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Post by Taffer on Sept 17, 2016 23:04:30 GMT
She prowled through the jungle. She didn't like the place. It smelled of death. A stiff and bloody battle happened here not long ago and a lot of creatures fell the victim of it. It always happens wherever those bipedal creatures appear, Lady of the Vine said. Lady of the Vine said to stay away from them. She didn't listen. Like many cats, she was curious so she wanted to learn about those creatures herself. Like many cats, she was stubborn, so once she set herself a goal, she was adamant to fulfill it. So she continued on her way through this part of the forest, ignoring the smell of rotting flesh and mechanical sounds that would scare her away otherwise.
It didn't take long to find the creature she wanted to see. In fact, it found her first, which made her make a mental note that those creatures might have very good senses. She took several steps forward, not trying to hide anymore, invigorated by the feeling of danger and the possibility of learning something new from this encounter.
Suddenly, something else occupied her mind completely. She turned her head to the side, as if listening to something, and then she rushed towards the place where Lu and Taffer went.
"I've already told you, I don't like to wear any trinkets on my wrists, especially those that are large and heavy enough to impede flexibility of my hand. Especially when those look too much like handcuffs." "It's just a bracelet Lu. Since your EGO is disabled, it's the only way for me to monitor your health status. I gave it to you for your own safety. No conspiracies, no hidden agenda. Have we lost any trust between us?" "Someone disabled my EGO, rendered me almost unconscious, dragged me along against my will and then he asks, Have we lost any trust between us? What should I answer?" "You were acting strangely, you have to admit it," Taffer sighed, "Let's do the following then. You're following my orders while we're under the time pressure here. No denials, no strolling away from me or the group you're assigned for. If you have a suggestion, you voice it first to me before executing it. Then, when we're out of this island, we can talk it over again with me or anyone else you trust. It will be your own decision if you need any medical help or not, it will be your own decision if you stay with us or go whatever you want. No one will be forcing you to do anything then. Deal?" "Deal," Lu muttered almost inaudibly. "Oh, and by the way, it seems like you wouldn't need my service here as the hole is already open for you," She added more loudly as she pointed at the hole in the ground. "Although I don't like the traces that lead out of it. It seems like some big creature was dragging something big inside or out of it." "I'll take the lead," Taffer said, "Turn on the shield of your Pulverizer and follow me." "Scanning the database to find the owner of those traces," Em Dash reported in his head. "Wait. They really looked like those of an armadillo, but if that's true, this one should be 5 feet tall! I got movement in the hole by the way. One large target and four small ones." "Lu, get ready," Taffer commanded as his EGO shared the information she found to Lu's hailer, "If that's really going to be a giant armadillo, I hope biological nanites from my bullets will be able to weaken its armor. Then you…" "I'm not attacking a mother with kids," Lu whispered as she stopped on her way. "Damn it Lu, it's an animal," Taffer's voice became irritated again, "And it's likely too dumb for us to just come to tell her, It's okay, we'll just come in, cut a couple of wires and get away and you'll be free to have your time with your kids in your new home. I have to remind you we don't have time to try any tricks to lure it away, so please…" A loud thud sound of a Pulverizer falling on the ground was the only answer to Taffer's words as Lu turned and started to move away from him, slowly, as if she was sleepwalking. He traced her look and saw a cat-like creature descending from the hill.  It hissed at him first, but right after that she became fully focused on Lu as she walked slowly towards her without roaring or showing any other emotion. "Taf, something is going on with Lu," Em Dash reported, "Can't get enough data on the cause, but her nervous system is much more active now than it usually should be. And its activity is growing with each step she takes! I wonder if it completely melts down if they continue to get closer to each other!" "I know only one way to stop this," Taffer thought as he raised his Carbine and aimed it through the scope between the creature's eyes, "Slow moving, easy target." Suddenly his still open left eye noticed a fast movement at Lu's side so he had to refocus his vision on her. To his surprise, he saw Lu pulling out her Order pistol. Her hand jerked it towards him first, but then it started to move towards her own head.
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Post by Sandy Bell on Sept 18, 2016 1:28:38 GMT
Sandy Bell snifled, wiping the tears on her tan cheeks away with the sleeve of her over-sized shirt, then her blue eyes grew big as her lover's words sunk in, and she said to Volodja Uljanov, "You're right Volodja, got to keep going for Sergeant Rocke and the rest who died, to keep the memory of their sacrifice here alive."
Sandy stood up from her knees using her assault rifle's butt-stock to help her, then brushed off the mud that clung to the knees of her trousers. Shouldering her assault rifle, she then grasped the corners of Rocke's body bag and with an involuntary grunt began hauling it out of the ravine to the clearing where they were collecting the bodies near the Riot. Volodja quickly grabbed the body's bag other side, thus making it easier to haul the heavy bag up and out of the muddy gully.
Sandy smiled sadly at him as they got over the ravine's rim with Rocke's body without mishap, "Thanks Volodja. I never used to be such a crier. Don't know what's got into me lately."
*****
Lena Marr moved with her bag of body parts to where her lover, Marcel stood at guard near the few remaining empty body bags by the Riot's entry ramp and a couple of human hands laying nearby, whereupon Lena flashed a wicked grin at him as she picked them up one-by-one then daintily tossing them into her bag while remarking cheerfully, "For me Pooh Bear? You shouldn't have! You must have seen I could use a HAND at this job to HAND on these body parts to me! I have to HAND it to you, you're really a HANDY person to have around! Maybe I should give you a HAND of applause since you HANDED over these body parts that were at HAND! These Protectors treat me like a hired HAND, without the scrip, but wait until I HAND in the bill to them! They treat me like an old second HAND HAND-me-down! I think I'll HAND in my resignation first HAND to them, written by HAND, natch!"
Lena took a deep breath, zipping shut and dropping the bag she was holding near the Riot's open hatch, then brushed off her chalk white hands as if they were dusty, not resisting the temptation to quip one more time, "Wish I had a HANDkerchief!"
