Blue Shift in...
Switching the Bearer
By Hunter_Chameleon (Crown Thunder)

Starring...

(Our story begins near Echo Ridge, as we follow a lone traveler. He carries a leather bag with him, and his clothes have seen better days.)

?: Damn all those peons. At least, they should have had the decency to leave an unknown patch of the world for me to explore.

(Obviously, this newcomer's lost. And what is his first reflex, in such a situation ?)

?: Why, finding a representant of the law ! *waves to a policeman* Excuse me, sir !

Copper: What's the matter now, lad ? I'm on an investigation here.

?: Ah. I understand. May I request your help on a few issues ?

Copper: (Guess I can spare a few minutes...) Spit it, then.

?: I arrived only recently in this town, and find myself needing a room. Would you know of decent places around here ?

Copper: Sure thing. Tell you what, I'll give you some addresses. *scribbles on a handnote and hands it to the stranger* Can I ask your name, lad ?

?: Mathias de Caméléon. But people call me "Hunter".

Copper: Hunter, then. There's something quite weird about you, but I can't put my finger on it...

Hunter: *reloading his pistol* Hm ?

Copper: Yeah, these clothes. What are they for ?

Hunter: ... They're ... props for a Live-Action Role-Play. Yeah, that's it.

Copper: What's that ?

Hunter: *thrusting with his rapier* It's like a regular RPG, but you play in the open.

Copper: Ah. So, it's like playing DnD except that you disguise as your character ?

Hunter: *opening his bag, revealing even more weapons* Exactly.

Copper: I see now. *eyes narrow* Last one was two weeks ago.

Hunter: Uhm ... Cosplaying ?

Copper: *stroking his chin* Ah, yeah. Convention next weekend.

Hunter: Exactly !

Copper: I won't bother you any further, then. Good luck. *wanders off*

Hunter: Many thanks, sir ! (Cosplay and LARP, eh ? I should take note of this.)

(As the lone traveller heads off to the closest hostel, we go to the lair of ultimate darkness ... the pit of evil, that shall soon destroy the world ... the base of Blue Shift !)

Elec: You crab are going down !

Cancer Bubble: Noooo ! The paiiin !

Joel: Should've looked behind you, Wolf-girl. Thus, I win.

Crown Thunder: And so, the bull wins. Again.

Joel: Heh. Nothing beats the Japanese Box.

Elec: Or just randomly throwing bombs around.

(But for now, evil was playing Bomberman.)

Joel: Ten victories already ? Wow. Anyone up for a rematch ?

Elec: Nah, it's fine. Wolf had his share of mindless violence and destruction for the day.

Wolf: I still say this game lacks melee weapons.

Taurus: Mass destruction is easier with bombs. It's the whole purpose of the fraggin' game.

Crown Thunder: My stash needs some dusting. Heheheh ...

Taurus: *turns to Cancer* You and Joel, then. Your choice of game.

Joel: Yeah ! Crab Battle !

Cancer Bubble: Uh, sorry. Gotta work on plans for the invasion and all, buku.

Joel: But ... I want a Crab Battle !

Cancer Bubble: Later ! Busybusybusy ! *runs to his room*

Joel: Aww.

Taurus: Screw the crab and let's play some Doom.

Joel: It won't be the same. *goes to play anyway*

(Darkness still lurks in the place. What if we went to see how Crown is doing ?)

Crown Thunder: *opens his box* Heheheh ... April ? March ? And what year ? 220X or ... damn, they're all noted at 220X.

(As the perverted FM-ian picked a licensious magazine, a gust of wind took it from his hands and sent it flying away.)

Crown Thunder: I should've locked this window, but how can we have a ghostly atmosphere if there aren't windows rattling at the wind ?

(And thus, a wild chase began.
In a hostel not far ...)

Hunter: *sitting on the bed* This place is amazingly good. I should give a present to this brave policeman for a thank.

(But the noble can't find sleep, and wanders off to his window.)

Hunter: I am in a bad lock. My family is as good as missing, and my money is running short. But a Caméléon cannot fall like this ! *grips his fist* I shall wait for a sign of Fate !

Crown Thunder: *from the window, chasing his magazine* Must ... get ... porn !

Hunter: That's ... not something seen everyday. But I shall follow it ! *exits his room*

(And the wild chase carried on, with a French man added to the lot. It finally comes to an end near a tree...)

Crown Thunder: And here you are. Back to Daddy ! *picks up the magazine, but carries on head-first in the tree.* Ow.

Crown: My head ... Anyway, this magazine is mine. *tries to pick it up, but ...* Why am I an FM-ian again ?

(Yeah. I dunno how or why, but it seems the shock with this tree banished whatever was left of Crown's ghost partner in the living world*. Maybe it was a blessed tree or something ... yeah, a blessed tree.)

