Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

So, uh, when are you going to continue this story, Dogscoff????? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/rolleyes.gif

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

Ummm... I wil do. Somewhen. RL has been getting in the way of Infinite Fun for a month or two now and... well never mind. I actually have a chapter or two already written, but I want to polish them a little before posting.

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

"I guess the principles of Liberty and Truth really aren't much good up against a 4000 BlatterWatt Phased Polaron Array."

oh my god, i hadnt seen that link before. thats one of the funniest things i have ever read! Thanks!

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

OK, this is part of the O & C story, but it's NOT the next chapter. This is probably 8 or 10 chapters away from anything I've posted so far. Think of it as a teaser to keep you guys interested and to get me back into the writing mood. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Oh, and before any one asks, I have *not* yet written all the chapters between what's on the website and this...

I tumbled in a tight ball for a short while, and considered the stupidity of my action. Jumping from a moving aircraft without the appropriate equipment is never a good idea. Doing so above water reduces your chances of death by high-speed collision with the ground, but surviving the impact loses some of its importance when you are hundreds or maybe thousands of kilometres from any ports or shipping lanes.

However, it had seemed like a good idea at the time, and to be fair the alternatives were less than appealing. The Cappan race is very well adapted to life in the water, having evolved from prehistoric creatures which lived entirely in the ocean, grazing peacefully on the micro fauna. Those early animals were forced to change when massive climate changes a few hundred million years ago caused several species of large, agile, carnivores to evolve. Anything directly below them in the food chain had to develop some kind of defence or face extinction. Therefore, the ancestors of the Cappa moved onto the abundant shorelines. There they found a plethora of small creatures to feed on, and if danger threatened from the sea could they simply run out onto the safety of the shore. However, they retained many of their aquatic adaptations so that they could evade land predators by diving into the sea, staying there for extended periods if need be. This arrangement worked very well, and they prospered and changed only a little from that stage to today’s modern Cappa.

The Cue are believed to be evolved from the same sea-bound progenitors. When the large predators moved in, the Cue branch of the family countered the menace by getting smaller: They became so small that big carnivores wouldn’t even consider them a worthwhile snack. However, there were other threats in those ancient seas, and so evolution could not stop there. Unable to defend themselves in the competitive conditions of those primitive seas, the ancient pre-Cue creatures began to seek protection from other species. They developed symbiotic relationships with other types of creature, in many cases the very predators which had initially forced their evolution. Dozens of different sub-species evolved, each one a specialised companion to another type of animal. It was a successful strategy and many of these creatures can still be seen, largely unchanged, on the homeworld today. The species that was to become the modern Cue moved into the shallows and found their evolutionary cousins the Cappa, who had by then been established there for around 30 million years. In exchange for protection and nourishment, those ancient Cue furnished their Cappan hosts with a primitive psychic sense, which helped them find food and avoid danger. As they symbiosis became more and more complete, the Cue shed all the unnecessary appendages which allowed them to survive independently, making themselves as light a burden on their hosts as possible.

The upshot of all this, is that Cappans (and hence Cue Cappans) can swim extremely well, and can survive for extended periods underwater. It is not unknown for skilled or lucky individuals to live for weeks or months in the open sea, as long as no adverse weather conditions arise, and they don’t fall prey to large, hungry sea creatures. Given enough time, my swim back to civilisation would be entirely feasible.

I had considered all these things before jumping into from my captors, and this was why it seemed like a good idea. What I hadn’t considered, and why I realised half way down that I had actually done something extremely stupid, is that this planet has no native animal life. Sure, the humans had brought all kinds of useful creatures with them from their homeworld and from every other corner of their territory, but these would have been introduced near the inhabited islands, and almost certainly would not have colonised these distant depths yet. Apart from the occupants of the rapidly departing aircraft, I was the only non-plant life for a very long way in any direction.

Although this meant I didn’t have to worry about being attacked by the wildlife, it also meant that there would be nothing for me to eat. This on its own might be a surmountable obstacle, but for the fact that Cappans derive all of their liquid requirements from their food. We do not drink water, except where water is available and food is not, and the brine which stretched to the horizon in every direction would do nothing to quench my thirst.

Still, one problem at a time. I relaxed my tentacles and allowed them to flail up above me, where they could increase my surface area and so increase air resistance, reducing my terminal velocity and minimising my impact speed. An instant before hitting the water I assumed a diving position, curling all tentacles down at once into a point, plunging deep into the water like some kind of missile. I bubbled up to the surface, winded and bruised but otherwise unhurt, and looked to the evening sky to see a vapour trail streaking away into the sunset. That is where my captors were heading, and so that way lay civilisation. I assumed a steady pace and began swimming westward.

