Act 1 – Betrayal ( “I’m beginning to not trust this guy…” )
Our story opens at the former home of Doctor Jocoby. They are the only people there. The group members, haven’t seen any sign of Jacoby, Sebastian, gargoyles or werewolves since the showdown in the dungeon…three days ago. In general, the group is still a little stunned after their encounter.
Becky: “Why are we still here?”
Ben: “I don’t know. I could have sworn we left this place.”
GM: “Quiet. You’re too busy being stunned, to question me.”
Meeho, deciding there must be some reason for being where he is, decides to wander around the grounds. It doesn’t take him long to spot something doing a very poor job of hiding in the bushes. Meeho draws his pistol and points it at the small shrub a gargoyle is using for cover. Although Meeho has never personally seen him, this gargoyle is the Matre d’ from Sebastian’s dinner party.
RAYMOND: “Away put your weapon! I mean you no harm. Raymond wondering why you still here?”
MEEHO: “I could ask you the same thing.”
RAYMOND: “Raymond not fast enough. Sebastian leave me behind.”
MEEHO: “So, you’re trapped here too.”
Seemingly satisfied with the response, Meeho gestures for the gargoyle to follow him, and returns to the house. As the two of them enter the front door, Raymond surveys the piles of dishes on the dining room table, and in general, the less-than-perfect state of the house.
RAYMOND: “Boy, you guys really let this place go!”
SARALYNN: “Feel free to clean up.”
Not even slightly put off by the comment, Raymond is already digging through the utility closet for a broom. Before long, he is sweeping up clouds of dust in the dining room.
SARALYNN: “Raymond, can we ask you some questions?”
RAYMOND: “Okay. Raymond with you now. What you need know?”
SARALYNN: “Did Sebastian…make you?”
RAYMOND: “Sebastian make everybody.”
SARALYNN: “Who…or what were you before?”
RAYMOND: Thinks for a moment, and then taps himself on the chest. “Me, Raymond Douglas.”
SARALYNN: “Enise, I think you need to change someone else back…”
ENISE: “I don’t know if I can. It was tough enough restoring you guys when I had your case numbers. Unless he can tell us what his number was, there’s nothing I can do.”
RAYMOND: (Shaking his head) “Me not know. Raymond am who he am.”
SARALYNN: “You can’t seriously want to stay this way!?”
RAYMOND: “Me feel more useful this way.”
SARALYNN: “Useful…how?”
RAYMOND: “Can fight.”
SARALYNN: “What good would you be in a fight?”
RAYMOND: (eyeing SaraLynn with disdain) “Me got claws and teeth…What you got?”
THANN: “Enough of this. Raymond, where is Sebastian?”
RAYMOND: “Sebastian run to Volaris. Raymond wish he were there too.”
THANN: “Hey! That’s the name Sebastian mentioned to me the other day. I think that’s the name of the place where those caves are. Raymond, this is very important. How did Sebastian go to Volaris.”
RAYMOND: “Through gate, of course!”
Shortly after that, the party is standing outside in the center of the yard. Raymond is indicating an area in the grass.
RAYMOND: “Right here. Gate was here.”
Wil uses his empathic abilities to confirm that some sort of dimensional gate was indeed located in this spot. Sadly, it is now closed.
WIL: “Theoretically, I should be able to dimension walk to any other dimension I’ve ever been to. I think I might be able to open a gate to Volaris.”
Paula: (pouting) “I hate you.”
JAY: “Great. Let’s go.”
SARALYNN: “Wait a minute. Are we even remotely prepared to take on a Dark Lord in his lair.”
JAY: “Probably.”
At this point, a great debate ensues. Open it now, or later. Should Wil try it on his own, or should SaraLynn and Ecco try to help. Should they wait to get re-equipped. The list goes on and on. In the end, they take too long to decide…
The quiet of the countryside is suddenly shattered by the distant sound of engines. The noise of several large vehicles can be heard. As the noise grows steadily closer, they can make out a growing cloud of dust following the road.
Neal: “Maybe I should open the gate.”
Paula: “No, we’re not ready.”
The cloud of dust can be seen speeding along the road just over the wall which surrounds the Jacoby property. When the lead vehicle reaches the main gate, it turns sharply and smashes through the wrought iron gate. There are four Hummers, a GMC Jimmy, and two large, covered trucks. They are all painted with the characteristic camouflage of the U.S. Military.
Neal: “Okay, I try to open the gate.”
Wil begins his attempt to open a portal.
Paula: “Wait! I try to give him support.”
SaraLynn attempts to assist Wil and fails.
