Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84 exptools; site ihlpg.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxn!ihnp4!ihlpg!jeand From: jeand@ihlpg.UUCP (AMBAR) Newsgroups: net.bizarre Subject: Subgrunts: A Story (part 1 of 5) Message-ID: <1003@ihlpg.UUCP> Date: Thu, 1-Aug-85 10:45:38 EDT Article-I.D.: ihlpg.1003 Posted: Thu Aug 1 10:45:38 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 3-Aug-85 01:49:33 EDT Distribution: net Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories Lines: 100 THE SUBGRUNTS by the participants of Mail Wars II ************************************************* Once upon a time, as all tales begin, Roger finally reached his office at Indian Hill Main at around eight thirty in the morning. The bus from IIT had arrived at AT&T at eight, but instead of promptly going to work, he decided to play with the modems of Mike and Jean. After they had bored themselves by reading too many "cool dude" speeches and ignorant responses, Roger left Building 2 and went to Building 5. Roger entered his office, intent on dumping his backpack on his chair and turning on his HP Color Terminal, playing maybe one or two games of Star Trek, and begin a blaze of programming. Instead he was poorly prepared for the shock of seeing Natasha sitting at his desk, petting his unicorn. "You know," Tash said, not even flinching, "this is cute." Roger looked at her for a moment. As this was the height of Mail Wars, it took much to cause the seasoned IF member to faulter. "Yes, isn't she. Her name is Cordelia." "Cornelia?" Tash giggled. "Is that the feminine of Cornelius?" "No. It's Cordelia." "Ah. Why?" "Because. What else does one name a unicorn? Betsy?" Tash cringed. "No, not Betsy." "So, she's Cordelia. It means 'of the sea.' I like it, really." "Sure, anything you say." "By the way, Tash," Roger seemed to finally remember, "what are you doing here? Have they connected IH with CB all of a sudden?" "What do you think?" "Sorry, I stopped that last week. I've decided to stop emulating a human being." "That shouldn't be too difficult." "Gosh, that was funny." "Well, I told my mentor that I wanted to see what the subgrunts did here at Indian Hill. So he flew me out here for the week." "To spy on Mail Wars here, eh?" "Of course." "Does anybody else know you're here?" Frank appeared in the doorway, visibly shocked. He struggled to find the words, but merely stood there, mouth open in shock. "Now they do," Tash said. "Natasha!" Frank finally spoke. "What are you doing here?" "Visiting you, though I don't know why." "Ha ha! Great! It'll be a blast, Tash! Wow, is this going to be fun!" "Okay..." Tash said. "Yeah, it'll be a blast!" Frank said again, striking Cordelia, at which Roger picked up the phone. "Jean?" he said. Frank's face cringed. "Why are you calling her?" "Come on over and show a guest how you threw Franklin on the floor." "You'd do that, wouldn't you?" Frank said, amazed. "You would? You're scum, you know that! Real scum!" "And you're ameoba surface slime, Franklin." "At least I'm going to a real school!" Frank taunted. "At least I'll be living somewhere!" Roger countered. Tash got up. "This was a mistake." "That is a mistake," Roger said, pointing at Frank. Jean appeared behind Frank, poised to thud him to the ground. "Are you ready, Frank?"