapidly. He killed the power.
The sleigh skidded and spun to a stop, inches from a stand of trees. Nova climbed down shakily. The right side of the sleigh was on fire, Rix was hanging over the left side of the sleigh and Roland was nowhere to be found. Nova stumbled over to the right side of the sleigh and began throwing snow at the fire.
After a few moments, the fire was out, leaving the sleigh only "slightly scorched" (Nova's words). Roland wobbled up to stand alongside Nova.
"Where did you go?" Nova asked.
Roland swayed as he brushed pine needles from his hair and snow from his shirt. "I'm not sure, really. I think I remember flying. What happened?"
Nova gestured to the scorched sleigh. "You guys put the rocket on backward. We were going in circles."
"You told us which way to put it," Roland said, defensively.
"You're the rocket scientist!" Nova argued, throwing another handful of snow at the sleigh as it continued to smolder.
Rix groaned from the other side of the sleigh.
"Let's try putting it on right this time," Nova said, handing Roland the rachet and helping to readjust the rocket. Rix continued groaning.
"I hope he's not repainting the sleigh," Nova said, retightening the fastener bolts.
"I don't think he's saying 'byork' just for fun," Roland put in.
"I thought he was just calling us names," Nova said. "You better clean that up, Rixy!"
Rix made a double-handed obscene gesture over his shoulder before falling out of the sleigh.
"This wouldn't have happened if Rix didn't wreck the big engine," Nova whispered to Roland.
Two hours later, Rix stood before the sleigh, sucking in bracing gulps of cold winter air. It had only taken two more adjustments to get both rockets firing at the same time and in the same direction and the damage done to the sleigh and its occupants was mostly aesthetic. However, the problems of steering and take off were still to be solved.
"Why don't we build a big ramp?" Roland suggested.
"With what?" Nova said. "Besides, we don't have time."
"I know. We can aim one of the rockets down and then shut it off when we get up high enough, then switch on the other engine," Roland snapped his fingers, pointing at Nova.
"Think it will have enough force behind it?" Nova asked, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"Sure!" Roland said. And the adjustments were made.
Twenty minutes later, when the sleigh had been returned to its rightside-up position:
"How was I supposed to know that aiming one side at the ground would just lift that side up and tip the sleigh over?" Roland asked, rubbing the bruise on his arm.
"I should have known better than to listen to you," Nova said, sitting in the driver's seat of the sleigh. Rix was still laughing, thankful he wasn't on the sleigh when it tipped.
"Feeling better now, are we?" Nova narrowed his eyes at Rix. The laughter ceased.
"Um, no. Still queasy," Rix said, holding his stomach.
"Yeah, right. You have any bright ideas?"
"Go home and forget about this," Rix suggested.
Nova snorted. "We're in too deep now."
Rix sighed. "Fine, why don't we use a rudder. You know. What they use to steer ships with."
"Where are we going to get one?" Nova asked.
"Oh. I don't know. How about ... a ship yard?" Rix grumbled.
"Easy there, Yak-boy. Geez. Throwing up makes you testy, you know that? Shipyard it is. You can stay here and watch the sleigh. Don't touch the rockets," Nova said as he climbed down from the sleigh.
"Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere near that death machine," Rix said, sitting down in the snow. And so, Nova and Roland made their way back to the city.
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From: novagreys@aol.com (Nova GreyS)
Date: 24 Dec 1999 01:52:54 EST
Most of the ships were in dry dock by this time of the year, many of them under-going repairs before the main shipping season began again as spring drew closer. Thankfully, it wasn't too difficult to find a rudder.
"I think this is one," Nova said, pointing at the first dry-docked boat they came across.
"Looks good to me. Get it and let's go," Roland said, lifting up to his tip toes and back down, attempting to look casual as they stood out where they could easily be seen.
"We're just going to steal it?" Nova asked.
Roland just stared. "You stole an entire sleigh," he said.
"That was different," Nova shot back.