Kristen: “Okay, I’ll try to give support”
Ecco’s attempt fails as well.
Without support, and in an increasingly stressful situation, Wil fails to open the gate. The convoy of army trucks heads straight toward the party.
Neal: “Okay, I try to push it…I mean what’s the worst thing that could happen?”
GM: “Well, let’s see…Paranoia, Schizophrenia, Split Personalities, Catatonia, Death…”
Neal: “Oh…”
At the last moment, the vehicles cut to either side, and come to rest in a loose circle surrounding the party. Jay decides not to wait and talk. He runs through the group of vehicles and circles around behind the two trucks.
Ben: “I try to run around the group…very fast.”
Jay runs as fast as ten fast men.
Ben: “This is new!”
Jay decides to cut to the chase and take on the leader of the army unit. He threads his way through the clutch of vehicles, and heads right toward the GMC Jimmy…the obvious command car. A young officer steps out of the driver’s seat. Jay is not giving this guy a chance to stop him. His sensors have informed him that the gunners on the jeeps are already trying to aim at him. He bets that they won’t shoot their own leader…
LIEUTENANT: (suddenly panicked) “Hold your fire! All right you…that’s far en…”
Jay shoves the the Lieutenant aside, slides into the driver’s seat, and shuts the door. Sitting in the passenger seat beside him is Sebastian Gailbreath.
Ben: “Doeff.”
GAILBREATH: “I’m sorry to frighten you this way. We need you to come with us.” He pauses to look uneasily out the windows of the Jimmy. He seems to be watching the sky, “I don’t have time to explain, but we need to go now.”
JAY: (sensing something isn’t as it seems…) “We aren’t going anywhere until you explain who you are.”
GAILBREATH: “My name is Doctor Gailbreath. I am in charge of a special section of the government that investigates extraterrestrial activity. You people are standing at the epicenter of a vast dimensional anomaly.”
JAY: “So?”
GAILBREATH: “Look. All we want to do is question you. People have a habit of disappearing around these things. Not only do I not want to be one of them, I don’t want the only people who might be able to explain this to me to disappear either.”
JAY: “Where are you taking us?”
GAILBREATH: “There is a naval base very near here. We operate from that location.”
JAY: “I suppose we have to be blindfolded and give you our weapons?”
GAILBREATH: “Nothing so melodramatic as that! You may keep you weapons. All I ask is that you unload them first.”
JAY: “Okay…I’ll trust you, but don’t let any of the others see you until we get to where we’re going.”
Meanwhile, the party is getting uneasy. The army starting to get a little jittery regarding the safety of their leader.
Neal: “Have you ever noticed how Jay does so many things in secret?”
Becky: “That’s because nobody follows him into situations.”
Neal: “Yeah, but it’s kind of suspicious. What if he’s betraying us.”
Paula: “Don’t be ridiculous.”
Neal: “Look at the facts. He keeps secrets from us. Sebastian was showing an awful lot of interest in Jay. And what about that Joshua reference?”
Jay gets out of the Jimmy and returns to the party.
JAY: “We should go with these guys.”
ENISE: “Why?”
JAY: “I think they can help. That’s all I can tell you right now.”
Neal: “See what I mean…suspicious…”
Reluctantly, the party gets into the back of one of the large, covered trucks. The convoy immediately moves out and heads back in the general direction of town.
Act 2 – Bad Trip ( “Oh, sure, the landing could have used some work…” )
The convoy threads its way along the rural cowpaths that the locals call roads. Eventually, their truck turns out onto the main highway, and the group smiles in relief as they see the smooth asphalt stretching out behind them. The mood seems to lighten immediately, as if the Jacoby place, and the events surrounding it have been weighing on everyone’s minds…dragging them down. And now, with every mile they put between themselves and Sebastian’s gate, the depression lifts. At least momentarily…
SaraLynn and Wil barely have time to recognize the annoying tickle of foreboding, when the truck suddenly bottoms out, as if the blacktop road in front of it has disappeared. The convoy lurches to a stop and the group gets out, expecting to see the town where Ruth and Ed had their store. What they see astounds them. For an area of several square blocks…corresponding to the dimensions of the town…there is a two-foot deep hole. Leaking water mains are geysering all over the place, the smell of leaking gas lines fills the air, and the whole area just oozes evil. It looks as if the entire town has been scooped right off the face of the earth!
Becky: “It’s the Borg.”
Ben: “Yeah definitely.”
Neal: “Definitely the Borg.”
