Lisa : I am looking for Tsurugi. I was told her might be able to help me.

Tsu : Here I am!

Lisa : How did you...oh never mind.

Tsu : What would you like to know.

Lisa : I would like to find out what happened to my parents.

Tsu : (lowering his head) I regret to inform you that your parents are dead. They were killed by the guardian of the jewel back at the inn where you stayed.

Lisa : (sobbing) I suspected they were dead. I just didn't want to believe it. I didn't want to face the hard, cold facts.

<flashback>

(Lisa and her parents, Joseph and Sarah Calaway, are staying at a nearby inn shortly after finding the jewel.)

Lisa's Mom : In case anything happens to us I was you to make sure this jewel does not fall into the wrong hands. This jewel is protected by a guardian. No matter what happens the guardian of the jewel cannot get the jewel back. The results would be disasterous. You are to protect the jewel at all costs. Do you understand?

Lisa : Yes.

Lisa's Dad : It's time for you to go to bed. We have a busy day ahead of us tomorrow. We are going to go up to China and look at some strange pools and I went to get an early start.

Lisa : (grumbling) All right. (sighs) Good night, mom. Good night, dad.

(Lisa kisses both of them good night and goes into her room to get ready for bed. Suddenly she hears a struggle going on in her parents room. She run back into the room but she finds the room empty. Both her parents and their attacker disappeared without a trace. Frantically, she searches for the jewel remembering her parents warning. She finds the jewel in her parents dresser drawer, second from the top inside an old sock. Nervously she puts the jewel into her pocket and runs out into the night. Eventually she comes across a group of people and approaches them.)

Lisa : Excuse me! Could you tell me where I am? I think I'm lost.

<end flashback>

Tsu : They found the bodies outside the inn about a week ago. No one is sure how they got there.

Lisa : (still sobbing) At least now I know.

Tsu : I'm terribly sorry. (long pause) You look like you could use something to eat. You can order anything you want. It's on me.

(Lisa nods meekly as Tsu hands her a menu. It is hard for her to read it through her tears.)

Lisa : Thank you. (smiles sadly)

1

Lisa is still sitting at the table when Corrie, who has been looking for Lisa, walks into the restaurant. She notices that Lisa is crying.

Corrie: (concerned) Lisa? Are you okay?

Lisa shakes her head and tells Corrie what Tsu told her about her parents.

Corrie: Oh, Lisa. I'm so sorry. (She touches Lisa's arm consolingly) I thought something like this might have happened.

Lisa: At least I know the truth now.

Corrie: Perhaps now wouldn't be the best time to tell you what K-9's discovered so far.

2

Lisa : Give me a few minutes. I know whatever mysteries this jewel might contain it was important to my parents so it's important to me. Perhaps you might like to have dinner with me. I've just started. (perks up briefly) Do Time Ladies eat?

Corrie : We eat food from countless varieties of worlds, including a few things that would be harmful to you if you tried to eat them.

Lisa : I don't thing they serve any of those things here.

Corie : I would be glad to have dinner with you.

(The two of them eat mostly in silence. When they are just about through eating Lisa feels prompted to bring up the jewel again.)

Lisa : What has K9 discovered about the jewel?

3

> > Lisa is still sitting at the table when Corrie, who has been looking for > > Lisa, walks into the restaurant. She notices that Lisa is crying. > > > > Corrie: (concerned) Lisa? Are you okay? > > > > Lisa shakes her head and tells Corrie what Tsu told her about her > > parents. > > > > Corrie: Oh, Lisa. I'm so sorry. (She touches Lisa's arm consolingly) > > I thought something like this might have happened. > > > > Lisa: At least I know the truth now. > > > > Corrie: Perhaps now wouldn't be the best time to tell you what K-9's > > discovered so far. > > > > Lisa : Give me a few minutes. I know whatever mysteries this jewel might > contain it was important to my parents so it's important to me. Perhaps > you might like to have dinner with me. I've just started. (perks up > briefly) Do Time Ladies eat? > > Corrie : We eat food from countless varieties of worlds, including a few > things that would be harmful to you if you tried to eat them. > > Lisa : I don't thing they serve any of those things here.

