Adventures In Parodyverse: Crossworlds, Part 2

Note: Because of the browser auto-fill feature last week's chapter accidentally had the wrong name.

Part 1

Adventures In Parodyverse - Crossworlds Part 2

    Sir Mumphrey cleared his throat as he looked over his desk at two much younger and much more immature people. At least in his mind, after all the rumors, and the fact that upon their arrival in his office they immediately conspired in a rather childish prank and continued to giggle about it.

    "I'm sorry," Lara Night finally said as she tried desperately to suppress her smile and look serious, "I shouldn't laugh."

    Dreamcatcher Foxglove didn't say a word. He was hiding a can of Silly String in his chair and jokingly trying to imply that Lara did it until she reached over and shoved him.

    Mumph cleared some of the silly string off of his desk and out of his hair and leaned back. "I've been hearing some rather interesting rumors about the two of you," he said, and left it at that.

    "If by 'interesting' you mean banging like--" Dream began. He stopped when Lara reached over and shoved him again, harder this time.

    "It was only once," Lara told him. She looked at Dream sadly for a moment. "I...learned my lesson about getting too involved with people here. I can't change things too much in this universe."

    "You didn't change anything with me," Dream pointed out.

    "Subtly I might have. Especially since you have April."

    "Nah, we thrive on stuff like that." Dream laughed. "We're not your average boring daily routine kind of couple. If we tried it, it would kill us."

    "Is that true or are you trying to make me feel better?"

    "Absolutely true," Dream promised. "Why, you want to go for another round?"

    "Dream!" Sir Mumphrey scolded suddenly.

    "No," Lara replied with a laugh. "No, I'm still kind of freaked out from the last time."

    "Hmph." Mumph raised an eyebrow and attempted to continue on with the original topic of the meeting. "Liu Xi and yourself seem to have implied that something bad will happen here soon."

    "Yes, well...about that--" Lara crossed her legs and fidgeted a little. "There's this guy somewhere in this universe...I don't know his name, but I do know he's a collector. He collects objects of power and makes them a part of himself," she explained.

    Sir Mumphrey nodded, urging her to continue.

    "Where I'm from, the most powerful objects aren't objects at all. It's like someone came along and decided that objects are too fragile and easy to misuse. So now titles are just given to certain people and the power along with it. Titles like Guardian."

    Mumph raised an eyebrow at that. "You're saying he may attempt to collect you and make you a part of him?"

    "He has to find me first," she joked. "But yeah, he might. If he knows about my presence. So I'd like to keep myself secret as long as I can. And Liu Xi...when she heard about my problem she decided she is the only one who can help me if I am captured so she's learning more about her power."

    "She may be right," Dream pointed out. "This kind of thing is way out of our jurisdiction. Except for Xander maybe."

    "So the point is, as long as I'm here I have to fend for myself. And I'm sorry, but I can't even help you defend the objects here if he decides to collect them. I have to keep under the radar. What I'm saying is...don't be offended if he comes here and I run away, okay?"

    Sir Mumphrey took a deep breath and leaned back. "I suppose if you think that's best," he said. "I think we can manage."

---

    "I know Pricilla can be a little unfriendly--" Visionary started to say.

    Liu Xi frowned, and lost her temper slightly as she shouted at Visionary, "You're not listening to me! She told me she would see me dead. And then she laughed."

    "Well...come on, isn't that a little bit extreme?"

    "Yes, yes it is," Liu Xi agreed. "That's why it concerns me."

    "What did you say to her before that?" Visionary asked. "She's kind of sensitive, maybe you offender her accidentally. I do that all the time."

    "I told her I'm sorry I missed her at the dinner, that I would have liked to meet her."

    "Maybe she thought you were being sarcastic?"

    She was fuming now, so she cursed first in Chinese. "Take off the damn rose colored glasses!" she yelled at him. She then closed her eyes and calmed herself. "I'm sorry, that was uncalled for. I know you love her, but...maybe you could talk to her. Convince her that I'm not an enemy."

    "I'll try," he said. "But she's been gone all day so I'm not sure we'll have much time for talking."

    Liu Xi gave him a look of pity. "Visionary, tell me you're talking to her once in a while."

    "Yes, we talk all the time," he replied.

