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[@Lumiere][@jorcool][@Metatrooper][@Doc Doctor][@Quote5][@Uncle Spanky][@Dartbored Fairy][@Zyngard][@Oh no my soup]


Just to note: Everyone, please read the entire post. I know it’s long, but it is kinda necessary. In some but not all cases, I have added your characters names as headings in parts that involve them, but most of your character have been mentioned more than once and may also be  involved in other areas of the post that aren't titles with their name reference. The beginning section of the post is also vital in explaining the reasons why all the later events take place. In any case, feel free to go ahead and blame Meta XD. 

Thank you. 
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[center][h1][color=2f4f4f][b]Chapter 4[/b][/color][/h1][/center]
[center][h1][color=000000][b]Love and War[/b][/color][/h1][/center]
[hr]


	Rufus doesn’t know the droids at all, or Meta for that Matter, but the years of drug use and the fact that he is very stoned right now, not to mention being swept away from his home and being lost in space at the moment, and also because he was just about to reach level 80 in Skyrim before stepping into the portal in his bedroom… well, it was all taking a toll on him. He feels hurt by the droids response, as though he was losing a new friend for no good reason. Hell, a tear even wells in his eye as he replies to ASP:

“You know what, metallic dude…. I was never stranded here. So I’m just gonna go…. You should work on your social skills. I wanna go back to my ship now, so b –“

As Rufus said goodbye, he vanished from his cell. 

[hr]

	Rufus appeared on the bridge on his vessel, or rather the vessel he unwittingly commandeered, and is once again surrounded by hovering holographic systems and interactive terminals as he slumped back in his seat.  

“Ship….” He said, then took the last remaining drag on the roach he had pinched between his finger and thumb. “Those guys weren’t nice to poor Rufus at all.” 

“Aww, poor Rufus.” The ship replied in a sympathizing, sensual female voice. “Would you like a cookie?” 

Rufus released a groggy stoned chuckle with a nod of his head. “Sure, my righteous babe, Rufus would love a cookie. Could I also have a bottle of Vodka, the real Russian Stuff, not that American variety? I really wanna drown my sorrows right now.” 

“Absolutely.” The ship replied as a bottle of Russian Standard and a choc-chip cookie appear floating in the air within reach beside him. “Is there anything else I can do for my sweet, sweet Rufus?” 

Rufus grabs the cookie and takes a bite, replying with a full mouth; “Do you have a name, my audacious babe?”

“I was hoping you would ask.” She replies. “You can call me Cynthia.” 

He swallows his mouthful of cookie and takes another bite before opening his bottle of Russian Standard and chugging down a few swallows like it were nothing more than water. “That’s a sweet name.” He tells her. “So hey, let’s do something, right?”

“Thank you, Rufus. What would you like to do with me? Nothing naughty I hope….”  

Rufus releases another stoned chuckle and points to a particular holographic display near the center of the room. The hovering item looked like a ball of purple light with numerous unknown symbols diagrammed in white about its surface. “What is that?” He asks. 

“That is my heart.” Cynthia replies. “It connects me to the universe.” 

“That’s cool.” He says. “What does it do?” 

“My heart does many things.” She answers kindly. “Would you like to play with my heart strings, Rufus?” 

“Hell yeah.” He agrees, leaning forward in his seat and pointing at one of the white symbols. “What does that mark do, specifically?” 

“That is my Quantum Shuffle, Rufus.” 

“Rufus chuckles. “Shuffle, like the dance?” 

“No, not like the dance, Rufus. Think of it as a set of hands holding a deck of cards. Think of the deck of cards as the universe. Would you like to shuffle the deck? If so… all you need do is touch the symbol…. Touch my heart, Rufus….”

The idiot, Rufus, giggles like a child, takes another swig of Vodka and places his finger on the symbol. Cynthia instantly replies:

“That feels nice…. Sleight of Hand, or Random?” 

Rufus seems confused for a moment. “You mean… cheat?” 

“I mean I could do a random shuffle, or I could fix the deck.” 

