Comics by Shaenon II

[SoItBegins]

Day 1

At 9:00 AM, all across the city, portals flared to life. While it started slowly at first, soon a hurricane of people blew into the buildings marked for the convention. Some arrived by zeppelin. Some by digging machine (a patch of loose earth was set aside by the local parking lot.) Some simply materialized in one of the spaces provided.

Still others, mostly the non-mads who had bought themselves invitations, arrived by car and approached the buildings warily, as though they might explode.

Brad and Janet were two of these buy-in visitors. By now, they were having second thoughts.

"Ummm, are you sure you want to go through with this, Brad?" asked Janet. "I mean, I know it would be interesting and all, but you should have seen what was written in the fine print!"

"Honey, it'll be fine. Really, how hazardous can a group of Mad Scientists like this be? It won't be that bad," said Brad.

Entering the building, they found themselves in a huge, cathedral-like hall. Three huge arched gateways overshadowed everything else in the room. In fact, they were everything else in the room, not counting the people and the blue security shades.

The security shades were all copies of one person, and were identical. Semi-transparent, glowing blue, they could change from tangible to mist-like at a thought, and were all fully intelligent.

The three gateways were arranged in such a way that you had to pass through them sequentially. The third and final gateway, staffed by more security shades, was actually a gigantic portal.

Brad and Janet passed through the first gateway, which was apparently to check whether you had an invitation or not. Occasionally, the gate wouldn't let someone through, a high-pitched gong would sound, and one of the shades would come over to check who that person was. Some, after explaining, continued on through; others, dejected, walked back the way they had come.

The second gateway was a security check of some sort. Brad reviewed the list of Prohibited Items, just the make sure they didn't have any. Not that that was likely. The list read:

Prohibited Items

The following items are prohibited at the convention.

• Doomsday devices of Class III or higher
• devices that can break or disrupt force-walls, or any other part of the convention space
• poison or acid with a kill time of less than 45 seconds
• nanobots
• EMP (electromagnetic pulse) devices

The following items may be brought to the convention under these conditions.

• earthquake generators: may be brought, but not used.
• weather-control devices: may be brought, but not used.
• Created Machine Intelligences ("AIs"): the AI must EITHER (a) have a mind-equivalent sentience level under .5 OR (b) be accompanied by an escort or carrier that has a human mind, and who can disable the AI at any time.
• invisibility devices: user must wear a high-visibility florescent vest at all times while the device is active.


Brad and Janet looked at the list, then at each other. Then, they shrugged and walked through the gateway.

Finally, the third and final archway towered before them. Unlike the others, this one was filled with a rippling, mirror-ish substance. People were walking through it, shades were swarming around it. The mirror finish didn't change, except to send out little waves when a person passed through. Brad and Janet walked through the portal...

...then stopped, mouths wide open.

They were in the middle of a city.

The portal kicked out onto a ridge, overlooking a strange, spired alien city. Towers with interlocking spirals and crenelations, buildings that captured the eye with an unknown geometry, all in unfamiliar metals that refracted the light of two suns into all the colors of the rainbow. Closer examination revealed that only a small part of the city was inhabited by the convention attendees, a part near the edge, around one of the tallest towers. This area was cordoned off from the rest of the city by a powerful force field; beyond the force field, strange, otherworldly creatures went about their business.

Behind Brad and Janet, the ridge had more portals, each with a destination carved in elaborately serifed letters. "Earth" was on the one the two had just come out of. A short ways away, a man (?) with a hunchback and quite a lot of scar tissue was walking out of one marked 'Discworld'. After watching for a short time, the two saw a girl with a waistcoat, blond hair, glasses, and wearing a large locket with a trilobite on it step out of the portal for 'Europa'. She was followed by a large number of clockwork devices that walked, jumped, or flew.

From the ridge, a broad rampway swung down to the main floor of the convention, a large area that rather resembled an open-air market. Security shades were everywhere, mingling with the crowds, giving directions, and occasionally confiscating devices that had been smuggled past the security screening. Doorways opened off of some of the nearby buildings, hinting at the possibility of workshops, lectures, and demonstrations within.

At the very center of the space, a large portal (like the one the two had just come out of) occupied a large clearing. The portal was labeled 'Nebula Room'. At the moment, it was empty, an arch only. At the end of the third day, it would awake and carry all the Mads in the crowd to its namesake.

And speaking of the crowd...

Every kind of person and machine, from small, innocent-looking pre-teens to labcoat-wearing Mads 7 feet tall, from vorpal bunnies to henchmen, from tourists to sentient model planes. It seemed as if the whole world was in this giant, crowded courtyard.

Then the screams started. A gap in the crowd indicated where a... thing... had gotten loose. Like a cross between an armadillo, a dog, and a dragon, the thing had slipped its restraints and started chasing people. The panic didn't last long. Two shades flew over the heads of the crowd, stopping near the beast. Each loosed a stream of lightning.

The beast roared loudly as the lightning soaked into it. Strangely, it seemed more like a roar of triumph than of pain. This was confirmed when the creation started spitting back at the shades. The spit was infused with electricity, but the shades simply turned intangible for a fraction of a second, letting the stuff earth itself harmlessly against the side of a building. Then, the shades each pulled out what looked like a glowing conductor's baton and raised it as one.

Seemingly from everywhere, a gray mist began to form around the thing, solidifying into a silver-gray metal shell. After a few minutes, the shell began to turn back into the gray mist, which soon was blown away on the breeze. Of the creature, there was no sign. The random drift of the crowd had soon converged on the empty space, covering it up as if it had never been.

Brad and Janet watched it all. The convention had already surpassed their wildest dreams, and they hadn't even looked around yet. Taking her hand in his, Brad set out, with Janet, down the rampway.

Into the unknown.

[Professor_Tinker]

At 9 o clock sharp, in a whirl of random-colored particles and the spontaneous creation of several plastic flamingoes, I arrive at the entry lot/
In style, may I add. While I am wearing one of my de facto suits, I have taken care that it is one of my *better* suits. Yellow with off-white pinstripes slacks and vest, a pristine-white button-up shirt, perfectly polished Louis VI shoes, and a purple cravat all topped off with by beloved Red Coat.
Apparently sentient evil washing machines are best negotiated with from the business end of a sonic screwdriver and some wrenches.


Three gates and a quick discussion about my responsibility for Fluffy and the weapon-grading of a miniature decoratively contained quantum singularity and I am in!

".. . . . Oh, my goodness gracious. They have truly out done them selves this year." I say, breaking into a grin as Fredric whistles softly.

"Yeh, pretty good, Da."

". . . . Ooh look!" I cry happily, taking off at a sprint. My first hour here is usually spent looking at all the pretty things, and I had best get started![/i]

[Jane Narbon]

As I walk through the portal, it's all I can do to stop from grinning. My 'sneak-stuff-past-the-security-system' plan worked! Now, I just have to hide it somewhere in this vast city, and I won't need to try to smuggle stuff in on the third day (when the shades will be at their peak.) Now, where...?

