Side Story Exploratio Continua!

Velma Dinkley

Velma hadn't noticed the speakers, but she must have missed them earlier. It wasn't like they had magically appeared or something. " I imagine that is what the announcement was for after all. Oh, yes, I can. I'm part of a mystery solving team who track down ghosts and monsters, though they are mostly just men or women in masks, across the globe too. I also used to work for NASA for a bit when we briefly disbanded the group, but it just didn't interest me as much, even though I love science."

@Yun Lee

Yun Lee said:

Once again, nothing would happen when Shockwave attempted his dinosaur creation. Taking his advice, though, Leaf would pick up the sandwich and get a good look. "Uh...it LOOKS like grilled cheese..." She pulled the bread apart, smiling as the cheese stretched out. "Smells like it, too! I wonder why I could make this, and Huey could make the paper, but you can't make anything..."

@Crow @Sark @Takumi @Donder172

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Ulfi shrugged at the comment "There has to be a reason why. If I think I know the reason why then we're going to have an uphill battle ahead of us."

Yun Lee said:

"Or, maybe you just gotta hold the pin, dude." Leaf pointed to the beef stew that had just appeared right next to the grilled cheese.

"Let me try..." Leaf held the pin, furrowing her brow. "Uh...ooh! I want a feather duster so I can dust this place off! One of those super feathery ones that maids use! I always wanted one of those!"

Sure enough, it would appear.

"Woo! Look, there it-huh?" Suddenly, the grilled cheese sandwich started to shake, and vanished into a little puff of sparks. "Hey! I was gonna eat that!"

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"Hmm, perhaps you can have only thing appear at once." Ulfi said in response to the disappearing sandwich. She took her own pin and held it in her right hand. "Hmm... I want salmon steak and Nord Mead."

Yun Lee said:

Whitmore merely chuckled. "Not a very imaginitive fellow, are ya?"

Sure enough, a very simple grandfather clock appeared, and as The Doctor had said, it was nothing fancy.

Winston's jaw dropped, and he looked to his pin in shock. "Did this pin...?"

Whitmore didn't seem to hear Winston, and instead walked over to the new clock. "Well, hopefully this clock is functional...now what time is it..." He smacked his hand to his cheek once he read the time. "Great Scott! We're late!" He pointed to Winston. "You! Hold that pin and imagine a PA System in this building!"

"Uhh...all right?" Winston took a seat on the ground, holding the pin in his hand. "There's a PA system here...each room has a speaker...and it all connects to a microphone here in this room." And sure enough, each room was now equipped with a speaker, and a mic sat beside the clock. "Incredible! Just thinking these objects makes them...!"

"ATTENTION, ALL EXPLORERS AND ADVENTURERS!" Whitmore's voice sounded out over the entire fortress. "MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE CHAMBER OF PLANETS! WE HAVE A MEETING TO START!"

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Ulfi flinched at the sudden voice, which she heard from all sides. It certainly brought her guard up. She had no idea where the voice precisely came from. After a moment of looking around, she still saw no one else. "You can't hide from me." Ulfi said quiet, but just loud enough for the others to hear. She then muttered one word. "Laas." (Aura Whisper)

Crow said:

"I suppose I can retry later," Shockwave says, calm in tone, but who knew how he was feeling on the inside? "It seems that there are still limits to this. Who knows what they truly are?"

Shockwave decides to walk towards the Chamber of Planets.

"... wait, how does this place have a PA System?"

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"What in Oblivion is a PA System?" Ulfi asked as she joined Shockwave towards the Chamber of Planets. Looking around them while Aura Whisper was still in effect. However, the shout would work for 10 seconds total as she used only 1 word.

Yun Lee said:

"Beats me!" Leaf shrugged, noticing the PA System. "Is it just me, or does it look like something out of a sci-fi movie? Like, super high tech?"

She looked to Ulfi, who would not detect anything unusual. "And it's that thing teachers use to make announcements...you have those back home, right?"

At least her desired items would appear!

@Crow @Donder172 @Takumi @Sark

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"No, we don't. Not even in the Cyrodiil. The main province of the Empire. Maybe something the Dwemmer had, but it's hard to ask them."