Corrie: However, I don't eat seafood. Even the smell of it makes me sick.

Lisa: Sick?

Corrie: Don't ask. It's not pretty.

Lisa: I'll keep that in mind. > > Corie : I would be glad to have dinner with you. > > (The two of them eat mostly in silence. When they are just about > through eating Lisa feels prompted to bring up the jewel again.) > > Lisa : What has K9 discovered about the jewel? >

Corrie: K9 found traces of elements not native to Earth. That could mean one of two things. Either the gem was formed in an area where a meteor struck the Earth... (Corrie pauses for a drink)

Lisa: Or?

Corrie: Or the gem comes from another planet. It will take a while longer before K9 can make a full analysis from the data he scanned in. There's also something else. Remember when I tested the gem with my sonic screwdriver?

Lisa: Uh huh.

Corrie: Well, there is a definite vibration pattern. You can't detect it by feeling the gem. It seems to be in contact with something.

Lisa: You mean "It?"

Corrie: We're not sure yet. After we determine the origin of the gem, we can track where the vibrations are coming from.

RL Note: I'm trying to tie this in to what's happening with the Martians, so we're not conflicting in discoveries.

4

Lisa : (still visibly shaken from the news of her parents death) Last Friday I let the Martians take a look at the jewel. They said it contained some sort of coded message. That would support the idea that it came from another planet. I told them I would come back later to see what they've discovered. (eagerly) Could we go over there in your TARDIS? I'vee been maening to get the two of you together for quite some time.

RL Note : This should take care of the problem of repetitive messages.

A5

> > > Lisa is still sitting at the table when Corrie, who has been looking for > > > Lisa, walks into the restaurant. She notices that Lisa is crying. > > > > > > Corrie: (concerned) Lisa? Are you okay? > > > > > > Lisa shakes her head and tells Corrie what Tsu told her about her > > > parents. > > > > > > Corrie: Oh, Lisa. I'm so sorry. (She touches Lisa's arm consolingly) > > > I thought something like this might have happened. > > > > > > Lisa: At least I know the truth now.

Shiroino and Kuroino appear at the side of the table.

Shi-kun: We heard about your parents.

Ku-chan: We both dearly wish that we could share your tragedy, but we were locked into our current mindsets, neither of which can truly sympathize.

Shi-kun: However, if you ever need anything, such as a shoulder to cry on...

Ku-chan: Or if you want to hunt down the creature that did it..

Shi-kun: You know where to find us. <lays a hand on Lisa's shoulder.> Truly, we both wish that we could help you...

Kuroino: Y'know, Shi-kun, _both_ of us could...

Shiroino: What? Oh, I see.. Don't ever bring that up, Ku-chan. Do not tease that way.

Lisa: What? What are you to talking about?

Kuroino: Well, it seems we might have a way to-

Shiroino: STOP! <slaps Kuroino, and combines as soon as contact is made.>

Corrie: Interesting...

Yin-chan: ^_^ Konnichiwa! Mind if I order up a little sushi?

Corrie: <greens a little.>

Yin: Uh, never mind. I'll have a little okonomiyaki instead. <Japanese pizza appears.> You know, Lisa, even though my split selves can not empathize, I can. <Gives Lisa a hug.> Hold on to your pain, is my advice... You don't want it, but I tried the alternative.

Corrie: <notices an instrument on her belt beeping. Thinks:> That's funny, reality just fluxed a little as he created that pizza...

Yin-chan: Well, if you need anything, come to me or the split siblings. <hug>

Lisa: <sad smile> Thanks... I really need to be with people right now.

Ø > > Corrie: Perhaps now wouldn't be the best time to tell you what K-9's Ø > > discovered so far.

B5 RLJussi:Danke. ^_^

(The Martian appears, carrying the jewel.)

Martian:Lisa, Miss Corrie. (It looks grave)

Lisa:Hello Martian.

Corrie:<nods>

Martian:I have news. (looks at the two of them)

Corrie&Lisa:...

Martian:....

Corrie&Lisa:....

Lisa:Err...Martian?

Martian:Yes?