(shortly afterward)

Done. Now, I guess it's time to enjoy the convention! Say, I wonder if Mommy is here...

I walk up to a passing shade, and ask it if a Mad named Helen Narbon has arrived yet. The shade looks at me for a second.

"According to portal logs, your mother hasn't arrived yet. Do you have any other questions?"

I answer no, and walk away, a bit dumbstruck. It knew my name?! How the heck did it know my name? I never told anyone, and...

Oh dear. This system may be even more of a challenge than I thought.

Now, it really is time to enjoy the convention. (rustles through schedule) Ooh, I didn't know they were having a workshop on Advanced Mind Control! Wow! They have a lecture on Genre Savviness! Amazing! A course on better ways to look innocent!

Oh, this is going to be so much fun. Advanced Mind Control will start in a few minutes, and I can hardly wait!

[Wallycaine]

Wally pulled into the parking lot carefully. He wasn't sure if his shield would go off on a simple contact with another car, but it was better to be safe. He got out, then opened the door for Lagos. Dressed casually, he walked through the three gates without a problem. After they reached the alien city, Lagos spoke. "Alright Walls, we need to figure out our schedule. Do you want to go to the seminars first, or check out the exhibits? Wally?" Lagos sighed. "He does this every time."

Wally started as Lagos landed behind him. "I wasn't doing anything against the rules."

"Yes, but I don't think that tapping the forcefield like it's a fish cage is a good use of time."

"But it's lots of fun to see the looks I get."

"Alright, but only for ten minutes. You won't tell anyone if I join, will you?"

"Of course not. Just have some fun."

[chicgeek]

Chicgeek is talking as fast as Fredric.
"Ohmygoshlookovertheredidyoueverseesuchthingsthisis-"
Desius-"breathe, chic."
-"so exciting!"
Face beaming, she flips through her schedule. "OOh, look, they're showing the original Frankenstein at 3:00! "

"The one with Boris Karloff? I love that movie."

Stares at Desius, puzzled. "Who said anything about a movie?"

Chic is somewhat casually dressed for the first day. New jeans, a dusty rose blouse, a vest in liu of labcoat, goggles hanging around her neck. Detailed clockwork wings cling to her back, only slightly thicker than fabric paint.

"I want to see all the exhibits. Oh, Des, our first convention! This is so-"

"exciting.", he finishes , with a sigh.

"Oh my gosh! They're having a seminar on personal and vehicular flight!"

Desius looks at the schedule. "Yes, and it starts in two minutes. Look at the map-it's being held all the way on the other side of the complex. Why don't we see what else-"

Desius is cut off abruptly. Wings unfold and extend, the brass becoming rigid. Chic swoops him up uncerimoniously and takes off at top speed.

Chic-"WHEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!"

Desius-"AAAAAAGGHHHH!!!!"

[Desius]

"I must not fear. " Des thought watching the colors blur past him as he clung to Chic's hand. He forced himself to breathe, mumbling all the while.
"Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear." He recited, relaxing and enjoying the flight. The two whipped over the frenzied crowds below, dipping and turnning as the other mads took off, landed, or exploded, the air as wild and tumultous as the throngs below.
"I will permit it to...," Des thought hard as they suddenly dipped and dove under the rocket men from Timbucktoo. "...pass... over... Oh my god, I'm going to DIEEE!!!!!" as the air exploded around them. Chic gasped as the shockwave rocked Des out of her grasp.
Chic winged past the shades ticketing the man, flipping gracefully and snatching Des from the air. The man argued loudly, defending his work while Chic winged on, his ill-timed invention showing down into the kenetic dampeners of another shade below, the crowds below moving along oblivious to the events above.

"What!?" gasped Chic, eyeing the convention room.
"I... umm, well," panted Des, shivering from the unexpected ride. "I guess, henchman aren't... well allowed for this seminar."
"I see that." Chic said crossly, folding her arms, glaring at the notice pinned to the door.
"It's a build your own flying machine demonstration too, I guess they feel we'd be I dunno..." Des said, absently running his fingers through his hair. "left out or something." He noticed Chic getting ready to argue, and he moved quickly to avoid a scene.
"I didn't really want to sit in on this one, anyways," he flippantly remarked, forestalling her outburst. "Too hands on. You know me," he grinned, "two left thumbs when it comes to building these things. I'll just visit over here at the henchman's... "He looked at the scummy dive wedged between the convention halls, neon sign stating for hencpeople flickring as it shorted out, and fell gracelessly onto the ground, and floundered for the words. "Bar?," he finished lamely.
"Very well", Chic remarked distractedly, eager to get to the seminar. "You better be there when I get back," she warned, "and remember, stay away from Jane Narbon."
"Yes, ma'm" he grinned, thoughts involuntarily moving to Miss Narbon. He caught a small thought of how to control the mind, and a little laughter that sent a shiver down his spine. He squashed the thought rapidly, glad Chic was too busy entering the hall to notice.
He stepped down the stairs, wondering what the hench-room would be like.

[Dr. Amino]

A man and a woman approach a room. The sign on the door reads 'Laser Tag Arena'.
"Look, Janet," the man says, "Laser tag. Come on, why don't we try it out?"
"I don't know, Brad," the woman replies, "I think maybe we should go somewhere else."
"It'll be fine, Janet. Laser tag is harmless. They're just going to be aiming flashlights at us." He pulls her through the door into the Laser Tag Arena. A few seconds later, the two run out as fast as they can, their hair charred and sporting a few first-degree burns.

*still holding active laser gun, Dr. Amino turns to Ingrid* "That was lame. They didn't even duck as they entered. Did they think we were going to aim flashlights at them?"
"Well, ma'am, they probably just misunderstood what 'laser tag' means."
"How? Laser. Tag. We tag them with lasers. Any moron could understand that."
"I think they assumed we'd use harmless lasers."
"Well, where's the fun in that?"

*later, sitting in the food court*
"Man, this convention has everything! Seminars, exhibitions, even my favorite flavor of slurpee! I swear, nobody seems to sell Radioactive Raspberry anymore!" *slurps slurpee contentedly* "I love this place. It's sort of serene here. Peaceful, you know?"
*the silence is interrupted by the sound of loud screaming as a woman flies through the food court on large brass wings, carrying her terrified henchmen at high velocity and injuring many who happened to get in their way*
"I see what you mean, ma'am. Quite peaceful, indeed."
*stands up* "Well, come on. We've got evil deeds to accomplish."
"What sort of evil deeds, ma'am?"
"Remember what happened at senior prom, Ingrid?"
*Ingrid smiles* "Yes."
"Imagine that, but on a much bigger scale."
"Won't we get in trouble with security, ma'am?"
"As long as we don't permanently mutate anyone, we're fine."