    "About important things." She narrowed her eyes and gave him a sideways look.

    Visionary looked away from her and mumbled something about the color and style of condoms being very important.

    "Oh, Visionary," Liu Xi shook her head sadly.

    "I talk to you," Visionary pointed out. When that met with her disapproval too, he provided another theory. "Maybe Pricilla and I communicate all we need to. Maybe we just understand each other that well." He stared at her for a moment and still felt self-conscious. "You know what Pricilla and I do when she's here," he said with a nervous smile. "There isn't much room for talking."

    "Then you also need to slow down and enjoy it more," Liu Xi suggested.

    Visionary turned pale at hearing that. "Wait a minute," he finally asked, "How would you know about that?"

    "I read." She shrugged. "Dream has some interesting books. I don't use the knowledge now but someday I will find it valuable."

    "What else did you read about?" Visionary asked almost reflexively. He then blushed when he realized the can of worms he was about to open. "Never mind," he said before she spoke a word, "Maybe I'm better off not knowing."

    "Do you want to learn too?" she asked.

    "After what...um...happened when you first entered my room I'm not sure I can handle hearing that stuff from you right now," he admitted. "Especially knowing that you...know these things--"

    Liu Xi giggled. "No, silly! I can get the book for you."

    Visionary thought about that for a moment. It would sure surprise Pricilla and make her happy. "Just...make sure Dream doesn't know, okay?"

    "He thinks I still have the book," she told him, "But I finished reading it already. You can borrow it for a few days."

    "Thanks," Visionary mumbled. "Hey," he added, "If you're so worried about me and Pricilla why are you encouraging us?"

    She shrugged. "I like seeing you happy," she said with a slight smile. "I'll return later with the book. I hope you enjoy it."

    "I hope you do someday too," Visionary told her.

    "Me too," Liu Xi replied quietly as she left.

---

    "What kind of stupid law is that?" Keiko Takashi asked calmly when Jay finished describing the new mutant registration law the Lair Legion was so concerned about lately. She was calm but still sounded somewhat outraged.

    "You're safe from it," Jay told her. "But most of the people you know here aren't."

    "That's why this is stupid," she said. "The leaders of this country have more to fear from me than from the Lair Legion."

    Zdenka gave Jay a confused look.

    "I told you she used to be a career assassin," Jay told Zdenka.

    The Candian goddess looked at Keiko and then back at Jay. "I thought you were joking!"

    Keiko sighed and sat down, slouching in her chair. "I need to learn to keep quiet. Yes, Zdenka...I used to kill for a living. I'm sorry if that's a shock to you."

    "There are people like you at home," Zdenka slowly spoke. "Who work for the government. They take the lives of those who speak out, and no one sees or hears a thing." She looked at Keiko as if to ask if that's what her purpose was.

    "The lives I took," Keiko explained, "they were...destructive. They took advantage of people or threatened them and seemed to be perpetually beyond the reach of law."

    Zdenka looked at Jay for an explanation, seeming not to understand completely.

    "Sadly in this country," Jay said, "There are people who know how to bend the law but never break it. Or never get caught with enough evidence of breaking the law. The authorities here can't just round up someone because they think he did something wrong. They need evidence and a clear violation of the law."

    "It's so complicated here," Zdenka admitted. She looked at Keiko again. "If that is how your government works why do they need assassins?"

    "Because the system depends on people," Keiko replied, "and people are imperfect." She lowered her voice as she added, "And I'm not perfect either. I made the choices I did because I had to."

    Zdenka seemed emotionally affected by the slight sadness in Keiko's voice. "Do you wish you could have been different?"

    Keiko shook her head. "No, I can't say that. My career did help me come to this country, meet interesting people, and make me into the person I am today. It's likely if I would have taken a different path I wouldn't even speak English."

    The Candian goddess nodded too. "I understand. I also would not wish to be different." She smiled at Jay, implying that he was a major reason why.

    Keiko smiled but didn't respond, not wanting to ruin the moment as Jay hugged Zdenka gently.

    "Can I talk to you for a moment, Keiko?" Jay suddenly asked, letting go of Zdenka to step away from her.

    "Sure." Keiko nodded and walked out of Zdenka's view, assuming Jay wanted to tell her something privately.