*****
As she patrolled, Lady Christianna found nothing in the brush where she thought she saw movement, and her EGO's radar showed nothing nearby either, other than the Protector's crew going about their tasks. Suddenly, the big cat-like creature showed itself by strolling out of the underbrush, but not so much in an aggressive mode as a curious one. Lady's enigmatic smile grew as she thought pleasantly, "Kitty!" but then the big cat turned suddenly and disappeared back into the brush.
As she rushed to follow it, Lady's senses were screaming that something was amiss, although she had no information to back it up. She didn't think the danger was from Kitty, but felt in her soul that trouble was certainly brewing. Her sixth sense had saved her many times, and she usually got into trouble when she ignored it, so she decided to contact her husband and Commander of the Protectors, Atticus Batman. She decided to not broadband the information to all the team's EGOs for if she was proved wrong, she didn't want to look too foolish. Lady was sure that no one liked the boy who continually yelled wolf when there wasn't one around.
"Still, better safe than sorry," Thought Lady to herself before contacting Atticus via their EGOs' private channel, saying telepathically to him, "Following Kitty! Nothing to base it on, but... something's wrong!"
Crimefighter shotgun at the ready, Lady continued chasing the cat beast not so much by seeing it but seeing the leaves and tall grasses move as Kitty went through them towards where the closest group of Protectors were to Lady, which her EGO identified as Lu Kshaa and Taffer.
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Post by Atticus Batman on Sept 18, 2016 11:55:22 GMT
As Lady left the Riot to do her guard duty, and Vo left it to go to the Garilu to stop it's termination protocols and make sure he can get it's maneuvering thrusters working I went into the cargo hold in the Riot to see what Vehicles Taffer had on board. After a quick look I not only spotted one of Vo's ATVs but also spotted a Raptor. So I looked over the wench and pulley system Taffer had installed to secure them out of the way, then I unloaded the Raptor as it would be a better choice to tow the Garilu.
After unloading it from the vehicle apparatus, I got into it's cockpit and started it up. After revving the engine, I drove it out of the Riot and over to the front of the Garilu. I spent some time clearing away rubble from the front of the Garilu so it would be easier for it to move toward the Riot. Then I grabbed the tow hook from the Raptor's wench and pulled enough cable off the wench to reach the Garilu. Next I started working on securing it to the Garilu. While I was working out the best way to completely secure the tow cable to the Garilu so we could pull it to it's destination, I heard Lady via our EGO's private channel, saying telepathically to me, "Following Kitty! Nothing to base it on, but... something's wrong!"
I responded with, "If you sense something wrong then it must be investigated. As I always say; trust your gut. So do so and let me know once you find out what's wrong. Focus on the potential threat, and I will get one of Sandy's men to help us. Just be careful and remember that tactical and combat training that I have been teach you."
 
After responding to Lady, I then contacted Sandy via EGO. "Sandy I am afraid I need help back here, but don't worry it only involves one person at the moment. Lady discovered a potential issue that she is investigating, so I need you and Volodja to have Murdock send me somebody with decent piloting skills to help us tow the Garilu. Also Lena's twin knives and an outfit Lady picked out for Lena are secured in the Riot, if you decide it is best to arm Lena for security reasons. They are secured in the officer's armory cabinet and I made sure that your access codes were upgraded to Officer privileges right after I promoted you. So your access codes will get you in without a problem and as an Officer you have the right to arm your team as you see fit."
Next I looked up through what was left of the Garilu's front window as I notified Vo via EGO that something else very important came up so one of Murdock's pilots would be helping us, instead of Lady. Then I went back to focusing on my work of securing the tow cable to the Garilu so we could tow it safely and efficiently.
Meanwhile on the Riot Attila was making sure all the weapons systems were armed and ready just incase while Private Perkins talked to Doctor Todt and his assistant, as he watched over them for their safety. Atika on the other hand had made sure all the sensors were working and all communications systems were active. Then she made everybody aboard the Riot some tea as she felt it was once again tea time. Then she returned to the ship's sensors and communications in time to see a quick image of the cat appear on screen and then turn towards Taffer and Lu's location before disappearing from sensors. She also saw that Lady had already noticed the creature and was heading to investigate. However she knew that Taffer needed to know. So she sent him a communication saying, "Commander Taffer! The cat creature is in the clearing and heading your way! Lady is already heading your direction to investigate it's appearance! Do I need to notify Commander Batman to send an armed team your direction as well?" |
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Post by Lady Christianna on Sept 18, 2016 16:36:31 GMT
As Lady Christianna floated over the hill chasing the wild cat-creature she named Kitty, she saw the strangest tableau she had ever seen in her young life. At the top of the hill, Kitty had stopped, growled, and then grew impassive. Taffer was down the hill aiming his scoped carbine at the feline beast, with Lu Kshaa halfway in between and to the left, pointing her pistol first at Taffer, then at her own head.
"WTF" Thought Lady to herself and to Atticus through their EGOs, firing her Crimefighter shotgun into the air whose green balls of death exploded harmlessly in the sky like fireworks as she yelled, "ALL OF YA, CUT IT OUT!" Then increased her density to normal weight while blurring at break neck speed towards Lu, hoping her momentum would knock Lu down as well as knock the pistol out of her hand.
Before the teenager hit, knocking herself silly in the process, Lady had one final thought, being, "I bet Teach could have thought of a better plan!"
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Post by Vo Kshaa on Sept 18, 2016 22:16:57 GMT
Just upon receiving an order from Atticus, Vo blurred to the Garilu and quickly got inside it. Stopping its termination protocols was the easiest part as he had received all the codes for it from Atticus and most of the work was done by Shirra Wheels, his EGO psyche. The second part of the task required more handwork and legwork. Although he found out at least two of the four thrusters were operational, the controlling network was completely destroyed, so he had to rewire their controls to be manipulated manually. While he was checking the malfunctioning ones he found out that one of them was blocked by a dead sharkadile, still clenching its jaws over its moving parts. While Vo was cutting the engine free, he pried one tooth from the sharkadile's mouth and wrapped it in a cloth before pocketing it. The creature's tooth reminded him of the date with Belle when they had their first kiss. Technically, it was their second kiss as the first one happened way earlier when Belle was severely wounded. That kiss was the first thing Belle did when she briefly came into consciousness, so Vo didn't know how to interpret it because he wasn't sure Belle really meant what she was doing at that moment. Contrary to that, their date on the beach at the town of Freedom, formerly Pensacola, was definitely voluntary and they both enjoyed it immensely, at least until they were attacked by a giant sharkgator which emerged from the sea. They fought together and defeated the beast, and Belle took one of the sharkgator's teeth as a keepsake. This one was hardly a replacement as it was much smaller but nevertheless its shape was similar and recognizable, so Vo still held some hope that it could trigger some memories in Belle's mind. If not, it could be just a nice souvenir at least.
