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Post by Atticus Batman on Jul 20, 2016 11:38:56 GMT
As Lady and I finally got to the room the others' EGOs were being registered in, we heard Marcel saying, "I am a busy man who just found the most important thing to do. To celebrate a reunion with his precious girl. So pick a fight with someone else, because next thing I am going to aim are your kneecaps. Or your groin and not definitely in that order." Another gnarl, but this time Skarr turned himself away from Marcel, Lena and BJ. He looked at laying Volodja now...
"I think that you will have to leave this unmovable man alone as well. Killing him right now will not offer any kind of entertainment. Besides...I guess I owe Lassie a favour for helping me. And do not dare to attack our Sneak Thief. He is busy with trying to save the world. That leaves you Monsieur Vo'Kshaa or...Monsieur Batman to play with. I think that latter deserves a piece of action too. And that fight can be really interesting sight," said Marcel and added one of his devilish grins to his remark. "Lena can observe the fight from my lap, if she wants."
Hearing that, I quickly entered the room and had Lady slide off my back near Marcel and the others and handed her my pistol. Then I walked over to Vo and used my one good hand to yank the odd looking hand off his throat, as I basically ignored Marcel and Skarr for the time being. Then as I turned back towards them, I forcefully closed the severed hand into a fist and tossed it at Faru who was reaching for something. The fist hit her hard enough in the face to knock her out and give her a black eye.
So I said disdainfully to what was left of Skarr, "Well hitting your worried CRAZY sister in the face wasn't very nice of YOU was it? No matter. At least she can't get in my way now. Can she?"
Then I drew my Amakune and jabbed Skarr in one of his zombified shoulders to get him to pay attention to me as I said, "You know what? Lestrange has a point. It is time for you to quit bullying the weak, and injured. Besides I have some unfinished business with you! So get over here so that I can send you back to hell where you belong!"
As Skarr did just that by swinging his sword masterfully at me one-handed, I masterfully parried one-handed and quickly countered with a slice to his rancid chest, as I said, "Alright I have Skarr and took care of Faru for now. So I sure as hell hope one of you has a plan to stop that daking bomb while I am busy with Governor Putrefaction!"
Just then I jumped back to avoid a lunge from Skarr, as I countered and severed what was left of Skarr's left arm at the shoulder and followed through by slamming my right shoulder into his left side and knocking him off-balance, before he could counter. So by the time Skarr finally got his balance and countered my viscious attack, I was already prepared and once again parryed. Next I lunged forward just as he stepped slightly towards me, so my blade was driven through his zombie groin.
Then I kicked him in the gut to knock him away from me, as I pulled pulled my sword out of him, and said in an extremely malicious tone, "Guess you no longer have that momento from when you were once a man!.........Wait were you ever a real man?! No I don't believe that you ever were!"
Then I sidestepped his next angry lunge and kicked him in the ass, as I toyed with him and prepared for his eventual counter-attack.
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Post by Belle Starr on Jul 20, 2016 13:07:59 GMT
 In the upright sleep pod, Belle Starr's blue diamond eyes fluttered open, then narrowed as the corners of her rose petal lips dipped downwards in a look of disdain. Taking in the situation with one glance across the room, looking at each of the Protector's faces without hesitation or recognition, Belle then purposefully strode to Volodja's unconscious and bleeding body, picking up the sapper shovel with one pale hand where it lay next to him. Without losing her stride she walked over to the undead Skarr, back handing him in the scrawny neck with sharp edge of the the sapper shovel, severing his head from his body in one powerful swipe, whereupon his body fell without a sound but with his hand still holding the open charge blade. Belle glanced at Atticus, noting without fear his glowing eyes through the eye holes of his armor's helmet, but remarking to the large Irathiant, "Don't play with your food super mutant," Then stared coldly at Skarr's head on the floor nearby whose mouth kept silently opening and closing like a fish out of water until Belle kicked it expertly into the open pit in the middle of the room, as Belle then loudly exclaimed in a distinctly Bostonian accent so unlike her normal southern twang, "Damn feral ghouls never know when they're dead! Who is the Vault-Tec scumbag that put me into cryogenic sleep this time?" Her chalk white mouth still open in surprise and still sitting nude after Marcel had pulled her to safety but now safely in his lap, Lena Marr pointed one alabaster finger towards where the unconscious Dr. Faru lay on her back close by. Belle's frown became more profound as she walked over to Dr. Faru's still body, staring briefly at the helpless woman as she straddled above her before taking the shovels's handle with both hands and viciously beating Faru in the face until her skull caved in, splashing blood and brain bits everywhere as she did. Belle spit out each word of condemnation with each brutal hit of the shovel, yelling, "NO-ONE-EVER-LOCKS-ME-IN-CRYOGENIC-SLEEP-EVER-AGAIN!-NO-ONE-EVER-STEALS-MY-FAMILY-AND-TWO-HUNDRED-YEARS-OF-MY-LIFE-EVER-AGAIN!" Belle dropped the bloody shovel with a large clang next to the still and faceless body of Dr. Faru, before turning to the shocked group and with a self satisfied smile on her beautiful freckled and gore covered face, saying in a matter-of-fact way, "And that is how we handle enemies in the Commonwealth! Leave no enemy behind - alive! I'm General Belle Starr of the Commonwealth's Minutemen! Thanks for the revive, now... who the hell are you people, and where am I in relation to the Commonwealth, for I'm sure as shooting that one of my settlements needs my help!" Then added as she casually gestured at Lena with one open hand, "And somebody please get that poor girl some clothes... and maybe let her get some sun, for it's obvious from her complexion she's been locked up longer than me!"
