Yugioh: Counting to Infinity [IC/ Started/ Always Accepting/ Co-Hosts: Stalfos, Chaos Soic, Reina Soho]

[Admiral_Stalfos19]

[color=#000000]Salaginto applauded when Celestia's human opponent bit the dust, allowing her to see him without his helmet on for two reasons: one, because he couldn't be bothered putting it back on since he took of for the Sector Security officer, and two, in hopes that Celestia would admit how handsome Salaginto was for a change. Salaginto had to admit that he was womanizing Celestia ever so slightly since they've joined forces. After all, he wasn't expecting [i]anyone[/i] to join his cause, let alone a being as beautiful as her.[/color]

[color=#000000][color=#000000][color=#000000][color=#000000][color=#800000]"It's good to see you again, Celestia,"[/color][/color][color=#000000] Salaginto stated, [/color][color=#800000]"Wish I could say the same for Black Ray, he was supposed to report back to me 24 hours ago. Had to inspect the ruins myself... this is all that's left of the building."[/color][/color][/color][/color]

[color=#000000][color=#000000][color=#000000][color=#000000]Salaginto revealed the payroll paper that he'd been hiding in his sleeve the whole time. Since the paper's been in his possession, there were a lot of names that were striked off. Maverick's name was still whole, as were those of a few others.[/color][/color][/color][/color]

[color=#000000][color=#800000]"It lists all the humans that researched these cursed Xyz Monsters," [/color]Salaginto explained, [color=#800000]"Some of them died in the explosion, but the rest were slain by [i]my[/i] hand. I trust that my lady has made some leeway as well?"[/color][/color]

[Zeal Ascendant]

OOC: I'm assuming that facedown monster got returned to your hand...


[color=#00FF00]"Depth amulet, huh,"[/color] Mako muttered. [color=#00FF00]"I guess I'll just have to keep making you discard until you have no hand! Thunder Hawk, attack!"[/color] The large bird roared, and charged at Kira. It was preparing to fire a large lightning bolt when the amulet started to glow. A card went from Kira's hand to her graveyard, and the amulet glowed even more brightly. A barrier appeared around her, and when Thunder Hawk charged against it the number monster was flung back.
[color=#00FF00]"I end my turn,"[/color] Mako yelled. [color=#00FF00]*Hmm... I should be able to get rid of that amulet fairly soon. I just hope she doesn't set up...*[/color]

[evilfusion]

Celestia gave a slight snort, moving nearer to her comrade. Fact was, she didn't particularly care much for their alliance. He seemed to have a specific agenda, and while it served her goals, it wasn't quite the same as hers. So far, most of her quarries had been weak opponents, all of them wielding regular Xyz monsters.

"I've found a few stragglers, but none of them," she said, gesturing towards the paper he held. Not that she had been looking too hard. What she had wanted from them, they never found: Numbers. Even after gaining her Machine Emperor, she had yet to test the beast against a Number. "Did you have a direction to take this?" she wondered idly.

--

A disturbance!

Jacob Reiger was on his feet, racing in the direction of the shouts and crashes. Maybe someone was in trouble, maybe something related to the news about all the disasters, and the mysterious disappearances and deaths. With any luck, he'd be able to unravel the turmoil...but these were just delusions, and he knew it.

Up ahead, he could see a man collapsed on the ground, and while a lesser young man would have felt stinging disappointment, Jacob picked up his pace and arrived at the side of the fallen man. "Are you all right?" he asked breathlessly.

[CommanderVolt]

Kinzo was struggling, trying desprately to lift him self off, shifting his body, pushing his hands against the cold ground but nothing seemed to work, as if he had no strength in his body at all. Finally, he heard the sound of foot-steps repeatdly against the ground near by. Someone was coming. At first he got real silent and stopped moving, but the when he saw the face of a stranger who had asked him if he was okay; his bright-green eyes, which were just moments ago filled with terror, became filled with hope. "O-oh!" He said, his voice choking a bit. "An un-kind person knocked me over, and my legs are weak, so i can't lift my self up too well. I have a crutch but..." Kinzo glanced over to the side. A good few feet away was a loan crutch, it must have been knocked away by the young-man who assaulted him moments ago. "I have not the strength to lift my body on my own...will you help me?" He said, his eyes now filled with concearn. It was odd, the way he spoke. But one could feel kindness and warmth from him.