After releasing the third thruster from the lizard's grip, Vo returned into what remained of the Garilu's cockpit. After the final check of the rewired controls, he reported to Atticus that everything was done from his side and the Garilu is ready to be towed to the Riot.
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Post by Taffer on Sept 18, 2016 23:02:44 GMT
"Commander Taffer! The cat creature is in the clearing and heading your way! Lady is already heading your direction to investigate its appearance! Do I need to notify Commander Batman to send an armed team your direction as well?"
Before Taffer could answer Atika's question, he noticed someone else coming down from the hill at great speed, shouting and shooting in the air, and before he could focus on them, Lu was knocked down and her gun fell next to her. Taffer noted it was indeed Lady Christianna who knocked Lu down as Atika said, but he had to refocus on the feline beast as it started to hiss and growl at him again.
"I think I'm noticing a pattern here," Em Dash quickly chimed in, "Just after you scared off this creature for the first time, Lu started to become unfriendly to you. Then you found her staring in the jungle and refusing to follow your orders while you noticed something moving in the jungle. This time just after this feline hissed at you, Lu aimed her gun at you and then she aimed it at herself as if it was the only way to stop her from harming you. I cannot help but think they are mentally connected somehow but that also means it may be unsafe to kill the beast if we want Lu to stay alive and sane. At least until we learn what kind of connection there is between them. Ah, and I also detect the movement from the hole again and it comes close to its exit."
"Great," Taffer muttered as he grabbed Lu's Pulverizer and rushed to the two girls lying in the ground as he turned on the shield. One he reached them, he touched Lu's neck to check her pulse as Em Dash had already reported to him that Lady's vitals were normal.
"I'm detecting some nanite activity in Lu's body," Shirra reported.
"Can't be," Taffer replied mentally, "Her EGO is disabled."
"Those seems not to be originated from her EGO device," Dash continued, "Although they could be easily mimicking them."
"Can you flush them from her body or destroy them?"
"I'm not sure I can and I also not sure if it would be safe for her. It seems to be a long time since her body adopted them, they are older than her EGO device. Maybe even from the time of when the terraforming started."
This was the moment when the creature attacked. The shield met it with a bright flash and made her backpedal a bit and rethink its next move. Meanwhile, a large armadillo-like creature crawled out of the hole, making the feline beast switch her attention for a moment.
Taffer started the reviving process as he put a hand on Lady's chest, sending a voice message back to Atika, "I think we really need help as the situation here went out of control. We were attacked by a giant cat beast which has some mental connection with Lu so we're not sure if it's safe to kill it now. The generator is protected by a big armadillo which looks also very dangerous. Lu and Lady are with me and I can keep them safe for a while but I'm afraid not for long."
As Lady's eyes opened, Taffer whispered to her ear, "We need to get the cat creature as far away from Lu as possible before she wakes up. They seem to be connected somehow and it affects both of them negatively."
Meanwhile, Kitty growled at the giant armadillo which made another step towards it and the people under the shield.
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Post by Atticus Batman on Sept 19, 2016 8:37:54 GMT
I heard "WTF" in my head as Lady thought it to herself and to me through our EGOs, then in the distance I heard her firing her Crimefighter shotgun into the air whose green balls of death exploded harmlessly in the sky like fireworks. I looked up to see those green balls light up the sky like an emergency flair and now it was my instincts yelling that there was a problem, as those green balls of death exploded harmlessly in the sky like fireworks.
While at the same time Taffer had started the reviving process as he put a hand on Lady's chest, sending a voice message back to Atika, "I think we really need help as the situation here went out of control. We were attacked by a giant cat beast which has some mental connection with Lu so we're not sure if it's safe to kill it now. The generator is protected by a big armadillo which looks also very dangerous. Lu and Lady are with me and I can keep them safe for a while but I'm afraid not for long."
As soon as Atika got the message she quickly contacted Commander Atticus Batman. "Commander Batman! Commander Taffer is requesting immediate aid! Things happened fast and the three of them are trapped between the cat creature and an angry giant armadillo!"
I responded with, "Alright! Your team will keep the Riot here for now and guard what is left of the Garilu and keep Doctor Todt and his assistant safe! I will notify Sandy and Volodja immediately!"
As soon as I ended that communication I immedietaly opened an EGO link with both Volodja and Sandy. "Volodja, Sandy! Taffer's team are in trouble and need immediate aid! Your team are closer so arm them and get there A.SA.P.! Vo and I will meet you there!"
As I ended that message, I quickly unhooked the tow chain from the Raptor but left the other end connected to the Garilu so I could easily re-attach it as I contacted Vo via EGO. "Vo there is an emergency with Taffer's team! I already sent Volodja's and Sandy's teams to help them, but think we better go too! SO get out here and get into the front of the Raptor right away!"
As I hopped into the Raptor, and started the engine the pilot I requested from Sandy's team arrived and came up to me to see what he needed to do. I merely gestured for him to get into the back. Once he was in, I moved the Raptor forward and pulled it up to the side of the Garilu where one of it's walls was missing. Vo seemed to be thinking the same as me in this instance for just as I pulled up by the missing wall he jumped out of the gap with his shotgun in hand and landed hard into the scout seat at the front of the Raptor. Then he quickly got adjusted, as I quickly accelerated and headed towards where I sent the others to aid Taffer's team.
