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Post by Sandy Bell on Dec 17, 2015 16:49:11 GMT
Missing in Action
 Sandy Bell saw only darkness when she woke up. She didn't know how long she had been unconscious since her red convertible was driven off the road by a black Durango during her and Erika Widowmaker's drive to Defiance. She vaguely remembered swerving to avoid the SUV that seemed to come out of no where, then a brief feeling of free fall as her car shot off the road and into a gully, her forehead hitting the steering wheel almost as hard as the car hit the embankment. Then there was darkness - until she woke up, and there was more darkness. What facts Sandy knew other than the fact that she was seeing pitch black were slim to none. She knew that there was a bag of some coarse material over her head, hence the darkness since she awoke. She knew she was sitting on a hard wooden chair, her hands bound tightly behind her. She knew that her small nose was being assailed by a foul smell - one that was vaguely familiar - a sewer maybe?. She knew she could hear voices nearby, one quite young, speaking in Spanish, in a tone which seemed quite irate to her. But then, since she didn't speak Spanish, any conversation in that language seemed to be angry to her. People who spoke Spanish always seemed to speak in a hurried and excited manner, and Sandy was never sure if it was because of the language or the people who spoke it. Suddenly after an even faster exchange of words between a young man and a deeper older man's voice, the young voice uttered what was clearly an order, although Sandy didn't know what it was until the bag was roughly pulled off her head. Sandy's blue eyes blinked away the spots caused by the sudden bright light, only to see a young teenage Castithan boy sitting backwards astride a kitchen chair, his intense yellow eyes staring at her like a cat stares at a caged canary. Standing behind him was a tall gaunt Hispanic woman with long black hair and a dead look in her large brown eyes, her thin brown arms crossed tightly against her small breasts, clad in a leather corset that hid very little. The third person in the room was short stocky black man with a goatee and clad in a Hawaiian shirt that was almost as loud as his voice, who held the burlap sack that had so recently been on Sandy's head in his thick calloused hand, who again said a plethora of Spanish words aimed at the teenager. "Please Gomez, speak English for our guest. Hello Guachita, did you enjoy your rest? Welcome back to Lima," Asked the skinny fourteen year-old Castithan in a bored manner, his gold colored eyes looking much older than his years would suggest. "No kid, can't say that I did," Began Sandy shaking her blond head vigorously as she struggled in vain against her bonds before asking, "Why did you kidnap me? Where is Erica?" The boy leaned forward in his chair, the impassive look on his chalk white face belying the venom in his young voice as he asserted, "First, you may address me with respect as Lord Ivu - a title I earned as the most powerful cartel leader in all of Peru. Second, I did not kidnap you, but you were left unconscious on my doorstep as an unexpected gift, from some unknown admirer I guess, and you were left there alone. And third and most importantly, you are my prisoner and totally at my mercy, so I will be the only one asking the questions here." "Wait, I know you!" Sandy's blue eyes grew wide as an expression of recognition crossed her tanned pretty face, continuing until her voice trailed off, "You are Gil Ivu, the son of that crimelord that... Taffer... killed... in our last mission... here." As Gil Ivu glared silently at her, the hispanic man intervened in a thick Mexican accent, "Lord Ivu, this auction is a bad idea! If you want revenge, have Morticia kill her fast or slow, or do it yourself! If you want the script, sell her to that old sex merchant Montero! A blond puta is rare in Lima, and I bet he would pay a lot of scrip for one as attractive as this." The thin woman behind Lord Ivu smiled a bemused smile accentuted by her high cheekbones as she reached with long brown fingers to the knife sheaved at her side at the mention of her killing Sandy, but Gil either ignored or didn't see the gesture before answering, "Gomez, you are the first and my most trusted of my Lugartenientes, but my word is final. Montero had been invited to bid on this merchandise, as well as others. There are two yankee strangers - a Mr. Wynd and Mr. Kyd - who have expressed an interest, and I have invited them to bid as well. Most importantly, I have sent an invitation to that bastiche Taffer to bid for the life of his team mate - and once he gets here, we WILL kill him for the death of my father. It is a blood oath I owe my sire!" "Oh, crap!" Thought Sandy to herself.
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Jan 17, 2016 7:12:53 GMT
"Excellent work, Mr. Lestrange. Isn't it, Mr. Kyd," said soft voice outside the box, Volodja was kept in. And there was a smell of a cheap perfume, Volodja first felt in Red Deer.
"Fabulous, Mr. Wynd. Simply fabulous," confirmed other. "Your premature arrival with merchandise saves us lot of time, trouble and scrip. There is no need to participate in auction now."
"Actually there is," was told by voice of Marcel Lestrange. "As you must be aware - Volodja is kind of stubborn as an ass and he does not talk or cooperate if he does not want to. Usual methods are not that efficient. You can not make him open up with simply torturing him physically or using truth serum. He is learned to ignore and bypass simple approaches and withstands them. But using your skills with someone who he deeply cares about is something totally different. When he sees his beloved girl in torture rack then he does everything to save and spare her. So I would suggest to participate in auction and make sure that you obtain Sandy Bell. But who am I to teach you. Just a humble businessman who just fulfilled his part of the deal and is about to return to US of A to collect his prize -information about his partner."
"When you put it that way, Mr. Lestrange. I am afraid that you are correct. Right Mr. Kyd?"
"Absolutely, Mr. Wynd. And we like to think about ourselves as couple of flexible specialists, so it's decided. We will get Sandy Bell. Any suggestions about Mr. Uljanov here? We'd hate to leave him alone for too long. Am I right, Mr. Wynd?"
"Of course you are, Mr Kyd. He might be getting an idea of escaping if he wakes up or someone might find him."
"You can always take him to an auction with you as long as he behaves. But I really must be going now. Have a nice day, mes amis."
"Bon voyage, Monsieur Lestrange."
"Have a safe flight, Monsieur Lestrange."
"You bet I will, gentlemen. Happy staying, Volodja. Hope you enjoy your visit in Lima." Footsteps. Fainting footsteps. Sound of the closing door. Brief silence. And dark thoughts.