[evilfusion]

Jacob blinked in mild confusion, his eyes falling upon the crutch in question. Ah, that had to be it; the man, probably only a few years older than himself, probably had a leg injury or similar disability, and falling over was more than just an inconvenience and scrapes.

"Well, uh, all right," he said, squatting down to place his arms around the other man's upper body and lifting, taking care not to be too rough, but not so gentle as to be ineffective. Once he got the man off the ground, he moved closer to the nearest wall to help him prop himself up until he could retrieve the crutch. While doing this, he noticed the scattered cards on the ground.

"Are those yours?" he asked.

[CommanderVolt]

Kinzo winced a bit, not because of pain, but because he felt Jacob help him up. After Kinzo was standing up straight, he took a deep breath and sighed. "Oh thank you so much." He said rather loudly but kindly. Kinzo patted his arms and legs off as far as he could reach and would turn to Jacob. "Yes, those are my cards. The young ruffian who knocked me down caused my cards to scatter." Some of the cards had landed face-up. The monsters resembled toys modeled after animals. However, there was one peculiar black-framed card. It was Numbers 56. Kinzo would hold him self against the wall until he could slowly inch his way to his crutch.

After recieving his crutch he would lean against it slightly to hold him self up. "Can i impose upon you once more, to help me gather my cards?" No doubt would he have trouble bending over to re-claim the cards he had dropped. "Maybe i should think about getting a wheel chair..." He said, and his voice trailed off.

[Admiral_Stalfos19]

(OOC Notes: Apologies for taking so long. Was trying to work out how both characters would act)

[color=#000000]Finally, Kira had gotten over the small episode of bad luck, and had begun to draw something that could be of use.[/color]

[color=#800080]"I actisate Card os Demissse," [/color][color=#000000]Kira declared, [/color][color=#800080]"Sisss letsss me draw sise cardsss ssssssinssse I don't has any in my had, but in return, in sa unlikely esent sisss duel eesen lassstsss sise turnsss, my entire hand goesss to sa Graseyard."[/color]

[color=#000000]This was the moment of truth. Could Kira draw the cards she needed to get either of her Numbers out there to combat the great hawk? It was only a matter of time before the answer would be revealed, and the answer lay in the deck.[/color]

[color=#800080]"Yesss, sisss isss more like it,"[/color][color=#000000] she pumped her fist towards the ground, before commencing her turn, [/color][color=#800080]"I'll ssstart by playing Monssster Reborn, whisss allowsss me to resize a monssster in either os our Graseyardsss, and I choossse my own Uraby, and then I yussse Inserno Recklesss Ssssssummon to bring two more from my Deck!"[/color]

[color=#000000]Now Mako was starting to realize that Kira had more than just plain Jurracs the whole time. Although these three dinosaurs didn't have any fire on them, they were still more than intimidating in their own ways.[/color]

[color=#000000][b]Dinosaur-type/EARTH/Level 4/1500 ATK/800 DEF[/b][/color]

[color=#800080]"I'll alssso ssssssummon Two-Mouse Darkruler in Attack, and equip it wis Ssssssynchro Boossst, gissing it sise hundred Attack Pointsss and increasssing itsss lesel by one, jussst sssssso I can do sisss!"[/color][color=#000000] Another dinosaur monster took the stage, but neither it nor the others would be there for long. Kira still had one more monster up her sleeve.[/color]

[color=#000000][b]Dinosaur-type/EARTH/Level 3/900 ATK/700 DEF[/b][/color]
[color=#000000][b]Two-Mouth Darkruler's Level: 3 --> 4[/b][/color]
[color=#000000][b]Two-Mouth Darkruler's ATK: 900 --> 1400[/b][/color]

[color=#800080]"Betrayersss os sa light ssssssell be crusssed by sa hammer os holy judsssment, and a new sssssselessstial forsss ssssssell pursss sa corrupted ssssssoulsss,"[/color][color=#000000] Kira chanted, [/color][color=#800080]"Ixssseesss Ssssssummon: Number Eighty-Sise. HOLYSSSIRAPTOR!!"[/color]

[color=#000000]A blinding light shone down on the battlefield, and it had taken all of Kira's monsters with it. In their place, however, was a completely different creature that stood tall. It had a green mane running down its back, and what appeared to be a helmet with a single feathered plume on the top resting on its head. Behind this plume was the number 85.[/color]