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Post by Sandy Bell on Sept 19, 2016 13:56:40 GMT
When Atticus gave the command, Sandy Bell took action, replying, "Yes sir" to him via their EGOs, then saying to her lover, "Everyone's armed! Good! Volodja, most of these guys don't have EGO's and we've got to go help Taffer's team! You blur ahead with any of them that have that EGO power. I'll follow with the rest, as I'm NOT leaving another squad behind. We have no transport, so we will get there fast as we can."
"I got no weapons," said Lena Marr with a pretty pout on her chalk white face.
"Okay, Lena! Atticus says go to the armory where your knives are and more combat ready clothes than that floral dress," Ordered Sandy, "Your job is to play body guard to Todt and his assistant"
"I go nowhere without my Honeypot, Mon Cherie," Interjected Marcel Lestrange with a grim demeanor.
"Okay Marcel, no time to argue and technically, you aren't a Protector so I can't command you to come, so you can stay and guard both Todt and Lena, while you make sure these bodies are properly stowed on the Riot, if you please" Then Sandy turned to her squad with her Piper Assault Rifle at the ready and ordered, "Okay, the rest of you have your orders, weapons ready, LETS ROCK AND ROLL!"
As Sandy and her team left the Riot's area, Sandy voiced her concern to the Protector's main team saying, "I think we have to be careful killing any of the native life on this island. We have a truce with Viral, the living consciousness of the island, and she might very well take it as our breaking the truce if we start killing the island's denizens! What I mostly remember when she possessed my body is feelings of strong protectiveness of the flora and fauna of the island, especially those mutated by humans and Votans both! On the other hand, as a force of nature, she might understand any being's survival instinct and the need for self-defense when attacked!".
As Sandy and her team disappeared into the jungle, Lena turned and smiled wickedly at Marcel remarking cheerfully, "Pooh Bear, I think this is what the humans call leaving the fox to guard the chicken coop! I don't know what a fox is, most likely some kind of predator from the sound of it, but chickens are caged all over the Bay Area and taste delicious!" Then she turned towards the open Riot's hatch stating over her alabaster shoulder in a low tone for his ears only as she headed to the ship's armory to retrieve her precious Bowie knives, Slice and Dice, "Sure would be terrible if Dr. T had a fatal accident, since he is the Protectors' only hope for a cure to this Votan killing virus which I call Lena's Lethality - since it came from ME - before it can spread kill millions of helpless Votans, except for ME, more's the pity!"
Meanwhile, Lady Christianna shook her white tresses frantically to get rid of the cobwebs she felt in her head after tackling Lu Kshaa and knocking herself senseless. Her large pink eyes grew wide as she took in the scene with a single glance - the giant armadillo and her befriended big cat creature who she called Kitty facing off to fight each other with Taffer, Lu, and herself caught in the middle behind Taffer's glowing shield. She could see how someone might see the situation differently, thinking that Kitty might be about to attack them, but Lady didn't see it that way. Lady was an impulsive person who lived in the moment and followed her gut feelings, and she was sure that Kitty wasn't the problem here, but that she and her team were, since they were the invaders in Kitty's and even the giant armadillo's territory. Lady further felt that if she could somehow defuse the potentially explosive situation, the protectors could leave this island quickly and peacefully to go on and stop Boris' mad plan to start a Votan Black Plague. Problem was, being an inexperienced teenager, Lady's instincts were not always one hundred percent right or she misinterpreted them, and her plans based on them would often be equally faulty; although such considerations Lady was blissfully unaware of at the moment.
Lady first thought was to use her Crimefighter shotgun's explosive ammo to distract the adversaries again to give everyone some space to think, but she could see that her weapon had been tossed too far away to be any use when she tackled Lu, so her mind quickly concocted another plan. With the speed of thought she put her madcap plan into action, knowing it was crazy but not seeing another option this second. Lady reduced her body's density, propelling herself towards Kitty with her two small feet before they became insubstantial and phasing through Taffer's protective force-field. As she sailed over Kitty's back, she made her right hand substantial enough to grab one of the curved black horns protruding from Kitty's head, swinging her body so that she was gently straddling Kitty's back, careful not to increase her body's weight so much that it would make Kitty uncomfortable but enough to keep Lady in place riding her.
Holding on for dear life as Kitty began to try and shake her off, Lady used her left hand to gently stroke behind Kitty's left ear, singing soothingly in a low wispy voice a human song she one heard when her Ark Hunter clan used to play reruns of a Pre-Pale Wars television sitcom as part of their Saturday night entertainment at Iron Demon's Ranch, "Soft Kitty, warm kitty, little ball of fur..."
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Post by Taffer on Sept 19, 2016 22:25:20 GMT
She was confused and she was angry again. She really didn't like it when things started to go out of her control and she felt exactly that was happening. She followed her urge to meet the other bipedal creature, the one she had never seen before but at the same time she felt she knew her since her childhood. She didn't remember feeling like that before, but she was open for a new experience. But in the end a good portion of the experience evaded her memory as she found herself standing right against her adversary — a dark and hateful male bipedal who had attacked her right at the moment they met at the first time. She tried to gather herself for an immediate attack, only to feel herself losing her consciousness. She shook her head and suddenly found herself much closer to her adversary than before and also noticed he was busy with something and not looking her way. Thinking it was her chance, she lunged forward, only to be thrown away by some strange stinging bubble her adversary had covered himself in. She took a step back, thinking of a different type of attack, but then she noticed another enemy — a big armadillo had crawled to the surface. As if it was not enough, the armadillo was female and judging from the shape of her body, she had given birth to several offsprings not long ago. Now she was really confused on what she should do next. There was no real reason to fight the armadillo that was obviously very aggressive protecting her kids. But by retreating she had to abandon her vendetta on that nasty bipedal that was obviously cornered and in a weak position at the moment. On the other paw that nasty bipedal was grouped together with others of his kind, those she didn't bear any malice to.
