|| -------- -- -----  A E R I E   O B L I V I A N A . singular book of text wandertainment by Frank Edward Nora ------------------- ----------- OFFICE COMPLEX--CUP 46--"TOWING THE ENORMOUS OCEAN LINER DOWN THE FROZEN RIVER" <-------  ||  Severe Repair  ||  Office Complex  ||  -------> (Cup SRoc046, Created v2 (6/7/99), Copyright 1999) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Ferrajalt was flying in his biplane over the ten Warhomes and the ocean liner that was chained to them. This was the final check before they would proceed to tow the boat down the frozen river and into Office Complex of Gumhanshire. The boat, "Recrudescent", was tilted at a 45 degree angle on the glassy surface of the river. The Warhomes were laid out in an intricate pattern, set forth by Injure Bodoni. Each driver would receive specific instructions from Injure of exactly what to do at each section of the river. A call came in, and Ferrajalt punched the purple button on his console. Treyess's face came into view. "Everything look okay up there?" she asked. "Yup. So I guess this is it." "Yeah. So when we're flying, come right next to me, okay? I don't want to lose you." Ferrajalt smiled. "I won't let you get away from me." Suddenly, the was a barrage of flashing lights from below Ferrajalt. "What the hell was that?" Ferrajalt yelled. "What?" Treyess asked. Ferrajalt swung around to see the guns of one Warhome firing--firing at one of the giant streetlights lining the river. The guns released pulse after pulse at the base of the streetlight, and before Ferrajalt knew it, the enormous thing was falling right toward the ocean liner! "Treyess! Someone shot a streetlight down--it's gonna--" With a shudder, the shaft of the streetlight lurched and collapsed right onto the Recrudescent. A thunderous noise reverberated throughout the destroyed landscape. "What happened?" Treyess asked. "Someone--someone shot down the streetlight!" Suddenly, a little rectangle opened in the corner of the video screen--it was Nevrippa Den. "It's okay everybody--I just shot down one of the streetlights." Den said calmly. "It landed perfectly on the boat--I just couldn't bear to leave this place without getting one of those beauties. Sorry for the inconvenience, but it should be okay, right?" Ferrajalt was speechless. "She really did that?" Treyess asked. "Yeah!" the Prince said, nodding in disbelief. Then, on the video screen, Den's face was replaced by that of Ledrant Hate. "Okay people." Hate said. "I'm just as dumbfounded as all of you regarding what Nevrippa has apparently just done--but we don't have time to question the repercussions of this event--we will go ahead as planned--Injure will determine if any course changes are called for--everyone at their driver's seat--prepare to begin." "Fuck!" Ferrajalt said. "That little weirdo may have just killed us all!" "I don't know." Treyess said. "I don't even want to think about it. I just want to get this over with." "Yeah." Ferrajalt said. "Let's do it. I'll see you in the air--and back in reality, hopefully." Treyess closed her eyes and kissed toward Ferrajalt. He kissed back and shut the screen off, as he zoomed back toward his Warhome--the original one he and Treyess first found. Soon, back in the Warhome, Ferrajalt got to his driver's seat to find Bodoni on the screen "Okay people." Injure said. "If your motors aren't running, get them so. Also, turn on your flashing lights--if there's anyone or anything on the river, we want to let them know we're coming." Ferrajalt revved his engine a little to make sure it was on, then he flicked a switch to activate the red and blue flashing police lights." "Now," Injure said, "we'll start off straight, but then we'll have a slight left turn. Everyone please check in, and then we can get started." "Ferrajalt here--ready." the Prince said. On the screen, Injure was nodding. "Don't worry Sleap--you'll do fine." Injure said, apparently to the concerns of Sleap in her Warhome. "Okay? Okay. So this is it. Everyone, straight, and start off SLOW, on the countdown to ZERO. Okay? 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1--ZERO!" Ferrajalt gently depressed the accelerator and moved forward a little, picking up the slack in the chain attached to his Warhome. Once the chain was taut, his wheels began to spin, but after a few seconds, he felt a deep thud from somewhere within the vehicle as it dropped a few inches closer to the ground. A high pitched wail could be heard from the engine as he pressed down further on the accelerator. "Okay folks." Injure said from the screen. "Looks like the tow function has kicked in--now let's increase the power a little..." Ferrajalt did this, and he started moving forward. As he looked around, he saw that the others were moving too. Soon, the ten Warhomes were indeed towing the enormous ocean liner down the frozen river--even with the giant streetlight dragging alongside. The group made a few minor turns with ease, but several sharp turns were coming up. "Okay folks, we're doing good." Bodoni said. Ferrajalt's heart was beating hard and fast in his chest--he knew there was no turning back. "Now," Bodoni said, "get ready for the turn--we have to start well before we get there--coming up..." -------> ------------------- ----------- -------- -- -----