"Yeah, yeah. Just take the damn thing and let's get out of here, huh?"
Nova looked at the rudder. "How do you get it off the boat?"
Roland looked at the rudder. "Pull?"
"Won't that break it?"
"Oh, for pity's ..." Roland grumbled, pushing Nova aside and grabbing hold of the rudder. With one pull, the rudder groaned and snapped in half. Roland looked at the piece in his hand. "Here's half of one," he said, holding the piece out for Nova.
"Hey!" a voice called down the docks. The two adventurers looked over their shoulders to find a pirate stomping toward them.
"Uh oh," Roland said, trying to stick the rudder piece back on the boat frantically.
"Relax, Rol," Nova said, "He's got two peg-legs. It's not like he's dangerous."
A crack echoed through the air and a hole appeared in the boat.
"I don't think he's looking to kick us. He's got a gun!" Roland yelled, taking off down the docks.
"Chicken," Nova muttered, ducking away as another shot punched through the boat. "Cripes. The things I do for fat, old men," Nova said, looking at the sky as if it were Santa watching over his well-being.
"What are ya doin' ta me boat?" came a rough, gravelly voice.
"We're Santa's helpers, sir! We have to commandeer your boat in the name of Christmas!" Nova called out from his hiding spot, unable to think of anything else.
"Ar. Let's see some credentials!" another shot rang out.
Nova's eyes widened. Removing his red woolen Christmas cap, Nova waved it over his head.
"There ye are!" and another shot rang out, punching right through the cap.
Nova pulled the cap down and look mournfully at the hole in his cap. "I can't believe he shot my hat."
"Psst!" the sound came from Nova's right. "Nova!"
Nova looked over, seeing Roland hiding beneath an overturned boat. Roland pointed at the boat above him and waved his friend over. Diving forward, Nova ducked under the boat and the two remained quite for a moment, listening.
"Think he's still there?" Nova whispered.
"Let's see," Roland said as he pushed the boat up slightly to peek under the edge. He pulled back quickly. "Yup. Still there," he said quietly.
Nova took a peek as well. "Okay. Here's the plan. He's distracted. Someone broke the rudder of his boat," Nova and Roland snickered quietly. "We just lift the boat up and start walking away."
Roland shrugged. Moments later, the boat lifted slightly, two pairs of feet inching it forward. The sound of the peg-legs thumping on the dock caused the boat to settle quietly where the two had stopped. If one listened closely, one could hear the old pirate considering how that boat moved the seven feet from the dry dock out onto the main dock.
"This is taking forever," Nova said. He was never really known for infinite patience.
"Ar. How did that boat be movin'?"
"For God's sake, he sounds like a cartoon," Nova declared.
Roland snickered.
"Who be in there?"
"No one!" Nova called.
"Oh. Aye," came from beyond.
Nova and Roland exchanged looks. An overturned boat scurried down the RhyDin docks, in full daylight, its rudder flapping lazily in the air above it, just another non-unique sight in a city of non-unique things.
Date: 24 Dec 1999 01:52:54 EST
Most of the ships were in dry dock by this time of the year, many of them under-going repairs before the main shipping season began again as spring drew closer. Thankfully, it wasn't too difficult to find a rudder.
"I think this is one," Nova said, pointing at the first dry-docked boat they came across.
"Looks good to me. Get it and let's go," Roland said, lifting up to his tip toes and back down, attempting to look casual as they stood out where they could easily be seen.
"We're just going to steal it?" Nova asked.
Roland just stared. "You stole an entire sleigh," he said.
"That was different," Nova shot back.
"Yeah, yeah. Just take the damn thing and let's get out of here, huh?"
Nova looked at the rudder. "How do you get it off the boat?"
Roland looked at the rudder. "Pull?"
"Won't that break it?"
"Oh, for pity's ..." Roland grumbled, pushing Nova aside and grabbing hold of the rudder. With one pull, the rudder groaned and snapped in half. Roland looked at the piece in his hand. "Here's half of one," he said, holding the piece out for Nova.
