The great battle was, at long last, about to begin.  The gruesome armies of two 
mighty beings were preparing to face each other, each creature willing to give 
its life for the glory of its god.  Caught in the middle was a group of people 
with wildly varying mystical powers, determination, and a healthy dose of luck - 
but would that be enough to save them?  Only time would tell...

...And far away, a solitary figure looked on through a bowl of miso soup.

"Yes...it is almost the proper moment..."

********************************************
DO-GOODERS!

The Incredibly Nifty Superhero Team
With Two D's In Their Title!

Episode 58:  Confusingly Climactic Conflict!
             The End Draws Nearer!

Impro started by Stefan Gagne
This part by Kate Malloy
********************************************

The Sailors/Minions/Various Champions of the Five Gods looked at Shubby-chan's 
army of cloned Magical Girls to the left of them, and Cthulhu's forces of warped 
children's TV stars to the left of them.  Well, all of them, that is, except 
Tejina, who was still screaming; Sakyou, who was desperately trying to calm her 
down; and Ayame who was repeatedly apologizing for what had just happened.

"Tejina, I'm so sorry, I had no idea that they wanted to use my DNA to clone an 
army of magical girls - I swear it wasn't my fault, honestly - I would have 
tried harder to escape if I knew what they were intending, and you really should 
stop and take a breath once in a while since I don't think it's healthy for you 
to go on screaming for so long without breathing, is it?" Ayame finished, nearly 
running out of breath herself.  (Normally, of course, she could have gone on 
much longer, but the shock and stress of recent events had put a dent in even 
her near-legendary expositing abilities.)

Agent BA-3 calmly removed a gun from her trenchcoat and pointed it at Tejina.

"Becky, no!" Hanaki cried as Sakyou bravely attempted to shield Tejina with his 
body.

BA-3 seemed not to acknowledge them as she pulled the trigger...

...and a stream of water shot out and hit Tejina in the face.  Sputtering, she 
coughed a few times, wiped the water from her face, and smiled at her friends.

"Thanks, Becky, I needed that," she said as the others let out huge sighs of 
relief.

"Not a problem," BA-3 answered.  "But I suggest that we now turn our attention 
to the problem at hand."

Luckily for the assembled group, at the moment Cthulhu and Shubby-chan's armies 
were more interested in fighting each other than paying attention to the 
outsiders.

"All right," Aki said.  "Let's take stock of what we have here.  We have five 
Sailors, including myself, one half-oni-"

"Who can kick ass with the best of 'em!" Kireiko interrupted with a grin.  
Hanaki shot him a quick glare.

"One dragon, one Harbringer, five Minions, and two demon hunters," Aki finished.

"What about me?" Ayame asked.

"Okay, one Crystal City Queen cum ex-sailor," Aki amended.  "Did I leave anybody 
out?"

"Yes, where's Master Chiang?" Tejina asked.

"He was just here a second ago," Yukiko offered helpfully.

"You may have to revise your count there," Master Chiang called, reappearing, 
with Zathras and Koji in tow.

Koji immediately spotted BA-3 and blushed furiously.  T-kun noticed his reaction 
and glared at Koji, who stopped blushing and glared back.  Then Yukiko, at last 
finding her knight in shining dandelions, giggled and waved at Koji, who blushed 
again.

Master Chiang cleared his throat, getting everyone's attention.  "I think, 
perhaps, that it is time to reunite the One."

*****

In a large abandoned warehouse (all the better to be more unobtrusive with, my 
dear), Seiryu, Suzaku, Aoryuu, and Genbu awaited the last of their number.

They didn't have to wait long, as Byakko entered the room a few minutes later, 
smiling happily and whistling a jaunty tune.  "Well, I finally got that big mess 
with my Champions all straightened out, so we can finally get on with things 
and-"  He stopped, noting the various expressions on his fellow gods' faces - 
Seiryu very serious, Genbu almost apologetic, Suzaku fairly concerned, and 
Aoryuu, well, still rather plastered.  "What is it?" he asked, dreading the 
answer.

"Sit down," Seiryu said, indicating a large crate.

Byakko did so, and looked expectantly at her.

"The four of us have been talking," she began, "and we've come to the conclusion 
that we should just declare this round a draw."

"What?!" Byakko shouted, jumping up and shaking his fists at her angrily.  "You 
can't be serious!"