“Ohhh….” Rufus thinks for a moment and laughs again. “Random sounds fairer.” Though he didn’t really understand what was going on. 

“Then random it is.” Cynthia replied. “Initiating Random Quantum Shuffle calculations. Stand by.” 

Rufus finished his cookie, sunk half his bottle of vodka, and got a little antsy while waiting. Ending a few minutes of silence, Cynthia speaks again:

“Shuffle complete, my sweet Rufus. Would you like to deal the hand now, or would you like time to reconsider?” 

Despite being shitfaced, Rufus had to ask; “What will dealing the hand do, Cynthia?” 

“A lot, Rufus. The universe will never be quite the same again. But it is only the first round. Anyway... there’s only one way to find out for sure.”

Rufus takes one more swallow of Vodka, another toke on his join, and then nods mischievously while swaying drunkenly in his chair. “Yeah….” He slurs his words. “This sounds trippy…. Let’s do this.”

“Then kiss me, Rufus. Plant those lips on the symbol of my heart.”  

Being so very intoxicated at this point with his inhibitions lowered so far, Rufus felt aroused, he even got a slight erection as he leaned in and planted his lips on the white symbol of Cynthia's heart. 

[hr]

	When Rufus’s lips connected with Cynthia's heart, an Omni-directional shockwave exploded from Rufus’s vessel. The invisible wave moved faster than the speed of light, expounding across the universe in less than a blink of an eye. All matter in the universe was effected, all except Ramrod and the [i]other[/i] Rufus who were both on board Cynthia as well, only in a different time line. 

[hr]

[center][h2][color=00a99d]The Quantum Shuffle[/color][/h2][/center]

[hr]


	Every planet and every ship in the universe trembled upon contact with the shockwave. Every sun grew a slight amount and sent out solar flares. Dimensional portals opened like cracks in the very fabric of existence throughout and between the galaxies. The effects of the Quantum Shuffle are so diverse and extenuating that they cannot all be mentioned yet, but one other to specifically mention is Hany’s Ribbon; upon contact with the shockwave from Cynthia, Hany’s Ribbon was duplicated…. There are now seven. 

….

[b][u]Hida, Cuna, Pirila and Mili.[/u][/b] 

	Beneath Cynthia, on the planet only known as Phantom Point, The ground trembled violently. In the already ruined city, what was left of the buildings seemed to shift. For Cas, Shard, Cuna, Pirila and Hida, all the structures around them seemed to multiply, if only for a few seconds while the trembling continued. To those individuals it would have been like their vision was blurred. They would see everything from drunk eyes as though, for the moment, they had double vision. The building, the ruins, even the rocks and people nearby appeared to shift out of phase. 

As the earth tremor subsided and the ruins surrounding them became solid images once again, Cas and Hida mysteriously vanished from the group. 

….

[u][b]Meta[/b][/u]

	Sahmi furtively cast her eyes to Meta now and then while fitting the Transect device to the interior of his Helm. She even made a comment at one point, expressing how she liked his eyes and how he shouldn’t be hiding them behind a visor. She was just about to hand the helmet back to Meta when the shockwave struck. 

The Tempest was rocked like a ship on troubled waters, while for that moment all systems on board, even the droids, malfunctioned. Whatever contact Meta had with his ship in those moments was severed.  At the same time, of course, Meta and Sahmi were shaken along with the entirety of the Quatis fleet. The shaking was sudden and sharp enough to knock the unsuspecting off their feet.  

As the convulsions stopped, Sahmi picked herself off the floor, took up Meta’s helmet in one hand and turned a concerned glare to Meta. 

“What the fuck just happened?” As she asked the question, emergency sirens began to wail throughout the ship. Amid the sounding alarm an emergency message was broadcast through all auditory systems:

“This is First Gamma Palin. All Military hands to their stations. First contact with numerous alien entities is commencing. This is not a drill. I repeat, all Military hands to their stations. First contact with numerous alien entities is commencing. Prepare to engage unknown life forms.”  