Lisa:What are you waiting for?

Martian:For you to say that.

Corrie&Lisa:<facefault>

(the Martian sits down.)

Martian:(To a random NPC who came to take its order)A Coke, please.

Martian:Now, we have completed recording the code we found in the jewel...

Corrie:Code?

Martian:We found some kind of coded message encoded in the structure of the stone. We have started decoding it now. It will take some time, though. So here is your jewel back, Lisa. (hands over the jewel)

Lisa:Thank you.

Martian:That was the good news, the bad news is, that It has striken again. It killed one of our techies. Beheaded it. Luckily Tech#2 was able to sound an alert before it was killed and so It didn't get the jewel.

Martian:(taking the coke and paying the waiter)Thank you.(to Corrie&Lisa)Now, would you tell me what you have found so we can decide what to do now?

C5

> >> > Lisa is still sitting at the table when Corrie, who has been looking for > >> > Lisa, walks into the restaurant. She notices that Lisa is crying. > >> > > >> > Corrie: (concerned) Lisa? Are you okay? > >> > > >> > Lisa shakes her head and tells Corrie what Tsu told her about her > >> > parents. > >> > > >> > Corrie: Oh, Lisa. I'm so sorry. (She touches Lisa's arm consolingly) > >> > I thought something like this might have happened. > >> > > >> > Lisa: At least I know the truth now. > >> > > >> > Corrie: Perhaps now wouldn't be the best time to tell you what K-9's > >> > discovered so far. > >> > > >> > >> Lisa : Give me a few minutes. I know whatever mysteries this jewel might > >> contain it was important to my parents so it's important to me. Perhaps > >> you might like to have dinner with me. I've just started. (perks up > >> briefly) Do Time Ladies eat? > >> > >> Corrie : We eat food from countless varieties of worlds, including a few > >> things that would be harmful to you if you tried to eat them. > >> > >> Lisa : I don't thing they serve any of those things here. > > >Corrie: However, I don't eat seafood. Even the smell of it makes me > >sick. > > >Lisa: Sick? > > >Corrie: Don't ask. It's not pretty. > > >Lisa: I'll keep that in mind. > >> > >> Corie : I would be glad to have dinner with you. > >> > >> (The two of them eat mostly in silence. When they are just about > >> through eating Lisa feels prompted to bring up the jewel again.) > >> > >> Lisa : What has K9 discovered about the jewel? > >> > > >Corrie: K9 found traces of elements not native to Earth. That could > >mean one of two things. Either the gem was formed in an area where a > >meteor struck the Earth... (Corrie pauses for a drink) > > >Lisa: Or? > > >Corrie: Or the gem comes from another planet. It will take a while > >longer before K9 can make a full analysis from the data he scanned in. > >There's also something else. Remember when I tested the gem with my > >sonic screwdriver? > > >Lisa: Uh huh. > > >Corrie: Well, there is a definite vibration pattern. You can't detect > >it by feeling the gem. It seems to be in contact with something. > > >Lisa: You mean "It?" > > >Corrie: We're not sure yet. After we determine the origin of the gem, > >we can track where the vibrations are coming from. >

Lisa : (still visibly shaken from her parents death) The Martian is currently looking at the jewel. He said the jewel contained some sort of coded message. That would support the idea that the jewel came from another planet. (eagerly) Could we go pay him a visit in you TARDIS? I've been meaning to get the two of you together for quite some time?

> > (The Martian appears, carrying the jewel.) > > Martian:Lisa, Miss Corrie. (It looks grave) > > Lisa:Hello Martian. > > Corrie:<nods>

Lisa : I was just talking about you. > > Martian:I have news. (looks at the two of them) > > Corrie&Lisa:... > > Martian:.... > > Corrie&Lisa:.... > > Lisa:Err...Martian? > > Martian:Yes? > > Lisa:What are you waiting for? > > Martian:For you to say that. > > Corrie&Lisa:<facefault> > > (the Martian sits down.) > > Martian:(To a random NPC who came to take its order)A Coke, please. > > Martian:Now, we have completed recording the code we found in the jewel... > > Corrie:Code? > > Martian:We found some kind of coded message encoded in the structure of the > stone. We have started decoding it now. It will take some time, though. So > here is your jewel back, Lisa. (hands over the jewel) > > Lisa:Thank you. > > Martian:That was the good news, the bad news is, that It has striken again. It > killed one of our techies. Beheaded it. Luckily Tech#2 was able to sound an > alert before it was killed and so It didn't get the jewel. > > Martian:(taking the coke and paying the waiter)Thank you.(to Corrie&Lisa)Now, > would you tell me what you have found so we can decide what to do now?