Suddenly, as she was estimating the strength of the most dangerous of her current enemies, she felt someone caught her from behind. Instinctively, she tried to shake it off, but then she felt the familiar gentle stroke on her left ear and a low wispy voice started to sing, "Soft Kitty, warm kitty, little ball of fur…" The voice was soothing and her anxiety started to subside. She estimated her adversaries again, more calmly this time. The armadillo was a really dangerous species, but she's unlikely to leave her kids. For long so she could easily retreat if things started to go bad. Of the dark bipedal creature, there was some different feeling that was nagging her mind since she briefly lost her consciousness. "I'd rather die than let myself or anyone else harm him." Who could think like that about this miserable creature? Could it be one of those other creatures like him? Is it possible that they might have been a family despite how different they look like? Did those sounds and touches mean they were accepting her to their family?
The soothing song continued and as she thought of a family, she saw things happening around her in a different light. One of them was clearly sick or wounded and the one she had a claw on was protecting her from their mutual enemy. She wasn't sure if those bipedals were capable of fending off an armadillo, but she knew she could help in her own way without harming a mother. She moved her head slightly towards the hand that was stroking her, showing she was accepting the caress, and then she made a step forward to the armadillo, showing all her teeth and growling and hissing at her, making sure the armored creature would see her as the main enemy since that moment.
When the armadillo curled into a ball and rolled at her, Kitty almost effortlessly jumped to the side, letting the crushing mass pass by. In fact, she would do it even faster if she wasn't caring about another creature that clung to her back. In her next attack, the armored creature didn't bother to curl up, it just rushed forward trying to ram the feline, who avoided he collision with the same grace as the first time, glancing to where the two bipedals stayed to see if they had the brains to use her diversion to get away from danger.Taffer watched Lady riding the big feline, ready to shoot the creature down if it poses any danger to the young Castithan, but soon it was clear for him she had the control over the creature somehow. "Good job Lady," he sent through his EGO, "Keep them busy with each other if you can. We still need to complete the last task so I'll be quick." He tuned the Pulverizer to let the slow moving parts pass through the shield and put Lu's hand on its dead man’s switch to keep it running without him holding it. "Caaareful," he thought to himself as he slowly exited the bubble and engaged his cloak. "Lady got the cat under her control," He reported to the rest of the team, "Someone pick up Lu and bring her back to the Riot! Her shield is active but is set to let slow objects pass, so you can reach out and disable it. If she comes back to her senses and tries to return back here, do not let her. I repeat, by all means do not let her reach this place again or her brain will fry itself. I'm going to finish the generator job." With his cloak active, he sneaked to the cave, picking up Lu's and Lady's weapons on his way — probably a subconscious action of picking up goodies lying on the ground. Upon entering the cave he recharged his Cloak with a power stim as he remembered his EGO reported about four little ones in it and he didn't want them to freak out and call for their mother. He found them in one of the deep branches of the cave, rolled up into four tiny armored balls as he passed by to the generator. As it was the third one he had to reprogram, it was completed much faster than the first two, so his Cloak wore down right when he was at the mouth of the cave. He cautiously looked out as he estimated the situation and planned his retreat route.
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Post by Lady Christianna on Sept 20, 2016 2:14:59 GMT
"I have no idea what I'm doing," Thought Lady Christianna to herself as she hung on to the back of the wild cat creature, "But I know I'm hindering Kitty's movements and if Atticus comes up over the hill he'll likely think me in danger and shoot now and take names later!"
Using her EGO's communications channel, she contacted the other Protectors as she did a handstand on Kitty's horns while she went even more insubstantial, then gently pushed herself away from the beast and towards where Lu Kshaa lay unconscious under Taffer's protective shield, threatening, "Don't hurt Kitty! Make me... mad... if you do!"
Lady made a perfect landing - or almost did as she went completely lighter than air and hovered half a foot above the ground before floating to where Lu was, then phasing through the energy force field of Taffer's shield. She didn't see where Taffer had disappeared to, figuring from what he said that he went down to finish the mission to disable the generator. As the huge armadillo eyed her and Kitty once again snarled to get the armored creature's attention, Lady cradled Lu's head in her now substantial lap. She thought about picking up Lu's body and making a run for it, but Lady was much smaller than Lu and not that physically strong. She was able to carry things while being in ghost mode, and those things would weigh next to nothing; but she had never tried that with a living being and now was not the time to experiment - at least not yet.
"Guys! Get here soon! Please!" Thought Lady frantically to the other Protectors through their EGOs.
Hearing that, Sandy Bell quickened her and her squad's pace, but still fearing the wrath of Viral, the island's mutant consciousness, ordered, "We got to get their quick men! But don't shoot anything unless in self-defense or in defense of our people!"
Meanwhile in the armory of the Riot, Lena Marr dressed in the Recon Omega outfit Lady had picked for her and armed herself with her twin Bowie Knives, named by her Slice and Dice, that Atticus had rescued for her, affectionately remarking, "Babies! Come to Mama!"
Then as Lena sheathed them on her belt behind her back, something in the corner of her unblinking sky blue eyes caught her attention and made a wicked grin appear on her pretty chalk white face. She fairly cooed as she looked at a shiny blast rifle with orange highlights, looking at it's label and commenting, "Perfect! A Passionate Blast Rifle! I'm all about passion!" Whistling a happy tune, she left the armory with her new blast rifle resting comfortably on her shoulder to find Dr. Todt and to kill him. As she strolled leisurely down the Riots corridor, she stopped by the Riot's cockpit when she saw Atika Constantine hunched over the communications console. Pausing only for a minute as she twirled the hollow gold ring around her alabaster pinkie finger with her other hand, then rolling her sky blue eyes heavenward and putting a forefinger to the corner of her grinning lips as she had a sudden idea.
"Atika, honey, Can I make you some tea?" Lena began sweetly, "Even though you make the best tea, you look awfully busy, but I could sure use some tea, and I know Dr. Todt would just love some. Too bad I never made any tea before, but if you point me to where it is, I can probably figure it out - although I know it won't be near as good as you make it."
