Doing it right...

[DinkyInky]

"The Empire was founded on cups of tea, mate, and if you think I am going to war without one you are sadly mistaken."

Al, your character has got to say that at some point.

Seconded! All those in favour, say, "ni!" ...er, I mean "aye!"

[lake_wrangler]

"Aye," I mean, "I" concur!

[Just Old Al]

"The Empire was founded on cups of tea, mate, and if you think I am going to war without one you are sadly mistaken."

Al, your character has got to say that at some point.

Wait for it....

[Just Old Al]

Entering his room, Al doffed his coat and hat, sat at his desk and pulled his journal toward himself. Neil would be quite angry with him, but the things in his heart needed to go down on paper.

Writing hurriedly, he began.

“Siege – who cares what day.

My heart is full. The past day has been a tumultuous ride of the emotions, and for the first time in this entire crisis it’s been completely and utterly positive.

The whirlwind trip home Daisy and I took today was our first “date” – if you can use such a word for folks who are not exactly teen romance material. We walked the streets of London hand in hand, stood close and held each other on the swaying, bumping ride of the Underground, and never left each other’s side during hours in the British Museum and after.

It was splendid – utterly splendid. Her wit, charm, utterly childlike delight in London and authoritative handling of the situation at the factory where we picked up the Aston-Martin have left me utterly captivated and if anything more deeply in love with her than I ever was before.

What was at first a coming together of two lonely people for companionship has blossomed into a love affair of the ages in my mind. There will never be another person for me. Daisy seems to be of the same mind – at least I hope she is.

I must have her as my wife. No other thought is acceptable to me. However, now is not the time to ask.

First off, she and I have only known each other for a short time. This is less important to me as it might be to others, but I don’t want to rush things and seem like a fortune hunter or such other lower life form. I would happily sign away any claim to her wealth, or my soul for that matter, for the privilege of her companionship for the rest of my life.

Secondly, we live under the shadow of the sword. Relationships begun under such duress may be sweet, but may not last when the crisis has passed. Far better to wait till the storm has passed to ask the questions of the heart.

Lastly, I am concerned for her health. While her physical appearance concerns me little as two or four legged it is still gloriously her, she does not seem to be able to maintain human appearance for as long as she wishes. It also seems to be taking a toll on her – her illnesses are becoming more frequent. She keeps it from me, but I know.

On another note and speaking of knowing – it seems her children are more aware of how we feel than we are ourselves. This has been brought forcefully to me by her senior son Buck and his glorious gift to me.

When he gifted me that marvelous Aston-Martin he said that he was performing this incredible gesture as “a way to get on the good side of my future stepfather”.

Obviously I am a lot more transparent than I was in my service days, if I’ve telegraphed my intentions this evidently. I must find a way to show my appreciation for it, even though driving it is not possible at present as I refuse to risk it in the present circumstances. The thought of a long wonderful trip around the United States in it with Daisy at my side fills me with joy and gods willing this too will happen.”

Al stopped writing at this point. He could hear Neil bellowing about “that damn Brit” and realized he had pushed his luck a bit too far. He scribbled on, quicker.

“I must conclude this quickly, but I need to make a statement. Were it not for the distress Daisy would feel I could die a happy man at this very minute. I have a loving companion, her marvelous family, loving friends and staunch warriors all. If one had to go, this would not be a bad place to stop. This does not mean I want to, however. I wish to gather greedily every second of the decades Neil has promised me and share them all with these companions.”

He heard footsteps outside his door and hurriedly slammed the book shut, rising from his chair. A loud thudding came from his door, with Neil’s voice shouting “SERGEANT MAJOR RICHER! FRONT AND CENTER!”

Al hurried to and through the door, pen forgotten on the desk but thoughts safely ensconced in his journal.

[jwhouk]

He really should have...what with the heavy usage of the term "mate" in reference to one or the other of them. It's got a much stronger connotation than other descriptive terms for a significant other.

"Bonded"?

(grins, ducks, runs like hell...)

No, it's just that Buck has changed his ringtone for Al to the Monty Norman theme...

(And admit it, you just heard the DUN-Uh, DA DA fanfare in your head, reading that...)

