From: lazuli@byron.u.washington.edu (Fred Sloniker)
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
Subject: Re: And now, for something completely different.
Date: 22 Jan 1993 02:25:01 GMT
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle
NNTP-Posting-Host: byron.u.washington.edu
Summary: Another post from Andrea.

(Yes, it's another post from the postless Andrea!)

>The alien comes out of its crouch as a furred biped well under half its size
>approaches it. The biped emits sonic vibrations trained in the creature's
>direction. The alien looms over the small creature, wary at its apparent lack
>of concern. The alien scans it for weaponry. None. For fear-pheromones. None.
>It looms over the white-furred being, its armoured head tilted in what might
>almost be a quizzical manner. It runs a deepscan, checking the small being's
>genecode. The pattern is familiar. The coiled-spring tension ebbs from its
>stance as it searches its memory for a patternmatch.
>Psi-receivers in the Bar feel their sensibilities pounded by a sudden wash of
>unnameable sensation/emotion complexes. The sensations resolve themselves into
>some cold and distant analogue of disorientation/bewilderment,
>followed by a burst of surprise/recognition and then into a synapse-twisting
>effort at communication of ideas.
>-=> identitypulse-"Biologist"-query <=- The creature extends a clawtip slowly
>towards the white squirrelmorph in an inquiring gesture.
>-=> selfidentitypulse-"Escapee" <=- The alien retracts the claw.
>-=> Urgentrequestinformation-currentlocation-methodoftransfertocurrentlocation
><=-

(With some editing by me.)

Laz blinks, then frowns, as he tries to get the gist of the telepathic
communication.  "Umm, I don't *think* we've met..." he says.  "I'm called
Lazuli, Lawrence Lazuli."

-=> puzzlement-"Lazuli"-but-not-"Lazuli"?  not-"Biologist"? <=-

"Um, no.  I work at a hospital, handling hazardous waste..."  The alien, faced
with someone who is, by all appearances, someone it knows, yet claims not to
recognize it, is understandably confused.  Laz grins slightly.  "Maybe we met
in an alternate reality?" he suggests.

The alien ponders this, scanning Laz again.  -=> Possible.  Similar-but-not-
identical. <=-

Laz nods quietly.  "Anyway, this is Callahan's Crosstime Saloon.  It's..."
He thinks.  "It's a place where others come to meet and talk."

-=> A Nest-of-others? <=-

"Um, yeah, sorta.  Anyway, it looks like you got teleported here... and you
took out a chunk of the wall in the process.  We really ought to fix that."
Laz grins.

-=> reason-for-repair-query <=-

"Umm, this is -their- Nest. You don't allow Nests to remain damaged, do you?"

(And back to unedited stuff...)

>-=> negative-emphatic <=- The massive creature turns away with eerie insectile
>grace, facing the semicircular gap in the wall. It takes a few steps forward,
>poking its head out of the hole and scanning the brickwork outside. It loops
>its tail forward, and whips it to and fro, too fast for any eye to see. From
>the joints between the armoured segments of the tail, microscopic jets of
>liquid resin spin forth, drying to form at first a thin translucent web, which
>as the creature adds more layers, rapidly thickens and darkens. When the resin
>is the same thickness as the wall, the creature slows its passes, making the
>final coat the same colour and texture as the white plaster of the interior
>wall. Laz saunters unhurriedly out to check the external wall. It is quite
>indistinguishable to the eye from the rest of the brickwork, though he 
>suspects it will be if anything more sturdy than the original wall. Laz nods
>to the creature as he re-enters the Inn. "Nice camouflage."
>The towering creature swivels its head toward Laz and bares a glittering arc
>of lethal fangs. It takes you a moment to realise that the thing is trying to 
>imitate a smile.

>At this point, another biped (this one taller and without the keratin-stranded
>exterior) approaches the Alien. It tilts its head quizzically at her,
>following the mental emanations behind her words rather than the words
>themselves. "So, what's a nice creature like you doing in a place like this?"
>The alien hisses something complicated. It is clear its voice is inadequate to
>any attempt to mimic human speech. It considers a moment, then cranes its
>head forward and sends -=> reasonfortransfer. identitypulse-"Captor"
>(hatehaterevengelust) motivation-useof"Escapee"as bioweapon. Speculation-
>testof bioweaponcapability-against-species-present. "Escapee"motivation-
>revenge-on "Captor". "Escapee"inactivity-frustrates"Captor"motivation. <=-
>"Ummmm, I'm Shonias, is there anything in particular you like to drink?"
>-=> Can-ingest-anyorganic.  Selfmobileorganic-preferred-dueto-more useful/
>survival-favourable genecodes. Selfimmobile/photosyntheticorganic genecodes
>lesser-utility but chemical-content-life-sustaining when selfmobileorganic
>unavailable. <=-

(And me again.)

Laz watches, and 'listens', to the byplay curiously.  "Self-immobile..." he
mutters, trying to puzzle out the meaning, then ahs.  "Um, I don't think
they sell live animals here, but I think we can get you a salad."

-=> "Salad?" <=-

"Um, self-immobile photo-synthetic organics, cut into small pieces to aid
our digestive systems.  Possibly with a flavor-enhancing spice coating.
How about it, Mike?  Do we have a salad?"

Laz notices what the creature's drool is doing to the rug, and makes sure
his arm isn't underneath.  (:3

				---Fred M. Sloniker, typing for
				   L. Lazuli R'kamos-- the newbie leading
				      the newbie?  Egads!  (:3
				   lazuli@u.washington.edu