Before anyone could answer her, the calm robotic voice began it's countdown to doom again. |
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Post by Lady Christianna on Jul 20, 2016 18:32:19 GMT
 Lady Christianna stood uneasily to her feet, still tipsy from the drugs in her system designed to inhibit her density altering powers, and announced proudly if a bit drunkenly jutting a small chalk white thumb towards herself and sweeping her other hand to encompass the others, "Protectors! We are I mean." Belle smiled warmly at the short Castithan teenager, her blue diamond eyes locking with Lady's pink ones, neither one blinking as they engaged in an impromptu staring match, then replied in her strong Bostonian accent, "Okay, my short albino friend, from your cadence, I'm guessing west coast - maybe NCR, although I thought the North California Republic had age as well as height restrictions for their Rangers, even their undercover ones! Certainly you don't have the unpleasant demeanor to be Caesar's Legions or be Great Khans, and that's a good thing! If you are NCR, I am a long way from my home on the east coast of North America! Anyway, since you released me, I won't consider you enemies until you prove otherwise! Looks like we have enough problems, for if I'm right in what I'm seeing, that's a nuclear bomb that's going to explode once that countdown ends! Unfortunately, it was my late husband that was a soldier in the Great War with China, and I was merely a public defender before my deep freeze in Vault 111! If anyone knows where my power suit is, we could at least put the albino kid in it and it might save her life if she can get far away enough from ground zero!" Suddenly Belle's attention was drawn to BJ Starr as she crawled over to the wounded and bleeding Volodja, taking from the first aid kit on the belt of her Liberty Trooper armor gauze and antiseptics to treat his wounds before binding them, whereupon Belle stepped on the dead Skarr's hand before prying the open charge blade from his hand, then hefting it with one hand before gestured it at BJ and asking with a hint of threat, "However, I have to ask, why does that synth have my face, and why should I let my potential replacement live? In the Commonwealth, the Institute was known for replacing both community leaders and even common people with Syths that looked just liked them, usually to do no good end! Since I destroyed the Institute in the Commonwealth, some synths are my best friends - I even took one as one of my lovers - but you can see why I might be a bit agitated to find one with my face at this place and at this time!" Belle leisurely cut the air with a casual move of her wrist but her cold blue diamond eyes never left BJ, the charge blade making a crackling sound as it sliced the air, as she awaited an answer to her question as the slow countdown progressed. |
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Post by Luuzuk Kshaa on Jul 20, 2016 23:03:08 GMT
Lu thought of getting another ATV from the Vigilant as her recent manipulations with her mech added the damage it received from the EMP, but with the influx of refugees entering the ship and the crew being busy accepting them she found out it would take too much time given Atticus already had a big head-start. "Atika, we'll be riding your quad together," Lu said as she took a seat behind Atika's back. "Now let's follow Batman's trace and see if we can help our people. Full ahead!" Attila tied to say something about the seat of his quad being more comfortable, but the runner with girls on it had already started its way to the compound and he didn't want to fall behind. As they arrived at the compound grounds it wasn't too difficult to follow Atticus's trace as it was a trace of destroyed sentry robots. They made their way to the elevator and descended to the lover level, seeing another pile of charred scrap metal marking Atticus's way. Citizens have already left the place and sentry robots were destroyed, so the park was mostly empty except one hunched figure that was aiming its staggering steps towards the elevator. "Hey, do my eyes play tricks on me or this one borrowed a pair of sunglasses from my brother?" Lu asked upon seeing the figure as it closed in. "He seems unarmed so I'll try to communicate. Constantines, be ready for action though," Lu ordered as she holstered her weapon and approached the old synth. "Hello mister," she said, removing her helmet, "Have you by chance met my twin brother? He looks almost exactly like me. A girl known as BJ Starr who have just announced he evacuation could be with him too." "I'm sorry I might not be allowed to talk about this incident," was the synth's short answer as he uttered it with his robotic voice. "So, there WAS an incident" Lu noted to herself and continued her questioning, trying to mask it as a light chatter, "So is my brother so fearsome that people are not allowed to speak of him?" "Oh no, no it's not about your brother. It's just an Old Robotics section we can't talk about," the synth replied, giving away more secrets with each phrase. Lu smiled and asked again, "Do I get this right, if we should not know about this section, then we should not be there as well, right? I'm sorry we're new here. So where we should not go? We really don't want to appear there by accident and cause trouble just because we don't know about it." "Over there. Don't take the stairs leading downwards and everything will be alright." "Thank you very much for this precious warning and have a nice day!" Lu replied with a wide grin on her face. "Okay team, change in plans," she said as she let go of the old synth and ushered her team to the stairs she was just warned not to tread to. "We're going to find my brother first." "A seemingly abandoned room with the generator working? Check. A big hole in the wall made by an assembling machine? Check. Looks a lot like my brother was at work," she noted as they entered the forbidden room. Lu waved Constantines to follow as she entered the tunnel and started her way towards its other end. She arrived just in time to hear the sound of voice counting down which, combined with what she heard about the missile before, have worried her to no end. "You two stay here. I know it sounds like I'm trying to keep you away from danger, which is partially true. Bet there are also two other reasons. First, I need this passage to be safe and clean from any civilians. And second, I need someone to be up top in case we'll need to use this rope to pull our wounded members up here to safety." With that said, she made a step into the shaft and launched her Decoy at the same time. Already in the air, she switched places with it and found herself standing on the bottom of the missile that seemed to be ready to launch. With the quick EGO scan of the missile and the situation below, she jumped down to the floor and turned towards the team. "No need to explain what I should do in this room. That countdown is telling enough. Could someone give me a charge blade? I'm going to cut through the shielding of its warhead and break weak-links of its trigger charge. Broken weak-links will prevent the detonator from being activated by its internal timer." As Taffer handed her his the charge blade, Lu put her helmet visor close the surface of the warhead tip and made a small cut where Klimi highlighted the safe spot for it. As Klimi reported some minor radiation started emitting from the cut, Lu continued to cut deeper, trying to keep herself calm and to not allow the countdown voice to make her do any hasty move which could spoil all her effort and make all the team's efforts futile. "Lu, my readings indicate an increasing amount of beta-radiation coming from the cut. You better give your face some distance from it," Klimi warned with concern in her voice "Do you imply I may go blind before this charge disperses us into a radioactive dust?" Lu quipped mentally but the next thought that shot through her noggin made her hand freeze in place. "Wait, you said beta-radiation? The trigger charge consists of Uranium and Plutonium, both should emit only alpha and any beta component should be negligible. Where this beta may come from?""I'm already performing a spectrum analysis. It indicates that beta-emission comes from Thorium-231 during its decay to a relatively stable Protactinium-231. The Thorium-231 is a result of Uranium and Plutonium decay. Given the ratio between alpha and beta emissions, I can conclude there's not much of undamaged fuel left…"Not much is not the answer. Numbers please, Lu thought back to her EGO and once she receive the answer, she carefully pulled the blade out of the missile's head. She removed her helmet and the team members could her smiling widely as she lightly patted the bomb's head. "It's way below critical mass," Lu reported. "It seems that harsh and repeated temperature shifts during terraforming and freezing have damaged the core's shielding which resulted in an accelerated decay. Not to the point of inducing a chain reaction, but enough to deteriorate it to the point when it could not start a nuclear explosion anymore. If the trigger charge doesn't work, then there's no way to start a thermonuclear explosion of the main stage. In short, it may spread radioactive material all over this room but no big boom or mushroom cloud. Those synths seem to be less susceptible to the radiation, so they can work on sealing this room after the explosion. And we better grab our belongings and get the hell out of here. Now." |
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Post by Atticus Batman on Jul 21, 2016 9:20:15 GMT
Suddenly Belle's attention was drawn to BJ Starr as she crawled over to the wounded and bleeding Volodja, taking from the first aid kit on the belt of her Liberty Trooper armor gauze and antiseptics to treat his wounds before binding them, whereupon Belle stepped on the dead Skarr's hand before prying the open charge blade from his hand, then hefting it with one hand before gestured it at BJ and asking with a hint of threat, "However, I have to ask, why does that synth have my face, and why should I let my potential replacement live? In the Commonwealth, the Institute was known for replacing both community leaders and even common people with Synths that looked just liked them, usually to do no good end! Since I destroyed the Institute in the Commonwealth, some synths are my best friends - I even took one as one of my lovers - but you can see why I might be a bit agitated to find one with my face at this place and at this time!"