Suddenly there is a flash of light and a thunderclap as the town spontaneously reappears…three blocks to the west. Although the buildings appear intact, the fact that they no longer sit on their foundations gives them a distinctive tendency to lean. Jay and Wil go to the command car and ask for permission to search the town. The Lieutenant, acting as liaison to his commanding officer assigns a small group of soldiers to accompany them. Stopping at the first house, they find one occupant…a woman. She is lying on the floor of her kitchen…alive, but completely catatonic. Her eyes stare blankly into the distance. A line of drool runs from her mouth to the floor. Enise checks her out.
ENISE: “She’s beyond shock. Skin is clammy. Breathing shallow. Her mind is gone.”
WIL: “The lights are on, but nobody’s home.”
Every building they search reveals the same thing. The inhabitants of the town are all drooling idiots.
Paula: “I use my empathic ability to try to find anyone who may still be…aware.”
GM: “Okay…you sense one person…”
Following SaraLynn’s lead, the group enters one of the bars on main street. Even as they enter, they can hear the giggling. The man sits in the corner of the bar. He is slouched down in his chair, looking at the floor and…just giggling…like he can’t stop himself.
Paula: “Is this guy empathic?”
GM: “Yes.”
Paula: “Can I tell what kind of empath?”
GM: “Sorcerer.”
Neal: “Shit!”
Jay walks over to the table and grabs the guy’s shoulder.
JAY: “Hey! What’s so funny?”
GIGGLER: “hee hee hee Hmm? Oh. You’re new. hee hee hee”
JAY: “What happened here?”
GIGGLER: “I… hee hee I did it. It hee hee worked!”
JAY: “What worked?”
GIGGLER: “I took the whole town…to the other side.”
SARALYNN: “The other side of what?”
GIGGLER: “I started small. Just one person. Only a little area. Then I tried a small group. That was better. This was a whole town hee hee hee! And I can do it again. Bigger next time.”
JAY: “Where did you take them?”
GIGGLER: “You should know.”
JAY: “Why?”
GIGGLER: “You’ve already been there.”
JAY: “Wait! How do you know I’ve been there? How can you tell?”
GIGGLER: “You’re all used up.”
JAY: “Take me there. Now!”
GIGGLER: “I can’t. You’re all used up. Only one trip to a customer.”
He points at the bartender slumped and drooling across the bar. “No more fuel…empty…just like you.”
Ben: “This guy is really getting on my nerves.”
SARALYNN: “What happened to them?”
GIGGLER: “They were…sucked dry. By Them.”
ENISE: “Who are They?”
GIGGLER: “hee hee hee All mouths and eyes. I bring them food, and they reward me.”
JAY: (shaking the guy frantically) “You are going to take me there right now, or I’ll kill you!”
GIGGLER: “Won’t work…I told you. You’re empty. No fuel. Can’t go if you don’t pay.”
WIL: “Did you pay?”
GIGGLER: “No. They want me to bring more.”
JAY: “You are going to take me there. You are going to pay for my trip.”
GIGGLER: “hee hee hee Can’t do it. hee hee Won’t do it. Do I look hee hee crazy to you?”
Jay’s lashes out with his mechanical hand, seizing the madman by the throat and pinning him hard against the wall.
JAY: “Take me!”
GIGGLER: ” *gag* …n-ooo”
JAY: “Take me!”
Neal: “Jeesh Jay, get a grip.”
There is a wet crunching sound, and the giggler slumps to the floor.
The sergeant puts a hand on Jay’s shoulder.
SERGEANT: “I’d have done the same thing, son. That guy was dangerous.”
Jay whirls on the sergeant, his fists clenched in rage and fury burning in his eyes. For some reason, the sergeant sees his own life flash before his eyes. Then, just as suddenly, the anger disappears from the cyborg’s face, replaced with a look of shock. Jay turns away, shoulders slumped and head down, he walks back toward the truck.
JAY: “I only wanted some answers…”
Act 3 – The SETI Project ( “dinner scene from The Empire Strikes Back” )
The convoy travels on for the next hour, and a last pulls up at the gate of Camp Bentington Naval station. Their arrival is for the most part uneventful. The trucks stop and the troops disembark. If the party was expecting some sort of heavy-handed treatment, they were disappointed. The sergeant just waves them in the general direction of the administration building and leads his troops away. The GMC Jimmy has pulled into a separate section of the complex, and by the time they spot it, the mysterious passenger has already gotten out.
They enter the utilitarian administration building and are waved on by a smiling receptionist to a conference room down the hall. In this room, they each take a chair around a large conference table. There is a technician setting up video cameras at the corners of the room. It looks as if someone intends to interview the party. Eventually, the door at the far end of the room opens up and a man in a dark suit enters the room. He sits at the head of the table and clears his throat. One by one, the party members look up and instantly gasp in surprise. The man at the head of the table is Sebastian Gailbreath.