[GlytchMeister]

He really should have...what with the heavy usage of the term "mate" in reference to one or the other of them. It's got a much stronger connotation than other descriptive terms for a significant other.

"Bonded"?

(grins, ducks, runs like hell...)

No, it's just that Buck has changed his ringtone for Al to the Monty Norman theme...

(And admit it, you just heard the DUN-Uh, DA DA fanfare in your head, reading that...)

...no? Gawd, y'all are leaving me so far behind...

[jwhouk]

No, it's just that Buck has changed his ringtone for Al to the Monty Norman theme...

(And admit it, you just heard the DUN-Uh, DA DA fanfare in your head, reading that...)

...no? Gawd, y'all are leaving me so far behind...

Try this (for one), Grasshopper.

[jwhouk]

And, I should point out, that if we are indeed carrying the Bond theme to its extreme, Al's feelings towards Daisy could end up being like Mr. Lazenby's version of 007.

"We have all the time in the world..."

[Dave]

Dave... I'm both irritated at you for that pun but also in the same boat as you... Because I'm waiting to unleash one helluva brick-joke pun related to this fanfic... You're gonna be proud of me.

Eagerly awaiting the proper moment...

[GlytchMeister]

No, it's just that Buck has changed his ringtone for Al to the Monty Norman theme...

(And admit it, you just heard the DUN-Uh, DA DA fanfare in your head, reading that...)

...no? Gawd, y'all are leaving me so far behind...

Try this (for one), Grasshopper.

Ooooh. Ok.

See, I would've heard it if you'd just said "007 theme song" or something.

[GlytchMeister]

Glytch awoke at sunrise the next day with a smile on his face. Today was Black Friday. Testing day. He quickly showered and dressed before having a quick bowl of cereal and an apple and headed out to the circular drive to a waiting black car. Brandi was in the back seat, smiling a little nervously when she saw the crazed grin on Glytch's face. "You'd better behave, or Neil and Buck will throw a fit."
"I promise I'll be good."
Brandi was clearly not convinced, but she reached over and popped the door open. "Come on, let's get going."

Camp Ripley was buzzing with rumors. Winter training had been suddenly altered - the primary practice drop zone was now strictly off limits to all personnel, the airspace was a no-fly zone, and all electronic devices and vehicles had to be stored in Faraday-shielded bunkers. None of the brass would say what was going on, and the trainees were beginning to suspect none of them even knew. The nerdier guys thought it was some sort of EMP... But the history buffs insisted that would have to be tested somewhere in Los Alamos. Nobody could agree on what was up, except that nobody appreciated it more than the sergeants... They just loved the idea of making everyone walk, jog, run, and crawl through the miserably cold mud. It was apparently supposed to build character.

Brandi, Billens, and Glytch drove to the edge of the drop zone and pulled into a large steel structure hastily erected to shield the car as well as the various devices and equipment MIB had already set up to gather data on the DEMP.
Brandi looked at Glytch as they pulled in. "Time to be the boss." She smiled and winked as Billens opened her door.
Brandi stood and immediately took command of the bunker. Glytch climbed out and watched, suddenly feeling out of his league. Brandi was a whirlwind... He suddenly remembered Dante's description of the angel in Hell.
Not even the Gates of Dis could stop her.
"Look familiar?" Billens sidled up to Glytch, smirking slightly.
"What?" Glytch looked up at him, completely lost.
"That was you when you stormed the plant."
Glytch joined in Billen's smirking before cracking his knuckles. "Well, then, let's see what two of us can do." He stepped forward and waded into the chaos. "Alright, everyone, let's get this show on the road! I want everything recorded, including high-definition video. See if you can't send a live stream to the Alexander plant, those people had a hand in building this, they deserve to see it go or watch it blow!"
Brandi flashed a mad grin at Glytch as the bunker exploded into activity around them before they both immediately joined the fray.

"Sirens?" Ryan looked up from his prone position in the frigid mud. "Why are there sirens going off!?!"
"Private Ryan! Did I tell you to look up? Keep your head down and kiss the muck you're made of!"
"It's gotta be that damned test!" Pyle gasped before getting his face shoved into the mud by a sergeant's heavy boot on his helmet.
"That damned test makes no difference to how you just had your brains blown out your ears, maggot!"