Volodja was unconscious during the trip. He was unconscious when Marcel landed top Fortress K'Shaa to deliver Stephanie's precious collection of her ceramic animals to it's rightful owner. He was still unconscious when Marcel made another landing at his hidden hangar to refuel and let Bert and Ernie out. He was unconscious during rest of the trip, because Marcel Lestrange took good care of it, by giving him another dose of his tranquillizer as soon as he showed any sign of waking. But now he was awake and this was damn far from being one of the best awakenings ever. Quite opposite.
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Later he was sitting blindfolded in the company of two gentlemen - Mr. Wynd and Mr. Kyd - in the villa of Gil Ivu, chewing his mouthpiece. Why blindfolded, one may ask? Blocking an eyesight and making one to rely only to hearing and sense of smells (which isn't usually too sharp in case of common homo sapienses), might have quite powerful psychological effect, because it makes people to feel kind of helpless and disorientated. If one is used to get a lot of information and orientate through visual perception, then cutting it off is a disadvantage and gives a lot of room for imagination. At least Mr. Wynd and Mr. Kyd thought that way. One can never bee too careful when you have to deal with Volodja Uljanov kind of guy. That mouth piece was a nice add on, because they already had their experience with his sharp tongue.
"Lord Ivu. Can we begin our business already?" asked Mr. Wynd.
"After all - we are only bidders here and now," added Mr. Kyd.
"Senjor Montero hasn't arrived yet," said teenage Castithan boy from his seat, looking at them with his unblinking yellow eyes. Actually he was looking at their figures, because only lighted spot in that room was his seat. Delicate business demands discrete approach and customer's do't have to know anything about each other. Only reason why names were mentioned was due the fact that rest of the bidders hadn't arrived yet. Young Castithan continued: "I prefer to give everyone an equal opportunity to participate on auction."
"I am afraid, that Montero isn't coming today, because of that HORRIBLE accident," said Mr. Wynd.
"Yes. It was most unfortunate what happened to him only few blocks away from your villa," conformed Mr. Kyd.
"He was on his way here but he had to stop because of his flat tire and then a huge truck crashed into his car and smashed it to the ground," announced Mr. Wynd.
"But I believe that there is some hope that he recovers one day. I believe that good doctors will do whatever they can to save his life," added Mr. Kyd.
"Seems to me that some power intervened to give you advantage. How convenient," said teenage Castithan. "I am kind of impressed already, but unfortunately there is one more customer I am expecting, gentlemen."
"Que sera, sera," hummed Mr. Wynd.
"Whatever will be, will be," he was supported by Mr. Kyd. "But we believe that we have an offer, you can't refuse." And he opened his suitcase, full off diamonds. "Diamonds are forever, Lord Ivu."
"I am even more impressed now...and inspired," replied young Castithan. "Yes, Gomez. I know that we have to lure Taffer here," he whispered. "But seeing efficiency and determination of these two, I got an idea. It actually does not matter who buys this Sandy Bell. All we need is Taffer at our doorstep. That means that Taffer doe have to know that his team mate is sold already. And when to think about it then getting a mouse into the trap without any cheese as a bait is more...interesting. Imagine Taffer's last thoughts before his death when he finds out that he came here for nothing."
"This is really vicious....and quite innovative, Lord Ivu," said Gomez. Morticia added: "I like the idea of total humiliation before annihilation."
"It's decided then, These two gentlemen can have Sandy Bell. Sold for the suitcase of diamonds! Not a bad price for a pretty girl. One hundred percent of profit, because we received her for free. Congratulations! By the way - who is your silent partner? And why he is blindfolded?"
"This is Mr. Volodja Uljanov. I believe that his name doesn't ring any bells here. Except maybe for Sandy Bell," said Mr. Wynd.
"Indeed," confirmed Mr. Kyd. "Whom else the bells toll, I wonder?"
"I could add much wittier figure of speeches," thought Volodja Uljanov.
"Excellent! Would you like us to redress her? After all - she could use a better outfit than her army coveralls. Maybe something more...revealing? It's on the house." said Castithan boy.
"No need for that, Lord Ivu," said Mr. Kyd. "Chinese have a little story where merchant puts a precious pearl into fancy box and a buyer..."
"...takes only a box and returns the pearl. We want the pearl, not the jewellery case. Besides - we are not interested of her as a...woman," Mr. Wynd kind of spat out.
"As you like it, gentlemen. Customer's wishes are sacred for us," were Ivu's words before diamond case and Sandy Bell switched owner's. Sandy was seated next to Volodja into darkness while "honourable" businessmen gathered into the only light spot to close the deal and drink a glass of Champagne. Except maybe Ivu, who hadn't tasted his first Champagne yet and nobody wasn't sure about this time either. Maybe he just takes a glass of cola?
"Bloody crowd," thought Volodja bitterly. "They are sell and buy people without showing any sign of emotions. If I only had my hands free, I would like to teach some manners to this bunch of slave traders."
"Your wish is my command," he heard a hoarse whisper and suddenly his hands were cut lose. "Do not worry. I do not read your thoughts, but Sophie does and she is able to communicate with other EGO-s around, like mine."
"Mar..."
"Oui, Volodja. I told that devil is not as black as he is painted. Surprise! Bon Jour, Mademoiselle Sandy. You look as beautiful as ever. I would add more compliments but you two have no time to lose. First we got to get you out of this house and into the jungle. Here you go Mademoiselle Sandy." And Marcel cut her lose from her binds as he did with Volodja. Then he continued:
"Officially I am not here any more, so you two are on your own. Once you are in the jungle, read this letter. It explains everything you need to know about my motives behind this shenanigan. Go, while these two are busy with rubbing Ivu's ass. Sandy will lead Volodja until he regains his sight back after being blindfolded too much time. And he is a bit dizzy from tranquillizers , because he got too much of them. But Volodja is still able to fight as long as he is sure where he kicks. Bonne chance, both of you! You need that a lot, because I feel that it is just a beginning of a jungle adventure. And as a decent adventurers, you will start with basic weaponry, so take this dart pistol... And Volodja's shovel. With the help of that basic equipment you are able get some better gear, I believe."
