From: "Erin Hunt" Date: Thu Nov 11, 1999 06:34:53 US/Pacific To: hudsonleick@onelist.com Subject: [hudsonleick] To Mark This Occasion Reply-To: hudsonleick@onelist.com From: "Erin Hunt" All this talk of ye olden days, when the Hudson fandom in general was new enough that everyone was energized by that initial surge of excitement and enthusiasm, has inspired me to mark the occasion by writing a skit in the expansionist tradition of the beginning days of the CRS (Cirran Restoration Society, for those who haven't been brought up to speed on it yet). Hopefully, others will follow suit, and we'll have a veritable smorgasbord of revivals. :-) Let the games begin... ***************************************** It's glorious autumn in Cirra, capital city of the small but ever expanding country of New Cirra. The trees are at that brief inbetween stage when no green leaves are left, but the blazing bits of yellow, orange and scarlet left in their place haven't begun to fall in great numbers. The little trails of fallen leaves on the streets and sidewalks make pleasant whispering sounds when disturbed by feet, vehicles or wind. And thanks to Cirra's temperate climate, the air is cool, brisk and invigorating. The people of this normally bustling little city have just finished the costume and candy fun of Halloween, Goddess's favorite holiday, next to Callistomas, and still have Thanksgiving and Callistomas to look forward to (along with, for far more people than care to admit to it in public, Christmas and Hanukkah). Yet on this day, the usually busy streets of Cirra lye empty and quiet. All it's businesses are dark and locked (for who in their right mind would dare defy a proclamation from the Goddess?). Indeed, the only even remotely busy place in the entire city is Old Cirra Memorial Stadium, where more than 10,000 people have packed themselves in like sardines in a can, lining all standing spaces and available rooftops, and hanging out of every window. The crowd roils like a living entity, people constantly jostling and elbowing one another, for no one seems to be able to stand still. Remarks like "It's almost time!" and "We're finally going to see her in person!" and "I wonder what she's going to say?" can be picked out of the background rumble. All across the country, every person who couldn't make it into the stadium is glued to their television set, watching the live telecast. At long last, the Goddess materializes in a brilliant flame before the microphone, which is there purely for the telecast, as Goddess said she didn't need no stinking speakers to make herself heard to those present. A deafening roar breaks out. Goddess waits graciously for several moments, then says, "Do I hear people talking?" Instantly, the sound of crickets chirping rings through the area. In a voice that somehow carries across the entire stadium, she begins. "As your all-powerful Goddess and ruler of this great nation, I recognize the importance of not merely keeping up with, but excelling in, today's fastpaced technological world. We have many skilled and talented people right here in New Cirra, but it is not enough. Therefore, I have remedied this situation by bringing many of the world's top scientists to work here. Yes, I did it by kidnapping other countries' valuable assets and putting them in a heavily guarded and barricaded prison farm with onsite labratories and testing centers, but nothing must stand in the way of opening up new opportunities for my subjects. And if I do say so myself, it's an extremely lavish prison farm, with all the latest amenities and design work by our most prestigious architectural and interior design firms. The only person in all of New Cirra who lives better is me. So, consider yourselves informed about this exciting development. You're welcome for the opportunity to see me make this announcement." And, in the short, sweet and to-the-point style that is her custom, she vanishes in a gout of fire. The stadium practically shakes under the onslaught of sound that follows. --------------------------------------------- In a house somewhere in Cirra, a man turns to his wife and says, "Hey, you work at Touch of the Divine. Did you get to work on the prison farm?" The woman puffs up her chest and proudly replies, "I oversaw the design for the recreation center." "Sworn to total secrecy on pain of death until the official announcement, huh?" "Yep." "Oh honey, I'm so proud of you!" ******************************************* I feel those patriotic tears welling up already. Erin Hunt Your Friendly Neighborhood Psycho-blood-goddess-of-vengeance Worshipper Keeper of Callisto's Cool Spinning Club Move ============================================================================== Web site copyright (c) 2001 Kevin C. Wong, All Rights Reserved. "Xena: Warrior Princess" and some material copyright MCA/Universal. Materials copyright their respective authors. Send questions and comments to me, Kevin C. Wong (jahn@csua.berkeley.edu) This page last updated: July 4, 2001.