Curious About C--

I'm a high level programmer that has recently become interested about 
lower-level programming. I was interested in creating a computer language 
via assembly language or mapping to C, when I discovered the website for 
C--. I found the concepts discussed there very intersting. I had a couple of 
questions about C--:
 [1] Is a program converted from a high-level language to C--, and then from 
C-- to machine code/assembly language on the target platforms?
 [2] What is the difference between C-- and something like a Java Virtual 
Machine? Would you not need a "C-- Virtual Machine" to run C-- code on the 
different architectures?
 Is there still development work underway for C--? I have some knowledge of 
writing parsers in high-level languages, and would like to learn more about 
assembly language programming and C--. If there is development of C-- 
currently under way, would I be able to assist in the effort?
 Thanks,
 The Sunburned Surveyor