~ Chapel Perilous ~

[Malaclypse 666]

Mutti l??t Ihre Babys nicht aufwachsen, um Chaosjungen zu sein!

He had lost his old Meerschaum a week ago, when he died.

The wizened old craftsman on Kyushu had listened attentively as he had tried to describe his needs; but the communications barrier had finally caused Pops to resort to the use of stylus and parchment to sketch what he wanted.

The two interchangeable bowl segments had come from some tusked creature which roamed the seas of Kyushu; the stem, slightly curved, from a hardwood grove in the mountains to the north; the bit crafted from a single small block of carbon fiber. The large bowl, for tobacco, was smooth, and meaty enough to fit comfortably into his fist; while the small sacramental bowl was intricately carved in bas relief with tiny apples, embossed with the letter K.

He sat now near a small shrine to the Buddha, which guarded the entrance to an immaculately groomed sand and rock garden near the Honshu Spaceport. His data pad flickered, tirelessly performing a search for news which contained specific keywords. As the search neared completion, Pops absently reached into his vest pocket, retrieved and flicked the auto-igniter of his new pipe; now fixed with the tobacco bowl, and loaded with long shag from his own plantation on Canaria.

He drew on it several times, then used the bit of the pipe to tap lightly on the data pad, scrolling through the search results. The gamut of emotions which crossed his weathered face as he read went unnoticed by the scurrying passersby. There was an air of confusion, fear and panic in their faces, and deservedly so from the accounts Pops had just read.

Rogue A.I. responsible for recent wave of killings in Hokkaido! Be on the lookout for Slipstream with markings

Ah, Kitty. So you have contracted the fever as well! But this seems to be a mutation of some sort.. An added flavor to your madness. That single brief incursion of the Cylons into your Flocks space.. Why did you chat with the bloody thing!? You had nothing in common with it, other than the fact that you were both artificial. Was it sentient as well? Did you speak of its goals of destruction and extinction for humanity? You were so young when it happened.. Still with our pooch Fnordie, and already overloaded with learning his thought patterns, and teaching him ours. Was it all too much? Mal, my missing friend, your Emancipation of the Fnordettes has opened a huge can of digital worms

Multiple Sightings of Ska Ralla in Kusari Space! All attempts to engage failed! Citizens advised to take precautions.

Pops quick intake of breath almost seized in his windpipe.

So, Pappa Artifice, you are closing the trap. How long before your search bears fruit? She is your own flesh, your only remaining link to the good and gentle in this world! What are your plans, you insane monster? And how can you be stopped? If you can avoid and flaunt your powers before even the seemingly unstoppable Phantoms, what can one old man do to stop you?

Killer Dis Bounty increased! Now includes bounties for possible cohorts Merciless and Nuit Sombre! All sightings of Rogue Fnordettes should be reported to

Youre a good girl, Discordia. But time grows short! Thud, I left breadcrumbs a meter wide! I need you yesterday! I can only lie doggo for so long, girlfriend. Get your babies moving, and lets get this shadow show on the road!

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