GAILBREATH: “Thank you for your cooperation. I am Doctor Gailbreath…”
WIL: “Jay! Is this how you repay us for trusting you?”‘
Ben: “I feel just like Lando Callrisian”
JAY: “Just listen to what he has to say.”
THANN: “I, for one, have no interest in anything he has to say.”
Thann jumps to his feet and turns toward the door. Several of the other party members stand up as well, their gaze shifting uncertainly between Thann and Sebastian.
GAILBREATH: “Please. I cannot force you to stay, but I do believe we can help each other.”
THANN: “Like you helped us last time?”
GAILBREATH: (looking confused) “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’ve never seen you before in my life.”
THANN: “Look Sebastian…I don’t know what you’re trying to pull…”
Paula: “I try to empathically check Sebastian. Is he telling the truth?”
GM: “As far as you can tell, he seems to believe what he is saying. Also, I should mention that he doesn’t feel like Sebastian at all.”
GAILBREATH: “How did you know my name?”
Becky: “His name is Sebastain too! I don’t like this one bit.”
Neal: “What about me? What do I sense?”
GM: “You sense none of Sebastian’s overpowering presence. You believe that he is telling the truth.”
WIL: “You look just like someone…we know. Someone we have a grudge against.”
GAILBREATH: “Well, I certainly hope you won’t let that come between us. I can assure you that we are quite safe here.”
Thann turns back to the table and sits slowly down, never taking his eyes off the man at the far end of the table.
THANN: “Okay…we’ll listen.”
GAILBREATH: “As I said, my name is Doctor Gailbreath, and I am the director of a government project that specializes in the study of extra-terrestrial incidents. We have reason to believe that recent events in the area we found you can be attributed to ET’s and would like to question you regarding these events.”
SARALYNN: “What if we refuse?”
GAILBREATH: “As I said, we can only ask that you cooperate. We cannot force you. But we feel it is a matter of national security that we learn everything we can about these incidents. We want to know how you became involved.”
SARALYNN: “We were in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
GAILBREATH: “Look. Don’t get smart with me. We already know why you are involved. We have crossed paths with the Talamasca on numerous occasions…”
SARALYNN: “…and we usually cooperate.”
GAILBREATH: “Only when it suits you to do so. Which is why we must question these people before we grant them security clearance.” He turns to Jay. “You are Jay Novachek, are you not? You were a newspaper reporter who disappeared fifteen years ago. You are obviously now a cyborg of extra-terrestrial design. The only question I have for you is…are you on a mission, or did you escape?”
JAY: “I’m not sure… How do you know who I…was…”
GAILBREATH: “We are the government. We know about everyone…” He turns to Thann. “Everyone that is, except the rest of you. You people have no history. There is no record of you prior to your arrival in Phoenix, last month.”
SARALYNN: “Don’t answer his questions!”
THANN: “Why the hell not?”
SARALYNN: “Doctor Gailbreath. May we have a moment alone?”
GAILBREATH: “Very well. Take all the time you need. But I expect this to be a two-way exchange of information. Quid Quo Pro.”
The doctor and guards leave the room, shutting off the security cameras as they leave. When the door clicks shut, Thann whirls on SaraLynn…
THANN: “Why shouldn’t we answer his questions?”
SARALYNN: “These people are with SETI. They look for ET’s.”
THANN: “So?”
SARALYNN: “What the hell do you think you are? Do you want to wind up on a dissecting table somewhere?”
THANN: “We aren’t’ going to get dissected. But we have to cooperate with these people.”
SARALYNN: “For what? They don’t have access to the things you need.”
THANN: “That guy is the spitting image of Sebastian Gailbreath…right down to the name. That can’t be a coincidence. The Sebastian we know is an egomaniac. I can’t believe he’s going to leave this guy alone for long…and if we are with him, that gives him all the more reason to make a move. I told you, I want this guy! Besides, if this SETI group does investigate ET’s, then maybe they have access to something with an interstellar drive!”
Doctor Gailbreath returns, and the party tells their story. Sebastian listens quietly, interrupting only for clarification of key points. In the end, he nods slowly and responds.