Lisa : (takes a deep breath) I had suggested paying you a visit. Now I think we should go back to the inn where my parents were killed. I think I remember the way. I've always thought my parents were keeping some secrets from me.

Martian : About the jewel?

Lisa : (with obvious fustration) About lots of things. We need to find some answers. As long as It is out there none of us are safe.

C6 Corrie: My motorcycle is outside, if you want to go now.

Lisa: Motorcycle?

Corrie: I don't take my TARDIS everywhere. Small spatial jumps can be a bit of a headache. When I'm just travelling around a town, I prefer my motorcycle. Anyhow, I can activate the side car so we can all go.

Lisa: Sounds good.

Corrie pays for her meal. Her motorcycle is parked in a lot outside. She goes over and presses a button on the control panel. The right side panel expands, twisting and shaping itself into a sidecar.

Corrie: Ready?

C7

Lisa & Martian : Ready!

(Lisa tells Corrie where to go and Corrie takes off toward the inn where Lisa's parents were killed.)

Lisa : Slow down! You're going way too fast!

Corrie : Relax. My reflexes are ten times faster than yours.

(The motorcycle stops quickly and smoothly in front of the inn.)

Innkeeper : Greetings, I wish this meeting could be under better circumstances. I haven't had much business recently. I left your rooms just the way they were when you left. Follow me.

(Lisa goes back into her room and gathers all of her belonging together. The Martian and Corrie help her pack.)

Lisa : It will be so good to have my belongings back. I could have really used some of these things earlier.

(After gathering Lisa's belongings together the three of them go into her parents room. Among the various articles of clothing they find some some money and some important documents writen in English.)

Lisa : (taking the money) I know I'm going to need this! I appriciate everyone buying things for me but I don't want to live the rest of my life that way.

Martian : That's quite understandable.

(Lisa takes a look at the important documents.)

Lisa : This is a list of places were cursed objects are located. These are the things my parents were trying to find. At the end of the list there is some technical data and the location of a pyramid somewhere in Egypt.

Martian : Is the pyramid another cursed object?

Lisa : I don't think so. I that was where they put all the cursed objects once they found them.

Corrie : Do you mind if I take a look at those documents?

Lisa : No, certainly, go right ahead.

<another flashback>

(Lisa and her parents are in the mountains of Peru. Lisa is only 7 years old.)

Lisa : Why do you spend so much time looking for all these cursed objects?

Lisa's Mom (Sarah) : We have to make sure no one else stumbles onto them. If someone finds one of the objects and doesn't know it is cursed the results could be disasterous.

Lisa's Dad (Joseph) : Finding these objects is dangerous, for all of us, but we must recover all the cursed objects that we can. The people of Earth are depending on us.

Lisa : What is so important about these objects, where did they come from, and why do we always have to move from country to country? Everytime I start to make friends we have to move.

Sarah : I know it's hard on you but be patient. You're friends will always be there reguardless of the distances between you.

Lisa : I want to talk to them again. I want to play games with them and go places with them and do things with them. I want to live a normal life.

Sarah : (sadly) I don't think there is such a thing as a normal life. You will find that many of your friends are jealous of you.

Joseph : The object here is particularly hard to find. It may take over six months so you will at least have a chance to get to know some people.

Lisa : (fearly) I've already met a few kids in school. I'll try to talk to some of them.

(Lisa runs out of the house.)

Sarah : (yelling after her) Be back in time for supper!

Lisa : I will!

<end flashback>

Martian : Lisa? Lisa?!!

Lisa : Yes?

Martian : Would you like to take a look outside.

