Invasion

[break_a_melody]

[726 Anderson Lane]

[The invasion has gone underway. As usual, Giegue relied on his strategy of turning the people of a planet against itself with his mental abilities before having his own forces directly step in. His people were able to conquer so many worlds the same way. There is no more effective strategy than turning enemy against enemy before taking over. Giegue knew this and this is precisely why PSI was such a dangerous power. Humans were increasingly becoming threats. That is why he cannot turn back on hate for them.

Giegue hardly rested. His kind didn't have to especially those who have gone through the mechanization process. He simply observed from his Mothership in a secluded location on Earth the pointless struggles of man against man. He would sometimes become weary when hate alone could not sustain him. It was then in that instant he found himself now awake in Mayfield.

A tall, slender, cat-like, yet humanoid creature lying down on the carpet allowed its gaze to wander around the living room of the Nigma household. This was very much like the 1950's of Eagleland. Frowning, he attempted to contact his troops scattered throughout the world with his psychic abilities... but to no avail. PSI has left his body. Most troubling.

Something had happened. He lacks the power to communicate to his troops let alone other people. He has become mundane like any other Earth creature. Therefore, he should act like an Earth creature if only to keep his disguise. And so he does. But it is quite obvious from appearances that he is not a normal Earth creature. He stands on both of his legs like a human would, but he will not show that he can think or speak as they do. Standing on both legs, mimicking a more balanced ape, he walks around the home feigning innocent curiosity to gather data.]

[Around Mayfield]

[And this continues even outside. When he grows tired of walking, or perhaps to fool others, he will crawl on all four of his legs before getting up again. As Giegue wanders around town, he looks into store windows, remarking silently just how mundane all of it is. How bold to pretend that it is completely normal after kidnapping a conqueror of his stature. He sits on both of his knees in front of a store window and looks, feigning curiosity yet again.]

[Phone]



[The voice of a man perhaps in his late-thirties to early-forties speaks from the other line. He seems nervous, but only a little bit. Otherwise, he remains quite calm as he speaks.]

... Well, well...

This is quite the quaint burg that I've found myself in. I've always dreamed of waking next to a beautiful woman, but it's a little different when it actually happens.

[He laughs a little.]

My name is George. I was a journalist back where I'm from, but I don't think anybody has the imagination to believe in a story like this. The story of a town, no, a world... Mayfield, is it? That would pull all of us into while we were all sleeping.

There's no use calling up a taxi out, but that's fine with me. Men know how to adapt and adjust. It's a new beginning and I'm a man who believes in opportunity. Am I speaking to anyone who has been here for a while or just arrived along with me?

Comments

[Action]

[ceasetoexist]

[It's a lazy day. And with lazy days? Comes wandering around town like a goon for Pokey. Really, it's been a while since he's searched the town, and with how some streets have been added since he first came here it would be a good idea to update the map he had made upon arrival. And really, after all that's happened....he just needs some time alone.

There's a lot to think about, in it's own way. He's still unsure how to feel about Christmas, and the events leading up to it, and he still believes so much that he was in the right about sacrificing himself. If people wanted to be mad at him, fine, they were free to be idiots, whatever. He was still right.

But it was mixed, too. He'd failed to protect Mindy, but managed to protect Picky during everything and that had been...something. He wasn't sure he'd call it a total success, but it was something.

He rounds one of the corners near the stores, planning to head towards the bakery.

And just stops dead in his tracks, staring. He doesn't say a word, but there's a loud, audible sucking in of breath.

He didn't see Giegue much during their plans, didn't interact personally that much aside from when he'd finally opened the Devil's Machine, but he still knew what Giegue looked like. Even after what had been four hundred years for him in space-time, and a year and a half in Mayfield, he hadn't forgotten.

He should run. That's his first thought. To run as far and fast as he can and call the town. To tell them what's just arrived. To do so would almost even be brave in consideration of Pokey's usual actions.

But he can't. He just stands there, still, frozen, mouth agape staring at Giegue just as Giegue stares into the store window.]

[Action]

[break_a_melody]

[To fool your enemies, you must first fool your friends. As ignorant the ugly Earth creatures were, they certainly had their few moments of brilliance. Giegue refrains from revealing his ability to speak to Pokey. He merely turns his head towards the boy and then the rest of his body... and gives him a noticeable smile. It's not a happy, warm, or welcoming smile. It's one of deviousness and delight in an opportunity.