GAILBREATH: “I must tell you, that your story is remarkable. I should also mention that we have not, as yet, encountered an alien species that looks more than superficially humanoid. However, if what you say is true, and you DO have knowledge of interplanetary travel, then perhaps you can be useful to us…”
With that, Sebastian relates the story of the Dark Conspiracy…
GAILBREATH: “In the late 1930’s, a generation ship carrying representative of four alien races arrived in our star system. The peaceful aliens, looking for a habitable planet, began observing the earth and its inhabitants. They were considering making contact with our governments when they observed the detonation of the first nuclear bomb. This event frightened them greatly. The human race was far too warlike and xenophobic for them to risk direct contact. And so, they decided to quietly observe us, while they explored the rest of our solar system. In the mid-1950’s, a Jes’Da observation craft crashed in the Arizona desert, and was recovered by the U.S. Air Force, along with the two dead pilots. At that point, the aliens decided to make limited contact with certain members of the government. It was their wish to remain secret from the general public, and the government was more than happy to assist in the coverup. Meanwhile, the aliens continued to explore the other planets and moon in our system. Apparently, they found something on one of Jupiter’s moons. It seems that they found some sort of doorway on Io… at least that’s what they called it. They let something out…something evil that took over the minds of the aliens. Because the aliens were so empathic, the infection of this evil spread throughout the entire alien population in a matter of days, reducing all four races to unwilling pawns of this evil force. Now, there are strange things happening all over, as more dark ones try to open gates to our world, and with the alien’s help, they are succeeding! There were a few aliens who escaped the effects of the dark incursion and have sought refuge with us….”
JAY: “You mentioned the name Jes’Da. I think I know that word.”
GAILBREATH: “Yes…the Jes’Da are one of the alien races. We have one of them here in the complex…
Act 4 – Interview with the Jes’Da ( “The Cyborg Gets a Clue” )
Jay asks to see the Jes’Da. SaraLynn wants to go too. Jay doesn’t want her to.
Jay sits down and looks at the alien sitting across the table from him. The JesDa’s large black eyes seem to look right through him.
JESDA: “You seek answers.”
JAY: “Yes. Can you tell me what I am.”
JESDA: “You are not what you believe yourself to be.”
JAY: “That much I know. I’m not human.”
JESDA: “That is correct. You are a creation of my people.
JAY: “Why did they make me?”
JESDA: “You have to understand that this is not something that my people have ever done before they fell prey to the Great Dark One. The technology used to create you is new to me, as well. However, I suspect that you already have theories as to your purpose.”
JAY: “I have only recently remembered any of it at all.”
JESDA: “What abilities do you possess?”
JAY: “I have a removable right hand, I seem to be able to enhance my speed slightly, and there is a computer of some sort that allows me to see readouts on things around me.”
JESDA: “What does it tell you about me?”
JAY: “It identifies you as Jes’Da. I have range information, and a list of lethal points of contact on your body.”
JESDA: “Indeed? Point one out to me.” Jay reluctantly reaches forward and touches the creature on the breastbone. “That is correct. It would seem you are an assassin.”
JAY: “There’s one more thing. I carry an explosive device in my chest.”
JESDA: (backing away) “Is it active?”
JAY: “It isn’t armed. But it is…aware.”
JESDA: “Can you control it?”
JAY: “I don’t know. I just want to know my purpose.”
JESDA: “You are what you are. That is all anyone can expect you to be.”
JAY: “That doesn’t help much.”
JESDA: “Let me ask you something…do you perceive any difference between your ‘life’ now, and that from the implanted memories?”
JAY: “Well, apart from the obvious new abilities, I guess not.”
JESDA: “Do you learn new things? Do you grow as you experience new things?”
JAY: “Yes.”
JESDA: “Human begins utilize only ten percent of their entire brain in their lifetimes. I believe that all of Jay Novachek’s active brain matter was included in the brain slice circuit boards used in you. Beyond that, the storage capacity of your computer mind is more than capable of allowing you to learn and grow.”
JAY: “But there is still that fifteen year gap…”
JESDA: “Then do not seek to learn, that which you need not know.”
JAY: “But…”
JESDA: “I am reminded of the Earth fable of the wooden boy who wished he were real…only to learn in the end that he had been real all along.”
JAY: “Can you help me?”
JESDA: “Yes, I can alter your programming in a limited way. I could perhaps allow you to access additional portions of your knowledge base.”
JAY: “You make that sound as if you could grant me access to all of it.”
JESDA: “Perhaps I could. But considering your obvious purpose, I believe it would be extraordinarily dangerous to give you full knowledge.”
JAY: “Maybe you’re right.”
The alien asks Jay to close his eyes, and then softly probes his computer mind. Jay suddenly feels as if he understands how to perform more tasks, better than before. Moments later, the Jes’Da lets out a sigh…”
JESDA: “It is done. I have allowed you access to several assassin routines. I have also added a mental override for the Joshua unit. This should allow you to control Joshua to some degree.”