Glytch, Brandi, and Billens got the best view, along with a bulky high-speed camera. Glytch and Billens wore dark goggles... Brandi had binoculars.
"Time?" Glytch called.
"T-minus 15!" Somebody shouted from behind before muttering "Here goes nothing..."
"It'd better be something..." Glytch whispered.
"Firing! Firing! Firing!"
...
"Nothing... Happened." Billens leaned forward.
"Wait for it... That just turned on the generator..." Glytch broke into a wide grin as his body began to vibrate. "Gauss?"
"Indicating projected charging levels!"
"Temperatures?"
"Coils are good, generator is good... Capacitors are a little elevated, but still within margins!"
"Charge differential?"
"Thirty percent and counting!"
"Activate at fifty, give us warning!"
Glytch could barely see the ugly, cobbled-together mess... He was only able to spot it by the tiny black plume of exhaust the generator was creating. Then the plume dissipated.
"Capacitors holding at fifty percent... And at the upper temperature limit!"
"...Activate!"

The bunker suddenly burst into chaos as the measuring devices began to ring alarms and the technicians called out readings... Which were an order of magnitude above what Glytch had calculated.
Brandi raised her eyebrows as Glytch frowned. "What? How...?" He muttered and tried to remember his calculations. "I... Misplaced a decimal point..." He looked at Brandi to see her horrified expression.
"Where?"
"In th-"
CRACK
Glytch was roughly thrust down by a strong hand from behind as a blinding light flashed through the window.
THOOOM
Glytch coughed as he got back up and peeked out the window. A radial fractal of blackened ground and vaporized snow spiderwebbed out from where the DEMP was formerly located.
"Where'd it go?" Glytch said, squinting.
Billens looked out the window at the sky. "Up. And now it's coming back."
A series of sharp reports signaled the arrival of the now thoroughly disintegrated DEMP.

A cheer went up in the Alexander Harvesters manufacturing plant as the instant replay showed not only the copper coils vaporizing, but each and every capacitor blowing up, as a rough sphere of lightning bolts radiated out from the center of the explosion, heating the surrounding ground and air to a searing glow as the immense charge dissipated.
"Play it again, THAT WAS AWESOME!"

"What the hell was THAT?"
"Private Joker, if you don't get your ass in gear I'll do it for you!"
"But it made lightning!"
"I don't care if it made the sun go backwards! MOVE YOUR MAGGOT ASS!"

[Sgt. Howard]

""Where the HELL have you been, Al?!?" Growled Neil as the Sgt. Major scampered out the door.
"Necessary documentation, Sir, my apologies- took longer than I anticipated. I take it we have intel?"
"We do- Safyr has a report- daylight is offensive to her- I prefer we not keep her waiting,"
"Right you are, Sir- I trust I am the only tardy member?"
"Yes- follow me,"
Al followed Neil to Greg's quarters, where he found the Old Sergeant, his wife, Mayahuel, Jin, Alan, Katherine, Stan, Phix and John. Looking around, he noticed the apparent absence of Safyr. Once inside, the door was shut and the curtain drawn... and a shadow coalesced from the corner, becoming the dark elf.
"Ah... MUCH more comfortable," she purred.
"I have those you requested," Neil stated, " what can you tell us?"
"The one calling himself 'Nicolas Boswell', who is in fact Nodaki Bolethius, is seeking whatever leverage he can find to force Mayahuel to finish his conversion- he knows your daughter is now pregnant, and has surmised that you have made her mortal.

He will use that information, make no mistake.

He has built up a remarkable organization of the scattered remains of the previous crime lord's fiefdom, and even now is searching for any means he can use to extort your services. I cannot kill him, else I would do so without hesitation. None of us can... yet he is crumbling inside. He knows his days are limited and thus is he even more dangerous, much like a cornered, wounded beast. I must admit, I do not fully understand what he is- our lore regarding golems is suspect at best, as our people have never encountered them. His abilities and limitations, I do not fully comprehend- but I have seen him do no small amount of magic. I must confess, I am surprised he has not yet detected me... but then, I doubt he would skry for evil blood, rather for the forces of good... thus, am I invisible for the time being.

