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Post by Chase Lonehart on Jun 27, 2016 1:42:53 GMT
Again, Iri found herself in a room with no clock and a sheet between her and Chase after having his flesh pressed against hers. She had awaken to the sound slumber of her human after they finally got back to the DUGG, to which she took a few moments to watch as he slept. She knew they were lucky due to the fact that they both were there and their relationship appearing to be stronger than ever, despite actions taken. She decided to wake him up, her hand finding their way into his underwear and caressing his manhood. Like one of the few mornings, he was already erect and she began to wake him up. After that, time had ceased to be a concept for her and didn’t return until much later, and both she and Chase were exhausted. She found her hailer, checking the clock on it to discover it was about five minutes until noon, a few days with no clear definition on how many had passed. Well, I can think of worst ways of losing time, she thought to herself. The cool air tickled her skin as she pulled the sheet away from her and stood. She took a moment to stretch, which was followed by a rather impressive yawn. She exited out of the room, taking a moment to head to the bathroom and shower. She stood under the warm water as it spewed from the shower head, carefully patting herself with a rag as a means of cleaning herself. Iri followed the same procedure when it came to drying off, pulling on her civilian clothing instead of her Arkhunter outfit. She picked up the keys to the Challenger, Chase turning to look at her. “What’s going on?” he asked, his voice slightly slurred from being tired. “Going to get us lunch from the Crater and restock on groceries,” she told him. “I won’t be long.” She moved over and kissed the hair on the verge of the bare skin to his forehead. He hummed at her as she walked away. “Hurry back,” he told her, turning back over onto his side. There was an old misconception that Indogenes couldn’t whistle, which was one of those odd things that humans believed. But had there been someone in the passenger seat of that Orange Hemi powered vehicle, they would have gotten an ear full of whistling as a means of disproving the misconception. Iri hadn’t felt so happy before, even taking a side trip to Top-Notch Toolworks first before continuing on to the Crater. She had put in a request for an EGO unit, which Rosa explained would have to take some time since they were recently out, buying a dozen fresh eggs from one of the farmers at the end of the ramp. She ordered a lark rack of ribs, a six pack of Defiance beer and then picked up some fresh produce at one of the farms on her way back to the DUGG. She found Chase sitting at the table in the dining area, him with several scraps of paper and a pen. He turned his head up to see her as she approached. “Welcome back,” he told her with a smile. “Thank you,” she replied. “What are you writing?” “Just running through what I remember what my Dad did to set up the historical salvage group. I’m going to have to approach Ara Shondu with a proposal on backing the group. I know I’ve got over a million scrip, but by having her involved because it could help out with the Bay. It could help this place to grow like how Freedom did.” Iri opened the door to the fridge, expecting to find the expired produce that had been in there for the month she was in the coma and Chase was in the desert. She was surprised to not find any of it in the fridge. “I cleaned it out while you were away,” he told her. “Thank you,” she responded as she began to put the items into the fridge. She looked over her shoulder at him, seeing he had turned back to writing. “I went to Top-Notch to see about getting an EGO unit. Erin and Rosa will let me know when they find one. I figured it’s time for me to get one, as its beneficial.” “That’s good,” Chase replied, looking at her. “That reminds me, when we were in the bunker, I saw my parents again. They told me that they weren’t hallucinations, but EGO personalities developed from my memories of them. It sounds like something out of a story I may have read as a child.” “Actually,” Iri interjected. “It is possible for such things to occur, especially involving the programming of an EGO unit. A significant percentage of EGO units are based off of pre-existing personalities. There’s even the likelihood that McCoy is a copy of a pre-existing person, as EGO units are known to copy personalities and memories of their host. This was often useful during the Pale Wars by the EMC to recover data from a dead soldier, and even more so Von Bach Industries for newly manufactured EGO units. However, I’ve never heard of two personalities developing into an EGO unit that already has a pre-existing personality installed.” Iri finished putting the groceries up, moving over to him. “They said something about checking the root directory of the EGO unit to confirm it,” he told her. After completing putting away the groceries, she retrieved a scanner to access the EGO unit. She accessed the root directory, and was quite surprised. What Chase had told her was in fact true. She noticed the allocated portion that was dedicated to housing the EGO personality, and found that there were three in there. “So, I’m not losing my mind?” Chase asked her. “Fortunately, you’re not. Somehow, the EGO unit developed two more personalities from your memories of your parents. The drawback from what I can see of this is that due to them developing, as well as your EGO unit also serving as a bypass to the damaged part of your brain and for your other abilities, there’s the likelihood of your EGO abilities being bogged down if McCoy attempted to use them.” “That’s confusing. I mean, I know there’s Arkhunters that have been known to have multiple personalities in one EGO unit.” “Again, your parents EGO personalities weren’t developed the same way that McCoy was. They formed on their own. And, like I also mentioned, your EGO unit is already doing double duty by bypassing the damaged portion of your brain. The programming for that does take up a significant amount of space, which would cause McCoy to slow down when trying to use all functions due to these circumstances. They are, essentially, resource hogs and unless they delete themselves, they’re taking up functions that McCoy typically handles. The best solution to that, from what I know, is to possibly have all three EGO personalities handle various functions instead of McCoy trying to handle everything else.” “Great,” Chase concluded. “Always wanted more voices in my head.” They had gotten to work on eating lunch, silence between them with the exception of the biting into cooked meat and the sipping of the beer, and the occasional lip smack as they chewed and sucking from having to lick their fingers of the juices from the meat. She found it difficult to start a topic when all she could think about was ravaging him once again after they were done with their meal. Iri figured that the lunch break would be enough for Chase to regain enough stamina for more action. After finishing, they began to do the dishes with Chase washing and Iri wiping. Iri wanted nothing more than to go back to the bedroom with Chase in tow, strip him of his clothes once more and have her way with him. But as they completed cleaning the dishes, Chase moved back over to the table, pulling out the scraps of paper from his pocket and continued to scribble down notes. She was confused. “Hey, no working,” she told him. “We’re on break, remember?” “I know,” he replied, not looking up from the notes. “But I figured as soon as I get this down and pitch to Ara Shondu, the sooner it’s out of the way and you and I are back on resting easy street.” “Chase, we agreed, this was a period of rest. No work.” “I know, honey, but let me do this and get it out of the way, and I’ll be yours for as long as we need.” Iri began to feel that anger broiling under her calm exterior once more, the feeling that she had that lead her to sleep with Rynn. She couldn’t figure out why Chase’s simple and rather logical request pissed her off as much as his reaction to being told about how she was sharing info about their sex life to Eren, brought so much anger out from inside. Was it something he was saying? Something he was doing? Or maybe not saying or not doing? It was a question that still reverberated within the skin and bones of the Indogene, a question with an answer that didn’t seem clear to her. But it boiled her silver blood for reasons unknown and couldn’t help but ask herself why with no answer to resolve it. She still felt the keys to the Challenger in her pocket, coming to a decision. She turned and headed out towards the main entrance. “I’m going out.” ——————————————— She spent most of the time driving around the Bay, trying to clear her head. Night had fallen and she found herself at the Crater again. Iri found herself a seat at the bar, her head propped up in one hand and her finger swirling around the rim of the glass that housed her bourbon. Unlike before, the Crater was alive with activity, Arkhunters and patrons of the Bay in for the dinnertime crowd. Iri picked up the glass and took a sup, feeling so much out of place than everyone else at the moment. Just when she thought things were going to be okay, something happens and she feels something out of place with Chase. Why is it that you hate him like this? she asked herself. And for something so simple. It makes sense that if he gets it out of the way, so he could spend more time with you and without the interruptions. Why is it so difficult?Iri kicked herself for her reaction, feeling foolish about her feelings like that. Chase didn’t do anything wrong, and yet she hated him for how he acted to something minor and reacted to something also so minor. And thing were worse that she fell right back into that feeling once again for reasons beyond herself. She never acted this way before she had met Chase, and yet now she’s acting like this around him, just when she had finally gotten him back. Maybe you have some sort of psychological disorder, she thought to herself. But then again, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of an Indogene suffering from bipolar disorder. And knowing my luck, I’d probably be the first one diagnosed with it.Iri felt around her outfit, trying to find a cigarette to smoke. But she recalled in her haste to leave the DUGG, she had forgotten to grab her cigarettes, which sat on the side table of the bed. Iri wasn’t ready to go back for them. “Scotch,” her ears caught the sound of a woman’s voice with a rather thick accent to her right. “A double.” Iri looked over at the woman who stood about three chairs down away from her. This woman was a rather attractive human female, wearing a rather stylish red dress, a clear indication she wasn’t an Arkhunter. She had long black hair that stopped just below her shoulder blades, her frame rather thin and less buxom than Iri was. But what surprised her the Indogene was how pale the woman’s skin was, almost as pale as a Castithan or a corpse. But what drew her attention the most was how vibrate red her lips were against the color of her skin. Even the red outfit she sported, which looked more like a business outfit than a “surviving in the Bay” outfit, was dull in comparison to the color of red of her lips. The woman took notice of Iri looking at her, which the Indogene figured that it was best to ask. “Do you have a cigarette?” The woman looked at her a moment, as if contemplating her next move in addition to looking Iri up and down. She began to move over to Iri, sliding her glass along the wooden bar until she got to the seat next to her. The woman had retrieved cigarette from an old leather cigarette case, using a butane lighter to ignite the stick for her. In the far background, the jukebox of the Crater kicked on, playing a rather old and disturbing song, though Iri wasn't paying attention to it, let alone what the song was about. She was interested in this woman in her midst, someone who seemed to stand out of place even more than Iri did. But she wasn't one to judge. She liked the company. “Thank you,” she told the human. “You’re welcome.” Iri noted the accent that came from her. Since the Indogenes had studied the languages of Earth as they approached it so that they could communicate, Iri was certain that the accent was Romanian, but couldn’t be sure. “Where are you from?” Iri asked. “I’m curious about that accent of yours.” “I was born in the shadow of the Carpathian Mountains,” she told her. “Near the Black Sea. A long time ago.” “What’s