Belle leisurely cut the air with a casual move of her wrist but her cold blue diamond eyes never left BJ, the charge blade making a crackling sound as it sliced the air, as she awaited an answer to her question as the slow countdown progressed.
I stepped forward and between Belle and BJ as I said very authoritatively and perhaps even a little coldly, "There appears to be a LOT of things to address with what you said, however with that daking bomb counting down we do not have much time. So I will be short. I am Atticus Batman, Commander of the Protectors, and NOBODY harms ANY of my team no matter who or what they look like! Second of all, BJ may look like you but we all know she isn't you. Besides she has earned her position on my team. Now lower the daking sword as you are outnumbered and we did just save your life!"
Just then Lu dropped into the room and said, "No need to explain what I should do in this room. That countdown is telling enough. Could someone give me a charge blade? I'm going to cut through the shielding of its warhead and break weak-links of its trigger charge. Broken weak-links will prevent the detonator from being activated by its internal timer."
As Taffer handed her his the charge blade, Lu put her helmet visor close the surface of the warhead tip and made a small cut where Klimi highlighted the safe spot for it. As Klimi reported some minor radiation started emitting from the cut, Lu continued to cut deeper, trying to keep herself calm and to not allow the countdown voice to make her do any hasty move which could spoil all her effort and make all the team's efforts futile.
I barely glanced at Lu as she entered, talked and got to work. However as I continued to stand between Belle and BJ, I re-sheathed my blade to show that we mean no harm to Belle as I said sternly to the confused young woman, "Well it appears our bomb expert has just arrived to do her thing. However I am sure BJ and the rest of us would still appreciate it if you lowered the daking blade as she did give up a lot to help us save you....even going against her Creator's programming in pretty much every way for that matter."
As I talked to Belle, Lu continued her inspection and work of the bomb, right up until Lu carefully pulled the blade out of the missile's head. She removed her helmet and the team members could her smiling widely as she lightly patted the bomb's head.
"It's way below critical mass," Lu reported. "It seems that harsh and repeated temperature shifts during terraforming and freezing have damaged the core's shielding which resulted in an accelerated decay. Not to the point of inducing a chain reaction, but enough to deteriorate it to the point when it could not start a nuclear explosion anymore. If the trigger charge doesn't work, then there's no way to start a thermonuclear explosion of the main stage. In short, it may spread radioactive material all over this room but no big boom or mushroom cloud. Those synths seem to be less susceptible to the radiation, so they can work on sealing this room after the explosion. And we better grab our belongings and get the hell out of here. Now."
I said very sternly in my gruff but commanding tone, "Alright everybody! You heard her! Time to bug out! So let's get moving double-time! Knowing the team, our vehicles are waiting at the gate and charged enough to get us back to the Vigilant safely! So Lu lead the way! Lestrange, Taffer, Vo, I will need one or two of you to carry Volo out to the vehicles since he appears to be unconscious from severe blood loss. Belle, I know you don't seem to know us but this is the time where you MUST trust us for the time being. So go with the others and they will get you to our ship and out of this hellhole! BJ and I will be last to go up, as we are the least susceptible to the radiation. That way if anybody else falls behind or gets severely injured on the way, then we can pick them up and carry them out!"
As everybody started to quickly gather everything and do as ordered, Lady walked over and gave me a quick kiss on my helm as she re-sheathed my pistol for me. Then I turned to BJ and said calmly, "One more thing BJ. Could you please quickly pop my shoulder back into it's socket so I have the use of both arms during this bug-out, since it looks like the quickest route is the way Lu, Vo and you came in? After all if we must go up by rope, then it would be a great idea for me to have the use of both arms, so I can pull my huge frame out of here."
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Post by Belle Starr on Jul 21, 2016 11:52:24 GMT
Atticus stepped forward and between Belle Starr and BJ as he said very authoritatively and perhaps even a little coldly, "There appears to be a LOT of things to address with what you said, however with that daking bomb counting down we do not have much time. So I will be short. I am Atticus Batman, Commander of the Protectors, and NOBODY harms ANY of my team no matter who or what they look like! Second of all, BJ may look like you but we all know she isn't you. Now lower the daking sword as you are outnumbered and we did just save your life!"
A half grin crossed Belle's beautiful freckled face more reminiscent of Vo Kshaa's grin than her normally warm smile as she instinctively turned off the charge blade and handed it to Atticus as she replied in her Bostonian accent, "Don't know how to use the damn thing anyway, as I'm more of a guns and bullets kind of woman anyway! Never bring a sword to a gunfight, right? Anyhow, I like you, super mutant! You remind me of my good friend Strong, also a super mutant! I bet you are a great fighter like he is too, going through the enemy like a juggernaut, although you are a hell of a lot more articulate than he is! So... I'll follow your lead - for now!"
After Lu had voiced an all-clear as the the nuclear bomb but also warned them of the radiation leak, Atticus said very sternly in his gruff but commanding tone, "Alright everybody! You heard her! Time to bug out! So let's get moving double-time! Knowing the team, our vehicles are waiting at the gate and charged enough to get us back to the Vigilant safely! So Lu lead the way! Lestrange, Taffer, Vo, I will need one or two of you to carry Volo out to the vehicles since he appears to be unconscious from severe blood loss. Belle, I know you don't seem to know us but this is the time where you MUST trust us for the time being. So go with the others and they will get you to our ship and out of this hellhole! BJ and I will be last to go up, as we are the least susceptible to the radiation. That way if anybody else falls behind or gets severely injured on the way, then we can pick them up and carry them out!"
As everybody started to quickly gather everything and do as Atticus ordered, Lady Christianna walked over and gave him a quick kiss on his helm as she re-sheathed his pistol for him. Atticus turned to BJ and said calmly, "One more thing BJ. Could you please quickly pop my shoulder back into it's socket so I have the use of both arms during this bug-out, since it looks like the quickest route is the way Lu, Vo and you came in? After all if we must go up by rope, then it would be a great idea for me to have the use of both hands so I can pull my huge frame out of here."
"Help Teach too," Said Lady with an enigmatic smile on her chalk white face, finally sobering up from being drugged earlier, who then went to Volodja's side.
Even as Lu Kshaa handled the bomb, Belle stood to the side, watching her doppelganger's every move, even when BJ fulfilled Atticus' request to fix his shoulder and then said, "Let me have my charge blade back, and I'll seal up the room until a city work crew can come in and seal it proper-like!" BJ glanced at Belle as she stared daggers back at her, then added with a pretty pout, "It's better if I stay in Synth City - for many reasons, only one of them being my namesake! Y'all are going to have a problem bringing HER back to reality. Anywho, that is not my main reason for staying! The good folk of Synth City are going to need some help with their Creator dead and all, so maybe I can help them set up a democracy here in Synth City! I was always kind of partial to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights of the old United States of America, so maybe I can convince them to adopt them here! It would be a good start for a folk coming out of a dictatorship!"