Seiryu nodded.  "Byakko, listen.  Have you been paying any attention at all to 
what's been going on in the world lately?"

"Yeah, some of my champions got involved with the cult of Cthulhu and..." His 
voice trailed off in disbelief.  "Oh, Us dammit!  It's started, hasn't it?"

This time, Genbu nodded.  "The battle between the Great Old One and the Outer 
God," he stated quietly.  "Perhaps the final battle for all time."

"No!" Byakko shouted in what could almost be considered a whining voice, if gods 
could whine.  "It's supposed to be *our* final battle, not theirs!  It's not 
fair!"

"Calm yourself," Seiryu suggested.  "Besides, consider who our champions are.  
Already one of mine, two of Aoryuu's, one of Genbu's, and *four* of yours have 
banded together.  Having them fight one another now would be simply useless.  We 
need to put our differences aside and work together for once."

"That's right!" Suzaku piped up.  "Look how well Aoryuu-kun and I get along!"  
She gave the drunken dragon god a big hug and was rewarded by seeing him blush.  
He then passed out.

"By the way, Suzaku, I noticed that none of your champions were mentioned," 
Byakko said accusingly.

The phoenix goddess shrugged.  "Well, I'll go visit them after this meeting is 
over and see if I can't get one of them to volunteer, okay?"

Byakko was still not satisfied.  He turned back to Genbu.  "Come on," he said.  
"Don't let Seiryu bully you.  Stand up for yourself."

The turtle-serpent god didn't flinch this time.  "No, Byakko.  Seiryu isn't 
bullying me.  I'm standing up for myself this time.  You won't be able to bully 
me around any more, either."

Byakko looked at his fellow gods one last time, before slouching down on his 
crate.  "All right, all right, it's a draw."

"Good," Seiryu said, pleased.  "And with that, I suggest that after this battle 
ends, we withdraw from this world until the next round.  Suzaku, please remember 
to select your champion before you leave tonight."

"All right!  Bye everybody!"  She waved to Seiryu, Byakko, and Genbu, gave 
Aoryuu one last, fierce hug, and warped away.  Seiryu and Genbu disappeared as 
well.

Byakko scowled.  "Man, this sucks.  Oh, well.  Next time, maybe."  He too 
vanished.

Aoryuu finally woke up and looked around.  "Heyyyy...wher'd ev'rybody goooo?" he 
slurred.

*****

"The One?" Hiryuu asked.  "What's the One?"

Ayame and Master Chiang both opened their mouths to speak, but Tejina 
interrupted them.  "It's me," she said, "and Becky and Aki.  All three of us 
combined somehow."

"Combined?" T-kun repeated.  "As in..."

"We're not exactly sure how," Aki attempted to clarify for her minion.  "But it 
involves the Icon and the Emblem-"

"Which I have right here," Tejina informed her, holding out the sacred articles.

Master Chiang took them from her.  "Yes, indeed, these most certainly are the 
true Icon and Emblem.  Shall we begin the Uniting now?"

"Wait a second!" Sakyou interjected suspiciously.  "When you say Unite, exactly 
what do you mean?"

"Zathras will tell you," Zathras said.  "It is like taking a big empty bowl, and 
three smaller ones.  Fill the small bowls with water.  Add blue food coloring to 
one, red to another, and green to the last.  Then take all three bowls, and dump 
them into the big one. Mix them all together.  That is like the One."

"Wait a second there!" Sakyou, Hiryuu, Koji, and T-kun all chorused, each coming 
to the same conclusion at the same time.  The four looked at each other, then 
Koji spoke.

"Once you've mixed all that water together, there's no way to ever separate it 
again!" he cried.  "Is that what's going to happen?"

Tejina glanced at Becky and Aki.  "I know we're really close friends, but I'm 
not sure about being that close..."

Hiryuu looked stricken.  "But to never have Aki-sama be herself again..."

"But we don't *know* that's what's going to happen, do we?" Aki asked, looking 
at Master Chiang and Zathras for reassurance.  What she saw in their faces did 
not reassure her.

The Bluefaced Black Shadow and the Unknown Minion, who had been keeping watch 
the whole time, came running back to the group.

"Tentacle monsters at three o'clock!" the BBS cried.

"And Magical Girls at half past seven!" the Unknown Minion added, before being 
given the "You're Weird" look by most of those assembled.

"Can we discuss this One-ness later?" Becky, who was now halfway between being 
BA-3 and Sailor Rapture, asked.