your name?” “Carmilla,” she replied, extended her hand. “Carmilla Le Fanu.” Iri shook her hand, noting how her finger nails were well manicured. “Iri Sewuel. What brings you out to the Bay?” “I’m looking for my brother,” she turned away, taking a moment to take a sip from her scotch. “I haven’t seen him in ages. I’m a little nervous.” “How so?” “He hates me,” she admitted. “If given the chance, he would destroy me.” This brought a bit of a chuckle out of her, as she couldn’t help but recall her strained relationship with her sister at the moment. “Talk about sibling rivalry. I sort of know that feeling. So, are you still living in Carpathia?” “No. I relocated to a settlement in the Storm Divide for the past few years, East of AngelArc. I’m only here to honor my father’s wishes.” Iri noticed the sad look in her the woman’s eyes as she sat there, her index finger playing around with the ice inside her cup. “You don’t seem happy,” Iri noted. “My relationship to my father was… strained, to say the least. Now that he’s dead, I can’t help but still feel him lingering. It’s like he’s always there, at the corner of my eye. But I turn to look and he’s not there. I hated him, just as much as I am sure he hated me and my brother. For years, he pretended we didn’t exist.” Carmilla pulled out a cigarette and lit it, taking a deep and long drag before slowly expelling it from her lungs. “So, you have a strained relationship with your brother, too?” she asked. “No,” Iri replied. “My sister. It’s because I had sex with a male she was involved with. She didn’t like that I did that. It was before the Pale Wars. I haven’t spoken to her since. But now, I’m out here. I’m in a relationship with a human man. And for the life of me, I can’t understand why I love and hate him at the same time. And it would be over something so simple and stupid, and I even realize that. But for some reason, I keep finding it, as you humans say, “riding my nerves.” I just don’t know why.” “You see there?” Carmilla asked her. “How you dredge up the primary pain? You don’t let it sink in. You don’t allow it to soak through the foundation. You don’t allow it to go into the soil and allow it to taint the water supply. Your poisoned. Your relationship is poisoned. You dare to dredge up the primary pain.” “But I don’t understand why.” “You don’t have to. You allow the pain to run free, you don’t allow it to bog you down. I myself do the same thing. I’m not afraid of anything or anyone. And when it comes to pain, I occasionally feel it. But not as much as I used to. I don’t have that much to lose to feel pain of.” “That sounds horrible,” Iri replied as she finished off her drink, motioning to the barkeeper for another one. ————————————— She awoke to find herself on the hood of the Challenger as the sky was a dark blue and on the verge of sunrise. Iri couldn’t remember how she ended up on her Challenger, let alone where she drove it, finding it near an area near the KTAM radio, overlooking the building that had once been, as they said, “Home of Rock and Roll in the Bay.” She drew a blank as to what happened between the Crater and where she was now, let alone how much time had passed. She found the sleeve of her left arm pushed up, almost to her elbow, but more exposing some of her forearm. Iri was confused, as she didn’t recall drinking too much. She always limited her drinking to three glasses at most unless she was off in how she felt. She was pissed at Chase, but not enough to drink herself into a stupor, let alone make the same mistake she did that lead to sleeping with Rynn. I couldn’t have been too drunk, she thought to herself. My clothes are still on.Then the thought crossed her mind that she hadn’t been home in a while, and Chase must have been worried. She pulled her sleeve back down and slid off the hood of the Challenger, she flopped into the driver seat, cranking the engine. She took off, trying to get back to the DUGG before dawn. —————————————— Little did Iri know that across Paradise, near the vicinity of Iron Demon ranch, laid the dead body of an Irathient man, dressed in a business suit. His body had been backing in the sun for a few days. When Cooper was called out after the corpse was discovered, he waited for Eren Niden to come out and examine the body. He could have sworn he saw something that looked like a bite mark on the corpse’s chest, but waited until Eren arrived to confirm it. |
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Post by Chase Lonehart on Jul 18, 2016 5:29:18 GMT
Iri had pulled up to the Golden Gate, setting the kill switch for the car as the sun risen slowly over the horizon. For some odd reason, her eyes began to hurt as she climbed down to the entrance and finally entered the DUGG . She had found Chase sitting at the table with a cup of coffee in his hand. He looked up, glad to see her. He threw his arms around her, holding her. She had never felt so comfortable in his arms.
“I’m sorry,” he told her.
“It’s okay. It wasn’t you.”
“I didn’t lead you to sleep with someone else again, did I?”
“No, just drunk. Didn’t have much fun.”
Iri was feeling a bit groggy, despite waking up from being passed out only a half an hour before. She figured that it had some to do with the amount of alcohol she may have consumed.
“I’m going to get some sleep,” she told him.
“Do you want me to stay?” he asked her. “I’ll stay if you want me to.”
“No. Go do your thing, my love. I’ll be here.”
She pulled free from him and made her way to their room. Without removing a stitch of her outfit, she plopped front first onto the bed, not sure why she felt so sleepy at that moment. But then she didn’t care about it, nor held consciousness long enough to think about it. Chase, however, just stood there for a moment, not sure if she was serious about him going to do the pitch to Ara Shondu or stay. He was completely conflicted, but chose to head out. The last thing he wanted was for her to blame herself for him holding back from doing things. As soon as he got this first hurdle done, then he could get back to her without any problems and without any more distractions.
—————————————
“And that’s it,” he told Ara Shondu. “Basically, by starting the group here, we can get an influx of cash to put into projects in the Bay. This could also include the founding of a township.”
Ara took a sip from the cup of tea in her hand as she processed the proposal Chase had made to her. He was sure that she would agree, but he knew she still had her reservations.
“It’s a rather interesting proposal, Mister Lonehart.” she told him. “But funding such a group at this time would be impossible for me.”
“That’s why I’ll be funding the group,” he told her. “All you’ll be doing is agreeing to allow us permission to work for you and the Bay. You incur none of the risk and you reap the benefits. You said it yourself, you did the research on me. And you’ve probably seen how well things went with Freedom. It’s still standing and thriving from the items recovered from the underground. My father made this deal with the Mayor years ago. Look how far it’s come. That’s what we will do here. It’s time the Bay became more than just a place for farmers. It should become more.”
“And you’re willing to risk your own personal savings for this? For the Bay to get a new start?”
Chase nodded. “Society evolves. It’s about time we start evolving out here in the Bay.”
He could see her processing the information, before she began nodding.
“I agree with your proposal,” she told him. “Where are you going to begin?”
“Where I began with you out here,” he told her. “The Best Buy where I got those Farscape DVDs for you. I remember where it is. And I sealed the breach I made to get into it. All we need is a crew, a Cerberus, an office and a storage area. I plan on talking to Rosa and Eren about renting two of their rooms at Top-Notch. There’s still at least three million scrip in merchandise still down there. Like I said, we split the profits fifty-fifty on every historical salvage we do, you get at least one and a half million scrip to do with what you want for projects in the Bay. The other half will go to me and my group, to cover the costs of renting the rooms at Top-Notch, vehicle cost, fuel and work performed. We handle the risk, the Bay gets the reward.”
“I’m willing to cover your rental costs at Top-Notch,” she said as she took a sip from the cup once again. “Especially since this is a mutual agreement that benefits everyone out here. I’ve also got someone I think you should meet, as he seems like he can probably benefit your group. I’ll set up the interview for you in a couple of hours at the Crater. He’s a Texan, but he came across my desk because he’s a man who keeps himself organized and he tried to apply to work with me despite me not having any positions open. He goes by the name of Vick Turner. I’ll squawk your hailer if the meet is on.”
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Chase waited at the Crater after Ara Shondu squawked his hailer in mid-route. Chase decided to take the booth in the far corner away from the door, waiting for this Texan that she told him about. He decided to hold off on getting something to eat, as he was going to get meals to go like Iri did the day before. He didn’t feel well about leaving her at the DUGG by herself, though she insisted that he go. But as soon as he can get these details done, he could then get back to Iri and get back to things being quiet for a bit. Yet, there was something that seemed off about everything that he couldn’t place. It was like something had snuck in through a backdoor of the Bay, something really dangerous, and no one has realized it yet. He couldn’t figure it, even in the middle of the lunch crowd that formed. For some odd reason, he thought of the song “Disturbia” by Rihanna, the lyrics of “it’s a thief in the night to come and grab you.” Chase shook it from his head as he took a sip of non-alcoholic beer, waiting for this Texan to arrive.
It was then there was a commotion at the bar that caught his attention. Chase noticed a rather muscle bound farmer in overalls, practically tall enough to be able to hold his own against a Bioman, holding a scrawny young man by the collar of his shirt. Chase couldn’t help but notice the confused look on his face, it seeming to remind him of a movie he saw a long time ago. He squirmed and thrashed, whining in fear.
“You little shit!” the muscle-bound farmer screamed at him. “You ate my sandwich!”
“Hey!”
Chase turned towards the direction of the front doors, seeing another young man, apparently a few years older than the young man at the bar, came charging in at full speed, prying the younger man from the farmer’s grip.
“Sir, I’m sorry,” he told the farmer. “We haven’t had anything to eat in days, and he’s a bit messed up in the head.”
“I’ll mess up his head even more,” the farmer said with a smirk.
Chase couldn’t help but stand up, moving towards the situation.
“Maybe I can be of assistance,” he said to all three of them. He pulled out his scrip chip, holding it up in between his fingers and catching the Barkeeper’s attention. “Get this man another sandwich. And give these two whatever they want. It’s on me.”
“I don’t want another sandwich!” the farmer yelled right into Chase’s ear. “I want to fuck this little shit up for taking something that wasn’t his!”
Chase noticed the younger of the two hiding behind the other. And the farmer pretty much made his intentions clear. So, Chase decided to make his. With only fifty percent of power, his mechanical right hand latched onto the farmer’s sack and squeezed. This brought the hulk of a man down to his knees, Chase not letting go.
“Take the jekkin’ sandwich asshole,” Chase muttered as he stared the farmer in the face. “Either that or I rip off your balls and feed them to you!”
“OKAY! OKAY!”
Chase let go of the farmer’s sack and he fell the rest of the way to the floor, nursing his pair with both hands and groaning in pain. Chase stood there, watching the farmer for a moment until the big man was able to get up and hobble out of the Crater without any help. Chase turned back to the two young men who were still there. Chase thumbed the chip to the barkeeper, who caught it barely looking at it.
“Whatever they want,” Chase repeated.
“Excuse me?”
Chase turned towards the direction of the door, spotting an Irathient male, with a sleeveless button-up shirt, tan and baggy pants and boots. This Irathient also sported a black ten-gallon hat.
“I’m looking for Mister Lonehart,” the Irathient spoke with a heavy accent that reminded him of Belle.
“That’s me,” Chase replied. “Please, join me good sir, at the booth in the corner.”