[color=#000000][b]Dinosaur-type/LIGHT/Rank 4/2800 ATK/1700 DEF[/b][/color]

[color=#800080]"Holysssiraptor, sssssso no mersssy!"[/color][color=#000000] Kira commanded.[/color]

[color=#000000]***[/color]

[color=#800000]"Certainly,"[/color][color=#000000] Salaginto stated, [/color][color=#800000]"The humans have also been researching the Number Monsters, and at least one of them is bound to have one of his or her own... out of those remaining, that is to say. I've yet to find one from [i]them[/i] personally, however..."[/color]

[color=#000000]Placing the paper back in his sleeve, Salaginto reached in his pocket, and withdrew a series of Xyz Monsters, presumably of which belonged to the Number Hunter he defeated earlier. He retrieved one of them, which seemed to be the only Number Monster out of the lot. All he had to do now was will the rest to be destroyed, and they burned in his hand in a matter of seconds.[/color]

[color=#800000]"I [i]did[/i] find one from another human,"[/color][color=#000000] he added, [/color][color=#800000]"Apparently he called himself a Number Hunter, and works for another human intending on collecting all of them. For now on, that will be impossible..."[/color]

[evilfusion]

"Sure, no problem," Jacob said, stooping down and gathering the cards gently, taking care not to damage them and stack them into a neat stack. After gathering them all, he swiftly counted them to double check that a full dueling deck was present. "Okay, here you go," he said, extending the pile to Kinzo. His eyes paused upon the Xyz Monster he had placed on top of the deck, abruptly taking notice of the card name.

"Number...56?" he said curiously. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a monster of his own. "You have a Number too?"

--

Celestia snickered, peering at the remaining Xyz. "So, this is one of the Numbers?" she mused. "Nice catch, I imagine. For me, it's just a matter of time before a Number shows itself to me. Even if the entire city has to be leveled, all 100 Numbers will be taken away from these common trash."

"So...he wanted to be a Number Hunter. He can't be the only one if he only had one Number."

[CommanderVolt]

Kinzo took the deck of cards from Jacob, which he would then praise his kindness for helping him. "Ah Yes..." He said, his voice lowered. "The mysterious Numbers...It seems to be the reason why people have been attacking me lately. However some had called it trashed and decided not to... "Waste any effort on me." He quoted. Kinzo glanced at his Numbers and then cracked a bitter-sweet smile. Placing the deck inside a box attached to the inside of his trench coat, Kinzo leant on his crutch and headed for the door to the entrance of one of the many stores on the shopping district. Above the door had labeled the name. "Kinzo Toy Shop."

"By the way, i haven't introduced my self. My name is Kinzo Yama, and once again i would like to thank you for all of your help." He attempted to bow to Jakob.

[evilfusion]

"And I'm Jacob. Jacob Reiger," the young man replied in turn, passing the deck to Kinzo. "I found one of those Numbers a while back, not long after all that chaos started," he explained with a sigh. "So far, I haven't found anything about it, but I was hoping that maybe finding an Xyz was a sign that I could do something to fix things up a bit, before they got even more out of hand. Silly, I know, but it's something I feel I need to do..."

He shrugged. "Are you going to be all right?"

[CommanderVolt]

"Well then." Kinzo said boldly. "It is an honor to meet you Jacob." Kinzo listened intently to what Jacob was saying. "Chaos?" He said confusedly. "Some time after the mysterious Xyz cards appeared to me people had started showing up here. It use to be so peaceful and quiet." Kinzo got lost in thought for a moment, or looked like he was spacing out. "If you have time to spare, would you tell me what you know about what's going on in the world? I feel deep down that something is coming. . ." His voice trailed off and Kinzo's head would turn to the sky, as if he was looking for something, his eyes would scan the skies.

[Reinforce]

"Sorry I'm late, but I have been doing some useful work." Black Ray said, seeming to appear out of thin air. "I have managed to track down a number monster, and a well known one too." Black Ray paused, almost as if to enhance the mood of the situation, "Have you heard of Number 39: Utopia, It was owned originally by David Numero, and caused the portal between our world and this world, which allowed us to find this world in the first place." He paused again, before saying, "Turns out his son managed to obtain it, though he has since managed to vanish to somewhere, so I don't know Utopia's current location." Black Ray smiled now, with that smile turning into a sinister grin as he waited for their reactions to his news.