As Atticus replied, BJ sadly watched Vo Kshaa as he watched Belle Starr who didn't even seem to notice him, but only had eyes for BJ, and not kind ones at that. Impulsively, BJ ran over to Vo and kissed his cheek, leaning into the kiss and throwing back one foot as she did. After the kiss, she smiled warmly at him so reminiscent of the Belle Starr he had fallen in love with, but then the smile disappeared, as a serious look appeared in her blue diamond eyes and she took both his red clay colored hands in both of her pale ones
"Be patient with her Vo! Whatever world she's been living in, it's obvious she had a hard time of it! She'll come around eventually, I know she will, y'all just got to be patient and show her all the love I know you're capable of," BJ smiled warmly again at him, squeezing his hands with hers briefly before releasing them, saying, "But, y'all do know, if it doesn't work out, I'll be waiting for you here, or if you need me, even just to talk... well, ya'll know where I am and I'll come a running if you need me!"
Still naked as the day she was born, Lena Marr rushed by them saying, "Radiation is NOT good for my complexion! Bye BJ, see you in the funny papers! You got my hailer number too, so call me BGF!," Without breaking her stride, Lena pushed by Atticus as well, remarking cheerfully, "Don't have to tell me twice big guy, let's make like a tree and leave!" then glanced at Belle, adding, "Let's go Blondie - oh, and by the way, I LIKE running around naked!"
Belle laughed at that, no longer glaring at BJ but following after the nude Castithan girl out of the vault, shaking her blond tousled head as she did, stopping only to warn Atticus before continuing on her way out, "You know that synthetic girl won't last long here either, at least her organic parts, and it's clear that she's a different type of synth with real skin and I suspect other parts as well!"
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Post by Sandy Bell on Jul 21, 2016 16:25:33 GMT
As the alarm blared in the Vigilant's operating room signifying that her heart had stopped during the operation on her internal injuries, Sandy Bell floated above watching the nurses and doctors run around her bed trying to resurrect her. Suddenly a green fog surrounded her, and everything went dark, until the fog receded from her as fast as it had appeared, leaving her walking on a rocky beach much like that she had surfed off of in California when she was in college. She felt the warm sand squeezing through her toes as she walked, and heard the squeak of her rubber wet suit she was wearing rubbing at her thighs, for the waters off the west coast was often frigidly cold. Sandy recognized the white fiberglass surfboard she was carrying under one arm for it had the shark bite in the upper right top of it that had occurred when a Great White Shark had mistaken her for a tasty seal. Luckily she had survived unscathed that encounter of the deadly kind.
"Huh... I thought I had replaced that board immediately, and was surfing the very next day, " Sandy mentally said to herself.
"Oh you did!" Exclaimed a small child's voice at her side.
When Sandy looked down in surprise, she saw and recognized a small pale Irathiant five-year-old girl with a vivid shock of green hair and intense jade colored eyes, dressed in a pink one-piece bathing suit with a large white ruffle around the waist smiling mischievously as she took Sandy's free hand, looking up and saying in a happy tone "Hi Aunt Sandy! That board is his not-so-subtle-hint of who's coming!"
Sandy raised one blond eyebrow, asking, "Who Caprice? Who's coming?"
Caprice turned her intense green eyes to look in front of her and jutted her tiny chin forwards, indicating a tall lean figure in dark robes, with a pale face and carrying a large scythe down the beach from them.
As they got within speaking range, a frown crossed her pretty tan face as she quipped, "Death I presume. Pretty stereotypical don't you think?"
Death shrugged, and answered with a grim smile, "Oldies are generally goodies!"
Sandy narrowed her blue eyes as she queried, "Okay then, why are we here?"
At Death's side, a small swirl of green mist appeared and disappeared at a moment's notice, leaving in it's wake a chess table with two large overstuffed chairs, to which Sandy remarked in alarm, "I'm afraid I don't play chess - never learned how," Her wide blue eyes looked at the ocean's tide, then exclaimed, "I'll be glad to surf you for my life, but it doesn't look like there are any curls out today that would support a surfing contest!"
"I prefer more cerebral pursuits," Relied Death dryly, "But no worry, I have for you a champion that is a more than capable player, and now I have a prize that he will surely bring his best game for!"
The green mist swirled again around one of the plush chairs and when the cloud disappeared Sandy beheld a tired and bloodied Volodja Uljanov, her true love, sitting there, with Death quickly taking the seat opposite him.
Sandy dropped her surf board in surprise, and started to run towards her lover, but Caprice kept hold of one of her tan hands with both of her small ones - and with a remarkable amount of strength for one so young - saying with a smile, "Sit with me Aunt Sandy and watch! Uncle Volo is REALLY good at this game, and has had lots of practice playing against death in the past, but usually only for his own life."
Sandy surrendered and sat down cross-legged in the warm sand with Caprice sitting next to her, as she mouthed in silence a message to Volodja, "No matter what happens, I'll always love you!" then blowing him a kiss for luck, but worried at Caprice's turn of phrase, wondering if perhaps both their lives were at stake in this game with Death.
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Post by Vo Kshaa on Jul 21, 2016 22:15:48 GMT
Once Vo finally caught his breath from being suffocated by Scarr's severed hand, he kept following Belle with his eyes and watching her behavior. From the first seconds it was clear for him that his Belle was not herself at the moment. It wasn't the first time he saw such drastic change in his beloved woman. First, he saw many times her Volge nature was taking over. And second, he remembered that episode on their space mission when Belle's body was taken over by Sandy, who happened to be Belle's aunt and a Pale Wars soldier. This time he watched Belle to determine if it was another unfortunate person being trapped in Belle's body again, or it was just the real Belle, but severely brainwashed to the point that she forgot who she really was. The way Belle acted evidenced of a completely different personality, but the way she instinctively handled the charge blade despite of her claim that she didn't know how to use it gave Vo some hope that there was the real Belle somewhere deep in her mind. A wild thought came to his mind that even if Belle shook off the induced personality and returns back to being herself as he remembered her, she might still not recognize him as a lover and a friend. But he quickly dismissed the thought as he was too happy to see Belle alive and in a good health. It was all that mattered for him at the moment and he knew he would do everything for his girl to be happy even if it did not include them being an item anymore.
A sudden kiss on the cheek he felt had broken his contemplation and he saw BJ standing next to him. He could not help but smile when she told him, "Be patient with her Vo! Whatever world she's been living in, it's obvious she had a hard time of it! She'll come around eventually, I know she will, y'all just got to be patient and show her all the love I know you're capable of," BJ smiled warmly again at him, squeezing his hands with hers briefly before releasing them, saying, "But, y'all do know, if it doesn't work out, I'll be waiting for you here, or if you need me, even just to talk... well, ya'll know where I am and I'll come a running if you need me!"
"Thank you BJ," he whispered, "It is good to have a friend like you. You saved my life twice today and I'll never forget that. But that doesn't mean you must sit here and wait for me. Your life has just started and there's a whole World for you to see. This city is a good start but you shouldn't lock yourself after you make sure it can run by itself without your constant supervision. I wish you luck in all your endeavors and I want you to be happy despite of all this roller coaster of a relationship I had to put you through."