[Professor_Tinker]

After spending some time happily flitting about, and checking to see if Mummy, Grampy Risk, or Uncle Richy and Dicky (The Infamous Tinker Twins) have gotten here yet. I suppose I would know if any of them had. Grampy always tends to cause an explosion, and Mummy and Uncles always get in a fight- tradition, you know.

"Well, what should we do now?" I ask Fredric, who has taken to flitting around me in a circle as I walk as he tends to do when I'm 'Too slow'.
Hee hee! So cute, I can't help but grin a little.

"Ummmm, Lemme see." he says, dipping forward and taking the schedule I've been browsing.

"Allo! They got a Flight Seminar! Per'sninals 'n Vehicular or summat." He says happily, ears perking up.
"Whaddya know, they fi'n'ly got summat I c'n sink my teeth into. "

"Hmm? What do you mean? They had that fashion expo last year you-"

"I wuz speakin' figuaritively Da."

I chuckle slightly, patting hi head as we stroll to the seminar.
"Oh, I know, dear heart. I was only teasing you." I say soothingly, ducking slightly as something bolts by overhead, which Fredric then devotes some time to cussing at.

Finally, we make it to the seminar where my eyes widen as I see a familiar figure.

"Chic! Is that you dear?" I say happily, grinning ear-to-ear.

"Professor! You made it! What are you- oh, of course Fluffy would want to attend the flight seminar." she says, looking wonderfully flushed by the con.

"Allo, Miss Chic. Ya got that right- Da already did his bleedin' humming bird impression." h says amiably, landing on her shoulder to get his ears petted.

I humph slightly, making a face at my ungrateful child.
"Oh, hush you. Enjoying the con, Miss Chic?" i inquire, sending her on a delighted and rapid response- which thanks to Fredric I can understand.
And which i am happy to listen to.

[That Guy]

While Everyone was having fun at the Convention (For Now), Thad was nearing the front of the line he had been unceremoniously put into.

He remembered back to almost a week before. His Anima had slowed down a lot by then. Then of course Dr. Jordan started talking to him.

"Hello Thadeus."

"Wha, ah, Dr. Jordan. It's nice to see you again."

"You seem to have fallen in with some strange folk."

"Oh no stranger than usual Dr. Jordan."

"Okay, so when you return to the world of the living, will you give a message to my daughter?"

"Um sure, Dr. Jordan."

"Okay. Tell her 'INDIGO.' Now, Goodbye Thadeus. "

Then of course he had been yanked out of the mortal plane and thrust into the end of the line.

"Please step up sir," said the Androgynous person holding the clipboard. "Welcome to Hell sir."

After a moment of silence he continued, "Aren't you surprised sir?"

"No, not really," Thad replied.

"Most people are. Ah, well. This is Spurg," he said indicating a demon. "He will show you to your appointments."

"Um, what appointments?" asked That Guy.

"A few Mad Scientists want to meet with you before you are brought back to life."

[Professor Zobot]

I stand in front of the portal, encircled by shades of So It Begins, who have taken quite an interest in me. Even for a convention of Mad Scientists, it's rather weird for someone holding a guest pass to walk up clad completely in green, with a plastic sword strapped to his back and a wooden shield fitted into a prosthetic arm.

I stand before them, clad in the outfit of a character the costume kit referred to as "Link." Although I don't really remember much about the real world, according to the internet he's some big video game star, so I figured it'd be a good pick for a "cos-ply" outfit. I'm not entirely sure why, but for some reason this Link usually only wears green, for some gaudy reason. Anyways, it's a good disguise. Over my face I'm wearing the "Kee-Ton" mask, some weird foxish face, which according to Gamefaqs.com was an accessory he could wear in one of the games. With my hair died and my face disguised, I'm pretty confident that no one will ever recognize me. Unfortunately, that darn fairy has refused to leave me alone... it keeps following me around, and rides on my shoulder. I gave up trying to chase it off after the fourth time I tried. Stupid fairy...it could ruin the entire disguise!

One of the guards at the gate approaches me. "Well sir, I'll be quite frank: I don't like the looks of this. You show up to a Mad Scientists convention with no discernible weaponry, and our DNA scans keep registering you as the reanimated rotting corpse of Thomas Jefferson. (At this point the fairy makes a ringing sound that sounds vaguely like sniggering. I don't know why.) But you don't smell QUITE rotting enough for that to be true. Not to mention our scans show some sort of thermal energy source sitting on your shoulders, but nothing seems to be there. (Again, when he mentions this the fairy gives a wide grin.) Perhaps if you'd be willing to remove your mask..."

I shake my head. Despite the mask making my voice sound funny, I don't want to talk if I don't have to. For some reason it just feels wrong right now. The guard sighs. "Well, despite all that, you aren't carrying anything PROHIBITED onto the convention grounds... and we DID just let in Professor Saccharine and his diabetes-inducing sugar children, so I suppose you're at least marginally less dangerous. Alright, go on in, 'Mister President.'"

I nod and smile under my mask, and step through the gate, intent on exploring the convention floor. Finally, my very first job! And everything around me looks so neat! I need to explore!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zobot's Status Screen:

Hearts: <3 <3 <3
Inventory:
Plastic Sword: Legend says that it is a replica of a duplicate of an imitation of a blade wielded by the hero of time. Has an edge sharp enough to cut butter!
Wooden Shield: Protects from everything but splinters.

[SoItBegins]

As David Toboz came in, it was all I3804 could do to keep from laughing. The first gate had already positively identified him (he had received an invitation, after all-- I still don't know why he bothered to buy in), but Prime said to respect his anonymity.

So it was that I19306 had to go over and check someone on the opposite side of the gateway, to avoid asking the guy if he had stiffed his tailor. I3804 had to give him the 'Thomas Jefferson' schtick, simply to keep a straight face.

Prime requested that a few shades, invisible if necessary, follow him-- apparently, he's one of the nominees for the 'Good Madsci' award, so we don't want him harmed at all.

Link, huh? Well, with any luck he won't find the portal to Hyrule that we set up (you won't believe me, but most of Hyrule's chickens are superintelligent mad scientists.)

This convention is turning out to be verrry interesting.

~~~~~~~~~

At the Security Arch

The air within the arch solidified yet again, as the sound of a low-pitched gong bounced throughout the room. A bored-looking shade came over to the man, who was of middle age, wore a labcoat, and had his hair extremely spiky.

"Another Level IV Doomsday Device?" said the shade, sounding as bored as it appeared. "Just toss it in the Item Check bin," it said, indicating a bin, off to the side, filled with a liquid, silvery metal.

The (by now, slightly guilty-looking) Mad took out a small remote, then tossed it into the metal. After a second, the 'metal' began to move, swarming over the remote, deconstructing it atom by atom. Soon, there wasn't even a ripple on the surface to show that the item had been there.

A laminated plastic card flew out the side of the bin. The card had "Item Check Card" on it, a picture of the remote, and a description underneath. The Mad picked up the card, then walked through the security arch.

...and bounced off again, with the requisite 'GONG' sound. The shade closed its eyes for a second, as if reading data off from somewhere, then grinned.

"And you can toss in the rest of it."