As Lena waited for Atika to answer, hoping that she read the eager young Irathiant girl right and she would jump at the chance to show off her tea making talents, Lena continued to twirl the hollow pinkie ring that was filled with a potent poison that served a dual purpose. Unlike Atticus Batman, Lena had no aversion to using poison to kill a target. This virulent poison actually served a dual purpose. A few grains would titillate the sexual drive of a person, causing a long lasting and huge hard-on in males of any species. However, if the ring was emptied into a liquid, the tasteless poison would dissolve immediately, killing the drinker quickly after digestion, and causing the death to appear to be a heart attack, with no trace of the true cause of death. Lena hadn't used the poison in ages, for her lover needed no enhancement or encouragement in the sex department and all her recent kills called for either long range targeting or bloody decapitation.
"Just what the Doctor ordered," Thought Lena to herself, still twirling the gold ring on her finger, as her wicked grin grew bigger.
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Sept 20, 2016 6:18:50 GMT
"Gentlemen. Uh, oh," said Volodja Uljanov during the run, trying to spare his breath and avoid panting, so he chopped his message into single sentences. "You heard what Commander said. Uh, oh. No trigger happy fingers here. Uh, oh. We are visitors, so we will keep our safeties on. Uh, oh."
"Sure," replied Murdock. "But the heat seems to be escalating."
"I see that," marked Volodja. "We have one huge cat and one armadillo. And the cat seems to be in trouble. Murdock! Take care of disabled while I try to attract some attention. Messing with nature is not in my nature...but man has to do what he has to do. And those other excuses."
"What kind of attract...Oh, THAT kind!" managed Murdock to replay when he saw how Volodja's arms turned orange because he used Overcharge. next thing Volodja did, was using his EGO power to grab armadillo's tale and pull the armoured mammal backwards. Horned cat hissed and slammed it's clawed paw to armadillo's snout. Armadillo twitched in pain forcing Volodja to release it's tale and jump upward. His orange hands grabbed from a tree branch. Volodja swung himself onward, using his stomach muscles to get one of his legs over the tree branch, he was holding. Now he was clinging on that branch by three of his limbs so it was only a technical matter to heave his body up.
Volodja looked down to armadillo who was again attacked by the huge dark and horned feline. Finding a suitable moment, Volodja broke a withered tree branch and tossed towards armadillo. It was a near miss but even that was enough to distract the belted beast so cat could use it's sharp claws on the armadillo again. As a response, armadillo's paw swung trough the air, making the cat jump aside. Volodja tossed in another withered branch which made armadillo to turn and hit the tree trunk with it's paw now, making it shaking...and Volodja with it. Cat used that moment for another attack. When it was completed, was Volodja's turn again and he threw another branch as he was an irritated monkey. Armadillo was clearly annoyed because it had to divide it's precious attention between two objects - hissing cat and cat's ground attacks and branch bombardment of the hairless monkey on a tree. Somehow the armadillo managed to look like as it had a thought bubble above it's head, telling: "I am officially bored of this fruitless shit!"
Finally the armadillo up and disappeared into her cave, leaving cat and monkey to stare each other and decide what's next.
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Marcel Lestrange pondered about Lena's plan to get rid of the good Doctor Todt immediately. He admired her decisiveness and ability to take an initiative into her chalk white hands. Lena had skills of perfect tactician but Marcel was used to think strategically as well and he decided...
Few quick steps and Marcel was by Lena's side. She was busy with a tray, filled with tea cups, so Marcel said: "I am thirsty and dry as a desert and now you are here with a tea! Perfect!" As a next thing he grabbed a teacup to his tanned hand and used an EGO link to say to Lena: "I am afraid that we must leave good Doctor alive for now. I know that you probably have a perfect way to get rid of him, but I thought about it and became worried that good doers might get suspicious when Doctor dies and we appear to the stage with a cure to Lethal Lena. They might find that one and only working brain cell among their gang and as a result of enormous mental efforts they might put these two things together. Those usual questions in crime novels a la "Who had the motif?" or "Who had an opportunity?" will eventually lead them to us and they begin to obstruct our little operations in Paradise Territory. Including distribution of Marr's Magnificent Mixture if they begin claim rights or trial us for Doctor Todt's unfortunate death something like that. Maybe we should wait a bit? It's just a suggestion though."
After saying that, Marcel lifted the teacup to his thin lips, ready to take a first sip...
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"Seems like we managed to make the armoured forces to retreat," thought Volodja. "But now I am sort of stuck on finding a quick solution for peaceful coexistence between the cat and myself. I can't apply to the battle friendship, because we both have reasons to be suspicious about each other. Maybe I should try singing. Soothing noises make wonders...or not, because it could be interpreted as a rivalry as well. What do you try to say, Sophie? Mom told you that lady already tried singing with working results? Good. Looks like that today is the day when Lady beat her old Teacher. That also means that I will give it a try myself...What should I sing?"
His mind wandered of to the world of music. To be precise then it's classical territory and it's riches. There are even several occasions when composers created magnificent pieces, based on one single word or phrase, you know. Johann Sebastian Bach was the premium example. Of all single word based musical pieces Volodja's mind picked a phrase "Miau" ("Miaow") which was a corner stone of
"Duetto buffo di due gatti" ("Humorous duet for two cats"), often attributed to Italian composer Giacomo Rossini. Although it was meant to two sopranos but it was also possible to perform by a soprano and a tenor, or a soprano and a bass. Actually it didn't mattered what was sung, but how it was done, so Volodja grinned, cleared his throat and begun the first "Miau"
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Post by Atticus Batman on Sept 20, 2016 10:29:12 GMT
As my three man team raced our Raptor towards Taffer's location we received his message, "Lady got the cat under her control," He reported to the rest of the team, "Someone pick up Lu and bring her back to the Riot! Her shield is active but is set to let slow objects pass, so you can reach out and disable it. If she comes back to her senses and tries to return back here, do not let her. I repeat, by all means do not let her reach this place again or her brain will fry itself. I'm going to finish the generator job."
Quickly assessing what I had just heard, I slammed on the brakes. As Vo glanced back and up at me, I easily pulled my huge but extremely muscular frame up out of the cockpit and slid back into the turret position without ever leaving the Raptor. Then I said out loud to our pilot friend, "It's Poe Dameron, correct?"