Crow said:

"That is a logical conclusion," Shockwave adds to Leaf's words, "although, I have to wonder - if Science Fiction becomes reality, is it simply called Science?"

"It is as Leaf here says," Shockwave says, "a type of technology that allows one convey a verbal message to individuals across multiple rooms, generally within a single building or complex."

Shockwave then turns to Leaf. "If I am not mistaken, she is from a civilization where technology has yet to advance to the level of the lightbulb or the telephone. I believe you would compare such a civilization to medieval times."

Soon, Shockwave had arrived with the others in the Chamber of Planets.

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"Both are foreign to me." Ulfi then said to Shockwave.

Donder172 said:

"No, we don't. Not even in the Cyrodiil. The main province of the Empire. Maybe something the Dwemmer had, but it's hard to ask them."


"Both are foreign to me." Ulfi then said to Shockwave.

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MelodyMeister said:

Everyone else started turning up including a few new faces, and that made the Doctor wish for the Tardis back even more. Why did he have to dabble with these simpletons? They weren't even from his universe, so they were even harder to deal with. The Doctor liked everything clean and tidy, and this situation was anything but.

And then came in that strange robot from earlier. The Doctor had never heard anyone said they so much 'logic' then this guy. Oh well, wasn't the first time he's dealt with hard people. Better talking to a logical robot then a uncivilised ape from the past.
"How do you do? It appears we've met again. The man over there is the 'summoner'. Rather strange fellow, I must say. So what have you found so far? It appears that in this room, that some anomalies have come up."
@Crow​

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Yun Lee said:

"Oh, no!" The little creature shook his head. "This is my creator's ship! I'm Figment, and it's awful nice to meet you, Captain!' He saluted Sam, his smile changing as his ears perked up. "Huh? What was that?"

"ATTENTION, ALL EXPLORERS AND ADVENTURERS! MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE CHAMBER OF PLANETS! WE HAVE A MEETING TO START!"

"Ohoho! The meeting! It's finally time!" Figment popped out of the machine completely, little wings on his back keeping him airborne. "Come on, Captain! Let's go!"

@Jeremi

---

Whitmore only chuckled as The Doctor marvelled over the pin. "Not to worry, my friend! That'll be something we go over in the meeting!"

@MelodyMeister

---

"Beats me!" Leaf shrugged, noticing the PA System. "Is it just me, or does it look like something out of a sci-fi movie? Like, super high tech?"

She looked to Ulfi, who would not detect anything unusual. "And it's that thing teachers use to make announcements...you have those back home, right?"

At least her desired items would appear!

@Crow @Donder172 @Takumi @Sark

---

"Ah, a seeker of the truth! Splendid!" Dreamfinder nodded appreciatively as Velma told him about herself. "I remember when I was your age...the idea of scientific discovery motivated me ever since I was a boy! And even now, I still love it...though I tend to research more unconventional fields."

@Lucky​

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Sam smiled a friendly smile at Figment as he urged her towards the meeting. "Well I can't give a bad impression on our first meeting after all. Lead the way, Figment."

@Yun Lee

Velma Dinkley

Velma had never considered that as a term for herself, but ti did seem to make sense to her. " I can honestly say I am the exact same way. I usually carry around a giant computer in a small suitcase when I was a kid. Though, I focus on mystery solving, I still do very much love the science and everything involved with it."

@Yun Lee

Yun Lee said:

Whitmore jotted down everything asked so far, then cracked his knuckles. "Good, good! We got a lot to work with so far. A good, inquisitive bunch, just like scientists ought to be!" He glanced around. "Huh. Seems we're lacking in artists. Bah, we can nab some of those later!"

Whitmore narrowed his eyes at the board, trying to figure out what to answer first. "All right, let's go ahead and start with me. The name's Preston Whitmore, founder and owner of Whitmore Industries. You've probably never heard of it since I doubt that, or even I, exist in some of the time periods you come from-heck, giant robot men and space apes don't exist where I come from! Luckily, money has value no matter what world you happen to be in! And right now, believe it or not, we're in my world."