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Post by Chase Lonehart on Jul 30, 2016 6:27:46 GMT
Iri awoke two hours later after arriving back to the DUGG, feeling somewhat better. She took a quick shower and figured she'd get a lift to Top-Notch, as she knew Chase would end up there eventually. As she made her way out of the DUGG, her eyes began to hurt her like they had when she had gotten tot the bridge. The pain wasn't like it felt when your eyes were dried out, but more of a stinging sensation she hadn't encountered before. She slipped her head into her helmet, which somehow stopped the stinging.
Must be something in the air in this area, she thought. Maybe some sort of allergic reaction to something? Odd.
She made her climb to the bridge and walked to Bug'n'Chug, where she hoped to catch a ride with someone heading in the direction of the place. She got a ride from a rather buxom Castithan woman, wearing a T-shirt and a pair of shorts that looked as if they had been modified to be shorter than they already were. Iri rode in the gray and blue camo Nomad, ignoring the Castithan behind the wheel and the odd choice of colors for camouflage for the vehicle. But, as they arrived at Top-Notch, Iri thanked the driver and gave her a hundred scrip for her troubles before heading inside. She made her way up the winding incline until she was in the main work area of the building. Iri expected to find Chase there already, talking to Rosa about his plan and negotiating a deal. But her human wasn't there yet.
"Hello again, Iri," she heard Eren's voice, which drew her attention to the table near the door.
Iri found Eren Niden performing some sort of autopsy on the body of an Irathient man, what appeared to be the man's clothes crumpled up on the floor at her feet. Iri moved over to Eren, looking at the body laying on the table before them.
"Hello Eren. Has Chase arrived here?"
"No. Should we be expecting him?"
"Chase is trying to start up his historical salvage crew here in the Bay. He wants to discuss renting a couple of rooms here at Top-Notch."
"Is that so?" Eren replied as she picked up her charge scalpel. "That sounds interesting. I hired him a while back to recover some post-arrival, pre-war interspecies pornography as a birthday gift for Rosa. You know, the kind that was made before cross species sex became common as it was now. He delivered as promised, though he had to take a rather sizable hit from the porn data Belle Starr pulled from an Arkfall. Glad to see he's getting back into it, considering how difficult its becoming to find Arkfalls after the New York attack."
Iri nodded, not really taking much into account as she spotted what appeared to be a bite mark on the dead man's chest. It was a peculiar bite for sure. It had the same same placing of teeth like that of a human, yet the punctures appeared to all be equally sharp enough to pierce the skin. But the thing that made her a bit unsettled was the condition of the body itself. It's dark skin looked as if it were stretched over a skeleton with barely much registration of muscle between the skin and bone. It reminded her of mummified remains of pharaohs she had seen on a TV broadcast years ago back before the Votans arrived.
"What do you have here?" Iri asked.
"Cooper was informed of this dead body near Iron Demon Ranch. I'm about to do an autopsy on him."
"Since I'm waiting on Chase, and he'll be talking with Rosa when he gets here, do you need some assistance?"
"Yes, please," Eren replied. "I have some blood and fluid samples over there on the station that needs to be prepped for analysis. That is if you're okay with it."
Iri only nodded, proceeding to place the helmet against the wall near the station, the samples in vials resting on top of the lit as it sat in its down position. Iri began to get to work on prepping the samples, holding up one of the vials of blood. She couldn't figure out why, but there was something about blood in general that seemed odd to her when she was first assigned to a research facility to study wildlife on Daribo years before the Arks were done being built. It was so odd that such a liquid would be able to transport the things needed to make life possible to every cell in a body. As she looked at the blood in the vial, it looked almost as if it wasn't like blood to her. It reminded her of this rather sweet liquid that was available in the Indogene cities of Daribo. She shook the thought out of her head, wondering why she had such an odd thought about that liquid now. She continued to get the samples prepped, focusing on getting them done as Eren started to make the cut.
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Chase had finished his interview with Vick Turner, surprised by this Texan and his can-do spirit. He had everything that Chase knew he needed for a second in command. Chase had entered his hailer frequency into Turner's hailer before he took off. Chase shook his hand.
"I've got a feeling this is the start of a good partnership," Turner told him.
Chase looked over at the two young men that he had helped out earlier. He nodded in their direction.
"First task for you is to see if you can find these two a place to stay around here," Chase told him. "I may be hiring these two as well."
"Are you sure about that?" Turner asked him. "I mean, that younger one seems... Well... Have you ever heard of the movie {i]Rain Man[/i]?"
"Yes, I get it. And I'm sure. Get to work, partner. Let me know when you found somewhere."
Turner nodded at him before heading for the door and out of view. Chase headed over tot he bar, settling up next to the older brother. The younger one continued to chew away at his sandwich, a glass of water sitting next to his plate. The older one appeared to have already finished his meal, which looked to have included baked beans and steak going from the juices left on the plate. The older brother, Chase noticed, seemed rather handsome, kind of reminding Chase of the guy who played Ward from that old Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. show, but with a better haircut. The younger brother, looked a little bit like him, but his jaw was cocked to side, his hair shorter and a scar that started from his cheek bone and reached up into the brown bush that was his hair.
"Y'all enjoy your meals?" Chase asked him.
"Yes, sir," he older brother told him. "I swear, the moment we get any money, I will repay you for this meal. Scouts honor."
"You were an Eagle Scout?"
"Yeah, when I was younger, sometime after the war ended. You?"
"No," Chase replied. "We didn't have them in our town. My name is Chase Lonehart, Arkhunter and historical salvage expert."
Chase extended his right hand, to which the brother took and shook.
"I'm Darren Crosby," the older brother replied, motioning with his head over to the younger brother as he continued to eat. "This one of here is Collin. Say hello to Mister Lonehart, Collin."
"Hello, Mister Lonehart," he spoke, it reminded Chase of how children often do.
"Nice to meet the both of you, Darren and Collin. Where are y'all from?"
"New York," Darren told him.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up a sore subject."
"It's okay. We came out here, hoping to find work maybe at the mines."
"Not the best idea," Chase told him. "You see, Varus, the rat that owns the mines, typically short-changes his employees. And handling everything from Volge to 99ers isn't worth what he's offering."
"Well, what else is there?"
"I'm starting a historical salvage crew out here in the Bay. The job is just as dangerous as mine work, but the reward is much greater."
"What's historical salvage?"
"We recover pre-war artifacts from buildings and places swallowed up by terraforming. It pays out a lot better than arkhunting, for sure. And everyone will be clammering for whatever arkfalls are left from the remains of the arkbelt. This way, you get more cash to sustain you and your brother."
"Would you be okay with Collin working for you as well?" Darren asked. "Believe it or not, he's good with numbers. He can memorize numbers like you couldn't believe. He's also good at judging distance and is pretty good at short-ranged weapons, especially a semi-auto machine gun. I promise, I'll keep an eye on him while doing so."
Chase looked at the younger brother once more, as he was drinking his glass of water to wash down the food he had just finished.
"I'll have to give him a test run some time," Chase told Darren. "But so far, he's on a probation period until I can see him in action. You got yourself a deal, Mister Crosby. Right now, I have my second in command, Vick Turner, looking for a place for you to hang your hats. I've got another piece of business to attend to. So, if y'all are eating, join me on the trip to Top-Notch."
"Top-Notch? What's that?"
"You'll see."
The barkeep handed Chase back his scrip chip, to which he pocketed it.
"How much?" he asked the barkeep.
"Twenty-two, seventeen," Collin replied as he sat the empty glass down and followed it with a large belch.
Chase looked over at the barkeep, who nodded at him to let him know that the math was right.
"Well," Chase said. "That is a useful talent you got there. I almost forgot, Barkeep, two Pow sandwiches and sweet potato fries to go."
Chase handed the scrip chip back. He looked at Darren, who was confused.
"My girlfriend may not be happy with me not bringing food," he told him.
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Post by Belle Starr on Aug 4, 2016 16:24:07 GMT
Outside her little blue trailer next door to The Crater, Belle Starr's pale brow furrowed as she stared at the car keys Vo Kshaa had put into her hands. In her mind, she had not driven a motor vehicle in over 200 years, and wasn't a very good driver even then. In her memory of a time before the nuclear Great War, she had even hit a tree with the family SUV while backing out of her home's driveway. Now she was expected to drive to Topnotch Tool Works, wherever that was. She sighed, shaking her blond head as she walked into The Crater to get both instructions and a beer from the friendly bartender there who, like everybody else it seemed in the Bay Area, knew her although she didn't know them.
While in cryogenic sleep, Belle's memory of The Crater, the bartender, her evidently significant other, Vo Kshaa, and everybody and everything in the Bay Area had been replaced with a false set of memories of a fictional and very different post-apocalyptic world by a madwoman with a vendetta against Belle. Unfortunately for Belle, that left her with a lack of any real knowledge of Paradise and its surroundings, and a false but very real belief of a family and home she no longer had and was only beginning to realize never existed. She missed her common law wife Piper Wright. She missed Piper's kid sister, who she had adopted as her own child. She missed her lovers, Cait, Macready, and the synth, Curie. She missed her dog and robot butler. She even missed her responsibilities as the leader of twenty-three colonies and as the commanding General of the Minutemen. Now with all of that gone, or never existed, although she had trouble accepting that it was the latter, she needed to find her way in this reality at this time, for Belle was in all realities a survivor.
"Break some eggs, make an omelet," Thought Belle as she slipped into the driver's seat of the White Challenger after getting directions to Topnotch from the friendly bartender.
Belle was headed to Topnotch Toolworks to ask for a job; an important first step to re-establishing herself in this reality. Evidently in this reality, like the one she had memories of, she was a well known adventurer and a leader in the community, with a plethora of friends and family - none of whom she would recognize now. One of them was a man named Chase Lonehart, whom in this reality she evidently had a long history of friendship with, but which she had no memory of at all. The friendly bartender at the Crater revealed to her when she was having a drink with Vo Kshaa there that Chase Lonehart was forming a "historical salvage" crew, and she thought the name made the job self evident: You go into old sites, surrounded by unknown dangers, grab what loot might be valuable, and come out again in one piece - hopefully! Such a job always needed security, to watch the backs of those doing the searching, and such a job was right up her ally.
