Chat room adventures

"Why didn't you say that earlier?" Scipio grumbled as he helped Alice out of the armour and inspected her bruises.

"Come, I'm sure you can replace me in the next. And I'm in your debt so you're welcome to spend a few days with me," Lionel was very pointedly talking to Alice and then he held out his hand to help her up. Scipio hurriedly offered his own though and with a lightly dazed smile, Alice scrambled up unaided.

"I suppose we can stay a day or two then," Scipio decided. "Allow me, your escort, to escort you." Alice smiled again and let Scipio take her hand in his.

"This way," Lionel said sounding slightly sour. Scipio nodded and they followed him, leaving the boy to see to the armour and horse.

Upon arriving at their destination, they were pleasantly surprised to find that it was a small castle quite out of town and surrounded by beautiful gardens.

"Allow me to show you to your rooms," Lionel offered.

Adam fell into his dreams as soon as his head hit the pillow, but it wasn't a very good dream. All he could see were bright white lights, tubes and wires were sticking out every where and the worst pain ever was throbbing from the back of his head.

"Sedate him!" someone cried.

Adam tried to fight, but was tied down to the bed, he could see his crew tied next to him in much the same situation.

A needle sliced through his skin and sent a warm calming sensation all over his body. Seconds later the bright lights faded into his dark quarters.

Breathing deeply, Adam knew something was seriously wrong.

"Adam!" Heather's voice beamed out of the intercom, "I think you better get back in here."

"On my way," he sighed, wondering what was real and what was not.

Heather took a seat and stared at the line upon the screen, watching it fluctuate slightly but not enough to cause concern. A few minutes passed and then it happened. The creature came out of nowhere - literally teleported out of the air - and before Heather got a proper look at it, there was a curved scimitar at her throat. A minute or two passed and they stood there in silence, both breathing deeply.

"Well?" Heather demanded at last.

"Well," the alien repeated, rolling the word around in its mouth. "Well, well." The creature let out a giggle and then pressed its sword closer to Heather's neck.

"Your leader." the creature pointed at the intercom. Heather nodded.

"Okay. You want me to contact Adam." The creature nodded and moved its weapon enough so that she could reach the intercom system.

"Adam! I think you'd better get back in here."

"On my way," Adam sighed. Where is Rick? How long does it take to get a pack of cards? Heather wondered as her hand edged towards the sword at her waist. Just then Adam entered the room and stood, staring at the alien.

"Leader?" It asked enthusiastically.

Bella had been in her room, taking a shower, when she heard the commotion from the deck. She quickly threw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, grabbing her sword on her way out the door. She stepped out onto the deck, where Heather was standing face to face with a very strange creature.

"Leader?" it asked enthusiastically.

"No, I'm Bella." she said confusedly. The sword Heather had at her neck moved slightly, as if the creature considered going after Bella instead.

"Leader?" it asked again, just as enthusiastically, as Adam entered the room.

*eep! I can't think of anything!*

Have Lionel show them to rooms that are in completely opposite parts of the house! And maybe he makes a pass at her?

hmmmm...i shall try that....

Lionel showed them to Scipio's room first, it was on the west wing of the castle. Alice expected hers to be close by, but after Scipio kissed her cheek Lionel led her away, far from Scipio's room. He remained dangerously close.

He reached up and brushed her hair away from her face, "how long have you and Scipio been lovers?"

Alice was startled at first, until she remembered the difference in terms, "we're not really lovers," she said.

"I saw the kiss he gave you," he said, his tone a tad more hopeful, "that was not a kiss between friends."

"I admit that we are a tad more than friends." Even in the darkness she knew he could see her blushing.

They turned a corner and somehow Lionel managed to back her up against the wall, using his arm to stop her from moving past.

"Lionel," she said pleading. "please stop it."

He leaned in to kiss her and she shifted past, back the way they had come. He continued to follow her. She turned and ran back towards Scipio's room. Lionel close at her heels.

When she reached the door it opened easily, she shut it behind her and pushed the stopper through so he couldn't open it from the outside.

"Alice? What's wrong?"

"Alice? What's wrong?" Scipio asked, hurrying over.

"Nothing. Nothing, I'm fine," Alice replied, clearly flustered, her face red and the first glint of tears in her eyes.

"Come on, come away from the door," Scipio instructed, taking her by the arm and leading her to the bed. There he sat her down and took a seat decide her, wiping a stray strand of hair from her face and looping an arm around her shoulders.

"Now why don't you tell me what's wrong?" Scipio queried in a calm, soothing voice.

