The Lair of the Genki

Friday, August 2, 2002 05:45 p.m. : Oooooh! Quiz time!

'What kind of Wing are you?' by. Xera

Neat! Pretty colors... *zones out staring at pretty wing*

-_-" Somehow this doesn't surprise me...I'm a Machiavellian Genki!

Which Archangel are you? by Xera

Ohh, neat! Think that's enough quizzes for now...they're too addicting! ^_^ Well...maybe one more...

Intuition. Insight. Emotions. Feelings.
Take the quiz.

I usually get wind or water on these things...neat...I like this one, calls upon lots of Tarot symbolism, astrology, and other neat arcane things. Very, very cool.

Friday, August 2, 2002 04:57 p.m. : Starwars and Love...a.k.a Why I want an Obi-Wan Kenobi doll for my birthday. ^_^

While talking on AIM, I came to a conclusion...I will henceforth call the Anakin Skywalker that is played by Hayden Christensen, Boyband!Anakin, because that is what he looks like to me. I personally do not know what Padme was thinking, since I'd go for Scruffy!Obi-Wan first...he spends most of the movie, wet, chained-up, tied-up or injured...

I reluctantly admit, I liked the movie. It was eye-candy, and the romance dragged, but it was fun and really no sillier than the Mark Hamil, Harrison Ford trilogy.

This reminds me of a discussion I had with my mother just after the movie came out, about why the romance was so grating. I've come to a rather controversial conclusion, Anakin and Amidala were not in love.

Now, I'm sure many would disagree with me, but first let me clarify my definition of love. Love is to know a person, inside and out, to know their faults, fears, anxieties and insecurities, as well as to know their talents, strengths and joys. Love is to know all of that and to choose to be with them anyway, because of, rather than in spite of those faults.

Padme and Anakin remind me of Romeo and Juliet, who I don't think fit under my definition of love. They're kids who mistake passion and lust for love. Anakin said himself that he dreamed of her everyday for ten years...but what does that mean? He was a child then, and she was 14, and I don't know about anyone else, but I'm 19 and have changed a great deal from the person I was five years ago, and I'd imagine I'd be even different 5 years from now. Teenagehood and early twenties are a major time for change and discovering oneself. Anakin loves an illusion and lusts for Amidala, but he doesn't love her...yet anyway. He's obsessed, perhaps dangerously so, but that's not love.

Amidala is similar. She doesn't know him now, and doesn't pretend to. He's handsome and dangerous, and probably one of the first people to see her, rather than her office. She's not exactly blind to the dangerous aspects of his obsession, but she's ignoring them. They're kids, passionate and rebelling. Their wedding, overseen by droids, doesn't ring true.

It reminds me a bit of something the character Cefwyn thought in C.J.Cherryh's fortress series. He was approached for a political marriage with the daughter of a rival kingdom. He was intrigued by her beauty and wit, but admitted during his engagement that at that time, they were merely smitten, not in love, but that love would grow. That's the same situation, except that Cefwyn and Ninevrise are old enough and mature enough to realize this, to take the time to know one another and let it grow naturally. I don't think Anakin is mature enough for that.

Let's compare A&A with Han and Leia, the main couple in the original series. In truth, A&A remind me a bit of the first movie. In which Leia and Luke are drawn to one another, you can see a bit of flirtation there, as they percieve their connection but not the reasons why. However, Luke, unlike Anakin, is mature enough (though whiny natch. ^_^) to wait, to see how things develop. Leia has a lot more responsibility than Padme, and is too aware of herself, and the chaos of the Rebellion to make a move. They begin to realize that no, they're not right for each other in that way. Even the kiss on Hoth was only designed to tease Han, and though Luke was surprised, he also seemed uncomfortable with it...he knew why it was intended. There are no romantic indications in ESB.

Leia and Han never had courtship in fields of flowers, they fought side-by-side, bickered constantly, flirted occasionally, for three years between ANH and ESB. They had an easy chemistry with one another, had grown accustomed to one another. They know each other, and love each other for faults as well as strengths. It's Leia's professionalism that both frustrates Han and makes him admire her. It's Han's roguish unpredictability that both makes Leia want to yell at him, and yet intrigues her and makes her laugh. We, the fans, didn't need flowery words to show their relationship, it just was.

Personally, the relationships whether het or slash that I like best are ones where the characters have some sort of arguements/bickering, it's the old married couple syndrome. Because, that means that they really know each other, and despite irritation, they are drawn to each other and they love each other, whether the love is as best friends or something more. One exception for me is the relationship between Uwen and Tristen in the Fortress books. They don't start off bickering or anything like that, but the characters' faults are very clear at the start. Uwen's an uncomplicated sort, made uncomfortable by weird or unnatural things, but also intrigued by them, Tristen's in the process of growing up, and tends to wander off a lot or completely disregard common sense. As it is, however, the characters know one another, and aren't blind to the other's faults. Total acceptance, without conditions, that's a big part of what I consider to be "love".

Heh, personally, I'm not a romance writer, never could be, and if there is any talk of love in my stories, they probably won't turn up till near the very end, because then I won't have to deal with it much. ^_^ I'm definately not a romantic, I think bickering or good-natured teasing is sweeter and more meaningful than gushy compliments. I think an RPG sourcebook is a better gift than flowers or candy (Well, substitute RPG sourcebook for something that appeals to the reciever's interests or hobbies, rather than something so impersonal...), and I definately don't believe in love at first sight! ^_^

Friday, August 2, 2002 02:32 p.m. : Hehe...The Dead do not!

Of course, Twig, the dead do not care about what you had for breakfast! And eventually I will be able to say that and other "the dead do not" phrases in Japanese! I swear it! Mwahaha! I will put it on my list of silly things, like the marriage skit! (Wonder where I put that damned thing...:-))

Hmm...classes start on the 26th I think...Can't wait...eeeek! Have to brush up on Japanese first! *runs away to find her old coursepacks!*

Friday, August 2, 2002 05:00 a.m. : May the Merciful Shadow Fall Upon You...