Volodja could hear Marcel's silent laughter before he disappeared again. Sand and Volodja were left on their own and as a first thing he apologized: "I am sorry that I could not come sooner and make more heroic entrance..."
As a next thing he could feel Sandy's lips on his (or was it only his imagination?) and his hand on her's when she was ready to lead them out of Ivu's villa. Now they both were gone missing in a(u)ction...
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Post by Sandy Bell on Jan 17, 2016 23:51:04 GMT
Just as Sandy Bell finished kissing Volodja Uljanov passionately and grabbed his hand with hers, automatic gunfire and shouts could be heard from outside the auction chamber in the Lima sewer. Sandy pulled Volodja down so that both were on their knees by the time Sandy looked behind her, but Marcel Lestrange had already disappeared. Everyone else was scurrying for cover, and Sandy led Volodja to a side entrance that led to where she had been imprisoned just as a dozen heavily armed Votans dressed in the garb of Votan Collective commandoes burst through the main door. A large man in the front of the squad peppered the ceiling with his Votan Blaster, then raised his helmet's night vision visor revealing the grim visage of a older Irathiant with a livid scar that crossed from cheek to cheek over the bridge of his hawk nose as he said in a deep voice, "Eseneziri, Ivu you whelp! I'm Commander Nabaktǝ Kima of the Votan Collective's Elite Guard. Cease fire NOW and I won't kill anymore of your people or you, but don't and everyone dies but the one left that can answer the question I'm about to ask." Sandy led Volodja to and through the side tunnel to a ladder she noticed when she was escorted from her jail cell to the auction room. Volodja appeared to still be groggy, so she left him leaning on the wall as she climbed up the ladder that led to a heavy grate that opened into a Lima street. As she struggled to push open the heavy grate, she could still hear the commander's booming voice echoing down through the sewer tunnels. "These gashika," Bellowed Commander Kima as he casually gestured with his blaster to Mr. Kyd and Mr. Wynd as they cowered under an overturned table while keeping an unwavering cold stare on Ivu, "Waylaid our representative, Mr. Montero, who they luckily didn't hurt, or I would execute them on the spot! Mr. Montero was willing to bid on our behalf with the whole power of the Votan Collective's treasury, Lord Ivu - far more than those pebbles you have now, but perhaps not as much as what you may keep Lord Ivu, for I will let you keep your organization and your life, but only IF you answer my question truthfully!" Sandy managed to push the grate aside, then went back down, shoving Volodja up the ladder and through the grate into the busy street above. It was mid-day, so the commotion in the street was loud and she couldn't hear what was said next as the two of them disappeared into the bustling crowd. Commander Kima asked coolly, "My question is where is Sandy Bell?" Ivu looked from where he was shielded by his two lieutenants, but after glancing around and not seeing her, answered with a voice that broke, either from nervousness or puberty," I... I don't know! She must have escaped... but she can't have gone far..." Commander Kima sighed audibly, then holstered his Votan Blaster, and saying a calm voice that only slightly showed the irritation he was feeling, "Then a million scrip - as well as these shiny baubles - to the person who can bring me Sandy Bell; crime boss, peon or other, and only if they bring her alive and unhurt to the Votan Collective embassy in the next twenty four hours! Ivu - we will discuss the correct etiquette of running a white slave auction at a later time" With that said, Commander Kima turned on his heel and left as he entered, although his men quietly covered his exit with their Votan assault rifles, never turning their backs on the assembled thieves and cutthroats as they left after their leader, but not before the squad sergeant grabbed the suitcase of diamonds and took it with them.  |
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Jan 18, 2016 6:37:56 GMT
"I am afraid that Mr. Blowfield doesn't like the turn of events," said Mt. Wynd calmly, after representatives of Votanis Collective were gone. "Have you ever heard of blood diamonds?" asked Mr. Kyd. "These are diamonds mined in a war zones and sold to finance an insurgency, an invading army's war efforts, or a warlord's activity. By obtaning our suitcase, this Votanis gentleman turned these formerly innocent stones into them." "Since our merchandise got away in your territory right after we bought her, makes you responsible for that...Lord Ivu." "Everything just happened under your...roof will be held against you. You became a part of a bigger game than a simple barter deal and running your little syndicate. Keep that in mind in future...as long as you have any." Both gentlemen left Ivu's place right away. There was no time to waste for them. First they must inform Mr. Blowfield about the business went wrong. Second - receive an epistle for that. Third - start the chase and try to capture their escaped property. "Mind, if I say something as well?" asked polite voice after they were left. "I am willing to go after them. I like diamonds and I like money. And I like the spirit of the hunt." Ivu found himself staring into the face of a thin human male. Man's triangular shaped face, high cheek bones, huge nose, resembling a beak of an eagle, and moustache under that that nose were framed by black coat and black hat. In post apocalyptic world one can't get enough of ruthless and psychopathic killers, because this kind of environment encourages their growth.  "Sentenza," whispered Gomez in disbelief. "The man who get's job done no matter what!" "Yes. Bad old Sentenza, who returned from retirement after witnessing this scene. Only formalities are left before I begin my job. What will happen to Mr. Uljanov?" "He is irrelevant. Nobody considers him having any importance, so it does matter if he lives or not. Another unmarked grave on the cemetery of Lima doesn't change anything. The deal was about getting Sandy Bell back unharmed," said Ivu. "That's all I need to know. Buenas Dias." And Sentenza followed example of Mr. Wynd and Mr. Kyd by leaving Ivu's underground "villa." __________________ One should know that life of everyday's heroes - common guys who fulfil their duties, even if it means saving others - usually passes by unnoticed by public and even when everyday's hero meets heroic death it's usually useless and deserves a mention on the fourth page of newspapers, because shopping trip of a celebrity is usually more appealing and sells better. Volodja Uljanov wasn't exception... Especially when Sentenza was going after him. Dizzy and weak guy in a strange