Whatever reality Belle existed in, she had wicked skills. In the reality she had memories of, she was an expert marksmen with pistol and rifle, with the quick mind of a true troubleshooter. Belle found that to be true in this reality as well, with the additional plus of a working EGO unit that gave her special powers and the minus of a repressed Volge Were-beast deep within her. She was quickly learning how to operate the EGO implant and the cyborg rig that went with it, and had confidence in herself that if and when her inner beast raised it's ugly head, she would be able to handle it.
Belle thought about all this as she winded her way through the worn Bay Area highways to Topnotch Toolworks, grateful that there were few other vehicles on the road, with the only fatalities along the way being a few hellbug skitterlings that decided to cross the road at the wrong time and at the wrong place. However, when she got to Topnotch, her blue diamond eyes grew wide and a look of consternation crossed her beautiful freckled face as she beheld the tightly winding ramp that led up to where the building actually clung precariously high on a cliff. Belle shook her blond tresses slowly in disbelief, before muttering, "Fuck this," then parked the car below, locking and setting it's traps before making the long walking trek up the ramp. When she got there, she saw an attractive dark haired women working with a wrench under the hood of a black Durango, vehemently cursing at it in Spanish.
Belle waited until the expletives became fewer in number, then asked in her rich Bostonian accent, "Excuse me. I understand that Chase Lonehart is hiring here. I'm Belle Starr and I'm looking for employment. May I see him?"
The pretty Hispanic woman looked up and grinned, her big brown eyes clearly showing she recognized Belle, although Belle didn't recognize her, and Belle realized she must have been briefed on Belle's story from what she said next as the woman shook her hand, "Belle, it's good to have you back," Then yelled to one her mechanics, "George, go tell Chase that Belle Star is here to see him - the real Belle Starr! Andale!"
Belle realized that the Bay Area, like her own Commonwealth, was like a small town where news traveled fast. However, she also saw it as an opportunity, for if this young woman knew her from before her deep sleep and knew her situation now, maybe she could give Belle some insight as to who she was before, so she asked, "Okay it's obvious you know me, Miss...?"
"Sorry, forgot my manners! Papa would not be happy with me. Rosa Rodriguez," Said Rosa, a wide grin on her pretty brown face as she held out her hand which Belle readily shook, then the grin disappeared, "So it's true, you don't remember anything?
Belle laughed melodically, then replied with a warm smile, "I remember everything perfectly, just nothing about this reality or anyone or anything here, past or present! I still feel I'm me, and have the same skills I learned in this life, but that's about it! Otherwise, I remember a whole different Earth, one without aliens but just as screwed up from war! Figures, right, I couldn't have just dreamed up a heaven-like Utopia to live in!" A serious look crossed Belle's pale face as her smile faded when she asked, "However, maybe you can help me? I read the unauthorized biography some journalist wrote about me, but it read more like fiction than non-fiction, a diary in my handwriting I don't remember writing, and the official files the Bay Area Protectors had on me at Fortress Kshaa, but what... what was I really like? I mean... as a person?"
"That book was a lot of crap, although the basic facts were true," Replied Rosa with a laugh, her big brown eyes locked on to Belle's blue ones, clearly pondering each of her next words, "You cared for what you called the innocents, and you did, as the author wrote, patrol the highways and byways of Paradise protecting them with your EGO powers, but..."
When Rosa hesitated, Belle quickly interceded saying, "Go ahead, tell me the bad with the good!"
Rosa sighed, then remarked with a hint of resignation in her voice, "Okay, you did me a solid by helping me track down my Papa's killer so I could kill him, so I owe you. You might not remember, but I do. To tell the truth... you were just TOO good! You were so damn idealistic, talking about law and order coming to Paradise and better times because of it all the time, and always seeing the good in others, no matter how bad they were, and wanting to talk things out with strangers rather than shoot first and ask questions later like most of us do in the wasteland! That could really piss-off the rest of us who weren't so perfect! You were as straight an arrow, white bread, true blue, beautiful in the inside and outside as humanly possible, not to say we all didn't love you for it! You were never judgmental or anything, just sweet and always trying to help others, looking at all glasses as half-full, even those that were undoubtedly empty. We would call you Pollyanna behind your back, not because we disliked you, but you were so unbelievably nice and optimistic, that even the worst of us didn't want to hurt your feelings by saying it to your face, because we REALLY like you but - hell girl, I would almost go diabetic just standing next to you when you would make one of your feel good speeches!"
Rosa went to a nearby cooler, looking relieved as if she had finally gotten to tell Belle something she had wanted to for a very long time, getting a beer and offering Belle one as she said, "No offense meant."
"None taken," Answered Belle as she took a long swig of her beer, then sat down with Rosa and waited for Chase Lonehart, thinking as her pale left hand tugged unconsciously at the collar of her red plaid flannel shirt, "That doesn't sound like me at all! Piper, maybe... but not me!"
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Post by Chase Lonehart on Aug 9, 2016 4:05:11 GMT
Chase had arrived at Top-Notch with the Crosbys and with a meal for both Iri and he. He was surprised to find Iri was already there, and apparently helping out with some sort of autopsy. He introduced Darren and Collin to both her and Eren, taking a moment to eat the Pow sandwiches with her. But he noticed that something was off about her, as she had decided to eat half and barely got through it.
"Are you okay, honey?" he asked her.
She nodded.
"I don't know why, but I think my stomach is not being agreeable today," she told him. "Three members for historical salvage. The younger one seems interesting. I think he may be autistic, considering how he acts."
"He's also good with numbers from what I've been told. Also, he's good with short range weapons."
"Interesting. I know a few of my species who would probably love to psychoanalyze and examine him. I'm surprised he hasn't been outfited with an EGO unit. It would probably help him if he were."
"I don't nkow how much his brother would agree with it. Besides, historical salvage can be done without an EGO unit. Not one of the Cowboys has had an EGO unit since the start."
"Maybe you should change that policy. Having them would allow for easier communication and coordination."
"Iri, you're telling me things I already know. I say we do a couple of jobs without them and see how they do. When they're ready, I'll give them the option and see what they want to do. No point in forcing them to have them if they don't want them."
She nodded.
"I understand."
Chase finished eatting his Pow sandwich while Iri put the half of hers at the terminal station, getting back to finishing up with the blood samples. Rosa finally spoke to Chase, driving a hard bargain for rental space. What he settled on was a rather sizeable room next to where Iri had originally set up when she was doing her research on restoring his memories. It had two ways to enter, one from inside Top-Notch and one from outside the building, leading to the walkway that connected to the front door and down towards the ramp. Chase shook Rosa's hand to seal the deal, like any good business person would. Chase had a walk around the room while Rosa headed out to work on a car, leaving Chase to figure out what to do.
"What are you thinking?" Darren asked him.
"Well, we'll have to build a cage. It'll take up half of the room and we'll have to build it so that we can still use the entrance into Top-Notch. There''s enough room to store up enough stock here. We may be able to have enough space for it."
It was at that moment a man opened the door. Chase hadn't seen him before, assuming that Rosa must have hired him in the month he was away.
"Excuse me, Mister Lonehart," the man told him. "Belle Starr is here to see you."
This caught Chase by surprise. He didn't know the Paradise Protectors were back. The fact she was there was an indication that she must have been there to get onto him for not being there. Chase figured it was probably best to contact Vo Kshaa, so that he can know at least how pissed off she was. After a brief talk, he learned about Belle's condition, it bringing back how he felt when he lost his memories. He pushed the thought aside.
"Let her know I'm ready to talk to her," he told the man, and he left.
Chase looked at Darren and Collin for a moment.
"I'm going to need the room a moment, gentlemen," he told them.
Darren took Collin by the arm, leading him out of the room into Top-Notch. Chase stood waiting for a moment, hearing the sound of foot steps coming down the hall. The door creaked as Belle Starr stepped into the room. Chase was relieved at the fact that she was there. But he noticed the look in her eyes, the briefness of curiosity and confusion, the uncertainty of this person whom she wasn't sure she met before, the caution and worry that this could be an enemy though she wasn't sure.
"Hi Belle," he said. "It's good seeing you again. I'm sorry I wasn't there when the others found you. It's just Iri, uh, my girlfriend, was worried about my welfare. She knows me too well. So, what brings you around?"
"I'm sure you've probably heard about my condition," she explained, him noticing the different accent with her voice. "I'm sorry that I don't remember you, or your girlfriend."
"Don't worry, I've been there," he pointed at his own head. "A while ago, we went to Tampa. I got caught in a cave-in. Lost my memories saving you and Vo. Don't blame yourself about that. I'm functioning again thanks to Iri and my EGO unit. It's serving as a bypass of the damaged part of my brain. It works, but it has its own drawbacks."
"Drawbacks?"
"It's difficult having one EGO personality to handle. Try three, with two of them being EGO personalities developed from the memories of your parents. That's what I've got to contend with. Sorry, got side tracked there. You were saying?"
"I heard that you were hiring for something called 'historical salvage.' I was wondering if you could use an extra gunner."
"You're wanting a job from me? I'd thought you'd want to work with the Paradise Protectors in a more... consultant capacity until your memories came back."
"But I don't know any of those people. I don't remember them like I don't remember you. And I'm pretty good gunner. It's probably the only thing I know I'm good at, amongst other things."
Chase thought for a moment and realized that she was looking for something to anchor her emotionally while being lost in a place that was confusing to her just as it had for him when he woke up in Panama City. For him, it became the Bay and hunting for someone with a specific name.
"Okay, I'll give you a job. But right now, we're still getting set up here. For the position your inquiring about, it's not just about gunning. It's also muscle. Essentially, we work as a group to recover, pack up and store the items we recover until we have a buyer. We work as a team, we benefit as a team. So, no trying to sneak items to try to sell outside of the group. You watch your teammates' backs just as much as you watch your own. We're all muscle, we're all gunners and we all work together. It's that simple. The hard part is the risk. We could face Hellbugs, we could risk running into Ninety-Niners, we risk even getting caught in cave-ins. This isn't a calk-walk kind of job. This isn't for the weak. And since I know you, I know you're going to do just fine. You're a pretty good bad-ass, and I mean that in a good way. But, I'm hoping that you're still a team player, even with your condition. I'm sure you'll prove that in time."
Chase extended his hand. Belle seemed to hesitate for a moment before taking it and shaking it.
"Welcome to the Cowboys, Belle Starr. Want to meet the others so far or do you need some time?"
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In an old Dodge panel van on a cliff near KTAM, she sleeps. The windows covered with black foil, blocking out the sunlight as she slept. It had been years since she last seen her brother. It had been months since her father died, and months since her followers were murdered. She didn't have much else except her brother, and even then she couldn't be sure if he would even help her.