Lisa : Sure. I just have a few thought to gather together first.

Martian : Understood. I am going to take a look at the place where they found the bodies. If you want to join me you'll know where I'll be.

(Martian leaves the room while Corrie continues to sort through her parents belonging. Lisa takes one of her mom's old dresses, puts it to her face, and starts crying.)

CA8

Martian:You sure we all fit in? I could always teleport us there.

Lisa:(thinking about what happened the last time)Err...I think we take the motorcycle.

Martian:Oh, well.

(the three climb into the motorcycle and drive off.)

(Okay. I'm not going to write that inn scene. I'm fresh out of ideas.)

CB8

Martian:I'll check what the techies have found out about that code.

(The Martian takes out its palmtop and a holographical view springs into existence. Weird Martian runes scroll across the screen.)

Martian:Interesting, interesting...(it almost totally focuses on the information on the screen)

Lisa:Uh, Martian?

Martian:(absently)what?

Lisa:What does it say?

Martian:Hmm...(suddenly Lisa's words register)Oh! Oopsie! Sorry about that.

(It pushes a button and large letters <english dub on> appear on the screen. After that the text is in English)

Martian:As you can see, we have been able to decode most of the coding. It seems to be an opening code of some sorts, a very complicated one. There is also some text in it, probably explaining something about the code. We are currectly searching our language files for references.

Martian:(turning to Corrie) Do you recognise this language by any chance?

CAA9

Corrie : How are you feeling?

Lisa : I'm getting better. (deep breath) So much has happened so quickly, I just need a chance to stop and let it all catch up with me.

Corrie : (with sympathy) If you ever need me you know where to find me.

Lisa : The big tree next to the school.

(Lisa takes two of her mothers dresses and puts them into the suitcase with the rest of her gathered belongings.)

Lisa : I'd like to donate the rest of these clothes to charity. I have no further use for them.

(Corrie nods approvingly. Lisa goes through both rooms one last time to make sure she's not leaving anything important behind. Once she is sure she has everything she needs she put the suitcase in the motorcycle.) Lisa : Are you sure it won't fall out or anything?

Corrie : The suitcase is safer in my motorcycle than it was in the inn.

(Martian rejoins them.)

Corrie : Did you find out anything about...It?

Martian : Only that It will go out of its way not to be seen. The bodies were hacked to pieces just like tech #2.

Lisa : I would like to see the bodies if you don't mind.

Martian : It is not a very pleasant sight.

Lisa : I know but these are my parents. I'd like to look at them one last time.

(Martian takes Lisa, Corrie, and the Innkeeper to the spot where the bodies of Lisa's parents were found. The blood stains are still clearly visible. Lisa starts crying and puts her arm around Corrie for support.)

Innkeeper : I'm terribly sorry something like this had to happen. I have already made arrangements for the funeral. Are these your new legal guardians?

Lisa : I doubt it. They are normally far part from each other. I am currently staying at a place called the Ying-Yang Uchi.

Innkeeper : Since you are only 14 you will need some sort of legal guardian.

Lisa : I will talk to them about it. Thank you and good bye.

Martian & Corrie : Good bye.

Innkeeper : Good bye.

(Corrie, Martian, and Lisa climb back into the motorcycle.)

Corrie : Next stop, the Ying-Yang Uchi.

Lisa : I was thinking that the three of us should go to Martian's place and find out what they have learned about the code. Perhaps it has something to do with that Egyptian pyramind. Corrie : I was thinking the same thing myself.

(A short time later they arrive at the Ying-Yang Uchi. Lisa puts the suitcase in her room and explains to Kiri that she needs a legal guardian. Once that is taken care of they go back to the school and Corrie's TARDIS.)

Lisa : (taking out the jewel and looking at it) Where do we go from here?

CAB9

Corrie : No. I am only 250. I haven't a change to explore all parts of the Cosmos.

Lisa : Could it possibly have come from a race that no longer exists?

Corrie : It would make little difference to me whether the language still exsits or not. The jewel clearly comes from a culture I am not familiar with.

Martian : Do you see any similarities to other cultures that you do know something about.