…

[u][b]Donny[/b][/u]

	Donny had just completed his speech when the savage convulsion of the ship was felt. Fanny remained in her seat, unaffected by the sudden shake, but she let out a loud holler, sounding like someone cheering for a winning goal in a football match as she jumped from her seat. As the sirens then sounded and Palin’s emergency message was broadcast, the many people in the strip club, previously frozen in position by Fanny, suddenly broke their statuesque poses and started scrambling out of the Strip club. At the same time, Hany, dancing until that point, vanished from the stage while Fanny turned to Donny. Whether Donny was picking himself up off the floor or still remained in his previous position, she approached him with a smile, saying;

“Looks like the intervention of stupid people is on your side, Donny.” She stepped up close and placed a hand on his chest, adding; “But you know you can’t kill Pycin with that bomb in your chest. You don’t want a heartbreak, do you?” As she is finishing her statement, Donny would feel her hands entering his chest. The action caused no wound, blood or even pain. To Donny it would have felt similar to if he had hit his funny bone on the corner of a table, only the sensation was surrounding his heart instead of his arm. Her hand sunk through his flesh and ribcage like passing through warm, soft sand. The sensation would have been accompanied by the tantalizing feeling of her fingers prodding around in the chambers of his heart, searched for the bomb. A few seconds later she withdrew her hand, holding up the bomb between her index finger and thumb for him to look at. The devise was square and metallic, no more than a few millimeters in size. 

“Thanks for the heart to heart, Donny.” She tells him with a small laugh. As she says so, she crushes the bomb. Small traces of dust fall from the pinch of her finger and thumb. “So, it looks like we have an understanding, you and I.” She said. “Now go, Pycin is yours.”  

She allows Donny to reply with what he might have to say before he vanishes.

….

[u][b]Khaganate[/b][/u]

	Somewhere far, far away from Phantom Point Station, The Khaganate fleet is also disturbed by the invisible shockwave of Rufus’s stupid decision. While every vessel in the fleet is rocked like ships on turbulent seas, 20 of their leading military vessels, along with 9 of their civilian ships, dematerialize without a trace….

Back in the canteen among the ships that remain, Fanny spits out her last mouthful of food, unable to hold the masticated meatball as she starts laughing hysterically. As her laughter dies out she wipes her mouth clean with a napkin while the Phalanx Alpha enter the canteen to contain her. She stands from her seat with hands in the air, yelling out:

“You had me at hello, boys! Take me to your leader!” 

Even more than this, previously as the shaking of the Khaganate fleet is settling down, Dino Gavon appears directly in front of the Khan, wherever the Khan may have been at the time. Dino is adorned in his previously mentioned armor. He waddles confusedly for a few seconds, notices the Khan and whatever other officers may have been present and likely composing themselves after being shaken, before he concentrating his attention on the Khan himself. He isn’t stupid enough to raise the gun he’s holding in his hand. In fact he lets the weapon go limp and dangle in the loose clamp of his fingers, as he says:

“…Does my abductor have a name? Or maybe some other space vagrant is responsible for this sweet surprise.” 

….

[b][u]Quote[/u][/b]

	“You appear to be a pleasant and considerate life form,” Queen Avika replies in kind to Ernest Jr. “On account of your recent assistance and your overall demeanor I will take your word on the matter. But let it be known at this time, if you are attempting to elude me, you and the foreigners on board your vessel will be chastised according – ”

The Queen was cut off from the rest of her speech when the shockwave struck. The cavern shook violently. Many of the Otomigus drones became frantic as the queen looked around confused, though she managed to keep on her feet. Moments later the Queen, after looking like she was receiving telepathic messages from somewhere, took her eyes back to Ernest Jr. with a blaming glare. 

“WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?” Her voice thundered, shaking the cavern once again as the initial trembles dies out. While the echo of her thunderous rage dies off, Ernest Jr. will find that communication with The Ernest has been severed. He is on his own. 