[Premier Alexander Romanov]

At that moment, a shadow appeared in Kyra's rear view. It slowly crept closer and closer, until it pulled alongside her, at which point it started changing. The shadow grew a quartet of legs and a muscular equine body below, while a more humanoid body formed on top, and a woman's head appeared, along with a long mane of jet-black hair. For some reason, this strange centaur was able to keep up with the Duel Runner. The woman created a glowing circle in front of her, dropped some liquid into the center that turned into a deck, and a dueling request popped up on Kyra's screen.

[TotalObelisk]

It didn’t take long for Kyra’s communicator to come to life, signalling the reply with the information she’d requested.

“I found what you needed,” the reply came “I’m going to transfer the information tobwio vqreojqbvknqre…”

Kyra was taken aback as the message scrambled and then burst into static before finally dying. She looked at the dashboard to find the screen flickering slightly and a small error message flashing in the corner, naturally infuriated by this Kyra attempted to re-open the connection with no success, finding the same ear scratching static as before, it wasn’t until she looked up that she spotted the shadow in her rear-view mirror closing in on her.

The shadow crept up on her till it was directly alongside her and began to shift, taking a form of some kind of demonic centaur. Kyra passed the display off as a mere illusion, what with the advent of solid vision she found it very easy to believe people where skilled enough to create images and displays such as this one and she felt almost insulted that this person thought she was juvenile enough to fall for it. Her interest was grabbed however when a duel request popped up on her dashboard computer. Seeing this as an opportunity to put this show-off in their place Kyra accepted, her bike’s auto pilot taking over and her duel disk flipping out of a compartment in front of her. She cast a glance at her opponent, her eyes narrowing dangerously.

[b]“Your fancy tricks don’t impress me,”[/b] she said curtly [b]“I only hope your duelling is more believable otherwise you’re in for a world of hurt.”[/b]

She drew her first hand of cards and began to plan her first move.

[Premier Alexander Romanov]

The woman...centaur...shadow...thing...grinned and drew her cards.[color=#800080] "Well, we will just have to see. I will go first." [/color]She drew a sixth card. [color=#800080]"I will start us off by Normal Summoning Magical Exemplar in Attack Mode."[/color] A beautiful woman clad in green robes appeared from a portal and floated alongside her. (1700 ATK|LV4|0 SC) [color=#800080]"Next, I will activate the Spell Card Spell Power Grasp, giving my Exemplar 3 Spell Counters, 2 from her own effect, and 1 from the effect of the Spell Card itself." [/color]Three purple orbs with a gold symbol etched into them suddenly appeared from her hand and went inside of Exemplar's staff. (SC: 0 -> 3) [color=#800080]"I will now activate the Spell Card Recycle, giving my Exemplar another 2 Spell Counters in the process." [/color]Exemplar acquired another 2 Spell Counters. (SC: 3 -> 5) [color=#800080]"Magical Exemplar has the effect of summoning a Spellcaster from my hand or Graveyard equal to a number of Spell Counters I remove from her, so I will remove 4 Spell Counters from her to Special Summon Summoner Monk from my hand." [/color]Another magical portal opened up, and Magical Exemplar sent 4 of the purple stones from her staff into the portal to bring forth a rather depressed-looking monk. (1600 DEF|LV4) (SC: 5 -> 1) [color=#800080]"Any response?" [/color]The woman asked her opponent.

[TotalObelisk]

[i]A spellcaster deck?[/i] Kyra thought as she observed her opponent’s opening move [i]I guess I should’ve seen it coming what with the cheap magic tricks. Still, time to move on.[/i]

[b]"If you're expecting me to be impressed then you're sadly mistaken,"[/b] Kyra responded with distain, not even bothering to look her opponent in the eye (not that she could see them) [b]"I don't have all day, if you're done then end and if not then kindly don't waste my time with childish trickery."[/b]

[Premier Alexander Romanov]

Katy grinned, and continued. [color=#800080]"Now, I will activate Summoner Monk's effect, sending the Spell Card Mana Surge to Special Summon Royal Magical Library from my hand." [/color]A huge floating bookcase with a few hovering platforms appeared on the field as well. [color=#800080]"Next, the effect of my Mana Surge activates."[/color]