As Poe nodded the affirmative, I said, "Take the wheel! Get us close to Lu's energy bubble but remember to use any evasive maneuvers necessary. Understood?"
As Poe nodded again and then climbed into the Cockpit the more traditional way than I departed it, we got Lady's EGO message, threatening, "Don't hurt Kitty! Make me... mad... if you do!" Followed immediately with "Guys! Get here soon! Please!" Thought Lady frantically to the other Protectors through their EGOs.
I quickly said, "Alright you heard her! No hurting the 'Kitty', if possible! Vo keep your shotgun ready just in case, and as soon as we are next to the bubble shield, Mr. Dameron stop the Raptor. I will retrieve Lu while Vo guards us from his seat."
Poe Dameron quickly got the Raptor back en-route and as we got over the hill we saw several things. Volodja's stealth team was inside Lu's bubble shield with two of them slowly carrying Lu between them and one following along with the pulverizer in her hand so she could keep the shield active, while the rest of the team including Lady followed along, also in the bubble, to keep them covered. We also saw 'Kitty' fighting a giant armadillo as Sandy watched and looked up towards a tree that branches kept falling out of and landing near the armadillo. However as Poe Dameron slowed and stopped the Raptor just in front of the shield bubble, the Armadillo had retreated back into the cave. So I looked up into the tree and saw that Volodja was actually the reason that it was raining branches, just as he started singing.
As Volodja sang to the cat creature, I quickly helped the others load Lu into the back of the Raptor. Then the teammate with the pulverizer hopped up into the turret position near Lu, still keeping the shield active. I told Sandy's team to retreat back up the hill and ordered Poe to take the Raptor back up to the Riot immediately, as well as telling Vo that he needed to hook the Raptor back up to the Garilu and prepare to tow it, but only AFTER he was sure his sister would be alright.
As the recon team moved back to a defensive position on top of the hill, and Poe followed orders by driving the Raptor and it's occupants back to the Riot, I noticed Sandy stayed near the tree to try to protect her treed boyfriend as necessary, as well as noticing that Lady had moved to the edge of the area but didn't go up the hill with the others, most likely because she wanted to make sure that I would NOT hurt 'Kitty'.
As I cautiously approached the cat that was staring at them inquisitively but was starting to calm some, I considered just unloading my shotgun on it but I trust Lady completely and if her instincts are saying the cat is not a harm to us, then I will try it her way for now. So I slowly removed my finger from the trigger of the gun and slid it back over my shoulder, as I wondered how I should handle this situation if I couldn't just use my usual method of killing first and considering asking questions later. That is when I recognized the song Volodja was singing as one he had tried getting me to listen to a few times back at the Fortress. I remembered back to those times that he tried and I repeatedly told him, "That's ridiculous! Why would anybody want to listen to two grown adults meow meowing at each other?!" However now I must admit that not only was it a little catchy but it was also serving quite a good purpose as the Kitty had definitely started calming down, so perhaps I may need to give his music a better chance in the future.
I still didn't quite have any idea what I was doing, but could see the song was working and even though I had found it ridiculous in the past, my photographic memory did make it so I would always remember what I had heard of that song. So I reluctantly joined in as the second part of the duet. I sang several lines in my deep gruff bass tone, until my crazy mind had finally come up with something.
Then I slowly approached 'Kitty' and raised my hands out palm up to show that I was unarmed as I spoke calmly to the cat. "Eseneziri, 'Kitty'. I am Atticus Batman. I don't know if you can actually understand me, and I normally do not do this diplomacy crap as it tends to annoy me. However as you just saved my FAMILY from that huge ball of armor, I will try." I mumbled quietly, "Here goes nothing...."
Then I once again began talking to 'Kitty' as I continued with, "We do not mean you any harm. I just want to retrieve all of my family and take them home. So please just let us go. However if you want it, I am willing to offer you my hand in friendship because of all that you seem to have done for us here and because my wife and soul mate over there really would love to be your friend. So now I will shut up and let you continue to listen to Volodja's wonderful singing and don't worry I will not join in with my monstrous voice again."
Meanwhile back in the cockpit of the Riot, Atika was paying close attention to all the team communications as Lena walked in and started talking to the young girl, "Atika, honey, Can I make you some tea?" Lena began sweetly, "Even though you make the best tea, you look awfully busy, but I could sure use some tea, and I know Dr. Todt would just love some. Too bad I never made any tea before, but if you point me to where it is, I can probably figure it out - although I know it won't be near as good as you make it."
Atika turned her head and smiled innocently at the beautiful alabaster woman and responded happily with, "It is ALWAYS tea time somewhere and I can make some easily while you watch, if you really want to learn how. Just give me a second!" Atika quickly grabbed the wireless comms headset and put it on as she activated it on her control panel. Then she got up and walked over to the kettle where she happily started to make Lena a pot of tea. She thought she could feel Lena's eyes on her young rump and was flattered at the attention, as she normally didn't get as much as her brash and out-spoken brother. So she swayed it a little more as she continued sifting through her various herbs and picking just the right leaves before carefully putting them in her infuser to add it to the boiled water.
Once she had placed the leaves she carefully chose into her infuser and placed it in the tea kettle, she placed it on a tray with several tea mugs, then turned and smiled again at Lena as she said, "Alright Lena. The tea is steeping. Just remove my infuser from the kettle when the tea is as dark and flavorful as you want, normally somewhere between three and five minutes. I have to get back to my communications console but would appreciate a cup of tea once it is ready."
Then she returned to her console, where a few minutes later Lena had indeed given her a mug of tea before grabbing the tray and leaving the cockpit with it, presumably to offer some to the others as Lena said she was going to.
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Post by Lady Christianna on Sept 20, 2016 16:37:58 GMT
Under the force field bubble with the unconscious Lu Kshaa, Lady Christianna clapped her small chalk white hands together in glee and smiled broadly as Volodja Uljanov and Atticus Batman sang an unexpected duet to hopefully calm the large cat beast she had nicknamed Kitty. As two of the Protectors' security squad retrieved Lu to take her back to the relative safety of the Riot, Lady floated to where Atticus had confronted the beast and was beginning his speech, hovering next to Kitty as she gently scratched behind the creature's left ear.