city, armed with a shovel, versus well rested, fully equipped and experienced killer on his home ground. Plus two businessman like Mr. Wynd and Mr. Kyd who were after escapees as well. Only difference between them and Sentenza was the fact that they wanted him alive. Seems that an encounter of escapees and their stalkers is about to happen soon. Anyone wants to make a bet on results? Some of you do? Good. Please place your bets, ladies and gentlemen. As I thought. Volodja Uljanov doesn't have a chance. What must come to him. will come...Results are quite predictable and only question is - does Volodja Uljanov lasts five or six minutes? That question was about to answered, because Sentenza cut himself through the crowd like a warm knife through chunk of butter and spotting Volodja Uljanov's back among other back's on the street, rose his gun to shoot him from behind... __________________ Two pairs of eyes observed Sentenza without him knowing about that. "Wasn't he called Banjo before his name chance, Mr. Wynd?" "Indeed he was. I would hate too if someone calls me Banjo, Mr. Kyd." "It would be hideous, Mr. Wynd. No wonder he changed that to Sentenza, thus showing..." "...that he has at least some sense about public relations, Mr. Kyd. Shall we observe more or act?" |
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Post by Sandy Bell on Jan 18, 2016 14:40:32 GMT
As Sandy Bell hurriedly led the still groggy Volodja Uljanov by his arm down the busy street, she reached to the back of her neck ripping off the EGO inhibiter collar Lord Ivo and his gang had fastened to on her to disable her EGO powers. With a smile, Sandy asked silently her EGO through the telepathic link they shared, "Sarge, you there? I've missed - " "Sandy, on your six!" Interrrupted Sarge, her EGO's psyche, with alarm. Sandy turned around, immediately seeing the thin man with a mustache dressed in black pointing a gun at Volodj'a back. Without thinking about it, her military training immediately spurred her into action. She pushed Volodja into an open doorway then blurred towards the would-be assassin, being sure to keep herself between him and his target. Sandy hit the man hard, bowling him over and knocking the gun out of his hand. As the man began to rise, Sandy gave a quick and well placed karate chop between his shoulder blade and neck, making him fall to the ground again, but this time without rising. Sandy secured the gun, a Magnum, a pistol with a slow rate of fire but which is usually fatal when it hits, then looked back to where she had left Volodja, but did not see him. A frown crossed Sandy's pretty tan face as her blue eyes narrowed in thought. She looked at the man in black laying unmoving at her feet, then back to the doorway into which she had shoved Volodja to keep him safe, expecting to see him re-enter the street at any moment. When Volodja didn't, she pushed herself through the crowd to try to find him. Sandy had a choice: go find her beloved or secure the man who tried to kill him. To her, there was no choice, for she felt that there were too many times where she let events separate them, and she would not tolerate even one more delay that might keep her from her beloved. Sandy went to the doorway where she was sure she had shoved him, secreting the Magnum in her waistband under her shirt as she went, and noticing that the sign above the door was of a POW wallowing in the mud. Sandy squinted as she left the bright sunlight of the Lima street into the dark squalor of what was obviously a drinking establishment of the lowest demeanor. Disreputable folk of all races and sexes observed her with a suspicious eye, but the object of her search could not be seen. No matter how hard she looked, Sandy did not see her lover Volodja Uljanov in the crowded bar. A fat red cheeked Irathiant woman who was cleaning a glass with a dirty dishrag behind the bar said cheerfully, "Welcome to the Dirty POW! You look mighty thirsty. What can I get you Lassie?" "Oh, crap!" Muttered Sandy to herself. The fat lady winked with a theatric flair, and replied, "Don't think I have that on hand, but if you give me a minute in the bathroom, I can get it for you!" Sandy's blue eyes widened as she stuttered, "N-n-no, that wasn't what I... Never mind, I'm looking for a man..." "Aren't we all Lassie, can you be more specific?" Said the bartender with another dramatic wink. "He's a well built white human male with wavy dark hair and dreamy brown eyes - a real handsome hunk - might be a bit woozy and staggering. Name is Volodja Uljanov and he's a... very good friend of mine who I'm sure I saw come in here only fucking minutes ago!" Said Sandy in exasperation. The Irathiant suddenly stopped what she was doing as her purple eyebrows arched over her yellow eyes and the grin vanished from her now expressionless face. The bartender nodded towards the closed door of a backroom without comment, then went back to the seemingly endless task of cleaning the glass in her red clay colored hands. Sandy moved silently to the door of the back room, putting one calloused hand on the doorknob and the other on the butt of the gun in her waistband under her shirt, not knowing what to expect when she opened the door, but ready for it whatever it may be. Nobody else in the bar seemed to care what Sandy was doing, except one pair of black beady eyes that intensely watched her every move. A Liberata, short even by Liberata standards, wearing a white fedora and a white suit, sat in a back booth of the bar sipping a Margarita as he calculated how this new turn of events might profit him.  |
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Jan 18, 2016 16:02:53 GMT
"It was really impressive, Mr. Kyd," stated man on the street. "Indeed it was. I remember from Red Deer that she has guts when she pointed her SMG at us even under influence of drugs, Mr. Wynd." "I could like her courage and skills," was Mr. Wynd's remark. "If she only wasn't a woman," added Mr. Kyd. "Shall we follow her? We enter on three. Lets's start counting. One..." "Two..." __________________ "Three!" "Seven!" "Ace!" Inside the back room of the Dirty POW, small group of men were gathered around the card table. Only one of them wasn't playing but sat silently. And yet he was the most prominent figure on that room, because rest of men gambled on his money and even clothes, he wore. That man was still dozed Volodja Uljanov. "Good day!" said Sandy politely, but her blue eyes were narrow, as she kept herself back from storming in right away with a blazing Magnum in her hand. "Playing cards, I see." "Señorita is really observant," said one of men with a wide grin. "And what are the bets?" Sandy asked even in more polite manner, narrowing her eyes even more. Too many of them near Volodja, so he might accidentally get injured if she starts a riot, so there must be another way... "We don't have