He gestured to the room they were in. "This fortress is located in Porto Paradiso, an Italian city where all the greats used to gather. Leonardo da Vinci, Michaelangelo, Magellan, Marco Polo...they've all been here, and they founded this group!"

"Okay, but what IS this group?" Leaf asked.

"The Society of Explorers and Adventurers is what this is! Here, let me get out that motto..." Whitmore pulled out a folded piece of paper, unfolded it, and began to read. "'The mission of the Society of Explorers and Adventurers is to collect, conserve, and curate valuable cultural and artistic artifacts from around the world and make them available to the public in an artistically pleasing and sensitive manner. It is furthermore the mission of the organization to equip and mount socio-cultural expeditions to discover, explore, chronicle and protect the artistic achievements of human society, past and present, exalted and forgotten.' Basically, our goal is to find old artifacts or ruins, explore them, and bring them to public eye. We also believe in furthering the advances of science and art by funding experiments and inventions. Nothing suspicious, nothing dubious...but there you go."

Whitmore looked at the Doctor. "I can get into more details, but before I do: you can leave at any time. If you don't want to be a part of this, drop off your pin, and we'll send you home."

@Crow @Donder172 @Jeremi @Lucky @MelodyMeister @Sark @Takumi​

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Sam had been listening through the explanations and what have you. "Look," She responded as Whitmore finished talking to the Doctor. "It's obvious you brought us here for a reason. Is there a mission for us or is this all just a big sales pitch to your secret club?"


@Crow @Donder172 @Jeremi @Lucky @MelodyMeister @Sark @Takumi @Yun Lee

Yun Lee said:

Whitmore nodded at Sam's question. "Well...it's a little of both, actually! See...I had a very good friend back in school, a fellow by the name of Thaddeus Thatch. He was a dreamer, that one! Always dreamed of finding Atlantis. He never did, but his grandson Milo did, about a year ago in 1914." From his neck, Whitmore lifted up a pendant hidden undwr his collar, where a beautiful crystal hung from the rope.

"He chose to stay there, and we covered the whole thing up to keep Atlanteans safe. That meant faking his death back here above the surface. I wound up in charge of his earthly possessions, and among them was one of those pins you all were given. I did some reasearch, and learned about this Society that Thaddeus was a member of. And do you know what I learned?"

He nodded to Figment, who seemed to understand what Whitmore wanted. A projecter appeared in from of the whiteboard, showing various headlines.

MISSING HOTEL MOGUL'S DARK PAST REVEALED
Harrington Hightower III found out to be former member of the notorious Pillager's Brigade

Rest in Peace: Jason Chandler
Beloved Inventor and Resident of Discovery Bay

OCEANEER LAB FOUNDER LOST AT SEA!
Captain Mary Oceaneer caught in freak storm, Navy unable to find a trace

Obituary: Lord Henry Mystic
Explorer, Adventurer, Collector, and Friend

Others flashed on, detailing deaths, scandals, and disappearances of various members. "These past couple years haven't been kind to S.E.A.. All these problem members and tragedies...there's only one fellow left alive, and he's wiped his hands of S.E.A. altogether! Started his own group called the Adventurer's Club..." Whitmore shook his head. "After funding that Atlantis expedition, I got bit by whatever bug Thaddeus had his whole life! There's a lot of good to be done by a group like this, and not just in my world! That Jason Chandler fellow? He had discovered the Multiverse really existed and kept it secret! That's how I was not only able to meet Dreamfinder here, but all of you! I learned a little about you all and your accomplushments back home, and I figured this was as good a chance as any to reboot S.E.A. and make it bigger than ever before! But I'm not going to force you into anything you don't want to do. If you wanna leave, wipe your hands of all this...go right ahead! But if you want in, just know it'll be tricky at first. But I think this will really pay off!"

@Crow @Donder172 @Jeremi @Lucky @MelodyMeister @Sark @Takumi​

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"Sounds like you've been hit with hard times," Sam agreed nodding. For some of the others the news of a multiverse was perhaps a shocking revelation, but for Sam it was just another day. The many years she had been trapped and traveling through dimensions. She had become an explorer of the strange in her own right, albeit unwillingly. "Mama didn't race no quitter and I can't say I'm not interested about what you got planned so you can count Captain America in on this little escapade!"