"Hey!" a voice called down the docks. The two adventurers looked over their shoulders to find a pirate stomping toward them.
"Uh oh," Roland said, trying to stick the rudder piece back on the boat frantically.
"Relax, Rol," Nova said, "He's got two peg-legs. It's not like he's dangerous."
A crack echoed through the air and a hole appeared in the boat.
"I don't think he's looking to kick us. He's got a gun!" Roland yelled, taking off down the docks.
"Chicken," Nova muttered, ducking away as another shot punched through the boat. "Cripes. The things I do for fat, old men," Nova said, looking at the sky as if it were Santa watching over his well-being.
"What are ya doin' ta me boat?" came a rough, gravelly voice.
"We're Santa's helpers, sir! We have to commandeer your boat in the name of Christmas!" Nova called out from his hiding spot, unable to think of anything else.
"Ar. Let's see some credentials!" another shot rang out.
Nova's eyes widened. Removing his red woolen Christmas cap, Nova waved it over his head.
"There ye are!" and another shot rang out, punching right through the cap.
Nova pulled the cap down and look mournfully at the hole in his cap. "I can't believe he shot my hat."
"Psst!" the sound came from Nova's right. "Nova!"
Nova looked over, seeing Roland hiding beneath an overturned boat. Roland pointed at the boat above him and waved his friend over. Diving forward, Nova ducked under the boat and the two remained quite for a moment, listening.
"Think he's still there?" Nova whispered.
"Let's see," Roland said as he pushed the boat up slightly to peek under the edge. He pulled back quickly. "Yup. Still there," he said quietly.
Nova took a peek as well. "Okay. Here's the plan. He's distracted. Someone broke the rudder of his boat," Nova and Roland snickered quietly. "We just lift the boat up and start walking away."
Roland shrugged. Moments later, the boat lifted slightly, two pairs of feet inching it forward. The sound of the peg-legs thumping on the dock caused the boat to settle quietly where the two had stopped. If one listened closely, one could hear the old pirate considering how that boat moved the seven feet from the dry dock out onto the main dock.
"This is taking forever," Nova said. He was never really known for infinite patience.
"Ar. How did that boat be movin'?"
"For God's sake, he sounds like a cartoon," Nova declared.
Roland snickered.
"Who be in there?"
"No one!" Nova called.
"Oh. Aye," came from beyond.
Nova and Roland exchanged looks. An overturned boat scurried down the RhyDin docks, in full daylight, its rudder flapping lazily in the air above it, just another non-unique sight in a city of non-unique things.
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From: novagreys@aol.com (Nova GreyS)
Date: 24 Dec 1999 01:54:58 EST
Several hours later:
"Well, I think we're ready," Nova said, his hands on his hips, gazing proudly upon the rocket-powered, rudder-equipped sleigh.
"Yup. All except for that little detail about how to get it in the air," Rix put in from his seat on the now-rudderless boat.
Roland hauled the bottomless sack full of goodies up onto the sleigh, making sure there would be room for it and the three of them on the sleigh.
"We should just keep all the presents," Roland said.
"Yeah, well ... I don't really want to incur the wrath of an ancient fat man that knows when you've been bad or good," Nova replied.
"So be good for goodness sake," Rix said to Roland, grinning cheesily. He didn't even see the bottomless sack fly off of the sleigh, but he sure felt it hit him.
"Ow!" Rix cried, "What's in that thing?!"
"If Santa got me what I asked for, it was just a big rock to hit you over the head with," Roland said, grumbling as he got down from the sleigh.
"Stupid elf," Rix mumbled as he rubbed the side of his head.
"What?" Roland said, picking the sack up off the ground and dusting the snow from it.
"He called you a 'stupid elf'," Nova put in helpfully.
"Big dumb Christmas tree," Roland muttered, carrying the sack back to the sleigh.