At the same time, Ernest, the ship, was shaken by the shockwave. While he was shaken, all the commanders’ people on board disappeared without warning. Still, Ernest is not without occupants, because as soon as the people had disappeared, three full grown male African elephants appear in his cargo hold. The elephants seem a little troubled as they begin to holler and tramp around, trying to find reason to their new whereabouts.  

What may be even more troubling to Ernest, is that he now finds himself no longer in orbit the Otomigus planet. He is somehow now hovering in the dark expanse of space many lightyears from the nearest star, no longer in communication with Ernest Jr. 

….

	While Siren was addressing her question to Aoa, Rodia shook from the shockwave as well. Aoa instantly braced himself, clamping his hand to a nearby wall to stop himself from falling. Stabilizing himself, he turns to Siren and replied in a matter of urgency:

“Looks like our efforts to get to know each other will have to wait. It would seem there has been a -” 

Aoa is cut off from his speech when he inexplicably disappears. 

Mere seconds after Aoa vanishes, Siren receives word that half the R-Core units on board Rodia have also disappeared (the new whereabouts of the missing units is yet to be established). Much to Sirens surprise, blood starts leaking from her eyes. 

….

	While Rodia was still shaking, several Sporn ships and their crew disappear from their port within the artificial Sporn planet as well. A total of 33 ships. 

On the Sporn home world, while the planet is shaken by the impact of the Cynthia’s shockwave, Gamma and Lars wold be surprised to hear the Sporn emergency alarm system sounding. Upon hearing the alarm the civilian units of the Sport suddenly run in various directions as if they are preparing for something horrific. Their attention is taken and appear to no longer care about the newcomers.  The alarm continues to sound. 

….

[b][u]SAM[/u][/b]

	No sooner had Fanny spoken her piece to SAM, did SAM encounter a curios sensation. His vision also became blurred like pixels clouding his perception, and then went blank. 

….

[u][b]Magnus[/b][/u]

	While Magnus is still pondering his next move, his ship is struck by the shockwave as well. Once the ship stops shaking, a female English peasant from the middle ages appears in the seat beside him at the Helm. The peasant smells a great deal of body odor and stale urine. A few leaper-like sores are seen on their face. Apart from this, the peasant girl appears to be somewhat troubled. Their eyes almost pop from their head as they analyse their whereabouts and finally turn their attention to Magnus, speaking in a rugged old English tone:

“May enquire as to who you are, chap, and where I might be at this moment?” 

While the Girl is still speaking, Magnus’s ship is no longer where it used to be. He and his ship are now positioned in front of a massive space ship. There are no planets or stars nearby. The planet previously known as Fanny is nowhere to be seen either, but the massive ship in front of Magnus, one that Hokum finds hard to describe, edges a little closer to Magnus’s vessel before an audio transmission is received from it: 

“We are the Jam. We are currently having a shindig in honor of our late captain. He will not be missed. We have also encountered a shockwave of sorts, while numerous types of wildlife have appeared on our vessel. Are you responsible for these odd events? If so, please explain why. If not, you are welcome to join us in our shindig.”  


[hr]

[center][h2][color=00a99d]The Aftermath[/color][/h2][/center]

[hr]

	The 33 Sporn vessels that had vanished from the Sport home world, all a few miles long and shaped like centipedes, re-appear congregated around the outer most planet of the Phantom Point star system. 

….

[b][u]Khaganate, SAM, Meta, and Chimeras of Triganavia[/u][/b]

	The 20 Khaganate major military vessels, along with 9 of their civilian ships that had vanished from their previous location many galaxies away, all phase back into existence several planets out from the sun of Phantom Point solar system. Here, they are too far from the rest of the fleet to communicate with the others. They are lost in space. 

The officers in control of these vessels will likely give orders to scan their current location. If they do so, they will find that they are not alone. There is an arrow-shaped formation of massive city ships in orbit of a planet (the Quatis Fleet). Also in orbit of the same planet is another ship, though smaller, with one android energy reading on board (The DGS with SAM on board). The ship with the android on board and the Quatis fleet all seem to be made of the same unusual alloy and are likely built by the same species. Apart from these vessels, however, is another ship in orbit of the same planet. This ship (The Tempest) seems to have a dampening field surrounding it, preventing the Khaganate from taking readings of its interior. Very close to The Tempest is yet another vessel that the Khaganate would be unable to take readings from, besides that of a few temporal distortions. There are, as well, other ships of an entirely different origin and composition gathered around the outer most planet of this solar system, while 13 life pods of also unknown origin are sending out standard life pod transmission. These 13 life pods are scattered randomly around the star system (Lumiere’s characters). 