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

*Bump*

BTW Don't worry about spoilers - this extract doesn't give much away. I'm in the writing mood again now, and so soon I will be able to post another chapter...

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Apparently, "soon" is a very subjective term... So what happened to O and C, anyway??????? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

Sorry, you're right. "Soon" wasn't as soon as I would have liked. Ummm... how about "somewhen"?

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

*Fanfare!!!

Yes! I have finally got back round to writing some O&C. In fact I've spent all of today on it.

Chapters 1 to 6 have been significantly re-written, and the brand new chapters 7 & 8 have been uploaded!

It might be a good idea to re-read from the start, or from at least Chapter 3, since I've made a few changes which just won't make sense otherwise.

Even better news, I now know whih way to take the plot. I'd hit a bit of a quiet spot in the story and I didn't know how to keep it interesting until the next good bit. I think I now know what to do.

It's gonna get good=-)

Anyway, enjoy. BTW, FYI, O&C is now at around 16000 words. How long is an average short story?

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

Damn... after all the nagging I'd have thought someone would have been interested.

*Dogscoff puts his bumpin' boots on.

*BUMP*

I'm already half way through chapter 9 BTW.

[ September 28, 2002, 23:28: Message edited by: dogscoff ]

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

YOU had your chance. Fame flys El Scoffo http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Really: Cane is going away! NO!

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

Chapter 9 is up. Oh yeah. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon6.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon6.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif

Anyone picking up this thread on Monday morning and not looking at earlier Posts, Chapter 1-6 have been significantly altered. A re-read is recommended...

[ September 29, 2002, 02:45: Message edited by: dogscoff ]

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

Having stayed up 'til 7 this morning writing, chapter 10 is now up. Amazing what you can get done when your girlfriend is out of town. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

BTW, as always feedback, typos, inconsistencies and speculations about the direction of the plot are always welcome by PM or email.

Chapter 11 is underway...

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

D, don't read anything into the lack of posted reactions. First of all, it's the weekend. Things are usually slower around here on the weekend. Wait till Monday and people start getting back into and reading the forum. Second, you stated you did pretty much a rewrite of the exsisting sotry, so it's going to take some time for people to reread it and get accuainted with the characters again. It's hard to read 9 chapters all in a sitting, so it may take a few days.

But it's great to see you getting back to the story. I have been missing it, and I know others have as well.

Geoschmo

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

Thanks Geo. I'm aware of all those things and I'm not nagging. Well... not much. Besides, if I can make ppl wait 3 months for the next chapter, the least I can do is let them read it in their own time.

Still, I'm really getting excited about this. There are some really cool bits coming up...

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

You are forgetting to add the links to the new chapters on the main page, btw. Right now you have to go into chapter 8 and & use the 'next chapter' link to get to 9 and 10.

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

Maybe it's a hint to do something http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

*Bump*

OK, it's Monday night. Am I allowed to bump it yet? I'm not? OK.

*Un-BUMP*

Hmm, my PC doesn't seem to be un-bumping. Must have the wrong driver installed. Never mind...

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Thanks Baron. Fixed now.

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

Dammit I hate it when I do three Posts in a row, especially in my own thread! It makes me look like a right sad muppet.

I've just finished writing chapter 11, but I won't be posting it now because it's late and I'm too tired to put it into HTML.

Anyway, there are things I'd like your opinions about:
-Early in the story ppl said that Othaglot was useless and Cane was doing all the clever stuff. Has that been turned around now? I want it to swing back and forth.

- Did Cane's "Pretend Diplomat" revelation make you lose respect for him? Did you even notice it? Does he seem more like a rounded character now he has a few weaknesses?

-Is there too much emphasis on "background knowledge?"

- Is there anything at all in the story that's confusing or nonsensical or unrealistic?

It's really hard for me to read the story myself and answer these questions, but if I can get some answers from you lot I'm sure I'll be able to make the story a good one. I'd really appreciate it if anyone who has read it so far could comment on the above points.

Thanks very much.

[ October 05, 2002, 01:53: Message edited by: dogscoff ]

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

Here's to breaking up chains of self-replying!

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Definitely. Now that he's back in his element (police work, interrogating criminals), Othy's doing quite well.

It's almost as if they've switched bodies http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Seems fine to me. The background needed for the plot points comes pretty naturally, and seems fairly obvious in hindsight.

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

Thanks S_J. Excuse my self-pitying whinges back there.

Chapter 11 is up. It's all gonna get a bit sinister now...

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

Chapter 12 is up. Maybe I'll save some of the sinisterness for later.

Here's a link for anyone too lazy to go find it=-)

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

Woohooo!