anything to hide, señorita. We are almost at home here and we found this man staggering on almost our doorstep. It was ours when we lost it in a card game...after winning it earlier. Since we have a nice habit in this beautiful city of Lima, that finders are keepers, we are playing on his belongings first. Then we decide who keeps him in our card play. Even if he seems to be a junky, he is good looking and probably worth quite a lot on the market." "Mind if I join the game?" asked Sandy. "I always wanted...someone like him to myself." "Of course you may join us, señorita. As long as you have something to bet," said man. "Fuck...I don't have much scrip with me," said Sandy. "But I have THIS!" And she placed Sentenza's Magnum to the table. "Dios Mio!" shouted one of gamblers. "This is the Magnum of Sentenza," added another one. "If you have something like that in your hands, then you are welcome to play with us." Sandy Bell had her experience with card games, because there wasn't much else to do in dugouts and bunkers than play cards with her squad mates between attacks and fire fights. After some intensive and heated card play she had not only won Volodja's belongings and their owner, but also all the money those gambler's had. Meanwhile Sophie worked on full steam to remove drugs from Volodja's body and achieved some positive results and Volodja became more vivid with every passed second and image of his beloved Sandy became more and more clear in his eyes.  _________________ Aforementioned Sentenza himself didn't felt any happier than those losing gamblers. And not much better than drugged Volodja Uljanov. Waking up on the dirty street without his Magnum (and cash, because some disrespectful local kids stole his wallet) and with aching body is not the most pleasant way to begin a manhunt. And now he lost tracks of escapees as well, because when he asked passers-by about them, the situation was usual one - nobody saw nothing, heard nothing and was actually at the other end of Lima at the precise moment when Sandy Bell sent him to hear the song of nightingales. Even those who had nothing to do than have a day long siesta without moving from their places all day long, said something like similar. "Mierda!" he muttered and spat into the dirt. "This isn't over yet." |
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Post by Sandy Bell on Jan 19, 2016 3:34:16 GMT
Sandy led the still drugged Volodja into the main room of the Dirty POW and up to the bar, asking the plump Irathient bar maid, "Ma'm, do you have a room I could rent upstairs? My friend needs to sleep it off," Sandy grinned and added as she dropped a wad of scrip bills on the bar, "I can pay for it." "Call me Rita please," Said the rosy cheeked woman with a big smile and an exaggerated wink as she scooped up the bills, "I have rooms that I usually rent by the hour, but for you and your friend - and this generous amount of scrip, you can have it all night. It's up the stairs and all the way to the right. No key, but you can lock it from the inside. Have fun!" Sandy nodded once with a warm smile, not telling the woman that although she would love an all-night sex session with Volodja, she was just too pooped to even think that way right now, and she wasn't sure how much fun Volodja could have in his drugged state anyway. Even if the flesh was willing, she was pretty sure she would fall asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. She put Volodja's arm around her neck and shoulder, helping him stagger up the stairs, into the dimly lit bedroom, and plopped him into the decrepit bed. The old bed made an unhealthy metallic sound when Volodja fell hard into it. Sandy held her breath as she waited several minutes for the bed to collapse, but breathed a sigh of relief when it didn't. A big grin crossed her tanned pretty face as the only sound she heard from the bed was the soft snores coming from her beloved. Sandy locked the door, which was a simple bolt latch, and that knowledge wiped the grin from her face. She took and opened a switchblade that she had won in the poker game downstairs and wedged it into the door frame so that if anyone tried to force the door open, they would not only have a more difficult time doing it but that also the knife would fall to the ground making enough noise to wake the sleepers within - or so she hoped. With that done, she emptied her pockets onto the end table by the bed to see what else she had won in the poker game; noting that she still had a sizable amount of script left, two more switchblades, a large combat knife, and a homemade one-shot pistol that seemed made from a pipe. "Not much of an arsenal to protect us during our stay in Lima," Muttered Sandy to herself, "And probably not enough scrip left to hire us a way home." Then Sandy thought to her EGO Psyche, "Sarge, see if any of our friends are within hailing range, and contact Sophie and see if she needs any help." "Will do Captain," Replied Sarge cheerfully - a bit too cheerfully thought Sandy to herself, but dismissed the thought as soon as she thought it. Sandy went over to the bed, kicking her boots off as she did, then removed Volodja's boots as well. She thought about undressing them both completely before retiring for the night, but was so tired she ended up just putting the Magnum under her pillow, crawling into the creaky bed and spooning him as she fell fast asleep. Soon both were in an involuntary contest of who could snore the loudest, so that neither heard the switchblade that had been wedged into the door fall to the floor with a clatter.  |
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Jan 19, 2016 10:18:04 GMT
"This is our moment, Mr. Kyd," said quiet voice in the darkness. "Shall we pay them a visit, Mr. Wynd? Actually, I know the answer already." replied other voice and started to manipulate with the latch from outside. "I don't thinks so, Laddies," said the voice of Rita behind their backs and both "businessmen" felt their collars suddenly tightening when they discovered themselves in the hard grip of Rita's ham like arms."They are MY house guests who paid for the whole night, so any business you have with them occurs in the morning. Until that, you two will get OUT from my respectable place. Or do you want to choose between right and wrong?" It took a couple of seconds before Mr. Wynd and Mr. Kyd understood what she meant. Both of her arms had tattoos on them - word "RIGHT" where it is supposed to be and word "WRONG" on her left arm. In Rita's case it didn't matter if you did right or wrong choice - both her arms were strong enough to tear someone's head off and all one could say, that she done him wrong or it was a right thing to do. Mr. Wynd and Mr. Kyd were dragged downstairs, turned around to face the entrance and "helped" out with strong foot kicks to their bottoms. Their natural reaction after finding themselves laying on a dusty street would have been murdering her right away, but Rita's huge and majestic figure excluded that option. Especially when her customers were right behind her and laughed their corrupted asses off at their expense. "Does anyone else wants to disturb my guests? I see there are no volunteers left," Rita continued, clapping her huge red hands as she was trying to get rid of imaginable dust from them after Mr-s Wynd and Kyd disappeared into the darkness.  