[spoiler=Mana Surge]
Mana Surge
Spell/Quick-Play
This card cannot be activated from your hand. When this card is sent to the Graveyard: You may activate this card's effect as if you were activating a Spell Card from your hand. When this card is activated: Target 1 card on the field that can have Spell Counters on them; Place up to 3 Spell Counters on the targeted card, then activate one of the following effects based on where this card was sent to the Graveyard from:[list]
[*]From the hand: Draw 1 card.
[*]From your side of the field: Place 1 Spell Counter on each face-up card on your side of the field that can have Spell Counters placed on them.
[/list]
You can only activate 1 "Mana Surge" per turn.
[/spoiler]

A massive power surge powered through the monsters, giving Exemplar 2 additional Spell Counters, and 3 to Library. [color=#800080]"I will now remove 3 Spell Counters from my Library to draw a card, as well as draw a card from my Mana Surge." [/color]She drew her two cards, then pointed at her Monk and her Library. [color=#800080]"So, Kyra, are you ready to see my Number?"[/color]

[TotalObelisk]

Kyra gave a start when her opponent mentioned her by name, causing the usual sharp retort Kyra would normally have followed up with to die in her throat.

[b]"How...How do you know my name?"[/b] She demanded, attempting to come across as aggresive as always but her surprise showed through.

[i]Has she been stalking me?[/i] Kyra thought, mulling the information over in her head [i]Wait a moment, she said she has a Number card.[/i] Kyra's thoughts began to settle and she finally began to put two and two together [i]Perhaps she is one of these 'Number Hunters', that would make sense. All the better for me as well.[/i]

She returned to her standard venomous glare, staring at where she assumed her opponent's face to be.

[b]"Summon whatever you want,"[/b] she said, all traces of shock now gone [b]"It won't help you."[/b]

[Zeal Ascendant]

[color=#00FF00]"AUUUUGHH!!!" [/color]Mako screamed, taken completely by suprise. The large dinosaur tore through his number easily, and Thunder Hawk shattered to pieces.

[b]MAKO'S LP: 3300 --> 2800[/b]

[color=#00FF00]"How?!?! My number has never been beaten before! And how do you have one of your own?!?"[/color] Mako was shocked and confused. He literally dropped to his knees.[color=#00FF00] "Who... what... are you?"[/color] He stammered.
[color=#00FF00]*I shouldn't have attacked. I should have known. I've been so naive...*[/color] Mako sullenly thought to himself. The bright green shine of Thunder Hawk had been reduced to a faint, sickly glow. The crowd was silent.
[color=#00FF00]*I'm not going to let this stop me... I can handle this. I mean, it's only a duel.*[/color]
[color=#00FF00]*Is it?*[/color]

[Admiral_Stalfos19]

[color=#800000][color=#800000]"David Numero's son..."[/color][color=#000000] Salaginto pondered, looking at the list to find James' name on there as well as Maverick's, [/color][color=#800000]"If he's where I believe he is... then we'll have killed two birds with one stone. However, we must act now, the humans already grow suspicions of our actions. We can only trust that they're still mostly left in the dark."[/color][/color]

[color=#800000][color=#000000]With that, Salaginto prepared to leave to find James and co, hopping on his coveted Yata-Garasu to take with him.[/color][/color]

[color=#800000][color=#800000]"You wish to come?" [/color][color=#000000]he asked Black Ray.[/color][/color]

[color=#800000][color=#000000]***[/color][/color]

[color=#800000][color=#800080]"Now you know you're not sa only one to has a Number,"[/color][color=#000000] Kira told him, [/color][color=#800080]"Sere'sss... ssssssumsing elssse you need to know asss well. Also sisss isss my original Number Monssster... it'sss not my only one."[/color][/color]

[color=#800000][color=#000000]Kira revealed the other Number Monster that was in her Extra Deck at the moment: Number 19: Freezerdon. It had been in her Extra Deck for a while now, and it was supposed to remain sitting there waiting to be summoned. But Kira figured that Mako had better know the truth. Hopefully he wouldn't be too judgemental, but this was unlikely.[/color][/color]