(*See: the previous epilogue)

Crown: This is no good. How can I find another ghost so soon ? Does that mean I'll have to ... *shudders* find a human partner?

Hunter: *arriving* Where has that thing gone ? You won't escape Lord Caméléon forever !

Crown: (A Lord, eh ? Better than nothing, I guess.)

(Immediately, the disembodied FM-ian rushed to Hunter ... and suprisingly, they merged !)

Crown: Oooh, nice. So now, new body, let's go and pick up this nice porn !

Hunter: I don't think so.

Crown: Say what ?

Hunter: I don't know who you are, or what happened, but no ghost shall force his will onto my body. And this, I command.

Crown: (Oh Lord.) Perhaps we could ... cooperate ?

Hunter: In which ways, exactly ?

Crown: I heard of your problems earlier. (As if I cared for the living.) I have some friends that could help you.

Hunter: Why not. I hope your friends are not as surprising as you, but I'm willing to meet them.

Crown: Alright ! But pick up my magazine before !

Hunter: This ... thing ? *picks up the magazine as if it was infectious* We will have a lot to discuss about when it comes to our hobbies, ghost.

(A turn into Hunter's room later, the unlikely duo went back to Blue Shift's base.)

Hunter: A nice place, if I may say.

Crown: Heh, I even have my own room.

Hunter: Some cleaning will be in order, if you see what I mean.

Crown: *gulps*

Cancer Bubble: *walking out of his room* What's the matter, Crown ?

Hunter: ... A giant crab ? What is next, a walking bull ?

Taurus: Something to say, Skull-boy ?

Crown: That's my friends all right.

Cancer Bubble: So you found yourself a partner ? *jumping all around* Wonderful, Crown ! We'll have a welcoming party in plan, buku !

Hunter: I suppose you refer to this pesky ghost. Know that I, Lord Mathias de Caméléon, will not be treated like this by a peon such as you !

Cancer Bubble: Woah, easy there ! By picking up this FM-ian, you joined Blue Shift. Which means you're under my orders.

Hunter: Blue Shift ? FM-ian ?

Cancer Bubble: We're aliens willing to destroy Earth, buku. And Crown is a member of it. You want to work with us, right ? Right ? Right ?

Joel: Why do you feel the need to blurt that out to a complete stranger ?

Taurus: And lay off the sugar. It tastes bad with mayonnaise.

Hunter: (Destroying Earth, eh ? Since there's nothing left to see, I should turn to space as well...) I will join your mission, on a single request.

Cancer Bubble: Which is ?

Hunter: Once Earth is out of the picture, I wish to explore space. And that implies having a vessel I will be Captain of.

Cancer Bubble: That can be negociated.

Hunter: *bows to Cancer* Then, I am your eternal servant.

Cancer Bubble: I believe this calls for a team meeting. *takes a megaphone* EVERYONE HERE, NOW ! THE INVASION IS WAITING FOR YOU, BUKU !

Wolf: What's the issue, crab ? You disturbed an important time !

Elec: (He was napping...)

Cancer Bubble: These FM-ians are Taurus and Wolf. And their respective hosts are Joel and Elec, buku. I present you Crown's newest partner, named ... uh ...

Hunter: Lord Mathias de Caméléon. But call me Hunter.

Cancer Bubble: Hunter ! I believe we can go and discuss some plans for the invasion. Hurry up, now !

Hunter: *to Joel* I will not accept you to sit close to me, peon.

Joel: I can turn in a friggin' 3-metre tall bull. Watch your mouth if you know what's good for you.

Hunter: As you wish. (Ruffian...)

(But the meeting wasn't of the most interesting kind, even if Cancer Bubble was juggling with graphics and funny-looking papersheets. This led Hunter to more or less fall asleep...)

Crown Thunder: *head raises* Hey, girl. I still have places on my love rocket to the stars.

Elec: ... This host is as disgusting as his FM-ian.

Crown Thunder: C'mon, the night is young. I can show you a full solar system of love.

Elec: Now you're bothering me. Wolf ?

Wolf: *nods*

(FM-ian and partner fused to form Wolf Woods, who then delivered a much-needed ass-kicking to the ghostly pervert, and splitting him from Hunter.)

Elec: Had enough, freak ?

Hunter: ... What just happened ? And how come you look like a wolf now ?

Elec: Huh ?

Hunter: Ah ... This happened again.

Joel: You're weird.

Hunter: From time to time, I feel "asleep". And it seems this unpleasant ghost has full control over my body in this situation. But be assured I will strengthen my resolution from now on !

Taurus: Moooo ... gonna be some weird times ahead.

Cancer Bubble: But at least it will be funny times, buku !

(And such, a new member came to Blue Shift. Something tells me the insanity won't stop for a while.)

- The End -