|| -------- -- -----  A E R I E   O B L I V I A N A . singular book of text wandertainment by Frank Edward Nora ------------------- ----------- GOODBYE POPCORN--CUP 31--"HELLO TARBY" <-------  ||  Severe Repair  ||  Goodbye Popcorn  ||  -------> (Cup SRgp031, Created v2 (6/7/99), Copyright 1999) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = "Okay." Daptin said. "There are five cities, connected to each other and to Red Alley by standing bridges. I mean, they're definitely bridges, but they're permanent, but very stable. Apparently, they're concealed by advanced situation claying, far more advanced than anything we have in Aconck. And their tech is also far beyond ours, although they just have old stuff--nothing new. Anyway, Grant, see, I was, when I was visiting my friends at Thatterine College, where I went, they told me about this place called Agoopish, and then they just, like, took me out to this abandoned area and then like, we were just in this weird city." "And these friends of yours--they know nothing of Aconck?" Granticaine asked. "No. I was thinking of telling a few people, but I didn't. I mean, it was weird. They were expecting me to like totally flip out, but really, I was like, big deal guys, I've been to tons of other worlds. But like, I tried to make like I was totally shocked and stuff. But this is a definite thing, that the two worlds, I mean Avert and Aconck, are separate. I mean, think about what the companies would do if they knew about it? All sorts of new armaments and tech, and a lot of potential operatives in the Avert mortals. And the potential for reopening Sweptim--y'know--it could destroy all of everything we know. So like, you can see where I'm coming from." Granticaine took a deep breath and rubbed his chin in deep thought. Sleap the waitress came out with a tray full of strong teas and fend fruit. "Here y'all go." she said, setting all the stuff down. "Thanks." Daptin said. "Still contemplating the absurdities of Greatwall?" she asked. "Yeah." Daptin said. "It's a strange world out there. A lot to see. A lot to see." "I know what you mean. I've always wanted to travel more. It seems like so many people ignore the world outside of Greatwall. It's like, let's go to Porbe, let's go to Goal, it's all the same. There's a whole world out there! But who'll listen?" "Yeah. Travel's great." Daptin said, a little impatient as he could see Granticaine chomping at the bit to ask him about what he had just revealed. "Yeah. I don't know. People here are just so used to Tarby and the Return of Tarby. I mean, just look at this place, 'Hello Tarby'. It's like there's so much else out there besides all this, but..." "I know what you mean." Daptin said. "So much out there, and like, so little time and stuff to do it." "Yeah. Well, gotta get the register. Enjoy!" Sleap said as she brightly walked away. "Ah, strong tea. My favorite thing about Mate P." Granticaine said. "This weird fruit ain't bad either." "Not bad at all." Granticaine said, taking a bite out of an oblong, peeled blue citrus. "Now Daptin, I must tell you. I read a lot and I've become quite conversant with Bestroystraw's works and related materials, and I have to say that if you're right, we're faced with a dilemma." Granticaine finished off the fruit with a loud slurp. "I'm just telling you what I know. I could be wrong." Daptin said. "I realize that, but from what you're saying, I think you may have something. But tell me, beyond all this, what is this mission you referred to before?" "Okay. I had become what in Avert they term a 'mortal', which means I can handle their bridges and use their tech. They had sent me on my first official mission, they being The Caxopy Group, a small mortal organization. Anyway, they had us, me and my friend Fake Cerquaine, go on this mission with this Cup of Coffee to rescue this girl who was like trapped inside the Cup. Anyway, to make a long story short, they lied to us and we wound up in this totally fucked-up place, and we were attacked by this gang, and I ate some goodbye popcorn, a piece of their tech, which makes you not exist for awhile." "They have tech popcorn?" "Yeah. All sorts of stuff--you gotta see it. Anyway, apparently it didn't work there and I was like totally eradicated. Then like, I mean, if I'm telling you this I may as well tell you about Obfuser. He's an Ultra Occult Entity, and he like saved me since I was like dumped out by reality like billions of years later. So he returned me here--that's how I got back. So I have this Cup of Coffee, and I need, just to, y'know, rescue my friend Fake, and maybe, y'know, figure out things with the Caxopys, I mean, deal with why they did this to us." "Well Daptin, it sounds like a mission I can certainly help you with. What exactly is the course of action, or do you even know?" -------> ------------------- ----------- -------- -- -----