~~~~~~~~~

In the Tallest Tower

I examine the statistics Prime's laid out before me. The security shades are working well-- this being a Mad convention, they've so far had to deal with 14 bomb threats, 7 escaped creations of one kind or the other, 368 speeders, and 47693 attempts to smuggle stuff past security. I would have expected some, such as Jane Narbon, to actually set off the gate multiple times, but she breezed through. Huh. Ah well, l guess it's all for the b-- huh?

Ohohohohohohohoho! It looks like David Toboz decided to show up in a costume. I'll tell Prime to keep a datafeed open-- this will be very interesting to watch.

Now, back to the business of managing this thi-- Hoi! Send some shades over to where those two Mads have stuck something onto the forcefield. And we need to step up security in the food court-- I counted 3 mass mutation attempts already.

Ay-yi-yi... a security person's work is never, ever, ever done.

[chicgeek]

Hmm, it almost got interesting at the seminar when they were deciding if Fredric could attend. Hee hee! Good thing Professor Tinker was with him.

It's good to see the two of them. Tinker was suitably admiring of the new wings, and Fredric...

"Ver' niz, Chic! Hey, wanna race?"

Why not? "You're on! To the wall and back again!"

And we go tearing off. Little bugger's so manuverable he pulls ahead quickly. I go higher to try to avoid obstacles, and begin to catch up.

Fredric zips back, circling me just out of range, chanting "neener neener neener! "

Hmpf! Time to show him what these wings can really do. We're almost at the wall, and...is that Lagos? Yep, and there's Wally. I detour overhead, and drop a few quarter size gears on his head.

He looks up, while Fredic is chanting "hahaha,IwinIwin!" and,

uh oh. Security shades. They're motioning for me to land.

"I was going how fast? I had no idea. Really. Racing is prohibited? Why, I don't remember that in my information packet. Of course it won't happen again."

Sigh. And I seem to be forgetting something. Oh well, if it's important, it'll come to me.

Simultaneously, at a scummy dive-
Desius-Just how long is that @#&*$ seminar, anyway?

[Dr. Amino]

Two women run across the corridor, one firing a sonic ray gun at the security shades chasing them, the other humming the theme song to 'Indiana Jones' in order to add dramatic ambience.
The two manage to find a hiding spot around a corner, but the security shades are approaching fast. "Ma'am?" the first woman asks, "Ma'am?"

*still humming theme song* "Da-da-daa-da-da-daa-da-da-daa-da--"
"Ma'am!"
"Oh, sorry, what?"
"The security shades are still chasing us, ma'am."
"Really? How come? I promised them I wouldn't put mutagens in the food again!"
"I think they stopped believing you after the first two times you tried, ma'am."
"I couldn't help myself. Dr. Fowler looks funny as a cockroach." *laughs* "Just like old times, huh, Ingrid?"
"Ma'am, we can reminisce later. We've still got the security shades tailing us, remember?"
*security shades approach their hiding place, but the two are saved at the last second when a man dressed in green and wearing a fox mask runs by while being attacked by a huge flock of red chickens wearing labcoats and goggles*
*security shade speaks up* "Uh, oh. We'd better go help him." *shades run off, firing energy bolts at the chickens*
*waits until the shades leave, then breathes a sigh in relief* "That was close. I wonder who that idiot in the Link costume was. Doesn't he know better than to anger a flock of Hyrulian Cucco Madsci's?"
"He certainly does now, ma'am."
*looks at watch* "Well, now that we lost those shades, I hear they're showing Frankenstein in the lecture hall at three. I want to see if I can get a DNA sample."
"...Sometimes your short attention span really gets on my nerves, ma'am."
"I don't have a short attention span, Ingr-" *points at glitter on ground* "Oooh, look, fairy dust!"

[Professor_Tinker]

I stroll over to where Miss Chic has landed, laughing to myself happily.
Fredric is whooping himself up into a fury, which really only serves to humor me more.
"Oh dear, a pity that there isn't any racing. . . Good show, good show! Those wings are really very clever, Chic." I say happily.

She grins, flushing slightly.
"Thanks, if they were a bit more maneuverable I'd have beat him, but I would have won over a longer distance." she says, sticking her tongue out at the bubbly bunny.

He ignores her, still whooping himself into the energetic burst he gets from a feeling of satisfaction- it releases more endorphins than for most people, and endorphins release excess energy. Seemed like a good Idea at the time.

"I'm sure you wouldn't have- Hs wings are based on large prey-birds, specifically those that hunt fish. Quick turns and dives, you know." I explain, eyes shining with the exuberance of my experiments.

speaking of exuberance-
"Say, I'm actually expecting some of my family to show up, and my Uncles might be here already. have you seen two slightly older men who look a bit like me, but taller and blond. They're twins, and a bit excitable. Doctors Richy and Dicky Tinker."

She blinks.
"They're both named Richard?" she asks, looking a trifle confused.

I smile and shrug.
"Richard Gamma and Richard Delta, actually. Apparently it's a family name." I explain.

[Wallycaine]

Wally turns to Chicgeek and Tinker. "I don't think I've seen any other Tinkers, but I've spent a lot of my time watching the aliens. They really are fascinating. I don't think the security shades like it when you throw things at the force field. Anyways how have you been?"

"Wally, is this the Professor that worked with you and Chicgeek? On that adventure you won't shut up about?"

"Maybe..."

"Alright then, lets get this show on the road. Any of you know where you want to go? Because I saw a listing for sapient animals and creators, and thought it might be good to go to."

[SoItBegins]

Ahh, too many emergencies at once. This is just like one of those 'Time Management' video games. Now, send orders to down on the ground...

I7937 blinked, as I realized that in the heat of the moment, we'd forgotten about the two who had attempted to slip mutagens into the food at the food court (luckily, it was reversible.) It was time to summon help.

~

The two shades stopped, having stunned enough of the Cucco Madscis to help David Toboz. Each put their hands to their forehead, as if concentrating. Then, each one's form wavered for a second, then split. At the end of it, each shade had split into three identical shades, all exactly the same.

Two of the shades flew after the remainder of the Cuccos, while the other four continued chasing Ingrid and Dr. Amino.

