Welcome to Gaia! ::

The aftermath of the Conference was all hustle and bustle and Kevin and Rose could not have been more confused. They were in a strange, empty place, surrounded bys unfamiliar faces, having just been privy to a bizarre set of circumstances involving several people Rose knew and, most importantly for Kevin, Djerod, who was also Peter, who was also the Lord Grey Mage.

There was little either could say seated at the table. An air of silence seemed to cover everything and only a very tiny percentage of people dared to speak. Rose and Kevin, as outsiders, did not feel they had that right. Now that the Conference was over and peolpe were beginning to leave, they could begin to converse to each other.

Kevin looked at Rose. Rose looked at Kevin. "So," said Kevin.

Kevin scarcely had time to start replying. "I think-- Dad!"

Djerod/Paul/Peter appeared behind Rose, emerging from the crowd. He was varying shades of grey, still dressed as the Lord Grey Mage in long grey coat and hat. As he approached the color rose to his cheeks and by the time he was within conversation distance his skin was the color of pale flesh and his eyes an unusual blue-grey with tightly-retracted pupils. "Kev! Rose!" He smiled as he greeted them. His hands were clapsed unsocially behind his back.

Kevin looked conflicted. His father was not giving him the most approachable signals. He took half a step forward and bit his lip uncertainly. Djerod noticed the dilemma and unclasped his hands, opening his arms. With a grin, Kevin crossed the last two steps and embraced his father. "It's so good to see you, Dad!"

"Yourself as well," answered Djerod, releasing Kevin. He looked over to Rose with bright, mischievous eyes.

Djerod seemed to have lost a few more years, nothing too drastic. He was now about his mid-thirties, less wrinkled and lined, but with the same familiar wise smile that belied his many years.

Djerod quirked an eyebrow at the hand, shaking it delicately. There seemed to be a question in his eyes: Why are we bothering with such formality? if Rose was feeling too nervous, he was content to let it stand, but his hand was warm and welcoming around Rose's.

"Certainly not," said Djerod pleasantly. "The circumstances were unfortunate, but that situation has been long since dealt with. Think nothing of it." From how he said it, it sounded like it might have been years ago that he had gathered up the weapons from Wakefield and not a few short weeks. Still, something went hard in his eyes when he referenced the events.

Djerod was quick to move them into another direction. He was the one with all of the knowledge and experience regarding their current situation, it was only logical he be an informal leader. "If you've had quite enough of this, several people are planning an impromptu concert to usher in the new era, so to speak."

"Intel?" mused Paul, glancing skyward and squinting his eyes thoughtfully. He looked across the crowd, thinking aloud. "Pavel's already gone. I suppose he's not really with Intel any longer? Possibly Kagawa Satosuke." There was a great deal of uncertainty in Djerod's words. The simple fact was that Intelligence was no more, along with the rest of the Fleet. He finally returned his attention to Rose. "I suppose you could find Kagawa before the Archives are dismantled. I don't think he'd let you any access, though. Perhaps someone in Security would be better, their database isn't so tightly regulated. Adomital might be at Central helping Trant with the disassembly. Yes, that sounds right."

Kevin watched the exchange with bit lip, unable to comment on it since he had no idea who or what either of them were talking about. All he could do was suggest with strong concern, "have you contactd the police?"

Djerod let out a laugh at that. "Security is the police, at least so far as the Fleet is concerned. I don't believe I've ever heard of any effective corollary on Gaia. Have you, Rose?" The admins and moderators were, of course, totally ineffectual at maintaining order. The four million users made sure of that.

"Seven inches tall?" repeated Kevin, thinking that was too small even for a midget.

The crowd around them was beginning to thin as people popped off and disappeared to dozens of destinations. Unlike Kevin and Rose, they knew where they were going and how to get there. There was no need for them to linger. (Except for the few who were hanging about for quite a different purpose.)

"I'll be sure to inform him as to your inquiry," said Paul gravely. "Kevin? Coming?"

Kevin jumped a bit. "Sure," he said. It had been at least ten years since the last time he went to a concert, but since he knew his father played the cello, he expected it would be some sort of classical deal.

"Excellent," said Paul, and without needing to reach out and touch them he Moved them out of the ice field in a sudden dissolve to the Green.

The Green was aptly named, because it was nothing but a giant, mildly hilly field. Normally the name was a bit more obvious: at the moment, a large portion of the grass was completely obscured by the crowds of people.

There were hundreds, if not thousands. Uniforms, civilian clothes, humans, elves, aliens, mages, scientists, warriors, pilots, soldiers, housewives, royalty and peasants and every possible demographic in-between. Most of the crowd seemed to know one another, chatting and laughing in voices that rose together into a giant, oppressive din.

The focal point of the crowd was a stage set at the bottom of a large, shallow depression. Not the half-domed scallop shell of an orchestra stage, but the metal poles and concrete base of an outdoor rock concert. The speakers were already in place and the band, electric guitars and drums and a keyboard, were just putting the finishing touches on the setup.

It was massively overpowering and awe-inspiring. Paul smiled with contently bordering on smugness. He had clearly known beforehand what he was getting into and there were no surprises for him.