From: siewert@matt.ksu.ksu.edu (Karl Siewert)
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
Subject: A Sudden Crisis Next Door
Date: 24 Jan 1993 05:03:48 -0600
Organization: Kansas State University
NNTP-Posting-Host: matt.ksu.ksu.edu
Summary: Maraud takes a brief powder, and we meet a few new Taiwan patrons

Suddenly, the group hug seems much larger.  This could have something to do 
with the unexpected entrance of two beings who each outmass most of the patrons
put together.  The merriment subsides as the callahanians look up, and up, and
UP at these guys.

One gentleman(?) is around eight feet tall, six feet wide, and three feet deep.
put on your shades, everybody.  He's wearing highly polished solid gold armor
with a dragon scale motif.  You can't really tell if his appearance is _sup-
posed_ to be menacing or not, because he has on a dragon head helmet.  All of 
the firelizards in the Place stop whatever it was they were doing and flock to
the giant, collecting in respectful silence at his feet.  

The other guy is dressed in bright green armor.  He's about 6x6x6, and looks as
if he could benchpress Tokyo.  His head is uncovered.  Literally.  Perched on 
his neck is an almost comically small skull which appears to be flaming.  He
carries an 8 foot battleaxe with an atomic symbol carved into the face of the 
blade.

All callahaners with weapons reach for them instantly, wondering why this had 
to happen right on the tails of this alien thing, but then they notice Rie 
standing between them.  Only because he's waving frantically, though.  If you
thought he was an unprepossessing character surrounded by assorted anthropomor-
phic mammalia...  Anyway, Rie calls out loudly (loudly, Rie??) from atop a gro-
wing stack of soapboxes.

"Calm down, everyone.  Please, calm down.  This is Dragonel (gesturing at the 
gold dude) and this is... oh, I forget his name.  Anyway, they are regulars 
and bouncers at the Taiwan On.  We need to talk with Slash."

Slash disentangles himself from the mammal pile and comes forward, anxiously
(anxious, Slash??  This really is out-of-character night, isn't it!!) 

<WHAT'S UP??  IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG??>

"I'll say!  Stargazer's gone.  (different one, folx)  All was as usual, and 
then Tilto saw something flash by and she was nowhere.  Nobody else saw a d**n
thing.  No doors opening, no prior warning, nothing.  You know what that 
means."

<HOLY ZARQUON!!  SERIOUS POWER, SERIOUS SPEED, MAGIC SHIELDS THAT BLOCKED 
EVERYBODY INCLUDING GAZER... WE'RE IN TROUBLE.>  Slash turns to the group, a
worried look on his face.  <GOTTA GO, FOLX.  SEEMS THEY NEED ME AGAIN.>

The four rush out the door, Slash muttering something about a bartender's work
is never done.  On the way out, Rie calls back.

"See you soon.  It's been incredible.  By the time we get back, Slash should 
have his own email, sig, and posts.  Until then, to all at Callahan's Place.
Best time in 5 cosmoses (or is that cosmii? I never can remember.)" 

<AND TO KITTEN, SHONIAS, AND EVERYONE HERE.  MAY THE LIFE IN THIS pLACE NEVER
FADE>

>Crash!!<
<<CRASH!!!>>

And the door slams shut.


-- 
/               James Riekar, barhopping yoyist, at your service              \
Impersonated at Fort Hays State by Karl G. Siewert, pretending to be at K-State
\                      address=siewert@matt.ksu.ksu.edu                       /
 \           Never underestimate the power of the truly eccentric.           /
Newsgroups: alt.callahans