FanFic - DP/UF - Crossroads [18]
MegaZone
--------------------------------------------------------------EIGHTEEN
"Once you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains,
however improbable, must be the truth."
--Sherlock Holmes
1 AUGUST 1992 WORCESTER, MA
Zoner, Gryphon, and ReRob roamed about the Alden Commons
engaged in a heated discussion.
"I think I should die, some good emotional drama," Zoner
suggested.
"Bite me, fanboy. I will not allow you to kill yourself off,"
Gryphon rejoined.
"How about this...we get over to the AT&T somehow, and take
Largo on in person," Rob proposed.
"This is great," Zoner commented.
"What is?" Rob asked.
"Hanging out next to Alden Hall, early August, brainstorming
at," glancing at his watch, "midnight, well almost. And you know,
Moxie isn't half bad either."
"You tell me, guys...is this better than sex?" asked ReRob.
"I don't know about better than sex. Maybe just as good in a
different sort of way. Don't get me started or we'll never figure out
how to end UF," Zoner caught himself.
"What are we going to do with the end though? We've got the
core group back together, the Child is dueling with the AT&T, but we
still have to take out Largo somehow. I don't think the fans would
appreciate it if we just blew up the AT&T and killed Largo in one
move. That's too impersonal, he's been the big evil dude and we have
to kill him in a suitable manner," Rob summed up the situation.
"And I'd like to try to get this done by Christmas. Ben has
Altered Appleseed done, for the most part, and I've started on my own
side story, Solitude, that happens before UF4. Are you doing anything
Rob?"
"Well, I have a few ideas. I'm not sure yet."
"Ok, and Ben's got some other stuff up his sleeves that I'd
like to contribute to. Plus I want to get a couple of plays in for
New Voices 11, and my poetry, etc, ad nauseam... We seem to have
embarked on a tangent again...back to UF4...so, what do we do? Ram
the AT&T a la the SDF versus Bedolza? Is the main gun powerful enough
to take it out? How about the...what did you call it, the phase
transit cannon? Ben, that was your baby, what can it do?"
"Oh, you'll find out. Think about the name...it traverses
phase. Otherwise, it's basically your standard anime death beam."
"We still have to figure out what we're going to do to win the
battle and end the saga," said Rob, pointing out the obvious.
"If I might point out, Rob, we haven't finished Part 3 yet,
technically; the details of the setup and breakup have yet to be
determined."
"Yeah... And I'd rather not have a deus ex machina like
Iczer-1 returning or something. Which brings up another loose thread,
does Vaughn ever find her? Does Vaughn come back at all? I'd like
him to," Zoner added.
"Morning."
"Vaughn!" the three startled authors chorused.
"How's life??"
"Eh... Aren't you supposed to be in Vermont?" ReRob inquired.
"Yes. But I met someone in London who really wanted to meet
you. Meet Sherlock Holmes."
"Vaughn, what's up?" Zoner asked.
"The sky, the moon, no no no... Really, this is Sherlock
Holmes, I met him while I was working on my IQP... I brought him back
with me."
"Good evening, I am Sherlock Holmes, but perhaps you know me
better by my other name," long dramatic pause, "Edison Bell."
"I have a REAL bad feeling about all this," Zoner moaned.
"I think it's funny. Nice one, Vaughn," Gryphon chuckled.
"We have fans in London?" ReRob asked.
"Somehow I get the feeling that is far too simple an
explanation Rob," Zoner answered. "Indeed, Brian."
Zoner cringed. "My apologies, MegaZone. That would be far simpler
than the truth. In truth, I am Edison Bell, born in 1972, returned
from 2288, via the year four hundred thirteen million, or thereabouts.
All that, of course, you know, for you wrote it."
"Ok...transdimensional fictional beings. Now I understand.
Ya'know, somehow this has totally failed to shock me," Zoner calmly
stated. "Who forgot to pay the reality bill?"
"Us, Zone," Rob answered.
"Overdrawn at the reality bank," Ben finished. "How
embarrassing."
"That does not change the fact that I am from your universe,"
Edison calmly stated.
"Bah! You mean we created you?" Rob asked.
"Well, no, actually; I believe that honor goes to one Joseph
Martin."
"If Thag created you, why do you want to see us?" Zoner asked.
"Because there is a desperate situation that needs your
immediate attention," Edison answered.
"To back up for a minute. What's this about you being
Sherlock Holmes?" ReRob inquired.
"There's no time for trivialities at the present. We must
away now."
"Vaughn, you going?" Zoner asked, Ben just taking in the whole
scene and Rob seeming to lose his grip a bit.
"Why not?? Sounds cool."
"Than let's do it." Zoner gathered his jacket and few
belongings. "Gentlemen, let's go. Lead on, Mr. Bell."
"Edison please, this way."
Edison led them through the side door of Alden Hall.