[Professor Zobot]

Five minutes ago: (Viewed through Mr. Chronoton's Amazing Historo-goggles)

I'm in the convention's food court area, and I finally reached the front of the line, and a buxom woman in a fast food outfit smiles at me. "Hiya! Welcome to G.I.F: Genetically Improved Foods! Can I take your order?" She smiles at me in the way only a Mad who knows she's being paid minimum wage and LIKES that aspect of her job can. I silently point up to one of the meals displayed on the sign. The waitress giggles. "Oh, the grilled intelligent chicken sandwich with the side of chick-fries and an eggnog? Would you like any poisons or antidotes with that?"

From a table behind me, several chickens clad in oversized labcoats and goggles look up from their Pureed Wormburgers and all turn, as one, to stare at me.

The situation went downhill from there.

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The present moment: David Toboz, dressed as a hylian hero, rushes out of the food court being chased by nerdy chickens, who are themselves being chased by Shades who are trying to tazer them. He ducks and weaves through aisles of the convention, the birds narrowly on his heels. Suddenly, several of them draw close, and he leaps into the air to avoid getting tackled by poultry. The chickens swarm the area below him, and as he starts to descend, to continue avoiding them, he bounces off of an unsuspecting man's (Brad) head in order to keep aloft. However, the chickens maintained their pace, swarming through other on-goers. He felt himself start to descend again, towards their waiting beaks.

Then he saw, just below him, a winged vorpel bunny midair. There was no time to feel guilty about it. He thrust out a boot and pushed off of Frederic's lagomorphic head, sending the bunny corkscrewing to the ground, surprised and stunned. Then the flock of chickens rushed through Tinker's group, their sheer momentum pushing Frederic along with them in their stampede. David Toboz landed on the roof of a Mad-Sci's booth, which promptly gave way and sent him crashing inside.

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Tak Shing, reputed Mad Chemist/Chef (They're both the same at the fundamentals, according to him.) was outraged as he spoke on the phone. "What do you MEAN my order of fresh meat has been delayed! How can I make my award-winning curry now?!? Freedom Fry put you up to this, didn't he?" Slamming the phone against the reciever, he sighed... as a man clad in green, followed by a glimmering fairy, fell through his cloth ceiling. The man silently got up, bowed, and then rushed out the door. He blinked. Had he been sane, that would have been weird. Then the flock of chickens (plus one rabbit) swarmed into his booth. Mr. Shing had never been one to look a gift horse in the mouth. As the confused birds looked around for something that wasn't there, he got between them and the way out, a devilish grin on his face. "Heh heh heh. It seems like my shipment of fresh meat has arrived after all. Excellent. Now the "Plutonium Chef" award shall be MINE!" He descended upon the crowd of chickens, (plus one rabbit) and the violent cuccocide began. The clucks of horror and outrage echoed throughout the area, sending a chill down the spines of all NON-Mads in the region. Someone, somewhere, was discovering that their worst nightmare was a chef. With a butcher's knife.

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Zobot's Status Screen:

Hearts: <3 <
Inventory:
Plastic Sword: Legend says that it is a replica of a duplicate of an imitation of a blade wielded by the hero of time. Has an edge sharp enough to cut butter!
Wooden Shield: Protects from everything but splinters.

[chicgeek]

"Is that seminar sapient animals and creators only? I've got a sapient vine-thanks to Professor Tinker here-and I wouldn't mind a few tips. Although Mecha is such a darling, really."

I turn to Tinker. "You must stop by sometime. Mecha would love to see her creator again. Although I confess I don't know what to do about getting you a cutting. I don't want to hurt the dear thing. I'd appreciate your advice on that, whenever we have a little time in between projects."

Scans program. "No, darn it, the seminar on the effects of radio and aetheric phenomenon is at the same time, and I've got to attend that one. Does anyone want to get a bite of lunch afterwards? And I think I'm going to tour the exhibits this afternoon. I haven't decided if I'm going to see Frankenstein or not yet. So much to see..." Sighes happily. "Are the conventions always like this?"

(Insert rampaging flock of chickens here.)

Brad and Janet stumble to a halt, wheezing and gasping for breath.
"Is...it safe now...wheeze...Brad?"
"I...pant...think so, Janet. My god, those women were insane!"
"Well, it is a Mad Science convention, isn't it? But still...(Shudders). Come on Brad, I see the food court. I could really go for a slurpee about now."

On the way, Janet spies a little fluffy bunny with wings on the ground in a seeming daze. "Oh, Brad, isn't it just the sweetest little thing! I just want to cuddle the lil' sweetie-woogums. Gosh, I didn't know they had pokemon beasts here! (Giggles) Pikachu- I choose-"

Screams of terror ensue, as Brad and janet once again flee for their very lives. By the time they finally reach the food court their clothing is somewhat disheved-what's left of it.

Two security shades appear next to them."Oh, thank god, security!" Brad gasps with relief." They'll help us! Officer, I want to report a viscious attack!"

"My," the security shade replies deadpan."What charming underthings you have. I'm going to have to take the two of you in for indecent exposure."

"But-" Janet's piteous wail can be heard, as they're marched off.

[Professor_Tinker]

I smile happily, clapping my hands.
"You named it 'Mecha'? Oh, how adorable! And he's intelligent, oh how *wonderful*. You must have given him extra zinc- nothing like it to perk up a sentient." I prattle happily, clapping my hands together.

I grin and wave to Wallace, nodding at Lagos. " Wallace! So good to see you. And you must be lagos- I was just reading your paper about the application of morals to cybernetic appliance, 'The Glass Humanity Ceiling', right?" I say happily, causing Wallace to give lagos a confused look before I turn back to chic.

"Hmm, maybe if i find Mummy she can talk to you about it. She;s a better hand with plants than I am- and Grampy Risk was always a neat hand at clockworks. He-" I'm cut off as a oddly familiar green-clad fellow sprints past above us, knocking Fredric t the ground where he is swept away by some insane chickens!

"Oh no! Fredric!" I cry out. looking around furiously.

----------Now Entering Bun-O-Vision-----------

I shook my 'ead, still a bit fuzzy in the noggin from getting hit t' th' ground, 'n trampled and whatnot. And INSULTED. Pikachu?! Do I LOOK like a bloody stupid little electric rodent?! Wings, people! WINGS.
Stupid Pikachu. Don' even evolve proper.
An' I was hungry, too. Good stodgy cotton blend, tasteful prints. Mm.

'Nyways, I got 't m' paws t' get a proper lookabout. I guess I musta landed a little bit outside th' looney chef's tent which, judging from th' noise inside, was a bloody good thing, too. Eesh. Poor blokes.

An- Wait! WHERE'S DA?! Oh bloody living 'ell! 'Es gonna panic!
I hop up, adrenalin; coursin; though my frame, givin' me th' stamina t' get m' wings going.
I can;t spot 'm from here, but I ought to be able t' find 'im . . .
No-one els'd wear a bllody red, yellow, an' purple outfit besides *him*.