Was rewatching "I Worship His Shadow" (the first of the Lexx TV-Movies, preceeding the TV show) and a number of thoughts came to mind: Umm...this is a bit spoiler filled...so you might want to skip this if you are planning to, but have not yet, seen Lexx...

First, I always feel bad for Stan, who is probably the series' Chekov character (I don't count Kai, because even though he gets beheaded/dismembered/impaled quite often, since he's dead, it's rarely more than a minor inconvenience.) Still, given everything that happens in the Movies/Series, how much better would things have been if he actually made it back for his punishment, and not been late and made into a fugitive...

Second, Barry Bostwick looks much younger than he does in Spin City, even though this was made in '96...Maybe it's the Xena-esque metal kilt thingy...well, given that he was in RHPS way back when, it can't have been that unnerving to wear a skirt here too. His eyes seem very close-set though, and it's really notable here. Oh well...

Michael McManus is a really accomplished Theatre actor in Canada, I'm told, I can believe it...he has a very "Theatre" voice...deep and resonant. He actually manages to make Kai look menacing despite the fact that he's a relatively slim-built guy, wearing a pretty rainbow jumpsuit thing that gets dyed black, while his hair is arranged in this weird poofy bun on top, braid in back style. The bun part doesn't seem as poofy as in the series...maybe overcompensation for being dead? I wonder if I could do that with my hair...it might be long enough...and get a black macrame suit and a wrist thingy...cosplay as Kai for next sci-fi convention, much cooler than a Star Trek uniform and klingon ridges/vulcan ears! (Doctor Who is better than Star Trek anyway...^_^)

Must watch Brigadoon again...Musical episodes are funny, and Kai and Xev can actually sing.

Zev is very beautiful, far more than Xev...but I like the Xev-version better overall. Zev is too fragile, while Xev seems to be much stronger both her body and her will...and third season Xev still looks like the woman on the cover of my "Guide to the Traditions" sourcebook.

790 is funny whether lusting after Kai or Zev...but funnier when lusting after Kai...something about a homosexual, necrophiliac, robotic head amuses me...and Kai seems much more tolerant of such affection than Zev/Xev. (The dead do not care about overly affectionate machinery...)

I like the costuming/sets/music of Lexx. They are very clearly alien, unlike many science fiction shows. (Though Farscape and even Andromeda has gotten better about such things)...and if I ever get married, I want Kai's Brunnen G anthem played at my wedding...well, either that or Darth Vader's theme from Star Wars. (Though, I'm not sure I want to be associated with Hayden Christenson's Anakin...he seems like a decent actor, but the character is too whiny...and looks a bit too boy-bandish for my taste, I'd actually have preferred him played by the guy who played Young!Owen in AOTC...he actually looked kinda like the ghost at the end of ROTJ...who did not look like an old ex-boy band member.)

Kai's walk, the weird swaying shuffle is very compelling to watch, particularly when he first appears on screen post-death. It's both swishy and zombie-like...Very cool...

I wonder if His Shadow is necrophiliac...it would explain why he has so many freezers...and both Kai and Vlad, the female "Divine Executioner" from Season 3, are quite pretty...Oww, must wash mind out with soap...Bad Genki! Ack!

"Failing to perform her wifely duties" seems to be a terrible sin in the Light Universe...^_^ Loved Giggerota's crime list...murder, cannibalism of 150 people including priests of His Shadow, oh yeah, and failure to perform her wifely duties...

Thodin's last line rocks...that's what I want to say...

Heavy/Original Zev had a much more pronounced German accent than either Eva Habermann or Xenia Seeburg...

I wonder if a Lexx DVD boxed set has/will come out soon. ^_^

Friday, August 2, 2002 03:45 a.m. : Rambles on Lurking...

I'm a lurker, I'm shameless about it. I'm subscribed to perhaps sixty mailing list at any specific time and have posted on about three of them. I visit all sorts of message boards and other things, to read, and perhaps chuckle at what people have to say, but I don't ever post. I love reading/hearing others' opinions, but I rarely find the need to share my own. There are some places that seem like very nice places, and should I ever feel I have something to contribute, I might speak up. And then there are others that remind me why I'm a "career lurker".

I was wandering around a particular message board, where it seemed like every other message was a complaint against a person on the game show, that was chosen to replace the original host. To the extent that a few people became "Anti-haters", and some of them studiously answered each negative post with many positive responses, and in many cases mentioned spelling/grammar errors that took away from certain arguments. That's all well and good, I think it's okay to dislike a character, or to think an actor is wrong for the part, but to call people Nazis when they argue with you or correct your spelling is just foolish. But it wasn't completely one-sided, as the "Anti-haters" had their own brand of rampant immaturity, many combating even the well-spoken arguments (I wouldn't call these "hate" messages, as they are usually formed as a true criticism, not a flame) with a repeat of their "anti-hater" slogan, without even acknowledging the other's legitimate point. It was embarrassing to even be reading it. (This is not even going into the sheer gall to post hate-messages about the person on a board that others on the show actually read...and have actually come to his defense at certain points. Such a wonderful opinion they must have of their "fans"...)

This is a very extreme case, but I found it extremely revolting none-the-less. No one has to agree, and discussions and debates can be fun, but too often they degenerate into personal attacks and flames which are just tedious. A fandom can be very intimidating, and to a small number of us, speaking up doesn't seem worth the effort.

It makes me appreciate my nice, quiet corner of cyberspace right here...

Thursday, August 1, 2002 12:19 a.m. : Ve vill do ze German Dance for you!

Heh, don't feel so bad about being polish Twig.     I'm a quarter German myself...we have Cartman's German Dance, and Liederhosen...*shudder*...wanna trade? ^_^

Wednesday, July 31, 2002 11:39 p.m. : Umm, yeah...