But at that moment, she slumbered and waited for night fall. She hoped that her new follower would join her. She didn't mind loneliness, but she hated being alone.
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Post by Belle Starr on Aug 10, 2016 0:58:17 GMT
Belle Starr smiled warmly, her blue diamond eyes regarding and measuring this man, Chase Lonehart. Whether in this world or another, she had always felt she was a pretty good judge of character, and her appraisal of him at this point was that here was a man of integrity and his word. She shook her pretty blond head to convey her understanding of his team needs as she held out one pale hand to shake his, replying, "I've always been one to jump into the deep end of the pool, or so I believe I have, so please, let's meet the team!"
Belle sashayed into the room where the others team members were congregating, and all heads turned to her, the men's eyes dwelling on her curvaceous body, but held by her intense blue diamond eyes. It was said in the Bay Area that Belle Starr was the most beautiful woman in Paradise second only to Ara Shondu, but most men thought Castithan woman exuded sensuality without even trying, and Ara had been bred to impeccable elegance. Belle was said to have the body of a fashion model but with the the natural beauty and warmth of the fictional pretty girl-next-door. Furthermore, Belle had a way of making people she just met feel like they had been friends with her for ages, mostly by letting them talk about themselves and being genuinely interested in who they were as individuals. Belle Starr exuded a confidence and charisma that had made her a natural born leader, so although her confidence had been shaken by her uncertainty over her memories of the past, her charisma remained unchanged.
After Chase introduced her to the team, the Texan grinned widely as he sought to charm her with his slow drawl and western manners, pulling a chair out for her to sit down next to him. Although Belle had been brainwashed into thinking herself a Bostonian with the bluntness of those living on the East Coast, good manners are instinctual after a lifetime of practice, and her true southern upbringing came to the forefront as she took the seat and replied with a just the hint of her old N'Awlins accent, "Thank you kindly!"
Belle smiled genuinely as she met each of the brothers and shook their hands, immediately noting the mental challenges of the younger one, but treating him with equal warmth, and making sure she kept him in the conversation as if he was not any different than his brother. So often people treat the autistic as if they were small children, or worse yet, deaf, speaking loudly and expecting them not to understand what is said. Belle thought that although such people may appear to live in a world of their own, they really craved contact with the outside world, so before she spoke to him, she would lightly touch the top of his hand with two long delicate fingers of one pale hand to get his attention, then smile and speak to him as she would any other sentient being. What surprised his older brother though, was the fact that the young man spoke back to Belle, albeit in short concise sentences but definitely in response to what she said.
Her conversation with the men in the room was polite chat, and she quickly began to suspect that this was the first time Belle Starr had met any of them besides Chase before. For that Belle was grateful. She was a blank slate to them, and they to her since the Texan and the brothers were new to the area, so she began to lose herself to the small talk in the room, not having to worry about living up to any preconceptions or expectations that people who had known her before her brainwashing might have. Belle found herself enjoying herself for the first time since her awakening, and forgot for the moment that her past memories were not her own, for in this room at this time, Belle's past didn't matter. Belle could just be Belle, living second to second, and she loved that fact.
As Chase watched Belle interact with the others, he remembered fondly years ago when Belle first brought the Protectors together for their first project, to retrieve a Viscera's head to discover how its teleportation powers worked. He remembered that although Belle was rarely the brains of the group, she had always been its heart, and was glad that the qualities of her personality that had made her so then remained despite what had happened to her.
As the conversation died down, Belle beamed at Chase, her freckled face relaxed and even happy as she asked enthusiastically, "Do you have quarters here for the team? I'd really like to stay with them! I feel... awkward in my quarters at Fortress Kshaa, and the blue trailer behind The Crater just doesn't feel like home - well, my home anyway! So may I stay here with y'all?"
*****
Meanwhile far below at the base of the long, winding ramp leading up to Topnotch Toolworks, there was a blue shimmer of light that was suddenly replaced by a huge grey armored figure almost twice the size of a human, but whose hulking shoulders were three times as wide as a person's and with a "cold fire" energy rifle grafted to one arm. It was followed three more times by the telltale shimmer of similar creatures teleporting into view of the small group of assembled ranchers who had set up a makeshift farmers' market there. As the humans scrambled to get away from the creatures, abandoning their wares as they fled in all directions with more than one shouting, "Volge" as they did.
As if one, all four Volge Troopers turned their lumpy dark red faces and yellow glowing eyes to look up the ramp at some unseen goal, ignoring the fleeing humans and as a fifth blue shimmer in the air revealed a larger armored creature with a spiked helmet and a sword like weapon replacing its right arm instead of the Volge rifle. As the first Volge Trooper to appear on the scene took a step up the ramp to the building far above, the Viscera bent it's neck to stare at him with yellow eyes that suddenly glowed with greater intensity as the Viscera took voiceless control of his squad. The Viscera then began to amble across the road away from the human complex and into the swampy underbrush, not looking back to see if his pack followed, but knowing they would.
As the Volge Troopers turned one by one to follow him led by the first trooper who appeared, only one trooper hesitated if only for a moment. A trooper only slightly smaller than the others stopped to stare at a squawking chicken in a cage left by it's owner. The Volge Trooper bent down and tentatively reached out with curiosity at the frightened fowl, but stopped just short of touching it's prison bars, glancing once more up the ramp before looked furtively at it's retreating pack mates' backs and then hurrying to catch up with them as they shambled into the concealing foliage.
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Post by Chase Lonehart on Aug 14, 2016 7:47:15 GMT
Chase was glad to see Belle loosening up a bit, becoming more relaxed amongst interacting with the others. She seemed to be taking the first steps to some thing close to normal, if the term was even applicable these days. He was equally pleased to see that Collin appeared to open up a bit more amongst the group. Chase wasn't sure how many more he'd need for the group, but he was certain they were in a good start. And he hadn't introduced them to Iri yet. But he had the familiar feeling that had once been common place in his youth. Whenever it came to working with the Cowboys back in Freedom, it felt like home and each member was family, no matter if you were human, Castithan, Irathient or Bioman. Every day came with hard work and trust that Chase figured that soldiers in a war would have felt. A band of brothers, or brothers in arms, whichever term best fit. Though he knew he needed to add a few more, this group felt like it was coming together and feeling like family once more.
"I have to agree with that," Jebediah told Chase sitting to his left while Cynthia stood at his right. "This unit is slowly coming together the way the original group did. If your father was really here, he'd like what you got so far. He'd even give you credit for accepting that Collin kid. It's equal and far."
"I know," Chase told him. "Everything is coming together."
"You've come a long way," Cynthia told him. "I can imagine the possibility of civilization starting over again and this being a starting point."
Chase looked at Cynthia for a moment.
"Don't tell me that's some sort of subconscious dream I have, is it?"
"Maybe it is," she smiled at him. "It doesn't take a government to start a civilization. It takes people and their actions. Who knows?"
"Do you have quarters here for the team?" Belle's question caught his attention. "I'd really like to stay with them. I feel... awkward in my quarters at Fort Kshaa and the blue trailer behind the Crater just doesn't feel like home - well, my home anyway! So may I stay here with y'all?"
That reminded Chase of the question he wanted to ask when Turner got back, which Chase looked at him.
"What's the word of the living situation?" Chase asked. "Did you find anything?"
"Well, I'm renting the guest bedroom at Kenn Farm right now," Turner told him. "I know there's a basement area there and I asked the owner if he was okay with taking others and even proposed a deal. He refused, unfortunately. I'm sorry, sir."
"No worries," Chase told them. "I'll ask Iri if she's okay with accepting guests since we have a whole lot of room at the DUGG."
"The DUGG?" Darren asked.
"It's short for 'Down Under Golden Gate,' Darren. It's similar to how you New Yorkers used terms like SOHO and DUMBO. It's an underground base, plenty of room. Belle, there's even a room there that you've stand in a few times. But, I have to ask the misses if its okay to have y'all there. If not, then we'll set up some cots in the room I've rented for our base of operations. Don't worry. Much like my father took care of the Cowboys in Freedom, I am going to do the same for y'all."
"Are you sure?" Belle asked. "I'd hate to impose on your home."
"Just let me talk to Iri, see what she says."
It was at that moment that Rosa Rodriguez came running in, cursing under her breathe. Chase knew something was wrong, but he wasn't sure.
"Chase," McCoy piped up. "I've got targets that have showed up at the end of the ramp for Top-Notch. The signatures indicate Volge."
"We've got Volge!" Rosa spoke out, confirming what McCoy had said, as she retrieved her pistol.
"Alright sweethearts, you heard the lady," Chase told them. "We've got trouble. Good thing I'm a bit of a hoarder of weapons."
Chase pulled his duffle bag up and sat it on the table, unzipping it. Chase found his trustworthy Orange balanced Thunder. He turned to the others.
"Turner, are you good with a grenade launcher?"
"Yes, sir."
"I've got a couple of them in there, get the manual detonation one. Everyone else, pick a weapon you're good with. Rosa, I'm with you, doing recon. Time to see how y'all handle yourselves."
Chase followed after Rosa as she brushed by him, following her out the front door and down the walk way to the ramp. Chase used his scope to get a closer view of the Volge as they were walking away from the ramp. He could see four Troopers and a Viscera, heading across the road. Chase began to look at the direction they were heading, trying to figure out what they were heading to. But he didn't see anything that indicated why they were heading in that direction. He couldn't figure out what was going on, let alone why they were there. It was then, he heard footsteps coming down the walk way, him turning his head up to see Turner with the grenade launcher, followed by the Crosby brothers, Darren sporting an SMG and Collin with an Orange balanced VBI Auto-Shotgun.
"Belle's right behind us," Darren told him. "What's the word, Boss?"
"It looks like they're walking away from the ramp. I don't know why they're here. Maybe they're looking for something. I don't know. Let's wait until Belle gets here and see what they do next."
"Have you handled Volge before?" Turner asked Chase.
Chase had the memory of the Minor Arkfall that he was trapped in and the hell of a time he took trying to stay alive and avoid getting killed, only to leave a major stack of dead Volge bodies behind. He shook the thought out of his head, turning to look at him.
"I've had my share out here in the Bay," he told him. "Let's just leave it at that."