Giegue approaches Pokey a little and stands tall closer over the boy and reaches out for his shoulder. His right-hand man was here all along beyond his notice. He didn't question why that was so, but welcomed how easy scouting this place would be now that he had his right-hand man again.]

[Action]

[ceasetoexist]

[Move away. Move away. He needs to move away, to not let Giegue touch him, even if the touch clearly isn't meant to be hostile. In a weird way, the complete lack of speech and smile just make things so much worse, and somehow just validate Pokey's initial reaction that much more. It's Giegue. It's definitely Giegue. He's here somehow after being dead for four hundred years and oh God what is he going to do.

He shivers at Giegue's touch, his eyes slowly following up to look into Giegue's own. His mind still shouts to bolt, to run, and his legs still fail to obey. He has to do something. He can't just stand here and immediately accept Giegue. He has to do something.

And it's so hard to do anything. He just stares, silently, for a moment before giving a small "harumph".]

What are you doing here?

[Those words were meant to be strong, defiant, but instead come out quietly, almost genuinely inquisitively. That wasn't at all what he had wanted.]

[Action]

[break_a_melody]

[Giegue does not respond. He frowns in response to the question and raises his arm to his face to tap at his chin as if pondering. Looking around left to right, he notices the letters of the store windows. Ah, of course. He could always spell his response, couldn't he? At least then he wouldn't have to jeopardize his ability to speak. But ah, he has nothing to write with. This isn't a problem at all.

Giegue extends his hand out to Pokey's arm and pulls it up, demanding the palm of his hand. He raises his other hand and begins to spell out letters on Pokey's palm. Hopefully he could tell by touch, but it didn't matter one way or another. Pokey knew what he was capable of and he might as well indulge. He moves around the tip of his index finger around Pokey's arm, writing his invisible message out.]

"N O C H O I C E"

[Action]

[ceasetoexist]

[Pokey allows him to, even if he doesn't like it. He gives a small snort in response to the message.]

Yeah. None of us do. It's a blast.

[He pauses a minute. How much should he divulge to Giegue? From Giegue's reaction, he's apparently from a point in time where Pokey was still his servant, so for the moment? It'd be best to pretend that was still the case. If he can keep Giegue somewhat complacent, that's for the best. He just doesn't know how long he'll be able to do so.]

We're in a town called Mayfield. It's an enclosed dimension, with no way in or out. Trying to leave the town causes you to circle back, at least from walking. I assume there are similar obstacles to stop flight and tunneling, haven't gotten to try myself yet. You've already noticed your powers are gone: that happens when we get here. Everything we have is stripped from us, and returned piece meal, usually one thing every one or two months after an "event" when the town does some stupid crap.

You're expecting to fill some role in the house you've been put in. Everyone is expected to act like part of the perfect family, and failure to comply can lead to a type of brainwashing called "droning". You've seen the really happy, stupid looking people here? Those are drones. We can be made into them too: sometimes for a few hours, a few days, weeks, months, or even permanently.

Time doesn't matter here, either.

I've been here a year and a half, so far.

[He'll leave off where he's from in the time line himself. As well as the fact that death is meaningless here. He'd rather not have you know that yet, Giegue.]

[726 Anderson Lane]

[questionauthority]

[In lieu of a droned pink pony handing him the paper this morning, Edward's greeted by the sight of a tall, catlike creature. On its hind legs.]

...let me guess. Another talking animal.

[726 Anderson Lane]

[break_a_melody]

[Yes, Edward. He certainly can speak, but he has nothing to speak to an ugly human such as yourself. And to him, that's all you are for the moment. Giegue gives Edward a look then turns away, but does not respond. Instead, he mimics the average housecat and proceeds to kick at the back of his "paw".]

[questionauthority]

[No response?]

...well. That's promising.

[break_a_melody]

[Giegue's appearance was cat-like, but his mannerisms seemed more like a fusion of feline and simian. He moves on all fours closer over to Eddie's feet and sits once again on his knees. It looks up at him, curiously, and mimics the feline purr.]

726

[inthebones]

[When Giegue enters the living room, he will be met by a woman hefting a poker over her shoulder. Susan's attitude is as one who's been waiting for some time.]

Take one step towards the stairs, and you'll be on all threes long enough to appreciate how much work went into inventing the tripod.