"All right, I think we've done enough for today. Rix repainted the sleigh ... well, part of the sleigh. We attached some rockets and a rudder. I think we've been productive," Nova said.
"All except for that little detail about getting the sleigh in the air," Roland and Rix said in unison.
Nova ignored them. "Yup, very productive. Not as productive as yesterday where we stole a sleigh and Rix destroyed an expensive space engine, but hey. Tomorrow night is the big night," he said, rising up proudly on his tiptoes. "You guys ready?" Nova asked, turning to his friends.
Rix and Roland just stared.
"I'm excited, too," Nova said.
After the sleigh had been camouflaged once more and the three adventurers had called it a night, a lone figure stood out on the docks of RhyDin, his hook scratching at his hairline.
"Hey! Those buggers be under that movin' boat! Ar," and a nameless pirate, 42 years young, was struck dead by a meeting with a lightning bolt of the obvious.
Date: 24 Dec 1999 01:54:58 EST
Several hours later:
"Well, I think we're ready," Nova said, his hands on his hips, gazing proudly upon the rocket-powered, rudder-equipped sleigh.
"Yup. All except for that little detail about how to get it in the air," Rix put in from his seat on the now-rudderless boat.
Roland hauled the bottomless sack full of goodies up onto the sleigh, making sure there would be room for it and the three of them on the sleigh.
"We should just keep all the presents," Roland said.
"Yeah, well ... I don't really want to incur the wrath of an ancient fat man that knows when you've been bad or good," Nova replied.
"So be good for goodness sake," Rix said to Roland, grinning cheesily. He didn't even see the bottomless sack fly off of the sleigh, but he sure felt it hit him.
"Ow!" Rix cried, "What's in that thing?!"
"If Santa got me what I asked for, it was just a big rock to hit you over the head with," Roland said, grumbling as he got down from the sleigh.
"Stupid elf," Rix mumbled as he rubbed the side of his head.
"What?" Roland said, picking the sack up off the ground and dusting the snow from it.
"He called you a 'stupid elf'," Nova put in helpfully.
"Big dumb Christmas tree," Roland muttered, carrying the sack back to the sleigh.
"All right, I think we've done enough for today. Rix repainted the sleigh ... well, part of the sleigh. We attached some rockets and a rudder. I think we've been productive," Nova said.
"All except for that little detail about getting the sleigh in the air," Roland and Rix said in unison.
Nova ignored them. "Yup, very productive. Not as productive as yesterday where we stole a sleigh and Rix destroyed an expensive space engine, but hey. Tomorrow night is the big night," he said, rising up proudly on his tiptoes. "You guys ready?" Nova asked, turning to his friends.
Rix and Roland just stared.
"I'm excited, too," Nova said.
After the sleigh had been camouflaged once more and the three adventurers had called it a night, a lone figure stood out on the docks of RhyDin, his hook scratching at his hairline.
"Hey! Those buggers be under that movin' boat! Ar," and a nameless pirate, 42 years young, was struck dead by a meeting with a lightning bolt of the obvious.
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- Archivist
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From: novagreys@aol.com (Nova GreyS)
Date: 24 Dec 1999 14:21:46 EST
Christmas Eve Day arrived with little fanfare; save for Nova's daughter, Kaylan, running around the house screaming "Time for presents!". The door to Nova's bedroom was thrown open and a little bundle of energy came screaming through to land on his back, pulling at the pillow that was covering his head. "Time for presents, daddy!"
Nova groaned from beneath the pillow, "That's tomorrow, sweetie," his voice came out muffled.
"Tomorrow?" the voice was quiet and it seemed as if the energy had all but ceased entirely.
"Yes, tomorrow."
"Can we open presents today?" the little girl asked.
"What would we do tomorrow?"
There was a long pause before: "Open more presents!"
Nova groaned. It was time to get out of the house.
There was a light knocking on the front door of the home of Rix and Ally. Ally knew it couldn't be Nova, given the quiet knock, so she had no problems with answering the door. The second the door was open, a little person dressed in a pink snowsuit and a long stocking cap that practically reached down to its heels was inside.