[color=#800000][color=#800080]"Sisss one wasss gissen to me asss a ghist,"[/color][color=#000000] she explained, before returning it to the Extra Deck where it belonged... for now, anyway, [/color][color=#800080]"Ssssssomeone called sa Enigma Witsss gase it to me... I beliese her real name isss Katy."[/color][/color]

[color=#800000][color=#000000]She motioned for Mako to make his next turn as she ended her speech.[/color][/color]

[color=#000000][spoiler=Kira's Status]LP: 4500[/color]
[color=#000000]Cards in Hand: 1[/color]
[color=#000000]Cards on Field: No. 85: Holyciraptor (Overlaying: Two-Mouth Darkruler, Uraby x3), Backfire, Depth Amulet[/color]
[color=#000000]Cards in Graveyard: Seven Tools of the Bandit, Staunch Defender, Urgent Tuning, Pot of Avarice, Jurrac Gallim, Card of Demise, Monster Reborn, Inferno Reckless Summon, Synchro Boost[/color]
[color=#000000]Banished Cards: N/A[/spoiler][/color]

[Super Chaos Sonic]

Neo and Co. returned back to his place, first of all to alert Sector Security about the Number Hunter they encountered....but also to prepare assess the current situation. This current situation was both Number Hunters and these Machine Emperors. [color=#4B0082]"OK...from what James told us about what his dad told him...when he returned some weird group appeared with these emperors." [/color]Neo said, pacing the room. [color=#4B0082]"And not only do we have to deal with those loonies...we have the Number Hunters to deal with as well. So do either of you have a good plan that they'd be wiling to share? Cause right now I don't have a single idea what to do."[/color]

[evilfusion]

"Is that so?" Celestia sneered, her eyes lighting up. "I would definitely want a shot in on that action if you're going to go to them now, for if there really are humans holding Number monsters...crushing them would be a dream, really. So, where would you think they are? I could meet you there."

--

Jacob considered for a few moments, a little taken aback that the man was so oblivious. It was major news, all over the papers and nearly everyone in town knew about it. "Um...people have disappeared, died, destruction all over, and most of the people have been duelists. It's been happening ever since these Numbers appeared, and nowadays, Xyz monsters are nearly impossible to find. Strange, eerie stuff, but I can't ignore the danger that everyone is in."

[Barian Warlord]

Kurai had lost the girl who had some how been flying and wondered whether or not she had heard him but decided not to beat himself up over it if he met her again then he could ask her then. After riding for a few minutes he saw what appeared to be a turbo duel involving a centaur woman, [b][color=#0000ff]I feel like I should be a lot more surprised by that then I am right now...maybe that didn't just happen.[/color][/b]
Akira was Furies after all his searching he still hadn't found any Number holders in days it was looking like they had all already been hunter gone into hiding which would make his task far more difficult.

[Admiral_Stalfos19]

[color=#000000]Maverick was too busy on his laptop computer to pay attention to Neo's words, trying to find where Alicia could've cowered her way off to. After countless internet searches with differing keywords each time, all he could find on the subject of Number Hunters was this strange website that was talking about a revelation or something along those lines.[/color]

[color=#ff8c00]"Let's see here..."[/color][color=#000000] Maverick muttered to himself as he read on, [/color][color=#ff8c00]"Yada yada yada, together we can do all of that, yada yada yada, time to strike is now, yada yada, yada... wait, who the f***'s this... Katy or whatever her name's supposed to be?"[/color]

[color=#000000]***[/color]

[color=#800000]"Why not come with, milady?"[/color][color=#000000] Salaginto asked in a charming tone, [/color][color=#800000]"Such elegance as yourself could use a little piece of mind."[/color]

[color=#000000]Somewhere in the back of his mind though, he wasn't expecting this charm to work. Perhaps it was because he tried it for the umpteenth time and it yield exactly the same result each time. Or maybe Celestia was too focused on the task at hand, and she found that Salaginto wasn't doing much of a favour in that regard. Nonetheless, he waited for a response from either.[/color]

[Reinforce]

"Sure, I'm coming, but I want to be the one who gets to duel James, I brought the infomation about him back afterall." Black Ray smiled, and walked towards Salaginto, asking, "Where do you think they are anyway, cause you have our best guess to the location." Black Ray smiled further, a grin that seemed to nearly stretch up to his eyes, before stopping, as in front of him, a barely visible rend in the air was forming, his prefered method for moving long distances, and the way he had shown up originally at the meeting.