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[bwahahabeetle.livejournal.com]

[He's in space. ...Well, from the looks of it, he's in space, not in a contained suit, and he's not asphyxiating. Something odd is going on here. Also, space does not look much at all like Chicago.] ....Huh. Well, this is definitely interesting.

[Ted peers around interestedly, and blinks a bit when he notices -- well, buildings. In space. Fun!] So. Coliseum, a weird metal building --are those hotsprings? Either I've ended up in an episode of Star Trek or a holodeck or something, or I've ...magically switched worlds while trying to find the Bug. Oh well. Stranger things have happened, I guess.

[But he's on his guard, now -- what with all that's been happening back home, Booster almost getting killed, he can't be too careful.] So. Anyone wanna tell me where I've ended up? Or, alternatively, what the hell happened to Chicago? I'm not picky. ...As long as you don't try to kill me. Had enough of that lately.

Comments

[no-wait-gold.livejournal.com]

...No way. Ted?

Wait, wait, you're not a zombie or something, right? It's...really you?

[oikoumene.livejournal.com]

Hou, it is close enough! I would not say switching worlds as much as...Hmm, perhaps just visiting another. It seems more appropriate. But there is little danger to be found here, so you need not fear for your life, my friend! Welcome to the Astral Plane!

[bwahahabeetle.livejournal.com]

Why wouldn't it be really me? ...And why aren't you in the hospital? 'Cause last time I saw you, you were kind of unconscious, buddy.

[no-wait-gold.livejournal.com]

...Crap. Uh, I guess I am, but that's a long story. Though, I guess we have all the time in the world. Man, I don't even know how I should handle this.

You're not going to Switzerland soon, are you?

[bwahahabeetle.livejournal.com]

...That's helpful.

I -- just left you to go there, actually. I was gonna go get the Bug, and then I was here.

[bwahahabeetle.livejournal.com]

The Astral Plane, huh? ...Well. I guess I've ended up weirder places. At least this isn't hell.

...So what is this place?

[collector]

[With a pile of papers in his hands, Braxiatel frowns at the newcomer, then smiles] The technology required for this is a bit advanced of what you'd find in most of Star Trek. But Chicago will be fine regardless. We really ought to make informational brochures for this place.

[bwahahabeetle.livejournal.com]

Really? [He grins a little and rubs his hands together, looking gleeful[ Sounds fun. [But then there's a pause, once Chicago's brought up]

Yeah, see, I'm not so sure about that. There've been some ...crazy things happening, lately. I was gonna look into them, but apparently I got sidetracked.

[collector]

[Half of his smile is amusement at Ted's gesture, and the other half is ironic.] The crazy things won't go away while you're here; I can promise you that. But they won't move on without you, either. They'll stay exactly as they were when you left. Out here, we're essentially out of time.

[bwahahabeetle.livejournal.com]

[Well, he can hardly help himself. Shiny new tech!] ...Huh. Well, that's slightly comforting, I guess.

[collector]

Until you start to consider the necessary power for it, anyway. But of course, you can't connect a multiverse without breaking a few walls. [tucking the papers under one arm so he can offer his hand] Irving Braxiatel, by the way. It's a pleasure.

[bwahahabeetle.livejournal.com]

...Well, yeah. There is that. [He shakes the offered hand with a grin] Ted Kord. Pleased to meet you.

[collector]

[He pulls his papers out from under his arm, glancing back down at them briefly before turning his attention back to Ted] Have you picked up anything about this place yet, Mr Kord? Only I'd hate to be redundant. It's so discourteous to us both.

[bwahahabeetle.livejournal.com]

Only that it's called the Astral Plane -- and then what you've told me. [He shrugs a little and grins] It would be so cool if this were actually a holodeck, though. I mean, multiverses are, of course, interesting -- but, I mean, Star Trek!

[collector]

I prefer Blake's 7 myself. [He says this with a straight face, so it's probably a joke] Let's see... [Braxiatel counts each point off on his finger] This is the centre of a network of universes, the entire project is an experiment of some unspecified sort, emotional connection can bring universes together so watch out for that, and, oh, you can go home simply by thinking about it. It's more complex like that, but that seems to be how everyone best grasps it. You're taking all of this very well, by the way. Does it happen very often to you?

[charmandsmiles.livejournal.com]

[the Doctor waves cheerfully] Welcome to the Plane! And don't worry, nothing's happened to Chicago. In fact, getting back's just as simple as walking.

Now I've got a question for you -- two questions, actually. One, who's been trying to kill you? Two, who's this "Bug" you mentioned?

[bwahahabeetle.livejournal.com]

Um, thanks! --And awesome, I'll keep that in mind. [He grins a little and settles back on his feet]

The Bug is, ah, my ship. She's pretty awesome, if I do say so myself. And I don't know who's trying to kill me, I just know they're in Switzerland. So I can't answer that one, at least not yet.

[charmandsmiles.livejournal.com]

[beams] What sort of ship? I've got a ship too -- she's called the TARDIS. That's T.A.R.D.I.S., Time and Relative Dimension In Space. Haven't been able to bring her here, unfortunately, but there's a version of her wandering about in human form.

[he frowns at that last bit of information] Switzerland? What year is it?

[no-wait-gold.livejournal.com]

Here is better, trust me.

{Booster rubs the back of his neck sort of awkwardly. On one hand, he did learn his lesson about trying to change history, but on the other...Well, on the other, it's Ted.}

I guess the easiest way to explain this is...I'm a couple years ahead of you. This place is weird like that, because, I don't know, apparently it can pull people from different points in time. But that makes it complicated.

But hey, don't get me wrong, it's great to see you. You have no idea how great.

[oikoumene.livejournal.com]

{Laughs} Quite the opposite! With a bar that never loses stock of wine and a fine desert to train in, I would say it is closer to a heaven!

But the Astral Plane, it is a point between worlds. There are people from all times, worlds, and walks of life, and we come together here for a purpose that...Well, none of us are quite sure! But it is inconsequential, since there is no harm from it. I would call it more like a gain, in fact!

Though Meredith and those two Twins you saw on your way in are the proper owners of this place, I taken it for my own, and with no opposition, I think that they either do not care, or do not object! After all, there are few that would be as qualified a ruler as I.

{With a big grin, he offers his hand} I am Alexander III of Macedon, conqueror of Persia and the great empires surrounding it.

[boob-window.livejournal.com]

Ted! It's great to see you here!

It's not quite Chicago, but it's not like it's been suddenly devoured by some alien monster or something, I promise.

[superskelton.livejournal.com]

Don't they have that many bugs in Chicago?

[crowheaded.livejournal.com]

[A Japanese boy with really fuzzy hair stares at Ted. He thinks that suit is ridiculous. Also this boy is picking his nose.

He casually inspects his treasure, then flicks it off into space.]

Chicago's still there. Probably. That's the capitol of the USA, right?

[bwahahabeetle.livejournal.com]

Um, okay.

[He's giving Booster a slightly disbelieving look, but he'll listen.]

..Yeah, and what -- Oh. ...Oh. [And then he hesitates a bit] Man. I guess I should have waited to say goodbye then, huh?

[bwahahabeetle.livejournal.com]

[Ted blinks a little and shakes the offered hand] I see. I'm, uh, Ted Kord. ...It's an honor to meet you.