Master Chiang nodded, and then the first wave of enemies came rushing into their 
midst.

*****

The Masons were hanging out in their headquarters, doing whatever it is that 
Masons do in their spare time, when Suzaku popped into their midst.

"Oh, don't get down and bow before me, really," Suzaku said, cheerfully ignoring 
the fact that the five Masons sitting in the room hadn't moved yet.  "I need one 
of you to volunteer to risk life and limb in a battle between the Armies of 
Cthulhu and Shub-Niggurath.  Any takers?"

Haruka, Sansuke, Nanami, Kensuke, and Amano all pointed as one towards a closed 
door.  "Tetsu," they chorused.

At that moment, the door opened and the sixth Mason walked out, wrapped in a 
towel and nearly enveloped in a cloud of steam.  "Man, that was a great bath!" 
he exclaimed.  "I feel all nice and toasty now..."  He suddenly noticed that 
everyone was pointing at him.  "Uh, what's going on?"

Suzaku gave him a hearty clap on the shoulder.  "Thank you for volunteering!  
Now, here's what I need you to do..."

*****

Jinko and Junko immediately leapt into the fray, Ofuda Launcher 500's blazing.  
The Quake Camper followed them with his rocket launcher.  Tejina, Sakyou, and T-
kun drew their various Weapons of Duality.  Hanaki already had hers on in place 
of her usual Sailor boots. Kireiko's claws began to glow silver.  Becky cried 
out, "Form Blazing Sword," and pulled her sword from her forehead.  Aki and 
Yukiko readied their attacks.  Hiryuu transformed into his dragon form.  Even 
Koji was prepared with his dandelions.  The other three minions formed a guard 
around Aki.

Master Chiang, Zathras, and Ayame, the strategists/noncombatants, retreated to 
safer ground, ready to give aid if necessary.  Ayame gave out a mental call to 
the Advisor Animals, letting them know what was going on.

And the battle was joined.

"For the glory of Shubby-chan!  Wai!" a sailor with cerulean hair cried out, 
charging the front guard.  She was taken down by a barrage of ofuda, but dozens 
more rushed to take her place.

Kireiko lashed out into a group of tentacled clowns, claws glowing with an 
strange white light.  Hanaki was by his side, expertly kicking the clowns with 
her boots, which were also glowing.

Tejina and Sakyou fought back-to-back against a group of Pikacthulu, as their 
har-enhanced sunglasses allowed them to withstand the sheer tAlkIng-lIkE-thIs-
inducing power of the odd yellow creatures.

"pIkA! cthUl!" one cried, sending bolts of lightning at the pair.  Sakyou 
ducked, allowing Tejina to get a good swipe at the nearest rodent.  It vanished 
in a pile of yellow fluff.

"One down, thirty million to go," she muttered.

Aki, in full Sailor Joy mode, cast yet another Joyful Cleansing Light at a group 
of Hello Cthulhu, instantly vaporizing them.  

Becky slashed at a house monster that had managed to get beside her and had 
nearly snared her leg with a tentacle.  A minute later, both Koji's dandelions 
and T-kun's oddly-spiked weapon made quick work of the creature.  Becky flashed 
a quick smile at both of them before turning towards the next monster.

Hiryuu battled the demonic planes in the air, lashing out with claws and tail.  
He managed to knock several of them out of the sky before a group of them 
decided to go after the dragon together.  Yukiko noticed his peril and shot 
several lances of ice at his pursuers, piercing them and causing them to fall.

Unfortunately, for every monster or magical girl the group destroyed, there were 
hundreds more, and this fight had managed to attract the attention of even more 
of the army.

"I don't know how long we can keep this up!" Hanaki cried.

"Stick with me, babe, and we'll do fine!" Kireiko answered confidently, but 
Hanaki could see that even he was beginning to tire.

"Maybe I should summon the rest of the Harbringers!" Sakyou suggested to Tejina 
after decapitating another Pikacthulhu.

Tejina nodded and raised her katana into a guard position.  Sakyou formed a 
small sphere of protection about them, then closed his eyes.

A moment later, they snapped open.  "I can't contact them!" he exclaimed, 
panicking.

"Feh.  Silly Harbringer," T-kun, who was fighting nearby now, feh'd.  "I shall 
summon the might of the Seals to aid us!"  A few moments later, he discovered 
that his efforts were as useless as Sakyou's.