@Crow @Donder172 @Yun Lee @Lucky @MelodyMeister @Sark @Takumi

Yun Lee said:

Just as with Leaf, the lightbulb would vanish once Shockwave conjured up the telephone.

"Close, but not quite!" Whitmore said to the Decepticon as the group from the Alchemy Lab entered. "These aren't powered by thought alone; there's far more to them than that! But in order to properly give details, my associate will explain. Where did he run off to, anyways..."

"Not to worry, Preston, I'm right here!" Dreamfinder arrived with Velma, tipping his top hat. "Good day to all of you! I'm so happy you all decided to join us!"

"Dreamfinder, speak of the Devil!" Whitmore acknowledged the bearded man, before noting the next arrival. "And Figment! Looks like you woke up just in time!"

The little creature flew in, taking a perch on Dreamfinder's shoulders. "Are you kidding? There's no way I'd miss this!"

"Miss what, exactly?" Winston moved forward, a quizzical look on his face. "I know those letters you sent us mentioned some Society of Explorers and Adventurers...I've never heard of such a thing! How did you find out about us...and why us, of all people?" He gestured to the group. "I mean, I'm sure we're all rather accomplished in our fields where we come from, but what drew you to us?"

"Aha! Just what I expect from a top scientist: inquiries! I love it! But I think we're better off getting every possible question out of the way at once. So..." Whitmore spread his arms. "Ask me anything you want! About S.E.A., about myself, about Dreamfinder, Figment, this fortress...we'll get everything answered, and then get to business!"

Figment waved his little arms rapidly. "Oooh, Mr, Whitmore! You should use a whiteboard to write everything down!" Just like that, a whiteboard appeared right next to Whitmore.

"Excellent, Figment! Now we-"

"Oh oh oh! And a marker that never runs out! A-and it changes color as you write with it! Blues and greens and reds and purples and pinks and-"

"I think we get the idea, Figment." The marker appeared nonetheless, and the whiteboard...stayed right there? "So, with this, now we can-"

"WAIT! Everyone must be tired of standing! We should get some seats! Bean bags and rocking chairs and a big, red, comfy couch! And one of those chairs that looks like a hand that holds you, and-"

Dreamfinder lightly tapped Figment's snout. "Now, now, Figment, I think that's quite enough imagining for a bit!" Even so, everything Figment had conjured up came into being. Various seats of all kinds now filled the Chamber of Planets, all facing the whiteboard, where Preston wrote the first question:

WHAT IS S.E.A.?

"How did he do that?" Leaf asked, staring at Figment in awe as she plopped down on a beanbag.

"Good question! I'll add that one, too," Whitmore exclaimed. "Come on, everyone, keep those questions coming!"

@Crow @Donder172 @Jeremi @Lucky @MelodyMeister @Sark @Takumi​

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"Looks like conjuration magic. Yet, not a weapon or a creature." Ulfi tries to explain before looking to Whitmore.

Yun Lee said:

Whitmore jotted down everything asked so far, then cracked his knuckles. "Good, good! We got a lot to work with so far. A good, inquisitive bunch, just like scientists ought to be!" He glanced around. "Huh. Seems we're lacking in artists. Bah, we can nab some of those later!"

Whitmore narrowed his eyes at the board, trying to figure out what to answer first. "All right, let's go ahead and start with me. The name's Preston Whitmore, founder and owner of Whitmore Industries. You've probably never heard of it since I doubt that, or even I, exist in some of the time periods you come from-heck, giant robot men and space apes don't exist where I come from! Luckily, money has value no matter what world you happen to be in! And right now, believe it or not, we're in my world."

He gestured to the room they were in. "This fortress is located in Porto Paradiso, an Italian city where all the greats used to gather. Leonardo da Vinci, Michaelangelo, Magellan, Marco Polo...they've all been here, and they founded this group!"

"Okay, but what IS this group?" Leaf asked.