"It's nothing," Alice assured him. "I just... I didn't like to be in my room alone. After Lionel left, I thought I saw someone and..." Scipio wiped away the tear that had escaped from her eye and pressed Alice against his chest.

"Then spend the night in here. It would be more suitable anyway, in case Adam gets in touch."

Alice was grateful that he bought her story, or that if he didn't, he didn't press her one it. They sat there for a few moments while Alice calmed herself. When she was calm they laid down on the bed side by side and drifted off to sleep. She could only hope that everything would be better in the morning.

When morning arrived Alice woke with Scipio's arm around her. It felt strangely comfortable, too comfortable. She sat up slowly, trying not to disturb him and walked to the window.

Waking up like that sent up all kinds of red flags to her heart. She liked Scipio, a lot, but she didn't trust her heart. She was pretty sure he didn't like her as much as she like him, and of course who would?

Then last time she had fallen in love it had been with a psychopathic psyhick who wanted to kill her. She looked back at Scipio, he was still asleep, she doubted he would ever do that to her. He had been the one to hold her down as she threw Jay out and blew him into oblivion. He had helpped save her life that day. No, he wouldn't do that to her, but she couldn't trust her heart to lead her down the right path anymore.

Scipio lay and listened to Alice's soft, rhythmic breathing late into the night before finally drifting into a peaceful slumber. When he awoke, he was disapointed to find that Alice was already up and standing by the window, gazing out across the land. He stood and approached her, standing just behind so that he could look over her shoulder.

"Isn't it beautiful?" Alice asked.

"Very," Scipio agreed. "But I think it's time we went down to breakfast and I wouldn't mind going for a walk later. Perhaps the Lionel will be kind enough to provide us with a picnic." At first Alice seemed delighted by the suggestion but when Scipio noted that it might be polite to invite Lionel, she appeared a little distressed.

"Oh no, I'm sure he's much too busy for that," Alice declared.

"I suppose you might be right," Scipio replied, only too happy to agree. "Come on, let's go locate the kitchen and then we can ask about the picnic. Afterall, we can certainly afford to pay them for it."

"Good idea."

Alice's resolve to try to keep Scipio away broke at his suggestion for the picnic. And she found herself exceedningly grateful that he had no objections for leaving Lionel behind.

She kept warding herself off of looking at Scipio, she shouldn't fall in love with him. But every time they spoke to each other, every time they touched she felt it harder and harder not to.

They reached the kitchens and queried about getting a picnic the kitchen staff skuttled around and quickly set them up with one.

"Thank you very much," Alice said and took the basket. They turned and went out into the hall where they ran into Lionel.

"Leader?" Adam mumbled, thinking of a plan.

"You are leader?" the alien asked.

"Maybe, What do you want and how did you get on my ship?" The alien's image flickered with static. A projection of some sort.

"Free, Break free." the image flickered worse, a howl of pain made Adam flinch. The alien was trying to speak again, fighting the pain. "Elisandro." with the last word it vanished.

Understanding ran across Adam's brain. The dream he had moments ago made sense now.

"Look at the screen!" Bella yelled. The lines were freaking out, overlapping and crossing into a single point.

"It's Matt and Nutty!" Adam said, "They're on Planet Smiley." He ran to the console, typing furiously into the shield generator controls. Setting the frequency to match the converging time line. Like a fork in a river the HIghwind drifted into the past, near the beginning of the galaxy.

"Adam?" Bella questioned, sitting next to him as he steered the ship. Heather had gone to find Rick, who still hadn't returned from his expedition for the cards.

"Yes Bella?"

"What was that about?"

"What about?"

"Elisandro?" Adam's face looked worried, but he hid it quickly.

"Nothing."

"Adam, I can read minds," Bella said bluntly. "Something was wrong, why don't you just tell me what? Perhaps I can help. And if not, I'm still curious." Adam took a deep breath, preparing to speak.

"Good morning," Lionel greeted them, a touch sourly.

"Good morning," Scipio replied happily.

"And where are you going this fine day?" Lionel asked, standing the full width of the door so they could not pass.

"For a picnic," Scipio replied, indicating the basket on Alice's arm.

"A picnic? What a splendid idea! May I have the honour of joining you and your escort my dear?" Lionel queried with a brief bow for Alice. Scipio frowned and Alice looked trapped. Then Lionel took the basket from her and swept out of the room before turning to see if they followed.

Alice looked at Scipio wildly, begging for some reason to not go. *I don't know what to do KItty!!!!*