*snaps fingers* Just my luck, the one week I miss Enterprise is the extremely slashy Shuttlepod episode, I think I'm doomed to never see the full thing. Honestly, I didn't expect to like Enterprise at all. I've been very disappointed by most of Roddenberry's stuff that they've been doing of late. Earth: Final Conflict is a common ranting topic of mine, so I'll forego it tonight. ^_^ Star Trek Voyager started out strangely and never actually went anywhere. Andromeda started very good, with interesting characters (and Keith Hamilton Cobb in chainmail @_@) and an equally interesting premise, but unfortunately it's been heading more into the direction of "Dylan Hunt: Action Hero". I had firmly avoided all contact with Enterprise, until this summer, where back at home with the folks and far too much time on my hands, I sat back to watch with my dad, and prepared to throw stuff at the screen.

To my utter surprise, I like it. Even minor characters in this sole season have more character development than say Harry "I can look optimistic and crushed on cue, and can play the Clarinet" Kim. Of course there is a "Big Three" a. la. Kirk, Spock and McCoy, that play the most important roles, but the other characters still get to shine...well, except that Malcolm Reed can't hit the broad side of a barn with the phaser, and he's chief of security...gotta let the Big 3 save the day...though when firing ship weapons, he always connects, that's because Captain Archer can look heroic when he says "Fire." Pheh.

I didn't expect to like Archer, I liked Bakula in Quantum Leap, but he never struck me as...well, grandiose enough to be a Starship Captain. The trick is, in this series, he's not supposed to be. He's written as a regular guy, not always right, but willing to admit mistakes. And he's still smarter than Dylan Hunt.

I love Malcolm Reed myself. *snicker* A rather stereotypically British temperament, with the added appeal because he loves to Blow Things Up! (No offence intended to any British person who might stumble across this thing, I'm sure you guys have pyromaniacs as well. ^_^) He's a bit small for a security officer though, his teams virtually dwarf him. Certainly, he's not as physically imposing as Worf or Odo, or even really Tasha Yar. -_-" I hope he gets to do more fighting in season two though, maybe they'll let him be a great hand-to-hand fighter and overpower his enemy! I love seeing smaller people kick ass! Right now, he's rather like the "Chekov" of the group, and tends to be the one who gets shot, whapped on the head, et cetera.

Ooh, Tangent time! "Chekov" is a term derived from Ensign Pavel Chekov from Star Trek, the original series. It is synonymous with "Red-shirted Ensign that won't die!" Nearly every TV show has one, particularly Science Fiction. Let's see how many we can name!

Stargate SG-1: Daniel Jackson (Seasons 1-5...Oh my god, they killed Kenny!), Jack O'Neill (Season 6, sucks being the Chekov-understudy, don't it)

Farscape: John Crichton (Mental/Emotional Trauma has never made me snicker like this before...)

Earth: Final Conflict: Liam Kincaid (Heh, Parenting for the 2nd millenium, by Ronald Sandoval...Screw Time-Out, torture and murder attempts work much better!)

Andromeda: Harper (Terrible immune system and Magog spawn anyone?)

Man from UNCLE: Kuryakin (Hehe, subconscious representation of Cold War hostility, ya think? Or maybe it's just fun to mess with the little blond guy)

The Sentinal: Blair Sandburg (Hmm, maybe I should rethink my interest in Anthropology, they seem to have an in-built target on their back)

Hmm, Anime is a bit harder, discounting those who get hit for comic relief as a result of hentai and/or tactless behavior...so I guess I'll save that for another time...^_^

Monday, July 29, 2002 08:21 p.m. : Random Thoughts

Saw preview for Stargate SG-1 today, "Never send a geek to do a man's job"?? Hmph, well, that provoked this little fan-girl's ire, because if I'm not mistaken, if it weren't for a certain geek opening the damned gate, there wouldn't be a show. *sigh* I'm really trying to get into the sixth season, but it's like without Daniel Jackson as a sort of stabilizing influence, the scripts are more and more contrived. I'd blame it on the series writing, but for "The Abyss", which was excellent. The last episode wasn't too bad, but this one looks on par with the early sixth season eps...I'll watch and cringe, I'm sure.

Farscape looks like it'll be interesting though, shrinking people and all. :-)

I've also been watching Earth: Final Conflict reruns... unlike many fans, I was pretty indifferent to the first season. Boone was mildly interesting, but I wasn't upset when he was killed off. I much prefer Liam as a character. The backstory (if the writers would have ever resolved it) had so much potential, as did the "Alien child in an adult human body" angle. Unfortunately, the second season story-telling was mediocre, and while the third and fourth were better, they seemed so adamant about making Liam as "human" as possible. *sigh* I am always amazed at Robert Leeshock's acting though, he manages to carry off a blend of reckless confidence, even arrogance, with a childlike innocence. Watching him, one could believe that he was a kid stuck in a really bad situation and forced to grow up too fast. It's such a shame that the character never gets to really showcase this very often on screen. It's only in fanfiction that such things ever get addressed (and they actually resolve the damned Liam/Sandoval connection!!!).

A final thought from the genki: I have decided that people who want to inject original characters into a fanfic universe, particularly women, should watch A-Team to see how it can be done without becoming a Mary Sue.

Amy, from the A-Team, is an example of how a recurring female character can interact with the group without being irritating as all heck. (At least the first season, I haven't seen very much farther) She's pretty, intelligent, and a successful reporter. She's trustworthy, and generally knows the whereabouts of the team, but tends not to get in the way of the missions, though she can and does sometimes help out. She can't fight or shoot, outfly Murdoc, out-fight B.A., out-con Face or out-plan Hannibal, but she plays her own part in the group, acting as liason to customers, or let others know if one is in trouble. She gets out of the way during the action, and somehow manages to avoid getting captured, held hostage, or other annoying "damsel-in-distress" activities. She flirts with the guys occasionally, but has not yet, to my limited knowledge of the series, actually entered a romantic entanglement with any of the guys. I wish more fanfic original characters were like Amy, than the wonderful healer/telepath Princess Amethyst Lochlorien, who can speak any language, fly any craft, and always saves the day just in time for tea and crumpets with her main man... Riiight.