With that said he left BJ and approached Volodja to see how he could help in transporting him up the shaft. He removed the upper part of his armor and put it under Volodja's back.
"It's solid enough to keep him upright while we'll be pulling him up," Vo said, "Taf, please wrap the rope around him while I'll climb up and turn on the winch. This will be the fastest way to pull him up the shaft safe and fast."
"Someone's quick to take the lead eh?" Taffer asked but quickly added, "It's okay Vo. It's a good plan and I approve it. So let's get to work. You'll pull him from above and we'll ensure he's safe from here. Lady, you can fly next to him while we're pulling an yell if there's some danger for him."
As they pulled Volodja over the hole in the shaft into the tunnel, Shirra reported that his conditions were worsening. Despite that Vo wanted preferred to stay with Belle and explain her various aspects of the world she found herself in so suddenly, he knew he was the best candidate to bring Volodja to the medical as fast as possible.
"He's getting worse," he quickly said, putting Volodja over his shoulder. "I'm getting him to the infirmary". He turned on Blur so that he could go faster and continued his way to the elevator. Once at the surface, he noted one of the runners standing nearby, so he placed Volodja over its seat and pulled the gas knob, standing on one of its footpads. In this position he made all the way to the stratocarrier where the medical team was already waiting to accept the patient.
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Jul 22, 2016 5:38:33 GMT
"Look who's dropped by," said Death with his deep dark voice, pronouncing every syllable in a way like he was placing letters to the gravestone. "Shall we play?" "Why not," replied Volodja. "As long as I remember, we had quite an interesting situation on our board last time." "Volodja, Volodja," said Death with his dark voice. "I think that this time we are going to play a totally new chess game. For Sandra "Sandy" Bell's sake. I believe that you are same gallant man in life and in...me and are willing to wait with your own game until her's is finished." "Of course, but may I ask a question? Or couple of them?" "Yes, you may, Volodja. I have walked along your side more than you can imagine but we both were usually so busy to chat, so we can take some time for ourselves and have a conversation. After all - time doesn't matter in this place, although it prevents doing my work in outside world. But I can allow small break, after you, Protectors, gave me not only extra work to do, but also a headache." "Go on," encouraged Volodja. "You can tell me. No matter how our games end, I can't tell anything to anybody. Rules of confidentiality." "You caused me a sort of theological problem when your people started to kill Synths in large amounts. Especially my Harbinger. Synths are supposed to be machines and I don't deal with machinery, but at the same time Synths are sentient beings and have personalities and beliefs, including religious ones. So we had to decide to whom jurisdiction Synths belong. Can you imagine a theological dispute with hundreds of experts and hundreds of different point of views involved? It's a nightmare." "I believe that I understand how you feel. Did you found a solution by the way?" "We reached to compromise at best for a moment and decided to take an individual approach as we do with other sentient beings. If Synths believe in my existence, then I will be their final acquaintance, if not, then..." "I could suggest to have a new work post for the Death of Synths, but I can't interfere into your business." "That's actually an idea," said Death with a serious manner. "Should consider that. Even if they won't agree with the idea, it will give them another nut to crack, so they leave me alone for awhile. Any more questions or suggestions, Volodja?" "You told that it's an individual matter, based on beliefs, but how come Sandy and I share the same experience right now?" "Usually it is a personal matter, but since you two are tied up, close and personal, you will share the same experience. It happens, you know. And you are not the only ones in vicinity. Look!" Death pointed his long thing and somehow skeletal forefinger towards the woman figure who aimlessly run in the sand. Woman wasn't human but Castithan with a half mask, covering her face. "Faru?" asked Volodja. "Is she...?" "Dead? Of course she is. After you were invited to this meeting with me, she was killed by Belle Starr. And since it happened in the same room after you had a conversation with Faru, which is considered to be a personal contact, you can see her here..." "She seems to be lost and confused," stated Volodja. "She is actually. In her lifetime she was torn up between different beliefs. Mainly religion and science and her love for her brother, Governor Skarr. And since she came here with all that luggage, she will wander around in her personal Limbo until she finds her way out. How long it is going to take, depends totally on herself. But as I said, time doesn't matter here." "Mind if I...?" asked Volodja. "Give it a try," agreed Death. "I can't afford to play another chess game for her's sake too." "Follow your heart!" shouted Volodja to Faru. "Then you know where to go." Faru stopped in confusion and pondered for a long time until her face became enlightened and she said: "I know where to go now." After that she stopped running and begun to walk with steady pace towards something only she knew. "That's a relief," said Death, looking after her. "I was getting tired with all this running. She has been here only a moment and it already feels like forever. Compared with usually annoying you it's a real menace. Besides - this is supposed to be a secluded and quiet place. Not an overcrowded with headless runners. Now, if you don't mind, we still have a chess game to play. Since you are supposed to be the champion, I let you choose the side." "Whites, if you don't mind," said Volodja. "If I have to challenge you, it's only fair that I have a right to make first move in the game." And so he did. After meticulous mind work and moving pieces, the situation on the table was exactly like this:  It was Volodja's turn, so he pondered about the situation and said: "I think we will have a draw here. Shall we have another one?" "Really?" asked Death and bent over to examine the situation closer. "You seem to be right, Volodja. But I have so much work to do and I can't spend an eternity on playing with you, we don't have time for the next game right now...And no time to finish your game either, so what shall we do? Actually I know what to do. Considering your help in finding solutions to certain problems, I will release you both this time, but you know that eventually I will claim what's mine," said Death with a grave voice. It was more like a statement actually. "Eventually you will," agreed Volodja. "But not today or any time soon. Shall we part our ways now, Death?" "Go, but don't you dare to look back!" warned Death. Volodja took Sandy's hand into his and they disappeared into the cloud of green mist taking Caprice with them. If they had looked back, they would have seen how Death pulled box of painkillers out of his sleeve and ate one... __________ SPOILER ALERT! The solution to this little chess etude should be following: 1. Bd6 Qxd6 2. b8=Q Kxb8 (Qxb8 3. Rxh7+ Ka8 (Kb6 4. Rb7+=) 4. Bb7+ Ka7 5. Bc8+) 3. Bh3+!! and perpetual on the first two ranks, if the K goes to a6/b6/c6 and voilà - we have Rh6= |
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Post by Atticus Batman on Jul 22, 2016 10:50:04 GMT
Even as Lu Kshaa handled the bomb, Belle stood to the side, watching her doppelganger's every move, even when BJ fulfilled Atticus' request to fix his shoulder and then said, "Let me have my charge blade back, and I'll seal up the room until a city work crew can come in and seal it proper-like!" BJ glanced at Belle as she stared daggers back at her, then added with a pretty pout, "It's better if I stay in Synth City - for many reasons, only one of them being my namesake! Y'all are going to have a problem bringing HER back to reality. Anywho, that is not my main reason for staying! The good folk of Synth City are going to need some help with their Creator dead and all, so maybe I can help them set up a democracy here in Synth City! I was always kind of partial to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights of the old United States of America, so maybe I can convince them to adopt them here! It would be a good start for a folk coming out of a dictatorship!"