"We can't get Byakko to answer us either!" Jinko, or maybe Junko, cried.

"Or Genbu!" the Quake Camper added.

Suddenly, a portal opened in the sky, and a man fell out.  He landed in front of 
Yukiko, the steam still rising from his body.  Getting up, he extended a hand to 
her.

"Hiya.  I'm Tetsu, Champion of Suzaku.  Nice to meet you."

"Look out!" Yukiko screamed, as a fuschia-haired Sailor of Shubby-chan came up 
behind him.

Tetsu whirled, produced an anvil with glowing runes on it from seemingly 
nowhere, and whacked the magical girl over the head with it.  She went down in a 
heap and disappeared.

Aki sighed as she destroyed yet another monster.  They really could use some 
help here.  If things didn't get better soon, she might have to power up to her 
Princess Annikki form, and she wasn't sure if using that much of her power was 
wise.  Perhaps they should have listened to Master Chiang earlier instead of 
arguing.

She hoped that Matsuro and Keiko would finish whatever it was they were doing 
and get over here soon!

*****

"I think we've finally tracked him down," Keiko informed Matsuro and Dragon 
Childe.  "Get your stakes ready."

After Mermaid's false alarm (which Keiko was still rather annoyed about), the 
group had followed Spike's trail into the abandoned warehouse district, which 
was just a few short blocks away from Matsuro's apartment.  (All major cities 
have to have them in case of a giant monster attack, or in case a group of gods 
needs to have a planning session, or a vampire needs a convenient lair.)

"Shh!" Scotch shushed them.  His keen hearing had picked up on some movement.  
The five hid in the shadows of one of the warehouses and waited for the figure 
to approach...

...only to discover that it was not one figure, but three, along with a lizard, 
a raven, and a drooling, deranged bunny rabbit.  (Yumeki was convinced that 
Cecil was merely faking it and would cause her severe pain if she didn't bring 
him along.)

"You!" everyone but Cecil and Edgar chorused.  Edgar smiled smugly (well, the 
raven equivalent of a smug smile) and Cecil babbled some nonsense about torque 
and a rift.

"What are you doing here?" Keiko demanded of the Evil Sailors.

Sailor Despair shrugged.  "Edgar told us to come help you out," she stated, her 
eyes mostly focused on Matsuro.

Sailor Light fumed.  First, she got to be on the receiving end of a *very* stern 
lecture from the Queen of the DarkVerse herself, then she had to cede command of 
her group to a stupid talking bird, and now she was actually helping that 
traitor Sailor Darkness and her dumb boy-toy.  Still, Keiko looked awfully nice 
in that outfit.

"Do you really think that we want to accept your help?" Matsuro asked.

"I've got orders from Queen Charity," Edgar stated.  Well, maybe they weren't 
exact orders, but he was sure that the Queen wouldn't mind if they helped out 
the leader of the DarkVerse Sailors.  Maybe then Sailor Darkness would finally 
join up with them.

"Guys guys guys!" Koohii bounced up to them.  The entire group turned towards 
her, fingers to their lips.

"SHHHHH!"

"But I found the vampire!"

Mermaid and Scotch looked at each other and grinned.

"Soon, we'll be free!" Mermaid whispered.

"Okay, everyone, this is it!" Keiko said gleefully.  "Those of you with stakes, 
get them ready.  Those of you without..." She glanced at the Dark Sailors and 
their advisors.  "Just...be prepared."  She waved to Koohii.  "Lead the way."

Koohii nodded happily and took the group to the largest, darkest warehouse.

"That figures," Matsuro muttered before Keiko laced her arm into his and looked 
at him oddly.

"We'll be just fine," she said.  Then she turned to the Evil Sailors.  "You 
three, and your animals, go guard the other exits.  *Don't* let him past, or 
I'll make sure Queen Charity knows exactly what you did."

Mariko and Yaki visibly swallowed.

The three sailors walked off to the other exits.

"Here we go..." Scotch said as he pulled open the door.

Inside, it was totally dark.

"Keiko?" Mermaid whispered.  "Could you maybe cast a light spell or something?"

Keiko shook her head, not that any of the others could see it.  "I'm a black 
sorceress.  I can't do light spells.  *Now* that Sailor Light would come in 
handy."

Matsuro pulled out his Sword of Duality.  It gave off a strong light, revealing 
a figure at the other end of the warehouse.