As Fredric began to glide over the crowd in search of his 'Dad', and Andrew began to indeed Panic, a pair of Mad Scis came barreling unnecessarily enthusiastically into the con.

"Well, Richard, Think she's here yet?" Said the first, looking indeed like a taller, fitter, version of Tinker's Dad, Eric. Basically tall, skinny, blond, and very like Tinker if not *more* cheerful.

"Hard to say, Richard, she's a sneaky one." said the second languidly, Identical in every way except that where the first wore a pale blue lab-coat, he wore a *light* blue lab-coat.

"Oh, indeed. Sneaky as she is beautiful ey? And half again as beautiful as she is devious! Little brother got lucky." said Dicky cheerfully, leaping neatly onto his brothers shoulder to look around.

"Well, he was stubborn anyways. Same thing I suppose. Hey hey!! I bet little Andy's here!" Said Richy, flipping up so that their positions were reversed and taking out a telescope to look for their 'dreaded foe'.
It was tradition to get in a fight with Katty Risk (as they called her) every Con. Good fun, too.

"Oh, yeah! Shall we go find him?"
"Lets! We might even get to see the shows *before* we get kicked out. Top notch security this year."
"Indeed."

[Desius]

Des sat in silence, nursing his beer, squished between a hulking monstrous cross between an armidillo and a wallaby yelling loud and fluent curses in spanish at the game on the battered broken down tv, while the other henchman next to him in the "Dead and Loving It" shirt reached across him to grab the peanuts. Parts of rotting flesh fell and littered the bar, a peice falling into his glass.
"New, eh kid." the man smiled chomping on a nut as finger deftly shelled another.
"Well, first convention with mads, really." he smiled nervously, pushing away his beer while the man poped the nut into his mouth and tossed the empty shell aside.
"Ahh," grinned the old timer, scars crossing his face, stiches overlapping.
"Hey Steve!," the construct yelled down the bar, "Pour a glass for the newbie here. You joined the union yet kid? Probally didn't even know we had one, eh? Eh?" he repeated jabbing Des in the ribs.
"Oh god," he thought, smiled warily as the older henchman started his spiel, the monster next to him thumping his back as the game continued, "Is that seminar over yet?"

[chicgeek]

Good lord. That was...different. Fluffy's been swept away by chickens, Tinker's rushed of in a panic that way, Wally and Lago's the other way. All of us shouting out assurances to Tinker that we'll help find Fluffy.
Heh. Indestructable little beast, I pity anything that gets in his way. Still, I hate to see Tinker so beside himself.

Speaking of seeing someone besides themselves-I spy a pair of tall blonds in pale blue labcoats over there. Son of a gun, there is a marked family resembalance, isn't there?

"Pardon me, sirs, but would you happen to be Doctor Tinker and Doctor Tinker?"

"Got it in one!" The one on the left replies cheerfully.

"However, I"m Dr. Tinker. He's Doctor Tinker. Everyone makes that mistake." The one on the right smiles tolerantly at me. "And who might you be, Miss?"

"Where are my manners? My name is ChicGeek. Professor Tinker was just telling me about you. Pleasure to meet you both.'

"Charmed." Beams brightly.
"Likewise, I'm sure." Replies languidly.

"Actually, I was wondering if you'd seen him recently. You see, Fredric was swept away by a flock of mad...um, chickens..., and Prof.Tinker took off in a panic. I was just going to duck inside here and grab my henchman, and join the search."

"Oh, we simply must help little Andy. Come brother, our glorious battle must be postponed for the nonce."
"Indubidably. Not that anything could hurt that furry little terror, but little Andy does fret so."
Little Andy? I stifle a giggle.

Pointing, "That's the general direction. You can't miss him, he's wearing his red coat, and a yellow and purple suit. I'll catch up in a moment, Doctors."

"That's Dr. and Doctor, dear. Oh, it makes no nevermind. Come, brother! Tallyho!"

"Good thing he inherited little brother's fashion sense, wot? We'll find him in no time. View Halloo, and all that."

I duck into the bar. "Desius! If you're quite through lollygagging around? Hurry up, we've got to help Tinker find Fluffy! And then Fluffy find Tinker."
Tap my foot. "Any day now, Desius."

The monstrousity exchanges a weary glance with the scarred man.
"aye, caramba" It mutters under it's breath. The hunchback digs his finger into Desius's side one last time, and horsely whispers-"Remember,brother-union!", while stuffing a pamplet into his pocket.

[Professor Zobot]

Phew! I totally escaped those evil chickens! Go me! Except...now where am I? I look around, apparently I'm in some sort of dealer's section. There's all sorts of booths with products and books and stuff. Since I need a breather after getting chased by a flock of chickens, I decide to put my patrol on hold and browse a bit. One booth in particular catches my eye: the booth of a woman named Ms. Garrity. Apparently she's some sort of mad Image-Biographer, drawing out the lives of certain notable people. While it's an odd profession, to be sure, something about her work appeals to me on a level I can't quite explain. I slap $40 down on the table and buy one of her books. Then she looks up at me and asks that I hold it above my head for a few seconds "for the sake of publicity." Odd request, but this IS a Mad Science convention, so I agree. I lift the book up in both arms...

You got a copy of "Narbonic: Volume One"! This is a biography of the life and times of a mad scientist at her lab. Select it on the inventory screen to read through it. The cover has a pink heart on it! You gain another heart container!

I blink as the strange voice stops speaking. Was that just in my head, or out loud? Maybe...maybe it would be best not to over think it. I turn around and start exploring more of the Dealer's Alley.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*Poing!* *Clunk!*

*Poing!* *Clunk!*

A robotic arm hopped across the floor of David Toboz's Action Science/Ice Cream Store. "Leave me behind, will he? I'd be offended, if it wasn't a perfect opportunity. Much remains to be done..." the arm turned it's palm up to face the Creamy-Iceomatic 4200, which had originally been a MET soda machine until David had repurposed it. "Starting with this device..."

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After I purchased that book from Ms. Garrity, I started investigating the more practical Mad merchandise available at the Dealer's Alley. After that encounter with the chickens, I've realized that I need some firepower if I'm going to do my job here effectively. It might have been a bit foolish of me to leave my arm behind... at least I've still got the sword.