It makes me glad I write original fics, it's a lot harder to fall into such traps...and no one can accuse me of writing them out-of-character. :-P

Sunday, July 28, 2002 03:45 a.m. : Late Night Musings...

Anime Club was fun, I suppose I should be more ashamed of my ruthless dues-collecting technique but heck, I like being told I would make a rather good IRS agent. ^_^

Saw a few interesting anime eps, like King of Bandit, Jing, which seems to be the usual traveling boy with a pet thing, with an interesting twist, the bird is the boss in the duo. Heh. Reminds me a bit of that episode of Sakon, the Ventriloquist I saw once...very cool that, like Murder, She Wrote with puppets and Megumi Ogata. Also saw more of Abenobashi Mahou Shotengai or something like that (Sorry at nearly 4:00 AM, I'm not good with names...some Japanese major I am...:-P). It's a new Gainax vehicle, in which kids wind up in alternate-universe versions of the Abenobashi in Osaka. Hong-kong Martial Arts epics, Dinosaurs, Mecha anime, and Noir Gangster films all get parodied.

Note to self: Still have trouble with Kansai dialects...work on that...

Working on story, while being haunted by my muse, who is a twisted and Super-Deformed version of the character Kyle. He's the reason I've started reading A-Team slash...*shiver*, oh well, at least I've got him to kick the ABBA habit. Nothing like writing the aftermath of a massacre to ABBA and Castlevania music. Oh well, everyone needs a hobby. ^_^

Been thinking about a name for the damn story, I'm thinking of something like "Gossamer Strands", or some variation involving strings, threads or webs...it seems to fit the story...Besides, I love the word "Gossamer"!

Saturday, July 27, 2002 02:42 p.m. : Chapter One Snippet...

Hmm, technobabble has never been this genki's strong suit, so I'm not sure how apt the "lecture" at the beginning of this segment is... These are the first few pages of Chapter One...not all of it, because I have very, very, long chapters. This part is very boring, but at least no one dies...yet...^_^

Also should probably think of a name for this thing..."Piece of Crap that's been sitting in my head for damned close to a decade" probably doesn't cut it. *pout*

I should also warn anyone who might actually glance at this, it hasn't been shown to any beta reader yet, as it is just an in-progress snippet, not even a full draft...face all errors at your own risk.
----------------------------------------------

Chapter 1

“That planet below us is the possibly the greatest impossibility that we have ever encountered in our centuries of interstellar travel.” The bespectacled scholar tapped a pudgy finger against the image displayed before him. He tilted his head, smiling with jovial cheer as he continued the lecture. “The impossibility lies not in the planet itself, which is a perfectly ordinary life-supporting planet, size, atmospheric construction and position from the sun are well within normal parameters.”

A student raised his hand, with a slightly bored expression on his face. “So, if it is a normal planet what is so ‘impossible’ about it? According to the records, it’s just another human-populated backwater.” This statement brought a few glares from a few of the humans in the audience.

The scholar tapped a pointed ear. “Might I remind you lad, that but a few millennia ago, it was humanity that taught our own race about space travel and back when we were still riding carts and reading by candlelight?” He smiled back at the offended human students who appeared mollified by his words. “Even so, the question does have merit, what makes this planet different from other backwater planets.” He grinned, warmed up to his topic. “From the scans we have been able to achieve just outside of orbit, the planet, the humans are surprisingly technologically advanced, but have no apparent knowledge of magic.” His statement provoked the expected gasps from the more observant members of the audience. “In every other civilization, whether human, Sansena, or otherwise, in which we have seen such development completely independent of outside influences, the technological evolution was paired by a corresponding evolution of the magical arts. In this world, there is no sign of such development, except for one aspect…we can not go down there.”

The scholar waved a hand and the displayed image suddenly became enveloped in a faint silver glow. “This is why we can not enter. This magical barrier, for some reason, resists any penetration by either Legion or Horde forces.” He paused. “This magical barrier, formed by a civilization that shows no sign of arcane advancement, has proven to block our smallest probes and strongest destructive spells and weapons. That is the purpose of this facility, this Ytteran Satellite Complex: to study and learn the secrets behind this barrier. It could be the key to finally ending the war.” As his eyes scanned the crowd, he caught sight of an unfamiliar face, a young girl whose long golden hair fell in waves past pointed ears. His eyes narrowed, “I am going to cut today’s lesson short here, why don’t you go and read up a little more on this planet we call Tel’Kari, the great mystery.” He locked his eyes with the girl, who perceptively stayed behind. Stay. He commanded silently.

“You wished to see me, Lord Doranon?” The girl asked calmly, but there was a hint of anxiety in her pale amber eyes. He watched her carefully, unlike most of his family, who were more focused on science to the exclusion of all else, Terendel Doranon actually paid attention to the politics beyond the Ytteran Satellite Complex. Hence, he knew full well who it was that stood before him.

“Perhaps I should instead ask, what can we do for you Lady Geridon, heir to the First Council Seat? Why would such an illustrious personage come to our facility?” His amiable features did not quite hide the speculative interest. “I should warn you, milady, that I can spot truth from falsehood at more than a hundred paces.”

The girl swallowed nervously, carefully weighing her options. Del waited patiently, evaluating Kalisha Geridon with a scientist’s eye for detail. The faint quiver of her legs and arms betrayed her instinct to bolt from the room, fortunately, however, the girl was smarter than that. Del noticed that her eyes flickered to the students walking back and forth in the hallway, and hid an approving smirk. She knew that running was impossible, and would only serve to call attention to herself. The members of the House of Doranon had a reputation of being absorbed in their work, but even the most preoccupied scholar would notice a commotion brought about by a young person fleeing through their halls. After that, it would not take long to discover her identity.