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Post by Belle Starr on Aug 16, 2016 19:35:56 GMT
When Belle Starr visited with Vo Kshaa the little blue trailer behind The Crater that was the home she didn't remember, she took three things with her when she left. One was the one-eyed Teddy Bear that sat on the bed there, for a reasons she still wasn't sure were centered on this reality or the one that she had memories of. The other two were weapons among several mounted on the wall in the back of the trailer. The first weapon she took a shine to was a Dancing Lady SMG and the second was a Demon Hunter rapid fire pistol. Although Vo had told her that the Thorne Liro charge blade had once been one of her weapons of choice, Belle left it mounted on the wall, for she wasn't even sure now how to engage the energy blade, and thought it more a threat to herself than anyone else.
After the alarm was called because of the nearby Volge, Belle grabbed the SMG and pistol from her duffel bag in the waiting room, putting the latter in her waistband in back of her as she hurried to where the others had congregated at a railing on an outside balcony. Belle had incredibly sharp senses, include telescopic eyesight, due to her mad scientist father grafting her DNA to that of Volge, so she was anxious to see a real life Volge as well as to test out the eyesight. Belle had read about the Volge in the Protectors' databanks, and according to her personal diary that she didn't remember writing, had even fought them successfully on numerous occasions, although she ahd no recollection if that was fact or fiction.
Belle remembered reading in the databanks an entry on them from something called the Defiance Wiki, "The Volge are a warlike species, feared equally by humans and other Votans. They stand over eight feet tall and wear fearsome armor made from an alloy unique to their home planet of Omec. The Volge were intentionally left behind by the other races when the Votans left on their exodus to Earth. Their appearance during the Pale Wars was a surprise to everyone. No one knows who smuggled the Volge aboard the Arks, or why, but they became an immediate threat to everyone. After the Armistice, they retreated into underground caverns and have rarely been seen since."
As Belle used her hawk-like vision, anxious to see live specimens as opposed to pictures and spotting them on a little island in a swampy area near Topnotch Toolworks, she had to admit they looked fearsome, so she remarked as she remembered other facts she read about the Volge from her own personal journal, "If you're waiting for my opinion, we have a saying where I come from that suggests to let sleeping dogs lie! They don't seem to be doing anything other than loitering, and if I'm correct in what I read about the critters, they are a little bit like bees! They travel in small groups, but if you poke the hive, more and more will teleport in until you are swarmed and overrun with them! Furthermore, I understand their cold fire weapons have quite the sting!"
When Chase turned to her to respond, he noticed a red light flash in her blue diamond eyes which appeared and disappeared so quickly that he wasn't sure if it was his imagination or maybe a reflection of the light, but almost immediately Belle noted and he confirmed the fact with his own eyes, "See, look! They're moving further away as we speak! I guess they decided bivouacking on a small island in the middle of a swamp wasn't the best of ideas!"
Belle watched the receding backs of the five Volge as she thought through the telepathic link they shared to her EGO psyche that was based on the brain patterns of her long dead mad scientist father, "Alfred, you REALLY are a piece of work! Why would you in any universe graft my DNA with one of those creatures while I was still in my mother's womb?"
Alfred virtually sighed as if explaining such a thing was beneath him, then answered in a condescending tone, "All of them really, as there are different types of Volge, but to answer your question: I could say Pale Wars, trying to beat the technological superior alien Votans, super soldier seemed to be the ticket, blah, blah, blah! Long story short, it seemed a good idea at the time."
This time it was Belle's turn to sigh as she sarcastically thought only to herself, "If I have to have a voice stuck in my head, why did I get so lucky as to have one that is so insufferable?"
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Post by Chase Lonehart on Aug 23, 2016 8:24:50 GMT
Darren used the scope on the SMG to watch the Volge heading away, while Collin counted out the distance from where they stood to the last Volge heading away.
“Two-ten meters,” Collin started. “Two-eleven…. Two-twelve… Two-thirteen…”
Chase turned his attention to Belle.
“I just hope that they don’t end up coming across some civilians,” he told her. “The last thing we need is for that kind of blood on our hands. So, I’ll trust your gut.”
“Are you sure you wanna do that, Chase?” Darren asked as he continued to look at the Volge walking away. “They could be walking away because they’re heading to something.”
“I don’t know what. I mean, there’s nothing else in this area that I’m aware of other than Top-Notch.”
“You want me to follow ‘em, Boss?” Victor asked. “I’ll hang back far enough that they won’t know I’m there, call y’all if they come across some civies.”
Chase nodded at the Texan.
“Just be careful, Turner,” Chase told him. “If nothing happens in 15 minutes, come back.”
The Irathient nodded and began to make his down the ramp, carrying the grenade launcher in his hands.
It was at that moment, Chase hear the sounds of footsteps behind him, to which he turned around to find Eren hurrying.
“Chase, something’s wrong with Iri,” she told him.
There was a weight that pulled down in his stomach, a ping of fear and worry crossing his being as he headed back inside. He made his way back inside and up the ramp to the main room. Iri laid on the floor near the table where she had been preparing the blood samples, her body twitching and bending backwards. Seeing her like that reminded him of a painting he had seen once of a victim of tetanus in a medical book he was thumbing through at the library back in Freedom. The painting scared the hell out of him, not because of the way the victim’s back was arched, or that his arms were bending inward, or his lips were pulled back and baring teeth. The thing that scared him was the look in the victim’s eyes. The look of fear, which was still fresh in his mind, always made him wonder if maybe the person was aware of what his body was doing or if the look of fear was a side effect of the muscles in the face contracting as well. But he never expected to see Iri in such a condition, even as he ran over and took her in his arms.
“Iri? Can you hear me?”
He strained groans and her body twitches didn’t bring a sign of relief for me. He turned to see Belle following in behind Eren.
“Help me!” he told her, trying to pull her up.
Belle rushed over, giving her a hand as he took her upper half and she took Iri’s feet. Eren lead the way up the spiral staircase, leading them to hers and Rosa’s room, placing Iri on the mattress. Chase pulled her into his arms, trying his best to hold her as Eren made her way out of the room. Chase had faced many dangers and threats in his lifetime, but he felt completely useless at that moment, trying to hold Iri, wondering what is going on and fear riding up slowly from the inner depths of himself. Eren entered the room with a modified stim injector, injecting something into Iri’s neck. After a moment, Iri’s twitches began to slow down and her muscles began to relax.
“What’d you give her?”
“A muscle relaxant with a dash of a sedative,” Eren replied, crawling up onto the bed to get closer to Iri.
Eren pried one of Iri’s eyes open to check the pupil. She pulled a light out of her pocket, shining into it. When she did so, Chase noticed something odd about Iri’s eyes that he hadn’t noticed before. The light was causing a reflection in a way that he hadn’t seen in an Indogene. The reflection reminded Chase of what’d happen if you shined a light at a dog or a cat, the light reflecting back in almost a glow. But the odd thing is that the glow was almost red in color.
“Her eyes,” Belle spoke. “What’s wrong with her eyes?”
Eren used the stim injector to retrieve a sample of blood.
“Stay here,” Eren told them as she headed out of the room.
Chase wasn’t sure what was going on, but the situation certainly didn’t seem like a good one. He noticed Belle looking at him, him realizing that he he probably looked completely vulnerable in his current predicament. Belle seemed to notice this, ducking out of the room to give them some privacy. He held Iri in his arms, feeling her chest move up and down at a slow and steady pace.
What’s going on, Iri? he thought to himself. What’s wrong?
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Post by Belle Starr on Aug 23, 2016 16:27:12 GMT
When Belle Starr left the bedroom, she went down to where Rosa Rodriguez was still working on the Durango, and asked her, "Those blood samples Eren and Iri were working on - where did they come from?"
"Lawkeeper Cooper found an Irathiant's dead body. Wanted to know the cause of death," Answered Rosa, not pausing in her work on the SUV's engine.
"The lawkeeper wasn't affected, or we would have heard about it," Belle mused out loud, "Maybe there was some contagion in it, one that affects Indogenes more than other folk - but then why was Eren not affected, or is it just not affected yet?"
That comment made Rosa stop and look up, concern obvious in her big brown eyes as she asked, "You think Eren is in danger?"
Belle backpedaled quickly, not wanting to alarm Rosa about her lover any more than she had, saying, "I'm no doctor, but I do know one that specializes in viruses over at Fortress Kshaa - the Liberata, Dr. Orion. I hired him for that very expertise for..."
Belle furrowed her pale brow as she subconsciously swiped a golden lock of hair out of her puzzled blue diamond eyes, wondering why she said she had hired him. Belle was sure she had not met the man until about a week earlier, when he had physically examined her upon her arrival at Fortress Kshaa. The small Liberata doctor had impressed her with his thoroughness, but she was sure she had never even seen anyone like him before. Belle quickly dismissed the inconsistency of her memories, preferring to focus on the immediate problem, hailing Fortress Kshaa and apprising them of Iri's situation and asking that Dr. Orion come over to Topnotch Toolworks as soon as possible.
Belle then went outside, leaning on a balcony railing and enjoying the cool ocean breeze, noticing that there was a mountain not far away. She wasn't sure why, but she wished she could climb that mountain. There were no mountains in the Commonwealth in the East coast where she came from - Belle had to correct herself, thinking "where I thought I came from," as her life in the Commonwealth was a lie, perpetrated by a mad scientist bent on revenge by brainwashing Belle and making Belle forget her "real" life.
"But what is my real life? The one I believe I led or the one I actually led," Belle asked herself mentally before sighing, realizing that philosophy in general and existentialism in particular were not her forte.
Belle wished her significant other Piper Wright was there to discuss the issue with her, then had to mentally kick herself to remind her that Piper too was part of that dream reality, whereupon she laughed melodically, muttering somewhat bitterly, "A pipe dream, nothing else," before looking at the mountain, yearning to climb the mountain because it was there, for whether it be reality or a dream, she was an explorer at heart.
*****
Victor Turner followed the Volge quintet through the swamp and up a series of bluffs that ended in a lone mountain. He looked at the panoramic view behind him from his hiding place behind a boulder, seeing Topnotch Toolworks in the distance crowned by a fog moving from the ocean onto land. As the fog rolled in and twilight began, lights began to flick on one by one, reminding the Texan of a some erstwhile Christmas tree once all the lights were on. His reverie was broken by sudden gunfire as the Volge ran into 99ers, cyborg miners, who had already claimed the mountain. The Volge quickly dispatched their foes without taking any causalities, and then seemed to claim their roost as they stopped there, turning as one and facing to look silently at Topnotch. They stood like statues on the mountaintop, just staring at it in the distance.