"Hi, Aunt Ally!" came Kaylan's voice from somewhere within the snowsuit.
Ally laughed, "Kaylan?"
"Yup!"
"What are you doing here," Ally asked as she knelt down, removing the stocking cap from the little girl's head.
"Daddy says I was giving Auntie Mir a my-gain. I can't open presents until tomorrow," she said, dejectedly.
Ally laughed as she helped Kaylan out of her snowsuit. "I can't open presents until tomorrow either. But I think Rix hid my present somewhere upstairs. Want to help me look for it?"
Kaylan's eyes lit up at the idea of searching out a gift. "Yeah!"
Just then, a cry went up from outside, followed by a dramatic "Oof!".
Ally went to the front window to see Rix laying face down in the snow with Nova standing over him, laughing and pointing. Ally blinked and went to the door.
"Aunt Ally!" Kaylan called from behind her. Ally spun.
"What is it?"
"I have to distract you," Kaylan said. This prompted a laugh from Ally.
"You have to distract me?"
"Daddy says that he had to rescue Uncle Rix and I should distract you because you ask too many questions," the little girl said, sagely nodding the entire time.
Ally laughed some more. "So he had Rix climb out the upstairs window? They could have used the door," Ally said, looking out the front window to see Rix hobbling away with Nova trailing behind him, still laughing. "Let's go find that present," Ally said as she turned back to Kaylan. And Kaylan disappeared like a shot up the stairs.
Date: 24 Dec 1999 14:21:46 EST
Christmas Eve Day arrived with little fanfare; save for Nova's daughter, Kaylan, running around the house screaming "Time for presents!". The door to Nova's bedroom was thrown open and a little bundle of energy came screaming through to land on his back, pulling at the pillow that was covering his head. "Time for presents, daddy!"
Nova groaned from beneath the pillow, "That's tomorrow, sweetie," his voice came out muffled.
"Tomorrow?" the voice was quiet and it seemed as if the energy had all but ceased entirely.
"Yes, tomorrow."
"Can we open presents today?" the little girl asked.
"What would we do tomorrow?"
There was a long pause before: "Open more presents!"
Nova groaned. It was time to get out of the house.
There was a light knocking on the front door of the home of Rix and Ally. Ally knew it couldn't be Nova, given the quiet knock, so she had no problems with answering the door. The second the door was open, a little person dressed in a pink snowsuit and a long stocking cap that practically reached down to its heels was inside.
"Hi, Aunt Ally!" came Kaylan's voice from somewhere within the snowsuit.
Ally laughed, "Kaylan?"
"Yup!"
"What are you doing here," Ally asked as she knelt down, removing the stocking cap from the little girl's head.
"Daddy says I was giving Auntie Mir a my-gain. I can't open presents until tomorrow," she said, dejectedly.
Ally laughed as she helped Kaylan out of her snowsuit. "I can't open presents until tomorrow either. But I think Rix hid my present somewhere upstairs. Want to help me look for it?"
Kaylan's eyes lit up at the idea of searching out a gift. "Yeah!"
Just then, a cry went up from outside, followed by a dramatic "Oof!".
Ally went to the front window to see Rix laying face down in the snow with Nova standing over him, laughing and pointing. Ally blinked and went to the door.
"Aunt Ally!" Kaylan called from behind her. Ally spun.
"What is it?"
"I have to distract you," Kaylan said. This prompted a laugh from Ally.
"You have to distract me?"
"Daddy says that he had to rescue Uncle Rix and I should distract you because you ask too many questions," the little girl said, sagely nodding the entire time.
Ally laughed some more. "So he had Rix climb out the upstairs window? They could have used the door," Ally said, looking out the front window to see Rix hobbling away with Nova trailing behind him, still laughing. "Let's go find that present," Ally said as she turned back to Kaylan. And Kaylan disappeared like a shot up the stairs.