    Jay caught up with her a second later. "I'm worried about Zdenka," he said in a near whisper. "With this new law...I mean, I'm worried about everyone, but she's a citizen of a country with an unrecognized political system. They might choose to make an example of her."

    "It's far more likely they'll choose to make an example of Trickshot," Keiko joked. "It's difficult for the public to sympathize someone who curses so much."

    "Keiko--" Jay started to protest.

    "I was trying to lighten up the conversation," she interrupted with an exasperated sigh. "I wish I could reassure you somehow, Jay, but I can't without lying to you. All I can do is offer my support, and my help in any way I can."

    "I really don't want you to kill," Jay whispered, "But I feel like we're coming up on some very troubling times. I want to protect the ones I care about."

    "So you don't want me to kill but you might ask me to intimidate?" Keiko went straight to the point.

    Jay looked down. It was indeed difficult asking her for that kind of thing. "The fact remains," he whispered, "That tactically, it's quite possible all of us super heroes could end up locked up somewhere, and all that would be left are you, Liu Xi, and Chiaki."

    "You and your friends are more resilient than that," Keiko reassured him. "But if I were to learn that you or Zdenka were in trouble I would do my best to help. I wouldn't be much of a friend if I didn't."

    "Thanks," Jay nodded. "I really hope you never have to keep that promise but it was nice to hear you say that."

    "You're welcome." She nodded too. "I should go and give you and Zdenka some time together."

    Jay stepped back into the room and smiled at Zdenka. "I don't think she'd mind if you hang around with us for a while."

    Keiko glanced at Zdenka, who nodded in agreement and smiled. "Sure," Keiko agreed. "If you two insist."

---

    "I heard you were going to use the ol' cut and run if there's trouble here," Yuki Shiro ambushed Lara Night with as Lara entered the kitchen.

    Lara stared at her for a moment and then sighed. "I can't believe even Sir Mumphrey is such a gossip."

    "Actually I was standing outside in the hall," Yuki said. She explained further when Lara still seemed confused. "This artificial body of mine has extraordinary hearing."

    "Oh." Lara shrugged. "Look, I know what you're thinking. That I'm a big chicken."

    "Or some kind of flightless winged fowl, yes."

    Lara frowned at that. "The problem, Yuki, is that I'm like a living doorway. You know how I can come here anytime I want? What if this guy who's collecting things collects me and finds out how to do what I do?"

    "Hunting down the heroes who might stop him won't be a problem anymore." Yuki nodded. "I think I understand that part. But why don't you just try to destroy him?"

    "Because I can sense him already," Lara replied. "I feel like he's all around. It's like a frog swimming in a pond, and you can feel the waves...only the waves are moving fast and you can't tell where they're coming from. But this energy is undisciplined, lacking focus, and that's how I know I can escape from him if I have to."

    "Did you tell Liu Xi?" Yuki asked.

    Lara nodded. "She agrees with me. She also told me that's why he hasn't managed to lock down this universe yet to keep me and her both in place."

    "Did she tell you that Pricilla wants to kill her?"

    "Yes." Lara smiled at that. "She gets herself into some strange situations, that girl."

    "Yeah," Yuki finished making herself coffee and offered Lara a cup as well. "Except I'm taking this situation seriously. Liu Xi was my responsibility since day one. I'm not going to let some floozy harm her, Visionary's girlfriend or not."

    "Maybe you should get both sides of the story." Lara took a sip of coffee.

    "I never trusted her," Yuki continued. "I always got a very negative vibe from her."

    "You've actually met Pricilla?"

    Yuki nodded. "And it was one strange encounter."

TO BE CONTINUED

-- Story written and copyrighted (C) 2005 by Jason Froikin, and may not be
-- reprinted without permission.
-- Yuki Shiro designed by Jason Froikin, based on designs by Masamune Shirow
-- Liu Xi Xian and the Psychic Samurai are original design by Jason Froikin
-- Lara Night is an original creation by Jason Froikin
-- Keiko Takashi is an original creation by Jason Froikin

Post By Anime Jason Sun Nov 27, 2005 at 09:31:14 am EST	Subject Adventures In Parodyverse: Crossworlds, Part 2

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