Originally, his thoughts were to ensnare Shelly or her Father... this proved fruitless, so now he only lay in wait- for the wedding itself,"

She thought for a moment- "Oh!... he also is searching for a .... 'Brinks Truck', if that means anything to you,"

[Sgt. Howard]

"BRINKS TRUCK?!?" blurted out Neil, "What is he...?" he looked at Greg.
"We're covered- I was wondering if he was going to use armor. And a Brinks is easier to obtain than a military rig... easier to drive as well," Greg reassured him.
"He wants May and Jin- does he know he needs John?" interjected Phix.
"I am not certain- but if he follows through successfully with his plan, he will certainly learn as much,"
"Well," piped up Mayahuel, "THAT simplifies things,"
"How so?" asked Al-

"Simple- give him what he wants- I think you are going to like this..."

[GlytchMeister]

John set down his mug of tea, his voice a raspy growl. "He should know an armored vehicle is of little use against beings like us... A Sphinx can tear it apart like a soda can, a golem can obliterate it with a flick of the wrist, and I can melt or explode it with a focused thought. And why does he need me? Brandi taught me much about you and your ilk, but not how you are made or how you work."
Then May laid out her plan... And John grinned wickedly. "You were right... I do like it..."

[Just Old Al]

Al said, "All right. Now that all you paranormal types know what you're about, would you care to lay it out for the mortals in the room? There are those of us who are far more familiar with the Lucas versions of demons than the hellspawn we're fighting right now. Do tell."

In his heart of hearts he was extremely nervous about Nodaki getting his hands anywhere near Jin or Mayahuel. May could fend for herself, but Jin was fragile - and even more so, pregnant. His thoughts were much like Alan's a few days ago - letting Jin near the big ugly was decidedly not on in his estimation. He was sure they had a plan for this...but what it was wasn't all that clear. He was hoewever in great favour of kicking some golem arse, as hehad places to be and a love to marry - and this war was getting in his way.

[Warrl]

So Al wants to marry the mare 'e made merry with.

(a gift card from a bridle shop appears in the pun jar)

[jwhouk]

---
December 1st

"It's like a completely different building," Shelly commented as she looked around the interior of the warehouse. Amanda could only nod in agreement.

Where there had been broken windows, exposed wooden beams, cracked floors and standing water mere weeks ago, there was now newly installed glass, metal grid frame supports, and freshly carpeted – and dry – floors.

"They have the stage lighting gantry already set up for the stage over there," Amanda pointed out. "The old warehouse offices in the back there are now a control booth, and the two side rooms underneath have bathrooms set up for a full house."

"Any idea how many we could fit in here?" Monica was a bit overwhelmed by the size of the place.

"The spec sheet Jacob gave me says 300," Neil stated as he emerged from the hallway at the back of the warehouse. "Main entrance is back that way," he said, motioning back from whence he came. "So, too, is the stairwell leading up to the crow's nest. Hallway has several windows allowing observation on the parking lot." He turned and pointed up. "There's an observation balcony above the booth, also."

"That stage is huge," Shelly noted. "I think I've played bars that were smaller than that stage!"

"I think you're exaggerating," Justin said.

"They kept the huge freight elevator in the corner," Neil pointed out. "And Tina and Becky are going to love that kitchen in there."

"This balcony would be a good seating area for those who aren't completely able to transform." Phix called down from said balcony, holding Aeternia in a baby sling.

"It's PERFECT!" Shelly hugged Amanda. "I can't thank you enough for getting this done!" Amanda was blushing.

"This was all on Brandi, Shel," she demurred. "Now, all you guys gotta do is just get here on time. And, preferably in one piece."

[lake_wrangler]

They're gettin' married in december
Ding, dong, the bells are gonna chime
Some will try to stop'em, we'll have to fight'em
But get them to the Hall on time

[FreeFlier]

So Al wants to marry the mare 'e made merry with.

(a gift card from a bridle shop appears in the pun jar)

Tacky, tacky . . .

/deposits a skein of sleighbells in the pun jar/

--FreeFlier

[Dave]

Tacky, tacky . . .

It never reins but it pours!