“I came here to get transport to the outer colonies.” The girl, ‘Lady Geridon’ seemed too cold and professional a title for a child not even out of her teens, replied with blunt honesty. “I had assumed from the reputation of this complex, that it would be a good place to be undetected while finding one. Scientists aren’t really known for noticing things outside of their studies.” She looked up at him, a hint of sheepishness in her eyes, “Well, most scientists.”

“Particularly those of the House of Doranon.” Del smirked dryly. He knew that most of his race considered his house to be synonymous with the phrase “absent-minded scientists”, and for the most part the assessment was relatively accurate. The members of the House never seemed to mind the label, even taking a sort of perverse pride in the fact that their love of science and discovery was so well-known among the others of their race. Terendel Doranon held the same passion for discovery as the rest of his House, but his passion also extended toward the interaction of people and government. His political aptitude had led the Elder of his House to name him heir to the Seventh Council Seat, upon her own death or retirement, despite the fact that he was not in the direct line of descent. Fortunately, given most of the family’s distaste for such activity, his appointment remained uncontested.

The girl stiffened, her eyes filled with a defiance born of desperation and courage. “What are you going to do with me?” It was no empty question; Del had her freedom, her life, in the palm of his hand.

“That is a good question.” Del said quietly. “I could turn you over to your father, where you will undoubtedly be detained until you come of age, and then are married off for an alliance. If you think that you lacked freedom before, you will change your mind fast.” He paused, thoughtfully. “Or I can hand you over to the Boreali. I doubt your father’s strongest rival would be nearly so merciful. You could be incarcerated in a correctional institute for decades.”

The girl winced, but to her credit, managed to meet his eyes. “I did not make this choice unaware of the potential consequences. I demand my freedom, and should it take me a thousand attempts and a thousand years, I will obtain it. This is a setback, but I am not out of options.”

“Spirited words.” Del stated, his voice dry. “I am almost intrigued enough to see how you would construct your future escape attempts.” He smiles. “But not quite.” The girl stared at him, confusion filling her young face. “I am Doranon, and my House has always remained neutral in the quarrels between your house and the Boreali. Our loyalty is to the Touradan Union itself, not to any particular House.” He paused, drawing out his words. “The public disgrace of the Geridon heiress can do nothing but overthrow the already precarious balance of the Council. Therefore, I will not turn you in. Instead I offer you a counter proposal.”

Kalisha gaped, unable to hide the shock on her face. She stuttered for a moment, completely unable to speak. Finally she fell silent, waiting for her captor to reveal his own intentions.

Del chuckled, “No, it is nothing so clandestine. Instead I wish to offer you a position in this facility. You see, while your academic records may not quite be up to the level of most Ytteran applicants, your physical records, as well as tactical aptitude scores seem to indicate you as a fine choice.” He paused, while she just stared at him in blank confusion. “If you were not who you are, I daresay you would be a fine legionnaire ensign now. Which is why I wish to recruit you. You see, in the occasion that we finally pierce the shroud that isolates Tel’kari, we will need to know more of those that constructed it, and whether it can indeed be reproduced. While a scientist will ultimately be needed eventually, we at this facility feel it best that the first people sent to this planet should be ones more suited to the rigors and potential dangers of a first contact mission. We will need people who can be covert, to scout the approachability of these people, before we are able to speak with them in an official capacity.”

Kalisha raised an eyebrow, skepticism apparently overcoming her shock. “All right, assuming you actually do get this ‘shroud’ open, do you think my father is going to let me go down there? I may not even enlist in the Legion.”

“Neither the First House nor the Council has any direct control of an academic facility. As soon as you signed the contract you would be safe here at least until your majority. It may not be freedom, but it will buy you some time.” He reached back behind his podium and removed a large piece of what appeared to be synthetic parchment. “Read this and sign, and you will be our employee.”

Del had been watching Kalisha scrawl her signature at the bottom of the document, when a communications message sounded through the complex. “Unscheduled Docking Procedure initiated, authorization check confirmed.” She turned anxious eyes upon Doranon, and he smiled reassuringly even as the flutter of activity outside the lecture hall door announced that their unexpected guest had traced them to this room. Del placed his hand upon the contract, reassuring himself even as the door opened, and the girl’s pursuer strode into the room.

His uniform was crisp and black, the lining and shoulder-guards a polished and shining silver, a bright rank insignia prominent upon his chest. His stride was smooth and slow as he approached them, as though he believed that he had no reason to hurry. He was not a physically imposing man, standing perhaps a handspan taller than Kalisha herself, and not looking much older, while his tousled chestnut hair and bright green eyes lent him an air of earnest youth.

“Vice-Commander Zhakiran Akiki.” Terendel Doranon addressed the man with a hint of dryness in his voice. “The first Elder must be very adamant about retrieving his daughter if he sent the Legion’s premier intelligence agent.”

Had Akiki been the young greenhorn that his appearance indicated, he might have faltered from confrontation with one of such noble lineage and prestige as a Council heir, however Akiki might as well have been carved in stone. Despite his common blood and youthful features, Akiki was a soldier, not all that much younger than Doranon himself, and quietly infamous for his ability to ferret out any scrap of information, no matter how large or small, vital or insignificant. Entire Houses, both noble and common, lived in fear of what this single man might unearth. “Lord Doranon, I must ask you to step aside.” The legionnaire said finally, his voice calm and professional. “I have been sent by the First Elder himself to retrieve his wayward daughter.”

Del gave Akiki a toothy grin as he handed over the signed contract. “I am sorry to be the one to tell you this, Vice-Commander, but Kalisha Geridon has signed on to become a member of the first contact team of the Ytteran Complex. The Council has no jurisdiction over academic facilities or their employees, so you have no legal right to take this girl without her consent.”