Soon after arriving in this new region of the universe, disconnect from the rest of their fleet, and barely having the time to come to terms with what has happened, the Khaganate fleet receive a message from the flagship of the Quatis fleet on various intergalactic frequencies. The message is received in audio form:  

“This is First Gamma Palin of the Quatis and acting captain of the Flagship Egress. We are new to this region of space. Please state your intentions.” 

….

	Back across the universe in the location of the remaining Khaganate fleet that had not disappeared - and soon after the disruption of the shockwave - the scientist in charge of deciphering the language return with news to the Director. They informing the Director of what they, at the moment, believe to be nearest possible translation of the message they had received a little earlier: 

 “Not harm. Must understand. Crew be return. Not pain. Fight you die.” 

Meanwhile, mass flocks of black ravens appear in many of the hallways, hangars and others rooms throughout the Khaganate fleet. The bird’s flight is chaotic, reminiscent of being spooked and desperate to escape their new location.  

...

[u][b]Chimeras of Triganavia[/b][/u]

	In the wake of the shockwave that rocked the universe, 13 life pods also arrive at random location throughout Phantom Point star system. These life pods are standard in structure, they are roughly 8 feet in length and black in color, appearing like caskets and fixed with active life pod beacons. 

One of these pods are floating within arm’s reach of the hull of one of the recently arrived Khaganate military vessels. 

….

[b][u]SAM[/u][/b]

	When SAM’s vision returns, he finds himself in a new location. He is on board an alien vessel all alone and standing at the helm. SAM wouldn’t know this at first, but he is actually on bard Dino Gavon’s personal ship, the DGS. SAM is still naked, but he quickly hears the ship talking to him in a female voice, saying: 

“Who are you? What have you done with Admiral Gavon?” 

….

[u][b]Hida[/b][/u]

	Cas and Hida had vanished from the grounded group at Phantom Point Station. They barely realize they have vanished from their previous location before arriving in a strange world. They are now amid a pretty brook surrounded by a beautiful forest. The trees of this forest are of highly unusual colors and formation. The sky, visible through the canopy of the trees, is a light violet color.  

Cas was still in the middle of his next step down the road when he realizes he is in a new location, his foot now planting down into the edge of a small pond in the brook. Turning to Hida with expected surprise, he lowers his rifle in shock. 

“What in the fuck…? Where are we? Where are the others?!!” 

Cas then checks the transect device on his wrist, although his confused expression doesn’t change in the least. 

….

[u][b]Pirila, Cuna and Mili[/b][/u]

	Meanwhile, back on the planet, just a short walk from Phantom Point Station, Shard is petrified by Cas’s sudden disappearance. She starts panicking, turning in circles while yelling out Cas’s name and looking at the transect device on her wrist that doesn’t seem to be providing answers. Obviously, Pirila and Cuna would be aware of the sudden earthquake followed by the disappearance of Hida and Cas. 

In addition to this, a massive herd of Wilder Beasts appear some distance down the road from their position. The herd is spooked and charging in their direction. 

….

[b][u]Donny[/u][/b]

	Donny, after vanishing from the strip club, finds himself in Grand Minister Pycin’s living quarters. Donny is standing in an open doorway. In one direction he sees a relatively young and beautiful woman, perhaps Pycin’s wife or daughter, sitting back in a recliner chair sleeping. The continuing wails from the sirens aren’t heard in Pycin’s quarters like they are in the rest of the ship, but there is a terminal near the woman’s position making a small, emergency bleeping sound, though the sound doesn’t seem to be disturbing her rest. In the other direction from Donny’s position is the bathroom. In the Bathroom the Grand Minister is taking a shower. The old man has his back to Donny, for now unaware of his arrival, while lathering his wrinkly buttocks with soap as the water from the shower pours over the front of his person.  