I'm currently standing around a booth run by a "Mr. Biv" looking at the wide variety of what I'm hoping are destructive rayguys. Then a white haired man behind the counter walked up to me. "Hi! I'm Roy G. Biv!" He looked out into space and grinned at no one in particular. "I see you're admiring my fine color-controlling wares! That's fantastic!" He giggles. I didn't know men typically giggle. While they're interesting, I'm not quite sure I want a weapon only dangerous to colors. Roy tilts his head. "I'm sensing doubt in your mind. Perhaps you don't quite know how you would use one of my devices! It's easy, let me show you!" He picks up a small hand-held gun and points at three dials on the top. "This is my Palette Swapper! You use these three gauges to adjust the Hue, Lightness, and Chroma, and then you just point and pull the trigger! The ray instantly and permanently changes the color of whatever it strikes." He pulls the trigger, and a bright red beam flies out of the gun into the crowd, managing not to hit anyone that I can see. "Oh! Silly me, I thought the safety was on! Oh well, whatever it hits will just have to live with it!" He looks down at the gun. "Double silly me! This thing was set to 'Sentient shade of pink!'" He tosses me the Swapper. "We're giving out free samples today anyway, here, take it!" Then he turns and rushes off. As if possessed by an impossible force, I hold the handgun over my head.

You got the Palette Swapper! Point and shoot to change the color of objects!

Ok, SERIOUSLY...where is that voice coming from?

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A bright red beam flies out across the convention hall, and people spread out to avoid being hit by it. It almost strikes Jane Narbon, who ducks at the last moment, and keeps flying. Across the hall, Dr. Amino and her trusty assistant, Ingrid, are running away from security shades. They're so engaged in avoiding pursuit that they don't see it coming. A red beam hits Amino in the chest, and for a brief moment her body releases a blinding flash of light. When everyone can see again, her outfit has been completely turned pink in color.

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Zobot's Status Screen:

Hearts: <3 <3 <3 <3
Inventory:
Plastic Sword: Legend says that it is a replica of a duplicate of an imitation of a blade wielded by the hero of time. Has an edge sharp enough to cut butter!
Wooden Shield: Protects from everything but splinters.
Palette Swapper: Separate your Bliss! This raygun changes the colors of things.
Trade Goods:
Narbonic Volume 1: Details the life of Helen Narbon and her lackeys. Might be valuable to a collector someday. Totally signed!

[Wallycaine]

Wally ran around where he'd last seen Fredric. As far as he could tell, the rabbit had been pushed off course, so he'd probably try to come back to where he was and find Tinker. The question was, what could he do to get fluffy back here, so that they could get Tinker to stop worrying. "Lagos, Fluffy's looking for Tinker, right? That means he looking for Tinker's shades of color, because nobody else would wear that."

"Yeah, I know that, but what can we do about it."

"I can... Oh, it'll take too long to explain. Just get up on my back."

Lagos hops onto Wally's head, and is suddenly clad in a slightly smaller version of Tinker's outfit. "I just hope he doesn't decide to attack whoever stole the coat."

[Professor_Tinker]

The Tinker twins barreled easily through the crowds, flipping, jumping, and rolling as they needed to, which they id as easily as they ran.
"Poor little Andy, this is just like when he was ten, remember Richard?" Said Dr. Tinker, gracefully tumbling through the air over a booth.

"I remember... He's really just like Eric was, ey? Paternal, like." said Doctor Tinker, rolling casually underneath someone's mechanical contraption and springing to his feet.

They halted their motion suddenly, one springing onto the other's outstretched hand, and balancing as his brother lifted him high into the air.

"See him?"
"Aye aye! Full ahead, natty coat and clashing suit ho!"



A couple dozen yards away, Tinker was scanning the skies furiously for his beloved child-creation, heart pounding in his chest. He was panicking, and he knew it. Fredric was indestructible in a measurement of 2.4L units (Logan units) and was very smart and very fast but none of this *meant* anything when Tinker was worried.
Because Fredric was his family. And His madness was connected to losing family- that had been the crack that had brought down the fortress.

He didn't dwell on it long, bursting off in a run again to try and find Fredric.

The Rabbit in question was gliding through the crowds, pulling up now and then to try and spot- ahah!
He pulled in on a familiar set of colors in the distance, planning on hugging his Da.

. . . Which resulted in him running headlong into Lagos.
"Bloody hell!"

[Wallycaine]

Lagos fell backwards as Fluffy collided with him. Wally, who had been somewhat expecting this, caught the two rabbits as they fell.

"Fredric, this is Lagos, Lagos, this is Frederic. Now that you've met each other, lets get you back to the Professor. Any questions? No? Then follow me."

Wally takes off, in the direction of Tinker, mostly thanks to the spare navigational components floating around. That, and the fact that it's really hard to miss that particular shade of red.

[chicgeek]

I grab Desius by the hand, and take flight.
"Not again! Chic-"
"Hush, you." I reply absently, as we rise higher...higher..
I adjust my goggles, flipping through lenses untill I achieve the best magnification.
"Aha! Over there, Des! See those two fellows in the blue coats?"
"No," Desius mutters through clenched teeth.
"Ah, that's right, you don't see them because you aren't wearing goggles like mine."

"I don't see them because I'm not opening my eyes! How high up are we, anyway? No! Don't answer that!"

I giggle. "Oh, Desius, your sense of humor is so refreshing."
I use both arms to get a more secure grip on him. "Those are the Infamous Tinker Twins, Professor Tinker's uncles. I'll bet they're not far from finding him. Hmm, no chickens in sight...Time to dive down and join them!"
"Chic-wait!"
Desius thinks to himself."I will feel no fear. Fear is the mind killer. Fear-"
Chic goes into a power dive.
Desius-Screw it! "AAAAUUUUGGGHHH!!!"

Chic-"giggle."

Deftly avoidly all obstacles, Chic lands gracefully by the twins. Desius-no so gracefully...

[Dr. Amino]

Great. The shades are chasing us again, I have a vial of mutagen literally burning a hole in my pocket, and I'm all out of snappy theme songs.
*red beam hits Dr. Amino in the chest* "Oof!" What was that? Some kind of high-tech laser or something? Funny, it didn't seem to do anything. My internal organs are intact, I'm not under mind control, I don't feel acid eating away at my skin, but something seems wrong...wait. My clothes are pink. *mad eye twitch*
"Are you all right, ma'am?"
"Do I look all right, Ingrid?! My clothes are pink, for madness' sake!! They are PINK, Ingrid!!!"
"Oh, dear." *a look of fear crosses Ingrid's face*
*Dr. Amino begins pacing and mumbling to herself, while Ingrid sneaks away to find a place to hide from her employer's homocidal pinkophobia* "When I find who did this, I swear, I'm gonna eviscerate that sorry excuse for a scientist! I'll-"
*the security shade, having finally caught up to Dr. Amino, begins to speak* "Excuse me, but your actions are a direct violation of rule number one-five-oh-"
*snatches stun gun from shade and zaps it on 'barbeque' setting, temporarily phasing (or disrupting, or whatever it's called when you destroy a semi-tangible energy being) the shade* "Shut up, shade. I'm kinda busy here. I've got to go vivisect some idiot Mad who thinks it's funny to make me wear pink, and I really can't waste any time."
*walks across convention hall and looks around at the various booths* "Hmm...'Mr. Biv's Fantabulous Palette Swappers'...looks like a good place to start searching." *walks up to Mr. Biv's booth*
"Hi! I'm Roy G. Biv! Do you want to buy one of my fine color-controlling wares?"
*in a sickly sweet voice* "Actually, Mister Biv, I had a question 'bout colors, and I just had to ask you!"
"Oh, really? What is it?"
*aims laser gun at Mr. Biv* "I want to know what color your brains are. And unless you tell me who turned my clothes pink right now, were gonna find out the hard way."