Akiki skimmed the contract, his green eyes narrowed speculatively. A brief frown crossed his lips, the only visible indication of his frustration. “You are correct, I have no jurisdiction here.” Before Del could react though, the legionnaire smirked. “However there is one thing that you must take into consideration. Should your facility succeed in breaching the defenses of Tel’kari, this will not be your concern. First contact, covert operations, and intelligence gathering will all be handled by the Legion, while any subsequent diplomatic arrangements will be brought before the Council itself.”

Del paled, horror and outrage warring on his face. “You can’t do that! This is an academic facility, and we are in charge of the study of Tel’kari!”

Akiki stood, as implacable as a statue, “You have been in charge of the study of this world, however as soon as that barrier is opened, this matter becomes more than academic. We are dealing with a civilization that we know nothing about, with unknown capabilities and technologies. The potential of this barrier alone is enough to bring this matter quite firmly into the hands of the military according to the Syl-Alla Resolution. It will be up to the Council to decide what role, if any, the Ytteran Satellite complex will have after the barrier has been breached.”

Terendel Doranon swayed on his feet, feeling his world, his ambitions and dreams crumble beneath him. The Vice-Commander was correct, there was no way that he could fight this matter. The Syl-Alla Resolution had been established after a particularly disastrous scenario occurred with a hostile race that was not as primitive as it had seemed. A number of diplomatic missteps had wreaked considerable disaster upon both the organization involved as well as the native society. As a result, the Syl-Alla Resolution determined that contact with any race that had any sort of technological or magical advantage would be firmly under the control of the Council itself. It was an old law, created back when the Sansena had only just begun to explore the universe, and as their influence and knowledge grew, there were fewer and fewer sites for whom the resolution applied. It languished all but forgotten for centuries, at least until Zhakiran Akiki lived up to his reputation, unearthing the one thing that could salvage the situation in his favor.

Del growled, slamming his clenched fist into the podium beside him in futile anger. Imagining Akiki’s face in place of the hard wood was not as much a comfort as he had hoped. He was sorely defeated, and he was intelligent enough to recognize the fact. “What do you want?”

A faint half-smile hovered across the agent’s face, the first expression besides calm indifference that the younger Sansenan had displayed. “I desire nothing but the completion of my mission.” He narrows his eyes thoughtfully. “I can see no reason why you should not be permitted to remain here, as par the terms of your contract, until the barrier is breached.” Akiki paused, a gesture that combined with the slight smirk hinted at a wry self-mocking humor at his own cold façade. “I am afraid that I must ask you to tolerate my presence on this Complex until this matter is resolved. I trust that you are not foolhardy enough to risk an escape at this time, but my assignment also entails that I guard as well as retrieve Geridon’s prodigal daughter.”

Kalisha opened her mouth to protest, but Del cut her off. “What makes you think we won’t have you killed as soon as you are defenseless and asleep?”

Rather than offending the soldier, the question seemed to amuse him, as Akiki barely managed to cover a surprised chuckle with a cough. “I could imagine you might try.” In a smooth, practiced motion, Akiki opened his sleeve, revealing dark runic markings weaving themselves around his skin, glowing faintly with protective and likely regenerative magic. Del’s eyes widened considerably at the sight, even as Kalisha’s jaw dropped. The runes were crisp and clear, shining with imbued power; they had to have taken hours if not days to complete. It would not be easy to surpass such defenses. Zhakiran Akiki continued, “Also, even if you are able to overcome my protections, it would just make your circumstances worse. The Council knows of my presence here, and I sincerely doubt you would wish to face a charge of murder on top of your facility’s other concerns.”

Del finally shrugged, accepting if not the defeat, then at least the temporary setback and led the younger Sansenan into the hallway.

---

Zhakiran Akiki surveyed his surroundings with a practiced eye, noticing the security precautions common within such rooms and keeping watch for anything out of the ordinary. According to the intelligence files, Terendel Doranon was a rather unscrupulous political figure, given to schemes and subtle manipulations, a far too perceptive scoundrel who deceived more by omission than outright lies. After meeting the man, Kiran found himself almost liking the crafty political scientist, of course that did not mean he would trust him. Del Doranon was the type of man that would take defeat with rare grace and aplomb, and then turn it back around in order to stab the victor in the back. He had however been kind enough to situate Kiran in an empty guest bedroom near to where Lady Geridon slept. Kiran let a smile hover on his lips as he admired the room, which while not luxurious by any means, were a damned sight better than the barracks.

Kiran continued scanning the room, until instinct caused him to whirl just in time to catch a small dart that had been aimed for his neck. A soft chuckle erupted from him as he placed the dart atop an end table. Undoubtedly the first of many attempts, Doranon had not been as deterred by the threat of Council retribution as he had pretended. Kiran was not very worried however, what his intuition, that oh so precarious gift, failed to prevent, reflexes and combat skills bred from centuries of warfare and espionage would counter. At least, that was the theory, Kiran grinned wryly.

Kiran’s eyes finally hovered upon the heavy metal door that connected his room to his charge’s. He rather thought that she was too young to take part in any sort of assassination attempt, and too much her father’s daughter to accept the dishonor inherent in such acts. He remembered the fuss she had made about her new room assignment, grimacing slightly. She was certainly as stubborn as her father, not wanting the essential chain around her neck that was her new bodyguard. In all truth, he was not very happy about the idea either, but one did not argue with the First Elder. There were many other assignments that he would have preferred to take over guarding one headstrong, overly idealistic, inexperienced and naïve heiress. This would likely be a very long assignment.
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Now...It's off to anime club! Hope we get to see more of that weird "Abenobashi" anime...^_^ *scampers off*

Friday, July 26, 2002 10:28 p.m. : Feelin' Talkative: Sci-Fi Fridays

Ben Browder is as insane as his character...I firmly believe that. God, I love Farscape, it's the only sci-fi show I've seen more twisted than most anime. The game was great, Rigel as the Black Knight, Aeryn as the Lisping Princess...ROFL. And the plot twists, wonderful! Each one took me more and more by surprise! ^_^ I'll avoid elaboration on the off chance someone actually stumbles across my little genki hideaway and doesn't want to be spoiled. I hope he writes more episodes, he seems to have a good handle on characters, and a sense for the darkly humorous.