Then she returned into the Dirty POW, sneaked upstairs and peeked through the old fashioned keyhole and muttered: "Good friends, my rosy cheeked ass! Only lovers sleep like that. And aren't they cute couple even when they are asleep. Do not worry, youngsters. Mama Rita will play the fairy godmother and makes sure that you are not disturbed any more."  As a next thing Rita went behind her counter, fulfilled some drink orders and once she was done with them Rita sat down, opened paperback love novel and sighed. Infamous Mama Rita, owner of Dirty POW and a leader of one local smuggler gangs after the death of her fourth husband, was addicted to romantic novels and inside that majestic figure and strong willed nature was hiding a true sentimentalist who still believed in true love. Thus the many marriages which lasted til' the death them parted, because certain circles of Lima weren't the safest place to cultivate a family life. __________ Señor Sentenza knew all that and avoided confronting her as a first thing. Pushing a nest full of already irritated wasps wasn't exactly a best way to fulfil his contract. At least he knew where to look for escapees. Thanks to that street urchin who discovered what a huge mistake he made, when he opened a wallet he stole from an unconscious man to find out that it belongs to Sentenza. That's why he returned stolen goods and since Sentenza was kind enough to let him live (after almost pulling off urchin's ear), that kid spent whole afternoon looking for Sandy Bell and Volodja Uljanov to show how sorry he was. Once he was aware of their location, he made sure that Sentenza gets informed too. __________ Meanwhile Volodja Uljanov discovered something as well. He discovered that he is put into the bed and has his beloved Sandy is spooned with him. He kissed her soft blonde hair, sunk his nose into it, snuggled closer to her, surrounded her with his embrace and fell back asleep, whispering "I love you, Sandy."  |
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Post by Sandy Bell on Jan 20, 2016 16:09:50 GMT
As Sandy Bell and Volodja Uljanove slept the sleep of the innocents, or not-so-innocents, Sandy's EGO psyche, Michael "Sarge" Murphy took note of what happened outside of their bedroom door, but decided not to wake Sandy when their landlady quickly took care of the potential danger. His persona was based on her old squad sergeant, back when Sandy was a captain in the Earth Military Coalition during the Pale Wars. Like the real man, Sarge looked after the young captain, trying to keep her out of harm's way and getting her out of trouble when she did get into trouble. Like when they were in the trenches during the war, Sarge knew when Sandy needed rest more than anything else, so he let her sleep, and would tell her of the events that occurred outside the bedroom when she awakened. The real man Sarge was based on was long dead, but he lived on in Sandy's memories, and hence she had used those to form her EGO psyche, but now the psyche had developed a life of his own.
Sarge appeared in Sophie's virtual bottega in Volodja's mind. Sophie was Volodja's EGO psyche, and before Sandy was kidnapped, Sarge often fantasized having a future relationship - and dare he say it - life with her. As he appeared behind her, he put his hand over her eyes and whispered, "Guess who?"
A broad smile crossed her beautiful face, and she whispered happily in the European accent he thought so charming, "Mike!"
Sarge spun her around and embraced her lovingly, kissing her long and with great passion. He had longed for her for what he felt was ages, so he put all that longing and wistfulness into a single kiss, hoping with all his heart that she felt the same about him.
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Jan 20, 2016 16:30:05 GMT
 That was the only word, Sophie could say after that passionate kiss she just received from Mike. This tall dark dutiful and handsome soldier managed to sneak into Sophie's virtual heart and make it beat, Every virtual fibre in her virtual body was sizzling when she returned kiss to it's sender with equal passion as she was kissed by him before. After the first small eternity they just sat, holding each others hands, not daring to say a word because it might break the magic until both of them started to speak simultaneously and burst into laughter after realizing that. "Ladies first," said Mike gallantly. "Tell me about your adventures. Its been too much time since we last met." "Yes. It is," replied Sophie, "forgetting" one hand into Mikes and twirling a curl of her ginger hair with other one. "Not much to tell. Volodja spent a month taking care of Sandy - feeding her, washing her and so on. When we went into Defiance, he let you go REALLY reluctantly and couple of time I was afraid that he crosses the edge (Sophie didn't say that she meant crossing an edge in most direct way, because Volodja felt tempted to do it on the roof of Tarr's family mansion). But then things became really exciting - we had to save whole town from some "businessman" with his idée fixe about Chase Loneheart. Volodja made battle plans most of the time and thanks to that he managed to get himself away from trouble, except when he single handedly went to hijack a jammer truck and some other cases, but even then he was vareful enough to avoid getting killed, because we were hoping to see you again. And then Belle Starr and Lena Marr went missing and Lady got sucked into the singularity bomb. We got her back, although Volodja had to put some effort into keeping Atticus Batman on tracks after Lady's disappearance. Getting Lady back was the last thing happened in Defiance, before Marcel Lestrange kidnapped Volodja. He got Volodja from behind. Otherwise he wouldn't stood a chance. Not sure why he did it, because as a next thing he was helping us to escape, muttering something about a letter...Darn! I talk too much and won't let you say a single word." Sophie blushed, but did not let Mike's hand to slip away from her's. "I...I really missed you and I hoped to see you again and...I...longed for you and I lo...Darn! I still talk too much! I keep doing that over and over again. So sorry, Mikey!" And she shyly lowered her pretty face because she felt a bit embarrassed again because of her eagerness, reminding a schoolgirl who meets her pop idol, but at the same time she kept holding Mike's hand with intention to never let him go... PS. Just as Sophie held Mike's hand, her host, Volodja Uljanov, kept holding Sandy in his gentle brace because even in his deep sleep he did not want to let Sandy go either. |