"Well, well, well," Spike said.  "Fancy meeting you all here.  I see that you 
little dragons managed to break free of my control.  Well, I'll make sure that 
never happens again, thanks to the powers I gained from draining your blood..."

"You're a mean mean nasty nasty evil man!" Koohii cried.  "We're gonna kill you 
dead!"

Spike chuckled.  "Oh, really?  And what if I do this?"  Quicker than the eye 
could follow, he flew to where the five were standing, and grabbed Matsuro in a 
chokehold, somehow managing not to impale himself on Matsuro's Sword, which 
Matsuro promptly let go of.  "Drop those stakes, my friends, or bishounen-boy 
gets it."

Keiko, Koohii, Scotch, and Mermaid simultaneously dropped their stakes.

"That's better," Spike continued, still holding Matsuro tightly.  "Now, if 
you'll excuse us..."

Keiko felt a strange sensation in her mind.  Suddenly she was *aware* of Mariko, 
Yaki, and Yumeki waiting outside.  It made sense; warped and bizarre as they 
might be, they were *her* team.  She was the original DarkVerse Sailor and thus
the leader of the motley crew.

(Girls, now!) she called to them.

The other doors to the warehouse flew open, and Sailors Light, Despair, and 
Hatred rushed in.

"Despairing Mood Stealer!" Sailor Despair called out.  Her gray cloud enveloped 
Spike.

Spike laughed.  "Girl, don't you know I feed on the blackest emotions?  Don't 
you know I thrive on despair?"

"Well, crap," was her only reply.

In his overconfidence, Spike failed to realize that there were two other Evil 
Sailors behind him, a fact which Mariko was quick to take advantage of.

"Hah!  Try this then!  Blinding Light of Eternity!"  Sailor Light called out.

"Aaagh!" screamed Spike.  This was an attack that he was particularly vulnerable 
to.  As he fumbled around blindly, Matsuro broke free, snatched up his Sword of 
Duality, and cut Spike's head from his body.

"Bloody hell," Spike's head muttered, his body frantically reaching around for 
it.  "*Now* I remember you three."

"Stand still!" Mermaid yelled.  Hurling her spike like she would one of her 
drumsticks, she hit Spike right in the heart.

With an unearthly scream, Spike crumpled into dust, then even the dust faded
away.

"We did it!" Keiko cried, so excited that she grabbed Matsuro into a joyous 
embrace and kissed him.  Dragon Childe and the Evil Sailors (except for Yumeki, 
of course) politely looked away until she was finished, though both Mariko and
Yaki had jealous scowls on their faces.

"We're free!" the dragons celebrated, jumping up and down.  "We're not undead!  
We're not undead!"

Matsuro, meanwhile, was staggering around with the biggest grin that he'd ever 
had in his life.  Man, he felt *good*!

At that moment, Ayesse portaled into the warehouse and presented himself to 
Keiko.

"Yo!" he greeted her.  "Queen Charity told me to find you.  Your friends are in 
trouble.  There's some big battle going on between the Cthulthu gang and the 
Shub-Niggurath crew.  She's sending all us generals there.  If you hang on a 
sec, I can teleport you along with me."

Keiko, Matsuro, and Dragon Childe nodded, then Keiko turned to the Evil Sailors.

"You guys...you really were a big help back there," she said.  "Thank you.  
Would you...maybe...want to come with us?  For the glory of the DarkVerse, and 
all that?"

Mariko, Yaki, and Yumeki exchanged glances.  "Why the hell not?" Mariko said.  
"We're in."  The trio stepped over to where the others were waiting.

Just before the four Sailors, one Mysterious Bishounen, and one DarkVerse 
General were about to warp out, Yaki noticed that there were only two Advisors 
instead of three.  "Where's Edgar?" she asked.

Yumeki shrugged.  "I dunno, maybe he found a cute lady raven and they..."

Yaki quickly clapped her hand over Yumeki's mouth.  "Forget I asked."

"For that matter, Keiko, where's your snake?  I haven't seen him around lately," 
Scotch wondered.

"Yoru?  I'm not sure.  Maybe he shows up when I'm actually Sailor Darkness," 
Keiko pondered.

Ayesse tapped his foot.  "Can we get on with this?"

The group nodded, and a moment later, the warehouse was completely empty.