Jay senses that the interview is at a close. He rises to his feet and turns to leave the room. As he crosses the threshold into the hallway, he hears the Jes’Da speak one last time:
JESDA: “I am sorry for your loss. I promise you that this is not something my people would normally do.”
When he returns, he has some news for the party. He tells them that the alien gave him access to more of his original memories. He fails to mention Joshua…again. But they still think he is hiding something.
Act 5 – Talamasca ( “Give me dimension walk, or I’ll hold my breath until I turn blue…” )
SaraLynn contacts the Talamasca for a routine check-in. To her chagrin, she is ordered to report to the New Orleans motherhouse at once. They tell her that they have allowed her to play nursemaid to the strangers for long enough, and inform her that she is being given a new case to work on. SaraLynn tries to explain how the party members are at the center of some strange event that the Order should continue to investigate. The leaders of the Talamasca feel differently and order her to travel to Mexico to investigate stories of strange mutated animals attacking the locals.
SARALYNN: “If you are going to force me to go to Mexico, I am going to require more training.”
TALAMASCA: “You need no additional skills…”
SARALYNN: “I want dimension walk.”
TALAMASCA: “We have already allowed Crowley to instruct you…”
SARALYNN: “My instruction from Crowley was never completed. I demand that you allow me to finish what I began.”
TALAMASCA: “There is no time…”
SARALYNN: “Well, you just find the time.”
TALAMASCA: “Perhaps there is a way. It is a little drastic, and has some unfortunates side effects, but…”
SARALYNN: “What are you talking about.”
TALAMASCA: “We have a device that will allow us to implant the knowledge directly into your brain, a recording which Crowley made for us instructing a student in the use of dimension walk.”
SARALYNN: “That sounds great! What’s the problem?”
TALAMASCA: “It seems that anyone who uses the device…believes that they ARE Crowley for a day or so afterward.”
SARALYNN: “Oh…”
Despite their warnings, SaraLynn uses the brain implant device. It is a piece of DarkTek which sits on the crown of her head, and resembles a large black lobster. The device, she is told, functions by essentially overwriting a portion of the user’s brain with the requested skill. And so, a determined SaraLynn walks into the instruction room, and a confused Crowley walks out. For the next day, SaraLynn/Crowley walks around staring at her chest…
CROWLEY: “Hey look…boobs!”.
Paula: “Hey!”
CROWLEY: “I don’t understand how she gets any work done with these things distracting her all the time.”
Eventually, SaraLynn manages to find her way to the military base and back to the party. She is just about ready to tell them that she has been ordered to start a new, unrelated investigation, when the satellite crisis begins…
Act 6 – Crisis in Space ( “Looks like we go to Mexico…” )
During SaraLynn’s absence, the Traveller characters got to look around the base. As it turns out, SETI is a specialized department of NASA, and as such, Camp Bentington has access to great deal of information about the official space program, as well as that of the ET’s. Doctor Gailbreath is immediately excited by the prospect of a whole truckload of people who possess the background to understand ET technology. The players are shown the ET equivalent of an air-raft. Unfortunately, this device is virtually useless to them, as they are looking for interplanetary craft.
They are also shown schematics of the flying saucer that crashed in the Arizona desert. The earth scientists who discovered the damaged craft had developed a number of theories as to the propulsion system it used. One particularly interesting theory proposed that the drive unit itself, contained a quantum singularity…a miniature black hole. The theory suggested that the drive unit emitted a concentrated gravity pulse in front of the ship…thus creating a gravity event horizon into which the craft was perpetually “falling”.
The idea seemed sound enough, but they had no way of testing the existence of the singularity. One skeptic, determined to disprove the black hole theory, pried open the drive unit. The poor fool was killed instantly…as the singularity passed cleanly through his body on its way toward the gravitational center of the planet. The tidal effects of its passage had crushed the surrounding tissues. Without the power source, the drive was rendered useless. The dead scientist’s fellow researchers were unanimous in declaring his mind…officially (albeit posthumously) changed on the subject.
Despite the setbacks, there was always something interesting happening around the base, and for the first time in weeks, the party members were starting to feel somewhat useful. Although a primitive space program by their standards, NASA’s programs were extremely well organized. In fact, the finishing touches were just being placed on a planet-wide communications satellite network. The final satellite had been moved into orbit just the previous week. There was one setback in bringing the system on-line. Apparently, one satellite had drifted out of orbital alignment, and begun beaming random transmission bursts to Central America, rather than its assigned downlink station. NASA had reacted swiftly and sent a space shuttle crew to repair the malfunctioning satellite. During the repair, the control room at Camp Bentington was bustling with activity. Every video monitor in the place was displaying a different view of some aspect of the mission. Two of the four astronauts had gone EVA and were working on the satellite. The mission commander and the pilot remained aboard the shuttle, trying to get the satellite to respond to its programming.
