milliways_bar | (no subject)

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The Door swings open and in strides a familiar face who hasn't been seen lately. Agent K doesn't miss a step but he's smiling by the time he reaches Bar and takes a seat.

"Been a while, Darlin'," he says as he pats Bar and a bourbon appears before him.

He looks over his shoulder at the rest of the bar and shakes his head. "Still haven't blown themselves up yet. Will wonders never cease."

[tags: Bar, Darryl "Mother" Roskow]

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K shakes his head slowly. "They never did turn up. And it's been months."

"Of course, it's possible they're still in hyperspace, moving from some point A to some point B. We might not see them for a year or more in that case."

"But this doesn't feel like that kind of deal."

Johnny nodded with understanding at that, "Which means they still have them. Want me to find anything else that might be connected?"

K frowns in thought. "Well, I'm not sure off-hand what that might be." He draws out the slim blacker-than-black box that's his MiBlackberry and brings up the holographic display.

He thumbs through several screens until a list appears looking suspiciously like an email in-box, or maybe a to-do list.

"Most of what I've got in front of me right now concerns other missions."

Johnny came around to peer out, and he reached to touch at one.

"What about this?" But then he grew distant as he saw a vision.

Ok that made no sense at all whatever it was.

That's probably because it was an image of a large hall filled with short creatures that looked a lot like....worms walking on little legs.

Having a party.

Around a tall object. Which they were worshipping? A beautiful, exquisitely wrought sculpture, carved from living wood, which could capture the gentlest breeze and transform it into a complex arrangement of glorious harmonies.

It's the Pillar. The Pillar of.... Storge?!?

And the worms are definitely worshipping it, treating it with every possible reverence as they go up to it and bow befo--oh, wait.

They aren't bowing. Each one is reaching into the pillar and pulling out of it a....

....A cigarette?

It's a party of alien worms celebrating in a gigantic hall on a faraway planet the arrival of an incredibly ornate, sculpted... cigarette dispenser.

...........What the hell?

Johnny had a very odd expression on his face now.

K is looking sympathetic. ".....Yeah."

"Sorry about that. Welcome to my world."

In some ways the Black Oil is easy. It's just trying to kill you in the messiest way it can. There's something comfortingly familiar about that, at least.

"What was with those worm creatures? And they're into smoking?"

"Annelids."

"One of the first races to make contact with Earth, actually."

"Haven't been able to get rid of them ever since.

"They're, uhh..... special."

Long look back.

"............Special huh?"

K waves his hand. "They're all right. A little weird."

"And you don't want to fall asleep around them, unless you don't mind waking up covered in magic-marker."

"But they don't usually cause trouble. Unless they're starting a Prank War."

"...Like now."

Johnny listened and then remarked, "There was a large sculpture that they were almost worshiping. Pulling cigarettes out."

"Yeah, that would be--."

"--What?"

"I'm guessing it's not normally a receptacle for tobacco products?"

K is pinching the bridge of his nose.

"....No."

"It's the Pillar of Storge. Sacred to the Krylians."

He looks up at John. "They would be the other party in the Prank War."

"Zed's going to blow a gasket on that one."

"How often do one of these happen?"

"Every few decades. Whenever the Krylians and Annelids get a mind to stir up trouble."

"Problem is, it's the first one to happen on the bureau's watch, and lucky us, from what we're told, both sides are really upping the ante this time."

"Galaxy's going to be short on whoopie cushions for a generation."

Edited 2009-02-08 05:36 (UTC)

Johnny shook his head, "Think there's any way to hold it off? Or lessen it?"

"Oh, they're already into it, so it's too late for that. But Zed's developing a plan: send in one team to retake the Pillar of Storge, and another team to collect the Big Waganda, which the Krylians took in response."

"That ought to get them both to the negotiation table."

"'Course, you know how plans usually go."

Johnny nodded, "I know exactly and it's tricky even when you get visions like me. I'd say I could run interference but might not help that much."

"Actually, John, you've already helped. We weren't exactly sure where the Annelids were keeping the crazy thing, but your description narrows it down quite a bit. Shouldn't be a problem getting a bead on it now."

"I know they were in a hall somewhere. Another vision might help more."

"It might," K agrees. "We could always give that a try next time you're up for it."

He nodded and added, "Sure, either here or in your world. I'm pretty flexible timing wise now."

K nods. "Then we'll be in touch, John."

"Soon."

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