Lady waited politely until her husband had finished his speech, then remarked with an enigmatic smile and an amused gleam in her pink eyes, "Silly, wild cat. Not understand words, just tone and petting."
Sandy Bell warily watched the interaction with the cat creature, her Piper Assault Rifle at the ready in case things went south fast or the armadillo beast came back to attack, glancing to the hole in the ground and then into the tree where Volodja Uljanov was perched, a grin on her pretty tan face, singing sweetly to him a nursery rhyme from her early childhood, "Five little monkeys swinging in a tree..."
Meanwhile inside the Riot as Marcel Lestrange took a sip of the tea, Lena's unblinking sky blue eyes grew wide as she asserted, "Wait! Don't drink that's the one I..." But Marcel already had by the time she finished her sentence, "Just poisoned!"
Lena paced back and forth, mumbling as she threw up into the air her chalk white hands, "Shit, shit, shit, SHIT! What am I going to do?!?! What am I going to DO?!?! I just killed my boyfriend..."
Then with a blurring speed, Lena did the unexpected, thrusting an alabaster finger into his throat causing him to retch while pounding him on the back with her other hand, with finally him throwing up what he had just drank. Wiping off her finger on the pants of her Omega Recon outfit, she watched with narrowed expectant eyes for several minutes. After counting five minutes off in her head, Lena sighed loudly, then said in a matter-of-fact way, "Well, if you were going to die, you'd be dead already! What a relief but..." Lena's eyes grew wide this time, but not in shock as before, but in wonder as she glanced at Marcel, seeing the huge hard-on he was sporting.
Mesmerized, Lena could not pull her unblinking eyes away from Marcel's groin as his manhood seemed to grow twice its former size, which was quite large to begin with, and Lena blurted out with a gasp, "My, Pooh Bear! My, my, my, MY! We can't let this go to waste!"
Lena grabbed his tan hand in her chalk white one, saying as she led him away, "Sure hope no one is in our water closet!"
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on Sept 21, 2016 17:42:18 GMT
If Marcel Lestrange could bother to describe his situation he would say that what does not kill you, makes you...bigger and harder than before. Instead of making ado about anything he just lifted Lena Marr up with his strong hands, carried her gently to the bathroom door and used one of his legs to pull the door open. "Don't you know how to knock..." sounded irritated voice inside the room. "This seat is taken." "Do you not know that it would be a nice habit to lock the door. The sign says "Vacant" so the room is vacant," snapped Marcel back. "Get out!" "I was here first..." voice continued. "OUT" said Marcel sternly. "It will take only a second," he said apologetically to his beloved Lena. He put Len back to her feet, reached out his strong hand and pulled the owner of the voice out from the room. "Stay out and take your dirty magazine with you!" ordered Marcel. "Lena and I do not need external stimulants. Or instructions!" With gallant move Marcel lead Lena inside, entered after her and slammed the door shut, not forgetting to lock it.  |
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Post by Taffer on Sept 21, 2016 21:50:01 GMT
"That was close," Taffer muttered after a big bulky armored beast crawled past him. "Sorry, your Cloak was on cooldown and using another power stim this soon wouldn’t help recharge it," Em Dash replied in an apologetic tone, "I wonder why it didn't sniff us out though.""Thanks Dash, I know that. That's why I prefer to keep my own skills on the edge and not rely entirely on your powers. By the way, have you seen it was licking its nose constantly? I guess one of our friends have hit the bullseye, which in this case is an armadillo's nose. Now let's join our team and share what we managed to find out."
She was confused again. She didn't understand why one of them started meowing at her, especially when it sounded so unnatural coming from his mouth. But soon she thought she understood the reason behind it as another male came in, who continued that strange meowing song with his deep gruff bass tone. From the tone of his voice she could clearly understand he was the head of the pride, and a powerful one. In fact, the voice made her shiver as a thought came to her mind that a creature that is strong like him could easily claim her territory for his own pride. But then he made a silent pause and started sounding more natural although she could not understand the meaning of those sounds. The only thing she could understand was that his voice was calm so it didn't sound like they were conquering her territory. What they were expecting from her then? Were they inviting her to their pride, to their family? A familiar feeling of her left ear being scratched reassured her that it might be the case. She weighed her options and decided she was not ready for it and probably would never be. This island was her home, she knew every nook and every tree in it by heart, and she preferred to travel through it alone. Those bipedals, while being somewhat interesting creatures, were making too much noise for her liking, and that could hamper the results of her hunt. She pressed her head against the hand scratching her ear, showing she enjoys it, but then she stood up and slowly walked into the jungle, turning around only once to let out a short hiss as she saw the familiar silhouette of the only bipedal she felt she really had an edge on.
"What a nice session of a cat therapy," Taffer said as he behind his teammates' backs. The cat creature hissed at him from far away, but he stayed calm and the cat turned around and disappeared into the foliage. "It seems I made a lot of mistakes during this operation, but you people were quick to correct every one of them. Lady, it was a neat trick to turn one of our enemies into our friend. And a perfectly executed one I must say. Here's your Crimefighter by the way. Volodya — you played a really good role in keeping those beasts busy and finally forcing the armadillo back into its hole without harming it much. Atticus and Sandy — that have been a really good rescue team. I didn't expect it to be so big, fast and well-coordinated. As for Lu… Lady, may I see your hand?" He touched her hand where some of cat's hair left and looked closely at those he picked up. "Dash does not detect any living nanites on them, but she found a couple of dead ones. They are the same as those she detected on Lu. I don't know what it means or how it could be possible at all, but judging from the behavior I observed from both Lu and the cat, those nanites were forcing them to get close to each other. What happened if they completed that task I don't know but I don't expect anything good for either of them. That's why I ordered Lu to be evacuated and locked in the ship ASAP. I think we better follow and join our team at the Riot as the last generator was finally reprogrammed and we can now safely escape to give our adversaries a chase." |
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