[Desius]

Des landed with a thud, head over heels.
Ooo..uc..h.., he mumbles.

"Really Desius," Chic giggles, "you need to be more careful how you land. I swear," she turned to the two gentlemen snickering behind their hands, "henchmen these days, two left feet."
"Yes, ma'm," Des winced as he righted himself. Chic apparently wanted to make a good impression on these... oh, no... NonoNoNONOnonoono.
She said the Tinker Twins. Oh God, why the Tinker Twins. He had been wary when we first met Professor Tinker, who had proved to be a great guy, but even before he was... well, hired for Chic, he had run into these two. He didn't want to think on that. That period of his life was over...
But...
Des smiled broadly, "Don't reconize me," he thought repeating it over and over in his head, "Don't reconize me."
"This is Dr. Tinker and this is Doctor Tinker," Chic smiled waving at the pair.
"Almost my dear," laughed the left one shaking his head.
"I'm Dr. Tinker, and this is Doctor Tinker." the right finished good-naturedly.
"How do you tell if someone is saying Doctor or Dr.?" asked Des
"Desius!?," gasped Chic at the sudden silence.
"What?!"
"I'm so sorry," Chic gushed at the twins, who both laughed it off, one waving his hands dismissively. "I'm not sure sure what came over him, asking something like that." She gave him the 'Look of death'[tm], "I'll discuss this with you later." she whispered dripping venom.
"What? What did I do?" Des floundered confused.

[Professor_Tinker]

Fredric was flying alongside Wallace, wings doing a pretty decent hummingbird impersonation.
"'ey thanks for the help. Da's probably worked into a panic. . . an' honestly my eyesight ain't too good at a distance."

Lagos looked at Fredric curiously.
"You mean you're short-sighted? Have you considered glasses?"

Fredric snorted slightly.
"I 'ave a pair! da got 'em all fixed up for me. . . but listen 'm already a black spotted *bunny* with wings ta match, nicknamed 'Fluffy', an' i got a little squeaky British bloody accent! The one day I tried wearin' 'em I got tackled outta the air by this hyper blond woman." he explained, shivering slightly.

Wallace chuckled slightly, as Lagos looked sympathetic. Somehow, the though of Fredric being huggled by some random passer-bye was inherently hilarious.

"'ey! 'S'not bloody funny! I mean, she was so *happy* about it I couldn;t *do* anythin' about it. . .An' anyways I think it mighta been Artys mum. . ."

Some ways away.. . .

Dr. Tinker laughed happily, shaking his head.
"Oh, please, don;t worry about it Miss. Chic! All you have to do is-" he was cut off by his brother interrupting him.

"We can explain it later, brother. Little Andy, remember?" he said, a touch of worry in his relaxed voice.

"Oh, yeah. . well, I'll tell you later. . . Desius, was it?" said Dr. Tinker, looking at the henchmen curiously.
". . . have we met before?" he asked, before his brother saved a stuttering Desius from answering by smacking him upside the head.

"Richard Gamma Proton Tinker! Later!"

"Right right! Little Andy's forward ho! Can't miss yellow and purple- His dad used to wear the same colors, and Andy so takes after him. Although, he *is* as devious as his mother." said Richard, clapping his hands together.

"Righto, and she is as devious as she is cunning! Which is only *half* as she is beautiful."

Chic giggled slightly, entertained by the two odd men. They were like something out of an old cartoon- she could definitely tell that they were related to 'Little Andy'. Hee!

Desius, on the other hand, was listening to the details.
"His mother?" he asked, raising an eyebrow worriedly. Oh, no. . .


Andrew had stopped moving again, luckily distracted by a booth selling some syrup-ices with some ingredient that was supposed to be from the ocean floor, Slusho it was called. He was thirsty, and the cups were cute.

"Okay, Tinker, take a breath and calm down. Fredric is likely *fine*, and Chic and Wallace are out there helping me look. If anything, they;re likely looking for *me* now." he said to himself, chuckling a he sipped his Strawberry Tasty.

The cup hit the floor a moment later, dropped as Tinkers eyes went wide in shock as he spotted a familiar figure.

"... Mummy?"

[chicgeek]

Several things happen at once.
Wally, Lagos, and Fluffy spy Prof. Tinker just ahead.
Desius, Chicgeek, and the Tinker Twins, arriving from the other direction-ditto.
Prof. Tinker has just come face to face with mummy-the Infamous Kathleen Risk....

And...

Brad and Janet are clad in spare labcoats provided by the security shades, plus a bizarre mix of apparel purchased at ruinious prices from the exhibit hall.
"I can't believe I'm wearing this." Janet whines.
"Oh, come on Janet, you wanted some souvieners anyway, didn't you?" Brad replies testily.
"But did we have to get them from the first booth we came to? They don't even match!" she continues, unmollified.
"Listen, maybe you like strolling about in nothing but a lab coat and underwear, but not me! People were starting to stare.Uh...I think they were people, anyway..." Brad's voice trails off uncertainly.

Brad is wearing a lime green shirt bearing the Acme weapons logo, and the message-
"Fools! I'll destroy you all!*
*ask me how!"
Complete with a truly astonishing pair of baggy plaid pants that must have once belonged to a blind golfer, or a rodeo clown. At least the turquoise flip flops are a tolerable fit.
Janet is sporting a skin tight chainmail bikini top, paired with what looks like the bottom half of a set of scrubs. The novelty scrubs are patterened with a repeating DNA helix. At least the lenght is right for her shoes-a truly wicked set of red high heels, complete with remote control. Completing the emsemble is a totebag decorated with what appears to be some strange cell wearing a cape, and the name "Mighty Chondria!".

Sick of her whining, Brad tries to pacify her. "Here, have a strawberry Slusho. It's good, isn't it?"
Janet takes a cautious sip. "Hmm, this is kind of tasty." Calming down a bit, she pulls the remote from her bag, and starts idly toying with it.
"A remote for shoes? Ooh, I bet they light up or something! This might not be too lame after all!"
"Janet, maybe you'd better not-"

Or something....Janet's brand new Turbolift 5000-"the pumps with jump!", activate, and send her rocketing aloft.

"BRAAAADD!! Stop these crazy things! HELP! BRAAD!"

Brad stares futilely at her rapidly ascending form. Sighing, he comtentedly takes a sip of his Slusho. "This is pretty good. I think I'll have another."