*****

The battle was not going well at all.  The commanders of both armies had figured 
out two things: one, every creature of the opposing army that the Do-Gooders and 
company destroyed was one less creature to take on their own army; and two, that 
third force opposing both of them was comprised of their most hated enemies.  
Eventually, they would fall under the onrush of monsters.

Chiang, Zathras, Ayame, and the Advisor Animals were in a quandary.  The best 
thing to do for the moment was to retreat, but even with all their powers 
combined, they doubted they could teleport everyone away safely.

"Zathras not think that this was supposed to happen," Zathras moaned.  "Zathras 
thought, according to books of prophecy, it was more likely for Nemesis 
Serendipity Villyn to take over world with army of tap-dancing robots than have 
Cthulhu and Shub-Niggurath destroy world."

*****

"Behold, my latest creation!" Nemesis Serendipity Villyn exclaimed 
to...absolutely no one.

He sighed.  Charity-chan was off organizing the generals for something, and his 
minions were all off protecting dear Aki, who was off on a date.  Ah, how fast 
children grew up nowadays.

Still, what was the use in having a great evil triumph if no one was there to 
share it with him?  Then he remembered his closest friend and companion, one who 
would never leave his side.

Settling the small yellow stuffed animal on his shoulder, he declared again, 
"Behold, my latest creation!  With my new army of tap-dancing robots, Mr. 
Pikasworth, I shall conquer the world!"  He gave the Pikachu beanie a small 
squeeze.

"I love you!"

"Indeed, Mr. Pikasworth, nothing shall stand in our way now!  Mwa ha ha ha ha ha 
ha!"

And Villyn planned on, unaware (for now) of the great battle being waged just a 
short ways away.

*****

Zathras had an odd expression on his face.

"What is it, my friend?" Master Chiang asked.

"Zathras not sure, only Zathras reminded of old expression, 'Be careful what you 
wish for.' Zathras not know why."

Master Chiang nearly sweatdropped, then surveyed the battlefield.  "It may just 
take a miracle now," he murmured.

"We're heeeeere!" Koohii called as she, Sailors Darkness, Light, Despair, and 
Hatred, Matsuro, Scotch, Kahi, and Cecil teleported in with all of Queen 
Charity's Generals.

"And it may just have arrived," Ayame said sagely.

*****

Baron Stagner von Carrlson turned to the two figures waiting in the shadows.

"At long last, it is time for the first step to begin," he said.

The snake and the raven, both of whom had been very surprised to discover that 
they'd been working for the same side all along, agreed.

"And soon, it shall all be mine!" the Baron cried.

And the end drew just a little nearer...

*****

WILL WE GET TO SEE THE BARON'S PLAN AT LAST?  WILL THE TIDE OF BATTLE TURN FOR 
OUR HEROES, OR WILL THEY BE OVERWHELMED BY THE FORCES OF CTHULHU AND SHUB-
NIGGURATH?  WILL KEIKO COME UP WITH AN ELABORATE PLAN TO SAVE EVERYONE THAT 
INVOLVES HER FINALLY GETTING SOME HAR?  WILL VILLYN GET REALLY, REALLY LUCKY?  
WILL THE WORLD *REALLY* END?  WILL THE AUTHOR ACTUALLY GET SOME SLEEP, OR HAS 
SHE JUST CONDEMNED HERSELF TO A NIGHT OF VERY STRANGE DREAMS?

Author's Notes:

Whew!  Not a terribly long chapter, but I'm afraid that my writing style just 
doesn't lend itself to long chapters.  Besides, stuff got done like I wanted it 
to.

Spike is dead, really and truly.  Hey, it's the fourth to last chapter and I had 
to wrap up at least *one* plot thread, right? ^_^

Thanks go to Twoflower, who not only started this whole crazy story in the first 
place, but was very generous and understanding about extensions and queue 
switching and whatnot.  Thanks also go to Mark Elliott, Steven Scougall, and 
John Evans for being next, and bravely volunteering to finish off this lovely 
wacky thing that is Do-Gooders.  And finally, more thanks go to Philip Barkow 
and Phoebe, my wonderful prereaders.

And now, I rest.  My period of ImproOverAchieving is done now. ^_^  I'm on 
official ImproHiatus, though you'll still find me in the chat room and on the 
bulletin board and I'm signed up for GwG and RECBT (though they're chibi-impros) 
and FFL (but that's not for another 10 weeks).

Thanks for reading, everybody!

Kate, the Exhausted Author