The following events were swift and confusing:
14:32:03:72 External Camera #7 goes inexplicably dark.
14:32:04:03 Marggie Ryan, the pilot informs the mission commander that it appears as if the satellite is NOT malfunctioning but is in fact responding to ground signals being beamed to it from somewhere in Central America.
14:32:04:10 External Camera #5, showing a view the EVA mission, suddenly darkens, as if a shadow has suddenly fallen across the scene.
14:32:04:20 All external camera views suddenly shift wildly as something big strikes the shuttle and sends it spinning out of control.
14:32:04:22 Mission pilot Maggie Ryan screams.
14:32:04:25 Mission commander Buzz Harmon suddenly calls out “Maggie!”
14:32:04:26 All contact with the shuttle is lost.
The next few minutes were very hectic. In the ensuing riot, many theories and rescue options were explored. All speculation became mute within ten minutes. The Mount Vernon observatory reported that it had spotted the missing shuttle coming in on the emergency landing route. A short minute after that, and communications were restored…
MAGGIE: “Mission Control, this is Ryan. I am on emergency landing vector seven-one-niner. The shuttle has been damaged, and I’m having trouble with the controls. Commander Harmon is dead!”
The following day, Maggie Ryan was being debriefed at Camp Bentington. The players were allowed to be present:
MAGGIE: “NASA sent a shuttle up to reposition the satellite manually. I was pilot, Lt. Col. Andrews – you know, the Project Nova hero? – was commander, and two other specialists made up the rest of the crew. I got us up there and in position, and the specialists suited up and began EVA repairs to the satellite. I was able to detect that the satellite was receiving instructions from another source – possibly Mexico. Then something happened – we noticed one of the external cameras go dark, and then something hit the shuttle…hard. I remember hearing screams from the EVA radios, and then…nothing.
“There’s a period of time I can’t remember – the psych specialists think I was in shock. Mission control says Andrews called my name and then started, well, gurgling. I think I was in another state of mind – an intense state of concentration on survival. In any case, the instrument records show that I surveyed the EVA crew, determined they were gone – disintegrated maybe – punched up calculations for evasive maneuvers and an emergency landing and executed those maneuvers. I started to “think” again about halfway back down to the surface, when I reestablished voice contact with Mission Control.”
GAILBREATH: “Andrews is in a special psych unit right now. He hasn’t been able to tell us anything. The doctors say it’s something like shellshock. The satellite has continued to beam sporadic transmissions of great strength into the Yucatan Peninsula. Our official story to the media has been that these transmissions are due to human error combined with faulty components. Obviously, we can’t admit that someone has managed to ‘hijack’ a multi-million-dollar communications satellite. Somehow, those transmissions seem to be affecting the weather in the area…bizarre weather systems have been lingering in the area all week, and we have been hearing reports of mutated animals suddenly appearing. That satellite is beaming high-powered microwaves into inhabited areas, and we need to shut it down. I’d like to ask you people to help us out.”
THANN: “We might be able to handle shutting down an uplink, but why us?”
GAILBREATH: “The odd thing about it, is that the instrument readings taken by Ryan, show the source of the transmissions is identical to the focus of the bursts. and there’s something else in the readings…something Maggie wouldn’t have been able to spot. The transmission bursts are using an ET encryption code…and the transmissions seem to be causing the same kind of readings as we detected in the area where we found you. There is a gate there.”
THANN: “Wouldn’t the transmissions be dangerous to us as well?”
GAILBREATH: “I’m afraid so. Fortunately, the satellite has to power up before it can make a transmission, and we get a twenty-minute warning before the burst. We can provide inoculations to help boost your immune systems.”
MAGGIE: “I’ll be able to monitor the NASA communications channels and we can seek shelter. We’ll be safe, as long as we’re not in the open. Once we locate the satellite uplink, I can use it to shut the transmissions down for good.”
THANN: “Looks like we go to Mexico…”
In the interest of fair role-playing, the players get an opportunity to get more equipment.
Paula: “Hey! Now I don’t have to leave them!”
Maggie Ryan officially joins the group. SaraLynn and Wil get Wildy Wolfs. Enise gets a death ray with 15% charge remaining.