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

Chapter 13 is up.

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

Ohhhh, the plot thickens....

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

Chapter 14 is up. Minor cosmetic tweaks have been made to some previous chapters, but nothing worth re-reading them for.

Click here for the new Chapter.

BTW, my old email address (the altavista one) will stop working soon, since altavista have decided to withdraw the service. My new address for all communication is dogscoff@eudoramail.com so please update your address books, those of you who ever email me.

[ October 26, 2002, 20:22: Message edited by: dogscoff ]

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

The top of the page for chapter 14 says 'Chapter 13' -- recycling the previous page as a form for the next one has its minor hazards... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Very interesting. I figured that's who she'd turn out to be when she first appeared, though. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif Darn if I can make the faintest at guess what the 'big plot' behind all of this is, though.

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

Thanks for the bugspotting. I'll sort that.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">There's still room for a surprise yet=-) For example, we haven't seen who's in the cryo tube that Cane and Singh are about to open...

Seriously, I've been trying to heavily signpost the possibility of Sloo as the escapee, all the while implying that she's a vicious, unstable, manipulative and highly dangerous psychopath. I was kind of hoping to make Cane's innocent friendship with her as sinister as possible. Egomaniac that I am, I like to imagine that everyone's been biting their fingernails in anticipation of the Chapter where she finally turns. At the same time I've been trying to foster a sense of "this is too obvious, it can't be her...

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Well, that's pretty much exactly how you had me thinking, so you did a pretty good job.

Oh, yea, BUMP

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

Haven't done much writing lately, and I'm not sure just how to structure the next few chapters.

Also, I've just had to send my brand spanky new Vaio notebook back to Sony for repair (dodgy modem- http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon8.gif ) so although I do have another PC and one here at work I could use, I don't enjoy working on them so much.

Still, I'll try to get something posted soon.

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

My god, is it really six weeks since the Last chapter? Sorry, ppl, things have been hectic.

Anyway, fifteen is up, sixteen is well on the way.

The next few chapters are going to be *really* exciting. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

So.... having read the latest chapter, who is still 100% sure that Sloo is the killer?

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

Here's another chapter for y'all. More is right around the corner...

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

Yep, still 99.375% sure that Sloo is not a nice person.

Now, as to whether or not she is the one from the container....

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

Chapter 17 is now available- a bit of light relief and plot development, makes a nice change from all this emotional stuff. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Chapter 18 is ready for posting, but I want chapters 19 and 20 ready before I do that.

Oooooh, I tell ya, it all starts to get messy very soon... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif

Also, I'm working on another courier story http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon6.gif

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

Oh that reminds me: For the courier story, I need some info about ice hockey. Can anyone help? I know we have plenty of Canadians here. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Ice hockey terminology: You score goals by getting the puck into the goal, right? I understand you then you have a face-off. Oh, do you have a referee or an umpire? What about linesmen? This is for a futuresport based on ice hockey, so I can afford to make a few things up (the positions, for example), but I'd like it to have some connections to the real thing.

Sorry if these are dumbass questions but ice hockey really isn't a big deal in this country and I have no clue.

Edit 2: I need some team names, but I don't want to clash with existing hockey/ american football teams. Do any of these exist?
Piranhas (i'm sort of stuck with this one already)
Mongeese (A respectful reference to GT http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif )
Emporers
Novae

If any of those are unavailable, how about the following backups:
Spikes
Warlocks
Warriors
Wizards

thanks ppl. First one to answer gets a player named after them in the story. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon6.gif Hope to upload the story this weekend somewhen.

[ January 23, 2003, 12:21: Message edited by: dogscoff ]

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

Just letting you know your fiction page doesn't have a link to Chapter 17. Also, your Chapter 18 link on Chapter 17 links to Chapter 7. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif Not that Chapter 18 is posted yet--get with the program, will ya? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

Warriors and Wizards are pro basketball teams. Pirahnas (sp?) are.... baseball, I think? Hmm. Maybe not. But I know the Warriors and Wizards are teams (that play each other this weekend, if I'm not mistaken...)

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

Thanks ppl. Krsqk, yeah i knew about some of that. Will fix.

I'v mentioned the Plenty Piranhas in the other courier story too, so I guess I'll have to stick with it, unless someone can think of a really nice new "P" word.

BTW, character names al round for you two - slightly respelled though...

[ January 23, 2003, 14:29: Message edited by: dogscoff ]

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

****INFORMATION CLASSIFIED**** http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

[ January 23, 2003, 15:23: Message edited by: geoschmo ]

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

*sigh*, I might as well tell you. In fact, I'll just post the whole damn story here.