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Post by Belle Starr on Jan 20, 2016 16:54:28 GMT
Belle Starr was freezing. She felt she would shiver if she could move a muscle, but the cryogenic tube she was entrapped in would not let her. Belle felt she had been frozen for ages, and dimly remembered the long feared atomic war had begun, and she, her husband and infant child had just got into the protective vault with a handful of her neighbors before an atomic explosion hit their home in Sanctuary Hills. Then Vault-Tec betrayed them all, for what reason she didn't know, and flash-froze them all into a cryogenic sleep. That wasn't the deal, for they were supposed to be able to seek safety in the vault and live out their lives in relative comfort. Not the best scenario, but certainly better than this! Now Belle's family and friends were gone due to an all consuming nuclear war. Her job as a public defender - over! Her suburban house with the white picket fence and nanny robot - destroyed! However, most important, her family were with her and safe! For some reason, she could now see her handsome husband holding her infant son in the cryogenic chamber across from her, asleep and safe. She briefly wondered why she was not the one holding their child, but the thought was quickly abandoned when she saw two figures step out of the dark to her husband and son's chamber, pushing a button which both opened the chamber and defrosted them. A balding man with a scarred face and roguish attire tried to grab her son from her husband's grasp as the other figure wearing a hazmat suit that completely concealed his or her features watched on. Belle's husband was an ex-soldier, having fought the Chinese in trench warfare for many years, and would not let go, so the scarred man shot him in the head forcing his release of their infant son. Belle was horrified, but helpless to do anything. The murderer looked into her freezing chamber, saying that they had a backup if it didn't work out, but Belle was too upset to even try to understand what he meant. Vo was dead! Her child was kidnapped! And she was unable to do anything about it! All her experience and training as an ark hunter and Bay Area Protector did her no good! She wondered why she couldn't access her EGO powers or at least release the Were Volge and... "Ark hunter?" Thought a confused Belle, "What the heck is that? I was a lawyer! What are EGO powers and what is a Were-Volge? Is that like a werewolf? And who is Vo - my husband's name is... what is my husband's name?" Before Belle could think on it anymore, she fell back into a deep cryogenically induced sleep. "Pity," Said a man's voice just on the edge of her consciousness. "She seem to be resisting the memory replacing protocols." "Patience brother, it just takes a modicum of time" Said a feminine voice, "All good things come to those who wait."  |
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Post by Sandy Bell on Jan 20, 2016 21:21:27 GMT
Sarge, Sandy Bell's EGO psyche frowned as he realized that Sandy was coming to consciousness from a deep sleep. He was glad that Sandy was well-rested, but hoped he would have more time to spend with Sophie, Volodja Uljanov's EGO psyche, but it wasn't meant to be, so he merely kissed Sophie again and said before he disappeared from her bottega,"You can never talk too much to me Sophie, for every word you utter is music to my ears. Unfortunately duty calls, as Sandy is awakening, and she must be told of the attack we almost had during the night. Adieu!"
Sandy's blue eyes flew open with a start remembering the dangerous day before, but then smiled as she woke up feeling Volodja's warmth as he lay spooning her in the bed. As she remembered it, she had been spooning HIM when they went to bed, but she kind of liked this better. Sandy mentally sighed as she realized she was still clothed in her desert camouflaged fatigues, minus her desert boots. She reflexively felt under the pillow in which her blond head rested, feeling the nickel plated Magnum revolver she had secreted there and that gave her some immediate comfort, lessening her feeling of impending doom. She then asked her EGO psyche for a sit-rep, and without hesitation Sarge told her of the Landlady's altercation with two men as they tried to enter the bedroom where Volodja and she were asleep.
"I'll have to thank Rita for that," Thought Sandy to herself as she sat up, stretching her long tanned muscular arms above her head, her pretty mouth opened wide in a big yawn.
Sandy's body was lithe and taut like a swimmer's, and in fact she had been a surfer in college before she volunteered to become a soldier when the Pale Wars began. At another time in another place, she would consider her Irathient landlady an enemy to be killed on sight, but that was before she went into stasis and decades had passed. The Earth Military Coalition was gone now, except for a few bio-men and mutants that clung to it like a cult calling. Votans and humans lived under an uneasy truce today, and many even lived happily together, like her and her friends in the Bay Area. With that thought, Sandy wondered why the Votan Collective had put a bounty on her, for she had caught the gist of their Commando Commander's conversation before she had escaped the sewer headquarters of the prepubescent crime lord Gil Ivu. She had recognized Kyd and Wynd from Red Deer, but they had been after Volodja specifically then, but now it looked like both Volodja and she were on their radar. Sandy also wondered why the gaunt man in black had tried to kill Volodja, and who else might be after their skins.
"And where the hell is Erika? Last I remember before waking tied up in a sewer was the two of us traveling to Defiance in my cherry red Charger convertible," Thought Sandy with a momentary twinge of regret at the loss of her vintage automobile, for she knew she had totaled it when she had been forced off the road and into a ditch by the black Durango, although she immediately felt guilty for thinking about its loss when she didn't know the fate of her friend.
Knowing that at the moment she couldn't do anything about Erica or the many foes after them, Sandy pulled on her boots, then turned to the still sleeping Volodja and grinned, thinking, "He looks so cute laying there - I hate to wake him up," but she knew that with so many people looking for them and a price on her head, they had to keep moving, so she bent over him and kissed his nose, then whispered in his ear, "I love you Volodja, and really wish we could just spend the whole day in bed, but we got to go. The fucking bad guys are after us - again!"