"The Society of Explorers and Adventurers is what this is! Here, let me get out that motto..." Whitmore pulled out a folded piece of paper, unfolded it, and began to read. "'The mission of the Society of Explorers and Adventurers is to collect, conserve, and curate valuable cultural and artistic artifacts from around the world and make them available to the public in an artistically pleasing and sensitive manner. It is furthermore the mission of the organization to equip and mount socio-cultural expeditions to discover, explore, chronicle and protect the artistic achievements of human society, past and present, exalted and forgotten.' Basically, our goal is to find old artifacts or ruins, explore them, and bring them to public eye. We also believe in furthering the advances of science and art by funding experiments and inventions. Nothing suspicious, nothing dubious...but there you go."

Whitmore looked at the Doctor. "I can get into more details, but before I do: you can leave at any time. If you don't want to be a part of this, drop off your pin, and we'll send you home."

@Crow @Donder172 @Jeremi @Lucky @MelodyMeister @Sark @Takumi​

Click to expand...

This was what really caught Ulfi's attention. She was far from unfamiliar in exploring ruins. However, these didn't give much in terms of technology, but it could give something cultural. She still had some of the items from her journeys through the Nordic Tombs. She was certainly curious at what else there was to say. Yet, she still missed one thing in the fortress. She even knew a few places where they still could go on an expedition. There was, after all, a lot to map out underground in Skyrim. Especially the ruins of the Dwemmer.

Yun Lee said:

Whitmore nodded at Sam's question. "Well...it's a little of both, actually! See...I had a very good friend back in school, a fellow by the name of Thaddeus Thatch. He was a dreamer, that one! Always dreamed of finding Atlantis. He never did, but his grandson Milo did, about a year ago in 1914." From his neck, Whitmore lifted up a pendant hidden undwr his collar, where a beautiful crystal hung from the rope.

"He chose to stay there, and we covered the whole thing up to keep Atlanteans safe. That meant faking his death back here above the surface. I wound up in charge of his earthly possessions, and among them was one of those pins you all were given. I did some reasearch, and learned about this Society that Thaddeus was a member of. And do you know what I learned?"

He nodded to Figment, who seemed to understand what Whitmore wanted. A projecter appeared in from of the whiteboard, showing various headlines.

MISSING HOTEL MOGUL'S DARK PAST REVEALED
Harrington Hightower III found out to be former member of the notorious Pillager's Brigade

Rest in Peace: Jason Chandler
Beloved Inventor and Resident of Discovery Bay

OCEANEER LAB FOUNDER LOST AT SEA!
Captain Mary Oceaneer caught in freak storm, Navy unable to find a trace

Obituary: Lord Henry Mystic
Explorer, Adventurer, Collector, and Friend

Others flashed on, detailing deaths, scandals, and disappearances of various members. "These past couple years haven't been kind to S.E.A.. All these problem members and tragedies...there's only one fellow left alive, and he's wiped his hands of S.E.A. altogether! Started his own group called the Adventurer's Club..." Whitmore shook his head. "After funding that Atlantis expedition, I got bit by whatever bug Thaddeus had his whole life! There's a lot of good to be done by a group like this, and not just in my world! That Jason Chandler fellow? He had discovered the Multiverse really existed and kept it secret! That's how I was not only able to meet Dreamfinder here, but all of you! I learned a little about you all and your accomplishments back home, and I figured this was as good a chance as any to reboot S.E.A. and make it bigger than ever before! But I'm not going to force you into anything you don't want to do. If you wanna leave, wipe your hands of all this...go right ahead! But if you want in, just know it'll be tricky at first. But I think this will really pay off!"

@Crow @Donder172 @Jeremi @Lucky @MelodyMeister @Sark @Takumi​

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"You do catch my attention on this. Though, in my opinion, this fortress does miss one thing. Unless I have missed that. This fortress lacks a forge. If you know about me, then you probably also know my current profession." Ulfi said to Whitmore "You need help and your goals seem just, I am willing to help. But I'll need the equipment to do so. Unfortunately, I can't conjure myself a forge. I would gladly do so if I could, though."