The Texan wasn't sure what his next step should be. He was pretty sure he could take them out with his sniper rifle, as he was an excellent shot and proud of it. He was told that Texans were born suckling on the barrel of a gun rather than on their mother's nipple, and although he would laugh when that was said, he was sure it was true. Texans and guns go hand in hand, and he was told that was a fact even before the Pale Wars. As an Irathiant, he didn't know if that was true or not, but haven't been brought up there and knowing the people, he didn't doubt the veracity of the history.
Victor was looking through the scope of his rifle lining up a shot just in case he decided to eliminate any potential problem, when he stopped. Another five Volge approach the mountain from a different direction, then a second group and a third, all from different directions but all silently facing Topnotch when they reached the peak. Soon he estimated there were almost a hundred Volge on the mountain, all un-moving and all just staring at Topnotch. Slack jawed at the sight, he decided that discretion was the better part of valor, and stealthily made his way back to his team at Topnotch to report to its leader, Chase Lonehart, what he had seen.
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Post by Wolfram von Eschen on Aug 25, 2016 10:17:25 GMT
Fopr couple of hours...and day, Wolfram von Eschen had nothing else to do that stare huge clock in his office and strum marches on the table plate with his fingertips. Everything was peaceful in Fortress K'Shaa and peaceful also meant boring. Yawningly boring, Wolfram thought. Seeing Doctor Orion who came to ask for his permission and a ride to travel to the TopNotch was a relief. A welcomed change in a daily routine. Wolfram not only gave his permission but also said that he will join Orion. There was a small problem though...
But where is a problem, there is also a solution. That made Wolfram to grab a sleeve one of the off duty soldiers in fortress and say: "Hey, Chingachgook! You are the exact man I need for completing an important task."
"My name is Geronimo, Sir," replied soldier. "And what can I do for you?"
"We need a designated driver for us, Geronimo. Capable of delivering us to the TopNotch. I hate driving and my old friend Orion is...Someone would say politely that he is vertically challenged, but since we are friends and I don't give a damn about being politically correct, then I will say that he is damn too short to drive! Right, Orion?"
"Of course, Wolfram," chuckled small Liberata Doctor good moodily. "I am not going to tie book piles under my feet to reach the pedals, so you have to help us because this tall human here refuses to drive, because if I would be polite then I would say that driving is a challenge for him, but since we are old friends indeed, I will tell that he can't drive."
"I have driven car in this area. Once!" confirmed Wolfram. "And that was one time too much, so you are going to spend some time in a company of elderly gentlemen, Geronimo. People tend to say that one man's loss is another man's gain. Our loss of driving capabilities offers you a chance to educate yourself by listening our self expressions. Should be fair and square deal. And if you refuse then I will be driving and if something happens, then you have to live with that for the rest of your life. You are way too decent human being to let us take unnecessary risks. I see from the glance of your eyes that you are willing to give us a hand, so before we go, I just have to arrange a temporary replacement for me. Not as the shrink, because we lack patients now, but as a man in charge."
After few calls and promising that they are back for the dinner time, Wolfram and Orion occupied the back seat of a Dodge Durango. Geronime manoeuvred car out from the fortress and their field trip could finally begin.
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Post by Belle Starr on Aug 25, 2016 17:11:05 GMT
Belle Starr waited solemnly at the top of the ramp at Topnotch Toolworks waiting for the car from Fortress Kshaa to arrive. She was deep in thought when it finally did arrive, trying to reconcile the life she believed she had led with the one that she really had. Belle had convinced herself that by joining the Cowboys she could just start her life from scratch, but that wasn't what was occurring. Memories of the life she had believed she had lived and what was beginning to emerge of a smattering of her real life's recollections kept interrupting with that plan. Furthermore, she would have sudden visions of dark caverns and even darker hulking shapes dwelling there, but the visions would disappear if she tried to focus on them. These visions only lasted for a few seconds, but always left her with an uneasy feeling.
When Belle saw the car arrived and it's two passengers emerge, she smiled at the unexpected surprise of the elderly psychiatrist, Wolfram von Eschen having accompanying Dr. Orion, and greeted them both by shaking their hands and saying, "Dr. Orion, Thanks for coming so promptly! And Dr. Von Eschen, it is wonderful to see you again!"
Both men smiled, for Belle Starr had a charm and beauty both inside and out that made even strangers have that reaction when they met her, but Dr. Von Eschen also noted that the Bostonian accent that she awoke with from her brainwashing sleep was all but gone as she turned and called out to Rosa Rodriguez, the proprietor of Topnotch Toolworks, who was working on an SUV nearby, asking, "Rosa, would you please show Dr. Orion where Iri collapsed, where she and Eren were working, and if Chase agrees, Iri herself? I briefed the good doctor by hailer on our situation here, he's an expert on viruses of all kinds, and the sooner he determines if there is a loose contagion or not the better, not only for us but the whole Bay Area!"
Rosa curtly nodded her assent, and once she and Dr. Orion left the complex's driveway, Belle gently took the elderly psychiatrists arm, saying politely as she led him to a nearby sitting area near the vendors, "I'm very glad you came, because I really need to ask you some questions, if you don't mind!"
Once they made themselves comfortable sitting on some open cots behind a makeshift curtained off area, she told him of her problem with not only the conflicting sets of memories but now the sudden visions of a subterranean cavern, ending with a an assertion and a query, "I really miss my old make-believe life with Piper and my friends there, although it definitely was in survival mode, and the life everyone says I lived, and I guess I do as well in my journals, seems nice and all, particularly with my Prince Charming Vo Ksaha, although I don't remember him at all! For that matter, I don't remember you at all either, but everyone says you're a REALLY good psychiatrist, and I fear that is what I need," Belle laughed melodically before continuing, "I REALLY want my stint with the Cowboys to work, and these conflicting memories at the least may have a negative impact on my work and at the worst may drive me mad, especially with these visions intruding as well! I don't want any of my team mates getting injured or killed because I'm having an identity crisis or a daydream when they most need me to be focused, sooooo... is there any way wipe my mind clean of all memories except those providing knowledge and skills - wipe it clean of both the life I believe and the life I led, so I can get on with my life in peace and in the here and now?"
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Post by Chase Lonehart on Aug 28, 2016 23:37:14 GMT
Eren had pried open the eye of the dead Irathient. She had pried it open before to examine the eyes, where she noticed that the eye had a strange reflection similar to Iri's eyes at this point. Following that, her mind was on a solid track to examining both the dead Irath's blood and the sample she took from Iri. Irathient blood was simple to examine, as the DNA was almost similar to a humans with the exception of an extra helix. She noticed something else was in the blood, something foreign and, due to a lack of a better word, alien in nature. She would have explained that the use of the term "alien" wouldn't have meant from out of the world, like how she was an alien. It would have applied to the concept of something drastically different from the norm. And that's what she was seeing, this drastically different element in the blood that she could only loosely term a virus, but not. She had recognized how some of the pattern of its design looked as if it were similar to the disease that people of pre-war used to call rabies, but the genetic markers seemed striking similar to a genetic disorder called Porphyria. She had begun to look at Iri's blood sample, which was much more difficult in comparison to other species, including the Volge. Luckily for her, she had years worth of experience with Indogene blood samples long before her trip to Earth. Examining the sample, having to sift through the massive bundles of multiple DNA strands, she spotted exactly what she had suspected: the same foreign element, similar shape to rabies, genetic markers similar to Porphyria. She would need Doctor Orion to confirm what she found, but the answer behind the death of the Irathient was with Iri Sewuel, as something clearly attacked both. But whatever this foreign element was, it looked as if it was attempting to modify the Irathient's genetics, and it appeared to be trying to do the same to Iri, hinting that it could infect more than just the two species.
Chase continued to hold onto Iri, his worried mind not finding any relief from her unconsciousness. He wasn't sure what he could do, so the only thing that came to his mind was to sing to her. Chase, whenever he was little and wasn't feeling well, would listen to his mother sing songs of her youth to him. Most of the stuff he still listened to were the same songs she would sing. Iri's head rested on his should as he tried to mumbling out on of them, not sure if she could hear it.
"I've been afraid of changing, 'cause I built my life around you," he sung lightly. "But time made you bolder, even children get older, and I'm getting older too."
He head turned slightly, a light moan escaping from her lips.
"Stop singing, my love," she told him. "You sound a bit tone deaf."
Chase felt some relief, hugging her and forgetting a moment about his mechanical arm.
"Too tight!" she mumbled, which Chase remembered and cut down the power order.
"Are you okay?"
"What happened?"
"You had some sort of seizure," he told her. "The way your body was bent backwards scared the hell out of me. I was so worried."
Iri pulled herself from his arms, resting herself in a seated position at the edge of the bed, rubbing her gloved hand over her forehead. Chase recognized this gesture for whenever his mother had a headache. It was then Iri looked up and around the room, with a bit more confusion.
"Where are we?"
"In Rosa and Eren's room," he told.
Iri chuckled.
"Great," she said. "If this mattress could talk, it'd tell us some rather kinky stuff, I'm sure."
This made Chase chuckle, him sliding over to the edge to be next to her.
"Are you okay?" He repeated.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she told him. "I just don't know what happened. It's really weird. I don't think I've ever recall having a seizure before, especially the one you said I had."
"It's okay. We'll have Eren do a check up on you. It might be stress. I mean, hell, stress can cause heart attacks in humans. Who knows what it could do to Indogenes. You pulled me from the rescue mission for Belle because you were worried about me. Let me be here for you now. I'll set the Cowboys to task, let them start gathering supplies and work on the office. You and I can go back to the DUGG and I'll give you as many orgasms you want. I won't stop until you say no more."
This brought a chuckle out of Iri. When she turned her head, Chase was slightly caught off guard by the glow of the light reflecting in her eyes like he had seen earlier. There was something about it and her words that almost seemed like they were predatory.
"Be careful what you offer," she told him with a wicked smile, it causing a shiver to roll down his spine. "I just might drain you."
Iri made her way down the spiral stair case of the room with Chase following behind her, him being ready in case she fell over or worse. Iri couldn't help but scratch her left arm, up underneath her uniform's sleeve, pushing up just slightly above the elbow joint. Eren turned to acknowledge their presence, to which Iri also noticed the Crosby Brothers as they were sitting on the floor near the massive bay door and Belle Starr apparently absent from the room, along with Victor Turner.