Corrie : I would estimate the age of the message to be about ten thousand years. It has a certain similarity to other languages that developed around that time. I'll put a copy of the code into the TARDIS computers. The language might be somewhere in the archives. I never know what I might find there.

(While Martian and Corrie continue to talk about alien cultures, Lisa studies the decoded message particularly the alien text. After that she takes another look at her parents documents.)

Lisa : It's the Egyptian pyramid!

Martian & Corrie : What?

Lisa : This portion of the decoded message and this portion of the document describing the pyramid match exactly.

Martian : (taking a look at the document) You're stumbled on to something. Do you have any idea where the pyramid is located?

Lisa : I know it is in Egypt but I am not sure of its exact location. Perhaps the message and the document together will reveal the answer.

CAA10

Corrie: Now that you mention it, remember those ultrasonic vibrations I mentioned before?

Lisa: Uh huh.

Corrie: K9 said the vibrations were coming from somewhere in the middle east. They could lead directly to the pyramid. I can trace the vibrations. We could head over there while K9 tries to run a translation through the TARDIS data banks. (She studies the messages again) Then again, since we know we're dealing with something like "It", maybe we should wait for a translation. Then we'll have a better idea of what we're facing.

RL Note: Sorry, I'm keeping my postings short while I try to recover from whiplash. Dang this stupid cervical collar!

CAA11

Lisa : Maybe we can find some clues back at the ruins where my parents found the jewel. The location is printed on these documents so it shouldn't be as hard to find as the pyramid.

Martian : For an Earthling you know quite a lot about alien cultures.

Lisa : I guess it's in my blood.

Martian : (to Corrie) Lisa and I will go check out the ruins while you gather more information about the pyramid. When we're though, we'll come back and tell you what we've found.

Lisa : I'm glad it's Saturday. We wouldn't have time to do all these things on a school day.

Corrie : That goes double for me. See you later.

(Corrie goes into her TARDIS while the Martian and Lisa go off to explore the ruins.)

CAA12

Martian:Hmm...I think we better not rush into anything. That "It" did mincemeat out of one of my fellows in the Mothership, and that place has a good security. I don't think it would be wise to go there by just the two of us. Lets pay a visit to teh Mothership first! (Grabs Lisa's hand and the two teleport away.)

(Martian Mothership. The training hall of MAFSHISKSA (Martian Armed Forces Special Heavy Infarnatry Squadron Knight Sabers) The Sabers (recognised by their jumpsuits, which are of the same color as their hard suits) and several techies are gathered in a loose circle, in middle of which two of them (Green and Black) are fighting. (without their hard suits, thank heavens) Lisa and the Martian teleport in.)

Martian:O_O What the heck?? ATTENTION!!!

(The two combatants freeze in mid-punch and all people turn to look at Lisa and The Martian.)

Martian:(Walking to White Saber)Could you please tell me what is the meaning of this?

White:Uhh...Well, Green and Black had an argument about which is a better fighter, Priss or Linna. I thought it would be good for them to let off some steam.

Martian:And you didn't organize a betting pool?

White:No sir.

Martian:<sigh> Why me? ... Anyway, we have work to do. Me and Lisa (points to Lisa who waves. The other martians wave back) are going to go check some ruins and need security.

White:Will you be joining us?

Martian:In suit? No. Call the backup. Now go suit up. I want you to be ready in half an hour.

White:Yes sir!

(the techies start checking the suits and the sabers prepare themselves for the mission.)

(Half an hour later. Lisa has totally beaten the Martian in virtual fighter.)

Martian:So you really haven't played this before?

Lisa:Just against Bore.

Martian:Sheez, you must be a natural talent.

(White Saber walks to them)

White:(electronically modulated voice)We are ready sir!

Martian:(looks at the seven Sabers.) Okay! You know the mission, so lets go!

(The group teleports from the Mothership with a blinding flash of light which keeps the techies rubbing their eyes for several minutes.)

(At the ruins)

(there is no flash of light when the nine figures materialize.)

Martian:Okay, here we are. I don't think we should split up. Especially if It is here somewhere. It doesn't seem to like crowds, right?

Lisa:Right.

CAA13