I handed BJ her chargblade and replied with, "Here's your blade. As for you staying after we get the others out, that is your call not mine. So we will part ways once we are outside. However my opinion is that you should choose what you feel is best for you and not what you feel others would prefer you do. Now wether it be at the main gate where my Mech is waiting or at the Vigilant is up to you. However given the message you sent out i am guessing most of the city's inhabitants are at the Vigilant and in need of some sort of guidance to bring them home and from what I saw on the Vigilant's Bridge you and Kaj seem to have become quick friends, so I am sure he would prefer you tell him goodbye in person if that is the case, instead of via hailer message. "
As I said that, BJ sadly watched Vo Kshaa as he watched Belle Starr who didn't even seem to notice him, but only had eyes for BJ, and not kind ones at that. Impulsively, BJ ran over to Vo and kissed his cheek, leaning into the kiss and throwing back one foot as she did. After the kiss, she smiled warmly at him so reminiscent of the Belle Starr he had fallen in love with, but then the smile disappeared, as a serious look appeared in her blue diamond eyes and she took both his red clay colored hands in both of her pale ones. THen he and her had a whispered exchange that I tried to ignore as it wasn't my business.
After their private exchange Vo left BJ and approached Volodja to see how he could help in transporting him up the shaft. He removed the upper part of his armor and put it under Volodja's back.
"It's solid enough to keep him upright while we'll be pulling him up," Vo said, "Taf, please wrap the rope around him while I'll climb up and turn on the winch. This will be the fastest way to pull him up the shaft safe and fast."
"Someone's quick to take the lead eh?" Taffer asked but quickly added, "It's okay Vo. It's a good plan and I approve it. So let's get to work. You'll pull him from above and we'll ensure he's safe from here. Lady, you can fly next to him while we're pulling an yell if there's some danger for him."
Still naked as the day she was born, Lena Marr rushed by them saying, "Radiation is NOT good for my complexion! Bye BJ, see you in the funny papers! You got my hailer number too, so call me BGF!," Without breaking her stride, Lena pushed by Atticus as well, remarking cheerfully, "Don't have to tell me twice big guy, let's make like a tree and leave!" then glanced at Belle, adding, "Let's go Blondie - oh, and by the way, I LIKE running around naked!"
Belle laughed at that, no longer glaring at BJ but following after the nude Castithan girl out of the vault, shaking her blond tousled head as she did, stopping only to warn Atticus before continuing on her way out, "You know that synthetic girl won't last long here either, at least her organic parts, and it's clear that she's a different type of synth with real skin and I suspect other parts as well!"
I merely stated, "That is why she leaves through the hole before me, as I am in radiation resistant armor."
Just then we heard Vo from above. "He's getting worse," he quickly said, putting Volodja over his shoulder. "I'm getting him to the infirmary". He turned on Blur so that he could go faster and continued his way to the elevator.
So as soon as Vo blurred off, Attila yelled down the hole, "Alright I got this. Whose up next?" Then he and his sister proceeded to help the others up.
As everyone was going out the hole, I quickly walked over to the main door into the room, which I had entered through. At the door I closed it and activated it's radiation seals to help contain any radiation inside this room. Then I jogged back to the rope and climbed up to where BJ was working on figuring out the best way to seal the hole behind us. After we sealed off the hole, I sent her ahead to summon the elevator as I double-checked our work. Then after sealing off a hole that we had almost missed, ran to the main elevator. When I got there BJ was waiting in the open elevator for me. As we rode it up with me looking at just how much damage I had actually done to the elevator and the Synth City that we were leaving below us, I said, "Man I do leave a lot of damage in my wake don't I? Anyway I won't try to talk you out of staying if you feel it's best for you. However I meant it back there. You earned your place on my team. So you will be welcomed back whenever you want and you have Lady's and my hailer numbers. So don't be afraid to contact us if you need something. Besides in the last few years, I have learned that one can never have enough trustworthy friends and allies in this world if you want to do more than just survive."
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Post by Sandy Bell on Jul 22, 2016 15:21:57 GMT
As Sandy Bell, Volodja Uljanov, and Caprice Batman walked through the green mist, Caprice let go of both their hands saying with a mischievous smile before she disappeared in a blink of the eye and a small wave, "You adults are so much fun to watch!" "Bye Caprice," Remarked Sandy with a warm grin, then with green haired moppet gone, she embraced Volodja, kissing him passionately for fear that he too would disappear at any moment, then said, "Don't know if this was a dream or not, but thank you my champion! One thing through it all was real, and that I'm sure of: I love you Volodja - always! And THAT is what is bringing me back from the brink of death, one way or another!" Suddenly Volodja was insubstantial in her grasp,and she was suddenly jerked backwards from his grip with lightening speed as she was thrust back into her body surrounded by the relieved faces of doctors and nurses in operating room on the Vigilant. One of them said, "Her vital are stable again. She's back with us." "Damn right," Thought Sandy to herself, before falling asleep from the anesthesia again.  |
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Post by Belle Starr on Jul 22, 2016 17:06:43 GMT
Belle Starr watched. She had learned from when she awakened in Vault 111 in the Commonwealth wastelands that to survive in an environment that was alien to you, you needed to first learn all you can about it and the people you find existing in it. When she exited her sleep pod after two hundred years of forced cryogenic sleep, she left the vault, and instead of greeting the first people she saw, she hid, watching them and their actions, and it was a good thing because she found out they were raiders, so instead of killing her, she killed them first. She would later meet friendly humans, but she didn't approach them in peace until after watching them awhile too. This situation was different, as Belle was thrust into this group of strangers, these so-called Protectors, and quickly evolving circumstances would not give her a chance to sit back and evaluate them. Still what she saw so far, she liked, even though the group included a synth copy of herself, the reason for which was still unclear. The huge man in the armor who appeared to be in command, and who she was beginning to suspect was NOT a super mutant, she liked; for his straight forward talk, take control demeanor and problem solving approach to rapidly changing situations reminded her of herself as General of the Minutemen and leader of the twenty four settlements they protected. Like herself, this Atticus Batman was definitely not one to lead from behind. Belle was taking aback by the strange powers many of the group seemed to manifest, but noted that they used them to help each other, which she could appreciate. She marveled when the lanky red colored man with the mow-hawk and strange colored eyes - maybe a mutated American Indian? - literally moved past her as if she was standing still, but then using his powers to rush his wounded comrade to much needed medical help. She was amazed to see the short albino teenager float up the elevator shaft like some modern day ghost. Belle wondered if all the members of the Protectors had such powers, and whether they were some kind of superhero group like she read about in the comic books she read as a child. If so, they were her best chance to get back to The Commonwealth, her friends, and the settlements that were her responsibility. Most importantly, they might be her best bet to get back to her true love Piper Wright and their home at the Red Rocket station near Sanctuary, her first settlement and capital of sorts.  