"Iri, how are you feeling?"
"I'm fine," she replied. "I don't remember what happened."
"Iri, I've got some questions I need to ask you," Eren told her as she moved her over to sit on the desk near the examination station. "Were you bitten by any animals in the past couple of days?"
Iri ran through her memories, and nothing came up.
"No. I think I would remember being bitten by something. Why do you ask?"
Eren seemed quiet for a moment, trying to process what Iri had just told her. Iri again was irritated by the sensation of itching, to which she scratched again up underneath her sleeve.
"It's really hard to explain," she began. "I heard Doctor Orion had just arrived, so I may consult with him to confirm my suspicions."
"Eren," Chase stepped in. "Just tell us what you found."
Iri noted the concerned look in Eren's eyes. No matter how much Eren tried over the years to keep herself hard to read from physical displays of emotion, Iri was familiar with some of the tell-tale signs that even Doctor Yewll had the tendency to express unintentionally. Eren pulled the chair she had been sitting in closer to Iri, so they could be at the same level when she told her what was going on.
"Iri," she began. "I suspect whatever it was that killed this Irathient attacked and infected you with some sort of pathogen."
This was confusing to Iri. During the Pale Wars, she had examined and even managed to disassemble most of the dangerous viruses and diseases that would have killed any human three times over. She had even helped Doctor Yewll and Lev design Wulukot Fibrosis, a nasty little thing that was going to be used, but she was glad never got out of the lab when it was destroyed.
"That doesn't sound possible," Iri told Eren. "We're designed to biologically resist many diseases."
"I know, Iri. But this infection isn't a typical one. By the way it looks, it's almost similar to what humans refer to as rabies. The DNA within the infection appears to be... For the lack of a better description, 'competing' for dominance. This is the first time I've seen anything like this before. A disease that can affect any and all species, including Volge if my hypothesis is correct."
"What kind of disease is able to infect any and all species of life?" Chase asked.
Iri had to scratch again, this time she noticed that Eren noticed it. Eren took ahold of Iri's left forearm and slowly pushed the sleeve of the uniform up to her shoulder, finding a two puncture wounds just three inches above the joint to her elbow.
"When did this happen?" Eren asked.
Iri looked at the puncture, confused by the whole thing. She didn't clearly remember what happened. She had a brief flash of a memory, but still lacked a clear definition of what happened. The flash was of a woman in red, dark hair and lips as brightly burning red in the dark as night hung over, the taste of this pale woman's lips on her own. Iri snapped out of it, still lacking the context of it.
"I don't know," Iri said, standing up and pulling the sleeve back down. Something inside of her broke. She was worried for reasons she couldn't comprehend. She turned back around to face Eren and Chase, looking at Eren.
"You said the DNA strains are 'competing'," Iri began. "Which one is winning?"
Though Eren didn't open her mouth to say anything, the fact that Eren couldn't make eye contact with her told her the answer. Her DNA was losing and the intruding DNA was slowly winning. The feeling of fear reared its ugly head once again, her approaching Chase and hugging him. He held her in his arms.
"It's okay," Chase told her. "We'll figure out what's going on and we'll get you fixed. We've been through worse, okay?"
Despite his words of comfort, she felt like she had committed an even worse trespass than sleeping with Rynn back in Defiance. The words, though as assuring as they were, didn't bring about any relief to her. She closed her eyes and just focused on the warmth of Chase's body. Instead of just telling him how she felt, she said the only thing she could.
"Okay," she replied, lying to him.
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Post by Wolfram von Eschen on Aug 29, 2016 17:52:58 GMT
"Mein Kind," said Wolfram von Eschen seriously, looking Belle with his grey eyes which were surrounded by tiny wrinkles. "It takes some time to find a compromise between these two layers of memories you have. I admit that we had some success when we tried to restore memories by creating artificial ones and implanting them into minds of our patients, but it conceals certain dangers because those memories could be highly addictive. And we are talking about careful separation of existing memory layers at moment, so mechanical interruption seems to out of question for now. Fascinating problem, I might say. And complicated too. I wish that things aren't that complicated, but it's only a wishful thinking when when Paradise Protectors are involved. Let me think about alternatives."
Wolfram von Eschen entwined his fingers and rolled his thumbs forwards and then backwards while he was thinking. Then he rose his chin and said just like Gaius Julius Caesar who's lookalike he actually was:
"Decided! Looks like that I am not going to make back by the lunchtime, but I assume that nobody is going to miss a grumpy old man when he misses his lunch. I will stick around for awhile and ponder about your case, mein Kind. I am sure that we will find a solution. By the way. If I was you, I wouldn't worry about daydreaming in decisive moment."
Wolfram von Eschen looked around as he was still thinking. Suddenly he grabbed roll of duck tape from nearby table and threw it towards Belle who only had to rise one of her pale hands to catch it as it was a Frisbee.
"You see, mein Kind," said Wolfram von Eschen gently which differed from his usual harsh speaking manner. "Body remembers everything. Even if you are daydreaming your body knows what to do." Suddenly he frowned and added seriously:
"Speaking of bodies...What do you remember about Volge, mein Kind?"
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Post by Belle Starr on Aug 29, 2016 20:15:55 GMT
"The only knowledge I have of Volge is what I've read Doctor," Belle Starr replied with a frown on her beautiful freckled face. "I know from Fortress Kshaa's records about them and the journals I don't remember writing that I have had more than a few altercations with them; and of course, that my dear departed Daddy thought it a good idea to splice my genes with those of Volge while I was still in my Mamma's womb which on occasion has changed me into a Were-Volge, although I haven't experienced any inclination to do that yet! Far as I can discern, humans and Votans both don't know a whole lot about the Volge - their organizational structure appears hierarchical, but other than that, we don't really know what motivates them beyond survival needs!"
Just then Dr. Orion came in the room looking grim and plopped down on a cot next to them, as Belle asked, "How's Iri Doctor?"
The small Liberata twirled the end of his large mustache, obviously considering how much he could tell them and not violate his medical oath of patient confidentiality; before sighing loudly and saying in a low tone, "She is awake and resting now quite comfortably with Mr. Lonehart, but overall, not well I'm afraid. Eren did a wonderful job of collecting data and her analysis is spot on. Iri's body is going through strange changes, and not the kind you human women go through when you reach a certain age. These are extreme physical changes, and although Eren and I might be able to come up with a cure or even a vaccination, these changes are coming on rapidly in Iri and they may not be able to be reversed," Dr. Orion turned to face Dr. Von Eshen, and asked, "Wolfram, you've lived in the Bay Area for some time? I myself have only been here a few years. Have you heard of any animal creature in the area that can cause physical changes in a Votan's or human's body by it's bite?"
Wolfram shook his head slowly, answering in his heavy Lithuanian accent, "No, my friend, other than rabies and the bite the unfortunate Miss Marr received in the Storm Divide, and neither resulted in permanent physical changes other than destroying the victim's brain or body. I can think of no other, either here or elsewhere in my travels," Wolfram gave a nervous laugh, then added, "Other than Nosferatu, called vampires in your country, but those were only ancient legends. As the story goes, their physiology was quite different from a humans and required them to drink blood to keep alive, albeit for hundreds of years. The only way they could reproduce was to take certain humans and change them into one of their own through arcane rituals and the sharing of blood... but this was all fiction to scare small children to go to bed on time!"
The three grew silent for a time, until Dr. Orion excused himself to return to Eren Nidel to continue their research on Iri's affliction, whereupon once they were alone, Belle turned to Wolfram and said with sincere determination on her rose petal lips, "As to what we were talking about Dr. Von Eshen, I do NOT want to substitute my memories with new ones, or even replicate those of the past! I want to be able to eradicate all my memories except those that support my skills and knowledge useful in my profession as an ark hunter and inhabitant of Earth! Any memories relating to emotions I want gone!" Tears began to well up in her beautiful blue diamond eyes as she grabbed one of his wizened hands in both her soft pale ones, "The emotions from both my realities are too painful to bear! I read of the love Vo Ksahaa and I shared, and yet don't even recognize his face, but I remember every instance of my life with Piper - her every kiss, her every touch - and I'm told she is not real! And its not just them, it's all my memories, both good and bad, of enemies and friends, and even turning points in my life - or is it lives, no matter - it just hurts so much to know what I've lost and whenever I try to reconcile them I fear I'll go mad! I want a clean slate Doctor! I want to be like a Synth whose memory chips have been wiped clean, but who retains what they need to know to get the job done! Can you do that for me Doctor?"
Wolfram's face remained impassive and paused before answering, but before he could then do so, a disheveled Victor Turner ran in looking for Chase Lonehart, whereupon Belle stood up and put a firm hand on the Irathiant Texan's shoulder asking, "Iri is very sick and Chase is in Rosa and Eren's bedroom comforting her! What's this all about? Maybe I can help!"
Victor described the scene on the mountaintop with the Volge as Belle's frown grew deeper, saying when he finished, "You say they are just standing up there doing nothing but looking in our direction? Maybe it's some religious practice like some human religions where they face a certain direction at the end of the day, and its a coincidence that Topnotch is in the way? Maybe they have some non-nefarious reason for looking our way? However, whatever the reason, we can't take a chance in not being prepared for the worse, although I'd rather we also not start World War III with the Volge! We also don't want to alarm people here needlessly and have them panic! I'll go talk to Rosa and take a post on the balcony and keep watch tonight! I never seem to need much sleep, so I'll be okay!"
Belle smiled her winning smile with perfect white teeth at the Irathiant as she then remarked to him, "Victor, I am so glad that you're second-in-command for this team, so you can decide if its prudent to disturb the Boss and his lady with what you discovered," However, when she turned to Wolfram the expression on her lovely face was all business as she added, "Wolfram, you're safe if you want to stay here and wait for Dr. Orion, or if you wish you can join me later on the balcony outside after I apprise Rosa of the situation! It's a full moon tonight and the view of Paradise is quite stunning from up there, with the ocean breeze quite refreshing!"
With that said, Belle picked up her Dancing Lady SMG from where it had been leaning on the wall next to her, sashaying out of the room to where Rosa Rodriquez, proprietor of Topnotch Toolworks, still worked on the SUV and who merely shook her head grimly once she received the information. Belle then went to the empty balcony, and as she waited, began unconsciously doing stretching exercises against the railing that only one schooled in ballet would know, and if she had been asked, she would deny any knowledge of.
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