Mr. Dove and the Pipes of Creation - Continued

[davedove]

I know I haven't added to this story for some time and many of you wondered if I would ever finish it. I've been busy, but I just couldn't leave it unfinished. However, I recommend you go back and read the original thread so you know where the story has gone:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...reation-56178/

So, since the original thread is old and has been closed, here is the continuation of

Mr. Dove and the Pipes of Creation

Scene 63

Cynthia’s consciousness entered the Churchnet and she found herself standing on a shimmering walkway looking into a village. Of course, she knew it wasn’t really a walkway or a village; it was just the way the signals were interpreted by her mind.

She straightened the virtual business suit she wore and checked the virtual shoulder bag she carried. Patting it gently, she assured herself that the subroutines it carried were available to her.

Hurrying down the walkway, it didn’t take her long to find the building that represented the administrative office of the Inquisition prison. She reached into her bag and pulled out the subroutine she had prepared earlier. Here in the Churchnet it took the form of official Cyberchurch papers.

Approaching the door, she walked up to the guard. Again, it wasn’t a real guard, but instead it was a security program to restrict access. She showed the authorization papers to the guard and he examined them. The guard took longer than she expected and Cynthia worried she would be discovered, but then the guard opened the door to the building and waved her in.

As soon as the door closed, she reached into the bag and pulled out a phone. She opened it and a picture appeared on the small screen. From the screen, Mr. Dove looked back at her. In the physical world he was seated in front of a computer screen and camera.

“I’m in,” she reported. “Go ahead and prepare to enter the prison. I will be ready in a few minutes.”

“Thank you, Cynthia.”

She closed the phone and put it back in her bag. Walking over to one of the file cabinets she opened it and dug out the file that the authorization papers had stated she was retrieving.

Reaching into the bag again, she pulled out two crystal globes, one blue and one green. She threw the blue globe to the floor where it shattered. Sparkling fumes rose from the shards and slowly formed into an exact copy of her current appearance. She handed the file to the copy and it placed the file into its own bag.

Cynthia then walked over to a wall and threw the green globe at the floor between her feet. The fumes rose all around her, obscuring her presence as they took on the shape of a file cabinet identical to the others in the room.

She stood motionless as her copy then moved back to the door and knocked. When the guard opened the door, it checked the file held by the copy and then let it pass by, closing the door behind it.

The image of the file cabinet dissolved and Cynthia moved to the back of the room where another door was located. She bent to examine the large padlock securing the door. Chuckling slightly, she reached into her bag and pulled out a large key, in reality a sophisticated hacking program, and inserted it into the padlock. In a few moments, the lock opened and she opened the door into the prison’s security system.

[be da veva]

Yes, it's back....

[Kilted Jeeper]

Happy Happy Joy Joy

[Cynthia]

Oooh! Pass the popcorn!

Thanks for continuing the story

[CopperNGold]

These continuing stories are great! I've missed them, and hope you and others will keep writing!

[McClef]

I have long been wondering how long Father Trefor was going to be stuck on that island keeping all those creatures of the night at bay!

[Livingston]

***retrieving the popcorn and popper, scheduling deliveries of more popcorn and oil, ensuring a suitable amount of various single malts are available*** Ok, I'm ready to continue reading!!

[davedove]

Scene 76

I threw up my hands in exasperation. “But how? All you’ve had me do is run around to different worlds. Sure, I’ve helped some people, made a few friends, but I still have no idea how to find the Pipes or how to get them back!”

Miss Pleater smiled slightly. “Do not be so quick to discount your experiences, Mr. Dove. When we first recruited you, you were not yet ready for the final confrontation. You needed to learn.”

“Learn what?”

“An ability few people have and fewer still ever learn to use, you needed to learn to bend the reality around you. You have done that now, so you can now face the Emperor of the North.”

“What do you mean? How have I learned that?”

Miss Pleater smiled. “Oh, you may not realize it, but your instincts are strong. You have such a hold on your own reality that you can let it interact with other realities at will. Using your ability is not really something you make happen. Rather, you let it happen.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You do not need to understand. You need only do what you have been doing.”

“I still don’t know what you’re talking about, but I’ll take your word for it.” I stood up and shook my head. “Okay, send me to the Emperor. Let’s finish this!”

She rose from the chair with a smile. “I am glad to see you are eager, but I am afraid I cannot do that. The Emperor is using the power of the Pipes to keep my counterparts and me away. But he will not be able to stop you from coming.”

“Good! He won’t know what hit him.”

Her smile widened. “Do not be overconfident. He knows you are coming and will place many obstacles in your path.”

“I don’t care!” I waved my hand around my surroundings. “He’s not going to do this to any more worlds.”

Miss Pleater stared at me for a few moments and then nodded in satisfaction. “Very well, then head due north and into the storm.”

[Livingston]

Go get him, Dave. Call on the team as needed.

[Pleater]

Ah yes - sometimes you just have to order Mr Le Forge into the plasma conduit .....

Sorry

P \/\/\/\/\/\/