Read it in the Courier thread.

[ January 23, 2003, 15:59: Message edited by: dogscoff ]

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

Nice, very nice. But why the tone of frustration initially? Did something in my suggestion bother you?

Geoschmo

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

Sorry Geo, I was worried your idea would inspire someone to pre-empt the dyson-hockey idea.

I've just realised I've got quite a big temporal anomoly to tidy up in there. Hmm...

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

Doh! Sorry. I didn't think about that. I just saw your post assking for information and it got me thinking. I should have PM'd you instead. I have edited my post. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

Haha! No need for that Geo, but thanks. I've staked my claim now with the posting of the story.

I've also cleared up the temporal anomoly nicely, I'll edit the story post to the new Version.

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

D'oh! forgot the courier had his own thread.
All courier/ ice hockey related Posts here please. Thanks.

Just a reminder for anyone just logging on, Othaglot & Cane Chapter 17 is on my website..

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

OK, I had been holding this back until I had finished chapters 19 & 20, but I think if I do that you'll be waiting forever. Also, I'm not sure when I can update my site, so rather than post the update there, I'm going to put it here.

Are we all sitting comfortably?

**********************************************
Chapter 18
**********************************************
Chapters 1-17 here.
**********************************************

Cane padded quietly through the maze of freight containers. He knew perfectly well that his thoughts advertised his presence like a flashing light above his head, but he padded quietly nonetheless because it helped to sustain his mood. As I lay bleeding on the floor, I looked again into his mind and despaired. He was beginning to realise just how precarious his position was; unarmed, unarmoured, creeping around in the dark after a psychopathic psychic, but he padded onward all the same, clinging to his bitterness like a cloak on a cold day. To him it was as though the tingling, smouldering core of single-minded revenge he held so tightly could somehow protect him: As though it would enable him to shrug off any injury and plough on heedlessly, as long as at the end of it he could feel her die between his fingers.

Idiot.

Of course he was going to get himself killed, and he knew it. Reason, logic, self- preservation: These things nagged at him, but he pulled his cloak of stupidity over his ears and ignored them, his distraught and desperate mind taking the simplest route, the path of least resistance.

I tried to move the dead human pinning me to the floor, but with my newly inflicted wounds the pain of the exertion nearly robbed me of my consciousness. Better to remain immobile, if that was the price to pay for staying alert. I called out Cane’s name, the translator in my carry-pouch thankfully undamaged. I saw his mind register my voice, then decide to pretend he hadn’t heard it, and finally realise that I would see through his charade. All the same, he refused to respond. I called out again, this time adding a pitiful ”help” to the end. This time he hesitated, the realisation of his selfishness threatening to penetrate the shield he had drawn up around his hatred. His mind was a mess, and for the first time I realised just how young this Cane was. He had been utterly unprepared for the violence and betrayal now thrust upon him, and his inexperienced, shell-shocked reaction might be the death of us both.

“Damn you Cane, I’m hurt and she could be back any minute to finish me off.”
Fresh blood-lust flooded his thoughts, and I hurried to quell it.
“She’s already killed another of the crew and wounded me. What chance do you think you stand? She can see into your mind, Cane. She’ll know your every move like she did theirs and shoot you dead. Get me out of here and you can at least live to see her under arrest.”

There was a long pause, and then I knew that Cane was coming for me. He was struggling to free me from the dead human- who Cane woefully identified as Stevv- when gunfire and shouted human expletives erupted from elsewhere in the cargo bay. Cane stopped, and even without my sense I would have known what he was thinking.
“Cane, you’re not even armed.”
He looked meaningfully at Stevv’s blood-stained rifle. Stevv had been as intent on revenge as Cane after the murder of his colleague, Wilm. It was Wilm’s own weapon that had killed Stevv, although that intervention had undoubtedly saved my life.

She had been aware of my presence from the moment I found her, but had skilfully hidden that knowledge from me. Thinking myself undetected, I had given in to curiosity and tried to discern whether or not it was the same attacker who had been in the cargo container. With grim triumph I learned that it was, but she sensed that instant of distraction and bolted suddenly to cover. It only took me an instant to locate her thoughts again, but that was all she needed to gain the advantage. For her to see that opportunity and take it in such a tiny time frame, her psychic skills were impressive. For her to shoot me twice at long range with an alien weapon in an equally short window of opportunity was nothing short of exceptional. I admit to being somewhat in awe of her as I waited to die.

It was at that point that Stevv and Frasier had intruded on the scene. Stevv crouched to examine me and was shot. Frasier, enraged, pursued the murderess into the shadows immediately, leaving the engineer and myself in a bloodied heap. It was Frasier now making all the noise in the distance and I looked into his mind, knowing that she would be doing the same.