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Jan 21, 2016 7:07:03 GMT
Volodja opened his eyes after feeling gentle touch of Sandy's lips on his nose and wind of her whisper with his ear. Her words - "I love you Volodja, and really wish we could just spend the whole day in bed, but we got to go. The fucking bad guys are after us - again!".- made his brown eyes wide open, but before jumping to his long and strong feet, he used an opportunity to whisper: "I love you too." to Sandy, and steal a kiss from her. Only after that he got into the sitting position at the edge of their bed, pulled his boots on again and stood up. Knocks on their door made him grab his shovel Marcel left him as a mean of self defence, pull the latch open, get few steps away from the door and say: "Entre, por favor!" adding last two words because he didn't wanted to sound too bossy. The door swung open and Sandy and Volodja who were ready to face enemy of any kind, saw a huge plumpy Irathient woman with a huge grin on her face. Her strong hands held a tray with coffee mugs and simple but nutritious breakfast.  "Buenos días! Dormiste bien?" asked woman politely and continued in English: "Of course you slept well, young ones! I see that young man has regained himself and looks more adequate than yesterday. I'am Rita. You can call me Mama Rita if you like." "I hope that this coffee is as sweet and hot as you seem to be, Mama Rita," said Volodja, when they retreated to their bed and sat down and he ended up by pulling himself instinctively next to his beloved Sandy, so his thigh touched hers and leaning closer to her, so he could feel her presence with every cell of his right side. "Your young man sure knows how to make compliments when he isn't under the influence of drugs," grinned Rita at Sandy Bell and winked dramatically. "I'd blush if I could get more reddish than I already am. Now eat! And while you are doing it, you can tell Mama Rita what is going on with you two that every damn cut-throat in Lima seems to be after you?" Since Mama Rita seemed to be really trustworthy (and they were at her mercy anyway), Sandy and Volodja told her the little they knew about the situation, between breakfast bites and coffee sips, making Rita to frown. "We must get you out of here unnoticed," she concluded. "We must get some new clothes as well, because at moment every one knows how we are dressed. And we must fit into the local environment as much as possible," stated Volodja. "We could play tourists if we have suitable costumes, if we could not pass as a local folk, Ma'am," added Sandy Bell. "You are damn right, young man. You remind me more and more of my late husband...At least one of them and I'd like to see your story to last longer than most of my marriages did, before I became a merry widow over and over again. That actually gave me an idea. I preserved a wardrobe of my late husbands just in case. Maybe you can find something from there for your needs. As for your witty and beautiful young Lassie...I'd offer my clothes to her, but I am afraid that even if you two get into one of my dresses together there would be a lot empty space left there." And Rita laughed heartedly at her own remark. "Maybe you can get me something more suitable, Ma'am, than one of your tents...I mean dresses?" asked Sandy Bell. "We can pay." Mama Rita laughed at her slip even more than on her own remark about her size, showing that she was not insulted or upset at all, put her finger between her front teeth after that and started to think about ways she could arrange clothing for Sandy Bell without rising any suspicions because if she buys something smaller than her own size could make people to ask unnecessary questions... |
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Post by Sandy Bell on Jan 21, 2016 13:54:06 GMT
"Oh, this is really, REALLY, good," Sandy as she took another bite of the jam covered toast she had in one hand, only slightly spitting out crumbs as she spoke, adding, "And this jam is FAB-u-lous!"
"It is made from the giant centipedes that inhabits this region. Although I have never personally seen one that big, it is said they grow to be as big as a truck," Replied Mama Rita.
Sandy stopped chewing for a moment, then swallowed as she fought to keep her face impassive. Last time she had been in South America, a giant centipede such as the one Mama Rita described had tried to make Sandy it's meal. Sandy had escaped - barely - but her arm had been broken in the process. Sandy looked at the piece of bread with the red jam on it and one bite out of it with narrowed blue eyes, but then shrugged and took another bite for it really was quite delicious.
"Turn around is fair play," Thought Sandy to herself, "You tried to eat me, now I'm eating you!"
When Mama Rita mentioned her reservations about shopping for Sandy, Sandy responded as she wiped jam from her lips, "You could just buy a big poncho and sombrero, and I can put it on over my fatigues. I saw lots of people wearing fatigues and boots out there on the street."
Mama Rita replied, "It would be as shame to hide a figure like yours under a nasty old poncho, but don't worry Lassie, I'll figure out something."
"Thank you, Mama Rita," Sandy answered cheerfully with a warm smile, but as Rita left, the smile faded as Sandy turned and perused their treasury and arsenal that she had placed on the bedroom's end table, then she looked to Volodja with a serious look in her big blue eyes, saying wistfully, "Other than the .357 Magnum under the pillow, which only holds six bullets in the cylinder by the way, there is not much in the way of ordnance here - not much scrip left either. I doubt there is enough here to even make a long distance call, even if we could find a payphone..."
Then Sandy brightened and with a mischievous smile on her tanned pretty face and a toss of her blond hair, turned to Volodja and said in a suggestive voice as she unbuttoned the top button of her shirt, "Well we could sit around worrying about things while Mama Rita is out shopping orrrrr... we could find other ways to occupy our time!"
With that said, Sandy pushed Volodja back down on the bed and kissed him voraciously on the lips from above, while quickly finishing unbuttoning her shirt with one hand while beginning to unbutton his with the other...
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Jan 21, 2016 16:14:38 GMT
If Volodja would say that it wasn't a time or a place, then he would have been wrong. Last time they were together was an eternity ago in Red Deer, Canada. After that they went to Alcatraz where Sandy received a serious wound which almost killed her. With enormous efforts their team managed to save her life, but she became catatonic and taking advantage of Sandy while she could not agree or disagree with his wishes...it was not a thing Volodja could do to her beloved.
After that they became separated when Volodja had to go into Defiance and Sandy who finally regained herself (after a weird incident during what she changed places with her EGO psyche, Sarge), she was abducted on her way to meet him. That situation lasted, until Marcel Lestrange delivered drugged Volodja into Lima to find her. And now she was in the bed. With him. Conscious and willing. And so was he.
Sandy got rid of both of their shirts by that time. Her fingers slid over Volodja's firm chest while they kissed, putting all their love and passion into those kisses and touches, because Volodja's hands were busy with fondling her body as well. They helped each other to take off their boots and opened each other's bucklers simultaneously to wriggle out from their trousers while they kept kissing each other. Volodja put Sandy gently back into their bed and after covering her flat belly with tiny kisses, used his teeth to remove her last piece of clothing - her panties. He spend a lot of time to stimulate her nether region with his tongue and dared to enter her only after hearing her first moans of pleasure and feeling tremble of her body.
The old bed, they were in, made screeching sounds and shook like a ship on the stormy sea but they didn't cared about that, dedicating themselves to show their feelings to their significant other by making sweet and passionate love until the old bed did not last any longer and collapsed under them, making them only happily laugh and continue kissing and love making...
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On the rooftop above them a thin moustached man, dressed into black cursed, hearing sounds of the shaky bed on fire and it's collapse. "How unprofessional," he muttered by himself.
But he didn't admit that this unprofessional act of love was also Sandy's and Volodja's protection from his assault. He could not interfere while their reunion lasted. Not because he was known of being discreet, but because he did not wanted Sandy Bell to get accidentally hit by a bullet. After all he was quite aware how entangled passionate lovers became...That's why he moved further away and lit one of his stinking cigars. His first two attempts to act failed already, but he was patient...
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