( colligo ¬ get collected ) → network.

Well, this is an interesting turn of events, if I do say so myself.

[Emma's trying not to sound frantic, though there's the slightest tone of urgency in her voice.]

Does anyone happen to know how to defuse a bomb?

Because that's what I walked into on my desk in the office this morning. A bomb. That, if it goes off, it's likely to take me, my office, and possibly a small chunk of the station with it. It's not very big...but it's still a bomb.

And I really don't feel like getting blown up today. So I'd appreciate it. According to the little clock on the thing, it's set to detonate in ten minutes.

[There's a beep.]

Make that nine minutes.

There is a moat full of lava around the house which wasn't there last night. Front, back and sides. And when I say moat, it's more like the house (and gardens) is on one of those 100-foot tall sea stacks. And the moat itself looks to be about 20-foot wide. And Escher and I nearly fell into it this morning when we went to go for our walk.

Pros

- Saving on heating.
- Amazingly good for getting rid of the shit Arthur left behind that I don't want rubbish and the like.

Cons

- Stuck in the house.
- Stuck in the house with Cobb and Escher.
- Too hot for tea.
- Stuck in the house with Cobb and Escher who do not like each other at the best of times.
- There's a lava moat around the house.
- Lava. Moat.
- The trees at the bottom of the garden are NEVER going to be the same. Since they are more than a touch singed. Otherwise, I might have tried to come up with a way of getting out that used them. They're more than a bit charcoaly, though.

So, in summary, this is shit.

[The PDA cuts on mid-conversation; a man's voice can be heard, low and threatening, with the sound of footsteps in the background.]

-ive up now, child. You're outnumbered and surrounded.

[There's a bit of shuffling then Abby speaks. Her voice wavers ever so slightly.]

Don't come any closer. I didn't take your stupid jewels. Just leave me alone! [There's a little more shuffling followed by a sharp, masculine laugh that's downright chilling.]

Or what, little girl? There's no hope for escape. We've won and now- [a pause followed by the sound of a sword being drawn in the distance; much closer to the PDA, a low growl can be heard that goes unnoticed by the man] We're going to teach you exactly why you don't-

[The man's voice is cut off abruptly and there's the sound of bones breaking, followed by a shriek of pain. A couple of shouts can be heard in the background, along with some snarling. There's a series of dull thuds and a few more crunching sounds. When Abby speaks again, her voice is low and dangerous.]

I told you to leave me alone.

[One final snapping of a bone is heard then silence falls, save for a faint dripping of something liquid hitting the ground.]

So a car just tried to run me off the top of a parking garage. I'm going with that is probably not normal here. Either that or I managed to piss someone of enough to make them want to kill me.

I was really hoping to get away from this sort of thing.

So I just attacked by ninjas walking to my car. Pretty tough fight there.

God that was fun.

Bit exciting this, isn't it?