Without seeing him, I knew that Frasier was pressed up against a cargo crate not too far away, preparing to round a corner where he thought her to be. From inside his mind I could almost feel his exhilaration, smell the sweat gathering on his face. I wondered if she took some kind of perverse pleasure in observing those same sensations from her prey. Frasier was totally focussed on that next corner, and it occurred to me that he was not even considering the possibility of her being above him. No doubt she would be coming to the same conclusion and climbing to a higher position even now. He wouldn’t stand a chance.

Cane picked up the rifle and checked the ammunition chamber. He would have gone then to his doom, had I not sensed four members of the Endeavour’s crew nearby, drawn to the commotion. I called to them, and they rounded a corner to find us.
“This one’s dead.” I said, meaning Stevv. “She’s got Frasier alone.” I continued, weakly indicating the direction.
The commanding human nodded, and signalled his team to follow him. Cane fell in behind, and the officer turned to address him.
“We have this under control now, Sir.” He said. He raised the faceplate on his armour to make eye contact with Cane. “Mr Othaglot needs to be in the sick bay. I could have one of my people take him, but they would serve better down here.”
Cane dropped his eyes and shamefully mumbled some kind of agreement. The officer nodded formally and flipped his mask back down. With a brief gesture, the four of them moved efficiently down the corridor between the containers.

Without a word, Cane slung the rifle over his shoulder and roughly hauled Stevv’s body to one side. With only a little more care he picked me up and slung me onto his back, leaving two tentacles draped forward over his shoulders to hold me by. We trailed purple blood all the way to the sick bay, the pain lessening every moment with my diminishing senses.

The next thing I remember clearly is the sick bay. The Marilyn’s doctor was treating my wounds. His contact with doctor Ollaroo when Cane was injured must have been informative for him too, because he moved quickly and confidently, halting blood loss with some kind of gel and inserting tubes to administer liquids. All the while he was speaking to Cane in an angry tone I had not heard often among humans.
“…him in here like a sack of potatoes. Can’t you see he’s injured? A little more care might have made my job a lot easier.”
Cane didn’t respond. He simply looked sideways, directing his gaze absently down at one of the room’s corners. It was too much effort to hold my eyestalks upright, so I let them fall back onto the couch and once more examined Cane with my psychic sense. He was blank. Numb would probably be a better word, but the effect was the same: He had withdrawn into himself, unable to cope with the conflicting demands and emotions brought on by the day’s events. I found myself wishing he would put the rifle down.

“Are you even listening to me? Look, I could use your help here. Hand me that bottle.”
Cane’s mind had closed itself off to all outside contact, and so the doctor’s request just trailed across the surface, unable to find purchase. Eventually, it found its way into some reactive part of his mindscape, divorced from intelligence or questioning, and Cane picked up a bottle from an open cabinet and handed it to Singh. The doctor checked the label as he crossed the room for a syringe, and then looked up at Cane with concern. Naturally, I had assumed the contents of the bottle were meant for me but the doctor did not administer them. My treatment seemed to have been concluded. Instead, he spoke softly to Cane.
“Mr Cane, you are clearly in some kind of shock. You need to lie down. Why don’t you go back to your quarters?”
Cane stared, blankly. The doctor shook his head from side to side and walked to him, loading the syringe on the way.
“I need to stay here in case there are more casualties, but I can… hey, just a minute!”
I looked up, thinking Cane had gone after the killer again, but he was still standing there, immobile. Instead I saw the doctor leaving the medbay to pursue a member of the Endeavour’s crew who had just passed the doorway. Presumably, Singh had wanted to ask for someone to escort Cane to his quarters.

It was a tragedy of timing. No sooner had Singh left the room than there was a load, dull thump followed by a hideous metallic groaning. The doctor simply disappeared, leaving behind only a shrill scream that faded rapidly beneath a roar of escaping air, and for a fraction of an instant I glimpsed the corridor outside shearing away to reveal empty space. Before I even had time to process this input, the medbay’s pressure doors snapped shut. Papers, disturbed by the incomplete decompression, drifted lazily toward the door in the sudden silence. Their gentle, gravity-free rustling the only evidence that anything was wrong: That, and the inert body of Cane, who floated passively toward the ceiling.

[ February 11, 2003, 16:43: Message edited by: dogscoff ]

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

*bump*

Anyone actually reading this?

Re: Othaglot and Cane - Story Thread
 

yes, yes.

woah! what a cliffhanger (*again*).
quick, post chapters 19&20... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

I will reserve my 'hah, i knew it!' comments for later or email conversations http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif