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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Feb 7, 2016 17:03:53 GMT
After enjoying taste of Sandy's lips for a long time as only thirsty man would do after he found well with cool and fresh water, Volodja nodded before admitting: "I always wanted to see these ruins of this forgotten Inca city, which remained untouched for centuries. Let's go, Sandy." Mapi led Sandy and Volodja across remains of a rail road and the Urubamba/Willkanuta river on a squeaking bridge and up the Huayna Picchu mountain. Volodja's hand had found Sandy's during their uphill climb (again!) and they entered to the territory of Macchu Picchu's terrace fields side by side while holding hands, passing ruins of an old hotel on their way. Mapi was already there and wiped them majestically to come closer as those ruins were his property. Partially it was true - those ruins belonged to the people of Peru and Mapi was a native, so he was sort of a co owner and a landlord of Macchu Picchu indeed, and Sandy and Volodja were his guests. "Cuzco is about fifty miles away," said Volodja. "It takes some time for us to reach there. Nearest village to us should be Machupicchu village, also known as Aguas Calientes, but I am not sure what expects us there, who are it's inhabitants after the war and do they even have a phone or radio. Atually I am not even sure that there are any living souls left. We could check that out, though. But... But first we need to reload our batteries before that hiking trip and ruins of Macchu Picchu seems to be suitable place for that - it's so beautiful here and peaceful...and I don't see much tourists. In matter of fact, I don't see any of them at moment. I guess that tourism is not very popular lately. But it has a good side too. Greater numbers of visitors poses a tremendous physical burden on the ruins anyway, so having less people around, taking pictures or scratching their names everywhere, gives these ruins a chance to last longer. At least few centuries longer. By the way - tourists made nude pictures or were streaking across the grassy fields of Machu Picchu as well when this place was visited on daily basis... Look at all this beauty, Sandy! These green terrace fields, those walls and houses and Temple of the Sun and those other temples and the Royal Palace...Old Incas sure knew how to build long lasting houses without a cement. They were using carefully placed polygonal blocks, and as a result their houses hold themselves up despite of earthquakes or landslides, thanks to high static and dynamic steadiness and absence of resonant frequencies and stress concentration points. During an earthquake with a moderate magnitude, Inca's masonry stood stable, and during a strong earthquake stone blocks were "dancing" near their normal positions and lay down exactly in right order after earthquake was over...."  Volodja would have been blabbering even more, because his emotions were overwhelming and he just wanted to share his boyish ardor with his beloved girl, but he finally realized that he might bore Sandy - who walked patiently by his side, still holding his hand hand in her tanned one - with his overenthusiastic lecture. That thought made him to close his mouth, make a stop, lean against Sandy and kiss her passionately. After that long kiss they walked through the agricultural area and finally entered Macchu Picchu itself...  |
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on Feb 8, 2016 7:19:47 GMT
Little Liberata in streets of Cuzco...Frightened little Liberata...Shaken little Liberata...Scared little Liberata...Danny Da Vincy was all of that and it made him a perfect prey for bigger predators. And Marcel Lestrange was a really big predator, equal to a black panther or a bull shark - a bit less famous among masses, but well known in certain professional circles. Now he was swimming in waters of Cuzco, looking for his trophy, so it was matter of limited time when he meets Danny Da Vinci. Danny Da Vincy had two unwanted encounters already. First one with Sentenza who didn't wasted any time to literally shake everything Danny Da Vinci knows about the couple, he offered a ride to Cuzco, but left on a road when his nerves gave up, out of him. Sentenza let him finally lose, but soon after that Danny was questioned by odd couple of Gringos who kept finishing each other lines and who's polite and yet impassive manner of interaction gave him creeps. And some why they wanted to know exactly the same things as Sentenza - whereabouts of that couple, he gave a ride. That was more than weird. And that was more than enough for a little guy as Danny. And not just a little guy but really upset little guy. By the way...Did you knew about the rule of three? If not, then you will. Those who don't want to know about it, may skip that part. The rule of three or power of three is a writing principle that suggests that things that come in threes are inherently funnier, more satisfying, or more effective than other numbers of things. The reader or audience of this form of text is also thereby more likely to remember the information. This is because having three entities combines both brevity and rhythm with having the smallest amount of information to create a pattern and it makes the author or speaker appear knowledgeable, while being both simple and catchy. Slogans, film titles and a variety of other things have been structured in threes, a tradition that grew out of oral storytelling. Examples include the Three Little Pigs, Three Musketeers. Three Stooges, Three Bears, Three Wishes From A Genie, Three Tasks To Complete and so on. Yes, there is actually more examples than three, so we doubled the amount of them. 6=3+3. To create an illusion of being even more knowledgeable and sophisticated, we toss in the Latin phrase, "Omne trium perfectum" ("Everything that comes in threes is perfect" or "Every set of three is complete") which conveys the same idea as the rule of three. We believe that we were educational enough, so we may return to Cuzco now. This time that aforementioned rule of three applied to Danny Da Vinci as well. He was about to have a close encounter of the third kind (Three again, if you know what we mean by making that reference). "What a pleasant surprise," muttered Marcel who spent already half an hour questioning people about extraordinary small Liberata dressed in white. "I was combing the city and you just appeared in front of me from nowhere." "Whaddayawant, stranger!?" asked Danny in hostile manner because after all he was put through, he wasn't exactly happy to see another threatening looking man searching for him. He prepared himself for worst scenario yet to come, but Gringo suddenly smiled and made a proposal to sit down and discuss about things in most civilized manner. Marcel Lestrange did not had to be a licensed psychologist to read people's minds and orientate in their mental statuses. He was a practician, a pragmatist, an interrogator who had cracked more than one mind during his career when he needed hear the truth. Not to mention cracking few bones during the process occasionally. And what he saw in front of him, made him to realize that Danny Da Vinci was already soft as a pudding and handling him in a rough way may cause more harm than be useful, because Da Vinci was obviously ready for more pain and humiliation. Someone had been playing a bad flic with him and all Marcel had to do, was to play a good one to reach to results. That is why he dragged Danny Da Vincy into a closest tavern, ordered some pisco sour and as a result Da Vinci was soon drunk enough to answer to Marcel's questions. If he hesitated, Marcel had to...not torture him in toilet, but tickle the little guy at the table, so between his bursts of drunken laughter and occasional moments when he begged Marcel to stop that damn tickling, Danny told him everything he knew about Sandy Bell and Volodja Uljanov and it was more than rest of his interrogators squeezed out from him. Satisfied with results, Marcel paid the bill, ordered more pisco to Danny and left him to enjoy that peace and quiet and alcohol. Paying someone's bill was a moment of générosité extraordinaire for him, but Marcel was aware that if you want to win big, you will have to make some expenses and he had lot to win and if he is efficient enough, his covers his expenses with scrip he collects on his way to his beloved Lena Marr.  "Getting softer, I see," teased Moira. "How come?" asked Marcel. "You didn't beat up that poor little fellow. Just like back in Defiance when you got that local guy into a drunken state to spill out his guts instead of shaking him.""Sometimes offering a carrot is more efficient. I am not getting softer, but more sophisticated in my methods. Why should I spend my energy to break down already open door when I can lure the owner out to give me what I need?"
"If you say, so...At least you managed to get a new dimension, Marcy.""Survival of fittest, Moira. I happen to be the fittest! Thus I am able to evolve." |
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Feb 8, 2016 17:46:17 GMT
Three is a company...Sandy Bell, Volodja Uljanov and Mapi were on of most uncommon tourist trios to visit Macchu Picchu that day, not to mention the fact that they were only tourist trio to visit Macchu Picchu that day and maybe on decades to come. Who cares about visiting ruins of an ancient city out of sheer curiosity when whole world around them is one big ruin field? Not much people would do that. But Sandy and Volodja did and Mapi joined them, wondering about reasons that forced that strange man be that cheerful and act as he had found a treasure. Volodja was astonished, while walking between buildings, climbing stairs and entering into empty houses, once inhabited by people who's function was to serve needs of their rulers and gods. Tourist trio visited the Temple of the Sun which included the one of the most important building for Machu Picchu, the tower known as Torreon, in it's ensemble, to indicate that that was exactly the position with the highest altitude all over the city. Once the temple was a holy place that only few people had access into, since the ceremonies for the ordinary people were made on the public square and only the priest and the Inca could enter to the Temple of the Sun. But where were they now? Gone and forgotten and everyone who could afford the trip, could go there.  They visited more temples of this city - the Temple of the Three Windows and the Main Temple of Machu Picchu as well. The Main Temple was considered to be the most important of temples and it housed the most important celebrations and the sacred rituals of greater spiritual significance for the city while the Temple of the three Windows (actually it had five of them originally - all indicating the exact location of the sunrise - but only three of them were left) was one of the foundations with the longest history in the city of Machu Picchu. This temple held a great spiritual value for the Inca civilization but now it became an tourist attraction for the three accidental tourists.   Sandy and Volodja explored houses and manufactures and the Ñusta Palace, which according to the studies of expert anthropologists and historians could have served as an asylum to the Virgin princesses of the Empire, known as princesses of the Sun or Ñustas, after the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors. And the Temple of the Condor and the residential areas south of the temple, where high class Inca once lived, and which was connected with a temple with a series of courtyards, which showed signs of having been used for the breeding of Guinea Pigs. They even found some time to visit the hidden treasure of Macchu Picchu - the Temple of the Moon, located on the far side of Huayna Picchu. where a ceremonial shrine had been built into a cave, lined with exquisite stonework and niches that were once probably used to hold mummies, although mummies left their "nests" long time ago.   After climbing down again, Sandy, Volodja and Mapi completed their tour with paying visit to the Sacred Rock in the urban area of Machu Picchu, known as Urin, which was a home to important buildings for the Inca civilization as the aforementioned Main Temple and Temple of the three Windows and the architectural group of the Sacred Rock and the grouping of gardens and courtyards known as Acllawasi. The Sacred Rock was probably used for astrological (and geographical studies also as scientists assumed), which apparently were played through the practice of sacred rituals. That area was probably one of most important ones for Inca civilization by its role as a Centre for hosting the most important sacred ceremonies and rituals for the Citadel. But now it was used by Volodja and Sandy as a place to lean on and admire the beauty of landscape and enjoy the touch of the Sun on their faces while Mapi rested further away.  Were they tired after that tour? Of course they were. Were they bored? Not sure about Sandy and Mapi, but Volodja was still excited about Macchu Picchu when he leaned against the side of the Rock which was warm because of the Sun and whispered to Sandy: "Thank you for your patience, because I made you to come along without even asking do you like it or not. I am sorry for my selfishness, I really am, although I enjoyed everything. But you have made my day today by being with me." Somehow he felt really shy and since he didn't dared to look into Sandy's blue eyes, he lowered his head as he was looking suitable place to build the house of shame where he could lock himself in. He remembered that Sandy liked their tour in virtual Paris and Taj Mahal, but he wasn't sure how she felt about wandering around in the ruins of Macchu Picchu for a long time, because compared with their virtual adventures, they had to walk a long way to the Cuzco and find their way back to Paradise after the tour was over, instead of leaving the holo room and enter their home. |
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on Feb 11, 2016 14:34:41 GMT
"No hope, no chance, no way!" declared Marcel Lestrange to himself. "I am not going into the jungle to look after him." He had a valid point - finding someone in a rain forest or mountains was hopeless task. Chances to locate someone in there were almost non existent. Especially when targets had more than one way to move in that hard landscape. Marcel's best method of searching was to do nothing at all, until Volodja reaches to Cuzco. Then he finds him nice and easy. Meanwhile he could do something interesting... ...Señor Sentenza crouched behind relatively high wall and peeked out through small barred window. His gut feeling kept chewing him and he could not get rid of the feeling that somebody follows him. That's why he walked into a narrow Z shaped Avenida Libertad which consisted of relatively small two (maximum three) storey brick or block houses. It was quite sleepy neighbourhood. Especially when weather was hot, because people preferred to stay inside, although Cuzco wasn't exactly known as a place where people had Siestas on daily basis. It was a daily habit in smaller towns, but not in big cities as Lima or Cuzco, where most of inhabitants kept their businesses open. But Avenida Libertad didn't had any significant shops or something similar, so it was empty this time of day and that suited Sentenza perfectly. He walked on Avenida Libertad with fast and steady pace until spotting suitable place to set up an ambush made him run, jump, grab from upper upper edge of that wall wall, pull himself up, climb over it and hide himself. "Where he disappeared, Mr. Wynd?" asked one of the two man who appeared to Avenida Libertad few minutes later only to discover that street was empty. "I assume that he hides somewhere, Mr. Kyd." replied other, studying dusty ground. Sentenza pulled out his spare Magnum and aimed it at them. Time to reduce amount of manhunters. Too many dogs will spoil the hunt and take all the fun out of if they keep appearing to his path. If he kills them, then nobody is going to miss those annoying Gringos who are after the same prey as he is. They won't be first ones to disappear in Peru. They won't be first ones who get lost after being on Sentenza's path. And they are not going to be last ones either, as long as Sentenza has something to say about that...Few more steps..."Pop goes the weasel!" hummed Sentenza and rose his magnum to send them a short but mind blowing message:  "It's pleasure do business with you," announced Karak Ven when he was invited back into Montero's office. "I am grateful for that chance to offer my humble merchandise. But she is worth more than you offer...." Montero reached out his hand and imitated walking legs with two fingers. His assistant, Zack Normal nodded, and said: "Señor Montero says that the business meeting continues as soon he sees merchandise. You will return with Fehu Valáne. Señor Montero evaluates her and makes you another offer after that. We will have servant to send you to guarantee your safety. We don't want you to get hit by the back door on your way out or get hit by a vehicle in some alley." After the Nomad leader left, Montero poured another portion of whiskey for his glass and said: "I believe that pleasure will be all mine. I can't be all about business. Man needs some entertainment. Let him run a bit." "I know, Sir. Already measuring time with my stopwatch."  |
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Post by Sandy Bell on Feb 11, 2016 18:49:47 GMT
"Thank you for your patience, because I made you to come along without even asking do you like it or not. I am sorry for my selfishness, I really am, although I enjoyed everything. But you have made my day today by being with me." Somehow Volodja felt really shy and since he didn't dare to look into Sandy's blue eyes, he lowered his head as he was looking suitable place to build the house of shame where he could lock himself in.
Sandy saw Volodja cast his eyes downward in self-depredation, and had to grin and shake her head tossing her blond hair to and fro before turning to him and with a tanned forefinger under his chin, forcing him to look into her big blue eyes as she replied with all sincerity, "I loved the tour and I love you Volodja, but you keep forgetting the latter is without reservation. You could give me a tour of the bathroom and tell me the history of the crapper, and I would find it fascinating because you find it fascinating and I love that facet of you that finds it fascinating and... I may be getting lost here, but you know what I mean! Bottom line: I love you no matter what!"
Sandy kissed him full on the lips there in the shade of the ancient Incan ruins until their Indian guide Mapi started kicking a stone around to get there attention, whereupon when he got it, he said with a big grin on his face, "Get room! Time go!"
Realizing she had probably heard Mapi's entire English repertoire, Sandy frowned as she shaded her narrowed blue eyes with one tanned calloused hand as she looked into the horizon in the direction of Cuzco and sighed before saying, "Much as I'd like to stay here with you Volodja for, like, forever, the others are probably really getting worried, and in fact, I'm worried about what happened to Erika. She was traveling with me when I got abducted, and I have this really bad feeling that the reason she wasn't dumped with me at Lord Ivu's was because somebody somewhere had something much worse in mind for her."
Sandy picked up her machete that she had stuck in the muddy ground with one hand and slung her backpack over her shoulder with the other, saying before she began her way towards Cuzco, "Knew all this peace and quiet couldn't last with you and me involved Volodja! Guess it's time to get back to the Mill."
A Sandy and Volodja began their trek anew to Cuzco, Erika slept and dreamed in a cryogenic tube in a hidden vault far from them.
"This was supposed to be a simple jaunt to one of the outer colonies to suppress an unruly group of rebels," Thought Erika Widowmaker to herself as she aimed her Spartan laser at an advancing Wraith tank, then asked out loud, "So who invited the Convenant to the party?"
As the tank blew up in a satisfying display of pyrotechnics, Cortana, her AI companion answered, "Not me Master Chief Erika 117! And UNSC intelligence didn't mention them either!"
"Great! Just Great," Muttered Erika under her breath as she fired on the next enemy tank that was advancing on her position.
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on Feb 11, 2016 19:08:39 GMT
Something went lost in translation, because instead of aforementioned sound, one could hear a muffled  sound and backside of Sentenza's head had a close contact with one of the stone hard fists of Marcel Lestrange. Sentenza's head jolted forward from the blow, making him to slam the wall with his forehead. Luckily for Sentenza, his black hat reduced impact and at expense of loss of it's elegant shape, saved Sentenza from the worst. But Marcel's attack was strong enough to replace the image of the world in Sentenza's eyes with stars before they faded our and his body fell softly to the ground. "Bang bang, Senteza, You just passed away. Who is going to bang bang when you are passed away?" hummed Marcel and continued in prose. "You two owe me big for saving your asses. Unfortunately I can not show up and ask a compensation for my trouble, because I am not here. At least for you I am not. But what do we have here? A wallet. Let us get familiar with contents," he muttered when searching Sentenza's pockets for anything interesting or useful, while Moira, who got inspired by his singing (and improvising) played him one of the interpretations of that frivolous song as a reward: If anyone asks, how and why Marcel Lestrange appeared there then the answer is simple. Marcel spotted Sentenza (and his followers) earlier and since he had not much to do in Cuzco until Sandy and Volodja arrive, he started to tail Sentenza, because he got similar idea of Sentenza's to reduce amount of hunters. Since he saw Sentenza as a main threat, that man had to leave this sinful world of ours for good. When Sentenza settled himself in to his vantage point, Marcel just followed him and waited, until Sentenza was occupied with aiming, sneaked behind him and knocked him out. And now he was ready to finish his successful sneak attack with one abrupt but still elegant touch. But sometimes there are more factors in the story. They are usually marked with words "but" or "if" or "when" or "suddenly". And this time it was all about "but", because Marcel was about to turn Sentenza's neck...at least 180 degrees, to finish him off as he was singing before, but Mr. Wynd and Mr. Kyd who were following Sentenza's footprints on the dusty road appeared to be too close to his location by now and since Marcel did not wanted to give himself away he had to retreat. Fast and quietly. "This is the last time, I bother to rescue you, you...couple of something. I knock the Sentenza guy out and when all I have left to do is to end our brief encounter with a sudden twist, you come in and ruin everything. Is that a proper way to thank me for saving your lives?" hissed Marcel and started to crawl back without making any more noise than his silent hissing. "Should have let him to shoot you both. Maybe next time I will. Merde!" What else he could say or do after the twist he did not expected? "Do I hear a snake?" asked Mr. Wynd. "In the garden of Eden," added Mr. Kyd. "Maybe we should check, because..." "...I don't see an angel with a flaming sword guarding the gates." Their ten thousand damned voices came even closer and Marcel crawled into bushes as fast as a real snake would do, leaving Sentenza's unconscious body to Mr. Wynd and Mr. Kyd. |
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Feb 11, 2016 20:13:46 GMT
"I know how you feel about going back to the grind, Sandy," replied Volodja and following Sandy's example, he sighed as well, looking her with loving eyes. "I think we should try to follow the Ferrocarril Santa Ana route, connecting Macchu Picchu station in Aguas Calientes with Cuzco. Or Poroy, near Cuzcco, if they hadn't restored traffic on that part that leads to Cuzco itself before Pale Wars. When we crossed it, I happened to see that rails were really rusty. It seems to be abandoned quite a long time ago, so I believe that hiking along it is not prohibited any more as it was used to. Let's go. I would hate to miss all that excitement," he said with a grin, but added seriously: "But all the excitement in the world could not replace peaceful time with you." After saying that, Volodja asked Sophie to provide them with information about this particular route. According to maps they had lot of climbing ahead after leaving Sacred Valley of Incas. On their way they had to pass serie of five switchbacks which were locally called 'El Zig-Zag' and after last one they could continue down to Cuzco. That descent promised to be quite steep, but they are going to handle it well and maybe Mapi knows some short cuts. Route promised to be scenic one, because following the railway gave them a chance to see Urumbamba River and fields and villages and picturesque railway stations, and everything they were going to see on their road, was the foreground to a wondrous mountain range in the background. Of course, there were some Inca Ruins too which promised more breathtaking sights to see.  Before to begin their trip, Volodja adjusted his backpack and asking Mapi politely to turn his head away because there wasn't a room when they needed one, kissed Sandy passionately on her lips. After that the trio started to follow tracks, although Volodja looked back several times to memorize the sight of Macchu Picchu. There was a long and difficult but yet beautiful road ahead of them. Hopefully landslides or floods or earthquakes hadn't destroyed the route, though... |
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on Feb 12, 2016 8:36:19 GMT
"There is a snake indeed,Mr, Kyd" declared Mr Wynd, peeking over the wall. "This is great, Mr. Wynd, but would you be so kind and remove yourself from my shoulders now? You are far away from being a midget who is standing on shoulders of a giant and you just stepped a head in most direct meaning of the expression." "Naturally, Mr. Kyd. Just give me a second." Mr. Wynd climbed on the edge of that aforementioned wall and reached his hand, saying: "Drowning man is willing to grasp even a straw, Mr. Kyd..." "I would not compare those strong arms of yours exactly with straws, Mr. Wynd. You can let me go now. Oh my! Looks like that Sentenza had an accident. How horrible." "Devastating!" "Shall we help this poor fellow out of his misery?" "I think so." "Glad to see us reaching into mutual agreement again."  |
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Feb 12, 2016 10:13:55 GMT
Trio, Consisting of Sandy Bell, Volodja Uljanov and their local guide, Mapi, was following the road...A railroad...A narrow railroad, because it's width was three feet narrow gauge instead of being standard one. But lack in width was royally compensated by it's length and difficulty. And beauty as well, because as promised, landscape it passed was astonishing as promised.   "Phew," said Volodja, admiring another sight during a break and poured some Chicka Morada to his mouth. Sandy was resting by his side, leaning her blonde head to his chest while Mapi went ahead to examine the path, because he was used with local climate and didn't had to carry a backpack. "Nice and slow. That's how we go." And added: "But maybe too slow." "True, Volodja," confirmed Sandy. "The others must be worrying themselves sick by now." Their break was interrupted by Mapi who run towards them, trying to explain something he spotted on the road, but it was damn hard challenge for him, and not only because of his lack in English, as travellers found out soon enough. After few attempts Mapi finally gave up. Instead of speaking, he started to nudge them until they rose to their feet again. Then he grabbed them by their chamantos and started to pull them along until they saw that thing, Mapi wanted them to see. "No wonder that Mapi didn't had enough words," stated Volodja. "I believe that the word "draisine" doesn't belong into the basic lexicon of Mapi's tribe. Good job, Mapi!" That old draisine, Mapi wanted them to see, was intact and in relatively neat condition, as Volodja discovered after examining it thoroughly. Probably because it was left untouched by locals and even by weather. And because it was a relatively simple mechanical one which moved on human power. Simple machinery tends to be more reliable than complicated ones. Probably because they have less parts which can break or get corroded and cause short circuits. Although the draisine was left beside of tracks, not on the railway itself, getting it back to the track wasn't a hard task at all, because of their design. Having low weight and small size, enabled them be put on and taken off the rails at any place, allowing trains to pass without any need for cranes or big crews. "Mind of having a relatively romantic and definitely faster ride on the draisine?" asked Volodja after putting it back to the railroad. It was four wheeled two-person rail-cycle draisine with a bench where they could put their things and Mapi who stared at the weird mechanical monster with his widened eyes, wondering what will happen next.  "In some countries tourists used to pay for the privilege to ride one of these things," Volodja continued. "But we get a free ride if you are not mind of pedalling that thing with me, because using child labour goes against my principles in most cases, except when they have to do reasonable things, like domestic chores, so I must exclude Mapi from the pedalling crew unless he wants to replace you from time to time. I know that I sound old fashioned, but...Shall we drive, Madam?" Volodja asked with a smile and bowed ceremoniously as a Chauffeur to his Mistress. |
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Post by Belle Starr on Feb 12, 2016 13:52:28 GMT
SPOILER ALERT: Don't read Belle Starr's posts in MIA if you plan on playing Fallout 4! Belle was in a quandary! She had invaded The Institute in her specially prepared energy reflective power armor, her personally customized assault rifle at the ready, but... it wasn't at all what she had figured on! Belle had found her son there as expected, but.... he wasn't at all what she expected either! Now in the huge shed where she built her teleportation machine in Sanctuary Hills, Belle sat on her haunches next to her empty and abandoned power armor, unmarked by any battle, rocking on her haunches with her knees grasped close to her chin, her blue diamond eyes staring into space and tears flowing down her pale freckled face, as she uttered the same thing over and over. "Whatamigonnadowhatamigonnadowhatamigonnadowhatamigonnadowhatamigonnadowhatamigonnadowhatamigonnadowhatamigonnadowhatamigonnadowhatamigonnadowhatamigonnadowhatamigonnadowhatamigonnadowhatamigonnadowhatamigonnadowhatamigonnadowhatamigonnadowhatamigonnadowhatamigonnadowhatamigonnadowhatamigonnado..."  At the Crater bar in Paradise, a gray haired black man with a woebegone face and intense brown eyes sat down at a table across from a blond Castigan man covered in tatooes already nursing his drink there, who rose one pale eyebrow in expectation as the human said, "You don't know me and I don't know you, but all I need to know is your reputation in the Indogene Collective and all you need to know is that I have the scrip to pay for that reputation. Bottom line: I have a job for you. I want you to find a woman for me. Not just any woman, but a very... special woman. Her name is Belle Starr. You may have heard of her, or you might not, it doesn't matter. She was kidnapped in Defiance literally in front of my eyes and I want you to get her back." The older man took a disposable data pad and a large envelope full of high denomination untraceable scrip notes from his inside jacket pocket, and slid them both over to the younger man as he continued, "Here is all the information I have on her, her enemies, her friends, and the Bay Area organization she helped found called the Protectors. They have less information on her whereabouts than I do, but I will leave it up to you whether you want to contact them or not. With the surveillance and tracing devices I had close by her at the time, I was able to see her fall into a trap, but was not close enough in-person to stop her abduction. The VBI helicopter she thought she was entering was in fact not their's, but some unknown enemy's, and I was able to track it to an abandoned missile base south of Lima before my devices were destroyed. The surveillance tapes and all the information you should need is in that data pad. If you need to get in touch with me, tell the bartender, and I will then contact you." The black man stood up to leave, but saying before he did so, "I know you need this job. I know you have fallen on hard times. This job could be a turning point for the better for you, or it could be the end of a promising career. It is up to you. Save Belle Starr - bring her home alive and unhurt, and the rewards not only now but in the future will be great, as I have many contacts who could use a man of your... talents! One final detail, the two people who kidnapped Belle, one male, one female, were Castithans. Although they were covered head to toe in VBI visored armor, my recognition software detected the tell tale body movements of Castithans - which is why I chose you for this mission. Good Luck."
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on Feb 12, 2016 13:55:03 GMT
"Ladrones! Ladrones!" someone yelled and Mr. Wynd and Mr. Kyd found themselves not only soaking wet but also pushed down from the wall. They landed back to the street and best thing to do was to run for their lives, because screaming sounds continued and decibel level of air pollution grew with every scream. The screamer - majestic woman with an empty water bucket in her hand kept crying for help after spotting two suspicious men who tried to break into her property and probably were after her virtue as well. She was right about the first accusation, but Mr. Wynd and Mr. Kyd were absolutely innocent on second charge. It didn't stop the woman from empting her water bucket on them and scream. And when she screamed, she really SCREAMED! Even an experienced Banshee would sound as an amateur at the talent show compared with those sounds, Maria Escalosa created. That was woman's full name. .jpg/220px-Draped_woman_emptying_a_bucket_of_water_(rbm-QP301M8-1887-404a~4).jpg) Since nobody didn't appear to show any sign of interest about the riot, the woman put her bucket down to the ground and then she spotted unconscious man on her patio. Curiously she moved closer and examined the stranger. She reached out her brown hand and touched the man. No reaction. Woman turned the man around and wide grin appeared to her face when she stated: "Quel hombre" before her pink tongue slid over her upper lip... |
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Post by Taffer on Feb 12, 2016 20:19:20 GMT
"Show of force? That's… intriguing," Taffer said as he glanced over Archer in her new garb and smiled with corners of his mouth, but then he quickly returned to ship's controls. "But we'll do it only after we get the information on where Sandy is being kept and who exactly was the one who captured her. No need to give our enemies the incentive to relocate or harm her before it's too late for them. Things may change quickly though so I'll keep your suggestion in mind."
"One thing, Taffer," Lu asked in a slightly uncertain tone, "You say two of your plans include you leaving the team and contacting with Sandy's capturers alone. I can't say I'm fond of it but you're a commander so I suppose you know what you're doing. But then, who will be the commander and the pilot when you're away?"
"Are you volunteering for any of those positions?" Taffer smiled again, "Hey, I was just kidding. Vo will be in charge once I'm out of range. If you'll have to split the team, I'll suggest keeping the line-up how it was in our previous missions — Archer, Chase and Vo are the first group and Kaj, Lu, Atika and Attila are the second one with Kaj in command of the second group. But if I'm away, Vo will have the final say on this. On the second thought though… Lu, last I remembered you were handling the ultralight plane just right, weren't you?" Taffer nodded towards the second pilot's seat.
"Me?" Lu tried to protest, "Actually, I think I told you that Kaj did a much better job at piloting than I did…"
"Exactly! So it's you who needs more time to get familiar with the controls," Taffer replied, nodding towards the seat again, "uploading the control schematic to your EGO's flight assistant."
Lu shook her head, not being sure if she was fitting for the job, but nevertheless she complied, taking the second pilot seat and grabbing the control stick.
"Now descend to 200 meters above ground," Taffer commanded, "We're getting close to the Storm Divide, so going under the storm will be safer."
Lu pushed the stick forward, but was granted by no response from the ship. She tried to push further, but was stopped by Taffer's hand which quickly landed on top of hers.
"Not so fast," Taffer commented as the ship started to descend without Lu's further interaction "The ship is much heavier that the ultralight, so it has a delay in its maneuvers due to its inertia. Push the control stick and watch the dials. You need to get used to this delay and move the controls preemptively. Now watch and steer it to stop descending at 200 meters."
Lu pulled the stick to stop the descent but did it too early, so she had to descend again until the ship finally stayed at a designated altitude.
"It's strange," Lu muttered, "I can't see the ground. Are the readings correct?"
"Dust in the wind…" Taffer replied in a singing voice. "It's not called Storm Divide for nothing. The only reason why we're not being thrown around left and right is because this ship has a really good stabilization system. And because its engines work flawlessly," Taffer winkled to Vo and Attila and continued, "If you're if the dial's readings are correct, make your EGO query the radar and barometer directly and make it compare the readings. If they show the same result, then trust the system. Now climb up to 300. 400. 200 again. 300. 200. 400 with 10 degrees left turn…"
Taffer continued to issue commands of slight changes in the course and altitude until he made sure Lu became familiar with controls, dials and ship's behavior. Suddenly a terrain ahead warning sounded and the screen showed a contour of a mountain which the ship was rapidly closing in to. Lu made the ship climb quickly but carefully, watching its ground speed and vertical speed and then switched the ship to descend when the mountain passed below the ship's belly.
"Nice simulation," Lu said smiling, "But you could give me a warning at least."
"No simulation," Taffer answered, "Just a mountain chain hidden in the storm. And the system did give you a warning, which, as you can see, is right enough for you to react on. Keep the altitude until we're out of the dust cloud and then climb up to about 6 kilometers. I'll make a couple of calls then."
When Riot finally escaped the storm and continued its way south, Taffer called Erika's son, Senator Cael of Votanis Collective. The senator wasn't available at the moment, so he had to leave a voice message.
"Cael? It's Taffer of the Protectors team. We're going to make some noise in Lima to find our missing friend and hopefully get some information on Erika's whereabouts too. I'll keep you posted if we find something interesting."
His second call was actually answered. "Montero? I think I owe you something for the nice show you've set up for me in Defiance. Oh, please don't start on it, we both know what I'm talking about. Did you really think you can prevent me from receiving that message by removing that one courier? Really? You know I had a good laugh, so I think it's time to return a favor. No, no couriers or other middle-men this time. They tend to be… unreliable. I know where your residence is, so I'm coming straight to you. How's it said? Duck and cover?"
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Theoretical
Starter Batman Sidekick
I have coffee and its mine.
Posts: 13 
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Post by Theoretical on Feb 13, 2016 6:07:11 GMT
2 hours of the job, 2 hours: 2 drinks an already the big empty in his wallet made the drinks felt heavier on his finances than the taste and relaxation they were supposed to offer was worth it.
Now on his third one, not more than two sips had been taken, the strong home brewed liquor just rolling around in his mouth, from one check, across the tongue, to the other cheek and repeat.
Food, yes, food would be nice. Perhaps a burgers or Grill on a stick, but then...
Fuck it.
Tired eyes stare across the patio of the crater bar, the annoying sound of Liberata mobster and his goons chatting, the music of an LP playing on a refurnished stereo.
It all mixed in to create another headache, temper had grown short and limited in the last two weeks due to the limited amount of jobs the IDCO had given him and even the jobs given were no challenge, low paying and way to messy.
Food yes... Perhaps go back to the Raptor, strap up the tent and the grill and make some food.
Then send a hail to the Professor and see if anything needs to be done but before the thought is set into action and it itself is set in motion the older grayed hair man sits down and begins to speak.
Red eyes scan him over, not a word spoken, no a change in demeanor but a slightly raised brow and the swallow of his booze.
He listens intensely, the hand not holding the glass of moonshine firmly tapping its fingers on the handle of his Volge tech modded revolver.
The IDCO is mentioned which peaks interest higher, however the assurance that this mans does not know him feels like an outright lie and just makes fingers tap faster on the weapon, still in its holster.
A sip of his drink, swallowed directly. He does not utter a single word the entire time the man speaks, just listens.
The name Belle Starr is not unknown to him, not well known either but still. Then mention of Defiance, a place he REALLY wants to visit and he already decided to take the job but acts like he is on the fence.
Not a single wasted motion, not a single wasted word, this is what he notices about the Human, a professional, a strategist. A dangerous person.
The envelope is ignored but removing his hand from the handle of his revolver and lets his fingers dance across the touche screen pad instead, eyes wandering from the man to the information.
Vid caps, transcripts of transmissions, coordinates, triangulation, speculations, theories. He does have alot to go on, or so it seems, with a mere moment of reading he deems 70 percent of it useless.
VBI, South America, Protectors whom he had one or two run ins with... unfriendly ones at that.
Why does this man smell of lies, half truths and the intent to kill.
Will a denial of the job end badly? No matter, he needs the scrip and he wont turn it down.
Castithans ey?... Well then, this could be fun.
"Before you leave old man, You do know she is probably if not already but soon in somewhat of less of a mint condition yes?
Don't blame those wounds on me."
He speaks in Casti, low pitched voice heavy with an accent and the words spoken with a amused smirk.
A unneccary thing to say but a somewhat low blow payback for sitting down, speaking in a way to friendly manner without even so much as an introduction.
However the Old man plays cool, he notices that those words affect him and the schadenfreude feels lovley and his drink now lighter and delicious.
"I will be in contact, regular intervalls, If the target is lost and can not be recovered or if I bring back a body, I keep the advance and expect 70% of the original back payment."
Still speaks in Casti, he does not wait for the old man to respond but instead finishes his drink, reaches to his ear and pulls out a thin wire with a small connector that he attaches to the PDD.
He begins to watch the vid caps.
"This is going to be fun."
Works spoken with a gleeful smirk across scarred lips as he lights up a cigarette.
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on Feb 13, 2016 8:59:08 GMT
"This is Zachary Normal, assistant of Señor Montero, speaking. We are willing to listen your side of the story, Mr. Taffer. Just ring the bell at the main door when you arrive. It saves you from the trouble of sneaking or blasting in and scaring decent people in neighbourhood. Have a nice day and those other formal expressions of politeness." Zack Normal hung up and turned to Montero, asking eagerly: "How I did, Sir?" "Diplomatically, young man. Diplomatically. You are already learning the art of leadership." "Thank you for the kind words, Sir." "Well. Words are actually cheap change, but they can help when deeds fail you. I see you are writing them down." "Of course, I do. When you are learning from the master, then every bit he says is valuable." "I do wonder what will happen on that day when you finally quit sucking up." "I am not sure, Sir." "At least you admitted that possibility that you will quit doing that. Interesting! And now you can mix me another drink while we are waiting for Mr. Taffer. Mixing drinks is also a path to success. As long as you are mixing them for the right people." "Understood. Your drink will be mixed right away. Anything else, Sir?" "Just the usual Lyman routine."  |
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Post by Atticus Batman on Feb 13, 2016 12:02:52 GMT
The Vigilant was flying through the Storm Divide around the Lincoln Nebraska area, heading back to Paradise, when the main pilot on duty addressed me with, "Sir, huge storm ahead and not sure the ship is in shape to handle it. Permission to alter course?"
I looked at the Holographic little Castithan girl snuggled in my wife's lap and said gently (for me), "Lexy what course change would you suggest?"
The ship's holographic avatar smiled and said, "I sug...sugg... I thinks we should goes Northwest towardses Pierre South Dakota. Then from theres goes southwest towardses Salt lake City Utah. then straights towards San Francisco from theres. Showing Pilots course change now."
I said, "Very well." Then I addressed the pilot with, "Follow Lexy's course change and alter as needed."
The pilot said, "Yes sir." Then he did so and we continued back towards San Francisco, following Lexy's new course to avoid the huge storm ahead.
As our course was altered successfully, I addressed the Comm officer. "Comms, contact Fortress K'shaa and let Doctor Von Eschen and Miss MacGuyver know, that due to a huge and unexpected storm, we had to alter course and will arrive later than expected and send them a copy of our new course while you are at it. Also make sure to inform them to let Bocar and Lebeau know as well!"
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