726

[break_a_melody]

[Were you the person of authority in this house, Susan? You certainly have that sort of a presence and attitude. Giegue sits back down on its knees and pretends to pay Susan no heed. It looks up at her, but turns away. There is no response for after all, what sort of a "cat" has that power to? But it will do as told for now. It will not approach the stairs.]

[inthebones]

Stop.

I know you think you're being clever, but it's really very embarrassing. For you. Either you're a new arrival, in which case, you're as intelligent as anyone else here - which is to say, not very, but I like to at least humour the rest of the population - or you're a construct of the town, in which case, the idea that you're a dumb animal is hysterical.

If you have no idea what either of those are, it doesn't matter, because surprise, I can hear those thoughts of yours whirring along thinking how very clever you are at pretending to be a kitty, surely these idiot creatures will never see through your guise.

[break_a_melody]

[You're a perceptive woman, Susan. Giegue is almost impressed with that. But no matter how much you care to speak, he will not prove your point as true as it is. He will have lost then. No matter how much Susan may demand the answer out of him, he cares not to respond.

No. Perhaps mockingly, he'll give you a little purr and wipe at his cheeks with the side of his arm. He gives no smile to communicate any emotion of understanding. He will simply purr and pay you no notice, Susan.

He's only a cat, after all.]

726 Anderson

[hintcoinplz]

[Luke nearly walks right into Giegue, before leaping back. Yeah, he wasn't expecting a bipedal cat thing wandering around, not especially after he'd gotten somewhat used to the creepy Pinkie Pie drone.]

O-oh! Er, hello there, little fellow. Are...you supposed to be here?

...I've never seen a cat walk on two legs before.

726 Anderson

[break_a_melody]

[So a boy lives here too. Giegue gives Luke a visibly cold look that for a second seemed almost human. The emotion, at the very least, was something familiar to humans, but it quickly subsides. He lowers himself to his knees and on all four "legs" as he approaches Luke.]

Re: 726 Anderson

[hintcoinplz]

[Luke kneels down, holding his hand out.]

I can talk to cats, you know. You don't have to stay silent if you don't want.

726 Anderson

[break_a_melody]

[Unfortunately, that's exactly what he'll do. He looks over at Luke's hand, but does nothing with it. There is no amount of affection in the "cat's" body that he would want to share with you, Luke. Rather, he will keep his eyes focused on you and see what you will do next.]

Phone

[the_end_run]

What sort of opportunities are you talking about?

Phone

[break_a_melody]

To learn. To build camaraderie. To make business. These are all fine opportunities, friend.

[the_end_run]

Look, I'm all for seeing the bright side of things George, but being kidnapped isn't exactly an ideal situation for those sort of opportunities. Wouldn't an escape be more of a priority than starting a business?

[break_a_melody]

Of course. But if there is anything that has brought people closer together and farther away, it's business. We'll find a way to bring each other together against whoever sent us here. This is just my own way of fighting.

I'd like to return to my home as much as you would, miss...?

726 Anderson

[strike_you_out]

[If Geigue manages to wander into one of the second floor rooms, he will find a second boy sitting quietly on the middle of the floor, his back turned to the door. Slugger is adding to his notebook the most recent occurrence in the town: namely, 'loud annoying noise radiating from Dairy' and 'time skipped three days ahead'.]

726 Anderson

[break_a_melody]

[On all four legs, Giegue steps into the room and notices that a boy is sitting there, writing in something. He has no reason to abide by things such as "personal space". Not that he has in the past what with his frequent mind probes. Giegue steps closer to Slugger's side to see what he's writing.]

[strike_you_out]

[Slugger senses the presence before he sees who is approaching. In his lap, a dozing kitten rouses from its sleep and hisses quietly. The pen stops and he turns his head in time to spot a creature he's never seen before looming nearby and watching him.

Silent, he watches it back with steady curiosity. The room is not particularly dark but his face is steeped in shadows beneath a red ball cap. On the floor in front of him lies an aluminum baseball bat, its barrel warped at an unusual angle.]

[break_a_melody]

[The red cap and bat are both reminders of those who formerly resisted Giegue. Fate had an astounding way of mocking Giegue and so, he mocked it back by perverting it and time and space as much as he preferred to. Granted, there were obvious physical differences between Slugger and Ness/Ninten. This one carried an aura that wasn't quite as gentle or welcoming as the other two boys. He almost reflected in his appearance what could have been the opposite of what they stood for. Giegue looks back at Slugger and then peers over his shoulder at the notebook he's writing in.]