Act 7 – Piste ( “Foreboding…Foreboding…who’s got Foreboding!” )
NASA flies the PCs to Merida, which is the capital of what remains of the Mexican state of Yucatan. SaraLynn has been told to investigate the mutant animal angle, and knows that this trouble is located in the village of Piste. In the interest of group harmony, the players decide to begin their investigation there. The group rents an Orca truck, and set off into the wilderness.
The town of Piste is under a curfew – no one is supposed to go out at night. Visitors and people who pass through town are told that there is a rabies epidemic. The problem is more serious than that…people are disappearing. The population of Piste has dropped by 150 people in the past week. Most of the remaining residents are scared out of their wits and spend their time behind locked doors.
They decide to stop in one of the local hotels to secure lodging. The Hotel Pyramide Chichen is the only remaining inhabited hotel in Piste. It used to serve tourists. It now has a weed-clogged pool and meals are served in a common dining room/restaurant/bar. A sign on the door proudly proclaims that air conditioned rooms are available. The man behind the front desk…Gomez, if his name tag is to be believed, is the owner of the establishment. Gomez does a very obvious job of leering at SaraLynn. SaraLynn, decides that Gomez is smarmy, and decides to ignore him.
The group asks Gomez if it would be all right to eat in his dining room, and the smarmy little bastard is more than happy to wave them into the common room. Raymond, is trying not to be seen. With the local levels of hysteria regarding mutants, the last thing he wants is to draw attention to himself. Unfortunately, it is impossible for Raymond to remain quiet for very long…especially in dirty surroundings.
RAYMOND: “Oh…just look at this place. Raymond would be embarrassed to claim such a pigsty.”
ENISE: “Just deal with it. We’re just going to eat lunch.”
RAYMOND: “Dirty dining room mean dirty kitchen. Me go check.”
Before anyone can stop him, the little gargoyle pads to, and into the kitchen area. There is a shout of surprise (probably from the cook) and the sound of falling pans. Over the din, Raymond’s voice can be clearly heard:
RAYMOND: “You call this a kitchen? This is disgraceful!”
The response, is an incomprehensible barrage of spanish. The cook, obviously does not appreciate criticism.
RAYMOND: “No need to get so touchy! Fine, Raymond leave you to your mess.”
He returns to the table and sits with his arms folded defiantly across his chest.
A short time later, their lunch arrives. The food smells quite good, despite Raymond’s objections.
RAYMOND: “Me no eat this. Nothing that comes out of that kitchen can be healthy!”
The players chuckle to themselves and start to eat.
Paula: “Maybe I should do a foreboding check on the food…Do you think I should do a foreboding check on the food.”
Ben: “Paula! Just shut up and eat.”
Paula: “But it’s just a foreboding check!”
Ben: “Don’t worry about it. You worry WAY too much.”
GM: “Paula, do you want to do a foreboding check?”
Paula: “No”
Predictably enough, Raymond refuses to eat. But the rest of the party does and enjoys a very tasty meal.
After lunch, the group heads out into the streets to look around. Their leisurely walk through the town is interupted by the sound of gunshots and screaming. Two buildings away, a woman is running toward a grocery store, being chased by three monkeys. At least they look like monkeys from a distance. Upon arrival at the scene, the group sees their first mutant. These things look like monkeys, except they have faceted eyes, like an insect, and they also have the curved, barbed tail of a scorpion.
Kristen: “Gross.”
Jay goes in, and using some newly acquired combat abilities, manages to kill two of the three monkeys. The third is quickly dispatched as well. The woman introduces herself as Maria Borges and explains that she had snuck out of the house after her husband Enrique had fallen asleep. She needed to pick up some things for dinner and was certain her small handgun would provide ample protection…after all, it was broad daylight. Upon arrival at the Borges home, they are greeted at the door by a very grateful Enrique. He had awakened shortly after Maria left and was quite concerned about her safety. Enrique invites the group inside.
ENRIQUE: “Thankyou again for rescuing my wife.”
SARALYNN: “That’s quite all right…*YAWN*”
ENRIQUE: “Are you all right signorina? You look tired.”
Paula: “What? I’m not tired.”
GM: “Yes you are…in fact, you all are.”
Becky: “What!?”
Ben: “The food…must have been drugged.”
GM: *GRIN*
Paula: “I KNEW I should have foreboded the food!”
Everyone drifts suddenly and irrevocably toward slumber…everyone that is except Raymond, who wisely chose not to eat, and Jay, who was able to use his cyborg implants to counteract much of the drug’s effect. SaraLynn manages to enact empathic healing to reduce her impending sleep time, but that does nothing to alter the fact that only Jay and Raymond are awake, when the Jaguar-weres attack…
To be continued…
This adventure originally took place on October 22, 1994.