Stargate SG-1 was tolerable, though nothing compared to last week...damn they made a mistake losing Michael Shanks, the Abyss proved that quite well. Still, it was better than most of the mediocre eps this season...I'm beginning to like Jonas, despite myself, he's very genuine, and I'm glad he finally got a showcase ep. He reminds me a bit of Liam from Earth: Final Conflict. Though, Liam had a much greater tie to the already established characters of the show, and was a stronger personality over all... I hope Jonas doesn't get screwed as badly in the end. (Didn't even resolve the Liam/Sandoval connection either, hell, not even a cheezy reverse Star Wars revelation. "Ronald, I am your son." LOL Way too much caffeine.)

Quote of the Day: "Princess Aeryn": "Come on Harvey, thtop fighting like a girl."

(That's it, I want to have Ben Browder's children...)

Friday, July 26, 2002 07:50 p.m. : Because I'm bored...

Heh, decided to see if this works...Going to try to post a draft of the prologue to the story that I'm trying to write and babble endlessly about...Probably should stop listening to Castlevania music when I write...nah...
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Prologue:

The low chanting, soft and melodious, echoed within the empty, cavernous depths of the abandoned warehouse. Pale light, an incongruously gentle shade of lavender, granted the area a faint luminescence, fragile and flickering as candlelight, casting the vacant expanse of the room in dark and eerie shadows. There was a peculiar stillness in the air, a static pressure that seemed to prohibit any motion within the basking glow of the light but for the lone being, kneeling within the center, droning its dark chant. The thin figure’s stooped posture belied its considerable height as it scratched markings into the concrete floor with its talons. Flat grey eyes held an otherworldly glow, as it called upon powers both ancient and arcane, and its slate-colored feathers ruffled as if reacting to what had been called. A peculiar blend of human and avian features, the creature possessed a beauty both alien and deadly, focused solely on the task before it, never seeing the faint hint of movement in the shadows.

There, just out of reach of the perilous light, lay the bodies of the fallen, strewn about like broken dolls, discarded by a spoiled child. Amidst these still and silent remains, one solitary figure stirred. Dragging himself with delicate and deliberate slowness, he managed to make it into a sitting position. He was young, frighteningly so, perhaps twenty years at the most. His eyes, which had once been alight with innocence and enthusiasm, were now faded with the dark certainty of one who had been Earth's final hope, and failed miserably. Blood and gore covered him, soaking through his clothing, forming a second skin, and plastering his hair to his head. He had been Nicholas Carroway, the youngest and newest member of the team that made up the Guild’s last line of defense. He had been the innocent greenhorn, the charming light that brought laughter and cheer to his grim and professional teammates. Now he was the only one left, the tragic survivor, the corpse that refused to die. Swallowing a shriek of pain, he rolled himself over, getting his hands and knees under him, crawling toward the nearest of his teammates. Perhaps, just perhaps he was not too late.

He reached the corpse with a gasp of exertion, forcing his abused body to cross those extra inches. “Kat.” He whimpered, his voice choked with emotion. The dark mage was as beautiful in death as in life. Her long limbs clad in leather and denim, outstretched as though she had merely collapsed. Her long hair, a pale silvery-blond, remained almost completely untouched by the blood and gore around her. If it were not for the blue tint to her marble-statue pallor, nor the odd angle at which her head lay upon her neck, he might have thought she was still alive. He held her close, muffling his sobs in her hair, before slowly, deliberately, placing a chaste kiss on the dead woman’s lips. He had always dreamed of kissing those soft lips in life, though he had never dared to approach her, and now it was too late.

Beside her, another did not fare so fortunately. Long gashes rent his body, almost slicing all the way through. His face was almost unrecognizable in the darkness, torn apart by furious claws. Only the thin golden ring, on his left ring finger, lay testament to his identity as the other field leader of their team. Nick could not bring himself to look any longer at the mess of blood and flesh that had once been his friend and leader. Nick dropped his head with defeat, this was it. He was alone. As he felt himself begin to drown in a flood of despair, he heard something. Tuning out the droning chant coming from the lit area, he could hear what sounded like a faint moan. Dragging himself over to the source of the sound, he found himself at another fallen form, this of his mentor, his last hope that he was not alone. He leaned down, and felt an incredible surge of relief that brought scalding tears to his eyes, as he heard yet another moan. Nick swallowed, and extended his palms toward the barely living body, calling upon what was left of his power to send a flood of healing energy into the other man, who soon opened his eyes. Nick helped his mentor sit up, watching as the dazed dark eyes took on a semblance of clarity. The man was in bad shape. Dark bruises and burns obscured completely the pale skin, and beneath his torn shirt, Nicholas could see a golden ward, anathema to those who practice the lost arts, embedded into his chest, the skin around it burned black. Even his hair, the long braid that the man wore to mock Guild convention, had been burned, leaving an uneven, charred mess in its wake. In a strange way, it was what registered most on Nick, as though adding a final indignity to the attempt on his life.

“Nick?” The querulous whisper barely carried itself to his ear, and he leaned in to the near-sighted man’s field of vision, in order to reassure him.

“I’m here, Kyle.” He repeated, unsure whether the older man was even coherent or conscious enough to recognize him. The thin features wrinkled in an expression of cantankerous exasperation, so out of place on a man of twenty-five, that Nick felt himself begin to giggle softly, hysterical from loss and relief.