Fanny is no longer present, of course. She has kept their arrangement. 

Oddly enough, Donny would also notice a small flock of arctic penguins waddling about confusedly in the kitchen area on the far side of Pycin’s quarters.

….

[u][b]Meta[/b][/u]

	Sahmi shoves Meta’s upgraded helmet back in his hands as the Palin’s announcement ends and the sirens continue to wail. She doesn’t mean to be rude with these actions, she is just suddenly panicked and scared about what is happening. Turning from Meta she rushes to a nearby monitor that Meta can also view. 

“Show current stats!” She is almost yelling, voice trembling. In response to her demand, the view screen lights up with a catalog of information that is taking place outside. As it does so, a voice emits from a nearby console as well. The computerized voice is loud enough to be heard above the sirens. It informs Meta and Sahmi of the same information displayed on screen, though just a little more summarized, saying:

“New alien vessels detected in this region. Multiple sources being read. All alien vessels are heavily armed. Precautions are being taken. First Gamma Palin has replaced Admiral Dino Gavon on board the Egress. All commands have been reinstated to the First Gamma. All military personnel are to report to their station and await further instruction.” 

In hearing and reading the information, Sahmi turns to Meta, her face now pale with fear. 

“Aliens…. Daddy!” She says as if her mind was losing the plot. She then looks like she is about to faint with despair before raising her wrist to speak into her own transect device, saying:

“Open a link to Dino Gavon by orders of Sahmi Tels.” 

A moment passes wherein she stares in suspense at Meta, but unfortunately her greatest fears are confirmed as the transect device replies in a male sounding, computerized tone: 

“Unable to comply. Dino Gavon’s bio readings are not detected within a 10 lightyear radius of the fleet. The DGS is currently occupied by android readings of unknown denomination. Unable to confirm the Admirals whereabouts.” 

Sahmi then shows her teeth as she grits them together then rushes to the other side of the room where she opens a cabinet and produces a massive cannon-like firearm.  The weapon is almost as big as she is, but she seems to handle it with ease as she turns back towards Meta and yells:

“Come with me! We have to find my daddy! Take me to your ship!” 

….

	Meanwhile, on the Tempest, a Sporn android (Aoa) appears in the cell that Rufus had previously occupied. The 7 foot tall highly advanced drone suddenly becomes hostile, likely believing it had been abducted against its will. Only slightly effected by the forcefield in place, it steps out from the cell and produces a small cannon from an opening in its wrist while a drill-like appendage extends from the palm of its other hand. In addition to this its eyes light up as though lasers were being activated as it advances towards the nearest ASP.

…. 

[b][u]SAM and Khaganate[/u][/b]

	While all this is happening, a full grown Killer Whale appears in space above Phantom Point. It begins to writhe and twist, suffocating as it starts to fall towards the planet. No doubt the Khaganate arrivals would detect this life form within in their new vicinity as well. On board the DGS, while hearing the voice of the ship demanding answers about Dino Gavon, SAM would be able to see the giant killer whale pass by the view screen of the Bridge on its way to the planet below.  

[hr]

[center][h2][color=00a99d]Other[/color][/h2][/center]

[hr]

[u][b]Khaganate[/b][/u]

	Jens and Anderson find themselves in a room of unknown dimensions. The other 400 or so officers taken from their posts at random are also contained there, but none of them are aware of each other’s presence. Jens and Anderson will find that they are naked and strapped to metal slabs of some kind. The slabs are on a slight lean backwards. Jens and Anderson have a bright light shining in their face, not allowing them to see anything beyond the glare.  

….

[b][u]Quote[/u][/b]

	While all this is happening across the universe, Ramrod can continue working on what he is creating, completely oblivious to what is taking place outside the ship he is on. While Ramrods is working, Rufus has had too much to smoke and falls to sleep in his chair.