As they made their way through the devastated Synth City, Belle still picked up an assault rifled and magnum pistol from previously destroyed Synth guards as they moved along to the front door, commenting as she did to the still nude chalk white girl who held hands with the tall grim looking Frenchman, "Now I don't feel so naked!" Lena Marr smiled wickedly, replying as she thrust out to Belle an alabaster hand to shake, "Hi! Lena Marr is my name, making scrip is my game! Yeah, I better do something about my lack of clothes, for it's a mite cold where w're going." Marcel helped Lena strip the thermal uniform off a Synth Security man's corpse, which she quickly donned, while Belle watched her appreciatively and noted how tender Marcel was while helping her dress while also glaring coldly at anybody who watched, so Belle grinned thinking instinctively to herself, "Okay, a couple, a dangerous couple, and one not to be underestimated, and definitely cut from a more criminal cloth than these other Protectors!" Belle looked at each of the remaining Protectors as well, taking a first account of each. The odd looking red colored twin youngsters, eager to please but taking orders without question, seemed competent enough, but made Belle wonder if there wasn't some sort of mutated American Indian tribe on the west coast that she hadn't heard of. The only thing that bothered Belle was how the female twin furtively glanced at Belle like she knew Belle, or of Belle, and was somehow disappointed when she finally met the real thing. Then there was the strong and silent human who stood at the periphery of the group - Belle thought she heard he was called - Taffer? She imagined he was someone more comfortable in the shadows then in the harsh light of the Synth City atrium, and he reminded her of a cross between her good friend Deacon, a mystery man who may or may not be a synth, and her only living male lover, Macready, a deadly sniper and a bit of a braggart, a trait not shared by this man.  Belle followed the rest of them through the the upper base building of the synth complex until the task force regrouped outside in the frigid cold of Alaska, where she noticed that her synth counterpart who had been in the rear of the group immediately began mingling and speaking to the gathered synth throng there, calming their fears with her strong voice, but making Belle wonder why BJ's creator gave her a southern accent. Belle didn't wonder long, for her blue diamond eyes widened as she looked up seeing the huge team strato-carrier, muttering in amazement, "That rivals anything the Brotherhood of Steel has!" |
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Post by Lena Marr on Jul 22, 2016 22:16:32 GMT
Looking over the chaos caused by the mass exodus from Synth City, Lena Marr exclaimed in exasperation to Marcel Lestrange, her lover and partner in crime, "This is going to take days for the do-gooders to sort out," then gestured to the synths' hangar, "I don't have days, so how about you and me borrow some sort of jet transportation and head towards the island of Dr. Whasisname?"
While she watched BJ Starr talking to various synth citizens that were milling around in the cold, Belle Starr overheard Lena, her blue diamond eyes following Lena's gesture to the hangar, and after a second's glance at the Protectors to make sure she wasn't being watched, ducked behind a snow drift, readied her assault rifle and crept towards the hangar thinking to herself, "I've had Brotherhood of Steel training as a Knight to fly all sorts of aircraft, so I should be able to figure out one of those in the hangar! I'm betting I'm on the Northwest coast of North America, so if I then head east, then I can follow the coast south to the Commonwealth and easy-peasy, home for the holidays, whatever they may be! If I'm lucky, and I usually am, I'll find enough fuel so i don't have to stop and flight maps to confirm the way home, or at least maybe a mysterious stranger to help point the way! I'm coming home Piper, don't you and little Nat worry!"
Unbeknownst to Belle, Alfred, her EGO psyche had awakened as well, and sent her thoughts to both Atticus Batman and Vo Kshaa.
As Belle crawled to the hangar, BJ quickly entered the Vigilant, talking to and calming down the large synth crowd in the cargo bay, quickly recognizing those with leadership qualities and delegating them authority to organize the others. BJ knew she didn't really have the authority to delegate anything to anybody, but the scared synths seemed to want her direction, so she gave it. BJ then went to the bridge of the Vigilant with a heavy heart, seeing Kaj there and asking him, "I know ya'll are super busy, but can I talk to you in the conference room - I promise I'll only take a cat's whisker of your time?"
Kaj gave a quick nod of assent, then led her to the austere conference room just off the Vigilant's bridge, with BJ following the big purple giant of a bio man then closing the door behind them. When he turned with a questioning look on his face, she answered it with a big smile on her pretty freckled face and hugged him tightly, leaning into the hug and throwing one foot back girlishly as was her want, before then kissing him lightly on the cheek after breaking the hug and saying, "I'm going to stay here and help the synths get on with their lives! For some reason, with their Creator dead, they see me as the leader of the community, but I don't want that, so I'm going to set up a democracy, teach them how to run it, then - I don't know, guess see the world! Besides, with Vo and Belle back together, there's nothing but memories of what could have been with him if I stay with the Protectors, but I didn't want to just disappear without saying goodbye! I'll miss all of y'all, but you most of all, as you accepted me as me and without pretense or doubt from the beginning - not that I blame the others for their feelings, for they would have been crazy as a polecat in the desert for a month of days not to! But there's another thing I need to say... "
BJ took both of Kaj's big purple hands with both of her pale ones, leading him to a large chair in the conference room, then sitting next to him in a smaller one once he sat down before confessing, "Belle beat Dr. Faru to death with a shovel - caved her skull in and left her no face to speak of - while Dr. Faru was unconscious, unarmed and helpless, and I did... nothing to stop it! Forget Asimov's rules, which I'm supposed to follow, I watched one person kill another in cold blood and didn't lift a finger to stop it, or even felt guilty until it was all over! I could have blurred over and taken away the shovel from Belle after her first strike, or maybe even before, but I didn't and... I SHOULD have! What kind of person, even a synthetic person, am I?" Tears began to flow out of BJ's blue diamond eyes and down her pale freckled cheeks, as she bemoaned, "Furthermore, I'm patterned after Belle Starr, and if she is capable of such brutal acts, what kind of evil cahoot am I going to turn into? I know Commander Batman noticed, for he said to Belle," And BJ repeated what Atticus said as if a school girl reciting a poem by rote before a literature class "However I am sure BJ and the rest of us would still appreciate it if you lowered the daking blade as she did give up a lot to help us save you....even going against her Creator's programming in pretty much every way for that matter."
BJ's blue diamond eyes grew wider, still glistening with tears, as her lower lip and her voice trembled, "Nature or nurture, I'm messed up either way, and am destined to be some kind of Frankenstein's monster, killing willy-nilly and not caring a whit! Maybe I should just have you disassemble me now, before I do any more harm, either on purpose or by omission, like I did with poor crazy Dr. Faru!"
With that said, BJ buried her head in his burly chest, her slim shoulders shaking violently as she weeped uncontrollably knowing that he would have no comforting answer, for what person with a soul could for a soul-less robot that she now considered herself.