“That’s enough of that.” Kyle whispered, though his eyes were filled with sympathy. He seemed steadier than before, and managed to pull himself into a ready crouch. Nicholas merely looked at him, agony flooding his features even as he began to calm himself down. Kyle tilted his head, listening to the chanting for a moment. His eyes narrowed, and he beckoned his protégé forward. “Hurry, we must act before it is too late. The Corioni has almost finished the Gate. If we don’t stop it now, the door will be open for their forces to invade. Humanity does not have a prayer if we can’t close that gate.”

“What do we do? What can we do? My magic isn’t strong enough to stop that, and you’re warded!” Nick demanded hoarsely, staggering under the crushing blow of defeat.

Kyle smiled, a mirthless shadow of his usual grin. “You underestimate yourself, Nicholas.” He looked away for a moment, as if composing himself, and when he turned back, his eyes were as unreadable as stone. “There may be a way.”

Long, narrow fingers closed around Nick’s wrist, as the older man closed his eyes in concentration. “Brace yourself.” Kyle warned, and his grip tightened. Nick nearly shrieked as he felt a wave of power surge through his mind, electric and acidic, a burning agony beyond imagination. It lasted but a second, and Nick slid down to the ground, tears streaming down his face.

“What…?” He stared up at his mentor, betrayal etched upon his features. Kyle watched him calmly, though there was a brittleness about him that Nick had never seen before.

“I bypassed the warding.” Kyle said quietly, holding up his hand. A tiny globe of light rested in his palm, its soft green glow brightening and fading in the palm of his hand. “By channeling my magic through you, I bypassed the warding. Excruciating, was it not?” He closed his hand, and the globe vanished. “That was what it took to create a single light. It will be much worse to channel the magic necessary to destroy the gate.”

Nick paled, swaying a little as the realization hit him. “I won’t survive this, will I?” He felt a sinking in the pit of his stomach, at the deep sorrow in his mentor’s eyes, as the older man shook his head. He wanted to scream out a denial, to insist that they find another way. He had barely turned twenty; he was too young to die! He still had college to finish, people to meet, things to see. He looked away, and his eyes settled on Kat’s corpse, and the protests died in his mind. None of them had deserved to die, but they’d entered battle accepting the risk, knowing that if they did not, their world and people would be enslaved or destroyed. For all their guns, missiles, and nuclear bombs, the humans of Earth were defenseless on this sort of battlefield. Earth was a world long cut off from the dimensions beyond, and during that time had lost the ancient knowledge. Magic was almost non-existent on Earth, small fragments existing only in books and traditions of fading cultures, neglected and forgotten by the mainstream. Only the Guild remembered, preserving and improving the old knowledge, while protecting their home against threats of the supernatural, whether from within the realm or without. To be a guildsman was to know that one may have to sacrifice himself for the good of the rest.

“Then let’s do it.” Nick swallowed, his voice quavering with fear. Imagining his younger sister and his parents lying beside the bodies of his teammates was enough to strengthen his determination. He was still afraid, but he would not fail.

Kyle stared at him for a long moment, his dark eyes searching the younger man, and finally he nodded. He stood, staggering a little. “We have to wait for the right moment. A just opened Gate is just volatile enough that if we hit it right, it should collapse.” He smiled slightly, an expression that was more of a grimace than anything else. “At least that’s the theory. I guess we’re about to find out, eh?”

Nick stood as well, and felt the light touch of fingertips on his temples. The Corioni had stopped chanting, and instead was sitting, surrounded by its etchings. The lavender light formed a wide circle behind it, and vague shadows became visible within, they were coming. “I am sorry Nick, I am so very sorry.” The soft whisper was Nick’s only warning, before the older man’s fingers tightened, and his mind was engulfed. If it had been excruciating before, the pain was indescribable now. Stars went supernova in his mind, and he dimly heard a shriek of agony over the roaring in his ears, but whether the sound came from him, Kyle, or the Corioni, he would never know. Forcing his eyes open, he saw a beam of blindingly white light arc from him to the Gate, which shuddered at the impact. The gate flared briefly, and exploded. Nick felt his lips, cracked and burned, tilt upward into the barest hint of a smile, as he fell into oblivion, while the warehouse around him collapsed into rubble.
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Friday, July 26, 2002 05:04 p.m. : Swimmin' In the Rain ^_^

Welp, today this genki got herself a life-guarding certificate...Though I still feel bad for that poor boy that was helping me practice escapes, he's still not walkin' quite right...*whistles innocently*

Also discovered a new power of the genki! The glasses stay on, whether through dives, rescues, or just plain kid-tormenting. :-) Fear the powers of the Genki!

Managed to corrupt a friend by addicting her to C.J. Cherryh's Fortress series. Very, very slashy books. Tristen is wonderfully innocent and clueless without being stupid or irritating, and he USTs with almost everyone. Takes a while to get used to the unpronouncable names, but I like the book. It's paced a bit slow, but draws the reader in quite well.

Final, bizarre thought of the day...Blaine Capatch, the new host of that Comedy Central show, "Beat the Geeks", looks exactly like Kyle, from that long, nameless story I'm writing...mannerisms, height, build, hair, wardrobe...O.O Never found a splitting image of a character before, *shrug* Oh well, at least he's cute in an "I want to take him home and feed him" sort of way. (Heh, the Italian blood pops up in weird circumstances)...but for god sake, whoever's in that damned costuming department, DON'T put a 120 lb man in leather pants! No, no, no! Suits are fine, particularly LOOSE and PADDED suits...no leather pants, no jeans, no loose shirts...

Great, now Kyle wants a scene in which he wears leather pants...-_- Someone save me...

Friday, July 26, 2002 02:55 p.m. : Genki's first blog!

Hmm, tech-incompetant genki plus blog-thingy isn't a good combination I think. :-P Anyway, welcome to my page of rambling dialogue, weird story drafts, and anything else that crosses my brain, frightening place that it is. ^_^

Sorry for the ghastly layout, but that stays until said genki finally figures out how to make/change these sorts of things...

Anyway, back to the old Man from UNCLE and A-Team reruns...and remember boys and girls, a bored genki is a scary genki!