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Post by Kaj Oenfer on Jul 23, 2016 12:31:09 GMT
BJ took both of Kaj's big purple hands with both of her pale ones, leading him to a large chair in the conference room, then sitting next to him in a smaller one once he sat down before confessing, "Belle beat Dr. Faru to death with a shovel - caved her skull in and left her no face to speak of - while Dr. Faru was unconscious, unarmed and helpless, and I did... nothing to stop it! Forget Asimov's rules, which I'm supposed to follow, I watched one person kill another in cold blood and didn't lift a finger to stop it, or even felt guilty until it was all over! I could have blurred over and taken away the shovel from Belle after her first strike, or maybe even before, but I didn't and... I SHOULD have! What kind of person, even a synthetic person, am I?" Tears began to flow out of BJ's blue diamond eyes and down her pale freckled cheeks, as she bemoaned, "Furthermore, I'm patterned after Belle Starr, and if she is capable of such brutal acts, what kind of evil cahoot am I going to turn into? I know Commander Batman noticed, for he said to Belle," And BJ repeated what Atticus said as if a school girl reciting a poem by rote before a literature class "However I am sure BJ and the rest of us would still appreciate it if you lowered the daking blade as she did give up a lot to help us save you....even going against her Creator's programming in pretty much every way for that matter."
BJ's blue diamond eyes grew wider, still glistening with tears, as her lower lip and her voice trembled, "Nature or nurture, I'm messed up either way, and am destined to be some kind of Frankenstein's monster, killing willy-nilly and not caring a whit! Maybe I should just have you disassemble me now, before I do any more harm, either on purpose or by omission, like I did with poor crazy Dr. Faru!"
With that said, BJ buried her head in his burly chest, her slim shoulders shaking violently as she weeped uncontrollably knowing that he would have no comforting answer, for what person with a soul could for a soul-less robot that she now considered herself.
Kaj pulled BJ onto his big lap and held the crying girl close as he gently lifted her face so he could look into her eyes, as he brushed a strand of hair from her face and wiped away a couple tears. Then he said gently, "Obviously you do have a soul or you would not be so upset by everything that has happened. You are not a monster. You are BJ Starr and will be who you choose to be including my kid sister. Every sentient being is messed up in some way, so if you think you are messed up then that is just further proof that you are not a mere machine. That would also explain why you did not react at all to Belle's interaction with Faru until after it was over. You were shocked into a stunned stupor. That is a common affliction for when decent people witness some thing so traumatic. So yet more proof that you are more human than machine. Besides I know quite well those feelings and know the suicidal and self-hating thoughts lead no where good and definitely no where you want to be. So quit with this disassemble talk. Besides during my quest to become human instead of just a frankenstein monster, I have come to one very important discovery that you need to know....Destiny is not written in stone for we create our own destiny.
Now as for Belle and what you witnessed, the Belle we know and love would never do such a thing. It was never in her nature. How ever as there is proof that Faru was using programming to corrupt and brainwash Erika so I can only guess that she did some thing similar with Belle. So perhaps it is in the nature of the person she was brain washed into believing her self to be or that behavior was the best way that person learned to cope with dangerous individuals. So I would say she needs a lot of psychological help from Doctor Von Eschen when we get back to Fortress K'shaa.
As for Atticus, yes I would imagine that if he saw that, then he would just ignore it for the most part. You see, from what I understand he grew up in a place where only the strongest and most dangerous survived. Then the Pale Wars happened and he enlisted with the Votanis Collective to further insure his survival. After those wars ended in North America he became a ruthless bounty hunter only going after the worst of the worst. It always ended with their deaths. Some say he killed them as a surrogate for the one he truly hated...him self. Others think he handled justice in that way so those true monsters could not ever force others to live through the type of stuff that Atticus and others such as Lena had to. I am not sure either way but would surmise that it is a little of both. So if he did nothing to stop Faru's death then he obviously felt she was beyond help or redemption but I do not know as I was not there and did not witness what all of you did. So I can not say either way.How ever I have seen that he has grown a lot since joining the Protectors and even more since becoming our leader and it is for the better.
Concerning what he said about you, I do not think he meant it bad. I certainly do not think it sounds bad. It sounds like he meant that you chose to ignore your programming and stand up to her to protect those that she was hurting or threatening to hurt.
You choosing to stay here to help the others of your race set up a democracy and teach them how to run it is more proof that you are a decent person and again doing some thing that Faru would be against for you are given the people control of their lives and she was the type that believed in having control of every body around her. So that is even more proof that you are a decent caring young woman and I am VERY proud to call you sister.
I will miss you very much but we all must follow our own hearts and do what we think is needed to get to the destiny that we are trying to create for ourselves, and not let others discourage us. Doctor Von Eschen and Belle Starr both taught me that when I wanted my life ended and I feel that they were and still are right about it.
I accepted you as you because it is the right thing to do and I had no reason to doubt your honest sincerity. Besides you did not see me as any thing but an odd colored human and I appreciate that since most see me as a Bio-man first and foremost. Yes you are a young woman lost in a sea of doubt but we have all been there at one point but every living being must strive to rise above that sea if they are to truly be alive and in control of who they want to be. Do not forget that.
Also do NOT forget my hailer number and DO NOT forget to call me and let me know how you are doing or I will get worried about my kid sister. I will be looking forward to those calls and to the day that I will be graced with your presence once again. So do not stay gone for ever BJ."
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on Jul 24, 2016 10:35:34 GMT
"I am kind of glad that things went in the way they went," stated Marcel Lestrange. "Although we have to take a premature leave, I see that soil is taken care of so the seeds we planted may grow. Mademoiselle Belle's actions were impressive and they open some future opportunities for us. If you want to know how they do that, my precious Honey Pot, then I will explain. At moment Mademoiselle Belle is not exactly her old self, but if she regains features of her old personality, then there might be confusion and guilt for killing defenceless woman... These good doers probably do not realize that it was the best thing what might happen to Faru. If she could live, then rest of her life would have been boiling in her own misery. By giving her a coup de grâce, Mademoiselle Belle showed great mercy towards Faru. Her end was better than she deserved. And people who lack something in their life - like confidence or pleasure or being satisfied with themselves - are much easier to manipulate with. With few exceptions. So let us hope that Mademoiselle Belle's and Mademoiselle BJ-s present emotional conditions remain to be more or less stable. And by stability I mean being constantly confused and guilt ridden. I also like the fact that good old Volodja interfered when Skarr tried to eliminate me from behind. Not only because he protected my back and enabled me to rescue not only you, my Love, but also our possible future investment - Mademoiselle BJ. I appreciate that Volodja also got temporarily disabled as a consequence of his foolishly gallant deed, so he can not interfere by trying to make things better for Mademoiselle Belle or BJ. We can offer redemption and helping hand to them. For a price of course. So I believe that we can concentrate on important things now, like finding doctor Todt and convincing him to cure you, and catch those unfortunate souls. What do think about that, Honey Pot? Shall we make at least one of those two girls to sign a contract of selling her soul after we return from the island of Dr. Euthanasius if you have not changed your mind?"  |
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